The Marriage GameBy: Sara Desai
Release Date: June 9, 2020
Publisher: Berkley
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Source: eARC from the publisher in exchange for a honest review
Book Summary:
A high stakes wager pits an aspiring entrepreneur against a ruthless CEO in this sexy romantic comedy.
After her life falls apart, recruitment consultant Layla Patel returns home to her family in San Francisco. But in the eyes of her father, who runs a Michelin starred restaurant, she can do no wrong. He would do anything to see her smile again. With the best intentions in mind, he offers her the office upstairs to start her new business and creates a profile on an online dating site to find her a man. She doesn’t know he’s arranged a series of blind dates until the first one comes knocking on her door…
As CEO of a corporate downsizing company Sam Mehta is more used to conflict than calm. In search of a quiet new office, he finds the perfect space above a cozy Indian restaurant that smells like home. But when communication goes awry, he's forced to share his space with the owner's beautiful yet infuriating daughter Layla, her crazy family, and a parade of hopeful suitors, all of whom threaten to disrupt his carefully ordered life.
As they face off in close quarters, the sarcasm and sparks fly. But when the battle for the office becomes a battle of the heart, Sam and Layla have to decide if this is love or just a game.
A high stakes wager pits an aspiring entrepreneur against a ruthless CEO in this sexy romantic comedy.
After her life falls apart, recruitment consultant Layla Patel returns home to her family in San Francisco. But in the eyes of her father, who runs a Michelin starred restaurant, she can do no wrong. He would do anything to see her smile again. With the best intentions in mind, he offers her the office upstairs to start her new business and creates a profile on an online dating site to find her a man. She doesn’t know he’s arranged a series of blind dates until the first one comes knocking on her door…
As CEO of a corporate downsizing company Sam Mehta is more used to conflict than calm. In search of a quiet new office, he finds the perfect space above a cozy Indian restaurant that smells like home. But when communication goes awry, he's forced to share his space with the owner's beautiful yet infuriating daughter Layla, her crazy family, and a parade of hopeful suitors, all of whom threaten to disrupt his carefully ordered life.
As they face off in close quarters, the sarcasm and sparks fly. But when the battle for the office becomes a battle of the heart, Sam and Layla have to decide if this is love or just a game.
My Thoughts:
The Marriage Game was a fun, sexy, and sizzling rom-com! I love venturing in to stories that immerse me in another culture, delectable cuisine, a large close, boisterous, and entertaining family, and of course a romance where the individuals know how to exchange witty, sarcastic, lively, and snarky banter as a form of verbal foreplay!
Layla Patel leaves the big apple, and returns to San Francisco, when things don't work out with her boyfriend and her job. Her father promises her the upstairs office, as she aspires to get her new business up and running. However, before he knew that she was coming home, he had already promised the office to Sam Mehta.
Unbeknownst to Layla, her father had set up ten blind dates for his daughter, because he wanted her to be happy. Love hasn't worked out for her thus far, so she doesn't see the harm in arranged meetings.
Now Layla and Sam have struck a deal. Sam will help her vet her dates, and if he can assist her in making a promising match, he can have the office to himself. If he isn't successful in this endeavor, then Layla will get to have the office to herself; and so the Marriage Game begins...
I loved the whole "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," feel when it came to all of Layla's interfering, but well-intentioned "aunties." Layla and Sam were opposites in many ways. Layla was fun, warm, loyal, impulsive, passionate, and liked to fly by the seat of her pants. She had curves, which gave her a more realistic and relatable feel. Sam was quiet, conservative, and a lot more rigid in his behavior and thinking. He was very loyal to his family, especially younger sister, Nisha. He had a lot of guilt for feeling like he had not protected her, and therefore, he kept everyone at arms length, and didn't think he deserved happiness. As much as Layla drove him crazy, as he did her, the attraction these two had for one another, began to grow in to something more!
In The Marriage Game, we got sparks, heat, laughs, and a whole lot of fun, in a story that is sure to entertain!
About the Author:
Sara Desai has been a lawyer, radio DJ, marathon runner, historian, bouncer and librarian. She lives on Vancouver Island with her husband, kids and an assortment of forest creatures who think they are pets. Sara writes sexy romantic comedy and contemporary romance with a multicultural twist. When not laughing at her own jokes, Sara can be found eating nachos. Visit Sara at www.saradesai.com
Oh I always love books like that to have a good and fun time
ReplyDeleteMe too :)
DeleteI loved this book. It had me laughing out loud, and that ending was fantastic.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, the ending was fantastic!
DeleteI also Love books that take me someplace or somewhere culturally different too thanks Lindy she's a new to me author and I'm going to check this out
ReplyDeleteThat's great Debbie :)
DeleteI think in my younger years I would have been really irritated if my family had tried to set me up on dates.
ReplyDeleteYeah, but it sure makes for a fun story!
DeleteThis sounds like it has so much going for it: the meddling family, the great banter (I love good banter!), and Layla sounds so relatable.
ReplyDeleteYes, it had a lot of fun and entertaining aspects to it :)
DeleteOh man, that is a fun set up and I like the sound of those interfering aunties. Great review, Lindy!
ReplyDeleteSounds like this would be a great weekend and summer read!
ReplyDeleteYes, it was!
DeleteAww, this one sounds super cute! This is definitely going on my TBR!
ReplyDeleteIt was really cute :)
DeleteThis sounds so good. I love books set in other countries or with different cultures represented (and obviously we have the latter here). I think I'd really enjoy this one!
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
That's great Lauren!
DeleteThis is a fun premise! Interfering "aunties" sound like a hoot. I can already tell Sam and Layla get together. Glad to hear you enjoyed the story! Fab review, Lindy! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Rachel :)
Delete