FROM SIN-SHIP TO HAPPY RAJ: I Dont Belong To Me (HAPPY RAJ SAGA SERIES Book 1)

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A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.

When asked who my hero is I would have to respond with a simple three letter word: My mother has been the greatest inspiration in my life and is the main reason that I am where I am and who I am today. In Henry Ward Beecher said, "the mother's heart is the child's schoolroom. I have learned more about life from her than from my 15 years of schooling. Over the last 21 years my mother has taught me many valuable lessons just by being a living example of compassion, thoughtfulness, and generosity. She is an angel that has protected and carried me throughout life. She has taught me to always try my best, to treat everyone equally, to not give up when things get hard.

She tells me to at all times be honest because in the end, lies always hurt more.

She instills the importance of family and of doing well at school in me. When I make decisions and she doesn't always agree with them, she makes sure that I know that she is behind me all the way because she wants me to always be happy. She has taught me right from wrong and the significance of self-respect.

She is my mother, the greatest influence in my life. Yes Ma, You are the best!!! My mother is a hero for me than my father. She is always full of energy; she has always a solution for any of the problems. I am her eldest son and she wanted me to be role model for my youngsters. She cannot tolerate even a small mistake committed by me, she intervened in all turning points of my career. The selection of course, the selection of job, selection of bride, selection of a suitable house plan all my important decisions are taken place only with her support and approval.

She is willing to take responsibilities in case of any problems in all the above decisions. Even aged 70, she is still my source of energy and in case of eventualities I always approach her first. My mother is a retired primary school teacher, she always supervised my education, and she always kept an eye on me.

See a Problem?

She used to spy on my study, friendship circle, finance until I became a government employee. I happened to drown once in a pond, she jumped into the pond while she doesn't know any swimming crying for help. Eventually we both escaped and I never think about swimming or bathing in a pond again. Finally after one month I found myself swimming to my surprise. Now I can swim even in a river or sea. Similarly I was afraid of cycling, but she gave me my father's cycle and insisted that I should at least take it along the roads.

Finally I pedaled it and one fine day I was able to ride it. I read in newspaper about computer studies in Rajiv Gandhi era and expressed my desire to take a course on computers. The fee was very high compared to other courses and in our village or town nobody knew what was a computer. But she gave me money and asked to apply immediately. That decision was a turning point of my career.

I got a fine job because I was a computer graduate from its first batch. Students from our village started taking computer courses only after five more years. I got a job and was working far away from my home coming only once in two months. But my mother had her spies at that place too. Once I smocked a cigarette while walking on the road and very next day I received a phone call from my mother scolding me for such a bad habit. How did she know it I still don't know, but I never smocked again. I happened to be in company of some friends and started drinking. She tried to stop that also but did not get much success.

But she cleverly alienated my friends circle by scolding them and not passing their phone calls to me. I wondered why my friends began to evade me and never knew the reason. Now some of them are in rehabilitation centres while I drink only occasionally, in some board meetings or so. I happened to meet a girl suits my taste, beauty parameters but of another caste and was determined to marry her. Again my mother caught hold of my plan of elopement and she met her parents and informed about our adventures.

Both parents were not interested in the marriage as it was an inter-caste one and finally we had to withdrew from it. I was very angry with my mother and didn't speak to her for about six months. Finally when she married another person I too agreed to marry. This time I didn't have particular interest and a bit crest fallen on my love failure. My mother searched a girl of same job, same age and same look alike but from our own community and similar backgrounds. Now my marriage is a stable after some initial hiccups, whereas if we had married we would now have separated as we now knew we had a lot of differences social, tastes, outlooks etc.

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Thus my mother did all my important decisions. I have witnessed many of her spot decision-makings and ability to shoulder responsibilities and taking financial burdens which none would dare. She is pillar of our family and a backbone to my father. My father had a cardiac arrest, but my mother made him to take whatever tablets available at that time in our house.

