The Business Between Them - Mona Shroff (HSE #2994 - July 2023)

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. 

Patriot Games - Tom Clancy (Putnam - Aug 1987)

It is fall. Years before the defection of a Soviet submarine will send him hurtling into confrontation with the Soviets, historian, ex-Marine and CIA analyst Jack Ryan is vacationing in London with his wife and young daughter, when a terrorist attack takes place before his eyes. Instinctively, he dives forward to break it up, and is shot. It is not until he wakes up in the hospital that he leans whose lives he has saved -- the Prince and Princess of Wales and their new young son -- and which enemies he has made -- the Ulster Liberation Army, an ultra-left-wing splinter of the IRA.
 
By his impulsive act, he has gained both the gratitude of a nation and then enmity of hits most dangerous men -- men who do not sit on their hate. And in the weeks and months to come, it is Jack Ryan, and his family, who will become the targets of that hate.
 
Sweeping from England to Ireland to America with ever-growing momentum, its suspense steadily intensifying as Ryan must summon all the skills and knowledge at his command to battle back against his nemesis, Patriot Games gives us a remarkable set of characters in the most desperate struggle of their lives. As with Tom Clancy's two previous triumphs, it is both a marvel of the storyteller's art -- and, as the headlines attest, frighteningly real.
 
This was a reread of a book I read when it first came out and several times since then. It starts with a bang as Jack, on a working vacation in London with his family, witnesses a kidnapping attempt on the royal family. His instinctive reaction stopped the attack and put him in the bullseye of revenge.
 
One of the things I enjoy most every time I read this book is the deft mixture of action, darkness, and humor. The opening attack sucked me into the story and kept me on the edge of my seat as Jack rushed into action. Clancy's descriptions are vivid enough that I can picture the events as they happen. The confusion at the scene felt realistic, and I could feel Jack's worry that he'd end up "stuck like a pig" when the good guys showed up. I always laugh at the scenes in the hospital as Jack deals with the doctors (including his wife) and other medical personnel. The scenes with various law enforcement personnel show Jack what he inadvertently got involved in and reveal his razor-sharp mind as he processes what he learns. The scenes with multiple royal family members are good, but my favorite is when he helps the prince work through his feelings about what happened. Though not particularly realistic, it is still a great scene.
 
As the book continues, we get the viewpoints of both the bad guys and the good guys. Jack and his family return home, secure in the knowledge that the bad guy is in jail and terrorists have never attacked on American soil. But the tension ramps up as the bad guy escapes and assorted good guys get a bad feeling about what might happen. Jack is lured into the CIA's sphere as he tries to get a handle on the group behind the attack. Their fears are realized when Jack's wife and daughter are nearly killed in an attack, and only luck prevents Jack from being attacked too. I ached for Jack as he dealt with his feelings of guilt and fear by getting more involved in the case. Jack goes through a lot of self-examination as he tries to reconcile his need for justice with the anger and desire for revenge that he also feels.
 
The tension builds as the book follows the terrorists as they make plans for their next attack. The attention to detail and insights into the various players' motivations were intriguing. At the same time, we see the good guys trying to assemble the puzzle pieces in time to stop whatever is planned.
 
The final confrontation was a nail-biter. It started easy, with the royal visit and some amusing banter between Jack, Robby, and the prince. The chaos of the attack was described so vividly that I felt as though I was there. The escape by boat was exciting, and their arrival at the Academy was tense but also had a few lighter moments. The pursuit of the last of the bad guys had me on the edge of my seat until it was all over. Jack faced a crossroads in his life, and it was interesting to see how he handled it. I loved the ending.
 
One of my favorite lines is as the Superintendent asks Robby who is aboard the ship: "Chief Znamirowski and the duty boat section, Captain Peters and some Marines, Doctor Ryan, and, uh, Captain Wales, sir, of the Royal Navy" "Is that where he is?..."

No Rings Attached - Mona Shroff (HSE #2976 - Apr 2023)

Series: Once Upon a Wedding (Book 3)
 
No love. No commitment. No problem, right?
 
Fleeing her own nuptials wasn't part of wedding planner Sangeeta Parikh's design for her life. Neither was stumbling into chef Sonny Pandya's arms, nor the video that went viral. Now they're an internet sensation! So why not fake the relationship with no commitment? Sangeeta can save face and her job, and Sonny gets needed exposure for his restaurant. It's a good plan for two commitment-phobes…until all that pretend hand-holding and kissing start to feel real.
 
Good second chance story. The book opens on Sangeeta's wedding day, highlighting the preparations to marry her fiancé, Param, but something feels off. Instead of excitement and happiness, she has a sinking feeling of dread. She tries to convince herself it is nerves, but she can't do it when it comes time to walk down the aisle. She takes one look at the open doors and runs the other way, ending up in the alley behind Sonny's restaurant.
 
Sonny and Sangeeta have a history. They'd met at the beach a year earlier when Sangeeta and Param had broken up. For three days, they spent time together, talking about everything and nothing, connecting deeply. But when Param called, Sangeeta returned to him and was engaged shortly after that. But fate wasn't done with them. As Indian parents do, their parents set up an introduction between them, hoping they would suit. But Sonny can't forget how she left him, and Sangeeta is committed to Param, so nothing came of it.
 
Neither was pleased to see the other again. Sonny had worked hard to put his feelings for Sangeeta in the past, and seeing her again stirred them up. For Sangeeta, Sonny reminded her of a beautiful time that didn't fit her life plan. They want nothing more than to see the backs of each other when a video of her arrival at the restaurant goes viral. With what seems like the world looking for her, Sangeeta is stuck at Sonny's for now. Matters become more complicated when Sonny's sister Reena arrives with a plan. If they go along with a fake relationship for two months, it will save Sangeeta's job, boost Sonny's restaurant, and enable Reena to keep the family hotel. All they must do is play-act for a social media influencer who wants them to handle her wedding.
 
I enjoyed watching Sonny and Sangeeta's relationship develop. Because of their deception, they are forced into living and working together. It is rapidly apparent that the sparks between them are still there. Both fight hard against their feelings. Sonny doesn't want to get hurt again, and Sangeeta is convinced it's too soon after her non-wedding to have feelings for Sonny.
 
Sonny has a caring heart, and I loved watching him care for Sangeeta. Much of his love language is food related, and I loved the description of the food he made. I also liked how well he understood her need for plans and how he eased her into trying spontaneity now and then.
 
Sangeeta has been a planner all her life. Sometimes, her plans made me laugh, such as the hiking trip, and others when I wanted to shake her and tell her to lighten up. She had mapped out her life and career, and when things fell apart, she was lost. The chance to get back on track gave her a purpose, while the relationship with Sonny opened her eyes to what she had been missing.
 
As Sonny and Sangeeta got deeper into their deception, the playacting started to feel very real. Their fake dates to keep Asha happy became harder to separate fake from reality. Sonny felt his heart trying to have hope but was afraid to trust. Sangeeta kept fighting against her suspicion that her feelings for Sonny were real. When an unexpected twist made their deception public, both must decide if what they have is worth fighting for. I loved the ending and seeing the changes in both.
 
I enjoyed the family dynamics in this book. The large families are frequently over-involved in each other's business, but the love is undeniable. I understood Sangeeta's frustration with her mother, whose controlling ways contributed to Sangeeta's issues. I especially enjoyed seeing Sangeeta stand up to her at the end. Sonny has a similar problem with his father, as the differences in his and Sonny's visions drive them apart. I have yet to decide about his sister Reena, whose desperate focus on the family hotel started the process. The vibes between her and Akash in this book make me think something is happening there. I'm looking forward to the next book and seeing how it turns out.