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Tempted by the Bollywood Star
Being famous was her dream…until it cost her a chance at love. Years later, will a Hollywood reunion give her the comeback she’s craving? Find out in this emotional romance by Sophia Singh Sasson.She once turned her back on love… Now she’s risking everything for a second chance. During one perfect holiday, Bollywood star Saira Sethi fell hard for producer Mia Strome. Ending their fling to protect her public image is her biggest regret. Now, years later, she’s in Hollywood and Mia is a producer on Saira’s new show! Mia never forgot their intense connection—nor her heartbreak when Saira walked away. Their chemistry still sizzles, but lingering frustrations cause clashes that threaten the show…and their future. From Harlequin Passionate and provocative stories featuring rich, powerful heroes and scandalous family sagas.
224 pages, ebook
Published October 24, 2023
About the author
Sophia Singh Sasson
65 books134 followers| Romance that sizzles | Stories that thrill | Characters you can't leave behind |
Sophia puts her childhood habit of daydreaming to good use by writing stories she wishes will give you hope, make you laugh, cry, and possibly snort tea from your nose. She was born in Mumbai India, has lived in the Canary Islands, Spain, Toronto, Canada, and currently resides in Washington DC. She loves to read, travel, bake, scuba dive, watch foreign movies, and hear from readers. Contact her at http://SophiaSasson.com or [email protected]
Sophia puts her childhood habit of daydreaming to good use by writing stories she wishes will give you hope, make you laugh, cry, and possibly snort tea from your nose. She was born in Mumbai India, has lived in the Canary Islands, Spain, Toronto, Canada, and currently resides in Washington DC. She loves to read, travel, bake, scuba dive, watch foreign movies, and hear from readers. Contact her at http://SophiaSasson.com or [email protected]
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 4, 2023
Bollywood star and TV producer fall into bad habits when they work together on their first project after having a torrid, and secret, affair years ago.
overall, i wanted far more reason for these two to be so in love beyond their pants feelings. this was very horny! but the very real career and safety risks, especially for Saira, made me want to understand more why Mia was worth it all.
Overall, it was fine, just not great.
author gives general content note before, but i will include these:
homomisia, descriptions of hate crimes that have happened to secondary characters, fear of hate crimes, fear of outing, main character's sibling brutally attacked in past for way a fictional character is portrayed in a film while acting
overall, i wanted far more reason for these two to be so in love beyond their pants feelings. this was very horny! but the very real career and safety risks, especially for Saira, made me want to understand more why Mia was worth it all.
Overall, it was fine, just not great.
author gives general content note before, but i will include these:
homomisia, descriptions of hate crimes that have happened to secondary characters, fear of hate crimes, fear of outing, main character's sibling brutally attacked in past for way a fictional character is portrayed in a film while acting
August 6, 2024
This one is a product of a rather idiosyncratic desire on my part—to read as many of the books tagged “LGBTQ Second Chance Romance” on the Smart Bitches Trashy Books Book Finder as I can. Through a series of happenings—moving to a town where a couple of these books were available in the library, having one of them (this one, in fact) pop up on Hoopla, and seeing another (Drowned Country) show up on a list of recommendations, I’ve come to read a cluster of them recently.
How would I sum this one up? Well, the sentence that comes immediately to mind is, “These are the two most unprofessional people in the world,” but as far as romance novels go, it was okay. It didn’t really piss me off, it didn’t inspire me with the kind of glee or hunger that makes me want to keep on with a book until I find out what happens next, it was just okay.
Our two heroines, Mia and Saira, hooked up in Fiji ten years ago but split up when Saira went back to India rather than come out and be with Mia openly. Now, Mia is a television producer in LA who’s gotten her first big break producing Life with Meera, a TV show starring Saira. As the title suggests, Saira, who was already a famous actress ten years ago, is now a huge name in the Indian film industry but not well-known enough in the US to get offered more than supporting roles in American films. Life with Meera is a big opportunity for her as well—both an opportunity to break into the American film industry and an opportunity to reconnect with Mia.
I actually thought the initial conflict between the women was really interesting—they both want the show to succeed, but they go about trying to make this happen in ways that cause conflicts with each other. On the one hand, Saira is one of the only South Asian people involved in the production of the show, and she’s dismayed by the stereotypes in her script, the lack of knowledge of Indian clothing in the wardrobe department, and the general ethnocentrism of the whole production. She’s determined that this show won’t just be another stereotypical, inaccurate cliché-fest, and so she uses her power as the show’s star to rewrite scripts, make changes to the costuming, and otherwise tweak the show to make it better.
On the other hand, Mia is under extreme time and financial pressures. The studio has given her only a limited budget and an abnormally short shooting time for Life with Meera, apparently because they don’t have a lot of faith in either the show or in her, and every time Saira makes last-minute script and costume changes, it delays shooting, costs money, and frustrates the crew, who get stuck working extremely long days to try to meet their deadlines. Both of them have legitimate concerns, and the conflict does a good job of introducing both characters’ strengths and weaknesses: Mia is a competent producer who, in her need to prove herself and her inability to see outside her own perspective, treats Saira’s proposed changes with nothing but frustration and impatience, while Saira is a talented actress and a skilled script doctor with insights into Indian culture who is also very used to getting her own way and not particularly interested in what the crew has to do to make that happen. I’m not an expert in Hollywood or anything, but it seemed like a pretty plausible conflict to me.
In the final accounting, it was a pretty fun book, particularly if you enjoy protagonists in the entertainment industry, but not necessarily one that makes a lasting or memorable impression on me. Other than that Gail, Mia’s assistant, should get paid more.
How would I sum this one up? Well, the sentence that comes immediately to mind is, “These are the two most unprofessional people in the world,” but as far as romance novels go, it was okay. It didn’t really piss me off, it didn’t inspire me with the kind of glee or hunger that makes me want to keep on with a book until I find out what happens next, it was just okay.
Our two heroines, Mia and Saira, hooked up in Fiji ten years ago but split up when Saira went back to India rather than come out and be with Mia openly. Now, Mia is a television producer in LA who’s gotten her first big break producing Life with Meera, a TV show starring Saira. As the title suggests, Saira, who was already a famous actress ten years ago, is now a huge name in the Indian film industry but not well-known enough in the US to get offered more than supporting roles in American films. Life with Meera is a big opportunity for her as well—both an opportunity to break into the American film industry and an opportunity to reconnect with Mia.
I actually thought the initial conflict between the women was really interesting—they both want the show to succeed, but they go about trying to make this happen in ways that cause conflicts with each other. On the one hand, Saira is one of the only South Asian people involved in the production of the show, and she’s dismayed by the stereotypes in her script, the lack of knowledge of Indian clothing in the wardrobe department, and the general ethnocentrism of the whole production. She’s determined that this show won’t just be another stereotypical, inaccurate cliché-fest, and so she uses her power as the show’s star to rewrite scripts, make changes to the costuming, and otherwise tweak the show to make it better.
On the other hand, Mia is under extreme time and financial pressures. The studio has given her only a limited budget and an abnormally short shooting time for Life with Meera, apparently because they don’t have a lot of faith in either the show or in her, and every time Saira makes last-minute script and costume changes, it delays shooting, costs money, and frustrates the crew, who get stuck working extremely long days to try to meet their deadlines. Both of them have legitimate concerns, and the conflict does a good job of introducing both characters’ strengths and weaknesses: Mia is a competent producer who, in her need to prove herself and her inability to see outside her own perspective, treats Saira’s proposed changes with nothing but frustration and impatience, while Saira is a talented actress and a skilled script doctor with insights into Indian culture who is also very used to getting her own way and not particularly interested in what the crew has to do to make that happen. I’m not an expert in Hollywood or anything, but it seemed like a pretty plausible conflict to me.
In the final accounting, it was a pretty fun book, particularly if you enjoy protagonists in the entertainment industry, but not necessarily one that makes a lasting or memorable impression on me. Other than that Gail, Mia’s assistant, should get paid more.
October 24, 2023
What a sweet and powerful romance from Sophia Singh Sasson. I appreciate that Tempted by the Bollywood Star addressed cultural differences — including the nuances around what homophobia looks like in different countries and how those stakes change — head-on.
A few sections were a little heavy-handed (and several parts of Mia and Saira's relationship definitely require some couple's therapy), but I believe in these two lovebirds!
Content warning: Mentions of violence and homophobia
A few sections were a little heavy-handed (and several parts of Mia and Saira's relationship definitely require some couple's therapy), but I believe in these two lovebirds!
Content warning: Mentions of violence and homophobia
September 8, 2024
4.3/5 🌟
okay an adult sapphic romance with an indian lead i really like?? i never thought i'd see the day lol bc i have not had the best experiences with sapphic NA/adult romances and/or indian reps in books.
but this book hit the nail on so many issues!
is it perfect? no. do i wish there were things that could've been done in a better way regarding the romance? yess. but would i recommend it? defintely! few things that i want to talk about:
☆ cultural nuances: one of my main reasons for my skepticism of indian MCs is the representation, even by indian authors. even more by them. i've been critical of them over the years, but i also recognize how india is a multi-cultural nation so one's experience as an indian cannot always match with others.
but i loved how Shannon perfectly captures all the textures of Saira's indian identity while also maintaining her desire to settle in the US. i loved how the huge cultural differences re: family, entertainment industry, queerness, everything else were highlighted, even agonized upon. and i especially loved how Saira challenged the white gaze most Western media/literature contain BIPOC characters in even while centering them. the book really accentuates the way Hollywood and white people often enforce racial stereotyping in indian characters (that i'm so sick of) without trying to catch any authentic input from own-voices.
☆ entertainment industry and queerness and coming out: this also pertains to the cultural differences between india and the US. since the whole story revolved around Saira meeting her ex 10 years after their fling in fiji to shoot for an American TV series, most of it had very detailed portrayal of shooting schedules and filming and production process etc. i really liked getting to see all that unfold.
and it also etches out the pitfalls of celebrity culture, the stakes tied to being in the industry, the personal responsibilities and stress of maintaining a celebrity's public image and keeping the industry and fandom happy to keep themselves relevant, and how often that comes at the expense of losing your independence and freedom and privacy. and it really highlights the stark differences between indian and american culture in accepting queerness, the obscenely horrid reality of queer out celebrities in india, the pain of closeted celebrities living in secret.
and i loved how the toxic family dynamics in india, the cultural and societal norms were explored.
romance: well the chemistry was frankly OFF the charts, leaping off the pages from the beginning. second chance romances with animosity brewing between the MCs from past relationship is one of my favorites and it really did its due diligence. and saira being married to her gay best friend to protect both their images was an extremely nice and dramatic touch here and again accentuates what queer celebrities in south asian countries are forced to endure to sustain their career.
their romance was soft and sweet and emotional, tho i would've liked more page-time to develop it after they reconciled. but again the angst, pining of being in closet and being in a relationship with someone closeted was executed really well.
characterization: no notes on saira really. i loved her and how her journey of exploring herself in respect of her family and career and relationship was painted, how she prioritized herself over anyone else finally. but mia...i took a lot of time to get used to. frankly she came across as dismissive and someone lacking understanding of people who don't have the same experience as her. but i could empathize with her sitaution.
okay an adult sapphic romance with an indian lead i really like?? i never thought i'd see the day lol bc i have not had the best experiences with sapphic NA/adult romances and/or indian reps in books.
but this book hit the nail on so many issues!
is it perfect? no. do i wish there were things that could've been done in a better way regarding the romance? yess. but would i recommend it? defintely! few things that i want to talk about:
☆ cultural nuances: one of my main reasons for my skepticism of indian MCs is the representation, even by indian authors. even more by them. i've been critical of them over the years, but i also recognize how india is a multi-cultural nation so one's experience as an indian cannot always match with others.
but i loved how Shannon perfectly captures all the textures of Saira's indian identity while also maintaining her desire to settle in the US. i loved how the huge cultural differences re: family, entertainment industry, queerness, everything else were highlighted, even agonized upon. and i especially loved how Saira challenged the white gaze most Western media/literature contain BIPOC characters in even while centering them. the book really accentuates the way Hollywood and white people often enforce racial stereotyping in indian characters (that i'm so sick of) without trying to catch any authentic input from own-voices.
☆ entertainment industry and queerness and coming out: this also pertains to the cultural differences between india and the US. since the whole story revolved around Saira meeting her ex 10 years after their fling in fiji to shoot for an American TV series, most of it had very detailed portrayal of shooting schedules and filming and production process etc. i really liked getting to see all that unfold.
and it also etches out the pitfalls of celebrity culture, the stakes tied to being in the industry, the personal responsibilities and stress of maintaining a celebrity's public image and keeping the industry and fandom happy to keep themselves relevant, and how often that comes at the expense of losing your independence and freedom and privacy. and it really highlights the stark differences between indian and american culture in accepting queerness, the obscenely horrid reality of queer out celebrities in india, the pain of closeted celebrities living in secret.
and i loved how the toxic family dynamics in india, the cultural and societal norms were explored.
romance: well the chemistry was frankly OFF the charts, leaping off the pages from the beginning. second chance romances with animosity brewing between the MCs from past relationship is one of my favorites and it really did its due diligence. and saira being married to her gay best friend to protect both their images was an extremely nice and dramatic touch here and again accentuates what queer celebrities in south asian countries are forced to endure to sustain their career.
their romance was soft and sweet and emotional, tho i would've liked more page-time to develop it after they reconciled. but again the angst, pining of being in closet and being in a relationship with someone closeted was executed really well.
characterization: no notes on saira really. i loved her and how her journey of exploring herself in respect of her family and career and relationship was painted, how she prioritized herself over anyone else finally. but mia...i took a lot of time to get used to. frankly she came across as dismissive and someone lacking understanding of people who don't have the same experience as her. but i could empathize with her sitaution.
December 18, 2023
Read for book club! I didn’t understand why the two lead characters liked each other at all, but enjoyed the Hollywood affair plot points as a breezy read.
November 11, 2023
I really wanted to love this one—Bollywood! Lesbians! TV Drama! but ultimately it was just… not good. The dialogue was stilted, the prose unpolished, and the romance devoid of either plot or chemistry. Saira is a disaster and a diva, Mia is an unprofessional wreck, and neither of them has any reason to put up with the other outside of having spent a month together when they were teenagers and uncontrollable lust.
(Also there’s a bit where Saira pulls out a sex toy that *used to be Mia’s* and she’s kept for the past ten years??? And Mia just rolls with that???? Honestly unsettling behavior)
I did really like that Mia and Saira were both really invested in their television show in different ways, and that conflict was really compelling—I wish we had seen that be the major tension of the novel instead of the two of them almost literally fucking an entire production and both their careers into the ground.
(Also there’s a bit where Saira pulls out a sex toy that *used to be Mia’s* and she’s kept for the past ten years??? And Mia just rolls with that???? Honestly unsettling behavior)
I did really like that Mia and Saira were both really invested in their television show in different ways, and that conflict was really compelling—I wish we had seen that be the major tension of the novel instead of the two of them almost literally fucking an entire production and both their careers into the ground.
September 14, 2024
I'm dumbfounded😃
Through and through I thought the couple was cute just omg the conflicting was horrifying.
Through and through I thought the couple was cute just omg the conflicting was horrifying.
October 25, 2023
4 stars. A closeted Bollywood actress (closeted actresses! my favorite!) and a producer falling in love with each other all over again after an affair that ended in heartbreak for them both ten years ago. I loved this and it definitely delivered on everything that I wanted from it. It’s got a great amount of angst, drama, sexual tension masquerading as hatred, and a second chance romance between two very headstrong women.
Saira is in a lavender marriage and has been for years because she feared not only backlash from her parents about her sexuality but also from Bollywood and her career. She’s still very much in love with Mia and when they reunite to work on a show that Mia is producing the sparks are definitely there. Mia tries to mask her attraction by being stand offish and rude to Saira and I really did love the bickering and banter between them. Their chemistry was so good and the more they were around each other the more Mia’s walls would crumble and I ate it up. I seriously loved this. A lot of tropes that I just really enjoy and it’s also really well written. The characters are both likable (though I’ll admit Mia had to grow on me) and their romance was so swoon worthy and electric with just a dash of spice. The ending was great as well as it was wonderful to see Saira finally stand up to her family and learn to live in her truth. I could probably go on about this book all day but just know that I loved it and I definitely see myself re-reading this at some point.
Saira is in a lavender marriage and has been for years because she feared not only backlash from her parents about her sexuality but also from Bollywood and her career. She’s still very much in love with Mia and when they reunite to work on a show that Mia is producing the sparks are definitely there. Mia tries to mask her attraction by being stand offish and rude to Saira and I really did love the bickering and banter between them. Their chemistry was so good and the more they were around each other the more Mia’s walls would crumble and I ate it up. I seriously loved this. A lot of tropes that I just really enjoy and it’s also really well written. The characters are both likable (though I’ll admit Mia had to grow on me) and their romance was so swoon worthy and electric with just a dash of spice. The ending was great as well as it was wonderful to see Saira finally stand up to her family and learn to live in her truth. I could probably go on about this book all day but just know that I loved it and I definitely see myself re-reading this at some point.
November 7, 2023
FULL REVIEW IN Aisha's Book World
Mia Strome and Saira Sethi had a brief affair in Fiji that ended in heartbreak. Ten years later, Mia has become the producer of a show that could be a game changer for her career. The catch, and what a catch!, is that the star of the show is her former lover, who needs the show to be successful enough to launch her career in Hollywood. Unfinished business from their past together in the form of anger and regret, resurfaces, threatening to jeopardize not only their show, but their happiness. Could they overcome the obstacles to be openly together with all that entails?
The best thing about Mia and Saira is their off the charts chemistry. The way they interact with each other is fantastic! There’s sexual tension, angst, drama, small doses of anger, sensitivity, vulnerability, passion… you name it! The author not only created a very attractive story with well developed characters and a plot that goes in crescendo until the happily ever after Mia and Saira deserved.
MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• ARC given by Harlequin Books via Netgalley. Thanks for your trust.
Mia Strome and Saira Sethi had a brief affair in Fiji that ended in heartbreak. Ten years later, Mia has become the producer of a show that could be a game changer for her career. The catch, and what a catch!, is that the star of the show is her former lover, who needs the show to be successful enough to launch her career in Hollywood. Unfinished business from their past together in the form of anger and regret, resurfaces, threatening to jeopardize not only their show, but their happiness. Could they overcome the obstacles to be openly together with all that entails?
The best thing about Mia and Saira is their off the charts chemistry. The way they interact with each other is fantastic! There’s sexual tension, angst, drama, small doses of anger, sensitivity, vulnerability, passion… you name it! The author not only created a very attractive story with well developed characters and a plot that goes in crescendo until the happily ever after Mia and Saira deserved.
MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• ARC given by Harlequin Books via Netgalley. Thanks for your trust.
October 11, 2023
Four and a half stars
TEMPTED BY THE BOLLYWOOD STAR is a beautifully written story by Sophia Singh Sasson. Producer Mia Strome and Bollywood star Saira Sethi seem like they’re on opposite sides of a fight... while they shared a passionate time in Fiji a decade ago, they haven't been able to find a way to bridge the literal and figurative distance between them since. And now that they are to work together on a pilot that could be a turning point in their careers, finding common ground is not just a matter of personal satisfaction, it is of utmost importance professionally.
Sophia Singh Sasson writes Mia and Saira compassionately. Their backgrounds are vastly different, and they've each faced daunting challenges in trying to live authentically. Ms Singh Sasson portrays their struggles in a way that feels very real, and the pain they cause as they stumble through is also quite genuine. Saira's viewpoint as an Indian woman also felt very realistically portrayed.
This is the first story I've read by Sophia Singh Sasson, and I plan to read more of her work. Tempted by the Bollywood Star is a stellar sweep-your-heart-away read!
TEMPTED BY THE BOLLYWOOD STAR is a beautifully written story by Sophia Singh Sasson. Producer Mia Strome and Bollywood star Saira Sethi seem like they’re on opposite sides of a fight... while they shared a passionate time in Fiji a decade ago, they haven't been able to find a way to bridge the literal and figurative distance between them since. And now that they are to work together on a pilot that could be a turning point in their careers, finding common ground is not just a matter of personal satisfaction, it is of utmost importance professionally.
Sophia Singh Sasson writes Mia and Saira compassionately. Their backgrounds are vastly different, and they've each faced daunting challenges in trying to live authentically. Ms Singh Sasson portrays their struggles in a way that feels very real, and the pain they cause as they stumble through is also quite genuine. Saira's viewpoint as an Indian woman also felt very realistically portrayed.
This is the first story I've read by Sophia Singh Sasson, and I plan to read more of her work. Tempted by the Bollywood Star is a stellar sweep-your-heart-away read!
October 30, 2023
This is my first time reading a book by Sophia Singh Sasson and I will be reading more of her work. Saira is a Bollywood star and Mia is a Hollywood producer. The two met and become secret lovers. Saira broke it off with Mia to protect her career that left the two heartbroken. 10 years have pasted and Mia and Saira find themselves working together in Hollywood as Mia being the producer of Saira’s movie. The two are still very much attracted to each other and the chemistry is still there front and center. Mia is not being very nice to Saira as she is trying to keep her feelings at bay. The longer the two are around each other there is constant camaraderie and Mia’s walls begin to crumble. I am a fan of HEAs and this was oh so good.
I received an ARC via NetGalley and Harlequin and I am leaving my review voluntarily.
I received an ARC via NetGalley and Harlequin and I am leaving my review voluntarily.
November 11, 2023
Loved this book! The sexual tension between Mia and Saira was off the charts. Working together a decade after their fling in Fiji ended badly, producer Mia and closeted Bollywood star Saira discover that their chemistry is just as hot as it was then. Saira is trying to break into Hollywood and get Mia back, with the hopes that one day it will be safe for her to come out. Mia, on the other hand, wants to love openly and will accept nothing less.
The characters were well developed and the angst of why they couldn’t be together combined with the physical need they felt to be together really delivered!
Content warnings for homophobia and mention of hate crimes—the author has a note in the front.
The characters were well developed and the angst of why they couldn’t be together combined with the physical need they felt to be together really delivered!
Content warnings for homophobia and mention of hate crimes—the author has a note in the front.
February 24, 2024
I guess I'm giving this 3 stars. I read this in almost one sitting - I liked the writing style, the pacing, the characters. But the romance didn't work for me. Mia and Saira don't actually seem to have much in common other than a whirlwind romance 10 years in the past. They start up again in the present and just don't seem good for each other - they both act unprofessional and it has serious consequences to the show they're working on. Mia never seems to understand the risks and consequences that Saira takes for her. Also, I didn't love that Mia moves on and starts dating again almost instantly (they're only apart 2 months and she goes on 5 or 6 dates) without ever trying to contact Saira and get some sort of confirmation on what's going on with their relationship.
October 15, 2023
Saira was forced to abandon love to maintain her Bollywood star image. But a Hollywood reunion with producer Mia rekindles the intense bond they once shared. Their unresolved issues resurface, jeopardizing their new TV show and their chance to find happiness together.
This is an emotional romance that deals with the potential dangers of coming out as LGBTQ. I liked the characters and felt for the strain of the difficult circumstances they found themselves in.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This is an emotional romance that deals with the potential dangers of coming out as LGBTQ. I liked the characters and felt for the strain of the difficult circumstances they found themselves in.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
November 13, 2023
3.75 stars - This was surprisingly meaty for such a small page count in dealing with the realities of an interracial and intercultural queer relationship. Not to mention the tropes of second chance and workplace romance. Content warnings for homophobia (external but realistic), mentions of violence, and toxic family relationships. I wish at least one of Saira’s relatives hadn’t been horrible.
November 6, 2023
Surprisingly, I enjoy this one. This feels so Bollywood, but I kinda enjoy it. Wow!
Shelved as 'dnf'
March 7, 2024sadly DNFing this at 32%
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews