Accidentally Engaged

A fake engagement sparks real romance on the set of a cooking contest in this delightful rom-com from Heron (The Chai Factor). Reena Manji, an aspiring baker, is initially charmed by the flirtatious smile and “brown Captain America” good looks of her new neighbor, Nadim Remtulla—until she discovers that their meeting was not serendipitous but the result of a business deal between their fathers. Reena immediately rejects the idea of an arranged marriage with Nadim, but when an opportunity arises to appear on a Toronto cooking show for couples, she turns to him for help. For the chance to win a scholarship to the Institute of Culinary Arts, she’ll need Nadim to pretend to be her fiancé. Their chemistry leaps off the screen in their audition tapes, and soon fact and fiction blur as they fall for one another off camera. But Nadim’s checkered past and their fathers’ complicated business relationship present complications for their budding relationship. Heron enhances the love story with mouthwatering descriptions of Indian cuisine and a rich glimpse into Toronto’s Indian Muslim community and Reena’s family culture. Equally sweet and spicy, this is sure to leave readers smiling. [em]Agent: Rachel Brooks, BookEnds. (Mar.) [/em]