Fortunately one of it was an aspirin and he is still alive. I can write an epic on her, I am a biggest admirer and a fan of her. Now I am aged 43, still when I felt an injustice done to me in my service, I approach her for relief, and believe me she has a solution for any complicated corporate problems and I can sleep well when she is patting me. So my mother is my hero. I am Kedar Agnihotri. My mother's name is Swati Agnihotri. She is Commerce graduate. She is very special for me. By watching her I got that how one can be cool in any adversity. She knows her limitations and all the positive points.

She even know how to apply those positive points in whole life fight. She knows me very well. When I was going through my bad my mom was the one who supported me and pulled me out of that situation. She told me how one can keep his cool in bad situation. She told me how to capitalize on my positive point and how one can be very optimistic.

Olivia And Jai

When she suffered from "Breast Cancer" she was very optimistic and came out of that situation also. Now she is very good in health and her life also. I am really very proud of my mother. My mother was a strict disciplinarian. Yet she had a heart of gold.

She never praised anyone on their face but always spoke good behind their backs. She was very talented. Even at the age of seventy five she won prizes in singing and cooking. She was a dedicated social worker who helpd people without expecting anything in return. Her short stories, dramas, ;letters were exceptional and thought provoking. But she was born at a time when all this was not accepted and women had to tend to the hearth and the children and home.

Still she wrote, for Femina, for regional language magazines and others. She was progressive at a time when women were rarely heard. She voiced her opinions forefully and often earned the disapproval of my father and other elders. But she did not cow down to anyone. She was bold and brave, lived alone till the end of her life, Her explanation being that she had listened to everyone all her life and at the end she wanted to do things her way.

She travelled, often by the BEST buses in Mumbai, not taking a taxi even when she could easily afford it. She started bhajan classes, she attended community meetings and participated in all the group activities without ever grumbling. She cooked when she wanted and ate when she felt like. She wanted to be free, she wanted to live life queensize. And she did it till the very end. And she was my mother. We are 4 children to our Parents. Two sons and two daughters. We both brothers are married and each of us are blessed with a cute baby girl. So this makes our Family a pretty big one with 10 members altogether out of which 8 are adults and 2 kids.

We are a joint family living together under one roof. We love her dearly and are so fond of her that we follow her in very aspect of life. We children often compare our family to that of a "Hen and the Chicks".

One must have observed how the new born Chicks follow the mother Hen wherever she goes. The difference is that they do it while they are chicks but we do it even today as grown up adults! This comes purely out of Love and effection for her. Our Father stayed away from us in the Middle East right from our childhood for quiet a long time and my mom had to shoulder the responsibility of both the parents, a Mom as well as a Dad. And in the process the experience of being her children has just been wonderful. We were fortunate to have a brave, bold, aggressive and a mother with a "Never Say Die Attitude".

What makes my Mom different is being the way she was in spite of a lot of discouragement for her aggressiveness and her positive attitude from her own Parents, In- laws, Community, Society where everyone perceived a women to be very conservative and limit herself to four walls of the house. She faced all odds of Life to bring us up in the best manner she can. By the grace of Allah and my Mom's blessings we are today intelligent enough to face the world and come out in flying colors.

We owe this to U! She reflects this love in day to day conversations ,acts and activities that she performs during her regular household job and relationships with society. Her emotional heart bulges out a flood of tears and apathy for the killings,deaths and murders happening around us and she pray god to not to repeat this to anybody.

No attachment with material possessions,status and money for her. No complaints with any person around her. Reflection of a simple somber and charming smile on her face is sufficient for anyone to be comfortable and at full ease in her company. She is a true leader in her attitude and speaks elloquently and with great command on her language and dramatic touch of emotions to attract and impress even high profile socielites when they interact with her. I wonder why she didn't joined politics as she has tremendous attractive quality in her conversation. Life has been hard for her and there had been testing times which she passed without any crumblings.

Even after that charmness,godliness,affection rules her nature which i think is her best material possession. I feel a altogether different kind of security in her lap when i sink my head there and she scrubles my hair with her gentle fingers full of softness of love and care and affection for her son.

My mom came from Kerala with her cousin brother in order to work in Pune even without knowing Hindi and the local language Marathi. Without even knowing this language she worked with determination and full courage and is still working with the government office and is retiring this May after 40 years of working. Now she is able to speak Hindi properly though she not so conversant with Marathi.

Her life was full of struggles as she had lots of abortions and one child was half formed and died in her stomach and the dead child was there in her stomach for 1 month and just one month before the doctor could not even predict something for such matter occurred. By god's grace there was no infection and she recovered safely.

After I was born and when she could leave me with the servants and go for work as financially we were not stable and with only my dad's earning it would not be sufficient for our living. At times she used to come from office in order to see me and she would be really hurt as to see me wailing in the sun and the servants would be thoroughly enjoying by welcoming their family members at home and me outside the house playing with the neighbors.

Never even bothered as to where I was and what I was doing. They troubled her by not coming some days and she had to go to work and where would she leave me was the question raised very often. Being really unbearable she kept changing servants and when I was almost big enough to understand things by 2nd or 3rd std. It would really hectic but took care with ease and dad also used to help her so life went on not smoothly but slightly better.

Then came those days of my studying where I was not good in studies and she had to take up my studies work and look after the house. It would be really harsh for any women to work for hours together and still come home no rest and household terms would start. Then the journey goes on as after that she never took up my studies nor she knew my subjects and due to her hard work she made me realize somewhere. My Mom has done the best she could do to bring me up.

What I am today is only because of her. She has made all the sacrifices to give the best to me. I am sure she is everything to me. I would respect her 1st and then God. You cannot describe your mom in words, its only your feelings for her and the Respect for her. The person who does both these things will always be a true winner. Following are the partial reasons: She is having the gifts which i gave her before 10 to 15 years with my savings.

She showed those gifts to all my relatives and told Gopi has got me this gift with his savings and made me happy before others. I was a mediocre student. When i was waiting for my result, i didnt sleep in the whole night. She told me in the morning. Gopi, even if the result is in negative side, do not worry. We'll never tell you anything. You have to be relaxed. But comes to me after sometime and just keep the food and move away without speaking a word. Because she knows that, i'll be hungry. Because if my Dad scolds the words will be very rough. And my dad will get cooler after my mom scolds us.

And at times, if we have done a very big mistake, she will not scold but allow my dad to scold. I'll be surprised to see the understanding between my mom and dad. I was able to speak with all others. It made me understood that how much I Love her and Miss her. She means so much to me. I'm damn sure there is no Love equal to mother's love in this world. I'll do anything for my loving mom. The most beautiful person is my mom. I know everybody will say this.

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I dont have her photo to send you. I m always greatful to her as now she has made me human being. But mom i will remain as your "sonu" foreever. I hope i will give same love to my children as that of you. I love you ma as my best friend. Yes I believe in her the most because what I am today it's all because of her. She comforts me when I am down and has always guided me to my path.

She has never complained for a wile even thought she was in pain. It's hard to deny two creations of this world made by GOD, one would be the nature and none the other my mom. Well I seem to be a bit too old for writing this but still at the cost of being ridiculed I venture on. I am completing my 59th year and entering the 60s and my mother is nearing the mid 80s but I can guarantee that she is the coolest mom any one could ever have.

In her hey days she was a tomboy and her friends narrate tales of how she would climb up the trees and pluck naspathis peeches for the whole school she acquired a nickname nashpathi girl. In her teens she crossed the indo burma border on foot with her family. Marriage never diminished her activities and she simply excelled in evrything. Money was never a comfortable quotient with her but she never let that show to her children and the children never ever felt they needed anything.

