HER SECRET HUSBAND
(Marriages Made in Heaven Book #3)
by
Sundari Venkatraman
Blurb
The Maheshwaris are back, a little secretly this time!
What do you do if you find a man who looks like chocolate, speaks like warm syrup, looks at you like you were the most precious cake ever created, and he can bake too? You marry him, even if in secret.
Ruma Malhotra falls head over heels and a little more in love with Lakshman Maheshwari, but her parents insist that she marry a rich businessman of their choice. When Ruma's only option is to marry Lakshman in secret, she is left torn between her love for her parents and her passion for Lakshman. Is a secret marriage the solution or will it lead the way to a public disappointment?
Lakshman Maheshwari falls in love with Ruma Malhotra the first time he sets his eyes on her in Ranveer's office. Will he agree to marry Ruma in secret even if it means betraying his parents?
Psst... Those who have read THE MALHOTRA BRIDE might be happy to reconnect with Sunita & Akshay Malhotra in this one.
*MARRIAGES MADE IN INDIA is a five-novella series that revolves around the characters you have met in The Runaway Bridegroom.
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Read an excerpt from #HSH
âWhatâs up?â he asked, trying to keep the situation light.
She winked at him. âShouldnât I be asking that question?â she asked, looking pointedly down at his lower body.
Reacting to her flirtation, his manhood immediately sprang to action, making Lakshman swear. âCut that out, Ruma,â he growled, sidestepping her as she wouldâve wrapped her arms around him. âI need a shower,â he insisted, not meeting her eyes. He went into the bathroom and locked himself in. The place smelled of Ruma. Cursing, Lakshman stood under the cold shower to tame his libido. She looked like she meant business. How could he convince her to wait till they got married? He dried himself with the towel that was on a rack, glaring at the mirror. He needed a shave. But no, they werenât going to make love, so it didnât really matter. Just then he realised that he would have to step out in the towel as his clothes were in the wardrobe. Swearing again, Lakshman walked into the bedroom.
âLaki,â called out Ruma, eyeing him avidly. Fascinated, she got up from the bed and walked up to him. He appeared like a Greek God with his chiselled body that was still damp from the shower.
She stood close to him and raised her left hand to caress his rough cheek. Her right hand was hooked into his towel as if she was going to pull it off him any second. Lakshman clamped his hand on hers, his fingers holding the towel firmly. âNo!â
âHuh?!â She looked deeply into his eyes, her brown gaze like melted cocoa, inviting him to make love to her. Her mouth was pouted deliciously, glistening wetly, begging for a kiss. Lakshman groaned deep in his throat, letting go of her hand to wrap his arms around her. He placed his lips on hers, sucking her upper lip. She tasted as sweet as honey, driving him crazy. His right hand moved down the curve of her hip to touch a thigh. He traced the curve, working his way under her nightshirt to encounter her bare bottom.
âRuma.â He deliberately removed his hands off her and raised his head to look at her.
She stared back at him with slumberous eyes. âWhat?â A small frown puckered her forehead.
âWeâll make love after we get married,â he declared.
âWhat if I donât agree?â
âIâll have to beg, right?â he grinned weakly. âPlease, my love. You know your parents wonât agree to a marriage between us. Doesnât it make sense to wait until after the event?â
âWhat if I want you desperately?â She nuzzled his neck, her teeth taking a sharp nip.
Lakshman groaned again, his arms crushing her to his chest. âDo you love me or just lust after my body?â
âCanât I do both?â
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About the author
Her Secret Husband is the tenth book authored by Sundari Venkatraman. This is a hot romance and is Book #3 of the 5-novella series titled Marriages Made in India. Book #1 of the series is The Smitten Husband & Book #2 is His Drunken Wife. Other published novels by the author are The Malhotra Bride, Meghna, The Runaway Bridegroom, The Madras Affair and An Autograph for Anjaliâall romances. She also has a collection of romantic shorts called Matches Made in Heaven; and a collection of human interest stories called Tales of Sunshine. All of Sundari Venkatramanâs books are on Amazon Top 100 Bestsellers in India, USA, UK, Canada & Australia under both #romance & #drama categories.
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Q: You have written a series of romances based on the members of a large family. Are they based on your family or someone you know? A: Hi Sunanda, First of all, thank you so much for hosting me on your blog. While reading books in English, I could get my hands on many from UK and USA. What I found common to most of them is that I could get to know a lot about the local cultures and flavours. This is something that’s become deep rooted in me. When you read books based on a particular place, it’s possible to learn a lot about the people’s lives there. Well, as you must be aware, large, joint families are still very much a part of the Indian culture. I grew up with my grandparents and my uncle’s family along with my parents and four sisters. Growing up in a big family could be awesome, but could also get awkward. There are any number of permutations and combinations to explore. I find the whole idea fascinating, at times in a morbid way too. The Maheshwaris of the Marriages Made in India series fame were originally introduced in my novel The Runaway Bridegroom. When I wrote this novel, I had never given a thought to writing about Chanda’s (the heroine of TRB) brothers. That came much later and the series was born. The characters are not based on any particular family or person I know. As for characteristics, yes, I obviously pick some from here and some from there. Otherwise, Laxman Maheshwari is absolutely a fictitious character born of my imagination. MY REVIEW OF “HER SECRET HUSBAND” The story is the third in a series about the love stories of the Maheshwari clan, but the spotlight is stolen by the feisty Ruma, the love interest of Lakshman Maheshwari. In a short novella such as this one, there isn’t a lot an author can do in terms of character development. And yet, the book succeeds in serving its purpose: it is, at its heart, a light hearted, steamy romantic novella. The book breaks norm from the ‘traditional romance’ sequence of boy meets girl, they fall in love, they cannot be together, then they can. In this book, while the boy and girl fall in love, they do marry and find love (and lust!). The sweet thing is that the very forward and break-the-mold Ruma turns shy after marriage. Lakshaman is hot, sweet and charming, making for a very interesting dynamic between the protagonists. I enjoyed reading about Lakshman's bakery business, as well as the scenes in Delhi. The unwitting villain is the girl’s mother, who wants Ruma to marry a rich guy. I’d have liked to see Ruma try to reason with the mother and tell her she loves a richer guy, only to find out her mother will not budge. Of course, we know that society puts a huge pressure on girls and a girl may decide she has no option but to hide her true feelings from her parents. The book succeeds in showcasing that social norm. I loved the character of Ruma’s gramdma and her uncle (who, I believe, has a book of his own). Most sisters I know (including me and my sister) are very close. And a sister would be the first to know of a secret marriage. Ruma and her sister Saloni do not appear to share that bond, but perhaps it was mentioned in another book of the series? If you’re looking for a serious read about social issues and intellectual contemplation, this isn’t your book. But if you’re looking for a light, easy, entertaining (and steamy) read, definitely pick this one up. You won't regret it. Sundari Venkatraman is a prolific author who can definitely draw you into the hearts of her characters. |
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