What do you think?
Rate this book
Only Wheat Not White
"This fourth novel from Dixit treads familiar narrative ground from an uncommonly explored cultural perspective. Romance, likely to please fans of the genre." – Kirkus Reviews" What if following your heart means failing your family? Eila Sood leaves India for the U.S., hoping to unite her family and mend fences with her estranged older sister. She soon learns that her sister’s intercultural marriage, which outraged their parents, has hit rock bottom. To help pay the bills, Eila accepts an accounting job at a strip club, working for the fascinating yet infuriating Brett Wright. As their friendship and mutual desire builds, Eila chooses keeping family peace over following her heart. After Brett misinterprets her fears and accuses Eila of prejudice, his ex-girlfriend steps in to offer solace. Eila realizes that whichever choice she makes will rip her life apart. What will Eila choose? Love of her life or a life ruled by tradition? Fall in love with love, in this steamy saga from a best selling romance author.
273 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 16, 2014
29 people are currently reading
605 people want to read
About the author
Varsha Dixit
19 books305 followersVarsha Dixit, the best selling author of four successful contemporary romance books. Her debut book, Right Fit Wrong Shoe was a national bestseller for the year 2010. Varsha was a part of the Indian Television Industry and worked as an assistant director and online editor. She considers herself a dreamer who thinks deep but writes light. Even though creativity is gender free,Varsha feels blessed and enriched to be a woman.Currently, with her family, Varsha resides in CA, USA.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
did-not-finish
June 17, 2025DNF. No Rating.
It pains me to do this because I was looking forward to this one and had it on my kindle TBR for years. I love Indian romance and always on the lookout for more so this had all the right ingredients. But the writing just did my head in. The robotic dialogue and dramatic style that awkwardly fumbles it's way through was very distracting. That and the heroine Eila Sood is supposed to be in her 20's but she sounded like a teenager. The hero Brett is a wooden placeholder with no depth. This definitely had potential because of the whole culture clash theme between traditional Indian family vs American culture and what marrying "outside" means and how it can cause problems. Just really wish her writing was for me.
It pains me to do this because I was looking forward to this one and had it on my kindle TBR for years. I love Indian romance and always on the lookout for more so this had all the right ingredients. But the writing just did my head in. The robotic dialogue and dramatic style that awkwardly fumbles it's way through was very distracting. That and the heroine Eila Sood is supposed to be in her 20's but she sounded like a teenager. The hero Brett is a wooden placeholder with no depth. This definitely had potential because of the whole culture clash theme between traditional Indian family vs American culture and what marrying "outside" means and how it can cause problems. Just really wish her writing was for me.
June 20, 2016
Rating Edit: 4.5 stars
Before I get into the review, a little background - I picked this book up right after reading (and re-reading) The Raven Cycle Series, and when, oddly enough, I was drifting into a reading slump. I say oddly enough, because I had loved the series, and it should have energized me to read more, but it didn't. I was in a strange lethargy.
And my go-to genre in such situations is - romance. A simple, light-hearted, fun, romantic comedy always picks me back up, and gets me going. And this book - Only Wheat, Not White (OWNW), fit the bill perfectly.
The Plot
OWNW follows the life of Eila Sood, a 20 something, who takes up a project/job in USA to spend time (and mend fences) with her estranged elder sister - Sheela (who had a falling out with her family due to her inter-racial marriage 7 years back).
While coming to US, the one advice/warning Eila’s mother chose to give her was - Only Wheat, Not White. And nope, this wasn't nutritional, but matrimonial advice/warning!
The plot then revolves around Eila's life, as she lands in the country, starts a new job, meets different people, makes friends, and (eventually) falls in love.
This book has all the ingredients of a great rom-com. It is funny, witty, charming, and adorable. It’s also pretty fast paced with many twists and turns, and not a single boring moment.
While reading this book, I felt like I was watching this story unfold on the screen. That itself says a lot about the writing, characterization, and the author's story-telling ability.
A perfect light read for the summer. Highly recommended to fans of this genre.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange of an honest review.
For more such book (and movie) reviews - visit (and subscribe to) Shanaya Tales.
Before I get into the review, a little background - I picked this book up right after reading (and re-reading) The Raven Cycle Series, and when, oddly enough, I was drifting into a reading slump. I say oddly enough, because I had loved the series, and it should have energized me to read more, but it didn't. I was in a strange lethargy.
And my go-to genre in such situations is - romance. A simple, light-hearted, fun, romantic comedy always picks me back up, and gets me going. And this book - Only Wheat, Not White (OWNW), fit the bill perfectly.
The Plot
OWNW follows the life of Eila Sood, a 20 something, who takes up a project/job in USA to spend time (and mend fences) with her estranged elder sister - Sheela (who had a falling out with her family due to her inter-racial marriage 7 years back).
While coming to US, the one advice/warning Eila’s mother chose to give her was - Only Wheat, Not White. And nope, this wasn't nutritional, but matrimonial advice/warning!
The plot then revolves around Eila's life, as she lands in the country, starts a new job, meets different people, makes friends, and (eventually) falls in love.
This book has all the ingredients of a great rom-com. It is funny, witty, charming, and adorable. It’s also pretty fast paced with many twists and turns, and not a single boring moment.
While reading this book, I felt like I was watching this story unfold on the screen. That itself says a lot about the writing, characterization, and the author's story-telling ability.
A perfect light read for the summer. Highly recommended to fans of this genre.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange of an honest review.
For more such book (and movie) reviews - visit (and subscribe to) Shanaya Tales.
June 26, 2014
This turned out to be a fun, contemporary immigrant story that delves into the complexity of trying to live in two cultures. Sort of a multicultural & modern Pride & Prejudice.
At first, some unnecessary details and sudden point-of-view switches bogged down the read for me, but the more I read the more I loved the story. The hero Brett was awesome (if I wasn't married, and he wasn't fictional, I'd so want to date him!).
I went through much of the book, wanting to shake Eila, but I understood the guilt, the letting go and the cultural bridge she had to cross. I think Ms. Dixit created an amazingly complex secondary character in Sheela (the heroine's sister) and she's a valuable part of the overall story.
Ms. Dixit's sly humor had me laughing out loud, and (especially in the last one-third of the book)her emotional scenes actually had me sniffling. Kudos!
While the HEA at the end of the book was totally expected, I did do a happy dance when it happened.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story!
***book provided by the Author through the PaC Romance group Author/Reader Exchange for an honest review. Thanks to both!***(less)
At first, some unnecessary details and sudden point-of-view switches bogged down the read for me, but the more I read the more I loved the story. The hero Brett was awesome (if I wasn't married, and he wasn't fictional, I'd so want to date him!).
I went through much of the book, wanting to shake Eila, but I understood the guilt, the letting go and the cultural bridge she had to cross. I think Ms. Dixit created an amazingly complex secondary character in Sheela (the heroine's sister) and she's a valuable part of the overall story.
Ms. Dixit's sly humor had me laughing out loud, and (especially in the last one-third of the book)her emotional scenes actually had me sniffling. Kudos!
While the HEA at the end of the book was totally expected, I did do a happy dance when it happened.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story!
***book provided by the Author through the PaC Romance group Author/Reader Exchange for an honest review. Thanks to both!***(less)
March 9, 2022
https://www.njkinnysblog.com/romance-...
Rating: 4.5/5
Only Wheat Not White is the story of Eila Sood who has just arrived in America to live with her estranged sister and try to mend the broken ties once again. Eila's elder sister, Sheetal became a stranger to them when she married a foreigner. Now seven years later, Eila is here to try and mend those ties but before departing she got a strict " Only Wheat Not White" warning from her mother, meaning that she is never to fall for a white man!
But despite all precautions, Eila does fall in love and that too with a foreigner. Will her love estrange her from her family like her sister's did? or Will she let go of her love and go with her parents' wish of Only Wheat Not White ?
This is the first book by Varsha that I read and I absolutely enjoyed every second of it!
The first thing that attracted me towards this book was the intriguing and beautiful cover. I loved the saree in it and was captivated enough to pick it up to check out the blurb which had me opening the book to read it!
Right from the start I was hooked. First by the antics and frustrations of Eila as she arrives in a foreign country alone. Her observation of the airport, the people and the formalities had me laughing and chuckling. Then just as fluidly, I was shifted to the uneasy re-introduction of the two sisters after all these years and the awkwardness between them felt like it was my own. The fluid shifts between emotions and situations had me enjoying the myriad facets of life and people, all admirably delivered by the author.
The author has written simply and yet managed to engross and connect me with the story and the characters. Eila is the grounded sister but she has a big mouth. Witty, funny, snarky and then just as easily shy, she won my heart and I thoroughly enjoyed her cat and mouse game with the hero, who was easily the most sexy, enigmatic and swoon worthy hero I have come across recently. He became rude and biting one second and then just as easily shifted to charming and caring making my heart flutter at his every action.
The sister-sister dynamics and the sister-in-law and foreigner-brother-in-law dynamics are explored beautifully and while reading the book, I came to care about all these characters hoping to meet them someday!
The story is entertaining and executed well and had me engrossed right till the end. The author takes up the issues of outsourcing, the cultural boundaries, the parental expectations and the adjustments one has to make when one marries across cultures and then very expertly gives us a simple answer to all these seemingly big issues. She proves that LOVE is the answer to even the biggest of problems and I just loved her reasoning!
The only thing that I feel I wanted to know and was left in the unknown, was the angle with Eila's parents. I would have loved to read about their reaction to this new love story and know if they finally came around or not. Maybe, the author will take us back to Eila's family in one of her future books. However, for the time being this angle of the parents doesn't hamper the story in anyway and the story closes beautifully.
All in all, Only Wheat Not White is truly an entertainer and a book I would love to re-read again and again. I give it 4.5 out of 5 and strongly recommend it to all romance readers. Varsha is a very talented author and I am so glad to have met her books. Will be checking out more of her book sin the future.
I received the book by the author to read and give my honest opinion. The above review is my own unbiased opinion and in no way influenced.
Rating: 4.5/5
Only Wheat Not White is the story of Eila Sood who has just arrived in America to live with her estranged sister and try to mend the broken ties once again. Eila's elder sister, Sheetal became a stranger to them when she married a foreigner. Now seven years later, Eila is here to try and mend those ties but before departing she got a strict " Only Wheat Not White" warning from her mother, meaning that she is never to fall for a white man!
But despite all precautions, Eila does fall in love and that too with a foreigner. Will her love estrange her from her family like her sister's did? or Will she let go of her love and go with her parents' wish of Only Wheat Not White ?
This is the first book by Varsha that I read and I absolutely enjoyed every second of it!
The first thing that attracted me towards this book was the intriguing and beautiful cover. I loved the saree in it and was captivated enough to pick it up to check out the blurb which had me opening the book to read it!
Right from the start I was hooked. First by the antics and frustrations of Eila as she arrives in a foreign country alone. Her observation of the airport, the people and the formalities had me laughing and chuckling. Then just as fluidly, I was shifted to the uneasy re-introduction of the two sisters after all these years and the awkwardness between them felt like it was my own. The fluid shifts between emotions and situations had me enjoying the myriad facets of life and people, all admirably delivered by the author.
The author has written simply and yet managed to engross and connect me with the story and the characters. Eila is the grounded sister but she has a big mouth. Witty, funny, snarky and then just as easily shy, she won my heart and I thoroughly enjoyed her cat and mouse game with the hero, who was easily the most sexy, enigmatic and swoon worthy hero I have come across recently. He became rude and biting one second and then just as easily shifted to charming and caring making my heart flutter at his every action.
The sister-sister dynamics and the sister-in-law and foreigner-brother-in-law dynamics are explored beautifully and while reading the book, I came to care about all these characters hoping to meet them someday!
The story is entertaining and executed well and had me engrossed right till the end. The author takes up the issues of outsourcing, the cultural boundaries, the parental expectations and the adjustments one has to make when one marries across cultures and then very expertly gives us a simple answer to all these seemingly big issues. She proves that LOVE is the answer to even the biggest of problems and I just loved her reasoning!
The only thing that I feel I wanted to know and was left in the unknown, was the angle with Eila's parents. I would have loved to read about their reaction to this new love story and know if they finally came around or not. Maybe, the author will take us back to Eila's family in one of her future books. However, for the time being this angle of the parents doesn't hamper the story in anyway and the story closes beautifully.
All in all, Only Wheat Not White is truly an entertainer and a book I would love to re-read again and again. I give it 4.5 out of 5 and strongly recommend it to all romance readers. Varsha is a very talented author and I am so glad to have met her books. Will be checking out more of her book sin the future.
I received the book by the author to read and give my honest opinion. The above review is my own unbiased opinion and in no way influenced.
June 16, 2014
Only Wheat Not White is a light, enjoyable, innocent love story of a young woman's journey from India to the U.S. Twenty-six year old Eila, arrives in America to stay with her sister, Sheela, who is married to a "non wheat"! The reason for this journey is to try and mend fences between Sheela and her very traditional parents back in India as they have been estranged for seven years due to the fact that she didn't marry someone arranged for her. As we delve into Eila's new life, we meet plenty of really fun characters. My favorite was Megan, who works with Eila, not only was she a hoot and a little ditzy, but she was a truly sincere and caring person. As the story moves along, Eila becomes the relationship "fixer upper" for her sister and her husband, Steve's, struggling marriage. Eila also becomes the matchmaker for Megan and Murli ( a co-worker)....! While all of this is going on, Eila meets Brett Wright, the handsome restaurant owner of Cibo, a trendy hotspot. Eila begins working for Brett so she can help out her sister financially due to the unstable state of her sisters marriage. Brett and Eila are immediately drawn to one another. The problem lies with the fact that Eila never shows her true feelings for him in any situation. She assumes what she thinks that Brett is thinking all the time and she's always wrong. Brett gets frustrated with her just as much because Eila constantly has an attitude with him. I felt that she was a bit childish when clearly he wasn't doing anything wrong. If anything, he was head-over-heels, crazy for her. Men aren't mind-readers and I felt bad for Brett through most of this book.
Eila is a good person...she's reliable and loyal to her family. I loved how she stepped up to the plate when a famous person and their entourage were scheduled to eat at Cibo and the head chef became sick. With Brett out of town, Eila's ability to use all her creative resources with calling friends to help serve and Mrs. Das to cook was pretty funny! It was amazing that she pulled it off!!! One thing that bothered me was that I felt her feelings for Brett should have made it's way to him much sooner in this book. I personally enjoy stories that are a lot more erotic, but this was refreshing to where there was a build up and no jumping into bed within a weeks time...but I felt frustrated waiting and waiting for the two of them to get on the same page.
I enjoyed Varsha Dixit's attention to description and detail. Whether it be the menu at Cibo, (which, btw, she had my mouth watering!) or the decorating details of the new renovations of a club that Brett purchased, it all was outlined beautifully.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. I think that Varsha Dixit has a bright future as an author...I would recommend this book if you're looking for a nice light read. ❤️
Eila is a good person...she's reliable and loyal to her family. I loved how she stepped up to the plate when a famous person and their entourage were scheduled to eat at Cibo and the head chef became sick. With Brett out of town, Eila's ability to use all her creative resources with calling friends to help serve and Mrs. Das to cook was pretty funny! It was amazing that she pulled it off!!! One thing that bothered me was that I felt her feelings for Brett should have made it's way to him much sooner in this book. I personally enjoy stories that are a lot more erotic, but this was refreshing to where there was a build up and no jumping into bed within a weeks time...but I felt frustrated waiting and waiting for the two of them to get on the same page.
I enjoyed Varsha Dixit's attention to description and detail. Whether it be the menu at Cibo, (which, btw, she had my mouth watering!) or the decorating details of the new renovations of a club that Brett purchased, it all was outlined beautifully.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. I think that Varsha Dixit has a bright future as an author...I would recommend this book if you're looking for a nice light read. ❤️
December 19, 2016
Love is all what matters whether be it, Wheat or White!
What has love to do with race, caste or skin colour finally it is meant to conquer hearts for the better. Loved every moment of it.
Everytime I read Varsha Dixit I am in awe. Especially how she blends the humour so realistically to the story telling. It’s not just the story but also the humour and fun which adds the charm to the book.
The very concept of accepting a White into the very conservative Indian family, a husband and wife struggling to live with a burden of the same. One of them struggling hard to find the roots; she had to leave behind to be with her love… just not the right way. One poor lady trying hard to keep this Mr White out of her heart because he is not Wheat. Also Mr White is struggling hard to understand the very concept of it all.
This romance with a blend of humour holds you all the way along.
Detailed Book Review in Book Reviews by Reshma Ranjan
What has love to do with race, caste or skin colour finally it is meant to conquer hearts for the better. Loved every moment of it.
Everytime I read Varsha Dixit I am in awe. Especially how she blends the humour so realistically to the story telling. It’s not just the story but also the humour and fun which adds the charm to the book.
The very concept of accepting a White into the very conservative Indian family, a husband and wife struggling to live with a burden of the same. One of them struggling hard to find the roots; she had to leave behind to be with her love… just not the right way. One poor lady trying hard to keep this Mr White out of her heart because he is not Wheat. Also Mr White is struggling hard to understand the very concept of it all.
This romance with a blend of humour holds you all the way along.
Detailed Book Review in Book Reviews by Reshma Ranjan
June 16, 2018
Quite a disappointing one after the other books by Varsha Dixit.Too much unnecessary details. Too long without much events or content. I wouldn't really call it a love story as it's more lust than love..however if you're that bored then go for itt.
April 18, 2022
3.5🌟
Me and a friend were having a discussion today over Indian romance authors we once used to love. And I was reminded of my once upon a time favourite books - Right fit, wrong shoe series. And while recommending them to her, I came across this other book the author wrote a few years after that,and started it immediately -
Only Wheat Not White
.
....as in the warning given by Indian parents to their daughter when she goes to America. You get what they meant?
.
And what does that daughter do? Get hitched to an American man, marries has kids, and becomes permanently estranged from her parents, her sisters and her country. For that's what our culture is.
.
This book hit a bit too closer to home. For a country of people who see intercaste marriage with dubious eyes, marrying into other religion, other color, other country- is really a big deal. And parents here being a little too eager to cut-off ties with their children if they go against their wishes, the main theme of this book was not far fetched.
.
The story begins when a sister comes to America to reconcile with her sister after years. And continues when she encounters the same infuriating, arrogant blue-eyed man again and again. Attraction builds, but she remembers what she vowed not to do - what her sister did.
.
It's kind of a curse being an Indian child with siblings. You always pay for the mistake of your siblings. When you see how your sibling's actions hurt your parents, you can't do the same thing, never mind how much you want to do it, how much not listening to your heart is hurting you, despite knowing that your parents are are not right - you can't do it.
.
So all my love for this book is for this theme covered. The writing style could have been better. The story could have been more detailed, the characters could have been better developed. The coincidences could have been executed properly. But I like this book.
