Monday, 18 November 2019

Rest in eternal peace dear Amma!


Dear Amma,
It seems just like yesterday. But the calendar tells us that it was 6 years ago when you left us, for your abode in Heaven! Every morning brings a breath of fresh air, whispering to us that you are always around. The red hibiscus plant that I planted in your memory bears beautiful, vivid red blossoms, reminding me that you are showering your blessings on us every day.
Be our guardian angel for life, that's what we pray.
And also implore the Lord to keep you comfortable and happy in Heaven.
Thanks for giving us this life.
And for giving us such a nice upbringing too.
Rest in eternal peace, dear Amma.
We are happy to cherish your precious memory by feeling your presence in the glorious nature all around us. Always near, always dear!
Priya, Prakash and Prabha
Your three little gems
and
Anna
Your soulmate

Ravi and Ramesh too remember your selfless and compassionate ways!

Saturday, 2 November 2019

Of Siblings and E-friends - Kindle Countdown Deal

Dear friends,
A Kindle Countdown Deal will be on from 4th to 11th November, 2019 at www.amazon.com for my ebook titled Of Siblings and E-friends.
This ebook will be available for just  $0.99 at a whopping discount of 67%
So hurry and grab this golden opportunity to read a wonderful collection of stories that will set you thinking about relationships between siblings and efriends.
Is blood truly thicker than water or should we swear only by our friends? More importantly, how do efriends figure in the larger picture? Are they trustworthy or to be feared?
Read on and arrive at your own conclusions, but do let me know, through your reviews directly at www.amazon.com.
While you are at it, do consider purchasing and reading my other 15 novels too.
Thanks in anticipation.
Happy reading!
Priya


Thursday, 31 October 2019

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Temple - Where all Gods are one!


     




     On Padwa we visited this exquisitely carved and designed temple in the outskirts of Pune in Narhe, Ambegaon Khurd. At first sight itself, the temple mesmerizes us with its tranquil ambience, lush green surroundings, verdant hills all around and cool breeze. 

     We gave our footwear in bags to the volunteers who gave us tokens. When I inquired for a wheelchair for my Dad who can't walk a lot, I was directed to a place where I couldn't find any! We spotted an aged lady sitting on a wheelchair and wondered if it belonged to the temple and whether only one was available. Hence my father had to make do with sitting patiently on a stone bench while the rest of us enjoyed the 'darshan'. 

     The 'Chhappan bhog', a sumptuous and mind-boggling array of delicacies had been offered to all the deities, saints and other revered figures in the temple. 

     There were two levels, with magnificent halls displaying pristine marble statues of deities and religious luminaries where intricately carved pillars, a huge vaulted dome with a dazzling chandelier, cool marble flooring; well-decorated with ethnic wall-hangings, draping and the like; floored us all with their breathtaking detail. 

     The offerings ranged from traditional sweets to confectionery, desserts like cakes, milkshakes, ice-cream and fruits. A lady informed us that it takes a week to arrange all the offerings. Thus the absolute devotion of those who selflessly manage such a mammoth display deserves respect and kudos. 

     A volunteer urged the visitors to stop clicking snaps and have a darshan of the deities, etc. Some bar-codes were displayed outside the temple which could be scanned by the visitors for high-resolution snaps. 

     We walked down the 20 steps to the spacious surroundings, clicked umpteen snaps and returned with the prasad and a snap of the temple provided by the volunteer, to our Dad, who had busied himself with playing with a baby of a visiting family there. 

     We bought some snacks from make-shift stalls managed by ladies, took our footwear and made a beeline to the canteen for our lunch. We missed having 'bhog' at the Annakoot due to an oversight. There was free lunch just for that day! 

     The canteen has a good variety of snacks, but sadly doesn't have a 'thali'. The pot ice-cream sold in plastic containers was yummy. 

     The temple has a toilet facility but it could be better maintained. There is ample parking space available. I observed that there are no garbage bins on the premises of the vast temple. Some visitors were surreptitiously and carelessly throwing the plastic wrapping in which the prasad had been given, into the neatly pruned bushes. 

     Some more comfortable seating could be provided for the visitors. Even the canteen should provide more covered seating. Since it was a self-service facility, the tables were littered with food dropped by the earlier visitors. There was no one around to wipe the tables clean. 

     But overall the pleasing architecture and tranquility of the temple and its surroundings made our day blessed! We will surely return some time again to watch it in the evening when it is beautifully illuminated by LED lights.

The copyright of this review is with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.

P.S. An abridged version of this review has been published at www.tripadvisor.in.

Wednesday, 23 October 2019

Free Download - The Trophy Wife

'The Trophy Wife' will soon be yours! For free!

26th October, 2019 is D-day. 

Download this scintillating e-book for free, at www.amazon.com. 

Settle down for a rendezvous with 'her', in a cozy nook.

'SHE' will then be eagerly looking forward to your prompt 

online review at www.amazon.com. 

Please don't let her down. Or else, in her words: 

"All Hell will break loose...."

Kindle e-book

Paperback

Wednesday, 9 October 2019

The Celestial Souls of Khambetka - Kindle Countdown Deal

The Celestial Souls of Khambetka - Kindle Countdown Deal

Dear friends,


What happens when one's wishes are not fulfilled in one’s lifetime?

Read on to experience it in my thrilling ebook titled The Celestial Souls of Khambetka. It is a collection of paranormal stories that will surely capture your imagination!

This book has received a 5 -star rating at www.goodreads.com.
Here's the link:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44653148-the-celestial-souls-of-khambetka#



A Kindle Countdown Deal will be on from 11th to 18th October, 2019 at www.amazon.com for this ebook. It will be available at a whopping discount, of 67% for just $0.99. You could peruse a free preview of the ebook on the site.


Kindly purchase the ebook, read it and let me have your invaluable feedback. You could even peruse my other 15 novels. 
Kindly post all your reviews directly at www.amazon.com. 
Happy reading!

Thanks.
Priya

List of books by the author,
Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan:

       The Enigma and other stories
       The Obsession
       The Mysterious Basement of Summer City (Prize-winning, debut   novel)
       Wow! Wrong Number
       You Compromise, I Won’t!
       Unconditional Love in Exchange
       Just Not Meant For Marriage!
       The Byline and other stories
       A Good Old Rumor! and other stories
      The Trophy Wife
       Of Siblings and E-Friends 
       Dad's Great, Boys! (ebook only) 
           (also available at draft2digital.com)
       God's Will
All these ebooks and paperbacks have been released worldwide, and are  available at www.amazon.com and Amazon's other marketplaces.

A Suitor for the Princess (radiantpriyasvision.blogspot.com)
The Love-addict (www.freeditorial.com)

Saturday, 5 October 2019

Happy Navaratri

Wish you all a very Happy Navaratri! May the divine Goddesses bestow abundant blessings of peace, prosperity and happiness on all of us. May we always have strength to walk on the right path in life, undaunted!

Golu


Monday, 30 September 2019

The Trophy Wife - My 16th novel published! Now as an E-book too!

Dear friends,
                     
                     I have published the e-book version of my 16th novel titled The Trophy Wife at www.amazon.com and at all of its marketplaces! It was already available as a paperback since 3rd June, 2019.

                    You could purchase it for just Rs.70/- at www.amazon.in. Kindly purchase it, read it and let the reviews pour in, thick and fast! I have entered it as a contest entry for the Pen to Publish Contest 2019; at www.amazon.com as well as the Kindle Story-teller's Contest 2019 at www.amazon.uk.in. The reviews must be published online at www.amazon.com. Kindly make them constructive so that other readers are well-informed.

                    Happy reading session! So long then! Just remember that I am eagerly awaiting your invaluable feedback. While you are at it, you could even peruse my other 15 novels at www.amazon.com and its marketplaces, 
www.draft2digital.com, 
radiantpriyasvision.blogspot.com 
and 
www.freeditorial.com.

                   I am sure that you will be drawn toward reading my other novels, once you have finished reading the highly entertaining and insightful book, The Trophy Wife! Do spread the good word around! Kindly let me know your views on the topic of arranged marriages vis-a-vis love marriages and other forms of partnerships between couples. Even your opinions on the equations between men and women are welcome! So set the ball rolling.....

                   Have a nice day!

Priya

   
Paperback's cover (Paperback first published on 3rd June, 2019)

Kindle e-book's cover
(E-book published on 29th September, 2019)

Preview - The Trophy Wife

The Trophy Wife
By
Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan

The copyright of this novel is with
Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.
Date of writing: 3rd June, 2019

This book is humbly dedicated to my brother-in-law, Dr. Ravichandran. He is an accomplished person and an unassuming soul, ever ready to help our family, without a murmur! We value his insight and guidance. Such people are rare these days and we are truly blessed to have him in our family.


List of previous books by the author,
Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan:
1.     The Enigma and other stories
2.     The Obsession
3.     The Mysterious Basement of Summer City (Prize-winning, debut novel)
4.     Wow! Wrong Number
5.     You Compromise, I Won’t!
6.     Unconditional Love in Exchange
7.     Just Not Meant For Marriage!
8.     The Byline and other stories
9.     A Good Old Rumor! and other stories
   10.  The Celestial Souls of Khambetka
   11.  Of Siblings and E-Friends
   12.  Dad’s Great, Boys!
   13.  God’s Will
   14.  The Love-addict (www.freeditorial.com)
   15.  A Suitor for the Princess                   (https://radiantpriyasvision.blogspot.com)

Excerpt
           
          He winked at her. She was looking delectable, in a mauve satin gown with a matching floor-length overcoat. Her prized purchase of that evening’s frenzied shopping spree. She had chosen lovely clothes and accessories for herself, and yes, make up and perfume too! He had drawn the line when she had wanted to purchase a horribly expensive pair of shoes for him. “I already own 20 pairs, thank you!” he had said firmly.

          Had he opted inadvertently for a ‘high-maintenance’ wife? He would keep his fingers tightly crossed! And a tighter tab on his credit card!
          
          Now, he looked divine in his sky-blue, silk pajama suit. Tanned muscles rippled against the soft fabric. The dropped collar of his top was opened tantalizingly to reveal curly, dark hair covering a heaving chest. She could feel the sensual vibrations bouncing off her, as if both of them stood in between an intensely charged magnetic field.
          
          He suddenly pulled her into his embrace and soundly kissed her, as she drawled softly, “Now be a good boy, darling and hop on to that couch, before all hell breaks loose!”
          
          “Hell or Heaven?” he asked with an amused smirk, his eyes devouring her sinuous curves and his hands, on the small of her back.         
          
          “Well, we can decide on that later!” she said coquettishly. Both of them laughed heartily.