Variables of Love by MK Schiller ♥ Review, Fun Facts, Blog Tour & GIVEAWAY ♥ (Contemporary Romance)

Meena Kapoor knows what life has in store for her. She's in her senior year at Stanford where she'll graduate summa cum laude, and then she'll begin her interviews...her marriage interviews. Meena is Indian, and she's never questioned that she'll have an arranged marriage like all the generations before her. Not until she meets gorgeous math major Ethan Callahan. Ethan's sense of humor and free spirit stir feelings in Meena she didn't know were possible outside of Bollywood movies. It doesn't hurt that he's charming and has the uncanny ability to make math sound like poetry, but Meena knows their equation makes no sense in the real world.

Ethan finds himself intrigued by the mysterious, beautiful girl, whose big, brown eyes reflect great pain. His goals are small at first - to make her smile and then to laugh. But he soon wants more, and though Meena is adamant they have no future, he convinces her to share the present. Ethan believes every problem has a solution, but with cultural expectations and family duty among the variables, they will struggle to solve the ultimate equation to find happiness.

This is one of my FAVORITE books EVER.

Ethan was absolutely perfect. Even with his flaws, he is one of my favorite heroes. He's one of those "why can't more guys be like Ethan?"-type of characters.

I enjoyed reading the transformation of Meena. She started our meek but changed to anything but.

The supporting characters were equally as enjoyable to read, which prevented any lulls or boring parts in the story.

I was in tears so many times while reading this! The constant, looming conflict between Ethan and Meena was written so perfectly. It was so heart-wrenching, and I applaud M.K. for putting together such a wonderful, well-written story.

This was one of the rare books that I was absolutely engrossed in and would have continued to read no matter how many pages it was. I would, without a doubt, read ANYTHING written by M.K. Schiller, and I am SO thankful for the opportunity to read Variables of Love.

***I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

Variables of Love is a very personal story for me. It’s what happens when cultural expectations collide with the passions of the heart. I’ve borrowed from my own life experiences and culture to create this novel. It’s a story I’ve wanted to tell for some time, and I’m humbled by the opportunity to share it.

So here are a few things I found interesting while writing this book -

Arranged marriages are still common in many eastern countries. They are accepted and although that sounds strange, the outcome is usually positive. Indians in particular look at the idea of marrying someone you don’t know as an opportunity to grow into love. These are not forced marriages. In fact, both the participants usually vet each other thoroughly before agreeing to the unions. The divorce rate in India is only about 2% compared to 50% in other parts of the world. Variables of Love is about what happens when a girl is set on an arranged marriage, but ends up meeting someone who changes her perceptions.

There is very little rain in Palo Alto – almost every day is a beautiful day.

Swans, despite common perception, do not mate for life. However, Swans form monogamous bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these bonds can last for life.

In economics, there is a theory you shouldn’t discriminate in the workplace as it lowers your pool of applicants. It’s easy to bypass the best person for the job. I apply that same premise in this book when finding a life-mate. In fact, I found many economic theories rooted in a practical framework that can apply to life. Who knew?

All of these ideas tie into the book in some way. I hope you’ll check it out and let me know what you think.

“You’re a math major, so you understand the importance of balance. Every equation has to equal out, and we don’t. Not on any level. We don’t fit. Not as anything. Not even friends. Do you understand?”

Ethan’s eyes lit up, and his sexy lips curled in a playful smile. “I can’t lie. You’re turning me on something fierce with that math analogy, especially one so Euclidean in nature. Honestly though, I can’t say I understand since correlation does not equal causation. If anything, mathematics provides logic for my argument.”

“How so?”

“A and B are different variables, but together they always equal C, right? A and B are rarely equal. You’re implying that you and I are on opposite sides of the equation, but we’re not. We are both on the same side, working toward C. C represents the culmination of our friendship. But Meena, if we’re not friends, then we’ll never find C, will we? Don’t you want to solve for C?” He held out his hands in some sort of invitation to me. It was so adorably sexy I almost forgot my point. He is actually turning me on…with math.

I shouldn’t have brought up math to a math major. “Sometimes C has no solution.”

“Every problem has a solution.”

I am a hopeless romantic in a hopelessly pragmatic world. I have a full time life and mkschillertwo busy teenagers, but in the dark of night, I sit by the warm glow of my computer monitor, reading or writing, usually with some tasty Italian…the food that is!

I started imagining stories in my head at a very young age. In fact, I got so good at it that friends asked me to create plots featuring them as the heroine and the object of their affection as the hero. You’ve heard of fan fiction… this was friend fiction.

I hope you enjoy my stories and always find The Happily Ever After in every endeavor.

I love hearing from readers so please write to me!