Girl Gone Viral

First introduced in The Right Swipe as Rhiannon’s friend, roommate and investor, we’re spending time with Kat and getting to know her as she navigates her anxiety, her need for privacy and her own desire to ‘find a normal’ in her life, and perhaps deal with those now uncomfortable feelings and fantasies she’s having for Jas, her bodyguard and ‘master of security’. Kat is a wonderful character, kind, giving, pet obsessed and wholly supportive of her friends, as well as a sharp-eyed instinctual investor, turning her money into profits while managing to help people along the way and maintaining her anonymity. But Kat has friends – in capital letters. They will do anything, literally, to keep her safe and sound, and always make ‘allowances’ for her often crippling anxiety. Then we have Jas, Jasvinder her bodyguard. An interesting mix of a man, part Punjabi, part Mexican, he’s been with her since she married her husband Hardeep – the man who allowed her the freedom to walk away from an abusive father and start to find her own purpose in the world. Former military until an incident in Iraq went far left, he’d been hired by Hardeep and his loyalty (as well as skills) are unprecedented. He’s also more than a little in love with Kat, even as he is convinced she’d never return his affections. Oh this was fun – from Kat finding her feet despite her anxiety, facing her demons, and dealing with her attraction to Jas. Finding a new dog to love on, finding new opportunities to invest in, and making herself heard despite the concerted efforts of those who wish to keep her isolated and afraid. All with unexpected encounters with Jas’s family, escaping to the Northern California countryside, helping both she and Jas to work through issues long constraining their own lives, personally and together. Friendships, loyalties and love are highlights in this story as two people come to open their own circles of friendship and family, and step into a new and wholly different new normal. Like every book I’ve read from Alisha Rai – the characters are quick to become your friends, friends that you want in your corner and in your life. They support, talk tough, are always honest and loyal, and will go to the mat with those they care for – a perfect set up for a series about friends, family, and above all, love. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.