This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Published by Harlequin Desire
Released on January 1, 2021
Pages: 217
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
The Delight
He planned to crash a wedding and ends up running away with the wrong bride. A pair of opposites gave way to the impulse of the moment and go on an adventure of discovery together. After enjoying Arjun’s story, I was glad to meet one of his siblings who is eager to taste life even while respecting family in a new entry in the series.
Review
Running Away with the Bride is a standalone second book in the Nights at the Mahal series featuring the Singh family.
Ethan Connors was an average working class guy until his tech and company was wildly successful and put him in the billionaire jet set. He’s still the same guy with a dream of having a close family of loving wife and kids. Unfortunately, the woman he thought he loved is marrying another and he’s just now stopped hesitating on asking her to marry him- on her wedding day. When he busts into a lavish Vegas Indian wedding, he is appalled to realize he got the wrong place. But then the bride stuns him by playing along and running off with him onto his plane and out of Vegas. Then the shocks keep coming when he decides to help her even after she closely examined his actions and gave him some home truths about his issues and why he keeps striking out with women. Meanwhile, he can’t believe how quickly he is over his ex-girlfriend and intrigued by Divya. She’s outspoken, confused about what she wants, and wants to honor family all at the same time. How could it ever work?
Divya has chafed at the restraints her parents have put on her life and their expectations for her future that do not coincide with her own. She’s got her legal degree and only gets to practice law in the family business and that is until she is married to a man arranged by her parents. She wants to do so many things- to live out in the world and see what there is to see- before she must conform to expectation. She thought she could marry Vivek until Ethan crashed her wedding and now insanely, she is ticking off her dreams with Ethan at her side and knowing that back in Vegas she left a shocked family. Will they still accept her as family? Can there ever be something with the attractive, supportive Ethan who has issue of his own from his past blocking his way to the altar?
Running Away with the Bride started on a hilarious and shocking bang. I had a good time being introduced to both characters in this way. The scene in Vegas was so vivid as were the consecutive scenes beginning with Divya singing at a NYC night club’s open mic. From the start this pair had an obvious connection even if they were total strangers. There is something to be said about the ease of confessing deep stuff to a stranger. The pair were exploring their issues with marriage and relationships, family, and their flaws and fears from the beginning. They struggled, but there is also an obvious supportiveness when they faced their personal issues and loyalty even in a new relationship like theirs that was satisfying.
As they spent Ethan’s ‘honeymoon’ and hers as well finding themselves and a new chance, it was reflective, conflicting, and sultry. They both had to decide who they were and what they really wanted. There is a twist and it was predictable once it happened, but I’ve been reading distracted lately so I only remembered the cues when it was upon me. I didn’t care that it was predictable because I was enjoying the story, setting, and their diverse backgrounds. As with Marriage By Arrangement, the author painted a lavish and colorful backdrop of modern Indian tradition that was the frosting on an already delicious story.
All in all, it read lightly and quickly though not lacking in sensual romance and plot. It was a luxurious world and I hope the author keeps going with more Singh family romances. Definitely recommend to those who want a diverse contemporary romance experience.
My thanks to Harlequin for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Challenges Met
New Release #113
COYER Quarantine #198
About the Book
RUNNING AWAY WITH THE BRIDE BY SOPHIA SINGH SASSON
Stop the wedding! Steal the bride!
And fall for a perfect stranger?
Billionaire Ethan Connors vows to stop his ex’s wedding so they can be together. But crashing the wrong nuptials and spiriting away the wrong wife-to-be is more than he bargained for! Divya Singh is beautiful, talented, passionate…and from a traditional Indian family who won’t accept him as a match for their daughter. Can Divya and Ethan’s unexpected relationship stay the course or will one of them run again?
From Harlequin Desire: Luxury, scandal, desire—welcome to the lives of the American elite.
Nights at the Mahal
Preview
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Oh my! What a great premise for a story. I love that it was a hit… I’ve got my eye on it now. Thanks.
I enjoyed the first book, but this one had a lighter, playful extra quality that had me smiling a lot. Hope you get the chance, Jen!
Wow, that sounds really fun. Runs away with the wrong bride and she goes along with it. lol
Yes, it had me cracking up. 🙂
Excellent review! There is a lot here including some cultural aspects.
Yes, that’s what I like about this series. 🙂
Isn’t it so fun to have a book start out with such a fun beginning?? It really sets the pacing so well for the reader. Sounds like a good read you have here. Happy to see you enjoyed it.
It sure is, Renee. It wasn’t a comedy so there weren’t a bunch of humorous moments, but that first one sort of set the tone for this pair who had a lot to figure out about themselves and each other.
Sounds like a blast!
It sure was, Carole!
Oh I like the sound of this! run-away bride! 😉
It was a great opener to the story. 🙂