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The Secret of the Sheikh’s Betrothed
A billionaire and a Bedouin girl—each with a shocking secret.
Billionaire Fathi al-Murzim is a workaholic businessman, too busy running the family’s companies to even think about marriage. Too bad he never told his grandfather he’s gay, because Grandfather just announced a childhood betrothal—to a Bedouin girl Fathi never heard about before.
Ikraam din Abdel was raised as a woman by his avaricious and abusive older sister, who didn’t want him to be their father’s heir. He’d never thought to be married either, and is surprised when his sister informs him of his betrothal.
When Fathi and Ikraam meet, they are drawn to each other in a manner neither of them expected. As the plans for their wedding progress, they both realize they need to tell the other the truth. But can they, with both cultural taboos and family pressures to deal with?
Billionaire Fathi al-Murzim is a workaholic businessman, too busy running the family’s companies to even think about marriage. Too bad he never told his grandfather he’s gay, because Grandfather just announced a childhood betrothal—to a Bedouin girl Fathi never heard about before.
Ikraam din Abdel was raised as a woman by his avaricious and abusive older sister, who didn’t want him to be their father’s heir. He’d never thought to be married either, and is surprised when his sister informs him of his betrothal.
When Fathi and Ikraam meet, they are drawn to each other in a manner neither of them expected. As the plans for their wedding progress, they both realize they need to tell the other the truth. But can they, with both cultural taboos and family pressures to deal with?
212 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 15, 2017
9 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Felicitas Ivey
30 books35 followersFelicitas Ivey is the pen name of a very frazzled helpdesk drone at a Boston-area university. She's an eternal student even with a BA in anthropology and history, since free classes are part of the benefits. She's taken courses on gothic architecture, premodern Japanese literature, and witchcraft, just because they sounded like fun. She has traveled to Japan and Europe and hopes to return to both in the future.
She knits and cross-stitches avidly, much to the disgust of her cat, Smaugu, who wants her undivided attention. He's also peeved that she spends so much time writing instead of petting him. She writes urban fantasy and horror of a Lovecraftian nature, monsters beyond space and time that think that humans are the tastiest things in the multiverse.
Felicitas lives in Boston with her beloved husband, known to all as The Husband, and the aforementioned cat, whom the husband swears is a demon, even though it's his fault that they have the cat. The husband also is worried about Felicitas’s anime habit, her love for J-Pop music, and her extensive collection of Yaoi manga and Gundam Wing doujinshi, which has turned her library into a Very Scary Place for him.
Visit her blog at http://Iveys_Tales.livejournal.com and e-mail her at Felicitas.Ivey@gmail.com.
She knits and cross-stitches avidly, much to the disgust of her cat, Smaugu, who wants her undivided attention. He's also peeved that she spends so much time writing instead of petting him. She writes urban fantasy and horror of a Lovecraftian nature, monsters beyond space and time that think that humans are the tastiest things in the multiverse.
Felicitas lives in Boston with her beloved husband, known to all as The Husband, and the aforementioned cat, whom the husband swears is a demon, even though it's his fault that they have the cat. The husband also is worried about Felicitas’s anime habit, her love for J-Pop music, and her extensive collection of Yaoi manga and Gundam Wing doujinshi, which has turned her library into a Very Scary Place for him.
Visit her blog at http://Iveys_Tales.livejournal.com and e-mail her at Felicitas.Ivey@gmail.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 17, 2017
First off, I had no issues whatsoever with the writing style of this author, or the writing itself. The story flowed along well, and I wasn't bored at all while reading. That is one of the two reasons this book got two stars instead of just one.
The other one is that I was super enraged for most of the book at the treatment Ikraam had to endure at the hands of her sister.
Moving on....
After I mulled it over for a while, I realized I had massive issues with some of the characters, the plot, and the setting, as well as the social aspects of this book. The messages within are really problematic for me.
I mentioned in my status update when I finished the book that "this was different". It sure is. The book is set in a country in the Middle East, where sheikhs and Bedouin tribes are still aplenty. Goat herding is mentioned. Grazing grounds. Filthy rich sheikhs. Camels. Donkeys. Lots of goats. Women are second class, at best, required to hide their faces and their bodies in hijabs, niqabs and veils.
The basic premise is that rich billionaire sheikh Fathi, who's secretly gay, has been told by his grandfather that he's been betrothed to a Bedouin girl named Ikraam, sight unseen, before the girl was even born, due to some debt the grandfather owed to the girl's father many many years ago.
That's basically believable, right?
The rest of this? Not so much.
Ikraam is actually not a girl. Ikraam is a young man who was born to the 2nd wife of a Bedouin tribe chief/leader who thus far only fathered girls. He's been raised as a girl in a large harem because his oldest sister didn't want him to be the heir and remove her from her position of power after their father died. She basically forced Ikraam's mother, and then Ikraam as he grew up, to keep his gender a secret and raise him as female. This was continued after the mother died. The oldest sister married a weak man who became the new tribe leader, but it's really been her in charge. She then set out to marry off all her sisters to other tribes so she could be HBIC.
