Cannonball Book Club Reads Romance – Book Announcement!

Join us at 11:00 am EST for our discussion!

 

 

Yes, it’s a kissing book.

Welcome friends, to the announcement of our very first Cannonball Book Club Reads book. You’re excited aren’t you? I am.

::Ahem::

If you’ve looked up at the author/title listing you know who won, but let’s make it official: our Cannonball Book Club Reads Romance pick is The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev!

I want to let you know that from the beginning this was a VERY tight race. Over 90 of you voted and you were as divided in your choices as I was in selecting them in the first place. Each book had several votes at least, and numbers two through four were separated by 2 votes. I hope that if your choice didn’t win you’ll still read it and let us know how dumb we were for not picking it. All nine books have been added to my personal to read list, and my goal is to read (at least) the top four choices this CBR.

And for those of you who might still be on the fence about jumping into one of the most popular genres in publishing today, I say –  give it a try!

We here at the Cannonball Read are a Romance reading inclusive group. Many of us (myself included) used to open our Romance reviews with apologies, self-flagellation, and explanations of why we would read these. But with long time ‘ballers like Malin (who has been reviewing Romances since 2009!) embracing the strengths of the genre, and Mrs. Julien embracing the stigma with her “The Shameful Tally” perhaps it’s time to give in to the temptation. You know at least you’ll be in good company.

So even if you’ve never thought about reading one, never imagined REVIEWING one, and even if you didn’t vote on the poll I’m hoping that you’ll pick up this book and come see what’s out there besides those old school Harlequins. Join us for “interpersonal entanglements with misunderstandings and maybe some kissing”. You know it sounds like something you want to read.

So come on back March 1 to our inaugural meeting of the 2016 Cannonball Book Club Reads: The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev. Check out our suggested discussion topics too.

Ria Parkar is Bollywood’s favorite Ice Princess– until one impulsive act threatens to expose her destructive past. Traveling home to Chicago for her cousin’s wedding offers a chance to diffuse the coming media storm and find solace in family, food, and outsized celebrations. But it also means confronting Vikram Jathar.  Ria and Vikram spent childhood summers together, a world away from Ria’s exclusive boarding school in Mumbai. Their friendship grew seamlessly into love–until Ria made a shattering decision. As far as Vikram is concerned, Ria sold her soul for stardom and it’s taken him years to rebuild his life. But beneath his pent-up anger, their bond remains unchanged. And now, among those who know her best, Ria may find the courage to face the secrets she’s been guarding for everyone else’s benefit–and a chance to stop acting and start living.  Rich with details of modern Indian-American life, here is a warm, sexy, and witty story of love, family, and the difficult choices that arise in the name of both.

The link in the header takes you to the Kindle version of the book. Please consider buying your preferred version of the book through the links in this review or the CBR affiliate link  (But know that I will cast no aspersions to those of us who go the library route.)

Also, because I know you are interested the ranked list of choices is as follows:

#1 Sonali Dev, The Bollywood Bride

#2 Loretta Chase, Dukes Prefer Blondes

#3 Rhys Ford, Fish and Ghosts *tie

#3 Georgette Heyer, Venetia *tie

#5 Courtney Milan, The Duchess War

#6 Sarah McLean, A Rogue by Any Other Name

#7 Elle Kennedy, The Deal

#8 Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Match Me if You Can

#9 Julie Anne Long, The Perils of Pleasure