Guest Post: The Ghosts That Come Between Us by Bulbul Bahuguna, M.D.

Oh, Where Have All the Leaders Gone!
—Bulbul Bahuguna, M.D.

In the last few weeks India’s most prestigious medical school, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), and my alma-mater I might parenthetically add, has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Last Friday, a six-year old girl was brought to the Institute with her throat slit after allegedly being gang-raped and left to die in a public toilet in Delhi. While the girl is still in coma, the early medical reports suggest that the little girl had made gallant attempts to resist her perpetrators.

Only a couple of weeks ago, AIIMS’ trauma unit admitted a four-year old girl who was locked up in captivity by her neighbors and gang-raped while she bled and subsequently slipped into a coma. She was playing outside her slum dwelling where she lived with her parents—both migrant laborers. While her parents were toiling to make a living, two male neighbors—also migrant workers—were allegedly getting drunk and aroused watching porn on their mobile phones. They eventually lured the four-year into a house and raped her repeatedly over multiple days. Thanks to the promptness shown by Delhi Police in this instance, the girl was located within 48 hours of filing the missing-child report and the culprits were apprehended soon after. Thankfully, the girl’s vital signs are making excellent progress at The Institute.

Sadly, the vital signs of India are not doing as well. The country is witnessing an endemic of girl-child rapes. The recent spate of rapes has been both repulsive and blood curdling. And the Indian masses are not indifferent to this scourge. They, too, are frustrated by how little is being achieved through their own ongoing and relentless protests. Who will change the recalcitrant mindset that allows for such heinous acts to continue unabated? Where is that imaginative leader who can jolt their collective moral compass in the right direction so they can all march forward?

More than at any other time since independence, India now needs a leader with the requisite selflessness and moral persuasion. Our political leaders look at the masses as ‘voters’ and the business leaders as ‘consumers.’ India needs a practical yet imaginative leader: a cunning yet noble trailblazer. India needs a Mahatma Gandhi—no less. A leader who will impel the Indian masses to start a new ‘Salt March’ to eliminate the hackneyed and unjust laws that currently protect the perpetrators for extended periods under the garb of ‘due process.’ She, or he, will galvanize the masses to vote political leaders in—solely based on their contribution and dedication toward the eradication of girl sex-abuse. The leader will implore the masses to buy products based on a company’s track record on this issue. Yes, you got it right. The next few election cycles will have to be based on this single issue. He, or she, will make it totally cost-prohibitive to ignore the issue of girl sex-abuse for both political and business elites. People will step in to become ‘mentor-adopters’ to other four, six and eight-year olds in slums across the nation. So that these girl-children feel like they belong. So that those potential perpetrators do not eye these innocent victims as unowned readily-available commodities.

I do not see a leader in this mold today. With a wish and a prayer, in my heart I hope that I am wrong.

Excerpt from the novel by Bulbul Bahuguna, The Ghosts That Come Between Us:

“My back always felt itchy and Daddy would give me backrubs. Daddy always gave the best backrubs. I would put my head on his shoulders. His chest felt warm and comfortable. His armpits had this nice Daddy smell. It felt so good to circle my arm around his broad shoulders and feel his love. Later, he started to loop his leg around me as well, and I would return the favor. Soon it became a leisurely pastime — he would roll me over himself to one side and then roll me back. He would then roll me back again. It was our own private game. Then he would circle my body with his strong legs and hold me there for a while.

It felt special to be held like that. So close. So safe. Nothing could bother me here. Nobody could hurt me now. I was alone. Alone with Daddy. It was our special time together. It was meant only for me.

It was around this time, I think, when I first started to bite my nails. It was also around this time, I now know, that innocence ended for me. Forever.

I had just turned nine.”

The Ghosts That Come Between Us can be ordered at www.amazon.com. The e-book format is available for Kindle as well as Nook.

Author Bio:

Bulbul Bahuguna, M.D. is the author of the novel, The Ghosts That Come Between Us. She is a psychiatrist with over 20 years of experience treating victims of abuse. Dr. Bahuguna is on staff at NorthShore University Health Systems, which is affiliated with The University of Chicago and Mayo Clinic. She is a National Trustee of American India Foundation — a leading charity involved in accelerating social change in India.

Cover Reveal and Other Information

So, that cover poll a while ago for The Signature of All Things, it has a winner! So here it is:

Also, to all those that have sent review requests over the past several months, especially last semester – so sorry about the delays in getting back to you. That class, while fairly easy (I mean, I did end up with an A, after all… LOL), was a beast with work from day-to-day. So given my mail box was overflowing here (still, after all this time), I figured the best thing was to just start over. If you want to try me again, just email me and I’ll let you know if I can do it or not. Thanks lots!

The Ashford Affair by Lauren Willig

*** At thirty-four, Clementine Evans thought she had finally achieved everything she’d been working toward – but now she’s not sure it’s enough. Her long hours as a lawyer have led to a broken engagement and she feels as though her life is crumbling around her. But when the family gathers for her grandmother’s ninety-ninth birthday, a relative lets slip hints about a long-buried family secret, leading Clemmie on a journey that could change everything.

From the inner circles of WWI-era British society to the skyscrapers of Manhattan and to the red-dirt hills of Kenya, the never-told secrets of a woman and a family unfurl as Clemmie discovers the truth about the past and the present. ***

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Clemmie is a NYC lawyer who works long hours to work up that ladder at the firm, which helped cause the breakup of her and her boyfriend. In the end though, she wasn’t as broken up about it as she should have been, making her realize he just wasn’t the right one for her. He was right about one idea though – all the time she was spending on work and not seeing him also meant she wasn’t visiting her family much.

Well, she made it (albeit a tiny bit late) to her Granny Addie’s 99th birthday party – where she was surprised to see how much her grandmother was now really showing her age. She was tired, the part of the gathering Clemmie missed having taken a toll on her, plus something with a new medication that wasn’t agreeing with her. That must be why she kept calling Clemmie, Bea…

Addie was young when her loving parents died, and that forced her to leave her home to be cared for by an Aunt and Uncle she never really knew. It was a grander house called Ashford Park, but very little love – at least with one of the other children there, she did gain a friend, with her cousin named Bea. They were a bit different temperatments, but it was as they got older, they truly weren’t alike – for example, by the time they were in their 20s, Addie still wasn’t married yet (though seeing someone who might lead to an engagement), working, and working to be independent. Bea already was divorced once after scandalous events that led her to marry the father of the child she carried when it all occurred.

However, the strange thing is, the prologue, Addie is going to Kenya to visit Bea and her family. Partly for Bea, since she wrote how much she needed her, but partly for herself – though she just wasn’t entirely sure why. There is some sort of history between her and Bea’s husband, Frederick, that led her to think once in Kenya that maybe she should have just let well enough alone, and not showed up. In Chapter One, however, Clemmie thinks about the life and adventures, and vague memories she has of Grannie Addie and Grandpa Frederick. Hmm.

And with Addie calling Clemmie Bea, starts a journey through the family’s past, one which she never though to ask about, plus Addie never really volunteered. Help from a childhood friend, Jon – his father married into the family when Jon was young, and he also was quite close to Addie. Clemmie and Jon just really do not like each other… kind of… sort of… oh, and there was that brief interlude in Rome that must not be discussed with the other. The secrets she searches for and uncovers just might end up changing how she sees things, and herself.

A small disclaimer – I am already a fan of Lauren Willig’s, and while I’m not someone that looks for stories set in Edwardian times (yep, I’m the one person who has not watched Downton Abbey, and really haven’t wanted too – sorry! LOL), I sure wasn’t going to pass up a chance to catch one of her books early! It has everything you can expect from her – characters you get very invested in, rich historical details, a mix of a contemporary story and a historical one, and an overall fun time reading along. It didn’t matter to me that it wasn’t a Regency era story, I got into it quite fine – and simply loved the discoveries and memories that unfolded as I read.

So if you are already a fan, you will love it. If you are a Downton Abbey fan, pretty sure you’ll love it too. And if you are neither of those, still try it, you might like it after all.

And if you are familiar with the Pink Carnation series – don’t forget, Miss Gwen’s story comes out in August! Mine has already been on preorder for a while, but if an early copy comes out for review, sure wouldn’t say no to it… *wink, wink* to the publisher…

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The Ashford Affair – Hardcover
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Choose the cover of Elizabeth Gilbert’s upcoming novel!

Starting today, you can go to author Elizabeth Gilbert’s Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/GilbertLiz – to vote on which cover you like the best for the upcoming THE SIGNATURE OF ALL THINGS. It’s an epic novel of love, ambition and 19th century botanical exploration, coming out from Viking on October 1st.