I had some issues right there. Not only is this plot point unrealistic, but even if it were believable, the psychological repercussions of Ikraam being raised as a female, and eventually realizing he's not female, are never even addressed. Can you imagine being raised this way? And noticing at some point that, hey, I have a penis, and, hey, the others girls do not? And, hey, I could be killed at any time if someone finds out? And, hey, my oldest sister abuses me daily and I have absolutely no way out of this situation other than death? Wouldn't YOU have some serious psychological issues? Can you imagine how fucked up that is? The suffering? The constant fear? Knowing you will die on your wedding night? Feeling that you have to go along with this plan so you can possibly save your niece from a fate worse than death?
Additionally, Ikraam has been raised without ever learning to read, without knowing anything about the modern world (which I guess is expected when one grows up in a tent in the desert, weaving cloth and hiding underneath a niqab). And yet, this is never addressed even when Ikraam marries Fathi. The difference between Fathi, who was raised with money and educated in the US, and the poor Bedouin woman/man, who's never even been to a city, who's never read a book, who has no idea how the world works outside of goat farming and weaving cloth and hiding behind a veil - how could they possibly be compatible? And to top this off, when the secret does come out, Ikraam suggests living as a female in public, and as a male in the privacy of their bedroom, and NO ONE questions the feasibility of this and its possible repercussions. Fathi thinks it's a great idea. Is Ikraam identifying as gender-queer, made so by how he was raised? Are we supposed to believe that gender identity is thus nurture instead of nature? What message is the author sending here?
We are introduced to Fathi and his twin brother early on. Fathi has a secretary whose only apparent purpose was to be a contrast to Ikraam as this secretary is educated and modernized, but then used only to be shamed and ridiculed for her aspirations. There's a scene at the very end that had me cringe in second-hand embarrassment that the way this particular scene played out made it past the editor. What was that, even? This is a young, modern, educated woman, someone who did a good job in the position for which she was hired, and yet, she's shamed for being interested in her boss, and the uneducated, unworldly, MALE-pretending-to-be-female Ikraam is held up as a "better" example of being female than this young woman, going so far as showing up on the arm of his new husband, dressed in traditional FEMALE finery and given an opportunity to announce to the secretary that her boss is now married and she needs to take a hike. How did this make it past the editor? What message is this sending to the reader? Readers who are primarily women?
Don't get me started on Ikraam's oldest sister and the mother of his niece. The woman was pure evil but basically gets away with it. Not only is she perfectly willing to let Ikraam die for her subterfuge, which his husband would then obviously discover, but she's also willing to get rid of her own daughter by attempting to marry her off to a disgusting and violent man at least twice her age, who will likely break not only her spirit but also her body. Evil sister/mother don't care. And even when all of these things come out, she's not punished for her behavior. Ikraam is safe, and so is his niece, but the evil sister never gets a real punishment for not only the deception but also the cruelty and suffering she inflicted.
Fathi is secretly gay, as I mentioned. His grandfather, described as a very traditional and old-fashioned man set in his ways, then doesn't even really blink when a) Fathi admits to being gay, and b) Ikraam's secret is revealed, and c) they want to get married anyway. Say WHAT? You're trying to tell me that an old man from the Middle East doesn't care that his heir is gay? Embraces it? Is fine with the Bedouin girl being really a man? And you explain it away by stating that he's not super religious and THAT'S IT?? I'm sorry, but I didn't buy what the author was trying to sell here.
The secondary men in this book, namely the tribe leader and the niece's potential groom, are either weak or evil. Both were one-dimensional characters and used to provide a specific plot point or two, then discarded.
I usually like the titles in this very tropey series, but this was a complete miss for me. The gender identity issue could have been handled in a much healthier way here, and I would have expected more conflict and pushback from the grandfather based on his portrayal. I would have liked to see some psychological help for Ikraam, and some education as well.
This book didn't work for me. YMMV.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher. A review was not promised in return. **
The other one is that I was super enraged for most of the book at the treatment Ikraam had to endure at the hands of her sister.
Moving on....
After I mulled it over for a while, I realized I had massive issues with some of the characters, the plot, and the setting, as well as the social aspects of this book. The messages within are really problematic for me.
I mentioned in my status update when I finished the book that "this was different". It sure is. The book is set in a country in the Middle East, where sheikhs and Bedouin tribes are still aplenty. Goat herding is mentioned. Grazing grounds. Filthy rich sheikhs. Camels. Donkeys. Lots of goats. Women are second class, at best, required to hide their faces and their bodies in hijabs, niqabs and veils.
The basic premise is that rich billionaire sheikh Fathi, who's secretly gay, has been told by his grandfather that he's been betrothed to a Bedouin girl named Ikraam, sight unseen, before the girl was even born, due to some debt the grandfather owed to the girl's father many many years ago.
That's basically believable, right?
The rest of this? Not so much.
Ikraam is actually not a girl. Ikraam is a young man who was born to the 2nd wife of a Bedouin tribe chief/leader who thus far only fathered girls. He's been raised as a girl in a large harem because his oldest sister didn't want him to be the heir and remove her from her position of power after their father died. She basically forced Ikraam's mother, and then Ikraam as he grew up, to keep his gender a secret and raise him as female. This was continued after the mother died. The oldest sister married a weak man who became the new tribe leader, but it's really been her in charge. She then set out to marry off all her sisters to other tribes so she could be HBIC.
I had some issues right there. Not only is this plot point unrealistic, but even if it were believable, the psychological repercussions of Ikraam being raised as a female, and eventually realizing he's not female, are never even addressed. Can you imagine being raised this way? And noticing at some point that, hey, I have a penis, and, hey, the others girls do not? And, hey, I could be killed at any time if someone finds out? And, hey, my oldest sister abuses me daily and I have absolutely no way out of this situation other than death? Wouldn't YOU have some serious psychological issues? Can you imagine how fucked up that is? The suffering? The constant fear? Knowing you will die on your wedding night? Feeling that you have to go along with this plan so you can possibly save your niece from a fate worse than death?
Additionally, Ikraam has been raised without ever learning to read, without knowing anything about the modern world (which I guess is expected when one grows up in a tent in the desert, weaving cloth and hiding underneath a niqab). And yet, this is never addressed even when Ikraam marries Fathi. The difference between Fathi, who was raised with money and educated in the US, and the poor Bedouin woman/man, who's never even been to a city, who's never read a book, who has no idea how the world works outside of goat farming and weaving cloth and hiding behind a veil - how could they possibly be compatible? And to top this off, when the secret does come out, Ikraam suggests living as a female in public, and as a male in the privacy of their bedroom, and NO ONE questions the feasibility of this and its possible repercussions. Fathi thinks it's a great idea. Is Ikraam identifying as gender-queer, made so by how he was raised? Are we supposed to believe that gender identity is thus nurture instead of nature? What message is the author sending here?
We are introduced to Fathi and his twin brother early on. Fathi has a secretary whose only apparent purpose was to be a contrast to Ikraam as this secretary is educated and modernized, but then used only to be shamed and ridiculed for her aspirations. There's a scene at the very end that had me cringe in second-hand embarrassment that the way this particular scene played out made it past the editor. What was that, even? This is a young, modern, educated woman, someone who did a good job in the position for which she was hired, and yet, she's shamed for being interested in her boss, and the uneducated, unworldly, MALE-pretending-to-be-female Ikraam is held up as a "better" example of being female than this young woman, going so far as showing up on the arm of his new husband, dressed in traditional FEMALE finery and given an opportunity to announce to the secretary that her boss is now married and she needs to take a hike. How did this make it past the editor? What message is this sending to the reader? Readers who are primarily women?
Don't get me started on Ikraam's oldest sister and the mother of his niece. The woman was pure evil but basically gets away with it. Not only is she perfectly willing to let Ikraam die for her subterfuge, which his husband would then obviously discover, but she's also willing to get rid of her own daughter by attempting to marry her off to a disgusting and violent man at least twice her age, who will likely break not only her spirit but also her body. Evil sister/mother don't care. And even when all of these things come out, she's not punished for her behavior. Ikraam is safe, and so is his niece, but the evil sister never gets a real punishment for not only the deception but also the cruelty and suffering she inflicted.
Fathi is secretly gay, as I mentioned. His grandfather, described as a very traditional and old-fashioned man set in his ways, then doesn't even really blink when a) Fathi admits to being gay, and b) Ikraam's secret is revealed, and c) they want to get married anyway. Say WHAT? You're trying to tell me that an old man from the Middle East doesn't care that his heir is gay? Embraces it? Is fine with the Bedouin girl being really a man? And you explain it away by stating that he's not super religious and THAT'S IT?? I'm sorry, but I didn't buy what the author was trying to sell here.
The secondary men in this book, namely the tribe leader and the niece's potential groom, are either weak or evil. Both were one-dimensional characters and used to provide a specific plot point or two, then discarded.
I usually like the titles in this very tropey series, but this was a complete miss for me. The gender identity issue could have been handled in a much healthier way here, and I would have expected more conflict and pushback from the grandfather based on his portrayal. I would have liked to see some psychological help for Ikraam, and some education as well.
This book didn't work for me. YMMV.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher. A review was not promised in return. **
November 15, 2017
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
This is a silly, sweet, and charming story taking someplace in the middle east. It’s full of the classic misunderstandings, evil villains, noble heroes, and a desert leopard snuck in for good measure. It’s a romance with a happy ending and a respectful approach to the cultural mores of the characters.
Fathi, as many of his culture do, attended college abroad. While his twin brother went to London, Fathi went to New York and learned not just how to run a business, but that he was gay. He feels no shame in this, though he respects his grandfather enough to make himself a comfortable closet to stay in. He devotes himself to his grandfather’s company and, dutiful grandson that he is, agrees to accept the wife his grandfather has chosen for him. There’s an unpleasant edge to that loyalty. He will agree to take a wife and never have anything to do with her out of his respect for his grandfather’s wishes and the oath he signed with a Bedouin chieftan as a young man, feeling only a slight niggle at the life he’s consigning this woman to. Even so, he’s determined to be kind to her, buying her jewelry and other items he hopes will please her. After all, she’s from a desert tribe; it’s more than just a marriage that will be new to her.
Ikraam’s life has shaped much of his character. As a child he hadn’t understood that he wasn’t a girl. He was kept with the women of his tribe, segregated from the men, dressing as women do and living among them, weaving and sewing and performing other feminine arts. When he knew, when he realized what had happened and what he was forced to do, it was too late to tell the truth. Why, after all, had he stayed for so long? Was he a pervert, or a madman? Would they kill him if they knew the truth?
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
This is a silly, sweet, and charming story taking someplace in the middle east. It’s full of the classic misunderstandings, evil villains, noble heroes, and a desert leopard snuck in for good measure. It’s a romance with a happy ending and a respectful approach to the cultural mores of the characters.
Fathi, as many of his culture do, attended college abroad. While his twin brother went to London, Fathi went to New York and learned not just how to run a business, but that he was gay. He feels no shame in this, though he respects his grandfather enough to make himself a comfortable closet to stay in. He devotes himself to his grandfather’s company and, dutiful grandson that he is, agrees to accept the wife his grandfather has chosen for him. There’s an unpleasant edge to that loyalty. He will agree to take a wife and never have anything to do with her out of his respect for his grandfather’s wishes and the oath he signed with a Bedouin chieftan as a young man, feeling only a slight niggle at the life he’s consigning this woman to. Even so, he’s determined to be kind to her, buying her jewelry and other items he hopes will please her. After all, she’s from a desert tribe; it’s more than just a marriage that will be new to her.
Ikraam’s life has shaped much of his character. As a child he hadn’t understood that he wasn’t a girl. He was kept with the women of his tribe, segregated from the men, dressing as women do and living among them, weaving and sewing and performing other feminine arts. When he knew, when he realized what had happened and what he was forced to do, it was too late to tell the truth. Why, after all, had he stayed for so long? Was he a pervert, or a madman? Would they kill him if they knew the truth?
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
November 5, 2017
ღ´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•` ღ "Fathi said. '...unless someone actually arranges for me to meet a nice woman, I doubt I’m getting married.' "
With his grandfather active for great grandkids, Fathi was unwilling to disappoint the man with his sexuality. There was no way women or children were in his future. He should have made that known before his arranged marriage. Unfortunately for him, this was something that occured before his birth.
"I didn't realize I wasn't a woman until I was older."
His life had never been his own. With a vicious sister who wanted it all, Ikraam was male raised as female unbeknowst to his family or the world. Now forced into a situation for gain through his sister, Ikraam was deceiving yet another by being forced into marriage.
I am truly surprised to say I really enjoyed this story. The execution was perfect. Acceptance was so sweet and I was happy to see everyone got their just desserts. Deception, slow burn, no on screen loving, an evil sister and tempting fate. Who could resist this? Dreamspun Desires is DSP's take on Harlequin's Mills and Boon, a MM version of the books I cut my romance teeth on.
I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from Dreamspinner Press
Reviewed by Cee from Alpha Book Club
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•` ღ "Fathi said. '...unless someone actually arranges for me to meet a nice woman, I doubt I’m getting married.' "
With his grandfather active for great grandkids, Fathi was unwilling to disappoint the man with his sexuality. There was no way women or children were in his future. He should have made that known before his arranged marriage. Unfortunately for him, this was something that occured before his birth.
"I didn't realize I wasn't a woman until I was older."
His life had never been his own. With a vicious sister who wanted it all, Ikraam was male raised as female unbeknowst to his family or the world. Now forced into a situation for gain through his sister, Ikraam was deceiving yet another by being forced into marriage.
I am truly surprised to say I really enjoyed this story. The execution was perfect. Acceptance was so sweet and I was happy to see everyone got their just desserts. Deception, slow burn, no on screen loving, an evil sister and tempting fate. Who could resist this? Dreamspun Desires is DSP's take on Harlequin's Mills and Boon, a MM version of the books I cut my romance teeth on.
I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from Dreamspinner Press
Reviewed by Cee from Alpha Book Club
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November 19, 20173 Hearts
I am a bit confused with this one and it’s bugging me because I can’t put my finger on exactly why.
I liked the idea of the story though it was extremely melancholy to read about Ikraam’s life. Born a man to a second wife, Ikraam was raised as a woman to not be the only man in the tribe and ruin whatever his sister Bahiyya, wanted. Point blank Bahiyya is a monster bitch. I couldn’t stand her and get that Ikraam would do anything to be away from her even marrying a stranger. I liked Ikraam and felt terrible for him and the life he has had to live with abuse and disdain. He is a good man who is extremely close to his niece Sabah and his “pet” Leopard Saumer. He would give up everything for his niece even trading places with the horrible man her mother wants to marry her to.
I have a soft spot for Ikraam and almost like the story just as a character study of him more than the romance it intended. I felt for him so many times as he dealt with his gender; not knowing he wasn’t a woman until he was older and feeling more comfortable as a woman because that’s how he was raised. His twisted life at the hands of his sister twisted my gut and made me compassionate for his plight as we get to know him. As we know his shame of the amount of people, animals etc. brought to his wedding, and his need to do what his name implies; be honorable to the man he would marry.
The story is told from both POV’s of Ikraam and Fathi as they learn of their upcoming marriage. Fathi is upset at his grandfather for bringing up the arranged marriage and holding true to his word as Fathi is gay but has never told his grandfather. Fathi’s twin Rayyan is a womanizer who isn’t ready to settle down so Fathi will do the right thing and go through with the marriage.
Fathi is an upstanding man who went to university in America and is knowledgeable of the Western ways. His shock at his grandfather’s announcement of marriage throws Fathi into turmoil as he wants to please his grandfather but wants to be true self but fears coming out to his grandfather. He is a soft hearted man but one you wouldn’t want to cross in business or by hurting his family, even his intended extended family to be. Fathi deserves to be happy and while I liked his inner conflict about being attracted to Ikraam as a woman, I was still conflicted about them together.
Now, part of my confusion with his book is based on my lack of knowledge with the culture portrayed. There was a lot of information in the book on the way the “desert tribe” lived and my ignorance questioned the true diverse difference between how Ikraam’s people lived to how Fathi’s lived with their abundance of wealth. Normally I can read a book about a culture different than mine and feel at ease with the setup given but for some reason, I felt uncomfortable reading this.
There are moments in the story that were very sweet and some that were truly emotional. I could connect to Fathi and Ikraam as individuals but found it hard to see them together given the time frame allowed after they actually meet and tell each other the truth; Ikraam being a man and Fathi being gay. I wanted this story to grab my heart but I simply feel confused about my feelings.
I am a bit confused with this one and it’s bugging me because I can’t put my finger on exactly why.
I liked the idea of the story though it was extremely melancholy to read about Ikraam’s life. Born a man to a second wife, Ikraam was raised as a woman to not be the only man in the tribe and ruin whatever his sister Bahiyya, wanted. Point blank Bahiyya is a monster bitch. I couldn’t stand her and get that Ikraam would do anything to be away from her even marrying a stranger. I liked Ikraam and felt terrible for him and the life he has had to live with abuse and disdain. He is a good man who is extremely close to his niece Sabah and his “pet” Leopard Saumer. He would give up everything for his niece even trading places with the horrible man her mother wants to marry her to.
I have a soft spot for Ikraam and almost like the story just as a character study of him more than the romance it intended. I felt for him so many times as he dealt with his gender; not knowing he wasn’t a woman until he was older and feeling more comfortable as a woman because that’s how he was raised. His twisted life at the hands of his sister twisted my gut and made me compassionate for his plight as we get to know him. As we know his shame of the amount of people, animals etc. brought to his wedding, and his need to do what his name implies; be honorable to the man he would marry.
The story is told from both POV’s of Ikraam and Fathi as they learn of their upcoming marriage. Fathi is upset at his grandfather for bringing up the arranged marriage and holding true to his word as Fathi is gay but has never told his grandfather. Fathi’s twin Rayyan is a womanizer who isn’t ready to settle down so Fathi will do the right thing and go through with the marriage.
Fathi is an upstanding man who went to university in America and is knowledgeable of the Western ways. His shock at his grandfather’s announcement of marriage throws Fathi into turmoil as he wants to please his grandfather but wants to be true self but fears coming out to his grandfather. He is a soft hearted man but one you wouldn’t want to cross in business or by hurting his family, even his intended extended family to be. Fathi deserves to be happy and while I liked his inner conflict about being attracted to Ikraam as a woman, I was still conflicted about them together.
Now, part of my confusion with his book is based on my lack of knowledge with the culture portrayed. There was a lot of information in the book on the way the “desert tribe” lived and my ignorance questioned the true diverse difference between how Ikraam’s people lived to how Fathi’s lived with their abundance of wealth. Normally I can read a book about a culture different than mine and feel at ease with the setup given but for some reason, I felt uncomfortable reading this.
There are moments in the story that were very sweet and some that were truly emotional. I could connect to Fathi and Ikraam as individuals but found it hard to see them together given the time frame allowed after they actually meet and tell each other the truth; Ikraam being a man and Fathi being gay. I wanted this story to grab my heart but I simply feel confused about my feelings.
November 17, 2017
Ahh – sheikhs! Their secret lives, unimaginable riches and billionaire status, and the (for me) exotic places they live make for stories that are among my favorites. I loved the fairy tales from 1001 Night, and I even enjoyed some of the Harlequin romances with the sheikh trope – but how the heck to pull off a credible male/male sheikh love story? That alone would have made me curious enough to read this book! But then to have the “Bedouin girl” turn out to be an abused man forced to live as a woman by his despicable older sister and to watch him grow into his own when he is freed from this yoke was an extra-special treat. All in all, this novel is a great take on the age-old Harlequin trope of "sheikhs" and their unexpected brides" - in a totally new interpretation.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
November 17, 2017
This was sweet.
However, there were a few two many mean women. The evil half-sister was necessary for the trope, but the nasty secretary was gratuitous.
However, there were a few two many mean women. The evil half-sister was necessary for the trope, but the nasty secretary was gratuitous.
November 15, 2017
Full review available at: https://optimumm.blog/2017/11/15/revi...
The Secret of the Sheikh’s Betrothed by Felicitas Ivey is the forty-sixth book in the Dreamspun Desires Series. This is my first book by Felicitas Ivey, and I have to say that I very much enjoyed reading it. I also can’t wait to read more books by Felicitas Ivey. This book had secrets, action, drama, verbal and physical abuse from an older sibling that forced her sibling to dress and act like a woman so that there wouldn’t be a male heir to take over the Bedouin tribe. I adored the whole story, and I was intrigued until the end. I just couldn’t put it down. Which for me is surprising because I have found from reading other Dreamspun Desire books that they are a little on the tame side for me. A little too sweet and not enough passion to balance it out. But I didn’t have that problem with this book.
I absolutely loved both Fathi and Ikraam. I loved when they first met and how confused Fathi was to find that he desired a female for the first time or so he thought. It really had him questioning his sexuality since he was gay and had never been attracted to a girl before. Ikraam played the perfect Bedouin girl, and he had been forced to play the role for his whole life, so he was actually more comfortable being completely covered as a proper Bedouin then not being covered when with his betrothed even after Fathi found out that Ikraam was a male instead of a female. Which works out perfectly for Fathi since he needs to get married to a female in appearance but wants a male in his bed. This also works for Ikraam who never thought to find somebody that would accept him for who he is and still want to marry him. But for everything to work out perfectly Fathi’s grandfather will have to outwit and outplay Ikraam’s abusive and manipulative older sister and rescue Ikraam’s underage cousin from an abusive male that she is betrothed to. But you just know that Grandfather is up for the challenge.
***The ARC was provided by Dreamspinner Press. My review is an honest opinion of the book ***
The Secret of the Sheikh’s Betrothed by Felicitas Ivey is the forty-sixth book in the Dreamspun Desires Series. This is my first book by Felicitas Ivey, and I have to say that I very much enjoyed reading it. I also can’t wait to read more books by Felicitas Ivey. This book had secrets, action, drama, verbal and physical abuse from an older sibling that forced her sibling to dress and act like a woman so that there wouldn’t be a male heir to take over the Bedouin tribe. I adored the whole story, and I was intrigued until the end. I just couldn’t put it down. Which for me is surprising because I have found from reading other Dreamspun Desire books that they are a little on the tame side for me. A little too sweet and not enough passion to balance it out. But I didn’t have that problem with this book.
I absolutely loved both Fathi and Ikraam. I loved when they first met and how confused Fathi was to find that he desired a female for the first time or so he thought. It really had him questioning his sexuality since he was gay and had never been attracted to a girl before. Ikraam played the perfect Bedouin girl, and he had been forced to play the role for his whole life, so he was actually more comfortable being completely covered as a proper Bedouin then not being covered when with his betrothed even after Fathi found out that Ikraam was a male instead of a female. Which works out perfectly for Fathi since he needs to get married to a female in appearance but wants a male in his bed. This also works for Ikraam who never thought to find somebody that would accept him for who he is and still want to marry him. But for everything to work out perfectly Fathi’s grandfather will have to outwit and outplay Ikraam’s abusive and manipulative older sister and rescue Ikraam’s underage cousin from an abusive male that she is betrothed to. But you just know that Grandfather is up for the challenge.
***The ARC was provided by Dreamspinner Press. My review is an honest opinion of the book ***
November 16, 2017
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words review
Rating: 2 stars out of 5
For the full review visit https://wp.me/p220KL-c9h
From that review: " Well. Normally the Dreamspun Desires line just does it for me. I love their twists on those old familiar storylines we read in our romances or saw in our movies. But The Secret of the Sheikh’s Betrothed By Felicitas Ivey either came out at the wrong time or the author was not truly cognizant of the messages she seems to be sending here with her storyline and threads. I found myself reading, then going back to double check to see if certain passages really portrayed women so badly (yes in my opinion), then braced myself to continue reading all the way to the end where the author finished her story with a lasting moment that left me wishing I had never picked this story up. Honestly, I think I'm kind with a 2 rating".
For our reviews, interviews and more, visit us at http://scatteredthoughtsandroguewords...
Rating: 2 stars out of 5
For the full review visit https://wp.me/p220KL-c9h
From that review: " Well. Normally the Dreamspun Desires line just does it for me. I love their twists on those old familiar storylines we read in our romances or saw in our movies. But The Secret of the Sheikh’s Betrothed By Felicitas Ivey either came out at the wrong time or the author was not truly cognizant of the messages she seems to be sending here with her storyline and threads. I found myself reading, then going back to double check to see if certain passages really portrayed women so badly (yes in my opinion), then braced myself to continue reading all the way to the end where the author finished her story with a lasting moment that left me wishing I had never picked this story up. Honestly, I think I'm kind with a 2 rating".
For our reviews, interviews and more, visit us at http://scatteredthoughtsandroguewords...
December 11, 2017
It's kinda weird and a bit 'unlogic' at some part especially with Arab culture for all this things to happen. Definitely unbelievable BUT I love the idea of the story and I do really enjoying the reading!!!
Love the pace, love the interaction between Fathi and Ikraam, love the writing and everything feels so...'right' in...still 'un-logic' way.
December 3, 2017
Reviewed on The Blogger Girls
4.5 stars
Fathi may be a workaholic businessman but that doesn’t leave much time to have a personal life. When his grandfather announces Fathi’s been betrothed since he was a child, he’s really not sure what to think except that how could he ever marry a woman when he’s gay? What Fathi doesn’t know is his betrothed, Ikraam, has a secret of her own.. or his. He’s been raised as a woman because his abusive older sister didn’t want him to become heir to his father’s tribe. When they meet, they’re both intrigued by their betrothed which causes them to feel a bit guilty and confused for the secrets they’re keeping. When Ikraam’s sister’s scheming turns dangerous, will they be able to get passed the consequences of their secrets?
O.M.G. I LOVED THIS BOOK. When I first started it, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had read the blurb but it starts off a little slow so I was waiting for something to happen and BAM. As soon as Fathi started to get into the arrange marriage, I started to get into the book. I loved that he was worried about his betrothed and what would happen to her since he was gay and I loved that he still wanted to give her everything he could. Ikraam was a little harder for me to like because I couldn’t understand why he never revealed himself to the tribe but then when he started to stand up for himself and show that he does have a backbone, I really started enjoying him. When they get together and start to know each other, I really loved how they were together and how much of a gentleman Fathi was.
So while I absolutely ADORED this book, I had two minor issues. One, I wish we could have experienced Ikraam and Fathi on their wedding night. They had great chemistry but it would have been great to experience it. Second, I felt the epilogue was a little weird considering it had mostly to do with Fathi’s assistant who was in love with him. I thought it was odd. I would have rather seen Fathi and Ikraam enjoying their honeymoon than them shoving their marriage in her face.
In the end, this was an amazing story. It starts off a little slow but picks up really quickly. I loved Ikraam and Fathi and their little angst over getting married. They both have their secrets but I really enjoyed them getting to know each other. It’s definitely a bit of a slow-burn story. Give it a go if you’re looking for something a little light but with a little angst and no sex.
4.5 stars
Fathi may be a workaholic businessman but that doesn’t leave much time to have a personal life. When his grandfather announces Fathi’s been betrothed since he was a child, he’s really not sure what to think except that how could he ever marry a woman when he’s gay? What Fathi doesn’t know is his betrothed, Ikraam, has a secret of her own.. or his. He’s been raised as a woman because his abusive older sister didn’t want him to become heir to his father’s tribe. When they meet, they’re both intrigued by their betrothed which causes them to feel a bit guilty and confused for the secrets they’re keeping. When Ikraam’s sister’s scheming turns dangerous, will they be able to get passed the consequences of their secrets?
O.M.G. I LOVED THIS BOOK. When I first started it, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had read the blurb but it starts off a little slow so I was waiting for something to happen and BAM. As soon as Fathi started to get into the arrange marriage, I started to get into the book. I loved that he was worried about his betrothed and what would happen to her since he was gay and I loved that he still wanted to give her everything he could. Ikraam was a little harder for me to like because I couldn’t understand why he never revealed himself to the tribe but then when he started to stand up for himself and show that he does have a backbone, I really started enjoying him. When they get together and start to know each other, I really loved how they were together and how much of a gentleman Fathi was.
So while I absolutely ADORED this book, I had two minor issues. One, I wish we could have experienced Ikraam and Fathi on their wedding night. They had great chemistry but it would have been great to experience it. Second, I felt the epilogue was a little weird considering it had mostly to do with Fathi’s assistant who was in love with him. I thought it was odd. I would have rather seen Fathi and Ikraam enjoying their honeymoon than them shoving their marriage in her face.
In the end, this was an amazing story. It starts off a little slow but picks up really quickly. I loved Ikraam and Fathi and their little angst over getting married. They both have their secrets but I really enjoyed them getting to know each other. It’s definitely a bit of a slow-burn story. Give it a go if you’re looking for something a little light but with a little angst and no sex.
November 28, 2017
Oh I wished I could have like this more. It had amazing potential, but really absolutely nothing happened in this book. There was hardly any romance, no character development, no growth of the relationship between the two main characters. I love with authors frame same sex relationships outside of the stereotypical white male relationships because there are other cultures and ethnicities who have people who are attracted to their own gender. The fight with Ikraam and his sister is so poorly played that it just took away from the story and the characters. It actually made me hate Ikraam even though he's the victim in this story. I would have loved to have seen this fleshed out more and then even more so into a series.
August 5, 2024
very much the "It doesn't have to make sense, it's Fiction!" school of writing.
this is so amazingly stupid, at 70% the "romance" couple have exchanged maybe ten sentences and the alleged gay hero is angry to find out the woman he was mysteriously attracted to even tho he's gay is in fact a man. So at 70% no romance to speak of, and the stupidest of stupid Big Misunderstanding and omg this story is SO. FUCKING. STUPID.
NEXT!
this is so amazingly stupid, at 70% the "romance" couple have exchanged maybe ten sentences and the alleged gay hero is angry to find out the woman he was mysteriously attracted to even tho he's gay is in fact a man. So at 70% no romance to speak of, and the stupidest of stupid Big Misunderstanding and omg this story is SO. FUCKING. STUPID.
NEXT!
November 16, 2017
No... it really didn't work for me ... Normally i do a review directly after reading a book but unfortunatly for this one, i can't... I mean i like the "idea" of the book but Ikraam was just too much of a woman... I feel like i don't make any sense, sorry i really can't review this book, it just didn't work for me...
November 18, 2017
This is a fast paced and humorous story of a double deceit that actually goes right. The blurb gives you the plot but it was a lot of fun to see how the main characters actually make it all come out right. Both men are strong in their own ways and in the end seem to bring out the best in each other.
April 4, 2018
The plot is ridiculous... which is fine. I can deal with a ridiculous plot if it is well written and entertaining. This one isn't. The characters are boring, their interactions are annoying. The same this are reiterated over and over. And there isn't even any smut to make up for it.
November 28, 2017
I wasn't very impressed, but at least cover guy is hot.
December 1, 2017
3.25 stars
March 6, 2018
I want be sincere, the story was nice and well writte but too much unrealistic. Maybe because it was short so not well developed in so many aspect . Overall I enjoyed the reading.
March 21, 2018
In the first 90% of the book the leads spend maybe a total of 5% of the book together (and say only a few words to each other), not my idea of a romance novel.
March 28, 2018
What a delicious ridiculous little nugget. Unfortunately no sex. That would have made it perfect.
Forget suspension of this believe. This goes beyond that.
Forget suspension of this believe. This goes beyond that.
April 3, 2018
Oh this was just so much fun
April 30, 2018
omg omf love it love i love it.. this book was great.. hated tje sister and rest love it... sweet and cute
March 7, 2019
I really wanted to like this. Unfortunately there was no character development, barely any interaction between the MC’s to build chemistry or romance, and it just seemed flat.
June 27, 2019
Rating: 3 stars
This story will not be for everyone. First of all, the premise and all the things that go on in the story are totally unbelievable. I don’t believe for a moment that the events in the book could happen IRL. That being said, I really enjoyed the story. I think it’s because of the feeling of nostalgia that I got while reading it. This story reminded me so much of the Harlequin stories of old. None of them are politically correct, but enjoyable just the same. The heat level of this book was very low and in fact all there was only a little bit of kissing in the whole book. I found that refreshing.
I would definitely read some of the other reviews, especially the lower rated ones before buying this book to make sure that it is something you would enjoy. I liked it, but as I said before I don’t think it is everyone’s cup of tea.
This story will not be for everyone. First of all, the premise and all the things that go on in the story are totally unbelievable. I don’t believe for a moment that the events in the book could happen IRL. That being said, I really enjoyed the story. I think it’s because of the feeling of nostalgia that I got while reading it. This story reminded me so much of the Harlequin stories of old. None of them are politically correct, but enjoyable just the same. The heat level of this book was very low and in fact all there was only a little bit of kissing in the whole book. I found that refreshing.
I would definitely read some of the other reviews, especially the lower rated ones before buying this book to make sure that it is something you would enjoy. I liked it, but as I said before I don’t think it is everyone’s cup of tea.
April 26, 2018
The Secret of the Sheikh's Betrothed is a fun, different story. Fathi is a workaholic businessman even though he has a twin brother, his grandfather pushes him to marry and have grandchildren and run the business. His brother is too much of a playboy. He makes the mistake saying only if his wife is chosen and that is when his grandfather reveals he promised marriage to the first born to a Beduin girl.
Ikraam is surprised when he hears about the arranged marriage. Even though his Sister has raised him as a girl since he was born he knows that things won't go well on the wedding night.
I loved Ikraam and his jaguar. This is a sort of Cinderfella story in an exotic location. There is plenty of villians and a happy ending.
Ikraam is surprised when he hears about the arranged marriage. Even though his Sister has raised him as a girl since he was born he knows that things won't go well on the wedding night.
I loved Ikraam and his jaguar. This is a sort of Cinderfella story in an exotic location. There is plenty of villians and a happy ending.
May 20, 2018
What?
This book had an amazing premise and I was so excited to read it. But the further along in the book I got the worse everyone became. The first half was incredibly repetitive and then when the couple finally met it didn't get better. I'm so sad that this book just didn't do it for me, because I really really wanted it to. Unexciting and repetitive writing, flat characters, and frankly boring overall.
This book had an amazing premise and I was so excited to read it. But the further along in the book I got the worse everyone became. The first half was incredibly repetitive and then when the couple finally met it didn't get better. I'm so sad that this book just didn't do it for me, because I really really wanted it to. Unexciting and repetitive writing, flat characters, and frankly boring overall.
June 5, 2018
I stayed up late to finish this because I wanted to see how it was going to end.
It wasn't a bad book, it was pretty entertaining. It was just all over the place!!!!
I also felt it could have been so much better but it missed it by a bit?
It was still very interesting!
It wasn't a bad book, it was pretty entertaining. It was just all over the place!!!!
I also felt it could have been so much better but it missed it by a bit?
It was still very interesting!
October 10, 2023
fpavorite
This is one of my favorite books ever!!!! It is full of romance and intrigue. I want to read it again already!
This is one of my favorite books ever!!!! It is full of romance and intrigue. I want to read it again already!
November 5, 2023
I very good read, something a little different to the usual gay books.
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