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Beasts of the Desert #1
Hajar's Hidden Legacy
Princess Katharine has always been destined for a political marriage. Her heart heavy, she prepares to meet her future husband—the man whisperers in his royal kingdom call the Beast of Hajar.…
Concealing his disfigurement from public scrutiny, Sheikh Zahir rules his country from within the castle walls, allowing no one in. Until duty demands he carry on the Hajar family dynasty, and allow his new bride to cross the threshold.
Zahir expects Katharine to flee at first sight. Yet her unflinching gaze fires Zahir's blood, their attraction burning hotter than the scorching desert sands.…
Concealing his disfigurement from public scrutiny, Sheikh Zahir rules his country from within the castle walls, allowing no one in. Until duty demands he carry on the Hajar family dynasty, and allow his new bride to cross the threshold.
Zahir expects Katharine to flee at first sight. Yet her unflinching gaze fires Zahir's blood, their attraction burning hotter than the scorching desert sands.…
190 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
105 people are currently reading
746 people want to read
About the author
Maisey Yates
1,162 books2,999 followersNew York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit. In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book.
Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard.
She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.
Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard.
She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
June 27, 2013
Hajar's Hidden Legacy is a book for fans of the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale. It plays out a lot like that much-loved story, although that is not to say there is no innovation or unique touch here. Maisey Yates careful touch with writing romance and the manner in which she builds a layered, emotional story is evident here. Her characters are real life, both struggling with emotional wounds from their past.
Zahir is a tough nut to crack. He doesn't want to be married to Katharine, and he definitely doesn't want to love her. He's afraid to let her in, and he is unable to let go of his guilt about surviving the attacks against his family. He hates himself, and that is very evident. He also fears his life is over. He exists because he must protect his country. But he is in a world of pain. At first, I wondered why if he thought his scars were so hideous, he didn't get plastic surgery. I came to realize that his disgust with his appearance was more about his disgust about how he survived when his parents and brother didn't. He felt like he was the unworthy one who lived. His truly believes he is unable to heal emotionally. He is like a lion with a thorn in his paw, and that requires some real nurturing and persistence from Katharine. Katharine was just the heroine to soothe his savage breast.
While Zahir has the bulk of torment, I liked that Katharine had her own angst to deal with. She was dismissed, sidelined, and marginalized by her father. He truly does not value her, and he shows it. But she craves his approval and moves mountains to get it. I loved how Zahir stood up for Katharine to her father. I also loved how Zahir helps to validate Katharine and build up her self-esteem, despite his own struggles.
Yates carefully builds the tension, both romantic and sensual. The love scenes are quite steamy, but it's very natural to the story. You can see that the connection between Zahir and Katharine has entwined itself between them on many levels. Before they both know it, their match is very much one of love and devotion, as well as a marriage of state. Their mutual fears of not being enough are assuaged by the fact that they are just what each other needs.
Hajar's Hidden Legacy is very much a novel about the healing of emotional wounds and the development of love between two hurting people. It lacks the drama of some book in this category series. Instead, it's more of an introspective novel about the development of a relationship that turns into a deep love between two people who weren't even looking for love, but needed it the whole time.
Zahir is a tough nut to crack. He doesn't want to be married to Katharine, and he definitely doesn't want to love her. He's afraid to let her in, and he is unable to let go of his guilt about surviving the attacks against his family. He hates himself, and that is very evident. He also fears his life is over. He exists because he must protect his country. But he is in a world of pain. At first, I wondered why if he thought his scars were so hideous, he didn't get plastic surgery. I came to realize that his disgust with his appearance was more about his disgust about how he survived when his parents and brother didn't. He felt like he was the unworthy one who lived. His truly believes he is unable to heal emotionally. He is like a lion with a thorn in his paw, and that requires some real nurturing and persistence from Katharine. Katharine was just the heroine to soothe his savage breast.
While Zahir has the bulk of torment, I liked that Katharine had her own angst to deal with. She was dismissed, sidelined, and marginalized by her father. He truly does not value her, and he shows it. But she craves his approval and moves mountains to get it. I loved how Zahir stood up for Katharine to her father. I also loved how Zahir helps to validate Katharine and build up her self-esteem, despite his own struggles.
Yates carefully builds the tension, both romantic and sensual. The love scenes are quite steamy, but it's very natural to the story. You can see that the connection between Zahir and Katharine has entwined itself between them on many levels. Before they both know it, their match is very much one of love and devotion, as well as a marriage of state. Their mutual fears of not being enough are assuaged by the fact that they are just what each other needs.
Hajar's Hidden Legacy is very much a novel about the healing of emotional wounds and the development of love between two hurting people. It lacks the drama of some book in this category series. Instead, it's more of an introspective novel about the development of a relationship that turns into a deep love between two people who weren't even looking for love, but needed it the whole time.
August 25, 2012
I liked this book but it needed a lot more conflict to score more stars. There was not a lot of melodrama here. He was kind of grumpy and had PTSD and she was the poor little rich girl always trying to get Daddy to love her. But she was spunky and brought the sheikh out of his trauma. There didn't seem to be any people in the palace at all, to the point that you wondered who cooked and dusted and did the laundry. The name of the European country was pretty lame. And you never had the slightest idea where it was. I spent 3 minutes on an internet fantasy name generator site and came up with dozens of better, more believable country names. Hmmm.
July 4, 2012
All I can say is WOW!Maisey Yates packs quite the emotional punch in this book in her version of beauty and the beast.She writes of an intense ,broken shell of a warrior sheikh who was injured in a bomb blast that killed his entire family.He became lame,disfigured ,scarred ,and blinded in one eye as a result.In addition he suffers from PTSD and has become a recluse to his people.He is viewed as a Beast.The heroine was engaged to his deceased brother in an arranged marriage.The H/h meeet after six years when she comes to his desert country to seal the marriage contract with the H replacing his deceased brother.After much arguement he conceedes to the marriage.I loved the entire dynamics of this book.The heroine ,Princess Katherine ,was Sheikh Zahir's ,the H's ,solid foundation through this story.I loved how Zahir fought his emotions untill he broke down and admitted his feelings.The love scenes were beautifully done and you felt for these two characters.This was an excellent read.
December 12, 2011
This is a Quickie Review. For the full review, please visit The Romanceaholic.com.
Princess Katharine of Austrich has always known that she was destined to have an arranged, political marriage. Having been seen as nothing more than a commodity by her cold father, she’s always striven for her every action to matter – attending parties brings rich tourists to her country, agreeing to a political marriage cements trade agreements and gives protection to her people, and remaining a virgin to appease the traditional rulers of other countries ensures that she always has a bargaining chip if the original agreement falls through. Cold blooded, true, but Katharine knows that since a female can never rule her country, she must do whatever is necessary to make sure that she can contribute in any way to the well-being of her people.
When her intended husband and his family are killed by insurgents of his country, leaving only the younger son Zahir to rule, Katharine is saddened by the loss but not heartbroken — after all, while she certainly liked Malik, theirs was by no means a love match.
Now several years later, with her father quickly approaching his deathbed and her younger brother too young to ascend the throne, Katharine must approach Malik’s younger brother and convince him to enter into a political marriage with her, or else her beloved country would be placed under the rule of a power-hungry man who would surely destroy everything her family has worked for.
Sheikh Zahir of Hajar is as reclusive as a monarch could ever be — choosing to address his people via radio from the security of his palace walls, and delegating whenever possible. Horribly scarred, both physically and emotionally, by the attack that took the lives of his entire family, Zahir has well earned his reputation as The Beast of Hajar.
When the lovely Katharine first approaches him with the idea of their marriage, Zahir expects her to flee in terror when faced with both his scars and his temper, but the beauty surprises him with both her tenacity and her pleas for him to think of the good of both their countries.
Reluctantly agreeing to a temporary marriage to protect Austrich until Katharine’s brother reaches the age at which he can legally rule, Zahir waits for Katharine to turn from him, but the infuriating woman not only refuses to be intimidated, but insists on trying to break him out of his self-imposed isolation.
Having agreed that their marriage will be a temporary one, both Zahir and Katharine soon discover a blistering attraction that has the power to leave them both burned…
Anyone who knows me already realizes that I am a Maisey Yates fangirl, so I pretty much fell over with joy when this arrived in the mail, and I was so happy to discover that it more than lived up to the hype.
Ms. Yates has such a talent for writing heroes who can be ruthless jerks and yet we readers cheerfully forgive them for their behavior because they’re so beautifully damaged. Zahir was absolutely delicious, even with his physical imperfections, and Katharine proved that even a perfect outer appearance doesn’t always protect one from internal scars.
Perfect for fans of tortured and scarred heroes, arranged marriages, and of finding that sometimes protecting those you care about just means loving them with all your heart.
A beautiful 4.5/5 Stars.
Princess Katharine of Austrich has always known that she was destined to have an arranged, political marriage. Having been seen as nothing more than a commodity by her cold father, she’s always striven for her every action to matter – attending parties brings rich tourists to her country, agreeing to a political marriage cements trade agreements and gives protection to her people, and remaining a virgin to appease the traditional rulers of other countries ensures that she always has a bargaining chip if the original agreement falls through. Cold blooded, true, but Katharine knows that since a female can never rule her country, she must do whatever is necessary to make sure that she can contribute in any way to the well-being of her people.
When her intended husband and his family are killed by insurgents of his country, leaving only the younger son Zahir to rule, Katharine is saddened by the loss but not heartbroken — after all, while she certainly liked Malik, theirs was by no means a love match.
Now several years later, with her father quickly approaching his deathbed and her younger brother too young to ascend the throne, Katharine must approach Malik’s younger brother and convince him to enter into a political marriage with her, or else her beloved country would be placed under the rule of a power-hungry man who would surely destroy everything her family has worked for.
Sheikh Zahir of Hajar is as reclusive as a monarch could ever be — choosing to address his people via radio from the security of his palace walls, and delegating whenever possible. Horribly scarred, both physically and emotionally, by the attack that took the lives of his entire family, Zahir has well earned his reputation as The Beast of Hajar.
When the lovely Katharine first approaches him with the idea of their marriage, Zahir expects her to flee in terror when faced with both his scars and his temper, but the beauty surprises him with both her tenacity and her pleas for him to think of the good of both their countries.
Reluctantly agreeing to a temporary marriage to protect Austrich until Katharine’s brother reaches the age at which he can legally rule, Zahir waits for Katharine to turn from him, but the infuriating woman not only refuses to be intimidated, but insists on trying to break him out of his self-imposed isolation.
Having agreed that their marriage will be a temporary one, both Zahir and Katharine soon discover a blistering attraction that has the power to leave them both burned…
Anyone who knows me already realizes that I am a Maisey Yates fangirl, so I pretty much fell over with joy when this arrived in the mail, and I was so happy to discover that it more than lived up to the hype.
Ms. Yates has such a talent for writing heroes who can be ruthless jerks and yet we readers cheerfully forgive them for their behavior because they’re so beautifully damaged. Zahir was absolutely delicious, even with his physical imperfections, and Katharine proved that even a perfect outer appearance doesn’t always protect one from internal scars.
Perfect for fans of tortured and scarred heroes, arranged marriages, and of finding that sometimes protecting those you care about just means loving them with all your heart.
A beautiful 4.5/5 Stars.
September 21, 2017
Decent opening with a good dynamic, but fizzled into repetitive conversations re: emoz + no conflict (aka NO PLOT). Ending was super cheesy, a heaping platter of ultra-modern Twu Wuv speeches on both sides. Yawn.
December 4, 2013
If Maisey Yates was put on this earth just to supply me with exactly the kind of romance read I like then I am incredibly grateful to the powers that be.
This is a story that has at it's heart the traditional Beauty and the Beast dynamic. A beautiful Princess in need of a husband. A wounded Sheikh who has lost so much he is afraid to care. Scarred inside and out this is a hero with difference. The tragedy that killed his family left Zahir with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This is not a man to mess with.
Katherine has no choice. The contract requires a groom and after the chosen Malik's death, it is his brother who must step up to the plate. Whether he wants to or not. Katherine is determined to make it happen. Not that she wants to be married, but she must for the sake of her country.
The dynamic between these two is wonderful from the start. This is something Maisey Yates does particularly well. The clever repartee, the underlying sizzle. You know it's going to be a wild ride but it will be worth it. It's going to take quite a lot to get Zahir to open up and become vulnerable to the lovely Katherine. Katherine didn't expect a bed of roses, but she didn't expect anything like she got from Zahir.
I loved this book and loved the characters. Do I feel a little guilty that Maisey Yates is busily torturing unsuspecting male heroes for my reading enjoyment? Maybe a little. But that surely adds to the angst. Something I love and this book deals out in spades.
This is a story that has at it's heart the traditional Beauty and the Beast dynamic. A beautiful Princess in need of a husband. A wounded Sheikh who has lost so much he is afraid to care. Scarred inside and out this is a hero with difference. The tragedy that killed his family left Zahir with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This is not a man to mess with.
Katherine has no choice. The contract requires a groom and after the chosen Malik's death, it is his brother who must step up to the plate. Whether he wants to or not. Katherine is determined to make it happen. Not that she wants to be married, but she must for the sake of her country.
The dynamic between these two is wonderful from the start. This is something Maisey Yates does particularly well. The clever repartee, the underlying sizzle. You know it's going to be a wild ride but it will be worth it. It's going to take quite a lot to get Zahir to open up and become vulnerable to the lovely Katherine. Katherine didn't expect a bed of roses, but she didn't expect anything like she got from Zahir.
I loved this book and loved the characters. Do I feel a little guilty that Maisey Yates is busily torturing unsuspecting male heroes for my reading enjoyment? Maybe a little. But that surely adds to the angst. Something I love and this book deals out in spades.
August 14, 2012
An okay read by Maisey Yates..
This was well written with a wonderfully strong heroine and a very likable hero. It also had one of my all time favorite plots...Beauty and the Beast. But for some reason, I just couldn't find the intensity that grips me and keeps me turning the pages. I actually found that I put it down halfway through the book to start something else.
Did anyone find this to be the case for them? Though, I couldn't fault anything in the writing, it just didn't engage me.
This was well written with a wonderfully strong heroine and a very likable hero. It also had one of my all time favorite plots...Beauty and the Beast. But for some reason, I just couldn't find the intensity that grips me and keeps me turning the pages. I actually found that I put it down halfway through the book to start something else.
Did anyone find this to be the case for them? Though, I couldn't fault anything in the writing, it just didn't engage me.
August 25, 2018
Beautiful romance.
November 8, 2016
Catherine the stoic and Zahir the hermit.
Can you be a hermit and a Shiekh? Apparently in Hajar you can. Since he was horribly wounded in the bombing that took the lives of his older brother and father, Zahir has hidden himself from life. He suffers PTSD that he apparently never sought professional help for (???). Catherine was supposed to marry his older brother, and now the marriage contract stipulates that Zahir must marry her instead. She is the princess of a kingdom (sounds like it's supposed to be in the Alps somewhere) that is in need of an interim leader until her young brother comes of age. In this country women are only good for one thing. The story is the progression of their relationship. At first they are strangers and there really isn't even any attraction between them. Over time they get to know each other from appreciation to love. But I have to say I was more convinced of her love than his. He waffles between treating her like sh*t to defending her when she needs it.
Can you be a hermit and a Shiekh? Apparently in Hajar you can. Since he was horribly wounded in the bombing that took the lives of his older brother and father, Zahir has hidden himself from life. He suffers PTSD that he apparently never sought professional help for (???). Catherine was supposed to marry his older brother, and now the marriage contract stipulates that Zahir must marry her instead. She is the princess of a kingdom (sounds like it's supposed to be in the Alps somewhere) that is in need of an interim leader until her young brother comes of age. In this country women are only good for one thing. The story is the progression of their relationship. At first they are strangers and there really isn't even any attraction between them. Over time they get to know each other from appreciation to love. But I have to say I was more convinced of her love than his. He waffles between treating her like sh*t to defending her when she needs it.
January 31, 2013
Why did I read this book?
I'm participating in 'RT Booklovers Convention Challenge' and Maisey Yates is attending 2013 RT Booklovers Convention is taking place in Kansas City. Also - her surname ends in Y - that is handy for 'A-Z Author Challenge'. (Yes I am challenge addict I know...)
I picked this book by Maisey Yates because it had beauty-and-the-beast theme. Since I am fan of retellings, I was excited to see how this one will turn out to be.
My thoughts:
Sheikh Zahir barely survived the attack that killed the rest of his family. He has scars that mar half of his face and body. But even worse, he has scars on his psyche - fear of another attack - so he is hiding in his palace and avoiding crowds.
Beautiful and perfect princess Katharine is Zahir's brother's fiance. She is determined to fulfill the marriage contact between their countries.
The idea was good, but book it was boring and too similar to usual Harlequin category romance cliche. The writing was repetitive and it did not help that some facts were mentioned multiple times.
I wanted to like Zahir and Katherine, but sadly I did not associate or feel anything toward them. But they had some tough competition, since Beast & Belle are my favorite Disney characters. :)
My rating: 2.5 stars
Will I be reading something else written by Maisey Yates? Probably not.
I recommend this book to fans of: category romances with sheikhs, scarred heroes, Grace Kelly type of princesses.
I'm participating in 'RT Booklovers Convention Challenge' and Maisey Yates is attending 2013 RT Booklovers Convention is taking place in Kansas City. Also - her surname ends in Y - that is handy for 'A-Z Author Challenge'. (Yes I am challenge addict I know...)
I picked this book by Maisey Yates because it had beauty-and-the-beast theme. Since I am fan of retellings, I was excited to see how this one will turn out to be.
My thoughts:
Sheikh Zahir barely survived the attack that killed the rest of his family. He has scars that mar half of his face and body. But even worse, he has scars on his psyche - fear of another attack - so he is hiding in his palace and avoiding crowds.
Beautiful and perfect princess Katharine is Zahir's brother's fiance. She is determined to fulfill the marriage contact between their countries.
The idea was good, but book it was boring and too similar to usual Harlequin category romance cliche. The writing was repetitive and it did not help that some facts were mentioned multiple times.
I wanted to like Zahir and Katherine, but sadly I did not associate or feel anything toward them. But they had some tough competition, since Beast & Belle are my favorite Disney characters. :)
My rating: 2.5 stars
Will I be reading something else written by Maisey Yates? Probably not.
I recommend this book to fans of: category romances with sheikhs, scarred heroes, Grace Kelly type of princesses.
December 4, 2013
My Blog: HarlequinJunkie Romance Reviews
Beauty and the Beast with a Maisey Yates Spin, and boy is she ever good at spinning us a wonderfully engaging romance.
Sheikh Zahir once a playboy is now a shell of his former self having dodged death following a bomb blast that killed his family and left him badly disfigured. He suffers for PTSD and relates to himself as being a beast of Hajar. Enter Princess Katherine a strong woman bound by duty and protocol; she approaches Zahir with an offer of an arranged marriage to protect her brother's right to succession.
Tormented Zahir and resolute Katherine are perfect for each other, what starts out as a political match up turns in to so much more for both of them. Katherine challenges Zahir at every turn; she helps him face his demons and believe in himself again.
Hajar’s Hidden Legacy had all the hallmarks of Maisey Yates writing that we have come to love and expect - great characters, vivid storytelling and a deeply emotional and compelling romance.
With a scarred Hero and loyal heroine this story reminds us to “Look not with the eyes but with the heart”. A recommended read.
Beauty and the Beast with a Maisey Yates Spin, and boy is she ever good at spinning us a wonderfully engaging romance.
Sheikh Zahir once a playboy is now a shell of his former self having dodged death following a bomb blast that killed his family and left him badly disfigured. He suffers for PTSD and relates to himself as being a beast of Hajar. Enter Princess Katherine a strong woman bound by duty and protocol; she approaches Zahir with an offer of an arranged marriage to protect her brother's right to succession.
Tormented Zahir and resolute Katherine are perfect for each other, what starts out as a political match up turns in to so much more for both of them. Katherine challenges Zahir at every turn; she helps him face his demons and believe in himself again.
Hajar’s Hidden Legacy had all the hallmarks of Maisey Yates writing that we have come to love and expect - great characters, vivid storytelling and a deeply emotional and compelling romance.
With a scarred Hero and loyal heroine this story reminds us to “Look not with the eyes but with the heart”. A recommended read.
May 1, 2013
This book touches on every emotion humans go through when you lose the ones you love or when you feel not good enough to be loved for the real you. We all feel alone at points in our life, and this book romaticizes that. Everyone holds on to memories of the past while trying to walk towards the future. I thought it was sweet how the heroine saved the very tortured very brooding hero and chased away his darkness.
Beautiful fairytale but unfortunately it got a bit repetitive towards the end!
Beautiful fairytale but unfortunately it got a bit repetitive towards the end!
January 13, 2012
Beautiful Emotional story,loved it,really liked the fact Katherine never left,she healed Zahir and made him realize just cause he is scarred does'nt means he is not untilted to love,she brings back the light happiness and love back in his life.
Recommend it
Recommend it
March 9, 2021
Soter Sara - per RFS
.
«Racconteremo la storia della principessa e della sabbia magica» decise lei, sorridendo tra le lacrime.
«Non c’è stata nessuna magia»la contraddisse. «È stato merito della principessa, della sua forza e intelligenza. E dell’amore mostrato alla Belva dell’Hajar.»
Katharine si alzò in punta di piedi e gli posò un bacio sulle labbra. «È proprio una bella favola.»(Tratto dal libro)
La collana della Mondatori Elit ci propone spesso riedizioni di vecchi Harlequin “da edicola”: storie romantiche dal lieto fine, scorrevoli e piene di rassicuranti cliché… insomma, ottime letture da intrattenimento! Ogni tanto tra questi titoli ne trovo qualcuno che spicca, e così è successo con “La sposa dello sceicco”. La trama è molto classica, con richiami alla fiaba de “La bella e la bestia” da me sempre graditi, ma ho scoperto nei protagonisti una profondità e una caratterizzazione che mi hanno fatto rimpiangere le poche pagine disponibili, perché la storia mi ha davvero catturata!
Katharine è una bellissima principessa, e per il padre la sua bellezza virginea è tutto ciò che la rappresenta e tutto ciò che serve al regno; non importa che abbia una forza, uno spiccato senso del dovere, una determinazione e un’intelligenza che, se fosse stata uomo, ne avrebbero fatto un ottimo re: lei è una donna e quindi il suo unico compito è contrarre un matrimonio di convenienza che porti prosperità al regno, più che mai ora che il re suo padre è malato e il fratello troppo piccolo per succedergli.
Zahir è un re che mai avrebbe pensato di esserlo. La sua intera famiglia è stata uccisa in un attentato da cui lui è scampato per miracolo, ma non senza conseguenze. Le orribili cicatrici che gli deturpano il viso, la gamba rimasta zoppa, la sua nuova fama da recluso sono niente, se paragonate alle ferite del suo animo. Nonostante sia determinato a fare del suo meglio per il popolo, rinchiuso nel suo palazzo, non può far nulla per gli incubi, i sensi di colpa e le paure rimaste dentro di lui. Certamente, l’ultima cosa di cui ha bisogno è che la promessa sposa del suo defunto fratello, si infili dalla sua porta per pretendere un matrimonio di convenienza.
Tra i due fin da subito è uno scontro di volontà, perché Katharine è tanto bella quanto determinata a non farsi mettere alla porta e a fare di tutto per salvare il suo regno;Zahir seppur intrigato da lei e dal suo carattere, non ha intenzione di permettere a se stesso di affezionarsi a qualcuno né di uscire dal palazzo in cui si è rinchiuso.
Vivendo insieme, impareranno molto su sé stessi, approfondendo la conoscenza reciproca perché a volte vedersi attraverso altri occhi, occhi che non si soffermano sui nostri difetti ma sulla nostra forza, è l’unico modo di affrontare il passato e aprirsi al futuro.
Grazie alla fiducia e alla considerazione che Zahir nutre per lei, Katharina capirà che, anche se suo padre non la considererà mai nulla più di un bel viso; lei vale molto di più della sua sola bellezza e ciò l’aiuterà ad affrontare gli incubi del suo promesso sposo e l’immancabile convinzione di abbandonarla “per il suo bene”. Grazie al supporto e all’amore di Katharine, Zahir verrà a patti con il fatto che essere l’unico sopravvissuto non significa vivere solo in funzione del suo ruolo di re e che anche un sopravvissuto può aspirare alla felicità, all’amore e a crearsi una nuova famiglia con la donna che ha portato la luce nel suo mondo.
Non mancano scene che vi faranno alzare la temperatura, né affascinanti richiami al mondo arabo come ad esempio il rito dei tatuaggi all’henné o i mercati pieni di colori e spezie, o ancora i bellissimi cavalli purosangue allevati da nobili famiglie come quella dei protagonisti. Avrei voluto un maggiore approfondimento sul rapporto di Katharine con la sua famiglia, soprattutto con il fratellino che viene tanto nominato ma praticamente non appare mai, ma sono comunque molto soddisfatta di come l’autrice ha trattato il trauma di Zahir : la sua “sindrome del sopravvissuto” e il disturbo post traumatico da stress di cui evidentemente soffre. La paura della folla, il terrore dei rumori forti come gli scoppi, gli incubi che a volte lo portano ad essere brusco e quasi violento, sono cose che pian piano riesce ad elaborare e superare, ma certo non scompaiono per magia solo grazie all’amore di Katharine, ed è così che immagino debba essere in realtà.
Se cercate una fiaba con due protagonisti forti e veri, ma con l’immancabile lieto fine e tanto amore, questo è il libro che fa per voi!
.
«Racconteremo la storia della principessa e della sabbia magica» decise lei, sorridendo tra le lacrime.
«Non c’è stata nessuna magia»la contraddisse. «È stato merito della principessa, della sua forza e intelligenza. E dell’amore mostrato alla Belva dell’Hajar.»
Katharine si alzò in punta di piedi e gli posò un bacio sulle labbra. «È proprio una bella favola.»(Tratto dal libro)
La collana della Mondatori Elit ci propone spesso riedizioni di vecchi Harlequin “da edicola”: storie romantiche dal lieto fine, scorrevoli e piene di rassicuranti cliché… insomma, ottime letture da intrattenimento! Ogni tanto tra questi titoli ne trovo qualcuno che spicca, e così è successo con “La sposa dello sceicco”. La trama è molto classica, con richiami alla fiaba de “La bella e la bestia” da me sempre graditi, ma ho scoperto nei protagonisti una profondità e una caratterizzazione che mi hanno fatto rimpiangere le poche pagine disponibili, perché la storia mi ha davvero catturata!
Katharine è una bellissima principessa, e per il padre la sua bellezza virginea è tutto ciò che la rappresenta e tutto ciò che serve al regno; non importa che abbia una forza, uno spiccato senso del dovere, una determinazione e un’intelligenza che, se fosse stata uomo, ne avrebbero fatto un ottimo re: lei è una donna e quindi il suo unico compito è contrarre un matrimonio di convenienza che porti prosperità al regno, più che mai ora che il re suo padre è malato e il fratello troppo piccolo per succedergli.
Zahir è un re che mai avrebbe pensato di esserlo. La sua intera famiglia è stata uccisa in un attentato da cui lui è scampato per miracolo, ma non senza conseguenze. Le orribili cicatrici che gli deturpano il viso, la gamba rimasta zoppa, la sua nuova fama da recluso sono niente, se paragonate alle ferite del suo animo. Nonostante sia determinato a fare del suo meglio per il popolo, rinchiuso nel suo palazzo, non può far nulla per gli incubi, i sensi di colpa e le paure rimaste dentro di lui. Certamente, l’ultima cosa di cui ha bisogno è che la promessa sposa del suo defunto fratello, si infili dalla sua porta per pretendere un matrimonio di convenienza.
Tra i due fin da subito è uno scontro di volontà, perché Katharine è tanto bella quanto determinata a non farsi mettere alla porta e a fare di tutto per salvare il suo regno;Zahir seppur intrigato da lei e dal suo carattere, non ha intenzione di permettere a se stesso di affezionarsi a qualcuno né di uscire dal palazzo in cui si è rinchiuso.
Vivendo insieme, impareranno molto su sé stessi, approfondendo la conoscenza reciproca perché a volte vedersi attraverso altri occhi, occhi che non si soffermano sui nostri difetti ma sulla nostra forza, è l’unico modo di affrontare il passato e aprirsi al futuro.
Grazie alla fiducia e alla considerazione che Zahir nutre per lei, Katharina capirà che, anche se suo padre non la considererà mai nulla più di un bel viso; lei vale molto di più della sua sola bellezza e ciò l’aiuterà ad affrontare gli incubi del suo promesso sposo e l’immancabile convinzione di abbandonarla “per il suo bene”. Grazie al supporto e all’amore di Katharine, Zahir verrà a patti con il fatto che essere l’unico sopravvissuto non significa vivere solo in funzione del suo ruolo di re e che anche un sopravvissuto può aspirare alla felicità, all’amore e a crearsi una nuova famiglia con la donna che ha portato la luce nel suo mondo.
Non mancano scene che vi faranno alzare la temperatura, né affascinanti richiami al mondo arabo come ad esempio il rito dei tatuaggi all’henné o i mercati pieni di colori e spezie, o ancora i bellissimi cavalli purosangue allevati da nobili famiglie come quella dei protagonisti. Avrei voluto un maggiore approfondimento sul rapporto di Katharine con la sua famiglia, soprattutto con il fratellino che viene tanto nominato ma praticamente non appare mai, ma sono comunque molto soddisfatta di come l’autrice ha trattato il trauma di Zahir : la sua “sindrome del sopravvissuto” e il disturbo post traumatico da stress di cui evidentemente soffre. La paura della folla, il terrore dei rumori forti come gli scoppi, gli incubi che a volte lo portano ad essere brusco e quasi violento, sono cose che pian piano riesce ad elaborare e superare, ma certo non scompaiono per magia solo grazie all’amore di Katharine, ed è così che immagino debba essere in realtà.
Se cercate una fiaba con due protagonisti forti e veri, ma con l’immancabile lieto fine e tanto amore, questo è il libro che fa per voi!
April 23, 2014
Ok finished it quickly.
I am not a huge fan of sheikh of the desert hero, nor of poor sacrificing-for-the-sake-of-her-country-citizens princess. However a good beauty and the beast story can work wonders. I said good.
The sheikh of a country rich with oil lives in a palace. But when the heroine arrives in his bedroom one evening, the bed has not been made yet... The same guy suffers from heavy PTSD following the attack that took his parents, brother and guards' lives years before. Since then, his doctors have only been able to prescribe him sleeping pills, obviously there are no psychologists in this country.
However he launched a big program so that the hospitals in his country could take care of all children from anywhere in the world victims of any terrorist attacks. This just felt so cheesy and full of unrealistic good intentions.
The characters do not look like real persons. The hero certainly has nothing middle-eastern, except his name. I cannot care less whether they overcome their difficulty and get their HEA.
The fake name of the European country is really lame. Take one real country, like Austria for instance, check the name of this country in another language, say French, it turns into Autriche, take the beginning of one, the end of the other and hop you get Austrich. And this lame name was mentioned 37 times in the book!
Last thing, there are a few misspellings, like the "main of her hair" instead of "mane".
Honestly I'm not sure how I really managed to finish this book, as I struggled through many pages. And I'll steer clear from this author in the future.
I am not a huge fan of sheikh of the desert hero, nor of poor sacrificing-for-the-sake-of-her-country-citizens princess. However a good beauty and the beast story can work wonders. I said good.
The sheikh of a country rich with oil lives in a palace. But when the heroine arrives in his bedroom one evening, the bed has not been made yet... The same guy suffers from heavy PTSD following the attack that took his parents, brother and guards' lives years before. Since then, his doctors have only been able to prescribe him sleeping pills, obviously there are no psychologists in this country.
However he launched a big program so that the hospitals in his country could take care of all children from anywhere in the world victims of any terrorist attacks. This just felt so cheesy and full of unrealistic good intentions.
The characters do not look like real persons. The hero certainly has nothing middle-eastern, except his name. I cannot care less whether they overcome their difficulty and get their HEA.
The fake name of the European country is really lame. Take one real country, like Austria for instance, check the name of this country in another language, say French, it turns into Autriche, take the beginning of one, the end of the other and hop you get Austrich. And this lame name was mentioned 37 times in the book!
Last thing, there are a few misspellings, like the "main of her hair" instead of "mane".
Honestly I'm not sure how I really managed to finish this book, as I struggled through many pages. And I'll steer clear from this author in the future.
Read
May 2, 2018Miniseries: Beasts of the Desert
December 4, 2013
A powerful and thought-provoking love story reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast. An incredibly moving story about determined Katherine and the famed Sheikh of Hajar, Zahir, sprinkled through out with Maisey Yate’s trademark wit and humor
Katherine literally rocks up to Zahir desk demanding he marry her. Demanding she honor an age old agreement between her father and his. Forget-about-it Zahir pretty much growls while trying to throw her out. Katherine’s having none of it. She’s here to save her country and the only way how is for Zahir to marry her. Zahir demand she leaves but instead Katherine moves in. Over time her persuasions and her reasons for the marriage have Zahir agreeing with her plan.
Sheikh Zahir is the only surviving member of a fatal attack on his family. The mental effects of such a distressing experience have left Zahir a prisoner in his own palace. His nickname is the Beast of Hajir because he is scarred. Katherine is the light to Zahir’s dark. He can’t understand why anyone would feel desire for him after the woman he loved left him, not able to handle the fall out from the attack. Katherine naturally shows kindness to people but there’s something about Zahir that makes her look twice at him and as she gets to know him her desire turns to love.
The reasons I loved this story is because firstly Maisey Yates managed to make me fall in love with a scarred hero. Zahir is the perfect Sheikh! Maisey’s wit and humor ALWAYS have me giggling and I just love a lil go-getter who passionately goes after what she wants and bravely faces the wrath of the Sheikh.
Thank you TryHarlequin for the download.
Katherine literally rocks up to Zahir desk demanding he marry her. Demanding she honor an age old agreement between her father and his. Forget-about-it Zahir pretty much growls while trying to throw her out. Katherine’s having none of it. She’s here to save her country and the only way how is for Zahir to marry her. Zahir demand she leaves but instead Katherine moves in. Over time her persuasions and her reasons for the marriage have Zahir agreeing with her plan.
Sheikh Zahir is the only surviving member of a fatal attack on his family. The mental effects of such a distressing experience have left Zahir a prisoner in his own palace. His nickname is the Beast of Hajir because he is scarred. Katherine is the light to Zahir’s dark. He can’t understand why anyone would feel desire for him after the woman he loved left him, not able to handle the fall out from the attack. Katherine naturally shows kindness to people but there’s something about Zahir that makes her look twice at him and as she gets to know him her desire turns to love.
The reasons I loved this story is because firstly Maisey Yates managed to make me fall in love with a scarred hero. Zahir is the perfect Sheikh! Maisey’s wit and humor ALWAYS have me giggling and I just love a lil go-getter who passionately goes after what she wants and bravely faces the wrath of the Sheikh.
Thank you TryHarlequin for the download.
January 18, 2012
Wow! Just wow! I'm a big fan of Maisey Yates' books and this one has got to her best yet. I was drawn into the story from the first page.
This is an intense, emotional read that had me sniffing and smiling in equal measures.
I love tortured heroes and Zahir's emotional pain jumps off the page and really makes you root for him. If ever a man deserved to be loved it's Zahir. Katharine is a truly amazing heroine, determined to do the right thing for her country and protect the ones she loves in the process.
She challenges Zahir at every turn, forcing him to face up to his weakness, and helping him heal in the process.
Maisey Yates truly digs deep in this story and it will stay with me for some time. Definitely one I will read time and time again.
Should come with a warning. Do not start reading late in the evening, cause you will not be able to put it down and you will need intravenous coffee the next day ;-)
This is an intense, emotional read that had me sniffing and smiling in equal measures.
I love tortured heroes and Zahir's emotional pain jumps off the page and really makes you root for him. If ever a man deserved to be loved it's Zahir. Katharine is a truly amazing heroine, determined to do the right thing for her country and protect the ones she loves in the process.
She challenges Zahir at every turn, forcing him to face up to his weakness, and helping him heal in the process.
Maisey Yates truly digs deep in this story and it will stay with me for some time. Definitely one I will read time and time again.
Should come with a warning. Do not start reading late in the evening, cause you will not be able to put it down and you will need intravenous coffee the next day ;-)
December 2, 2013
Two royal people with a semi-arranged marriage make the best of the situation and fall in love anyway.
So there is the tough beautiful Princess Katharine who has been underestimated her whole life although she has sacrificed her future and her dreams to protect her country so it just makes sense to her when she must sacrifice her love to marry the very damaged Sheikh Zahir who his own country calls the 'The Beast of Hajar'. But rumors are often wrong because Sheikh Zahir is actually just trying to survive after the awful attack that killed his entire family and left him scarred and limping. But Zahir is a good monarch (although never goes out in public, which is understandable). Two good lonely people fall in love when they start to become friends and share their fears with each other. Sweet romance, but felt like a short story then a complete novel.
192 pages and kindle freebie
2 stars
So there is the tough beautiful Princess Katharine who has been underestimated her whole life although she has sacrificed her future and her dreams to protect her country so it just makes sense to her when she must sacrifice her love to marry the very damaged Sheikh Zahir who his own country calls the 'The Beast of Hajar'. But rumors are often wrong because Sheikh Zahir is actually just trying to survive after the awful attack that killed his entire family and left him scarred and limping. But Zahir is a good monarch (although never goes out in public, which is understandable). Two good lonely people fall in love when they start to become friends and share their fears with each other. Sweet romance, but felt like a short story then a complete novel.
192 pages and kindle freebie
2 stars
September 16, 2012
This is really quite a sweet and lovely romance. The H had PTSD and was a recluse and the h helped him through it and they fell in love.
As most know, I like my Harlequins to have some angst but this really didn't have much at all, so it wasn't my normal sort of read but that is not to say that I didn't enjoy it. It is a typical MY's in that it is well written and flows easily.
As most know, I like my Harlequins to have some angst but this really didn't have much at all, so it wasn't my normal sort of read but that is not to say that I didn't enjoy it. It is a typical MY's in that it is well written and flows easily.
August 10, 2013
Ooh, I really liked this! A lovely, heart-warming story with a strong heroine and a flawed-yet-lovable hero. I liked that the hero wasn't perfect. The spicy scenes were sensual without being OTT. A recommended romantic read!
June 3, 2017
3.5 stars
August 24, 2021
Mi affascinava da tempo tanto che alla fine l’ho acquistato, è un Elit e riedizione di un vecchio Harlequin quindi più o meno sapevo cosa andavo a leggere,anche se devo ammettere che sono stata piacevolmente sorpresa per come malgrado i limiti del Romance a tutto tondo Sia stata curata la caratterizzazione dei personaggi e sfumato nei tempi giusti, non solo l’innamoramento, ma anche il superamento di determinati ostacoli e traumi da parte di lui. Mi spiego raccontando il libro. Lei è Katharine principessa la cui virginea bellezza viene legata dal suo illustre padre a Malik, futuro sceicco dell’Hajar , Che però muore in un attentato alla sua famiglia e gli succederà suo fratello Zahir S’ad al Din ,denominato poi la “Belva dell’Hajar” per la sua aria fredda e minacciosa.
Alcuni eventi politici rischiosi nel suo paese portano Katherine a cercarlo perché rispetti il contratto matrimoniale che i genitori avevano stipulato.
Zahir dal canto suo si è isolato dal mondo , non solo per il profondo senso di colpa che colpisce i sopravvissuti ad una tragedia, ma anche in conseguenza allo stesso postraumatico per l’attentato, che lo tormenta con attacchi di panico e dolorose visioni e in ultimo ma non per ultimo per le cicatrici che gli deturpano il volto un tempo bello ora solo inquietante.
Ho apprezzato il modo in cui è stato trattato tutto questo perché solitamente nei romanzi di questo target viene trattato tutto molto superficialmente e i cambiamenti vengono vissuti in maniera molto più semplice rispetto a quello che invece il reale. Certamente anche qui hanno velocizzato l’intero processo, ma in maniera molto più credibile, sfumando il giusto facendo sostituire l’amore alla paura in maniera molto credibile.
Bello anche lo scontro di carattere e di volontà fra i due. Lui è implacabile, ma pure lei non scherza e con una forza tutta femminile lo conduce piano piano esattamente dove vuole lei. Le scene d’amore rimangono piacevoli, riscaldano la lettura fino a diventare sensuali ma mai sfociando nell’erotico.
Due o tre sviste abbastanza macroscopiche nella trama (che sono sfuggite anche all’editor a quanto pare ) sono nel fatto che non venga mai ne descritto ne nominato il tanto amato e difeso regno di Katharine , centrale nelle iniziali motivazioni di lei , dove si trova tanto per cominciare visto che lei a differenza di lui di descrizione prettamente araba, è rossa con occhi verdi e di incarnato chiaro e poi anche le motivazioni del legame delle due famiglie. Insomma giusto un cenno sarebbe stato utile.
Anche la questione del padre che versa in fin di vita ( a dire di Katharine) e che invece accoglie i promessi sposi nel suo studio mi ha lasciata con un grosso WTF …
Troppo nel cliché Harmony le dichiarazioni d’amore finali, esagerate, un filo stucchevoli e quasi ooc per lui .
Comunque un libro godibile , soprattutto per chi ama le favole perché l’atmosfera è quella, con un evidente e voluto richiamo alla Bella e la bestia .
⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2019
Es la primera vez que leo algo de esta autora.
Me gustó la historia, pues mostró que la belleza interior superó a la externa y que no debemos juzgar por las apariencias (un mal que hoy en día nos arropa como sociedad); aunque cabe mencionar que la historia de los protagonistas no fue para nada convencional y dejó ver cómo es el trato hacia las mujeres en esa cultura.
También, puedo decir que no fue una lectura aburrida dejando un gran mensaje: uno no puede hacerse de la vista gorda ante los problemas que nos arropan, debemos ser capaces de enfrentarlos y superarlos para evitar dañar a otros.
Me gustó la historia, pues mostró que la belleza interior superó a la externa y que no debemos juzgar por las apariencias (un mal que hoy en día nos arropa como sociedad); aunque cabe mencionar que la historia de los protagonistas no fue para nada convencional y dejó ver cómo es el trato hacia las mujeres en esa cultura.
También, puedo decir que no fue una lectura aburrida dejando un gran mensaje: uno no puede hacerse de la vista gorda ante los problemas que nos arropan, debemos ser capaces de enfrentarlos y superarlos para evitar dañar a otros.
May 5, 2017
Who doesn't love a good beauty and the beast story? I'm a sucker for a scarred hero - chicks dig scars right? And this H was no exception. Sure he acted like a plonker a few times denying his feelings and all that but he wouldn't be a H if he rolled over for his belly scratching with no argument. Our h was pleasant and not at all offensive therefore I enjoyed the book nothing worse than a needy whiner or a TSTL numptie
July 17, 2018
Well Done and Basic
Has a bit of an epic feel to it. The author took their time revealing both main characters. The two of them, together in his seclusion, lend a "bottle episode" quality to the courtship. It's intimate and deliberately paced, but also doesn't cover any new ground, which would have been intriguing.
Has a bit of an epic feel to it. The author took their time revealing both main characters. The two of them, together in his seclusion, lend a "bottle episode" quality to the courtship. It's intimate and deliberately paced, but also doesn't cover any new ground, which would have been intriguing.
December 13, 2020
Katherine is determined to save her kingdom so she strikes a bargain with Sheikh Zahir that will change both their lives and open them to a possibility neither one ever saw coming, I just love this story it is full of passion that just leaps off the page you won't want to put it down until the very end.
February 3, 2022
Buttercup
Really good story. The two main characters were perfect for each other. Both fought hard for a real marriage, not just one written as a marriage agreement. She stood by him even when the darkness tried to swallow him up because his family had been killed and he was the only sold survivor. They helped each other to move forward into the future.
Really good story. The two main characters were perfect for each other. Both fought hard for a real marriage, not just one written as a marriage agreement. She stood by him even when the darkness tried to swallow him up because his family had been killed and he was the only sold survivor. They helped each other to move forward into the future.
January 7, 2014
Princess Katharine has always known that marriage wouldn’t be a choice she made. Rather her father and those around him would choose for her and it would be a political marriage. She was betrothed to the Sheikh of Hajar only for him and most of his immediate family to be killed in a bombing. His brother, who survived the attack now rules Hajar. He is almost never seen in public and the rumours of the injuries he sustained have led to the nickname ‘The Beast of Hajar’.
With her own father ailing, Katharine’s younger brother will inherit the throne but will not be permitted to rule until he comes of age (21) in 5 years. If her father passes before that time, which he may do, a caretaker is appointed to oversee the duties of the country until such time as Katharine’s brother can assume the role. If Katharine is married, that role of caretaker goes to her husband. If she is not – it falls into the hands of someone Katharine fears will lead the country into civil war. Someone who will affect trade and peace deals with other nations. And someone who will definitely not want to give up power when the time comes. And who would probably do anything to avoid that.
So she goes to Sheikh Zahir of Hajar to beg him to honour the contract that says Princess Katharine marries the ruler of Hajar, even though he was not the original intended groom. As she expects, Zahir refuses her but Katharine knows that this is something she cannot fail at. She must persuade him and use every political argument she can in order to do so and she’s willing to move into the palace and confront him every day until he agrees.
Zahir has hidden himself away from the world for the past five years, wracked with guilt that he survived, grieving all that he has lost. He admires Katharine for the way in which she can meet his eyes – there are not many that have been able to do that. And even more unexpected is the fact that she’s stirring up feelings in him that he hasn’t felt since before the accident – things he thought he was no longer even capable of feeling. He agrees to a political marriage in name only to protect her country and his… but he’s wondering if it wasn’t a huge mistake. Maybe what he wants is a real marriage…
I used to read a lot of M&B as a teenager and confession: the Sheikhs were always my favourites. I don’t read too many these days but this modern day Beauty and the Beast style story grabbed me + Sheikh of mythical Middle Eastern country + Princess of mythical European country + the fact that I’ve heard Maisey Yates’s praises sung a lot. She was recommended to me by Australian author Rachael Johns and so I thought I’d wade in and test the waters with this one, given it had already ticked a lot of my boxes! I was a bit wary though because one of its covers has it billed as Harlequin Presents and I have a bit of a problem with Harlequin Presents in the form that pretty much all of the heroes are overt Alpha douchebags who flirt with abuse towards the heroine. However this one? Is nothing like that.
Katharine has been raised to always do the right thing: look pretty, present a good picture of her monarch family, help with charitable works and make a great marriage. She’s tried to please her father but she’s not a male, so he’s not really interested in anything that she does, except that she marry well. Her betrothal ended when her would-be groom was killed in an act of terrorism and now five years later, Katharine decides to reinterpret the contract and apply it to the new leader of Hajar. She needs his help desperately. By contrast, Sheikh Zahir doesn’t really believe he needs anyone, with the possible exception of his adviser to make his speeches. He hides away in the palace to spare people the horrific sight of his scars, perhaps unaware that the very fact that he does hide only feeds their fear more. His people need to see a more visible leader, especially after they suffered so much with the attack. Zahir is bitter, tortured and aloof but he’s not a jerk. He’s occasionally gruff with Katharine (like the time she moves something and he yells at her. His sight is severely affected and he needs to know where things are to be able to navigate successfully, which she didn’t realise) but he’s never intolerably cruel. The two of them have a rather beautiful chemistry – she needs him and whether he knows it or not, he needs to be needed.
The sexual chemistry is even better! Zahir hasn’t really felt any sort of sexual desire since before the accident and his fiancée walked away, unable to handle what he had become in the aftermath. I think he maybe considered that part of his life over – that he’d never really feel those sorts of things again. Katharine is, as befitting any Princess offered up for strategic, political marriage, a virgin but she’s not timid or biddable. She can look Zahir in the eye and accept him for everything that he is – scars and all. This is the kind of book that proves that you can still do an old idea in a fresh and fabulous way – there’s lots of emotional intimacy and connection as well as sexual and the two characters are really well done. I’m very keen to try some more Maisey Yates now.
With her own father ailing, Katharine’s younger brother will inherit the throne but will not be permitted to rule until he comes of age (21) in 5 years. If her father passes before that time, which he may do, a caretaker is appointed to oversee the duties of the country until such time as Katharine’s brother can assume the role. If Katharine is married, that role of caretaker goes to her husband. If she is not – it falls into the hands of someone Katharine fears will lead the country into civil war. Someone who will affect trade and peace deals with other nations. And someone who will definitely not want to give up power when the time comes. And who would probably do anything to avoid that.
So she goes to Sheikh Zahir of Hajar to beg him to honour the contract that says Princess Katharine marries the ruler of Hajar, even though he was not the original intended groom. As she expects, Zahir refuses her but Katharine knows that this is something she cannot fail at. She must persuade him and use every political argument she can in order to do so and she’s willing to move into the palace and confront him every day until he agrees.
Zahir has hidden himself away from the world for the past five years, wracked with guilt that he survived, grieving all that he has lost. He admires Katharine for the way in which she can meet his eyes – there are not many that have been able to do that. And even more unexpected is the fact that she’s stirring up feelings in him that he hasn’t felt since before the accident – things he thought he was no longer even capable of feeling. He agrees to a political marriage in name only to protect her country and his… but he’s wondering if it wasn’t a huge mistake. Maybe what he wants is a real marriage…
I used to read a lot of M&B as a teenager and confession: the Sheikhs were always my favourites. I don’t read too many these days but this modern day Beauty and the Beast style story grabbed me + Sheikh of mythical Middle Eastern country + Princess of mythical European country + the fact that I’ve heard Maisey Yates’s praises sung a lot. She was recommended to me by Australian author Rachael Johns and so I thought I’d wade in and test the waters with this one, given it had already ticked a lot of my boxes! I was a bit wary though because one of its covers has it billed as Harlequin Presents and I have a bit of a problem with Harlequin Presents in the form that pretty much all of the heroes are overt Alpha douchebags who flirt with abuse towards the heroine. However this one? Is nothing like that.
Katharine has been raised to always do the right thing: look pretty, present a good picture of her monarch family, help with charitable works and make a great marriage. She’s tried to please her father but she’s not a male, so he’s not really interested in anything that she does, except that she marry well. Her betrothal ended when her would-be groom was killed in an act of terrorism and now five years later, Katharine decides to reinterpret the contract and apply it to the new leader of Hajar. She needs his help desperately. By contrast, Sheikh Zahir doesn’t really believe he needs anyone, with the possible exception of his adviser to make his speeches. He hides away in the palace to spare people the horrific sight of his scars, perhaps unaware that the very fact that he does hide only feeds their fear more. His people need to see a more visible leader, especially after they suffered so much with the attack. Zahir is bitter, tortured and aloof but he’s not a jerk. He’s occasionally gruff with Katharine (like the time she moves something and he yells at her. His sight is severely affected and he needs to know where things are to be able to navigate successfully, which she didn’t realise) but he’s never intolerably cruel. The two of them have a rather beautiful chemistry – she needs him and whether he knows it or not, he needs to be needed.
The sexual chemistry is even better! Zahir hasn’t really felt any sort of sexual desire since before the accident and his fiancée walked away, unable to handle what he had become in the aftermath. I think he maybe considered that part of his life over – that he’d never really feel those sorts of things again. Katharine is, as befitting any Princess offered up for strategic, political marriage, a virgin but she’s not timid or biddable. She can look Zahir in the eye and accept him for everything that he is – scars and all. This is the kind of book that proves that you can still do an old idea in a fresh and fabulous way – there’s lots of emotional intimacy and connection as well as sexual and the two characters are really well done. I’m very keen to try some more Maisey Yates now.
April 20, 2018
Wonderful story about a couple that slowly gets to know each other and fall in love when they aren’t expecting it. I like how their love for one another healed them both of their fears and insecurities.
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