YOU CAN'T FIGHT A ROYAL ATTRACTION by Ruchi Vasudeva

Reviewed by Maria

I’ll say this for Ruchi Vasudeva.  She really knows how to surprise a reader.  I read part one of her Lucknow Sehgal sisters series, BOLLYWOOD FIANCE FOR A DAY and watched aghast as Saira snatched away her sister Vishakha’s fiancé.  I really had no idea what Saira’s story could be like.  What was left for her to do after marrying her sister’s former fiancé?  But I had to think again.  Life is strange with it’s twists and turns as every one of us sometimes learns, in fiction as in fact.  The pampered younger daughter in the story, Saira has to learn to grow, change and mature.

The story of Saira’s journey is no less fascinating than Vishakha’s.  Ruchi paints an uncannily accurate portrait of a marriage which destroys the soul.  This is a writer of insight.  As in the case of the previous novel (never mind the sensational title) this book is not just a work of quality romantic fiction.  It is, in my humble opinion, a quality work of Indian fiction.  Period.

I also enjoyed Rihaan’s story of growing out of his heritage and claiming his self-forged destiny..

For lovers of Indian fiction and romance fiction.  Don’t miss out on this one.

The Indian Tycoon's Marriage Deal by Adite Banerjie

When your childhood was ruined and your parents’ lives were destroyed by a ruthless businessman, what is the thing you’d like to do most?  To bring down the monster who blighted your young existence, naturally.  And what do you do when that monster’s son, who seems to be a really nice man, proposes marriage to you?  You accept, of course.  What better way to get your own back than to walk into that ruthless villain’s house as his daughter-in-law?  And how better to bring him down than from the inside?  The inside of his family?

But the truth is, Maya Shome is far too nice to be a negative character.  Oh, she has human instincts, naturally.  But she stops short of doing actual harm.  She engages our sympathy from the outset with her sad story, which actually brought tears to my eyes.  And Krish, the hero?  The handsome international playboy who pursues Maya, he wins us over by his wish to make his own life and not just to live in the shadow of his powerful father.   That’s why he finds his own bride, instead of sitting back and letting his father use the most important relationship of his life as a career move.  Multi-talented Maya, as well as being a talented landscape designer is also a qualified dance teacher, a skill which comes in handy when she first meets Krish. The two end up tearing up the floor with a killer tango performance, making it clear to all present, including the girl to whom Krish’s father is trying  to betroth him, that the pair of them belong together.  End.  Of.  Story.

But of course, it’s not really the end of the story.  Once married to the powerfully attractive man who Krish is, Maya must now execute her revenge plan in right earnest.  But how can she do it?  She finds it difficult to lie to him as she is pulled deeper and deeper into love.  What can Maya do?  And will Krish succeed in escaping his father’s powerful clutches and get out into the world to pursue his own destiny?

This story will draw you in and give you a couple of hours of pleasure and ultimate closure.  It’s a perfectly written story which is also a perfect example of why readers the world over enjoy Mills & Boon novels.  Because they draw you out of the humdrum everyday realities and give you a good time.  Whether the reader is Indian or not, this story will certainly strike a chord with romance readers.

If I took anything away from this book, it’s the lesson that we have no control over our origins, but we have a lot of control over where we go in the future.  The choice is ours, to decide whether we end up bitter – or better.

A truly enjoyable debut  romance novel from Adite Banerjie.  I hope that not only Indian romance readers, but also international romance readers, will get the opportunity to get their hands on  this book.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reviewed by Nas

THE INDIAN TYCOON'S MARRAIGE DEAL is a September 2013 release by Mills & Boon India.

First the cover is sort of misleading. The cover image gives the impression that this is a Bollywood movie or a comic type of story. Which it was not!

This is an astounding story of family, betrayal, love, romance...sigh...and ultimately resolution. I loved this story. The heroine, Maya is strong, talented and very honest person. The hero, Krish is gorgeous and fun-loving yet sensitive when he is needed to be!

This was a new to me author but I would definitely be reading her other books. Author Adite Banerji wrote a heart-warming story which would hook you from the first page as you flip pages to get to the end. It is an emotional romance peppered with family values and betrayal.

Highly recommended for all lovers of romance.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

BOLLYWOOD FIANCE FOR A DAY by Ruchi Vasudeva

What can possibly restore your credibility after being jilted by your fiance for your more superficially attractive sister, so that your wedding goes ahead and your sister takes your place?  If you’re an Indian girl, I mean? Well, getting engaged to a Bollywood hero on the morning of  the sister’s wedding, I suppose.  That’s one way to save face and put a stop to those feigned, compassionate glances, not to mention the inevitable, whispered comparisons.

Meet Vishakha.  Dr. Vishakha Sehgal, I mean to say.  Serious, academic, committed to her medical vocation, putting the welfare of her patients above her own.  Heck, she puts everyone’s welfare above her own, but I digress.  In her downtime, she’s a serious foodie, knowing all the best places to eat even if they’re off the beaten track.  She loves to browse and buy her books in little, traditional bookshops, eschewing the more glamorous book retail chains.  Who knew that her quicksilver mind had absorbed enough Bollywood trivia to secure a dream date with the dashing Zaheer Saxena, Bollywood action man and a  contender for the label of a seriously talented actor?

Now meet Zaheer.  If he’s a Bollywood action hero, we can take it that he has a killer body and superb physical stamina.  Must be a walking, talking caricature, right?  Who knew he had the insight to see into the soul of serious, studious, dutiful girl and see the attractive and passionate woman therein?  Not to mention unleash that woman for all the world to see?

Of course Mills & Boon and Bollywood are synonymous with happy endings, aren’t they? So our ‘happy ever after’ (HEA) is guaranteed?  Well, think again.  Ruchi Vasudeva, the author, will make you work for your HEA.  In the meantime, you get to read some pretty sparkling dialogue and get insight  into how two people, ostensibly very different from each other to the point of impossibility, get to meet, find the common ground and find within each other that ‘other’ who completes the self.  The soul mate.

As a piece of Indian fiction, I rate this very highly indeed.  Forget the manufactured name and the M&B and Bollywood tags.  It’s a story which deserves to be read by everyone who enjoys good writing.  And ladies, I’m here to tell you that Zaheer ticks all the boxes where a hero is concerned.  I loved his wit and warmth.  He charmed me right off the page.  Fall in love with him?  Well, if I was a young and unattached slip of a girl?  Hell, yeah.  Dang it, I’m a middle aged mother of four and he set my heart a-fluttering.

Lucknowites should particularly enjoy this book.  Vishakha is a Lucknow lass and when the couple indulges in a spot of ‘ganjing’ (that is, roaming through Lucknow’s main thoroughfare, Hazratganj, dominated by the spire of St. Joseph’s cathedral) and browses for books in the British Book Depot, you’ll feel you’re right beside them.  I know I did.

If you want to read a romance with warmth and substance, with characters who practically walk off the page and talk to you, pick this one up. 

And look out for more from Ruchi Vasudeva.  If her debut is anything to go by, we have a lot more to hear from this talented author.

Because this book fulfills all that I expect from a romance novel, I’m giving it the full five stars.