At any pont of time any notes to be copied she would do it for me. Whenever I wanted to give up in any fight in life she has been both an active and a silent force behind me. I married according to my wishes against her will she was upset but when it came to patching up she was there first. I was reading all the postings on Maa in Rediff. I could not stop my tears.

I lost my mother about 2 years back. She was suffering from deadly cancer. She was a brave woman. I was not at her bedside when she left us alone, rather I was in more than thousand kilometer away. She had a dream that one day I would become a great scientist. At present I am doing well, but she is not with me to see that. I could not able to do anything for her. All the time I received something from her; whether it is love and affection, or mental support, Maa aami tomakay khub bhalobasi. I do not care about the number of words, as because I do not want this submission to be considered for prizes.

The last sentence was my humble request to Rediff. Finally many many thanks to Rediff for giving me this opportunity to express my feelings about MAA. After all, who would'nt like to tell or boast about their own mom?. In my case, I lost my mom when I was 15 in a car accident. Life has been hard since then as I have no siblings either to share or express my anguish and my immense loss.

I do miss my mom every year, every month, every week, every day, every hour and every second. She is still the world to me and I draw inspiration from her now and then in order to live and try to achieve what she always wanted me to be. Life is not just to Bive for oneself and remain selfish. I believe that one can get what all one wants only when one allows others get what all they want. Its all about how much one cares for others which actually matters.

Money comes and goes, but at the end of the day, love and care is what which actually moves the world. Such a pure and selfishless love can be obtained only from one's mother. Inspite of not being around, she still lives deep inside my heart, driving me and making me learn what I ought to learn as time and Bife progresses. I belong to a middle class family,which was a joint family when i was growing up,and in a joint middle class famly there is too much of pressure,pressure to manage relationship ,pressure to give children a happy life and to keep up the spirits. I still remember my studies wud not have been possible if my ma didnt put a strong foot forward to get me and my sis admission into the best and the costliest school of the city.

Almost half of the earnings were in to the studies,still she managed it with ease and made sure that there was nothing left to destiny. In this hustle and bustle here i am trying to make their parents life comfortable,missing my mom and her food. People acknowledge my quick success and fame ,which makes me satisfied coz i kno sumwhere they are praising the efforts of a young rebel. Yes the heading of my essay holds totally true for my mom. Everyone says their mom is the best but my mom, she is different and she is far better than the best.

She's not just my mom, she is my best friend, my cupid, my best critic and my mom is my god. She got me into this world and raised me. As a kid I gave her sleepless nights due to my constant crying but she never complained. When older I went out to play, got hurt and she was made to pay for it by running down to the chemist but she never complained. And now when I am 16 I still hurt her by fighting with her over teenage rights but she never complains.

My moms an angel who has given birth to a demon but she never complains. My mom, by far the best thing on earth, is not just a concerned old mother, but also a young at heart girl of 16 who cares about me. We party together, go for shopping together, watch movies together, play video games together and share almost everything going on in our lives with each other. But she is firm and never lets me take undue advantage of any of these things.

She knows where to draw the line. I have set of rules set strictly by my mom and she is very firm about them. Although she can be a lot of fun but when required she could put on the mask of an army general also. The most surprising thing about her is that she always knows what I am upto. She would know it if am lying, if am sad, if am angry, depressed, irritated and I fail to find out how? And she always does help me out of the most difficult situations so easily. I've lied to her a hundred times but the pool of forgiveness that she is, am always saved but with her strict last warnings.

My mother, a person sometimes I fail to understand. There are times when I just want to tell her everything going on in my life and there are times when am scared to even tell her that am hungry. But the bond that we share is very special. She is always there for me. She is my counselor and the only person I can trust with my secrets. She is the lady who brought me into this world and took care of me when I was a kid and still is. Although am 16, I really don't think there would be ever a time when I would no more be a kid for my mom.

I am so proud to be the daughter of my mom. She would pitch for the minimum when she hires an auto but by the time she gets down she would have picked up a conversation with the auto driver and paid one and half times more. If you question her "why" she would say that the "petrol prices are high". She loves everyone in this world including the most hated, if I ask her, she would say "he had no other go". We have a small home which will be crowded even if two more people come in but she would invite everyone in this world. If I ask her, she will bluntly tell me "you just need to have some space in heart.

One cannot expect a king's reception in her home just because he is the richest and most qualified. To her all that matters are individual's personality. She would wash and press my clothes so meticulously as if she is contesting a dry cleaning competition. When I try to help her, she would tell me "you don't know how to do it" which mean "I don't want you to do this". Her best part is commitment to anything she does. The way she prepares the food is worth a watch. So sincere, even if nobody is going to have food, delicious food would have been ready on time. She will not be hustling in the kitchen if some more people have joined us for dinner.

Food will be ready to be served. She would always cook more than required. Moms are always special, they live and die for their children. She went through gut wrenching treatments, each as painful as the disease itself. Yet, I never heard her say that she was scared. Her fear was for her children, that we would be unhappy over her, so she always smiled and joked through it all. When she finished treatment, she came to visit me in USA, a changed woman. She went to a spa for the first time, she had a haircut, a manicure, she wanted to live her life.

When the cancer came back a second time, she didnt flinch. She made me promise to take care of dad if she wasnt around; She carried on with her teaching job right till the very end; though she could hardly stand, through sheer will power to keep things as normal as possible for us. She never cried, never said "why me"; she reassured everyone that she had full faith in docs and would recover soon. She said she could face anything then, as long as her family was safe.

During her last few days, I was by her side with very little sleep or rest due to her condition. One night while I slept, she massaged my shoulders, trying to make me sleep; although she herself was on her deathbed. This was my mom, always selfless, always helping; always thinking of her children - a star in her own right. She passed away last year; on mothers day, May 14th, with a sparkle in her eyes and a smile on her lips.

She taught me how to stare adversity in the face and laugh with it. She taught me to care for others despite personal discomfort and problems. A persons worth is determined by the of lives they touch; and on my mothers death; there were atleast people who made it to the funeral, all with teary eyes. She is my hero because she taught me that love conquers all. May God bless her always. Most of all the other beautiful things in life come by twos and threes, by dozens and hundreds.

She weeps and feels it as her failure when i failed, She smiles when i am happy, She Consoles when i am in a slump. When i fail she does night outs taking all pain to teach me to heal my failure, and ensures that i win the next time. I pray for god to give you mom a long and healthy life. I pray for god a million times to give me, you only as my mother any number of time i take a birth again and again.

My mom is a super-mom and I call her that because she is the undisputed master of multi-tasking!!! She has been not only a wonderful mother but also a fantastic woman. My mom has shown us that its important to be a strong, independent woman apart from stressing on the fact that a woman must have that charm, grace and feminity which actually defines the very essence of a woman. She has nurtured me and my sibling with utmost care, showered us with her unfathomable love, care and affection which no one and nothing in the world can replace.

I am what I am only because of her and proud to be her daughter. When i failed to see God elsewhere, I saw HIM in my children and in my friends, my worker colleagues and in my students.. My mom is unique for she is Santoshi Maa's real life character, who sacrificed her life for the sake of a big joint family and her children.

What she has done for us and our family, none can even think of doing even in ten births.. She is a living symbol of contentment, patience, perseverance, faith in GOD and a selfless service so that others can live.. She taught me Ramayana, Gita, Hanuman Chalissa, music when i was a child and sang for me to sleep and wake up with courage her favourite verse " Himmate marda maddade Khuda..

I think the best is that in my father she got her best life time companion in terms of courage, patience, perseverance and sacrifice for others.. May she live with my Dad for ever so that we are always blessed like we have been for GOD works through our Moms and Dads I have to scan her latest pic and will send you by tomorrow from the nearest cyber cafe.. I love you for asking your readers to write on such topics.. Tejinder Singh Bedi, Pappu for my sweet and loving parents. Today when I look back and see i realise this world is so big, but ma altered it just right to suit us.

