USA Today and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes romance and contemporary women's fiction and her trademark humour and warmth have gained her fans across the globe. Sarah lives near London, England, and when she isn't reading or writing she loves being outdoors.
Look out for Sarah's next novel coming in May - Brave New Summer (UK title)/ Five Star Summer (US/Canadian title)
Let's ponder an arranged marriage that the Sheikh hero doesn't want because he thinks his intended is like his evil, worldly stepmother.
Consider also an arranged marriage that the princess heroine *does* want because her uncle has been trying to kill her for the throne (after he killed her family) since she was 8 years old.
Only the heroine can stop the forced marriage contract, so the hero decides to pose as a body guard* to try to talk the heroine out of her impending marriage in 4 days. This is a road trip story through the desert that shows the hero readjusting his ideas about the heroine and the heroine letting down her guard. That they are in danger adds to the pacing and intensity. They are both wildly attracted to each other, but the heroine does not succumb to treacherous body syndrome. She is going to marry another man and she is not going to give her virginity to the bodyguard.
Reader, I was cheering her on.
The black moment comes when the heroine sees her groom for the first time. The HEA comes after the uncle is finally brought to justice, but I won't spoil the hows and whys.
This was a very satisfying story.
*How/why no one recognized him as the Sheikh/Sultan was a major plot hole.
A good story. An Alpha H and a strong h who is definately not a doormat but a woman who was capable of thinking/looking after herself.
I did feel that he should have come clean about who he was when she explained what her uncle was capable of but then I suppose by not confessing that he was the Sultan brought more angst to the story.
I also had a bit of a problem with the title.....Karim is a Sultan so why is he referred to as a Sheikh!!!
Not bad. The plot was interesting, but the romance could have used more passion and angst injected into it. I felt Alexa and Karim's feelings for each other never reached gut-wrenching levels even though the chemistry between them was decent. Adding to this lukewarm pot were two big plot holes that had me stretching my suspension of disbelief to the limit.
1. How could Alexa and her uncle not know what the Sultan (Karim) looked like, especially since he was a figurehead and her future husband? They had access to media and the Internet.
2. I also found it difficult to believe Alexa survived all those past assassination attempts. She would have been an easy target at age 8 and beyond, with no true allies on her side. I guess we are supposed to believe Alexa was just a resourceful and smart child/woman. Not to mention extraordinarily lucky.
Rather bland 3 star book. Really seemed to drag. It had a good story line, but everything seemed to fall flat and it took me almost 3 days to finish this short read. A princess running for her life and a handsome sultan in disguise. Sounded better than it was. What's with the Sultan/Sheikh thing??
Lordy, but Morgan could write Presents. She has a way of sucking me in and hitting all the beats, even when I don't really like the story all that much. OK, to be fair - I actually do like the story in this one. It's very Princess In The Tower. Unfortunately I found the hero to be an overbearing jackass who wants it all but gives very little (emotionally) in return. I liked the heroine quite a bit, who has this compelling mix of desperation, vulnerability and spine of steel - but ugh, that guy is just not good enough for her.
This book inspired me to create an account, so that I could post a review! What a fantastic book. I got completely caught up in the story and could feel myself connecting emotionally to the characters and the story. Alexa is incredibly brave, modern and down to earth. I love her vulnerability and her strength. Karim is also great. He's arrogant and strong, but also completely at the whim of his attraction to Alexa. Such a great book. Love their trip through the desert and wish it could've lasted longer!
I love that, even though Alexa was a virgin, she was not incredibly naive, incredibly young or incredibly vulnerable. She was a spitfire, without being over the top aggressive or contrary.
The only thing I wish this book had is an Epilogue giving insight into their lives maybe 5 years down the line, showing progress in Ravinia, children, etc. Since their relationship spanned a short time-frame over the length of the book, this added chapter would've been nice.
Overall, GREAT BOOK. I've been reading Harlequin Presents books since I was 13 (almost 18 years ago!) and Sarah Morgan is one of my favorite authors.
Love all Sarah Morgan’s Modern / Presents but her sheikhs are probably my favourites. I always empathise with her heroines – she does great characterisation. Her heroines are vulnerable without being weak or victims – and I love the way the Rebel Princess shows Karim “it never pays to underestimate a woman”. It’s fast-paced with lots of action (adore the fencing scene), and lots of great dialogue and terrific love scenes.
Decent enough story. Maybe 3-1/2 stars. I liked the princess in peril whose wild ways were really attempts on her life. The story was pretty unbelievable but then sheikh stories are not my favorites nor are royalty stories so it had 2 counts against it. The hero was nice enough. Mostly I guess there didn't seem to be a lot of meat to the story. A little melodramatic.
Sarah Morgan's modern day fairytale is one of the best stories I've read in this Harlequin line in years.
Imagine if you will, a princess of a faraway land called Rovina and then a Sultan of an even further away country, Zangrar. These two people are betrothed to each other through and agreement between their fathers. One is desperate for the union the other isn't.
Both hero and heroine are both stubborn and determined to get what they want. As the story moves along, one finds their feelings changing, even though they are keeping things from each other during their travels/courtship.
What I liked about this book: The heroine though a virgin (OMG there are still 24 year old virgins?) wasn't wishy washy as many female characters are in this predicament. She was strong and tried to fight her own demons to protect herself from the danger she was in.
The hero was really the perfect prince charming.
Another plus is that the sex scenes didn't come before they were needed and they were tastefully done. No throbbing spearheads of longing, thank God!
This book actually gave me faith that there are really some good authors writing for this line. I find it heard to trust books with titles that always contain one of the following words, Virgin, Mistress, Bride, Millionaire/Billionaire, & Tycoon. Also insert the nationality of your choice in with the Millionaire Tycoons, usually Greek or Italian.
This was a really fun and enjoyable read. The perfect book to while away a boring afternoon. I'll look for more of Sarah Morgan's Presents novels soon.
Wonderful book, as one expects from Sarah Morgan. Flawless writing with an interesting story, and even more intriguing characters. I wish this author would write for the HP line again.
Strong princess in peril from her evil uncle/ Regent. There were so many interesting plot points to this book, from the fact that only the *princess*, not the Sultan could call off the marriage to Princess Alexandra sparring against her prospective bodyguard and holding her own. The way that her dangerous past was slowly revealed to the reader, and then to Bodyguard Karim/ Sultan Karim added a lot of tension.
However, I disliked that Karim didn't see anything wrong with lying to Alexa when it was so important to her to be able to trust him. Also, I thought the ending was a little abrupt "and he'll (uncle) spend the rest of his life in prison". What about all those who had supported him and who had threatened the princess under his command?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This was a fabulous read ! This story is filled with suspense, intrigue, adventure and sizzling romance. Everything you could want in a romance novel ! Both hero and heroine are strong and independent. Alexandra, the heroine is an exceptionally likeable charachter. I think she's up there with my favourite romance heroines.
Karim is, at best, a little clueless. You’re escorting a desperate princess across the desert, people are chasing you, you get shot, and you think she’s just assuming that said people are trying to kill her? Her uncle makes thinly veiled threats on her life in front of you, withholds her passport so she can’t leave the country and you think he’s just being over-protective? Jump on the clue bus, dude!
At worst, Karim is an arrogant ass. He continually commands that Alexa give him everything - her trust, her honesty, her body, and her heart - and he never offers the same to her in return. He is honest with her, to a point. He tells her only those things about himself that are convenient at the time.
Alexa is strong-willed, tough, and resourceful. She’s also a little stupid. She thinks running away to an unknown country, climate, and culture alone is the safest option for her! She insists that she doesn’t need help, that she can and will survive on her own, no matter that hired killers are hot on her heels and she’s in the middle of the desert! Her back story was interesting, but just how many murder attempts can one person walk away from?
Even though Alexa’s a tough cookie, she’s got a good balance of softness in her character. She can bend, but she doesn’t break. While Karim is pushing his weight around, Alexa is the one who puts aside her own feelings of hurt and betrayal and attempts to salvage their relationship. This, unfortunately, leaves Karim the opportunity to get what he wants out of their marriage - a caring wife who stays put and puts out. He never apologizes for anything he says or does. In the end, his character gets his happy ever after without ever having to own up to any wrong doing at all.
And I guess The Powers That Be missed the fact that Karim is a Sultan and not a Sheikh when they put that cheesy title on…
I dont know if its really that good, or it was simply that the last few books were just so bad. This one, at least, made me get over my reading slump. So Yey, deserves an extra star.
Low level angst.
The heroine is a princess from a fictional European country and the Hero is the Sheikh from a fictional desert kingdom. They have been betrothed by their mutual fathers since they were children.
The Hero doesn’t really want to marry the heroine, he likes being single, and he has heard gossip about her wild ways. However, he cant break the contract. Only the heroine can break the contract if she decides not to marry him.
The heroine, on the other hand, is very determined to wed the Hero. She needs big financial infusion to improve her country. What the Hero doesnt know is that she also needs the protection a marriage to him will bring her.
He disguises himself as a bodyguard/ envoy sent by the sultan, her betrothed, to escort her to her wedding, secretly he hopes to dissuade her from going through with it.
The heroine is really escaping from her evil uncle who wants to kill her.
The Hero and heroine escape together to his desert country. While on their way to his Palace they spend a few days in the desert, where they discover the crazy chemistry they have together. The heroine opens up to him, and he realizes the danger she is in. But still does not reveal that he is her betrothed.
The story develops well from here, i liked how they had to trust each other again since when the final revelation happened, the heroine felt betrayed once more.
Well done. A steamy read. I liked their story and their happy ever after.
Enjoy this one a lottt but wishing for this to have an epilogue with baby/ies in it. but well, this is an amazing book. At first I was a bit annoyed at the H since he was very quick to judge the h. Yes she acted like all those rumours were true but still..Although I kind of understand the 'why'. Then the h's uncle was an SOB and wished for more gruesome ending for him, but I need to settle for him brought to court. The h was quite badass and a sweetheart. Glad I stumbled upon this one. Good Job author!
Karim, Sultan of Zangrar, sought a gentle, obedient bride. What he got was a defiant, feisty wife with fire in her eyes!She couldn't be a virgin--she was a rebel princess who wouldn't be tamed. She was hiding secrets, refusing to do his bidding!The marriage contract couldn't be broken. Their wedding vows had to be sealed!And then the sultan discovered Princess Alexandra was in fact an innocent. part of the virgin mistress bundle bought in Jan 2009 on HQ bookshelf
Not a good one. The characters can conceal too much from each other, but, worse, they conceal it from the reader. (And it's pretty obvious stuff for the reader.)
I usually like Morgan's Presents quite a lot, but this one just didn't work for me at all.
4.5 stars (rounding up because it was def more than a 4 star reading for me) I was so pleasantly surprised to find a HP by Sarah Morgan that I had never read before. I enjoyed it a lot and it reminded me why I love her writing and trust in her storytelling. In this story, we have an arranged marriage between Karim, Sultan of Zangrar, and Alexa, Princess of Rovina. Alexa has a horrible reputation as a party girl and rebel. There are published topless photos of her as a 16 year old that get renewed media attention every now and then courtesy of her uncle who is ruling as regent. (This is child porn.) This is part of the image Karim has of her and why he thinks she's not an appropriate partner for him. He is unable to break the betrothal so he goes undercover as a bodyguard sent to protect Alexa with the intention of dissuading her from marrying the sultan. As they journey from Rovina to Zangrar, they are reluctantly attracted to one another but neither one finds it easy to trust. Once they get married, things change for the couple for the better but this is towards the end of the book.
I liked Alexa as a heroine. She was a survivor. Smart, self-aware, suspicious, and practical. She took her role as a ruler seriously and was prepared to marry Karim to ensure the best for her country. Karim was a bit more stubborn and hard headed.
What stops this book from being a 5 star book is the lack of love/romance and angst. The readers don't get to see their passionate relationship beyond the wedding night. We are told in one scene that their marriage is passionate before the climax/conflict comes to a head scene. I would have appreciated a "cry and curse at the moon because he thought she was kidnapped/dead" scene. There was so much angst potential! The danger is over so quickly it's not blood pressure inducing at all which felt so anticlimactic. I've felt more worried about an OW/OM than I did about this dangerous, power hungry uncle.
Lastly, plot hole: Karim was the sultan of his country. How is it possible for Alexa and her uncle to not recognize him? There are cameras everywhere. There's no way you wouldn't know what a ruler of a neighboring country looks like much less the sultan whom you/your niece is engaged to.
"The Sheikh's Virgin Princess" is the story of Alexandra and Karim.
Hero and heroine's marriage was arranged by their parents.
When the time comes, the hero does not want to marry her as he believes the stories about her unruly and wild behavior. He pretends to be his own bodyguard, and goes to meet her. However everything he learns about her challenges his perceptions, and soon a series of events makes him realize about her life in a golden cage.
Loads of sexual attraction and drama in this one. I loved how strong and fiesty the heroine was, but I wish we got more grovel and affection from the hero.
I wanna read mostly everything Sarah Morgan has written, and I love her writing in this too.
It's just ... very growling he-man, feminine (yet can-do) princess and so so typical of this type of romance. You know exactly what you get just reading the title, and there's really zero surprises in this.
Also the whole genre of sheikh romances feels so dated. At least I don't think our dashing Karim is referred to as exotic. He's just the most masculine man to ever grow hair on his chest -_-
It was too tame. Hardly any kissing. Until the wedding night at the end of the book there was only one passionate scene which was also a bit dull.
I want a smitten H who is so in love and lust for the h that he can’t keep his eyes, hands, lips and other parts of his body off her.
Also there should have been more groveling from his side at the end. He pretended to be a bodyguard throughout the entire book until after the wedding. Even after she opened up to him about her past, he doesn’t open up to her. He never says sorry that he mislead her.
A different twist, with the heroine under constant fear as she is soon to take the throne for her own country. Loads of arrogance and assumptions on the hero’s part, which some readers may not like.
I didn’t mind it. I enjoyed this. Would give 3.5 stars if possible. She fell in love after they made out, which I don’t care for, and there was no explanation for how he got there so quickly, when he was supposedly some distance away, at the end, hence the 3.5 stars on my part.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I read through the reviews of this book and almost didn’t buy it. I’m glad I took a chance. Everything Alexandra had gone through really pulled at my heart. It was an emotional, uplifting book. The romance between Karim and Alexandra was very steamy. You may need to sit by a fan. I really enjoyed this quick read.
A very quick read just because I felt like the dialogue kept repeating every page. If you removed the main character retelling their life story x10 every chapter the whole book would be around 10 pages.