Shadow of the Sheikh

Immortal Sheikhs #2

by Nina Bruhns

All are terrified of the ruthless legend of al Shahin—the Black Hawk. Sheikh Shahin Aswadi doesn't mind. It makes his job easier. He is one of the immortal shape-shifters who serve the ancient Egyptian god Set-Sutekh, and no human has dared approach his hidden oasis encampment for nearly a century.

That is, until intrepid anthropologist Gemma Haliday comes sniffing around after her missing sister. She has foolishly disregarded the dire warnings of the nomads in order to question the one man who may know of her sister's fate. To Shahin's gratification, she walks straight into the trap he has carefully laid for her.

Just one taste of Gemma's lips and he knows he must possess her fully…but he wants her willing. He wants her to burn for him as he burns for her—with a desire as hot and vast as the timeless Egyptian desert.

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Romance, Vampires, Paranormal, Harlequin Nocturne, Harlequin, Fantasy

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 19, 2010

About the author

New York Times and USA Today best selling author Nina Bruhns is an avid world traveler and adventurer with two graduate degrees in archaeology -- all great fodder for her stories, giving them broad dimension, vivid settings and characters that are out of the ordinary. In addition to hitting both the NY Times and USA Today bestseller lists, her novels have earned two RITA nominations, and won numerous other awards, including three prestigious Daphne du Maurier Awards of Excellence for Overall Best Mystery Suspense Novel of the Year, five Dorothy Parker Awards, several RT BookClub Awards and a National Readers Choice Award.

A native of Canada, Nina grew up in California and currently resides in beautiful Charleston, South Carolina.

Reviews

[Lynsey A · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was a bit disappointed in this story after liking the first one so well. For some reason I did not connect to the hero or heroine. I didn't warm up to them at all. What really clinched it for me was the scene where the H/h make love and the vampire god that the hero protects, is in bed with them and drinks from the heroine. Now, it wasn't a true menage scene but for me it was too close and it certainly wasn't something I was expecting in a Harlequin Nocturne book.

The one part I enjoyed in the book is when the hero saw her sister Gillian again from the first one and learned the truth about their parents. What disappointed me was that the reader didn't get to see the "reunion". It took away from it a bit.

There is also a side story in the series between the priestess in one group and the "evil" ruler of the other group. He seems like a really nasty guy but the priestess loves him even though he is always trying to kill her adoptive brother, who is the vampire god.

I gave this 2 stars and not one because it wasn't terrible it just didn't do much for me.

I'm hoping the last book in the series will be better. However, it may be a bit before I pick up the last one.

[Adrianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really fascinating integration of Egyptian mythology in this book. The world building, magic, and mythology was a step above the typical Harlequin Nocturne. Seth's and Nephy's characters were super interesting and should have been the main focus of the book. Unfortunately, our human heroine Gemma just...didn't do it for me. Basically, she's an explorer in the desert and looking for answers to her sister's and mother's disappearances. Her relationship with the hero also just didn't do it for me...they were just sort of back and forth and at odds. He kidnaps her and she keeps trying to justify that she's there "willingly", over and over again. It's problematic to say the least. And her "omigods!" and references to "camel ghosts" and weird ingenue mannerisms didn't pair well for the REALLY hot and REALLY explicit sex scenes. This one pushed the edge in a really good way, introducing sexy vampire scenes, blood play, and three-ways. A slightly better writer could have improved the narrative a bit more and characterizations of the h/H. If you are looking for dark erotic passages, this book is for you.

[Cliff's Dark Gems · Rating 3 out of 5]

My final read for GarbAugust. a reading event where we read trashy books all month. This spicy romance was way out of my comfort zone, but to be fair, it certainly does what it sets out to do!

Many horror and fantasy authors add sex scenes, it was interesting to read a trashy, sleazy romance novel to see how it is supposed to be done.

[Elena · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing. Not as spicy as i thought it would be. Not much happens and important actions or things that should be explained more are glossed over. The main female character does not do much in this story.

[Zoe Herold · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay

Well, Not quite as good as the first and third books but had a couple of cute parts in there.

[Lyra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book when I was wandering around a second-hand book shop. At first, I thought this is a stand-alone book. Then I began reading and found out that it was actually a trilogy.

Since I don't know where to buy the first book, I decided to just read it anyway.

I thought that reading the book without any knowledge about the first story will just confuse me, but I was wrong. I caught up with the story easily, so it was the first thing that made me like the book. The other was that it was written well. The transition of the story is great. I love how the writer made the characters as well. They're very real to me, unlike the other books I have read. And, the antagonist in the story really made me hate him, which is good.

With all that being said, I think you're wondering why I gave it four stars.

The only thing that I didn't like about the story was how the Seth reacted when he learned about his sister's decision.

Now, I'm just hoping to find the other two books of this series...

[Nina Bruhns · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Immortal Sheikhs, book 2

Sheikh Shahin Aswadi—the harbinger of death, a ghostly figure who rides the wind in the form of a powerful black hawk. No mortal has dared approach his hidden oasis encampment for nearly a century. They are all terrified by the ruthless legend of al Shahin.

All but intrepid anthropologist Gemma Haliday. Determined to find her missing sister, Gemma has foolishly disregarded the dire warnings of local villagers…and walks straight into a trap Shahin has laid for her.

He takes the beautiful mortal captive, determined to use her, then gift her to his vampire lord, Seth-Aziz, as a blood sacrifice.

But one taste of Gemma’s lips and he knows he must possess her for fully and for all time. And he wants her to burn for him as he burns for her, with a desire as hot and vast as his desert home.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle book of the trilogy and it was a much better read than the first one.

We still have lots of Egyptology, ancient Gods, shapeshifting and a hungry vampire and our H/h this time Sheikh Shahin Aswadi, Leader of the Death Warriors and Gemma Halliday.

This book pays tribute to E.M. Hull The Sheik, which was a favourite of mine when I was a teenager.

If a war is to be averted between Light and Dark, Night and Day, then it is up to the Halliday sisters to prevail.

[Stacie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a continuation of the Immortal Sheikhs series of three sisters who meet shapeshifters in the Egyptian desert. While search for her lost sister, she meets Sheikh Shahin Aswadi who has the legend of being able to turn into a Black Hawk. Once she walks into his world, he keeps her and she can not go back. She does not realize that she is walking into a trap. Shahin thinks that he will just be with her until he tires of her. But then finds that he does not ever want to be without her.

[Deanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the story quite confusing. I think it would have helped if I had read the first instalment of the Immortal Sheikhs series. Perhaps then I would have better understood what was happening. I also don't think that the idea of immortal Egyptian royalty who are vampires that must feed on a mortal's blood once a year was believable for me. I guess I shouldn't read these kind of stories but I did give it a chance.

[Amber Meller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, but I was left yearning for something more than what I read in the book. It felt incomplete, but I did enjoy it, even if there we were two stories in one. Where Seth's sister was taken and Shihan was slowly falling in love, something that Seth can work around this time, unlike in the last book, where Rhys defected. But Rhys and Gillian did come in to it a little bit, mentioning that they were spies for them, even if they live with the enemy.

[Stasia Bruhn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slightly better than Lord of the desert..Things were explained more..To tell you the truth though nothing much happens..A ghost army yawn..I love reading about Egyptian romance and Sheikhs but this was Lukewarm at best..

[Angarad · Rating 5 out of 5]

My God, Shahin is way sexier than Rhys :)
I thought I was readying some kind of Romeo and Juliet adaptation which only leaves you wanting to lonw how it all ends
However I have to say I thought this was way too short and hoing too quickly.

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: Immortal Sheikhs

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really good, really leaves you hanging for bk 3

[Marina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give this 3 1/2 stars. It was good. The characters are great, nice storyline, overall nice romance.

[Glynda Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this series. Start with first book Lord of the Desert, then this one, and last Vampire Sheikh. Very Good.

[Kiru Taye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Will be checking out the other stories in the series.

[Ruthann Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Too bad there isn't another one following the story.

[Shannon Ann Bliesner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was actually the book that introduced me to the trilogy, and is my absolute favorite! love the characters and how the story plays out

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very silly, but entertaining.