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Kings of the Desert #1
Breaking the Sheikh's Rules
The huge imposing castle and the barren terrain of Merkazad are a far cry from the modest farm and the emerald fields that horsewoman Iseult calls home. Or used to, until Sheikh Nadim bought her family's stud farm. As part of the deal, she must work at his royal stables....Nadim enrages Iseult...but he also inspires a more unwelcome, unfamiliar feeling: "desire." Drawn into Nadim's sensual world, Iseult feels like a beautiful, confident woman for the first time.
But she must remember the sheikh's cast-iron rule....
But she must remember the sheikh's cast-iron rule....
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
43 people are currently reading
269 people want to read
About the author
Abby Green
975 books600 followersAbby Green spent her teens reading Mills & Boon romances. She then spent many years working in the Film and TV industry as an Assistant Director. One day while standing outside an actor's trailer in the rain, she thought: "there has to be more than this". So she sent off a partial to Mills & Boon. After numerous rewrites, they accepted her first book and an author was born.
She lives in Dublin, Ireland and you can find out more here www.abby-green.com
She lives in Dublin, Ireland and you can find out more here www.abby-green.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 17, 2016
Este libro sigue la temática de "Nena, querete un poco" y "Ni una menos", de Harlequin. Hace que quieras golpear a la heroína por ser tan sumisa, tan obsecuente después de que el héroe, en este caso el jeque de un país ignoto, Nadim, la use para pasar su autoestima por los suelos. Al rato que la trata de lasciva, la quiere besar, luego la empuja... este muchacho no pasó del preescolar.
Por otra parte, él ya estuvo casado y perdió a su mujer y a su hijo (estaba embarazada) en un accidente. A mi me dio la sensación de que habló demasiado sobre esa relación truncada, como que era un asunto del que no quisiera olvidarse e incluso hace referencia a que su esposa fallecida era virgen como la protagonista de nombre raro, Iseult. No sé si está bien o mal, pero no me gustó.
En el final, la prota toma la determinación de alejarse, cosa que me dio alivio: NO me gustan las protas que tan libremente aceptan ser mantenidas y que les cuelguen el título de amante sin pensar en lo que van a decir los demás. Ahí Iseult decide romper con el boludo de Nadim y vuelve a su vida común y sin sobresaltos, para que él regrese a buscarla y todo hearts and flowers.
Por otra parte, él ya estuvo casado y perdió a su mujer y a su hijo (estaba embarazada) en un accidente. A mi me dio la sensación de que habló demasiado sobre esa relación truncada, como que era un asunto del que no quisiera olvidarse e incluso hace referencia a que su esposa fallecida era virgen como la protagonista de nombre raro, Iseult. No sé si está bien o mal, pero no me gustó.
En el final, la prota toma la determinación de alejarse, cosa que me dio alivio: NO me gustan las protas que tan libremente aceptan ser mantenidas y que les cuelguen el título de amante sin pensar en lo que van a decir los demás. Ahí Iseult decide romper con el boludo de Nadim y vuelve a su vida común y sin sobresaltos, para que él regrese a buscarla y todo hearts and flowers.
July 29, 2016
So much talk about horses and descriptions I was bored! Her writing style is really bad sometimes :(
April 18, 2011
*** 3 1/2 stars ***
Decent story but the hero was a little too mean for my tastes, I needed to see them happy together in the story, not just at the end when he suddenly decided he could love her.
Decent story but the hero was a little too mean for my tastes, I needed to see them happy together in the story, not just at the end when he suddenly decided he could love her.
August 30, 2023
Only average.
The hero is usual sheikh, sexy hard and ruthless and he’s going to buy the heroine’s father stud with all the stable.
The business is crumbling and the father is an ex alcoholic with no sense of business, the author does a good job of picturing a young, proud and capable heroine, who sacrificed herself since she was 13 years old to raise her 3 siblings and to keep up with the horse business. She is now 23 and is not happy that the sheikh is taking over, so she treats him quite rudely.
I understand that she was not happy but honestly it was him or the bank and the man offered her and her father to stay in their house and to work for him.
She treats him badly and he puts her on her place.
Then, since he’s fallen in super insta lust with her, he decides to take her to work for him in his country where, after some hard kissing, he asks her to be his mistress and the heroine, since for the first time in her life is feeling quite horny, decides it’s time to change her virgin status.
They become lovers and he warns her not to fall in love with her. Of course after a couple of days she’s already head over heels.
Meh. She breaks up with him and after only three days he’s back to her offering the whole package, love marriage and children.
Not a lot of angst, the author is good but this time there’s not a lot to say, the heroine is quite bitchy and the hero not so cruel. And the separation was veeeeery short and not significant.
Safe of course.
The hero is usual sheikh, sexy hard and ruthless and he’s going to buy the heroine’s father stud with all the stable.
The business is crumbling and the father is an ex alcoholic with no sense of business, the author does a good job of picturing a young, proud and capable heroine, who sacrificed herself since she was 13 years old to raise her 3 siblings and to keep up with the horse business. She is now 23 and is not happy that the sheikh is taking over, so she treats him quite rudely.
I understand that she was not happy but honestly it was him or the bank and the man offered her and her father to stay in their house and to work for him.
She treats him badly and he puts her on her place.
Then, since he’s fallen in super insta lust with her, he decides to take her to work for him in his country where, after some hard kissing, he asks her to be his mistress and the heroine, since for the first time in her life is feeling quite horny, decides it’s time to change her virgin status.
They become lovers and he warns her not to fall in love with her. Of course after a couple of days she’s already head over heels.
Meh. She breaks up with him and after only three days he’s back to her offering the whole package, love marriage and children.
Not a lot of angst, the author is good but this time there’s not a lot to say, the heroine is quite bitchy and the hero not so cruel. And the separation was veeeeery short and not significant.
Safe of course.
October 28, 2012
This was readable, but not a lot more. I felt like the author phoned it in; everything from plot to phrasing was so familiar, and the writing was kind of sloppy, especially around transitions. And the hero Nadim was just annoying, constantly yelling at the heroine for causing trouble when she's just trying to live her life. Iseult was a more appealing character, with a passion for horses and low self-esteem issues; she deserved a better hero and a more interesting book.
August 23, 2011
I know quite a few reviewers didn't like Nadim due to the way spoke to Iseult and didn't like her much either as she was a mouse but I actually think this ramped the angst side of the story and gave us a typical Presents story that eventually led to a happy ending.
February 12, 2020
Very emotional story of a tomboy horse trainer and the sheikh that broke through her defenses, only to reject her.
July 30, 2011
The hero was unnecessarily mean and horrible, just because he could be. the heroine was...not much better either. Iseult wasn't a complete mouse, but she didn't have much of a spine, either.
I didn't enjoy the characters or the story.
Besides i didn't buy the love (or the lust) between them. If i was in lust with someone who said such horrible things at the slightest provocation, I'd fall right back out of lust with them quicker than you could say Jack Daniels.
plus, it just didn't add up. there was nothing there. and all the talk of the dead wife also did not fit well into the story. it's as if the author was trying to drum up sympathy for the hero or something. but from what she tells us, the dead wife was just as great as Iseult, so why couldn't he love her but loved iseult? i just didn't get it.
And anyway, the hero was just mean. too mean. nothing enjoyable about this one.
I didn't enjoy the characters or the story.
Besides i didn't buy the love (or the lust) between them. If i was in lust with someone who said such horrible things at the slightest provocation, I'd fall right back out of lust with them quicker than you could say Jack Daniels.
plus, it just didn't add up. there was nothing there. and all the talk of the dead wife also did not fit well into the story. it's as if the author was trying to drum up sympathy for the hero or something. but from what she tells us, the dead wife was just as great as Iseult, so why couldn't he love her but loved iseult? i just didn't get it.
And anyway, the hero was just mean. too mean. nothing enjoyable about this one.
Read
May 13, 2011I was not swept up into this romance, and I place all of the blame firmly at the feet of the grim hero. He is so far from my ideal mate that I could not buy into this love story. He never shows tenderness toward the heroine, and their courtship was non-existent. Instead, Nadim spent most of the first half of the book yelling at Iseult or browbeating her. It's hard for me to be won over by a guy who intimidates the heroine most of the book.
June 13, 2020
3.5 stars
October 5, 2014
Love a quick read that is outside my general scope. This was one that I couldn't put down until it was finished with the action and romance. There was no suspense or villains...just a clean read about a man, a woman, and horses. But the romance heated things up when you reached the middle of the book, and until then it was a buildup of sexual frustration and a headstrong female with a male who wasn't use to being questioned. You'll laugh at some of the antics and fan yourself over the steamy kisses that only get hotter.
March 17, 2021
The huge imposing castle and the barren terrain of Merkazad are a far cry from the modest farm and the emerald fields that horsewoman Iseult calls home. Or used to, until Sheikh Nadim bought her family's stud farm. As part of the deal, she must work at his royal stables....Nadim enrages Iseult...but he also inspires a more unwelcome, unfamiliar feeling: "desire." Drawn into Nadim's sensual world, Iseult feels like a beautiful, confident woman for the first time.
But she must remember the sheikh's cast-iron rule.... (less)
But she must remember the sheikh's cast-iron rule.... (less)
September 11, 2019
I enjoyed this one - I think it was a little better than Nessa and Luc’s story. I was surprised at some of the negative views about Nadim. I mean, they are correct - as he is high handed and not always nice to the heroine but isn’t that essential to the trope? Harsh and tortured hero redeeemd by true love? Nadim is no different from practically every other hero who exists in the fictional world of the Middle East as viewed through a Mills and Boon prism. I actually enjoyed Nadim and found him to be a perfect alpha hero. Iseult was a sweet, passionate and feisty heroine and their love story was really rather well done. Lots of sexual tension and then some really hot sex and a nicely developed happy ending. I think that there are other authors who write more exciting sheikh romances - but this was really rather well done.
May 5, 2023
Funny to say "Hey, this wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be", but that's where we are. In general I'm pretty meh when it comes to Arab themed Harlequins, but there were a few amusing moments in this. Naturally, there were also the normal completely preposterous moments, such as how she somehow got involved in a harem dance. This is a bit of a spoiler, but no way, no how would her maid suddenly have behaved in 180 fashion and gotten her involved in that, as amusing as it was. The chemistry between the characters was surprising pretty good. Not much else to say about it. I love horses and frankly could have used more of that topic, I felt that there were a number of plot points dropped rather sloppily.
January 25, 2025
Las Reglas del Jeque me encantó, especialmente por cómo Celia se roba el protagonismo con su carácter fuerte y decidido. Es una mujer que sabe lo que quiere y no tiene miedo de enfrentarse a nadie, ni siquiera al poderoso y complejo Ra’if. La dinámica entre ambos me atrapó porque, a pesar de los miedos y el pasado tormentoso de Ra’if, al final se permite amar a Celia y luchar por ella.
Las historias de jeques siempre me fascinan, y esta no fue la excepción. Me encantó cómo combina ese mundo exótico y lleno de tradiciones con una historia de amor apasionada y emocional. Sin duda, es de esas lecturas que disfruto muchísimo porque me hacen soñar y relajarme al mismo tiempo.
Las historias de jeques siempre me fascinan, y esta no fue la excepción. Me encantó cómo combina ese mundo exótico y lleno de tradiciones con una historia de amor apasionada y emocional. Sin duda, es de esas lecturas que disfruto muchísimo porque me hacen soñar y relajarme al mismo tiempo.
December 4, 2019
This story is Book #2 in "Summer Sheikhs"- and a thoroughly enjoyable romantic read to while away the time! Thoroughbred horses and noble Sheikh owners who handsomely seduce young Irish girl trainers into a world of hot desert nights, opulence and romance. For Iseult and Nadim what one might think starts off as a game of 'don't fall in love with me...' ends up in acknowledging true love and commitment of reality in true Arabian Nights fantasy … wow, this is the quickest I have read a book in ages …. now I cannot wait to read the next and last book #3 in my Summer Read....
March 21, 2021
A good book
This was a very good book. The characters were very well written with a great plot. The h was a very beautiful, feisty woman who would do anything for her family. Her family home and business was bought by the H, who was very cynical and arrogant. He had trust issues. The couple had off the wall chemistry. The ending was very good.
This was a very good book. The characters were very well written with a great plot. The h was a very beautiful, feisty woman who would do anything for her family. Her family home and business was bought by the H, who was very cynical and arrogant. He had trust issues. The couple had off the wall chemistry. The ending was very good.
September 26, 2018
Great book
Very good. Enjoyed everything about this book. Interactions between the two leads were passionate, confrontational, sometimes funny and believable. Iseult never backed down and that made for an enjoyable read. Will read this one again
Very good. Enjoyed everything about this book. Interactions between the two leads were passionate, confrontational, sometimes funny and believable. Iseult never backed down and that made for an enjoyable read. Will read this one again
August 29, 2018
Great
Great read, cant wait to bread the next hook by Abby Green. She keeps you going so you cant put the book down until it is finished .
Great read, cant wait to bread the next hook by Abby Green. She keeps you going so you cant put the book down until it is finished .
April 30, 2024
Slow burn and avarage meh. But not the worst.
September 30, 2013
This was Abby Green's first Sheikh book and I think it was a very good read. I read all the other books that he (Nadim) is connected to but had never read this story. Sheikh Nadim has bought Iseult's family stud farm and her prized horse she been training. As part of the deal, she must come to Merkazad to work at his royal stables so she can continue to training the horse and to get her away from her father ...Nadim enrages Iseult...but he also inspires a more unwelcome, unfamiliar feeling: "desire." Drawn into Nadim's sensual world, Iseult feels like a beautiful, confident woman for the first time. But she must remember the sheikh's cast-iron rule "Don't fall in love with me". Iselut went from the stables to the castle Nadim want to keep her close. Nadim didn't think he could love anyone, when he was a young boy his family was kidnapped for three months and after they were rescued his parents were killed being so young he had to take on lots of responsibility. (His brother, the kingdom) he had no time for anything else. He married but it was arranged, he never loved his wife, she died along with the child she was carrying trying to make him feel something for her. The guilt of that and everything has made him close his feelings off. But Iseult has started to chip away at those feeling deep down where he doesn't even know or understanding what is happening. Can these two have a HEA. Read it and find out.
January 16, 2015
I read it in Russian, so I'm not sure how it sounds in original, cause you are never sure how good is the book and how good is translation unless you read both and then you can compare.
But I loved this story! I loved this tension between heroes that sparkled from the first moments and how they both tried to overcome it and failed miserably.
I liked that hero is older then heroine even though 12 years is a little bit too much, it sounded more like a historical then contemporary romance, but who thinks about the characters' future while reading a novel? :)
And I actually liked that Nadim was so severe with her at times, the thing that bothered most readers as I saw from reviews. And I liked to see how jealous he was when someone showed even the slightest interest in heroine. I wonder how Steve was still walking and breathing after what he did? :) I was actually waiting for Nadim to break his neck and was a little bit disappointed.
The only minus is too much of unanswered questions: what was with Nadim's younger brother? It seems like there's a story to be told. I wonder if there's a book about that? It seems like there should be one, cause there's some strange action going on in the background. Were the consequences for that Steve and a lot of other loaded guns that were left hanging...
But I loved this story! I loved this tension between heroes that sparkled from the first moments and how they both tried to overcome it and failed miserably.
I liked that hero is older then heroine even though 12 years is a little bit too much, it sounded more like a historical then contemporary romance, but who thinks about the characters' future while reading a novel? :)
And I actually liked that Nadim was so severe with her at times, the thing that bothered most readers as I saw from reviews. And I liked to see how jealous he was when someone showed even the slightest interest in heroine. I wonder how Steve was still walking and breathing after what he did? :) I was actually waiting for Nadim to break his neck and was a little bit disappointed.
The only minus is too much of unanswered questions: what was with Nadim's younger brother? It seems like there's a story to be told. I wonder if there's a book about that? It seems like there should be one, cause there's some strange action going on in the background. Were the consequences for that Steve and a lot of other loaded guns that were left hanging...
March 29, 2015
3.5 stars. The hero was addicting at times and annoying at others. He didn't have many likeable traits and was overbearing. The heroine has a feisty attitude which was fun sometimes, but other times I felt she was too doey-eyed. Overall a decent story, highly sensual with good eroticism. A small pet peeve was some of the instant emotions and "sizzles" was a bit unrealistic. I thought the author gave the hero a nicely demented backstory and plausible reason for being how he was. On the other hand some of the heroines hang ups about her looks seemed slightly silly. Had a sweet ending, though, and I read this one in a single sitting.
February 23, 2014
5 I want my own Sheikh STARS
Gawd, this story is HOTT ! (Yes with the double T) it practically oozes sensuality. Not only that, the author has done an absolute AMAZING job of describing the scenes that I had vivid imagery of what was going on.
It was SO. SO. GOOD! I would recommend it to all readers who are looking for a quick, sexy read with delicious development.
P.S. I did not think the hero was THAT mean as other reviews have mentioned. In fact, everytime he was mean, I felt the sexual tension instead. Ah well, each of their own! But: Abby Green. You're brilliant.
P.P.S THE COVER IS SO FITTING. It perfectly matches the description of the sizzling pair.
Gawd, this story is HOTT ! (Yes with the double T) it practically oozes sensuality. Not only that, the author has done an absolute AMAZING job of describing the scenes that I had vivid imagery of what was going on.
It was SO. SO. GOOD! I would recommend it to all readers who are looking for a quick, sexy read with delicious development.
P.S. I did not think the hero was THAT mean as other reviews have mentioned. In fact, everytime he was mean, I felt the sexual tension instead. Ah well, each of their own! But: Abby Green. You're brilliant.
P.P.S THE COVER IS SO FITTING. It perfectly matches the description of the sizzling pair.
July 19, 2011
I started out reading Harlequin Presents when I first started reading romance but haven't read one in years. This was a great way to get back into them. It was a RITA finalist this year, so that caught eye. The characters kept me reading. I'll definitely be looking for more of Abby Green's books to add to my to be read list.
July 6, 2011
I really love Harlequin Romances and Abby is one of my favorite writers. She is one of the best.
August 20, 2011
Very sweet.
July 11, 2013
I did not like the fact that she became his mistress - that was lame.
May 11, 2015
Good if you want a couple of hours romance.
June 14, 2018
I absolutely loved this one telling the story of Iseult O Sullivan and Nadim. Really liked Iseult and her resulting romance with Nadim. Well told.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews