The Return of the Sheikh

Arabian Heat #1

by Kristi Gold

His Latest, Greatest Conquest

After a seven-year absence, Crown Prince Zain Mehdi returns to his throne with a tarnished reputation and finds a fiery, blue-eyed political consultant named Madison Foster to help him repair it. But Madison isn't just another plaything for the sheikh….

A romance between a royal and a commoner is forbidden, yet Madison can't resist the passionate nights in Zain's bed, lying spent in his strong arms. Loving the crown prince is dangerous enough, but would Madison's latest secret—a royal baby of her own—derail Zain's reign for good…or end in happily ever after?

Genres: Romance, Category Romance, Harlequin Desire, Fiction, Harlequin

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 1, 2013

About the author

Kristi Gold has a fondness for beaches, baseball and bridal reality shows. She saw the release of her first book in 2000 and since that time has published over thirty books for Harlequin. She's written for the Desire, Special Edition, Everlasting Love and Superromance Imprints. Kristi has also been a Romantic Times award winner, National Reader's Choice winner and three-time Romance Writer's of America RITA finalist. Kristi loves to network with readers and can be reached though her website at http://kristigold.com or FaceBook.

Reviews

[Saly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book, plenty of angst because of hero's impending coronation and the rules that he has to marry a royal. Plenty of sequel baiting with the hero's brothers and a miracle pregnancy. Despite being predictable it made for a good read.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Zain has returned to Bajul to take his place as king. He had left seven years before after arguing with his father about bringing the country into the modern era. Since leaving he has acquired the reputation of a playboy and now has to repair that image in order to go forward with his plans. He is not happy that his brother has hired Madison to provide that help. He's more interested in luring Madison to his bed than in talking business with her. Her independence and attitude draws him as much as her beauty and he soon finds himself hooked on her. But there is one thing he can't change about his country and that is its need for him to choose a royal bride. I liked Zain's attitude toward modernization and the information that came out about his activities while he was gone. He gave his brother Rafiq a hard time about marrying for duty, but was willing to give up Madison for the same reason. I enjoyed seeing Zain open up to Madison about his past and his hopes for the future of his country. He also got emotionally closer to her and was torn about what to do. His solution was both a surprise and expected.

Madison is an independent woman who is very good at what she does. She knows she can help Zain if he will just give her a chance. She has good ideas to help him but she is also fighting a losing battle with her attraction to him. I really enjoyed the way that she didn't back down when she had something to say to him. Their conversations were a lot of fun and really did a lot to increase the connection between them. She knew that there was no chance of a future between them but still found herself hoping. When she found out she was pregnant she refused to bring a new scandal to him and tried to sneak away. I loved the conclusion and the epilogue set up the next book (Rafiq's story) very nicely.

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finalmente una coppia con gli attributi!
Bella storia e belli i protagonisti: lui, al solito, figaccione tormentato, ma è lei che mi è piaciuta tanto. Una donna sicura di sé, che sa quello che vuole, ma soprattutto niente lagne.
Alla fine mi sono anche commossa... che strano, non mi succede quasi mai! :P

[Traci · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a good quick read. This book kept me entertained on a rainy day.

[Patricia Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zain actually was living in L.A., but then his father died, and he came home to take over the role of sheikh. He thought he'd be able to put his heart into it and do the job, but his brother was also there, and his brother remained true to the people and wanted to be the sheikh, too. Madison tried to help Zain fit into his new role. At first, he was a womanizer who liked Madison, but she wanted to stay away from him. This story is about how they work through their problems, and eventually, the love affair between Zain and Madison.

I liked the young brother, who was also known to be a womanizer, but he supported Zain. I really enjoyed the family dynamics. I liked when Zain and Madison got away from royalty and some of their escapades, which were really fun to read about. Their relationship was very hot, too, which was great.

[Asterope]

Linked to these books, who feature the other Mehdi royals: One Night with the Sheikh (Rafiq Mehdi), The Sheikh's Secret Heir (Tarek Azzmar, illegitimate son of Bajul's former king), The Sheikh's Son (Adan Mehdi) & featuring the sister to the heroine in The Sheikh's Son, One Hot Desert Night.

[Harlequin Books]

"Gold's Sheikh is sexy, tortured and absolutely irresistible, and Madison is the perfect match." RT Book Reviews, rated 4 1/2 stars

[Lu Bielefeld · Rating 2 out of 5]

good

[Tawnya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love to read Sheikh books, and this one did not disappoint. Hope to read about the brothers in the future!

[Aisha]

I haven't read this but I find it rather ridicules XD

[Kace | The Booknerd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full of angst, misunderstandings, true love, and noble sacrifices with an added dash of secret pregnancy. I loved the melodrama of it all.

[Teresa Lavender · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won this here on goodreads. Great light reading. Sweet romance.

[Nikita Isaac · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the relationship between Zain & Madison. I can't wait to read about the other two brothers.

[Amrita Jena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always been a sucker for sheikh romances.
I mean the exotic locations, larger than life and mind blowing sexy heroes, fiercely sassy heroines are my weakness.

One thing I hate in such stories is when the author makes the heroines sappy spineless idiots. But in this one the heroine Madison is strong and the sheikh is an arrogant one (as usual) though they fall in lust quiet fast.
The story was predictable af.
But was a good onetime read.