Acorrentado ao Trono

Empire of the Sands #2

by Carol Marinelli

Apropriada como amante... mas não como esposa!

Franca e direta, Amy é uma babá que parece ignorar que trabalho e discrição devem andar de mãos dadas. Mas o sheik Emir conhece outras utilidades para uma boca tão sedutora quanto malcriada... Apesar de viverem uma paixão abrasadora, ambos estão sujeitos às rigorosas leis do deserto. Como governante de Alzan, Emir jamais poderá fazer de Amy sua rainha. Ele perdeu a esposa quando ela dava à luz suas preciosas filhas gêmeas, porém Emir precisa de um herdeiro para que a linhagem continue. E essa é a única coisa que Amy é incapaz de lhe proporcionar...

Genres: Harlequin, Romance, Harlequin Presents, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Royalty, Category Romance

183 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 2012

About the author

Carol Marinelli was born in England to Scottish parents, then emigrated to Australia, where there are loads of Scottish and English people who did exactly the same, so she’s very at home there.

She lives in the outer suburbs of Melbourne—pretty much in her car, driving her three children to their various commitments.

Carol writes for the Harlequin Presents and Medical lines and she also writes contemporary women's fiction (with a dark twist).
When she's not writing she's reading, when she's not reading she's writing.

Reviews

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heroine was engaged to be married but after an accident she becomes infertile and her fiance breaks things off. Sheikh Emir lost his wife after she gave birth to twin girls. Amy becomes their nanny and she loves the girls as her own children. Emir and Amy fall in love but how can she be his queen when she is unable to give him an heir? Emir follows his heart and makes Amy his queen despite her inability to have children but they get a really sweet HEA because Amy is pregnant and they are having a baby boy. Sweet characters, very emotional book, loved the epilogue!

[Missy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A WOW! read.

So emotional and just plain heartbreaking!

A love tale full of tragedy and learning to move on. This sad tale keeps you on pins and needles hoping for that happy ending. This was a great series to read.

Poor Emir so loved his late wife that he is not able to deal with her death and thus can't bear seeing his twin daughters.....they bring back his painful reminder so it is better not to. He is in a emotional deep freeze just running the kingdom. He does love his girls and want the best for them which includes their loving nanny, Amy. He just doesn't know how to deal with all these painful emotions and guilt.

Feisty English nanny, Amy can't bear to see his heartache and his emotional detachment from his girls but how to get him to see the errors of his ways without getting booted out of the kingdom? Caring for the twins brings her both pain (a reminder of what she can't have) and joy (they are sweet kids). Trying to get the sexy father to spend time with his kids brings her closer to Emir......and of course they fall in love. But will her tragic secret doom their new found happiness? Can Amy really have it all?

This was such a well written heartbreaking love story and so worth the tears to read. What a gem!

[Fanniny Moreno Zavaleta]

DNF

It's me not you. Sorry.
I'm sure it's a really good story about healing and the lot but I can't.
I'm not fan of MCs that were married before unless I can hate the ex...
But as far as I could read this dead ex was heroine material but was cheated by CM.
Plus I'm not comfortable the story takes place so soon after the H's wife dies, and his might or might not have noticed the heroine while his wife was alive. I'm not saying he was inappropriate or anything, I just don't like the situation.

[Mou: Fae of Heartfelt ARC · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars.

I liked Amy. She is strong. But I can't say same about Emir. But I adored his twins.
It was ok but I have lots of issues about the traditions the authors try to show.

[Lynn Raye Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was sampled at the end of the last book I read by Carol Marinelli. And after reading the sample, I had to buy it! Again, biased reader here, but I loved it. I don't say that about all the Presents I read. This one was so emotional and tragic! My only complaint is that I wished it was longer and we got more of the characters' falling in love with each other. Still, I loved it! Carol is so talented.

[Grisette · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Whenever I pick Harlequin books, I know that only select authors' styles will suit me (with no guarantee that the story will be good) e.g. Lynne Graham, Sara Craven, Julia James, Michelle Reid etc, while I also know that other authors' styles have never been able to satisfy me. CM falls in the second category. I have sampled many of her books before, but no, it was no go.

Now, this book it was different. The writing style is still lacking for me, but I liked the storyline: a sheikh torn between his duty to his country and his happiness. I loved that Emir was a noble hero instead of the usual HP playboy with an asshole persona. Sure he was cold at times, arrogant (a king!) and forbidding but he had good reasons for that. I was less enchanted with the heroine, Amy - a bit too sappy and cringey.

But all in all, the original plot remained the strong point of this book.

[Tia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't find this novel too exciting. In fact I found it heartbreaking at the best points. I think because in my mind the way the King treated his twins was child abuse to me. Whether or not he had issues because his first wife died shouldn't matter, he shouldn't of been ignoring his children and not properly caring about their well being. I didn't really like this novel.

[lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

this heroine cries alot 😥

[Dalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strong sheikh book about the everlasting struggle between love and traditions, between the king's decisions and the ways of old. All enveloped in a heart wrenchingly sadness after the death of the queen giving birth to twin girls, the detachment of the king and the feistiness of the english nanny who loves the girls as her own children, the children she can never have. And according to traditions, that makes her the most unsuitable queen. Now it's up to the king to break with tradition and to follow his heart.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favourite “Sheikh” romances. I really loved the main female character. Her strength, her grace as well as her no nonsense attitude towards her boss, who she felt was doing a disservice to his children and even though he is a king, she does not hold back her thoughts or opinions.

The children in the book were adorable.

Reading books about different cultures is always interesting and I always finish the books thinking I would not do well having to be subservient to others thought to be my “betters”.

All in all this is a good edition to your library, to escape for a little while. A future reread for sure!

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick Summary: An impossible and unstoppable love

My Review: Beholden to the Throne was a beautiful story about a king and a nanny who fall in love. Their romance was a slow build, as the situation associated with their connection came with a heartbreaking loss. Once they admitted to and surrendered to the love and passion they had for one another, an inevitable joining came into being. From the moment they chose to be united, a new destiny unfolded.

Rating: 3.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A

#Goodreadsrecommendation

[Jazzysmum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable.

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

I truly enjoyed this book! Both Amy and Emir are very likable characters. I loved Amy and the twin's connection. And my heart broke for Emir and his twins. This book was so heartbreakingly good! Ms. Carol Marinelli has a beautiful way with words and storytelling to make me feel all the things these characters were going through as if I were with them and experiencing the same thing.

Overall, Beholden to the Throne was an enjoyable romance loaded with sweet, tender, sexy, and plenty of angst.

[MBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is something quietly deceptive about Beholden to the Throne—a blurb that almost undersells or rather cheapens the depth of what unfolds, reducing it to something far more superficial than it actually is. But once you step into Carol Marinelli’s writing, it becomes immediately clear that this is not just another desert romance. It is layered, poetic, and emotionally charged in a way that lingers long after you have turned the final page. And perhaps fittingly, the dedication itself sets the tone—“For Penny Jordan, who made me fall in love with sheikhs. Rest in peace, Penny. Loved, missed and always remembered.” —a tribute that I resonate with, Penny Jordan being one of my favorite authors, who was taken from this world all too soon.

At its heart, the story follows Sheikh King Emir and Amy, a nanny who enters his world not as a romantic prospect, but as a caretaker to his twin daughters right before his wife Hannah was to give birth. What begins as a simple professional relationship quickly evolves into something far more complex—an awareness that simmers quietly before erupting into something intense, consuming, and impossible to ignore. Set against the backdrop of a kingdom bound by tradition and expectation, their story unfolds with a steady build of tension, emotion, and inevitability.

Emir is not your typical sheikh hero. Yes, he carries the commanding presence and authority expected of a king, but beneath that is a man weighed down by grief, responsibility, and impossible choices. A widower still reeling from the loss of his wife, a father struggling to connect with his daughters and at a loss on how to do right by them, and a ruler bound by rules that demand a male heir—his character is defined as much by his constraints as by his power. Amy, in contrast, is quietly strong. She is nurturing, outspoken when it matters, and shaped by her own past, a devastating accident that has left her unable to have children. There is a vulnerability to her, but also a resilience that makes her impossible to overlook.

What truly drives the story is the tension between duty and desire. Emir’s obligation to secure his kingdom’s future stands in direct opposition to what he begins to feel for Amy. The requirement for a male heir is not just a personal burden, but a political one, failure which would mean losing everything to a rival kingdom. And Amy, knowing she cannot give him what he needs, becomes both the one thing he wants and the one thing he cannot have. It is this push and pull, this constant battle between what is and what could be, that gives the story its edge.

One of the standout aspects of this book is Marinelli’s writing itself. There is a poetic quality to the way emotions are conveyed—she does not rely on explicitness to create intensity, but rather allows the emotional weight of each moment to do the work. The angst is palpable, the chemistry undeniable, and the emotional beats hit in a way that feels both raw and immersive. I also appreciated how the story integrates cultural and religious elements with a level of authenticity that is often missing in this trope. The inclusion of faith, of prayer, of the nikah, and the acknowledgment of how such societies function added a layer of realism that made the story feel more grounded.

That said, there were moments where the pacing felt slightly rushed towards the end, particularly with the resolution of certain conflicts. Given how deeply the story invests in its emotional buildup, I would have loved just a little more time to sit with the aftermath of those decisions. But even then, it does not take away from the overall impact of the story.

Recommended for: Readers who love emotionally intense sheikh romances with high stakes, deep angst, and writing that leans more poetic than overtly dramatic—especially those who appreciate stories where duty and love are constantly at odds.

Final Verdict: Beautiful, angsty, and emotionally gripping—Beholden to the Throne delivers a romance that is as intense as it is heartfelt, proving that sometimes the most powerful stories are the ones that dare to go deeper.

Rating = 4.75/5

For more reviews and quotes, please visit A Maldivian's Passion for Romance

[Andrea Lujano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Protagonistas: Amy & Emir

Profesiones: Niñera & Jeque

Paises: País Inventado & Londres

[Yazmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beholden To The Throne by Carol Marinelli is a beautiful romance story about tradition versus love.

Amy Bannester was hired by the Queen Hanna as a nanny for the twin princesses before they were to be born. She was to help raise the girls not to raise them herself. But after the Queen’s death shortly after the birth of Clemira and Nakia, Amy has been the only parental figure they see. Now she must find a way to make Sheik Emir see the error of his ways.

Sheik Emir has a lot to deal with. His children’s first birthday is approaching and that means they have to go with the Bedouins into the desert.Read More...

[HÜLYA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bu ayki High Life serisinden çıkmış olan Arzu kıvılcımını çok severek okudum.Çok duygusal hikaye idi.Eşini yeni kaybetmiş çaresiz bir babanın dramı üstelik br an önce evlenip erkek varis edinmesi gerekiyordu..Emir'in tüm sorunu bu değildi tabii ki..

Geçirdiği kazadan sonra bir daha çocuk sahibi olamayacak genç ve güzel bir kadının hikayesi vardı..Emir'in bir yaşındaki ikizlerinin dadılığını yapıyordu.Onları öz çocukları gibi seviyordu ..Emir'in çocukları ile ilgilenmediği fazla geleneksel davrandığı fikrinde idi..

İşte o yüzden işten kovalanmayı göze alarak onunla konuşur..Fakat bu konuşmadan aralarında oluşan ani çekim işin içinde değildi..Amy'ye göre aralarındaki birden başlayan ilişkinin geleceği olmayacaktı..
Severek okudum..Şeyhli hikayeleri pek sevmediğim halde...

[Caro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good read. A good ending and good characters. Although this book had a lot of anguish and some back-and-forthing it was pretty good. There was a little humor, some smiles, plenty of emotions and tough choices, and ok characters. The characters seemed strong but not really full of action until the end. I don't think I would read this again but it was ok/good to read and a great ending and future for the lands.

[Gege86 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an okay novel, at least it was better than the one before in the series, and in some parts; it was believable.
It was a little fast, and I felt somethings need a better explanations. But still better than Banished to the harem, which was totally awful.

[Kellcifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars.

Not a bad story, but the romance developed pretty quickly. One second they are avoiding one another & not really talking, the next they are in love. Meh.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The whole kingdom issues are incredibly flimsy and seemed contrived to push the plot, which is annoying and little else in the story make up for those flaws.

[Purity Wangari · Rating 5 out of 5]

lam so in love with the book

[Mudpie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The angst comes from Emir's heartbreak over losing his beloved wife almost a year ago, being powerless and subjected to the traditions of his ancient country, duty to the people, promises to first his father, then his dead wife, loving Amy but seemingly unable to marry her...Amy's supposed infertility and thus inability to marry Emir added to the anguish. The poor motherless twins being deemed less worthy because they were girls and couldn't rule by law added to the whole mess.

It took a wise and brave Emir to come to his decision.

I am glad things turned out well for both countries, and who knows the prediction might come true,but in mysterious ways nobody expected. Clemira + Tariq = Alzanirz again?

Some people found it tricky for a hero to have had a dead wife in the story; as in if the first wife had not died he'd be in HEA with her so our heroine was second best. But based on little things said, it seemed love had come after marriage for Emir and Hannah. She was a chosen bride. Whereas Emir had fallen in love with Amy and chose to go against tradition to marry her. If that's not true love I don't know what is.

It sucks that a lovely woman like Hannah had to die, but .i think overall it worked out well. It was made pretty clear that Emir and Amy were platonic when Hannah was still alive, otherwise it'd have been really icky! As it was, Emir felt guilty he'd started an affair with Amy before Hannah had been dead a year. I cannot imagine his grief and the tremendous amount of pressure he'd been under.

Rakhal. I thought in his book he had decided not to be cruel and did not send the pink sapphires as baby gifts. But her we learnt that he'd had them delivered to Emir on the morning sheikha Queen Hannah had died. How much more cruel could it get? Not that Rakhal could predict her death, but he had to know Hannah waas in bad shape and this taunting gift should never have been given. I was so happy to see Emir flinging them back to Rakhal!

[Read With Chey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay this started out good and I was really into it and then it suddenly got very strange. It started out as a kind of enemies to lovers thing but then the writing just fell apart. It's like it just devolved. Amy cries TOO much, Emir suddenly didn't make any sense. The sex scenes weren't really that great. And the writing was confusing as all hell. 2 Stars simply because I liked the beginning, thought the ending was sweet, and because it was a fun short read.

[Nadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this story a lot although it was pretty obvious what the finale would be when heroine toldabout her inability to have children. Nevertheless it's a good story even though men are pretty much straight from cave nevermind their helicopters, jets and other modern toys. I'm glad they sort things out between themselves.

[Constanza Hernández · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8

[Calysta · Rating 2 out of 5]

The ending was just a little too perfect, but it was otherwise enjoyable.

[Νίνα Δοδούδη · Rating 3 out of 5]

Στη σκιά του θρόνου - Carol Marinelli , Χρυσά, 1636

[Destiny Philips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and Daring

[Kiran Mascarenhas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Florid writing, the obstacles were not psychological, and the Sultan was kind of a dick.