A great historical fiction read that held my interest from start to finish. This is a book I recommend to fans of historical fiction.

An absolutely well woven heart break.

Child trafficking.
Prostitution

It’s all horrifying horrific and will make you not only sad but angry.

Sharon Maas has woven something that everyone should read.

When Caroline returns to the US because of her mental health problems, Kamal gives up their daughter Asha. What a nightmare for that poor child. Now, ten years later, Caroline is back and they're trying to find her. This is dark in spots and it's hard not to judge these parents.

This was a hard read. My blood was boiling and I thought my heart was going to leap out of my chest! How could two parents be so unaware, selfish and stupid? There's no way you can put this book down. It must be finished in one sitting. Child trafficking and prostitution is horrific business. Children being sold by their fathers. How can men buy children the age of 6 and 8? What could be their malfunction? The writing was very compelling. As I write this I'm angry and distraught.

The novel opens with three storylines. Caroline has come to India with an idealised view of the country; Kamal is the grandson of royalty it seems, raised at the Palace of Moti Khodayal; and Asha is a young girl who is farmed out and by an quirk of unfortunate fate finds herself being shipped from pillar to post.

This book is essentially the story of how tiny Asha is abandoned by her mother and is then swept into Indian family life at the Iyengars, where Janiki, an older child, takes her under her wing. But soon the arrangement falls apart, Janiki has gone to study in the States and Asha is bundled off into harsh servitude. However, the family with whom she has been placed, is soon under arrest, once again leaving Asha in the hands of cruel fate. The police are at the house and rather than finding security with them, she falls prey to unscrupulous people and is groomed for child prostitution. The police are complicit in the trade of young girls.

Her parents, living apart, soon come together with Janiki in their mission to find her when they all realise she is missing….

The theme central to the novel is truly heart rending. This of course is fiction but in the heart of Kamathipura, the red light district of Mumbai, there are thousands of girls and young women who are traded everyday. And that is a truly sobering thought to ponder once the book comes to a close.

As you may guess, the stories of each character introduced at the beginning all dovetail into a cohesive storyline.

At times I did feel that some of the exploits of the characters were a little far-fetched but it’s a good and perceptive story, which blossoms into a very readable novel.

The author clearly knows India well and the feel of the country is beautifully brought to life with all its vicissitudes and contrasts. And Sharon goes on to share her very personal journey

"One woman. One impossible choice. Her daughter or her happiness … "
Sharon Mass's The Lost Daughter of India is a heart touching tale of love, dream and later changes to abuse and child trafficking.

My thoughts:- When I first looked at the book the name and cover looked catchy enough to take it up for the read.
The main story is of an Indian princely boy Kamal and Caroline whom he meets studying abroad. They fell in love, married, came to India and have a child Asha. However Caroline leaves for her home leaving the child in India who was taken in Iyenger family. However a disaster falls to he family and the Iyenger family is taken by outsiders. Her and her adoptive brothers live in distress. And at one point she was lost in a red light area of Mumbai(then Bombay).
The book has potential enough but its slow pace and sometimes over exaggeration about Indian royalty customs are responsible to make it bland. Caroline had felt a romantic disposition after hearing stories after stories from her Indian governess. However she was disenchanted after setting foot in India. Of course it is not as fairy tales say. As for me these parts what made me give three stars as rating.

I mistakenly thought this would be similar to Dinah Jefries' Before The Rains. But I was so wrong!

So first things first, this is not a historical novel. Yes, part of it is set in the XXth century, but it doesn't really focus on that. And it's not a romance novel, either, although it does feature a love story. I'd say this is a contemporary novel that tackles heavy themes and is definitely not an easy read at all. Human trafficking, child prostitution, poverty, abuse... Not exactly what I was expecting.

And don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved this book. I liked that it wasn't what I thought it would be, that the cover didn't really do it justice, that it told an important story. I knew it from the very first chapters, as I was already engaged. I think you need to know that you will find it hard to understand Caroline and Kamal's actions. I know I did. I mean, how could they give up their daughter just like that? Why didn't they return more often? But once I got past that, I was completely on board with the story.

Perhaps, my favorite aspect of The Lost Daughter of India was the multiple perspectives. I know some of you don't really enjoy them anymore, but this time I thought they gave the book more depth. Asha's (the main protagonist) story was told from a first person perspective and you could actually believe you were reading a young girl's thoughts. And then we had Kamal and Janiki's tale, as well as my favorite, Caroline's. Caroline wasn't my favorite character (Janiki was the best!) but she was the most complex and interesting to read about in my opinion. I adored how the author described her initial dreams about India and the consequent disillusion. I enjoyed reading about her relationship with Kamal and their determination to find Asha.

One thing that I found curious about The Lost Daughter of India was that the second part read like a real mystery/thriller novel. Okay, so I would never say this is a thriller, but it was full of suspense, as the characters got together and worked like proper detectives to try to find Asha's whereabouts.

The weakest part for me, and probably the only thing I didn't like about this book was the ending, mainly because I thought it was all too convenient. There were no loose ends at all, which felt kind of unrealistic. And no, I'm not really convinced about a certain relationship... please tell me I'm not the only one.

I was a little hesitant about this one at first. I mean, how could I possibly empathize with a mother who left her daughter behind in another country? Yet as the different story lines began to converge, if not empathetic I was at least understanding. This was about so much more than a mother simply being unhappy in a foreign country. It was about sacrificing for the daughter's welfare, even when that was one of the most difficult decisions.

I still found it difficult to like Caroline or Kamal, yet I found it no hardship to love the innocent Asha. Her story broke my heart, as she struggled to understand the evil in the world that now surrounded her. Gone was the loving family she had grown up with, replaced by pain and a depravity no child should even know the existence of.

The pictures painted of the country and the culture was at times quaint and picturesque, others graphic and wrenching. I devoured this in only one sitting, because how could I possibly put it down while the fate of Asha was undecided? How could I close my eyes on her suffering? The fact that there is so much truth behind these words is even more heartbreaking. So much evil, and so few people trying to combat it. It leaves you thinking, and perhaps that was the most important aspect.

The book was an insightful read into child prostitution and trafficking, interwoven with the sad story of loves found and lost.

The main premise of the book, child trafficking and prostitution, is rather relevant and important for everyone to be aware of. The story focuses on that when Asha is kidnapped and sold away. Well, going back a little, the story starts of by introducing us to Kamal and Caroline, going back and forth in time to give us insights into them and Asha, their in the present time. The story also consists of some other very important characters, one of them being Janiki, Asha's foster sister and a kind of mother figure.

The author has brought out the plot decently, but there is a lot of repetition and this forced me to lose interest in the book a little. Once a point is emphasised, there is no need to keep talking about it again and again. This was a major deterrent. Other than this, the characters were well developed with a good amount of depth. All the players had a role to play and the author has done some amount of justice in her description of India. On one side she has shown us the glamorous parts, or what people assume it to be, and on the other she has brought out the underlying truth behind most of the glamour surrounding the country. It is not as exotic as most foreigners seem to think and this is emphasised through Caroline's character who has a love-hate relationship with the country, starting off with a romanticised notion since her childhood.

The story progresses to focus on Asha's life after her parents leave her to grow up with her foster parents (though foster isn't exactly the right word. They are a family who take her in and love her as much as her parents, sometimes even more). Set in Madras and Bombay, the author brings out some harsh realities, forcing the reader to pause and think. Some of the scenes have been described very well and the attention to detail in them makes up for the negative points. It is also clear that a good amount of research has gone into this book and that makes the information more authentic and believable.

The story is filled with heart-break but brings out the importance of family and the lengths to which people will go to rescue the ones they love. It also shows us the ways a persons ideas can affect and influence their decisions. I recommend this book mainly for the plot line and idea that the author is trying to portray and make us aware of.

A well written story which takes place in India and its darker side. This story in one part, deals with the trafficking of children into the sex trade, but starts out with a love story between and Indian man, Kamal and a white North American woman, Caroline. Caroline, since she was a young girl in Massachusetts, dreams of someday going to India and Marrying a prince. She had an Indian nanny when she was little and heard wonderful stories of the country, which made her want to move there. Kamal, grew up with his grandmother in India, isolated and forbidden to leave their lush estate due to his grandmothers fears. When he finally does leave first for boarding school and then to MIT in Boston to study, he meets Caroline, who already plans on going to India to finish her studies. While living with a local family she and Kamal get married and eventually have a baby girl, Asha. Kamal works outside of the town and is only able to get back occasionally to see his wife and daughter, while they save money as the couple have plans to move back to the States to live and raise their child. Being left alone so much and having a new born, Caroline becomes overwhelmed and lets the family she is living with mainly take care of her child, she has postpartum depression and gets food poisoning, and decides to go back to the States to get well, leaving her child with the Indian family she lived with. Caroline does not go back and asks for a divorce, and so the baby grows up with the foster family, until she is 12 when tragedy strikes the family and her life changes forever.
Caroline and Kamal meet again after they have not heard anything from the family raising their daughter and find out about the tragedy and what has happened to Asha, now together along with a family friend and other people that become involved, set out to find her. Here is where the story becomes very tense and hard to put down.
Wonderful characters, from the caring family who took care of Asha, to the Grandmother who lives in a fantasy world. You will definitely get caught up in this story.
thank you NetGalley and Bookouture

For Caroline and Kamal it is love at first sight and Caroline cant wait to start married life with him in India but the grass is not always greener! When Caroline gives birth to her baby daughter Asha she loves her but with post natal depression and Kamal never being there she gets more and more depressed and homesick and eventually makes the decision to leave Asha with friends and leave.

Through a series of misfortunes Asha does not have the home that Caroline thinks she is leaving her with and so when she reunites with Kamal 10 years later and starts to search for her daughter the consequences are definitely not what she was expecting and is horrified to realise what has happened to her daughter

A great book dealing with all sorts of issues but making it a book that you couldn't put down

A powerful story about a young girl, Asha, in India, the product of an American woman and an Indian man, and how her life was turned upside down. Caroline, unable to face life in India after romanticizing what it would be like, leaves her husband and child, Asha. Kamel ends up leaving her in the care of an Indian family, assured of her well being. The sudden death of the caregivers leads to a terrible fate for Asha, which is in danger of getting even worse. Details about the child sex trade in India give depth to the story. A page-turner you won't be able to put down until you find out what happens to Asha.

This book gives an insight into the culture and character of India. it is an emotional read but takes a while to get into. It will certainly get you thinking as it has many twists and turns. The subject of human trafficking is not an easy topic to write about but the author writes with great insight and transports you into the very heart of India. A well written book. I have reviewed on Amazon and Goodreads.

I have always liked India. I think it is one of the countries with very rich culture which has always intrigued me. This is part of the reason as to why I decided to get this book. I also liked the cover due to the pretty, little girl. The Lost Daughter of India by Sharon Maas begins with the story of Kamal and Caroline long before they met. The two live in very different worlds. However, fate sought of brings them together and they start this relationship that nobody in their families supported. Soon the couple gets married and then they have Asha but things don’t quite work out so well.

This book focuses on so many different themes through which we get to know the characters. Kamal and Caroline are not really the best parents at first. They both had their own issues and in a way, Asha didn’t seem to be a priority. I especially found myself judging Caroline although sometimes I sympathized with her. I can’t imagine how hard it would have been to move to a new country with a different culture, language and far from the life and people that she was used. However, I didn’t quite agree with her decisions. On the other hand, I liked Kamal and was more sympathetic to him than to Caroline.

The Lost Daughter of India by Sharon Maas is not an easy to book to read. Through the pages, we get to learn about human trafficking and child prostitution. The stories of these little girls and boys were so heartbreaking. It is hard to imagine that such things happen but it’s a sad reality. Although this is fiction, the book is inspired by real events. I was particularly shocked to find out that one of the scariest stories involving a child prostitute was actually inspired by real events. I mean, what is wrong with society? What kind of a human being does that to a fellow human being?

The Lost Daughter of India by Sharon Maas is a sad but necessary story. It tackles some really heavy themes that need to be addressed and maybe one of the way to do this is by creating awareness about them. There are a few things about that book that I didn’t really like. There were some aspects of the narration that were just a bit too dramatic especially around the conflict resolution. However, this doesn’t change how I felt about the book. I enjoyed the cultural nuances; arranged marriages, housing, foods and languages. The writing was also quite beautiful and poignant and I like the fact that the book had multiple narrators including Young Asha. I also like the fact that the author’s note explained not only her motivation for writing this book but also the real situation surrounding the main themes. This is my first book by Sharon Maas and it definitely won’t be the last one.

With this new book The Lost Daughter of India author Sharon Maas returns to India for this honest, engrossing story and in doing so brings alive a country full of contradictions. On one hand it is full of beauty and unusual sights, sounds and smells yet on the other there is a seedy undercurrent running alongside said beauty. In this book Sharon shows us the differences and makes the reader sit up and think about an issue that is not all that often brought to the attention of the public yet is rampant and ongoing on a daily basis. I had not read the authors previous book set in India but have read and enjoy her Winnie Cox series of novels so I was interested to see how the author would deal with a change of setting from her previous few books. It was quite clear from the outset that the tone of this book was very different to what I have read before and I mean that in a good way.

The beginning of the story focused on the past and gave us information and back story to the characters and then we were brought slap bang into the present into a nightmare of a situation that no parent would wish upon anyone in a million years. Looking at the title and cover I figured this was another historical fiction read from Sharon and although I love this genre it was refreshing to see this change to a more modern, hard hitting, eye opening story. This book is heartbreaking and full of tragedy and secrets and showcases a desperate attempt to save a young girl from completely disappearing into a life no child should have to endure yet sadly there are thousands of children in this position all over the world. I felt the author was brave to tackle such a subject yet it was dealt with and explored with a real deft touch throughout the book and everything built and built to a dramatic conclusion where no detail was spared. I felt that was important that if an author was going to write about such a difficult topic that no detail should be spared no matter how brutal or how it may affect the reader. Go the whole way or don't bother at all and I thought the author did this in a superb way.

My only misgivings about this book and I do believe this is Sharon Maas' best book to date is that in my opinion it took quite a while to get going. There was a lot of back story to fill in and I was wondering when the story proper would get going. Often in books I question whether so much detail into the back story would be needed and then later in the book I find it was essential but here having finished the book I was still left with the same question. I thought it would have been better interspersed with events ongoing in the present and the parents quest to find their daughter as it would have given more insight as to how both Caroline and Kamal were dealing with such a traumatic event and how they came to be the people they were today. It just felt a bit separate from the story at the position it was placed in in the book. As the story opens and chapters go back and forth between Kamal and Caroline as they were growing up, I felt this wasn't needed and there was bit too much detail, it just became that little bit too long winded for my liking. Saying all that and pushing my issue aside the rest of this book was brilliant and I enjoyed every bit of it once I felt the story got going and it was clear such impeccable research had been undertaken by the author as she brought such an important issue into the hearts and minds of her readers.

As I have mentioned the beginning of the book introduces us to American Caroline as she is growing up in Massachusetts with her three brothers and lawyer father and doctor mother. She has a deep affinity with India and as she grows older and ventures to college she meets and falls deeply in love with Kamal. We also see how Kamal had been reared by his grandmother sheltered from the world in a huge 'palace' behind closed doors never allowed out in to the streets of Gujarat except for the one time he sneaked out with serious repercussions. But as Kamal becomes a teenager he asserts his authority and independence and ends up studying in America and once he sees Caroline he feels his life is complete. Against her parents wishes, and from very different social classes, the pair marry and move to live in India with a tribal family where Caroline can study and complete her thesis and her love of India can grow. Times aren't easy for the pair as Kamal works away and when Caroline gives birth to daughter Asha things go from bad to worse.

Initially I got the love between Kamal and Caroline yet when they moved to India it all just seemed to fall apart and become too fake. It became obvious they had rushed into things and honestly I never really liked either of the characters and could see why separation ensued. I understand Caroline became sick and left Asha behind but would a mother really do that and a father stay away so long even though he was trying to earn money? I felt they abandoned their daughter and put their own needs before their daughters which a parent should never do. Are we then meant to feel sympathy for the pair when we discover the fate befallen on Asha? Surely they put her in that position. Yes how were they to know the family they had left Asha with such tragedy would befall them? Regardless there was always that element niggling away at me - would I have done the same in their position?

I felt the first quarter of the book focused too much on Kamal and Caroline and as I was reading I kept thinking how does this relate to the outline on the blurb. I wanted more about how Asha was dealing with things and finally when it did come the pace didn't let up and I was rapidly tapping the Kindle to move the pages on as an incredible story unfolded. I enjoyed how at the beginning there were a few chapters from Asha's point of view and although they were brief we could tell she was in some kind of trouble and was worried and scared and as things began to be uncovered the chapters from Asha's viewpoint became harder to read because we know that scenes and events like this are happening in India on a daily basis and the one front that may be presented to the wider world is not always what's going on once one digs that little bit deeper. There is mistrust, fear, deprivation, untold horrors and cruelty co-existing beside the fabulous tourists images some may like people to see to put them off track and take them away from the horrific realities. The author certainly showed her readers how India is a country of extremes in more ways than one.

One of the best characters in the book was Janiki, the daughter of the family who cared for Asha when Caroline left. She became like a surrogate mother to Asha and in no way did I feel she deserved the same blame as I felt Caroline did at what happened to Asha. I Loved Janiki she showed courage, spirit and determination when she needed it the most. I felt like Asha was a part of her even though they were not related at all and that she would never give up until the truth would prevail and Asha would maybe once more be home in the safe loving arms of those that needed her the most. Through her actions Janiki was perhaps the best character to uncover the seedier side of the book I have mentioned before and no detail was spared no matter how appalling or shocking and it made me fear for the fate of Asha all the more. Yet Janiki never gave up hope or the belief that a positive outcome could be achieved. The only thing I will say is the romance element regarding Janiki for me came quite a bit out of left field and happened very rapidly and although it was lovely and all it just felt that little bit unbelievable for me.

As for Asha despite being so young and the situation she found herself enduring she was a superbly written character showing maturity and strength beyond her years. To say I felt sorry for her wouldn't be the correct words to use here but I can't think what else to say unspeakable , horrific things were happening which she had no control over. Adults were playing an awful game of which she was just a pawn in a much bigger picture. Asha kept faith and hope at all times and she showed how clever and ingenious she could be. But how can a young girl ever be the same or even survive when faced with the unimaginable? The author really got inside Asha's head and through her story brought to life a brutal world where things just aren't just or right and I was so glad this topic had been written about.

The Lost Daughter of India is a brilliant, eye opening read that will leave readers deeply affected and thinking long after you have read the last line. Yes I may have had a few minor issues with some aspects of the book but that is my own opinion and others may not feel the same way. But trust me this is Sharon Maas' in great writing form and I would love for her to continue writing more modern,hard hitting, topical stories like this interspersed with the historical fiction I have loved from her in the past. When reading this line from Janiki towards the end of the book I felt it really did sum up The Lost Daughter of India as a whole 'That's India, thought Janiki, the juxtaposition of extremes, The highest bliss and the deepest misery. Abject poverty next to fabulous wealth. Shining saintliness next to darkest evil and everything in between'. That is exactly what this book was and although not always the easiest of reads it certainly was an excellent one where Sharon Maas has once again reaffirmed for me what a talented author she is. This is a compelling story which transports you to the heart of India into a story that has many twists and turns some good some bad but which will have you reading long into the night. Make sure and add this book to your TBR piles, it's one not to be missed.

The Lost Daughter of India

You're always in for a treat when there's a new Sharon Maas book available. The Lost Daughter of India is no exception.

This is a book about love, culture, culture clashes, defiance, heartbreak, human trafficking and survival. This is a powerful story with so much depth your ears might pop, I absolutely loved this book. I was completely absorbed by this stunning story, I was there in India, living everything with them.

Another exceptional read from Sharon Mass, 5*.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book, with thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture.

The lost daughter of India by Sharon Mass is a women's fiction and general fiction (adult) read.
One woman. One impossible choice. Her daughter or her happiness …
When Caroline meets Kamal the attraction is instant. He’s enchanting, charismatic and she can’t wait to set up a new life with him in India. Both their families are against the union but Caroline is convinced they’ll come round, especially when she gives birth to a beautiful daughter, Asha.
Asha is an adorable child but Caroline, homesick and beginning to hate the remote Indian village they live in, struggles with motherhood. Kamal is hardly ever there and she feels more and more isolated. In the grips of severe depression Caroline flees back to America, leaving Asha behind.
Ten years later …
Caroline recovered from her illness, is consumed by thoughts of the daughter she abandoned. Desperate to find Asha, she reunites with Kamal, intent on tracking her down. Will they ever be able to find their lost daughter? If they have any chance, they must confront the painful truths of the past and a terrible secret that has been kept for many years, until now.
What a read. Fantastic story with fantastic characters. I loved Kamal. He was my favourite character. This is a must read and I would highly recommend this book. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.

Personally, this has been quite a difficult book to review and I have spent a lot of time staring at my computer expecting the words to just write themselves.
It was pretty clear from the first chapter that this novel would be moulded around some rather dark and turbulent issues. I'm not going to lie, it took me quite a while to get to grips with the storyline and readjust my mindset to the background information. I did feel as though I was out of my depth reading it as I couldn't readjust my mindset quick enough to keep up with the storyline. There is a lot of information in each chapter and whilst I found that quite hard, this type of novel needs those stepping stones to keep the depth of the book.
Of course, given the nature of the novel a lot of the situations are pretty difficult and raw to read, yet Sharon Maas has executed the storyline brilliantly. Sharon's emotive writing shines through the entire novel, keeping the power behind those words fresh in your mind. There was something so raw and poignant about the way Sharon described the maternal instinct and it gave me goosebumps. I wish I could describe the feeling better, but I'm sure you understand what I'm waffling on about!
Even though the overall concept of the book had me extremely shell-shocked and distraught (quite rightly so!), Sharon's writing stood out for me. I did struggle with the book, I'll be honest; but that is nothing against the book in general (more so the way that my brain reacted to the harrowing circumstances). I am glad that I didn't give up on the The Lost Daughter of India, because it opened my eyes to an alternative culture. Plus, I got to witness Sharon Mass' beautiful writing. Win win really!
Happy publication day Sharon!
Thank you Kim & Netgalley.

A harrowing tale of lost childhoods, only some rare ones come out of such experiences and Sharon has given the lost daughter of India in this story a fighting chance. The research is impeccable and so close to reality it made me angry, afraid and frustrated at what goes on behind the glamour of my countries cinema hub.

My heart was in my mouth reading this story but it is a terrific read nevertheless.