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Desert Vows #1
The Sultan's Harem Bride
Desert princess to join harem
Sultan Asim of Jazeer has hundreds of women at his beck and call. So why does he want the only one who threatens to reveal his family's shameful secrets?
Journalist Jacqui Fletcher jumped at the chance to write a history of the harem-not to become a sultan's plaything! But it's hard to remember her assignment when the sultan's sensuous caresses spark a fire she's never experienced before…
Asim is looking for a pliable princess for a marriage of duty. Brave, beautiful Jacqui couldn't be more wrong for him. So why does holding her feel so right?
Sultan Asim of Jazeer has hundreds of women at his beck and call. So why does he want the only one who threatens to reveal his family's shameful secrets?
Journalist Jacqui Fletcher jumped at the chance to write a history of the harem-not to become a sultan's plaything! But it's hard to remember her assignment when the sultan's sensuous caresses spark a fire she's never experienced before…
Asim is looking for a pliable princess for a marriage of duty. Brave, beautiful Jacqui couldn't be more wrong for him. So why does holding her feel so right?
187 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 20, 2015
About the author
Annie West
945 books559 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Hello! I love writing passionate, intense love stories about sexy alpha men and the women who are their perfect match. Look out for my books with Harlequin (Presents) or Mills & Boon (Modern/Sexy) and for my indie stories, full of passion and intense emotion with a touch of glamour. My latest stories are my Hot Italian Nights series including 'Bound to the Italian Boss' June '17, 'The Italian's Bold Reckoning' July '17, 'At the Italian's Bidding' August '17 and 'Falling for the Brooding Italian' September '17.
Yes, I do like a dark, handsome hero!
You can catch up with my news at www.annie-west.com (where you can also sign up for my exclusive reader newsletter with giveaways and behind the scenes info). I'm on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/anniewest.au... and I adore hearing from readers. You can also contact me at annie(at)annie-west(dot)com
I live with my family at beautiful Lake Macquarie on the east Coast of Australia and my favourite things when not writing are good food, good company, great books, getting outside in nature and travel.
Bookwise, I'm a multi USA Today bestselling author with millions of books sold, in English as well as in lots of other languages. I've won the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award and the Romantic Book of the Year (Romance Writers of Australia). One of my favourite review quotes is from Romantic Times which said in its review of The Sheikh's Ransomed Bride 'This is what a love story could be.'.
Hello! I love writing passionate, intense love stories about sexy alpha men and the women who are their perfect match. Look out for my books with Harlequin (Presents) or Mills & Boon (Modern/Sexy) and for my indie stories, full of passion and intense emotion with a touch of glamour. My latest stories are my Hot Italian Nights series including 'Bound to the Italian Boss' June '17, 'The Italian's Bold Reckoning' July '17, 'At the Italian's Bidding' August '17 and 'Falling for the Brooding Italian' September '17.
Yes, I do like a dark, handsome hero!
You can catch up with my news at www.annie-west.com (where you can also sign up for my exclusive reader newsletter with giveaways and behind the scenes info). I'm on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/anniewest.au... and I adore hearing from readers. You can also contact me at annie(at)annie-west(dot)com
I live with my family at beautiful Lake Macquarie on the east Coast of Australia and my favourite things when not writing are good food, good company, great books, getting outside in nature and travel.
Bookwise, I'm a multi USA Today bestselling author with millions of books sold, in English as well as in lots of other languages. I've won the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award and the Romantic Book of the Year (Romance Writers of Australia). One of my favourite review quotes is from Romantic Times which said in its review of The Sheikh's Ransomed Bride 'This is what a love story could be.'.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
October 14, 2018
"The Sultan's Harem Bride" is the story of Jacqui and Amir.
Our heroine Jacqui had worked as a reporter, until a wrong decision led to the loss of her dear friend Imran. Now suffering from intense PTSD, she has left her old profession to become a writer and heal. Her current work is researching a book on women of the palace and their life, for which she is invited by Lady Rania to the kingdom of Jazeer.
However, lounging naked in the harem one night and falling asleep leaves her exposed to Sultan Asim of Jazeer in her full glory after she is woken up by a nightmare. Initially suspicious of the wild beauty, Asim soon finds himself wildly attracted to the spunky Jacqui and after some reluctance, they find themselves tangled in a passionate affair.
But Asim has to take a bride. Although he still doesn't trust Jacqui, he can't let her go.
On the other hand, Jacqui finds herself fully committed to the wild man whom she slowly loses her heart to. But as problems start arising, she finds him clawing at the wounds that were already very deep.
Can these two survive this tumultuous relationship.
A fantastic roller coaster ride by the author.
The things I admired were
-The angst
-The inner strength of the heroine. I mean, the scene where she puts everything on the line and proposes, despite knowing what the rejection would do to her, was amazing. She was not shy of confrontation, and every time she withdrew in her cocoon I really wanted to hug her.
-The super hot lovemaking
-The whole setting of Jazeer
The only reason I remove a star is the sub par groveling at the end. I really wanted to hero to feel the pain and beg more, especially after the whole bride confession.
Apart from that, a great read.
Safe
4/5
Our heroine Jacqui had worked as a reporter, until a wrong decision led to the loss of her dear friend Imran. Now suffering from intense PTSD, she has left her old profession to become a writer and heal. Her current work is researching a book on women of the palace and their life, for which she is invited by Lady Rania to the kingdom of Jazeer.
However, lounging naked in the harem one night and falling asleep leaves her exposed to Sultan Asim of Jazeer in her full glory after she is woken up by a nightmare. Initially suspicious of the wild beauty, Asim soon finds himself wildly attracted to the spunky Jacqui and after some reluctance, they find themselves tangled in a passionate affair.
But Asim has to take a bride. Although he still doesn't trust Jacqui, he can't let her go.
On the other hand, Jacqui finds herself fully committed to the wild man whom she slowly loses her heart to. But as problems start arising, she finds him clawing at the wounds that were already very deep.
Can these two survive this tumultuous relationship.
A fantastic roller coaster ride by the author.
The things I admired were
-The angst
-The inner strength of the heroine. I mean, the scene where she puts everything on the line and proposes, despite knowing what the rejection would do to her, was amazing. She was not shy of confrontation, and every time she withdrew in her cocoon I really wanted to hug her.
-The super hot lovemaking
-The whole setting of Jazeer
The only reason I remove a star is the sub par groveling at the end. I really wanted to hero to feel the pain and beg more, especially after the whole bride confession.
Apart from that, a great read.
Safe
4/5
January 4, 2015
Sheikh Asim is looking for a pliable princess for a marriage of duty. Our heroine Jacqui couldn't be more wrong for him. She a journalist and he is afraid she will uncover his family's dirty secrets. But Jacqui is there to write a book not expose him to the press or create a scandal. He knows she is wrong for him but he can't help falling for her!
I loved the hero. He was very alpha, sexy and devoted to his sister and grandmother. He has values. I loved the heroine. I loved her innocence and honesty and loyalty. She really is adorable and classy! She taught Asim all about love and how to stop being a coward and follow his heart!
I loved the hero. He was very alpha, sexy and devoted to his sister and grandmother. He has values. I loved the heroine. I loved her innocence and honesty and loyalty. She really is adorable and classy! She taught Asim all about love and how to stop being a coward and follow his heart!
May 23, 2020
The book cover is very alluring. The story plot has a very nice romantic drama to it. I give this book 5 stars.
Read
April 3, 2020DNF - I was so bored with this. I'll try again when I'm in the mood. Writing a history of a harem just isn't that interesting to me.
February 13, 2016
Note: MAJOR plot spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk
Yet another fabulous read by author Annie West. She knows how to tell a story with lots of passion, angst, and just an up and down ride that took me on a journey right along with Asim and Jacqui. Annie West is so awesome, and I love her and her stories with this one being right there on my favorite Harlequin Presents. It just was so, so good. I can't say enough good things, but I will try.
Now admittedly when I first started reading, I wasn't quite feeling it and thought even though it was a decent story with nice characters, it didn't quite have the wow factor. In the beginning it was a solid four stars and nothing sneeze about, but once the story really delved into it and immersed me more into the world of Asim and Jacqui, I absolutely fell in love with it, and found myself changing what my rating to be to a very well deserved five stars. Once it got to that point, then bar was set and had that edge come into that I was looking forward and that I recognized as classic Annie West, and I knew immediately that I was going to fall in love with this book, and I did, much like I have fallen in love with many of Annie's books in the past.
