Recipe for Persuasion: A Novel

Sonali Dev

May 2020 · The Rajes Series Book 2 · Sold by HarperCollins

About this ebook

From the author of Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors comes another , clever, deeply layered, and heartwarming romantic comedy that follows in the Jane Austen tradition—this time, with a twist on Persuasion.

Chef Ashna Raje desperately needs a new strategy. How else can she save her beloved restaurant and prove to her estranged, overachieving mother that she isn’t a complete screw up? When she’s asked to join the cast of Cooking with the Stars, the latest hit reality show teaming chefs with celebrities, it seems like just the leap of faith she needs to put her restaurant back on the map. She’s a chef, what’s the worst that could happen? 

Rico Silva, that’s what.  

Being paired with a celebrity who was her first love, the man who ghosted her at the worst possible time in her life, only proves what Ashna has always believed: leaps of faith are a recipe for disaster. 

FIFA winning soccer star Rico Silva isn't too happy to be paired up with Ashna either. Losing Ashna years ago almost destroyed him. The only silver lining to this bizarre situation is that he can finally prove to Ashna that he's definitely over her. 

But when their catastrophic first meeting goes viral, social media becomes obsessed with their chemistry. The competition on the show is fierce...and so is the simmering desire between Ashna and Rico.  Every minute they spend together rekindles feelings that pull them toward their disastrous past. Will letting go again be another recipe for heartbreak—or a recipe for persuasion...? 

In Recipe for Persuasion, Sonali Dev once again takes readers on an unforgettable adventure in this fresh, fun, and enchanting romantic comedy.

Ratings and reviews

This Jane Austen inspired contemporary romance novel was a decent, uniquely written diverse-filled read that left me pleasantly surprised on how much I didn't completely hate it. Sure Ashna estranged mother Shobj annoyed me like no other but the rekindle romance between Ansha and Rico made up for it. Overall, it was not a bad read and would definitely keep this author on my radar for future releases.

To save her restaurant, Ashna agrees to appear as the master chef on a TV cooking competition show, despite her chronic anxiety. She's shocked when the celebrity she's paired up with is her high school boyfriend, soccer star Rico. After a string of failed relationships, Rico decides to seek closure with the woman who shattered his heart. When he finds out that Ashna is appearing on the TV show, he convinces his agent to book him on it as her partner. Seeing Rico again forces Ashna to come to terms with the tragedy that led to their breakup. Will the truth finally set them free from their past so they can move forward with a future together? This stunning romance and family saga is an emotional journey through time and across continents. Scarred and broken by her parents' tumultuous marriage, Ashna feels unworthy of love. Though resentful at first of how Ashna sent him away, Rico can't help wondering how the fierce girl he knew has grown into a woman facing debilitating fear. This heart-wrenching novel takes on dark subjects but ends in a spirit of love and hope.

delightful follow-up with a familiar cast of characters and the new ones we were dying to meet.

About the author

USA Today Bestselling author Sonali Dev writes Bollywood-style love stories that explore issues faced by women around the world. Sonali’s novels have been on Library Journal, NPR, Washington Post, and Kirkus’s Best Books of the year lists. She has won the American Library Association’s award for best romance, the RT Reviewer Choice Award for best contemporary romance, multiple RT Seals of Excellence, is a RITA® finalist, and has been listed for the Dublin Literary Award. Shelf Awareness calls her “Not only one of the best but one of the bravest romance novelists working today.”She lives in Chicagoland with her husband, two visiting adult children, and the world’s most perfect dog.Find more at sonalidev.com.