Me and a friend were having a discussion today over Indian romance authors we once used to love. And I was reminded of my once upon a time favourite books - Right fit, wrong shoe series. And while recommending them to her, I came across this other book the author wrote a few years after that,and started it immediately -
Only Wheat Not White
.
....as in the warning given by Indian parents to their daughter when she goes to America. You get what they meant?
.
And what does that daughter do? Get hitched to an American man, marries has kids, and becomes permanently estranged from her parents, her sisters and her country. For that's what our culture is.
.
This book hit a bit too closer to home. For a country of people who see intercaste marriage with dubious eyes, marrying into other religion, other color, other country- is really a big deal. And parents here being a little too eager to cut-off ties with their children if they go against their wishes, the main theme of this book was not far fetched.
.
The story begins when a sister comes to America to reconcile with her sister after years. And continues when she encounters the same infuriating, arrogant blue-eyed man again and again. Attraction builds, but she remembers what she vowed not to do - what her sister did.
.
It's kind of a curse being an Indian child with siblings. You always pay for the mistake of your siblings. When you see how your sibling's actions hurt your parents, you can't do the same thing, never mind how much you want to do it, how much not listening to your heart is hurting you, despite knowing that your parents are are not right - you can't do it.
.
So all my love for this book is for this theme covered. The writing style could have been better. The story could have been more detailed, the characters could have been better developed. The coincidences could have been executed properly. But I like this book.
January 31, 2018
Sometimes White Bread Is Good For You!
This was a great story that teaches us that you can’t run from true love, even when you find it outside of your race or culture. This book was at times heartbreaking and at other time hilariously funny. This one goes one my keeper shelf!
This was a great story that teaches us that you can’t run from true love, even when you find it outside of your race or culture. This book was at times heartbreaking and at other time hilariously funny. This one goes one my keeper shelf!
October 22, 2016
Disclaimer : I got this book from the Author. It is my personal opinion and NOT a commissioned one.
As the world shrinks due to cultural crossovers, the mentality of the humans are taking the time to catch up. In a country where you cannot marry a guy who speaks in a different dialect, marrying outside the country is a shocker. And this happened to the parents of Eila and Sheela - they could not accept when Sheela marries an American. They severe all ties with her and guess who had to bear the brunt of her 'conduct' - the siblings.
U.S.A calling:
Eila convinces her parents and comes to stay with Sheela when she gets a job in the IT sector. She knew in her heart she had to keep up her parent's faith in her and not do the same mistake that Sheela had committed.
Tentative steps:
Her meeting with Sheela's family could have been a comedy if the relationship between Steve and Sheela was not on a rocky boat. Initially, she did not care for her brother-in-law - for Steve was a guy who had taken her sister away from her family and broken the family up.
Gelling well:
As she merges into her work life, she gets used to many things in the USA like transports, way of life, food and .. mugging. Ouch! And in this hectic work schedule, she constantly bumps into a blue eyed 'ogre' -Brett Wright. Brett also introduces the author's sense of humor the readers.
"Brett Wright not White. Wright. No wonder he is so full of himself."
Subdued sense of humor
Sprinkled throughout the novel, Ms. Dixit's sense of humor will make you giggle. They appear at the most inappropriate of times. Subtle. Catches you unaware.
Portraying the NRI lifestyle.
Ms. Dixit has portrayed the NRI lifestyle to the T. Through Sheela, she has shown how some of the NRI's compensate for their kids, the Indian 'upbringing'. The best phrase we seem to have here is - we don't do it, We are Indians, our culture does not allow it. And when Sheela tried to Indian-ise her family life, it was bound to have repercussions.
Growing Relationships.
As Eila settles down she forms many new relationships - colleagues and family. Her blow hot and blow cold relationship with Brett is very humorous and fiery. A beautiful friendship with Randall and Megan and most of all, the mending of hearts with her own sister, Sheela.
Clash of culture -
As nature conspires to bring Brett and Eila together, she fights the constant battle, within herself, knowing her parents cannot tolerate marriage outside their community. Will she be able to make them accept Brett or like Sheela she too would have to leave her parents?
Reasoning
1. It's a beautifully penned novel. The pages are full of humor, wit. The life of the NRI's are well portrayed and Ms. Dixit has done it with an elan - neither apologizing nor condescending.
2. The humor in the story made me finish this novel at one go. I loved the relationship between Steve and Eila. The way it grows from tolerating each other to being family. Superbly penned.
3. But this novel left a few questions unanswered (for me)
a) Since the parents are given so much importance, why was the ending left to the reader's imagination? My guess would be a sequel is coming up...? Am I right Ms. Dixit?
b) Was Brett so uncaring that he did not care that his ex-girlfriend was present in the room ?. Here I find most of the Indian men ogling over gals when their beautiful wives are just in front of them. Learn from Brett, Guys! Undivided attention is the secret of a successful relationship. :D
Would I recommend the book?
Yes, I would. In fact a must for all romance lovers. You will love the chemistry between Brett and Eila. There are many small instances where you would root for them. They look so perfect together. Read this book when you need a smile.
Line that stayed with me....
Rule number 8: Seriously, only read the bestselling books in horror and self-help genres. The former will help you kill time by making you sweat, shake and fear your own reflection, thereby distracting you from HIS thoughts. And the latter will help you fall asleep faster than any over-the-counter sleeping pills.
Hhahahha.. Why it is said and in what context - that you all have to read this book and find out. As of me, before signing off must mention (again) that Ms. Dixit's sense of humor is fabulous.
As the world shrinks due to cultural crossovers, the mentality of the humans are taking the time to catch up. In a country where you cannot marry a guy who speaks in a different dialect, marrying outside the country is a shocker. And this happened to the parents of Eila and Sheela - they could not accept when Sheela marries an American. They severe all ties with her and guess who had to bear the brunt of her 'conduct' - the siblings.
U.S.A calling:
Eila convinces her parents and comes to stay with Sheela when she gets a job in the IT sector. She knew in her heart she had to keep up her parent's faith in her and not do the same mistake that Sheela had committed.
Tentative steps:
Her meeting with Sheela's family could have been a comedy if the relationship between Steve and Sheela was not on a rocky boat. Initially, she did not care for her brother-in-law - for Steve was a guy who had taken her sister away from her family and broken the family up.
Gelling well:
As she merges into her work life, she gets used to many things in the USA like transports, way of life, food and .. mugging. Ouch! And in this hectic work schedule, she constantly bumps into a blue eyed 'ogre' -Brett Wright. Brett also introduces the author's sense of humor the readers.
"Brett Wright not White. Wright. No wonder he is so full of himself."
Subdued sense of humor
Sprinkled throughout the novel, Ms. Dixit's sense of humor will make you giggle. They appear at the most inappropriate of times. Subtle. Catches you unaware.
Portraying the NRI lifestyle.
Ms. Dixit has portrayed the NRI lifestyle to the T. Through Sheela, she has shown how some of the NRI's compensate for their kids, the Indian 'upbringing'. The best phrase we seem to have here is - we don't do it, We are Indians, our culture does not allow it. And when Sheela tried to Indian-ise her family life, it was bound to have repercussions.
Growing Relationships.
As Eila settles down she forms many new relationships - colleagues and family. Her blow hot and blow cold relationship with Brett is very humorous and fiery. A beautiful friendship with Randall and Megan and most of all, the mending of hearts with her own sister, Sheela.
Clash of culture -
As nature conspires to bring Brett and Eila together, she fights the constant battle, within herself, knowing her parents cannot tolerate marriage outside their community. Will she be able to make them accept Brett or like Sheela she too would have to leave her parents?
Reasoning
1. It's a beautifully penned novel. The pages are full of humor, wit. The life of the NRI's are well portrayed and Ms. Dixit has done it with an elan - neither apologizing nor condescending.
2. The humor in the story made me finish this novel at one go. I loved the relationship between Steve and Eila. The way it grows from tolerating each other to being family. Superbly penned.
3. But this novel left a few questions unanswered (for me)
a) Since the parents are given so much importance, why was the ending left to the reader's imagination? My guess would be a sequel is coming up...? Am I right Ms. Dixit?
b) Was Brett so uncaring that he did not care that his ex-girlfriend was present in the room ?. Here I find most of the Indian men ogling over gals when their beautiful wives are just in front of them. Learn from Brett, Guys! Undivided attention is the secret of a successful relationship. :D
Would I recommend the book?
Yes, I would. In fact a must for all romance lovers. You will love the chemistry between Brett and Eila. There are many small instances where you would root for them. They look so perfect together. Read this book when you need a smile.
Line that stayed with me....
Rule number 8: Seriously, only read the bestselling books in horror and self-help genres. The former will help you kill time by making you sweat, shake and fear your own reflection, thereby distracting you from HIS thoughts. And the latter will help you fall asleep faster than any over-the-counter sleeping pills.
Hhahahha.. Why it is said and in what context - that you all have to read this book and find out. As of me, before signing off must mention (again) that Ms. Dixit's sense of humor is fabulous.
August 18, 2015
Eila, an unsual name for an unusual girl! This is a story that delighted me and I read it straight through the night. The need to know how it all turns out; does Sheela manage to keep her family together? Do her parents forgive the elder sister or is the younger one also painted with the same colors? How long can a man wait for a lady to decide that does she love him or not? Is there any love for her at all or is it all lost along the way?
This novel throws up a delightful mix of issues and questions that I felt drawn to the story. My sympathies were with Brett Wright, poor guy! He did not know what hit him!! Eila managed to bang into him time and again and he just could not get over her.
Eila , the smart, beautiful, and vivacious. I loved the clothes she wore and was a sight for sore eyes. Subtle and sexy, slowly making inroads into the hearts of everyone. She was also a good friend, a hard worker and totally devoted to her loved ones. She made me realize I would have loved to have a sister like her. Even though she was the younger one but she tried to keep it all together and even felt guilty for her own happiness!! Almost like a saint but not quite!
The title of the novel is very apt, it highlights the fact that prejudice is not just for ‘white’ skin but also for our own kind. Looking down upon anyone who is not ‘like us’. Being biased and selective permeates in all sections of our society. It is not just the illiterate or uneducated folks, but from all walks of life who condemn their family and children to unhappiness due to their egos.
Eila comes out the winner here; she helps her friend, Megan with Murli. Her boss, Randall and her new boss Brett. That she finds love along the way is the icing on the cake. When she takes up the challenge to cook with Mrs Das and how it all turns out had me grinning from ear to ear. Just loved the tension, surprise and the super hot chemistry Varsha has created in her book!!
This book also explores the dynamics of NRI love and inter-cultural love. Quite relevant in our lives today. The story explores all angles and effects of falling in love with someone who is different from us. After all in India, you marry into the whole family!!
The insecurity of Eila and her behaving like a martyr for everyone got to me. For a smart girl she was silly sometimes. Also I wanted to know more about Brett, read what he was thinking – his actions were obvious but still his thoughts would have been hotter!
Also some closure with the parents would have been nice; I felt more could have been said about them considering they were the main reason for Eila joining her sister.
Sheela and her husband Steve make a cute couple and I loved the fact that all the characters in the story had flaws and very so human. No perfection but real people. I could almost see a friend of mine in Sheela and even Murli. I think I have definitely met him!!
Did I mention the language is really good, crisp, fresh, youth-full and mirrors the characters thoughts so well? A book that bridges the world with love, a story that simplifies the tough decisions of life and a good wholesome romance to top it all off!!
A must read for a superb weekend – if you read that slow!!
(I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange of my unbiased review.)
This novel throws up a delightful mix of issues and questions that I felt drawn to the story. My sympathies were with Brett Wright, poor guy! He did not know what hit him!! Eila managed to bang into him time and again and he just could not get over her.
Eila , the smart, beautiful, and vivacious. I loved the clothes she wore and was a sight for sore eyes. Subtle and sexy, slowly making inroads into the hearts of everyone. She was also a good friend, a hard worker and totally devoted to her loved ones. She made me realize I would have loved to have a sister like her. Even though she was the younger one but she tried to keep it all together and even felt guilty for her own happiness!! Almost like a saint but not quite!
The title of the novel is very apt, it highlights the fact that prejudice is not just for ‘white’ skin but also for our own kind. Looking down upon anyone who is not ‘like us’. Being biased and selective permeates in all sections of our society. It is not just the illiterate or uneducated folks, but from all walks of life who condemn their family and children to unhappiness due to their egos.
Eila comes out the winner here; she helps her friend, Megan with Murli. Her boss, Randall and her new boss Brett. That she finds love along the way is the icing on the cake. When she takes up the challenge to cook with Mrs Das and how it all turns out had me grinning from ear to ear. Just loved the tension, surprise and the super hot chemistry Varsha has created in her book!!
This book also explores the dynamics of NRI love and inter-cultural love. Quite relevant in our lives today. The story explores all angles and effects of falling in love with someone who is different from us. After all in India, you marry into the whole family!!
The insecurity of Eila and her behaving like a martyr for everyone got to me. For a smart girl she was silly sometimes. Also I wanted to know more about Brett, read what he was thinking – his actions were obvious but still his thoughts would have been hotter!
Also some closure with the parents would have been nice; I felt more could have been said about them considering they were the main reason for Eila joining her sister.
Sheela and her husband Steve make a cute couple and I loved the fact that all the characters in the story had flaws and very so human. No perfection but real people. I could almost see a friend of mine in Sheela and even Murli. I think I have definitely met him!!
Did I mention the language is really good, crisp, fresh, youth-full and mirrors the characters thoughts so well? A book that bridges the world with love, a story that simplifies the tough decisions of life and a good wholesome romance to top it all off!!
A must read for a superb weekend – if you read that slow!!
(I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange of my unbiased review.)
November 3, 2015
Rating 3.5 stars:
The premise of interracial relationship in Indian context is refreshing in contemporary romance category. OWNW deals with the effect of parents’ insecurity and close-mindedness towards unchartered culture, on the children. Their preconceived notions and impassioned black-mail leads to vacillation and emotional scarring in the next generation. The issue is handled well by Ms Dixit in ‘Only Wheat Not White’.
Eila Sood comes to America on H1 visa, with the intention of bridging the gap with her sister, Sheela, after her mother suffers a stroke back in India. But she is shocked to see Sheela’s marriage and life falling apart. She tries to maintain status quo and helps Sheela to bring her life on track. While Eila settles in USA, she bumps into Brett Wright, the handsome hunk with blue eyes, many a times and always under unusual circumstances where he rescues her most of the times.
Though the build-up was a little slow but momentum picked up as things began getting complicated when Eila is forced to work at a strip-club. The drama that unfolds is very entertaining with an excellent twist at the end.
Eila comes across as an intelligent, smart girl who had a tendency to attract misfortunes, like some people are prone to accidents. I loved the subtle wit and humor and the quiet strength of her character. Brett was perfect as his feelings for Eila change from bewilderment to exasperation to deep attraction and love. I loved the build-up of romance between the main protagonists. The charm is all about the journey not the end.
All the sub-characters were distinct and well introduced, including Eila’s cute nephews and Randall, who used to call her ‘Quickie’. All of them were human with flaws and engaging. The settings of the club, restaurant painted delightful pictures making the story appealing.
The style of narration is smooth and flowing. The fresh and crisp language, invoked right kind of emotions. I felt for Eila and Brett when she tells him that she would prefer wheat over white.
On the flip side, initially Eila’s actions and dialogues felt a bit disjointed and unnatural, but as the story took flight I connected with her. Another peeve was the oscillating point-of-view whenever Eila and Brett came together. The frequent change in POV took away the romance depth and immersion in the story. I would also have loved to see how Eila would have dealt with her parents about her choice, some kind of closure to the issue.
Overall OWNW is an engaging, entertaining read, which also focuses on the interracial cultural conflicts, recommended for all romance lovers.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this ebook from the author (via Blog Tour hosted by ‘The Book Club’) in return for my honest review.
More reviews on: http://www.iluvfiction.com
The premise of interracial relationship in Indian context is refreshing in contemporary romance category. OWNW deals with the effect of parents’ insecurity and close-mindedness towards unchartered culture, on the children. Their preconceived notions and impassioned black-mail leads to vacillation and emotional scarring in the next generation. The issue is handled well by Ms Dixit in ‘Only Wheat Not White’.
Eila Sood comes to America on H1 visa, with the intention of bridging the gap with her sister, Sheela, after her mother suffers a stroke back in India. But she is shocked to see Sheela’s marriage and life falling apart. She tries to maintain status quo and helps Sheela to bring her life on track. While Eila settles in USA, she bumps into Brett Wright, the handsome hunk with blue eyes, many a times and always under unusual circumstances where he rescues her most of the times.
Though the build-up was a little slow but momentum picked up as things began getting complicated when Eila is forced to work at a strip-club. The drama that unfolds is very entertaining with an excellent twist at the end.
Eila comes across as an intelligent, smart girl who had a tendency to attract misfortunes, like some people are prone to accidents. I loved the subtle wit and humor and the quiet strength of her character. Brett was perfect as his feelings for Eila change from bewilderment to exasperation to deep attraction and love. I loved the build-up of romance between the main protagonists. The charm is all about the journey not the end.
All the sub-characters were distinct and well introduced, including Eila’s cute nephews and Randall, who used to call her ‘Quickie’. All of them were human with flaws and engaging. The settings of the club, restaurant painted delightful pictures making the story appealing.
The style of narration is smooth and flowing. The fresh and crisp language, invoked right kind of emotions. I felt for Eila and Brett when she tells him that she would prefer wheat over white.
On the flip side, initially Eila’s actions and dialogues felt a bit disjointed and unnatural, but as the story took flight I connected with her. Another peeve was the oscillating point-of-view whenever Eila and Brett came together. The frequent change in POV took away the romance depth and immersion in the story. I would also have loved to see how Eila would have dealt with her parents about her choice, some kind of closure to the issue.
Overall OWNW is an engaging, entertaining read, which also focuses on the interracial cultural conflicts, recommended for all romance lovers.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this ebook from the author (via Blog Tour hosted by ‘The Book Club’) in return for my honest review.
More reviews on: http://www.iluvfiction.com
October 28, 2015
As I read, Only Wheat Not White, I remembered the locker room scene from Bend It Like Beckham.
"So, could you choose a white boy?"
"White, no, black, definitely not, a Muslim, uh-uh!"
"You'll marry an Indian then."
"Probably."
"How can you stand it?"
"It's just culture."
I think that pretty much sums it up for a lot of Indian parents. One may think that education, values, personality and all good characters and traits must matter when you are thinking of marrying someone. It’s a bit different for most some Indian parents. For them, it’s the colour of the skin that matters. And it is this premise that makes the backdrop of the story of Only Wheat Not White.
As Eila arrives in New York to renew the ties with her sister Sheela who has married a ‘White’ American, Steve Jacobs. As she gets to know the American way of life, she finds herself bumping into the ‘blue eyed ogre’ - Brett Wright. Though they rub each other off at every chance meeting, they find themselves attracted to each other. As Eila’s mother’s warning ‘Only Wheat Not White’ rings in her head, she finds herself cementing the relationships between Sheela and Steve & Megan and Murli. Will she be able to follow her sister’s footsteps and marry an American? Well, you need to read the book to find that out.
I enjoyed reading Varsha’s book. It has a liberal dose of humor and wit and has a story that flows effortlessly. The twists and turns, surprises and shocks keeps you glued to the story as you turn pages after pages to see where it was going. I liked Eila’s character for her sharp and subtle wit and her good Samaritan attitude, of course, at times, I wanted to shake her when she played martyr in her relationships. Brett and Elila’s maddening but intense relationship made my heart flutter too.
The detailed description of food, places, decorations and renovations of a club are insightful and interesting. The dynamics of relationship between the two sisters and that between Eila and Steve are realistic and outlined beautifully. And the cover is absolutely gorgeous!
Now the things that could have been included in the story. Since, the story is about the parents being unhappy (so much so that they sever all ties) about their daughter marrying a ‘White’, I wish they had a role that was a bit more pronounced than the current non-existent one in the story. Also, throwing some more light on relationship troubles between Sheela and Steve. The announcement of their divorce and the acceptance of it by the sisters seemed a bit unreal.
Overall, Only Wheat Not White is an entertaining read which is high on wit and humour and also addressing issues of interracial marriages and the cultural differences. Go for Only Wheat Not White , if you are looking for a nice light contemporary romance.
http://shilpaagarg.com/2015/10/only-w...
"So, could you choose a white boy?"
"White, no, black, definitely not, a Muslim, uh-uh!"
"You'll marry an Indian then."
"Probably."
"How can you stand it?"
"It's just culture."
I think that pretty much sums it up for a lot of Indian parents. One may think that education, values, personality and all good characters and traits must matter when you are thinking of marrying someone. It’s a bit different for most some Indian parents. For them, it’s the colour of the skin that matters. And it is this premise that makes the backdrop of the story of Only Wheat Not White.
As Eila arrives in New York to renew the ties with her sister Sheela who has married a ‘White’ American, Steve Jacobs. As she gets to know the American way of life, she finds herself bumping into the ‘blue eyed ogre’ - Brett Wright. Though they rub each other off at every chance meeting, they find themselves attracted to each other. As Eila’s mother’s warning ‘Only Wheat Not White’ rings in her head, she finds herself cementing the relationships between Sheela and Steve & Megan and Murli. Will she be able to follow her sister’s footsteps and marry an American? Well, you need to read the book to find that out.
I enjoyed reading Varsha’s book. It has a liberal dose of humor and wit and has a story that flows effortlessly. The twists and turns, surprises and shocks keeps you glued to the story as you turn pages after pages to see where it was going. I liked Eila’s character for her sharp and subtle wit and her good Samaritan attitude, of course, at times, I wanted to shake her when she played martyr in her relationships. Brett and Elila’s maddening but intense relationship made my heart flutter too.
The detailed description of food, places, decorations and renovations of a club are insightful and interesting. The dynamics of relationship between the two sisters and that between Eila and Steve are realistic and outlined beautifully. And the cover is absolutely gorgeous!
Now the things that could have been included in the story. Since, the story is about the parents being unhappy (so much so that they sever all ties) about their daughter marrying a ‘White’, I wish they had a role that was a bit more pronounced than the current non-existent one in the story. Also, throwing some more light on relationship troubles between Sheela and Steve. The announcement of their divorce and the acceptance of it by the sisters seemed a bit unreal.
Overall, Only Wheat Not White is an entertaining read which is high on wit and humour and also addressing issues of interracial marriages and the cultural differences. Go for Only Wheat Not White , if you are looking for a nice light contemporary romance.
http://shilpaagarg.com/2015/10/only-w...
February 29, 2016
Let me confess that I began reading this with a lot of prejudice. Prejudice #1 - the genre. I am not a fan of romance, and the amount of mushiness and the forced happy endings drive me crazy. Prejudice #2 - the title. 'Only Wheat Not White' sounded too racist, too unsophisticated.
But as I read, I enjoyed Dixit's writing. The snarky humour and the descriptions of Eila's clumsiness endeared me to the protagonist Eila Sood. In this month's 'romance-themed' reading challenge, this is in fact the one I enjoyed the most.
However, I do have a couple of problems with Only Wheat Not White. #1 - Constant reference to Brett Wright as "the ogre" put me off. I don't think I got enough time to like him as Eila's potential lover. #2 - with a title that directly referred to racial problems between the Caucasian and the Indian, I expected a little bit of confrontation with the parents. Especially because the parents are present throughout the book as strong background characters, though the mother and father have not been given distinguishable personalities. I don't think the story does justice to the story of Sheela and Steve either - for example, how is it that they had never tried to sort their differences until Eila came over?
That said, I loved Eila Sood. A very believable character: gauche but efficient, interfering but slightly scared about making moves for herself... and a wonderful sense of humour that sustains the reading. In fact descriptions of her constant gaucherie are what I loved the best.
But as I read, I enjoyed Dixit's writing. The snarky humour and the descriptions of Eila's clumsiness endeared me to the protagonist Eila Sood. In this month's 'romance-themed' reading challenge, this is in fact the one I enjoyed the most.
However, I do have a couple of problems with Only Wheat Not White. #1 - Constant reference to Brett Wright as "the ogre" put me off. I don't think I got enough time to like him as Eila's potential lover. #2 - with a title that directly referred to racial problems between the Caucasian and the Indian, I expected a little bit of confrontation with the parents. Especially because the parents are present throughout the book as strong background characters, though the mother and father have not been given distinguishable personalities. I don't think the story does justice to the story of Sheela and Steve either - for example, how is it that they had never tried to sort their differences until Eila came over?
That said, I loved Eila Sood. A very believable character: gauche but efficient, interfering but slightly scared about making moves for herself... and a wonderful sense of humour that sustains the reading. In fact descriptions of her constant gaucherie are what I loved the best.
December 31, 2015
Only Wheat not White is a story where cultures dissect as people of different origin mingle, interact on a daily basis of life thus creating a storyline for the readers to ponder upon!
OWnW is a story that revolves around a girl, Elia who comes to the US on a work permit, and unites with her sister, Sheela, who has been alienated from her family in India after her marriage to a "white" guy. The author has described Elia via many incidents as funny, talkative, eccentric and sometimes fun loving thus, helping her make many friends from diverse cultures during the journey. While befriending many, she would occasionally bump into a blue eyed ogre whose synergy could be felt for long with the reader.
When Sheela's marriage was facing cracks, Elia proved worthy as a sister even though she and her family estranged Sheela when she married "out of the box". While helping her cope financially, she gets a chance to meet her ogre face to face, and feelings creep in as they meet on a daily basis since she worked in his restaurant. As Love knows no caste or color; history was repeated for this Sood sister.
Read more at: http://abracabadra.blogspot.com/2015/...
OWnW is a story that revolves around a girl, Elia who comes to the US on a work permit, and unites with her sister, Sheela, who has been alienated from her family in India after her marriage to a "white" guy. The author has described Elia via many incidents as funny, talkative, eccentric and sometimes fun loving thus, helping her make many friends from diverse cultures during the journey. While befriending many, she would occasionally bump into a blue eyed ogre whose synergy could be felt for long with the reader.
When Sheela's marriage was facing cracks, Elia proved worthy as a sister even though she and her family estranged Sheela when she married "out of the box". While helping her cope financially, she gets a chance to meet her ogre face to face, and feelings creep in as they meet on a daily basis since she worked in his restaurant. As Love knows no caste or color; history was repeated for this Sood sister.
Read more at: http://abracabadra.blogspot.com/2015/...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2015
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this ebook from the author (via Blog Tour hosted by The Book Club) in return for my honest review. I never received any monetary compensation for the same.
Eila Sood is middle daughter of three from the Soods in India. She goes to New York, USA to work with OIS Solutions for six months. She plans to stay with her estranged sister Sheela who’s married to an American. Sheela has two adorable sons – Aryan and Adam. Incidentally, her husband’s name is Steve Jobs. That made me smile.
The Sood family had cut off ties with their eldest daughter since she had married a firang. Now you know why the title is what it is.
Warning: Don’t read further if you haven’t read the book. Spoilers galore!
Right from the moment her plane lands in New York, Eila keeps bumping – most times literally – into a blue-eyed ogre. Halfway into the book, we find out that he’s Brett Wright. Despite her mother’s warning to choose “only wheat not white”, Eila finds herself attracted to this restaurateur. Tough times ahead!
Read the complete review here: http://sundarivenkatraman.blogspot.in...
Eila Sood is middle daughter of three from the Soods in India. She goes to New York, USA to work with OIS Solutions for six months. She plans to stay with her estranged sister Sheela who’s married to an American. Sheela has two adorable sons – Aryan and Adam. Incidentally, her husband’s name is Steve Jobs. That made me smile.
The Sood family had cut off ties with their eldest daughter since she had married a firang. Now you know why the title is what it is.
Warning: Don’t read further if you haven’t read the book. Spoilers galore!
Right from the moment her plane lands in New York, Eila keeps bumping – most times literally – into a blue-eyed ogre. Halfway into the book, we find out that he’s Brett Wright. Despite her mother’s warning to choose “only wheat not white”, Eila finds herself attracted to this restaurateur. Tough times ahead!
Read the complete review here: http://sundarivenkatraman.blogspot.in...
November 22, 2015
Varsha Dixit
Did you check out the Blurb of this book on Spotlight: Only Wheat not White by Varsha Dixit ?
If the blurb sounds interesting, the story is lovely. I loved it :)
What I liked: Oh, everything I can say :D
The cover is super delicious. The Blurb of the book made me want to pick up the book immediately.
Know more:
Book Review: Only Wheat not White by Varsha Dixit
Did you check out the Blurb of this book on Spotlight: Only Wheat not White by Varsha Dixit ?
If the blurb sounds interesting, the story is lovely. I loved it :)
What I liked: Oh, everything I can say :D
The cover is super delicious. The Blurb of the book made me want to pick up the book immediately.
Know more:
Book Review: Only Wheat not White by Varsha Dixit
December 13, 2016
Interesting story
Loved Eila and her funny thoughts. The blue eyed hero as any book hero can be. It's a sweet story.
Loved Eila and her funny thoughts. The blue eyed hero as any book hero can be. It's a sweet story.
August 4, 2017
A few typos but overall a great read.
August 25, 2019
Very nicely written 👍
June 7, 2022
anyways
March 14, 2017
Pretty "filmy" even though the setting is in an alien land, the USA. The story revolves around the chief protagonist whose primary task is to settle a family issue relating to her sister who is married to an American. The sister pays back handsomely by returning the favour. There is a lot of action that keeps the reader engrossed and in the end ...........its all smiles.
November 12, 2015
got one of its review copy through ‘The Book Club’ in return of my honest review so thanks a lot to Rubeena Ramesh for a kindle copy. It was in e-book format that took me more time to finish it. But now as I’ve finished it so here is my take on the book ‘Only Wheat not White’.
Initial Impression:
If I talk about initial impression then I was not so interested in reading it at first because I prefer paperback over an e-book but moreover if I found any Story’s blurb interesting then I try to give a second thought about reading it but as usual it was an e-book so I hadn’t got a chance to the read the blurb. Book title and cover though seem quite attractive which actually forced me to go through this book.
Review:
Story starts with a girl ‘Eila’ who immigrates from India to work in New York, there her mom sets only one rule for her- Only Wheat not White. Eila Sood, a girl who is funny, quirky, mouthy, spunky, in her own way and loving. She sometimes calls herself ‘trouble magnet’. As the story starts rolling I found the reason behind the title, Eila’s sister ‘Sheela’ marries a non-wheat guy or you can say a white guy ‘Steve’ against the will off her family which causes the breakup of her with her family. That’s why Eila’s mom strictly warned her to not repeat the same mistake again. Elia stays with her sister in New York in hope of bridging the gap between Sheela and her mother after her mother suffers a stroke back in India. But when she comes to know that Sheela’s marriage and life are falling apart then she get shocked. She tries to support her financially and bring her life back on track and in this process she meets Brett Wright, the blue eyed ogre and the owner of the restaurant where she works. Brett develops some feelings towards her and most of the time rescues her out of troubles.
Authoress has done a very great job with every character’s characterization that’s why the whole story-line becomes very interesting that forced me to scroll down through every page. All in all the style and narration is very smooth and flowing, language used is also fresh and invoking.
Positive:
· A very fresh and different kind of story plot in a contemporary romance genre.
· Characterization is done in way that bind the readers to the book.
· Use of humor at places also keeps the pace of story and reader don’t get bored.
· The author has keenly observed the Indian society and narrated that how traditionally Indian mindset prefer wheat over white or Indian over a foreigner for marriage and what difficulties a couple faces in love marriage.
Negative:
· Starting was a little slow but as the story geared up the joyride gets started.
· Elia’s point of view towards her life actually took away the essence of romance depth at some point of time.
Verdict:
‘Only Wheat not White’ is very new and different kind of romance genre story which one can surely give a shot. Though it took me some extra time to read it but it totally depends on your reading speed that how fast you can finish it. Story is humorous and romantic at the same point of time so one will not get bored and read it thoroughly. If you want to read a fresh and different kind of romantic novel then you can unhesitatingly go with this book. Available on Amazon so you can grab a copy from there.
Ratings:
Story-Line: 3.56/5
Narration Style: 4/5
Overall Rating: 3.85/5
Initial Impression:
If I talk about initial impression then I was not so interested in reading it at first because I prefer paperback over an e-book but moreover if I found any Story’s blurb interesting then I try to give a second thought about reading it but as usual it was an e-book so I hadn’t got a chance to the read the blurb. Book title and cover though seem quite attractive which actually forced me to go through this book.
Review:
Story starts with a girl ‘Eila’ who immigrates from India to work in New York, there her mom sets only one rule for her- Only Wheat not White. Eila Sood, a girl who is funny, quirky, mouthy, spunky, in her own way and loving. She sometimes calls herself ‘trouble magnet’. As the story starts rolling I found the reason behind the title, Eila’s sister ‘Sheela’ marries a non-wheat guy or you can say a white guy ‘Steve’ against the will off her family which causes the breakup of her with her family. That’s why Eila’s mom strictly warned her to not repeat the same mistake again. Elia stays with her sister in New York in hope of bridging the gap between Sheela and her mother after her mother suffers a stroke back in India. But when she comes to know that Sheela’s marriage and life are falling apart then she get shocked. She tries to support her financially and bring her life back on track and in this process she meets Brett Wright, the blue eyed ogre and the owner of the restaurant where she works. Brett develops some feelings towards her and most of the time rescues her out of troubles.
Authoress has done a very great job with every character’s characterization that’s why the whole story-line becomes very interesting that forced me to scroll down through every page. All in all the style and narration is very smooth and flowing, language used is also fresh and invoking.
Positive:
· A very fresh and different kind of story plot in a contemporary romance genre.
· Characterization is done in way that bind the readers to the book.
· Use of humor at places also keeps the pace of story and reader don’t get bored.
· The author has keenly observed the Indian society and narrated that how traditionally Indian mindset prefer wheat over white or Indian over a foreigner for marriage and what difficulties a couple faces in love marriage.
Negative:
· Starting was a little slow but as the story geared up the joyride gets started.
· Elia’s point of view towards her life actually took away the essence of romance depth at some point of time.
Verdict:
‘Only Wheat not White’ is very new and different kind of romance genre story which one can surely give a shot. Though it took me some extra time to read it but it totally depends on your reading speed that how fast you can finish it. Story is humorous and romantic at the same point of time so one will not get bored and read it thoroughly. If you want to read a fresh and different kind of romantic novel then you can unhesitatingly go with this book. Available on Amazon so you can grab a copy from there.
Ratings:
Story-Line: 3.56/5
Narration Style: 4/5
Overall Rating: 3.85/5
June 30, 2016
Only Wheat Not White is a fun, contemporary read with witty humour. And is sure to entertain you for a day.The books title "Only Wheat Not White " is not just the title, it is a yardstick, a guideline that the heroine, Eila is supposed to live by according to her family. The term means that Eila is supposed to marry and settle down with only wheat or swarthy coloured men. To be specific only Indian men and not white men. But unfortunately the exact opposite happens as expected. She meets a man the moment she lands in the US, that is at the airport, whom she calls the "blue eyed ogre".
The reason she come's to USA is because she wants to mend the bonds between her family and estranged older sister Sheela. Sheela who did not live by the rule of "wheat and white", and therefore caused a lot of strife and sadness in her family back in India due to he choice in life partner. She is living in US with her husband Steve Jacobs an american and their two sons. When she arrives home she realises that all is not well between her sister and husband, even though she dose not like Steve as she holds him partly responsible for the agony her family has suffered through, she is still concerned about her sisters marriage.
She starts working in a firm. And during her commute she bumps into the "blue eyed ogre" on a number of occasions, which sparks a forbidden passion in her. She makes friends with her co workers Megan and Murli( an Indian) who have a thing for each other but don't seem to be headed anywhere. Eila helps in setting Megan and Murli up as a couple. And they soon become her accomplishment. In the mean while at home Eila finds out that Steve and Sheela have decided to divorce. This leaves Eila even more angry with her brother in law. More trouble come's her way when her hours and pay at her firm she works, are cut back due to rescission/budget cuts. She dose not tell her sister as she is already going through a bad time. This pushes Elia to search for a part time job to help her sister provide for the kids. She takes a job at a strip club as a accountant.
The strip club is to be sold to a hotel manager named Brett Wright. Who is in fact the "blue eyed ogre". This is when she meets him at the strip club, and then their love story starts. Brett decieds to hire Eila as his assistant in his new establishment( the strip club soon to be a hotel) as a way to get close to her and gain her affection. Though in the beginning they get of on the wrong foot. Those of you who have not read any of Varsha Dixit's books I have to warn, be wary of the hero's of her novels. Because before you know it you start falling for them, face first! As dose the heroine of the book. Brett is rich, smart, handsome, sophisticated, accomplished and has an attitude!
Latter Elia gets mugged ( the trouble magnet that she is) and is badly hurt. Steve come to her rescue. After the incident he tells her the real reason he divorces his sister. He loved Sheela too much and wanted to see her happy. He believed that Sheela was not happy with their life in US away from her family and heritage, so he divorced her to end her agony and make her go back home to India. Touched by the confession Steve makes, Eila decides to fix the problem between the two.
Will she be successful in resolving her sister's martial issues? How how will that affect the relationship with her parents? And what will she do about her growing feeling towards Brett?
The reason she come's to USA is because she wants to mend the bonds between her family and estranged older sister Sheela. Sheela who did not live by the rule of "wheat and white", and therefore caused a lot of strife and sadness in her family back in India due to he choice in life partner. She is living in US with her husband Steve Jacobs an american and their two sons. When she arrives home she realises that all is not well between her sister and husband, even though she dose not like Steve as she holds him partly responsible for the agony her family has suffered through, she is still concerned about her sisters marriage.
She starts working in a firm. And during her commute she bumps into the "blue eyed ogre" on a number of occasions, which sparks a forbidden passion in her. She makes friends with her co workers Megan and Murli( an Indian) who have a thing for each other but don't seem to be headed anywhere. Eila helps in setting Megan and Murli up as a couple. And they soon become her accomplishment. In the mean while at home Eila finds out that Steve and Sheela have decided to divorce. This leaves Eila even more angry with her brother in law. More trouble come's her way when her hours and pay at her firm she works, are cut back due to rescission/budget cuts. She dose not tell her sister as she is already going through a bad time. This pushes Elia to search for a part time job to help her sister provide for the kids. She takes a job at a strip club as a accountant.
The strip club is to be sold to a hotel manager named Brett Wright. Who is in fact the "blue eyed ogre". This is when she meets him at the strip club, and then their love story starts. Brett decieds to hire Eila as his assistant in his new establishment( the strip club soon to be a hotel) as a way to get close to her and gain her affection. Though in the beginning they get of on the wrong foot. Those of you who have not read any of Varsha Dixit's books I have to warn, be wary of the hero's of her novels. Because before you know it you start falling for them, face first! As dose the heroine of the book. Brett is rich, smart, handsome, sophisticated, accomplished and has an attitude!
Latter Elia gets mugged ( the trouble magnet that she is) and is badly hurt. Steve come to her rescue. After the incident he tells her the real reason he divorces his sister. He loved Sheela too much and wanted to see her happy. He believed that Sheela was not happy with their life in US away from her family and heritage, so he divorced her to end her agony and make her go back home to India. Touched by the confession Steve makes, Eila decides to fix the problem between the two.
Will she be successful in resolving her sister's martial issues? How how will that affect the relationship with her parents? And what will she do about her growing feeling towards Brett?
February 25, 2017
First of all I love the way Varsha names the title of her Books. She has a knack of naming them with rhyming words. Secondly her art of weaving story based on love, relationships, friendship and family is well commendable and it makes the reader connect with the characters of the story.
First when i read the title, I thought food might be the main content of the story. (Though i was not wrong fully) But as i moved forward with the story i understood the real meaning behind the title.
In India, love and inter caste marriages are looked down, as if its a great sin. So, Imagine if a girl marries not only outside caste or region but to a person who is a foreigner.... all hell breaks loose. Parents boycott the girl, they refuse to acknowledge her existence etc etc. Typical Indian Mentality.
Varsha has captured this perfectly in Only Wheat Not White...
Lovely and apt title. Perfect title to perfect love story, perfect mixture of love, romance and family. And When the story is based on India how can food be left behind. So a perfect fusion of Indian n foregin cuisine in one part of the book actually had me drooling and made me hungry.
Keep up the good work... cant wait to read more of your creations with rhyming title.
First when i read the title, I thought food might be the main content of the story. (Though i was not wrong fully) But as i moved forward with the story i understood the real meaning behind the title.
In India, love and inter caste marriages are looked down, as if its a great sin. So, Imagine if a girl marries not only outside caste or region but to a person who is a foreigner.... all hell breaks loose. Parents boycott the girl, they refuse to acknowledge her existence etc etc. Typical Indian Mentality.
Varsha has captured this perfectly in Only Wheat Not White...
Lovely and apt title. Perfect title to perfect love story, perfect mixture of love, romance and family. And When the story is based on India how can food be left behind. So a perfect fusion of Indian n foregin cuisine in one part of the book actually had me drooling and made me hungry.
Keep up the good work... cant wait to read more of your creations with rhyming title.
April 13, 2016
Plot:
This is the story of Eila, who visits the US for her first job. Though Job was just a reason, she wants to mend fences between her parents and her sister, who married a foreigner and thus rejected by her parents. While Eila starts living with her sister and takes up 2 jobs, she falls in love with handsome Brett. What should she do now? She is in a dilemma. Will her parents accept another inter-cultural marriage? Can she reunite her sister with family if she chooses her love over family preferences? What will happen to her mother who survived a heart stroke due to her sister's decision? With these thoughts in her mind, Did Eila choose her love?
My Thoughts:
Eila is very realistic. Sweet, stubborn, deep in love, concerned about family and matured. Brett is a fabulous personality. I remembered Mills and Boon's novels :-) Eila's maturity to listen to the problems and help improving others' relationship problems is good. Megan is an epitome of a best friend and Sheela is a perfect protective elder sister who doesn't want her sister to take any wrong decision in her life.
Since this generation is going beyond borders to study and work, this kind of story is contemporary. The dilemma faced by Eila is also very common for an Indian woman. I liked the narration and characterization. The pace of the novel is medium and I couldn't stop reading the book until I finish it, though it's not a thriller :-) I felt, book cover with a woman in the wedding dress is not very relevant, as the cover seems like a story about marriage or after that. But, the story is about love. The title is very attractive and apt. I enjoyed the romance, of course, it is from one of the best-selling romance authors, so not a surprise :-)
I liked
Characterization and Romance
A few lines from the book that I loved..
I always assumed a place affected people, but that’s not true. People affect people! Di, Steve, Megan and now Brett. So it is not a place but who lives in that place that makes the place what it is, right? Americans make America, Indians make India and not the other way round. Profound! China being the only exception, for it makes everything
The color of our skin and the language we speak only tells which continent our forefathers belonged to or what kind of ingredients the pantries might be packed with. That’s got nothing to do with the person we are or we might become.
I didn't like much
Didn't like the starting of the book as I felt bored with too much description/ details about the flight and people. I got a feeling that Eila is attracted to Brett and it might not be true love. It might be because Eila is too shy and there is not much conversation between her and Brett.
My Rating: 4/5
I would recommend this to someone who love romance and fiction. - See more at: http://www.fantasticfeathers.in/2016/...
This is the story of Eila, who visits the US for her first job. Though Job was just a reason, she wants to mend fences between her parents and her sister, who married a foreigner and thus rejected by her parents. While Eila starts living with her sister and takes up 2 jobs, she falls in love with handsome Brett. What should she do now? She is in a dilemma. Will her parents accept another inter-cultural marriage? Can she reunite her sister with family if she chooses her love over family preferences? What will happen to her mother who survived a heart stroke due to her sister's decision? With these thoughts in her mind, Did Eila choose her love?
My Thoughts:
Eila is very realistic. Sweet, stubborn, deep in love, concerned about family and matured. Brett is a fabulous personality. I remembered Mills and Boon's novels :-) Eila's maturity to listen to the problems and help improving others' relationship problems is good. Megan is an epitome of a best friend and Sheela is a perfect protective elder sister who doesn't want her sister to take any wrong decision in her life.
Since this generation is going beyond borders to study and work, this kind of story is contemporary. The dilemma faced by Eila is also very common for an Indian woman. I liked the narration and characterization. The pace of the novel is medium and I couldn't stop reading the book until I finish it, though it's not a thriller :-) I felt, book cover with a woman in the wedding dress is not very relevant, as the cover seems like a story about marriage or after that. But, the story is about love. The title is very attractive and apt. I enjoyed the romance, of course, it is from one of the best-selling romance authors, so not a surprise :-)
I liked
Characterization and Romance
A few lines from the book that I loved..
I always assumed a place affected people, but that’s not true. People affect people! Di, Steve, Megan and now Brett. So it is not a place but who lives in that place that makes the place what it is, right? Americans make America, Indians make India and not the other way round. Profound! China being the only exception, for it makes everything
The color of our skin and the language we speak only tells which continent our forefathers belonged to or what kind of ingredients the pantries might be packed with. That’s got nothing to do with the person we are or we might become.
I didn't like much
Didn't like the starting of the book as I felt bored with too much description/ details about the flight and people. I got a feeling that Eila is attracted to Brett and it might not be true love. It might be because Eila is too shy and there is not much conversation between her and Brett.
My Rating: 4/5
I would recommend this to someone who love romance and fiction. - See more at: http://www.fantasticfeathers.in/2016/...
December 5, 2015
Eila Sood travels from India to New York in order to mend the fences between her family and her estranged older sister, Sheela. Beginning with her flight, anything that can go wrong does. Not to mention she keeps finding herself up against a incredibly good-looking blue-eyed ogre, who sees her at her worst and doesn’t hesitate to make note of her shortcomings.
Sheela has two small boys, Aryan and Adam, whom Eila quickly falls in love with. It’s obvious from the beginning that the relationship between Sheela and her husband, Steve, is strained, which doesn’t exactly endear Steve to Eila. The situation becomes worse when the subject of Sheela’s cooking arises, and Eila wonders if it’s the Indian cuisine that he dislikes… or something else.
Eila has a couple of days before her job starts, so she spends time with Sheela, accompanying her to one of her prayer meetings. At least the food is very good, even if Eila isn’t sure about the rest of it. In navigating the subway to get to her new job, Eila again runs into the ogre! He seems to be everywhere.
Eila takes to her job and makes a friend in Meghan, but an unexpected turn of events causes her position to be downsized, which is bad for the two sisters, as Sheela and Steve have separated, and Eila is determined to make it without his help. Eila takes a second job—at a strip club! Agreeing to a blind date with the son of one of the ladies at Sheela’s prayer meetings, she is amazed to once again run into the ogre!
Can this end well?
I loved the characters in this book, loved watching Eila grow and develop, as well as Sheela. And the blue-eyed ogre—aka Brett Wright—is a hot and sexy man. Ms. Dixit explores cultural differences and miscommunications with ease. The biggest criticism I can make is that the editing leaves a little something to be desired, and I hope in future she finds a better editor.
Ms. Dixit is a new author to me, but one I would love to read more of. Her story flows well, and I found myself thinking about the characters even when I wasn’t reading. I’m hoping she will continue the story. I want to know what happens next.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good romance, and watching bad first impressions get turned around!
January 7, 2016
Plot:
Eila arrives at the U.S. in hope of mending fences between her parents and sister Sheila who married a ‘white’ man. As fate would have it, Eila meets Brett and falls in love. Who should she choose? Despite all her efforts, how much more can she be loyal to her traditional parents back in India?
Whoa!
Honestly, I do not know from where I should start. This was the first book I read on my all new Kindle. And the excitement was already high. I started the book by around 10pm and finished by 1.40am. It simply means I was hooked from the word go! I couldn’t restrict my elation and had to let the author know what I felt about the book.
To begin with, it was a fresh approach. Right from the title of the book to the name of the protagonist (who has the name Eila!), it was delightfully different.
The language- spectacular! Again, having read so many Indian author books, this was a delight to read. Crisp, original and effortlessly flowing narration.
This is a fast-paced world and all you see and read are also relationships in haste. A boy meets girl and the next thing you know is that they are in bed together. Where is the classic romance? The intimacy of the first touch, his murmur against her lips, butterflies in the stomach? Love where the reader longs for the guy to just hold her hand? Pretty hard to find, eh? But here it is, all wrapped in a beautiful red bow. And Oh Boy! Like a teenager, I fell in love with Brett White <3
Of course the cultural differences. The author has beautifully portrayed the characters of Brett White and Eila without a tinge of favoritism. There is no one statement in the book where she is biased against one culture.
The relationship between Eila and her sister is nailed to perfection. All the characters are placed dead on.
Oh the food!! Yumm. And the decorations at the hotel and club- mind-blowing description. (Cannot reveal more about them- spoiler alert, people!)
Ouch!
The purpose of Eila’s visit was to mend the broken ties. I would have loved to find a closure with the parents.
Do I recommend?
Yes. Yes. Yes.
Rating:
5 on 5 for the impeccable, witty, spunky writing! There were moments when I was laughing out loud. Yes into the wee hours in the morning :D
Eila arrives at the U.S. in hope of mending fences between her parents and sister Sheila who married a ‘white’ man. As fate would have it, Eila meets Brett and falls in love. Who should she choose? Despite all her efforts, how much more can she be loyal to her traditional parents back in India?
Whoa!
Honestly, I do not know from where I should start. This was the first book I read on my all new Kindle. And the excitement was already high. I started the book by around 10pm and finished by 1.40am. It simply means I was hooked from the word go! I couldn’t restrict my elation and had to let the author know what I felt about the book.
To begin with, it was a fresh approach. Right from the title of the book to the name of the protagonist (who has the name Eila!), it was delightfully different.
The language- spectacular! Again, having read so many Indian author books, this was a delight to read. Crisp, original and effortlessly flowing narration.
This is a fast-paced world and all you see and read are also relationships in haste. A boy meets girl and the next thing you know is that they are in bed together. Where is the classic romance? The intimacy of the first touch, his murmur against her lips, butterflies in the stomach? Love where the reader longs for the guy to just hold her hand? Pretty hard to find, eh? But here it is, all wrapped in a beautiful red bow. And Oh Boy! Like a teenager, I fell in love with Brett White <3
Of course the cultural differences. The author has beautifully portrayed the characters of Brett White and Eila without a tinge of favoritism. There is no one statement in the book where she is biased against one culture.
The relationship between Eila and her sister is nailed to perfection. All the characters are placed dead on.
Oh the food!! Yumm. And the decorations at the hotel and club- mind-blowing description. (Cannot reveal more about them- spoiler alert, people!)
Ouch!
The purpose of Eila’s visit was to mend the broken ties. I would have loved to find a closure with the parents.
Do I recommend?
Yes. Yes. Yes.
Rating:
5 on 5 for the impeccable, witty, spunky writing! There were moments when I was laughing out loud. Yes into the wee hours in the morning :D
September 4, 2016
A spicy romance, blue ogre lover, a 20-something woman traipse awkwardly and cannot control her mouth and a sister whose life is in tatters. Only Wheat Not White where author Varsha Dixit not only cook but whips a storm in the US of A, the land of limitless possibility.
It’s a golden rule, ‘Only Wheat Not White’ in Eila’s world but everything she plans for, goes topsy-turvy. It’s a tale of complicated lives, where Eila not only finds friendship in the unlikeliest place but, she becomes a match fixer for the White Babe and the Wheat dude at work. Yes, our Eila cannot keep her mouth shut for long. She is mugged, saved by the American brother-in-law and is kissed out of the blue by the ogre. The book has family drama, love, friendship, sensuality and an anti-climax.
What is romance without humor and one-liners? Drab and boorish, you’ll argue and rightly so! Varsha Dixit effortless humor flits in the narration with utmost ease which breaks the monotony but never the flow. Varsha takes you in this world where you can pop in and out for a break through the funniest lines but you can’t stay away for long.
Or, this one which is one of my favorite that makes humor flawless and effortless in execution:
“Then, she stopped and turned around, ‘Food for thought! What’s the similarity between getting laid and laid off!” You need intelligence to steer this line to perfection.
In a nutshell, Only Wheat Not White has everything that can be beautifully adapted on the silver screen where the whole Indian family chip in at the restaurant owned by Bret and it’s narrated with an Indian feel how a community can pull the extraordinary to save the day. Mrs. Das is one such character, who mutters religious verses that echo our own Indian raga to attain Moksha. The book may have been set in US with White not Grey Love but the soul is Indian.
Click full review on:
https://vishalbheeroo.wordpress.com/2...
It’s a golden rule, ‘Only Wheat Not White’ in Eila’s world but everything she plans for, goes topsy-turvy. It’s a tale of complicated lives, where Eila not only finds friendship in the unlikeliest place but, she becomes a match fixer for the White Babe and the Wheat dude at work. Yes, our Eila cannot keep her mouth shut for long. She is mugged, saved by the American brother-in-law and is kissed out of the blue by the ogre. The book has family drama, love, friendship, sensuality and an anti-climax.
What is romance without humor and one-liners? Drab and boorish, you’ll argue and rightly so! Varsha Dixit effortless humor flits in the narration with utmost ease which breaks the monotony but never the flow. Varsha takes you in this world where you can pop in and out for a break through the funniest lines but you can’t stay away for long.
Or, this one which is one of my favorite that makes humor flawless and effortless in execution:
“Then, she stopped and turned around, ‘Food for thought! What’s the similarity between getting laid and laid off!” You need intelligence to steer this line to perfection.
In a nutshell, Only Wheat Not White has everything that can be beautifully adapted on the silver screen where the whole Indian family chip in at the restaurant owned by Bret and it’s narrated with an Indian feel how a community can pull the extraordinary to save the day. Mrs. Das is one such character, who mutters religious verses that echo our own Indian raga to attain Moksha. The book may have been set in US with White not Grey Love but the soul is Indian.
Click full review on:
https://vishalbheeroo.wordpress.com/2...
November 9, 2015
The title of the story made me curious. 'What might actually be the story behind it?' was what prompted me to pick up this book. And I am glad I did. It was such a wonderful and hilarious read.
When Eila leaves India to work in New York, there is only one rule her mom sets for her - Only Wheat Not White. Eila agrees readily because she had never imagined meeting a handsome blue eyed ogre, who though irritates her to no end at first, later makes her go weak in the knees and make her want to stop time just so that she could be with him. While Eila set out to New York, it was only to mend the broken ties of her family. Sheela was outcasted for marrying Steve, a foreigner, against her family's wishes. After years when Eila comes to meet her sister, her only goal is to bring her family together. But things start to get complicated when she realizes Sheela's is not a happy marriage. When things get difficult, Eila goes an extra mile to support her sister but what will happen when she falls for Brett Wright? Will she be able to ignore her feelings for long and abide by her mother's rule or will love overpower her fears of suffering the same feat at Sheela?
In a country where love marriages still raise eyebrows, marrying someone from a different country is out of questions. Love, quarrels, hatred, heart breaks, friendship, craziness - the story has it all. The NRI life style has been portrayed perfectly. The unexpected turn of events, the steaming hot love story between Eila and the handsome Brett, Steve's soft side, Eila's uncanny ability to fall into trouble all made the story all the more interesting.
Things I Liked:
Read the full review here - Escape Reality - Book Reviews
When Eila leaves India to work in New York, there is only one rule her mom sets for her - Only Wheat Not White. Eila agrees readily because she had never imagined meeting a handsome blue eyed ogre, who though irritates her to no end at first, later makes her go weak in the knees and make her want to stop time just so that she could be with him. While Eila set out to New York, it was only to mend the broken ties of her family. Sheela was outcasted for marrying Steve, a foreigner, against her family's wishes. After years when Eila comes to meet her sister, her only goal is to bring her family together. But things start to get complicated when she realizes Sheela's is not a happy marriage. When things get difficult, Eila goes an extra mile to support her sister but what will happen when she falls for Brett Wright? Will she be able to ignore her feelings for long and abide by her mother's rule or will love overpower her fears of suffering the same feat at Sheela?
In a country where love marriages still raise eyebrows, marrying someone from a different country is out of questions. Love, quarrels, hatred, heart breaks, friendship, craziness - the story has it all. The NRI life style has been portrayed perfectly. The unexpected turn of events, the steaming hot love story between Eila and the handsome Brett, Steve's soft side, Eila's uncanny ability to fall into trouble all made the story all the more interesting.
Things I Liked:
Read the full review here - Escape Reality - Book Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews