Three Signs An Arranged Marriage Might Be For You by Sophia Sasson

This part 2 of my arranged marriage blog, the first one was last month and can be found here.  You’re probably thinking arranged marriages are an old fashioned notion that belong in a historical novel, or are for women from oppressed cultures far away; a woman who is told who she must marry, and has to be with some insufferable man for the rest of her life.  Since I’ve been talking about Bollywood romance in the Harlequin community this week, I’m going to use a clip from the Indian movie Veer Zaara where the heroine is being readied for her engagement to a man she doesn’t love.

This is not how modern arranged marriages work. Let's say you are looking for a serious relationship, what might you do? Make a list or complete an online form with all your requirements. Something like this:

• Wants a serious relationship, not just a hookup.
• Is employed full time by someone other than his father/mother/sister/dog.
• Knows how to do laundry.
• Etc…

You provide your list to someone, be it a friend or an online dating site, and they come up with candidates who meet your criteria. You’ve just skipped the time consuming part of figuring out whether your date is worth a second or third look. It’s an arranged relationship.

Top 3 signs an arranged marriage could be for you:

1.  The bar scene and first date awkwardness is not your thing.
   Hate the idea of going to a bar and playing the pick up game? Or weeding through hundreds of online profiles wondering who might be a serial killer? If your friends and relatives pick him/her, you know the crazy factor is somewhat reduced.
    
2. You don’t have time to date and waste.
   The biological clock isn’t just ticking, it’s full on clanking.  You’re an independent, mature person who wants to have children one day and would prefer it with a mate (although it’s not an absolute necessity). The last thing you need is to spend months with someone who isn’t serious about a long term commitment, or doesn’t want children.
    
3. You have deal breakers.
   Don’t want a smoker? Hate people who spend hours watching golf? Having candidates screened ahead of time avoids that awkward moment when you realize you’ve fallen in lust with someone who has a non-negotiable habit.

Meera Malhotra, the heroine of  First Comes Marriage, meets all three criteria. She’s a physician and researcher—who has time to go out and date? She’s a traditional girl for who needs a guy that understands her values. Her major deal breaker is that she needs a man who appreciates her Indian culture. She enjoys a close relationship with her parents, her life is where they are; in London. She’s found the guy who meets all these criteria--- her childhood best friend. So what’s she to do when she meets an American cowboy who’s tied to his ranch in Hell’s Bells, Virginia?


I have a ton of free book extras on my website including a playlist of country music and Bollywood beats, recipes and more.

Best of all, I have the free prequel to First Comes Marriage. Check it out on my website.

I also have a Goodreads giveaway happening until February 22, and a Facebook giveaway until February 29^th. If you miss all of these freebies, check on my website to see what I have happening.

If you live in Maryland, I’ll be doing a book signing at the Rockville Barnes and Noble on February 20^th at 12:00pm. I’ll be giving out free canvas book bags to everyone who gets a book signed.

So tell me, if you are looking for a mate, do you ever get setup? And if you've already found the love of your life, tell me whether you had a non-negotiable--something you couldn't have lived with in a mate?

--Sophia