Claiming His Bollywood Cinderella is written by Tara Pammi and published by M&B Modern. Vikram Raina is a Bollywood billionaire actor who has saved his family’s business whilst also becoming one of Bollywood’s most sought after actors. Naina Manon is his grandmother’s assistant. Naina mocks Vikram during their first meeting but then has a one night stand with him, after the masked masquerade ball, without him knowing who she is! He realises who she is during their next meeting and their affair continues. Unfortunately Naina’s family have financial problems and she is forced ask Vikram for a job. Naina becomes Vikram’s assistant. They travel to the Maldives and this is where their relationship starts to fail. Will they be able to salvage their relationship.
I enjoyed the book, although Naina isn’t really a Cinderella character, rather she is independent, highly educated, not afraid to speak her mind and supports her family. The last few chapters were rather rushed and formulaic, spoiling the earlier ones where the storyline was new and fresh, with characters that the reader could empathise and relate to.

I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley #gifted

Loved the Bollywood setting with the Indian tone and the whole desi-ness of it. The romance fell a bit flat for me, felt a bit forced (especially into the Cinderella retelling, where the dance at the ball becomes a hot one night stand at a masquerade party). Still, it's got good angst and steamy and escapism if you're into that kind of hot and racy read

I really enjoyed this and would recommend it as a good read. Its filled with the glitter of an actor in Bollywood so the romance is bound to be sparkling and attractive!

Claiming His Bollywood Cinderella, original and interesting story with varied and dynamic characters that are likable and very easy to invest in.

Vikram is a Bollywood star and head of the families movie business, Naina is initially his grandmothers assistant before she becomes his PA on a script writing trip to the Maldives
I loved Naina, she is independent but vulnerable. She knows what she wants but she also has her own opinions on things and isn’t scared to fight with Vikram, even when the rest of the world just tells him what he wants to hear
Vikram is aware of his power and position and will at times use them to get what he wants but he is also human and vulnerable. Naina makes him look at himself and his flaws but also the positives that she thinks of him
Their fights and arguments had me addicted to this book and they allowed their characters to shine through as well as showing how they develop throughout
I had a job on a Bollywood film once and I think this helped me to understand a bit more of some of the process but I discovered so much more about the industry and how things worked from a different perspective and it worked so well, and the only thing that made me put the book down was that it was the early hours of the morning and I had to be up soon!
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a romance full of drama in a world not traditionally shown but which will pull you in and not let go

Vikram Raawal doesn’t believe that he will find love outside of the roles he has played on the big screen. Jaded by the world he lives in an cynical about the relationships he has had in the past he doesn’t expect to find himself captivated by one woman at a masquerade ball.

Naina finds Vikram less than appealing when she first meets him, his arrogance and rudeness riles her up and she finds herself verbalising he frustration with his behaviour an attitude. Despite that, after one heart stopping night she finds her opinion of him challenged and finds there is more to the man than appearances would suggest.

With Naina now working as his assistant she is in close proximity to him and finds reconciling the public and personal persona of Vikram hard to fathom.

Naina as a character was hard to relate to, as one minute she was meek and mild and then next she had the confidence to give herself over to a man. I found the ease at which she gave herself, especially as it was her first time a bit surprising, as I felt that her character up until that point was made of stronger stuff than to go weak at the knees so quickly.

Vikram I found to be really irritating, I appreciate he was trying to carry the responsibility on his shoulders but I don’t think that explains or excuses his rude and abrasive manner to those in his family and inner circle.

Couple that with the frequently highlighted age difference, for which I don’t think this added anything to the story, and the one dimensional characters this for me was a fairly ordinary story trying to masquerade as something more exciting.

It is an easy read, but not one I would recommend going out to buy.

I enjoyed this book, however found it hard to get into at first, I continued reading and was not disappointed. The setting is unusual for most Mills and Boon stories and is the first Bollywood story I have read in this genre, saying that I really liked how this made the book different to your usual fare. Vikram our star is older than Naina, and when they first meet she is mocking him to his family, he soon starts to realise that there is more to her than meets the eye and starts to delve within but with each layer he takes away he finds himself being drawn ever closer to the mystery that is Naina.

I've long been a fan of Tara Pammi's writing, and this lovely story lived up to my high expectations. I loved this book and I'm very much looking forward to her next.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, I enjoyed this book as a BAME reader because it took me back to my childhood when I used to watch cheesy Bollywood movies. The models on the front cover are stunning and it’s nice to see ‘brown girl’ representation. Secondly I liked how when Naina & Vikram met, they both got into a heavy debate. I found this very realistic as it wasn’t the typical cliche meeting where there’s flirty eye contact and then they exchange phone numbers. One line in particular: “Ajay was the son of a friend of a colleague of a cousin of Papa’s” made me laugh out loud as it showed how Indians literally know everyone. Naina’s feisty attitude was admirable. This one line “I’ve got what I want from you, Mr Raawal” made me think GO GIRL! In short, it was a cute yet sexy love story and it’s very unique to other books on the market.

The masquerade ball engaged me from the start, the romance and the secrets the perfect foil for this modern-day Cinderella romance.

Naina may be struggling financially, but she's self-reliant and knows what she wants, as Vikram finds out. First in a verbal sparring match and then in an unexpected passionate encounter. Vikram, the modern-day prince, in this story is left playing catch-up after every encounter with Naina despite his player status and wealth. The characters are full of angst and conflict, but they are easy to like, and you want them to get their chance of happiness.

Partly, set in an idyllic island location this romance overcomes the inevitable conflicts to give the couple a fairytale ending. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I received a copy of this book from Mills and Boon via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine


I enjoyed this
A little different setting and premise which I liked
Like the way the characters were written and really liked the story

I received an ARC from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I didn’t like the cover. The model did not live up to the description of Vikram. Also, the blurb is very. misleading. Naina is not a Cinderella in my opinion. She is a bright, educated, intelligent, sparky and fascinating young woman. In her encounters with Vikram she is no shy, quiet missish heroine but a lively, creative and inspired protagonist who is every inch Vikram’s equal.
I loved the scene at the Masquerade Ball. The two of them are so honest, open and involved. It was one of the best love scenes I’ve read in Mills and Boon. It felt special.

As I was reading, I kept thinking how brilliant and unusual the relationship and the story was. The dialogue was stunning. Tara Pammi produced some of her best prose ever. It sparked off the page.
Then, after we went off to the Maldives, it all became rather pedestrian and predictable. An obstacle for the sake of an obstacle. The heroine reacts negatively and walks off. The hero has his moment of revelation. We have a hurried Proposal and then it ends incredibly quickly. No epilogue! I turned the page to find an extract from another book. Where was the epilogue?

This was four parts brilliant to one part disappointment. A new, clear voice emerged in the first part of the book but then it felt like the writer had to finish the book fast and didn’t give it the treatment it deserved. 4 stars because I really enjoyed it in spite of the flaws.

A famous Bollywood film star meets a normal, go about her own business, woman. An instant disliking!!!! attraction that is formed.

A party which they both seek the quietness of a supposedly empty room, leads to a sexual encounter. She is aware with who this has happened with he is not as she was wearing a mask.

He soon realises who he is attracted to though, and she thinks he is still unaware.

The relationship eventually moves to full emotional awareness and love.

With a happy ever after ending in this romantic story of love, commitment and happiness.

Claiming His Bollywood Cinderella, Tara Pammi

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Multicultural Interest, Romance, Women's Fiction

Not Again!! Its 2020, not 1820. Men write romance, men read romance, and I'm tired of seeing this outdated genre.

Hands Up, every now and then I was a slushy romance, one I don't have to think about, and throw in the film star and the poor girl and I'm in. Except for this story I wasn't. I wasn't convinced by the romance, it just felt forced. I didn't really understand Naina, one moment she was shy and hiding, the next outgoing and confident. Vikram.....I just didn't really like him. I understood why he'd acted as he did, what a huge burden he'd been left with but he felt cold almost, except for these feelings he has and doesn't want to admit to about Naina.
For me it would have worked better as a straight romance, the pushing it to fit Cinderella felt too forced and I think it was detrimental to the flow of the story.
Its my first read by Tara, and it won't put me off from trying another. Its just this story, not the writing style, that doesn't suit me.

Stars: Two, sadly though I wanted to love it, this one just didn't work for me. As always though that's a personal view, you may love it.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers