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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
if a book has a heist it's automatically at least a 4 stars
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reading copy! This was a fun, thoughtful, and steamy adventure romance by veteran writer Alisha Rai. Mira is an accountant who dumped a lawyer Naveen years ago, but reconnects with him when her aunt dies and he is reading the will. At this meeting, Mira’s sordid family past catches up with her, thrusting her and Naveen into a crime packed adventure in Las Vegas. Can they make it through this caper while also remembering why they fell in love years ago?
I have been on a streak of reading a lot of contemporary second chance books, and I really don’t like this trope - but yet I keep trying. Saying that, I thought this book was fun and I liked the exciting ending. I think Rai is a good writer and I haven’t read an adventure romance like this in a while, and it was overall fun. One of my favorite things about this book was the sweet body positivity, with them both being so attracted to each other - I love that in a romance. I also enjoyed that Naveen was a recovering alcoholic - my husband also doesn’t drink, so I liked seeing this plot line. Sometimes the chemistry between Mira and Naveen felt a little off and the book pacing was weirdly slow for this kind of romp, but I think this is mostly to do with the challenge of balancing adventure, familial drama, and romance. Overall I enjoyed this book, and I do recommend this book to fans of contemporary adventure romance, second chance love, and Alisha Rai.
I have been on a streak of reading a lot of contemporary second chance books, and I really don’t like this trope - but yet I keep trying. Saying that, I thought this book was fun and I liked the exciting ending. I think Rai is a good writer and I haven’t read an adventure romance like this in a while, and it was overall fun. One of my favorite things about this book was the sweet body positivity, with them both being so attracted to each other - I love that in a romance. I also enjoyed that Naveen was a recovering alcoholic - my husband also doesn’t drink, so I liked seeing this plot line. Sometimes the chemistry between Mira and Naveen felt a little off and the book pacing was weirdly slow for this kind of romp, but I think this is mostly to do with the challenge of balancing adventure, familial drama, and romance. Overall I enjoyed this book, and I do recommend this book to fans of contemporary adventure romance, second chance love, and Alisha Rai.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There were twists and turns! It read like one of those spy romcom movies and it was great.
Ok read.
First time reading this author and is been a good start, the story was ok, I listened on audiobook, maybe next time I’ll read a kindle or paperback.
First time reading this author and is been a good start, the story was ok, I listened on audiobook, maybe next time I’ll read a kindle or paperback.
ARC e-book via NetGalley
Provided by Avon & Harper Voyager
Publication: 18 Oct 2022
I had read Alisha Rai's "Modern Love" trilogy (The Right Swipe; Girl Gone Viral; and First Comes Like) and really enjoyed it, so jumped at the chance to read her next book.
I was expecting a fairly 'standard' rom-com style plot, so felt a little surprised when we took a screeching turn into a crime-laced caper, but I just went along for the ride and had a fun time along the way. (This situation was of my own making - going in, on purpose, with zero reading of the blurb in advance!) The characters of Mira and Naveen were interesting; I particularly liked that Mira had a career as an accountant (I think bakers, cupcake makers, influencers and event planners, though fine careers, are significantly over-represented in this genre & I always do a little silent cheer when I encounter an engineer, accountant, scientist etc as the female romance lead. #goSTEMCareers ). I also knew I was going to get along with Mira when I read the line, "Mira didn't fuck with clothes that didn't have pockets." (Ch. 1). Right on, Mira.
I liked how they are a little bit older (mid thirties) and this is a 2nd chance romance -- the piecemeal filling in history of their 1st go-round as they are on their current caper is well done. Both main characters had their flaws and there were plenty of gray areas in their and other characters' behaviors & backgrounds which was great. However, sometimes Mira and Naveen's actions & reactions to the really harrowing situations they got into seemed unrealistic and at times feels like their rekindled relationship is missing a little something - growth/oomph/spark?
The whole kidnapping-stolen-jewels-on-the-run plot line is wild, fun and exciting, and becomes a bit over the top? madcap? Particularly at one point near the end... (you'll know it when you get to it). It stays juuuust this side of slapstick (e.g. "Dial A for Aunties"), which is good because I hated Dial A... I found the string of 'clues' at times a bit foggy -- not really as taut or logical as I wanted -- (like they really knew how to get to the next point/person/contact based on a vague line in a note), whereas other obvious clues were missed.
Overall, most of my negatives are quibbles, and the bottom line is, this was a fun read: just take your disbelief, suspend it, and read on for a big dose of zany-wild-crazy-crime-spree and a bit of romance. I think fans of Rai will enjoy it but maybe not rank it as their all time favorite of hers. That's how I felt, and I will definitely pick up Rai's next book - excited for her YA coming out later this year and hopeful this one will spin into a series -- maybe we will get Alan's story next? or Sejal?
Provided by Avon & Harper Voyager
Publication: 18 Oct 2022
I had read Alisha Rai's "Modern Love" trilogy (The Right Swipe; Girl Gone Viral; and First Comes Like) and really enjoyed it, so jumped at the chance to read her next book.
I was expecting a fairly 'standard' rom-com style plot, so felt a little surprised when we took a screeching turn into a crime-laced caper, but I just went along for the ride and had a fun time along the way. (This situation was of my own making - going in, on purpose, with zero reading of the blurb in advance!) The characters of Mira and Naveen were interesting; I particularly liked that Mira had a career as an accountant (I think bakers, cupcake makers, influencers and event planners, though fine careers, are significantly over-represented in this genre & I always do a little silent cheer when I encounter an engineer, accountant, scientist etc as the female romance lead. #goSTEMCareers ). I also knew I was going to get along with Mira when I read the line, "Mira didn't fuck with clothes that didn't have pockets." (Ch. 1). Right on, Mira.
I liked how they are a little bit older (mid thirties) and this is a 2nd chance romance -- the piecemeal filling in history of their 1st go-round as they are on their current caper is well done. Both main characters had their flaws and there were plenty of gray areas in their and other characters' behaviors & backgrounds which was great. However, sometimes Mira and Naveen's actions & reactions to the really harrowing situations they got into seemed unrealistic and at times feels like their rekindled relationship is missing a little something - growth/oomph/spark?
The whole kidnapping-stolen-jewels-on-the-run plot line is wild, fun and exciting, and becomes a bit over the top? madcap? Particularly at one point near the end... (you'll know it when you get to it). It stays juuuust this side of slapstick (e.g. "Dial A for Aunties"), which is good because I hated Dial A... I found the string of 'clues' at times a bit foggy -- not really as taut or logical as I wanted -- (like they really knew how to get to the next point/person/contact based on a vague line in a note), whereas other obvious clues were missed.
Overall, most of my negatives are quibbles, and the bottom line is, this was a fun read: just take your disbelief, suspend it, and read on for a big dose of zany-wild-crazy-crime-spree and a bit of romance. I think fans of Rai will enjoy it but maybe not rank it as their all time favorite of hers. That's how I felt, and I will definitely pick up Rai's next book - excited for her YA coming out later this year and hopeful this one will spin into a series -- maybe we will get Alan's story next? or Sejal?