A Mantra for Miss Perfect

Familial pressure drives Srinivasan’s sensitive third Sood Family contemporary romance (after A Rebel’s Mantra). At 32, Seattle corporate attorney Sahana Sood is a success in every area of her life—except in love. Her very traditional Indian mother is determined to change that. Not trusting her daughter to find a husband, she sets up a variety of meetings with Indian men she deems good prospects. At the same time, Sahana meets and trades sparks with Ryan Mehta, whose family owns the elegant Wildling Inn, a property she’s trying to acquire for her firm. While Ryan doesn’t want to sell the inn, he does want Sahana to buy into a relationship with him. As Sahana’s well-meaning but unrelenting mother pushes her on a man who seems like marriage material, Sahana must choose between following her head or her heart. Srinivasan makes Sahana’s internal debate entirely understandable, while Ryan’s reluctance to let her go makes him the kind of hero romance readers look for. Tightly plotted and expertly characterized, this introspective romance is sure to win fans. (Jan.)