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Desert Rogues #5
The Sheik and the Virgin Princess
When prim professor Zara Paxton ventures to distant Bahania, she wants only to find the father she'd never known. But her father turns out to be King Hassan of Bahania. The desert king promptly put his "princess" under the protection of a muscular, mesmerizing Sheik, who sets Zara's sense aflame, yet he refuses to quench the fire!
Steely security liaison Rafe Stryker scorns lasting love. But before he knows it, the bespectacled brunette sneaks into his heart, making him throb with the urge to taste her sweetness. Clearly, innocent Princess Zara wanted to be his woman, but taking her was tantamount to treason. Rafe knows the consequences, but even he can stand so much temptation.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 2002
76 people are currently reading
624 people want to read
About the author
Susan Mallery
875 books15.6k followers#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming and humorous novels about the relationships that define women's lives—family, friendship, romance. She's best known for putting nuanced characters into emotionally complex, real-life situations with twists that surprise readers to laughter. Because Susan is passionate about animal welfare, pets play a big role in her books. Beloved by millions of readers worldwide, her books have been translated into 28 languages.
Critics have dubbed Mallery "the new queen of romantic fiction." (Walmart) Booklist says, "Romance novels don't get much better than Mallery's expert blend of emotional nuance, humor, and superb storytelling," and RT Book Reviews puts her "in a class by herself!" It's no wonder that her books have spent more than 200 weeks on the USA Today bestsellers list.
Although Susan majored in Accounting, she never worked as an accountant because she was published straight out of college with two books the same month. Sixteen prolific years and seventy-four books later, she hit the New York Times bestsellers list for the first time with Accidentally Yours in 2008. She made many appearances in the Top 10 before (finally) hitting #1 in 2015 with Thrill Me, the twentieth book in her most popular series, the Fool's Gold romances, and the fourth of five books released that year.
Susan lives in Washington state with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Her heart for animals has led Susan to become an active supporter of the Seattle Humane Society. Visit Susan online at www.SusanMallery.com.
Critics have dubbed Mallery "the new queen of romantic fiction." (Walmart) Booklist says, "Romance novels don't get much better than Mallery's expert blend of emotional nuance, humor, and superb storytelling," and RT Book Reviews puts her "in a class by herself!" It's no wonder that her books have spent more than 200 weeks on the USA Today bestsellers list.
Although Susan majored in Accounting, she never worked as an accountant because she was published straight out of college with two books the same month. Sixteen prolific years and seventy-four books later, she hit the New York Times bestsellers list for the first time with Accidentally Yours in 2008. She made many appearances in the Top 10 before (finally) hitting #1 in 2015 with Thrill Me, the twentieth book in her most popular series, the Fool's Gold romances, and the fourth of five books released that year.
Susan lives in Washington state with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Her heart for animals has led Susan to become an active supporter of the Seattle Humane Society. Visit Susan online at www.SusanMallery.com.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 1, 2010
I was sooo disappointed with this book! Having enjoyed the previous books in the series, I was excited to read this 5th installment featuring two "normal" people - "normal" meaning Rafe wasn't a born sheik and Zara was supposed to be a no-nonsense college professor. Well, I'm sorry to say that almost nothing in this book worked for me: Rafe was too passive, Zara was annoyingly and unbelievably innocent, they had no chemistry together, the secondary characters weren't engaging and the plot had more holes than Swiss cheese. The only saving grace was one or other funny scene, but it was too little to compensate for everything else.
I intend to take a long(-ish) break from this series now, because the next books are about the princes of Bahania and I can't stand their father, King Hassan. Ugh, the man is just an insensitive clod.
I intend to take a long(-ish) break from this series now, because the next books are about the princes of Bahania and I can't stand their father, King Hassan. Ugh, the man is just an insensitive clod.
October 27, 2016
Really enjoyed this story of professor Zara who finds out she's a princess and Rafe, Kardal's bodyguard and honorary Sheikh.
I liked how she had difficulty adjusting but Rafe was there with her every step of the way. I still don't like the cat obsessed Hassan, and I'm glad the author addressed how he behaved with Sabra.
I can't wait to read about what happened with Cleo.
Wish this had an epilogue. I'd have liked to know what happened in far future (though I know books are in continuation!)
Safe read
3.75/5
I liked how she had difficulty adjusting but Rafe was there with her every step of the way. I still don't like the cat obsessed Hassan, and I'm glad the author addressed how he behaved with Sabra.
I can't wait to read about what happened with Cleo.
Wish this had an epilogue. I'd have liked to know what happened in far future (though I know books are in continuation!)
Safe read
3.75/5
June 1, 2016
Sweet love story about a bodyguard who falls in love with the princess he must protect. Sadly like others said the ending felt really rushed and abrupt.
July 8, 2010
I loved this book. The banter between Rafe and Zara was believable and entertaining. Zara is a college proffessor on vacation in Bahania. She has evidence that she could be the King's daughter. Zara was mistakenly dragged to the royal private residence by a new guard who thinks she is the princess Sabra. She finds out that she does look like princess Sabra and with good reason.....they are sisters. The reader knows this from the very beginning from the letters and ring she carries. Rafe is assigned to be her body guard....and boy does he guard her Body!!!!!
This was the first Mallery book I've ever read and I will be looking for lots more by her!
This was the first Mallery book I've ever read and I will be looking for lots more by her!
June 13, 2019
So I was reading another book about a princess and her bodyguard Forbidden: The Billionaire's Virgin Princess and wasn't having any fun at all and suddenly remembered instances from this one I'd read years before.. So, I left that unfinished to track down this one and reread it. I love this one!
Ill go finish that one now...
Ill go finish that one now...
August 15, 2012
Liked this book, very fast read... However, everytime Rafe's name was mentioned I kept thinking of him in his other book and how his stories didnt quite match up. In this book he said he was an orphan and didnt have any family, etc.
May 12, 2018
Ugh, I loathe this title even if the story is one of my favorites in this series. Zara is a fun princess to follow as she finds her long-lost family and falls for her wrong-side-of-the-tracks bodyguard. I wish there would be more discussion of Zara's Ph.D. and how that plays into her story but overall, she's one of the more enlightened heroines in this series. Rafe, her reluctant hero, has a depth to him that I can appreciate; though his hard luck story is fairly standard in romances so his struggle to realize he's in love seems rote in some ways if you've read enough of these.
August 13, 2020
A typical Harlaquin type story girl finds her unknown father. Her father is a King of a small rich foreign country. So now she's a princess and she falls in love with her body guard. Father's not happy. But every thing works out in the end and everyone lives happy ever after.
July 29, 2017
Love it. Except for jealous Sabrina, hate when good women turn evil.
Did not finish
January 31, 2021The inconsistencies got to be too much for me...
January 6, 2017
Awesome ending. Can't wait to read the next book.
April 30, 2024
So, I didn't think this was bad. But I did think it was weird/annoying that Zara was surprised that 1. She needed to have a bodyguard and 2. Rafe was armed. Like no shit, he's going to carry a gun! I would be worried if he didn't. 🤨 It came up a few times, too.
Other random thoughts - I could understand why Sabrina wasn't as welcoming. I mean, I'd be pissed too if my dad treated me how he treated her (see book #4) and then he turns around and treats Zara like he did. Calling her the "daughter of his heart" and such. I am actually surprised Sabrina got over it as quickly as she did. I would have been way more salty. Though yes, it wasn't Zara's fault, so it wasn't fair to act like it was, which is what Sabrina realized.
I thought this comment was a bit disturbing though -
"Men had been sniffing around her since Cleo had turned fourteen. While her sister had been on every guy’s wish list, Zara had spent her weekends alone."
Um, what? 😮 Why are adult men interested in a 14 yo girl? If she meant age appropriate boys (13, 14 yo), then fine. But saying men and then mentioning 14 seems very gross. 🤨
Cleo's book is #6, so not sure if this will be mentioned or not.
Other random thoughts - I could understand why Sabrina wasn't as welcoming. I mean, I'd be pissed too if my dad treated me how he treated her (see book #4) and then he turns around and treats Zara like he did. Calling her the "daughter of his heart" and such. I am actually surprised Sabrina got over it as quickly as she did. I would have been way more salty. Though yes, it wasn't Zara's fault, so it wasn't fair to act like it was, which is what Sabrina realized.
I thought this comment was a bit disturbing though -
"Men had been sniffing around her since Cleo had turned fourteen. While her sister had been on every guy’s wish list, Zara had spent her weekends alone."
Um, what? 😮 Why are adult men interested in a 14 yo girl? If she meant age appropriate boys (13, 14 yo), then fine. But saying men and then mentioning 14 seems very gross. 🤨
Cleo's book is #6, so not sure if this will be mentioned or not.
June 26, 2012
Rafe Stryker is a sheikh by virtue of an honor he received when saving the life of the Prince of Thieves, but up to this point he has been a loner drifting from job to job as a security expert. Zara Paxton grew up in the United States thinking she was average, despite her unusual upbringing. However, while sorting through her deceased mother's belongings, she discovers that her father may be King Hassan of Bahania. With her foster sister Cleo in tow, she visits Bahana to decide whether she should reach out to the King. She meets Rafe during a mix-up at the palace and he decides to investigate her claim and potential threat to the royal family. /
It turns out that Zara's mother was the one true love of the promiscuous king and he is eager to get to know his long-lost daughter. Zara and Cleo are immediately moved into the royal palace and Rafe is assigned as the new princess' bodyguard, even though he officially works for the City of Thieves and is only in Bahania to work on developing a joint air force between their two governments and El Bahar. /
Though frustrated with the king's decree, Rafe is even more bothered by his attraction to Zara. The attraction is mutual, but Zara also comes to depend on him as the only person who understands her discomfort in this new world. Rafe knows that messing around with the king's new favorite child would be a disaster, so he tries to resist both Zara's desire and his own. Not only could he literally lose his head, but he knows that Zara wants and deserves the kind of committment he doesn't think he can offer. /
While Zara's reaction is completely understandable, being overwhelmed constantly doesn't leave her much time to be interesting. Despite this, I still find myself liking her. Rafe is a great hero: strong, kind, intelligent, and sensitive. This story felt kind of strange, almost as if it was just a layover between other installments in the series. There's definitely set-up for the next book.
It turns out that Zara's mother was the one true love of the promiscuous king and he is eager to get to know his long-lost daughter. Zara and Cleo are immediately moved into the royal palace and Rafe is assigned as the new princess' bodyguard, even though he officially works for the City of Thieves and is only in Bahania to work on developing a joint air force between their two governments and El Bahar. /
Though frustrated with the king's decree, Rafe is even more bothered by his attraction to Zara. The attraction is mutual, but Zara also comes to depend on him as the only person who understands her discomfort in this new world. Rafe knows that messing around with the king's new favorite child would be a disaster, so he tries to resist both Zara's desire and his own. Not only could he literally lose his head, but he knows that Zara wants and deserves the kind of committment he doesn't think he can offer. /
While Zara's reaction is completely understandable, being overwhelmed constantly doesn't leave her much time to be interesting. Despite this, I still find myself liking her. Rafe is a great hero: strong, kind, intelligent, and sensitive. This story felt kind of strange, almost as if it was just a layover between other installments in the series. There's definitely set-up for the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2011
I really enjoyed The Sheik and the Virgin Princess it was another Harlequin book that was smooth and enjoyable from start to finish.
Zara was the type of Princess I would like to be. Instead of knowing she was born as a Princess she was thrust into the title at the age of 28. She hadn’t grown up knowing her father was a King and hadn’t enjoyed the wealth and benefits of the royal position, so she wasn’t like the typical snobby, spoilt, rich brats that royalty are often referred to. Her life hadn’t been easy, which had shaped her into a great heroine – one with independence and an understanding of who she was as a person.
