Jena has been squirrelling away more books for the winter. We join her as she selects This Stolen Life by Jeevani Charika. I know you will be tempted to read more when you read Jena’s comments about the opening chapter. There is also more exciting news about Jeevani’s novels.
One of the many joys of reading is the opportunity to travel to new places, simply by opening a book and starting to read. Don’t you love those few seconds of expectation and hope as you study the book’s cover, then the flip through the cover pages and finally settle on “Chapter One”? The covers of Jeevani Charika’s books show us that we will be getting to know the stories of someone who may be from a place we haven’t yet explored on our Planet Earth.
Jeevani Charika tells us in her bio that she writes multi-cultural women’s fiction and contemporary romances with a hint of British cynicism. She also writes romantic comedy under the pen name Rhoda Baxter. So why the two names? Well… Jeevani writes about British-Sri Lankan main characters.
British readers may be more familiar with Sri Lanka, but I confess I had to look up information about this place. With a spin of the digital globe, Google Earth zoomed me 8,869 miles from Ohio, USA, to a beautiful island in South Asia located in the Indian Ocean, near India. I learned that Sri Lanka is home to many cultures, languages and ethnicities. (At the time of British colonial rule, it was known as Ceylon.) Google Earth also displayed photos of Sri Lanka’s natural beauty that looked like the most glorious travel posters I have ever seen. What a paradise! I couldn’t wait to read the first chapter of Jeevani Charika’s THIS STOLEN LIFE.
Come with me to Sri Lanka! Chapter One is written in in short, punchy sentences. There is no time for the main character, Jaya, to indulge in lyrical, poetic thoughts. The author shows us by the fast pace that Jaya is desperate and fighting for her life. This is the night that will she escape from her home and leave her mother and step-father. She must creep from her house and hide in the shadows to save herself. She has one chance.
Jaya has a simple plan. She will ride her bicycle to the bus stop, head to Colombo and buy a ticket to freedom. I felt like I was as terrified as Jaya, until she finally gets on the bus and lets the miles of travel lull her to sleep.
Jaya is jarred awake by battering, noise and pain. Again, the rapid, blunt sentences convey a new desperation. Has her plan crashed so suddenly? Jaya struggles to save herself, but has she now lost all her plans and all her dreams?
Aren’t you ready to read more of This Stolen Life? I know I am! Let’s discuss Jeevani’s book together in the comments. If you’ve read it, I would enjoy hearing your thoughts or review. If you are considering starting this book, let’s take another look at the eye-catching cover. The subtitle is “Tell the Truth- or Keep the One You Love.” The tagline is, “A completely captivating tale of love that will break your heart.” We see a young, pretty woman, presumably from Sri Lanka. Will she survive and find love?
Please share, with these questions as a starting point:
- Have you visited Sri Lanka?
- Would you be brave enough to run away from your old life, to start a new one?
- Can there be heartbreak and “happily ever after?”
Jena: The wind has shifted from south to north, and my windows show rain and hints of snow. Waving goodbye to sunny summer, and vibrant autumn gets harder every year, as I am not keen to shake hands with old Mr. Winter. Thank goodness for Jessie’s Handbag Gallery! I will take my Golden Handbag and browse her beguiling displays and choose a book that will be a cheery companion.
Jena C. Henry, Reader and Reviewer, Blogger, Author
https://www.jenabooks.com
https://www.facebook.com/jena.c.henry/
https://twitter.com/jenabooks
I had the pleasure of meeting Jeevani twice at the RNA York Tea, she is great company and very witty. On our first meeting, she introduced me to romance writer Milly Johnson. When discovered Jeevani is releasing another novel on 13th November, I took a peek at the blurb. A Convenient Marriage sounds like a clever narrative. Click on the title of the book to discover more but let me tease you with this…
It was the perfect marriage… until they fell in love
More about Jeevani
Jeevani Charika writes women’s fiction and contemporary romances with a hint of British cynicism. (In case you were wondering, it’s pronounced Jeev-uh-nee.)
There’s a whole lot of other stuff she could tell you – but mainly: she’s a former scientist, an adult fan of Lego, an embarrassing mum, a part time geek (see ’embarrassing mum’) and a Very Short Person.
Jeevani has received high praise from an amazing group of romance authors.
“Huge fun, with a slightly different slant.” Katie Fforde
“Written with a sure touch. I love Jeevani Charika’s writing.” Sue Moorcroft
“A fantastic and fascinating read.” Phillipa Ashley