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Ebook Details
  • 08/2017
  • 978-0-9876222-0-4 0987622226
  • 478 pages
  • $2.99
Paperback Details
  • 08/2017
  • 978-0-9876222-1-1 0987622226
  • 478 pages
  • $19.99
Angel A
Author
Mary Poser
Angel A, author

Adult; General Fiction (including literary and historical); (Market)

Bollywood meets the Bible Belt in this award-winning memoir of a Southern belle who falls for a Bollywood director in Nashville.

2018 American Fiction Awards Winner

2018 Best Book Awards Winner: Inspirational
2018 NYC Big Book Award Winner: Mind, Body, Spirit

2017 Foreword Reviews  Indies Book of the Year Award Finalist
2018 International Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Multicultural

2018 Paris Book Festival Runner-Up. Category Spiritual/Religious

2018 Readers' Favorite Finalist. Category Cultural

2018 Independent Author Network Book of the Year Nominee for Fiction: Christian Religious

2018 BookViral Millennium Book Award long listed author

2018 London Book Festival Honorable Mention

2018 New Apple Book Awards Official Selection

2018 Body Mind Spirit Book Awards Winner

2019 Independent Press Award Winner

2019 New York Book Festival Winner

Add some Bollywood 'Bride and Prejudice' into a modern 'Gone with the Wind' culture in a 'Bridget Jones Diary' voice with an 'Eat, Pray, Love' vibe, you get 'Mary Poser'.


There's troubled love in Music City, USA. Despite deeply entrenched obstacles, Southern Belle, Mary, falls for a visiting Bollywood director, Simha Das. A life-changing event leads to questions about who or what intervenes. Passions collide with cultural expectations as Mary must come to terms with a dangerous secret.

On the surface MARY POSER is a fun and frolicking love story. Underneath this is a message of hope and inspiration for anyone who feels overwhelmed by the expectations of others and approval demands of faith and culture.

Reviews
2017 Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Finalist

Foreword Reviews 2017 Book of the Year Finalist. Category: Multicultural

2018 American Fiction Awards Winner

 Category: Coming of Age

2018 International Book Awards

International Book Awards Finalist. Category: Multicultural

Aman Mittal, Reviewer

Angel A’s Mary Poser is set in Nashville in which we follow the protagonist, Mary Poser, a 23 year old daughter of a Pastor falls in love with an Anglo-Indian Bollywood director. It tries to offer a recipe that combines fun, humorous, dramatic romance and bold life choices to make this an entertaining one.

 

There is not much in the story line to discuss apart from what I mentioned before, and I will continue till we reach the verdict. This book is written in first person narrative with reader being constantly engaged with the main character. The storyline is devoted quite heavily on the religious aspects which at some point can be uninteresting for a reader to be engaged with it. The narrative flow and pace of the plot is addictive and well groomed. 

 

I appreciate the way Angel A. has injected humorous elements in the plot as well as the endearing moments between the two characters, Mary and the Bollywood director which are the particular highlights of the this book in the particular genre of Romance.

 

There aren’t much plot issues apart from the religious one. The characters are not that strongly blended as I expected after having a good plot. The theme of outcasting and racism could have been portrayed in a better manner than the way they are reflected, may be then, the love between characters would have been a bit stronger.

 

The author’s writing is flawless and very up to the mark. Her style does posses a distinct voice in the form of first-person narration. Good blend of cultures, well researched on this point, I have to say and a very diverse approach to the particular genre. I appreciate her work on this behalf.

 

Nonetheless, if you are fan of romance-fiction genre, you might consider reading this book since it certainly brings a new texture in terms of the plot, a different kind of approach that is trying to break into the American Fiction literature for some time now.

Amy M, Reviewer

Mary Poser is written as a conventional southern woman. She comes from a religious family with her father being the local Pastor. Her background has led her to be a people pleaser and has hindered her from having her own voice. Her little world is just that, very little. Until she casts her eyes upon Simha Das, he is everything unfamiliar to her and she likes it.

What starts out as friendship turns passionate and Mary is just not ready to accept the strong feelings that are unfamiliar to her. So, she retreats to her defenses and decides to take the familiar road for a while. Which leads her into making all sorts of reckless choices because her heart and her head are not in unison. It takes Mary a long time to figure out what she wants but once she does there is no holding her back.

The moments between Simha and Mary were sweet, sometimes uncomfortable and at other times insightful. That was just right. When first dating anyone especially when in uncharted territories so to speak there are always going to be those uncomfortable times. It made their connection to each other believable and downright romantic! Angel A. was also able to use Simha’s character to really explain the Hindu religion and his culture to the reading audience. Made what is a mystery to some understandable and approachable.This was a culturally diverse novel which I loved! There is also a nice juxtaposition between Hinduism and southern Baptist Christianity. This book touches on social issues such as bigotry, racism, homosexuality, and inter-racial relationships to name a few. There is practically no stone left unturned. There are also insightful quotes at the beginning of the chapters that set the mood which was nice.

What did I not like? It seemed that many of the characters in this story were stock characters. They are easily identifiable because they are what most will consider to be stereotypical. The closest companions of the main character did not provide enough contrast so that we could get to know Mary better without her voice being the one that tells us what we need to know. I feel that different character types (dynamic, round, static) would have been just the ticket to make this story go from great to wow! The characters were diverse but they were stereotypical characters that represented that race or their social issue.

This is a cute story that as a plot that many people can connect to. There is plenty of humor, tenderness and a bit of sass throughout this book. You will have all the emotional feels that the Author intended and maybe even some thought-provoking moments. What I can say is that this novel is entertaining and will undoubtedly appeal to a wide reader audience.

Amy's Bookshelf Reviews

A Mix of fun and romance
Sometimes opposites attract, but when cultures attract and collide, something wonderful can happen. This book is a 'recipe' for a wonderful story, and it's a lot of fun. Mary is one of those characters that you have to get used to, but she's a great one. She's stubborn, opinionated and just out right wonderful... There can be that feeling of awkwardness which comes from any new relationship, and entering unchartered territory. It's what is unfamiliar that is most attractive. It's a great story and brings a lot of contrast. It's full of humor and softness.

Chitra Iyer

The just released Mary Poser by Angel A, is a comfy, warm romance between a Nashville girl and an Indian film director. The first book by the author, Angel A doesn’t fail to impress us with her wordy and storytelling skills.

The story is about Mary Poser, the good Nashville bred daughter of the Poser household. Being the daughter of a Baptist pastor, she, along with her siblings, are brought up with strict Christian values (although not everyone conforms). A country music lover, Mary works towards helping the newly disabled people with housing services and makes sure they receive all amenities they deserve. It is when she attends the Nashville Film Festival with her besties, Alice and Chloe, that she bumps into the handsome Simha Das, an Indian filmmaker and they are instantly drawn towards each other. His charming and polite ways fascinate Mary and they spend some beautiful time together. After he leaves, Mary has a fatal accident. She is confused as her near death experience forces her to contemplate their relationship/friendship. Mary goes into a radio silence after a wonderful night with him on his return and Simha is left struggling for answers.

Mary Poser is a good love story between two people who are worlds apart. But their differences only bring them closer. The book is very well written, with extravagant details about the Christian way of life, which could have been condensed bit, in my opinion. The narrative is smooth and the characters well defined. The background detailing on Mary and Simha are adequately done. The book moves at a good pace with moments of helplessness, togetherness and fear thrown along in a beautiful romance which completes the picture.

I enjoyed reading the book, the romance and the ifs and buts that come with it. As mentioned earlier, it is well written and the characters remain with you long after you’ve finished the book. Especially Simha’s. One can hear his deep throated voice and feel his beautiful body through the words. That’s the magic that the author weaves, leaving us wanting for more.

The book is also being made into a movie. Yeah, that's right! Teasers of the same would soon be uploaded on the official website here.

Last word. Mary Poser is stimulating, exciting and gives you the warm fuzzies in the end. A satisfying feeling indeed! A good choice for romance lovers, go for it!

D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

Mary Poser: Butterflies and White Lies As Bollywood Comes To Nashville tells of a dutiful Southern daughter who pretends to fit into her mother's world, but who secretly holds a penchant for differences and adventure which are hidden from her family and even herself. It seems unlikely that a girl from a strict Baptist household would even meet, much less fall in love with, a Hindu Indian man whose very different world collides with hers on so many levels, but Mary Poser's illusions about life, carefully constructed in a rigid environment, are about to be shaken.