A great pool of sarcasm, mom always had something hidden in her. Now when i display the same signs of strength that mom did while raising us, i know where it is coming from. Its not easy fighting the battle alone, to stand in front of the whole wide world and tell them,dare enter the lioness'den.

Yes, mom did not let the wrath of the world fall on us when dad left us untimely. There she was, wrapped in white fighting every moment so that we survive. We survived alright and now when i think of her,i can see the strong but tired wrinkles on her face. Its true when they say," god can't be everywhere,so he created mothers". I love you ma with all my heart and soul Have you seen Villages in Bharathiraja films.

It is like that exactly our village. It is not exaggeration. Atleast now you can see some developments but 20 years back there was no electricity or no other facilities in my village Aval poondurai - kaliyan kadu in Erode district. Both of my parents are illerate. But they had a strong will power to bring us to the top. All my achievements will always belong to my MOM who fought with everybody including my father some times and ensured that our ambition is achieved. My MOM actually ensured for me a better life not bothering about herself and her desires.

What makes my mom cooler; the answer ironically has to be that she's the warmest person in my life. This narrative may not be the encomium she deserves, but this is straight from my heart. Even as I watch my mother pray are you guessing for whose sake??!! But I'm told that's what every loving mother does. But what makes mine special?

Is it the canopy of her benign hands that guided me during my tentative first steps? Is it because she saw a great wall-painting when the mortal eyes couldn't see beyond childish scribbles? Is it because my screaming and babbles were music to her ears? Is it because she was equally enthusiastic when I said I want to be a painter one day, a musician another, a boxer the next day, an Army commander or Doctor, Engineer or in those painful years nothing at all..!!!

She once told, perhaps quoting someone, 'If you kept judging people, you will never have time to love them' which she lives by. That, my friends, makes my MOM special to me. A popular dialogue often chanted by Dharam Paaji or towering bachchan saab. Staying miles away from my ma in London, I wonder if I could say this to my ma everyday.

Cause I miss her so much. She is the best, simply because she can read my mind,know when I am happy or when I am sad just by listening to my voice over the phone. She has three children bit often I feel I am the only child or I am the special one and she manages this with my brother and my sister. Maa tujhe salaam was a song actually composed for our great nation,but I wouldnt be surprised if it was sung for all the ma's of India as they definitely deserve a salute. My moms life is full of sacrifices and adjustments. Sacrifices she did for her family and adjustments she made in her life to fulfill our wishes and dreams.

Sometimes she will sweat and overwork just to see that smile on my face. Now when I look back I can feel how much effort she would have put in just to do that. The followin lines are dedicated to u mom:. I had a lesson in school which was "My mother is the most beautiful women on the earth". It was a story about a girl whose mother was very average looking but the reason she was the most beautiful women on earth for this little girl was because of all the things she did for the girl.

In my case "My Mother is the most beautiful women on earth" for two reasons - Not only because of all the things she did for me and is doing ever since I was a kid but also because she is really Very Pretty!! And they're out of the book. The book ends before their chapters are completed. That sucked big time for me. Overall, the book wasn't bad. I guess I liked it. Review also posted at: Jun 03, Linda rated it really liked it Shelves: Rebecca Ryman, or Asha Bhanjdeo as her real name was, was brilliant at describing emotions, and people's reactions and behavior, and was very convincing in her writing.

I like these kind of books, where the present can only be described by the past, where people are products of a dark society and how they finally break through this barrier of hate they have developed. So are Jai Raventhor Rebecca Ryman, or Asha Bhanjdeo as her real name was, was brilliant at describing emotions, and people's reactions and behavior, and was very convincing in her writing.

So are Jai Raventhorne. Jai is such a product of society. He is so driven by hate and revenge that he punishes people all around him, even people he cares about. Nothing is as important as his crusade and it consumes him entirely. The relentless, cold, ruthless character seems to be damaged beyond repair. What is the reason for his evil, criminal deeds? What will happen when the young, openminded woman, so different from the english judgmental society, enters his life? I understand he feels trapped when he is no longer able to control his emotions with hate, and it's really interesting to see Jai struggling with his new feelings and refusing to capitulate.

Their meeting means problems, and Olivia is soon in the middle of a terrible crossfire between Jai and the people he has sworn to destroy. Olivia is an interesting character, as well, and I was really fascinated how cruel she can be when pushed to the test. I was afraid she and Jai would literally kill each other. They have everything against them, and nothing in their favour. It is always heart-breaking to see people wrongly treated become destructive, and self-destructive even, but at the same time, it's fascinating, because somewhere deep within, they're desperate for approval more than anything and when they come into contact with love they are so confused and fragile.

Jai is a layered character and Ryman was successful at provoking the reader in the same way as Olivia was provoked. I totally understand her love, hate and sorrow as well as I understand her own actions, even though I think they are very cruel. Those who like Wuthering heights, Gone with the wind and Rebecca will definitely like this one. Jan 22, Susanne rated it it was ok Shelves: I like a good romance from time to time and a romance set in an exotic locale is an added plus -- but I expect the setting and time-frame to feel authentic. How in the world can a character like Estelle, cosseted young miss from a prominent British family exclaim: As for your fac I like a good romance from time to time and a romance set in an exotic locale is an added plus -- but I expect the setting and time-frame to feel authentic.

As for your face, darling Coz, well I thought I'd die, just die, trying to stifle my giggles. I'd give anything, anything to be in London in thirty days! Marie says she changed her hair colour twice in three months and nobody in London batted an eyelash. THAT was a book I'll return to again and again.

Sep 12, Samantha rated it it was ok. This is actually the second time I read Olivia and Jai--it's a favorite book of a favorite cousin, and I reread it before giving it back to her. The book is a page-turner that kept me in its thrall to the end, but it was a joyless experience, and one for which I'm glad it's over. The Plot In 60 Seconds without spoilers: Olivia is a headstrong no stereotypes there! American woman staying with her British family in 's Calcutta during the Raj. Her uncle is a merchant who This is actually the second time I read Olivia and Jai--it's a favorite book of a favorite cousin, and I reread it before giving it back to her.

Her uncle is a merchant who is locked in a merchant battle to the death with Jai Raventhorne, a half-Indian, half-British self-made dude with a bad-boy reputation swoooon. Of course, Olivia feels this helpless attraction to Jai even though he warns her off, and bad stuff ensues, mostly because they both refuse to communicate like adults.

And, you know, the plot must go on. I think I've become a lot more sensitive to racism and sexism in books I read over the years, because there was some Very Not OK stuff in here that I strongly didn't like reading about, even in my diversionary historical fiction. Also, the book had less than I remembered about the tea trade. That was a little disappointing because those were some of the most interesting parts.

If you're looking for something historical to consume that deals much more thoughtfully with social difference, check out the BBC miniseries "North and South" with Richard Armitage. Tried the novel, didn't love that. This is the one time you'll hear me say that the movie was better than the book. It poses some thoughtful questions about the nature of charity, industrialization and its discontents, and the toll that trade extracts from its winners as well as its losers. Olivia y Jai son dos personajes atrapados por un destino que no son capaces de controlar.

Salvo a Olivia, a todos la historia les cae grande y son incapaces de controlarla. Hasta Jai en algunos momentos se tambalea Pero vale la pena. Pero no quiero inducir a error: Es simplemente una novela magistral. Oct 09, Jewel rated it really liked it Shelves: When I finished reading this book I felt like I was leaving people that I knew behind- I was going to miss them and I did.

Set in India in the 19th century- this was a really well written book - I enjoyed reading about the history and business and cultural differences. It was all accurate and consuming. Surprisingly all the business talk Olivia did with her uncle was interesting and set the background of what was to come later in the book. Amidst all the business and cultural conflict Olivia and J When I finished reading this book I felt like I was leaving people that I knew behind- I was going to miss them and I did. Amidst all the business and cultural conflict Olivia and Jai meet - star crossed lovers - what was to become of their relationship.

Even though this was a strong book I had issues with the romance- in the first half of the book Olivia was so annoying- forgiving Jai everything and throwing herself at him.

I can't help but feel that had she shown a bit of annoyance and anger towards Jai's behavior things would have been different. Jai is such a complicated character- so much anger and bitterness- it was not easy to get through to him. The second half of the book changes atmosphere with Olivia stronger and determined and getting things done.

I might not agree with her choices but we do see the result of wrong decisions and how they affect lives. The ending was to me unsatisfactory - I wanted an epilogue - but I will have to make do with book two. This book was just delightful. The setting is just breathtaking and made me wish I could go back in time to India in the s. Olivia is an American visiting her British aunt in India. While at a party, she steps outside, tired of the insipid revelers and she meets Jai Raventhorne, a man with a HUGE chip in his shoulder, and it is the beginning of the end for pretty much her entire family.

Of course, the title makes it pretty clear that these two characters are going to fall besottedly in love This book was just delightful. Of course, the title makes it pretty clear that these two characters are going to fall besottedly in love with each other. But only in a book like this do they get to ride an elephant while hunting a man-eating Bengal tiger.

The characters are all well developed and the dialogue between Olivia and Jai is pretty satisfying. This book went it several directions that I did not expect and as such, many of my household chores were woefully neglected because I could not unglue my eyes from this book. I am very excited to have to have the sequel and will now begin reading it.

The only complaint I can make about this book is that the ending, while nice, seemed rather abrupt. Other than that, though, this was fantastic. This novel was a fascinating but painful love story, it unfolded among betrayals and heartache Jai and Olivia were doomed from the start but the readers cannot help but hope they can overcome everything and find solace in each other!! The author crafted a multi-layered, emotional romance worth investing in.

I would call the book an oldie but goodie kind, since it was written in the 80's. This dramatic compelling plot grabs our attention and tugs at our heartstrings!! Jun 06, Leer En el Sur rated it it was amazing. View all 11 comments. Oct 18, Tiff rated it it was amazing Shelves: This book is absolutely amazing. I recommend this to all book lovers. Feb 28, Danny rated it it was amazing. A must-read for everyone who loves dark mysterious man and Jai is exactly that and enjoys a big epic love story! Gosh, Jai is awesome!!! Jan 11, Michelle Pickett rated it it was amazing. One of my all time favorite books.

I read it at least once a year. May 13, Sasha rated it really liked it. It was a melting pot of vivid imagery, lavish description, and historical background that wasn't heavy-handed or forced. It maintained a finely detailed and fascinating setting, a brooding, villainous hero, and an intelligent, determined heroine. It was a page-turner and I was spellbound. Honestly, the first pages were some of the finest I have ever read.

The clandestine meetings, the mystique, the teeming, secret alleyways of Calcutta, the unpredictability and wild adventure the heroine literally gets to ride on the back of an elephant while hunting a tiger in the jungle alongside Indian royalty. That's pretty awesome in my book, though I feel for the tiger. These tidbits, paired with all the romantic angst, made for a delightful and enthralling read, with the minor annoyance of Olivia fainting I kept praying she wouldn't turn out to be a damsel in distress, since I abhor weak female characters easily forgiven and forgotten.

And then, right around page , things got very "Shadow of the Moon" on me. A betrayal which conveniently occurs because of the non-delivery of a VERY important letter, and could easily have been avoided if people just communicated with each other pretty much overshadows the rest of the plot, and the heroine I liked so much becomes mercenary and cold, and the hero I liked becomes a total villain. Low to High Price: High to Low Avg. Available for download now. Available to ship in days.

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