Born with a sixth sense for locating the perfect saris for
proper Bengali weddings, Lakshmi Sen is Seattle's reigning
matchmaker (well, sort of). Her visions and intuition keep
business bustling as she matches silks, cottons and chiffon
of all colors to their rightful owners. All of her clients
are blissfully paired up, their magical garments ensuring
happiness and harmony. With such success, why can't Lakshmi
find her own true bliss?
It isn't until Bollywood celebrity Asha Rao visits her shop
that Lakshmi finds her world turned upside-down. Her
visions fly out the door and her sense of the perfect piece
of fabric is compromised every time she stops by. Could it
be that Lakshmi can't perform under the pressure of
celebrity, or is it because her stomach twists in knots
when she makes eye contact with Asha's handsome driver,
Nick? Of course, falling in love with a blond American
Adonis is strictly forbidden, especially now that Lakshmi's
mother has wonderful news from India -- she's found her a
husband!
With the wedding only a few months away, Lakshmi must
decide what is best for her and her family. Should she
marry the dashing Ravi, an Indian doctor who is already
devoted to his soon-to-be bride? Or should she follow her
instincts and fall for Nick, knowing that love at first
sight only strikes once?
Similar to her previous novel IMAGINARY MEN, Anjali
Banerjee weaves yet another intoxicating tale that will
instantly transport you into the heat and spice of India.
Quick-paced and clever, INVISIBLE LIVES explores the
shallows and depths of true love.
Lakshmi Sen was born with a magical ability to perceive
the secret longings in others. Putting aside her own
dreams to help run her widowed mother's struggling Seattle
sari shop, Mystic Elegance, Lakshmi knows exactly how to
bring happiness to customers -- from lonely immigrants to
starry-eyed young brides. And to honor her father's dying
wish, she has agreed to marry a respectable Indian doctor
who will uphold her family's traditions.
But when a famous Indian actress chooses Mystic Elegance
to provide her wedding trousseau, Lakshmi finds herself
falling for the actress's sexy chauffeur -- all-American
Nick Dunbar -- and her powers seem to desert her just as
she needs them most. As Nick draws Lakshmi into his world,
however, new dreams awaken in her, and she begins to
uncover deeper, startling longings in her mother, her
friends, her fiancé, and even herself. But choosing
between Nick and her fiancé seems an impossible task, like
intuiting the very nature of true love. Is it instantly
recognizable or does it need time to grow? And how can she
possibly know for sure?