Review: An Unsuitable Boy (Misguided Masala Matchmaker #3) by Sinclair Jayne Sawhney

 

She’s done playing by the rules. He never has.

As the oldest sibling, OBGYN Asha Kapoor has always been the perfect daughter and role model. But when her traditionally arranged marriage implodes days before the ceremony, Asha feels lost and humiliated. At nearly thirty-seven, she knows her dream of having her own children is slipping away, but she has no Plan B for her life. Then Dhruv Narula rescues her from a kitchen fire, and something wild in Asha awakens. Dhruv is everything she’s not—sexy, fearless, unbound by tradition, and completely irresistible.

Former soldier and now firefighter Dhruv isn’t expecting a hero's welcome home. Though he’s proud of his life and career choices, he never once gained his exacting father’s approval or the respect of his tight Indian community. While Dhruv stopped caring what anyone thought years ago, even he hesitates to hurtle into a scorching secret relationship with the woman he always fantasized about—the brilliant jewel-of-society Asha Kapoor.

Asha and Dhruv know they’re completely wrong for each other. So then why does it feel so right?

 

My Review:

The best book in the Misguided Masala Matchmaker series. 

I loved this opposites attract/friends to lovers story.  Being part a prominent Indian American family in Charlotte, Asha was always considered a princess by most people.  She was always the good girl; doing what was expected of her and always eager to please her family.  But when Asha starts seeing Dhruv, an outcast in the community, things are about to get interesting in the Kapoor family.

This book has it all, passion, secrets, forgiveness and new beginnings all rolled into one amazingly beautiful story.

Review: Honolulu Cold Homicide by R. Barri Flowers

His latest case is a link to the past
And a cold case that’s all too personal…

When a new case carries echoes of his sister’s cold case murder, Detective Sergeant Lance Warner is visited by another ghost from the past. Caroline Yashima isn’t only the CJD specialist assigned to work alongside him, she’s also the ex he regrets walking away from. He’s not sure if he can expect a second chance—or just a chance for closure. But when Caroline becomes a target, he knows that he doesn’t want to live without her.

 

My Review:

An intriguing romantic suspense.

A serial killer is loose in Honolulu.  Former lovers, Detective Sergeant Lance Warner and Cold Case Investigator Caroline Yashima, are reunited after a new murder mimics the murder of Lance’s sister from twenty years ago.  Lance is on the new case and Caroline has been given the cold case to see if she can solve it.  Together, they find the similarities and hunt down the killer.  As they investigate, more victims are discovered.  Lance and Caroline work hard to find the killer before any more women are killed.  They also take a little time to rediscover the love they used to have for each other.  Once the killer is caught, they just might be able to pick up where they left off in their relationship.

This is the first book by this author that I have read and I have to admit, he has a way of telling a story that had me hooked.  I couldn’t wait to see who the killer was and I couldn’t wait to see how Lance and Caroline would find their way back to each other.  I will definitely be checking out more books by this author.   

 

Review: Charming the Billionaire Cowboy (The Accidental Billionaire Cowboys #2) by Kris Bock

 

For the first time, his cowboy charms seem to backfire… 

With his Texas ranching family’s lottery win, TC Tomlinson is finally able to build a ranch with alternative livestock. TC has a lot to prove, starting with his new ostrich herd, so when he catches a beauty scooping up an escaped baby bird, TC chases her down, assuming she wants to meet him for his money.

When Hallie Armstrong sees the injured baby ostrich, she jumps into professional mode. A former vet tech, she’s moved to Last Stand to work at her aunt's wildlife rescue and heal from an attack. She’s skittish of the handsome cowboy, but when he starts to flirt, she decides two can play at this game—the rescue needs fundraising, and TC is an eligible bachelor.

As they brainstorm ideas for a bachelor auction and work to solve the mystery of local sheep attacks, TC finds himself falling for the feisty cowgirl. But when he learns she’s still in danger, his protective instincts threaten to drive Hallie away. Can TC convince Hallie she can have her independence and him too?

 

My Review:

I love these characters and their story.

After an attack left Hallie Armstrong with a brain injury, she moved from Houston to Last Stand to recover and help her aunt with her wild animal rescue, where they helped wolves, mountain lions and bears, just to name a few. 

TC Tomlinson’s family won big on the lottery and now he is living his dream of raising bison, ostrich and llamas on his ranch.  He wasn’t quite sure what to think of Hallie when they first met.  At first, he thought she was trying to steal on of his baby ostriches that had escaped.  Could it all be an act and she was just after him because he was rich?  TC started to fall for Hallie after getting to know her better, but he wasn’t sure how to go about making a move as he was trying to protect her after the incident in Houston left her weary of men.  With a little compassion and patience from TC, him and Hallie finally get their happily ever after. 

I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for the next installment in the series.   

 

Review: A Mantra for Miss Perfect (The Sood Family #3) Sapna Srinivasan

She has everything…except what she wants most.

Sahana Sood is beautiful, brilliant, and inches away from making junior partner at her downtown Seattle law firm. Ever the dutiful daughter, she’s lauded as Miss Perfect in her large Indian family and community. But Sahana is barely hiding her panic because, despite her best efforts and too many blind dates to count, she’s now thirty-two and has never come close to finding Mr. Perfect. Rumors are spreading—Sahana’s unlucky in love.

With marriage pressure mounting, Sahana buries herself in work. She’s confident she’ll close the acquisition deal for the Wilding Inn for her firm's major client, but hits a snag. The handsome owner Ryan Mehra refuses to sell. He doesn’t need the money, the inn is a testament to his late parents’ love and he’d rather continue their legacy.

Sahana heads to the historic inn determined to not lose this deal. But the sparks that fly when she meets Ryan, who just might be more stubborn and driven than she is, soon have her worrying that instead of landing her partnership, she might lose her heart.

 

My Review:

A beautifully written Indian American love story.

Lawyer, Sahana Sood, was raised in a traditional Indian family.  She has reached an age where she is constantly asked when she will marry and start a family.  Even with her busy work schedule, Sahana reluctantly agrees to start going on match dates that her mother has planned.  But it was another man who catches Sahana’s attention and she is afraid her mother won’t approve. 

Ryan Mehra, the owner of an inn that Sahana’s firm is trying to acquire, has taken control of the inn that his parents started when they were young.  He wants to continue their legacy and refuses to sell out.  His plan was for Sahana to spend the weekend at the inn to see why it is so important to him.  But it leads to more than just that.  Over that weekend, Ryan falls in love with Sahana.  And he will do anything he can to convince her that they should be together. 

I have read this series from the beginning and each book only gets better.  I love this family and just can’t get enough.  Though the author’s words, I can easily picture the big family gatherings, beautiful saris and lehengas, delicious Indian food and Bollywood dancing.  I highly recommend this book (and series) to anyone looking for something a little different from your every day romance books.