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Born into Bollywood #2
The Surprise Bollywood Baby
Bollywood is in for a shock when these ex-lovers are bound together by their baby in this emotional pregnancy romance by Tara Pammi.
Falling for a Bollywood superstar…
…leads to the shock of a lifetime!
For actress Zara Khan, a pretend romance with an old flame, director Virat Raawal, is the ideal story to feed the press—and halt her family’s attempts to marry her off. But after sparks reignite one scorching night, she has a very real pregnancy to go with their fake relationship…
Virat is determined to do the right thing and claim Zara as his wife. He offers her everything in the world…save for the heart that he’s locked firmly away. The trouble is, Zara will only wed for love!
From Harlequin Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds.
Read all the Born into Bollywood
Book 1: Claiming His Bollywood Cinderella
Book 2: The Surprise Bollywood Baby
Book 3: The Secret She Kept in
Falling for a Bollywood superstar…
…leads to the shock of a lifetime!
For actress Zara Khan, a pretend romance with an old flame, director Virat Raawal, is the ideal story to feed the press—and halt her family’s attempts to marry her off. But after sparks reignite one scorching night, she has a very real pregnancy to go with their fake relationship…
Virat is determined to do the right thing and claim Zara as his wife. He offers her everything in the world…save for the heart that he’s locked firmly away. The trouble is, Zara will only wed for love!
From Harlequin Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds.
Read all the Born into Bollywood
Book 1: Claiming His Bollywood Cinderella
Book 2: The Surprise Bollywood Baby
Book 3: The Secret She Kept in
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published February 23, 2021
29 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Tara Pammi
528 books199 followersTara Pammi can't remember a moment when she wasn't lost in a book, especially a romance which, for a teenager, was much more exciting than mathematics textbook. Before long, she was hiding romance novels within bigger textbooks, smuggling them into the home through her unsuspecting younger cousin’s school bag, and cycling more than a few miles to her favorite library to borrow more.
Through numerous ‘true’ loves :-) and traveling thousands of miles from family and friends, her attachment to books and especially romance novels stayed constant.
One fine day, toiling away as a grad student in a basement lab, Tara started typing the beginning of a story instead of her thesis. But it wasn’t until years later, encouraged by her real life hero, Tara realized what she truly wanted to do was to write.
Tara lives in Texas with her real life hero and her two little girls. When she isn't writing or reading, Tara can be found failing in the kitchen, watching TV or making resolutions to exercise more, or even a little.
Through numerous ‘true’ loves :-) and traveling thousands of miles from family and friends, her attachment to books and especially romance novels stayed constant.
One fine day, toiling away as a grad student in a basement lab, Tara started typing the beginning of a story instead of her thesis. But it wasn’t until years later, encouraged by her real life hero, Tara realized what she truly wanted to do was to write.
Tara lives in Texas with her real life hero and her two little girls. When she isn't writing or reading, Tara can be found failing in the kitchen, watching TV or making resolutions to exercise more, or even a little.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 1, 2021
So many inaccuracies in the book, ugh!
I'm from India so I can definitely explain some things. Firstly, "shahzadi" (what the guy lovingly calls her) is not Hindu; it's Islam/Muslim, therefore not being Hindi, which is India's national language. "Shahzadi" is most likely from the Urdu language of Pakistan, which could be discovered from some basic online research. There are other religions in India but no explanation is given as to why he's speaking another language.
Also, Bollywood, which is in the title, is India's version of Hollywood, and therefore is INDIAN, meaning that they would be speaking Hindi unless it's otherwise explained to us, which AGAIN it is NOT.
And the woman is 35 while the guy is 30. While some rules on ages have relaxed such as the guy being younger than the woman when dating, predominately in larger cities and affluent areas, others such as a woman being 35 is not as acceptable to society there. It's a common belief that she's too old to have healthy children, she must have something wrong with her to still be unmarried, or she's too career-based. The last two beliefs are becoming less prevalent in society there but the fact that this author did ABSOLUTELY NO RESEARCH just to have an exotic location is irritating.
I'm from India so I can definitely explain some things. Firstly, "shahzadi" (what the guy lovingly calls her) is not Hindu; it's Islam/Muslim, therefore not being Hindi, which is India's national language. "Shahzadi" is most likely from the Urdu language of Pakistan, which could be discovered from some basic online research. There are other religions in India but no explanation is given as to why he's speaking another language.
