Tuesday 15 April 2014

M is for Zee Monodee: Light My World- Review and Mauritius #atozchallenge #newrelease #romance



I’m excited to talk about this gorgeous African island.  I only heard of it last year when my fabulous editor for Midwife To Destiny, Zee Monodee, proudly proclaimed it as her homeland.
Image from Bing.com
Not only is she one of the best editors in the world, but she writes fabulous novels. Her latest book in the Ubuntu line, Light My World, has just been released. I loved this book. Check out my review below.
The Blurb
So what if a girl has to kiss a few frogs to find her prince?

Tired of her Indian-origin mother’s relentless matchmaking, Diya Hemant is determined to find her Prince Charming on her terms. Armed with a definitive list of requirements, she is sure she’ll know her man when she meets him…

But looking and finding are two different things, especially on the tiny island of Mauritius…

When her path crosses surly British widower Trent Garrison’s, it’s hate at first sight. And though fate keeps pitting her against him, she’s certain he can’t be turned into a frog let alone a prince.

Can this modern-day princess overcome her own expectations and see beyond the ogre to the man beneath?
My Review

Ms. Monodee has done it again by creating a captivating, engaging, passion filled romance. I rated the first book in the Island Girls series, The Other Side, as fantastic, but the second one supersedes the first. Not that it's not necessary to read book one before delving into Light My World.

Set on the African island of Mauritius, the setting is gorgeous with beaches, gorgeous sunsets and towns with lovely sounding French names. What impressed me most was the heat between Diya and Trent from the onset. Initially flamed by anger and annoyance, it transitioned into a huge ball of red hot passion. The two moving from enemies of a sort, to friends, then progressing to lovers set the story on a realistic keel.

Diya is a woman after my own heart - Strong, sassy, independent , compassionate, and a gets anything she sets her mind onto done. Trent, is delicious and full of love, if not a little spooked by the past. Best of all he has no fear of Diya. These two had me laughing at their antics, and sighing at their romantic interaction.

A wonderful book that I recommend to romance lovers all over the world.
I give this book 5 out of 5 SUV shaped chocolate bars.

Note: I was given a copy of this book for an honest review.

Here is the first book in the series, but you don't need to have read the first to enjoy the second. See my review here.


Blurb:

Divorce paints a scarlet letter on her back when she returns to the culture-driven society of Mauritius. This same spotlight shines as a beacon of hope for the man who never stopped loving her. Can the second time around be the right one for these former teenage sweethearts?

Indian-origin Lara Reddy left London after her husband dumps her for a more accommodating uterus—at least, that’s what his desertion feels like. Bumping into him and his pregnant new missus doesn’t help matters any, and she thus jumps on a prestigious job offer. The kicker? The job is in Mauritius, the homeland of her parents, and a society she ran away from over a decade earlier.

But once there, Lara has no escape. Not from the gossip, the contempt, the harassing matchmaking...and certainly not from the man she hoped never to meet again. The boy she’d loved and lost—white Mauritian native, Eric Marivaux.

Back when they were teens, Eric left her, and Lara vowed she’d never let herself be hurt again. Today, they are both adults, and facing the same crossroads they’d stood at so many years earlier.

Lara now stands on the other side of Mauritian society. Will this be the impetus she needs to take a chance on Eric and love again?

Buy links: 
Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon CA  ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Smashwords ~ Kobo ~AllRomance Ebooks ~ Decadent ~Kalahari (Paperback)


This is a gigantic blog hop so click here to see what other bloggers are discussing for this letter. Have fun.

28 comments:

  1. I had never heard of the island and the book seems interesting.

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    1. We're in the same boat. I will attest that the book is amazing.

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  2. Thank you for introducing me to this island and this author.

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  3. Thanks for showcasing both the book and Mauritius today, Nana! *mwah*

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  4. My across the street neighbor is on Mauritus now, as they lived their for a year a few years ago.

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    1. Wow Rhonda. What an interesting coincidence.

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  5. Zee has written two winners! Thanks for introducing me and to an island I've never heard of.
    Shells–Tales–Sails

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  6. Mauritius has always been a romantic spot! Not that I've ever been there though!. Congrats to Ms Monodee. I dare say she'll be representing me soon, Nana.

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    1. Lol. I think she will, Celestine. Get on it.

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  7. This sounds like a fun book and something I would enjoy especially since I have always wanted to visit Mauritius. Good luck with the A-Z challenge. You're doing great! :)
    www.foreignfeasts.com

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    1. Thanks Lila. I'm heading back over to your blog to drool again. Yummy.

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  8. Yes! That first blurb was epic. Whew!

    I love islands. I don't think I could live on one, since I'm not particularly fond of fish and love to travel by land, but it would be an adventure.

    True Heroes from A to Z

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    1. Um, Crystal living on an island doesn't seem to require what you think. I'm not a big fan of fish either and have always traveled by land. Though I really want to go on a cruise one day.

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    2. I had no idea how to answer your post, Crystal, having never been on island myself. I take it back. Long Island counts right? Thanks for the contribution Sheena-kay.

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  9. Zee has a couple of winners there! I'd love to have an island all to myself...

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  10. Kind of weird, but my sons have an awesome best friend from the island of Mauritius! He never saw snow until he moved to the states a few years ago. He lives just down the street and makes for a great character study for one of my latest novels;-)

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    1. Lol at the character study. I just mentioned to a friend how we authors work. Observing for us goes deeper than just seeing. We apply. Interesting how he's from Mauritius and now here you are.

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  11. Light My World is right up my alley. It seems so uplifting and I wish this modern day princess all the best. Mauritius. Sounds magical, I like it!

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    1. It's a wonderful story. I loved the way it ended. Loved it.

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  12. Light My World sounds great! I love stories about sparks flying between hero and heroine at the beginning, and I love a girl who knows what she wants! :)

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    1. Nothing like a heroine who knows her mind.

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  13. I'm intrigued by the island AND the stories.

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    1. I'm glad I had the chance to share so you could be intrigued, Leslie.

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I love reading your comments.