Rafe – was the sexy bodyguard that we all fantasise about, all things yummy, thrown together with determination, confidence and also a sweet side. I loved their slow seduction and laughed out loud at the first sex scene. As the title states – Zara is a virgin and I don’t mean the type that has gone past all 3 bases and just has to get to the home plate – HELL NO – Zara was completely virginal, to the point that it was humorous.
Favourite Quote:
“I don’t have a frame of reference,” she said. “Is it big?”
“Huge.”
“I’d like to touch you.”
“Feel free.”
After finishing this book I now want to go back and read the book before it (yes, I did read them out of order and I definitely need to find Cleo’s book!
Zara was the type of Princess I would like to be. Instead of knowing she was born as a Princess she was thrust into the title at the age of 28. She hadn’t grown up knowing her father was a King and hadn’t enjoyed the wealth and benefits of the royal position, so she wasn’t like the typical snobby, spoilt, rich brats that royalty are often referred to. Her life hadn’t been easy, which had shaped her into a great heroine – one with independence and an understanding of who she was as a person.
Rafe – was the sexy bodyguard that we all fantasise about, all things yummy, thrown together with determination, confidence and also a sweet side. I loved their slow seduction and laughed out loud at the first sex scene. As the title states – Zara is a virgin and I don’t mean the type that has gone past all 3 bases and just has to get to the home plate – HELL NO – Zara was completely virginal, to the point that it was humorous.
Favourite Quote:
“I don’t have a frame of reference,” she said. “Is it big?”
“Huge.”
“I’d like to touch you.”
“Feel free.”
After finishing this book I now want to go back and read the book before it (yes, I did read them out of order and I definitely need to find Cleo’s book!
February 4, 2013
I liked Rafe from the previous book, he had a good sense of humor and it was a very serious guy especially because of his job and the dangerous places he had visited during his life as a soldier. I liked him better on the begin of this book, but the ending was a bit rushed and some information was never even shared.
Zara was annoying during the most part of the book. She wanted a family and them she didn’t want to stay learning about her father. She was contradictory most of the time and kept complains that she never wanted that. I get it she was poor and a king for a daddy is not what anyone would expect but she just could accept things.
The relationship between these two was a bit rushed and it was fun to watch them getting to know secrets but also a bit boring. There was maybe two kisses and them they jumped to sex. Next week she’s in love and he’s afraid of commitment. Fun times. But I liked king Hassan, he improved the attitude and the way he treated his daughter.
Zara was annoying during the most part of the book. She wanted a family and them she didn’t want to stay learning about her father. She was contradictory most of the time and kept complains that she never wanted that. I get it she was poor and a king for a daddy is not what anyone would expect but she just could accept things.
The relationship between these two was a bit rushed and it was fun to watch them getting to know secrets but also a bit boring. There was maybe two kisses and them they jumped to sex. Next week she’s in love and he’s afraid of commitment. Fun times. But I liked king Hassan, he improved the attitude and the way he treated his daughter.
May 8, 2015
Okay when I said I like it hot, I guess that included a certain desire to read desert-based stories. Handsome, rich sheiks anyone?
I went on a search at my local library for books with "sheik" and found several. Plus, my Kindle is about to have a nervous breakdown because of the books I've been snatching of late that have sheiks, billionaires and millionaires in them.
This was one of the ones I found at the local library (thank you so much for having it!) and I enjoyed it tremendously.
Rafe has closed off his heart and any desire to settle down in favor of his job and freedom. Zara is a nerd (yes!) who learns some unexpected truths about her parentage. When the two met it is anything but ideal but what emerges from the chance encounter is something spectacular.
Both characters were well-written and developed as were all the secondary characters who made this story come alive.
Would I recommend this book? Yes.
I went on a search at my local library for books with "sheik" and found several. Plus, my Kindle is about to have a nervous breakdown because of the books I've been snatching of late that have sheiks, billionaires and millionaires in them.
This was one of the ones I found at the local library (thank you so much for having it!) and I enjoyed it tremendously.
Rafe has closed off his heart and any desire to settle down in favor of his job and freedom. Zara is a nerd (yes!) who learns some unexpected truths about her parentage. When the two met it is anything but ideal but what emerges from the chance encounter is something spectacular.
