From the publisher:
The highly acclaimed author of Accidentally Engaged delivers a delightful rom-com of one woman trying to shed her perfect image at a destination wedding with hilarious—and moving—results, perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez and Jasmine Guillory.
Jana Suleiman has never really fit in—everyone always sees her as too aloof, too cool, too perfect. The one time she stepped out of her comfort zone she ended up with a broken heart and a baby on the way. Aaaand lesson learned. Now she’s a bridesmaid for a destination wedding in Serengeti National Park, and almost everyone she knows will be there. Her five-year-old daughter. Her mom. Her friends. Even her potential new boss. And of course (because who doesn’t love surprises!) her gorgeous-but-not-to-be-trusted ex.
Fortunately, Anil Malek is a great dad, even if Jana hasn’t quite forgiven him for lying to her all those years ago. Determined to show he has no effect on her whatsoever, she and the bridesmaids concoct a go-wild list to get Jana through the week. Sing karaoke? Sure. Perform their high school dance routine in front of strangers? Okay. But the more she lets down her guard, the less protection she has against her attraction to Anil. And Jana soon realizes it’s one thing to walk on the wild side . . . and quite another to fall for her ex all over again.“A beautiful, compelling romance celebrating second chances and forgiveness.”―Kirkus, starred review
“The unique setting and delightful dynamic within the rest of the wedding party add to the charm. This is a treat.” ―Publishers Weekly
“This satisfying second-chance romance offers a big-hearted, clear-eyed examination of parenting and rekindling of old flames.” ―Library Journal, starred review
https://amzn.to/3IRgs21
I loved the setting of this book, it was super interesting and almost felt like another character; a wedding in Tasmania. The only thing I knew about Tasmania was based on the Tasmanian Devil, a cartoon character that may or may not be based on an actual animal. I am a great reader but, I’m sorry to say, geographically ignorant. So anytime I get to learn about someplace new to me is always going to heighten my interest. But let’s face it, if it was just a book on Tasmania I never would have picked it up. It’s the romance and the family drama here that made this book unputdownable for me.
A few years earlier, Jana had a relationship with Anil, that ended when she found out he was married. That wasn’t the worst of it, though – she had a child and was managing on her own with some family help. She interviews for a new job with much less traveling that seemed like it would be a great place to work, plus she really liked the man who interviewed her, her potential boss.
While waiting to hear about the job, she packs up herself and her daughter and heads off to Tasmania, where she is a bridesmaid in a destination wedding, and her daughter is the flower girl. To her shock, Anil is one of the groomsmen, and her potential new boss is also attending the wedding. What Jana doesn’t know is that her mother has been telling everyone, all her friends and relatives, that Jana is divorced when the truth is, she never married.
The more time Jana spends with Anil and her boss-to-be, the harder it is to protect her mother from her own lies. It turns out Anil may not be the bad guy Jana believes him to be, and she’s never really sure if this wedding will help or hinder her chances at that new job. But it is so much fun to find out!
This is a terrific story with warm, engaging characters, a lot of laughs, some steamy bedroom moments, and of course, the happy ending. I loved it.
6/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
JANA GOES WILD by Farah Heron. Forever (May 2, 2023). ISBN: 978-1538725450. 352pp.