Stevie‘s review of The Takeover Effect (Singh Family Trilogy, Book 1) by Nisha Sharma
Contemporary Romance published by Avon Impulse 02 Apr 19
There are some tropes I only read if I think the author has found a new spin on the idea. One of those is the billionaire romance. In this case we’re dealing with a trio of very unstereotypical brothers, the sons of Punjabi immigrants, who all have roles to play in the business their father built up after he arrived in the US. And these guys really do work – none of that pouncing around being billionaires with no sign of where their money comes from, which I and other reviewers have complained about in the past – although at the beginning of the story only two sons are actually working for their father’s company. The eldest has his own successful law and investment firm and has amassed his own fortune separate from family input, following a major disagreement with his parents. Not that we meet him straight away. First there’s a prologue, in which we encounter the patriarch of the family and learn how his religion and his sons are of the utmost importance to him – the two aspects deeply entwined – and how much he regrets the estrangement of the man he fully expected to take primary control of the business one day.
Meanwhile, the man in question, Hemdeep Singh, is an ocean away, trying to wrap up his latest deal, when he gets a call from home to say his father is ill and the family business is facing a hostile takeover. Choosing family loyalty over personal success, Hem rushes back to the US and joins his brothers in taking charge of the situation. The company has run into difficulties. Although their R&D department continues to lead over competitors, other companies are getting all the best deals, not least the giant that has put in its offer to the board. On top of that, the head of their legal team retired recently, and so they’ve had to draft in a consultant to oversee the takeover consultation. Enter Mina Kohli…
Mina also works for her family’s firm, but in her case control was wrested away from Mina’s mother by Mina’s two uncles, and Mina’s greatest ambition is to reclaim the firm in her mother’s name. She’s long suspected one of her uncles of being unscrupulous and this is confirmed when he briefs her on her new case and advises her that her findings must tie in with the outcome he’s already decided on: that the takeover of the Singhs’ company should go ahead. Mina is fervently opposed to such unethical behaviour, but her uncle has control over too many aspects of Mina’s life and career to make disobedience at all easy.
Of course, everything gets more complicated the moment Hem and Mina meet and discover a mutual attraction. They agree not to act on it while working together, which isn’t going to be easy, especially when they start discovering suspicious goings-on within the company that require them to spend extra time together in order to investigate properly.
I loved this book. All the characters are fascinating, and I’m looking forward to learning more about those who have so far been a little in the background, as the story progresses. I also enjoyed seeing a different side to familiar parts of the US and recognising cultural norms and situations that I’ve also observed or heard about from friends as happening in UK South Asian communities. I’m greatly looking forward to seeing the date between Mina’s best friend and another Singh brother – foreshadowed in this book – hopefully in the next book.
Grade: A
Read Veena’s review here.
Summary:
Hemdeep Singh knows exactly what he wants. With his intelligence and determination, he has what it takes to build his own legacy away from Bharat, Inc. and the empire his father created. But when his brother calls him home, Hem puts his dreams on hold once again to help save the company he walked away from. That’s when he encounters the devastating Mina Kohli in the Bharat boardroom, and he realizes he’s in for more than he had bargained.
Mina will do whatever it takes to recover control of her mother’s law firm, even if it means agreeing to an arranged marriage. Her newest case assignment is to assist Bharat in the midst of a potential takeover. It could be the key to finally achieving her goal while preventing her marriage to a man she doesn’t love—as long as her explosive attraction to Hem doesn’t get in the way.
As Mina and Hem work to save Bharat, they not only uncover secrets that could threaten the existence of the company, but they also learn that in a winner-takes-all game, love always comes out on top.
Read an excerpt.
