Review: A Hard Yes (Misguided Masala Matchmaker #1) by Sinclair Jayne

Is it a love for the ages or just a season?

Rohan Kapoor is the golden boy of Charlotte. As a newly minted cardiothoracic surgeon with several prestigious job offers, potential brides eagerly line up when his parents—pillars in their Indian American community—hire a matchmaker. Even his favorite cousin Rani has a plan to divine his perfect match. But Rohan’s not looking for a bride, and then he takes a wrong turn, meeting a woman who changes the way he feels about everything.

After years of traveling and painting commissioned murals, artist Solei Beals wants to plant roots now that she’s been hired as a high school art teacher. She meets Rohan at an art festival, and the attraction sizzles. During the festival of Holi, Solei admits she’s fallen in love with a man who’s made it clear he’s not free to commit beyond spring.

As summer teases, Rohan’s family obligations and expectations create a barrier Solei’s not sure he’s willing to breach. And if Rohan’s not willing to fight for her or the life he says he wants, why should she?  

 

My Review:

A great start to an amazing new series.   

You will love this big Indian American family.  They are fun and quirky and I just couldn’t get enough of them.

In this book we meet Rohan Kapoor (and I have to admit, I might have a slight crush on him).  He is the perfect man.  He is well dressed, a doctor and knows what he wants in life.  But he is afraid to go against what his parents expect of him; in this case, working at his father’s practice, a wife from a good Indian family, and children.  But Rohan doesn’t want to be matched with someone he doesn’t love.  He has found the woman of his dreams all on his own. The only problems is, she isn’t Indian and Rohan is afraid to introduce her to his family.

Solei Beals is living the life she wants.  She has finally made a name for herself in the urban art industry. People across the country want her to paint for them.  She is also a teacher.  When she meets Rohan, she swears she has never seen a more beautiful man.  But Solei has been hurt in the past and is leery of a relationship.  Throwing caution to the wind, she decides it’s time to give love another chance.  What Solei didn’t expect was to fall so hard for Rohan, and the fact that Rohan’s family has goals they set for him and they expect him to carry them out.  Now it’s up to Rohan and Solei to show his family how in love they are and that they are meant to be together.    

 

 

Review: Kittens and Kisses at the Cat Café (Furrever Friends #2) by Kris Bock

He’s loved her forever. She still sees him as the neighbor kid. Can five desperate kittens bring them together?

Marley is a baker at the new Furrever Friends Cat Café, which is still trying to find its footing. Her nine-year-old son, Brian, desperately wants a kitten, but they can’t have pets where they live. Who has the time to date? Just as well that she’s protected her heart since the father of her child disappeared.

Adam has loved Marley since he was 13, and she was his best friend’s free-spirited older sister. Back then, he fantasized about rescuing her from bandits or dragons. Now he’s 24, and the five-year age gap isn’t so serious. He wants nothing more than to become a family with Marley and her son. But will she ever see him as a man?

When someone leaves a box of week-old kittens at the café, Adam jumps at the chance to be a hero. But herding kittens might be tougher than fighting dragons, especially when two of them fail to thrive. Can Adam, Marley, and Brian save the kittens and find a future together?

The Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the workers and customers at a small-town cat café, and the adorable cats and kittens looking for their forever homes. Each book is a complete story with a happy ending for one couple (and maybe more than one rescued cat). These sweet romances will leave you with the warm, fuzzy feeling of cuddling a purring cat.

 

My Review:

A heartwarming friends to lovers story.

Based around the Furrever Friends Cat Café, Marley, a baker at the cafe and Adam, Marley’s sister’s best friend, become better friends as they care for kittens that were dropped off at the cafe.  Adam has had a crush on Marley for years, but knew he couldn’t make a move on her.  He didn’t know how it would effect his friendship with Kari; plus Marley was focused on raising her son and work.  Who knew a box of tiny kittens would be what brought Marley and Adam together.

This was such a sweet story with an amazing couple, a little boy and let’s not forget all those kittens.  I loved the cat cafe setting and enjoyed seeing Marley and Adam finally find love. 

 

 
 

Review: A New Mantra (The Sood Family #1) by Sapna Srinivasan

 

She’s always done what was expected of her. Until…

When 30-year-old Seattle-based Indian housewife Mira Sood is blindsided by her husband’s extramarital affair, her three-year arranged marriage is shattered. Humiliated, heartbroken, near-broke, and facing the united dissension of her orthodox family, Mira is desperate to rebuild her life. She moves in with her rebel cousin, searches for any job that will take her, and impulsively signs up for a half-marathon race. There’s just one problem—Mira's experience with running starts and ends with running to catch the bus.

With herself as her biggest critic and doubter, Mira commits to the race and is assisted by entrepreneur Andy Fitzgerald, a handsome, elite marathoner who helps her create a training schedule and personal goals. When the lines of friendship begin to blur, Mira realizes she’s facing an even bigger challenge.

Can Mira embrace her stronger, more independent self—risking another heartbreak and disappointing her family—or will she once again play it too safe and let the possibility of happiness slip away?

 

My Review:

An inspiring romantic story.

After her cheating husband asks for a divorce, Mira Sood decides to take control of her life. Left with barely any money and no job, Mira can’t afford to keep the apartment, so she moves in with her cousin.  While out one day, Mira is given a brochure about a half marathon.  Mira has never run a day in her life, but after thinking about it and she decides to give it a try.  Maybe it’s what she needs to start her new life.  With the help of her new friend, Andy, who is a marathon champion, Mira finds herself training for the race.  She discovers she likes running and likes Andy even more.  But Mira has a hard time moving forward in the romance department.  Her family want her to reconcile with her ex, even though Mira is never going to do that, she is also afraid to disappoint her family further by marrying a man who is not Indian.

This was an inspiring story with a lot of parts I was able to relate to. I enjoyed seeing how Mira was able to finally put herself first and do what made her happy. I enjoyed seeing how she trained and started to fall in love with Andy and finally give in to her feelings for him.  This is the first book in a series and I am already looking forward to reading the next book.