Waiting on Wednesday: THE SARI SHOP WIDOW by Shobhan Bantwal

THE SARI SHOP WIDOW

by Shobhan Bantwal

Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
Pub. Date: September 01, 2009
ISBN-13: 9780758232021
Sales Rank: 220,139
352pp

Synopsis (from the publisher):

Pungent curry…sweet fried onions…incense…colorful beads…lush fabrics. Shobhan Bantwal's compelling new novel is set on the streets of Edison, New Jersey's Little India, where a young businesswoman rediscovers the magic of love and family…

Since becoming a widow at age twenty-seven, Anjali Kapadia has devoted herself to transforming her parents' sari shop into a chic boutique, brimming with exquisite jewelry and clothing. Now, ten years later, it stands out like a proud maharani amid Edison's bustling Little India. But when Anjali learns the shop is on the brink of bankruptcy, she feels her world unraveling…

To the rescue comes Anjali's wealthy, dictatorial Uncle Jeevan and his business partner, Rishi Shah—a mysterious Londoner, complete with British accent, cool gray eyes, and skin so fair it makes it hard to believe he's Indian. Rishi's cool, foreign demeanor triggers distrust in Anjali and her mother. But for Anjali, he also stirs something else, a powerful attraction she hasn't felt in a decade. And the feeling is mutual…

Love disappointed Anjali once before and she's vowed to live without it—though Rishi is slowly melting her resolve and, as the shop regains its footing, gaining her trust. But when a secret from Rishi's past is revealed, Anjali must turn to her family and her strong cultural upbringing to guide her in finding the truth…

I know I'm not the only one eagerly awaiting the release of THE SARI SHOP WIDOW. Back in March, I read a post about it at Popin's Lair. Of course, the cover is gorgeous, so I had to stop and take a look. I love the use of serene green instead of the ubiquitous blue. The story description sounds fun, romantic, and a little mysterious -- what's not to like? I made a note of the title and added it to my wish list. Over the next few weeks, I came across a few more mentions of the book. Most recently, Diane at Bibliophile By the Sea featured it as the subject of her Waiting on Wednesday post. That's when I realized I was bound to be tortured all summer long with teasing appearances of Ms. Bantwal's book. And now, the boldest taunt of all: Shobhan Bantwal will be making a little blog tour in September, and she is offering us a tiny taste of her book on her website. Read an excerpt here, and then try to tell me that you aren't waiting for this one, too!

(For more information about the virtual blog tour, visit Promo 101 Virtual Blog Tours.)

"WAITING ON WEDNESDAY"
is hosted by
Jill from Breaking the Spine.

What are you waiting for?