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I’m generally wary of plots that involve one of the protagonists pretending to be someone else. However, Love, Unexpectedly took this storyline, twisted it, and created an interesting, complex, romantic, and sexy story that I had a hard time putting down.
Nav Bharani has been in love with his neighbor Kat Fallon ever since he moved in next door two years ago. The problem? He’s been permanently placed in the “friend zone” while she falls for flashy guys who are all wrong for her. When she asks him to be her date to her younger sister’s wedding, he decides this is the opportunity he’s been looking for to show her that he can be more than just the slightly disheveled up-and-coming photographer she knows.
So during a long train trip from Quebec to Vancouver, he joins her under a couple of different personas. Kat and Nav get to know each other in ways they never did before, combining the anonymous intimacy of a stranger on a train and the trust of a good friend. By pretending Nav is someone else, Kat is able to finally let go and give in to the attraction she always denied between them, while also delving into deeper conversational topics and learning more about herself and her relationships with others. But as they get closer to Vancouver, the questions haunt her– will she be willing to risk her friendship and pursue a relationship with Nav, or will they revert back to how things were?
Nav was a great hero. I instantly fell in love with him. His feelings for Kat were so sweet and real, and while he was flawed he was still just a great guy. In the very white contemporary genre, it was interesting to see someone of Indian heritage take a leading role and how his more modern Western-raised sensibilities conflict with his Indian parents’ expectations.
One of the best things about this book, though, was the skillful combination of sexy and smart. Even while Nav and Kat are having passionate sex, there are equally as many scenes that show them having deep, explorative conversations. Authorial recommendations printed on the covers of books should always be taken with a grain of salt, but Leanne Banks’ blurb can’t be phrased better, or be more accurate: this book is sexy with intense emotional depth.
This book has what I look for in a contemporary romance: complex and interesting characters, strong chemistry, and a deep romantic connection. Love, Unexpectedly has all three.
Grade: A-
Book Type: Contemporary Romance
Sensuality: Hot
Review Date: 16/07/10
Publication Date: 2010/04
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Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.