What do you think?
Desert Justice #1
Sheik's Rule
He's an investigator on a mission, but it's impossible to ignore the brilliant woman helping him complete it
His sister's life is at stake, and despite his wealth and power, Sheik Emir Al-Nassar feels helpless. At least heading his family's security agency provides him with resources to track down her kidnappers. But when the ace profiler he's sent turns out to be K. J.KateGelinsky, Emir is furious. Finding the kidnappers' desert hideout is dangerous enough without the distraction of a beautiful woman.
But K.J. is unlike any woman he's ever known. Her fearlessness and incisive mind inspires Emir's admiration. And her compassion breaches his guarded heart. Still, rescuing his sister is a perilous mission. And allowing desire to cloud his focus could endanger them all.
Desert Justice
"
His sister's life is at stake, and despite his wealth and power, Sheik Emir Al-Nassar feels helpless. At least heading his family's security agency provides him with resources to track down her kidnappers. But when the ace profiler he's sent turns out to be K. J.KateGelinsky, Emir is furious. Finding the kidnappers' desert hideout is dangerous enough without the distraction of a beautiful woman.
But K.J. is unlike any woman he's ever known. Her fearlessness and incisive mind inspires Emir's admiration. And her compassion breaches his guarded heart. Still, rescuing his sister is a perilous mission. And allowing desire to cloud his focus could endanger them all.
Desert Justice
"
272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 21, 2017
About the author
Ryshia Kennie
34 books380 followersThe winner of her city’s writing award in 2011, Ryshia Kennie’s novels have taken her characters from the depression era prairies in her first book “From the Dust” to a across the globe and back again. There’s never a lack of places to set a story as the too long prairie winters occasionally find her with travel journal in hand seeking adventure on foreign shores. While facing off a Monitor Lizard before breakfast or running through the Kasbah chased by an enraged Water Carrier aren’t normal travel experiences and might never find a place in one of her stories, they do make great travel stories. When not collecting odd memories from around the world, she’s writing mainly romantic suspense and women’s fiction. For more, visit her website at http://www.ryshiakennie.com.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 13, 2017
Link to full review below! Fast paced and unique locations make Sheik's Rule a quick read!See full review on The Book Disciple
March 27, 2017
Had a good start but fizzled. Fell a bit flat for me. Review coming
May 7, 2020
Good book and start to the series. The suspense was excellent, with a nice mix of romance. The story opened with a bang, as Emir finds out that his beloved younger sister has been kidnapped. Since the deaths of their parents six years earlier, Tara has been the glue that holds the family together. Losing her is not an option.
Emir is the head of the family security firm. Though very good at what he does, Emir is also realistic enough to know that his emotions would affect his objectivity in this case. He contacts his second-in-command at the Wyoming branch and asks for their best profiler/kidnapping agent. KJ hasn't been with the company long but has a fantastic reputation. What he doesn't know is that KJ is a woman.
I loved the first meeting between Emir and KJ. He is furious when he discovers that she is a woman, and makes it clear that he doesn't want her there because of it. I loved how KJ got right up in his face, calling him out on his attitude. Her response to his assertion that he'd have to look out for her was priceless and certainly got his attention. Her insight into their family dynamics made him reconsider.
I liked the development of the relationship between KJ and Emir. It's a little rocky at first because of Emir's earlier attitude. Underneath the antagonism, there is also a definite attraction that affects both of them, creating distractions that neither one welcomes. There is also a deeper connection that forms between them. One of KJ's strengths is her observational skills, which she puts to good use when dealing with Emir. I loved how well she understood what he was going through and how she could cut through his pain and bring him comfort. Emir normally keeps very tight control over his emotions, and he is dismayed by his lack of control around her, but also grateful for her understanding. Their feelings for each other grow quickly, thanks to the amount of time spent together and the need to trust and depend on each other. The scene in the helicopter at the end of the book was funny, with Emir's twin calling him out on his "declaration."
The suspense of the story was good and kept me engaged throughout the book. The big questions of who, why, and where drove the investigation. Who took Tara, and why? And where are they now? I could see it was hard for Emir to admit that he wasn't in top form for the investigation. KJ's incredible attention to detail and refusal to leave any possibility unspoken made her the perfect person to cut through his objections. I liked the way that she could think on her feet and adapt to circumstances. Her familiarity with Moroccan culture was a big plus, especially during their time in El Dewar. There were also some scenes told from Tara's point of view that emphasized the danger she was in. The final confrontation with the kidnapper was intense, with an unexpected twist at the end.
I liked seeing a little bit of each of the brothers. Zafir is Emir's identical twin. Though he wants to go with Emir and KJ, his part is to play decoy. Talib is the next youngest brother. He is hot-tempered but must keep a lid on his rage to provide the backup they need. The youngest brother, Faisal, runs their Wyoming branch and is too far away to do anything but hope that his brothers reach Tara in time. It is clear that family means everything to them, and nothing will stop them from saving their sister.
Emir is the head of the family security firm. Though very good at what he does, Emir is also realistic enough to know that his emotions would affect his objectivity in this case. He contacts his second-in-command at the Wyoming branch and asks for their best profiler/kidnapping agent. KJ hasn't been with the company long but has a fantastic reputation. What he doesn't know is that KJ is a woman.
I loved the first meeting between Emir and KJ. He is furious when he discovers that she is a woman, and makes it clear that he doesn't want her there because of it. I loved how KJ got right up in his face, calling him out on his attitude. Her response to his assertion that he'd have to look out for her was priceless and certainly got his attention. Her insight into their family dynamics made him reconsider.
I liked the development of the relationship between KJ and Emir. It's a little rocky at first because of Emir's earlier attitude. Underneath the antagonism, there is also a definite attraction that affects both of them, creating distractions that neither one welcomes. There is also a deeper connection that forms between them. One of KJ's strengths is her observational skills, which she puts to good use when dealing with Emir. I loved how well she understood what he was going through and how she could cut through his pain and bring him comfort. Emir normally keeps very tight control over his emotions, and he is dismayed by his lack of control around her, but also grateful for her understanding. Their feelings for each other grow quickly, thanks to the amount of time spent together and the need to trust and depend on each other. The scene in the helicopter at the end of the book was funny, with Emir's twin calling him out on his "declaration."
The suspense of the story was good and kept me engaged throughout the book. The big questions of who, why, and where drove the investigation. Who took Tara, and why? And where are they now? I could see it was hard for Emir to admit that he wasn't in top form for the investigation. KJ's incredible attention to detail and refusal to leave any possibility unspoken made her the perfect person to cut through his objections. I liked the way that she could think on her feet and adapt to circumstances. Her familiarity with Moroccan culture was a big plus, especially during their time in El Dewar. There were also some scenes told from Tara's point of view that emphasized the danger she was in. The final confrontation with the kidnapper was intense, with an unexpected twist at the end.
I liked seeing a little bit of each of the brothers. Zafir is Emir's identical twin. Though he wants to go with Emir and KJ, his part is to play decoy. Talib is the next youngest brother. He is hot-tempered but must keep a lid on his rage to provide the backup they need. The youngest brother, Faisal, runs their Wyoming branch and is too far away to do anything but hope that his brothers reach Tara in time. It is clear that family means everything to them, and nothing will stop them from saving their sister.
April 21, 2018
This was a toss up between 2 stars or 3 stars, and I decided to round it up, since it just squeaks through with a 3! The story has Sheik Emir Al-Nassar shocked when the profiler sent to assist in rescuing his kidnapped sister is a woman. However, her take-charge, no-nonsense attitude soon changes hid opinion, and gets him all hot and bothered.
Now, I'm generally not a fan of sheikh romances. It's one of the reasons I read the Intrigue line, because you generally don't get sheikh stories in them. However, this wasn't too bad. Emir isn't the same short of sheikh you find in the Harlequin Presents line, so there weren't any blackmail for sex scenarios or glaring power imbalances between hero and heroine.
However, there isn't much a plot. I lost count of the number of times Kate would promise they would get Tara (the sister) back, or the number of times Emir would lament that he hadn't done enough to keep Tara safe. Move on, already! But there are a couple of good action scenes to maintain interest, and the story wraps satisfactorily, even though this is the first in a mini-series.
Now, I'm generally not a fan of sheikh romances. It's one of the reasons I read the Intrigue line, because you generally don't get sheikh stories in them. However, this wasn't too bad. Emir isn't the same short of sheikh you find in the Harlequin Presents line, so there weren't any blackmail for sex scenarios or glaring power imbalances between hero and heroine.
However, there isn't much a plot. I lost count of the number of times Kate would promise they would get Tara (the sister) back, or the number of times Emir would lament that he hadn't done enough to keep Tara safe. Move on, already! But there are a couple of good action scenes to maintain interest, and the story wraps satisfactorily, even though this is the first in a mini-series.
June 17, 2020
Emphasis was on the "Intrigue", not as much on "Romance", but that's what this imprint is about. I loved KJ's character, and her expertise.
Read
April 2, 2017Miniseries: Desert Justice
June 8, 2017
The Sheik's rule starts off with us finding out that Emir's sister Tara has been kidnaped. Emir, being the owner of the security agency, asked their branch in Wyoming to send him their best agent, who specializes in kidnappings. Don't you just love how he automatically assumed that the best agent is bound to be a man? And his immediate reaction upon finding out that it's a woman was: “I don’t care what you specialized in. You’re a woman and because of that you’re going home”. I mean, what an ass! But never mind that, the story is mostly focused on the kidnapping, which I liked. The 'romance' was more of an afterthought here, and not a very good executed one at that, there was no chemistry between the characters. I probably would have liked the story more if they left the romance out completely, but whatever.
So, again, most of the focus is on Tara's kidnapping, and we follow all these clues (which were few and far between) and are trying to piece it all together. I'll say this - Kate was very good at her job, always thinking through every possible option and paying attention to every detail.
The plot was nice, but I mostly felt like I was missing some important information that prevented me from fully understanding the motive behind the kidnapping.
All in all, it was okey. Considering I don't usually read this kind of books, I still liked it.
So, again, most of the focus is on Tara's kidnapping, and we follow all these clues (which were few and far between) and are trying to piece it all together. I'll say this - Kate was very good at her job, always thinking through every possible option and paying attention to every detail.
The plot was nice, but I mostly felt like I was missing some important information that prevented me from fully understanding the motive behind the kidnapping.
All in all, it was okey. Considering I don't usually read this kind of books, I still liked it.
July 22, 2017
What woman can resist a Sheik, especially when he falls for a very independent and smart woman? I love the first meeting between Kate and Emir because she sure did turn his world to spinning. Kate is an outstanding heroine because she is smart and helpful to her man and no one who is the damsel in distress. The story is a winding road which leads back into the past and a place no one thought it would ever go, including the reader.
Delane
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
Full Review @ Coffee Time Romance & More
Delane
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
Full Review @ Coffee Time Romance & More
March 8, 2018
This was a fast paced thriller with likeable characters in a great setting!
Kate and Emir made a formidable pair that complemented each other right from the beginning. The romance happens within a short time but it is natural between these two. There’s plenty of action and edge of your seat suspense as they work to save Emir’s sister from a kidnapping. The start was a bit repetitive as they discussed evidence and information over again. After they get a clue that leads them to a new location in the desert it picks up again and from there it’s quite thrilling. A really enjoyable read.
*I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways*
Kate and Emir made a formidable pair that complemented each other right from the beginning. The romance happens within a short time but it is natural between these two. There’s plenty of action and edge of your seat suspense as they work to save Emir’s sister from a kidnapping. The start was a bit repetitive as they discussed evidence and information over again. After they get a clue that leads them to a new location in the desert it picks up again and from there it’s quite thrilling. A really enjoyable read.
*I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways*
June 6, 2017
Strong alpha lead characters, kidnap victim, Morocco, Berbers, desert and cultural differences all lead to a "can't put it down" story. I picked it up in the morning and finished it before finally eating lunch. I loved the strength of the characters in a horrible situation, especially the victim, who maintained the strength to help them find her, while being held by a madman. It will be interesting to read the next book in this series.
May 13, 2017
Shiek's Rule is a novel of romantic suspense set in Morocco. Although somewhat predictable in terms of general plot line, I thought that the author did a good job of transporting the reader to a distant local and I appreciated the two strong female characters in a predominately male society.
I received a free review copy of Shiek's Rule through Goodreads Giveaways.
I received a free review copy of Shiek's Rule through Goodreads Giveaways.
June 20, 2017
First book in the Desert Justice series.The book had me turning pages as I had to know what would happen next, and did not want to put down. I liked the interplay between Sheik Emir Al-Nassar and K. J. or Kate Gelinsky a top notch profiler who is a strong ,companionate woman when they meet the first time. I am going to b e looking in to getting more books in this series
May 12, 2017
Mysterious and action and hot attraction.
June 6, 2017
Short review TBA.
April 28, 2018
this was a good book, however the begging was hard for me to get into, but near the middle till the end was a great read.
May 14, 2018
This is the 1st book I read by Ryshia Kennie. I'm sorry I stopped reading this story at chapter 2 because it didn't hold my interest.
Read
April 2, 2017Miniseries: Desert Justice
April 6, 2017
Okay, let’s just look at the cover. Feel free to lick your screens. I have. Don’t judge. I’ll let you in a dirty little secret of mine. Sheiks are my catnip. I discovered them years ago through Harlequin Presents and I devour them at every chance I can. There is something about the total alphaness about them. Normally, I don’t like the alpha hole but with sheik’s…I’m hooked. They bark, don’t bite too hard and are totally devoted to their family and the women that they love. *swoon*
When Ms. Kennie sent me an email to see if I would review this series, I jumped. Another dirty little secret, Harlequin Intrigue is my all time favorite line from them. I have no shame. I admit it and I own it. So that said, put sheiks and Intrigue together and I’m a goner. Why did I absolutely love this book? First off, Emir. Go back and lick the cover; I’ll wait. Secondly, his total devotion to his family. Third, that Kate literally throws him on his butt at the airport. Adam knew what he was doing by sending her to help. He He! Fourth, that growing up in two different worlds, he didn’t know how to handle Kate in the beginning and also to keep it together when it came to his sister, Tara.
Let’s talk about Kate. We don’t much of her background but I loved what I saw. I hope in future books, we get a glimpse at her again. I see her still working for the security firm and being a really good friend of Tara’s. But what made her special to me was the fact that she understood Emir’s culture and respected it. She didn’t feel the need to butt in when it wasn’t warranted but got the needed information when she needed. Plus, she is the calm in Emir’s world. He knew it and his brothers knew it, too. I loved the line that Zalib (I think) said, “Father fell in love with mother in less than 24 hours.”
Now to the intriguing part…I never saw it coming. I thought that Ms. Kennie did an excellent job of putting two different plot points together and letting it play out. The villain is creepy and so mental that at one point I really thought Tara was not going to make it. She is one tough cookie and I can’t wait to get to know her better in the other books. Ms. Kennie takes her time with suspense plot but also brings a newness too. Gun fights! Oh my…loved it.
If you are looking for a new writer, love mystery/suspense, a sheik that is lovable and intense, a heroine that doesn’t hold and is smart then this book is for you. I can’t wait to read the other brothers books. And of course, that means more covers to lick. Your welcome.
When Ms. Kennie sent me an email to see if I would review this series, I jumped. Another dirty little secret, Harlequin Intrigue is my all time favorite line from them. I have no shame. I admit it and I own it. So that said, put sheiks and Intrigue together and I’m a goner. Why did I absolutely love this book? First off, Emir. Go back and lick the cover; I’ll wait. Secondly, his total devotion to his family. Third, that Kate literally throws him on his butt at the airport. Adam knew what he was doing by sending her to help. He He! Fourth, that growing up in two different worlds, he didn’t know how to handle Kate in the beginning and also to keep it together when it came to his sister, Tara.
Let’s talk about Kate. We don’t much of her background but I loved what I saw. I hope in future books, we get a glimpse at her again. I see her still working for the security firm and being a really good friend of Tara’s. But what made her special to me was the fact that she understood Emir’s culture and respected it. She didn’t feel the need to butt in when it wasn’t warranted but got the needed information when she needed. Plus, she is the calm in Emir’s world. He knew it and his brothers knew it, too. I loved the line that Zalib (I think) said, “Father fell in love with mother in less than 24 hours.”
Now to the intriguing part…I never saw it coming. I thought that Ms. Kennie did an excellent job of putting two different plot points together and letting it play out. The villain is creepy and so mental that at one point I really thought Tara was not going to make it. She is one tough cookie and I can’t wait to get to know her better in the other books. Ms. Kennie takes her time with suspense plot but also brings a newness too. Gun fights! Oh my…loved it.
If you are looking for a new writer, love mystery/suspense, a sheik that is lovable and intense, a heroine that doesn’t hold and is smart then this book is for you. I can’t wait to read the other brothers books. And of course, that means more covers to lick. Your welcome.
April 9, 2017
When the only sister in the family of three brothers is kidnapped, the oldest brother has no choice: he has to find and save her. But how? He's not sure where she's been taken and the kidnappers are demanding a ransom.
His partner in the security agency sends him a profiler--the best one. Turns out it's a she and Sheik Emir Al-Nassar wasn't expecting that. He gets over his shock when she flips him on his back within minutes of his meeting with her on the tarmac.
Against his better judgment, but out of desperation, the two of them set off into the Sahara to find Tara before she can be harmed. In so doing, Emir loses something else: his heart, and to the woman he never expected would guard it so jeolously.
His partner in the security agency sends him a profiler--the best one. Turns out it's a she and Sheik Emir Al-Nassar wasn't expecting that. He gets over his shock when she flips him on his back within minutes of his meeting with her on the tarmac.
Against his better judgment, but out of desperation, the two of them set off into the Sahara to find Tara before she can be harmed. In so doing, Emir loses something else: his heart, and to the woman he never expected would guard it so jeolously.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews