Married in Name

by India Daram

THE HERO – Handsome Billionaire businessman Rohan does not have time for relationships. Variety being the spice of life, a ‘wife’ is not in his vocabulary. Till he meets...
THE HEROINE – Independent, feisty and smart-mouthed, Riyha wants a life free of parental interference. As marriage is a no-go area husband is a hush word. But then she falls in love with Rohan and they are only...
MARRIED IN NAME – While Rohan plots to get his wife to move in with him, Riyha comes up with the RULES of SEDUCTION to persuade Rohan to turn their marriage into a Marriage for Real.

Genres: Contemporary

246 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 10, 2015

Reviews

[Vidya Sundaram · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story starts with a series of diary entries. Not a fan of diarising things. So not too sure about that. Fortunately it is just few pages of diary entries which is a prologue. The story picks up straight away as I wanted to know how Riyha had ended up in London. I wanted to read this story for the rules of seduction. I just wished the story continued till all the rules of seduction were practised. Ahem...it would be useful knowledge. I liked both the hero and heroine and the writing style. I believe the previous version had some formatting issues but couldn't find any problem with the current one. Good holiday read. Recommend.
Read the funny bits again!

[Bettie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It introduced me to a totally different world & a beautiful culture I was unfamiliar with. I enjoyed the writing style & found it a relaxing read. The characters were portrayed very realistically. There are lessons in forgiveness (and the rewards), humility, honoring a promise and how one person can make such a profound difference in the lives of several. This was a warmhearted story and I did not look forward to it ending.

[Erin Walford · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book starts rather slowly but builds into a fascinating story.
I was immediately drawn into the lives of Arnav and Thila. The story is so well written. I completed it in 2 days. Narrative on places and attractions is good. There really is a Venetian hotel with gondolas etc. A must read for anyone who likes to read witty romantic novels.

[Georgia · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Married in Name’ is a perfect love story, filled with sparkling characters and swoon-worthy romance. What I really loved about this novel was the way in which Daram grounds the whole thing in reality, making it realistic and relatable. At the same time, however, the story is also entwined with a beautiful, fairytale-esque magic that ensures the happy ending we all crave, making this rom-com a true delight to read.

The novel starts with a diary entry, a somewhat clichéd, but nevertheless engaging decision on the part of the author. The use of a diary allows an immediate connection with our charming protagonist, Riyha, a sassy, witty and instantly likeable 21-year-old living in London. Riyha was by far and away my favourite character. Full of energy, bursting with sarcastic comments and complete with a bubbling internal monologue that never failed to entertain, Riyha is the driving force of the book. Her interactions with other characters served, in turn, to bring them to life as well.

This is immediately apparent when we are first introduced to Nick Summers, the dashing guy-next-door. It is his glittering dialogue with Riyha that made me first like him as a well-rounded character, although I did find it a bit odd when he decided to help himself to a stranger’s kitchen and make a drink for a sleeping girl in the very first chapter. It was the little things like this, however, that fuelled my interest in this story. Although the setting is delightfully realistic – you really get the buzz and rattle of London when you read these pages, it is these small, extraordinary events that add to the romanticism of the novel. You can tell from the very beginning that this is going to be a book about passionate love, a love that transcends the plain and the everyday. For a romance novel, this is undoubtedly a success. The passion at the start continues throughout, culminating in an ending that I was very happy with, if also a little surprised.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good rom-com. The plot is entertaining and pleasingly unpredictable; the characters are well developed, complete with backstories and very clear motives. The passion is undeniable, but I would say that it was the small dashes of humour that really make this book sparkle. Prepare yourself for smiles and a warmed heart – this is a book for all you hopeless romantics out there.

[Priyaanka Batra Harjai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marriage is an institution which is still respected and followed religiously by all Indian irrespective of their ethnicity. Though, Indians are spread all across the inhabited mainland; they carry the traits of Indian-ness within their hearts and saving their marriage counts the top most position for all.

Married in name is a story of a marriage deal set up between the bride and the groom; both encircled by familial pressure and found the best solution was to get married to.each.other.

The story starts with a terrific beginning with a gutsy heroine and an irresistible guy (now if he is the hero of the mentioned heroine or not, you need to find out) living next door. They both get along comfortably until one day one of the prospective clients from the bride’s office (is he another party from the marriage deal?) visits her place and invites him to reside at his place. The story progresses as an exciting romance sets up as they both start living in a shared room. Set using an amusing cast and bemused characters, the author serves an absorbing story of a realistic relationship between a couple married-in-name.

Is marriage in name equally committed as the real marriage is? Do spouse need to be loyal to each other in such an agreement? If no then what is the purpose of entering into such a relationship and make chaos? And if the answer is ‘Yes’ then, why is to be underrated than the real marriage at all? Next, a trivial question tags along with these - what are the reasons / need that urge both the partners to get married at all?

You will enjoy their encounters with each other only to find out how they rubbed across each other in a wrong way! Their mutual bang-bang is hilarious and oozes passionate romance (I won’t dilute the sanctity of the institution of marriage by terming it as ‘sexual’).

An enjoyable read which is hot and has a witty approach to continue marriage using a 5-Rule agenda!

[Ariyah Elrith · Rating 5 out of 5]

If like me, you can’t get enough of those feel good romance novels where you can immerse yourself in the trials of a love unlike any other, then Married in Name should definitely be added to your to read list. It’s a perfect read for those stolen moments between cooking or chores, particularly during this festive season.

Married in Name is not like your everyday romance however, it isn’t simply girl gets the guy or the classic Mills & Boons style lust driven romance either. There are twists and turns and the characters will have you travelling on a journey of emotional ups and downs from start to finish. The writing style is unique and not something that you come across often in modern fiction as it adopts the diary style of writing though very different to Bridget Jones and in that respect I adore it for that alone. This makes the read all the more intriguing and for someone like myself who enjoys classic literature, will result in a book that you won’t want to put down.

Without giving too much away, the plot line is not what you would expect, so prepare yourself. It is easy to relate to the characters despite the worlds they live in being so far removed from oneself as a reader which makes for great reading. I enjoy being able to cruise along with a character through a novel and find it easy to sympathise with them when the going gets tough whilst also cheering them on and really wishing for that happy ending which you can never be certain will come or not (again I’m not going to give anything away, you just have to read it yourself!). There may be tears (I’m just warning you because there were for me), but once you’ve finished reading you’ll be filled with a satisfaction that can only come from reading a well written novel.

India Daram will definitely be added to my list of favourite authors and I look forward to some more curl up on the cosy chair with a cup of cocoa romance from her.

Ariyah

[Loren Lockner · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the beginning of the novel, it seems that Riyha is the typical career girl in London, enjoying a high-paying job, and content to be on her own. Soon, it becomes apparent that Riyha’s life is highly complicated with the introduction of her new next-door neighbor Nick, and the return of an ‘old’ friend, Rohan. Things get soap-opera complicated in this enjoyable novel about family, independence, and 2nd chances. Married in Name is an enjoyable romantic jaunt filled with characters that speak and act wittily and realistically. It is a wonderful blend of Indian tradition and London posh. A great cozy read by the fire on a winter’s night. Highly recommended.

[Shonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow start but strong finish

It starts slow. So slow, I stopped reading but I had a lazy Sunday and thought why not give it another try. I'm so glad I did because I fell in love with the story. I will warn readers there are typos (such as "that I had you lost to her,’ she whispered.") but it doesn't take away from the story.

Also for the American readers, the book is written in British English therefore those are not typos.

I will definitely read again and I would recommend.

[Pooja Kapadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Married in Name
Entertaining and funny. Really a Wow book. I've read this several times now as this is my 'go to' book when I need a break from revising for my exams. Never fails to make me laugh. Read and have fun!

[Quinn Fforde · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoy novels by Indian authors, but this was just too amateurish. The pacing is off, the formatting is rough, and I had to keep looking back to try to make sense of the details.

[Lathish Shankar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the read. An interesting start! The prologue is indeed a great hook to the reader. It captured my attention to read further into the book.

The descriptions in the story are really good. The author succeeded in giving the reader a good imagery. I loved the humorous narration of the first meeting with Nick Summers when his mobile was thrown in her back garden. The detailed descriptions were also realistic. I read it again and again.

Moreover the French accent added an additional impact to the story-line. Also, I enjoyed the scene when Mark was made to pack up, followed by the girls’ dialogue. That was humorous.

I’d give this a rating of 4 because of a bit of minor aspects that reduced the flow. However it did not affect the impact the story that has created in my mind.

When the main character sees Nick once again, she asks rudely why he was there. That ‘rudeness’ immediately faded after two or three dialogues. The transition to ‘shame-facedness’ could have been expressed more clearly- it was a bit difficult here to grasp the kind of quick change in her emotion. Might be I am a bit nit-picky here, but those kind of descriptions (for me) made the flow interrupted. Again, that was just minor.

I felt there were lots of exclamation marks that actually diluted its significance. I felt like some of the facts were exaggerated than needed. Exclamation marks should have been sparingly used. For example, according to me, for stating sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, it was not necessary to use the exclamation.

The dialogues between Nick and Riyha were flowing well but I think how they were feeling also was needed. The emotions between them were lacking. Had it been a bit more emotional, the story would have been more romantic.

The author has succeeded in showing the marriage deal set up successfully with a wonderful plot. I really enjoyed this, but I'd say with a bit of tweaking here and there, good could have been turned to marvelous.

I'd recommend this to one who loves romantic stories.

[Megha · Rating 2 out of 5]

thanks India for sharing this book for a review.

the story of Rihya and Rohan is interesting. there are a lot of minute things that are intrinsically Indian and being one I can understand those.

the plot and the storyline is interesting even though one would say it's predictable. I won't delve into the characters too much coz the twists come through with their revelation. Rihya is amusing though :)

on the whole I found the book riddled with grammatical errors so one needs to edit this book real well. the way the story continues - flashback and flash forward format - one would get lost as the breaks to indicate these are not clear.

the writing overall is okay. it's a little forced initially but does get better. there is a certain amateur like quality to this which makes it apparent that it's a first from the author.

but I think there is a lot of potential to churn out great stories. I can't say I loved Rihya and Rohan but I can say I liked them. the punches that come in haphazardly should come in at the right time. the drama is all there but needs to be decorated well to deliver. but one good thing - it keeps at the plot constantly.

for a first attempt it's nice. can be read once for a quick read. 2.5 stars actually.

[Star Writer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always found the idea of arranged marriage super fascinating. Obviously, I wouldn't wish it upon myself but when looking at it from a cultural view point it is so interesting.
In the story we meet Riyha whose parents are very eager to find her a suitable match and marry her off. She however is not fond of that plan. Riyha wants to further her studies abroad and focus on herself. Her parents set up meets for potential husbands and Riyha declines all until she meets Rahon. But it's not what you think! She gets him to go along with a plan of being married for a year to get her parents off her back. But this marriage is fake. After a while they are forced to live together and that's when little feelings start trickling in! Will Riyha fall for her fake husband?! You must read to find out! I thoroughly enjoyed the book, the characters are great! Riyha is so witty and a real firecracker. Riyha and Rahon undiscovered chemistry provides the reader with entertaining banter. I would recommend this book to anyone!

[Meenal Vardan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good live story

4stars cos it I had a hard time imagining that the characters were Indian. Sounded more like a western love story. That was the only disappointing factor. Love everything else about the story.

[Prakash Gurjar · Rating 5 out of 5]

The description of the people and places, especially the inner feelings of the characters is exquisite. An interesting multifaceted view into the lives of Arnav and Mithila. I recommend it.

[Jacob Winston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read! A brilliant entertainer guaranteed to turn a boring night into one of fun.

[Flyonthewall86 · Rating 1 out of 5]

So terrible that after the introduction I just couldn't stand reading any more.

[Marina Summers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and relatable read. Loved Rohan and Riyah. I was grinning ear to ear as I was reading. Highly recommend. Intend to read rest of the books from this author.

[Helen Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first Indian author read and didn't know what to expect. But ventured in to it as the reviews were good. All I can say is WOW! Maya is so funny and so brave. Imagine being abandoned during the honeymoon!! But sport that she is, she pats the dust off her back and gets on with it. Rohan is awesome...a modern Mr. Darcy. The story is a laugh-out-loudly kinda story which will also bring a soppy smile to ur face. So there you have warned! Read when there isnt anyone watching you as it will make you giggle! :)

[C.S. Woolley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The opening of the book being done as a series of diary entries which is wonderfully original and engages the reader from the outset with the view point of the main character Riyha, fighting against her desires and the will of her parents alongside the other main character of Rohan, Riyha’s husband.

The plot on the whole is engaging and enjoyable, following Riyha as she lives her life in London with her housemate, Clare. The clashes of the modern world and tradition are dealt with really well by the author and there is no point where you feel like any view point is being vilified, in fact the whole book is an exploration of how the arranged marriage culture has a place in the modern world.

The core characters of Nick, Rohan, Riyha, Clare and Sue mean that the book doesn’t stray too far from the central plot at any point and though the reader may have impressions from the start at how the plot will unfold, the way it is written means that though the end may not be how you expected the book to end, the reader will be happy with it.

The downside to this book is the massive amount of spelling and grammatical errors that are consistent throughout the book. Some are small niggly things such as 8’0 clock instead of 8 o’clock, but others are words being repeated or put in where they shouldn’t be e.g. “she showed grinned and showed a thumbs-up sign.” This ruins the flow of the piece and distract from the plot.

The language style used in the characters dialogue often feels rather formal and stilted, not as natural as it possibly could so there are points where moments between characters feel rather staged.

Overall this is an enjoyable addition to the romance genre and will be enjoyed by people who like the writing of Cecelia Ahern and other writers of a similar ilk.

[Abdul Kadir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for casual read

A rather good book. How's through the intricacies of thoughts and relationships. Nice first time work by the author. Thanks.