There was nice tension between Asim and Jacqui throughout with the attraction being pretty blatant between the two. It really started immediately when Asim came to her room after hearing her scream because of a nightmare, wanting to immediately help her because she was in distress. When he came upon her, she was completely naked, she liked sleeping in the buff, though that kind of took me aback a little bit when I first read it. It was something I never read before. Anyway as soon as he saw her he was admittedly attracted to her, not just her body, though that helped I am sure seeing her in her full glory, but her soul. And when she awoken she felt that same attraction, but it was more than that it was a connection that they seemed to immediately had with the physical being in the forefront but something more was there. And they battled their attraction for a little bit, but neither could not think of other, with other being so entrenched in their psyche.
There was a bit of tension too because of her profession of being a former journalist, and him not trusting journalists didn't go over too well so briefly there was this mistrust. It didn't last long because their attraction seemed to take over and bond them together. That sexual tension was constant and simmered beneath the surface until they finally gave in.
Now this was when the story went uphill for me was the night of the ball, not because they became intimate, but because I could feel their deep bond to one another as well as that connection that I was looking for. It was about coming together in every manner possible and becoming closer and closer. It showed how their relationship was developing and growing together.
I loved all the tension that happened before they headed towards the bedroom. Just all those lusty feelings were on display once he saw her in that silver dress at the ball. There was so much tension in the scene and the scene that followed in the hallway when he confronted her about her dress choice that made he utterly delectable in his eyes and other men at the ball. He was jealous, plain and simple and he didn't want to share, and he made that very clear. But she believed that he was disgusted with her look and didn't approve because she knew nothing about these things. She was a tomboy after all. There was some emotional tension as well as hurt on her part until he explained how much he wanted her. I loved that whole scene in the hallway and that back and forth with that really being their foreplay just with words, and it was hot, let me tell you. It had my pulse racing for sure. There were physical element to the scene as well with them pressed up against each other against a wall, and I thought in typical Annie West fashion that she was going to have one those passionate scenes that I have become accustomed, but it didn't (it came later), and soon they were headed to the bedroom.
The bedroom scene was steamy, steamy, not that I was expecting anything less especially after all this built up tension between them. It was raw and passionate yet there was a tenderness there as well especially once he found out it was her first time. It was again about their connection and not just about the sex. There was that perfect balance between passion and emotion, which really worked well and felt very natural and believable. Also since it felt very genuine and real there was no question in my mind that they were heading on the path of love. There developing a deeper connection that just knocking boots and they just had this closeness about them, and I believed it. I believed they were getting closer and closer and not just on a physical level. It was a really good scene. And I loved how Miss Jacqui took a little bit control in the scene. It was surprise, and a nice one. There are not many first time scenes where the heroine takes control, but Jacqui sure did and I loved it. She went after what she wanted and she got it, not that Asim was complaining.
As the story went on, they just grew closer and closer and developed a friendship which I really like seeing. Actually they were developing a relationship, and I could actually see that they were falling in love even if they didn't out right speak the words. They still had that bond and connection that went beyond the bedroom. And they were happy together. It was great. They just both had this light about them whenever they were near one another, and then didn't spend too much time apart and when they did they just thought about each other and wanted to be close again. They just couldn't get enough of each other. They missed each other, and it was really sweet to see.
Don't get me wrong they were doing some serious time under the sheets, but there wasn't much focus on that. It was more summarized scenes or fade to black moment, which I usually hate but in the context of this story it worked really well because I wasn't bombarded with their love making and instead focused on them building a relationship with one another. Now if there were a couple more descriptive scenes I wouldn't have complained, but it didn't hurt that there were kind of brief and not as explicit as it could have been at that point in the story. The point was definitely made that they were ripping their clothes off each other and chance they got with two examples that came to mind was the office scene as well as the one up against the wall, yeah Annie went there again, not that I am complaining. The scenes were just really well done and tasteful and passionate and sensual but emotional too. I felt their connection throughout.
Another highlight for me in this story was when things kind of happened and things wasn't quite paradise. Mainly it was Asim misconception of Jacqui's motives during the party scene involving his sister. His thoughts all converged on that she was a journalist and she was acting like it betraying him. The pain in that scene was wow. It broke my heart when this scene came to pass because both Jacqui and Asim hurt because they felt betrayed and not trusted especially Jacqui. I mean it broke her, and I could feel her anguish all the way through when he was accusing of betraying his sister. It was such a powerful scene, and I could feel everything that she was going through. She thought he trusted and when he proved wrong that felt like a betrayal to her so she went off to lick her wounds. Asim realized pretty quickly how wrong he was and immediately went to find her. The highlight for me was during the bonfire scene where Asim found this shattered and broken woman that he broke, and just there was so much going on emotionally in that scene. The sadness just permeated out of both of them. It was palatable, and it was heartbreaking to watch because both of them were so raw from their pervious confrontation. But it was so good too because again it showed them growing closer and being vulnerable to one another again until they came back together. I loved his rawness and openness with her as he tried to apologize and get her to forgive him. He did everything in his power to do that, but not only that he was there for when she became emotional especially when they got into her nightmares and how much they still effected her. I loved that he showed that soft and tender side to himself and that he was genuinely repented for hurting her with his accusations. I could feel everything in that scene, and it was so good. So genuine and lovely, and something that loved seeing. Just seeing how much he cared about her as he tried to soothed her was just beautiful. In fact the whole scene was just beautiful. I loved it. This scene really put the story over the top because it was so good and real.
After that scene, they came back together and had a romantic time in the desert on their own personal honeymoon even if they weren't married. It was a beautiful and sensual honeymoon. I will nick pick here and contradict my earlier statement, but I wished that the intimate scene was more descriptive and shown not just the afterglow in the tub, though the tub part was really beautiful and sensual and just showed their emotional connection as they held each other in the water. It was a sweet and tender scene that I loved seeing, I just wanted see their tender and sweet lovemaking scene before that. I knew I would have loved it. My mind tried to fill in the blanks as much as possible, and it was good in my mind, but I would have like to have seen that scene, which I know would have been very romantic. In fact their entire time there was just pure romance. It was just a special and caring time for the both of them. I loved it showed their intimacy that they had with one another. It was good.
Yet another highlight for me, though kind of sad and painful to watch, was when he honestly told Jacqui that he was searching for a proper wife one he wouldn't love because he believed he could never love, and he knew she deserved know because she was this special woman and he cared about her and wanted to be completely upfront with her. He could've lied, but he didn't. He was honest. And he loved her let's get real he was just too scared to admit it yet, but he was as honest as he thought he was being and wasn't selfish in deciding to let her go even when she offered to stay. If that didn't prove his love for her as well as other actions in the book then I don't know what would have. It was so obvious that he was in love with her and it felt right and very real. Nothing forced and it was completely believable especially since they developed a relationship all the way throughout the book, and it wasn't just based on bedroom time. They had a strong relationship and feeling were involved on both sides even if he wasn't ready to admit it. But I really loved seeing that selfless side to him when he let her go. Also when she stated she loved him, I could feel his pain and how much he wanted to love her, but believed he could. I could feel his agony and pain and just how his guts were ripped out of him, and again it was totally believable because he cared. It gutted me to watch, and it was utterly heartbreaking for both them, and I just feel that come off the pages and punch me right in the stomach. But it was so good at the same time. That made me feel things. It was just really well done and really well written and conveyed the pain that they were going through nicely until they got their happily ever after that is and they did. He finally had got some sense knocked into him and went after them but leading up to it was gut wrenching.
Mostly I spoke about the plot and kind of hinted there of my feelings about the characters. I loved them. Both them. They deserved to find love and their happily ever with each other because their connection and love was so strong nothing else mattered. I fell in love with both of them. I totally swooned over Asim all the way through, though I did want to knock some sense into him at times, but I understood where he was coming from in the grand scheme of things. Despite the fact that he did hurt Jacqui, it wasn't intentional and he never really wanted to hurt her, and I believe that too, and when he did he immediately felt bad and guilty for it. It gutted him. He was an alpha for sure but with a human side to him that made me believe he could exist somewhere in the real world and living his happiness with Jacqui. He was tender, caring, and very kind towards her and his sister and grandmother as well. He didn't have any unredeemable qualities to him really. And the scene by the fire just sold him to me and made me love him so much because it stripped him to the bare bones and showed what kind of man he truly was. He was a man, and one I really enjoyed getting to know. I fell in love with him like Jacqui did.
Jacqui was great too. She had a little bit of an edge and sass to her and refused to be subservient to Asim and even fought him on a couple things, which was delicious to watch, but she also had this vulnerable, raw side to her with everything she dealt with in her life. She was suffering from nightmares and had PTSD. She tried to cope as best as she could but it wasn't until he brought it too the forefront and was there with her to help did she really begin to heal. He helped her heal, and it was beautiful to watch. But it fun to see their interaction especially when she went toe to toe with him. She didn't take his guff for sure. I loved that about her. She was genuine and real and felt like a real person to me just Asim did, which not only made the story work but made them work as a couple as well.
If you can't tell I really loved book, and I can't rave enough about this book because it was just so good once the midpoint came. Once that started there was really no going back after that. It was tender and sensual and heartbreaking at times with much rawness and vulnerability on display for both of them. It was a genuine relationship and I totally believed that they were falling in love throughout the book. It wasn't hard to see, but it was very natural and never forced. The story just had a really nice flow to it. There was plenty of build up. It was an emotional roller coaster ride from point A to B with romantic moments thrown in there to make it a believable romance. They were falling in love and it was very much felt. There was a nice balance all the way through that made it so enjoyable and easy to read. It was a really an amazing read.
Well done Annie West. You created yet another winner in my eyes. Definitely will be on one of my favorite Harlequin Presents reads. I will definitely read this again and delve back into the world of Asim and Jacqui. It's too good not to read it again.
And I definitely can't wait to read book number two in this duet. Hopefully it will be as good as this one was. I want to see Samira get her happily ever after.
Highly recommend this book for Annie West fans as well as Harlequin Presents fans, and even romance fans. You won't be disappointed, believe me.
Yet another fabulous read by author Annie West. She knows how to tell a story with lots of passion, angst, and just an up and down ride that took me on a journey right along with Asim and Jacqui. Annie West is so awesome, and I love her and her stories with this one being right there on my favorite Harlequin Presents. It just was so, so good. I can't say enough good things, but I will try.
Now admittedly when I first started reading, I wasn't quite feeling it and thought even though it was a decent story with nice characters, it didn't quite have the wow factor. In the beginning it was a solid four stars and nothing sneeze about, but once the story really delved into it and immersed me more into the world of Asim and Jacqui, I absolutely fell in love with it, and found myself changing what my rating to be to a very well deserved five stars. Once it got to that point, then bar was set and had that edge come into that I was looking forward and that I recognized as classic Annie West, and I knew immediately that I was going to fall in love with this book, and I did, much like I have fallen in love with many of Annie's books in the past.
There was nice tension between Asim and Jacqui throughout with the attraction being pretty blatant between the two. It really started immediately when Asim came to her room after hearing her scream because of a nightmare, wanting to immediately help her because she was in distress. When he came upon her, she was completely naked, she liked sleeping in the buff, though that kind of took me aback a little bit when I first read it. It was something I never read before. Anyway as soon as he saw her he was admittedly attracted to her, not just her body, though that helped I am sure seeing her in her full glory, but her soul. And when she awoken she felt that same attraction, but it was more than that it was a connection that they seemed to immediately had with the physical being in the forefront but something more was there. And they battled their attraction for a little bit, but neither could not think of other, with other being so entrenched in their psyche.
There was a bit of tension too because of her profession of being a former journalist, and him not trusting journalists didn't go over too well so briefly there was this mistrust. It didn't last long because their attraction seemed to take over and bond them together. That sexual tension was constant and simmered beneath the surface until they finally gave in.
Now this was when the story went uphill for me was the night of the ball, not because they became intimate, but because I could feel their deep bond to one another as well as that connection that I was looking for. It was about coming together in every manner possible and becoming closer and closer. It showed how their relationship was developing and growing together.
I loved all the tension that happened before they headed towards the bedroom. Just all those lusty feelings were on display once he saw her in that silver dress at the ball. There was so much tension in the scene and the scene that followed in the hallway when he confronted her about her dress choice that made he utterly delectable in his eyes and other men at the ball. He was jealous, plain and simple and he didn't want to share, and he made that very clear. But she believed that he was disgusted with her look and didn't approve because she knew nothing about these things. She was a tomboy after all. There was some emotional tension as well as hurt on her part until he explained how much he wanted her. I loved that whole scene in the hallway and that back and forth with that really being their foreplay just with words, and it was hot, let me tell you. It had my pulse racing for sure. There were physical element to the scene as well with them pressed up against each other against a wall, and I thought in typical Annie West fashion that she was going to have one those passionate scenes that I have become accustomed, but it didn't (it came later), and soon they were headed to the bedroom.
The bedroom scene was steamy, steamy, not that I was expecting anything less especially after all this built up tension between them. It was raw and passionate yet there was a tenderness there as well especially once he found out it was her first time. It was again about their connection and not just about the sex. There was that perfect balance between passion and emotion, which really worked well and felt very natural and believable. Also since it felt very genuine and real there was no question in my mind that they were heading on the path of love. There developing a deeper connection that just knocking boots and they just had this closeness about them, and I believed it. I believed they were getting closer and closer and not just on a physical level. It was a really good scene. And I loved how Miss Jacqui took a little bit control in the scene. It was surprise, and a nice one. There are not many first time scenes where the heroine takes control, but Jacqui sure did and I loved it. She went after what she wanted and she got it, not that Asim was complaining.
As the story went on, they just grew closer and closer and developed a friendship which I really like seeing. Actually they were developing a relationship, and I could actually see that they were falling in love even if they didn't out right speak the words. They still had that bond and connection that went beyond the bedroom. And they were happy together. It was great. They just both had this light about them whenever they were near one another, and then didn't spend too much time apart and when they did they just thought about each other and wanted to be close again. They just couldn't get enough of each other. They missed each other, and it was really sweet to see.
Don't get me wrong they were doing some serious time under the sheets, but there wasn't much focus on that. It was more summarized scenes or fade to black moment, which I usually hate but in the context of this story it worked really well because I wasn't bombarded with their love making and instead focused on them building a relationship with one another. Now if there were a couple more descriptive scenes I wouldn't have complained, but it didn't hurt that there were kind of brief and not as explicit as it could have been at that point in the story. The point was definitely made that they were ripping their clothes off each other and chance they got with two examples that came to mind was the office scene as well as the one up against the wall, yeah Annie went there again, not that I am complaining. The scenes were just really well done and tasteful and passionate and sensual but emotional too. I felt their connection throughout.
Another highlight for me in this story was when things kind of happened and things wasn't quite paradise. Mainly it was Asim misconception of Jacqui's motives during the party scene involving his sister. His thoughts all converged on that she was a journalist and she was acting like it betraying him. The pain in that scene was wow. It broke my heart when this scene came to pass because both Jacqui and Asim hurt because they felt betrayed and not trusted especially Jacqui. I mean it broke her, and I could feel her anguish all the way through when he was accusing of betraying his sister. It was such a powerful scene, and I could feel everything that she was going through. She thought he trusted and when he proved wrong that felt like a betrayal to her so she went off to lick her wounds. Asim realized pretty quickly how wrong he was and immediately went to find her. The highlight for me was during the bonfire scene where Asim found this shattered and broken woman that he broke, and just there was so much going on emotionally in that scene. The sadness just permeated out of both of them. It was palatable, and it was heartbreaking to watch because both of them were so raw from their pervious confrontation. But it was so good too because again it showed them growing closer and being vulnerable to one another again until they came back together. I loved his rawness and openness with her as he tried to apologize and get her to forgive him. He did everything in his power to do that, but not only that he was there for when she became emotional especially when they got into her nightmares and how much they still effected her. I loved that he showed that soft and tender side to himself and that he was genuinely repented for hurting her with his accusations. I could feel everything in that scene, and it was so good. So genuine and lovely, and something that loved seeing. Just seeing how much he cared about her as he tried to soothed her was just beautiful. In fact the whole scene was just beautiful. I loved it. This scene really put the story over the top because it was so good and real.
After that scene, they came back together and had a romantic time in the desert on their own personal honeymoon even if they weren't married. It was a beautiful and sensual honeymoon. I will nick pick here and contradict my earlier statement, but I wished that the intimate scene was more descriptive and shown not just the afterglow in the tub, though the tub part was really beautiful and sensual and just showed their emotional connection as they held each other in the water. It was a sweet and tender scene that I loved seeing, I just wanted see their tender and sweet lovemaking scene before that. I knew I would have loved it. My mind tried to fill in the blanks as much as possible, and it was good in my mind, but I would have like to have seen that scene, which I know would have been very romantic. In fact their entire time there was just pure romance. It was just a special and caring time for the both of them. I loved it showed their intimacy that they had with one another. It was good.
Yet another highlight for me, though kind of sad and painful to watch, was when he honestly told Jacqui that he was searching for a proper wife one he wouldn't love because he believed he could never love, and he knew she deserved know because she was this special woman and he cared about her and wanted to be completely upfront with her. He could've lied, but he didn't. He was honest. And he loved her let's get real he was just too scared to admit it yet, but he was as honest as he thought he was being and wasn't selfish in deciding to let her go even when she offered to stay. If that didn't prove his love for her as well as other actions in the book then I don't know what would have. It was so obvious that he was in love with her and it felt right and very real. Nothing forced and it was completely believable especially since they developed a relationship all the way throughout the book, and it wasn't just based on bedroom time. They had a strong relationship and feeling were involved on both sides even if he wasn't ready to admit it. But I really loved seeing that selfless side to him when he let her go. Also when she stated she loved him, I could feel his pain and how much he wanted to love her, but believed he could. I could feel his agony and pain and just how his guts were ripped out of him, and again it was totally believable because he cared. It gutted me to watch, and it was utterly heartbreaking for both them, and I just feel that come off the pages and punch me right in the stomach. But it was so good at the same time. That made me feel things. It was just really well done and really well written and conveyed the pain that they were going through nicely until they got their happily ever after that is and they did. He finally had got some sense knocked into him and went after them but leading up to it was gut wrenching.
Mostly I spoke about the plot and kind of hinted there of my feelings about the characters. I loved them. Both them. They deserved to find love and their happily ever with each other because their connection and love was so strong nothing else mattered. I fell in love with both of them. I totally swooned over Asim all the way through, though I did want to knock some sense into him at times, but I understood where he was coming from in the grand scheme of things. Despite the fact that he did hurt Jacqui, it wasn't intentional and he never really wanted to hurt her, and I believe that too, and when he did he immediately felt bad and guilty for it. It gutted him. He was an alpha for sure but with a human side to him that made me believe he could exist somewhere in the real world and living his happiness with Jacqui. He was tender, caring, and very kind towards her and his sister and grandmother as well. He didn't have any unredeemable qualities to him really. And the scene by the fire just sold him to me and made me love him so much because it stripped him to the bare bones and showed what kind of man he truly was. He was a man, and one I really enjoyed getting to know. I fell in love with him like Jacqui did.
Jacqui was great too. She had a little bit of an edge and sass to her and refused to be subservient to Asim and even fought him on a couple things, which was delicious to watch, but she also had this vulnerable, raw side to her with everything she dealt with in her life. She was suffering from nightmares and had PTSD. She tried to cope as best as she could but it wasn't until he brought it too the forefront and was there with her to help did she really begin to heal. He helped her heal, and it was beautiful to watch. But it fun to see their interaction especially when she went toe to toe with him. She didn't take his guff for sure. I loved that about her. She was genuine and real and felt like a real person to me just Asim did, which not only made the story work but made them work as a couple as well.
If you can't tell I really loved book, and I can't rave enough about this book because it was just so good once the midpoint came. Once that started there was really no going back after that. It was tender and sensual and heartbreaking at times with much rawness and vulnerability on display for both of them. It was a genuine relationship and I totally believed that they were falling in love throughout the book. It wasn't hard to see, but it was very natural and never forced. The story just had a really nice flow to it. There was plenty of build up. It was an emotional roller coaster ride from point A to B with romantic moments thrown in there to make it a believable romance. They were falling in love and it was very much felt. There was a nice balance all the way through that made it so enjoyable and easy to read. It was a really an amazing read.
Well done Annie West. You created yet another winner in my eyes. Definitely will be on one of my favorite Harlequin Presents reads. I will definitely read this again and delve back into the world of Asim and Jacqui. It's too good not to read it again.
And I definitely can't wait to read book number two in this duet. Hopefully it will be as good as this one was. I want to see Samira get her happily ever after.
Highly recommend this book for Annie West fans as well as Harlequin Presents fans, and even romance fans. You won't be disappointed, believe me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2018
Romantic and sweet romance.
January 21, 2015
THE SULTAN'S HAREM BRIDE by author Annie West is a Harlequin Presents release for February 2015.
Of all things, this story is based in the Sultan's harem. Imagine the sensuality and the centuries old stories in this harem.
Author Annie West has weaved magic with this tale, spinning Sultan Asim and journalist Jacqui in a web so strong that readers would be hooked in this romance and would love to pick it up again and again to read this book.
Highly recommended for all lovers of romance.
Of all things, this story is based in the Sultan's harem. Imagine the sensuality and the centuries old stories in this harem.
Author Annie West has weaved magic with this tale, spinning Sultan Asim and journalist Jacqui in a web so strong that readers would be hooked in this romance and would love to pick it up again and again to read this book.
Highly recommended for all lovers of romance.
November 15, 2015
I really enjoyed this book.
it's that kind of read that get you out of the reading slump, cause is a quick and easy read.
i really likedthe main character Jacqui. she wasfunny, strong and brave,and never let Asim go with his ideas without a fight.
it's that kind of read that get you out of the reading slump, cause is a quick and easy read.
i really likedthe main character Jacqui. she wasfunny, strong and brave,and never let Asim go with his ideas without a fight.
February 9, 2015
The Sultan's Harem Bride by Annie West is a magical February 2015 Harlequin Presents release.
As a reader I was swept away to the magical Jazeer where we meet Sultan Asim and journalist Jacqui who are brought together by a mix of tragedy and Asim's grandmother who is helping Jacqui with her research for a book she's writing about Jazeer's Harem's.
An epic opening of all proportions gives way to the start of a story which is a chocolate box treat full of fascinating, alluring, exquisiteness and divine drama and passion all rolled up into one delicious treat! Then when Sultan Asim discovers Jacqui in the Harem - even more epic deliciousness is weaved.
Asim is a stand-no-nonsense kind of guy. He is the Sultan of Jazeer and born and bred aristocracy pours through his veins. He knows it's time to look for a wife to have his heirs and the girls on offer are just not cutting the mustard in so many ways. His Queen needs to fit so many categories. No one does and then when Jacqui comes into his life his interest is piqued. Small problem! There's no way, shape or form that she would fit the Queen department but she raises so many other emotions in him; distrust for her profession, surprise at Jacqui not hesitating to voice her opinion, grief when thinking of their link but on the other hand he feels passion, he finds her thrilling, he feels elation when he sees her and every interaction between Asim and Jacqui is edge of your seat stuff.
Jacqui is at Asim’s home for reason’s he’s not entirely happy with but Jacqui is determined to write the history of the harem the best way she knows how, with as much factually information as she possibly can. She doesn’t care much for the growly bear she has to answer to daily, at first. With a sad heart Jacqui progresses with care but the growly bear pokes her enough to gain her attention in ways that neither of them expect.
Fantastic characters, beautiful locations and an original story, one that swept me far away during a time I was experiencing my own personal family grief.
Annie West has such a way with words. Strong and solid writing I think. So much is packed into 186 pages that when I sadly close the last page on Asim and Jacqui's story I feel very much totally satisfied and I absolutely loved it!
As a reader I was swept away to the magical Jazeer where we meet Sultan Asim and journalist Jacqui who are brought together by a mix of tragedy and Asim's grandmother who is helping Jacqui with her research for a book she's writing about Jazeer's Harem's.
An epic opening of all proportions gives way to the start of a story which is a chocolate box treat full of fascinating, alluring, exquisiteness and divine drama and passion all rolled up into one delicious treat! Then when Sultan Asim discovers Jacqui in the Harem - even more epic deliciousness is weaved.
Asim is a stand-no-nonsense kind of guy. He is the Sultan of Jazeer and born and bred aristocracy pours through his veins. He knows it's time to look for a wife to have his heirs and the girls on offer are just not cutting the mustard in so many ways. His Queen needs to fit so many categories. No one does and then when Jacqui comes into his life his interest is piqued. Small problem! There's no way, shape or form that she would fit the Queen department but she raises so many other emotions in him; distrust for her profession, surprise at Jacqui not hesitating to voice her opinion, grief when thinking of their link but on the other hand he feels passion, he finds her thrilling, he feels elation when he sees her and every interaction between Asim and Jacqui is edge of your seat stuff.
Jacqui is at Asim’s home for reason’s he’s not entirely happy with but Jacqui is determined to write the history of the harem the best way she knows how, with as much factually information as she possibly can. She doesn’t care much for the growly bear she has to answer to daily, at first. With a sad heart Jacqui progresses with care but the growly bear pokes her enough to gain her attention in ways that neither of them expect.
Fantastic characters, beautiful locations and an original story, one that swept me far away during a time I was experiencing my own personal family grief.
Annie West has such a way with words. Strong and solid writing I think. So much is packed into 186 pages that when I sadly close the last page on Asim and Jacqui's story I feel very much totally satisfied and I absolutely loved it!
April 19, 2015
There is no better way to start the New Year with a new Annie West book and The Sultan’s Harem Bride has set a very high bar for books this year! Annie West offers us again a lush, intimate, seductive read.
From a war torn Africa nation to the exotic Palace of Jazeer, Jacqui Fletcher finds herself in her own Arabian Nights fantasy when she agrees to write a book on the history and traditions of the women of the palace.
Asim, the Sultan of Jazeer, accidentally discovers a naked Jacqui in the throes of a nightmare in one of his harem pavilions. Upon finding out that she is the internationally renowned foreign correspondent journalist who was with his cousin Imran when he was killed, Asim is immediately wary and skeptical about her staying at the palace and researching his family secrets.
I really enjoyed how Annie West let Jacqui show off her strength in this book. This is a woman who had been through hell and back and had the psychological scars to show for it. She is constantly reminded about the past in unexpected circumstances. In The Sultan’s Harem Bride she learns that the past will never go away and she can't change it. Eventually, with Asim’s support, she begins to accept what happened and adjust as Jacqui has found her soul mate in Asim.
Asim struggles to accept that Jacqui is the one for him as his heritage dictates he is required to find a suitable bride befitting the Sultan of Jazeer. Family responsibilities and watching the psychological games his parents played throughout their marriage has taught him not to love a woman but he underestimated how well Jacqui would meet his physical, intellectual and emotional needs.
Annie West always writes well-developed characters and this storyline has a very satisfying ending.
The Sultan’s Harem Bride is an intelligent and beautiful story for grown women and a romance for the girl who still believes in happily ever after.
From a war torn Africa nation to the exotic Palace of Jazeer, Jacqui Fletcher finds herself in her own Arabian Nights fantasy when she agrees to write a book on the history and traditions of the women of the palace.
Asim, the Sultan of Jazeer, accidentally discovers a naked Jacqui in the throes of a nightmare in one of his harem pavilions. Upon finding out that she is the internationally renowned foreign correspondent journalist who was with his cousin Imran when he was killed, Asim is immediately wary and skeptical about her staying at the palace and researching his family secrets.
I really enjoyed how Annie West let Jacqui show off her strength in this book. This is a woman who had been through hell and back and had the psychological scars to show for it. She is constantly reminded about the past in unexpected circumstances. In The Sultan’s Harem Bride she learns that the past will never go away and she can't change it. Eventually, with Asim’s support, she begins to accept what happened and adjust as Jacqui has found her soul mate in Asim.
Asim struggles to accept that Jacqui is the one for him as his heritage dictates he is required to find a suitable bride befitting the Sultan of Jazeer. Family responsibilities and watching the psychological games his parents played throughout their marriage has taught him not to love a woman but he underestimated how well Jacqui would meet his physical, intellectual and emotional needs.
Annie West always writes well-developed characters and this storyline has a very satisfying ending.
The Sultan’s Harem Bride is an intelligent and beautiful story for grown women and a romance for the girl who still believes in happily ever after.
January 15, 2015
This is such a fantastic story with lots of emotion and passion it will have you smiling and tearing up as you turn the pages and get to know Asim the Sultan of Jazeer and Jacqui Fletcher the well known journalist. Jacqui has been through so much in her life and has grown up pretty much a tom boy but when her fellow worker and one of her best friends Imran is killed while they are working together Jacqui has a hard time getting over it so she decides to write a book and leave her job and arrives at the Jazeer Palace to research her book on the old ways and harems, her friend Imran had set up an interview with his grandmother. But when she is discovered in the old harem by The Sultan himself who has no trust in journalists and is sure that love is not for him after his parents marriage this starts a journey to a very beautiful HEA as both Asim and Jacqui learn to trust and love and share their passion that shoots through them like electricity. Truly this is a story you should not miss I love MS West's stories and this is another one to add to the keeper shelf.
February 13, 2015
Annie West needs no introduction, her books are magical , romantic to the very core, passion that explodes from the pages, and couples that live forever in the readers hearts.
This time we meet Sultan Asim Jazeer , he has hundreds to woman at his beck and call, so why he wants the one that can reveal all his families shameful is anyone 's guess! It 's pure madness , or is it?
Journalist Jacqui Fletcher jumped at the chance to write a history of the harem, certainly not to become some sultan's plaything , journalism does not work that way, but she finds it really hard to forget the sultan's sensuous caresses and remember her assignment!
Asim knows she is all wrong to be the pliable princess he needs, but why does holding her feel so right?
If you have never read any of the books by this author, this is the one to pick up and your life will be changed forever, first of all there is the opening was off the hook epic! No other word to describe well that 's a lie, amazing, hot , strong and leaping from the pages can be added.
I loved, loved LOVED Asim, strong and determined , ready to fight even the darkest of nights and boy oh boy does this man know how to send any woman's heart soaring, such an amazing talent is his when he starts to speak, it melted my heart but at the same time that sexy coolness I don't care attitude was there and it just blended perfectly, amazing Annie!
Jacqui , was fun to read, really fun! Come get me if you can, dare if you want to but you will lose, are just some of the sentences I can use to describe her. I thought of her as one of those heroines you know will not go down without a fight, but will crumble when the right touch is felt, and she was!
I highly recommend this read for all fans of romance reads, that deliver sexy, drama packed romance !
5/5 star review
" She's bad for him, so very bad, but he still wants her"
This time we meet Sultan Asim Jazeer , he has hundreds to woman at his beck and call, so why he wants the one that can reveal all his families shameful is anyone 's guess! It 's pure madness , or is it?
Journalist Jacqui Fletcher jumped at the chance to write a history of the harem, certainly not to become some sultan's plaything , journalism does not work that way, but she finds it really hard to forget the sultan's sensuous caresses and remember her assignment!
Asim knows she is all wrong to be the pliable princess he needs, but why does holding her feel so right?
If you have never read any of the books by this author, this is the one to pick up and your life will be changed forever, first of all there is the opening was off the hook epic! No other word to describe well that 's a lie, amazing, hot , strong and leaping from the pages can be added.
I loved, loved LOVED Asim, strong and determined , ready to fight even the darkest of nights and boy oh boy does this man know how to send any woman's heart soaring, such an amazing talent is his when he starts to speak, it melted my heart but at the same time that sexy coolness I don't care attitude was there and it just blended perfectly, amazing Annie!
Jacqui , was fun to read, really fun! Come get me if you can, dare if you want to but you will lose, are just some of the sentences I can use to describe her. I thought of her as one of those heroines you know will not go down without a fight, but will crumble when the right touch is felt, and she was!
I highly recommend this read for all fans of romance reads, that deliver sexy, drama packed romance !
5/5 star review
" She's bad for him, so very bad, but he still wants her"
February 7, 2015
"The Sultan's Harem Bride" by Annie West was not what I thought it would be about because of the title.....It was so much better. Annie is a fairly new author for me, within the last 9 months, and I have to say that she doesn't disappoint the readers.
Sultan Asim of Jazeer is looking for a bride. He isn't looking for love he just wants a suitable woman who will bear his children. Asim is very protective of his family and the secrets surrounding the family. Jacqui (Jacquiline) Fletcher is a journalist. She was invited to the home of the Jazeer family to write a book about Asim's Grandmother and the Harem brides from the past. Being that Jacqui is a journalist Asim doesn't trust her. She was also with his cousin Imran on an assignment when a bomb went off killing him.
Much more to this story of the 'Desert Vows.' Mistrust, Sadness, heartache, and possibility of love coming out of it all. 5 out of 5 stars.
Sultan Asim of Jazeer is looking for a bride. He isn't looking for love he just wants a suitable woman who will bear his children. Asim is very protective of his family and the secrets surrounding the family. Jacqui (Jacquiline) Fletcher is a journalist. She was invited to the home of the Jazeer family to write a book about Asim's Grandmother and the Harem brides from the past. Being that Jacqui is a journalist Asim doesn't trust her. She was also with his cousin Imran on an assignment when a bomb went off killing him.
Much more to this story of the 'Desert Vows.' Mistrust, Sadness, heartache, and possibility of love coming out of it all. 5 out of 5 stars.
January 24, 2015
The Sultan’s Harem Bride by Annie West was a well written romance with two very likable and adorable characters who have a great chemistry together. There romance is forbidden and thats why it is all the more hotter and passionate.
Jacqui is a sweet yet strong heroine who cares so much for the people around her. I loved how she stopped at nothing to get what she wanted. I loved her throughout and she was definitely the perfect heroine for me! Asim is a domineering hero without crossing the alpha jerk line. I loved how protective he was of his sister and how he cared for her. Samaira, Asim’s sister was another reason I loved this story so much and I can’t wait to read more about her next month!
Overall, The Sultan’s Harem Bride was an enjoyable read and though it might not have any serious angst, I was pretty much hooked till the end!
Jacqui is a sweet yet strong heroine who cares so much for the people around her. I loved how she stopped at nothing to get what she wanted. I loved her throughout and she was definitely the perfect heroine for me! Asim is a domineering hero without crossing the alpha jerk line. I loved how protective he was of his sister and how he cared for her. Samaira, Asim’s sister was another reason I loved this story so much and I can’t wait to read more about her next month!
Overall, The Sultan’s Harem Bride was an enjoyable read and though it might not have any serious angst, I was pretty much hooked till the end!
January 27, 2015
Underwhelming. Didn't feel the chemistry between the hero and heroine. The heroine being a journalist did not impress me as its not a profession I admire.
October 18, 2017
I really loved the story but hated how much sex was in it. I just find sex scenes so boring and repetitive and it isn't even needed. I think that books that elude to it but don't have to go over it again and again are so much better. The sex scene just detract from the story and distract. If you took all the sex scenes out of this, I'd have devoured it from start to finish in one sitting, but every time I hit a sex scene my eyes would roll and I'd grow bored, irritated and Fed up. Which just made me stuff the bookmark in and slam the book down, and wander off to find something better to do. This was a short easy read, to me the amount of sex in it was ridiculous and could have been utilized so much better with more plot and character building. What's wrong with just leaving the erotic side of things to the imagination. If I wanted sex I'd grab some erotica. I'm so sad now as this book has left me torn. Do I keep it knowing I will probably never read it again because I can't stand all the sex or do I bin it and regret that what story there was that I enjoyed is now gone??? If anyone knows if there is a version of this in which all the sex has been cut out please let me know, until then, I think it's the bin for this one. The charity bin, I'd never actually throw a book away, well not unless it had been damaged beyond repair at any rate.
October 31, 2019
I enjoyed this romance. I received it for free and I voluntarily chose to review it. I've given it a 4.5* rating. This one has been out for a few years but one I hadn't read. Except for an overly dominant male, which also goes with his position in life, I could see him mellow a bit along the way. The heroine is trying to write a book on "Harem's", which has suposidly gone by the wayside. Lots of interesting little tidbits in this about another way of life.This is not for the under 18 readers as there is a bit of sexual content in this.
March 27, 2022
A great story from beginning to end. Jacqueline and Asim are so good together. He is a Sultan and she a journalist. He is used to being obeyed and not good NO. She is a spitfire with intelligence. A good book!
January 6, 2019
I loved reading this couples story of their pasts, how they protected themselves emotionally yet are drawn to each other by their attraction which developed to so much more
January 27, 2015
The Sultan’s Harem Bride is yet another delightful book by Annie West. And it’s a given that it’s a one-sitting read; it’s just too good to put down. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Asim is the Sultan of Jazeer, with an imperial attitude and a chip on his shoulder about love. Jacqui is a journalist, with an inferiority complex the size of the Sultan’s palace. She was a victim of a terrorist bombing in which her photographer, Asim’s cousin, was killed. She feels guilty about the accident and he blames her for his cousin’s death. So it doesn’t look as if it will be love at first sight.
Their first meeting, however, is unique, to say the least. Unbeknownst to Asim, his grandmother has allowed Jacqui to stay in the palace while she writes a book about harem life. He hears screaming in the night and goes to investigate. Jacqui is having another of her nightmares – and she’s naked. He didn’t expect to find her in his palace, he sure didn’t expect her to be naked, and he also didn’t expect that he wouldn’t be able to get her out of his mind. From this point on you want to keep reading and find out what they are going to do with this obvious mutual attraction.
Their initial meetings are tense, both because of their personalities and because of the physical attraction between them. He’s stubborn and demanding and arrogant and used to having his way. She’s stubborn and quick to jump to conclusions and used to being able to convince people to see things her way. He doesn’t believe in love, she doesn’t believe she is worthy of love. But you can see the attraction is strong and it makes your heart beat faster with anticipation.
They soon begin an affair. Whew - they are wonderfully compatible, are a little surprised that they also enjoy just spending time together. He’s still convinced, though, that there is no such thing as love and that this affair, like all the others, will run its course. That makes him feel a little sad but he knows he needs to get on with the business of finding a suitable wife. She feels beautiful and wanted for the first time and realizes she doesn’t want this to end. The backstory and supporting characters add welcome depth. Asim’s grandmother is a bit of a matchmaker and works to turn Jacqui from the ugly duckling into the swan. His sister is very fragile and recovering from some bad experiences.
I couldn’t help but smile at Asim and his certainty that love wasn’t possible. He spoke such loving and tender words to Jacqui, even calling her Jacqueline, and the words were like balm on a wound to her. His head told him to keep this physical only, but his heart seemed to be taking over. Watching them circle each other and spar, and then come together, pull apart, and start over ran me through all the emotions – it was comical and sad and infuriating and hopeful and of course oh, so sexy.
This was a great read and I strongly recommend it. I’ll definitely be reading more Annie West.
Asim is the Sultan of Jazeer, with an imperial attitude and a chip on his shoulder about love. Jacqui is a journalist, with an inferiority complex the size of the Sultan’s palace. She was a victim of a terrorist bombing in which her photographer, Asim’s cousin, was killed. She feels guilty about the accident and he blames her for his cousin’s death. So it doesn’t look as if it will be love at first sight.
Their first meeting, however, is unique, to say the least. Unbeknownst to Asim, his grandmother has allowed Jacqui to stay in the palace while she writes a book about harem life. He hears screaming in the night and goes to investigate. Jacqui is having another of her nightmares – and she’s naked. He didn’t expect to find her in his palace, he sure didn’t expect her to be naked, and he also didn’t expect that he wouldn’t be able to get her out of his mind. From this point on you want to keep reading and find out what they are going to do with this obvious mutual attraction.
Their initial meetings are tense, both because of their personalities and because of the physical attraction between them. He’s stubborn and demanding and arrogant and used to having his way. She’s stubborn and quick to jump to conclusions and used to being able to convince people to see things her way. He doesn’t believe in love, she doesn’t believe she is worthy of love. But you can see the attraction is strong and it makes your heart beat faster with anticipation.
They soon begin an affair. Whew - they are wonderfully compatible, are a little surprised that they also enjoy just spending time together. He’s still convinced, though, that there is no such thing as love and that this affair, like all the others, will run its course. That makes him feel a little sad but he knows he needs to get on with the business of finding a suitable wife. She feels beautiful and wanted for the first time and realizes she doesn’t want this to end. The backstory and supporting characters add welcome depth. Asim’s grandmother is a bit of a matchmaker and works to turn Jacqui from the ugly duckling into the swan. His sister is very fragile and recovering from some bad experiences.