Also, Bollywood, which is in the title, is India's version of Hollywood, and therefore is INDIAN, meaning that they would be speaking Hindi unless it's otherwise explained to us, which AGAIN it is NOT.
And the woman is 35 while the guy is 30. While some rules on ages have relaxed such as the guy being younger than the woman when dating, predominately in larger cities and affluent areas, others such as a woman being 35 is not as acceptable to society there. It's a common belief that she's too old to have healthy children, she must have something wrong with her to still be unmarried, or she's too career-based. The last two beliefs are becoming less prevalent in society there but the fact that this author did ABSOLUTELY NO RESEARCH just to have an exotic location is irritating.
February 6, 2021
The hero, Virat, was emotionally abusive and a massive jerk to, Zara, the heroine. This month's M&B offerings have been disappointing.
Read
March 30, 2026dnf @51%
i probably should’ve read the first book though i was not even aware there was one until i went on here. the plot has so much potential, but the pacing was all over the place and i gotten lost where the characters were at times. also, i hate how similar the mmc and his brother names were- “virat and vikram” im sure it’s based on some bollywood siblings but it was such a pain to read!!
i probably should’ve read the first book though i was not even aware there was one until i went on here. the plot has so much potential, but the pacing was all over the place and i gotten lost where the characters were at times. also, i hate how similar the mmc and his brother names were- “virat and vikram” im sure it’s based on some bollywood siblings but it was such a pain to read!!
March 3, 2021
Major Plot spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk
ONCE AGAIN MAJOR PLOT SPOILERS AHEAD, THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING.
A generous 3.5 stars, but mainly that was for the first half of the book.
I knew that I wasn’t going to like this story as much as I liked Vikram and Naina’s story that I read yesterday, but not for the reason I thought though. It started off strong, but then went down hill once the first love scene occurred between Zara and Virat. Then I got annoyed mainly with him because he drove me absolutely crazy with his actions and his back and forth attitude. I just didn’t care for him at all. I have strong opinions about him, which I will go into further into the review. By the end I was very dissatisfied and very sorely disappointed.
The story started off very promising with the trope of enemies to lover very well established. I could feel the tension and heat between them as they jabbed back and forth. A lot of it had to do with the fact that they had a romantic relationship ten years previously, but Zara walked away due to feeling like she wasn’t good for him and fearing her intense feelings for him. Virat felt seriously betrayed at her actions, believing she was only using him to get ahead in life and also that she went from him to her brother. His hostility was clearly visible and had been for the past ten years whenever they happened to be in the same location due to the fact that he was a director and she was an actress where paths enviably crossed. They had all this good tension going on where the sparks were flying.
To complicate matters though Zara wanted to enter into a public fake relationship with Virat to not only save his reputation, where it was said that he was having an affair with a married woman, but also the fact that tabloids were running stories about Zara being broken hearted over the fact that Vikram, Virat’s brother, was marrying something else. It wasn’t true she was never involved with Vikram, but that wasn’t how the world saw it and it was putting a damper on Vikram’s wedding day as well as their movie they were all working on together. So, she set out on this plan that was to help all. As she made her little ploy, it was filled with sexual tension and banter as they went back and forth as she put the plan into motion. Unlike in the case of Naina and Vikram’s story where they went back and forth and it was very fun, very playful and heck of entertaining, in Virat and Zara’s case it was much more intense and raw and dark as they threw verbal barbs back and forth. While that did show the sparks between them, it also showed the unfinished business they had with one another from the past. It just made for very heated times together, which I liked.
The sexual tension just kept building and building between them until they could no longer deny it. They had this very intense connection that they needed to sate. Boy, did they. That heated kiss the bar was sexy, steamy and hot. It was just so passionate and emotional, brining sparks to an already complicated situation. Then when the love scene came it was absolutely scorching between them as they slake their need and want for each other. It also showed off the bond between them. It was intense, yet so beautiful because it was the first time that Zara could really let her guard down with someone. The last time she did was with Virat ten years pervious because it wasn’t easy for her to trust due to an abusive marriage she had before she met Virat. It was like she was coming in her own and coming alive for the first time. Virat made her feel that way. She basked and gloried in while knowing that this was more to her than scratching an itch. It was like she could finally let loose and bask in her feelings for him. It was just a great moment for her. It was a special moment between the two of them. I really like that.
Then it kind of dropped off after that unlike the cat and mouse game that Vikram and Naina played in their story which was fun, flirty, and sexy, Virat and Zara’s cat and mouse game was annoying. It just kept going back and forth, back and forth multiple times. I get there were a lot of issues to contend with but after awhile it was like come on get it together already. The way that Virat treated Zara was absolutely horrible. He would tease with what she wanted (him) then snatched it away. She would bare her heart and soul to him in every way possible whenever she wanted him both in an emotional and physical way, but once he had the physical with her then he would push her away and stated he couldn’t be with her because he couldn’t trust her. I get why he said he couldn’t trust her in the beginning, and it hurt him deeply when she left him, however as they continued on this journey together and got closer he should have realized that he could. She showed him in multiple ways. Some might argue he was doing it out of fear, but after awhile it just got too much especially when she kept reaching out to him and excusing him for his behavior when he pushed her away. To me, it almost felt like the same type of relationship that she had with her ex, not in the abuse department, but in the way she kept questioning her worth and him not wanting to be with her because she wasn’t good enough, which I didn’t think it was a good situation for at all especially when she vowed to move forward with her life. I just didn’t like his actions towards her because it truly felt like he was playing a cruel game with her.
But the worst part of it was that Zara let him get away with it. She forgave him way too easy especially after some of the things he said and done to her during the course of the book. She excused him and kept reaching out to him because she needed that connection with him only to be rejected again and again. How many times can someone reject somebody before you just stop? She needed to stop. She gave too many olive branches to him. She never required him to apologize to her even though he so needed to. She just kept letting him into her life too many times and got rejected and hurt because of that.
If that wasn’t bad enough, he didn’t even grovel or apologize at any time of anything he did to her. In fact there was a couple of times he blamed her for the situation especially the one with his mother in the end. Now, I get yes Zara should have told him, but how could she when he kept abusing her trust again and again. I didn’t blame her for being tight lipped because it seemed he didn’t even care about her except in the bedroom. He showed no affection aside from the bedroom. He showed no tenderness. There was so sweetness there at all. He just kept bashing and bashing her over the head until it was overkill. When they had their blowup at the end and he walked out, he just came back and expected her to marry him after being away for two months without communicating with her. Two months? Really and still no apology and no grovel or grand gesture. I guess the grand gesture was meant to be the wedding he set up at the end, but I think that was a bit presumptuous especially since he hadn’t talked to her like two months and left her by the wayside while pregnant. Does that sound a little nuts? I know it did to me. I didn’t like it. I didn’t think he deserved the second chance after he did what he did to Zara. I just didn’t care for him at all.
Overall though this started off strong with the vibes of enemies to lovers and second chance romance quickly went down hill once they had that first love scene. In the beginning the tension and by play was hot as were their passions scenes that were filled with nothing but heat and steamy that was extremely enjoyable to see play out, turned into a mess of a hot and cold relationship where Zara didn’t know up from down in her relationship with Virat. It was cruel how he did it too. Zara would open up herself up to him only have him knock her down with his words and lack of trust. He never showed her tenderness or affection unless in the bedroom. He just kept hurting her and hurting her and getting with it. It was kind of sad especially after all Zara had to overcome. After awhile I got tired of cycle they were playing with one another, it just got to be too much. Even though he would vow to apologize to her for all the misunderstandings between them, he never really did and just kept on with teasing of what she could have, but wouldn’t really have because he kept pulling away from it and rejecting it. It was heartbreaking to see her to be wounded every single time especially when he said he never would trust her. It wasn’t a good situation. I thought Zara deserved a lot better than she got form Virat. I really didn’t like him. I was very unsalted with how it all ended, which needed a lot more groveling my opinion. It just didn’t work for me in the end.
ONCE AGAIN MAJOR PLOT SPOILERS AHEAD, THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING.
A generous 3.5 stars, but mainly that was for the first half of the book.
I knew that I wasn’t going to like this story as much as I liked Vikram and Naina’s story that I read yesterday, but not for the reason I thought though. It started off strong, but then went down hill once the first love scene occurred between Zara and Virat. Then I got annoyed mainly with him because he drove me absolutely crazy with his actions and his back and forth attitude. I just didn’t care for him at all. I have strong opinions about him, which I will go into further into the review. By the end I was very dissatisfied and very sorely disappointed.
The story started off very promising with the trope of enemies to lover very well established. I could feel the tension and heat between them as they jabbed back and forth. A lot of it had to do with the fact that they had a romantic relationship ten years previously, but Zara walked away due to feeling like she wasn’t good for him and fearing her intense feelings for him. Virat felt seriously betrayed at her actions, believing she was only using him to get ahead in life and also that she went from him to her brother. His hostility was clearly visible and had been for the past ten years whenever they happened to be in the same location due to the fact that he was a director and she was an actress where paths enviably crossed. They had all this good tension going on where the sparks were flying.
To complicate matters though Zara wanted to enter into a public fake relationship with Virat to not only save his reputation, where it was said that he was having an affair with a married woman, but also the fact that tabloids were running stories about Zara being broken hearted over the fact that Vikram, Virat’s brother, was marrying something else. It wasn’t true she was never involved with Vikram, but that wasn’t how the world saw it and it was putting a damper on Vikram’s wedding day as well as their movie they were all working on together. So, she set out on this plan that was to help all. As she made her little ploy, it was filled with sexual tension and banter as they went back and forth as she put the plan into motion. Unlike in the case of Naina and Vikram’s story where they went back and forth and it was very fun, very playful and heck of entertaining, in Virat and Zara’s case it was much more intense and raw and dark as they threw verbal barbs back and forth. While that did show the sparks between them, it also showed the unfinished business they had with one another from the past. It just made for very heated times together, which I liked.
The sexual tension just kept building and building between them until they could no longer deny it. They had this very intense connection that they needed to sate. Boy, did they. That heated kiss the bar was sexy, steamy and hot. It was just so passionate and emotional, brining sparks to an already complicated situation. Then when the love scene came it was absolutely scorching between them as they slake their need and want for each other. It also showed off the bond between them. It was intense, yet so beautiful because it was the first time that Zara could really let her guard down with someone. The last time she did was with Virat ten years pervious because it wasn’t easy for her to trust due to an abusive marriage she had before she met Virat. It was like she was coming in her own and coming alive for the first time. Virat made her feel that way. She basked and gloried in while knowing that this was more to her than scratching an itch. It was like she could finally let loose and bask in her feelings for him. It was just a great moment for her. It was a special moment between the two of them. I really like that.
Then it kind of dropped off after that unlike the cat and mouse game that Vikram and Naina played in their story which was fun, flirty, and sexy, Virat and Zara’s cat and mouse game was annoying. It just kept going back and forth, back and forth multiple times. I get there were a lot of issues to contend with but after awhile it was like come on get it together already. The way that Virat treated Zara was absolutely horrible. He would tease with what she wanted (him) then snatched it away. She would bare her heart and soul to him in every way possible whenever she wanted him both in an emotional and physical way, but once he had the physical with her then he would push her away and stated he couldn’t be with her because he couldn’t trust her. I get why he said he couldn’t trust her in the beginning, and it hurt him deeply when she left him, however as they continued on this journey together and got closer he should have realized that he could. She showed him in multiple ways. Some might argue he was doing it out of fear, but after awhile it just got too much especially when she kept reaching out to him and excusing him for his behavior when he pushed her away. To me, it almost felt like the same type of relationship that she had with her ex, not in the abuse department, but in the way she kept questioning her worth and him not wanting to be with her because she wasn’t good enough, which I didn’t think it was a good situation for at all especially when she vowed to move forward with her life. I just didn’t like his actions towards her because it truly felt like he was playing a cruel game with her.
But the worst part of it was that Zara let him get away with it. She forgave him way too easy especially after some of the things he said and done to her during the course of the book. She excused him and kept reaching out to him because she needed that connection with him only to be rejected again and again. How many times can someone reject somebody before you just stop? She needed to stop. She gave too many olive branches to him. She never required him to apologize to her even though he so needed to. She just kept letting him into her life too many times and got rejected and hurt because of that.
If that wasn’t bad enough, he didn’t even grovel or apologize at any time of anything he did to her. In fact there was a couple of times he blamed her for the situation especially the one with his mother in the end. Now, I get yes Zara should have told him, but how could she when he kept abusing her trust again and again. I didn’t blame her for being tight lipped because it seemed he didn’t even care about her except in the bedroom. He showed no affection aside from the bedroom. He showed no tenderness. There was so sweetness there at all. He just kept bashing and bashing her over the head until it was overkill. When they had their blowup at the end and he walked out, he just came back and expected her to marry him after being away for two months without communicating with her. Two months? Really and still no apology and no grovel or grand gesture. I guess the grand gesture was meant to be the wedding he set up at the end, but I think that was a bit presumptuous especially since he hadn’t talked to her like two months and left her by the wayside while pregnant. Does that sound a little nuts? I know it did to me. I didn’t like it. I didn’t think he deserved the second chance after he did what he did to Zara. I just didn’t care for him at all.
Overall though this started off strong with the vibes of enemies to lovers and second chance romance quickly went down hill once they had that first love scene. In the beginning the tension and by play was hot as were their passions scenes that were filled with nothing but heat and steamy that was extremely enjoyable to see play out, turned into a mess of a hot and cold relationship where Zara didn’t know up from down in her relationship with Virat. It was cruel how he did it too. Zara would open up herself up to him only have him knock her down with his words and lack of trust. He never showed her tenderness or affection unless in the bedroom. He just kept hurting her and hurting her and getting with it. It was kind of sad especially after all Zara had to overcome. After awhile I got tired of cycle they were playing with one another, it just got to be too much. Even though he would vow to apologize to her for all the misunderstandings between them, he never really did and just kept on with teasing of what she could have, but wouldn’t really have because he kept pulling away from it and rejecting it. It was heartbreaking to see her to be wounded every single time especially when he said he never would trust her. It wasn’t a good situation. I thought Zara deserved a lot better than she got form Virat. I really didn’t like him. I was very unsalted with how it all ended, which needed a lot more groveling my opinion. It just didn’t work for me in the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2021
Tara Pammi packs all the glitz, glamour and romance in her latest novel for Harlequin Presents: The Surprise Bollywood Baby.
Bollywood actress Zara Khan and director Virat Raawal had once been head over heels in love with one another. But their relationship had quickly turned sour and the two of them had spent the last couple of years giving each other a very wide berth. However, with the paparazzi following her every move and her family’s desperate attempts to marry her off, Zara realizes that she is going to need her old flame’s help to get her out of the predicament which she currently finds herself in, but will Virat go along with being her pretend lover? With their turbulent history and their tempestuous relationship, Zara is the last woman in the world Virat would help out, however, he has never had much luck saying no to her…
Virat doesn’t know what possessed him to acquiesce to Zara’s mad plan for the two of them to pretend to be lovers in front of the cameras. The chemistry between the two of them has always been scorching and when they find themselves alone together, it becomes abundantly clear that there is nothing pretend about the attraction that sizzles between the two of them. When temptation proves absolutely impossible for the two of them to resist, they end up spending a night of passion together. But little do they realize that their one-night together is going to have serious consequences for both of them – nine months down the line!
Fatherhood might not have been on Virat’s list of priorities, but now that Zara is pregnant with his child, he vows to do the right thing by her and their child by asking her to marry him! Virat makes it perfectly clear that theirs will be a marriage in name only – even though Zara will only marry for love. Will Zara be able to prove to Virat that happiness can be within both their reach – but only if they let go of the past and embrace this unexpected chance at happiness?
Tara Pammi’s The Surprise Bollywood Baby is a sexy, sensuous and scandalous romance full of intensity and emotion with a fabulous heroine who is strong, intelligent and independent and a brooding Alpha hero who is as handsome as sin. Tara Pammi creates a rich and colorful world that sizzles with drama, poignancy and seduction which readers will be reluctant to leave once they reach the end of this spellbinding romantic tale.
A red-hot sizzler Presents fans will not want to miss, The Surprise Bollywood Baby is the latest delicious and decadent contemporary romance by Tara Pammi.
Bollywood actress Zara Khan and director Virat Raawal had once been head over heels in love with one another. But their relationship had quickly turned sour and the two of them had spent the last couple of years giving each other a very wide berth. However, with the paparazzi following her every move and her family’s desperate attempts to marry her off, Zara realizes that she is going to need her old flame’s help to get her out of the predicament which she currently finds herself in, but will Virat go along with being her pretend lover? With their turbulent history and their tempestuous relationship, Zara is the last woman in the world Virat would help out, however, he has never had much luck saying no to her…
Virat doesn’t know what possessed him to acquiesce to Zara’s mad plan for the two of them to pretend to be lovers in front of the cameras. The chemistry between the two of them has always been scorching and when they find themselves alone together, it becomes abundantly clear that there is nothing pretend about the attraction that sizzles between the two of them. When temptation proves absolutely impossible for the two of them to resist, they end up spending a night of passion together. But little do they realize that their one-night together is going to have serious consequences for both of them – nine months down the line!
Fatherhood might not have been on Virat’s list of priorities, but now that Zara is pregnant with his child, he vows to do the right thing by her and their child by asking her to marry him! Virat makes it perfectly clear that theirs will be a marriage in name only – even though Zara will only marry for love. Will Zara be able to prove to Virat that happiness can be within both their reach – but only if they let go of the past and embrace this unexpected chance at happiness?
Tara Pammi’s The Surprise Bollywood Baby is a sexy, sensuous and scandalous romance full of intensity and emotion with a fabulous heroine who is strong, intelligent and independent and a brooding Alpha hero who is as handsome as sin. Tara Pammi creates a rich and colorful world that sizzles with drama, poignancy and seduction which readers will be reluctant to leave once they reach the end of this spellbinding romantic tale.
A red-hot sizzler Presents fans will not want to miss, The Surprise Bollywood Baby is the latest delicious and decadent contemporary romance by Tara Pammi.
February 19, 2021
This is my second book by Tara Pammi after Claiming His Bollywood Cinderella, and is the second in the Born into Bollywood series. I enjoyed the first book and it was good to catch up with the characters.
Vikram, Virat Naina and Zara all have their own personalities and the chemistry between Vikram and Zara was searingly hot and sensual.
I got the feeling that Zara felt free and relaxed when she was with Vikram. In contrast, there's a conflict between Vikram and Virat. I liked Naina and Zara as they were feisty and focused.
Vikram was passionate and accomodating yet honest. I wantd to have more mentions of Virat and explorations of the conflict between him and Vikram to understand that more.
The focus of this book is on Zara and Vikram. This is the second novel with a "fake boyfriend" type plot that I have reviewed this year and it was by far my favourite of the two because of Tara Pammi's attention to sensual detail and the process of building a relationship.
Descriptions of surroundings are comfortable and even lavish which I liked and the quick descriptions of clothing such as Zara's voluptuous skirt gave an idea of the clothing.
I did feel a little lost with the Indian words since I do not have Indian heritage and so I could not understand them in context. It was a learning curve though as it made me want to know more about the culture.
The Surprise Bollywood Baby was riveting, immersive and incredibly sensual. I am looking forward to more from Tara Pammi.
Thanks to Tara Pammi and Harlequin Presents for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review,
4 stars.
Vikram, Virat Naina and Zara all have their own personalities and the chemistry between Vikram and Zara was searingly hot and sensual.
I got the feeling that Zara felt free and relaxed when she was with Vikram. In contrast, there's a conflict between Vikram and Virat. I liked Naina and Zara as they were feisty and focused.
Vikram was passionate and accomodating yet honest. I wantd to have more mentions of Virat and explorations of the conflict between him and Vikram to understand that more.
The focus of this book is on Zara and Vikram. This is the second novel with a "fake boyfriend" type plot that I have reviewed this year and it was by far my favourite of the two because of Tara Pammi's attention to sensual detail and the process of building a relationship.
Descriptions of surroundings are comfortable and even lavish which I liked and the quick descriptions of clothing such as Zara's voluptuous skirt gave an idea of the clothing.
I did feel a little lost with the Indian words since I do not have Indian heritage and so I could not understand them in context. It was a learning curve though as it made me want to know more about the culture.
The Surprise Bollywood Baby was riveting, immersive and incredibly sensual. I am looking forward to more from Tara Pammi.
Thanks to Tara Pammi and Harlequin Presents for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review,
4 stars.
June 23, 2023
2.5 stars. I read the first book in this duet for the February 2021 TBR Challenge, and it was beyond time for me to try out the second one. While I did end up liking it more than the first because the characters were, indeed, more evenly matched, unfortunately I didn't like it as much as I wanted to.
I have the same issues with this author's style that I had with the first book. Basically, she can't get out of her own way. Especially in the sex scenes, it's way too easy to lose the thread of dialogue when you have one character say something, insert paragraphs of the other character internally reacting to it, before they say something. Add in descriptions of intense sex and it's even harder to keep up. It's like - one or the other, okay? Few writers can truly pull off a sensuous, emotional, sexual scene with heavy dialogue, and IMO this author isn't one of them.
The other issue I had with this is that the Big Mis went on way longer than appropriate. Not only did the titular baby not make an appearance until the last 25% of the story, the issues that separated the pair in the first place weren't resolved until nearly the last page. I have no belief that these two could build a successful relationship with they had so little trust. Sorry, but boinking like bunnies does not make up for that.
Its obvious this author isn't for me, so I will move on from here.
I have the same issues with this author's style that I had with the first book. Basically, she can't get out of her own way. Especially in the sex scenes, it's way too easy to lose the thread of dialogue when you have one character say something, insert paragraphs of the other character internally reacting to it, before they say something. Add in descriptions of intense sex and it's even harder to keep up. It's like - one or the other, okay? Few writers can truly pull off a sensuous, emotional, sexual scene with heavy dialogue, and IMO this author isn't one of them.
The other issue I had with this is that the Big Mis went on way longer than appropriate. Not only did the titular baby not make an appearance until the last 25% of the story, the issues that separated the pair in the first place weren't resolved until nearly the last page. I have no belief that these two could build a successful relationship with they had so little trust. Sorry, but boinking like bunnies does not make up for that.
Its obvious this author isn't for me, so I will move on from here.
April 20, 2021
Another beautifully written M&B style high heat romance. There was a lot of miscommunication between the hero and heroine, but they worked it out in the end. I liked how they both needed the second chance to grow up before they could be together.
September 21, 2021
I don't appreciate when authors try to portray an Indian romance but write it in such a way that it's not Indian at all ...
I have liked this authors previous works but whenever she does Indian couple or Indian main character it seems forced somehow
It's not just Indian though; lots of newer authors use Greek, Italian or Spanish (and other nationalities) hero but make it such that apart from a stray endearment they might as well have written it with English characters ...
They make their characters too 'citizen of the worldish' so the different nationality / culture aspect falls away somewhere
And thats when I miss the good old HP authors like Penny Jordan and Michelle Reid and so many others ... And I heartily miss Violet Winspear who reportedly relied on library research only as she had never been to the countries that her heros used to be from but her characterization used to be spot on
I have liked this authors previous works but whenever she does Indian couple or Indian main character it seems forced somehow
It's not just Indian though; lots of newer authors use Greek, Italian or Spanish (and other nationalities) hero but make it such that apart from a stray endearment they might as well have written it with English characters ...
They make their characters too 'citizen of the worldish' so the different nationality / culture aspect falls away somewhere
And thats when I miss the good old HP authors like Penny Jordan and Michelle Reid and so many others ... And I heartily miss Violet Winspear who reportedly relied on library research only as she had never been to the countries that her heros used to be from but her characterization used to be spot on
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2021
The Surprise Bollywood Baby is the second book in Tara Pammi's Born Into Bollywood series. I did read the first book, but I don't feel like a new reader to the series would have a hard time getting to know the characters. This one focuses on Virat and Zara, and like the first book, we get a strong heroine - something I always appreciate. I do feel like there was a bit of mixing of cultures here, but since I'm not as well-versed in the Bollywood culture as I should be, I kind of just went with it and enjoyed the read for what it is - an entertaining romance with likable characters and an interesting setting. The author does paint a pretty good picture of setting as well as character descriptions, and the book was an engaging romance, ideal for getting away from it all and just enjoying an afternoon curled up on the couch.
March 1, 2021
Bollywood Queen Zara Khan asks old flame Virat to play along with a fake relationship in order to get the tabloids off both their backs and give their families a bit of breathing space in the wake of an upcoming biopic.
Old flames take a while to burn out, and Zara & Virat realise fairly fast that theirs won't take much to reignite.
Allow me to be frank here and say that one of my pet hates with this kind of romance book is the assumption that a woman can, and will, always have an earth shattering moment five seconds after "entry". This is not only acknowledged here, but it reads like the most normal thing in the world for Virat to help Zara "reach her destination". MORE OF THIS IN ROMANCE BOOKS, PLEASE.
The plot itself was loose enough but it wasn't the worst book I've read.
Old flames take a while to burn out, and Zara & Virat realise fairly fast that theirs won't take much to reignite.
Allow me to be frank here and say that one of my pet hates with this kind of romance book is the assumption that a woman can, and will, always have an earth shattering moment five seconds after "entry". This is not only acknowledged here, but it reads like the most normal thing in the world for Virat to help Zara "reach her destination". MORE OF THIS IN ROMANCE BOOKS, PLEASE.
The plot itself was loose enough but it wasn't the worst book I've read.
March 7, 2021
This is a steamy second-chance, enemies to lovers story with a surprise pregnancy, set in the glamorous world of Bollywood. While the sexual tension is high, Virat doesn't trust Zara because of their past together. It take him a long time to realize that she's not the evil person he's built her up to be in his mind. She's remarkably patient with him, tolerating his repeated rejection. Eventually, though, he sees the error of his ways.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
March 7, 2021
A very good book
This was a very good book about 2 people who get a 2nd chance at love. The h left the H 10 years ago to start her acting career, the H becomes a famous director. They reunite to keep the press attention off the upcoming marriage of his brother and her assistant. They were able to find their way back to each other with an unexpected pregnancy. Good ending.
This was a very good book about 2 people who get a 2nd chance at love. The h left the H 10 years ago to start her acting career, the H becomes a famous director. They reunite to keep the press attention off the upcoming marriage of his brother and her assistant. They were able to find their way back to each other with an unexpected pregnancy. Good ending.
Read
February 2, 2021Categories
Contemporary Romance, Romance, Multicultural & Interracial Romance
Miniseries
Born into Bollywood (Book #2)
Contemporary Romance, Romance, Multicultural & Interracial Romance
Miniseries
Born into Bollywood (Book #2)
Read
February 2, 2021Categories
Contemporary Romance, Romance, Multicultural & Interracial Romance
Miniseries
Born into Bollywood (Book #2)
Contemporary Romance, Romance, Multicultural & Interracial Romance
Miniseries
Born into Bollywood (Book #2)
Read
March 3, 2021INSANE BOOK OMG SO GOOD
March 28, 2021
Zara Khan is at the top of her game, and she has an affair with a famous director.
And now she's pregnant.
oops, what a surprise.
And now she's pregnant.
oops, what a surprise.
April 17, 2021
My second read by this author and a nice extension from the prior book in the series.
August 18, 2024
Light read, but a bit meh.
March 29, 2021
This story had lots of potential. I enjoyed all the tension from being ex(s) and having all this unresolved history between them. Most of all, I think Pammi did a great job unpacking lack of trust and the long standing impact of feeling secondary to your partner. Neg: everything is neatly resolved 3 pages later with a realization that happens out of our view. It's just too easy of solution.
February 8, 2021
I read this book in one sitting!
There's a reason I keep coming to Pammi's books and it's the heroines! Vikram and Virat are honorable heroes yes, but the fire in this duet is Naina and Zara. They brought out the best in their heroes and each in their own ways, were super fierce about who they are in the world! I liked Virat for his awareness. He knew he was wrong but tried to do his best to overcome his faults.
It's one of the best connected stories I've ever read in Presents. And now I want Anya Rawal's story!
There's a reason I keep coming to Pammi's books and it's the heroines! Vikram and Virat are honorable heroes yes, but the fire in this duet is Naina and Zara. They brought out the best in their heroes and each in their own ways, were super fierce about who they are in the world! I liked Virat for his awareness. He knew he was wrong but tried to do his best to overcome his faults.
It's one of the best connected stories I've ever read in Presents. And now I want Anya Rawal's story!
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