Both characters were well-written and developed as were all the secondary characters who made this story come alive.
Would I recommend this book? Yes.
June 16, 2013
When prim professor Zara Paxton ventures to distant Bahania, she wants only to find the father she'd never known. But her father turns out to be King Hassan of Bahania. The desert king promptly put his "princess" under the protection of a muscular, mesmerizing Sheik, who sets Zara's sense aflame, yet he refuses to quench the fire!
Steely security liaison Rafe Stryker scorns lasting love. But before he knows it, the bespectacled brunette sneaks into his heart, making him throb with the urge to taste her sweetness. Clearly, innocent Princess Zara wanted to be his woman, but taking her was tantamount to treason. Rafe knows the consequences, but even he can stand so much temptation.
Another awesome book. Loved everything about it. The plot was great. The story flowed nicely. It
never felt like it was dragging out to no end. I just loved it. 5 star
Steely security liaison Rafe Stryker scorns lasting love. But before he knows it, the bespectacled brunette sneaks into his heart, making him throb with the urge to taste her sweetness. Clearly, innocent Princess Zara wanted to be his woman, but taking her was tantamount to treason. Rafe knows the consequences, but even he can stand so much temptation.
Another awesome book. Loved everything about it. The plot was great. The story flowed nicely. It
never felt like it was dragging out to no end. I just loved it. 5 star
August 14, 2016
THIS. This right here was worth wading through the turd that was the previous three books in the series! So many things I loved about this book:
- the female lead, a women's studies professor
- the male lead, a respectful, hilarious, sexy, and not obnoxiously overbearing man
- the completely realistic and understandable tension with Sabrina (character from previous novel)
- the final plot tension didn't involve the tired man-refuses-to-declare-love-until-woman-runs-away trope
- steamy sex scenes
Even the whole virgin thing, which I typically would complain endlessly about, was handled super well. At no point did Rafe imply her being a virgin was fantastic because women should be virgins or some nonsense, which was fantastic. This is the best romance novel I've read so far!!
- the female lead, a women's studies professor
- the male lead, a respectful, hilarious, sexy, and not obnoxiously overbearing man
- the completely realistic and understandable tension with Sabrina (character from previous novel)
- the final plot tension didn't involve the tired man-refuses-to-declare-love-until-woman-runs-away trope
- steamy sex scenes
Even the whole virgin thing, which I typically would complain endlessly about, was handled super well. At no point did Rafe imply her being a virgin was fantastic because women should be virgins or some nonsense, which was fantastic. This is the best romance novel I've read so far!!
November 7, 2016
It was an OK book. Zara Paxton wanted to find the father she never knew, who turned out to be a king, and Rafe Stryker was assigned as her bodyguard as she learned to navigate her new world.
I really don't have any strong feelings about either character one way or the other. Their relationship just didn't do anything for me.
I really don't have any strong feelings about either character one way or the other. Their relationship just didn't do anything for me.
May 3, 2014
I loved this series can't wait to read more
August 19, 2012
Loved it!!!!
August 27, 2012
Not too shabby. I actually enjoyed this one a lot. I didn't love it unfortunately. The ending really threw me for a loop. Yes we get a happy ending but it ended WAY too soon.
November 24, 2012
lagi keranjingan baca ttg cerita sheikh dan prince desert....
Jd buku ini, buku pertama yg aq baca utk seri ini... Lumayan oke buat dibaca bagi yg bosan dgn HR
Jd buku ini, buku pertama yg aq baca utk seri ini... Lumayan oke buat dibaca bagi yg bosan dgn HR
June 14, 2014
The only problem I had was how rushed the ending was. Its a good thing their story continued in The Prince and Pregnant Princess.
January 21, 2016
I enjoyed reading
Read
December 27, 2017Miniseries: Desert Rogues
January 4, 2023
Esta es otra para ser favorita, ambos protagonistas no se rinden a pesar de tener todo en su contra para poder estar juntos
October 19, 2017
underdeveloped heroine who complains too much and is annoyingly naive
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews