Mistress of the Sheikh

The Barons #5

by Sandra Marton

Sheikh Nicholas al Rashid: hailed in his homeland as the Lion of the Desert, portrayed by the press as an elegant savage . . .

Amanda Benning: beautiful stepdaughter of Jonas Baron and interior designer, commissioned to refurbish Nick al Rashid's already luxurious Manhattan apartment . . .

Just why does Nick become intent on making Amanda his mistress -- does he really want her for herself, or to have his revenge?

Genres: Harlequin, Harlequin Presents, Romance, Harlequin Romance

Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

I've been a writer, one way or another, all my life. Before I could read, I made up poems and my mom wrote them down for me. In elementary school, my teachers almost always let me write poems or stories instead of requiring me to do art projects. Always, I dreamed of becoming a published writer...and that dream came true! I write novels about sexy, powerful men and independent-minded women, and what happens when they find each other and fall in love. My books are sexy and romantic, and they've very often full of romantic suspense. I write the kinds of books I love to read, and I hope that makes my readers happy.

Reviews

[MelissaB · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started out with a disturbing scene near the beginning. The hero finds the heroine in his apartment and assumes she is there to "entertain" him and sell photos to the press since she is taking pictures. His sister had told him she had a surprise for him, but she actually hired the heroine, Amanda, to redecorate his apartment. Nick gets very aggressive with Amanda, he starts kissing and coming on to her despite her struggles. They scuffle for awhile, which was disturbing to me because he didn't back off when she obviously wanted him to. His sister eventually comes into the room and tries to explain but he just locks them both in the room and refuses to believe them. He bosses them both around and makes them go to the party planned for that night, while he has the heroine's story checked out. Warning sign number one: the way he treated his own sister and made her obey him (he is the Crown Prince of his fictional Middle Eastern country so she must do as he says).

So after that disturbing beginning, I was pleasantly surprised when Nick realizes he acted like a fool later that night. He talks with Amanda in a normal manner and they come up with some terms - he can try to seduce her for a week and at the end she can decorate his apartment whether he succeeds or not since she needs the work. After a sleepless night, they both realize that was a ridiculous idea and decide to just spend time together since they are very attracted to each other. This middle part was actually funny and sweet as they started falling in love and had some hot interludes.

Then Nick gets called back to his fictional country due to political unrest. Amanda goes with him, because she cares so much for him (like three days after meeting him). However, their idylic bliss is interupted when Nick thinks she betrayed him to the press. Psycho Nick makes another appearance when he doesn't believe her innocence and gets really rough with her again. He gets physcial with her and is obviously out of control and thinking of forcing himself on her. He also almost slaps her after she slaps him when he is on top of her. He decides to send her away from his country to get her out of his sight. Of course, he finds out about her innocence and goes after her. He barely says he is sorry but says the magic "L" word which is supposed to make everything okay.

All I could think of was "Honey get away from this guy while you can!". His ability to lose control and be violent around her was disturbing. The first scene I was ready to forgive. But the last one when he supposedly loved her then turned around and not only didn't believe her but got physical with her - oh no, this guy is scary. Maybe if he would have grovelled more and apologized or even seemed remotely hesitant about her guilt, then just maybe it would have been better.

I am still giving it 3 stars since the middle part was funny and sexy. Maybe I will just pretend Psycho Nick didn't appear, otherwise I will be scared for Amanda the next time someone casts her in a bad light.

[Lu Bielefeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eu escolhi um livrinho sobre Sheikhs para aliviar a mente... fui revisitar esta série que é bem legal!

[willaful · Rating 2 out of 5]

If the power imbalances inherent in sheikh romances creep you out, this probably won't be the book that changes your mind. Nicholas is sort of a reluctant sheikh, angry about desert savage stereotypes, yet he falls easily back into the role whenever he's crossed. Although his empassioned resistance to falling in love is classic Marton, it's a bit hard to cheer on a romance hero who casually mentions he could have the heroine's tongue cut out for insolence.

I think I would have liked this more if it hadn't had such a weak, meandering first half; the story is tighter and more exciting in the second half, but by then it was apparently too late for me to get caught up and enjoy the crazy ride without being perturbed by how creepy it was. Or maybe I just needed more from the ending to make it work.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I'm pretty sure I read this, but I can't remember how much I liked it.

[Mattie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like it. Sheikh stories are not my favorite. All that I hate about Sheikh stories were in this book, especially at the end with what hero did to heroine.

I did not like the hero. He was extremely arrogant and wished he could behead people that displeased him. He mistakes who heroine is thinking she's a birthday present and kissed her against her will (resulting in torn dress, broken heel etc). He grabs her roughly several times even grabbing her by shoulders bringing her to her toes. He traps her in his closet and threatened her several times.

I could have gotten over how he treated her at the beginning, because he wasn't so bad for a few chapters while he fell in love, got scared, pushed her away a little bit and then immediately pursued her again when she sensed that and pushed him away.
However how he treated her at the end was really hard to get over. He thought she betrayed him to the press so he had his servants take her from his bed (naked with only a sheet covering her) and threw her into his harem. He planned to keep her there til he tired of her, called her a bitch and whore. He almost raped her, she hit him, so he brought his hand back to hit her but stopped when she dared him to hit her and then sent her back home.

He just automatically believed she was guilty, he never even doubted it or questioned what she would gain from going to tabloids, her whole family was rich, she didn't need money that bad.
He only went after her so quickly because the servant that actually betrayed him gave himself away.

Heroine forgave him way too quickly for what he put her through. Np.





* He was seeing another woman when the book started and broke up with her hours after meeting heroine.

** Was never stated whether he used the harem

[Maddy Matos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sheikh Nicholas Al Rashid, Lion of the Desert and Sublime Heir to the Imperial Throne of Quidar, what else can you say about this sexy, Handsome Prince? That he was in New York and mistook his sister's intention of a birthday present and ran into a woman that had been in his head for years. The meeting of this Prince and Amanda was fantastic, sexy and hot hot hot!! He's a Prince from an ancient land but she's a New Yorker with an ancient attitude that few can handle. This book is so romantic, sexy and funny that I caught myself laughing out loud. Especially when she used the title your Royal Hideousness! She was was disrespectful and funny and he took it like a champ, I loved his character. This book was really awesome and I recommend it highly.

[Pecs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Undecided for a long time about what to rate this book. Didn’t care for it in the first half, started enjoying in the second half, and by the end, I had mixed feelings about it.

Hero acted like a baby sometimes which is quite realistic if we’re being honest, but I don’t like honesty/realism in my romance novels, so it threw me off at the beginning.

He was also very misogynistic and so full of himself, and forgive me, but while I love that in most of my romance heroes (especially in Lynne Graham’s books), there was just something off about the way it was portrayed in this book. I still love me some Sandra Marton though.

Anyway, once it was obvious he was in love with the heroine, all those issues fell by the wayside and I really enjoyed the story.

[Cris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Los polos opuestos se atraen, aunque sinceramente yo sí le habría dado un guantazo más de una vez, qué prepotencia e ingenuidad

[Roub · Rating 3 out of 5]

i was confused at how to rate the book! the book was gud enough. however, nick's constant bad temper bothered me and he cud act like he was totally insane! i guess it's ok in novels but he can't just jump on a woman bcoz she's in his bedroom! he acted like he's mentally deranged and a rapist add to dat! i thought both main characters' behavior were totally illogical and unreal. these things really only happened in books, a sheikh falling in love in 4 days wid an american woman he found in his bedroom!still very enjoyable!

[Kimaya Mathew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, Nicolas is despicable on some aspects, but tell me who is not?
Was Amanda less faultless anywhere when she let her heart ruled and shut her mind to everything even when Marta warned her that she had a bad feeling about Amanda going with Nick to Quidar?

It is futile, I believe, on readers part to expect some proper perfect stories. When human nature is faulty , how can we raise fingers on the imagined characters?

[Tia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be alright but like the book after this one, the hero was arrogant and a pervert, in a big way. He immediately saw the heroine and assumed she was there for a night of fun. Ick! He seemed to think he was god's gift and that no woman could deny him. Thank the gods for gullible heroines or else these heroes would never get anywhere in life!

[RomLibrary · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sheikh Nicholas al Rashid: hailed in his homeland as the Lion of the Desert...

Amanda Benning: beautiful stepdaughter of Jonas Baron and interior designer, commissioned to refurbish Nick al Rashid's already luxurious Manhattan apartment...

Nick is intent on making Amanda his mistress. Does he really want her for herself, or to have his revenge?

[Terri · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't think I've ever disliked a book's hero so much in my life! Still not sure why the heroine stayed with him. Yuck.

[That girl with the book · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: The Barons

[Marie]

Book I have is in good condition has slight spine creases