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Nights at the Mahal #2
Running Away with the Bride: Nights at the Mahal, Book 2
Stop the wedding! Steal the bride! And fall for a perfect stranger?
Billionaire Ethan Connors vows to stop his ex’s wedding so they can be together.
But crashing the wrong nuptials and spiriting away the wrong wife-to-be is more than he bargained for! Divya Singh is beautiful, talented, passionate … and from a traditional Indian family who won’t accept him as a match for their daughter. Can Divya and Ethan’s unexpected relationship stay the course or will one of them run again?
Billionaire Ethan Connors vows to stop his ex’s wedding so they can be together.
But crashing the wrong nuptials and spiriting away the wrong wife-to-be is more than he bargained for! Divya Singh is beautiful, talented, passionate … and from a traditional Indian family who won’t accept him as a match for their daughter. Can Divya and Ethan’s unexpected relationship stay the course or will one of them run again?
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First published December 10, 2020
38 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
Sophia Singh Sasson
71 books135 followers| Romance that sizzles | Stories that thrill | Characters you can't leave behind |
Sophia puts her childhood habit of daydreaming to good use by writing stories she wishes will give you hope, make you laugh, cry, and possibly snort tea from your nose. She was born in Mumbai India, has lived in the Canary Islands, Spain, Toronto, Canada, and currently resides in Washington DC. She loves to read, travel, bake, scuba dive, watch foreign movies, and hear from readers. Contact her at http://SophiaSasson.com or Readers@SophiaSasson.com
Sophia puts her childhood habit of daydreaming to good use by writing stories she wishes will give you hope, make you laugh, cry, and possibly snort tea from your nose. She was born in Mumbai India, has lived in the Canary Islands, Spain, Toronto, Canada, and currently resides in Washington DC. She loves to read, travel, bake, scuba dive, watch foreign movies, and hear from readers. Contact her at http://SophiaSasson.com or Readers@SophiaSasson.com
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
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March 5, 2021A truly magnificent start--the hero crashes his ex girlfriend's wedding to object and try to win her back, only it's the wrong wedding and the bride takes the chance to run away with him. Genius.
We then have a story about a recently rich and deeply insecure man who can't find a way to connect properly with people he loves, and a woman who's been loved, cherished and stifled all her life. This doesn't make for a very healthy set up, but we see Ethan start to think about what other people need rather than what he needs from them, and Divya start claiming what she wants. Which is not simple, because she wants her own life and a career in music without losing her loving but controlling family. It's proper gnarly interpersonal stuff about needs and culture and different understanding of what matters with no easy answers, which I really enjoyed.
Unfortunately, the ending didn't do it for me, which is a real shame because I was thoroughly enjoying the book. I wanted to see the growth and change in action (we're told it happens with Divya in a time jump but for me it needed more on page space) and I really didn't like Ethan's way of resolving conflict with a big gesture at the end. Like, mate, you *started* the book with a big gesture: learn from that. (I have major Big Gesture issues.)
Others' mileage may vary on that one, obv, and I'd far rather read a book that makes me rewrite the ending in my head than one that passes through my brain without touching a single neuron on the way. Will definitely be getting the next one of these.
We then have a story about a recently rich and deeply insecure man who can't find a way to connect properly with people he loves, and a woman who's been loved, cherished and stifled all her life. This doesn't make for a very healthy set up, but we see Ethan start to think about what other people need rather than what he needs from them, and Divya start claiming what she wants. Which is not simple, because she wants her own life and a career in music without losing her loving but controlling family. It's proper gnarly interpersonal stuff about needs and culture and different understanding of what matters with no easy answers, which I really enjoyed.
Unfortunately, the ending didn't do it for me, which is a real shame because I was thoroughly enjoying the book. I wanted to see the growth and change in action (we're told it happens with Divya in a time jump but for me it needed more on page space) and I really didn't like Ethan's way of resolving conflict with a big gesture at the end. Like, mate, you *started* the book with a big gesture: learn from that. (I have major Big Gesture issues.)
