Review: A very mixed bag but with a strong common theme
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 12 22, 2013
As usual I received this book for free because the author approached me for a review.  Despite that kind consideration I give my honest opinions below.This book is a compilation of three novellas by three different authors.  They all have at their heart a strong female who either spells trouble or salvation and sometimes both in the same story.  Each section of the book has its own flavor and quality so I offer three mini-reviews for each.The first story, Femme Fatale by Suresh Chandrasekaran, is action packed and hard-boiled but sadly it's very poorly written.  The author seems to confuse English idioms, resorts to trite repeated phrases and while his story has a lot of grit it seems to chicken out at the last minute and turn itself into a sappy love story.  This one needs a good editor and a new ending.  2 stars out of 5.The second story, Bella Donna by Radha Sawana is by far the star of this trio.  It reads like an Ian Fleming novel and the author has obviously done their homework.  The writing is fluid and easily to read and drags the reader along quite against their will.  I'd like to see this author publish their own collection.  5 stars out of 5.Lastly, we come to Bellary by  Karthik L.  Like the first story this one has a few foibles of writing but is still solid.  The characters are believable but lack development.  I could easily see this idea drawn out into a longer and more ambitious work.  4 stars out of 5.In summary, as a reader in The States I adore the setting and the local color that these authors bring to the printed page.  I welcome their next submissions but do suggest that care should be taken with language and writing.