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Princess Brides #1
The Sultan's Bought Bride
Princess Nicolette Ducasse refused to let her sister go through with an arranged marriage to Sultan Malik Roman Nuri of Baraka. So she travelled to his faraway kingdom herself, to tell him that the deal was off! But Nicolette never expected to find the wedding date already set. Or that Malik would be so sexy! Keeping up the charade of being her sister began to get harder and harder . . . Malik made it clear that if they shared a bed the wedding was non-negotiable. After all, he was a modern monarch in many ways - except when it came to his bride!
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 2004
77 people are currently reading
245 people want to read
About the author
Jane Porter
617 books2,054 followersBorn in Visalia, California, I'm a small town girl at heart. I love central California's golden foothills, oak trees, and the miles of farmland. In my mind, there's nothing sweeter in the world than the heady fragrance of orange blossoms on a sultry summer night.
As a little girl I spent hours on my bed, staring out the window, dreaming of far off places, fearless knights, and happy-ever-after endings. In my imagination I was never the geeky bookworm with the thick coke-bottle glasses, but a princess, a magical fairy, a Joan-of-Arc crusader.
My parents fed my imagination by taking our family to Europe for a year when I was thirteen. The year away changed me (I wasn't a geek for once!) and overseas I discovered a huge and wonderful world with different cultures and customs. I loved everything about Europe, but felt especially passionate about Italy and those gorgeous Italian men (no wonder my first very Presents hero was Italian).
I confess, after that incredible year in Europe, the travel bug bit, and bit hard. I spent much of my high school and college years abroad, studying in South Africa, Japan and Ireland. South Africa remains a country of my heart, the people, the land and politics complex and heart-wrenching.
After my years of traveling and studying I had to settle down and earn a living. With my Bachelors degree from UCLA in American Studies, a program that combines American literature and American history, I've worked in sales and marketing, as well as a director of a non-profit foundation. Later I earned my Masters in Writing from the University of San Francisco and taught jr. high and high school English.
I now live in Seattle and Hawaii with my three sons. I never mind a rainy day, either, because that's when I sit at my desk and write stories about far-away places, fascinating people, and most importantly of all, love. I like a story with a happy ending. We all do.
As a little girl I spent hours on my bed, staring out the window, dreaming of far off places, fearless knights, and happy-ever-after endings. In my imagination I was never the geeky bookworm with the thick coke-bottle glasses, but a princess, a magical fairy, a Joan-of-Arc crusader.
My parents fed my imagination by taking our family to Europe for a year when I was thirteen. The year away changed me (I wasn't a geek for once!) and overseas I discovered a huge and wonderful world with different cultures and customs. I loved everything about Europe, but felt especially passionate about Italy and those gorgeous Italian men (no wonder my first very Presents hero was Italian).
I confess, after that incredible year in Europe, the travel bug bit, and bit hard. I spent much of my high school and college years abroad, studying in South Africa, Japan and Ireland. South Africa remains a country of my heart, the people, the land and politics complex and heart-wrenching.
After my years of traveling and studying I had to settle down and earn a living. With my Bachelors degree from UCLA in American Studies, a program that combines American literature and American history, I've worked in sales and marketing, as well as a director of a non-profit foundation. Later I earned my Masters in Writing from the University of San Francisco and taught jr. high and high school English.
I now live in Seattle and Hawaii with my three sons. I never mind a rainy day, either, because that's when I sit at my desk and write stories about far-away places, fascinating people, and most importantly of all, love. I like a story with a happy ending. We all do.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
March 18, 2018
This story started out slow as it was establishing a series with three princess sisters. Our heroine is the middle sister who has found herself with her blonde hair dyed brown, impersonating her older, widowed sister as she goes to meet her intended, our hero, the sultan of a made-up country.
She is doing this for two reasons: She doesn't want her sister to endure another horrible arranged marriage. And she is worried about her niece who isn't allowed to leave the country of her paternal grandparents. She thinks that they will let her niece and sister attend her wedding and from there they can escape that country permanently. Then she'll jilt the hero at the altar. Done. And done.
It doesn't work out that way.
How you feel about take-charge heroines, lying and broken promises will determine if you like this story or this heroine. I don't like liars and the heroine took a long time to finally fess up. And the player got played as you can see in the spoiler. Plus, it was a really bad plan to begin with.
Since both the H/h were playing the long game, I'll have to take sides. I'm going to come out on team hero here. Going into this situation, the heroine knew she was going to break promises and hurt the hero. Hero had no intention of hurting the heroine.
So that was a nice twist and there is a lovely epilogue as well.
She is doing this for two reasons: She doesn't want her sister to endure another horrible arranged marriage. And she is worried about her niece who isn't allowed to leave the country of her paternal grandparents. She thinks that they will let her niece and sister attend her wedding and from there they can escape that country permanently. Then she'll jilt the hero at the altar. Done. And done.
It doesn't work out that way.
How you feel about take-charge heroines, lying and broken promises will determine if you like this story or this heroine. I don't like liars and the heroine took a long time to finally fess up. And the player got played as you can see in the spoiler. Plus, it was a really bad plan to begin with.
Since both the H/h were playing the long game, I'll have to take sides. I'm going to come out on team hero here. Going into this situation, the heroine knew she was going to break promises and hurt the hero. Hero had no intention of hurting the heroine.
So that was a nice twist and there is a lovely epilogue as well.
May 25, 2009
I had issues with the heroine in this one. I think that Porter was trying to go for the modern heiress along the lines of Paris Hilton, but one who loved and made sacrifices for her family. It just didn't work for me. I thought her actions were contradictory, immature, and unpredictable. More than anything, she came off as irrational, which was bizarre for an educated woman who studied math and science. She didn't really have the personality for a mathematician or a science, way too dramatic and emotive. I think Porter was trying too hard with this heroine. It's neat that she tried to do something different with a HP heroine but I think she should have tried a more organic approach instead of forcing nuances to make the reader like her. Too bad because I really did like the hero and I wish more HP heroes were like him.
September 4, 2015
This plot was intriguing up until the end where Jane Porter took strong, independent lead female character who supposedly was a firm believer in gender equality and flushed everything good and interesting about her down the drain. When Nic finds out she has been played both by her new husband and her sister, she is outraged for about .5 seconds and then falls back into her husband's arms before he even bothers to try to apologize. How disappointing and out of character from who the author had originally portrayed her as. If she was as true a feminist as she purported to be, she would have been a bit more upset that she had been manipulated and turned into chattel to be sold off to the highest bidder when she made it clear that an arranged marriage was the last thing she ever wanted. If the author were to be consistent and actually think women capable of doing anything besides being weak and falling into a puddle over "love," she wouldn't have had Nic run back to her husband immediately and actually made him and Nic's sister have to work to get Nic's trust back like a normal human being. The ending made me dislike every single character in the book-especially Malik, Nic and Chantal and their grandfather. Just awful.
November 2, 2022
I congratulate the author on creating characters, and a plot premise which totally engaged me - even to the extent of wanting to slap the heroine.
I disliked Nicolette, the heroine, intensely, right from the beginning and indeed - right up to the epilogue. She was dishonest and manipulative and totally unprincipled in her plotting - and yet she felt betrayed because in essence, she had been outsmarted? She was - as Malik, the hero, said - a bad loser. She was just too unpleasant, too much hard work and utterly egotistical- and I got to the stage I wanted Malik to kick her out and find himself a better wife.
Malik’s motivations were positive whereas she was prepared to abandon him at the altar despite the fact he’d done nothing to deserve such humiliation. The entire plot premise was flawed, because as Nicolette said at the end - Chantal only needed to have introduced them - there was no need for the play acting.
I love JP’s writing and part of me loved this but another part was standing back, not approving!
I loved Malik - what a fabulous hero! Pity he didn’t get a more deserving heroine!
I disliked Nicolette, the heroine, intensely, right from the beginning and indeed - right up to the epilogue. She was dishonest and manipulative and totally unprincipled in her plotting - and yet she felt betrayed because in essence, she had been outsmarted? She was - as Malik, the hero, said - a bad loser. She was just too unpleasant, too much hard work and utterly egotistical- and I got to the stage I wanted Malik to kick her out and find himself a better wife.
Malik’s motivations were positive whereas she was prepared to abandon him at the altar despite the fact he’d done nothing to deserve such humiliation. The entire plot premise was flawed, because as Nicolette said at the end - Chantal only needed to have introduced them - there was no need for the play acting.
I love JP’s writing and part of me loved this but another part was standing back, not approving!
I loved Malik - what a fabulous hero! Pity he didn’t get a more deserving heroine!
December 3, 2023
Lo vi en el feed de goodreads y dije "oh un enemy to lovers súper corto".
Y de repente estaba leyendo una telenovela oriental de domingo en telecinco?
En fin.
Altas expectativas pero los protagonistas se rindieron al amor fácilmente, buuuhhh, me quedé sin dramitas.
😒
Y de repente estaba leyendo una telenovela oriental de domingo en telecinco?
En fin.
Altas expectativas pero los protagonistas se rindieron al amor fácilmente, buuuhhh, me quedé sin dramitas.
😒
Read
December 19, 2017La Princesa Y El Sultán (Princesas Enamoradas #1)
Read
July 24, 2020Very good book. Nice change from the smouldering alpha male.this one melt you with his tenderness while maintaining his status quo as a true alpha. A very sneaking one. Who apparently hates blonde with a passion .lol ;-)
P.s am I the only one wanting his brother's, Prince Khalen 's book?
He sounded interesting!
P.s am I the only one wanting his brother's, Prince Khalen 's book?
He sounded interesting!
May 29, 2018
Jännä alusta loppuun!!
January 15, 2020
Hoşuma gitti.. şaşkınım.
December 25, 2023
Gostei muito...dentro do meu universo, eu podia ter sido esta personagem😊
April 28, 2025
needs editing
Book is unreadable and has symbols instead of punctuation in every sentence
It may be a great story I couldn’t read it. Don’t pass it up if you get a clean version
Book is unreadable and has symbols instead of punctuation in every sentence
It may be a great story I couldn’t read it. Don’t pass it up if you get a clean version
to-buy
June 5, 2025The Sultan's Bought Bride by Jane Porter
عروس الصقر(الجزء الأول من سلسلة العروس الأميرة) لجين بورتر
عروس الصقر(الجزء الأول من سلسلة العروس الأميرة) لجين بورتر
April 20, 2011
As much as I enjoy Harlequins, some of the titles just make me cringe. Like this one. And frankly, this is one I probably would never have bothered to pick up, except for the fact that it's by Jane Porter and I love her contemporary books. So I've been collecting her Harlequins. And I really, really liked this one.
Princess Nicolette is determined to never fall in love again and never marry. Never let a man rule her. Sultan/King Malik Nuri has never felt the desire to marry and start a family, until an assassination attempt is made on his life. Then he realizes he needs an heir.
Nicolette's sister had a horrible first marriage, but for the good of their poor country, and her young daughter, she has agreed to an arranged marriage with Malik. Except Nicolette is determined to prevent her sister from another arranged and loveless marriage, while at the same time formulating a plan to use King Malik to get her sister's young daughter away from her deceased father's family, who won't allow her out of their country. So she dyes her hair brown and travels to Baraka to meet Malik, pretending to be her sister. Her plan is to pretend to go along with wedding planning, convince Malik to hold the wedding in her mother's home town of Louisiana, and once her sister and niece are safely in the US and can be hidden away by family there, she'll break off the engagement, leaving Malik at the alter.
Malik has not met Nicolette's sister in person, but even so it's harder to pretend to be her sister than she anticipated. As Princesses, they are well known, and while Malik has a reputation as a playboy, Nicolette has her own reputation. So it doesn't help when Malik makes disparaging comments to her about her "sister" Nic. Of course, Malik has his own secret, as we learn long before Nic does. Nicolette is a strong heroine, who is used to being in control of her own life, and the author does a really good job portraying her fear and frustration as she realizes that she is very quickly losing control of everything to Malik.
As with any Harlequin, you know there will be a HEA. But Ms. Porter provides a twist at the end, that almost threatens that HEA, and that I was not expecting. Porter's heroines are always strong, intelligent, likeable women, and her books are quick and easy to read, with a little humor thrown in.
Princess Nicolette is determined to never fall in love again and never marry. Never let a man rule her. Sultan/King Malik Nuri has never felt the desire to marry and start a family, until an assassination attempt is made on his life. Then he realizes he needs an heir.
Nicolette's sister had a horrible first marriage, but for the good of their poor country, and her young daughter, she has agreed to an arranged marriage with Malik. Except Nicolette is determined to prevent her sister from another arranged and loveless marriage, while at the same time formulating a plan to use King Malik to get her sister's young daughter away from her deceased father's family, who won't allow her out of their country. So she dyes her hair brown and travels to Baraka to meet Malik, pretending to be her sister. Her plan is to pretend to go along with wedding planning, convince Malik to hold the wedding in her mother's home town of Louisiana, and once her sister and niece are safely in the US and can be hidden away by family there, she'll break off the engagement, leaving Malik at the alter.
Malik has not met Nicolette's sister in person, but even so it's harder to pretend to be her sister than she anticipated. As Princesses, they are well known, and while Malik has a reputation as a playboy, Nicolette has her own reputation. So it doesn't help when Malik makes disparaging comments to her about her "sister" Nic. Of course, Malik has his own secret, as we learn long before Nic does. Nicolette is a strong heroine, who is used to being in control of her own life, and the author does a really good job portraying her fear and frustration as she realizes that she is very quickly losing control of everything to Malik.
As with any Harlequin, you know there will be a HEA. But Ms. Porter provides a twist at the end, that almost threatens that HEA, and that I was not expecting. Porter's heroines are always strong, intelligent, likeable women, and her books are quick and easy to read, with a little humor thrown in.
January 18, 2021
https://celebrityreaders.com/2021/01/...
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
3.5 stars — I saw Malik and Nicolette mentioned in one of Ms. Porter’s more recent books, and had to dig around in my kindle so I could reread this. It didn’t disappoint. I LOVED the chemistry and banter between Nic and Malik…some of their conversations had me cracking up! And I enjoyed the pace of how they fell in love…almost believable (which is rare for Presents books). I even enjoyed the twist and how that played out…didn’t see it coming the first time, and forgot most of it by this second time around. I guess my problem lay in Nic…I didn’t always get her. I got some of her, but she had so much going on that sometimes it seemed she was inconsistent. I think I see where Ms. Porter was trying to go, but I just couldn’t get behind her most of the time…well, maybe not most, but if you read it, you’ll understand.
ON REREAD:
2.5 stars — 8+ years later, and the Sultan stuff kinda makes me cringe. It wasn’t as bad as I was expecting, which is kudos to Ms. Porter. But at the same time, it was hard to read about Malik thinking about wedding customs in his culture where they verify virginity of the woman. I get it. This happens in places in this world. But it’s horrific, and I guess I wanted Malik to actually think about wanting to change that. I don’t know. I’m fussy now.