I couldn’t help but smile at Asim and his certainty that love wasn’t possible. He spoke such loving and tender words to Jacqui, even calling her Jacqueline, and the words were like balm on a wound to her. His head told him to keep this physical only, but his heart seemed to be taking over. Watching them circle each other and spar, and then come together, pull apart, and start over ran me through all the emotions – it was comical and sad and infuriating and hopeful and of course oh, so sexy.
This was a great read and I strongly recommend it. I’ll definitely be reading more Annie West.
February 5, 2015
Posted on Les Romantiques - Le forum du site
Reviewed by Fabiola
Review Copy from the Author
Published by Harlequin
The Sultan’s Harem bride is the first volume in the Desert vows series by Annie West. The second installment will hit the shelves in March 2015 and is titled The Sheikh’s princess bride.
The two novels tell the story of a brother and a sister who live in the Middle East.
Sultan Asim of Jazeer wants a wife. And the journalist, Jacqui Fletcher, is not the one he would choose for the role. Indeed, Asim absolutely hates journalists even if he knows that they are not to be tarred with the same brush. So, when he realizes that he’s attracted by Jacqui, he does everything to resist to his feelings. Of course, he will succumb but he will also keep his distances, or he will try at least.
I loved Asim. First, I liked the skills he wants in his future wife. Indeed, long gone is a hero who wants an obedient wife. And I loved that he was not very tough with the heroine because of his feelings toward journalists. And I must say that in the book, he should have had another reason to not like her at all. I won’t say more because I would love you to read the book.
I also loved Jacqui. The latter is a very touching heroine. She has good qualities and she hides a lot of vulnerability deep down within herself, and the hero won’t make her talk about them easily. I loved her determination and I loved the way she bared her soul in front of our hero at one moment.
The Sultan’s harem bride is a classical contemporary romance novel, with the encounter between our characters, the evolution of their feelings and a very good HEA. I loved the way the author wrote her story. The writing is fluent and we want to know how the heroes will have their happy end. And I loved that we never want to hit the hero, or shake the heroine.
The hot scenes are well described. LOL I’m not very used to that with Annie West. I think that’s due to the translation and I’m sure now the French publisher cut them. I may have to compare one day.
To conclude, I loved Asim’s story and I can’t wait for his sister’s book, whose name is Samira. Indeed, we know that she suffered and we would love for her to have her happy end. One thing though: if you don’t like Sheikh’s stories, don’t read the book.
Reviewed by Fabiola
Review Copy from the Author
Published by Harlequin
The Sultan’s Harem bride is the first volume in the Desert vows series by Annie West. The second installment will hit the shelves in March 2015 and is titled The Sheikh’s princess bride.
The two novels tell the story of a brother and a sister who live in the Middle East.
Sultan Asim of Jazeer wants a wife. And the journalist, Jacqui Fletcher, is not the one he would choose for the role. Indeed, Asim absolutely hates journalists even if he knows that they are not to be tarred with the same brush. So, when he realizes that he’s attracted by Jacqui, he does everything to resist to his feelings. Of course, he will succumb but he will also keep his distances, or he will try at least.
I loved Asim. First, I liked the skills he wants in his future wife. Indeed, long gone is a hero who wants an obedient wife. And I loved that he was not very tough with the heroine because of his feelings toward journalists. And I must say that in the book, he should have had another reason to not like her at all. I won’t say more because I would love you to read the book.
I also loved Jacqui. The latter is a very touching heroine. She has good qualities and she hides a lot of vulnerability deep down within herself, and the hero won’t make her talk about them easily. I loved her determination and I loved the way she bared her soul in front of our hero at one moment.
The Sultan’s harem bride is a classical contemporary romance novel, with the encounter between our characters, the evolution of their feelings and a very good HEA. I loved the way the author wrote her story. The writing is fluent and we want to know how the heroes will have their happy end. And I loved that we never want to hit the hero, or shake the heroine.
The hot scenes are well described. LOL I’m not very used to that with Annie West. I think that’s due to the translation and I’m sure now the French publisher cut them. I may have to compare one day.
To conclude, I loved Asim’s story and I can’t wait for his sister’s book, whose name is Samira. Indeed, we know that she suffered and we would love for her to have her happy end. One thing though: if you don’t like Sheikh’s stories, don’t read the book.
October 27, 2015
This is the second book in the Desert Vows mini-series by Annie West, and by accident I had read the first book – The Sheikh’s Princess Bride – first. But that somehow made it all the more thrilling, for I had loved it a lot and couldn’t wait to meet the characters again.
Asim, the sultan of Jazeer, and Jacqui, the journalist from Australia, seem like polar opposites, but once their worlds collide, nothing can stop them. The fatal attraction between them was so powerful and haunting and real that at times I thought I was watching a movie or television series unfold. Asim made me fall head over heels for him, with his handsome, powerful physique and his confidence, his sense of duty and loyalty, his caring side (when it comes to his sister, his grandmother and later Jacqui) and his sharp intelligence. He is a typical alpha male with an iron will, commanding and relentless in getting what he wants, but definitely not a bad guy. Beneath the warrior and the sultan, there is a man who has his world turned upside down, who learns to listen to a heart he has just discovered, and who is haunted by a tortured past.
Jacqui is a wonderful heroine. I loved her spunk, although I learned that part of it is just a way to keep herself from falling apart and letting her equally tortured past take over. I could relate to her feelings, and I found myself cheering when she and Sameera hit it off instantly. She doesn’t give in easily, and she’s also living the existence of a moth until Asim’s attention shows her she’s in fact a beautiful butterfly. I loved her transformation as much as Asim’s.
If you love a gripping Sheikh romance, an exotic setting, a delectable hero and a heroine that’s anything but meek, then this book will enthrall you as much as it has spellbound me. I felt there with them on every single page. The steamy scenes were incredibly sensual, and the heated dialogue between the leading pair was a treat to read. The only thing I was missing a little were more detailed descriptions or insights into the harem and palace life in the desert. But the romance was so wonderfully written that I hardly had time to tear myself out of the story. Oh, how I wish Asim had a brother who could star in a 3rd book in the series…
Asim, the sultan of Jazeer, and Jacqui, the journalist from Australia, seem like polar opposites, but once their worlds collide, nothing can stop them. The fatal attraction between them was so powerful and haunting and real that at times I thought I was watching a movie or television series unfold. Asim made me fall head over heels for him, with his handsome, powerful physique and his confidence, his sense of duty and loyalty, his caring side (when it comes to his sister, his grandmother and later Jacqui) and his sharp intelligence. He is a typical alpha male with an iron will, commanding and relentless in getting what he wants, but definitely not a bad guy. Beneath the warrior and the sultan, there is a man who has his world turned upside down, who learns to listen to a heart he has just discovered, and who is haunted by a tortured past.
Jacqui is a wonderful heroine. I loved her spunk, although I learned that part of it is just a way to keep herself from falling apart and letting her equally tortured past take over. I could relate to her feelings, and I found myself cheering when she and Sameera hit it off instantly. She doesn’t give in easily, and she’s also living the existence of a moth until Asim’s attention shows her she’s in fact a beautiful butterfly. I loved her transformation as much as Asim’s.
If you love a gripping Sheikh romance, an exotic setting, a delectable hero and a heroine that’s anything but meek, then this book will enthrall you as much as it has spellbound me. I felt there with them on every single page. The steamy scenes were incredibly sensual, and the heated dialogue between the leading pair was a treat to read. The only thing I was missing a little were more detailed descriptions or insights into the harem and palace life in the desert. But the romance was so wonderfully written that I hardly had time to tear myself out of the story. Oh, how I wish Asim had a brother who could star in a 3rd book in the series…
February 5, 2015
Like every other story wrote by Annie West, I really enjoyed reading it. Literaly I couldn't put it down.
Asim is the Sultan of Jareez and he is obliged by duty to marry to provide his country with an heir. He is stubburn and used to having his way but at the same time he feels very protective to his family, his grandmother and his sister.
Jacqui is an internationally renowned foreign correspondent journalist who saw his friend and colleague die in front of her. She was devasted and her psycological fears and nightmares are so deep. She lets the guilty eat her alive. When they meet for the fist time, the meeting don't go well: he finds a naked girl in his palace screaming because of a nighmare and when he recognise she, well, we can say he want to kick her out almost immediately. But the reason he don't kick her out is his grandmother.
I love the grandmother. She is an old lady who love her grandson and she tries to make him believe in love. She plays matchmaker and helps Jacqui to become a proper lady. When Asim sees the tranformed Jacqui, he is split in two: he wants and he has to looking for a suitable wife, but on the other hand he doesn't want to let Jacqui go. When she knows he has to marry, she proposes him, she want to marry him.
Asim refuses. He wants Jacqui marry for love. But she loves him, very deeply. Even if her parents and step family have left some scars. They made her believe she wasn't worth loving. Asim has the same scars: his parents destroyed him and his sister. He is certain he can't love. But he speaks to her with such a tenderness, he calls her Jacquiline and his world heal her. He tries to remain cold, but his heart takes over.
Asim is the Sultan of Jareez and he is obliged by duty to marry to provide his country with an heir. He is stubburn and used to having his way but at the same time he feels very protective to his family, his grandmother and his sister.
Jacqui is an internationally renowned foreign correspondent journalist who saw his friend and colleague die in front of her. She was devasted and her psycological fears and nightmares are so deep. She lets the guilty eat her alive. When they meet for the fist time, the meeting don't go well: he finds a naked girl in his palace screaming because of a nighmare and when he recognise she, well, we can say he want to kick her out almost immediately. But the reason he don't kick her out is his grandmother.
I love the grandmother. She is an old lady who love her grandson and she tries to make him believe in love. She plays matchmaker and helps Jacqui to become a proper lady. When Asim sees the tranformed Jacqui, he is split in two: he wants and he has to looking for a suitable wife, but on the other hand he doesn't want to let Jacqui go. When she knows he has to marry, she proposes him, she want to marry him.
Asim refuses. He wants Jacqui marry for love. But she loves him, very deeply. Even if her parents and step family have left some scars. They made her believe she wasn't worth loving. Asim has the same scars: his parents destroyed him and his sister. He is certain he can't love. But he speaks to her with such a tenderness, he calls her Jacquiline and his world heal her. He tries to remain cold, but his heart takes over.
April 10, 2018
I originally gave this 3* but decided to change it to 4* because the H & h in this one were great characters and the story really seemed to centre on them an their relationship developing rather than revenge/OM/OW side stories.
The H is a Sultan of a totally made up country and the product of bad parenting with a younger sister he cares deeply about and has looked after since parents died (but shes a sequel story) he also doesn't believe in love because of aforementioned bad parenting and is looking to settle down with a lady and start a family for heirs.
The h has PTSD she was a journalist and got caught up in a bombing where her friend (H cousin) died. She an no longer do her job so she is writing a book on the H's olde worlde family, he has a distrust of the h due to her job but he can't resist her anyway. He loses a star for behaving like a asshat - still looking for a wife while sleeping with the h and he accuses her of something she didn't do. She is a great well rounded character who stands up to him when needed and walks away when he can't give her what she wants (although she tries her best) I loved his little grovel at the end although I was kinda hoping she would make him grovel even more. She also needed a little more belief in herself the general moaning about how unattractive she is got a little repetitive. Also sended seemed super abrupt I needed an epilogue with a best selling book and babies!
The H is a Sultan of a totally made up country and the product of bad parenting with a younger sister he cares deeply about and has looked after since parents died (but shes a sequel story) he also doesn't believe in love because of aforementioned bad parenting and is looking to settle down with a lady and start a family for heirs.
The h has PTSD she was a journalist and got caught up in a bombing where her friend (H cousin) died. She an no longer do her job so she is writing a book on the H's olde worlde family, he has a distrust of the h due to her job but he can't resist her anyway. He loses a star for behaving like a asshat - still looking for a wife while sleeping with the h and he accuses her of something she didn't do. She is a great well rounded character who stands up to him when needed and walks away when he can't give her what she wants (although she tries her best) I loved his little grovel at the end although I was kinda hoping she would make him grovel even more. She also needed a little more belief in herself the general moaning about how unattractive she is got a little repetitive. Also sended seemed super abrupt I needed an epilogue with a best selling book and babies!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2015
If you like your heroes forbidding, dark, mysterious and powerful, you will fall in love with Sultan Asim of Jazeer pretty much from the moment you meet him. A larger than life man on the hunt for the perfect bride, until he stumbles across an unexpected visitor hiding in the harem of his palace. Jacqueline Fletcher is a journalist, a woman all but toxic to the Sultan by virtue of her profession, and she is scarred and scared. Insecure about her personal appeal, she is nonetheless a force to be reckoned with he soon discovers. A woman of integrity and passion, though innocent and genuine in a way he finds irresistible. The passion between them is electric, and hotter than the desert sands.
Annie West weaves a breath-taking tale of love and desire that carries you well into the night as you shiver with anticipation of the stubborn Asim’s surrender to the love he doesn’t even recognize growing inside him. When he finally succumbs to what his heart desires most, the scene is one that will make you laugh and cry. This was my first book with this type of hero, and I have to admit, I fell as much in love with Asim as Jacqui did! If you’re looking for a story that will keep you turning pages, grab a copy of this one and hold on for the ride of your life!
Annie West weaves a breath-taking tale of love and desire that carries you well into the night as you shiver with anticipation of the stubborn Asim’s surrender to the love he doesn’t even recognize growing inside him. When he finally succumbs to what his heart desires most, the scene is one that will make you laugh and cry. This was my first book with this type of hero, and I have to admit, I fell as much in love with Asim as Jacqui did! If you’re looking for a story that will keep you turning pages, grab a copy of this one and hold on for the ride of your life!
November 26, 2015
What a great book by Annie West. Two people who had been effected by tragic pasts. Jacqui blames herself for the death of a fellow cameraman who was her friend as well. Lack of self esteem in her looks. Shaken by past horror she suffers terrible nightmares and was struggling to be the journalist that she used to be so was doing a piece of old ways of a Harem. Enter the ruler Asim who doesn't trust reporters, trying to protect those he loves and not have secrets exposed that could destroy the one he loved most. Against all odds they were attracted to each other but how could they over come such mistrust. And the fact he was searching for a bride to be. A marriage of necessity, love didn't even come into it. He sees love as a destructive tool that tears families apart. East meets West in this wonderful story of overcoming past events, mistrust to finally find true love.
December 10, 2015
The Sultan's Harem Bride by Annie West. Sultan Asim of Jazeer is looking for a suitable princess for marriage. When he meets Journalist Jacqui Fletcher at his castle. Asim's grandmother invited Jacqui to the castle to write about the history of the lives of people living at the castle years ago. Asim doesn't like journalist. Journalist wrote bad things about his sister when she was going with a guy who was cheating on her. Asim can't keep his hands off Jacqui. He says he will never love anyone because of his parents unhappy marriage. When he tell Jacqui this she leaves. While she is gone Asim realized he does love Jacqui and wants to marry her. A good read.
April 11, 2021
WANTED: Desert princess to join harem
Sultan Asim of Jazeer has hundreds of women at his beck and call. So why does he want the only one who threatens to reveal his family's shameful secrets?
Journalist Jacqui Fletcher jumped at the chance to write a history of the harem—not to become a sultan's plaything! But it's hard to remember her assignment when the sultan's sensuous caresses spark a fire she's never experienced before…
Asim is looking for a pliable princess for a marriage of duty. Brave, beautiful Jacqui couldn't be more wrong for him. So why does holding her feel so right? (l
Sultan Asim of Jazeer has hundreds of women at his beck and call. So why does he want the only one who threatens to reveal his family's shameful secrets?
Journalist Jacqui Fletcher jumped at the chance to write a history of the harem—not to become a sultan's plaything! But it's hard to remember her assignment when the sultan's sensuous caresses spark a fire she's never experienced before…
Asim is looking for a pliable princess for a marriage of duty. Brave, beautiful Jacqui couldn't be more wrong for him. So why does holding her feel so right? (l
Read
January 12, 2016"West’s desert romance of duty versus love stars a haunted but brave heroine and an autocratic yet caring hero. The exotic, sumptuous settings exemplify palace life, and the royal co-stars are memorable. The first love scene is a sensual buffet" (RT Book Reviews, 4 1/2 stars).
Miniseries: Desert Vows
Miniseries: Desert Vows
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