He wants a perfect restoration. She’s about to wreck his carefully controlled world.
When 32-year-old brooding pharmaceutical tycoon Krish Mehra hires 24-year-old vintage car restorer Maxine Sheridan to bring his late father’s prized 1947 MG TC back to life, he’s expecting meticulous craftsmanship, not motor oil, mischief, and mayhem.
A prodigy in her field, Max is a whirlwind; brilliant, bold, and unapologetically alive. Her days are spent elbows-deep in engines and her nights dreaming in chrome. She has no time for uptight suits or emotional baggage. But Krish is both and something about his quiet grief and relentless control calls to her reckless heart.
Haunted by the car crash that stole his parents and thrust him into the role of guardian to his three younger siblings, Krish lives by one never lose control. Max lives to break all rules, including his.
As sparks fly and secrets surface, an unexpected accident threatens to destroy the fragile bond between them. Will love be the one thing they can’t rebuild? Will they finally leave the past behind and shift into drive—or are they destined to stay stuck in reverse?
Shilpa Suraj wears many hats - corporate drone, homemaker, mother to a fabulous toddler and author.
An avid reader with an overactive imagination, Shilpa has weaved stories in her head since she was a child. Her previous stints at Google, in an ad agency and as an entrepreneur provide colour to her present day stories, both fiction and non-fiction.
This had elements of instalove but was quite well done. Max is a spitfire and I loved her confidence. Krish is grumpy and strict but his love and devotion for his family is very endearing. And I’m totally in love with his family 😍😍😍
I’ll probably be back soon with a better review 😊😊😊
I love a book where two seemingly opposite personalities come together and fall for each other. The angst is undeniable and natural in Driven by Desire. And with the added benefit of it being hilarious to boot, I did not switch the App off until I read The End. Highly recommended for laughs and some lovely sighs.
This book was a LOT of fun, right from the very first page till the very last one, just pure unadulterated addictive fun. It had all the things I love in a good romance and so much more!
For instance, you know how in some of the books you read there are characters you like, characters you obsess over, and then there are characters who feel so real to you that you have a hard time accepting that they are just a figment of someone's imagination? That's how I felt about almost the entire cast of characters in this book.
I adored Krish, Max, and the whole quirky Mehra clan, so much so that I really had to remind myself that these are just fictional people. And while I have felt this way in the past, it's extremely rare with romances. Because while I enjoy reading them, after a while most of the romances seem to just blend into each other (if you know what I mean). But I don't think I'm forgetting these characters anytime soon, as they made quite an impression on me.
And while we are still on the topic of romances, I have to say that while I think this book is a romance at its core, it's much more than that, what with all the hilarious (yet heartwarming) family drama that is a really big and integral part of what this story is about.
Now don't get me wrong, I don't mean to undermine the romance in here, because it's one of the sweetest love stories I have read in recent times, with just the right amount of mushy love, romantic angst & emotional depth.
All in all: Driven by Desire is a multi-faceted love story which is amusing, entertaining, heartwarming, all at the same time. A total delight to read, and something I highly recommend to everyone who loves the genre.
P.S. As much as I am happy with how things wrapped up, I would have definitely liked to see more grovelling on Krish's end during the climax (yes, I am mean like that :P ).
P.P.S. I cannot get this out of my head, so I am putting this out in the Universe - please let Chirag have his own book. Pretty please?
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review. The opinions, as always, are completely mine.
Max and Krish takes you on a journey that is fun from page one. The characters are well etched and you will fall in love with the Mehra family. Max stands out from all other heroines created by the author and is definitely my favourite till date. Krish is swoon worthy and just the perfect match for Max. A true page turner!
Max and Krish are two real people who have real-life problems and just like all of us screw things up for each other and themselves. That's the beauty of Shilpa's writing. It sucks you in with its pathos and simplicity and gives a glimpse of love in India. PS: I hope Chirag very soon gets his own book. He is HUNKY hot!
Her characters are lovely - and so natural - with their flaws, their complexities and their adorableness. The Mehta brothers are completely fabulous and the little sister a cute little devil.
There are some very clever devices and twists used by the author to make this an amusing, enthralling love story - I can't write about what they were specifically because it would give the game away, but one of them caused an allergic reaction that I found extremely entertaining...
I had loved Shilpa's book, 'Rescued by Love' that I still remember the name of the male protagonist - Maj. Arjun Rathode. :) Yeah, so I am a romantic at heart and enjoy reading love stories. I have been waiting for the author's next release and 'Driven by Desire' doesn't disappoint. Krish is a workaholic and is the eldest of his three siblings. Since their parents' demise, he takes care of the family. Max is a beautiful confident woman who works as a car restorer. They literally meet with a bang and falls for each other in no time. With many real-life scenarios and relatable situations, this book is a page-turner. Extremely entertaining, this love story is something you would want to read this weekend.
