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A Dynasty of Sand and Scandal #1
The Last Prince of Dahaar
A vow to break? She's a bullet point on the list of things he's agreed to for duty. And as it is the only way to restore order in Dahaar and quash whispers that name him The Mad Prince, Ayaan Al Sharif will marry Zohra Naasar. Zohra knows something of duty's destruction—it's stolen her freedom before, and it won't happen again. She'll convince Ayaan not to marry her—by refusing to sleep with him! Even if he does evoke a desire she's never felt before. Ayaan may have agreed to her outrageous demand, but is this the one promise the last prince of Dahaar can't keep?
Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
About the author
Tara Pammi
562 books205 followersTara Pammi can't remember a moment when she wasn't lost in a book, especially a romance which, for a teenager, was much more exciting than mathematics textbook. Before long, she was hiding romance novels within bigger textbooks, smuggling them into the home through her unsuspecting younger cousin’s school bag, and cycling more than a few miles to her favorite library to borrow more.
Through numerous ‘true’ loves :-) and traveling thousands of miles from family and friends, her attachment to books and especially romance novels stayed constant.
One fine day, toiling away as a grad student in a basement lab, Tara started typing the beginning of a story instead of her thesis. But it wasn’t until years later, encouraged by her real life hero, Tara realized what she truly wanted to do was to write.
Tara lives in Texas with her real life hero and her two little girls. When she isn't writing or reading, Tara can be found failing in the kitchen, watching TV or making resolutions to exercise more, or even a little.
Through numerous ‘true’ loves :-) and traveling thousands of miles from family and friends, her attachment to books and especially romance novels stayed constant.
One fine day, toiling away as a grad student in a basement lab, Tara started typing the beginning of a story instead of her thesis. But it wasn’t until years later, encouraged by her real life hero, Tara realized what she truly wanted to do was to write.
Tara lives in Texas with her real life hero and her two little girls. When she isn't writing or reading, Tara can be found failing in the kitchen, watching TV or making resolutions to exercise more, or even a little.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 14, 2016
*To my HP loving friends, pls give this a try and I promise you will not regret doing so.
Oh, this was such a tough book to get through.. the H has had so much sadness in his life and I was truly glad he found a heroine who was worthy of him. Thank God for HEAs.
June 20, 2015
Zohra Naasar (from Siyaad) is being pressured by her father to marry Prince Ayaan Sharif (from Dahaar). She is very against this marriage because she doesn't see herself as a future Queen and isn't interested in that life, but her father insists the marriage will benefit both their countries. Ayaan doesn't want the marriage either but he will do it out of duty for his country.
I thought Zohra and Ayaan made a great couple. Ayaan is known as the Mad Prince. Five years ago he had been pronounced dead---he and his older brother and sister were victims of a brutal terrorist attack. Ayaan is eventually found alive, roaming in the desert, mentally ill, violent, and incoherent, and sent by his father to live in a castle in the Alps for five years. Now he has come home, and is getting better, but he is still tormented by bad dreams.
Zohra is a headstrong, outspoken, and feisty heroine. She loves her half-brother and half-sister and that is the reason she is going through with the marriage.
I enjoyed this book, though it was slow at times. Zohra and Ayaan had great chemistry. I laughed at the part when Zohra had to cook the traditional desert for the family, and I loved the exotic backdrop/surroundings.
I thought Zohra and Ayaan made a great couple. Ayaan is known as the Mad Prince. Five years ago he had been pronounced dead---he and his older brother and sister were victims of a brutal terrorist attack. Ayaan is eventually found alive, roaming in the desert, mentally ill, violent, and incoherent, and sent by his father to live in a castle in the Alps for five years. Now he has come home, and is getting better, but he is still tormented by bad dreams.
Zohra is a headstrong, outspoken, and feisty heroine. She loves her half-brother and half-sister and that is the reason she is going through with the marriage.
I enjoyed this book, though it was slow at times. Zohra and Ayaan had great chemistry. I laughed at the part when Zohra had to cook the traditional desert for the family, and I loved the exotic backdrop/surroundings.
May 20, 2016
A broken hero with PTSD who doesn't think he is fit to be loved + a leading lady with strong opinions and a stubborn streak = Amazing cheesetastic awesomeness.
This was just what I needed after a bad book week.
I want to read ALL the Mills and Boon books now.
4 no-magical-healing-vaginas-here Stars
This was just what I needed after a bad book week.
I want to read ALL the Mills and Boon books now.
4 no-magical-healing-vaginas-here Stars
January 9, 2014
Marriage of convenience story. Hero is very tortured, he feels responsible for the death of his family and heroine has her own daddy issues. Neither wants this marriage but they end up falling in love. I adore MOC stories, virginal heroines and a dark brooding hero but I still couldn't get into this book. Too much narrative description, not enough dialogue. Not a big description reader. Reading this was a chore.
August 10, 2015
This was an interesting take on the Sheikh marriage of convenience. Ayaan, the Mad Prince, is the only survivor of a terrorist attack five years ago that killed his older brother and his sister. The captivity and subsequent time wandering the desert pushed his mental health over the edge. It is only recently he has been well enough to return home to Dahaar and take up, reluctantly, his royal duties as the heir apparent.
Zohra is the feisty, disgruntled illegitimate daughter of Dahaar's neighbouring ruler. Half American, she resents the "duty" she sees as ruining her life and that of her mother. The last thing she wants is an arranged duty marriage.
These two are well matched. Ayaan is full of insecurities due to his struggle back to sanity but he doesn't hesitate to call out Zohra when he sees the illogic of her antipathy to duty and responsibility. Thrown together in marriage, they can't avoid the intimacy that allows them to see each others vulnerability. They also can't avoid the chemistry...
Overall this was a great sheikh read. I was occasionally irritated by Zohra's stubbornness and would have liked a clearer understanding of what mental illness required 4 years in a Swiss Sanitorium so I wasn't distracted by wondering about it which took me out of the story. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series.
Zohra is the feisty, disgruntled illegitimate daughter of Dahaar's neighbouring ruler. Half American, she resents the "duty" she sees as ruining her life and that of her mother. The last thing she wants is an arranged duty marriage.
These two are well matched. Ayaan is full of insecurities due to his struggle back to sanity but he doesn't hesitate to call out Zohra when he sees the illogic of her antipathy to duty and responsibility. Thrown together in marriage, they can't avoid the intimacy that allows them to see each others vulnerability. They also can't avoid the chemistry...
Overall this was a great sheikh read. I was occasionally irritated by Zohra's stubbornness and would have liked a clearer understanding of what mental illness required 4 years in a Swiss Sanitorium so I wasn't distracted by wondering about it which took me out of the story. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series.
February 8, 2014
Underwhelming beginning. Didn't much like the heroine. Couldn't finish. Story didn't grab me at all.
I've read better tortured Arab heroes from made up Arab countries and marriage of convenience HP's.
I've read better tortured Arab heroes from made up Arab countries and marriage of convenience HP's.
April 13, 2014
The opening of this book is utterly fantastic writing - such that I was mentally composing a fan letter to the author by page 2. Alas, the narrative and characterization hit some snags after that and the rest of the book lacked the depth that would've made the story more satisfying. But, constraints of the format and all. The romance was certainly satisfying enough. I can see myself re-reading this to revisit the characters and their chemistry.
Didn't really like or understand the heroine's 'insulation' from her culture, but otherwise found the 'sheikh' genre elements subtly-rendered and well-handled, which is to say, palatable rather than alienating and offensive.
Didn't really like or understand the heroine's 'insulation' from her culture, but otherwise found the 'sheikh' genre elements subtly-rendered and well-handled, which is to say, palatable rather than alienating and offensive.
October 15, 2014
Interesting, almost normal telling of the sheikh story...Loved how vulnerable Ayaan was. And the scene in the stable where Zohra takes the lead..wow talk about scorching!!! Can't wait to read the brother's story!!
June 20, 2017
One of my favorites
I loved this story so much. To be able to experience how love can heal a broken soul who has endured so much and is still haunted by the nightmares of his past. I enjoyed the sexual chemistry between Zorah and Ayaan.
I loved this story so much. To be able to experience how love can heal a broken soul who has endured so much and is still haunted by the nightmares of his past. I enjoyed the sexual chemistry between Zorah and Ayaan.
October 28, 2017
Basically arranged marriage .. the heroine tries to convince our hero that she wasn't a virgin but he didn't care so they end up becoming married .. our hero has a lot of skeletons in his closet so he was a very shut mouthed person but I did like this book it had a sweet ending
Read
April 1, 2014received 4 1/2 stars @ RT Book Reviews
Miniseries: A Dynasty of Sand and Scandal
Miniseries: A Dynasty of Sand and Scandal
August 27, 2017
3.5 Stars.
November 25, 2018
Mi aspettavo di meglio, non è niente di che
September 20, 2019
I related with the main character in this book because she and I both need to have better standards when it comes to men 😬
Read
April 1, 2014"Pammi's romance is a page-turner. Her vivid narrative brings the extraordinary people and exotic places to life. Her couple seems doomed, yet are each other's balm (RT Book Reviews)". 4 1/2 stars
Miniseries: A Dynasty of Sand and Scandal
Miniseries: A Dynasty of Sand and Scandal
March 11, 2014
Can't wait to read more from this writer awesome book and kept me on my toes throughout the book!
hq-to-read
March 13, 2018A vow to break?
She's a bullet point on the list of things he's agreed to for duty. And as it is the only way to restore order in Dahaar and quash whispers that name him The Mad Prince, Ayaan Al Sharif will marry Zohra Naasar.
Zohra knows something of duty's destruction -- it's stolen her freedom before, and it won't happen again. She'll convince Ayaan not to marry her -- by refusing to sleep with him! Even if he does evoke a desire she's never felt before.
Ayaan may have agreed to her outrageous demand, but is this the one promise the last prince of Dahaar can't keep?
She's a bullet point on the list of things he's agreed to for duty. And as it is the only way to restore order in Dahaar and quash whispers that name him The Mad Prince, Ayaan Al Sharif will marry Zohra Naasar.
Zohra knows something of duty's destruction -- it's stolen her freedom before, and it won't happen again. She'll convince Ayaan not to marry her -- by refusing to sleep with him! Even if he does evoke a desire she's never felt before.
Ayaan may have agreed to her outrageous demand, but is this the one promise the last prince of Dahaar can't keep?
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews