Rai’s first in a new series is the exact amount of romance and action I’m looking for.

Nothing says romance like a dead aunt with a will, running into the first match your matchmaker made for you that you dumped, a kidnapping, an illegal poker game, being chased by guys with guns, faking your identity to sneak into a nightclub, and still not finding this necklace the bad guys want. And… that’s not even everything that happens!

Rai really hit the mark with this fast-paced tale that has both heroine and hero going from California to Vegas and all over the place in one wild night. For me, a reader who loves action-adventure movies this was like an Indian Matchmaking mixed in with Romancing the Stone. The blurb selling it as a book with Date Night vibes is too true. Amid the romance and the comedic moments there are some seriously high stakes, and a deep plot.

From a character standpoint, Mira Patel comes off stand-offish from the get-go, but her life hasn’t been an easy one and she’s always had to hide her true self for the sake of wanting a normal life. Exactly why she ditched our hero Naveen Desai, her first match and a successful lawyer. He offered a life that would be far from boring.

Of course, fate has other plans, at least her deceased aunt does. When Mira gets the call that her aunt’s last will and testament is through Naveen’s grandfather’s firm she has no choice, but to reconnect with the one she ghosted. What starts as a mere chance encounter soon becomes an insane twenty-four adventure. When Mira and Naveen must confront things, they thought they knew about each other and about life.

This one started out a bit slow for me, but once the pace picked up it was rocking and rolling to the very end. Rai’s signature heat on the romance side of things eventually comes through, though it’s a slow ride to get there. There’s a well-developed plot threaded through carefully as well.

What kept this from a five, I was able to find places to put it down and walk away. This didn’t have me anxious to keep reading until the last thirty percent of the book. Also, there were times that Mira’s characterization irked me, especially when I got to the end of the story. It was a close call for me. For readers who love action threaded into the romance and don’t mind heroes and heroines who aren’t spies solving the mystery.

~ Landra

Fast read. It’s full of action from the start. Like-able leads and humor balance out the sad moments. Rai fans will not be disappointed.

I’ve been reading Alisha Rai for more than a decade now and I’ve always enjoyed her work but the last book I read from her and this one, I feel like something is missing even if I can’t quite put my finger on it. In some ways I feel like it’s passion between the characters, I miss those old days where you could tell from the first time the characters meet they want to rip each other’s clothes off. For me this book was a bit of a let-down because I went in to it thinking it was going to be a fun, sexy, second-chance rom-com and it wasn’t that, not even close. In fact it’s hard to describe, it had some suspense yet I never felt like these characters were truly in danger (it was almost too campy for that), there were some sexy times but they had no real passion, the characters fell back in with each other but they never really had a heart to heart or discussed the issues between them. It was actually kind of all over the place and all the while I kept waiting for more and that more never came. To top it off, one of the main reasons I don’t read mysteries and romantic suspense is because I can spot the “bad guy” a mile away, yep, I figured it out early on in this one too. While there was a bit of a twist I didn’t expect, it didn’t save the story completely for me.

Mira freshly dumped by the 13th guy the professional match maker set her up with gets a call about her late aunt’s will only to find that the attorney handling it is Naveen, the 1st man the matchmaker set her up with who she dumped after they were together for 6 months. Right at that point in the story I knew this wasn’t a coincidence (and I was right). As she’s walking away two guys try and grab her, Naveen tries to intervene and they are both kidnapped (can it be called kidnapping if there was no ransom demanded?). Anyway this sets off a whole slew of events each one a bit more unbelievable than the next until it is all wrapped up in a nice, neat bow at the end. Through it Mira and Naveen grow closer mainly because they only have each other to rely on and they both mend fences with their estranged siblings. There are a whole host of characters and steps they go through and yet we never really get to see them build a relationship, they just kind of fall back together. I honestly can’t even call this book a romance; there was nothing romantic about it even their so called relationship seemed more practical than anything and such a let-down.

I will continue to read this author’s work in hopes that at some point I will get a book like she used to write; sadly Partners in Crime wasn’t that book.

Partners in Crime was a bit of a departure from Rai's recent rom-coms, this one had a heist subplot which was new to me from Rai's work. In the midst of the drama, thieving and scandal, was Mira and Naveen's relationship. I love me some Second-Chance Romance and this was a great one at that. I loved all the tender moments between Mira and Naveen, and would have loved to see this plot without the other antics, however, Rai can still write a love story like no other - so I still enjoyed and would recommend.

Thank you to Avon for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Really really enjoyed this one! It was fun and exciting and though lengthy, never repetitive. Mira and Naveen are great, though I would have liked a touch more of the romance. There were twists I guessed at and others I didn't see coming at all.

Definitely my favorite of Rai's so far.

Thank you to @netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

This was a fun adventure and would make for a fantastic movie. It's a rom-com with action sequences. There is an element of danger, a plot twist no one sees coming, and a diamond heist. This would be a five-star film. Hollywood get at it!

As for the book, I give it 3.5.
I wanted more depth in our leads. They both have skeletons in their closets that go largely unaddressed. We know what they are and how both of them are moving on, but at times the past was a convenient crutch rather than the reason they are both the way they are.
The resolution of the story happens very late in the text, I wanted more time to understand how everything came together.

Lastly, our heroes are old flames stuck together by coincidence, so there is previous history that draws them to each other, but as a reader, I needed more time to love them as a couple.

Overall, if you are looking for a fun, action-packed adventure with a side of romance, this is your book. Alisha Rai is a favorite for me, ever since her first novel, so I will continue to read her work, this one just wasn't a five-star book for me.

Thank you to @netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

This was a fun adventure and would make for a fantastic movie. It's a rom-com with action sequences. There is an element of danger, a plot twist no one sees coming, and a diamond heist. This would be a five-star film. Hollywood get at it!

As for the book, I give it 3.5.
I wanted more depth in our leads. They both have skeletons in their closets that go largely unaddressed. We know what they are and how both of them are moving on, but at times the past was a convenient crutch rather than the reason they are both the way they are.
The resolution of the story happens very late in the text, I wanted more time to understand how everything came together.

Lastly, our heroes are old flames stuck together by coincidence, so there is previous history that draws them to each other, but as a reader, I needed more time to love them as a couple.

Overall, if you are looking for a fun, action-packed adventure with a side of romance, this is your book. Alisha Rai is a favorite for me, ever since her first novel, so I will continue to read her work, this one just wasn't a five star book for me.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of Partners in Crime by Alisha Rai. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC.

Partners in Crime is such a great romantic adventure story. It is rare that a book mixes capers and hijinks with romantic growth and actually works. Usually, one side or the other is a stronger narrative. But somehow, this book has that ideal combination that makes it the perfect romantic adventure. Mira and Naveen have oodles of chemistry, and I love how much they grow as people throughout their journey. I would happily read another book by Alisha Rai. I give Partners in Crime 4/5 stars.

This fast paced, suspenseful romance is a charming second chance that was perfectly provocative and swiftly drew me in and kept me intrigued. Alisha Rai has crafted an engaging plot driven romance and imbued it with charm and humor and the right amount of mystery. Rai’s writing is engaging and accessible. The novel is fun and diverse, I love the family secrets and the twist and turns that all work in harmony to create build up chemistry between our hero and heroine leading to a sweet and heartfelt romance.

Mira has found a small quiet way of her life to escape her dysfunctional family and restructure your life. She is currently of an age where she is looking towards the future and has enlisted a matchmaker, but the past few options have not been successful. But when her aunt dies, Mira is reunited with her first and most prominent match and from that point on her and Naveen are kidnapped and on the run as they untangle the mysterious of Mira’s past and family.

I found Mira as a heroine to be strong and independent, she has worked hard to carve out a future from herself that is not wrapped up in her father’s schemes. Naveen as a hero is a true family man. He works hard and he is caring and compassionate. These two were on the road to marriage but when Mira gets cold feet she backs out and only fate can bring these two back together. From the point of reunion and on we are in a fast paced run from moment to moment that highlights how well these two work together. I really enjoyed watching them grow and learn from the other while trying to keep their cool and understanding as Naveen is thrown for loop after loop as Mira’s true past is revealed. This novel is sweetly sexy, this light moments of sensuality while balancing with the high moments of intensity.

If you love a romantic suspense this is a nice and comedic take on the genre. It is the perfect blend of Indian Matchmaker and Wedding Date and it was a really fun read. Definitely worth reading and an lovely addition to Rai’s cannon which has a wide range of super sensual to a bit more light hearted and sweet.

This was completely different than anything else I’ve read from Alisha Rai but it worked and was a fun read. The cover and description made me think this would be a cute road trip rom com, but it’s more romantic thriller (though not scary at all - I’m a total wimp and would have DNFed if there was any creepiness).

Mira’s just been dumped when she heads to a nondescript law office in the suburbs for the reading of her late aunt’s will. Of course the lawyer is none other than another one of Mira’s failed matches, Naveen. What follows is a bit of hijinks and mystery with lots of family drama unfolding along the way with a bit of second chance romance tied in.

This was a fun read but at times I honestly had no clue what was going on. It’s not that deep so it was easy to reorient myself but it was distracting at times. I mostly listened to the audio which was very well done with lots of excellent accents for different characters.

Thanks to Avon for the gifted galley. All opinions are my own.

When Mira's beloved but somewhat distant aunt dies, she finds herself reconnected with Naveen, who she was previously matched with through a Matchmaking service. Naveen is running the law firm that Mira's aunt used for her will. Mira and Naveen are surprised to see each other and are even more surprised when they are both kidnapped following their meeting regarding her aunt's will. Soon, they both realize that Mira's family secrets are to blame for their current predicament and start on a journey to find the object that their pursuer is looking for.

This book is, in a word...totally ridiculous! In both good and bad ways. If you suspend your disbelief about most of the goings-on, it's pretty funny and very fast paced (I read it in an evening). It is not, however, a romance. Or at least not primarily. I'm not sure this book fully knows what it is.

That being said, I couldn't put it down and did have a fun time reading it!

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for a e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm an Alisha Rai stan. Her books are full of fun and emotions and I can't wait to read the next one. This book was no different. It read like a movie, which her AMA on r/romancebooks said she intended. I couldn't put it down.

Mira is a no nonsense accountant who is trying to put her past behind her. She wants to find a partner who will overlook her lack of pedigree and keeps striking out. One breakup haunts her but she doesn't expect to see her ex Naveen as her aunt's attorney when he's reading her will.

Naveen is shocked to see Mira, mostly because she never mentioned she had a family. He left his high powered job to care for his grandfather and instead of partying on the weekends he prefers to do escape rooms. I loved Naveen so much.

Then the craziness starts. Mira is kidnapped because of something her conman father did. Naveen tries to save her and gets caught up in the kidnapping. A jam packed escape starts with stealing a car, buying flipflops in a dive diner, searching a storage unit, visiting a strip club, and many other surprises. It got crazier as it went on and I did end up having to suspend belief towards the end but it was so much FUN. It was exactly the fun palate cleanser that I needed and I hope Alisha writes more books like this.

This was such a wild ride I loved every minute of it! The romance was fun and I loved the banter. It made for a fun read.

This is a fact paced and enjoyable book. Readers need to suspend belief for it though because it is a highly unbelievable story.

I really liked both main characters and the few glimpses into their past relationship. I would have liked to get even more of those.

For me the last act kind of lost my interest. I didn’t particularly care for the big reveals but I will say they weren’t all what I was predicting so that was nice.

I still really enjoyed reading this one and would recommend it to anyone who wants some adventure and crime mixed in with their romances!

I love Alisha Rai... when she is indie published. Her publishers and editors are stripping down things I love about her work. Fun and funny and diverse it still is - sexy and sensual? A lot less so.

Partners In Crime is an action packed, suspenseful romance that had me eager to turn each page. The story follows Mira and Naveen, who were a couple derived from match making. After their breakup, they were kidnapped. The kidnapping unravels family secrets from the past as they maneuver through the adventures together. I absolutely loved this second chance romance as it had a thriller feel to it.

Thank you to NETGALLEY and Avon & Harper Voyager for the digital ARC!

This was a madcap, dual POV, second chance romance that was pure fun and impossible to put down!! As a huge fan of Alisha Rai, I had high expectations for this latest standalone and it did NOT disappoint!!

Mira and Naveen find themselves forced together when they're kidnapped by jewel thieves and have to work together to escape. Full of crazy Las Vegas antics, escape rooms, illicit poker games, steamy on the run sex and lots of family drama. This book gave me a TON of Something wilder vibes and delivered pure entertainment.

Great on audio narrated by my fav Soneela Nankani and new to me narrator Shahjehan Khan. Much thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollinsCa for my early digital and physical arc copies in exchange for my honest review! I can't recommend this one enough if you're looking for a fun, high octane adventure romance with a beautiful cover!

What should have been a simple matter of settling family affairs becomes complicated when Mira’s ex turns out to be her late aunt’s lawyer…and that’s before the not-so-tiny complication of them being kidnapped and taken to Vegas. It’s just your average reunion with the ex-boyfriend you never stopped having feelings for…plus stolen jewels, hackers, crime bosses, and a mad dash through Sin City. Part rom-com, part romantic suspense, Partners in Crime is fast-paced and fun with energy to spare.

Mira is the kind of heroine I love. She’s smart, successful, and confident, but she has a vulnerable center she lets few see. Mira also happens to be angering her matchmaker by not making the staid and stable match she wants. Enter her ex, Naveen. The handsome lawyer is just as irresistible as she remembers, but the thought of getting close to him again makes Mira anxious. When they’re kidnapped together, however, the way the two of them click is just too apparent to ignore. Naveen is charming and smart, but like Mira he has ghosts in his past he doesn’t want to talk about. If Naveen and Mira want to make their second chance at happily ever after work, they’re going to have to open up, trust each other, and work for a future together…if they can survive the criminals hot on their tails, that is.

The action tends to overtake the romance in Partners in Crime, which is a bit of a pity because Mira and Naveen are such an engaging couple that I wish a slight bit more focus had been on the love story. Both of them have complicated relationships with their siblings I enjoyed learning more about and pasts neither is quick to open up about. Every time we got to the emotional center of these characters the story shone, more so than when the focus was on the danger and action. Their Vegas escapade is entertaining though, and author Alisha Rai keeps the story moving at a quick clip. Things did get a little overblown for my taste at the climax of the story, but whether or not readers agree will depend on personal preference in crime capers. Overall, I had a good time reading Partners in Crime. Alisha Rai’s writing is as entertaining as always, the characters are engaging, and the plot is flashy and fun.

This book is a lot of wacky and requires a LOT of suspended disbelief but, if you can buckle up for the ride, it's awfully fun.

Amira Patel (actually, Mira) ran away from most of her family, changed her name, and became an upstanding citizen. Of course, not having a "good family" is hindering her matchmaking prospects. In the past two years, she's been out with thirteen men, all introduced to her by Hema Auntie, one of Los Angeles's premier Indian matchmakers. She was accepted because her good friend's mother is a former client of Hema's and vouched for her. She dumped all of the first twelve but now the thirteenth has dumped her. She knows she's not getting any more matches. Not from this matchmaker. Which stinks even worse because the one family member, her aunt, that she was in touch with has just died leaving her alone in the world. Mira is shocked to hear her aunt left a will and even more shocked when the attorney ends up being her first match. The one she dated for six months and then basically ghosted after a short text.
Naveen Desai is shocked to see Mira in his office. He thought they were done for good. He's even more shocked when she is attacked in the parking garage and the attackers take him as well.
This starts Mira and Naveen off on an adventure that will have them running all over Las Vegas, dodging shady FBI agents, and uncovering Mira's past. There is a lot going on in the book and, if I think about it too closely, there are a lot of thing that were left dangling but I really enjoyed the read.

Four and a half stars
This book comes out October 18, 2022
ARC kindly provided by Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

This is a light contemporary romance that involves kidnapping and lots of gambling. This is my second book by Alisha Rai and I was so excited for it because I loved Girl Gone Viral. Partners in Crime unfortunately, did not work for me ☹️ I didn't feel the chemistry between Naveen and Mira. The angst wasn't there considering this is a second chance romance. I think that's what was truly lacking in the story. It was also a tad bit confusing towards the end when the plot twist was finally unraveling. Some of it just doesn't make sense and made it absurd.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.