Love Comes Later

by Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar

When newlywed Abdulla loses his wife and unborn child in a car accident, the world seems to crumble beneath his feet. Thrust back into living in the family compound, he goes through the motions—work, eat, sleep, repeat. Blaming himself for their deaths, he decides to never marry again but knows that culturally, this is not an option. Three years later, he’s faced with an arranged marriage to his cousin Hind, whom he hasn’t seen in years. Hard-pressed to find a way out, he consents to a yearlong engagement and tries to find a way to end it. What he doesn’t count on, and is unaware of, is Hind’s own reluctance to marry.

Longing for independence, she insists on being allowed to complete a master’s degree in England, a condition Abdulla readily accepts. When she finds an unlikely friend in Indian-American Sangita, she starts down a path that will ultimately place her future in jeopardy.

The greatest success of Rajakumar’s novel is the emotional journey the reader takes via her rich characters. One cannot help but feel the pressure of the culturally mandated marriage set before Hind and Abdulla. He’s not a real Muslim man if he remains single, and she will never be allowed freedoms without the bondage of a potentially loveless marriage. It’s an impossible situation dictated by a culture that they still deeply respect.

Rajakumar pulls back the veil on life in Qatar to reveal a glimpse of Muslim life rarely seen by Westerners.

"...a deliciously tangled plot and insight into life on the Persian Gulf."
Kirkus Review

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Adult, Cultural, India

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2009

About the author

Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar is a South Asian American novelist, educator, and scholar who has lived in Qatar since 2005. Her coming of age novel, An Unlikely Goddess, won the SheWrites New Novelist competition in 2011.

Her recent books have focused on various aspects of life in Qatar. From Dunes to Dior, named as a Best Indie book in 2013, is a collection of essays related to her experiences as a living in the Arabian Gulf. Love Comes Later was the winner of the Best Indie Book Award for Romance in 2013 and is a literary romance set in Qatar and London.

The Domestics is an inside look into compound life, the day-to-day dynamics between housemaids and their employers. Learn more about her work on her website at www.mohadoha.com or follow her latest on Twitter: @moha_doha.

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

When you think of Qatar what is the first image that your neurons conjure? For me, it was a barrel seeping with crude oil. Yes, I am ashamed that such a diverse and exotic country was reduced to a stereotype in my mind. This is why I decided to take on reviewing this book. I wanted to have a cultural experience so I could value the country for what it really is.

Reading Love Comes Later, has taught me a grand lesson - to never judge a book by its cover. Literally, I was not a fan of the cover of the book. But then, that does not mean the content would have been bad. Just a personal thing.

Figuratively, I wanted to have more insight on the true beauty of Qatar and its people, rather than sticking to the Western portrayal as Qatar being a place of oil, sand dunes, and pearl diving. This book did a marvelous job at that. I have proudly extended my already limited foreign language vocabulary and realized what it is like to be a Muslim living in Qatar or a Hindu in the United States. I guess that Rajukumar was hoping for Love Comes Later to be a microcosm of a country she cherishes.

A strong element of this multicultural read was its plot. This novel had an intricate story-line With so many characters, it was sometimes hard to keep up with who was who. I eventually made a little key guide to each character and their role. I actually enjoyed doing that. The first few pages were intense and tragic. It was really "in your face". I was a bit scared to continue reading, but eventually the events subdued to unravel the somber Abdulla as he mourns the loss of his loved one. I do not want to give away the plot, but I must say I was completely satisfied when I finished the book. I will definitely read it over again.

Such an exciting plot, could not be without a spectacular dramatis personae of rounded characters. I noticed that most of them were influenced by Western ideals. I did not find this surprising at all living in a Central American country. It is so easy to displace your optimum culture for the sake of freedom from religious and other traditional restraints. Rajakumar was very blatant that the leading family was Westernized, yet they still clung to many of their traditional Muslim beliefs. I know it must have been so difficult to translate such conflicting ideas to paper, but Rajakumar was excellent - she was diplomatic . Then like every good book, there is that twist. Let me tell you that the twist in Love Comes Later will hit you like a brick. Soon you are entangled in a web of lovers, which is when the read picks up its pace.

Though there is a host of characters, not all of them are profound enough to mention. Abdulla, the main character, is a widower who places all the guilt of his wife and unborn child's death on his hands. He is absorbed in his business and shuts himself away from his family and his deity. I was very sad for him, and things just get worse when his family (even his ex-father-in-law) thrusts him into marriage with Hind, his cousin. Hind was not my cup of tea at all. She was very self-seeking and only cared for the benefits of marrying Abdulla (ie. getting to study abroad). She was quite thoughtless, but I guess this can account for her youth. Though she was not my favorite character, I can understand that she wanted a taste of freedom. Rajakumar really developed her characters well. With the main characters experiencing such crushing internal conflict, it heightened my interest level, and eventually I was left stunned with their decisions. You will too.

As for her writing style, I was quite impressed. Her didactic tone was necessary in such an exotic read. She taught me a lot about the culture of Qataris. However, sometimes I felt overwhelmed with all the Western references. Though I understand that Western culture is embedded in the family, I really did not need to be reminded that Abdulla had a Blackberry every time he used it. Rajakumar also was meticulous with her dialogue. Each character spoke a certain way, which made it easier to identify them - even without my handy character reference guide. I notice that a lot of authors tend to lose the personality of their characters, especially when there are a lot to count. Rajakumar did not do that one bit.

Love Comes Later is a read that not only portrays Qatar, but one that also fortifies that romance can supersede the pangs of prejudice and the frowns of grief.

[Marie-Therese · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unusual, fast-paced, enjoyable contemporary romance with well-drawn, engaging characters and a subtle feminist undertone.

While Rajakumar's prose style is mostly just serviceable, she does a very good job of giving each primary character equal narrative weight, allowing the inner truth of each to shine through. A few very nicely delineated secondary characters add depth and charm (Luluwa is an especially delightful character and, were this a regular Western romance, I'd expect to see a grown-up version of her helming her own book in future). While I wasn't entirely convinced by the final romance (it all seemed so sudden and honestly a bit out of character and unmotivated for Sangita), Rajakumar did go out of her way to detail the difficulties ahead for this couple, adding a welcome note of realism in a genre that's too often purely fantasy.

Overall, this was a genuinely interesting and pleasant read, great for a summer afternoon. I recommend it to anyone looking for a contemporary romance novel that goes beyond the usual boundaries.

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful novel I didn't expect. Go read it for yourself.

My Rating: 5+ stars

[Ang Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about culture, family, heritage, loyalty, friendship, and love. It centers on Abdulla, a Muslim from Qatar, who suffers the loss of his young wife and unborn child at the beginning of the story. From there, we start to learn about Abdulla and his life as a Qatari male living in Doha. Many intricacies of Muslim culture are explained in vivid detail: the duties of a young man toward his family, the expected roles of women in the household, and the complex rules and traditions regarding arranged marriage and familial ties.

Eventually, Abdulla’s family begins to pressure him to marry again. He still feels guilt over his wife’s death and doesn’t want to remarry, but eventually yields to two families’ wish, and agrees to marry a cousin, Hind, a modern woman who has been educated in the west, and longs to return to London. She doesn’t want to marry either, especially a man she hasn’t seen since childhood. She agrees to the marriage on one condition: that she is allowed one more year in London to complete her Master’s Degree.

We are then taken from Doha to London, where Hind meets Sangita, a British woman of Indian descent. They bond over the many similarities in Arab and South Asian culture and the heavy responsibilities of duty to one’s family. They become close friends and roommates. One day, Sangita’s brother, Ravi, shows up on the doorstep and within a short time, Sangita finds herself alone, as Hind runs off to India on an adventure with Ravi.

Abdulla, who has come to London, wants to talk to Hind about terminating the marriage agreement. Abdulla is a modern thinking man, but he’s also a product of his religion, and he’s shocked at Hind’s actions: in his culture, she’s done an unforgivable thing by running off with a man who is not her husband, much less one who’s not Muslim. However, she’s also given him a legitimate reason to terminate the contract.

As Sangita and Abdulla wait for Hind and Ravi, they spend several days exploring the differences between their cultures, and both enjoy the freedom London has compared to their home lives. They become friends, and then feel a growing attraction to each other. Things grow heated when Ravi and Hind finally show up, and Sangita’s and Hind’s friendship is strained.

Regardless of the worries of her family, Sangita is willing to give up her life in London in order to live by the restrictions imposed on Muslim woman in Qatar, and despite the possible denunciation of Abdulla’s family, they struggle to marry and start a new life together.

I really enjoyed this book. The writing is rich and lovely. Rajakumar, who lives and works in Qatar, describes the daily life in such rich detail, from the embroidery on the abayas (a loose robe worn by women to cover their bodies in front of men while out in public) to the rituals of Khutouba (the engagement ceremony after which the couple is considered legally married). Supporting characters (such as the young sister-in-law) are woven into the story with creativity and brightness. I especially liked the subtle narrative of the grandfather’s lost Indian love, which
plays out in a major way for the central couple at the end of the story. Every action is written with purpose, even something as simple as making a cup of tea. The story, about people caught between the modern world and a traditional upbringing, is well crafted and relevant to today’s ever changing society. Love Comes Later is a book that I will enjoy reading again.

NOTE: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Maimoona Rahman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Qatar to me stands for quiet Ramadan months, Alexander McQueen and Louis Vuitton toting Qataris (because I have seen way too many rich nationals in Qatar than I have seen in any other country, and no, I am not generalising that all Qataris carry themselves in designer wear) and giant malls, which people now think are crawling with arsonists. Qatar also stands for a huge expat community some of whom you try to hide from, like South Asian construction workers who live without their families here, and some whom you try to impress, like Westerners, whose bachelorfolk are allowed into malls on family days if they are white while brown bachelors are not and the one allowing them in is inevitably always a brown security guard.

There’s none of that in Love Comes Later, and there’s all of that because I guess if you are an expat you can’t really write about Qatar without mentioning the burgeoning expat community that has reached bursting point and the ubiquitous designer bags in the hands of many Qatari females. Love Comes Later came as an interesting read because it is the first book I have read with Qatari characters in it. Romance is not my ideal read to beat workplace boredom, but I think this is not so much genre fiction as it is semi-literary with its emphasis on characters and culture as it does discuss several of the cultural phenomena typical to the region, the most important being the importance of designer wear and makeup, the need for a large number of South Asian and South East Asian domestic workers, religion, and gender inequality. You can tell this book has been written by an expat because of the details Rajakumar chooses to mention while narrating the story from the perspective of Qatari characters, like designer wear, many overdramatic aunts and uncles living in the same family compound, and the nationality of domestic workers, stuff Qataris would not find necessary to describe if they wrote their own story. Nonetheless, it’s a good book with zero irreverence and lots of, well, love.

So the précis is that a widowed Qatari guy, Abdullah, is forced to remarry mere three years after the death of his first wife, to whom he was barely married a year. His grandfather is dying and marriage cannot be postponed. His father and uncles, who live in the same family compound, want to pressure him into agreeing to yet another arranged marriage. He doesn’t like the girl they have chosen for him, bookish first cousin Hind, perhaps because he doesn’t know her well enough and he is yet to forget the car accident to which he lost his first wife. When he secretly goes to the UK—where Hind is doing her Master’s—before his impending marriage, to share his dilemma, her Indian roommate, Sangita, falls in love with him.

If love will truly come after marriage is a toss-up, and Abdullah is reluctant to go through the same arranged marriage ritual again to please his family and prove he is a man. Is this how all Qatari men act? #1) This is a single story, and this is not the story of all Qatari men. But, considering that these characters behave like this because marriage is an important social convention in Qatari society, it cannot be said men are shallow. Marriage and family life is important in this region not just to save face in society (Abdullah’s colleagues think he is gay), but also because building a family is just as important. #2) Widows all over the globe are asked to consider remarriage because people think it will help them overcome the grief of losing their spouse. Being a society where arranged marriage is the norm, Abdullah’s family do not expect him to find a bride on his own, and hence they find a bride for him. I guess marriage in this region is important for reasons we expats don’t understand and it is interesting how the story doesn’t comment on if arranged marriages are bad, because Abdullah’s first marriage was arranged too and it seemed one he was happy with.

A friend on Twitter commented on how shallow people in Qatar seem in the book. Remember, if you are not Qatari, then you are looking at this book as an expat, and unless you are incredibly rich, it is difficult to imagine people wearing Alexander McQueen tees at home like ordinary people wear pyjamas. Perfumes, bags, make-up, heels (OMG! I tell you this country seems obsessed with heels) might seem awkward, but in this oil-rich country, locals with means—and not all locals are rich—are fashionable, and why shouldn’t they be if they have the means. Are they being wasteful? You really can’t say they are because many I know are as charitable as they are fashionable. People live according to their means after all.

Qataris are not very fond of foreign brides (or grooms, but men are more prone to falling in love with foreigners while women barely fall in love before marriage), let alone Indian brides, and the question is if perhaps because in the expat community hierarchy, South Asians occupy the working class, that it is difficult to accept Indian brides. There is an Indian maid, Anita, and two Indian drivers in the book, Ramzan and Narin. Well honestly, any part of the world you go to, people would rather you marry one of your kind than someone from someplace else. I could totally see the face of the Lebanese hair dresser in my head to whom Sangita goes to do her hair because the clientele in the salon is mostly designer bag touting Qataris and Sangita is an ordinary Indian who needs to work (albeit her father is not “poor”). It is true to an extent that expats in Qatar are more racists than Qataris themselves.

If this book has any lesson at all, and I hate claiming books have lessons, it is that unbending cultural norms can be catastrophic although people claim they are the outcome of our ancestor’s wisdom. Like people, wisdom should evolve too, yeah?


This book has an excellent focus on women’s issues and religion. Everything society does ties the noose around women a little tighter. Things are not just bad for Abdullah; they are worse for Hind. But like there are people who don’t think women should be let out without a chaperone ever, there are people who think of women as their equals.

I don’t know how a native would take this book by an expat, but as an expat myself, I was pleased Love Comes Later has none of the irreverence for the region or its people that you would expect non-Arabs to have for “Arabs”. If I were to write this book, I would perhaps ridicule all the designer shoes and handbags and the need to have South Asian domestics, because I am a bitch. Sometimes.

[Tahsin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5+ stars

I had no real reason for reading this book except that I was approved for it almost immediately after requesting it on Netgalley. I've never read a book like this before. This was completely uncharted territory for me, and there were times when I wanted to quit while I was ahead, but I also really wanted to know how it ended.

It starts out with a bang - the protagonist's wife has just died and as a reader, you're thrown right in the midst of the action. And then it gets slow - there's only so much of their life you can be a bystander to until it gets mind-numbingly boring. Right at that point, it gets better. There are some twists that are uncomfortable to experience as a reader when you're privy to their upbringing and backgrounds. Nonetheless, it picks up again and it ends relatively well.

I'm not the biggest fan of the ending, I won't lie. First of all, it needs a sequel, desperately so that I won't have to rely on my own imagination for a proper conclusion. And second, my inner feminist is both rejoicing and cringing. Like why? I know you to tie up all the loose ends and shit - but why go that particular route? Or maybe why not explain it a little better? It is what it is, but I personally would have liked to see it a little different.

Also, I had no idea Qataris were so filthy rich. I flew through Qatar a few years ago and I spent a few hours at the airport there, changing planes and shit and being generally pissed off at the world after almost a day of travel. I saw gaggles of women super dressed up - you could see their elaborate outfits under their abayas - wearing a shitton of makeup and really pretty heels. My seventeen year old self had neither the brain capacity to understand nor give a shit about these things. After reading this book, I want to say I understand that a little better.

[C.L. Roman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Point of view. Every set of eyes has its own. Individual perspective is influenced by gender, culture, religion and socio-economic level, as well as a host of other factors too complex and numerous to mention. Everyone has their own viewpoint, and it is only with great effort that we are able to see through another’s eyes. Love Comes Later” by Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar not only makes that effort, but succeeds in providing an understanding of culture and faith that may be very different from her reader’s.

In this honest, emotionally tangled story of arranged marriage and the bonds of family duty, we meet Abdulla, Hind and Sangita, members of a complicated relationship triangle that mixes motivations and desires with often surprising results. Abdulla is a bereaved husband, eldest son, and successful businessman who is being asked to marry again, very much against his wishes. Hind is the ambitious young woman who wants more than she believes marriage and family can offer. Sangita is the American Hindu who finds, to her surprise, that the life she thought she wanted is not as attractive as the adventure she is offered.

The greatest strength of Love Comes Later is its non-judgmental tone. By describing without excusing or condoning, Rajakumar opens the door to understanding for those outside the Qatar culture. She reveals both the influence of societal pressure and the struggle of a new generation to reconcile thousands of years of culture, faith and tradition with modern life and practice. But all of this is underneath. What rises to the surface is a much more universal story of love and loss, one which anyone who has ever done either can identify with.

In a voice that is uniquely hers, Rajakumar tells a story worth reading, revealing truths that are worth knowing.

[AL · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I do live in Qatar. This book was interesting to me. I see the Qataris in a different light now.. It's a romance novel with "a deliciously tangled plot and insight into life on the Persian Gulf." I haven't read a book like this like ever. I enjoyed it.

This author pulled back the veil on life in Qatar and revealed a glimpse of Muslim life rarely seen by Westerners. It's a deep romance novel with an happy ending. Abdulla, a newlywed who lost his wife and his unborn child in one of the most common deaths in Qatar which is car accidents. After couple or more years he was thrust back into his old life with the pressure of his family to want him to marry again (as a Muslim man should) he got engaged to one of his cousins, Hind who always longs for independence. Before her engagement to Abdulla, she insisted to go to England to complete her master's degree which her soon-to-be husband agreed.

And in England.. that's where everything changed for Abdulla and Hind. They both met someone they like and eventually fell in love. One got a broken heart and one got a happy one. But it wasn't easy for the couple in love to be together. It made things difficult for both because of their culture difference. This book was fun & intriguing to read. I'm so happy with the ending.

A true love story and freedom..

[Wendy Janes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neither Abdulla nor Hind feel particularly positive about their impending marriage, and both welcome the temporary reprieve granted by Hind’s year of study in London. There she meets fellow student, Sangita, and the two women form a close friendship, despite differences in religion and culture. The sudden appearance of Sangita’s brother, Ravi, sets in motion a chain of events that test loyalties to the limit.

I found the first quarter of this story difficult to get in to. I was confused as to what was going on, and who was who. What kept me reading were the fascinating descriptions of life and customs within Abdulla’s Qatari household.

As soon as Hind arrives in London the story really takes off and the characters emerge as engaging and nuanced, and are made all the more interesting by the way in which the author explores the similarities and differences between Arab and South Asian cultures. The beautiful descriptions of the slowly developing relationships between the central characters are seamlessly linked to the central theme that presents the tension between duty versus following your heart.

I’m so pleased I persevered with this book. By the end I was really rooting for each of the characters to find fulfilment and happiness, and as I read the last words I felt disappointment that the story was over. I hope the author is writing a sequel.

[Abby Varghese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted in Abby's Shelves: https://goo.gl/wSdCJR

This book was the first to get approved for me in NetGalley. Frankly, I have never read a book like this before, it’s more like unknown lands for me. We don’t often get a glimpse into everyday life in Qatar or probably other Arab countries in novels making this book unique and an interesting read. It is a well-written and insightful exploration of life in Arab countries (probably except the ultra-modern city of Dubai), bringing out the certain socio-cultural clash between the balance of modernity and tradition which is again unique to some Arab and Asian countries. The author throws the reader right into the heat, tense and tragedy in the very beginning and eventually the events subdued to unravel a sober widowed Abdulla forced to remarry.

I loved how the characters changed and grew throughout the whole story. I hope the writer writes a sequel to this book as I would love to know what happened to all these characters. Love Comes Later thought me not to judge a book by its cover. A great read. Highly recommended.

[Ruzaika · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this eBook in exchange for an honest review from the publisher

What really made me pick this one up is the promise of diversity, and extremely happy with how this book turned out to be and all the subjects it deals with. Love Comes Later is an emotional, thoroughly non-judgmental book written in a near flawless manner where everything from women's issues to religion is focused on, and I felt it was all done justice.

While I found the start of the book a bit difficult to get into, once I warmed up to the characters I couldn't put this one down. I loved the writing style, and reading about Qatari culture and the struggles the new generation faces while trying to abide by rules set upon them by said culture and tradition was extremely interesting. All this was blended in very well in a story of love, loss and grief that had some of the most humane characters I ever came across. The relationships were very well-developed and I found myself rooting for each of the characters to ultimately find happiness and love.

My only gripe is that the book finished too soon! I'd like a sequel, thank you very much.

[A.E. Curzon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story which illustrates the varied cultural beliefs of the Muslim faith. I, as someone from a different faith, found it extremely interesting and informative. Beautifully described, with the seriousness of arranged marriages and family duty continuously rising to the surface, the book takes the reader on a romantic journey from Qatar to London and back to Qatar. The essence of the book is the relationship which develops between two young people from different cultures, Abdulla – an Arab Muslim and Sangita – an Indian/American Hindu, whose lives become inextricably entwined by a quirk of fate. The characters are well developed and mostly likeable. Though, I am sure, not all Qataris are as privileged as the main protagonists seem to be, the reader is able to understand the social hierarchy of Arab society.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am giving it 5 stars.

[Luaunna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I liked parts of this, overall it was a disappointment. However, since it was the first book that I have read about Qatar and the people of that area, I did learn some things. I think it could have taken more chances.

[Joy]

I just couldn't get into this book. Not really my genre (so I won't rate it to be fair).

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Do you do arranged marriages also?”
“The love comes later.” Sangita mimics her mother’s stance, one hand on her hip. “You learn to love each other.”
“Sometimes it’s true,” Abdulla murmurs, without the usual irony. From the look on his face, he has surprised even himself with this admission.

[Nai · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all know, and I keep saying it: I don't like romance novels. I sure read a lot of them though...feel free to wonder why.

I do.

This is not just a romance novel.


Gotta say, I love the cover :)

Perhaps, this says something about what I view as a romance novel.

Good books can have romance in them, but they're not solely driven by love between two people.

Unless, they are an exploration of love, and what it means. Which for me, turns a romance into a bit of philosophy.

I enjoy philosophy. I enjoy books that make me think, take an alternate stance on something, or books that make me examine my own behaviours and attitudes.

There are some very sad aspects to this tale, that make me cry as much as Grey's Anatomy on a weekly basis.

I know, I know, Grey's Anatomy??? Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's cliche, and perhaps the most North American thing about me... I still prefer that a book makes me cry, not a TV show, or a movie. This one did.

So we're going to forget about the sad parts.

Why?

Because it's my alter-naimeless reality and I say we can. After all, it's just a story, one that tugs at your heart-strings, and one that makes you ponder existence, love and the meaning of life.

It's not a book to pick up lightly and expect to give you a few hours of entertainments. While the page count isn't all that long, it's very dense. Dense in a great way, a way that makes you consider the world, and your own world at the same time.

It also made me feel like cooking, and varying my diet. I'm always looking to experiment with food, and I find cooking and baking are one of the few ways I get to think clearly. I'm sure that all the aromas have something to do with it, and cooking can fix anyone's mood as fast as you can fry bacon. So here's the recipe that reminds me of this book. I'm not really sure why, but the smell of it cooking makes me feel at home.

Ingredients

1 kg chicken tandoori. recipe here

4 tbsp tandoori sauce
40o gr skinned and chopped tomato,
3o gr butter
½ tsp cumin powder
1 tsp coriander seed powder
1 tsp red chili powder
½ tsp dried fenugreek leaf (kasuri methi )
2 finely chopped green chili pepper
120 ml water
4 tbsp creme
salt to taste


So very Yummy. Image is Cupcakeluv's

All the instructions to cook it can be found here, and their blog and recipes are really fun, and interesting. A great friend from Aagaard Farms introduced me to them.

Some one once told me that there is always a choice. They followed that by stating that often both choices suck. I felt a bit like that when reading this story. I also think I got a glimpse into a world I may never live within, but now feel closer to.

I've always thought that love is universal. You'll have to read my review of Torn Together for a giant tirade on the definition of love. For this book though, if we forget momentarily that the definition of love is murky at best, we can concentrate on that portion of the story which is derived from the idea of choice.

There's always a choice. When neither one is a happy one, or every path results in someone being hurt, suddenly the stress we put on ourselves to simply choose can become immense.

I don't have answers to all the questions, but I do think that whatever choice one makes, they still have to be able to live with it. For me, and I think for the characters in the book, it has also meant that neither head nor heart are a sure bet.


Sometimes it's about the head

and sometimes:


it's all about the heart

You'll just have to read the book to find out if it's one, both, or neither at the same time.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Comes Later takes an in depth look at the process of marriage in South Asian cultures, specifically Qatar. For someone born and raised in a North American culture this was an interesting step away from all that I knew and was familiar with regarding marriage, engagement, and love. Obviously I am aware of arranged marriages and that they do still exist in certain cultures but Qatar has a much different process than I had ever encountered.

The three main characters Abdulla, Hind, and Sangita have all been raised knowing there are certain expectations to be met regarding marriage. Abdulla has an arranged marriage to Fatima but when she tragically dies in an accident he is once again expected to get married and provide grandchildren (preferably sons since sons are the only ones who are given Qatari citizenship). Abdulla puts off the family for as long as he can but is eventually contracted to marry his cousin Hind.

Hind understands her role but she chafes at the idea of marriage and having no freedom. She would like to marry for love. She would also like to travel and work abroad. While she agrees to the contract with Abdulla she sets a condition: she must be allowed to live in England and obtain an advanced degree before settling down into the marriage with him.

Sangita is Hind’s roommate in England. She was born in India but raised in America so while she has a similar background as Hind when it comes to cultural expectations regarding marriage she has been given a bit more leeway. Her parents still ultimately feel they should do the choosing for her husband while Sangita would like to have her own choice.

I found it interesting that in Qatar once a couple signs the contract they are in effect “married” without having a ceremony. The entire year Abdulla and Hind are separated they are in fact man and wife despite never consummating the marriage or spending more than a few moments together, none of it really alone.

While Hind is in England she meets Sangita’s brother Ravi and impulsively goes on a trip to India with him. This rebellious act, if discovered by her family could ruin her. A woman never travels without a proper chaperone. While Hind is gone, Abdulla shows up for an unexpected visit and Sangita must try to cover for her best friend. Due to circumstances, Sangita and Abdulla spend more time together and realize there is a romantic spark between them.

Sangita takes the biggest risk as she is potentially ruining her relationship with her best friend and perhaps risking losing everything. There is always the possibility that Abdulla won’t go through with marrying her, a foreigner and outsider. Or he might not get permission from the ministry that issues licenses to marry foreigners. Or, his family may never approve, ostracizing them both. I really liked the determination and strength of this character. She knew what she wanted and was willing to fight to get exactly what she desired.

Neither Abdulla nor Hind wish to be married to each other but neither vocalizes this desire. I didn’t have much respect for either character for the way they dealt with their respective families. While I understand it’s not always easy to buck tradition and forge your own path, especially in a much regimented male-dominated society such as Qatar I would have appreciated a bit more energy from them. Abdulla does eventually make his choice known and ends his marriage with Hind. Even though Hind is getting exactly what she wants (freedom from her marriage) she still reverts to a spurned woman mentality and behaves as if this is not what she wishes.

All three are linked by the cultural expectations forced upon them and all three wish in some way to rebel against this expectation. In the end all they want is happiness. Do they get it? I’ll let you read the story yourself to find out.

4 out of 5 stars

[Cee Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

An arranged marriage between Qatari cousins may not go on as planned when matters of heartache and rebellion come crashing into their mannered, conservative world. Abdulla--a widower still in mourning, is pressured by his family to marry his cousin, Hind, a young university student who has dreams far beyond what is acceptable for a Qatari woman of her rank and standing. Hind wins a stay to her "execution" by agreeing to marry Abdulla if she can at least finish her education in England. So, to England Hind goes, and in doing so she meets a young American of Indian descent, Sangita--a young women destined to change their lives forever.

The bare bones of this story are simple, and found in many a romance, the arranged marriage, the conflicted feelings, the budding love triangle. With that in mind, an author tackling the subject needs to be mindful to create a lively tale with characters one can root for.

Abdulla, could easily have been written as a villain, or as someone so dishwater dull he just asks to be flung over for another hunk. His story is written with grace, however, and he is portrayed as a decent, tenderhearted man still mourning the tragic death of his wife. Hind comes across initially as a snooty, prickly young princess, which in essence she is, but it is easy to sympathize with her fear of an eternity spent married to and breeding with a man she does not love with no option for a job or life of her own. A cage is still a cage, even if it is a golden one. When she meets Sangita, the two young women from seemingly different backgrounds, soon find the similarities in their conservative upbringing and hit if off quite well. Hind is constantly appalled or bemused by Sangita's brash American ways and Sangita has a curious fascination with Hind's privileged world.

The backdrop of large, controlling, conservative worlds is thoroughly covered here, with an authentic, and refreshingly balanced view of life as a Muslim. Sangita becomes the "cabbage head" as Hind is constantly reminding her that being Muslim does not exactly mean all the stereotypes a typical American would think. Still, the thrill of a young woman tasting freedom from her stifled, controlling family is tempered with the ever present cloud of being caught and destroying family honor. It's a theme that rang very close to me, and I think will resonate with anyone born into a tightly knit household, regardless of their religion. In fact, it goes a long way into showing just how similar the problems are for daughters born into these families.

There is no real condemnation however, of the conservative life. Rules are stretched but not snapped, and it falls upon the characters to find solutions to their own problems and hearts without shattering the walls around them. They become sneaky, resourceful, and discover their hidden strengths and weaknesses. As their lives become ever more entangled, I began to feel real worry for all three of them, as I realized I just wanted everyone to be okay!

All in all, I found this novel to be a satisfying, involving romance. It was not a lightweight tale by any means. Anyone up for a smart, classy read is in for a treat.

[Rekha Seshadri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this a 4 rating.
A contemporary romance with elements of realistic fiction. The story has a strong Qatari flavour blended with South Asian and offers a tantalising view of student life in London as a bonus.
A refreshing tale of love and friendship that overcomes cultural, religious and racial barriers. It starts out in the plush interiors of an affluent family in oil money endowed Qatar, seeking the remarriage of a widowed, still grieving son Abdulla who wants anything but that. The culture is primarily seen from the eyes of Abdulla and Hind, and later on through Sangita - Hind's Indian American room-mate and friend. It's their reluctance to follow traditions, and Hind's impulsive demonstration of independence and adventure that sets off Abdulla's and Sangita's worlds into a collision course of first, tentative friendship and later on love.

The characters and the situations have been created skilfully and their interaction comes off as real as possible. The author has tried hard to give an accurate picture of Qatari life and attitudes, specially towards South Asians who form the blue collar workforce without sounding preachy or condescending.

Abdulla, a strong character, comes across as inflexible a couple of times but redeems himself as a modern, religious Muslim. I really enjoyed his opening up to the world around, specially to Sangita and his adopted sister Luluwa.
Hind - a tad selfish and Sangita are well etched, and I found myself amused when the Indian girl who advises her friend to play safe goes on her own adventure, risking everything.
The secondary characters of Luluwa and Hind's sister Noor, often two extremes were ones I found interesting. While I loved Sangita's brother - idealistic but lovable character Ravi, it was Grandfather Jassim and Hind's father - uncle Saod who were a revelation in sharp contrast to the other elders in the family.

Now for the nit picking -
In my opinion, Abdulla and Sangita's romance did not have the time to develop enough for her to burn all the bridges...it kind of ends up as an arranged marriage. But, then, they didn't fall in love at first sight and the author, to my delight, refrained from gushing descriptions of the protagonists beauty. A plus.
The Indians in the book, Sangita's parents came close to being caricatures.

The timeline was a bit confusing in some places. A couple of dialogues were responses to an original action or comment that had been edited out. A revision if possible would enhance the book.

All in all, it was a pleasurable read and one of few romances I have truly enjoyed reading lately.
The book is well written, flows smoothly and the use of Arabic words in the story and the endnotes are a nice addition.

I recommend this book to romance lovers, to those who enjoy realistic fiction set in the Asian and Arab world with ethnic characters, to generally anyone looking for a good book to immerse in.

[Vibina Venugopal · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title reminded me somehow about the famous song "Love will keep us alive" by Eagles...I can go on and on and on about it....Okay now about this book, I fell in love with it by page one, though my after thoughts as I went on have been mixed..Most often the initial kick or the feel always stays with me...
At first I imagined it to be of Abdullah's struggle to keep up with his lost love but hey then came in Hind showcasing a woman trying to uphold an independent Qatari lady's life with all its restrictions..At this point I liked it even more ..To complete the circle comes Sangita..The vivacious full spirited Sangita is the complete opposite of Hind..They meet in their class and from then on their rapport makes them room mates...Sangita American with her Indian lineage has many things common to Hind..Both parents wish to settle their respective daughters by getting them married.. Their education and other things take back seat for them..Yet these girls somehow manage to keep all this aside travel to England for education..Hind escapes her home (middle east) away from the life of scarfs and refrain...While Sangita from her mother's groom hunt...Hind's sudden disappearance to India to explore her horizon followed by unexpected entry of Abdullah at Hind's residence creates a full swing of drama entwined with anticipation..Sangita and Adullah's sudden flame was a bit unfathomable.. But like they say Love has unusual circumstances and situations to lighten up..That being said what I loved later is the stand taken by Abdullah to stand by his word and feelings with full honesty in spite of the odds presenting his love in front of his family...
Love can transform people and attitude which is wonderfully portrayed by the three main characters of the novel... Abdullah's three years mourning for his lost love Fatima and his reluctant step towards his second marriage for the sake of his family is all well crafted by Mohanalakshmi... Sangita who had numerous questions about the orthodox life of a Muslim easily slips into it when a whip love caresses her (now that is not a oxymoron)..While Hind desires to fly high beyond her family horizons and ahead of the line drawn by her family....Tale beautifully transcends from Qatar to Britain then back to Qatar with a hitch...
It is not just about love and loss but also about the variant of human emotions that sparkles through each one of us..Friendship, faith, honesty, sibling love all are beautifully done..A special mention about Luluwa who brightens bringing smiles on the readers face...
Mohanalakshmi effortlessly portrays the lives of all the cultures..Lives of the aristocratic middle east family who are wrapped in traditional burk ha above the designer label like Alexander Mcqueen..Brands like Gucci, Mac goes hand in hand with the Hijab, Niqab,Ghutra....
The book is a wonderful read and anyone who wants an touch of these culture would find is amazing...

[Inga · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review:

Love Comes Later by Mohana Rajakumar awed me. It was a fascinating page turner, smoothly written and I could not put it down before the last page was turned. It was brilliantly created masterpiece which combined traditions, religion, family topics and last but not least also the complication of love. It was all and nothing what I expected, but I truly enjoyed it!

Plot:

Abdulla lost his wife few years ago and finds him in a situation where his family thinks he should re-marry. His family is convinced that Abdulla is not capable of finding him a new spouse and they organize an arranged married for him. Arranged married is not something Abdulla finds appealing and this is where the story starts off.

Abdulla's expected new wife is Hind is neither excited about the marriage and besides that, Hind's roommate in London during the studies - Sangita - is also complicating things furthermore and relationships and love gets interesting.

The mixture of bringing three different traditions - Qatar Muslim, Hindu and European - together gave a lot extra to the story. It added extra color and fascination for reading this book. The author gives excellent insight into contemporary Qatari society with oil money, contradictions and different values.

Love Comes Later is an excellent title for this book! One of the prejudices about arranged marriage is that you will learn to love your spouse, it does not have to happen right away. Besides that, Abdulla truly finds his love, just little later and unexpected way. I have to admit, that with very different cultural background and traditions, I will never be able to understand the idea of arranged marriages, but the reading experience of Love Comes Later was not disturbed by my own thoughts about it.

Characters:

Abdulla was cute. Yes, cute. There were times where he got me angry and I wanted to shake him and tell him to man up, but there were parts of me that really liked his loyalty to his family, his rebellion towards what was forced upon him and his . Abdulla grew with the story and it was visible, that author enjoyed writing his character.

There were quite many characters in the book and it took me little time to familiarize myself with all of them. It was confusing in the beginning of the story, probably because of the many strange sounding names and due to the amount of the supportive characters. But the total picture of Love Comes Later was colorful and alive and I loved that.

Generally:

Love Comes Later is a book about differences, be it cultural, religious or interracial. Yet it shows, that whatever the background we have, love knows no boundaries. It can be complicated and hard, but at the very end it does not matter. What matters is who is the person whom you end up with. I highly recommend Love Comes Later!

[Angela Amman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading Love Comes Later from Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar makes me acutely aware of the intricacies of Arab culture, in this case the culture of Qatar, a small and incredibly wealthy country in the Arab Gulf.

Love Comes Later tackles difficult subjects: multicultural romance between Muslim Arabs and Hindu Indians, arranged or orchestrated marriages, dowries, the stark gender differences in Qatar's culture, finding love amongst a culture that regards marriage as a transaction driven by tradition, finances, and nationalism.

The novel follows the stories of Abdulla and Hind, cousins engaged to be married, both less than willingly. Abdullah is a young widower opposed to a second marriage and Hind is searching for something outside of the limited boundaries of her arranged marriage. When Hind leaves for one year to finish a graduate program in London, her new friendship with Sangita and Ravi, Indians raised primarily in the United States, it becomes difficult for Abdulla and Hind to return to the life expected of them in Qatar. Complicating matters is the seriousness of a Qatari engagement -- effectively Abdulla and Hind are legally married when the engagement contract is signed by their families.

The strength in Rajakumar's writing is seen in the sections of the novel set in Qatar. She treats the handling of Arab traditions with care while providing an objective look into the paradox that can be found between the wealthy, technologically-rich Qatar and the conservative traditions and laws that still govern the nation. A small sub-plot involving memories of Abdulla and Hind's grandfather of a woman he once loved highlights the struggle to reconcile traditional and modern thought.

Arab culture can be harshly judged as misogynistic, pointing to the restrictions on Arab women from their modest outer garments to their lack of freedom and choice about their futures. Rajakumar effectively shows the restrictions in the culture are not limited to the women. Men may have more options than the women, from the right to divorce to the ability to marry a non-Qatari, but they are also held to particular traditions and familial hierarchies that afford less choice than one might expect.

Love Comes Later is both a romance and a window into a culture driven by labels -- from Gucci and BlackBerry to fiancée and whore. Rajakumar's scope is wide, reaching from Qatar to London and India, and at times the characters feel rushed, their motivation and their actions slightly out of step. Yet overall, the story works; the reader is unfolding and understanding the characters almost as they are coming to realize what they want for themselves -- and if those things are possible within the confines of their lives.

[Ruckasaurus Rex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely went outside my traditional reading lines when I requested this book. How could I resist, though? As a student of psychology and a lover of people in general, I find the culture, people, and religion of Qatar fascinating. Rajakumar definitely focuses more on the characters in this story than the romance, and I think that this in turn feeds the quality of the read. References to language, religion, locations, and culture all circuit into the reader to add an intense amount of credibility for this author. The idea of our parents arranging or selecting a partner and future for us may be horrifying and foreign to many people raised in western households. Let’s face the facts, though – this was happening not many years ago in our cultures as well. Sometimes the parental touch works out and everything is copacetic, but when it does not work out…it can be bad for everyone. In the end, arranged marriage requires a lot of faith in the person doing the selection and pressure for them to make the best choice. The added factor of religious and national stress in addition to familial approval further entangle an already complicated situation for the characters in Rajakumar’s tale. There are no steamy scenes in this book, but the author manages to bring the heat with a look or a kiss. I really liked some of the characters in this story, but at times even the main characters frustrated me. With that said, I understand that the characters are as much products of their environments and people as we ourselves are, and that they are breaking out on their own against the flow of tradition and history. I actually had to mull on my feelings about the book for a few days after it ended more on one of the “happy for now” notes that many authors are trending toward today, but in the end I was definitely won over. I really hope that the author follows up on this series soon. If you are a reader who enjoys a layered tale and have a thirst for something different, find out if Love Comes Later.

Check out my full review here: http://wp.me/p4CsrG-hO

[Edit~A · Rating 1 out of 5]

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free for an honest review. Thanks to NetGalley, Createspace and Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar.)

This was huge disappointment. I was expecting so much better.
This book was awful and unfair.
I was exciting to explore the Muslim culture. I would not say it's much different from Christianity or other religions. However, the country culture is surely different. Men are the heads of family's and women there only are housewives. I didn't like the fact that women can't easily work there... The other parts I kind of understand, or try to, after all it's culture. The other think that I have learned is that when Muslim and a person having another religion get married, the later doesn't have to convert to Muslim, however if the person marrying Muslim, does not have a religion they have to convert, which is kind of understandable again, but on the other hand forcing a religion on someone is not fair.

Well that part was interesting, but...
The story...

I didn't like Sangita, she threw herself on Abdullah knowing that he is Hind's fiancee. They both blamed Hind for what happened between them, but Hind did not cheat on him, she just took the chance to explore the world, and went to do a community job... Like what the hell, yeah maybe in your culture running away for a week to another country is shameful, but what she did and what you did is incomparable!!! And they called her the bitch, while the bitch was Sangita. TBH, I don't think she loves Abdullah, she just wanted to experience have an adventure, she said that herself to Ravi "Hind had her adventure I want mine too..." but how? By backstabbing your best friend, by cheating with her fiancee, knowing the consequences, by breaking their engagement knowing that she can't have life in her country anymore, and the shame just for your happiness? When she let you live for free at her apartment, when she befriended you and have you all she had??? What a backstabbing bitch. And that Luluwa or whatever her name was, annoyed me as well.

Overall, it was unfair and awful...

[Susan Buchanan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting glimpse into life in Qatar and a wonderful love story,

I was given a review copy of the novel by the author and asked to provide an independent review.
Reading this on Kindle, for the first 20% of the book, I kind of liked it, but it wasn't holding my attention. But, wow, as soon as I got to 20%, I sprinted through this book and could not put it down. I've never been to Qatar, the nearest I managed was Bahrain, but I love reading and learning about other cultures. There were plenty of twists to keep me enthralled and I couldn't have foreseen the ending.
On the surface, this is a book about arranged marriages, but it goes so much deeper than that. With a great deal of it set in the UK, where the girls are students, it was a lot easier for me to visualise the scenes and attitudes of others.
I could clearly see the girls' apartment, feel the chemistry between certain individuals, understand the frustration of each of the main characters.
Duty, what is honourable, permitted and frowned upon were key elements throughout the novel and in particular women's place in Qatari society.
I loved how the girls rebelled and the presence of an Indian girl, with a similar, but not identical, background, only added to the intrigue. I also felt I learned a lot about both cultures.
The tragedy at the beginning of the book, the loyalty of the younger sister and some of the outrageous events later (culturally) only added to my enjoyment.
All in all, a novel worth reading, particularly if you like to learn about new cultures or if you have ever been fascinated by what goes on behind the scenes with regards to arranged marriages.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine your whole life being determined by the elders in your family. While many young adults feel like this is always the case, they may not be part of a cultural and religious society that demands this determination as social norms. In Love Comes Later by Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar, the idea of arranged marriages and the struggle against modern culture is explored. Abdulla, a young Qatari man who has already experienced one arranged marriage, is struggling against the loss of his wife, Fatima and their unborn child. He feels as if he could never marry again, but is chosen to marry his cousin, Hind.

Hind does not like the idea of getting married, and especially not to Abdulla. Her stipulation to marry him is that she is allowed to earn her master's degree in London. She wants one year before the marriage is to take place. During that year, she befriends Sangita, an American born woman with Indian ancestry. They get along great until Sangita's brother Ravi shows up. His kind free spirit rubs off on Hind and she leaves on an adventure in which she is not allowed to partake. That's when Sangita must cover for her friend when Abdulla unexpectedly shows up in London.

This is a book that explores the clash between new and old, country and culture, religion and spirituality. Not everyone understands what it is like to live in this type of culture, but the author does an excellent job of giving the reader a first-hand account of what it is like to struggle for freedom while still wanting to fall onto tradition.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story changes entirely in the middle. The first part is light, butterflies and misty morning brunch. The second part, well, is perhaps more real to life; but the quality of the writing slipped a bit before it got better. The tenses change in this transitional stage, as though we're suddenly watching the story unfold as it happens, or as if the author wasn't sure what's going to happen next any more than the reader does. This was a distraction for me, as the story didn't seem to require so much confusion. It's a love/non-love story, not an adventure film.

All of that aside, I liked the characters. The cultures being laid out for you to compare side-by-side was interesting for me. The friendships in this story are true, because the author clearly cares for them as gently as possible. This is also as much a think-piece as it is fiction. The case for Islam isn't very strong in the apologetics that are submitted with the very mild Hinduism vs. Islam banter, but this is about a story that takes place between friends and the emotional real-life thinking through the two religions is realistic. I remember having some of the same banter with my friend (she, a Hindu, and I, a Christian) as I was growing up. Those are fond memories, I thank the author for reminding me of them so vividly.

If you struggle when the story begins to change, set it aside if necessary, but you must finish it. The end is enough to satisfy even my American heart, though you may want just a little bit more.

[Linda Parkinson-Hardman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Comes Later is a beautifully precise and observed examination in fictional format of the 'arranged marriage' in the Arab culture of Qatar. Although there is no 'force' involved, a great deal of family pressure is brought to bear on young men and women whatever their level of education and status in the community. The story weaves a plot that splits the action between Doha and London, providing a fascinating contrast between the different cultural mores. With central characters who are Qatari Muslim and Indian Hindu, the scene is set to explore culture in a way I have certainly never considered.

I read this in one sitting because I was captivated by the story, my own cultural prejudices were being challenged and as a result my own perspective has shifted significantly. Many people unfamiliar with the cultural background of Qatar will be amazed at the similarities as much as the differences and I suspect, that many people living life in this Gulf State will simply nod in agreement as they recognise aspects of themselves and others in the characters Mohanalakshmi describes.

This is a tale of many contraditictions, those between love, and family responsiblity, cultural acceptance and prejudicial bigotry, betrayal and forgiveness. I thoroughly enjoyed it and suspect that this will be a book I will return to time and again as there will be nuances that I missed the first time round.

[Gale Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an unusual setting for a romance, especially for Westerners who want to experience a slice of love and marriage in the Arab or South Asian culture. If you've ever wanted to be a fly on the wall in a Qatari compound, or hang around a London flat shared by two women from exotic lands whose native cultures subordinate women to men in their societies, then this is the novel for you.

Though it was hardly the novel's central purpose, Love Comes Later does illustrate that respectable women's professional choices are marginalized in Muslim culture, and, to a lesser extent, within the Hindu culture. As long as the reader can accept that fact that educated Muslim women are consigned to shallow and often hollow existences compared to their Western counterparts, which I think the author herself emphasizes in between the lines, you can detach enough to settle into this book.

In terms of craft, the author head hops a lot within single chapters, which I found sometimes jarring. Also, for a romance, when it comes to passion and intimacy, the characters are very, very restrained--though they are quite adept at nastiness and name calling. And yet, the novel was a fast read, mostly because it offers something akin to a mini-immersion in living and thriving in modern-day arranged marriages amidst an intrepid culture replete with cell phones, iPods, Twitter posts, and international mega-pop stars.

[Melissa Storm]

Sometimes love crashes into you like a torrent, and sometimes it sneaks up and envelops you from behind. There are as many forms of love as there are human relationships, and Love Comes Later illustrates this beautifully. This novel introduces us to Abdulla, a man who is still recovering from the untimely death of his former wife and unborn child, as a second marriage is arranged between him and his cousin Hind. Hind is a thoroughly modern girl who does not appreciate the prospect of being anyone’s second option. So the wedding is delayed as Hind travels to the UK for study. There she meets the boisterous Sangita from India and eventually her oddly alluring brother, Ravi. The story explores not just arranged versus spontaneous love but also the love we feel for family (whether we want to or not), friends, and those we've lost. Transporting the reader to both Qatar and London and delving deep into Qatari culture, Love Comes Later is an excellent selection for book clubs and those with the travel bug. Also a great pick for those who are interested in competing models of femininity in the modern Arab world or who are looking for a different kind of love story.

Note: Since Moha is a Novel Publicity client, I can't ethically assign a star rating to her books. Hopefully, my reviews speak for themselves!