 

Before this event, her descriptions of her life are exact and revealing: "I’ve jumped through every hoop my family, my friends, and even my boss have told me to jump through. Everyone tells me I’m so cookie cutter perfect, I’m starting to think I was born in a cake tin. I’ve always got a smile on my face no matter how fake it feels. If I dressed any more ‘country,’ they’d stand me on the Nashville turnoff to wave to folks as they drove into town." This approach allows readers to absorb her character and perspective at the cusp of its greatest changes, drawing followers into Mary's evolving personality and world.

 

The immediacy of Mary's emotions is one of the strengths of Mary Poser, which draws novel readers with a blend of candid observation, self-inspection, and poignant honesty about the realities of Mary's efforts to live up to expectations: "I put in four years’ hard labor with Mr. Right despite his distracted behavior. Mama and Daddy were so proud of his emerging singing career. I felt like such a failure to them for not holding his attention long enough for him to put a ring on my finger. Despite this, they still label me as their “good girl.” Bless their hearts. I’m just not as good as I’d be if I were married. No one ever tells me I’m a source of disappointment. But I sure feel like it sometimes. Am I the only one who’s struggling to keep it together?"

 

But Mary's character isn't the only strong point in the story. Angel A directs her attention to building a powerful supporting cast as well; including the portrait of a righteous Baptist woman holding together a traditional household while observing the failings of the outside world from her kitchen: "

That girl!” Mama said angrily as she glared at the kitchen door. “She hasn’t had a boyfriend since her accident, and I don’t see any on the horizon. How can she hope to get a man lookin’ like that?” “She’s got good legs, and she’s showin’ ’em off, Mrs. Poser,” Chloe said soothingly. “There are a lot of leg men out there.” “One look at that spiky black hair and raccoon makeup and they’re scared off, and that’s certain,” Mama said. “I do declare I’m worried for her. She makes herself up queerer than a three-dollar bill and dresses like a hussy. She’s piddlin’ her life away at that store, resentin’ her church duties, and spendin’ the rest of her wakin’ hours in her room listenin’ to the most depressin’ music I’ve ever heard. How’s she gonna find a man? How’s she gonna get herself a good husband, her own home, children? How is she ever gonna be happy?” 

 

With crisp dialogue capturing the connections and clashes between cultures both within and outside of American boundaries, Mary Poser is a winning story of a girl who seeks to redefine what she wants in life outside of the society that she's long operated in, and is an engaging tale of cultural conflict and conundrums. All this is spiced with live and realistic characters whose lives, thoughts, and dreams convey an immediacy and life that encourages readers to not only care about them, but to become immersed in their quiet desperations and romantic entanglements.

 

Readers who relish multicultural stories, Southern roots, coming of age tales, and a powerful female protagonist who figureout how she can gain real happiness will find Mary Poser a completely engrossing read: vivid and hard to put down.

Daccari B, Reviewer

Angel A's Mary Poser, shows us that words and emotions are powerful tools.

Set in Nashville, the music capital of the USA, we follow Mary Poser, a 23 year old daughter to a Baptist Pastor. When she meets exotic film director, Simha Das, her entire world and belief system is turned on its head. An entirely new woman emerges from within; a prospect that at first terrified Mary.

I found Mary's character to be endearing at times, though frustrating at others. She is certainly a stubborn young woman that has spent most of her life people pleasing the rest of the town. Strong quirks such as her repetitive cries of 'Oh Lordy' when nervous make her more lovable as the story continues.

In contrast, I found Simha Das' character to be a smooth and well refined individual. He made for a complex and charming romantic interest that had my own heart beating in my ears.

Themes of societal expectation and change heavily influence this thrilling read. We learn the importance of what it means to find oneself and see the clever ways in which the author lays bare the human condition.

The writer's style is articulate and flows well, possessing a distinct voice in Mary's first person narration. You will find a good mix of cultures, as well as a diverse range of characters throughout. The clarity of Angel's prose sings. 

I adored the humorous and at times awkward, yet endearing moments between Mary and Simha, and was particularly fond of the insightful quotes regarding love that were used for each chapter heading.

Overall, Mary Poser made for a highly entertaining read that I believe has changed my life and the way that I view others. Rated 5/5 stars.

Danielle U, Reviewer

Mary Poser by Angel A was the most interesting novel I have read in awhile. The culture and religious content Mad me even more curious. The entire story was entertaining. The main character, is in a sticky situation. Her parents want her to do what they want yet she's not happy...and what makes her happy is something they wouldn't want for her. However, she has to,learn for herself whether she wants to break free and be happy or live forever within the hold of her parents. Life is messy, complicated, and a major struggle after struggle. Here, Mary Poser has what I call the real life syndrome. Struggles are just a part of life. Mary is at a crossroads...and when she finally finds the courage to make a decision it will be beautiful. The tale lagged a bit at times but then picked up speed. Angel A created a realistic plot that readers can easily relate to...and feel connected to the characters. Overall, this story was a great read.

Eileen Peppel, Reviewer

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars 
Mary Poser is a wonderful insightful book about trying so hard to please everyone. Mary is the perfect minister 's daughter, perfect friend, perfect girlfriend.....why isn't she perfectly happy. When a Bollywood filmmaker comes to her town of Nashville it shakes her life up makes her look at her life and everything around her in new ways. I read this book in exchange for a review and was cheering for Mary the whole time. I hope we will see more from author Angel A. I want to read Mary's siblings' stories too!

Elisabeth L, Reviewer

This was a fun book with a couple unexpected twists. I was concerned at the beginning that it would be an overly Christian themed book, but it wasn't. There is a fair amount of God mentioned in the book because that's the way it is in Tennessee, but there's also a lot of Hinduism mentioned as well. I didn't find the book as funny as the description made it out to be but I did snicker when the book mentioned Mary's aunt chose her name so she'd be Mary Poser and mariposa is butterfly in Spanish. It was a fun read. I'd recommend.

Elizabeth E, Reviewer

...I enjoyed the read and found it very neat prescriptive or idea, thought! I would not hesitate in the future to pick up one of Angel A.'s book & give it a good read. Must read. If you have an open mind or interest in religious thoughts or stories. Fun read.

Foreword Reviews

Angel A’s Mary Poser is a heartfelt, pistol-shot-paced intercultural romance set in Nashville.

A compliant pastor’s daughter and social worker, twenty-three-year-old Mary finds her life unexpectedly veering off course—first figuratively, when she meets a film director, Simha Das; soon after, also literally, when the car she is driving plummets over a bridge.

The story speeds along, aided in part by demonstrated knowledge of Nashville specifics—its list of restaurants, street names, and landmarks could make it double as a travel guide. It thoroughly negotiates the city and the narrative’s turns.

Thought-provoking Rumi quotes come at the beginning of each chapter; they slow and deepen the galloping novel, reflecting Mary’s progressive personal growth as well as the growth of her love for Simha. He is both a romantic interest and, refreshingly, a concerned friend; he refuses to give up on her, even when her former boyfriend, Jason, re-enters her life. Mary learning to trust her inner voice is just as pivotal to the plot as the romance is.

While the main characters are fully and compellingly drawn, some minor characters are flat by comparison, including stereotypical “good ol’ boys” at the bar. Mary’s Aunt Sara is a welcome addition; she is an independent woman with an unusual career as a lepidopterist.

The story clearly communicates affection for the South, and elements of it confront the troubling intolerance that is deeply ingrained there. Mary’s family’s religious beliefs are scrutinized for their political, sexual, and racial prejudice, personalizing all of the issues. These examinations are an unexpected but welcome aspect to this atypical romance.

Prose is efficient, if long on country dialogue—g’s are frequently dropped, and characters are overly fond of colloquialisms. The rapid pace and consumable story line hold attention, though, and maintained interest offsets these distractions, even if readers may be left longing for more careful language and evocative details.

Zipping car trips are highlighted by sign markers; they are rarely embellished with snapshots of the passing scenery. Still, with its unconventional romantic pairing, unanticipated revelations about Mary, and the intense humanity revealed in Simha as a caring friend and potential lover, the book is ultimately a satisfying read.

A romance with unexpected twists, complicated layers, and tense near misses, Mary Poser is a gratifying trip.

Helen J, Reviewer

The characters were very real and a good love story...

IndeReader

Full of humor and warmth, MARY POSER touches on serious issues like self-harm, anxiety, and prejudice, while inspiring readers to be happy with who they are, and to always look for butterflies.

