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Secret Heirs of Powerful Men #1
Heir to a Desert Legacy
Sayid al Kadar was trained from childhood to be a warrior. He's fought, he's conquered-but was never meant to rule... Thrust reluctantly to the throne, Sheikh Sayid is shocked to discover a child who is his country's true heir, and he'll do anything to protect him, even if it means taking on the child's aunt!
Chloe James might behave like a tigress protecting her cub, but this trained soldier can see her weak spot. Taking Chloe as his bride would appease the people of his kingdom, and provide the perfect outlet for the blistering chemistry between them....
Chloe James might behave like a tigress protecting her cub, but this trained soldier can see her weak spot. Taking Chloe as his bride would appease the people of his kingdom, and provide the perfect outlet for the blistering chemistry between them....
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
38 people are currently reading
289 people want to read
About the author
Maisey Yates
1,162 books2,961 followersNew York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit. In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book.
Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard.
She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.
Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard.
She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
February 8, 2013
On the whole I liked this read. The characterizations were interesting and different. The hero was damaged by his upbringing and interestingly, when he became the regent for his country, the people could not stand him. That's different. The heroine was also damaged by her upbringing. I felt her reactions were realistic in relation to her trauma. And I loved how she came to the realization that she could not walk off and leave her nephew. I found that very realistic and moving. She was however a very clear homage to "The Big Bang Theory." In fact, I'm not sure that any additional research into theoretical physics was done at all. I recognized every facet of her actions from the show. I'm not against having a character be a scientist of this type but it seemed somewhat under utilized. It didn't actually have anything to do with the story other than "hey! she's a scientist!"
The book was mostly dialog and introspection. There was not a lot of concreteness. In other words it lacked description. They were in a desert kingdom and you knew next to nothing about it. It really lacked a sense of place. Back in the 1970s and 80s, HPs were overloaded with massive amounts of description and that was too much but what I've seen in the latest HPs I've read has been a serious and annoying lack of description. What's the point of having it set in a desert kingdom if I don't get to read about any local/exotic color? The story also lacked what I call "time words." Things like "later that day.." or "Two weeks passed before..."
Another thing that made the pacing feel odd to me is that every scene that ever happened between the characters was shown. On the basis of the actual interaction between them, the feelings that they developed for each other were suspect. That is where an author would help herself out a bit by adding some bridges to the effect that they met for dinner every night that week or some such. That way the reader can fill in that they were getting to know each other and their eventual tumble into love is more believable.
The love scenes were very well done and emotional so no complaints there.
I received this book free as an ARC from netGalley for review.
The book was mostly dialog and introspection. There was not a lot of concreteness. In other words it lacked description. They were in a desert kingdom and you knew next to nothing about it. It really lacked a sense of place. Back in the 1970s and 80s, HPs were overloaded with massive amounts of description and that was too much but what I've seen in the latest HPs I've read has been a serious and annoying lack of description. What's the point of having it set in a desert kingdom if I don't get to read about any local/exotic color? The story also lacked what I call "time words." Things like "later that day.." or "Two weeks passed before..."
Another thing that made the pacing feel odd to me is that every scene that ever happened between the characters was shown. On the basis of the actual interaction between them, the feelings that they developed for each other were suspect. That is where an author would help herself out a bit by adding some bridges to the effect that they met for dinner every night that week or some such. That way the reader can fill in that they were getting to know each other and their eventual tumble into love is more believable.
The love scenes were very well done and emotional so no complaints there.
I received this book free as an ARC from netGalley for review.
February 4, 2013
This is the latest read from author Maisey Yates who always somehow makes her books seem hotter than the previous ones and yet she only takes new characters and a different plot, so the secret as to how she makes it hotter than the previous one is still a mystery.
In Heir to a desert legacy I was introduced to a seriously hot Sheikh Sayid he was not a average tormented hero, no this one ladies had more demons to fight off than the grains of sand in the desert!
He has been taught to never feel as when you get emotionally involved you fail. And as the temporary ruler of Attar getting emotionally involved with anyone could mean the loss of his country and the lives of many destroyed, as he has learned in the past "Let your guard down and you'll end up in a hell hole with your own people being your worst enemy".
He gets slammed dunked into a lie he has no way out of if he is to save his late brother and sister in law's legacy. The lie, telling the people of Attar that the woman by his side is not the mother of the six week old baby who happens to be the future ruler of Attar. No, he informs his people that Chloe is the nanny and protector of the baby and will remain in Attar for a certain time period.
But Chloe being the logical science nerd and always trying to access her feelings gets to a point where letting go of her "son" is just not something she is able to do and thus she not only lets her logical thinking leave her mind but comes to a compromise which is to marry Sayid, remain his wife until the child is of age and able to rule the country, and then leave. Easier said than done if Sayid is the sexy viral male standing in front of you!
The characterization was brilliant, I could not only hear Sayid as he spoke words of tenderness during moments when he lets the chains of darkness fall but I could actually smell him and his richly expensive scent, feel his touch, and actually visualise his eyes changing from dark and unfeeling to filled with love and emotion.
The dialogue was one of wit, deeper meaning but also of intelligence as the author laid out scientific facts not known to me before. I loved the backdrop setting of Attar and ti just perfectly fell into place with the emotions of both Chloe and Sayid and also let me as reader fully comprehend what the significance between the desert being the most deserted place of earth and Sayid being all alone even though being surrounded by people, was.
This was a compelling and mind blowing read and *wink wink* I will never look at honey in the same way!
5/5 star review
"Breaking the chains of war one soul searing kiss at a time"
In Heir to a desert legacy I was introduced to a seriously hot Sheikh Sayid he was not a average tormented hero, no this one ladies had more demons to fight off than the grains of sand in the desert!
He has been taught to never feel as when you get emotionally involved you fail. And as the temporary ruler of Attar getting emotionally involved with anyone could mean the loss of his country and the lives of many destroyed, as he has learned in the past "Let your guard down and you'll end up in a hell hole with your own people being your worst enemy".
He gets slammed dunked into a lie he has no way out of if he is to save his late brother and sister in law's legacy. The lie, telling the people of Attar that the woman by his side is not the mother of the six week old baby who happens to be the future ruler of Attar. No, he informs his people that Chloe is the nanny and protector of the baby and will remain in Attar for a certain time period.
But Chloe being the logical science nerd and always trying to access her feelings gets to a point where letting go of her "son" is just not something she is able to do and thus she not only lets her logical thinking leave her mind but comes to a compromise which is to marry Sayid, remain his wife until the child is of age and able to rule the country, and then leave. Easier said than done if Sayid is the sexy viral male standing in front of you!
The characterization was brilliant, I could not only hear Sayid as he spoke words of tenderness during moments when he lets the chains of darkness fall but I could actually smell him and his richly expensive scent, feel his touch, and actually visualise his eyes changing from dark and unfeeling to filled with love and emotion.
The dialogue was one of wit, deeper meaning but also of intelligence as the author laid out scientific facts not known to me before. I loved the backdrop setting of Attar and ti just perfectly fell into place with the emotions of both Chloe and Sayid and also let me as reader fully comprehend what the significance between the desert being the most deserted place of earth and Sayid being all alone even though being surrounded by people, was.
This was a compelling and mind blowing read and *wink wink* I will never look at honey in the same way!
5/5 star review
"Breaking the chains of war one soul searing kiss at a time"
June 4, 2020
1.5 Estrellas #RetoRita4 #RitaYates
No se le puede pedir más a esta historia, me creía que dentro de lo que cabe, estaría bien, pero noooo!!!! lo bueno que ha sido corta jajaja aunque hay otros libros que leído que son peores,
los protagonistas son muy repetidos contando su historia, ella me ha recordado al Sheldon Cooper, y él más seco que la mojama.
Voy a leer el otro que tengo de la autora a ver si mejora algo más
No se le puede pedir más a esta historia, me creía que dentro de lo que cabe, estaría bien, pero noooo!!!! lo bueno que ha sido corta jajaja aunque hay otros libros que leído que son peores,
los protagonistas son muy repetidos contando su historia, ella me ha recordado al Sheldon Cooper, y él más seco que la mojama.
Voy a leer el otro que tengo de la autora a ver si mejora algo más
November 24, 2013
4.5 stars
With her brilliant writing style, MY creates a scientist heroine who prefers logic to passion, a dark and damaged hero who seems almost inhuman. She gives them the best backdrop : a magnificent palace in the desert. She adds a blazing attraction to the mix and watches them struggle against powerful emotions.
As a second in line to the throne, Sayid has been raised to be a warrior, to protect his country not to rule. He has been trained to be a war machine with no feelings or emotions whatsoever, a soldier with no human weakness. But after the death of his brother, he has to be the new ruler of Attar, until he discovers the existence of an heir to the throne. His nephew Aden. His brother and his wife's surrogate baby.
Chloe is Aden's surrogate mother and aunt. She was supposed to give birth to the baby then hand it to her half-sister. But after taking care of Aden she gets attached to him. Chloe is a mix of softness and strength. Standing up for Aden, she is like a tigress defending her cub. she proposes to go with Sayid to Attar to make the baby transition to his new life easier. But she ends up in a marriage of convenience to stay with Aden forever.
The sudden and violent pull she feels towards Sayid, the warrior with the dark eyes and darker soul, is terrifying. All her life, she has witnessed her father's violence and abuse to her mother. She always stirs away from strong, dominant men.
Sayid craves prickly Chloe and fights his attraction with all his might. She is a weakness he can't afford. But Chloe makes the walls around his heart crumble, she fills the emptiness of his soul and makes him feel again.
This is one intense read that proves that love is a strength not a weakness.
With her brilliant writing style, MY creates a scientist heroine who prefers logic to passion, a dark and damaged hero who seems almost inhuman. She gives them the best backdrop : a magnificent palace in the desert. She adds a blazing attraction to the mix and watches them struggle against powerful emotions.
As a second in line to the throne, Sayid has been raised to be a warrior, to protect his country not to rule. He has been trained to be a war machine with no feelings or emotions whatsoever, a soldier with no human weakness. But after the death of his brother, he has to be the new ruler of Attar, until he discovers the existence of an heir to the throne. His nephew Aden. His brother and his wife's surrogate baby.
Chloe is Aden's surrogate mother and aunt. She was supposed to give birth to the baby then hand it to her half-sister. But after taking care of Aden she gets attached to him. Chloe is a mix of softness and strength. Standing up for Aden, she is like a tigress defending her cub. she proposes to go with Sayid to Attar to make the baby transition to his new life easier. But she ends up in a marriage of convenience to stay with Aden forever.
The sudden and violent pull she feels towards Sayid, the warrior with the dark eyes and darker soul, is terrifying. All her life, she has witnessed her father's violence and abuse to her mother. She always stirs away from strong, dominant men.
Sayid craves prickly Chloe and fights his attraction with all his might. She is a weakness he can't afford. But Chloe makes the walls around his heart crumble, she fills the emptiness of his soul and makes him feel again.
This is one intense read that proves that love is a strength not a weakness.
March 12, 2013
Heir to a Desert Legacy
Once again Maisey Yates puts together a tale full of angst and passion to keep you engaged. As the surrogate mother of her half sisters child, Chloe thought she would do her duty by her sister and then step back into the safe anonymity of her academic world. There she could avoid the danger of passion that made her childhood a nightmare.
Sayid, brother of the sheikh, was brought up to be an emotionless machine, designed to fight for his country at all costs. Unfortunately he couldn’t protect his brother and his wife from dying in a car accident on the way to collect their child from Chloe. When he discovers the existence of the child he will do anything to protect the future king.
Drawn into Sayid’s world because of baby Aden, Chloe finds her commitment to a passionless existence threatened by the close proximity of this dark and damaged man. When they marry, to secure Chloe’s place as Aden’s mother it becomes even harder.
I loved this story and the dance of denial the hero and heroine are involved in. They have both pushed any thought of emotional involvement from their lives but for Chloe, baby Aden has breached the barrier, leaving her vulnerable.
What happens when these two start to open up to each other is amazing. There is one wow moment that made me fall for Sayid so hard. I just loved the book and the stress on the importance of love and hope for the future.
Once again Maisey Yates puts together a tale full of angst and passion to keep you engaged. As the surrogate mother of her half sisters child, Chloe thought she would do her duty by her sister and then step back into the safe anonymity of her academic world. There she could avoid the danger of passion that made her childhood a nightmare.
Sayid, brother of the sheikh, was brought up to be an emotionless machine, designed to fight for his country at all costs. Unfortunately he couldn’t protect his brother and his wife from dying in a car accident on the way to collect their child from Chloe. When he discovers the existence of the child he will do anything to protect the future king.
Drawn into Sayid’s world because of baby Aden, Chloe finds her commitment to a passionless existence threatened by the close proximity of this dark and damaged man. When they marry, to secure Chloe’s place as Aden’s mother it becomes even harder.
I loved this story and the dance of denial the hero and heroine are involved in. They have both pushed any thought of emotional involvement from their lives but for Chloe, baby Aden has breached the barrier, leaving her vulnerable.
What happens when these two start to open up to each other is amazing. There is one wow moment that made me fall for Sayid so hard. I just loved the book and the stress on the importance of love and hope for the future.
February 2, 2017
I usually love Maisey Yates sheikh romances, but this one was a long slog to get through. It took me almost the entire month to read this less than 200 page book. The premise was different, but this was too stereotypical of the Presents line for my taste. The only reason I continued reading this to the end was that it filled a spot on the bingo card.
Sayid was a decent hero, but Chloe was all over the place mentally and emotionally and not smart for a doctoral candidate in physics. Their conversations were stilted when they weren't cringe-inducing. I could have done without the constant reminders that she had just given birth (yep, a virgin birth) and she was breastfeeding while sexy times were going on. And rocket scientist in training Chloe didn't realize breastfeeding was not a suitable replacement for birth control when she ends up pregnant at the end of the book (mere months after giving birth - which most medical doctors warn not to do, as it increases complications in second pregnancy and increases the chances of the mother suffering PPD or PPS).
Sayid was a decent hero, but Chloe was all over the place mentally and emotionally and not smart for a doctoral candidate in physics. Their conversations were stilted when they weren't cringe-inducing. I could have done without the constant reminders that she had just given birth (yep, a virgin birth) and she was breastfeeding while sexy times were going on. And rocket scientist in training Chloe didn't realize breastfeeding was not a suitable replacement for birth control when she ends up pregnant at the end of the book (mere months after giving birth - which most medical doctors warn not to do, as it increases complications in second pregnancy and increases the chances of the mother suffering PPD or PPS).
March 31, 2017
God , I really like this.
our heroine chloe is a 23 virgin scientist and the surrogate mother and aunt to the hero's nephew (Aden).
our hero is a hot alpha male sheikh but a seriously dark and damaged one .
You have to read this book , it's so emotional and deep but the most important thing is that this book proves that love is a strength not a weakness. and we have a sixteen years later adorable epilogue! !!!!
our heroine chloe is a 23 virgin scientist and the surrogate mother and aunt to the hero's nephew (Aden).
our hero is a hot alpha male sheikh but a seriously dark and damaged one .
You have to read this book , it's so emotional and deep but the most important thing is that this book proves that love is a strength not a weakness. and we have a sixteen years later adorable epilogue! !!!!
May 6, 2019
Well I didn't totally hate this one as much as I thought I would although I feel like the tortured H warrior plot has been done more than twice by this author.
This book had a great h who was flawed and not a total Mary Sue she wasn't a natural mum and was honest about her flaws - even when it came to her fears of the opposite sex (her dad was a wife beater) I was impressed that she had cut ties with her parents rather than trying to "rescue" everything/blame herself.
The H was extremely robotic at first and it was hard to warm up to him - even his "people" didn't like him because he was undiplomatic to say the least. However you could see his potential once you could see how much he was willing to give up to sleep with the h - that must have been a big thing for him and it seems our alpha male has a slight submissive streak!
I'm glad everything worked out for them without massive amounts of angst and I loved the epilogue, I wanted more. I also wanted to know exactly how many kids they ended up having because I got the impression they had a mini tribe!
This book had a great h who was flawed and not a total Mary Sue she wasn't a natural mum and was honest about her flaws - even when it came to her fears of the opposite sex (her dad was a wife beater) I was impressed that she had cut ties with her parents rather than trying to "rescue" everything/blame herself.
The H was extremely robotic at first and it was hard to warm up to him - even his "people" didn't like him because he was undiplomatic to say the least. However you could see his potential once you could see how much he was willing to give up to sleep with the h - that must have been a big thing for him and it seems our alpha male has a slight submissive streak!
I'm glad everything worked out for them without massive amounts of angst and I loved the epilogue, I wanted more. I also wanted to know exactly how many kids they ended up having because I got the impression they had a mini tribe!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2013
I've read a few heart tugging emotional stories lately so it was nice to change it up with Sayid and Chloe from Heir to a Desert Legacy by the super talented Maisey Yates. While the reason behind their meeting each other was sad, it was a breath of fresh air to have the Hero and heroine have a common ground that didnt start out by tension, fighting or revenge. I cant find the words to describe how masterfully this tale was woven together.
Sheikh Sayid and Chloe are two strangers thrown together after family tragedy Sayid finds his orphaned nephew in the care of the baby's Aunt Chloe. Sayid's nephew is the future king of Attar and it's his job to take him home. Peacefully they both reach an agreement and Chloe follows the pair back to Attar to assist in the care of her nephew. While they're together it doesnt take them long to realise they've both got reasons to feel wronged by the world and are both suffocating in their internal mind-jails and being thrown together makes them start to question and fight their own outlooks on life.
Heir to a Desert Legacy has imagery that is rich with beautiful descriptions. I had a one way ticket to Attar care of my imagination and I didnt want to come back. I appreciated that there wasn't the usual tension caused arguments as such, it was more like lots of lively debate. Heir to a Desert Legacy is full of the traditional elements that make a classic Presents journey but twisted with a totally modern aspect, I really liked that. I cant give examples without giving the story line away but I really wanted to mention that I thought Maisey Yates has done a fantastic job to make Heir to a Desert Legacy modern with the usual weave of "Presents" elements.
I absolutely adored, loved and laughed with Chloe. I was almost rolling on the floor laughing when one of her responses was "Say what now?" or "Did he take a helicopter? Did he walk? Magic carpet?" I also loved that she was clearly intelligent and I can see that her character's career was well thought to help paint why she was who she was and not just plucked out of the air. How refreshing it was to have her speak her mind when most of us would not have been brave enough. Sayid, one of the most handsomest, hottest, strongest and loyal Sheikh's ever, is also one of THE most tortured hero's I've come across in a long while. He 200% deserves a happy-ever-after!
I'm very very much looking forward to reading Alik's story, a recurring character in a Heir to a Desert Legacy, book two, Heir to a Dark Inheritance.
Sheikh Sayid and Chloe are two strangers thrown together after family tragedy Sayid finds his orphaned nephew in the care of the baby's Aunt Chloe. Sayid's nephew is the future king of Attar and it's his job to take him home. Peacefully they both reach an agreement and Chloe follows the pair back to Attar to assist in the care of her nephew. While they're together it doesnt take them long to realise they've both got reasons to feel wronged by the world and are both suffocating in their internal mind-jails and being thrown together makes them start to question and fight their own outlooks on life.
Heir to a Desert Legacy has imagery that is rich with beautiful descriptions. I had a one way ticket to Attar care of my imagination and I didnt want to come back. I appreciated that there wasn't the usual tension caused arguments as such, it was more like lots of lively debate. Heir to a Desert Legacy is full of the traditional elements that make a classic Presents journey but twisted with a totally modern aspect, I really liked that. I cant give examples without giving the story line away but I really wanted to mention that I thought Maisey Yates has done a fantastic job to make Heir to a Desert Legacy modern with the usual weave of "Presents" elements.
I absolutely adored, loved and laughed with Chloe. I was almost rolling on the floor laughing when one of her responses was "Say what now?" or "Did he take a helicopter? Did he walk? Magic carpet?" I also loved that she was clearly intelligent and I can see that her character's career was well thought to help paint why she was who she was and not just plucked out of the air. How refreshing it was to have her speak her mind when most of us would not have been brave enough. Sayid, one of the most handsomest, hottest, strongest and loyal Sheikh's ever, is also one of THE most tortured hero's I've come across in a long while. He 200% deserves a happy-ever-after!
I'm very very much looking forward to reading Alik's story, a recurring character in a Heir to a Desert Legacy, book two, Heir to a Dark Inheritance.
April 9, 2013
deleting reviews if you want to take a look at them you can do so on my blog, link on my profile
October 28, 2019
Protagonistas: Katharine & Zahir
Profesiones: Jeque & Princesa
Paises: Inventados
Profesiones: Jeque & Princesa
Paises: Inventados
May 27, 2013
I absolutely love Harlequin Romances. They always take the unlikeliness of people and put them together and there is always a happy after after. The happy ever after did take a while in this book.
The reader was first introduced to a selfless young woman carrying her sister's baby when the sister and husband are killed in an auto crash. We then find out that the baby is heir to a throne of a far away country and the uncle has no intention of leaving the child behind in the US. We also meet a sheikh who has been scarred in romance and trained as a warrior.
Ms. Yates did a wonderful job depicting a foreign country and their customs and how those customs are being changed by the next generation. The book was well written with deeply developed characters that held their own. The author took two characters, flawed and abused in their past lives and brought them together to heal each other.
To all those fans of Harlequin Romances, you will definitely enjoy this one.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
Read more at: http://mylife-in-stories.blogspot.com...
The reader was first introduced to a selfless young woman carrying her sister's baby when the sister and husband are killed in an auto crash. We then find out that the baby is heir to a throne of a far away country and the uncle has no intention of leaving the child behind in the US. We also meet a sheikh who has been scarred in romance and trained as a warrior.
Ms. Yates did a wonderful job depicting a foreign country and their customs and how those customs are being changed by the next generation. The book was well written with deeply developed characters that held their own. The author took two characters, flawed and abused in their past lives and brought them together to heal each other.
To all those fans of Harlequin Romances, you will definitely enjoy this one.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
Read more at: http://mylife-in-stories.blogspot.com...
March 17, 2013
This was nice for a change. It was predictable but that’s okay, there were still some surprises.
On the surface, neither one of these characters were exactly what they seemed. At least not to each other. The only common bond that they had was a child that threw them together. Chloe had no intentions of being a mother and Sayid had no intentions of being king, much less a father and husband. Of course they were going to fall in love. *sigh*
The romance was sweet and the back story for both characters was heart breaking. In Sayid’s case, he had been left totally broken. His reluctance to get attached to anyone was totally understandable but keeping Chloe locked out proved to be impossible. I loved Chloe’s tactics in helping him realize that he could love and there was more to his life than being a soldier.
Although contemporary romance isn’t my preference, I’ll be watching for more reads from Maisey Yates. Heir to a Desert Legacy was a quick read and proved to be the perfect romantic diversion.
On the surface, neither one of these characters were exactly what they seemed. At least not to each other. The only common bond that they had was a child that threw them together. Chloe had no intentions of being a mother and Sayid had no intentions of being king, much less a father and husband. Of course they were going to fall in love. *sigh*
The romance was sweet and the back story for both characters was heart breaking. In Sayid’s case, he had been left totally broken. His reluctance to get attached to anyone was totally understandable but keeping Chloe locked out proved to be impossible. I loved Chloe’s tactics in helping him realize that he could love and there was more to his life than being a soldier.
Although contemporary romance isn’t my preference, I’ll be watching for more reads from Maisey Yates. Heir to a Desert Legacy was a quick read and proved to be the perfect romantic diversion.
February 28, 2013
Sayid al Kadar was the second son, trained to be a soldier from a young age. When his older brother dies, he must become the ruler. While going through his brother's paperwork he learns that his brother has an heir. Sayid’s brother had asked Chloe to be a surrogate and she has the six week old heir to the throne. Chloe never expected to be a mother, but now she must protect her nephew, the child that she gave birth to… and if that protection means that she must marry Sayid then so be it.
Why I started this book: The set up sound perfect for a Harlequin romance, over the top and delightful.
Why I finished it: Obligation. Since this was a free book and I had agreed to review it, I needed to finish it. The formatting was poor and distract from the story, there was no clear page break in the eBook to signify a change in scene. It was very jarring as a reader. I was also frustrated with the motivations and actions of the two main characters. I didn't feel that Sayid and Chloe’s actions and reactions matched their circumstances and back story.
Why I started this book: The set up sound perfect for a Harlequin romance, over the top and delightful.
Why I finished it: Obligation. Since this was a free book and I had agreed to review it, I needed to finish it. The formatting was poor and distract from the story, there was no clear page break in the eBook to signify a change in scene. It was very jarring as a reader. I was also frustrated with the motivations and actions of the two main characters. I didn't feel that Sayid and Chloe’s actions and reactions matched their circumstances and back story.
Read
January 29, 2013I really wanted to like this book. The premise was intriguing and it started off well enough. But unfortunately, it fell flat for me.
I wanted to know WHY Sayid let Chloe in, and why he felt for her what he hadn't since he lost his first love. Why did she intrigue him, why did she break down those carefully constructed walls? I'll never know.
Likewise, I'll never know why Chloe decided to trust Sayid after a lifetime of not trusting men. There was really no explanation for it, it just... was.
There was little information about, or description of, the country Chloe chose to live in for the sake of her orphaned nephew, what her life was like, and how it differed from how she lived in America. That would have been an interesting part of the story had it been included.
Also, some of the editing choices were questionable, and I would have expected better from a major publisher.
Thanks to Net Galley for providing the ARC of this book. I'm just sorry it wasn't better.
I wanted to know WHY Sayid let Chloe in, and why he felt for her what he hadn't since he lost his first love. Why did she intrigue him, why did she break down those carefully constructed walls? I'll never know.
Likewise, I'll never know why Chloe decided to trust Sayid after a lifetime of not trusting men. There was really no explanation for it, it just... was.
There was little information about, or description of, the country Chloe chose to live in for the sake of her orphaned nephew, what her life was like, and how it differed from how she lived in America. That would have been an interesting part of the story had it been included.
Also, some of the editing choices were questionable, and I would have expected better from a major publisher.
Thanks to Net Galley for providing the ARC of this book. I'm just sorry it wasn't better.
February 5, 2013
Ugh, that cover. But it was a fun story. Mostly the first half. But I really needed more descriptions of the world and connections with other characters (among other things). Thanks anyway, Netgalley!
July 5, 2015
Enjoyed this more than I thought I would. :) I struggled to get into the book, but once I finally got attached to the characters, I really did enjoy the book. (The hot sex helped some, too ;)) I'm very interested about Alik's story, so I'll definitely be buying book two.
December 24, 2018
Pretty uninteresting and predictable. Run of the mill characters and a plot that overall didn't even try to be interesting... Or have secondary characters. Do-not-bother files.
July 1, 2023
#1 in the Secret Heirs of Powerful Men romance series
What a nice Harlequin romance! The hero was alpha (of course) but not over-the-top. He's a tough man, having been trained as a soldier and taught to have no feelings, but somehow Chloe reaches him. Chloe had another plan in life, but when her half-sister asks her to be a surrogate for their baby but then dies in a car accident, Chloe is left to raise the baby on her own. Sheikh Sayid shows up and convinces her to come to his country to raise the baby, the heir to the throne. As expected, their personal relationship develops, they start to have feelings for each other despite their best intentions, and both change and grow together. I liked that they weren't afraid to be themselves in front of the other despite both having previously closed off their feelings. And despite their different upbringings, they had a lot in common and went together well. Loving, touching, and an interesting look inside the workings of a Middle Eastern palace lfe.
What a nice Harlequin romance! The hero was alpha (of course) but not over-the-top. He's a tough man, having been trained as a soldier and taught to have no feelings, but somehow Chloe reaches him. Chloe had another plan in life, but when her half-sister asks her to be a surrogate for their baby but then dies in a car accident, Chloe is left to raise the baby on her own. Sheikh Sayid shows up and convinces her to come to his country to raise the baby, the heir to the throne. As expected, their personal relationship develops, they start to have feelings for each other despite their best intentions, and both change and grow together. I liked that they weren't afraid to be themselves in front of the other despite both having previously closed off their feelings. And despite their different upbringings, they had a lot in common and went together well. Loving, touching, and an interesting look inside the workings of a Middle Eastern palace lfe.
November 13, 2020
I love Maisey Yates books - she is one of my favourite authors. I have been exploring her back catalogue and found this one on the ‘weloveromance’ App.
The story has a great premise and starts really well. We meet Sayed and Chloe at the beginning of the book and are thrown straight into the ‘surrogate bears child of his deceased brother and sister in law and he’s the next King’ trope. Results in a marriage of convenience back in the home country - which is very under developed in terms of creating a fictional world!
Both of them are damaged people and the development of their relationship and journey to a happy ever after is the main focus of the book. Maisey couldn’t write bad prose if she tried but it’s interesting to see how her talent has developed over the years in terms of her character development.
This book is much less credible in terms of the characters than later stories. However, it’s still a satisfying read and I did enjoy it.
The story has a great premise and starts really well. We meet Sayed and Chloe at the beginning of the book and are thrown straight into the ‘surrogate bears child of his deceased brother and sister in law and he’s the next King’ trope. Results in a marriage of convenience back in the home country - which is very under developed in terms of creating a fictional world!
Both of them are damaged people and the development of their relationship and journey to a happy ever after is the main focus of the book. Maisey couldn’t write bad prose if she tried but it’s interesting to see how her talent has developed over the years in terms of her character development.
This book is much less credible in terms of the characters than later stories. However, it’s still a satisfying read and I did enjoy it.
April 20, 2018
It was an average read. Maisay Yates books usually get a five from me, but this one was, surprisingly a let down. It's very badly edited for one thing, with loads of repetition. I think it was written to save a deadline. While the characters seem to be nicely etched, upto a point, the research is abysmally poorly done. She's a physicist but the author kept mixing chemistry amd biology metaphors. Moreover, besides pounding into us that she has a scientific mind and writes equations on white boards, the author does little to make her three dimensional. Ditto with the baby and the male protagonist. The last twist should have been something brainy but failed to be.
It was entertaining, if you are in the mood not to strain the grey cells. The epilogue was totally needless.
It was entertaining, if you are in the mood not to strain the grey cells. The epilogue was totally needless.
October 31, 2017
It's alright. Yates spends a large part of the novel going into the lovers' backstories and, honestly, that's much more interesting than the actual romance of the book. There's some exploration of abuse and dealing with trauma that I thought was worth exploring more.
As for the romance itself, it felt a bit rushed and stilted. Salid and Chloe spend a large amount of time sniping at each other and, when they finally start falling for one another, it feels unnatural.
The sex scenes are well-written, though, and the kink involved makes sense in regards to the characters' respective personalities.
All in all, the better of the two Harlequins I read this week.
As for the romance itself, it felt a bit rushed and stilted. Salid and Chloe spend a large amount of time sniping at each other and, when they finally start falling for one another, it feels unnatural.
The sex scenes are well-written, though, and the kink involved makes sense in regards to the characters' respective personalities.
All in all, the better of the two Harlequins I read this week.
August 28, 2023
3.5 stars
This may be my first Sheik romance.
Chloe has given birth via surrogacy to the heir of Attar, and now his parents have died. She does what she has to protect her nephew. Then Sayid comes looking for his nephew, a powerful, zipped up, and practical man.
To be honest they both have baggage to work through, but there's an attraction between them.
Their story moved quicker than I expected, especially Sayid's idea, that could have been left a few weeks more so they could work things through more.
I enjoyed this book and the turnaround for both the characters.
This may be my first Sheik romance.
Chloe has given birth via surrogacy to the heir of Attar, and now his parents have died. She does what she has to protect her nephew. Then Sayid comes looking for his nephew, a powerful, zipped up, and practical man.
To be honest they both have baggage to work through, but there's an attraction between them.
Their story moved quicker than I expected, especially Sayid's idea, that could have been left a few weeks more so they could work things through more.
I enjoyed this book and the turnaround for both the characters.
June 1, 2022
Good story I recommend it
February 3, 2013
La sinossi di questo romance di prossima uscita mi aveva incuriosito, lo sceicco ha sempre il suo fascino, soprattutto quando la sua realtà si incontra con il nostro occidente, ma soprattutto non mi ha delusa una volta terminata la lettura.
La trama e' molto realistica, così come le caratteristiche dei due personaggi principali.
Sayid al Katar si e' ritrovato a essere il nuovo sceicco del suo Paese, dopo l'improvvisa morte in un incidente stradale del fratello e della cognata. La cosa non lo entusiasma, e' stato allevato sin dalla più tenera infanzia a essere il guerriero, il protettore del regno, a costo di grandi sacrifici e sofferenze psicologiche e fisiche inflitte dallo zio, che si occupava della sua educazione. All'improvviso scopre, che in realtà, esiste un erede al trono, il figlio del fratello, che in gran segreto e' stato concepito grazie a una madre surrogato, Chloe, sorella della moglie dello sceicco defunto.
La donna aveva altri progetti per la sua vita, e' una scienziata, una matematica che in un futuro sogna di conquistare una cattedra universitaria; ha accettato di dare alla luce il futuro erede per aiutare la sorella, ma il destino le ha riservato una bella sorpresa, lasciandola da sola con un bambino che non ha mai desiderato e dipende da lei.
Sayid vuole l'erede al trono del suo Paese, Chloe, nonostante tutto, non e' disposta ad abbandonare il piccolo nelle mani di quest'uomo così distaccato, votato solo al suo dovere verso il popolo. I due dovranno collaborare per il bene del bambino, ma per poterlo fare, salvare le apparenze e tutelare il piccolo saranno costretti a un matrimonio di copertura, anche se le scintille che nascono dai loro confronti impediscono loro di avere il rapporto freddo e distaccato che vorrebbero.
Il libro e' molto bello, la scrittura scorrevole e in men che non si dica, ci si trova immersi nella realtà di questo racconto, catturati dalla personalità complessa e tormentata di Sayid e dalla forza e tenacia di Chloe. L'ho veramente divorato in poche ore e versato anche qualche lacrimuccia.
In futuro cercherò ancora altri libri di questa scrittrice, molto molto brava.
Si ringraziano Netgalley e la Harlequin per la gentile preview.
VOTO: 4 stelle.
TITOLO: Heir to a Desert Legacy
AUTRICE: Maisey Yates
EDITORE: Harlequin
DATA PUBBLICAZIONE: uscita prevista 19 marzo 2013
The synopsis of this upcoming romance intrigued me , Sheikh always has his charms, especially when its actually meets with our culture, but I was very pleased altre the reading.
The plot is very realistic, as well as the characteristics of the two main characters.
Sayid al Katar is the new ruler of his country, after the sudden death in a car accident of his brother and sister-in-law. He's not so happy about this, he was formed since the earliest childhood to be the Warrior, the protector of the realm, at the cost of great sacrifices and psychological and physical suffering inflicted by his uncle, who took care of his education. Suddenly discovers, that in fact, there is an heir to the throne, the son of his brother, who in great secrecy was born by a surrogate mother, Chloe, sister of the wife of the Sheikh.
The woman had other plans for her life, she is a scientist, a mathematics in a future she has dreams to teach to a University; She has agreed to give birth to the future heir to help her sister, but the fate has reserved a nice surprise, leaving her alone with a child She never wanted to and depends on her.
Sayid wants the heir to the throne of his country, Chloe, in spite of everything, is not willing to abandon the baby in the hands of this man so detached, voted only to his duty towards his people. The two must work together for the good of the child, but in order to do so, save the appearances and protect the child they will be forced to a wedding coverage, although the sparks that arise from them are preventing them from having the cold and detached relationship they want.
The book is very nice, smooth writing and in no time, you find yourself immersed in the reality of this tale, captured by Sayid' s complex and tortured personality and the strength and tenacity of Chloe. I read it in a few hours and I spilled some tears from my eyes.
In the future I will try other books by this author, She 's very very good.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for the preview.
La trama e' molto realistica, così come le caratteristiche dei due personaggi principali.
Sayid al Katar si e' ritrovato a essere il nuovo sceicco del suo Paese, dopo l'improvvisa morte in un incidente stradale del fratello e della cognata. La cosa non lo entusiasma, e' stato allevato sin dalla più tenera infanzia a essere il guerriero, il protettore del regno, a costo di grandi sacrifici e sofferenze psicologiche e fisiche inflitte dallo zio, che si occupava della sua educazione. All'improvviso scopre, che in realtà, esiste un erede al trono, il figlio del fratello, che in gran segreto e' stato concepito grazie a una madre surrogato, Chloe, sorella della moglie dello sceicco defunto.
La donna aveva altri progetti per la sua vita, e' una scienziata, una matematica che in un futuro sogna di conquistare una cattedra universitaria; ha accettato di dare alla luce il futuro erede per aiutare la sorella, ma il destino le ha riservato una bella sorpresa, lasciandola da sola con un bambino che non ha mai desiderato e dipende da lei.
Sayid vuole l'erede al trono del suo Paese, Chloe, nonostante tutto, non e' disposta ad abbandonare il piccolo nelle mani di quest'uomo così distaccato, votato solo al suo dovere verso il popolo. I due dovranno collaborare per il bene del bambino, ma per poterlo fare, salvare le apparenze e tutelare il piccolo saranno costretti a un matrimonio di copertura, anche se le scintille che nascono dai loro confronti impediscono loro di avere il rapporto freddo e distaccato che vorrebbero.
Il libro e' molto bello, la scrittura scorrevole e in men che non si dica, ci si trova immersi nella realtà di questo racconto, catturati dalla personalità complessa e tormentata di Sayid e dalla forza e tenacia di Chloe. L'ho veramente divorato in poche ore e versato anche qualche lacrimuccia.
In futuro cercherò ancora altri libri di questa scrittrice, molto molto brava.
Si ringraziano Netgalley e la Harlequin per la gentile preview.
VOTO: 4 stelle.
TITOLO: Heir to a Desert Legacy
AUTRICE: Maisey Yates
EDITORE: Harlequin
DATA PUBBLICAZIONE: uscita prevista 19 marzo 2013
The synopsis of this upcoming romance intrigued me , Sheikh always has his charms, especially when its actually meets with our culture, but I was very pleased altre the reading.
The plot is very realistic, as well as the characteristics of the two main characters.
Sayid al Katar is the new ruler of his country, after the sudden death in a car accident of his brother and sister-in-law. He's not so happy about this, he was formed since the earliest childhood to be the Warrior, the protector of the realm, at the cost of great sacrifices and psychological and physical suffering inflicted by his uncle, who took care of his education. Suddenly discovers, that in fact, there is an heir to the throne, the son of his brother, who in great secrecy was born by a surrogate mother, Chloe, sister of the wife of the Sheikh.
The woman had other plans for her life, she is a scientist, a mathematics in a future she has dreams to teach to a University; She has agreed to give birth to the future heir to help her sister, but the fate has reserved a nice surprise, leaving her alone with a child She never wanted to and depends on her.
Sayid wants the heir to the throne of his country, Chloe, in spite of everything, is not willing to abandon the baby in the hands of this man so detached, voted only to his duty towards his people. The two must work together for the good of the child, but in order to do so, save the appearances and protect the child they will be forced to a wedding coverage, although the sparks that arise from them are preventing them from having the cold and detached relationship they want.
The book is very nice, smooth writing and in no time, you find yourself immersed in the reality of this tale, captured by Sayid' s complex and tortured personality and the strength and tenacity of Chloe. I read it in a few hours and I spilled some tears from my eyes.
In the future I will try other books by this author, She 's very very good.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for the preview.
December 26, 2022
Quanto mi è piaciuto questo libro? Tanto. Alle volte la lunghezza del libro non conta, in questo caso anche in pochissime pagine l'autrice è riuscita a raccontare tutto per bene e a farmi emozionare. Non leggo molti harmony soprattutto con questa ambientazione perchè non sono tra i miei preferiti, infatti quando ne inizio qualcuno parto sempre un po prevenuta. E' bello poter cambiare idea durante la lettura sono queste scoperte la cosa più bella per un lettore.
Sayid è stato cresciuto senza amore da uno zio, per far si che divenisse il protettore dello stato di Attar, ma dopo la morte del fratello e della moglie ne è diventato il reggente. Quando scopre che all'incidente il figlioletto appena nato è rimasto vivo farà di tutto per proteggerlo per far si che in futuri diventerà il governatore dello stato. Non immagina che la zia del piccolo non rinuncerà tanto facilmente a lui.
Chloe si ritrova mamma di punto in bianco, con i conti al verde e non sa dove sbattere la testa. Sa solo che non abbandonerebbe mai suo figlio.
Quando le loro strade s'incontrano subito si sentono attratti ma i loro caratteri gli faranno scontrare. Man mano che entrambi conosceranno le rispettive storie però qualcosa cambierà.
Ho trovato le descrizioni dei luoghi in questo libro bellissime, mi sembrava di essere a palazzo con Chloe e nel deserto con Sayid, di avere la sabbia e il vento in faccia.
Lo consiglio
Sayid è stato cresciuto senza amore da uno zio, per far si che divenisse il protettore dello stato di Attar, ma dopo la morte del fratello e della moglie ne è diventato il reggente. Quando scopre che all'incidente il figlioletto appena nato è rimasto vivo farà di tutto per proteggerlo per far si che in futuri diventerà il governatore dello stato. Non immagina che la zia del piccolo non rinuncerà tanto facilmente a lui.
Chloe si ritrova mamma di punto in bianco, con i conti al verde e non sa dove sbattere la testa. Sa solo che non abbandonerebbe mai suo figlio.
Quando le loro strade s'incontrano subito si sentono attratti ma i loro caratteri gli faranno scontrare. Man mano che entrambi conosceranno le rispettive storie però qualcosa cambierà.
Ho trovato le descrizioni dei luoghi in questo libro bellissime, mi sembrava di essere a palazzo con Chloe e nel deserto con Sayid, di avere la sabbia e il vento in faccia.
Lo consiglio
March 20, 2013
3.5 Star Rating
Publisher: Harlequin
Age: Adult
Series: None
Interest: Romance/ NetGalley/Sheikh
Source: NetGalley
Sayid al Kadar was trained from childhood to be a warrior. He's fought, he's conquered-but was never meant to rule... Thrust reluctantly to the throne, Sheikh Sayid is shocked to discover a child who is his country's true heir, and he'll do anything to protect him, even if it means taking on the child's aunt!
Chloe James might behave like a tigress protecting her cub, but this trained soldier can see her weak spot. Taking Chloe as his bride would appease the people of his kingdom, and provide the perfect outlet for the blistering chemistry between them....(summary from goodreads.com)
I revived a free e-arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This has not swayed my opinion of the book in any way.
My favorite Harlequin Romance is Hired: The Sheikh's Secretary Mistress by Lucy Monroe. Therefore, I somewhat unrealistically, had very high hopes for Heir to a Desert Legacy by Maisey Yates. There was going to be Sheikhs, romance and bottled up male emotions only the right woman can release! (Yes, I read Harlequins with a less critical eye. I want and expect total cheesey goodness from them.) To be fair, Heir did have all of those elements in it. However, I felt the book simply didn't work for me.
Sayid is a fearsome warrior/symbol for his country. He is more machine than man in terms of having emotions or a heart. Great! I love a damaged hero. It was also made obvious Chloe has trust issues from a horrible home life. She is intensely logical, but somehow feels an illogical connection to the baby she carried for nine months as a surrogate. Alright, another challenge for us to navigate through on the way to the love shack. Except the writing regarding these two issues could only be called beating a dead horse. Almost every five pages their old issues and wounds were brought up.
The story was very intensely focused on Sayid and Chole and their issues. So much so that hardly any other characters made it into the novel. No other bonds outside of theirs were explored. Almost none of the culture of Attar was mentioned. The only nod to culture was Chloe receiving her wedding mehndi (henna)* and the tradition of the second son being a warrior while the first was a ruler. There could have been such an incredible amount of culture, relationships and emotion placed into the novel which simply weren't there.
*The novel's scene of Chloe's hands and feet being drawn on with mehndi is incorrect. A few moments after the woman finished drawing on her, Chloe was up, walking around and crossing her arms. You cannot do this with mehndi! It has to dry for a minimum of 1 to 2 hours. That will produce the lightest markings possible. For darker mehndi, it needs to be left on longer. When the mehndi is dry, it needs to be scraped off with fingernails or a dull and flat instrument like a butter knife. Chloe would have smeared her markings all over the place and onto her clothes.
Chloe and Sayid had a good amount of chemistry. I feel as though Chloe let go of her past injuries too quickly in forcing herself to trust him. I wouldn't have preferred for her to wallow in insecurity. Still, I felt a bit more conflict in herself could have been explored. I also was not thrilled with how Chloe and Sayid fell in love. It pretty much went sex and BOOM "I am in love with you and I know you'd never hurt me." I didn't think they'd had enough relationship growth to warrant such strong and sudden feelings.
Overall, Heir to a Desert Legacy wasn't an awesome romance read for me. Still, for readers who like tortured heroes and heroines, romance and babies this would be a good novel.
Teaser Lines: "Habibti, with you, I always have something to look forward to."
Happy Reading,
My Summer Girl Books
Publisher: Harlequin
Age: Adult
Series: None
Interest: Romance/ NetGalley/Sheikh
Source: NetGalley
Sayid al Kadar was trained from childhood to be a warrior. He's fought, he's conquered-but was never meant to rule... Thrust reluctantly to the throne, Sheikh Sayid is shocked to discover a child who is his country's true heir, and he'll do anything to protect him, even if it means taking on the child's aunt!
Chloe James might behave like a tigress protecting her cub, but this trained soldier can see her weak spot. Taking Chloe as his bride would appease the people of his kingdom, and provide the perfect outlet for the blistering chemistry between them....(summary from goodreads.com)
I revived a free e-arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This has not swayed my opinion of the book in any way.
My favorite Harlequin Romance is Hired: The Sheikh's Secretary Mistress by Lucy Monroe. Therefore, I somewhat unrealistically, had very high hopes for Heir to a Desert Legacy by Maisey Yates. There was going to be Sheikhs, romance and bottled up male emotions only the right woman can release! (Yes, I read Harlequins with a less critical eye. I want and expect total cheesey goodness from them.) To be fair, Heir did have all of those elements in it. However, I felt the book simply didn't work for me.
Sayid is a fearsome warrior/symbol for his country. He is more machine than man in terms of having emotions or a heart. Great! I love a damaged hero. It was also made obvious Chloe has trust issues from a horrible home life. She is intensely logical, but somehow feels an illogical connection to the baby she carried for nine months as a surrogate. Alright, another challenge for us to navigate through on the way to the love shack. Except the writing regarding these two issues could only be called beating a dead horse. Almost every five pages their old issues and wounds were brought up.
The story was very intensely focused on Sayid and Chole and their issues. So much so that hardly any other characters made it into the novel. No other bonds outside of theirs were explored. Almost none of the culture of Attar was mentioned. The only nod to culture was Chloe receiving her wedding mehndi (henna)* and the tradition of the second son being a warrior while the first was a ruler. There could have been such an incredible amount of culture, relationships and emotion placed into the novel which simply weren't there.
*The novel's scene of Chloe's hands and feet being drawn on with mehndi is incorrect. A few moments after the woman finished drawing on her, Chloe was up, walking around and crossing her arms. You cannot do this with mehndi! It has to dry for a minimum of 1 to 2 hours. That will produce the lightest markings possible. For darker mehndi, it needs to be left on longer. When the mehndi is dry, it needs to be scraped off with fingernails or a dull and flat instrument like a butter knife. Chloe would have smeared her markings all over the place and onto her clothes.
Chloe and Sayid had a good amount of chemistry. I feel as though Chloe let go of her past injuries too quickly in forcing herself to trust him. I wouldn't have preferred for her to wallow in insecurity. Still, I felt a bit more conflict in herself could have been explored. I also was not thrilled with how Chloe and Sayid fell in love. It pretty much went sex and BOOM "I am in love with you and I know you'd never hurt me." I didn't think they'd had enough relationship growth to warrant such strong and sudden feelings.
Overall, Heir to a Desert Legacy wasn't an awesome romance read for me. Still, for readers who like tortured heroes and heroines, romance and babies this would be a good novel.
Teaser Lines: "Habibti, with you, I always have something to look forward to."
Happy Reading,
My Summer Girl Books
February 24, 2017
Lots of cliches in this one. But still a good read. Goes to show, even stereotype can be entertaining if done well !
Hero - the ruler of a middle eastern country. Has a troubled past. Wonder why these authors are charmed by fictional gulf countries !?!?!
Heroine - a theoretical physicist, surrogate mother, but still a goddamn virgin ?!!?!??!
She offers to carry her sister's child. The sister conveniently vanishes from the story. So does the heroes' brother - the original ruler.
Second born hero and surrogate sis heroine join forces for the sake of the kid.
Of course, the magical pull, the lust turns into love angle plays out.
Reading my review, you might decide this is just ordinary fare. It is - quite ordinary, quite predictable. But still worth reading. 4 stars for author's effort for this one reason.
And for a 16 yrs hence epilogue !! Good to see at least one couple lasting it out beyond the "mad for sex" age bracket into middle age and still remain intimate.
Hero - the ruler of a middle eastern country. Has a troubled past. Wonder why these authors are charmed by fictional gulf countries !?!?!
Heroine - a theoretical physicist, surrogate mother, but still a goddamn virgin ?!!?!??!
She offers to carry her sister's child. The sister conveniently vanishes from the story. So does the heroes' brother - the original ruler.
Second born hero and surrogate sis heroine join forces for the sake of the kid.
Of course, the magical pull, the lust turns into love angle plays out.
Reading my review, you might decide this is just ordinary fare. It is - quite ordinary, quite predictable. But still worth reading. 4 stars for author's effort for this one reason.
And for a 16 yrs hence epilogue !! Good to see at least one couple lasting it out beyond the "mad for sex" age bracket into middle age and still remain intimate.
March 18, 2013
Originally posted on What I'm Reading
Ok late last night or early this morning depending how you look at it, I was able to finished Heir to a Desert Legacy by Maisey Yates. I must say that I enjoyed this Harlequin Presents book. So, let me share what is about and why I liked the story.
Chloe James helped her half-sister have a baby, but an unfortunate accident happen before she arrived before the birth. A hope of a nation vanished, with the death of her half-sister and brother-in-law. Not knowing what to do with the child, Chloe decides to protect the child no matter what. After all she had been the surrogate for her half-sister.
Sayid al Kadar was never meant to rule the country, but be the protect of the land now finds himself as Sheik of the land. Finds vital information that might give him a reprieve of the situation. YAY, he might not have to rule, if he is able to find the baby.
Honestly I really enjoyed this story. The main reason I enjoyed Heir to a Desert Legacy was the damaged hero and heroine. Both of them came from past that was filled with violence. For instance, with Chloe's upbringing she was afraid to become like her mother and try everything in her power to avoid being like her. Even isolate herself from relationships and dive right in academics for safety. Sayid being born as a second son and wasn't raised by his parents, but his uncle to be the protector of the land. His uncle would use whatever measure to instill this philosophy, even use whatever Sayid cared the most would be used against him. So, he was taught to be desensitize to anything around him. Both of these characters had to overcome these challenges. Each are both of afraid to let the other in, because of fear.
Bottom line, I enjoyed this story. I found the story compelling and hoping that Chloe and Sayid would come to there senses. Maisey Yates was able to captivate me with her story telling ability. So, if you are looking for something set in the desert and damage hero and heroine, you might want to check out Heir to a Desert Legacy.
Copy provided by Harlequin via NetGalley
Ok late last night or early this morning depending how you look at it, I was able to finished Heir to a Desert Legacy by Maisey Yates. I must say that I enjoyed this Harlequin Presents book. So, let me share what is about and why I liked the story.
Chloe James helped her half-sister have a baby, but an unfortunate accident happen before she arrived before the birth. A hope of a nation vanished, with the death of her half-sister and brother-in-law. Not knowing what to do with the child, Chloe decides to protect the child no matter what. After all she had been the surrogate for her half-sister.
Sayid al Kadar was never meant to rule the country, but be the protect of the land now finds himself as Sheik of the land. Finds vital information that might give him a reprieve of the situation. YAY, he might not have to rule, if he is able to find the baby.
Honestly I really enjoyed this story. The main reason I enjoyed Heir to a Desert Legacy was the damaged hero and heroine. Both of them came from past that was filled with violence. For instance, with Chloe's upbringing she was afraid to become like her mother and try everything in her power to avoid being like her. Even isolate herself from relationships and dive right in academics for safety. Sayid being born as a second son and wasn't raised by his parents, but his uncle to be the protector of the land. His uncle would use whatever measure to instill this philosophy, even use whatever Sayid cared the most would be used against him. So, he was taught to be desensitize to anything around him. Both of these characters had to overcome these challenges. Each are both of afraid to let the other in, because of fear.
Bottom line, I enjoyed this story. I found the story compelling and hoping that Chloe and Sayid would come to there senses. Maisey Yates was able to captivate me with her story telling ability. So, if you are looking for something set in the desert and damage hero and heroine, you might want to check out Heir to a Desert Legacy.
Copy provided by Harlequin via NetGalley
April 2, 2013
Heir to a Desert Legacy. Maisey Yates
I received this via Netgalley in return for an honest review. I don't gush and give false praise – I don't believe that helps readers or authors so what you read is what I truly feel about a book.
I love a good romance with a happy ever after, and though I usually prefer something longer and more meaty sometimes you just want something simple for a couple of hours escapism. Heir to a desert legacy fits the bill. It reminded me of the M&B books mum had back in early 70's that I used to sneak to read when I was a teen. Its a sweet story, no great intrigues or deep mysteries in the plot – just a simple story of a girl, Chloe James, looking after her nephew unexpectedly after his parents die in an accident. She's studying at university, and trying hard to cope with a young baby in her tiny apartment. A knock at the door brings Sayid al Kadar to tell her the baby is heir to his country and he wants to take him away.... The plots simple, the love sweet and the dialogue between Sayid and Chloe quite funny at times with him being domineering expecting her instant obedience and Chloe being very western and answering him back. The romance develops swiftly – but then the book isn't long so it has to – but the chemistry between them sizzles so its not too unbelievable. They both have historical problems that make them cautious but find them attraction between them so strong it overrides that. I liked the psychology of their behaviours and how it shaped their actions.
The book is well written and easy to follow and provides an diversion from everyday problems without needing too much effort from the brain. Sometimes you want the mental exercises and a deep novel and other times you just want to read some light fluffy easy romance. This book is great in the light and fluffy type. I enjoyed it but I wouldn't read it a second time so it won't go in my keepers file, as I tend tomwards the deeper novels but horses for courses and this is just the book to while away a train journey or something.
Stars, 3.5 – its better than three but doesn't make my four grade.
I received this via Netgalley in return for an honest review. I don't gush and give false praise – I don't believe that helps readers or authors so what you read is what I truly feel about a book.
I love a good romance with a happy ever after, and though I usually prefer something longer and more meaty sometimes you just want something simple for a couple of hours escapism. Heir to a desert legacy fits the bill. It reminded me of the M&B books mum had back in early 70's that I used to sneak to read when I was a teen. Its a sweet story, no great intrigues or deep mysteries in the plot – just a simple story of a girl, Chloe James, looking after her nephew unexpectedly after his parents die in an accident. She's studying at university, and trying hard to cope with a young baby in her tiny apartment. A knock at the door brings Sayid al Kadar to tell her the baby is heir to his country and he wants to take him away.... The plots simple, the love sweet and the dialogue between Sayid and Chloe quite funny at times with him being domineering expecting her instant obedience and Chloe being very western and answering him back. The romance develops swiftly – but then the book isn't long so it has to – but the chemistry between them sizzles so its not too unbelievable. They both have historical problems that make them cautious but find them attraction between them so strong it overrides that. I liked the psychology of their behaviours and how it shaped their actions.
The book is well written and easy to follow and provides an diversion from everyday problems without needing too much effort from the brain. Sometimes you want the mental exercises and a deep novel and other times you just want to read some light fluffy easy romance. This book is great in the light and fluffy type. I enjoyed it but I wouldn't read it a second time so it won't go in my keepers file, as I tend tomwards the deeper novels but horses for courses and this is just the book to while away a train journey or something.
Stars, 3.5 – its better than three but doesn't make my four grade.
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