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Misguided Masala Matchmaker #1
A Hard Yes
Is it a love for the ages or just a season?
Rohan Kapoor is the golden boy of Charlotte. As a newly minted cardiothoracic surgeon with several prestigious job offers, potential brides eagerly line up when his parents—pillars in their Indian American community—hire a matchmaker. Even his favorite cousin Rani has a plan to divine his perfect match. But Rohan’s not looking for a bride, and then he takes a wrong turn, meeting a woman who changes the way he feels about everything.
After years of traveling and painting commissioned murals, artist Solei Beals wants to plant roots now that she’s been hired as a high school art teacher. She meets Rohan at an art festival, and the attraction sizzles. During the festival of Holi, Solei admits she’s fallen in love with a man who’s made it clear he’s not free to commit beyond spring.
As summer teases, Rohan’s family obligations and expectations create a barrier Solei’s not sure he’s willing to breach. And if Rohan’s not willing to fight for her or the life he says he wants, why should she?
Rohan Kapoor is the golden boy of Charlotte. As a newly minted cardiothoracic surgeon with several prestigious job offers, potential brides eagerly line up when his parents—pillars in their Indian American community—hire a matchmaker. Even his favorite cousin Rani has a plan to divine his perfect match. But Rohan’s not looking for a bride, and then he takes a wrong turn, meeting a woman who changes the way he feels about everything.
After years of traveling and painting commissioned murals, artist Solei Beals wants to plant roots now that she’s been hired as a high school art teacher. She meets Rohan at an art festival, and the attraction sizzles. During the festival of Holi, Solei admits she’s fallen in love with a man who’s made it clear he’s not free to commit beyond spring.
As summer teases, Rohan’s family obligations and expectations create a barrier Solei’s not sure he’s willing to breach. And if Rohan’s not willing to fight for her or the life he says he wants, why should she?
382 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 3, 2022
14 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 4, 2022
I loved this. My brother married into a large, boisterous Indian-American clan in the Southeast, and my Japanese mother-in-law tried to get my now-husband to marry through a matchmaker while he was dating me, so I found all of this relatable and believable.
Solei and Rohan are interesting, multifaceted characters, and the heat between them was five chili-peppers. I was happy to read a story in which a couple of different backgrounds and races didn't give up on their love. Can't wait to read more about the Kapoor family!
Solei and Rohan are interesting, multifaceted characters, and the heat between them was five chili-peppers. I was happy to read a story in which a couple of different backgrounds and races didn't give up on their love. Can't wait to read more about the Kapoor family!
April 5, 2022
A great start to an amazing new series.
You will love this big Indian American family. They are fun and quirky and I just couldn’t get enough of them.
In this book we meet Rohan Kapoor (and I have to admit, I might have a slight crush on him). He is the perfect man. He is well dressed, a doctor and knows what he wants in life. But he is afraid to go against what his parents expect of him; in this case, working at his father’s practice, a wife from a good Indian family, and children. But Rohan doesn’t want to be matched with someone he doesn’t love. He has found the woman of his dreams all on his own. The only problems is, she isn’t Indian and Rohan is afraid to introduce her to his family.
Solei Beals is living the life she wants. She has finally made a name for herself in the urban art industry. People across the country want her to paint for them. She is also a teacher. When she meets Rohan, she swears she has never seen a more beautiful man. But Solei has been hurt in the past and is leery of a relationship. Throwing caution to the wind, she decides it’s time to give love another chance. What Solei didn’t expect was to fall so hard for Rohan, and the fact that Rohan’s family has goals they set for him and they expect him to carry them out. Now it’s up to Rohan and Solei to show his family how in love they are and that they are meant to be together.
You will love this big Indian American family. They are fun and quirky and I just couldn’t get enough of them.
In this book we meet Rohan Kapoor (and I have to admit, I might have a slight crush on him). He is the perfect man. He is well dressed, a doctor and knows what he wants in life. But he is afraid to go against what his parents expect of him; in this case, working at his father’s practice, a wife from a good Indian family, and children. But Rohan doesn’t want to be matched with someone he doesn’t love. He has found the woman of his dreams all on his own. The only problems is, she isn’t Indian and Rohan is afraid to introduce her to his family.