For an article about this and the upcoming book, check out USA Today right here.

It goes on until Sunday, so go check them out and vote soon!

Free Fall by Catherine Mann

*** Pararescueman Jose “Cuervo” James is committed to his job and not much else. He thought nothing could change that, not even sexy, smart Interpol agent Stella Carson. Their affair burns hot and fast, but family is everything to Stella, and Jose just can’t go there.

The demands of their work make it easy to stay away from each other, until a fateful mission deep in the African jungle unexpectedly throws them together. With life on the line, uncovering the truth about Jose’s fears and Stella’s tragic past might destroy the spark between them, or gain them a second chance at passion and forever… ***

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Jose is a recovering alcoholic, with a long time family history of the disease; because of this, he does not want to potentially pass this tendency on to any children of his and avoids the idea of marriage and kids. Stella had a mother who was away a lot due to her Peace Corps work when she was young – and died in a car accident in Africa when she was a teenager; because of this, Stella knew when she met Mr Right and was time to get married and have children (and she did want that), she would get out of field work and go for a desk job. Jose joined the Air Force to give his life some direction; Stella joined studied criminal justice and ended up with Interpol to work in Africa with the hopes of piecing together what happened to her mother.

They both meet during a short mission, their attraction was immediate – and since they were both staying in Africa, he would subsequently take her to various places he’s been to on dates. And over those following six months, they grew close, but as they reached the point where she thought maybe they could consider marriage and kids, he says no. He had already told her about his problem and the family history with it, but she needed more than he was willing to give; family was important to her, and she wanted the whole package.

Four weeks later, they are reunited, but as part of a rescue mission – she, under the guise of an exchange student with a group of (mostly) actual students, is kidnapped. Jose and his team rescue them, but soon enough find themselves embroiled in something much larger – it all seems to be related to a goodwill visit by the vice president’s wife – some sort of potential attack during the visit, with potential codes on objects that were taken from the location Stella and the students were held, suggesting that there is something larger going on… and just the basic idea how not everything around them is exactly what it seems… plus, during all this, can they possible figure out if they have a future together, or do they see things in totally different directions?

I love this series – I think with each new story, they are just so getting better and better. With this one specifically, just watching both separately and together work through their demons and pain, their sheer chemistry with each other, both in and out of bed, and the suspense around what might or might not be happening with the VP’s wife – it’s just all a great combination that makes this book, and all the others so far utterly super and ones I look forward to. Please keep them coming!

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Free Fall – Paperback
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Wait Until Dark by M.L. Buchman

***
Name: Big John Wallace
Rank: Staff Sergeant, Chief Mechanic and Gunner
Mission: To serve and protect his crew and country

Name: Connie Davis
Rank: Sergeant, Flight Engineer, Mechanical Wizard
Mission: To be the best… and survive

Two Crack Mechanics, One Impossible Mission

Being in The Night Stalkers is Connie Davis’s way of facing her demons head-on, but mountain-strong John Wallace is a threat on all fronts. Their passion is explosive, but their conflicts are insurmountable. When duty calls them to a mission no one else could survive, they’ll fly into the night together – ready or not. ***

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Connie was just barely a teenager when her father was killed on a helicopter such as the ones she flies as part of the Army special forces group she belongs – her father was an early member of the same group. Her true motivation with being there was to really figure out precisely what it was that killed him. At the same time, she is awfully good at her job, just like her father. The blood, sweat and work to get to where she is today was in no way easy, as even men have washed out. She takes it all seriously, methodical in her ways – and also a quiet loner, even when being part of a group like here, shares very little with others, including her emotions. She just about never lets anyone see what is going on under the surface. And she definitely does not believe in marriage with military members – something can happen, and that is ultimately unfair to push on those left behind.

John has a fair amount of keeping to his own self, but perhaps not to her extent. She does intrigue him, both professionally and personally, and at first isn’t exactly sure why… but her shell cracks a little at a time around him, and subsequently, a little bit to the team. Yeah, they are attracted to each other, but while she reaches out, she also fights it big time. And there was the time when they are given leave, he sees she has nowhere to go – and he takes her home to meet the family… both an interesting and tough situation for her.

They were preparing for, and given, an ultra-secretive mission that if it went wrong, their names would not be remembered in connection with it – something that she realizes could have actually been true of her father. Now all they have to do is attempt to successfully complete it, hopefully come back alive – and through it, Connie has to figure out what she wants with John, and if she can give it back to him as well.

It was pretty good – no sugar-coating their demons, or the jobs and careers they chose. And while a little slow at first to build, it was very interesting watching Connie and John’s road to each other play itself out. Lots of technical details about the machines and equipment they fly and use; maybe once in a while a little too much, but lends to the story a very realistic vibe. But the thing that I just really liked the most about this book… it’s a male author that is writing this romance series, and doesn’t mind people knowing it. Very cool! If you really like more military suspense with your romance, you’ll definitely like this one!

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Wait Until Dark – Paperback
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Moonlight Masquerade By Jude Deveraux

*** After being abruptly jilted, Sophie Kincaid flees to the place her friend Kim Aldredge calls heaven on Earth. But Sophie’s first taste of Edilean is far from heavenly: after her car breaks down on a country road, she is nearly run over by a speeding sports car. A small act of revenge brings some satisfaction, and word quickly spreads that a gorgeous newcomer gave the driver, the notoriously bitter Dr Reede Aldredge, a dressing down! But it isn’t the first time the fiery artist has gone too far for payback: a secret possession she carries with her could shatter her ex-boyfriend’s future. Reede Aldredge has secrets too, including a desire to get closer to the beauty who is turning his dark world upside down. Under the night skies, their masquerade is magic – but will it turn to dust by the light of day? ***

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Sophie was just told by her boyfriend, that she was a summer fling, that’s it and he would be marrying someone else in a couple of months – and that was right after making love with him. Well, she was quite upset at that, sure; after all, she thought he was a bit more than just a boyfriend… but the first thing she thought to do was swipe the family secret recipe book that was on the table and out of the safe. This was the book that apparently helped build the family food empire, and well, it was totally on impulse and in the end, she wasn’t really sure what she was going to do with it – and she sure kept imagining the ex and/or his father were going to send the cops after her because of it. She needed help, and maybe just a friend, so she goes to the town that Kim went to, looking for a place to stay and a job.

Yep, that first day as she approached the town did not go well – the already falling apart car fell apart, and sure, she was kind of in the road, but someone who wasn’t totally paying attention almost hit her as he drove by – but did run over her cell phone and the book. Forced to walk to town, she did catch the car near a diner, went inside, asked who the driver of it was, approached him, and proceeded to pour beer all over him.

Reese didn’t have his mind totally on driving at the time, so he didn’t even realize anyone was in the road, except for the cell phone and envelope. The beer on him certainly made him realize it then, and of course was really sorry about it…

What he realizes soon enough, but she didn’t yet, was that the job that Kim (his sister) lined up for her, was to be his personal assistant. So, when she starts the next day, he just isn’t around. And for a while, this actually does work out – at first, he physically avoids her when she is around the office or his apartment (and the local townspeople help out – they are just happy the bad-tempered doctor is finally happy and not so snippy to them), but does call her, and they hit it off. They open up about their past relationships, life, things that they haven’t told others.

Given Halloween was near, that helped out in actually going on a couple of dates – he arranged for elaborate and, perhaps a little sexy too, costumes – with masks. He knew there would have to be an unveiling one of these days, but how in the world to do that – she was liking Reese, but she probably wouldn’t be all that fond of him knowing it was him and his car that almost hurt her, or that he’s been hiding that fact…

And of course, the day comes where she goes to his apartment, hoping he’s there to talk to him about something – and finds the good doctor sleeping on the couch. Of course she feels utterly humiliated and angry, towards him and the whole town… but, given a new job and a place upstairs from it, she agrees to stay in town for a few more months. Now the question will be if Reese can make it up to her, can the town make it up to her, can she figure out what she wants out of life – for herself and potentially with Reese, and in the meantime, that cookbook Sophie wanted him to send back to the ex-boyfriend – is it any sort of big deal, given the thing is all in code…

I basically liked this book – I liked Sophie’s attitude, her and Reese’s chemistry, how they hit it off, how the town helps her and takes care of her as if she was one of their own. The supporting characters of the town, especially Reese’s other employees were fun. The things that bugged me though were how too quickly the smaller storyline about the book was wrapped up, but more importantly, how she did not know exactly who she was with that first night they slept together. Sure, in romances there are plenty of instances where the hero and heroine become intimate without knowing the other’s full story, but for me, this one was just different. Still, even with those things, it was a fairly enjoyable read with some super nice characters that I wouldn’t mind meeting in a real life version of this town.

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