What do you think?
Rate this book
The Sheikh's Unsuitable Bride
The single mom's new chauffeur to the sheikh!
Zahir was surprised to find he had a beautiful new driver. This chauffeur did not blend into the background. Oh, no. Diana Metcalfe talked. She laughed. She took him on unplanned detours. And he had more fun than he'd had in years.
But back in his desert kingdom, a dynastic marriage was being brokered for Zahir. Crazy though it seemed, he wished that this wonderful, vivacious, thoroughly unsuitable woman could be his bride instead.…
Zahir was surprised to find he had a beautiful new driver. This chauffeur did not blend into the background. Oh, no. Diana Metcalfe talked. She laughed. She took him on unplanned detours. And he had more fun than he'd had in years.
But back in his desert kingdom, a dynastic marriage was being brokered for Zahir. Crazy though it seemed, he wished that this wonderful, vivacious, thoroughly unsuitable woman could be his bride instead.…
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
12 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
Liz Fielding
567 books468 followersHi, I'm Liz Fielding, and I'm a best selling contemporary romance author with more than 15 million books in print and Katie Fforde wrote, when honouring me with the Romantic Novelists' Association's Outstanding Achievement Award in 2019 said - "Liz Fielding's books, with their warmth, humour and emotion, have charmed millions of readers. She is a true star of the romantic fiction genre..."
And now I've turned to a life of crime with my first cozy mystery. Murder Among the Roses, published on 18 April 2023 - of which Katie Fforde also said, "I was gripped from beginning to end..."
Reading is a big part of my life. I love witty, contemporary romances, not too much sex,, Women's fiction by the likes of Fiona Harper, Julie Cohen, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Jennifer Crusie and Barbara O'Neal. And I love crime fiction that isn't too gory, or focussed on clue hunting, but is big on character.
My best loved series at the moment are the Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths, The Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch and the Libby Sarjeant Mysteries by Lesley Cookman. I've just read the first in the Georgina Drake crime series from Kate Hardy and looking forward to the next.
For news and excerpts of my new releases, visit me at http://www.lizfielding.com and sign up for my newsletter
And now I've turned to a life of crime with my first cozy mystery. Murder Among the Roses, published on 18 April 2023 - of which Katie Fforde also said, "I was gripped from beginning to end..."
Reading is a big part of my life. I love witty, contemporary romances, not too much sex,, Women's fiction by the likes of Fiona Harper, Julie Cohen, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Jennifer Crusie and Barbara O'Neal. And I love crime fiction that isn't too gory, or focussed on clue hunting, but is big on character.
My best loved series at the moment are the Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths, The Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch and the Libby Sarjeant Mysteries by Lesley Cookman. I've just read the first in the Georgina Drake crime series from Kate Hardy and looking forward to the next.
For news and excerpts of my new releases, visit me at http://www.lizfielding.com and sign up for my newsletter
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 30, 2023
It is no secret that I love a Sheikh story add author Liz Fielding and it is a win, win situation, I loved this one from start to finish, Liz Fielding knows how to put true romance into her stories she has wonderful characters, characters that are easy to fall in love with.
Diana Metcalf is a chauffeur and single mum, she lives at home with her mum and dad and works hard to one day own her own pink taxi, she is normally driving the school mini bus but when sickness strikes Diana is moved up to driving the number one car and VIP Sheikh Zahir.
Zahir is in London for business and has a very busy schedule, when is met by a different chauffeur on his arrival he never realizes how his life might change, Metcalf is not only beautiful but bright and bubbly and says what she thinks and makes him smile, soon he is doing things that he would never have though he would, especially when he knows his mother is arranging a marriage for him, as that is the way it is done in his country.
It is not long before Zahir is wanting more as is Diana, but Diana has made one mistake already and her son Freddy must come first and Zahir has responsibilities at home, but the paparazzi are onto them and Zahir whisks all of the family away to his special place where questions are answered and hearts soar, will they find true love?