Jackie Gorham - Evil Queen Books

I think that this book was a really great book to kick off the summer.

When I was approved for an early copy of this book by the author, I honestly had no idea what to expect. I’m personally not a huge contemporary fiction reader but I really enjoyed how the author wrote this particular book was very well done.

I really enjoyed all of the characters in this book. I liked Mary as a main character. She had a really great personality that I feel like I haven’t seen in contemporary fiction. I also really enjoyed her interaction with her family. All characters in this novel are really well done.

I also really enjoyed that we had quite a bit of diversity and representation we had in this book. We had the character of Simha who happened to be from India. We also had an LGBTQ+ couple in this book. I’m always look for books with representation so I’m glad that this book had that put in.

Overall this was a great book to kick off my summer contemporary reads. I think that if you guys enjoy really cute, adult contemporary books than you should definitely pick this book up when it hits selves this August!

Jami Caldwell, Publisher

A very interesting tale that held my attention all the way through. Great plot, twists and turns & the writing kept me hopping! Thanks for the opportunity with this ARC!

Janay Harrison, Reviewer

This book was a joy to read. If you're a fan of country music, like me, then you will love this Nashville-based story that mentions a number of great country music artists. That's just one thing that I really liked about this book. I enjoyed how the cultural differences were shown between the two main characters. Mary was a great lead character and I found her funny and appealing most of the time, but she could also be pretty frustrating, but that just made me want to keep reading to see what she would do next. Also, I have to mention the love scene about a quarter(ish) of the way into the book. That was unexpected and detailed but it was extremely well-written. Bravo

Jennifer D, Bookseller

This is one of the best books that I have ever read. The books takes place in Nashville, & being a Nashvillian myself, it was really neat to read about all of the familiar places and landmarks that is here in Music City. But join Mary Poser as she finds her way through life and when tragedy almost strikes, she uses her Nashville, southern roots and butterflies to get her through. With love and hometown life struggles, follow her as she keeps her head above water and comes into her metamorphosis.

Kirkus Reviews

...the novel succeeds, offering some hot erotic scenes, some surprises, a good metaphor in the uncrossable bridge, and a heroine who grows in understanding herself and her spirituality.

Laura J, Reviewer

This is a beautifully written book, with cultures clashing throughout. The book follows the path highlighting how it can all come together. It is a beautiful love story, with a great family storyline. There were many books that could lead from this one as some characters were only touched upon but would have had great stories to tell! 

Along with the highs there are some sad lows for many of the characters. Set in the country music city sprinkled with a dash of Indian culture, this book is a great read.

Leila T, Reviewer

Growing up in the Bible belt, I can attest that there are people like Mrs. Poser: the critical mama, sassy Southern Baptist 'bless-your-heart' walking stereotype. In case you're not southern, 'bless your heart,' is a nice way of saying, 'oh, you must be some kind of stupid.' 

And there are people like Mary: the dutiful one; "perfect" daughter. Also member of the 'bless your heart' club. She is her mother's daughter, at least, she tries, and pretends to be. We all know what happens when we try to fit into the boxes someone created for us. 

When Simha Das, an Indian film director, begins to take Mary out of these boxes that she obediently put herself in, she starts to question and examine family loyalty, expectations, happiness, love, and faith. 

This book was a blend in Southern hospitality that I'm familiar with, and a culture, and religion that I was not. I appreciate Angel A taking the time to reflect the differences between Hindu and Christianity. And bridging the gap of two seemingly different - and yet with some commonality - in a romantic love story wasn't lost on me. 

This was a beautiful, if not irritating coupling. I was a bit frustrated in some of Mary's choices, but I understand that you have to wade and muddle your way through the waters. 

This was a fun read! It takes an eloquent, exotic, and sexy director to turn a faithful country bumpkin into a mariposa.

Linda Morelli - MyShelf Reviews

Mary Poser, the daughter of a pastor and an overly religious mother, has her share of conflicting emotions. Her mother expects Mary to behave according to the religious standards her mother believes in, but this strict, overbearing attitude has created problems for Mary and has even affected her siblings. Mary feels the need to be a dutiful daughter and not cause any waves.

When Mary is out with friends, she meets Simha, a handsome Hindu Indian film maker. The attraction is instantaneous for them both, and soon Mary joins Simha in taking the relationship to the next level. Their relationship, however, creates inner turmoil for Mary. She has already disappointed her mother by breaking up with her boyfriend, Jason, her brother’s best friend. While Mary’s father might be more understanding, Mary knows how her prejudiced mother would react if she knew Mary was dating someone from another culture and religion. But Mary cares deeply for Simha, believing that he reached out spiritually and saved her life when she nearly drowned. Yes, long-distance relationships don’t often survive, but love doesn’t follow strict guidelines. The result is a wonderful story that mixes love, friendship, family and even prejudice to create a truly entertaining read.

Angelique Boncoeur, a highly talented author who writes under the penname Angel A, has written a sexy, funny and totally enchanting novel. After reading the first few pages of Mary Poser, I thought perhaps this was an inspirational novel, but the captivatingly sexy love scene between Mary and Simha quickly convinced me otherwise. I loved the way the author interlaced humor throughout the novel and made the characters come alive for me. The most delightful part was the wonderful ending, which left me with a smile and a need to read more by this delightful author.

Mary Lou R, Librarian

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Mary Poser has lived her entire life trying to please others. When she meets man who challenges her on every level, she is scared to the point of avoidance. Will she continue trying to please her family or will she finally find out who she really is?

Melanie Darling, Reviewer

"We'd promised nothing. It wasn't love, surely? I'd locked my heart away in a steel safe, and I liked it there. No man could touch it there, not even a gorgeous filmmaker with addictive kisses and strong arms that could hold me as if they'd always hold me. 

'Oh lordy!' I shouted. I had to stop thinking about the man."

– Mary Poser: Butterflies and White Lies as Bollywood comes to Nashville by Angel A.

Mary Poser is used to being told who she should love and who she should be. She’s the perfect poster-child that will one day marry a good Southern, Christian boy, have babies and live happily ever after. Then, comes in Simha Das, the most gorgeous man she’s ever seen. Simha, a Bollywood director, is not who her parents envisioned her to fall for. She’s from Nashville while he’s from India. Her family lives by the bible while he is Hindu. They are complete opposites of each other but there’s something exotic and enticing about the way he looks at her. With everyone constantly making choices for her, will she finally take the reins of her own life?

 

I love that there were butterfly-related references throughout the story! It really fits the fluttery-ness that is the romance in this novel. This is definitely a light, first-love, type of romance. She had a boyfriend before but she was never treated right and truly deserved to feel loved. I think that’s why the mere idea of him actually liking her back kind of shakes her up a bit. Torn between what is expected of her and the realization that she may want more than that in her life, you could definitely see the struggle that she is enduring. Due to this though, I felt like the push and pull of the romance was a little bit repetitive but being deeply rooted in the same place for so long, you can understand why she’s so unsure of her emotions.

 

Full of romance and self-discovery, this very good read will be released this summer on August 21st, 2017!

Peg Glover, Reviewer

Mary Poser is a cleverly crafted, delightful, and entertaining read.
Mary was from a strict Baptist home, and according to her mother, it was a sin to fall in love with a Hindu practicing man. The problem was, though, that Mary had fallen for Simha, an Indian film producer from the moment she had met him. Mary was a people pleaser to the extreme, so to keep peace, she knew that she’d have to deny herself the pleasure of Simha’s company. But, Mary couldn’t resist Simha’s charms, and the guilt of being with him almost did her in. Mary didn’t know whether she should choose her family and give up her happiness or choose happiness and give up the peaceful relationship she had with her family.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This novel is well-written with quirky characters, witty dialogue, and funny situations. The book touched on many serious subjects, such as racism, homosexuality, self-harm, self-acceptance, and love. In the end, as Mary discovered, there is only love. 

Rabia Tanveer (for Readers' Favorite)

Mary Poser: Butterflies and White Lies as Bollywood Comes to Nashville by Angel A is a story of love and commitment between two people who are the polar opposites of one another. What I loved most about this story is the fact that the two characters were so different from each other and yet they remained true to themselves. Neither of them tried to change the other person and that just made the story brilliantly beautiful. It made the story even more enjoyable for me as this helped the story build and become a live entity. This is the story of Mary and Simha, one a Christian and the other a Hindu, but their hearts want something that their minds will not allow. Mary spent her life being the perfect daughter, the perfect friend and the perfect person for everyone. But when it comes to herself, there is something that she has neglected for far too long. Simha Das came to the USA to make a movie, but he was not expecting to find Mary and fall in love with her. Falling in love with each other is easy, but the cultural and religious differences between them are holding them back. What can these two do? Can their love fight their differences and conquer them?  The story was complex and brilliantly crafted. The differences between these two characters were palpable, yet this made them even more perfect for each other. I enjoyed how these two tried their hardest to become one. At times, I wanted to shake Mary and make her realize what she was missing, but I did not have to do that. She realized it all on her own. This story is perfect! Their connection, their integrity towards themselves and their love for each other made this a beautiful story. Exceptionally good!

Scherry Jenkins, Reviewer

This was the first book I have read by this author and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. This was more than just another romance book with a love triangle. It delved deep into friendships, family, bigotry, religion, and multi-cultural beliefs. 

Living in Nashville, Tennessee her entire life, Mary Poser is the daughter of a Baptist minister and lives her life the way she is expected to behave, jumping through hoops by her family, friends and her boss.... until she catches a glimpse of the most gorgeous man she had ever seen in her life. When their eyes meet, chemistry explodes! But this man is from India, and is Hindu and is only in Nashville for the Film Festival. How can this relationship possibly have a chance?

After driving off a bridge and having a near death experience, life continues to get complicated for Mary. But her Aunt Sara has more insight than you can imagine as she explains why a butterfly shouldn't be helped out of a cocoon (chrysalis). She explains that "a butterfly needs to struggle within it to develop its wings, and then it needs to break out of the chrysalis by itself to get even stronger. If you open the chrysalis too early, the butterfly won't be ready. It won't be able to fly." This also seems to be true in Mary's life.

And struggle she does! Continuing to follow what her family expects of her, she is totally miserable. When she finally finds the strength within her to live her life as she chooses, many secrets are revealed.

Angel A. did a remarkable job explaining customs and beliefs in the Indian culture. I was fascinated reading every time Simha explained his culture to Mary. Very descriptive and the characters were very well developed.

Sholee's Sphere

Similar to other chic-lit, this book is witty and funny with a dash of drama to spice up the momentum. As I have not read a chic-lit in ages, this came as a surprise as it was totally entertaining, having me giggling while commuting to and fro work! What I liked about this book is that it touches a lot on current human values and choices, it's so real though fiction but totally relevant.

I can stand in Mary's shoes easily, feeling her insecurity, her expected surroundings and her lack of self-confidence. Though dramatic in the book, the story unfolds how Mary rediscovered herself after having a near death experience and how she overcame it. I guess reading this at a time when I'm also a little down with negativity surrounding me was so unexpectedly expected. It truly hit me and opened my eyes!

Adding Bollywood into this was a genius in my books as it adds colour and flavour into the plots plus some inter-religion topics was a learning experience for me. I definitely learn more and find this refreshing.

Thanks Angel A for this lovely, entertaining book. Mind you, she has written very well that I can truly imagine it! Easy to understand prose yet straight to the point, I wonder if there would be a continuation of it... perhaps after Mary and Simha gotten married, have kids, etc... LOL! 

Susan Dyer (Publisher)

I adored the humorous and at times awkward, yet endearing moments between Mary and Simha, and was particularly fond of the insightful quotes regarding love that were used for each chapter heading.

Susan L, Reviewer

Truly an enjoyable read, I loved how the story progresses from the introduction to the accident, to the hiccups and then to the self-discovery. Also the human values, religion and choices made were so relevant, realistic in current life. Easy to understand and straightforward prose made it easy to grasp and imagine the story itself.

Susan L, Reviewer

Truly an enjoyable read, I loved how the story progresses from the introduction to the accident, to the hiccups and then to the self-discovery. Also the human values, religion and choices made were so relevant, realistic in current life. Easy to understand and straightforward prose made it easy to grasp and imagine the story itself.

Veronica Smyth, Reviewer

I loved this book but had to put it away as it gives some intimate details that my husband might refer to as book porn. Very well written though and thoroughly enjoyed it!

News
11/01/2018
Angel A announced The 2018 BookViral Millennium Book Award long listed author

Angel A, author of Mary Poser, has been announced as a 2018 BookViral Millennium Book Award long listed author. 

 

 

10/31/2023
Heather Nichols reading Mary Poser nominated for a SOVAS award

Heather Nichols has been nominated for SOVAS award for best fiction narration. Heather narrated in 17 voices for the reading of Mary Poser!

06/20/2018
International Book Awards Finalist

Mary Poser is a 2018 International Book Awards Finalist. Category: Multicultural

02/22/2019
Mary Poser announced as Official Selection in New Apple Book Awards

Today, Mary Poser by Angel A was awarded Official Selection in the New Apple Book Awards for Excellence in Independent Publishing.

02/05/2018
Mary Poser Honorable Mention in London Book Festival

Mary Poser has been awarded an Honorable Mention in the category Religious/Spiritual in the 2018 London Book Festival. 

This is the 10th award for Angel's debut novel, Mary Poser. 

11/02/2018
Mary Poser is a 2018 Independent Author Network Book of the Year Nominee for Fic

Mary Poser, by Angel A, has been announced as an Independent Author Network Book of the Year Nominee for Fiction: Christian Religious (2018)

03/21/2018
MARY POSER is a Foreword Reviews Book of the Year finalist
  1. MARY POSER has been selected as a finalist in Foreword Reviews' prestigious 2017 #ForewordINDIES Book of the Year Awards in a competition with over 2200 other entrants. Stay tuned for the winner announcements at the end of June. Feeling the #indielove!

 

10/01/2018
MARY POSER Long Listed in BookViral 2018 Awards

Today the 2018 BookViral Book Award Long List was announced. MARY POSER by Angel A is an honoured nominee. The short list is announced November 1st, 2018.

 

11/14/2018
Mary Poser wins 2018 NYC Big Book Award

Mary Poser is the Winner of the 2018 NYC Big Book Award in the category of Mind/Body/Spirit.
More at www.maryposer.com www.facebook.com/maryposermovie
Mary Poser: Butterflies and white lies as Bollywood comes to Nashville

05/09/2019
Mary Poser wins 2019 Independent Press Award. Category: New Adult Fiction

"We are overjoyed to announce the winners and distinguished favorites in our annual 2019 INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD.  Independent publishing is prospering in every corner of the earth, and we are thrilled to be highlighting key titles representing global independent publishing." said awards sponsor Gabrielle Olczak.

 

The competition is judged by experts from different aspects of the book industry, including publishers, writers, editors, book cover designers and professional copywriters. Selected award Winners and Distinguished Favorites are based on overall excellence.

 

For the 2019 competition, the INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD had entries from across the globe.  Worldwide participation included books submitted from cities such as London to Madrid; Dallas to Philadelphia; Calgary to Melbourne, Chicago to San Francisco, and many different countries such as Australia, Africa, Canada, Egypt, India, Japan and Scotland as well as others.

07/27/2018
Mary Poser Wins American Fiction Award

2018 American Fiction Awards announces Mary Poser as the winner of the Coming of Age category

03/16/2019
Mary Poser wins Body Mind Spirit Book Award

Today, Mary Poser by Angel A was announced a winner in the Body, Mind, Spirit Book Awards in the category Spiritual Fiction.

11/14/2018
Mary Poser wins Fiction: Inspirational category of the 2018 Best Book Awards

Mary Poser is an Award Winner in the Fiction: Inspirational category of the 2018 Best Book Awards sponsored by American Book Fest.
More at www.maryposer.com www.facebook.com/maryposermovie
Mary Poser: Butterflies and white lies as Bollywood comes to Nashville

 

10/01/2019
Mary Poser wins first prize at New York Book Festival

The New York Book Festival announced its winners today. Mary Poser was voted winner in the category 'Spiritual'.

06/28/2018
Mary Poser wins Runner Up at the Paris Book Festival

Mary Poser has been awarded Runner-Up in the category Spiritual/Religious in The Paris Book Festival.

09/01/2018
Readers' Favorite Finalist

MARY POSER is announced as a Finalist in the Readers' Favorite Book Awards. Category: Cultural

Formats
Ebook Details
  • 08/2017
  • 978-0-9876222-0-4 0987622226
  • 478 pages
  • $2.99
Paperback Details
  • 08/2017
  • 978-0-9876222-1-1 0987622226
  • 478 pages
  • $19.99
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