Solei Beals is living the life she wants. She has finally made a name for herself in the urban art industry. People across the country want her to paint for them. She is also a teacher. When she meets Rohan, she swears she has never seen a more beautiful man. But Solei has been hurt in the past and is leery of a relationship. Throwing caution to the wind, she decides it’s time to give love another chance. What Solei didn’t expect was to fall so hard for Rohan, and the fact that Rohan’s family has goals they set for him and they expect him to carry them out. Now it’s up to Rohan and Solei to show his family how in love they are and that they are meant to be together.
May 4, 2022
Rohan Kapoor, the golden boy of a prominent East Coast Indian American family, is carrying the weight of his family’s expectations for his career, his priorities, and his future wife. Solei Beals is the sunny, free-spirited art teacher who simultaneously manages to turn his life upside down, while also finally making everything make sense. This engaging love story is the perfect combination of romantic and realistic. The attraction and respect between Rohan and Solei is never in doubt, but the real world issues of cultural differences, familial duty, distance, job logistics, and misperceptions are never minimized, thus giving genuine tension to their very relatable story.
This charming novel feels bright and fun, but also has significant depths. Solei is grounded and sure of herself, and acts as a support and balance for Rohan’s increasing awareness of who he is, what he wants his life to be, and who he wants to spend it with. The author, Sinclair Jayne Sawhney, develops both the setting and the supporting characters beautifully, adding humor, drama, context, insight, and some thought-provoking relationship questions (thanks, Cousin Rani!). I’m looking forward to spending more time with them as the Misguided Masala Matchmaker series continues!
This charming novel feels bright and fun, but also has significant depths. Solei is grounded and sure of herself, and acts as a support and balance for Rohan’s increasing awareness of who he is, what he wants his life to be, and who he wants to spend it with. The author, Sinclair Jayne Sawhney, develops both the setting and the supporting characters beautifully, adding humor, drama, context, insight, and some thought-provoking relationship questions (thanks, Cousin Rani!). I’m looking forward to spending more time with them as the Misguided Masala Matchmaker series continues!
May 3, 2022
A Hard Yes (Misguided Masala Matchmaker #1) by Sinclair Jayne Sawhney is a look at the clash between a son, culture, and family traditions. For most of us who we marry is up to the individual but for Rohan Kapoor his Indian American family have expectations of who he should marry. So much so that a matchmaker has been hired. Rohan had made his family proud with his medical school and career as cardiothoracic surgeon, now they want the perfect family cultural bride. While they are looking he falls for someone that they would not have chosen.
I like artist Solei’s confidence, belief in her artistic abilities and her strong sense of self. I like how she knows that if love is true Rohan shouldn’t be needing to make a choice. On Rohan’s side he may have seemed like the perfect catch but maybe not with lots of angst and drama on his part not to challenge the family way of doing things. I wanted him to choose Solei from the start.
A great look at Indian culture, traditions, and food. May true love always win.
An ARC of the book was given to me by Tule Publishing which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I like artist Solei’s confidence, belief in her artistic abilities and her strong sense of self. I like how she knows that if love is true Rohan shouldn’t be needing to make a choice. On Rohan’s side he may have seemed like the perfect catch but maybe not with lots of angst and drama on his part not to challenge the family way of doing things. I wanted him to choose Solei from the start.
A great look at Indian culture, traditions, and food. May true love always win.
An ARC of the book was given to me by Tule Publishing which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 12, 2022
While I enjoyed A Hard Yes, I really struggled with the controlling, shallow and materialistic focus of Rohan Kapoor’s family. I simply could not get my head around the notion either that a man in his thirties would bow to his mother’s wishes and allow a matchmaker to find him a wife, nor that his mother and the rest of his family would expect this. I do understand that this is a cultural thing but it was still hard to understand.
I loved Solei, though I really wished her name had the “l” on the end of her name given that its given meaning was said to be French for sun. The French word is actually “soleil”.
On to the story and I was blown away by Solei’s talent, her approach to creating art and her approach to live in general. I really didn’t warm to Rohan because he was a grown man who for most of this book behaveed like a child. Thankfully he redeemed himself at the end. Overall I enjoyed this story but clearly I have a long way to go in learning to understand and accept Punjabi culture.
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May 4, 2022A Great Beginning to a Fun New Series
The Kapoor family has always had high expectations. Rohan Kapoor has always met them. College. Medical school. A prestigious combined residency and fellowship. All stepping stones on the path to an appropriate marriage to the right bride and a life just like his parents’. Rohan dutifully stays in his appointed lane, until Solei Beals bursts into his life with an explosion of color.
Rohan and Solei are both on the verge of making life-defining decisions about their future when they meet. Their journey as a couple as they reveal more of themselves to each other feels authentic and relatable. Solei’s confidence and joy in her art gives Rohan a new way to see himself, a lens to look through as he tries to learn what kind of life will bring him joy.
I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for the rest of the Kapoors!
I was generously provided an ARC of this book by Tule Publishing.
The Kapoor family has always had high expectations. Rohan Kapoor has always met them. College. Medical school. A prestigious combined residency and fellowship. All stepping stones on the path to an appropriate marriage to the right bride and a life just like his parents’. Rohan dutifully stays in his appointed lane, until Solei Beals bursts into his life with an explosion of color.
Rohan and Solei are both on the verge of making life-defining decisions about their future when they meet. Their journey as a couple as they reveal more of themselves to each other feels authentic and relatable. Solei’s confidence and joy in her art gives Rohan a new way to see himself, a lens to look through as he tries to learn what kind of life will bring him joy.
I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for the rest of the Kapoors!
I was generously provided an ARC of this book by Tule Publishing.
July 9, 2022
I enjoyed A Hard YEs -- for one thing, it's one of the few rom coms I've read centered around an East Indian family that actually explains what some of the customs and words mean! That may sound silly but to me it was a huge help. The story is interesting -- handsome, successful doctor from a wealthy and close knit family meets a woman who is so outside his culture it's ridiculous and falls in love with her -- all the while trying to evade his family's determination to marry him off to someone the matchmaker has recommended for him. And, of course, he doesn't tell her any of this because if he did, where would the conflict be?
The only hard to believe part (spoiler alert) is when he finally grows a pair and tells his parents he wants to marry this woman and they do a quick 180 and accept her totally, which doesn't seem at all realistic based on everything else in the book.
But either way it's a good story and I recommend it.
The only hard to believe part (spoiler alert) is when he finally grows a pair and tells his parents he wants to marry this woman and they do a quick 180 and accept her totally, which doesn't seem at all realistic based on everything else in the book.
But either way it's a good story and I recommend it.
July 31, 2025
A Hard Yes? More like a Hard Yes, please and thank you.
This book gave me everything I love about opposites-attract romances.
Rohan is all structure and precision—his life planned down to the minute, thanks to his (very involved) parents. He’s on track to join a top clinic, and while he may be quietly stressed and craving freedom, he’d never admit it.
Then Solei bursts into his world like a boho fairy godmother—sunshine, good vibes, and murals in her wake. She lives with open hands and an open heart, and Rohan doesn’t stand a chance.
The chemistry? Chef’s kiss.
The banter? Sharp, funny, and loaded with slow-burn tension.
And the feels? Delivered with a side of spice—just like Rohan’s Nanima’s signature dish.
If you love sun-meets-storm energy, grounded emotional arcs, and characters who genuinely grow together, this one’s a hard yes from me.
This book gave me everything I love about opposites-attract romances.
Rohan is all structure and precision—his life planned down to the minute, thanks to his (very involved) parents. He’s on track to join a top clinic, and while he may be quietly stressed and craving freedom, he’d never admit it.
Then Solei bursts into his world like a boho fairy godmother—sunshine, good vibes, and murals in her wake. She lives with open hands and an open heart, and Rohan doesn’t stand a chance.
The chemistry? Chef’s kiss.
The banter? Sharp, funny, and loaded with slow-burn tension.
And the feels? Delivered with a side of spice—just like Rohan’s Nanima’s signature dish.
If you love sun-meets-storm energy, grounded emotional arcs, and characters who genuinely grow together, this one’s a hard yes from me.
April 11, 2022
Such a fun and lovely story filled with Indian traditions and food. Can a man set to start his life after completing his residency be able to chart his own life or will family traditions and dictates do it for him? Such a conundrum faces Rohan when he meets Solei, artist extraordinaire and non-Indian. Love bites them both but his family’s demands cut deep.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 3, 2022
What a great start to this new series. I found it to be a fun and heartwarming read. I found it to be really interesting reading about a culture that I really did not know anything about. The story line kept me turning the pages and I thought the author did a great job with the character development. I look forward to reading the next book in this series. I voluntarily reviewed this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 4, 2022
What a great story! Ms. Sawhney does a fantastic job mixing the Indian culture with modern-day romance, giving us a fun ride through the ups and downs of Solei and Rohan's journey to love. I loved all the insider look into a big Indian family--you will, too! Enjoy! Enjoy!
May 5, 2022
Solei and Rohan have a chance meeting that changes both of their courses in life. Their love story is everything I hope for in a romance novel. The chemistry is fantastic and the ending is as yummy as happy as you could hope for. Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC.
October 12, 2024
This was so much fun!! I saw myself in Rohan...ok not the gorgeous golden prince of a surgeon, but someone who is knotted up with guilt over wanting something different for themselves but not wanting to let people down. And Solei, gosh I love her so much. She is amazing. This was a beautiful book!!
April 23, 2022
This is a amazing read, I am looking forward to the next in the series.
May 2, 2024
Really enjoyed it. She got the Indian family dynamics down to a T unlike many of the other Indian romance books out there.
January 23, 2023
I received this arc of A Hard Yes from Tule Publishing in exchange for an honest review. This is the first book in Sinclair Jane Sawhney’s first book in her new series, Misguided Masala Matchmaker. What a wonderful book! I couldn’t put it down. The author shared some of the Indian customs that are found in the tight knit community in Charlotte, North Carolina. Book one is Rohan Kapoor’s story. He is from a prominent family. He is an only child and the golden one. His parents are both well known doctors and he is finishing up his residency in a very challenging specialty, cardiothoracic surgery. He is part of a large extended family and he is very close to his 3 female cousins. As the book opens, one of them just had her wedding called off days before it was set to take place. So the family is feeling disgraced.
Rohan’s mother has decided to get the other families attention off their bad luck by hiring a matchmaker to find Rohan a suitable wife. He is totally opposed to this but unfortunately for his whole life, he has done what his parents wanted. His family ignores his protests about getting married. He is also supposed to accept a position working in his dad’s practice but wants to spread his wings and go elsewhere. He is reluctant to upset his parents on either matter. He is living and working about 2 hours away from his family.
As he is in town for the failed wedding, he goes with another cousin to an art fair and meets Solei Beals, who is doing a painting demonstration. It is love at first sight for them. They hang out together until his cousin finds him and starts questioning Solei. He learns she is a successful artist and finds her refreshing and fascinating. They keep in touch and visit each other. Rohan is struggling with what to do. He has totally fallen for Solei but he is supposed to choose a bride from the women the matchmaker presents to him. Solei is a free spirit, having grown up with parents who didn’t put down roots. She has been been teaching this year and has decided she would like to try and stay in Charlotte and teach. She isn’t sure where he plans to go after graduation. The two are afraid to let the other know the secrets they have or the plans they are making for the future. As she is not Indian, he has been afraid to introduce her to his parents. There is a lot of angst and suspense over what Rohan will do and how Solei will react to his plans.
This book has been delightful. I enjoyed learning about the Indian-American family and their culture. I also really liked the characters. Rohan and Solei are genuine, warm and pleasant. The 3 cousins seem to be quirky, fun and loyal. The story was well written and romantic. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. I’ve given it 5 stars.
Rohan’s mother has decided to get the other families attention off their bad luck by hiring a matchmaker to find Rohan a suitable wife. He is totally opposed to this but unfortunately for his whole life, he has done what his parents wanted. His family ignores his protests about getting married. He is also supposed to accept a position working in his dad’s practice but wants to spread his wings and go elsewhere. He is reluctant to upset his parents on either matter. He is living and working about 2 hours away from his family.
As he is in town for the failed wedding, he goes with another cousin to an art fair and meets Solei Beals, who is doing a painting demonstration. It is love at first sight for them. They hang out together until his cousin finds him and starts questioning Solei. He learns she is a successful artist and finds her refreshing and fascinating. They keep in touch and visit each other. Rohan is struggling with what to do. He has totally fallen for Solei but he is supposed to choose a bride from the women the matchmaker presents to him. Solei is a free spirit, having grown up with parents who didn’t put down roots. She has been been teaching this year and has decided she would like to try and stay in Charlotte and teach. She isn’t sure where he plans to go after graduation. The two are afraid to let the other know the secrets they have or the plans they are making for the future. As she is not Indian, he has been afraid to introduce her to his parents. There is a lot of angst and suspense over what Rohan will do and how Solei will react to his plans.
This book has been delightful. I enjoyed learning about the Indian-American family and their culture. I also really liked the characters. Rohan and Solei are genuine, warm and pleasant. The 3 cousins seem to be quirky, fun and loyal. The story was well written and romantic. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. I’ve given it 5 stars.
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