I do highly recommend this one to any romance reader, I smiled at the witty banter and cheered them one, this is one not to be missed there is lots of emotions and a very sensual pull.
Diana Metcalf is a chauffeur and single mum, she lives at home with her mum and dad and works hard to one day own her own pink taxi, she is normally driving the school mini bus but when sickness strikes Diana is moved up to driving the number one car and VIP Sheikh Zahir.
Zahir is in London for business and has a very busy schedule, when is met by a different chauffeur on his arrival he never realizes how his life might change, Metcalf is not only beautiful but bright and bubbly and says what she thinks and makes him smile, soon he is doing things that he would never have though he would, especially when he knows his mother is arranging a marriage for him, as that is the way it is done in his country.
It is not long before Zahir is wanting more as is Diana, but Diana has made one mistake already and her son Freddy must come first and Zahir has responsibilities at home, but the paparazzi are onto them and Zahir whisks all of the family away to his special place where questions are answered and hearts soar, will they find true love?
I do highly recommend this one to any romance reader, I smiled at the witty banter and cheered them one, this is one not to be missed there is lots of emotions and a very sensual pull.
October 18, 2008
I really enjoyed the interplay of personalities in this novel.
September 16, 2012
I loved every moment reading this book. It was well-written and it had this sort of essence to it. Like, it's not just a romance story designed to entertain but rather, it had a real meaning to it and I loved that.
I also loved the fact that the hero wasn't an arrogant jerk like most stories I've read, that he was never "just playing" with the heroine. They recognized that they had this connection but were mature enough to know where their priorities lay.
The ending was simple, but it made an impact on me and it made me want to read more. An epilogue would have done wonders.
All in all, I highly recommend this for a short, sweet, 99% fulfilling (seeing as I wanted more) read.
I also loved the fact that the hero wasn't an arrogant jerk like most stories I've read, that he was never "just playing" with the heroine. They recognized that they had this connection but were mature enough to know where their priorities lay.
The ending was simple, but it made an impact on me and it made me want to read more. An epilogue would have done wonders.
All in all, I highly recommend this for a short, sweet, 99% fulfilling (seeing as I wanted more) read.
November 24, 2008
Loved this book such a great read.These two people will keep you in your seats through the whole book until the end. What a read.
July 27, 2024
Boring!
Read
August 6, 2015A few months back, I had the idea to get three Harlequin novels from the library for research. The first I read was a thriller/romance, and it was easy to gobble up. This one and the other however failed to hold my interest. Once you already know that Harlequin novels require a happy ending, and there are no dramatic subplots, it is hard to care about the story. But despite this, and despite the poor copy editing on the part of the publisher, Fielding does have her own strengths as a writer. I found this passage particularly evocative:
But never mind that. What I really want to know is why is there a Harlequin sub-genre for romances with an Arab male lead? I guess I always thought there was a big overlap in the audience of Harlequin and Fox News--my grandfather's second wife always left "Love Inspired" books all over the bathroom. I have to imagine some little old lady watching a Bill O'Reilly rant and suddenly being overcome with Arab fever. The character in this book, and I assume the others in the series, is a powerful young man attempting to bridge traditional culture and the modern world. He's a sheikh from a socially conservative family, but also an ambitious CEO of an international corporation. The only Islamic reference throughout the book is the word Allah used in one scene, but his Arab racial identity is prominent, especially in the later chapters that use some Arabic words and describe traditional clothing. I wonder if, with religious differences swept firmly under the rug, this type of story might humanize Arab people for an otherwise less sympathetic demographic.
Maybe his excitement, his joy, were infectious, but somehow before she knew it, she was singing to him, filling in the gaps in the words with 'da-da-de-dum's and they were dancing in Berkeley Square to a song that as old when her parents had first danced to it. A song in which the magic of falling in love made the impossible happen. Made London a place where angels dined, where nightingales sang and where the streets were paved with stars.
But never mind that. What I really want to know is why is there a Harlequin sub-genre for romances with an Arab male lead? I guess I always thought there was a big overlap in the audience of Harlequin and Fox News--my grandfather's second wife always left "Love Inspired" books all over the bathroom. I have to imagine some little old lady watching a Bill O'Reilly rant and suddenly being overcome with Arab fever. The character in this book, and I assume the others in the series, is a powerful young man attempting to bridge traditional culture and the modern world. He's a sheikh from a socially conservative family, but also an ambitious CEO of an international corporation. The only Islamic reference throughout the book is the word Allah used in one scene, but his Arab racial identity is prominent, especially in the later chapters that use some Arabic words and describe traditional clothing. I wonder if, with religious differences swept firmly under the rug, this type of story might humanize Arab people for an otherwise less sympathetic demographic.
June 14, 2015
Diana fährt normalerweise Schulbussen, doch dann bekommt sie die Chance ein Tag lang die Luxuslimousine überhaupt zu fahren. Dann auch noch Scheich Zahir, als Fahrgast. Zahir verhält sich nicht wie sonst ein Fahrgast sich verhalten würde. Diana kommt sich vor wie in einem Märchen, bis die Realität sie einholt.
Eine sehr schöne und märchenhafte Geschichte. Das erste Mal seit lange eine Geschichte ohne Sex, die ich gelesen habe. :) Diana und Zahir sind sehr gut beschrieben, auch die Gefühle von beiden, lassen sich sehr gut mit erleben. Ich konnte sehr mit Diana leiden, aber auch lachen. Die komplette Geschichte ist mit sehr viel Kitsch und Romantik durch zogen. Genau das richtige, wenn man wieder mal einen schlechten Tag hatte und Aufmunterung braucht.
Eine sehr schöne und märchenhafte Geschichte. Das erste Mal seit lange eine Geschichte ohne Sex, die ich gelesen habe. :) Diana und Zahir sind sehr gut beschrieben, auch die Gefühle von beiden, lassen sich sehr gut mit erleben. Ich konnte sehr mit Diana leiden, aber auch lachen. Die komplette Geschichte ist mit sehr viel Kitsch und Romantik durch zogen. Genau das richtige, wenn man wieder mal einen schlechten Tag hatte und Aufmunterung braucht.
March 17, 2016
Awww! This was a really great story and had a meaning to it, not only for entertainment value but had matter to it.
I really liked that the Sheikh was not a chauvinist ass who use women as accessories as many Mills & Boons or Harlequin books do. This book was completely different. The MC was nice, hard working, self pitying yet genuinely an interesting character.
Also despite being a single mother the Sheikh accepts her and her son both with open heart and that shows the modernization of even Arab countries, though it is romanticized a bit in this story. It was a good story.
I really liked that the Sheikh was not a chauvinist ass who use women as accessories as many Mills & Boons or Harlequin books do. This book was completely different. The MC was nice, hard working, self pitying yet genuinely an interesting character.
Also despite being a single mother the Sheikh accepts her and her son both with open heart and that shows the modernization of even Arab countries, though it is romanticized a bit in this story. It was a good story.
Read
February 8, 2010Very cute read with a different twist. A Sheikh comes to England on business and Diana is assigned to be his chauffeur. Diana is more used to driving a busload of children around. She is used to speaking plaining - sometimes out of turn. The Sheikh is charmed by Diana and finds himself falling love with her. But he feels that his family may not accept her, since he is supposed to have an arranged marriage.
August 7, 2014
I really enjoyed this. Fielding has a lively and witty writing style. Though there's a fairytale theme to the story, there's also a down to earth element that makes the characters relateable. I loved Diana especially, she was lots of fun to follow and cheer for.
February 19, 2014
I loved it....!!!
January 18, 2017
Remarkably not horrible.
It's my first by Fielding. And my first in the sheikh genre. Not sure how I feel about the genre but Fielding is pretty good.
It's my first by Fielding. And my first in the sheikh genre. Not sure how I feel about the genre but Fielding is pretty good.
July 25, 2017
Whenever I want a warm, comforting read, I need look no further than a Liz Fielding Harlequin Romance story. This one is no exception.
I wanted to read this story too because I had read the manga comic version of the book and was left rather unsatisfied. I missed the richness of the storytelling, the descriptions of the feelings and the characters. I didn't even know the color of the heroine's hair (which the manga comic got wrong, by the way!).
Reading the book for this story filled me with a sense of warmth and completeness. It gave me details to Zahir and Diana which I did not get from the manga comic. Don't get me wrong, the manga comic was cute and delightful in its own way, but in this case (like with movies) the book is so much better.
I got to know who Zahir was as a man. He was kind, hardworking and compassionate. He wanted a life of his own but felt he needed to follow the tradition of his culture and to honor his family in doing what they wanted of him. He was an honorable man who wanted more for himself than tradition dictated. Zahir is everything you'd want in a prince (or sheikh in this instance!) and nothing like the sheikhs I have encountered in real life after living in the Middle East. Truly, a girl would not be swooning over a real Middle Eastern prince, but Zahir is lovely. I enjoyed how entranced he was with Diana, how he could not help himself when it came to how he behaved around her. He was so sweet to her.
It was the same for Diana. We got small glimpses into her life and her as a person in the manga comic but the written word showed me so much more. I truly did understand her struggles, being a single mum, trying to look after her parents, feeling guilty about not being around enough for her son while she had to work so hard to provide for him. And how she felt about Zahir. Zahir was way out of her league and it was truly a Cinderella story. She was a level headed and realistic young woman who knew her place in the world even though she had dreams of her own and was working towards making those dreams come true. In the book, you get to see Diana struggle with her attraction to Zahir and it is most poignant when she has a conversation with her mother about love.
I truly enjoyed reading this book and getting to know Zahir and Diana in so much more depth. The manga comic was fun, but the book is so much more emotionally satisfying.
See more from Deanna's World
I wanted to read this story too because I had read the manga comic version of the book and was left rather unsatisfied. I missed the richness of the storytelling, the descriptions of the feelings and the characters. I didn't even know the color of the heroine's hair (which the manga comic got wrong, by the way!).
Reading the book for this story filled me with a sense of warmth and completeness. It gave me details to Zahir and Diana which I did not get from the manga comic. Don't get me wrong, the manga comic was cute and delightful in its own way, but in this case (like with movies) the book is so much better.
I got to know who Zahir was as a man. He was kind, hardworking and compassionate. He wanted a life of his own but felt he needed to follow the tradition of his culture and to honor his family in doing what they wanted of him. He was an honorable man who wanted more for himself than tradition dictated. Zahir is everything you'd want in a prince (or sheikh in this instance!) and nothing like the sheikhs I have encountered in real life after living in the Middle East. Truly, a girl would not be swooning over a real Middle Eastern prince, but Zahir is lovely. I enjoyed how entranced he was with Diana, how he could not help himself when it came to how he behaved around her. He was so sweet to her.
It was the same for Diana. We got small glimpses into her life and her as a person in the manga comic but the written word showed me so much more. I truly did understand her struggles, being a single mum, trying to look after her parents, feeling guilty about not being around enough for her son while she had to work so hard to provide for him. And how she felt about Zahir. Zahir was way out of her league and it was truly a Cinderella story. She was a level headed and realistic young woman who knew her place in the world even though she had dreams of her own and was working towards making those dreams come true. In the book, you get to see Diana struggle with her attraction to Zahir and it is most poignant when she has a conversation with her mother about love.
I truly enjoyed reading this book and getting to know Zahir and Diana in so much more depth. The manga comic was fun, but the book is so much more emotionally satisfying.
See more from Deanna's World
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews