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The Sheikh's Seduction
Who was seducing whom?
With her family's future happiness in Tareq al-Khaima's all-controlling hands, Sarah Hillyard was persuaded to become the sheikh's traveling companion for a year. She remembered his gentleness toward her as a young girl, but now she suspected Tareq's scheme was a calculated means of getting closer to the beautiful woman she had become - with no promise of commitment on his part.
Tareq claimed to have lost the capacity to love and he was so totally self-contained, so frustratingly untouchable that Sarah surprised herself by wanting to find out how he would react if she turned the tables - and set about seducing him!
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1998
7 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Emma Darcy
640 books327 followersEmma Darcy is the pseudonym created by the married writing team of Wendy (1940-2020) and Frank Brennan (1936-1995). Their life journey has taken as many twists and turns as the characters in their stories, whose international popularity has resulted in over sixty-million book sales. With more than a hundred titles, Emma Darcy appeared regularly on the Waldenbooks bestseller lists in the U.S.A. and in the Nielson BookScan Top 100 chart in the U.K.
Wendy was born 28 November 1940 in Australia. Her sister was the novelist Maureen Mary (Miranda Lee). Her father was a country school teacher and brilliant sportsman. Her mother was a talented dressmaker. She obtained an Honours degree in Latin and initially worked as a high school English/French teacher. She married Frank Brennan, an Australian businessman born in 1936. She changed careers to computer programming before marriage and motherhood settled her into a community life. She was reputedly the first woman computer programmer in the southern hemisphere.
As voracious readers, the step to writing their own books seemed a natural progression and the challenge of creating exciting stories was soon highly addictive. They were published since 1983. In 1993, for the Emma Darcy pseudonym's 10th anniversary, they created the "Emma Darcy Award Contest" to encourage authors to finish their manuscripts. After the death of Frank Brennan in 1995, Wendy wrotes books on her own. She lived in a beachside property on the central coast of New South Wales, and liked to travel extensively to research settings and increase her experience of places and people.
Wendy Brennan passed away on December 21, 2020. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and sister, writer Miranda Lee.
Wendy was born 28 November 1940 in Australia. Her sister was the novelist Maureen Mary (Miranda Lee). Her father was a country school teacher and brilliant sportsman. Her mother was a talented dressmaker. She obtained an Honours degree in Latin and initially worked as a high school English/French teacher. She married Frank Brennan, an Australian businessman born in 1936. She changed careers to computer programming before marriage and motherhood settled her into a community life. She was reputedly the first woman computer programmer in the southern hemisphere.
As voracious readers, the step to writing their own books seemed a natural progression and the challenge of creating exciting stories was soon highly addictive. They were published since 1983. In 1993, for the Emma Darcy pseudonym's 10th anniversary, they created the "Emma Darcy Award Contest" to encourage authors to finish their manuscripts. After the death of Frank Brennan in 1995, Wendy wrotes books on her own. She lived in a beachside property on the central coast of New South Wales, and liked to travel extensively to research settings and increase her experience of places and people.
Wendy Brennan passed away on December 21, 2020. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and sister, writer Miranda Lee.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 13, 2019
Re The Sheikh's Seduction - Emma Darcy celebrates 25 years of HPlandia with a Sheikhy lurve story that is pretty unique in the Classic HP Annals of Shiekhy Lurve Stories.
It was in May of 1974 that the HP line was launched, now in May of 1998 Harlequin has gotten several of it's longest writing and most popular authors to write book prefaces about what being an HP author means to them.
ED's reader note is as follows:
This story starts with our half English Sheikh Hero sitting at the Melbourne Cup and thinking dire thoughts about the horse trainer of his highly prized Thoroughbred racehorse who has just lost the race in what looks like deliberate sabotage.
The horse trainer only got the job because the H had met his daughter some years earlier in Ireland, after her gold digger mother had divorced the daughter's father to marry one of the worlds richest men.
The girl's honesty and sincere heart have been in the H's mind ever since, but he hasn't seen her since that time and the H is now wondering if the memory of a charming and warm-hearted smile has ruined a horse he is very fond of.
The h, meanwhile, is the horse trainer's daughter who was left behind to watch over her half sister and two brothers while her father took the horses he trained to Melbourne. The h's 10 year old half sister was paralyzed by the H's prize winning racehorse at the same time that the father's second wife was fighting cancer.
(The h's half sister took a fireworks sparkler into the stall and the horse was frightened and started rearing and broke her spine.)
The h, who was dumped into a horrible boarding school by her indifferent and status seeking mother after her parents divorce, went back to Australia after she graduated uni and has spent the last two years helping her father and his family out.
Her father is pretty indifferent to her as well, he had no interest in the h after the divorce and quickly set about establishing a new family. So the h is well aware that her father sees her a nothing but a useful servant, still she loves her half siblings and therefore is very upset when her stepmother calls and announces that they have lost the training contract for the Sheikh H's stud.
The h remembers the Sheikh H very well, so she decides to make a personal plea for him not to move the horses. The h believes that between the stepmother's cancer and her half sister's adjustment to her disability, that the father just did not spend the time he should have to train the horse for the Melbourne Cup.
So the h goes to plead with the H and the H is entranced by her sincerity and her smile and her unicorn grooming status all over again. He proposes a deal. The h will travel with him for a year, the father will train the horse again for the Melbourne Cup and if the horse wins, he can continue the H's racehorse training and the h will be free to make her own way in life.
There is another reason for the timeline as well. The H is the eldest son of his late Sheikh ruler father and he is expected to take over the governing of his homeland. However the H isn't real keen on that proposal.
By custom the eldest son takes over the throne, but the H isn't fully attuned with his countrymen, he is far too influenced by the English side of his heritage and he has no desire to have a harem or political alliances or really even ruling his father's country.
So this year with the h is the H's last chance at freedom before taking over the sheikdom. Although at first the H is more like a benevolent guardian as he takes the h with him in his private jet on his travels, the h soon puts a stop to that nonsense when she learns that her father deliberately drugged the horse to lose the Melbourne Cup and that he did it for money.
The h goes and confronts the H for keeping her in the dark about her father and about some of his other patronizing behaviors.
Since her mother got a financially beneficial divorce from the wealthiest man in the world guy and parlayed that into marrying an English Lord, the H introduced her to a wanna be OW as the daughter of a countess.
The h railed at that pandering to social snobbery and then railed at the H for treating her like a child when she is a 23 year old adult. The H finally break downs and admits it is because he is having a hard time keeping his hands off of her and the two of them finally become lovers.
Then the h's mother learns they are in England and her mother is avid to climb on to the h's new social status.
A very uncomfortable dinner is endured where the H is super protective of the h against her mother's machinations. The mother then tries to rain on the h's lovefest parade by insisting that the H will soon be dumping her.
The h manages NOT to call her mother a greedy, grubbing gold digger snot snarfer, she just tells her mother that her mother's choices aren't hers and she needs to go her own way. Then we are off to meet the H's English mother, who tries to let the h know that the H probably won't be able to marry her because of his father's country's cultural differences and biases.
The H is very aware that he loves and is very happy with the h, but he doesn't tell her yet, as he has a few things to sort out at his younger brother's wedding to the princess from a neighboring country.
We all go to the wedding in the H's sheikdom and the H brings the h's half sister to visit. The H has been very kind to the girl and had bought her a computer so she and the h could email during the h's travels.
(The H's male personal assistant, his very best friend he went to school with, seems to be totally enchanted with the h's younger sister - ED may have been plotting a future romance for these two, but unfortunately she never wrote it. )
ED finally has the H declare at his younger brother's wedding that he is abdicating in favor of his fully Sheikh little brother, who is already married to a suitable wife and much more in tune with the country's needs.
He loves the h too much to give her up and as they both swear undying True Love to each other forever, the H explains to the h that she is the only challenge he will ever need and he wants their journey together to be endless, so she will be marrying him ASAP.
ED gives us a little epilogue where the H and h, along with her father's family are all the Melbourne Cup. The racehorse that lost and started the story wins the race and the H insists that the pregnant h give the winner's speech, as in his mind she is the miracle that made it all happen for the sparkly pink fluffy ED HEA.
This one is very sweet and very fluffy and the H is extremely nice and very kind. The h is pretty strong after she gets her mad on and sorts out the H and his protective behavior.
So when you want a nice romance with a little spice and not the typical Sheikhy desert fare, pick this one up for a very romantic day at the HP office.
It was in May of 1974 that the HP line was launched, now in May of 1998 Harlequin has gotten several of it's longest writing and most popular authors to write book prefaces about what being an HP author means to them.
ED's reader note is as follows:
Dear Reader,
To me, Harlequin Presents® has always been at the cutting edge of contemporary romance and I've loved the uninhibited scope and pleasure of writing about today's relationships with their complex problems and passions.
Best of all, in these stories, the dream of love we nurse in our hearts can always be fulfilled. It's a special world we share—the magic of romance—and I hope you love it and enjoy it as much as I do, sharing the lives of others whose dearest wishes do come true.
Happy twenty-fifth birthday to Harlequin Presents!
Emma Darcy
This story starts with our half English Sheikh Hero sitting at the Melbourne Cup and thinking dire thoughts about the horse trainer of his highly prized Thoroughbred racehorse who has just lost the race in what looks like deliberate sabotage.
The horse trainer only got the job because the H had met his daughter some years earlier in Ireland, after her gold digger mother had divorced the daughter's father to marry one of the worlds richest men.
The girl's honesty and sincere heart have been in the H's mind ever since, but he hasn't seen her since that time and the H is now wondering if the memory of a charming and warm-hearted smile has ruined a horse he is very fond of.
The h, meanwhile, is the horse trainer's daughter who was left behind to watch over her half sister and two brothers while her father took the horses he trained to Melbourne. The h's 10 year old half sister was paralyzed by the H's prize winning racehorse at the same time that the father's second wife was fighting cancer.
(The h's half sister took a fireworks sparkler into the stall and the horse was frightened and started rearing and broke her spine.)
The h, who was dumped into a horrible boarding school by her indifferent and status seeking mother after her parents divorce, went back to Australia after she graduated uni and has spent the last two years helping her father and his family out.
Her father is pretty indifferent to her as well, he had no interest in the h after the divorce and quickly set about establishing a new family. So the h is well aware that her father sees her a nothing but a useful servant, still she loves her half siblings and therefore is very upset when her stepmother calls and announces that they have lost the training contract for the Sheikh H's stud.
The h remembers the Sheikh H very well, so she decides to make a personal plea for him not to move the horses. The h believes that between the stepmother's cancer and her half sister's adjustment to her disability, that the father just did not spend the time he should have to train the horse for the Melbourne Cup.
So the h goes to plead with the H and the H is entranced by her sincerity and her smile and her unicorn grooming status all over again. He proposes a deal. The h will travel with him for a year, the father will train the horse again for the Melbourne Cup and if the horse wins, he can continue the H's racehorse training and the h will be free to make her own way in life.
There is another reason for the timeline as well. The H is the eldest son of his late Sheikh ruler father and he is expected to take over the governing of his homeland. However the H isn't real keen on that proposal.
By custom the eldest son takes over the throne, but the H isn't fully attuned with his countrymen, he is far too influenced by the English side of his heritage and he has no desire to have a harem or political alliances or really even ruling his father's country.
So this year with the h is the H's last chance at freedom before taking over the sheikdom. Although at first the H is more like a benevolent guardian as he takes the h with him in his private jet on his travels, the h soon puts a stop to that nonsense when she learns that her father deliberately drugged the horse to lose the Melbourne Cup and that he did it for money.
The h goes and confronts the H for keeping her in the dark about her father and about some of his other patronizing behaviors.
Since her mother got a financially beneficial divorce from the wealthiest man in the world guy and parlayed that into marrying an English Lord, the H introduced her to a wanna be OW as the daughter of a countess.
The h railed at that pandering to social snobbery and then railed at the H for treating her like a child when she is a 23 year old adult. The H finally break downs and admits it is because he is having a hard time keeping his hands off of her and the two of them finally become lovers.
Then the h's mother learns they are in England and her mother is avid to climb on to the h's new social status.
A very uncomfortable dinner is endured where the H is super protective of the h against her mother's machinations. The mother then tries to rain on the h's lovefest parade by insisting that the H will soon be dumping her.
The h manages NOT to call her mother a greedy, grubbing gold digger snot snarfer, she just tells her mother that her mother's choices aren't hers and she needs to go her own way. Then we are off to meet the H's English mother, who tries to let the h know that the H probably won't be able to marry her because of his father's country's cultural differences and biases.
The H is very aware that he loves and is very happy with the h, but he doesn't tell her yet, as he has a few things to sort out at his younger brother's wedding to the princess from a neighboring country.
We all go to the wedding in the H's sheikdom and the H brings the h's half sister to visit. The H has been very kind to the girl and had bought her a computer so she and the h could email during the h's travels.
(The H's male personal assistant, his very best friend he went to school with, seems to be totally enchanted with the h's younger sister - ED may have been plotting a future romance for these two, but unfortunately she never wrote it. )
ED finally has the H declare at his younger brother's wedding that he is abdicating in favor of his fully Sheikh little brother, who is already married to a suitable wife and much more in tune with the country's needs.
He loves the h too much to give her up and as they both swear undying True Love to each other forever, the H explains to the h that she is the only challenge he will ever need and he wants their journey together to be endless, so she will be marrying him ASAP.
ED gives us a little epilogue where the H and h, along with her father's family are all the Melbourne Cup. The racehorse that lost and started the story wins the race and the H insists that the pregnant h give the winner's speech, as in his mind she is the miracle that made it all happen for the sparkly pink fluffy ED HEA.
This one is very sweet and very fluffy and the H is extremely nice and very kind. The h is pretty strong after she gets her mad on and sorts out the H and his protective behavior.
So when you want a nice romance with a little spice and not the typical Sheikhy desert fare, pick this one up for a very romantic day at the HP office.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2021
"The Sheikh's Seduction" is the story of Sarah and Tariq.
A sweet love story between a caring, forgiving heroine, and a smitten hero. As they embark on a trip where she agrees to become his companion to save her family, they fall in love, make sacrifices and end up choosing each other in major decisions of life.
Low in angst, high in sappiness. Enjoyed in parts.
Safe
3/5
A sweet love story between a caring, forgiving heroine, and a smitten hero. As they embark on a trip where she agrees to become his companion to save her family, they fall in love, make sacrifices and end up choosing each other in major decisions of life.
Low in angst, high in sappiness. Enjoyed in parts.
Safe
3/5
April 16, 2016
"Because any purpose pales in comparison to what you give me. Your gift of love is beyond price." - Tareq.
I was not expecting to be so pleased with this book. I was expecting an overly alpha (borderline to straight out a-hole) hero and some drama, such as a secret baby plot or whatnot. What I got was a romance with minimal fuss and drama and a surprisingly sweet hero. I admit, as I was reading, I was wondering what the catch was...when the shoe would drop. Hence the expectation of some secret baby plot or some such. But no, Tareq and Sarah did not fall into the pattern of so many HQN Presents and for that, I was very pleased. And what's more, I felt that Tareq really did love her. I believed him and what he said.
Here's a quote:
So, I read this for a Bingo Challenge ("vintage" square) and wasn't expecting to enjoy it (I haven't had luck with older HQN Presents), but I'm glad I chose this one!
Edit to add:
The cover is a bit deceiving. You'd think it's about a Sheikh being well, Sheikh-like with deserts involved and such. This book isn't. While Tareq is a Sheikh, that doesn't really play into the story line when it comes to setting and clothing. In fact, he's wearing suits 99% of the time and they only travel to his country near the end and even then it's not not really emphasized. So while this is a "Sheikh romance," it's not really a desert romance or one that emphasizes the setting and culture of the desert and its people. Just thought I'd point that out! ;-)
February 2, 2018
This story is about a man with divided loyalties and a vivacious young, dedicated young woman who values family above all else.
The ruthlessness and calculating behavior of Tareq was a bit off-putting at first until you get more info from his backstory. Sarah drove me nuts because she was a "doormat" and naive to the point of being scary.
I almost put the book down until she had an "omg" moment and the story changed. After that, it was all good.
Despite their flaws, the pairing worked well and the ending was satisfactory.
Would I recommend this book? Yes.
The ruthlessness and calculating behavior of Tareq was a bit off-putting at first until you get more info from his backstory. Sarah drove me nuts because she was a "doormat" and naive to the point of being scary.
I almost put the book down until she had an "omg" moment and the story changed. After that, it was all good.
Despite their flaws, the pairing worked well and the ending was satisfactory.
Would I recommend this book? Yes.
October 12, 2023
Good read. HEA.
November 5, 2023
Not bad, but pretty forgettable. Random Christmas sprinkled for no reason. But read it if you got nothing lined up.
February 21, 2025
Very good
Read
August 16, 2008The Sheikh's Seduction (Simply Sensational/Presents Extravaganza 25 years) (Harlequin Presents , No 1953) by Emma Darcy (1998)
September 12, 2016
Grade: F
Horrible of course, but I had to try...
Horrible of course, but I had to try...
December 26, 2014
Wow
I choose 5 stars cause there was so much similarities between the two main characters. I really like it when Sarah half sister Jessie told the Sheikh her story.
I choose 5 stars cause there was so much similarities between the two main characters. I really like it when Sarah half sister Jessie told the Sheikh her story.
November 19, 2012
Oh lalala ! La couverture est vraiment affreuse !
June 20, 2013
2,5 stars
hq-to-read
March 29, 2018Who was seducing whom?
With her family's future happiness in Tareq al-Khaima's all-controlling hands, Sarah Hillyard was persuaded to become the sheikh's traveling companion for a year. She remembered his gentleness toward her as a young girl, but now she suspected Tareq's scheme was a calculated means of getting closer to the beautiful woman she had become - with no promise of commitment on his part.
Tareq calaimed to have lost the capacity to love and he was so totally self-contained, so frustratingly untouchable that Sarah surprised herself by wanting to find out how he would react if she turned the tables - and set about seducing him!
With her family's future happiness in Tareq al-Khaima's all-controlling hands, Sarah Hillyard was persuaded to become the sheikh's traveling companion for a year. She remembered his gentleness toward her as a young girl, but now she suspected Tareq's scheme was a calculated means of getting closer to the beautiful woman she had become - with no promise of commitment on his part.
Tareq calaimed to have lost the capacity to love and he was so totally self-contained, so frustratingly untouchable that Sarah surprised herself by wanting to find out how he would react if she turned the tables - and set about seducing him!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews