Sophia Sasson - First Comes Marriage

But she’s already found Mr. Right...

She would rather call her impending nuptials planned than arranged, but she’s certain her fiancé is her perfect match. Still, Dr. Meera Malhotra jumps at the opportunity to spend the month before her wedding doing a medical rotation in small-town USA. Getting a taste of independence and improving public health are both part of her plan. Falling for a cowboy? Not so much. Jake Taylor is totally wrong for her, anyway: he raises cattle; she’s a vegetarian. He’s content with life on the ranch; she’s from bustling London and wants to travel. She couldn’t possibly throw away everything she’s built over something as illogical as love.

Meera screamed as the mechanical bull bucked underneath them.

Jake felt her shift in the seat, and he tightened his hold on her hand, gripping her firmly at the waist to steady her. He had ridden this bull a thousand times, but riding it with Meera...hmm.

His body was now molded against hers, and they rolled and moved in unison as the bull bucked. She was laughing so hard, her head snapped sideways and she lost her balance. He reached for her and... They landed on wood chips, Meera first. He braced his arms so he wouldn’t crush her.

The crowd went wild, cheering, whistling and screaming louder than ever. He looked into her glittering eyes. He didn’t know if it was the adrenaline from the bull ride, or just...Meera...but his heart was galloping like a prize-winning race horse.

This girl is going to be the end of me.

Dear Reader Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Dedication Acknowledgments CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN CHAPTER ELEVEN CHAPTER TWELVE CHAPTER THIRTEEN CHAPTER FOURTEEN CHAPTER FIFTEEN CHAPTER SIXTEEN CHAPTER SEVENTEEN CHAPTER EIGHTEEN CHAPTER NINETEEN CHAPTER TWENTY CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE CHAPTER THIRTY CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN Extract Copyright ,

Marriage makes us face the conflicting worlds of familial traditions, our own values and beliefs, and what we envision for the future. First Comes Marriage is the story of Meera, a woman firmly rooted in her family who grapples with her Indian cultural beliefs and the permanent ache in her heart that comes from wanting something she’s never had...what we all want: unconditional love.

Meera is engaged to a family friend in London. It’s a marriage arranged between families with ties so strong, breaking them will unravel Meera’s whole world. So what’s she supposed to do when she falls for an American cowboy?

While I was writing this story, I laughed, cried and snorted tea from my nose. I hope you’ll enjoy the fusion of Western romance with epic, Bollywood-style drama.

To learn more about arranged marriages, past to present, East to West, or to find out where in the world Bollywood is, visit my website at sophiasasson.com. I also have a playlist by chapter of country tunes and Bollywood music to put you in the mood as you read. Plus free extras on the town, recipes for barbecue and vegetable curry, and more. I love hearing from readers, so please find me on Twitter ( @SophiaSasson) or Facebook ( SophiaSassonAuthor), or email me at Readers@SophiaSasson.com.

Enjoy!

Sophia

www.millsandboon.co.uk

SOPHIA SASSON puts her childhood habit of daydreaming to good use by writing stories that go to the heart of human relationships. Sophia was born in Bombay, India, has lived in the Canary Islands, Spain, and Toronto, Canada, and currently calls the madness of Washington, DC, home. She loves to read, travel to exotic locations in the name of research, bake, explore water sports, watch foreign movies and hear from readers. Contact her through sophiasasson.com.

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To my husband. You make me believe that love really does conquer all.

Acknowledgments Acknowledgments CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN CHAPTER ELEVEN CHAPTER TWELVE CHAPTER THIRTEEN CHAPTER FOURTEEN CHAPTER FIFTEEN CHAPTER SIXTEEN CHAPTER SEVENTEEN CHAPTER EIGHTEEN CHAPTER NINETEEN CHAPTER TWENTY CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE CHAPTER THIRTY CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN Extract Copyright

This book, and the ones to come, are thanks to my wonderful editor Claire Caldwell, who had faith in my writing from the start, and Victoria Curran, who finds me interesting enough to put up with. Their feedback is invaluable.

My writing has come a long way thanks to my fabulous critique partner, author Jayne Evans, who knows how to ground me without clipping my wings.

Also, thanks to the wonderfully supportive romance writers and authors I’ve met through Facebook and online communities. I’m grateful to be part of this group that shares successes, and to help each other achieve our happily-ever-afters.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text But she’s already found Mr. Right... She would rather call her impending nuptials planned than arranged, but she’s certain her fiancé is her perfect match. Still, Dr. Meera Malhotra jumps at the opportunity to spend the month before her wedding doing a medical rotation in small-town USA. Getting a taste of independence and improving public health are both part of her plan. Falling for a cowboy? Not so much. Jake Taylor is totally wrong for her, anyway: he raises cattle; she’s a vegetarian. He’s content with life on the ranch; she’s from bustling London and wants to travel. She couldn’t possibly throw away everything she’s built over something as illogical as love.

Introduction Meera screamed as the mechanical bull bucked underneath them. Jake felt her shift in the seat, and he tightened his hold on her hand, gripping her firmly at the waist to steady her. He had ridden this bull a thousand times, but riding it with Meera...hmm. His body was now molded against hers, and they rolled and moved in unison as the bull bucked. She was laughing so hard, her head snapped sideways and she lost her balance. He reached for her and... They landed on wood chips, Meera first. He braced his arms so he wouldn’t crush her. The crowd went wild, cheering, whistling and screaming louder than ever. He looked into her glittering eyes. He didn’t know if it was the adrenaline from the bull ride, or just...Meera...but his heart was galloping like a prize-winning race horse. This girl is going to be the end of me.

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Acknowledgments