DRIVEN BY DESIRE – SHILPA SURAJ The beginning is most unexpected... a startled Krish finds “a bag of bones… with acres of long straight hair cascading across” landing on him, followed by a cascading branch that smacks him on the head and renders him unconscious. This is enough to make the reader realise that this is no ordinary love story, but a tale filled with adventure and twists. After all, an attractive girl being referred to as “a bag of bones” and “a flying missile with those large eyes” is certainly no ordinary start for romance. Nor is “Peter Pan in the living room”, as Krish refers to Max who had only responded to a dare issued by his younger sibling, Aditya. Max goes through a gamut of emotions as she deals with the enraged Krish who apparently hates hospitals. They part on an amicable note, but Krish’s hackles go up all over again when he finds out that she is Maxine Sheridan, a star vintage car restorer, especially as he had plans to get his vintage MG TG restored. The plus point is the amazing home-cooked stew that Mr. Brian Sheridan, her father, had offered him and his younger sister, Pooja. However, Max is finally given the chance to restore the beloved vintage car that had been the pride and joy of Krish’s father. She is drawn in to the family circle of the three men and their young sister, Pooja, who is instinctively drawn towards the newcomer. As little pieces of the jigsaw come together, the enigma that is Krish becomes clearer. However, there are moments of animosity which come on almost without a warning. “The only thing keeping her from pulling back herself had been the desperate affection of a little girl who seemed for some strange reason to have taken a shine to her and the inexplicable attraction she felt for an aggravating man she barely understood.” Some poignant moments make their way into the reader’s heart – the value of the car being restored by Max in which where Krish’s parents courted, how the children had always been much-loved and how the loss of their parents had torn the family apart. Krish comes across as the staunch elder brother who wants to put together memories for his siblings, especially for his little sister, Pooja, a man who sacrificed his own ambitions to provide a home to his younger siblings. His siblings are a handful; Pooja is a brat, and Adi a man who still behaves like a boy. Chirag is the sane one who offers Krish support when he comes apart at the seams. “Steady, decent, reliable and with so much love inside him for the people who mattered to him.” That is Max’s assessment of Krish, who, on his part, has a more romantic image of Max in his mind. “Rainbows. The wild, vibrant colour in them that streams out of sunlight watered down by rain.” Max comes across as a feisty woman with a clear head on her shoulders, a fact that Krish realises when she offers him a fresh perspective on how to deal with recalcitrant factory workers. While romance plays a stellar part in the book, there are instances of real humour that bring a smile to the face. Ms. Suraj has an amusing way with words that brings amusing incidents alive. “And then the caterwauling started. Wondering if there was a sea of alcohol to drown in, Krish kept his face carefully blank. Fifteen cats slowly being strangled would have been more in tune than the five people in front of him.” The day comes when Krish finally turns into Max’s ‘relationship person’, a moment that has been long in the coming because of Krish’s overweening protectiveness of his family. Shilpa Suraj has a writing style that glides along without a break. Not once does the reader feel a jarring note that derails the rhythm and this, perhaps, along with the lighter moments and the heady romance scenes are what makes this book an equally heady read.
I have a mega book hangover. I have fallen in love with the Mehta clan and Shilpa Suraj is to blame. After reading and loving her previous two books, Rescued by Love and The Girl He Left Behind I was waiting and waiting for her next one. All good things come to those who wait and was I rewarded!
Krish is the strict, responsible eldest brother who looks out for his family of two younger brothers and a little sister. He is a workaholic and has no plans of changing himself. Down, falls Max, yes right on him and bang! He has some sense knocked into him, really he does.
Maxine, Max for short is a fiery, beautiful sexy vintage car restorer, a total grease monkey yet confident in her skin. Not afraid to voice her opinion she is a perfect match for the straight-laced, sober, responsible sinfully sexy Krish. The responsible guy who falls for the fun-loving girl while she falls on him :D
Light years apart from the organised world of Krish Mehta. Her good looks, kickass mechanical skills and sizzling hot lingerie make her totally irresistible. Even when they don’t want to, both feel the pull of the attraction. Two people who feel they are completely wrong for each other but cannot resist since they are Driven by Desire.
The fact that Krish is responsible for his younger siblings Chirag, Adi and Pooja makes him so much more drool-worthy. A man who not only does his duty but one who does it with dedication even at the cost of his own desires. He is a successful businessman and a dedicated family man. Being hot as hell also helps ;)
Max has a job that sets her apart, a doting father and she knows what she wants. She is a confident woman and the chemistry she shares with Krish ensures Driven by Desire is a page-turner. It will also drive you to read the other books by Shilpa, Not to give away the surprise but the relations between the siblings, the easy friendship and bonding make a big impact in the story.
The sweet, impressionable Pooja, the youngest of the lot worms her way into your heart and you want to look out for her just like Max. The cool younger brothers, Chirag and Adi ensure there is never a dull moment. The family, their lives, their passion and camaraderie made me want to read about all of them. Their stories, their desires, their lives.
This book is contemporary fiction and it will make you fall in love, make you smile, shed a tear, cringe at the silly stuff and get hot as hell within its pages. It is a complete romantic fiction set to our times. Driven by Desire is a well-balanced, light, fresh read that is totally in sync with our modern lives.
I recommend this book to all lovers of romance, enjoy it savour it and tell your friends to read it as well. Shilpa makes a strong statement with this book. One can have love, responsibility and happiness even when Driven By Desire. #MustRead
Driven By Desire is about a couple Krish and Max who doesn't have much in common. As they attract to each other, both have to figure out what it takes to make a long-term relationship.
While Max is a free-spirited ambitious woman, Krish is someone who has a lot of responsibilities both in his personal and professional level. While he is hesitant to take his relationship with Max to next level due to his other responsibilities, he realizes that it's not easy to live without Max who is like a rainbow in his life. While Max can understand the problems in Krish's life and is ready to make their relationship work, she needs more patience dealing with Krish's short temper.
Can they make it work? Will the family responsibilities / their work become an impediment in their journey? You have to find out this by reading this book.
I don't think the storyline is unique but the characters, the narration and the backdrop make it interesting. I love the vibrant and lovely Max. Krish, Pooja, Adi, and Mr. Sheredian all contribute tot he story and they are all positive and friendly characters. I like Krish who is such a strict and responsible man but is sensitive and caring. I liked the climax though it seemed dramatic like in movies.
At a few places, I felt bored to continue reading, especialChristmasristmas party and the next scenes. But, the climax is worth the read. The book cover is apt. I would have loved if the story has more interesting twists. Overall, a good read with proper pace.
My Rating : 4/5
I recommend this book to all Romance lovers and who love to read a story about real life responsibilities and complications in relationships.
PS: I have received an e-copy of the book in exchange for a review and this is my honest opinion on the book.
The book was hilarious . well what do you expect from a book where the characters are falling from sky. Like literally. You open the book to its first chapter and first paragraph literally see the characters falling from sky or falling to the ground. If that is not an interesting opening to a book then i don’t know what is. I loved Driven by Desire. It was cute. it was fun and it was adorable
I did enjoy the book with its wacky and quick romance. Although i was a bit taken by the language as this is the first time where i have seen this kind of language style. Its a mixture of American colloquial version and British Vocabulary all sewed together to narrate a very indian story. Although it may sound weird but in the book it doesn’t. In fact i loved the language.
Well except for some of the street words and american colloquial slangs (or was it british slangs ) that made it a bit difficult to digest. In short the language caught me by surprise since i am not used to it especially for Indian romances. But am i saying it is bad ? no absolutely not. I loved it and the language was partly what made the reading easy and fun to absorb
Story is amazingly cupid and wicked. A perfect candy floss romance for that perfect summer read. I did have one problem with the book. Narration. For the whole length of the book, i was trying to get a grab over as to who the real narrator was. Was it a third person? Was it through the male character ? or was it through the female character? it was a bit hazy for me. The narration kept jumping from different visions within a single paragraph. but fortunately the cuteness and flow of the story was that it i enjoyed it inspite of everything and anything that i pointed out above
Conclusion
In short to my review, i loved the book. In fact it only took me few hours to finish the book as i was that invested in it. The best part about the book is that it literally flows through its narration. Before you know you would have ended up reading half of the book. Its quick. A book for romantic fanatics. Its a book for you only if you love quick and cotton candy romance.
A simple story about a family where the head of the family, Krish is quiet a believable character. The story has a good flow and will make a reader happy. The humour is this book will make you laugh. The major problem with this book is that you have to buy it only from Juggernaut. I got this book because I was curios. It is not an all five star book. I wish Goodreads and Amazon will stop this hysteria where real reader's voices are drowned with all these authors and their friends shouting a five star review. The language is simple and the author is a bit confused as to whether she wants to write for the western audience or Indian audience. This is weakening the voice in this story.
A poignant, perfect romance. Loved the explosive chemistry between the two protagonists. This is probably the first story where I loved all the characters from the cute youngest Pooja to oldest that's Maxs dad. :)
Highly recommend to all romance lovers and looking forward to read Chirag's story!!
This one has it all: beautiful characters, on-point character development, and a super strong and super sweet story. It is beautifully written and is well-paced with good vocabulary. Although the story has a strong emotional backstory, Shilpa keeps the tone light.There are some really hilarious moments too, so you might want to watch out when you read this book in public.
Max is the star of the story. Kudos to Shilpa for creating a character who is covered more in motor oil and sweat than in foundation and lipstick.
Max isn’t just beautiful; she isn’t just an independent woman who lives life on her own terms. Max is beautiful because she has an independent mind that doesn’t shy away from making the first move, taking rejection and the downfalls in her stride too. Max is the woman of substance we all need today.
Brian, Max’s father, is another one of my favorite characters in this story. A special mention to Krish, who is hot, of course, but Shilpa portrays him much more than that. She does not focus or harp too much on the fact that he is a Greek God. She focuses on making him as real as possible, a man haunted by his past, worried about his future, and burdened by the present.
Right from the beginning to end this book is a fun filled read...a cute heart warming tale with lovely characters...wish Chirag Adi and Pooja too get their stories and we get to read more of this sweet family.