There were still lots of enjoyable moments, but I *still* don’t get Nic or her motivations. And I don’t really like her much as a result…or at least I find it hard to connect with her. And I yet again forgot about the twist, and I couldn’t decide how I felt about how it all played out. It was interesting and different, but it’s just on the edge of what I enjoy I guess… I’ll still give the rest of the Ducasse sisters a chance, I have a feeling I’ll like them more than Nic. And at least there’s no more Sultans. *rolls eyes* I’m not even marking this one as a diverse read, b/c I don’t trust any sense of accuracy.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
3.5 stars — I saw Malik and Nicolette mentioned in one of Ms. Porter’s more recent books, and had to dig around in my kindle so I could reread this. It didn’t disappoint. I LOVED the chemistry and banter between Nic and Malik…some of their conversations had me cracking up! And I enjoyed the pace of how they fell in love…almost believable (which is rare for Presents books). I even enjoyed the twist and how that played out…didn’t see it coming the first time, and forgot most of it by this second time around. I guess my problem lay in Nic…I didn’t always get her. I got some of her, but she had so much going on that sometimes it seemed she was inconsistent. I think I see where Ms. Porter was trying to go, but I just couldn’t get behind her most of the time…well, maybe not most, but if you read it, you’ll understand.
ON REREAD:
2.5 stars — 8+ years later, and the Sultan stuff kinda makes me cringe. It wasn’t as bad as I was expecting, which is kudos to Ms. Porter. But at the same time, it was hard to read about Malik thinking about wedding customs in his culture where they verify virginity of the woman. I get it. This happens in places in this world. But it’s horrific, and I guess I wanted Malik to actually think about wanting to change that. I don’t know. I’m fussy now.
There were still lots of enjoyable moments, but I *still* don’t get Nic or her motivations. And I don’t really like her much as a result…or at least I find it hard to connect with her. And I yet again forgot about the twist, and I couldn’t decide how I felt about how it all played out. It was interesting and different, but it’s just on the edge of what I enjoy I guess… I’ll still give the rest of the Ducasse sisters a chance, I have a feeling I’ll like them more than Nic. And at least there’s no more Sultans. *rolls eyes* I’m not even marking this one as a diverse read, b/c I don’t trust any sense of accuracy.
September 3, 2011
My grade: B+. This is graded on a special Harlequin Presents scale. For an HP, it was great. It wouldn't score as well against a non-series romance.
But I loved Malik, who though commanding and a bit arrogant, was also kind, compassionate and reasonable. He wasn't completely domineering, as I find many HP heros. I enjoyed Nic and her struggles. And the book had a plot turn that took me by complete surprise, which was nice. I suspect Porter's written books about their siblings and cousin, and I liked this one so well I may read one or more of those. I only wanted to sample a Porter HP. The fist one I didn't care for, but this one I really liked.
But I loved Malik, who though commanding and a bit arrogant, was also kind, compassionate and reasonable. He wasn't completely domineering, as I find many HP heros. I enjoyed Nic and her struggles. And the book had a plot turn that took me by complete surprise, which was nice. I suspect Porter's written books about their siblings and cousin, and I liked this one so well I may read one or more of those. I only wanted to sample a Porter HP. The fist one I didn't care for, but this one I really liked.
April 25, 2011
If you look at the dates I read this book. You'll see a five month difference. I have to say, it's not because the book was boring or anything. I just have a bad case of ADHD and my attention span is like 0. But I finally picked it back up after all this time. I really enjoyed it. While the time they spent together was short, I thought Nic and Malik made a great couple. Jane made me feel like this two were meant for each other and I love that feeling. The epilogue was adorable as well. I love it when there are babies ever after. It give me a warm fuzzy feeling.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2013
Princess Nicolette Ducasse takes on her sister's identity to save her from an arranged marriage to Sultan Malik Nuri. Little does she know, he already knows who she is. It was fun to see Nic plays up the part trying to convince him she is her sister and all the while she is creating feelings for Malik. Will she marry him or will she call it off. You have to read to find out. And, I recommend you read it. It's a great romance. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
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May 20, 2016عروس الصقر
جين بورتر
رفضت الاميره نيكوليت دكاس ان تدع شقيقتها تتزوج زواجا مدبرا من رجل لا تعرفه
السلطان مالك نور فسافرت الى مملكته البعيده منتحله شخصيه اختها لكي تعلن
له ان اتفاقهما قد الغي!
لكن ما لم تتوقعه الاميره هو ان تجد استعدادات الزفاف قد انجزت وان مالك سلطان
فاتن الى حد مألم!
هو اعتبرها عروسه المووده وهي تعيش كل يوم صراعا بين افتتانها به وخوفها من
افتضاح امرها .......
فكيف سيثأر السلطان لكامته عندما يكتشف حقيقتها!
جين بورتر
رفضت الاميره نيكوليت دكاس ان تدع شقيقتها تتزوج زواجا مدبرا من رجل لا تعرفه
السلطان مالك نور فسافرت الى مملكته البعيده منتحله شخصيه اختها لكي تعلن
له ان اتفاقهما قد الغي!
لكن ما لم تتوقعه الاميره هو ان تجد استعدادات الزفاف قد انجزت وان مالك سلطان
فاتن الى حد مألم!
هو اعتبرها عروسه المووده وهي تعيش كل يوم صراعا بين افتتانها به وخوفها من
افتضاح امرها .......
فكيف سيثأر السلطان لكامته عندما يكتشف حقيقتها!
November 18, 2014
Awesome.........d ;)
Loved it. The h was strong and feisty and thought she'd just "sneak in and sneak out", alas, the H had different plans. Speaking of him, what wasn't there to love? He was strong, sensitive and loving all rolled up into one fabulous alpha male.. I laughed out loud several times because the H really ran circles around the h. Towards the end, there's a twist, and you see the h truly met her match. Oooh, what a totally yummy, bad, bad boy he is.....d;)
Loved it. The h was strong and feisty and thought she'd just "sneak in and sneak out", alas, the H had different plans. Speaking of him, what wasn't there to love? He was strong, sensitive and loving all rolled up into one fabulous alpha male.. I laughed out loud several times because the H really ran circles around the h. Towards the end, there's a twist, and you see the h truly met her match. Oooh, what a totally yummy, bad, bad boy he is.....d;)
January 6, 2009
I was very amused by this book. The guy was just a tiny bit too much of a controlling asshole to me, but the chick was a fighter, which definitely balanced it out. I think towards the end it started to falter a bit, but still worth the read.
June 14, 2010
Princess Nicolette Ducasse a strong willed, protective sister.
Sultan Malik Roman Nuri a arrogant, sexy as hell, seductive.
You put these two together and BAM! You get a story that makes you grin like an idiot, and a love story that makes your heart hurt.
Sultan Malik Roman Nuri a arrogant, sexy as hell, seductive.
You put these two together and BAM! You get a story that makes you grin like an idiot, and a love story that makes your heart hurt.
June 22, 2011
You know while reading this book i wondered what the title has to do with the book but towards the end it made sense...
I thought it was a good read, I like Nicolette very strong and independent woman all in all a good lovable story about a princess and king.....
I thought it was a good read, I like Nicolette very strong and independent woman all in all a good lovable story about a princess and king.....
March 4, 2011
a feminist heroine--how unusual for Presents. Though of course she succumbs to the amazingly liberated and liberal Sultan.
October 14, 2011
Read October 2011
July 24, 2013
Cute Harlequin romance
February 9, 2014
interesante. dramatico y emotivo, lo malo y que no me gusto, es que la protagonista fuera tan inocente, y tuviera tan poca dignidad, después de tanta crueldad, le falto mas cáracter
November 1, 2015
قراءتها بعنوان (عروس الصقر) من روايات احلام
احببت كثيرا شخصية نيكوليت...
ومالك
لكن لدى الغرب تصور غريب لحياة العرب خاصه بهذا الوقت....
احببت كثيرا شخصية نيكوليت...
ومالك
لكن لدى الغرب تصور غريب لحياة العرب خاصه بهذا الوقت....
January 14, 2016
I had problems with the ending. She behaved like a child. Took away all the positive energy of the story.
October 13, 2018
Leído en Enero 2013
Estuvo chevere!! me entretuvo bastante
Estuvo chevere!! me entretuvo bastante
October 27, 2019
Me encanto. Romance y pasión en un juego
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews