Review by Booklist Review
Dev cleverly concludes her Jane Austen-inspired Rajes quartet with the unlikely union between the youngest and most attractive of the Rajes siblings, Vansh, and the spurned ex-fiancée of the previous novel, Naina. This final book in the series picks up where Incense and Sensibility (2021) left off. Yash Raje has been elected governor, and Vansh needs a new project to occupy his time, a vanity project according to Naina Kohli, whose funding for her own charitable cause is threatened when her billionaire donor revokes his support in favor of Vansh, simply because of his name. Spurned again, normally nonchalant Naina is furious and starting to come undone, but Vansh is not in competition with this sexy and statuesque beauty. What seems like a mismatch at first turns out to be an unstoppable team when they discover their shared passion for philanthropy and their fierce sexual chemistry. Dev satisfyingly wraps up her diverse collection of characters, squeezing in another love story between ethereal Esha Raje and Sid Dashwood to round out the happily-ever-afters, leaving devoted fans eager to see what she does next.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Passion arises between two old friends in Dev's endearing fourth Rajes romance (after Incense and Sensibility), a fresh take on Jane Austen's Emma. Knightlina "Naina" Kohli is furious to learn that a benefactor, who's promised to endow the natal care clinics she's hoping to open, has also pledged part of that sum to Vansh Raje, Naina's longtime friend and the well-intentioned but meddling founder of a nonprofit, the Emma Project. The youngest of a close-knit and prominent Indian American family, Vansh has lived a privileged life, unlike Naina, who, along with her mother, suffered at the hands of her controlling, abusive father. Vansh didn't set out to steal Naina's funding, but when he learned that one of his former employees is now homeless, he was moved to take on homelessness as his next cause. He appeals to Naina to figure out a way they can both get the funds they need, leading to long days that soon turn into steamy nights. Naina doesn't believe she's capable of love and insists their affair be temporary, but Vansh struggles to keep things casual, forcing Naina to confront her past and reevaluate her self-worth. Sonali captures the true friendship between Naina and Vansh and addresses difficult subjects without dilution or pretension. Series fans won't want to miss this. Agent: Alexandra Machinist, ICM Partners. (June)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Two lifelong friends learn to see each other in a new light when forced to pursue a common goal. Once betrothed to Yash Raje, heir apparent of the aristocratic Indian American Raje family, and beloved by his sprawling clan, Naina Kohli has become persona non grata since she and Yash split up, acknowledging that the engagement had been a convenient sham. So when she finds out that the benefactor of her microfinance foundation wants her to work with Vansh Raje, Yash's youngest sibling, Naina is distraught: Not only does this development make it impossible for her to put some much-needed distance between herself and the Rajes, but it also forces her to hitch her wagon to the pampered prince who has, to her knowledge, never demonstrated a capacity for dedication or commitment. In his mid-20s, Vansh is relentlessly charming; coasting along easily on the strength of his looks and wealth, he has traveled the world working on do-gooder projects. He is extremely earnest about his latest and cares enough about Naina to be frustrated that she often underestimates his sincerity. But when circumstances force them to acknowledge each other's best qualities and become freshly aware of their own flaws, sparks begin to fly. Naina must now decide if she wants a real relationship with a different Raje brother altogether. The fourth and final installment in Dev's series of Jane Austen adaptations brims with humor, wit, and pathos. Naina, originally christened Knightlina, is modeled on Emma's steadfast Mr. Knightley, while Vansh shares Emma's compassion and tendency to make unfortunate errors in judgment. Dev's attention to detail--from descriptions of Naina's Bollywood-inspired attire to her mother's turns of phrase as she negotiates with English--brings every character to life and inspires instant empathy. While descriptions of the Rajes' family dynamics are consistently entertaining, their eventual change of heart toward Naina feels somewhat abrupt. The warmth of steady family ties complements the heat of intense sexual chemistry. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
