I tried really hard to get into this book and it's completely possible it was just my mindset at the time. I can see myself enjoying A Distant Heart at a later date but right now, it just wasn't for me.

I did not give feedback on this title via netgalley at the time I was granted access to the ARC simply because the file was poorly formatted. I have since purchased a paperback copy of the book and posted my review on goodreads and my personal blog.

Lyrically written and dealing with several interesting topics - organ transplant, psychic connections, grief, Dev has written a story that delves deep into the grief process and pulls bare the emotions of loss, love, forgiveness, and the chance to move on.

Note: By the time I got a chance to read this ARC, the book was out and my library had the audiobook copy, which I picked up. That is why my review mentions the audio version.

Beautiful writing and story, which is no surprise coming from Sonali Dev. I will say I had a love/hate relationship with how this story is told -- switching between the past and the present. On the one hand, I did enjoy seeing their childhood years and their early friendship, which would obviously develop into something more later on. On the other hand, I sometimes got a bit lost, momentarily, on whether we were in the past or the present. Now this could be due more to that fact that I was listening to this on audio rather than reading it. Regardless, the main problem I had with the past/present set up is I felt like we spent 3/4 of the book in the past and very little time in the present, which made what little we got in the present seem rushed and not nearly enough to clearly show not only their relationship but also the plot and resolution of it all. It made it not quite as satisfying as I would have liked.

The heat level here is very mild, with one on page scene -- from the past, their first time together -- and it's not very explicit. Actually, I was disappointed that we got this exchange in the middle of the scene with no follow through on this tease:

Kimi: "Better than anything [orgasm] I've ever given myself."

Rahul: "You give yourself orgasms?"

Kimi: "Yes, do you want me to tell you how?"



Come on, that was such a wasted opportunity right there! *pouts* (My “I wanted more dirty-times” complaint aside, there was nothing wrong with the sex scene, by the way.)


This story connects to the previous book, A Change of Heart, and while you can read A Distant Heart as a standalone, I do think you will get the most out of both stories by reading them in order. Plus, A Change of Heart was amazing, by far my favorite from Dev. This one, while not quite as amazing, was still an excellent read, and rather good on audio, too.

Final note: I tend to think of Dev's books as more contemporary with romantic elements than a romance novel. Which is not a bad thing, but something to know going in, I think, so you're not disappointed because you were expecting A and got B, you know?

I really loved Sonali Dev’s previous books, especially A Change of Heart, which introduced the characters of Rahul and Kimi, so I was excited to see them take center stage in A Distant Heart. Overall, though, A Distant Heart just didn’t grab me in the way that Dev’s other books have. All of her previous books were binge-reads for me; I sat down and read them straight through without stopping. I didn’t feel the same compulsion with A Distant Heart—it was never much of a struggle to put the book down and tell myself I’d come back to it later.

This is the first of Dev’s novels to be set almost entirely in India (there’s a short interlude in Hong Kong), and she does an excellent job slipping in local details and explanations of them without hitting American readers over the head with teaching moments. Her prose is really tight and well-edited, with very natural-sounding dialogue—I think each of Dev’s books has gotten stronger in this regard. (And I hate writing dialogue and find it incredibly difficult, so I admire that Dev has worked so hard on this element of her craft.)

There are two reasons that A Distant Heart didn’t really click with me. The first relates to structure: I don’t mind when books move between present-day events and flashbacks, but I don’t like when present-day characters act all mysterious about events that are then later revealed in flashbacks. Present-day Kimi and Rahul would frequently be super-vague about what had happened in the past; I didn’t find this vagueness and the later explanations suspenseful, just frustrating. The second element of A Distant Heart that I didn’t find engaging was the mystery at the center of the plot. So much time was spent on super-villain Asif Khan, when what I wanted was more Kimi and Rahul.

That’s Dev’s strength: writing a compelling central couple that I really get invested in seeing end up together. She once again succeeds in that with Kimi and Rahul, who have been through a lot in the years they’ve known each other and need to figure out how to reconcile their history with their future. I really wanted more of their story, without the forays into detective work and organ theft (a storyline that I had thought worked fine in A Change of Heart but I wish had been wrapped up in that book, not carried over to this one). Sonali Dev is still one of my favorite romance writers and I’ll definitely continue to pick up her new books as they come out—this one just didn’t hit the spot for me in the ways that all of her previous novels have.

Lovely story, well-written and great characters who I loved right away.

A Distant Heart



By Sonali Dev
Kensington - January 2018
Contemporary Romance


A Distant Heart is the fourth book in Sonali Dev's series. It is lightly tied to the first two stories, but has spoilers for the third, A Change of Heart. I would highly recommend reading A Change of Heart first.
Rahul's life had fallen apart, and while still a youth, he took on the responsibility of caring for his family. That included paying back a debt. What should have been a simple maintenance job soon became so much more. He had discovered a girl behind the window. A girl in the house who couldn't live a life so many took for granted. A girl whose very heartbeat threatened to be her last.
That was in the past, and now Kimi was a woman, and she had a new lease on life. She had been one of the lucky ones, she had not only received a heart transplant, but it had been a complete success. Kimi was determined to live life to the fullest, even if that meant leaving Rahul in her past. He had chosen not to be with her. He had turned away from her love. Now, she would find a future, without Rahul.
But their past was threatening everyone again. The madman who Rahul had shot and arrested was awake, and had escaped. Kimi was in his sights, and only with Rahul can she stay safe and learn the truth of why this killer was fixated on her.
A Distant Heart is both a best friends romance and a reunion story. The story begins with Kimi firmly pushing Rahul out of her life. Flashbacks throughout the story shows the growth of love between Rahul and Kimi, but we also learn why Rahul is so determined to keep distance between them. Although I am not a fan of extensive flashbacks, I did enjoy watching their history unfold. Even better was seeing Rahul finally accept Kimi as who she is - the perfect woman just for him.



Kathy Andrico - KathysReviewCorner.com

This is my first Sonali Dev book and surely not my last wow!!! What a fantastic ride this was. I didnt read the book before this one and was still able to follow the events with ease.
The story told by switching between present day events and Kimi and Rahul's past and it was done so effectively. We really get so much depth of these characters by seeing their relationship from how it began to what it is at present.
I loved Kimi and Rahul so much. Well fleshed out, complex characters.
I was on edge reading the entire time and a ball of emotions.
I'll definitely be checking out the author's other books, so good.

I read so many novels based in India. I love the family traditions, food and eccentricity of quirky characters but I read a few chapters of this book and immediately felt like I was forcing myself to continue. I finally gave up, completely confused. The relationships unclear and unlikely. Appreciate the early read but this one not for me.

It’s all Kimi’s fault. Not just the events in A Distant Heart, but also everything that happened in A Change of Heart. Both the good and the bad. But especially the bad.

The problem is that Kimi doesn’t know it’s her fault, or that the people she trusted the most saved her life with a giant lie. All that she knows is that two years ago, a donor heart was mysteriously found, and she was able to finally emerge from the sterile bubble in which she had been forced to live her young life.

Kimi doesn’t know where her heart came from. Her rich and influential father has insisted on respecting the privacy of the donor and the donor’s family.

But there’s a black-market organ dealer who is determined to expose the truth that surrounds Kimi’s heart – right before he takes it out of her chest. Or at least ensures that it will never beat again – not for Kimi, not for anyone.

And there’s a police detective determined to bring that same criminal to justice before that happens. Detective Rahul Savant has put all the resources he has at his disposal to bring Asif Khan to justice, no matter what it costs. Not just in revenge for the death of his friend Jen, and for the deaths of all the lost souls whose body parts have been “harvested” by Khan’s organization, but really because Kimi is the love of his life. Even if he can’t admit that to himself. And even if he isn’t allowed to admit it to anyone else. Especially Kimi.

Escape Rating B+: A Distant Heart is the direct follow-up to A Change of Heart. While the friends-into-lovers romance between Kimi and Rahul is played out in this story only, the events that set everything in motion began in A Change of Heart. Because A Distant Heart is the shattering conclusion to a story begun in the earlier book, it is necessary to read both to get the full impact.

And what an impact it is.

Kimi’s life has been a miracle and a tragedy all in one. Her story has elements of the “poor little rich girl” trope, but the “poverty” in Kimi’s story is deeper. Yes, she’s a lonely, rich girl, but she’s lonely not because of distant or neglectful parents (at least not both of them), but because she has an autoimmune disease and must live in a sterile bubble. If her parents weren’t wealthy, the disease would have killed her long ago.

Rahul, on the other hand, began with a happy childhood that was invaded by tragedy of a different kind. His father, also a police officer, was killed in the line of duty, taking a bullet for Kimi’s father. The lesson Rahul learned early, and that was repeated with the sudden death of his little sister, was that people he loved would be taken away without warning.

But the tragedy of his father’s death linked the two families. Kimi’s father felt duty-bound to provide for the family, and 14-year-old Rahul felt equally duty bound not to accept charity from the man who had gotten his father killed. The result was a long-standing arrangement for Rahul to work off the money that was contributed for his and his brother’s education at the estate where Kimi lived in her bubble.

These two children of tragedy connected in a lifelong bond. A bond that neither her illness nor her eventual recovery, or even Rahul’s obsession with the black market organ harvesting ring that led to his friend’s death, could truly break.

And neither could her father’s attempts to place restrictions and limitations on their friendship.

This is a story with multiple facets. The relationship between Rahul and Kimi careens between friendship, love, resentment and fear on an endless roller coaster ride. Rahul is afraid to love anyone, out of fear they will be taken from him. That’s a fear that is more than realistic in Kimi’s case as her life has always been on borrowed time. Kimi loves Rahul, but can also be somewhat of a spoiled brat about getting her own way. She’s never bad about it, but she is used to being indulged in a whole lot of ways because her illness made her precious to everyone around her.

There is also a central mystery to the story. The organ harvester is after Kimi for reasons that are obscure at first, but become clear over the course of the story. His pursuit is deadly, and forces Rahul and Kimi to stay together for safety, giving them the chance they need to work through how they really feel about each other as adults.

But that pursuit is an obsession, and it’s an obsession that gets the man killed. Not that he doesn’t deserve to die as the story goes, but more that it defies common sense. He could have, and should have, left Kimi alone and escaped to set up somewhere else. Not as interesting a story, but more logical. My two cents.

A Distant Heart is a love story where there is so much bitter mixed with the sweet, right until the very end, that you’ll need tissues to cope with the pangs of your own heart. If you are in the mood for sweetness mixed with angst (and a touch of crazy), this one will keep you tied to your chair until the final page.

I have a love affair with Sonali Dev’s books. She writes such good words. Words that usually completely break my heart (it’s still broken after reading A Change of Heart) but she repairs it and gives us a shiny HEA at the end with all the smiles. The heroine in this book, Kimi, literally has a broken heart. A lifelong heart condition that keeps her sick most of her youth in Mumbai, India (where the whole book takes place) leaves Kimi very sheltered. Her father, a former bollywood actor turned minister, is very wealthy. Kimi was a miracle child after her parents endured many miscarriages. She was sheltered even before they realized how sick she was. Then her entire life became keeping her alive and away from germs until a donor heart could be found. Her mother is often gone to worship, and her father keeps an eye on her every move.

The present day of this book takes place two years after she has had her heart transplant. Kimi is ready to experience life – but not everyone is on board with this. Our hero, Rahul, loves Kimi. He has loved her for a long time. His father, a policeman in Mumbai, took a bullet for Kimi’s father when Rahul was young. He died in Rahul’s arms. After this, Kimi’s father felt greatly indebted to Rahul and his family, who have nowhere near the amount of money Kimi’s family has. Rahul though is a proud guy. He was a proud kid and he is a proud adult. He didn’t want that money, and the book goes back and forth, from present day to past, and really explores Rahul and Kimi’s upbringing. In the past, Rahul and Kimi eventually meet, and eventually become best of friends, turned lovers. She becomes very dependent on him, when she is down for the count with her heart problems.

In present day, a few things are happening. In the romance department, Rahul is scared that Kimi can live life now. She has left her bubble. Always one to sneak out and rebel a bit against her strict father, Rahul wants to wrap her up and keep her safe. He puts distance between them, which really hurts Kimi, who wants to love him and experience life with him.

In the suspense department we have a very bad man named Asif. If you have read other books in this series, he is the man who was running the illegal harvesting of organs on the black market, and he killed a previous character named Jennifer Joshi. (you don’t have to have read the previous books to follow this one.) Asif mildly attacks Kimi one night and mentions her transplant. Hmmmm…. a bad man who runs a black market organ ring, and a woman who somehow got a heart transplant. He pops up throughout the book, causing a lot of trouble and violence, as Rahul has been desperately hunting him after he murdered Jennifer.

Although I have no personal knowledge of transplants and heart problems, I found it all very detailed, well written and engrossing. The reader really lives Kimi’s health problems and limitations. The author writes her characters so full of life and rich. We really get to know both Kimi and Rahul, and their families and life in Mumbai. It’s so well done. I do wish we had spent less time in the past and more time in the present. But the feel of the city – the difference between living wealthy and living poor – is all very detailed and there for the reader.

Their love is a tortured one, which starts out tortured because of Kimi’s illness and lack of being able to physically be present. Later, it turns torturous because of Rahul’s angst over her need for adventure. Rahul is such an interesting hero. Very stoic, proud, forced to grow up fast after his father is murdered. Experiences such heartache as a kid. He could have exploited Kimi’s father for so much money, but instead uses some of it wisely and becomes a police officer himself. I wish he would have been a little more passionate towards Kimi at the end – to get that HEA, but at the same time his personality doesn’t necessarily lead to passion, and that way okay for me.

Although Rahul pushes Kimi away in present day, she did that plenty to him in the past. Maybe a little selfishly, as she knew he would always come back. But we all can’t be perfect, huh?

I find Sonali Dev’s books just so intriguing and different. She really knows how to pull on your heartstrings. The suspense ending in this one – I could see it coming but damn. It’s a little harsh. A happy HEA for Kimi and Rahul but I fear heartache in their lives for external reasons will linger.

I highly recommend all of her books. In my opinion, her first two books, A Bollywood Affair and The Bollywood Bride are more light-hearted than her last two. A Change of Heart, remains my favorite. It is gut wrenching.

Grade: B+

A story that is told in two voices, both of which tell their side of the story in a mix of flashbacks to past and distant past events, using these voices and the concept of ‘love’ to explain, justify, share and provide pivot points on which the story moves forward, sideways and occasionally halting as the layers are uncovered. The cornerstone on which the story pivots is Kimi and her friend (only friend) Rahul – both from very different levels in society and both caught in the trap of love, loss and unspoken dreams.

Set in India, one has to understand that even in this day, the class system is fairly rigid - not only a function of birth and professions handed down over generations, but limited further by employment (or lack of), housing, and general financial stability. Rahul is from a family who lives a hardscrabble life – with his father working long and hard to become an officer in the police – steps up from constable. Kimi was born to Bollywood royalty – with money and privilege, a large mansion overlooking the sea, and an immune system that endangers her life and requires she live in isolation between medical treatments.

Both Kimi and Rahul have experienced loss and fear losing those they love even more. But both differ in their reactions: he closes off his feelings and emotions, she dives in with both feet, expecting that for this moment, things will be just wonderful. As her only friend, Rahul becomes a focal point for Kimi: he’s sharing moments of the ‘outside world’ with her, helping her with her homework, guiding her to protect her heart and self from the dangers that exist. While he tries to ‘educate’ her to the darker side of life – she challenges his control that won’t allow him to think of her as someone he needs or loves, since that always ends. And he believes that every step forward they make together – speaking, touching, daring to be close – are dangerous to her. But Kimi challenges his views of the world and his place in it – challenges him to take up the civil service exams and join the police.

Behind the major story of Kimi and Rahul’s relationship and the various ups and downs therein, the story brings us to the black market for organ donations, missing donors from the list, and the death of a young mother to be who was the first to see the connection between missing people on her donor database and people coming off the transplant list. The ringleader of this despicable business is in the hospital, in a coma, put there by Rahul – and he’s only waiting for the man to awake for questioning – as he needs answers about his friend’s death and the other people threatened and manipulated as part of the black market organization. But the strings and ties go deeper – from the missing undocumented to the doctor and a series of complicit medical personnel, threats and more death as others are lost, found and compromised, the corruption and back-alley dealings go deeper and further than anyone expected.

Dev created an intriguing story that takes a bit to adjust to as the points of view alternate in past, distant past and present form: readers have to take the story as it comes in bits and pieces and wait for them to fall into place to create the full picture. Underlying the entire story is the mystery and at its core – love. What is true love, and to what lengths would you go to for that love: and can you really (even with concerted effort) deny love when it is there. I’ll have to say that the ultimate antagonist in the story was clear to me early on, and it was his own cover-up and manipulations of situations and people that showed his determination and desperate need to achieve his own ends, no matter the cost. I still needed to read on and see if I was right, not to mention just how the revelations would affect Kimi, Rahul and their own relationship that has a repeated ‘testing’ theme – she demanding he leave and never return, then waiting for him to come back – nine times (they both count).

I love Dev’s writing – it brings a sense of the difference that is India while presenting the people and situations as one that is accessible and easy to visualize. From the colors and scents that are vibrant and slightly tangy to the integral human emotions of fear, love, anger and even desire that bring it all to light. Easily read on its own – this is the third in this loosely connected series that I’ve read – and each comes with moments that put me in the center of the place, with the emotions being easy to access and reach without difficulty.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=”https://wp.me/p3OmRo-9xx/” <a> I am, Indeed </a>

Another wonderful read by Sonal Dev! Set among the backdrop of Mumbai this is the fourth book in the Bollywood series by Dev. I’ve read every book in the series except for The Bollywood Bride and I’ve enjoyed all of them. Though the stories and characters connect with one another the books in this series, for the most part, can be read as standalone novels. The main characters of this story are Rahul and Kimi. Both come from different backgrounds and end up becoming friends after tragic circumstances that tie them together. In this story they both are on the run from danger while trying to sort out their feelings out for one another. It’s obvious that Kimi has loved Rahul since they were younger, but Rahul has yet to confront their feelings. While hiding in safety the two learn more about each other and help each other to move on from their troubled pasts.

What I love most about Dev’s books and this one especially is her rich and immersive writing. I truly felt that I was put in the characters shoes, seeing what they were seeing and understanding how they were feeling. Her detailed descriptions of the sights, sounds, and culture/customs make the reader feel like they are a part of the story. Though there was romance I liked that it was slow-burning. The main characters know how they feel about one another, but they still have to work through some obstacles before getting to the final point. I also enjoyed all of the action scenes that had me on edge. It made the plot very exciting and suspenseful!

If you are looking for a rich, diverse romance full of action and complex characters that feel realistic, you should not miss out on A Distant Heart!

4.5/5 Stars

This book is easily my favorite in the Bollywood series so far. It definitely has a different feel than the other books in the series since it flashes back to Kimi and Rahul’s childhoods and it takes place in India, but I think it’s all the better for those things!

What Fed My Addiction:

A lifetime romance.
I am a sucker for a story of childhood friends who become more, and I absolutely loved seeing the friendship between Kimi and Rahul develop. Their history makes every moment between them (in the present) crackle with chemistry, even when they’re trying to deny it.

The setting.
I’ll confess that I don’t know much about India, but Dev did such a fantastic job of setting the atmosphere that I felt like I truly got to know Mumbai.

Class structures.
Kimi and Rahul come from different worlds, even though they live in the same city. And a major theme of the book was the exploration of how the difference in class affected them, both separately and as a couple. Rahul came from nothing, and he felt indebted to Kimi’s father—a feeling he did not particularly savor. At first, he felt a lot of bitterness because of that. But Kimi changed all that for him. She humanized the wealthy and powerful in a way that her father never could. I thought it was interesting that though class differences were a definite focus of the book, it wasn’t really what kept Kimi and Rahul apart (which is what you would stereotypically expect). Their story was much more complicated than that.

High stakes.
From the beginning, Kimi and Rahul are trying to solve a mystery that we already know the answer to. This could have made for a boring book, but it didn’t. Part of that is because the focus of the book is really on the relationship between Kimi and Rahul (including how it developed throughout their childhood). But also, because we know that the person hunting Kimi is serious—and seriously dangerous—the stakes are very high and the story is intense at certain points.

What Left Me Hungry for More:

Not much.
I was a bit worried at first that the obstacle to the romance in this book was going to be a little too close to the obstacle in book two (basically, one half of the couple believes that they’re somehow cursed and are bad for the other person). But, in the end, this story felt more nuanced and I truly understood Rahul and his trepidation about getting close to anyone—especially Kimi.

This is a fantastic installment in the Bollywood Series! (Though, just as a warning, it has almost nothing to do with Bollywood). These complex characters are sure to win your heart (and break it a little along the way). I give this book an easy 4.5/5 Stars.

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via ALA Annual in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

My first book of 2018, and I hope the rest of the year is better. This book just didn't work for me -- I started it a few times and had trouble sticking with it. If I hadn't committed to reviewing it, I might have stopped reading it.

I guess what was wrong is that I just didn't like the voice created for the characters: it came across as very immature and self-centered. While for Kimi, that might have been the author's choice, to convey how she was impacted by her illness and the sheltered life she led as a result, it seemed like all the characters, Rahul, Kirit -- they all spoke in the same way.

The constant back and forth between the past (a long time ago) and the present also impacted the continuity of the narrative. I didn't like finding things out afterwards, as they would be revealed in the present time and then the narrative would switch back to go over what happened. It ruined the suspense for me.

I did like the bravery that was created for Kimi, and felt like I would like her as a person, but reading about her life didn't work for me. (I should make clear it's not a cultural thing -- I've read a number of novels based in India that I've enjoyed.) I understand this is part of a series, but I probably won't go back and read the others, like I would if I liked the books more.

I received this from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

My favourite couple from A Change of Heart - Rahul and Kimi - finally get their story! If you read my review of it you'll know that I mentioned Rahul being the moral compass of that story. His steadfast loyalty and determination to uncover the truth was what set him apart from everyone else. And his obvious devotion to Kimi was a story I wanted more of.


A Distant Heart gives us their backstory revisiting Rahul's childhood and how he came to know Kimi's family and eventually find a career in law enforcement. The budding friendship between Rahul and Kimi is so sweet and it's apparent that even back then, she was a spunky kid with a fierce will. While he looked at the world in black and white, she viewed the world as a vast, exciting place where all the possibilities were there. In the present, their relationship is strained but that won't deter Rahul from protecting Kimi especially now that the threat from the evil gang lord Asif Khan is even greater than before. Asif who was responsible for his friend, Jen's death. Asif who ran the black market organ trade. Asif who zeroed in on Kimi and has something to do with her heart transplant. Even though Rahul caught Asif, there are still so many questions left unanswered and he knows Kimi can't be truly safe until he gets to the bottom of them.


At the center of this book is Rahul and Kimi's beautiful, complicated friendship, how it developed and shaped who they are today. How their expectations of each other have both held them up in times of need but also held them back. It's also more than that. Honestly, there's so much going on that it makes it hard to put A Distant Heart into just one category, and to do so would be a disservice to its uniqueness. Yes, it's a romance but also a thriller, a mystery, an ode to family and loyalty. Much like last time I have a hard go of it writing a review that feels that I'm doing the book justice. I mean, Sonali Dev is the wordsmith here, an incredible storyteller who infuses passion into all those pages that have captured my attention. Rahul and Kimi came to mean so much to me and A Distant Heart was more than I hoped for.


~ Bel

A Distant Heart by Sonali Dev is a book that I had been eagerly awaiting. Even though it can be read as a standalone story but in my opinion, it will be best understood and cherished if you have read Sonali's previous book, A Change of Heart first because the plot carries forward from where it left off in the previous book.

We saw Inspector Rahul chasing down the mastermind behind an organ trafficking ring in A Change of Heart but despite a partial closure, the mystery behind the operation of this deadly organs trafficking ring and how it all connects to people near Rahul's heart is revealed in this book. Here we get an up and close look into Rahul's life and finally meet Kimi aka Kimaya, his one weakness outside of his family.

I had absolutely adored A Change of Heart and this book again had me enthralled. Sonali Dev truly understands the inner workings of the heart and her attention to the minutest of details about daily life and human nature had me respecting her more and more.

She vividly and realistically sketches the two worlds : one of priviledge and the other of the common man working hard to provide two square meals to his family. One is symbolized by our hero, Rahul and the other by Kimaya. I loved following the story as it went back and forth in time and traced a journey of love, friendship, loss, determination and second chances.

The writing style is vivid, engaging and will keep you hooked right till the end. I enjoyed meeting Nick, Nikki and Joy from the previous book and this book has finally given me the contentment that I get when all the dots in a mystery finally connect.

A stark, sometimes scary and other times brutally honest, this book had me feeling myriad of emotions and I am so so happy to have gotten a pre-release copy of this book. Ms Dev's books have become an "Auto-buy" for me and even before I finish her one book, I am already eager to get her next book!

A definite must read, I give A Distant Heart by Sonali Dev 4.5 stars out of 5 and recommend it all romance lovers. If you like an intense, brooding hero, a fiercely independent heroine, a potent romance and a mystery that tests all your brain cells then this book is for you.

I received an ARC from the publishers via Netgalley and I am very thankful to them. The above is my honest and unbiased opinion and in no way influenced.

I loved this book, more than all of Dev's previous novels. You will fall in love with the two main characters, Kimi and Rahul, hoping for a happy ending to all of the angst and tragedies that have befallen both of them. The setting is India, and Rahul is a policeman, investigating an organ stealing ring. Chapters alternate between the 2 main characters, and in time, giving us their back story, as well as bringing them into the present and their quest to find out the truth. Kimi's health has always been her challenge, and what results from impacts everything. Highly recommended.

I was enchanted from Sonali Dev's dazzling book cover with adorned brown legs, and I am pleased to share that this heartwarming romance did not disappoint any of my high expectations!

Oh, goodness.

I haven't read A Change of Heart yet (there is no excuse--I have the audiobook! I've read all of her other books! This year just got away from me :(...) and since this one is somewhat connected, there are some mildly spoiler-ish bits. But that didn't stop me from loving this book, and it's definitely not going to stop me from reading A Change of Heart...soon. Promise!

A Distant Heart is a wonderful story--just as deliciously angsty as her other books, with a touch of suspense and danger thrown in as well. I loved the back and forth between Kimi and Rahul's past and present--watching them become friends, and then seeing them become more--and the Rapunzel-like feel of her life in The Mansion was a nice touch. (The label "Mission KAKA"--Keeping Ailing Kimi Alive--made me smile every time she thought it.) Sure, there were times I wanted to shake Rahul for being so stubborn, but at the same time it's hard to blame him when you know his history. (Plus, the story needed angst. Still, though--grrrrrr.) Kimi was just wonderful from start to finish--how that girl could manage to stay so positive in spite of everything--especially what she finds out toward the end--was inspiring. She has a lot to do with the story's black moment, but that too felt realistic and believable.

Word of advice, though--don't take a big sip of anything just before Kimi reflects on reading the Kama Sutra online--OMG, I almost lost it there ;) Horses and elephants...LOL!

Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A-

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.