Tales of an Indian Almost Bride – Book One
I am writing to promote my new novel, Tales of an Indian Almost Bride – told in two parts.
Tales of an Indian Almost Bride can be described as a romance novel, however it is more about the relationships in the main character’s life than about having the one perfect person – with each interaction having its own story, or tale if you will.
It can also be described as being from the chick lit genre, but I like to think of it as more deep and meaningful chick lit. After all, why can’t women read something that makes them think, makes them learn about new cultures and places, yet still allow them to get swept away by romance and, well, lust after a hot blooded male?
The story is set around Nandani Ramchand, an Indian girl in her twenties in the search for her one true love. Unfortunately, her family, in particular her mother, do not seem to want to wait for love to find Nandani. They believe that the only path worth going down that will in fact lead her up the aisle is via the arranged marriage route.
There are moments that I hope will make you laugh, from a kick boxing runaway bride to rather ‘creative’ ways of escaping unwanted proposals. And there are moments that I hope will move you to tears, from dealing with heartbreak to supporting abused wives. But most of all I hope the story keeps you entertained.
If this makes you want to find out more, below are the links to the books on Amazon (where you can also read a sample of each book) and some reader reviews.
Many thanks
Sahana
Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars
This book by Sahana Mehra was a great change of pace for me, as I normally gravitate towards more fantasy-style fiction, but this was one interesting novel that I couldn’t put down! I love the author’s witty voice and intelligent sense of humor – I feel like we’d be great friends. Love how she describes the characters and her feelings with her family and the pressures and the dating nightmares she is forced to endure. We all dream of our true romance knight in shining armor, and being married is too depressing! I also really liked the characters, and was Happy that they were not cliché, cardboard cutouts but relatable and real. The end stops in the middle of more romantic action to come, so I’m curious to see where the next one leads. goodreads – Review
Claire rated it 5 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed reading this book, “Tales of an Indian Almost Bride” by Sahana Mehra. First off it is very well written… There are humorous moments, some poignant, some sad… definitely different from many books I’ve read lately, especially the typical ‘romance’. And while the romantic element is here, it is different in the sense that it is more about relationships and growing, not just her having the one ‘perfect’ guy. Loved all the characters, and thought the descriptions of Indian life and culture was interesting and provided a unique angle to the dynamic. Even though much of the earlier part of the book talks a lot about weddings and marriage, it’s about so much more than just that. It’s about relationships and life. The story doesn’t wrap up on this one though, and continues to the next. Can’t wait to read it! goodreads – Review
Jenna rated it 5 of 5 stars
I thought this book was terrific! Once I started reading I didn’t want to stop until I’d finished the whole thing. It pulls you in from the beginning, and I enjoyed the author’s style of writing. The interweaving plotlines were well-crafted and not predictable, and the element of Indian life was a fascinating new perspective for me. The characters were all interesting and well-written, and although there were some grammatical and punctuation errors, it wasn’t anything that really bothered me. I found myself chuckling out loud several times, and even when the book took a more serious turn and dealt with heavier issues, they were handled with finesse and a feeling of authenticity (not contrived for the sake of drama). Can’t wait to see what is in store for Nandini in part II. goodreads – Review
Megan King rated it 5 of 5 stars
I think the thing I liked the most about these books is not only that the author has such a wonderful “voice” and style of writing –like a friend is talking to us—but that she can cover such a wide range of events without losing sight of the overall story arc. At times I wondered if it would lose focus or if we really needed some of the subplots and secondary characters. But they all tied in nicely and enriched the overall story in ways I hadn’t predicted. Loved the ending, and was even laughing a bit. But those last pages were perfect, and this was a delightful journey (across the world) that I won’t soon forget. goodreads – Review
Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars 4.5 stars
Book 2 starts off shortly after the first book ends, only now Nands is a bit more experienced and has been through some ordeals of the heart. SO she moves on and is in the disastrous dating world again and we meet some really not so great characters… making her want to settle down with her friend Prem after all. But fate has more in store for her, and what happens will take you by surprise and make you believe in love again. Such an awesome tale that I won’t soon forget. Great character development and hits all the right emotional notes. goodreads – Review
Samantha rated it 4 of 5 stars
wow… I still have tears in my eyes after that ending (partly from laughing, though!) So sweet, funny, witty, and love the surprise just when we think we know how it will all wrap up. Such lovely characters, and Ms. Mehra is a talented writer. This isn’t some shallow, fluffy rom-com, but actually has deep insight and introspection on life and relationships, duties and traditions, responsibility and free will. A complex dance that she handles with a literary grace rarely seen in indie writers. Highly recommend! goodreads – Review
Claire rated it 5 of 5 stars
I might have loved this one even more than the first! What a wonderful story with ups and downs and twists that we don’t even see coming! I loved then ending and how it all wrapped up and just adore Prem… but it all works out in the end as it should! What a wonderful set of books, (really they are just one epic story divided into two books) but it does make for easier reading, but must be read in order. Highly recommend for a wonderful experience of life, love, family, and happily-ever-afters. goodreads – Review
Samantha rated it 4 of 5 stars
“Tales of an Indian Almost Bride” is the first book I’ve read from this talented author Sahana Mehra, but it certainly won’t be the last! (Actually I have already started the next one!) I thought the storyline and the character development to be very well done and thought out. I feel like this level of plot tangents could have easily ended up badly, or been too far-fetched or predictable (as romantic-comedy books often are) but instead I darn near gobbled the whole book down in one evening. There were some minor editing and punctuation things, nothing too major. But all in all an impressive and original concept, especially for Young Adult/New Adult. Recommend. goodreads – Review
Megan King rated it 4 of 5 stars
I admit I found myself going back and forth a lot while reading “Tales of an Indian Almost Bride” by Sahana Mehra. At first I was immediately grabbed into the story and the premise as it’s unlike anything I’ve read, and I loved the light-hearted and humorous tone the author uses. But there were times I felt the story wasn’t as focused as I’d like, with some conversations and scenes maybe weren’t necessary and perhaps could have been eliminated to tighten the narrative some. They were cute and all… even funny…. Just maybe not necessary. But at the same time, the pacing was decent and there were some interesting developments toward the end. It felt genuine and authentic, always a nice experience, especially in a genre that is fraught with generic retellings of the same ol thing. I’m very interested in seeing how this will all work out in the next one, and I would recommend this book to my friends without hesitation. goodreads – Review
Stacy rated it 4 of 5 stars
I was hooked from the opening prologue of this novel (so funny!) and my interest never faded for a moment! I loved the creative and strong characters and plots that continued to build and grow in a complex, but not convoluted way. Perhaps it was the multicultural influence, but this whole book just felt unique and fresh in a genre that can be pretty cliché and derivative at times. Loved the descriptions of the Indian culture and scenery and traditions as it added a great flavor but was not overdone to the point of overshadowing the plot. Even when there were familiar themes and tropes at play, Ms. Mehra brings a fresh voice and makes it all her own. Will be interested in seeing where this all goes to in the next one. Recommend for anyone (adults) who enjoy a well-written, sweet and refreshingly different type of novel. goodreads – Review
Jenna rated it 5 of 5 stars
This book(s) were just amazing. What an incredible journey Nandani goes through! Such a roller-coaster of emotions and events, heartbreak and ultimately finds her place (not going to reveal too much for fear of spoiling it) but believe me when I say it is such a fulfilling book…. This feels like one big story that has just been divided into two separate books, (so really more of a duology) and it works well that way, as there is some resolution in the first, but things change enough in the second to give it its own story arc. As usual the characters were great and the writing is fantastic. Sahana Mehra has a new fan in me and I’m happy to have discovered her. Highly recommend for those who want a fabulous love story that is more about the main character and her relationships than just focused on one single guy. Loved it. goodreads – Review
Stacy rated it 5 of 5 stars Aw, now I’m sad that it’s over, but what a wonderful way to wrap up these addicting books! I can’t believe how quickly I flew through these (Book 1 & Book II) but I just wanted to stay lost in this wonderful, weird, and interesting world that Ms. Mehra draws for us. It’s funny how I felt I could relate with Nands on so many levels, even though our lives couldn’t be more different. But the desire for true love is universal, as is heartache, betrayal, hurt, loss, and joy. Can’t wait to read more from Sahana Mehra in the future! goodreads – Review