Series:
Once Upon a Wedding (Book 4)
She's got his attention. Now she wants his company.
The balance sheet of Reena Pandya's life is currently in
the red. One bad business decision has cost her her relationship, and now she
stands to lose the family business to her ex, Akash Gupta. Tough but not
ruthless, Akash is giving Reena a chance to earn back the business -- and
possibly his heart. Reena knows she can turn a profit. But will she succeed at
matters of the heart?
Good book. Reena appeared in the previous book,
No Rings Attached, as the catalyst that brought Sonny and Sangeeta together. Ever since
she was a little girl, Reena wanted to be the one to run the family's hotel
when she grew up. Her laser focus on this goal skewed her priorities. At the
end of the previous book, we saw that she was willing to allow a wedding that
would save the hotel financially go forward, even though she knew the groom was
cheating on the bride. That decision had far-reaching complications.
In this book, we discover Reena and the bride's brother,
Akash, had been in a secret relationship for six months. After meeting and
connecting in Vegas, they continued to see each other back in Maryland. Each had
opened up to the other about their dreams. Reena and her desire to run the
family hotel, her plans for it, and that the hotel is struggling financially.
Akash is part of his father's real estate firm but dreams of branching out on
his own. He disapproves of his father's methods but can't change them. Their feelings
for each other are strong, and each has visions of a future together.
When Akash discovers Reena's part in his sister's wedding
disaster, he is understandably hurt, angry, and disgusted. That Reena would put
business ahead of people and their feelings made him believe he didn't know her
as well as he thought. She was stunned when he ended their relationship over
it, as she believed he would understand her actions.
Because of that bad decision, the hotel and Reena's
dreams are in trouble. She is shocked when she finds out her father has acquired
an investor who will buy fifty-one percent of the hotel, giving them the money needed
to solve most of their issues. Reena is stunned to discover that the investor
is Akash, who now has the power to help or hinder her plans. If they are going
to make a success of the partnership, they will have to find a way to work
together.
I spent much of this book wanting to shake Reena and tell
her she was being a selfish witch. Her methods of saving the hotel made her a
terrible boss, and she was well on the way to losing everything. Akash has a
much clearer idea of what needs to be done and the heart to see it done correctly.
It takes both Akash and Reena's intern, Kirti, to open her eyes to the changes
she needs to make. Once Reena changes her attitude, there is no stopping her,
and I enjoyed seeing her reach her full potential. I especially enjoyed the
scene where Reena's apology to a wronged employee became a surprise benefit for
the hotel.
I enjoyed watching the rekindling of the relationship
between Reena and Akash. It isn't a smooth journey. Both have issues that make
believing in a future together hard to picture. Reena's "business before
everything else" leaves Akash feeling that he isn't important to her.
Meanwhile, Akash has abandonment issues that have made it difficult for him to
believe that successful relationships are possible. Each tries to subdue the
sparks of attraction between them and keep to a business-only relationship. The
more time they spend together, the harder it is to ignore them and the feelings
that never disappear. It takes effort and self-examination to overcome the
fears that held them back. I liked Akash's big moment at the end and seeing him
expose his heart and show Reena that despite everything, they belong together.
The epilogue was terrific, especially the surprises Reena and Akash had for
each other.
Family, and family expectations, are a big part of this
book. Reena has dealt with the pressure of her mother's expectations all her
life. Her mother's attitude and influence were at the heart of Reena's problems.
Because of her actions, Reena also has ground to make up with her brother,
Sonny. I liked seeing the changes in her as the book went on. Akash had issues
stemming from his parents' divorce as a child. His childhood perceptions
created a rift with his mother that affected his views of relationships. I
liked Reena's influence on Akash and how she encouraged him to look deeper into
those memories. There were some terrific scenes involving Akash and various family
members, adding to the book's emotional impact.
I also enjoyed the glimpses into the Indian culture of
the main characters. Descriptions of the food, clothing, and traditions added depth
to the story. I'm looking forward to reading more of the author's books.
No comments:
Post a Comment