Others' mileage may vary on that one, obv, and I'd far rather read a book that makes me rewrite the ending in my head than one that passes through my brain without touching a single neuron on the way. Will definitely be getting the next one of these.
Read
March 24, 2021not going to rate it, because it might be that i should stop reading romances for now. read the first couple of chapters and then the 2 end chapters and am happy that for now i am not reading romances. (atleast contemporary ones, i still will brave a historical romance)
December 28, 2020
He planned to crash a wedding and ends up running away with the wrong bride. A pair of opposites gave way to the impulse of the moment and go on an adventure of discovery together. After enjoying Arjun's story, I was glad to meet one of his siblings who is eager to taste life even while respecting family in a new entry in the series.
Running Away with the Bride is a standalone second book in the Nights at the Mahal series featuring the Singh family.
Ethan Connors was an average working class guy until his tech and company was wildly successful and put him in the billionaire jet set. He's still the same guy with a dream of having a close family of loving wife and kids. Unfortunately, the woman he thought he loved is marrying another and he's just now stopped hesitating on asking her to marry him- on her wedding day. When he busts into a lavish Vegas Indian wedding, he is appalled to realize he got the wrong place. But then the bride stuns him by playing along and running off with him onto his plane and out of Vegas. Then the shocks keep coming when he decides to help her even after she closely examined his actions and gave him some home truths about his issues and why he keeps striking out with women. Meanwhile, he can't believe how quickly he is over his ex-girlfriend and intrigued by Divya. She's outspoken, confused about what she wants, and wants to honor family all at the same time. How could it ever work?
Divya has chafed at the restraints her parents have put on her life and their expectations for her future that do not coincide with her own. She's got her legal degree and only gets to practice law in the family business and that is until she is married to a man arranged by her parents. She wants to do so many things- to live out in the world and see what there is to see- before she must conform to expectation. She thought she could marry Vivek until Ethan crashed her wedding and now insanely, she is ticking off her dreams with Ethan at her side and knowing that back in Vegas she left a shocked family. Will they still accept her as family? Can there ever be something with the attractive, supportive Ethan who has issue of his own from his past blocking his way to the altar?
Running Away with the Bride started on a hilarious and shocking bang. I had a good time being introduced to both characters in this way. The scene in Vegas was so vivid as were the consecutive scenes beginning with Divya singing at a NYC night club's open mic. From the start this pair had an obvious connection even if they were total strangers. There is something to be said about the ease of confessing deep stuff to a stranger. The pair were exploring their issues with marriage and relationships, family, and their flaws and fears from the beginning. They struggled, but there is also an obvious supportiveness when they faced their personal issues and loyalty even in a new relationship like theirs that was satisfying.
As they spent Ethan's 'honeymoon' and hers as well finding themselves and a new chance, it was reflective, conflicting, and sultry. They both had to decide who they were and what they really wanted. There is a twist and it was predictable once it happened, but I've been reading distracted lately so I only remembered the cues when it was upon me. I didn't care that it was predictable because I was enjoying the story, setting, and their diverse backgrounds. As with Marriage By Arrangement, the author painted a lavish and colorful backdrop of modern Indian tradition that was the frosting on an already delicious story.
All in all, it read lightly and quickly though not lacking in sensual romance and plot. It was a luxurious world and I hope the author keeps going with more Singh family romances. Definitely recommend to those who want a diverse contemporary romance experience.
My thanks to Harlequin for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Running Away with the Bride is a standalone second book in the Nights at the Mahal series featuring the Singh family.
Ethan Connors was an average working class guy until his tech and company was wildly successful and put him in the billionaire jet set. He's still the same guy with a dream of having a close family of loving wife and kids. Unfortunately, the woman he thought he loved is marrying another and he's just now stopped hesitating on asking her to marry him- on her wedding day. When he busts into a lavish Vegas Indian wedding, he is appalled to realize he got the wrong place. But then the bride stuns him by playing along and running off with him onto his plane and out of Vegas. Then the shocks keep coming when he decides to help her even after she closely examined his actions and gave him some home truths about his issues and why he keeps striking out with women. Meanwhile, he can't believe how quickly he is over his ex-girlfriend and intrigued by Divya. She's outspoken, confused about what she wants, and wants to honor family all at the same time. How could it ever work?
Divya has chafed at the restraints her parents have put on her life and their expectations for her future that do not coincide with her own. She's got her legal degree and only gets to practice law in the family business and that is until she is married to a man arranged by her parents. She wants to do so many things- to live out in the world and see what there is to see- before she must conform to expectation. She thought she could marry Vivek until Ethan crashed her wedding and now insanely, she is ticking off her dreams with Ethan at her side and knowing that back in Vegas she left a shocked family. Will they still accept her as family? Can there ever be something with the attractive, supportive Ethan who has issue of his own from his past blocking his way to the altar?
Running Away with the Bride started on a hilarious and shocking bang. I had a good time being introduced to both characters in this way. The scene in Vegas was so vivid as were the consecutive scenes beginning with Divya singing at a NYC night club's open mic. From the start this pair had an obvious connection even if they were total strangers. There is something to be said about the ease of confessing deep stuff to a stranger. The pair were exploring their issues with marriage and relationships, family, and their flaws and fears from the beginning. They struggled, but there is also an obvious supportiveness when they faced their personal issues and loyalty even in a new relationship like theirs that was satisfying.
As they spent Ethan's 'honeymoon' and hers as well finding themselves and a new chance, it was reflective, conflicting, and sultry. They both had to decide who they were and what they really wanted. There is a twist and it was predictable once it happened, but I've been reading distracted lately so I only remembered the cues when it was upon me. I didn't care that it was predictable because I was enjoying the story, setting, and their diverse backgrounds. As with Marriage By Arrangement, the author painted a lavish and colorful backdrop of modern Indian tradition that was the frosting on an already delicious story.
All in all, it read lightly and quickly though not lacking in sensual romance and plot. It was a luxurious world and I hope the author keeps going with more Singh family romances. Definitely recommend to those who want a diverse contemporary romance experience.
My thanks to Harlequin for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 14, 2022
3.5*
This has an interesting opening; Ethan crashing a wedding and "kidnapping" the bride. It turns out, it's the wrong one. Divya (the bride) uses this as an opportunity to run from a marriage she didn't want. She's always gone with her family's wishes and ignored her own. She has a few things she wants to do and it's now or never. Ethan also has some trauma from his childhood (his dad was a drunk who didn't want him) that keeps him from meaningful relationships.
I thought this was well done regarding different cultures (conservative Indian and an easy going American way of thinking/living). It did take some time for Divya to have the courage to (finally) stand up to her family and go after what she wanted. Ethan too, but Divya took longer to "get there."
This has an interesting opening; Ethan crashing a wedding and "kidnapping" the bride. It turns out, it's the wrong one. Divya (the bride) uses this as an opportunity to run from a marriage she didn't want. She's always gone with her family's wishes and ignored her own. She has a few things she wants to do and it's now or never. Ethan also has some trauma from his childhood (his dad was a drunk who didn't want him) that keeps him from meaningful relationships.
I thought this was well done regarding different cultures (conservative Indian and an easy going American way of thinking/living). It did take some time for Divya to have the courage to (finally) stand up to her family and go after what she wanted. Ethan too, but Divya took longer to "get there."
January 27, 2021
Ethan and Divya’s first meeting was quite entertaining! Crashing the wrong wedding and running off with the wrong bride does not make the best impression on the bride’s family later on...
I liked a lot about this story. The focus on family, cultural differences-there are quite a few-and the easy banter between Ethan and Divya stand out best. The romance felt more like a rebound fling than a lasting relationship, but that may change if Divya has any page time further in the series. The pandemic mentions were unnecessary, especially since it’s still occurring, but that was a superfluous detail in the scheme of it all.
Overall, this was a quick and easy read.
I liked a lot about this story. The focus on family, cultural differences-there are quite a few-and the easy banter between Ethan and Divya stand out best. The romance felt more like a rebound fling than a lasting relationship, but that may change if Divya has any page time further in the series. The pandemic mentions were unnecessary, especially since it’s still occurring, but that was a superfluous detail in the scheme of it all.
Overall, this was a quick and easy read.
Read
March 27, 2021The second book in The Nights at the Mahal series and as gripping as the first one. Definitely a must read.
February 23, 2021
Running Away with the Bride by Sophia Singh Sasson is the second story in her Nights at the Mahal series and features an interrupted arranged wedding and a new love interest for the bride-to-be.
When Ethan Connors vows to stop his ex’s wedding with hopes of reviving their relationship, he crashes the wrong wedding – and ends up spiriting away a different bride-to-be! Divya Singh looks at Ethan’s interruption of her arranged marriage as a sign to take the escape while it’s offered and goes into hiding with him while she sorts out her future. Once Ethan gets over the shock of crashing the wrong wedding (and with Divya’s help, is able to find the real wedding he meant to interrupt and realize his ex is perfectly happy in her new relationship and isn’t going to leave it for him), Ethan has nothing to lose but to help Divya. Along the way they develop feelings for each other. But will Divya’s family ever accept Ethan as her partner?
I loved the details of the Indian wedding traditions even though the actual wedding at the start of the story isn’t completed. And throughout the story, the author weaves in many aspects of Indian and Indian- American culture as Divya explains her situation to Ethan. Divya is very close to her family and she knows they mean well, but she doesn’t want to marry the man her parents have picked out for her and just wants an opportunity to pursue a singing career, something she knows her family will have difficulty accepting, especially as her own mother gave up a promising career as a dancer to raise a family. With Ethan’s money and connections, he helps her fulfill her dream of performing at a singing lounge in New York and gives Divya a lot to think about in terms of where her future lies.
While it is seems a bit fast for Ethan to fall for Divya when he’d obviously still had strong enough feelings for his ex to crash her wedding, I really enjoyed their banter and opposites attract relationship. Divya is a passionate and exciting woman and she and Ethan have an attraction that soon leads to some sexy scenes. When it comes time to face her family again, Divya coaches Ethan with the right things to say and do so that her parents and siblings will come to accept him. Ethan’s feelings for Divya are strong enough that he respects her wishes and though there are some clashes between them, eventually they get their happy ending complete with parental approval. It’s great to see some new cultural themes and story ideas in Harlequin stories from own voices authors and I look forward to reading more!
This review also appears at Harlequin Junkie: https://harlequinjunkie.com/review-ru...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher.
When Ethan Connors vows to stop his ex’s wedding with hopes of reviving their relationship, he crashes the wrong wedding – and ends up spiriting away a different bride-to-be! Divya Singh looks at Ethan’s interruption of her arranged marriage as a sign to take the escape while it’s offered and goes into hiding with him while she sorts out her future. Once Ethan gets over the shock of crashing the wrong wedding (and with Divya’s help, is able to find the real wedding he meant to interrupt and realize his ex is perfectly happy in her new relationship and isn’t going to leave it for him), Ethan has nothing to lose but to help Divya. Along the way they develop feelings for each other. But will Divya’s family ever accept Ethan as her partner?
I loved the details of the Indian wedding traditions even though the actual wedding at the start of the story isn’t completed. And throughout the story, the author weaves in many aspects of Indian and Indian- American culture as Divya explains her situation to Ethan. Divya is very close to her family and she knows they mean well, but she doesn’t want to marry the man her parents have picked out for her and just wants an opportunity to pursue a singing career, something she knows her family will have difficulty accepting, especially as her own mother gave up a promising career as a dancer to raise a family. With Ethan’s money and connections, he helps her fulfill her dream of performing at a singing lounge in New York and gives Divya a lot to think about in terms of where her future lies.
While it is seems a bit fast for Ethan to fall for Divya when he’d obviously still had strong enough feelings for his ex to crash her wedding, I really enjoyed their banter and opposites attract relationship. Divya is a passionate and exciting woman and she and Ethan have an attraction that soon leads to some sexy scenes. When it comes time to face her family again, Divya coaches Ethan with the right things to say and do so that her parents and siblings will come to accept him. Ethan’s feelings for Divya are strong enough that he respects her wishes and though there are some clashes between them, eventually they get their happy ending complete with parental approval. It’s great to see some new cultural themes and story ideas in Harlequin stories from own voices authors and I look forward to reading more!
This review also appears at Harlequin Junkie: https://harlequinjunkie.com/review-ru...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher.
December 24, 2020
I wasn't sure what I felt about the first part of the book blurb, Ethan crashing his ex-wife's wedding so they could be together. I wanted to see this as a romantic action, but an ex is an ex.
I did enjoy book #1 in the series, Marriage by Arrangement. I was pleased to find Arjun, one of the main characters and "India's Hottest Hottie," as I now know him from that book, mentioned in this one. I liked him as a character.
Once Ethan knew he'd crashed the wrong wedding, the action EXPLODES on the page and does not let up. A private jet and luxury are things Ethan can afford as he's a billionaire. I did find him handsome and attentive.
The bride is the complete opposite to him and I loved the mystery and banter of this opposites attract romance.
The backstory for each character and the small details are always Sophia Singh Sasson's writing strength, I now realise after this second book. The bride's outfit was stunning.
I felt immersed in the wedding and in everything that happened in the book despite my initial thoughts. I was eager to get to the twist in the tale, and when I did, I was disappointed. It was predictable, but woven in well.
I won't spoil things, just suffice it to say that this is a great action-packed whirlwind of a book overall.
Another hit by Sophia Singh Sasson. I think it makes a good standalone novel, but if you want to read the whole series than the two books are a must.
Thanks to Sophia Singh Sasson and Harlequin Desire for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
4.5 stars
I did enjoy book #1 in the series, Marriage by Arrangement. I was pleased to find Arjun, one of the main characters and "India's Hottest Hottie," as I now know him from that book, mentioned in this one. I liked him as a character.
Once Ethan knew he'd crashed the wrong wedding, the action EXPLODES on the page and does not let up. A private jet and luxury are things Ethan can afford as he's a billionaire. I did find him handsome and attentive.
The bride is the complete opposite to him and I loved the mystery and banter of this opposites attract romance.
The backstory for each character and the small details are always Sophia Singh Sasson's writing strength, I now realise after this second book. The bride's outfit was stunning.
I felt immersed in the wedding and in everything that happened in the book despite my initial thoughts. I was eager to get to the twist in the tale, and when I did, I was disappointed. It was predictable, but woven in well.
I won't spoil things, just suffice it to say that this is a great action-packed whirlwind of a book overall.
Another hit by Sophia Singh Sasson. I think it makes a good standalone novel, but if you want to read the whole series than the two books are a must.
Thanks to Sophia Singh Sasson and Harlequin Desire for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
4.5 stars
May 11, 2021
Almost everything I want from a het f/m romance: page-turning story focused on the two leads; trope-packed plot (arranged marriage, runaway bride, mutual character development, helping each other be better people, fake kissing); Bollywood references; family values; vivid secondary characters and not too much faffing about with angst and introspection. The sex could be hotter (there is a predilection for euphemisms like "the core" and "screaming" orgasms -- not really my thing). And the trappings that seem to be obligatory in a billionaire romance -- endless trips by private plane -- grate in this time of climate crisis.
Also INTERESTING factoid: This is the first novel that I have read that fully integrates the pandemic. It is set in some near future which imagines the pandemic to be over (poignant, given the current corona crisis in India). The billionaire made his money developing an app that was popular during lockdown, and the female MC bonded with her family during lockdown.
This is the second stand-alone in the Nights at the Mahal series. I also very much enjoyed the first, Marriage by Arrangement.
Format: I shelled out extra ££ just to be able to hold the Harlequin (Mills & Boon) mass market paperback in my hand for the duration. I love those compact dimensions, that cheap toilet-paper-like paper, the pleasant font and the cheesy cover design. These books look marvellous on my coffee table. For German readers: equivalent to Baccara / Heftromane in book form.
Also INTERESTING factoid: This is the first novel that I have read that fully integrates the pandemic. It is set in some near future which imagines the pandemic to be over (poignant, given the current corona crisis in India). The billionaire made his money developing an app that was popular during lockdown, and the female MC bonded with her family during lockdown.
This is the second stand-alone in the Nights at the Mahal series. I also very much enjoyed the first, Marriage by Arrangement.
Format: I shelled out extra ££ just to be able to hold the Harlequin (Mills & Boon) mass market paperback in my hand for the duration. I love those compact dimensions, that cheap toilet-paper-like paper, the pleasant font and the cheesy cover design. These books look marvellous on my coffee table. For German readers: equivalent to Baccara / Heftromane in book form.
Read
December 9, 2023This one was very dramatic and fun. I mean it starts with a dude crashing the wrong wedding, and the wrong bride wanting to run off and escape too.
Read
August 29, 2021Heat Factor: Not super explicit
Character Chemistry: Instalove, but I bought it
Plot: Ethan crashes the wrong wedding, but the bride runs away with him anyways
Overall: Delightful
So remember when I posted a review and was like, “This book had too much realism?!?!” It turns out that Running Away with the Bride is exactly the level of bonkers I was looking for. Here’s the blurb:
Billionaire Ethan Connors vows to stop his ex’s wedding so they can be together. But crashing the wrong nuptials and spiriting away the wrong wife-to-be is more than he bargained for! Divya Singh is beautiful, talented, passionate…and from a traditional Indian family who won’t accept him as a match for their daughter. Can Divya and Ethan’s unexpected relationship stay the course or will one of them run again?
See? Bonkers set up! But given that bonkers set up, the resolution is remarkably drama-free. And that, dear reader, is exactly the dynamic I want in my romance. Because it’s still a fantasy, but the characters act in reasonable ways given their ridiculous situation.
Read Holly's full review at The Smut Report
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Character Chemistry: Instalove, but I bought it
Plot: Ethan crashes the wrong wedding, but the bride runs away with him anyways
Overall: Delightful
So remember when I posted a review and was like, “This book had too much realism?!?!” It turns out that Running Away with the Bride is exactly the level of bonkers I was looking for. Here’s the blurb:
Stop the wedding! Steal the bride!
And fall for a perfect stranger?
Billionaire Ethan Connors vows to stop his ex’s wedding so they can be together. But crashing the wrong nuptials and spiriting away the wrong wife-to-be is more than he bargained for! Divya Singh is beautiful, talented, passionate…and from a traditional Indian family who won’t accept him as a match for their daughter. Can Divya and Ethan’s unexpected relationship stay the course or will one of them run again?
See? Bonkers set up! But given that bonkers set up, the resolution is remarkably drama-free. And that, dear reader, is exactly the dynamic I want in my romance. Because it’s still a fantasy, but the characters act in reasonable ways given their ridiculous situation.
Read Holly's full review at The Smut Report
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
January 6, 2021
I stumbled across this book and was very excited about reading it due to the heroine being of Indian descent. While I can't say that this book turned out to be as wonderful as I had hoped, I did still enjoy it. The story itself offers lots of tension, drama and emotional turmoil as it unfolds. I found Ethan and Divya to be fairly likable and I did like them as a couple. I thought that they each were really what the other needed, whether they knew it or not. I freely admit the fact that I do not know much at all about Indian culture and customs, so I found the many details included in this book informative and welcome. I do feel that I could have enjoyed this book more if the characters (At least one of them!) had shown a bit more maturity. Neither did though and that led me to having some issues with investing in this duo in the long term. The single biggest drawback for me though was the way Divya treated Ethan. AS I said previously, maturity was severely absent in these two and I constantly felt that Divya was talking down to Ethan because she was SO MUCH more clever and able to control her family and situations around her. HA!! Excuse me Miss! In case you failed to notice your life is a mess, you just ran away from your wedding with a stranger and you tell a whole lot of lies. I found that super annoying and I rolled my eyes at her antics so much I got a headache. This is my objective and unsolicited review.
January 1, 2021
Sorry - this started off so brilliantly that I was immediately engaged but as the story progressed I found myself hating the heroine and her smothering, controlling family.
There was so much good stuff here but the overall theme - that the heroine was in the right and the hero was in the wrong simply incensed me. The way Divya treated Ethan was deeply troubling from the very beginning. He’s rescued her yet she constantly criticised and challenged him as if she was somehow a good example for how to live a life. In reality she was totally controlled by the family up till this point and she wasn’t a teenager or in her early twenties but a mature woman. He had to give in and acquiesce to her family whilst she gave nothing in return.
I disliked the way the author made it clear her total sympathies with with the heroine and her family and made Ethan be the one to apologise at the end. He had done nothing wrong but was made out to be the villain.
I also found it hard to take seriously a book that referenced Covid as if it was all over. Sitting reading this on January 1st 2021, still in lockdown because of the virus - I thought it a huge mistake for the author to mention it as if it was in the past when I know all around the world - people are still being affected.
If this was an attempt to be ‘au courant’ - it failed abysmally. Very disappointed!
There was so much good stuff here but the overall theme - that the heroine was in the right and the hero was in the wrong simply incensed me. The way Divya treated Ethan was deeply troubling from the very beginning. He’s rescued her yet she constantly criticised and challenged him as if she was somehow a good example for how to live a life. In reality she was totally controlled by the family up till this point and she wasn’t a teenager or in her early twenties but a mature woman. He had to give in and acquiesce to her family whilst she gave nothing in return.
I disliked the way the author made it clear her total sympathies with with the heroine and her family and made Ethan be the one to apologise at the end. He had done nothing wrong but was made out to be the villain.
I also found it hard to take seriously a book that referenced Covid as if it was all over. Sitting reading this on January 1st 2021, still in lockdown because of the virus - I thought it a huge mistake for the author to mention it as if it was in the past when I know all around the world - people are still being affected.
If this was an attempt to be ‘au courant’ - it failed abysmally. Very disappointed!
January 18, 2021
4.5
This is a fun, sexy, heartwarming story about love and family. Both Divya and Ethan come from close knit families and I really enjoyed the juxtaposition of how the Indian and American culture impacted and formed their families. The way that Ethan and Divya meet is one of my favorite meet cute moments in a book and it really set the tone for the adventures that awaited them. Ethan and Divya are attracted to each other but they really build a solid friendship and are completely open emotionally together which just solidified my connection to both of them. The pacing of this book is perfect and it allowed for a lot of quiet moments in between all the action.My only critique of this story was that it is a contemporary romance that is set in a world where the pandemic happened and is now over. Reading is a source of escapism especially in these crazy times and I didn’t like being reminded of what is going on the world when I was trying to get lost in a sweet and fun romance.
*Thank you to Harlequin for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This is a fun, sexy, heartwarming story about love and family. Both Divya and Ethan come from close knit families and I really enjoyed the juxtaposition of how the Indian and American culture impacted and formed their families. The way that Ethan and Divya meet is one of my favorite meet cute moments in a book and it really set the tone for the adventures that awaited them. Ethan and Divya are attracted to each other but they really build a solid friendship and are completely open emotionally together which just solidified my connection to both of them. The pacing of this book is perfect and it allowed for a lot of quiet moments in between all the action.My only critique of this story was that it is a contemporary romance that is set in a world where the pandemic happened and is now over. Reading is a source of escapism especially in these crazy times and I didn’t like being reminded of what is going on the world when I was trying to get lost in a sweet and fun romance.
*Thank you to Harlequin for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 4, 2021
Running Away With the Bride is an entertaining opposites attract story with an intriguing premise. I've read a few break up the wedding stories, but I'm pretty sure this is the first break up the wrong wedding story I've come across. Ethan is pretty much everything Divya's parents don't want for her, so of course, he'll be exactly what she wants - probably wouldn't make for much of a story otherwise, right? Even with this one having a pretty original start, it's not without its predictability. That said, the story really didn't suffer any because of it. The book has a good pace, and it's a reasonably quick read, making it perfect for whiling away an afternoon. This is the second in a series, but it can easily be read as a standalone.
September 6, 2022
TW: Mentions of addiction, car accident, parental neglect, and pandemic
Solid romance. I love that this couple actually communicated with one another about the or relationship so that it could work well for them. This book could’ve dealt away from the third act breakup but this was pretty good or the most part. I enjoy the cultural touchstones as well with the few hilarious moments of the heroine comparing her skin to her hero. This was also interesting since this is the first book that I have read that actually integrated the pandemic into the novel and it works seamlessly. Normally I wouldn’t want to read contemporary book that address it but this was done in way that non-annoying matter.
Solid romance. I love that this couple actually communicated with one another about the or relationship so that it could work well for them. This book could’ve dealt away from the third act breakup but this was pretty good or the most part. I enjoy the cultural touchstones as well with the few hilarious moments of the heroine comparing her skin to her hero. This was also interesting since this is the first book that I have read that actually integrated the pandemic into the novel and it works seamlessly. Normally I wouldn’t want to read contemporary book that address it but this was done in way that non-annoying matter.
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December 2, 2020Categories
Cultural Heritage, Contemporary Romance, Multicultural & Interracial Romance
Miniseries
Nights at the Mahal (Book #2)
Cultural Heritage, Contemporary Romance, Multicultural & Interracial Romance
Miniseries
Nights at the Mahal (Book #2)
January 22, 2021
Thank you to the publisher and @netgalleh for a copy of this book. I love how the book started with Ethan crashing the wrong Indian wedding and the bride wanted to escape as well. I am not much fan of Insta love/connection and the author did a great job creating the connection. I love the banter between Divya and Ethan. Their adventures together was a lot of fun and was happy that Divya knew she needed to discover what she wanted before jumping into a relationship.
February 3, 2021
Like the previous Nights at the Mahal book, Singh Sasson really shines in writing about being torn between your family/culture and your dreams. (And because this is a romance, you can have both. :) )
January 3, 2021
When Ethan crashes an Indian wedding he has no idea it's the wrong one. He's hoping to win back his fiance Pooja, when he inadvertently crashes the wedding of Divya. Divya is so excited to get out of her marriage, she is quick to run away with Ethan without knowing a thing about him. Ethan comes to her rescue at the right time. They travel around the country for the next few days trying to decide what to do next. What will happen on this journey around the country? Will they find the things that they have been looking for or will they end up back in their old lives?
Thank you to Harlequin Desire and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I was able to read this book in one day. I was eager to find out what was going to happen between Ethan and Divya. I had no idea whether they would be friends or if this crazy encounter would turn into something more. Maybe they would go back to their old life and treat these few days as a memory. They each come from upstanding families and they both have their own money, but something is missing from their lives. So what is holding them back from being together? Divya is Indian and Ethan is from America and while their relationship isn't ideal in the eyes of some, could it work? Is each one of them willing to give up something in order to be together? Will their short courtship be enough for a long-lasting relationship?
The thing I liked best about this book was the adventure. You never knew what was going to happen next.
If you like romance books that will keep you wondering what is going to happen next then you need to read Running Away With the Bride.
Thank you to Harlequin Desire and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I was able to read this book in one day. I was eager to find out what was going to happen between Ethan and Divya. I had no idea whether they would be friends or if this crazy encounter would turn into something more. Maybe they would go back to their old life and treat these few days as a memory. They each come from upstanding families and they both have their own money, but something is missing from their lives. So what is holding them back from being together? Divya is Indian and Ethan is from America and while their relationship isn't ideal in the eyes of some, could it work? Is each one of them willing to give up something in order to be together? Will their short courtship be enough for a long-lasting relationship?
The thing I liked best about this book was the adventure. You never knew what was going to happen next.
If you like romance books that will keep you wondering what is going to happen next then you need to read Running Away With the Bride.
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