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Fortytude #1
Vegas to Varanasi
Librarian's note: Alternate cover edition of ASIN B00GRHHFY4.
Anna has never been the beautiful one; she’s always been the nice one. So when the gorgeous man sitting across the table at a wedding reception remembers her from high school—and quite fondly at that—she’s taken off guard.
Formerly overweight and unpopular, Kiran has never forgotten Anna, the one person who was kind to him when no one else could be bothered, and Anna’s a bit flustered as she slowly comes to grips with his intense attraction for her.
In what feels like a romantic dream come true, all-grown-up, hunky Kiran invites Anna on a trip to Varanasi. But her troubled, whack-a-do ex-boyfriend starts interfering, creating drama at every turn, which begs the question, “Can nice girls really finish first?”
Anna has never been the beautiful one; she’s always been the nice one. So when the gorgeous man sitting across the table at a wedding reception remembers her from high school—and quite fondly at that—she’s taken off guard.
Formerly overweight and unpopular, Kiran has never forgotten Anna, the one person who was kind to him when no one else could be bothered, and Anna’s a bit flustered as she slowly comes to grips with his intense attraction for her.
In what feels like a romantic dream come true, all-grown-up, hunky Kiran invites Anna on a trip to Varanasi. But her troubled, whack-a-do ex-boyfriend starts interfering, creating drama at every turn, which begs the question, “Can nice girls really finish first?”
235 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 18, 2013
278 people are currently reading
749 people want to read
About the author
Shelly Hickman
6 books73 followersHello there! A little about me. A long-time Las Vegas native, I spend my days teaching computer technology to hormonal middle schoolers. I live with my husband of 20+ years and have a teenage daughter, grown son, and child of the furry persuasion.
I'm a huge fan of "The Walking Dead" and "Game of Thrones", as well as movies with stupid humor. "Zoolander", "Austin Powers", and "Monty Python" are some of my faves. And if you asked me where the best place in the world is, it would have to be Disneyland. I mean, it *is* the happiest place on Earth.
I love to write about relationships, family as well as romantic, and my aim is to explore life's challenges with honesty and humor. Hearing from readers is such a treat, so please feel free to visit me on Facebook or Twitter, or both!
www.shellyhickman.com
www.facebook.com/shellyhickman.author
I'm a huge fan of "The Walking Dead" and "Game of Thrones", as well as movies with stupid humor. "Zoolander", "Austin Powers", and "Monty Python" are some of my faves. And if you asked me where the best place in the world is, it would have to be Disneyland. I mean, it *is* the happiest place on Earth.
I love to write about relationships, family as well as romantic, and my aim is to explore life's challenges with honesty and humor. Hearing from readers is such a treat, so please feel free to visit me on Facebook or Twitter, or both!
www.shellyhickman.com
www.facebook.com/shellyhickman.author
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
December 24, 2013
Hickman’s mellow writing style really lets you focus on the story at hand. She subtly creates a world that you find yourself wandering through alongside the characters. This story was completely realistic, focusing on real relationships and problems. At the same time, Hickman presents everything in a captivating manner that draws you into the lives of her characters.
As a reader you really get to know all of the characters in this story. Hickman develops them fully without stepping out of the story proper. Although the focus is on the main character, she also takes the time to develop each character individually, giving the story a well-rounded and approachable feel.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey that this novel took me on. It was a brilliantly put together, mellow read that really made me think.
Please note that I received this novel free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.
As a reader you really get to know all of the characters in this story. Hickman develops them fully without stepping out of the story proper. Although the focus is on the main character, she also takes the time to develop each character individually, giving the story a well-rounded and approachable feel.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey that this novel took me on. It was a brilliantly put together, mellow read that really made me think.
Please note that I received this novel free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.
November 30, 2013
Vegas to Varanasi is a bit different from the books I usually read. Anna, while technically not *that* much older than me is at a way different stage of life, having grown children and all. At first, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to relate, but I was wrong. I hitched a ride and went along on her journey, enjoying myself the whole time. The supporting characters were delightful, and Kiran... oh my goodness. This super sexy, super nice romantic hero had this wonderful depth (thanks to lingering emotional teenage scars) which made him much more interesting to read about than your average love interest. And finally, I have got to mention the Varanasi setting. I loved reading the bits that were set there and learning more about the customs, traditions and even just the way of life in modern India. The descriptions were particularly vibrant and an absolute delight to read.
September 13, 2017
The cover was very colorfull and attractive. I enjoyed reading the story full of ups and downs but of course with the so needed happy ending in this kind of books. The writing style was fluent and the author could keep my attention through the whole story. Maybe a pity that we did not learn a little more about India, which was what I had expected, because I thought that a bigger part would take place over there.. Nevertheless I had some nice and entertaining hours reading this book.
December 10, 2017
It was an interesting plot with good narration, but it was a bit confusing because the story moved from one point in time to another too quickly. I loved the characters, they were well written, especially the relationship between Anna and Kiran and parents with their children. It was full of teasing and humor, as well as cultural background and family relationships.
November 2, 2013
I'm a huge fan of author Shelly Hickman, so I was thrilled and honored to be given an advance copy of her third book! I devoured it in no time, just as I did with her first two.
What a unique and moving story. It's usually the plain guy with the gorgeous girl, but here it's the other way around and it works beautifully. It's so touching how Kiran remembers Anna's kindness when they were younger, when adolescents can be so cruel. There are many sweet and sexy moments. The romance develops at just the right pace, with realistic and understandable obstacles that left me cheering for Anna and Kiran to make it work.
I especially loved the complex relationships in Anna's life, including those with her ex-husband and his boyfriend, a powerful statement about how love can take many forms. They co-parent admirably and are the best of friends, despite having had to overcome the heart wrenching pain of the coming to terms with his sexuality after marriage and two kids. Hickman always finds a way to teach us that healthy doses of love, kindness, and acceptance will allow us to overcome anything.
I learned a lot from Anna's relationships with her kids. The push and pull she feels when trying to mediate their spats and as they are becoming adults. Her attempts to stay involved in their lives and keep them in the loop on what’s happening with her while also maintaining appropriate boundaries and giving them their space and freedom.
Every aspect of Anna's life was captivating and inspiring to me - her choices, her perspective, her history. But Anna is also a crack-up and there were many laugh out loud moments as I was reading. The ending is as real as they come, with just what I had hoped for in some cases and surprises I couldn’t have seen coming in others.
Well done, Shelly Hickman! Can't wait for your next book!
What a unique and moving story. It's usually the plain guy with the gorgeous girl, but here it's the other way around and it works beautifully. It's so touching how Kiran remembers Anna's kindness when they were younger, when adolescents can be so cruel. There are many sweet and sexy moments. The romance develops at just the right pace, with realistic and understandable obstacles that left me cheering for Anna and Kiran to make it work.
I especially loved the complex relationships in Anna's life, including those with her ex-husband and his boyfriend, a powerful statement about how love can take many forms. They co-parent admirably and are the best of friends, despite having had to overcome the heart wrenching pain of the coming to terms with his sexuality after marriage and two kids. Hickman always finds a way to teach us that healthy doses of love, kindness, and acceptance will allow us to overcome anything.
I learned a lot from Anna's relationships with her kids. The push and pull she feels when trying to mediate their spats and as they are becoming adults. Her attempts to stay involved in their lives and keep them in the loop on what’s happening with her while also maintaining appropriate boundaries and giving them their space and freedom.
Every aspect of Anna's life was captivating and inspiring to me - her choices, her perspective, her history. But Anna is also a crack-up and there were many laugh out loud moments as I was reading. The ending is as real as they come, with just what I had hoped for in some cases and surprises I couldn’t have seen coming in others.
Well done, Shelly Hickman! Can't wait for your next book!
January 9, 2014
Now I think I finally "get" this genre. And many thanks to Shelley Hickman for being a patient instructor. In fact I recommend the Hickman chick lit oeuvre (to date) for a quick tutorial regarding this realm. I think she has really upped her game with this last entry into the crowded field of women's fiction.
Although Hickman's book production is flawless, this novel is all about STORY. Yes, she can write. Yes, she is a competent writer. Yes, the product here merits good points for nary a typo, etc. (or any of the usual indie publishing hazards).But, oh so much more importantly, she has imagination, wit and heart. You can tell she had fun with this one. She loved her characters, she knew them well enough to make them real to me, and she followed two of the best rules for writers I know: 1) Be playful and 2) Keep your nerve.
If I am correct that chick lit books are primarily meant to be entertaining, not necessarily provocative, then Shelly Hickman has written a winner. I was never distracted by heavy issues. I just wanted to know what was going to happen to these characters. That is not to say this book was fluffy. Anything but. You have some serious crap happening in this book. (Her failed marriage to a gay man for one. David's decompensation into alcohol addiction for two, and the concomitant lingering features of Kiran's bullied adolescence for three), but Hickman manages to write about these things without judgment or excuse. She never delves into her heroine's psyche to try to illuminate her obvious BIG FLAW. She never tries to explain why this likable woman is attracted to such risky men. (Yikes, 3!) She just relentlessly moves her story along without commentary or criticism while maintaining consistency of character in two very different settings. Harder to do than it seems, I should think.So, good on her and a deserving five stars.
Although Hickman's book production is flawless, this novel is all about STORY. Yes, she can write. Yes, she is a competent writer. Yes, the product here merits good points for nary a typo, etc. (or any of the usual indie publishing hazards).But, oh so much more importantly, she has imagination, wit and heart. You can tell she had fun with this one. She loved her characters, she knew them well enough to make them real to me, and she followed two of the best rules for writers I know: 1) Be playful and 2) Keep your nerve.
If I am correct that chick lit books are primarily meant to be entertaining, not necessarily provocative, then Shelly Hickman has written a winner. I was never distracted by heavy issues. I just wanted to know what was going to happen to these characters. That is not to say this book was fluffy. Anything but. You have some serious crap happening in this book. (Her failed marriage to a gay man for one. David's decompensation into alcohol addiction for two, and the concomitant lingering features of Kiran's bullied adolescence for three), but Hickman manages to write about these things without judgment or excuse. She never delves into her heroine's psyche to try to illuminate her obvious BIG FLAW. She never tries to explain why this likable woman is attracted to such risky men. (Yikes, 3!) She just relentlessly moves her story along without commentary or criticism while maintaining consistency of character in two very different settings. Harder to do than it seems, I should think.So, good on her and a deserving five stars.
June 20, 2019
3 1/2 Simple. Sweet. Subtle. .... stars
Overall 3 out of 5 stars
Performance 4 out of 5 stars
Story 3 out of 5 stars
The cultural aspects of the book was what got me the most. Yes, this was a romance with older people (not teens or twenties). I think a real adult romance with people that have lived some life was called for on this day.
Kiran had done much to make changes in his life. But no matter all that he had changed he still loved the same girl he loved in school. The same girl that could see him, but did she really see him if she could not remember him.
Anna for me was a little too whooooo is me. She was a bit more stuck on herself and where she was than others around her. Dispite all this Kiran still loved her. Allowing the two to become friends and then grow to more was a nice touch.
Simple. Sweet. Subtle.
I did enjoy the narrator's voice. The highs and lows. The cadance was pleasant.
Overall 3 out of 5 stars
Performance 4 out of 5 stars
Story 3 out of 5 stars
The cultural aspects of the book was what got me the most. Yes, this was a romance with older people (not teens or twenties). I think a real adult romance with people that have lived some life was called for on this day.
Kiran had done much to make changes in his life. But no matter all that he had changed he still loved the same girl he loved in school. The same girl that could see him, but did she really see him if she could not remember him.
Anna for me was a little too whooooo is me. She was a bit more stuck on herself and where she was than others around her. Dispite all this Kiran still loved her. Allowing the two to become friends and then grow to more was a nice touch.
Simple. Sweet. Subtle.
I did enjoy the narrator's voice. The highs and lows. The cadance was pleasant.
September 12, 2016
I love “What could have been” and “Finally Ever After” stories. I think one of the things I liked most about this book is that I found myself really connecting to the characters . Oh an they are not in their early twenties. While I love NA as much as, if not more than the next person, I love reading about people who are close to my age. It was such a refreshing change.
Now to the nitty gritty. It is rare to be in your early forties without a bit of heartbreak in your past. Anna had her share. Her marriage resulted in two beautiful children, but it was not the HEA Anna had dreamed it would. Now in her early forties she has two mostly grown children and is living with a partner who, among other things, only thinks of himself. Kiran spent his life being overweight and allowing that to control his self worth. He has lost the weight, but his insecurities are still close to the surface. Not to mention his own heartbreak. Together they reconnect after over 20 years. While they barely knew each other back then, Kiran always remembered Anna and how she treated him with kindness when kindness was rare.
I was afraid at first that Anna was going to be this perfect, super sweet woman who let people walk over her because of her innate kindness. Boy was I wrong. She was sweet, but she was also real. I connected with her on so many levels. She is kind, but she also struggles with her own insecurities and balancing her relationships with her less than traditional family and her own personal life.
Kiran is beyond intelligent, loves his family and is hot. The last part adds an interesting dynamic because Anna is intimidated by this even though he does not actually see himself that way.
Not only did I really like Kiran and Anna, but I loved both of their families as well. They added such wonderful layers to the already captivating story. I would be remiss to leave out India. In some ways it was a secondary character for part of the book and the author did a wonderful job sharing the beauty and not so beauty of the country and parts of it'c culture. I will say this book did not end the way I thought it would, but it did end exactly where and how it should. I have not read anything by this author in the past, but I will be keeping an eye out for her books from now on.
Now to the nitty gritty. It is rare to be in your early forties without a bit of heartbreak in your past. Anna had her share. Her marriage resulted in two beautiful children, but it was not the HEA Anna had dreamed it would. Now in her early forties she has two mostly grown children and is living with a partner who, among other things, only thinks of himself. Kiran spent his life being overweight and allowing that to control his self worth. He has lost the weight, but his insecurities are still close to the surface. Not to mention his own heartbreak. Together they reconnect after over 20 years. While they barely knew each other back then, Kiran always remembered Anna and how she treated him with kindness when kindness was rare.
I was afraid at first that Anna was going to be this perfect, super sweet woman who let people walk over her because of her innate kindness. Boy was I wrong. She was sweet, but she was also real. I connected with her on so many levels. She is kind, but she also struggles with her own insecurities and balancing her relationships with her less than traditional family and her own personal life.
Kiran is beyond intelligent, loves his family and is hot. The last part adds an interesting dynamic because Anna is intimidated by this even though he does not actually see himself that way.
Not only did I really like Kiran and Anna, but I loved both of their families as well. They added such wonderful layers to the already captivating story. I would be remiss to leave out India. In some ways it was a secondary character for part of the book and the author did a wonderful job sharing the beauty and not so beauty of the country and parts of it'c culture. I will say this book did not end the way I thought it would, but it did end exactly where and how it should. I have not read anything by this author in the past, but I will be keeping an eye out for her books from now on.
February 20, 2014
This book was different and not my cup of tea but I enjoyed every minute of it. I was amazed at how well the story was. Reading this was simple it was fast pace and nice I loved the characters. One thing that was hard for me to do is relate, mostly because the characters are the age of my parents and I am the age of the kids. All in all, this story was well written and sweet, and corny! (In a good way). I am glad I read this and that is because not every genre is my style but I love experiencing them all and I can say that even if this isn’t your genre, this is a read that captures everything you look for in a sweet romance and that is something that isn’t conquered often.
Romantic comedy is somewhat of what I’d call it, it had a sweet tale of love and heartbreak but they made it less tragic and more of a “moving on in life” type thing and there were parts where I laughed so much I got questioning glares from coworkers and was okay because I enjoyed it. This may have not been my cup of tea but this author did an amazing job. Liking this book is something easy anyone could do. The love and happiness in it is real, not like overdramatic but very realistic.
Reading this book will give you insights to many things that happen that most people turn their head away from and that is one of its best aspects. That is another thing that makes this book amazing. There are real issues put on the table and some are hard to talk about and I am glad at how it was handled in the story. As I said this is not my cup of tea for age reasons but that in no way means it isn’t for you! I still enjoyed this story a lot I just had a harder time with relating to characters and dialogues. Vegas to Varanasi is a fast, happy, and fun read and if you don’t like it, that is okay! It is bittersweet and tender and this is one book I will put on my “No Regrets” list. <----- Yes I have one.
Romantic comedy is somewhat of what I’d call it, it had a sweet tale of love and heartbreak but they made it less tragic and more of a “moving on in life” type thing and there were parts where I laughed so much I got questioning glares from coworkers and was okay because I enjoyed it. This may have not been my cup of tea but this author did an amazing job. Liking this book is something easy anyone could do. The love and happiness in it is real, not like overdramatic but very realistic.
Reading this book will give you insights to many things that happen that most people turn their head away from and that is one of its best aspects. That is another thing that makes this book amazing. There are real issues put on the table and some are hard to talk about and I am glad at how it was handled in the story. As I said this is not my cup of tea for age reasons but that in no way means it isn’t for you! I still enjoyed this story a lot I just had a harder time with relating to characters and dialogues. Vegas to Varanasi is a fast, happy, and fun read and if you don’t like it, that is okay! It is bittersweet and tender and this is one book I will put on my “No Regrets” list. <----- Yes I have one.
March 4, 2014
Even though I enjoyed the book, for me, I needed just a little more. I think I wanted the relationship between Kiran and Claire to get a little deeper. I felt like we were dealing with David more than Kiran. There were the scenes in Varanasi that Claire and Kiran shared, but I always felt like their relationship was an afterthought. There was never a bliss period for Claire and Kiran without Claire not thinking about David even if it wasn't in a positive light. I felt that the story should have had a long stretch where the story was just about Kiran and Claire and not a word about David. I just needed to connect.
I did not understand Claire’s need to make sure that David was okay. That whole situation where Claire allowed her daughter to speak to "unstable" ex-boyfriend made me very uncomfortable and think less of the heroine.
The ending was nice, but I think I would have wanted a little more there too. I was hoping once certain issues were resolved that we could have a little more, but the ending revolved around another topic too where it should have been more about the Kiran and Claire.
I love these stories about second chances and this one had such a great premise. A woman at a friend’s daughter’s wedding is sitting with a man she knew 20+ years earlier in high school. Except this man is the most attractive man she had ever seen and she does not remember that much about him. Kiran remembers everything about Claire and how in high school she was the only one in high school who was kind to him. They start talking and then later run into each other again and they get to know each other. This was everything I love in my stories, I just wish there was a little more. I really liked the hero.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher/ author in exchange for an honest review.
I did not understand Claire’s need to make sure that David was okay. That whole situation where Claire allowed her daughter to speak to "unstable" ex-boyfriend made me very uncomfortable and think less of the heroine.
The ending was nice, but I think I would have wanted a little more there too. I was hoping once certain issues were resolved that we could have a little more, but the ending revolved around another topic too where it should have been more about the Kiran and Claire.
I love these stories about second chances and this one had such a great premise. A woman at a friend’s daughter’s wedding is sitting with a man she knew 20+ years earlier in high school. Except this man is the most attractive man she had ever seen and she does not remember that much about him. Kiran remembers everything about Claire and how in high school she was the only one in high school who was kind to him. They start talking and then later run into each other again and they get to know each other. This was everything I love in my stories, I just wish there was a little more. I really liked the hero.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher/ author in exchange for an honest review.
February 16, 2014
Vegas to Varanasi, India
4.5 stars
Hotness factor: Hrithik Roshan… seriously, look it up.
I have a couple of regrets about this book. First, I wish I had read it sooner, I had it in my kindle for months and I read far less entertaining novels instead (sigh). Second, I shouldn’t have read the blurb! It gave me a different idea of what the book was about. Lastly, blond moment, was I the only one who didn’t know that Varanasi was in India? I mean I watch Bollywood movies, I’m from Toronto, how on earth did I miss that? (I’m still blushing… embarrassed)
Anna and Kiran’s story started to unfold further in the book than I’ve anticipated. I struggled with the plot at the beginning not sure where it was going, but I like to give a book a chance to prove me wrong and it did. Anna, the protagonist and narrator, was married to her gay best friend and then more recently was in a long-term relationship with an alcoholic writer, so when dashing looking Kiran waltz back in her life making googly eyes and all, we could understand all her confusion and insecurities. Nevertheless, Anna and Kiran’s romance blossomed while they were away in Varanasi in spite of Anna’s ex incessant interference.
Overall, I really liked this book. It has as many funny moments as sad ones. The characters are older and that is always refreshing, Anna is charming, Kiran is intense (in a very good way) and her children are a reflection of her as a woman and mother. I won’t say more about the plot to avoid any spoilers, but I believe we need more books like Vegas to Varanasi, original, smart and funny books that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside after a good read. I highly recommend it!
I received an ARC in exchange of an honest review
4.5 stars
Hotness factor: Hrithik Roshan… seriously, look it up.
I have a couple of regrets about this book. First, I wish I had read it sooner, I had it in my kindle for months and I read far less entertaining novels instead (sigh). Second, I shouldn’t have read the blurb! It gave me a different idea of what the book was about. Lastly, blond moment, was I the only one who didn’t know that Varanasi was in India? I mean I watch Bollywood movies, I’m from Toronto, how on earth did I miss that? (I’m still blushing… embarrassed)
Anna and Kiran’s story started to unfold further in the book than I’ve anticipated. I struggled with the plot at the beginning not sure where it was going, but I like to give a book a chance to prove me wrong and it did. Anna, the protagonist and narrator, was married to her gay best friend and then more recently was in a long-term relationship with an alcoholic writer, so when dashing looking Kiran waltz back in her life making googly eyes and all, we could understand all her confusion and insecurities. Nevertheless, Anna and Kiran’s romance blossomed while they were away in Varanasi in spite of Anna’s ex incessant interference.
Overall, I really liked this book. It has as many funny moments as sad ones. The characters are older and that is always refreshing, Anna is charming, Kiran is intense (in a very good way) and her children are a reflection of her as a woman and mother. I won’t say more about the plot to avoid any spoilers, but I believe we need more books like Vegas to Varanasi, original, smart and funny books that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside after a good read. I highly recommend it!
I received an ARC in exchange of an honest review
December 21, 2013
This review first appeared on extaordinaryreads.com Here
A complex and realistic look at adult relationships in all their flawed reality. Anna has had to settle for a life of disappointment in love; her childhood sweetheart, whom she married and had two children with just so happened to turn out to be a self denying closet gay. Accepting that she cannot ever truly have the father of her kids, but determined to remain friends, she embarks on a life of juggling the elements of this revelation including her ex-husbands new affable boyfriend... Wow, how adult can you get.
Personally, Anna's life is difficult she forms a stormy relationship with one of her clients. He is a wanna-be author and a steadily worsening alcoholic, but then she meets an old school friend she hardly remembers who has gone through a radical physical transformation, he is gorgeous and very interested in her.
Character presentation is awesome, the interwoven issues and emotions are marvelously handled and the location descriptions inspiring. The protagonist's trip to India is almost spiritual, it is so well depicted. The Ganges truly comes alive in all it's historical, religious and polluted glory. Details in the experience of the main cast on their journey abroad are reminiscent of the growing understanding they are gaining of, and in, each other and is quite beautiful to behold. This book was absolutely engrossing and in the finale left a smile on my face.
A complex and realistic look at adult relationships in all their flawed reality. Anna has had to settle for a life of disappointment in love; her childhood sweetheart, whom she married and had two children with just so happened to turn out to be a self denying closet gay. Accepting that she cannot ever truly have the father of her kids, but determined to remain friends, she embarks on a life of juggling the elements of this revelation including her ex-husbands new affable boyfriend... Wow, how adult can you get.
Personally, Anna's life is difficult she forms a stormy relationship with one of her clients. He is a wanna-be author and a steadily worsening alcoholic, but then she meets an old school friend she hardly remembers who has gone through a radical physical transformation, he is gorgeous and very interested in her.
Character presentation is awesome, the interwoven issues and emotions are marvelously handled and the location descriptions inspiring. The protagonist's trip to India is almost spiritual, it is so well depicted. The Ganges truly comes alive in all it's historical, religious and polluted glory. Details in the experience of the main cast on their journey abroad are reminiscent of the growing understanding they are gaining of, and in, each other and is quite beautiful to behold. This book was absolutely engrossing and in the finale left a smile on my face.
February 27, 2014
I really liked this book, very enjoyable.
Anna is still trying to find herself and a good relationship at 42. And while she has a very loving and friendly relationship with the father of her children, her live in boyfriend is a complete different story. He's more interested in drinking and writing than in nurturing his relationship with Anna. She feels alone and underestimated and deep inside this relationship has ran its course.
At a wedding reception she gets reacquainted with Kiran, a man who went to high school with her. She defended him from a bully back them and he never forgot about her or what she did for him.
Their friendship develops and little by little we see how they are attracted to each other. He asks her to go to Varanasi to visit his grandma and that's where the sparks start to fly.
Kiran has his own set of problems but he's a mature man who is about to show Shelly what she's been missing all these years.
This is the first book I read from this author and I was positively impressed by her. The way she develops the story and the way she describes people, places and even the food, is almost palpable and in a way that transports you into the lives of her characters. She's also dealing with very realistic situations and they're all presented in a very respectful way. This is a story that will make you laugh, get very upset at a certain someone, and just rejoice along with Anna and Kiran.
Anna is still trying to find herself and a good relationship at 42. And while she has a very loving and friendly relationship with the father of her children, her live in boyfriend is a complete different story. He's more interested in drinking and writing than in nurturing his relationship with Anna. She feels alone and underestimated and deep inside this relationship has ran its course.
At a wedding reception she gets reacquainted with Kiran, a man who went to high school with her. She defended him from a bully back them and he never forgot about her or what she did for him.
Their friendship develops and little by little we see how they are attracted to each other. He asks her to go to Varanasi to visit his grandma and that's where the sparks start to fly.
Kiran has his own set of problems but he's a mature man who is about to show Shelly what she's been missing all these years.
This is the first book I read from this author and I was positively impressed by her. The way she develops the story and the way she describes people, places and even the food, is almost palpable and in a way that transports you into the lives of her characters. She's also dealing with very realistic situations and they're all presented in a very respectful way. This is a story that will make you laugh, get very upset at a certain someone, and just rejoice along with Anna and Kiran.
October 10, 2014
Well written and edited stand-alone story. 3.5 stars rounded up.
This story was a nice surprise about a 40ish woman with adult children who still has a romantic life, despite choosing not to do any serious dating while her children were little -- a very realistic scenario. She has supportive friends, a healthy relationship with an ex, nice kids and a good job. Her life was surprisingly drama free -- except for the blip with the current boyfriend.
The author addresses some serious subjects like alcoholism and the distorted self-esteem/perception issues of someone who had been overweight, but was now in good shape with a light touch that effectively communicates the stresses without the angsty drama of the YA genre. With an interesting side-trip to India, the story weaves in a new culture in a way that's interesting, surprising and still relatable. This is a romance, so there's heat, but it's more of a slow-simmer than sizzle.
I was really, really loving the story right up until the last couple of chapters. I was surprised by the somewhat abrupt ending that focused less on the main characters and more on a surprise ending with the daughter. A HEA is implied, but not really confirmed. . . and the interaction between the two main characters to get to the HEA is pretty sketchy, which is a surprise as most of the story is rich in detail.
Despite the somewhat abrupt ending, I still really enjoyed the story and would recommend this to fans of Chick-lit.
This story was a nice surprise about a 40ish woman with adult children who still has a romantic life, despite choosing not to do any serious dating while her children were little -- a very realistic scenario. She has supportive friends, a healthy relationship with an ex, nice kids and a good job. Her life was surprisingly drama free -- except for the blip with the current boyfriend.
The author addresses some serious subjects like alcoholism and the distorted self-esteem/perception issues of someone who had been overweight, but was now in good shape with a light touch that effectively communicates the stresses without the angsty drama of the YA genre. With an interesting side-trip to India, the story weaves in a new culture in a way that's interesting, surprising and still relatable. This is a romance, so there's heat, but it's more of a slow-simmer than sizzle.
I was really, really loving the story right up until the last couple of chapters. I was surprised by the somewhat abrupt ending that focused less on the main characters and more on a surprise ending with the daughter. A HEA is implied, but not really confirmed. . . and the interaction between the two main characters to get to the HEA is pretty sketchy, which is a surprise as most of the story is rich in detail.
Despite the somewhat abrupt ending, I still really enjoyed the story and would recommend this to fans of Chick-lit.
December 7, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. It’s not one that I got overly excited about, or spent time thinking, “This book is awesome; I have to tell EVERYONE!!” It was a subtle feeling. There was a definite romance behind the story, and yet, I wouldn’t describe this book as being firmly in the romance category. This book was more REAL. The struggles were REAL, the people were REAL, and the relationships were REAL.
You travel with Anna through her life, and experience her joys, insecurities, struggles, passion and compassion. You get to experience a wonderful trip to India and learn about the culture there. You get to experience to struggles of loving someone with an addiction. And get to experience the successful workings of a broken family molded back together – just differently.
Most romance novels are happily ever after with characters that don’t exist in real life. Not this one. I truly enjoyed the REALNESS. The characters were very well-developed, and the story had a nice smooth pace throughout. It started out a bit different from the norm, and I found myself wondering if I would like it, but it took no time for me to start rooting for Anna.
I rate this 4 stars, and I look forward to reading more from Shelly Hickman!!
*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
You travel with Anna through her life, and experience her joys, insecurities, struggles, passion and compassion. You get to experience a wonderful trip to India and learn about the culture there. You get to experience to struggles of loving someone with an addiction. And get to experience the successful workings of a broken family molded back together – just differently.
Most romance novels are happily ever after with characters that don’t exist in real life. Not this one. I truly enjoyed the REALNESS. The characters were very well-developed, and the story had a nice smooth pace throughout. It started out a bit different from the norm, and I found myself wondering if I would like it, but it took no time for me to start rooting for Anna.
I rate this 4 stars, and I look forward to reading more from Shelly Hickman!!
*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
December 28, 2013
3 1/2 stars This was an interesting read, mostly because it was so much like real life. Anna is a nice person. She always tries to do the right thing, always tries to be kind. Always gets the raw end of the deal. She has no luck with relationships. Her husband turned out to be gay, and the last guy she was in a relationship with turned out to be a huge freaking mess. What a jerk David turned out to be. Pulls all kinds of crap on her, makes life altering decisions without her input - Uuuuggghhhh!!! Hated him for being such a selfish prick. When Anna finally meets someone nice, he turns out to be a guy she and her ex-husband went to high school with. After David pulls yet another stunt and decides their relationship is over, Anne runs into Kiran again. She can't see what he would see in her, but neither can Kiran. For him, he'll always be the fat guy from high school that no one - except Anna - gave a crap about; even if he does loook like a god now. In his head, he doesn't see himself that way. Anna and Kiran turn out to be great fro one another. They have their issues and insecurities, like any couple, but work through them. The characters were great, the storyline never dull. Just another year in the life of Anna, but a really crappy one that turned into a really great one.
I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
May 5, 2017
This was my first book from Shelly Hickman and she was kind enough to send it to me before the release day. I'm no book blogger but I try to do honest reviews of the books here and on Amazon when they are released.
I must say I wondered what I will get and I need to say I was not disappointed. I simply love when the characters are well written and the relationships between main characters and supporting ones are well developed and plausible. If I can even imagine the places that are written in the book - I'm hooked. And I was hooked with the book. Perhaps the only thing I couldn't imagine was the main male charcater... somehow the picture on the georgeous cover doesn't come 'right' with my picture of him, but that's not the writers fault, it's my imagination...
Defenitely one to go on your TBR list if it is not there already...
I must say I wondered what I will get and I need to say I was not disappointed. I simply love when the characters are well written and the relationships between main characters and supporting ones are well developed and plausible. If I can even imagine the places that are written in the book - I'm hooked. And I was hooked with the book. Perhaps the only thing I couldn't imagine was the main male charcater... somehow the picture on the georgeous cover doesn't come 'right' with my picture of him, but that's not the writers fault, it's my imagination...
Defenitely one to go on your TBR list if it is not there already...
November 16, 2013
When I was asked to read "Vegas to Varanasi" before the release date, I was over the moon with excitement! I knew coming from Shelly it was not going to be a disappointment.
Wow! Another excellent read by Hickman. I laughed and I cried and then I laughed and cried again. The best books to me are the ones where I feel like I get pulled right into the pages and become one with the story. I am either one of the characters or a bystander, but when I can feel, see, taste, and smell everything going on in the story, you know the book is a winner. Vegas to Varanasi is a winner. I feel like I traveled to Varanasi and experienced first hand everything that Anna did.
Without a doubt, I would give this book my highest recommendations to anyone who is true romantic at heart.
Wow! Another excellent read by Hickman. I laughed and I cried and then I laughed and cried again. The best books to me are the ones where I feel like I get pulled right into the pages and become one with the story. I am either one of the characters or a bystander, but when I can feel, see, taste, and smell everything going on in the story, you know the book is a winner. Vegas to Varanasi is a winner. I feel like I traveled to Varanasi and experienced first hand everything that Anna did.
Without a doubt, I would give this book my highest recommendations to anyone who is true romantic at heart.
April 14, 2014
This book was won as a part of a Goodreads giveaway.
I really liked the protagonist in this book, and I really, really liked her love interest. However, her ex-boyfriend kind of ruined part of it for me. He was obviously an addict, and though they broke up, I feel as if the protagonist treated him with kid gloves too much, even when he was interfering in her children's lives.
But other than that, I did enjoy the book. I liked the family dynamic and the plot. The descriptions, especially in India, were really effective and though the ending was a bit rushed, it did tie up any loose ends, so that was nice.
I really liked the protagonist in this book, and I really, really liked her love interest. However, her ex-boyfriend kind of ruined part of it for me. He was obviously an addict, and though they broke up, I feel as if the protagonist treated him with kid gloves too much, even when he was interfering in her children's lives.
But other than that, I did enjoy the book. I liked the family dynamic and the plot. The descriptions, especially in India, were really effective and though the ending was a bit rushed, it did tie up any loose ends, so that was nice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2014
This book was hilarious because it seemed so real that she could be any one of us in this situation. I liked that she used real time things, like store names or social media. I also liked that the character was so openly honest. A lot of times I will read a book and ask why doesn't the character just say what she's feeling instead of thinking it to herslef.
September 12, 2017
*Be sure to check out this book on my review blog, and my book blog, to hear an audio excerpt, and enter a giveaway!*
PG-17
Average girl plus hot guy equals tons of fun!
In the romantic comedy genre, the average girl paired with a hot guy who just adores her, is a pretty common theme. It's a wonderful fantasy many women have, and love to live through relatable characters. Finding a story that stands out is difficult, and there has to be more to it, to make it awesome. Vegas to Varanasi, definitely has something special.
Anna's life is a modern mess. Ex-husband, kids, career, and the struggles of dating in her forties. It seemed as though she had gotten everything settled down, and for a while, things were good. That's usually the time the other shoe falls, and all hell breaks loose. For Anna, that's an understatement.
Kiran has had a rough go of it himself, with a painful past and personal issues that give Anna a run for her money. Still, he's held a candle for her long after they parted ways years ago, and life throwing them back together unexpectedly, made for the perfect storm of drama.
I enjoyed Anna's honesty, and how real she was. The way she dealt with the blows given to her was completely relatable, and uniquely real. She wasn't overly dramatic, and she was truly a nice, kind-hearted person. That trait showed throughout the entire book, even in the little things, and made her easy to root for.
Kiran was also relatable, and in today's culture of the "fitness lifestyle" trends and weight-loss inspirations on every social media platform, his story made this situation a bit more modern. All that mixed perfectly, with his deep family roots in India, and the culture difference to give him far more depth than a lot of "hunky" male characters typically found in this genre. With his good heart and gentleman's personality, he had far more than good looks to fall in love with, and you couldn't help but want to push Anna into his arms.
The side characters were just as agreeable, although several did seem a bit less explored than they could have. I did wonder why Anna didn't do more to be involved with her kid's lives, especially when it came to relationships. Even when she saw them going down bad roads, her hands-off approach seemed a little on the extreme side, opting for more of a friend than parent, and even then, not a close friend. I didn't quite understand the boundaries there, with how close they were all set up to be, although perhaps that was meant to be more of a "modern" portrayal as well.
In the end, I enjoyed the story quite a bit. Every character was flawed, and even David was difficult to truly dislike. He was simply human, and had some issues to work out, same as the rest of them - his just happened to effect others more. They were all painted quite normally though, with their flaws and attributes explored and explained, with growth for most of them.
The narration was pretty good, although I did speed up the pace a few notches, as the pauses and overall flow seemed somewhat slow. Sped up, it was fairly enjoyable. I would imagine the book would flow nicely, and seemed as though it was well written. If there is a sequel, I would definitely be interested, and do recommend this to anyone who enjoys romantic comedy set in the modern world.
*I was given a complimentary audiobook copy of this title, from the author via Audiobookworm Promotions, to listen to in exchange for an honest review.
~Rose
@Desert Rose Reviews
PG-17
Average girl plus hot guy equals tons of fun!
In the romantic comedy genre, the average girl paired with a hot guy who just adores her, is a pretty common theme. It's a wonderful fantasy many women have, and love to live through relatable characters. Finding a story that stands out is difficult, and there has to be more to it, to make it awesome. Vegas to Varanasi, definitely has something special.
Anna's life is a modern mess. Ex-husband, kids, career, and the struggles of dating in her forties. It seemed as though she had gotten everything settled down, and for a while, things were good. That's usually the time the other shoe falls, and all hell breaks loose. For Anna, that's an understatement.
Kiran has had a rough go of it himself, with a painful past and personal issues that give Anna a run for her money. Still, he's held a candle for her long after they parted ways years ago, and life throwing them back together unexpectedly, made for the perfect storm of drama.
I enjoyed Anna's honesty, and how real she was. The way she dealt with the blows given to her was completely relatable, and uniquely real. She wasn't overly dramatic, and she was truly a nice, kind-hearted person. That trait showed throughout the entire book, even in the little things, and made her easy to root for.
Kiran was also relatable, and in today's culture of the "fitness lifestyle" trends and weight-loss inspirations on every social media platform, his story made this situation a bit more modern. All that mixed perfectly, with his deep family roots in India, and the culture difference to give him far more depth than a lot of "hunky" male characters typically found in this genre. With his good heart and gentleman's personality, he had far more than good looks to fall in love with, and you couldn't help but want to push Anna into his arms.
The side characters were just as agreeable, although several did seem a bit less explored than they could have. I did wonder why Anna didn't do more to be involved with her kid's lives, especially when it came to relationships. Even when she saw them going down bad roads, her hands-off approach seemed a little on the extreme side, opting for more of a friend than parent, and even then, not a close friend. I didn't quite understand the boundaries there, with how close they were all set up to be, although perhaps that was meant to be more of a "modern" portrayal as well.
In the end, I enjoyed the story quite a bit. Every character was flawed, and even David was difficult to truly dislike. He was simply human, and had some issues to work out, same as the rest of them - his just happened to effect others more. They were all painted quite normally though, with their flaws and attributes explored and explained, with growth for most of them.
The narration was pretty good, although I did speed up the pace a few notches, as the pauses and overall flow seemed somewhat slow. Sped up, it was fairly enjoyable. I would imagine the book would flow nicely, and seemed as though it was well written. If there is a sequel, I would definitely be interested, and do recommend this to anyone who enjoys romantic comedy set in the modern world.
*I was given a complimentary audiobook copy of this title, from the author via Audiobookworm Promotions, to listen to in exchange for an honest review.
~Rose
@Desert Rose Reviews
August 30, 2017
Anna's family is not the typical one. After marrying her high school sweetheart, and having two wonderful children, she realizes that his husband is in fact gay, and after a hard talk they decide to have their separate ways but also remain friends. At the beginning of this book, Anna is in a 5-year relationship with David, a teacher who spends all his free time writing and drinking too much booze. Anna's kids are now in their early twenties and they realize the situation their mother is in, so they are prepared when the breakup comes. During a friend's daughter's wedding Anna meets Kiran, another former class mate who used to be fat but who got fit in the last years. This will be a temptation for Anna, it is just maybe too soon after her breakup, but some opportunities just come once in life.
I am not a loyal fan of Chick Lit, but I enjoy it from time to time since it is a genre that I find light, easy, and many times refreshing. This time it was easy to relate to Anna due to the age similarity, even though we have quite different lives. The characters are very well depicted and they feel absolutely real. I enjoyed the special relationship Anna had with her ex-husband and his partner, and how mature her kids were. Anna is really a down to Earth person, and it was funny to hear her thoughts without any kind of filter.
I often complain about romance in books when it is something forced, and I do not often go for romance novels if there is not a little bit more to it. I found this story original due to the fact that we meet different kind of family, and it was interesting to explore their relationships. The fact that there is a part of the book set in India added interest to the story.
Even though there is sex mentioned in the book, there are not explicit sex scenes, which I am glad for, since they tend to always be the same and completely unrealistic. We just know that Kiran is good, and this is enough information for me.
I really enjoyed Jazmine Ramay's narration. She really became Anna in this story, and her expressivity made this book more enjoyable, since Anna became more real. At first I had troubles differentiating some of the characters but I soon got used to Ramay portrayed them. I noticed quite some mouth noises, lips smacking, and nose breathings, probably due to being too close to the mic. I found it a bit distracting, but overall, it was a great narration.
This was a good and enjoyable book, and I would recommend it to anyone into Chick Lit and romance. It is not too sappy, so I think it could be enjoyed by a wider audience.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Shelly Hickman. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
I am not a loyal fan of Chick Lit, but I enjoy it from time to time since it is a genre that I find light, easy, and many times refreshing. This time it was easy to relate to Anna due to the age similarity, even though we have quite different lives. The characters are very well depicted and they feel absolutely real. I enjoyed the special relationship Anna had with her ex-husband and his partner, and how mature her kids were. Anna is really a down to Earth person, and it was funny to hear her thoughts without any kind of filter.
I often complain about romance in books when it is something forced, and I do not often go for romance novels if there is not a little bit more to it. I found this story original due to the fact that we meet different kind of family, and it was interesting to explore their relationships. The fact that there is a part of the book set in India added interest to the story.
Even though there is sex mentioned in the book, there are not explicit sex scenes, which I am glad for, since they tend to always be the same and completely unrealistic. We just know that Kiran is good, and this is enough information for me.
I really enjoyed Jazmine Ramay's narration. She really became Anna in this story, and her expressivity made this book more enjoyable, since Anna became more real. At first I had troubles differentiating some of the characters but I soon got used to Ramay portrayed them. I noticed quite some mouth noises, lips smacking, and nose breathings, probably due to being too close to the mic. I found it a bit distracting, but overall, it was a great narration.
This was a good and enjoyable book, and I would recommend it to anyone into Chick Lit and romance. It is not too sappy, so I think it could be enjoyed by a wider audience.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Shelly Hickman. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
August 27, 2017
Rating: 4.5 Stars
If you could sum up Vegas to Varanasi in three words, what would they be?
Interesting, Enjoyable, Refreshing
Who was your favorite character and why?
This is one book that I don't think that I could pick a favorite character. All characters are needed here, well maybe except for one, in order to enjoy what the author has written.
What does Jazmine Ramay bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Her singing ability. It was a pleasant surprise to the story when Anna sings (even though it's not a full song) to Kiran. If I were reading the book instead there's no way I would do that when it came to that point in the story. I'm one of those that always sings so low (so low you can't hear me).
For me, she was the perfect choice for our main character. She even does a good job with some of the accents. There was one comedic point but it was more on my end than hers. She was talking about a coffee machine, and it took me a couple of times to figure out that that was what she meant. For some reason my brain kept thinking that she was saying carrots. I thought that this was some kind of new dispenser that I'd never heard of before.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I wouldn't say that it was an extreme reaction but there was one point that I felt sorry for why Karin and Anna are going to Varanasi in the first place. There's also one character that you want to give him a swift kick in the pants and tell him to grow a pair and get help.Then you have to feel sorry for Anna that he's constantly bothering her and her family.
Any additional comments?
This was a pleasant surprise. I'm one of those that even though I know it's wrong I still end up seeing the cover and not sure that I want to take the chance on the book. I'm so glad that I didn't let that happen here.
I don't know that I'll ever get to India and this was a great way to get a feel for the country and the family dynamic. It's listed as a romance but I felt it was more of looking into the life of a woman starting over as her two kids are growing up. It's reconnecting with someone they knew in school and trying to get away from someone who is turning toxic while still being concerned by what they're doing to their life.
There were a few moments where I chuckled but wouldn't say that this was a comedy. Don't get me wrong. They were great moments and lightened the story but I was more interested in seeing how Anna was handling her life, start a new relationship, while being nice about getting away from someone she finds she didn't really know at all. Would I listen to this again? Yes. Would I read the book? Yes.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Audio Copy of this book.
If you could sum up Vegas to Varanasi in three words, what would they be?
Interesting, Enjoyable, Refreshing
Who was your favorite character and why?
This is one book that I don't think that I could pick a favorite character. All characters are needed here, well maybe except for one, in order to enjoy what the author has written.
What does Jazmine Ramay bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Her singing ability. It was a pleasant surprise to the story when Anna sings (even though it's not a full song) to Kiran. If I were reading the book instead there's no way I would do that when it came to that point in the story. I'm one of those that always sings so low (so low you can't hear me).
For me, she was the perfect choice for our main character. She even does a good job with some of the accents. There was one comedic point but it was more on my end than hers. She was talking about a coffee machine, and it took me a couple of times to figure out that that was what she meant. For some reason my brain kept thinking that she was saying carrots. I thought that this was some kind of new dispenser that I'd never heard of before.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I wouldn't say that it was an extreme reaction but there was one point that I felt sorry for why Karin and Anna are going to Varanasi in the first place. There's also one character that you want to give him a swift kick in the pants and tell him to grow a pair and get help.Then you have to feel sorry for Anna that he's constantly bothering her and her family.
Any additional comments?
This was a pleasant surprise. I'm one of those that even though I know it's wrong I still end up seeing the cover and not sure that I want to take the chance on the book. I'm so glad that I didn't let that happen here.
I don't know that I'll ever get to India and this was a great way to get a feel for the country and the family dynamic. It's listed as a romance but I felt it was more of looking into the life of a woman starting over as her two kids are growing up. It's reconnecting with someone they knew in school and trying to get away from someone who is turning toxic while still being concerned by what they're doing to their life.
There were a few moments where I chuckled but wouldn't say that this was a comedy. Don't get me wrong. They were great moments and lightened the story but I was more interested in seeing how Anna was handling her life, start a new relationship, while being nice about getting away from someone she finds she didn't really know at all. Would I listen to this again? Yes. Would I read the book? Yes.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Audio Copy of this book.
July 28, 2020
Vegas to Varanasi has a charm about it right from the start, and I can't say that it's due to any one particular thing. Instead, I think it's a combination of several things that work just work wonderfully together to create a story that’s fun, witty, emotional, and romantic without being too much of any of those.
The characters are likable – well most of them are. We do have one or two stinkers in the bunch, but it wouldn’t be nearly so well-rounded without them. I love that Shelly Hickman gives us a romantic couple that are all grown up. Anna and Kiran are at an age where we would expect them to be settled, but as so often happens in life, things aren’t always how we expect them to be, and these two are handling life the best they know how. Kiran is an absolute sweetheart from his first appearance onward. He’s a little more understanding than most, but I feel like that’s part of his charm. The star of our show, Anna, is a hoot. I love that she’s honest with herself about her insecurities, and she doesn’t make apologies for who she is, even when she is snickering at bathroom humor. Goodness knows, life has thrown her a few curveballs.
The story is fast paced and I’ll be honest, whether it’s because I can relate to that life after forty craziness or because the characters and story are just so much fun, I found it hard to hit that pause button even when I knew I had to. Of course, the story isn’t without some seriousness, and considering what part of that is, I have to say that it was handled quite well. Hickman adds a touch of levity to the situation without making it seem like she’s poking fun at the problem. And I’ll just say here that I have some personal experience with Anna’s side of that problem. It’s a tough thing to deal with, but looking back, I can see the humor in some situations.
Jazmine Ramay narrates this engaging tale, and she injects great emotion with her voice. She also does a brilliant job with Anna’s sarcasm, whether it’s internal or out loud for all the world to hear. I’m a big fan of sarcasm, and the combination of writing and narrating here is terrific. The only drawback for me is that some chapters felt like they ended rather abruptly, but when I went back and listened again to those parts, I feel like it was the way those lines were read as opposed to how they’re written. However, that was a small thing, certainly not a deal-breaker for me.
All in all, Vegas to Varanasi is a great combination of writing and narration. The characters are engaging, the story is entertaining, and I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys a bit wit with their romance, not just those over forty. This author is new to me, but she’s now firmly on my radar.
The characters are likable – well most of them are. We do have one or two stinkers in the bunch, but it wouldn’t be nearly so well-rounded without them. I love that Shelly Hickman gives us a romantic couple that are all grown up. Anna and Kiran are at an age where we would expect them to be settled, but as so often happens in life, things aren’t always how we expect them to be, and these two are handling life the best they know how. Kiran is an absolute sweetheart from his first appearance onward. He’s a little more understanding than most, but I feel like that’s part of his charm. The star of our show, Anna, is a hoot. I love that she’s honest with herself about her insecurities, and she doesn’t make apologies for who she is, even when she is snickering at bathroom humor. Goodness knows, life has thrown her a few curveballs.
The story is fast paced and I’ll be honest, whether it’s because I can relate to that life after forty craziness or because the characters and story are just so much fun, I found it hard to hit that pause button even when I knew I had to. Of course, the story isn’t without some seriousness, and considering what part of that is, I have to say that it was handled quite well. Hickman adds a touch of levity to the situation without making it seem like she’s poking fun at the problem. And I’ll just say here that I have some personal experience with Anna’s side of that problem. It’s a tough thing to deal with, but looking back, I can see the humor in some situations.
Jazmine Ramay narrates this engaging tale, and she injects great emotion with her voice. She also does a brilliant job with Anna’s sarcasm, whether it’s internal or out loud for all the world to hear. I’m a big fan of sarcasm, and the combination of writing and narrating here is terrific. The only drawback for me is that some chapters felt like they ended rather abruptly, but when I went back and listened again to those parts, I feel like it was the way those lines were read as opposed to how they’re written. However, that was a small thing, certainly not a deal-breaker for me.
All in all, Vegas to Varanasi is a great combination of writing and narration. The characters are engaging, the story is entertaining, and I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys a bit wit with their romance, not just those over forty. This author is new to me, but she’s now firmly on my radar.
October 24, 2017
Started out good but went downhill fast. Way too much filler that really had nothing to do with the plot. One minute we are listening to what is going on and the next we are back in her college days where she didn’t go out much. After a little while the story just moved to slow. She married her childhood sweetheart but years later after the kids come it turns out he is gay. They stayed friends which I thought was great. This part was great. Then we go into a girl and guy live together he is a drunk they split which he is fine with until she finds a man from her past who steps up to the plate than ex wants her back and really is childlike. At times I thought her kids acted older than the adults. I even like how the boy from high school came back into her life with a complete makeover.
Ms. Ramay narrator for the most part was good, there are some noises with her mouth and breathing that needs some work. At times it just all ran together for me and was a little confusing until I took a break and went over what I had listened to. She puts lot of emotion into her voice and tones but needs to pause a little more between characters to let the listener catch up. Anna character was great with lots of emotions but at times she seemed more childlike. A lot of her character voices sound too much alike and too much like her natural voice which can be confusing to know who is talking. When the character is thinking the narrator should do a little change so you know it is thinking it gets confusing when she switches from thinking to talking so close together. There are no background noises, no repeating of words and no volume changes. If any breaks were taken I could not tell. It is a clean and clear audio that just needs a little more work. For the most part the emotions displayed were outstanding.
The plot is great but with so much filler that isn’t needed the reader is lost wondering why the heck that was even added to the book. I loved the relationship the parents had with the children, I loved the humor and teasing between all. I enjoyed the story of the fat man turning into a hunk, the close relationship the two parents had and the romance between Anna and Kiran. To me the trip they took to India wasn’t needed nothing really happened but they hooked up, met his family and a few other little things. To me it was just filler. I did like the background, the family values and the love and care they gave to their families. All in all it was an enjoyable listen has some great parts.
Ms. Ramay narrator for the most part was good, there are some noises with her mouth and breathing that needs some work. At times it just all ran together for me and was a little confusing until I took a break and went over what I had listened to. She puts lot of emotion into her voice and tones but needs to pause a little more between characters to let the listener catch up. Anna character was great with lots of emotions but at times she seemed more childlike. A lot of her character voices sound too much alike and too much like her natural voice which can be confusing to know who is talking. When the character is thinking the narrator should do a little change so you know it is thinking it gets confusing when she switches from thinking to talking so close together. There are no background noises, no repeating of words and no volume changes. If any breaks were taken I could not tell. It is a clean and clear audio that just needs a little more work. For the most part the emotions displayed were outstanding.
The plot is great but with so much filler that isn’t needed the reader is lost wondering why the heck that was even added to the book. I loved the relationship the parents had with the children, I loved the humor and teasing between all. I enjoyed the story of the fat man turning into a hunk, the close relationship the two parents had and the romance between Anna and Kiran. To me the trip they took to India wasn’t needed nothing really happened but they hooked up, met his family and a few other little things. To me it was just filler. I did like the background, the family values and the love and care they gave to their families. All in all it was an enjoyable listen has some great parts.
September 5, 2017
Kiran’s never forgotten Anna, a popular girl in high school, even though they barely knew each other. Kiran has never forgotten how she stuck up for him when he was a chubby kid at school. It’s been years since then and Kiran is now an Adonis and Anna’s been through the wringer. After finding out her ex-husband is gay they remain friends and Anna devotes her life to her kids. Now that they are grown Anna finds herself in yet another dead-in relationship with an aspiring writer with a drinking issue. Uncomplicated Kiran is just what Anna needs if she can keep her now ex-boyfriend from ruining everything.
I absolutely loved this mid-life romance story. It had a wry type of humor, a truly good guy hero and Anna’s a nice person as well. As a matter of fact, there are no bad guys in this story, just decent people who have issues, some more serious than others. The interaction between Kiran and Anna was magic. While Kiran is now a toned and fit man he still has the humbleness of when he was overweight and the idolatry he’s felt towards Anna all these years never wanes.
This audiobook comes in at just over 6 ½ hours and is narrated by Jazmine Ramay. Wow, she did an amazing job on this fully voiced production. This audiobook required someone with good comic timing and Jazmine really did pull it off. I laughed out loud several times.
Author Shelly Hickman has a real winner in this book, it has diverse characters and It’s a feel good story, in today’s climate that’s not a bad thing at all!
This audiobook was gifted to me in exchange for an unbiased review!
I absolutely loved this mid-life romance story. It had a wry type of humor, a truly good guy hero and Anna’s a nice person as well. As a matter of fact, there are no bad guys in this story, just decent people who have issues, some more serious than others. The interaction between Kiran and Anna was magic. While Kiran is now a toned and fit man he still has the humbleness of when he was overweight and the idolatry he’s felt towards Anna all these years never wanes.
This audiobook comes in at just over 6 ½ hours and is narrated by Jazmine Ramay. Wow, she did an amazing job on this fully voiced production. This audiobook required someone with good comic timing and Jazmine really did pull it off. I laughed out loud several times.
Author Shelly Hickman has a real winner in this book, it has diverse characters and It’s a feel good story, in today’s climate that’s not a bad thing at all!
This audiobook was gifted to me in exchange for an unbiased review!
February 20, 2014
****4 ½ -Don't Drink the Water!- Stars****
this review contains minor spoilers
I can honestly say I've never met anyone in real life who was so arresting.
I feel flushed and touch my face.
He's not full of himself, and he genuinely seems to like me. Clearly, he has these idealistic memories of me which are far too much to live up to. I'm not Gandhi, for crying out load.
This was my introduction to Shelly Hickman and I was not disappointed. This book had a bit of everything in it- drama, tears, a bundle of giggles, some sexiness and a sweet romance. But most of all it was, well....real. The leads were both flawed and insecure, nothing had a quick fix and everyone suffered from issues that most of us face at some point in our lives or know someone who has. It made the story very relate-able.
Okay, I admit it. I am nice. Not perfect, but nice. I can be impatient, snarky, whiny, but I'm very uncomfortable making another person feel bad, even if they deserve it. Someone has to really push my limits before my nasty side shows itself. And when that happens, it's usually because they weren't being nice.
Anna has not had a whole lotta luck when it comes to the men in her life.
Her ex-husband and the father of her two, now-grown children, turned out to be gay....
Looking back, there were definite warning signs, even then, that Luke was Gay, but they were subtle enough to be easily dismissed...
...Unable to bear the thought of losing him, I told myself it was all in my imagination. After all, there was nothing overtly feminine about him.
And her current relationship is taking a nose-dive after five years due to alcohol....
“What's really bothersome here is that you're completely missing the point. This is not healthy. I'm worried about you. You look like you've been hit by a Train.”
….Despite David's claim he's going to turn things around, for some reason, I'm not all that optimistic.
So when she meets devastatingly handsome Kiran at the wedding of a friends daughter, she's more than a little surprised and apprehensive when he takes an intense interest in her. Turns out, they went to high school together,
“You don't remember me, do you?”
“I'm sorry?”
“From high school. You don't remember me.”
“I'm sorry, but Kiran isn't exactly a common name. I think I would remember... Wait. Now that I think about it, there was a Kiran in my English Lit class junior year, but he was this quiet, kind of pudgy...”
Kiran smiles and raises his eyebrows before nodding ever so slightly.
“No way!”
“You remember. You do remember me!”
“Oh, I didn't mean to call you pudgy!” I. Am. Mortified.
“It's okay, Anna. Actually, I was fat.”
Kiran spent most of his life being overweight, he only just lost it all and toned up quite nicely within the last few years. He remembers Anna as the only person in school to ever show him kindness and has nursed a little crush on her ever since. After running into each other a few times after the wedding they exchange numbers and decide to see where this friendship takes them. When Kiran gets the heartbreaking news that his Nana is dying, he plans a trip to India to visit with her while he can and offers Anna the opportunity of a lifetime.
“I want to know if you'll come with me. You said you've always wanted to see India. There would be no expectations, of course. I just... enjoy spending time with you. You're easy to be with, and I'd like you to come, so you can see Varanasi with someone who knows it.”
….I'm truly kidding myself if I think I'm going to accept this invitation and not end up in the sack with this beautiful, sweet man. If he is so inclined.
Despite the circumstances behind the trip, Kiran & Anna lose themselves to the romantic setting surrounding them. They both suffer insecurities and uncertainty but can't help but fall for each other.
“I like you. A lot.”
“But...”
“No. there's no but. I just like you. A lot!”
“I have some pretty strong feelings for you, Anna, but I've been withholding them because I'm worried I'll scare you away. I made you nervous in the beginning, remember? Which is why I'm making every effort not to come on so strong.”
I'm dying to say, I'm ready to hear about those strong feelings! Lay 'em on me!
But what happens when they leave Varanasi behind and head back to reality, can they make it work in the day to day of the real world? When Anna'a ex takes a trip down unstable-lane, stirring up trouble at every turn, and an old flame from Kiran's past floats back into his life will they survive all the drama with their hearts in tact or will their insecurities be their downfall?
Despite all the layers of angst in this book, it was still surprisingly sweet. Your never overrun by the heaviness and there are always some laughs around the corner. If your looking for a nice, sweet romance with characters you feel like you know in real life, than this book is for you.
“Boy, heart has taken some serious beatings, hasn't it? We're gonna have to do some repair work.”
“So am I to understand that you'll be the one who does this repair work?”
“I just might.”
February 20, 2014
****4 ½ -Don't Drink the Water!- Stars****
this review contains minor spoilers
I can honestly say I've never met anyone in real life who was so arresting.
I feel flushed and touch my face.
He's not full of himself, and he genuinely seems to like me. Clearly, he has these idealistic memories of me which are far too much to live up to. I'm not Gandhi, for crying out load.
This was my introduction to Shelly Hickman and I was not disappointed. This book had a bit of everything in it- drama, tears, a bundle of giggles, some sexiness and a sweet romance. But most of all it was, well....real. The leads were both flawed and insecure, nothing had a quick fix and everyone suffered from issues that most of us face at some point in our lives or know someone who has. It made the story very relate-able.
Okay, I admit it. I am nice. Not perfect, but nice. I can be impatient, snarky, whiny, but I'm very uncomfortable making another person feel bad, even if they deserve it. Someone has to really push my limits before my nasty side shows itself. And when that happens, it's usually because they weren't being nice.
Anna has not had a whole lotta luck when it comes to the men in her life.
Her ex-husband and the father of her two, now-grown children, turned out to be gay....
Looking back, there were definite warning signs, even then, that Luke was Gay, but they were subtle enough to be easily dismissed...
...Unable to bear the thought of losing him, I told myself it was all in my imagination. After all, there was nothing overtly feminine about him.
And her current relationship is taking a nose-dive after five years due to alcohol....
“What's really bothersome here is that you're completely missing the point. This is not healthy. I'm worried about you. You look like you've been hit by a Train.”
….Despite David's claim he's going to turn things around, for some reason, I'm not all that optimistic.
So when she meets devastatingly handsome Kiran at the wedding of a friends daughter, she's more than a little surprised and apprehensive when he takes an intense interest in her. Turns out, they went to high school together,
“You don't remember me, do you?”
“I'm sorry?”
“From high school. You don't remember me.”
“I'm sorry, but Kiran isn't exactly a common name. I think I would remember... Wait. Now that I think about it, there was a Kiran in my English Lit class junior year, but he was this quiet, kind of pudgy...”
Kiran smiles and raises his eyebrows before nodding ever so slightly.
“No way!”
“You remember. You do remember me!”
“Oh, I didn't mean to call you pudgy!” I. Am. Mortified.
“It's okay, Anna. Actually, I was fat.”
Kiran spent most of his life being overweight, he only just lost it all and toned up quite nicely within the last few years. He remembers Anna as the only person in school to ever show him kindness and has nursed a little crush on her ever since. After running into each other a few times after the wedding they exchange numbers and decide to see where this friendship takes them. When Kiran gets the heartbreaking news that his Nana is dying, he plans a trip to India to visit with her while he can and offers Anna the opportunity of a lifetime.
“I want to know if you'll come with me. You said you've always wanted to see India. There would be no expectations, of course. I just... enjoy spending time with you. You're easy to be with, and I'd like you to come, so you can see Varanasi with someone who knows it.”
….I'm truly kidding myself if I think I'm going to accept this invitation and not end up in the sack with this beautiful, sweet man. If he is so inclined.
Despite the circumstances behind the trip, Kiran & Anna lose themselves to the romantic setting surrounding them. They both suffer insecurities and uncertainty but can't help but fall for each other.
“I like you. A lot.”
“But...”
“No. there's no but. I just like you. A lot!”
“I have some pretty strong feelings for you, Anna, but I've been withholding them because I'm worried I'll scare you away. I made you nervous in the beginning, remember? Which is why I'm making every effort not to come on so strong.”
I'm dying to say, I'm ready to hear about those strong feelings! Lay 'em on me!
But what happens when they leave Varanasi behind and head back to reality, can they make it work in the day to day of the real world? When Anna'a ex takes a trip down unstable-lane, stirring up trouble at every turn, and an old flame from Kiran's past floats back into his life will they survive all the drama with their hearts in tact or will their insecurities be their downfall?
Despite all the layers of angst in this book, it was still surprisingly sweet. Your never overrun by the heaviness and there are always some laughs around the corner. If your looking for a nice, sweet romance with characters you feel like you know in real life, than this book is for you.
“Boy, heart has taken some serious beatings, hasn't it? We're gonna have to do some repair work.”
“So am I to understand that you'll be the one who does this repair work?”
“I just might.”
July 13, 2018
I didn't love this book. It wasn't terrible, it just didn't grab me. I think my favorite character in the entire book was Luke, the gay ex-husband.
Kiran seemed way too insecure as did Anna. I get that being overweight can mess with your self confidence but I think it was harped on too often.
Plus the drama with the alcoholic ex-boyfriend seemed too over the top and forced. I get that Anna still cared about him as did her kids, but it went too far. I'm going to skip the rest of the series.
Kiran seemed way too insecure as did Anna. I get that being overweight can mess with your self confidence but I think it was harped on too often.
Plus the drama with the alcoholic ex-boyfriend seemed too over the top and forced. I get that Anna still cared about him as did her kids, but it went too far. I'm going to skip the rest of the series.
December 7, 2017
AUDIOBOOK VERSION:
Lets just say that what I expected this book to be was not what I received. And I could not have been happier. I was expecting a fun romantic comedy and what I actually received was a wonderful story displaying lifes ups and downs. It was still a romantic comedy but it was so much more. The main character feels more real that most characters you see now days. She hits one hurdle after another and just keeps on running. Was very surprise but pleased with this read. Thank You!
Lets just say that what I expected this book to be was not what I received. And I could not have been happier. I was expecting a fun romantic comedy and what I actually received was a wonderful story displaying lifes ups and downs. It was still a romantic comedy but it was so much more. The main character feels more real that most characters you see now days. She hits one hurdle after another and just keeps on running. Was very surprise but pleased with this read. Thank You!
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