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Bashir #1
My Best Friend's Brother: A Love Story
Fire, meet Gasoline.
Attractive, young and equally strong-headed, Scarlett Sommerfield and Dev Bashir were never meant to be a match--at least if his very wealthy and traditional Indian parents have anything to say about it. So it's a good thing that they've despised each other for most of their young lives.
But that's about to change.
Growing up poor and motherless, smart and ambitious Scarlett is graduating from high school and becoming a new adult in the big scary world without a safe place to land, so when she's invited to move in with her best friend's palatial home on the right side of the tracks for her senior year, things couldn't be better.
There, she finds security and kindness--with the exception of her best friend's brooding and arrogant older brother, Dev, who returns home from college struggling with his own demons and seemingly focused on making her the object of his contempt.
Over time--and some ill-timed run-ins--Scarlett learns that he's not at all what he seems, and a forbidden love sparks between them, burning out of control when she least expects it. But when there's fire, there's smoke, and controlling Mrs. Bashir catches onto their young romance...and everything goes to hell.
Steeped in outdated rules and traditions about love and marriage, the matriarch of the Bashir Family makes no secret that Scarlett simply doesn't measure up as a match for their eldest son. And the very people who made her feel part of the family now want nothing more than to see her gone for good.
Including her former best friend.
Will Scarlett and Dev's love survive against his intolerant mother's sabotage, her personal misfortunes and a dark life-changing secret he's kept simmering just under the surface? Or will Scarlett end up back where she started: facing her future utterly alone.
"This is a quick-moving, sizzling coming of age romance novella, filled with smart, savvy and fascinating characters navigating the angst of first love with the added complication of interracial and multi-cultural obstacles. Throw in a satisfying Happy-For-Now ending, some steam and sizzle in the right places, and you have an impressive debut from Kennedy Claire." --Bren Thompson
"A fast paced, beautifully written young love story with intrigue, passion and smart witty dialogue." - Adrienne Chism
"J.S. Cooper meets Jessica Wood with a dash of Nora Roberts."
Attractive, young and equally strong-headed, Scarlett Sommerfield and Dev Bashir were never meant to be a match--at least if his very wealthy and traditional Indian parents have anything to say about it. So it's a good thing that they've despised each other for most of their young lives.
But that's about to change.
Growing up poor and motherless, smart and ambitious Scarlett is graduating from high school and becoming a new adult in the big scary world without a safe place to land, so when she's invited to move in with her best friend's palatial home on the right side of the tracks for her senior year, things couldn't be better.
There, she finds security and kindness--with the exception of her best friend's brooding and arrogant older brother, Dev, who returns home from college struggling with his own demons and seemingly focused on making her the object of his contempt.
Over time--and some ill-timed run-ins--Scarlett learns that he's not at all what he seems, and a forbidden love sparks between them, burning out of control when she least expects it. But when there's fire, there's smoke, and controlling Mrs. Bashir catches onto their young romance...and everything goes to hell.
Steeped in outdated rules and traditions about love and marriage, the matriarch of the Bashir Family makes no secret that Scarlett simply doesn't measure up as a match for their eldest son. And the very people who made her feel part of the family now want nothing more than to see her gone for good.
Including her former best friend.
Will Scarlett and Dev's love survive against his intolerant mother's sabotage, her personal misfortunes and a dark life-changing secret he's kept simmering just under the surface? Or will Scarlett end up back where she started: facing her future utterly alone.
"This is a quick-moving, sizzling coming of age romance novella, filled with smart, savvy and fascinating characters navigating the angst of first love with the added complication of interracial and multi-cultural obstacles. Throw in a satisfying Happy-For-Now ending, some steam and sizzle in the right places, and you have an impressive debut from Kennedy Claire." --Bren Thompson
"A fast paced, beautifully written young love story with intrigue, passion and smart witty dialogue." - Adrienne Chism
"J.S. Cooper meets Jessica Wood with a dash of Nora Roberts."
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First published March 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
August 19, 2015
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, first read by this author. I have to say it’s got me intrigued, not a huge Dev fan at this point, but I want to see how Scarlett ups the game in NYC.
May 5, 2015
I got this book from the author, in exchange of an honest review.
SUMMARY: Attractive, young and equally strong-headed, Scarlett Sommerfield and Dev Bashir were never meant to be a match--at least if his very wealthy and traditional Indian parents have anything to say about it. So it's a good thing that they've despised each other for most of their young lives.
But that's about to change.
Growing up poor and motherless, smart and ambitious Scarlett is graduating from high school and becoming a new adult in the big scary world without a safe place to land, so when she's invited to move in with her best friend's palatial home on the right side of the tracks for her senior year, things couldn't be better.
There, she finds security and kindness--with the exception of her best friend's brooding and arrogant older brother, Dev, who returns home from college struggling with his own demons and seemingly focused on making her the object of his contempt.
Over time--and some ill-timed run-ins--Scarlett learns that he's not at all what he seems, and a forbidden love sparks between them, burning out of control when she least expects it. But when there's fire, there's smoke, and controlling Mrs. Bashir catches onto their young romance...and everything goes to hell.
Steeped in outdated rules and traditions about love and marriage, the matriarch of the Bashir Family makes no secret that Scarlett simply doesn't measure up as a match for their eldest son. And the very people who made her feel part of the family now want nothing more than to see her gone for good.
Including her former best friend.
Will Scarlett and Dev's love survive against his intolerant mother's sabotage, her personal misfortunes and a dark life-changing secret he's kept simmering just under the surface? Or will Scarlett end up back where she started: facing her future utterly alone.
Ok, so, I liked the idea, a lot, and I love the hate/love kind of relationship.
The main characters are nice. Scarlett is really amazing. Dev is, for me, the classic bad guy with lots of problems that make you fall in love easily. I love his arrogance, and his bad moods.
Their relationship between them is the hate-you-so-much-so-I-tease-you-badly kind, which I personally like.
Bad aspect is that it could have been shown a little bit more. It seemed to me a bit rushed. I would have loved to read more episodes between them before having them to find out they actually like each other a lot.
The whole love story seemed a bit fast, they fall in love and want to marry straightaway.
Also I would have liked to know more about Dev's problems, which are shown by his diary's entries.
The novel seems a bit short for my taste. Really enjoyable and nice reading though. I most definetely read the second volume to see how their story will go.
SUMMARY: Attractive, young and equally strong-headed, Scarlett Sommerfield and Dev Bashir were never meant to be a match--at least if his very wealthy and traditional Indian parents have anything to say about it. So it's a good thing that they've despised each other for most of their young lives.
But that's about to change.
Growing up poor and motherless, smart and ambitious Scarlett is graduating from high school and becoming a new adult in the big scary world without a safe place to land, so when she's invited to move in with her best friend's palatial home on the right side of the tracks for her senior year, things couldn't be better.
There, she finds security and kindness--with the exception of her best friend's brooding and arrogant older brother, Dev, who returns home from college struggling with his own demons and seemingly focused on making her the object of his contempt.
Over time--and some ill-timed run-ins--Scarlett learns that he's not at all what he seems, and a forbidden love sparks between them, burning out of control when she least expects it. But when there's fire, there's smoke, and controlling Mrs. Bashir catches onto their young romance...and everything goes to hell.
Steeped in outdated rules and traditions about love and marriage, the matriarch of the Bashir Family makes no secret that Scarlett simply doesn't measure up as a match for their eldest son. And the very people who made her feel part of the family now want nothing more than to see her gone for good.
Including her former best friend.
Will Scarlett and Dev's love survive against his intolerant mother's sabotage, her personal misfortunes and a dark life-changing secret he's kept simmering just under the surface? Or will Scarlett end up back where she started: facing her future utterly alone.
Ok, so, I liked the idea, a lot, and I love the hate/love kind of relationship.
The main characters are nice. Scarlett is really amazing. Dev is, for me, the classic bad guy with lots of problems that make you fall in love easily. I love his arrogance, and his bad moods.
Their relationship between them is the hate-you-so-much-so-I-tease-you-badly kind, which I personally like.
Bad aspect is that it could have been shown a little bit more. It seemed to me a bit rushed. I would have loved to read more episodes between them before having them to find out they actually like each other a lot.
The whole love story seemed a bit fast, they fall in love and want to marry straightaway.
Also I would have liked to know more about Dev's problems, which are shown by his diary's entries.
The novel seems a bit short for my taste. Really enjoyable and nice reading though. I most definetely read the second volume to see how their story will go.
April 10, 2015
Let me start by saying how much I love the characters in this book and how the story just pulls you in. Scarlett is strong and sees the world as it should be seen where everyone is equal where Dev is a bit more materialistic and feels that there are people beneath him mainly poor people which Scarlett is come to find out Dev has been harboring feelings for Scarlett for along time and by chance he tells her little does Dev know Scarlett has been harboring the same feelings recently.
This book and it's companions 24 1/2 Kisses along with Annikas Passion have become my new go-to books to read when I can't find something else.
This book and it's companions 24 1/2 Kisses along with Annikas Passion have become my new go-to books to read when I can't find something else.
March 7, 2015
2.5 stars
Plot: C
The plot was ok. But a little overdone. Girl and best friend's brother have an antagonistic relationship. Girl falls in love despite brother being huge jerk. Brother only being a huge jerk to fight his attraction. There was a slight twist to this with the cultural differences, so that was interesting. Many questions were left unanswered, but I can guess at some of them. And not a HEA or HFN, but a foreshadowing that leaves it in a cliffhanger, which I hate.
Characters: C
Dev is an a**hole. Always has a snide remark and a putdown for Scarlett, and called her white trash. He was a bit better towards the end, but he was hiding something. Scarlett was an immature, love struck, naive teenager. Other than that,hard to get to know the characters for me.
Heat: D
Nothing special.
Overall, slightly less than mediocre. I was unhappy with the ending. And I've read the synopsis of the next book, and I am not a happy camper. But I'll try to give it a fair shot.
Plot: C
The plot was ok. But a little overdone. Girl and best friend's brother have an antagonistic relationship. Girl falls in love despite brother being huge jerk. Brother only being a huge jerk to fight his attraction. There was a slight twist to this with the cultural differences, so that was interesting. Many questions were left unanswered, but I can guess at some of them. And not a HEA or HFN, but a foreshadowing that leaves it in a cliffhanger, which I hate.
Characters: C
Dev is an a**hole. Always has a snide remark and a putdown for Scarlett, and called her white trash. He was a bit better towards the end, but he was hiding something. Scarlett was an immature, love struck, naive teenager. Other than that,hard to get to know the characters for me.
Heat: D
Nothing special.
Overall, slightly less than mediocre. I was unhappy with the ending. And I've read the synopsis of the next book, and I am not a happy camper. But I'll try to give it a fair shot.
April 12, 2015
Smart, intense, funny and soulful.
I laughed I cried and I read it straight through without stopping. I loved the writing style, the characters were dimensional and I liked them all. I enjoyed it so much I read the 2nd one 24 ½ kiss the next day. I can’t wait for the 3rd one to come out. I was hooked on the TV show “breaking bad”, these stories have me hooked the same way, waiting impatiently for the next book.
I laughed I cried and I read it straight through without stopping. I loved the writing style, the characters were dimensional and I liked them all. I enjoyed it so much I read the 2nd one 24 ½ kiss the next day. I can’t wait for the 3rd one to come out. I was hooked on the TV show “breaking bad”, these stories have me hooked the same way, waiting impatiently for the next book.
April 5, 2015
Amazingly beautiful, romantic, & sexy well written book.....had to buy the sequel.
April 16, 2015
This was a good book
June 11, 2022
It was good and had a nice build up, but ended in a rushed/hurried way which made the book a little less enjoyable. If you want to read it, it’s free with google books :)
October 18, 2022
Their story should have been longer as it felt rushed,I read the snippet to the sequel and I'm not a fan of it
October 23, 2025
I cannot relate being in a family that has your life planned for you. Different cultures fascinate and scare me at the same time. To know that you are planned to marry a man/woman that you may not have ever met, is so mind blowing or to marry your own race and culture. What if you fall in love with someone outside that culture? You really cannot help who you fall in love with especially if it's your best friend's brother who you have known since childhood. Scarlet & Dev are two people who just said oh well let's go for it... Dev is Indian and Scarlet who comes from poor side of town, became best friends with Annika.
They grew up together and well Dev was older than Scarlet it was a hate to love relationship over the years. To find love is beautiful but for these two I felt the love in this book. This was well written and did the diversity great. There is 4 books in this series, and Scarlet & Dev's continues to book 2. This was a fast read the plot was good, but there was a twist in it that did not get aired out so I will assume it's in book 2. Recommend to 17 years and up. Does have swearing, sex and sexually assault if that bothers you... Gina Clabo
They grew up together and well Dev was older than Scarlet it was a hate to love relationship over the years. To find love is beautiful but for these two I felt the love in this book. This was well written and did the diversity great. There is 4 books in this series, and Scarlet & Dev's continues to book 2. This was a fast read the plot was good, but there was a twist in it that did not get aired out so I will assume it's in book 2. Recommend to 17 years and up. Does have swearing, sex and sexually assault if that bothers you... Gina Clabo
July 12, 2021
Ooo this book is amazing. I fell in love with it from the beginning. I could not stand her her best friends brother. He didn’t have to embarrass her. This book took me on some very high highs and some deep in the valley lows. I really enjoyed the emotions it pulled out of me. It made me smile, I wanted to help her get revenge, wanted to just hug her and say it’s ok. Had me taking cold showers, I wanted to fight for her and say it’s ok. The dreams were so vivid I felt like I was there. Thank you for writing this book. I couldn’t wait to hit book 2 so I jumped right into it. Keep up the amazing work.
July 5, 2017
It was pretty predictable. It still was a good read though. Not much to say about it but I do want to read the others.
December 16, 2018
It was a interesting story
June 27, 2019
Really liked it
October 22, 2019
This book began slow however ended good.... I found it to be worth the read.
Want to read
February 27, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (2/27/2020)! 🎁
March 21, 2020
Great story.
It was a good read. It was captivating and nice. The characters were great. The storyline was spot on. The ending was nice.
It was a good read. It was captivating and nice. The characters were great. The storyline was spot on. The ending was nice.
April 8, 2020
3.5 stars
June 18, 2020
It was nice to read a romance novel where the main characters were not all white Christians. Great sub-plot about marrying outside of your culture.
April 7, 2024
I don't like getting into a book only to discover it's a duet.
I liked the different culture parts of this but Dev is kind of awful.
I liked the different culture parts of this but Dev is kind of awful.
July 1, 2024
Made me buy the next 3...
November 17, 2024
Love it
Great story line nice twist depth to the characters
Spice id give it a 3
Hoping for more Beshir family
Great story line nice twist depth to the characters
Spice id give it a 3
Hoping for more Beshir family
July 5, 2015
3.5 Stars. Overall, I enjoyed this story. I appreciated the shorter length. Short stories are very under appreciated. I felt the author's use of first person was well done. I also felt the ethnicity of the story was handled nicely.
But ... I could not decide if I liked the characters. I liked Scarlett most of the time, but as the story progressed, she became frustrating. I wanted her to ask more questions, speak up, and not cower all the time. Dev was fascinating. I liked his hard edges, the sultriness of him. I liked the author's use of his journal entries to include his POV. That was well done.
The formatting of the book had flaws. There were numerous simple editing errors, wrong choice or tense of word, spelling mistakes, and missing words that a good editor could have found. I also was very peeved with the extra material from book 2 in the back. This is a sales technique I personally don't care for.
The storyline itself had ups and downs for me. Though the pace of it moved along nicely and kept my interest, it was more erotic than I feel is appropriate for young adults. I do not know if it is being marketed as such, but I would say it isn't appropriate for anyone under eighteen. Setting aside my own morals on teens and sex, less needed to be said of the details of their encounter. Sex should NEVER be the core point of the story. I do not feel it was entirely the issue in this tale, but it was made much more of than I think was needed to make the author's point.
Lastly, the ending came up too quickly. This is not a reference to length, but to scenes. More time should have been given to her recovery from her dad's death and the troubled relationship between she and Dev. The marriage proposal, though I understand it's placement and figure the author deliberately kept the story short in order to write book two, seemed hastily written and, if given more time to develop before lopping the end off, the story would have been much better.
I will not read book 2 as the preview told me enough that it isn't warranted. I am not totally turned off by this book or this author, but cannot recommend it because of sexual content.
But ... I could not decide if I liked the characters. I liked Scarlett most of the time, but as the story progressed, she became frustrating. I wanted her to ask more questions, speak up, and not cower all the time. Dev was fascinating. I liked his hard edges, the sultriness of him. I liked the author's use of his journal entries to include his POV. That was well done.
The formatting of the book had flaws. There were numerous simple editing errors, wrong choice or tense of word, spelling mistakes, and missing words that a good editor could have found. I also was very peeved with the extra material from book 2 in the back. This is a sales technique I personally don't care for.
The storyline itself had ups and downs for me. Though the pace of it moved along nicely and kept my interest, it was more erotic than I feel is appropriate for young adults. I do not know if it is being marketed as such, but I would say it isn't appropriate for anyone under eighteen. Setting aside my own morals on teens and sex, less needed to be said of the details of their encounter. Sex should NEVER be the core point of the story. I do not feel it was entirely the issue in this tale, but it was made much more of than I think was needed to make the author's point.
Lastly, the ending came up too quickly. This is not a reference to length, but to scenes. More time should have been given to her recovery from her dad's death and the troubled relationship between she and Dev. The marriage proposal, though I understand it's placement and figure the author deliberately kept the story short in order to write book two, seemed hastily written and, if given more time to develop before lopping the end off, the story would have been much better.
I will not read book 2 as the preview told me enough that it isn't warranted. I am not totally turned off by this book or this author, but cannot recommend it because of sexual content.
June 5, 2015
Copy provided for an honest review.
Scarlett is a girl that seems to have nothing but herself. She makes friends with Annika whose family almost takes her under their wing and give her all the things her single parenting fathers is unwilling to provide. Even with their cultural differences Scarlett is thankful for all she is given, even if the Bashir Family cannot include her in everything.
As time goes on she develops into a strong and independent young woman who know exactly what she wants out of life. But things in life are not always what they appear to be, and Annika's older brother Dev turns out to be so much more than Scarlett had ever imagined he would be.
This story was well written and really showed different layers of each character and how they approach the world when life throws curves at them. Hard to say too much without giving away all the twists and turns, but this was a great read.
Scarlett is a girl that seems to have nothing but herself. She makes friends with Annika whose family almost takes her under their wing and give her all the things her single parenting fathers is unwilling to provide. Even with their cultural differences Scarlett is thankful for all she is given, even if the Bashir Family cannot include her in everything.
As time goes on she develops into a strong and independent young woman who know exactly what she wants out of life. But things in life are not always what they appear to be, and Annika's older brother Dev turns out to be so much more than Scarlett had ever imagined he would be.
This story was well written and really showed different layers of each character and how they approach the world when life throws curves at them. Hard to say too much without giving away all the twists and turns, but this was a great read.
April 1, 2015
I'm so ready to see what happen next
June 24, 2015
Wow
This was an incredible book. The story was absolutely wonderful and the characters were amazing. I most definitely will look for the next book in this series.
This was an incredible book. The story was absolutely wonderful and the characters were amazing. I most definitely will look for the next book in this series.
October 24, 2015
This was a really quick read, but I wasn't into the story, it would have been great if some things were elongated or further touched on. Going to try a different book by Kennedy.
May 4, 2016
Easy romance reading. Eh.
June 20, 2016
It wasn't perfect but it was cute. I liked it. Will review soon.
October 14, 2022
Very good read. Reminded me of when I was in my early twenties.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews