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Valentina
Sold into slavery, she vowed never to love. But he awakened, deep within her, an unquenchable desire that could not be denied…
Chosen by ancient Islam leader Emir Ramiff to be his mistress and eventually his successor, Valentina feels trapped and controlled by others. But then she discovers Saladin and a new breed of emotions.
Chosen by ancient Islam leader Emir Ramiff to be his mistress and eventually his successor, Valentina feels trapped and controlled by others. But then she discovers Saladin and a new breed of emotions.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published April 12, 1978
2 people are currently reading
529 people want to read
About the author
Fern Michaels
424 books6,513 followersFern Michaels isn’t a person. I’m not sure she’s an entity either since an entity is something with separate existence. Fern Michaels® is what I DO. Me, Mary Ruth Kuczkir. Growing up in Hastings, Pennsylvania, I was called Ruth. I became Mary when I entered the business world where first names were the order of the day. To this day, family and friends call me Dink, a name my father gave me when I was born because according to him I was ‘a dinky little thing’ weighing in at four and a half pounds. However, I answer to Fern since people are more comfortable with a name they can pronounce.
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 18, 2018
OK, for one thing I know for a sure fact the Fern Michaels is the last author to write a historically accurate HR novel, but this was just too disastrous. It wasn't the best novel I've read or the worst but fell somewhere in between. Yet it really annoyed & frustrated me at several points where it involved Valentina, the heroine. Michaels description of Saladdin is utterly disappointing as well. Saladdin was a great sultan of Egypt, and I know from my Muslim friends that Muslims really respect and revere him as a man of God, of country and honour. He is not some horny, lusty dog to drool over some whore from Europe. Michaels should be ashamed of herself for such disgusting characterisations of historically significant peoples.
March 9, 2011
This is an OTT BR with some bizarre WTF Moments, especially early on in the book. There is a tortured heroine, some lesbian Moments, rape, and treachery abounds. There is a love triangle that Valentine has with two brothers, in which you are unsure for much of the book who would truly win her heart. But of course, one of them becomes a sadistic bastard who can't decide whether to truly kill her or force her into marriage. Goodness prevails and there is a happy ending.
April 6, 2018
Oh my goodness, I can't believe that I ever read this bodice-ripper. : 0
I don't remember the story... just that I was 13, had nothing to read, was at my grandmother's house (the one who only read romance novels), and "borrowed" this without telling anyone. I also remember that it was quite "eye-opening" to a 13 year old. Ahem.
I think I had seen something about Richard the Lionheart in the blurb, and mistakenly thought it would be historical...
I don't remember the story... just that I was 13, had nothing to read, was at my grandmother's house (the one who only read romance novels), and "borrowed" this without telling anyone. I also remember that it was quite "eye-opening" to a 13 year old. Ahem.
I think I had seen something about Richard the Lionheart in the blurb, and mistakenly thought it would be historical...
December 29, 2024
DNF’d for now, I like the prose in the beginning but it’s kind of a ridiculous plot and there’s barely any time with the true MMC of the book /: also… I’m supposed to believe she’s ruling a Muslim kingdom and everybody believes her? lol also, why does she even hate Paxon? It’s so strange
December 10, 2016
I thought when I picked up this book that it was going to be the typical romance story line. It wasn't and I was pleasantly surprised.
Basically the story is that Valentina, who is lady in waiting to the queen, gets betrayed because of jealousy. She ends up being sold into slavery to the king who appreciates her talents and she rapidly rises in status in the harem.
As a side story is the tale of two royal brothers who are on different paths to destiny. One to rule a kingdom, the other to rule a secret order of assassins. Both of them have designs on Valentina but who will win her affections in the end?
While the story is still a romance and is therefore not the most intellectual literary material, I really liked the author's bravery to depart from the usual romance storyline. If you are in to romance and would like something a little bit different, I would give this one a go.
Basically the story is that Valentina, who is lady in waiting to the queen, gets betrayed because of jealousy. She ends up being sold into slavery to the king who appreciates her talents and she rapidly rises in status in the harem.
As a side story is the tale of two royal brothers who are on different paths to destiny. One to rule a kingdom, the other to rule a secret order of assassins. Both of them have designs on Valentina but who will win her affections in the end?
While the story is still a romance and is therefore not the most intellectual literary material, I really liked the author's bravery to depart from the usual romance storyline. If you are in to romance and would like something a little bit different, I would give this one a go.
October 30, 2016
I did not have high hopes for this book because I have only read six romantic/historical novels and only two were decent. Veteran writer, Fern Michales gives us a noblewoman, Lady Valentina who journeys with Queen Berengaria to the Holy Land. After, denying a romantic interest by the queen, Valentina's sojourn begins. Betrayed, sold into slavery, raped and then left for dead, Valentina will not fail her beloved King Richard. Yes, it is predictable and melodramatic but what do you expect from Fern Michaels. Actually, this early effort does not speak of her polish in the late-80s and 90s. I read it over a long weekend while on a business trip.
May 14, 2011
I read this when I was very young and into the captive thing. That said...I loved the woman this story in about and would have read more books from this author if they had been this exciting and full.
April 10, 2011
totally trashy beach read but every few years i reread when i feel down and it lifts my spirits
October 14, 2021
Stupid fun till the end, then just disappointed
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews