The Maharaja's Fake Fiancée by Alisha Kay

The title of the book proclaims it a romance, but the reader is plunged into the tragic backstory of the Devgarh Royals on page one itself through a newspaper report, proving that this is much more than a romantic read.

The main protagonists are His Highness Veerendra Singh and Nivy Sharma, around whom the whole plot is woven in a manner that is dexterous and intriguing. Veer’s sister, Yuvrajkumari Jayshree Devi aka the irreverent Jessie is all set to marry Deependra Singh Dogra, the portly son the Maharawal of Tejpur. Likewise, the Maharawal is keen on his daughter, the determined Anika, marrying Veer in an exchange marriage.

Rani Ma, Veer’s mother’s only condition is that her son should marry a girl who will not bring shame to their family. The fast-paced and witty retorts between the mother and her offspring set the ball rolling to make the book a rib-tickler.

Nivy Sharma, the so-called proverbial black sheep of her family, is a rebel who runs away to Mumbai to be an actress. She has her paragon of an older doctor brother, Aryan, who never puts a foot wrong and a Mrs. Bennett kind of mother who is desperate for her daughter to marry and settle down. When one reads between the lines, there are poignant hints, now and then, which indicate why she is the way she is.

 Enter the highly unsuitable Dr. Jay Malhotra, and in evading him, Nivy runs into the arms of Veer, all over again after five years.

The dialogues are hilarious and racy, and when Nivy and Veer get into a fake engagement, many feathers are ruffled. While they blow hot, blow cold, the readers are thoroughly entertained by the antics of the feisty heroine, the dashing hero and the incorrigible matchmaking mama. The minor characters also provide myriad moments of amusement. However, any girl who has to suffer a pain-in-the-neck mother like Nivy’s deserves oodles of sympathy.

How does the imbroglio get solved finally? Is there a happily-ever-after in store for the protagonists? The entertainment continues unabated as personalities clash, emotions explode, and fireworks ensue as Cupid aims his arrows at all and sundry, till the last exciting moment when everything falls into place.

The cover image is strikingly appropriate and sets the light tone that makes the book an easy and entertaining read.