This makes me want to see an increase in romantic suspense releases! There were a couple of reveals that really got me. I don't think this book will have longevity in my mind but it was fun while it lasted!

"Partners in Crime" by Alisha Rai is a sizzling romantic adventure that had me hooked from the very beginning. This novel is a captivating blend of passion, suspense, and the irresistible pull of unexpected attraction.

Rai's writing style is both captivating and steamy, drawing readers into a world of intrigue and desire. The chemistry between the main characters is electric, and their interactions are filled with tension and heat.

At the heart of the narrative is a thrilling partnership that takes the characters on a journey of danger and discovery. The author skillfully weaves together elements of suspense and romance, creating a narrative that is as gripping as it is romantic.

"Partners in Crime" successfully balances the excitement of the plot with the emotional depth of the characters' connection. The exploration of trust, vulnerability, and the allure of forbidden attraction adds complexity to the story.

In conclusion, "Partners in Crime" is a page-turning and passionate read that combines romance with suspense in all the right ways. If you're looking for a novel that delivers a roller-coaster of emotions and a love story that sizzles, this book offers an exciting and irresistible journey that will keep you enthralled until the very end.

I didn't know how much I needed a fun and wild Vegas heist story featuring South Asian leads until I read Partners in Crime. I know the cover gives rom-com vibes but this story is jam packed with car chases, jewelry heists, high stakes poker games, and kidnappings. Is it hard to believe that all of the crazy drama happens over the course of one and half days? Yes. But is it fun? Hell yes. I mean, if you can suspend your disbelief for movies like The Hangover, Date Night, and Lovebirds...you can definitely do it for this book because that is totally the vibes here. What I loved most about this story is that being South Asian was not the sole defining characteristic for Mira and Naveen. Their culture and background was evident from the beginning but you got to see two characters just be themselves and do wild and unhinged things in a role thats not really associated with desi characters. The romance is not the main focus but I enjoyed how Naveen and Mira worked through their own issues to find each other.

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Alisha Rai always knows how to write a funny romance. This book was ridiculous, funny, endearing, and thrilling. I adored Naveen and Mira! I loved how complex Mira's character was. This was also just such a well paced novel!! I will say the logistics of the ending confused me a little, but honestly if you are reading this and it feels like a Bollywood movie you can excuse the flaws.

Definitely a new fav and it makes me wanna go through her backlist <3

This was pretty middle of the road 3 star read. I liked it while I read it, but almost nothing about it stuck with me. I felt like it tried to do too much and so didn't do anything quite well enough. And unfortunately the romance fell flat for me.

This book started off like Alisha Rai's other romances but then took an adventurous turn, and I was 100% here for it.

Mira Chaudhary is trying to leave her past behind and settle into a normal life. She has a stable accountant job and would like to find someone to settle down with. She meets Naveen Desai and he seems just the ticket, until things get complicated and he finds out she's not exactly who she's been presenting herself to be. The two of them end up getting kidnapped and go on a wild romp around Vegas trying to get themselves out of trouble. While all of this is going on the two of them get to know each other on a much deeper level, and turns out they may have a shot after all.

It was action-packed, twisty, and full of suspense. The two main characters were flawed and completely loveable, and I couldn't put it down from the first chapter!

This is a first Alisha Rai book that wasn’t up to par for me. I didn’t feel connected to the writing nor the premise, or the characters. They felt childish. The romance felt lacking with no chemistry. The plot was very messy that it overwhelmed everything else.

When Mira arrives at the law firm to settle her aunt’s affairs, she never expected Naveem (the first match she rejected) would be the lawyer. She also never expected to end up on the run with him. As her family’s past comes back to haunt her, Mira realizes that Naveem might be her future.

This is not a typical Alisha Rai romance - there was an action adventure element to this. I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t my favorite Alisha Rai book.

I'm always on the lookout for new South Asian books to read, but this one fell flat for me. From the get-go, this book was over the top, and not in a way that made any sense. The characters didn't feel authentic to me, and the plot was just a lot to wrap my head around. I might try rereading in the future, but this book unfortunately wasn't for me this time around.

Alisha Rai has another hit on her hands. An enthralling page turner from start to end, a heist gone wrong, apparent mistaken identity and the past catching up on you.

Mira wants to find a partner and settle down, but she just can’t find a man. When she runs into Naveen, a man that she had been set up with by a matchmaker years ago, she is surprised to see him. Even more surprising is the two of them get kidnapped together and need to work together not only to escape, but to solve a crime.

This book was such a unique and wild ride! I loved that this romance was set in a situation with so much action and drama that was not related to the relationship. This book was full of over the top and hilarious hijinks - heists, fake identities, car chases, henchmen, and they all made for a hilarious adventure. In the process Mira and Naveen don’t just become partners in crime, but begin to reevaluate their relationship. This book is fast paced and full of fun!

Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Not at all what I was expecting- in a good way! I’m not usually into second chance romances, but add in some running for your life and capers and I was SO in. It was really fun to watch these characters unfold and grown back together. Not as spicy as I expected from Alisha Rai, but still had a couple steamy scenes. The action and adventures were fun and a bit silly too.

Partners in Crime by Alisha Rai was a fun read! Definitely an adventure. I enjoyed reading a book that was outside of my genre.

Partners in Crime by Alisha Rai was a decent read, but it didn't quite live up to my expectations. The premise of two former childhood friends turned crime-solving partners was intriguing, and the chemistry between the main characters was palpable. However, the pacing felt uneven at times, with some parts dragging on while others felt rushed. The mystery itself was also fairly predictable, which was a bit disappointing. That said, the writing was solid, and the characters were well-rounded and likable. Overall, I think this book is worth checking out if you're a fan of the mystery and romance genres, but don't expect to be blown away.

Alisha Rai is an author that I love so much as a person(ality), but I haven't loved her books as much since she left behind the angst filled Forbidden Hearts series. That said, Partners in Crime was a really fun listen that I would recommend if you want a high external stakes book that feels relatively light despite the dysfunctional family trauma being processed at the same time. Now that I write it down, I'm having a hard time figuring out how this book did feel more light and amusing than it did serious and angsty because when you think about the plot and the issues between Mira and Naveen, it really doesn't sound like a fun time...

Speaking of the plot, essentially Mira's aunt died a little bit ago and Naveen's law office handled her will. The two of them have a history that didn't end well so things are a little awkward between them when Mira shows up at his office and neither realize they're going to be encountering their ex. But then Mira and Naveen are kidnapped and then a whole lot of while shenanigans ensue.

So again, a good time, but just not something that I fell in love with the way I was hoping to. But all in all, a good read.

I really liked this and enjoyed the romance +thriller, I generally am a fan of Rai's stories and writing, and this didn't disappoint

Loved this book! Great to see different cultures represented. Last 20% was a little far fetched but still made for a very fun read!

I requested this as soon as I saw it was by Alisha Rai. In retrospect, I should have read the synopsis first. I am not a big fan of romantic suspense.So to me, this did not have enough romance in it. And the plot just kept getting messier. It was a bit too much/ over the top for me. And because there was so much going on in the plot I felt I never really got to know the characters or feel their chemistry, outside of all the adrenaline highs.
I have no issues with the writing, this just isn't my book and I felt like it was a bit all over the place plot-wise. It could have been scaled back a bit and still been exciting.

Suspense, action, danger, humor, heat—Alisha Rai gave me everything I could want and more in Partners in Crime. The book transports readers to Las Vegas, where settling a relative’s affairs turns into a dangerous and unforgettable adventure. Mira didn’t plan on seeing her ex-boyfriend Naveen again, let alone working side-by-side with him. But when they’re kidnapped together and have to go on the run, the two are given a second chance to realize they might just be perfect for each other.

I love a good second chance romance, and Rai uses that setup here to craft incredible tension between the two leads. She slips in memories of their past together to bring the heat, even as they try to resist their growing feelings for each other. She perfectly balanced this alongside the excellent momentum of the plot—making the stakes of mortal peril and emotional vulnerability feel equally weighted and important.

I adored Naveen so much as a hero. He's incredibly intelligent and capable, but also so soft and pure (this man keeps trying to Venmo criminals and it made me laugh every time). And Mira is my beautiful hurt queen, so afraid of love and trust. I rooted for her every step of the way as she learned that she could lean on Naveen and started to believe he'd be there to catch her if she fell.

Rai writes about family dynamics often, and I think this book really shines in how skilled she is when it comes to exploring the complexity of those relationships. She offers up nuanced portraits of humans who are flawed and make mistakes, but also never cuts a character slack for the harm they've caused.

This is one of my favorite reads of 2023; I loved absolutely every second of this book.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is my first time reading Alisha Rai so I was intrigued on how this will go.

Summary:

Mira Patel’s got a solid accounting career, good friends, and a whole lot of distance between her and her dysfunctional family. All that’s missing is a stable romantic relationship. Armed with a spreadsheet and professional help, she sets out to find her partner in only legal activities, but much to her matchmaker’s dismay, no one is quite right.

Including Naveen Desai, the very first match she unceremoniously rejected.

Lately Naveen’s been too focused on keeping his sick grandfather’s law firm afloat to think about love, and he’s stunned when Mira walks back into his life to settle her aunt’s affairs. He’s determined to keep things professional…though it’s impossible not to be intrigued by all of the secrets piling up around Mira.

If getting back together with an ex is a bad idea, getting kidnapped with one is even worse.

Suddenly, Naveen and Mira find themselves in a mad dash through Las Vegas to escape jewel thieves, evade crime bosses, and follow the clues to untangle the mess her family left behind. As her past comes back to haunt her, Mira despairs of ever finding someone who might understand her…but maybe, over the course of one wild night, she’ll find that he’s right by her side.

Review:
Honestly, it was a great ride! Mira wants the entire opposite life that she had growing up which resulted in her over correcting in her day to day life. This book is all about her accepting and embracing parts of her childhood trauma (and admittedly gaining a few more) meanwhile Naveen is working through his own problems. I loved watching this two have real conversations and being amazed by each other's authentic self that wasn't there the first time around that they dated. I loved the cons they pulled together over the course of one night and the twists at the end was a little heartbreaking, but it was a great way to continue to show that not everything is as black and white as it seems at first glance. I also loved the Indian culture that was shown throughout the story and the epilogue takes place a year later which I appreciated. It was dual pov in alternate chapters so you honestly get both sides of the story. I would definitely read more by Alisha