Johari Yasir has no interest in returning to her homeland to marry a man she's never met - at least, not without sowing some wild oats first. And when a handsome charmer offers to whisk her away in his private plane, she impulsively accepts. Rasheed Valdemon is shocked that his bride-to-be would fly off with someone she barely knows - even though he's the one doing the asking. More surprising is his hunger for this lovely, rebellious woman. Yet what will happen when she realizes she's been seduced by the man who's destined to be her husband?
In 1994, Brenda Jackson’s first novel, Tonight and Forever, was released. Since then she has had more than 100 novels and novellas published (the first African-American author to accomplish such a feat) and has over 3 million books in print.
A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Brenda is the first African-American author to have a book published by Harlequin Desire and the first African-American romance author to make the New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller lists within the series romance genre.
In 2012, Brenda received the Romance Writers of America’s Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award—one of the highest literary awards a romance author can receive. In 2013, she was recognized by the mayor and the city of Jacksonville as being a Trailblazer in the literary field.
In 2010, she collaborated with Five Alive Films to turn her Truly Everlasting title into a feature film. Brenda’s 2011 novel A Silken Thread is scheduled to be filmed with Debbie Allen attached as director in 2015.
Email Brenda at authorbrendajackson@gmail.com or visit her on her website at brendajackson.net.
Lord this was awful. Turgid writing and a minimal plot. The manic pixie masquerading as the heroine got on my nerves and the hero was barely worth his title. Dirt bag alert!
I’ve never been fond of the sheikh romances as they fetishize cultures where the authors have no understanding or background with. If that floats your boat I get it - I love romance cliches with the best of them - but this one has never worked for me. And this book didn’t work for me.
The awful trope combined with a few “gems” gave me a headache. Along with tongues with a mind of its own and enflamed rubies I kept having to put this down and breath. Too much sex and not enough time spent together by the main couple - this book is short on the romance. Not recommended.
Read as part of the 2018 Read Harder Challenge. I’m afraid this was probably wasted on me, it is not my genre at all and I don’t have a romantic bone in my body so I spent the majority of the time rolling my eyes and groaning at the exploits of Jo and her fling before submitting to her duty
I have read a number of books by Brenda Jackson that I really enjoyed. This was not one of them.
For one thing, it felt VERY dated. The story was boring. 2. Jo's s friend Cel was by her side and then suddenly went off on a cruise. At least Cel's interactions sparked some interest. 3. Jo spent two years attending Harvard and she was still that naive?
After she had been deceived by a man 15 years her senior, it only took a few well placed words to mend fences? I don't think I would have minded the resolution of she had felt some righteous indignation and anger for more than a few paragraphs. All the exploring each other's mouths and tongue twisting got to be a bit much for me.
I would have been happy with more of a detailed storyline with information about her brother (from Delaney 's Desert Sheikh), her mother and father, her homeland, or even her college experience.
There were other things I found irritating, but I would have to do spoiler alerts. Also, this is just one woman's opinion. As I have said before, I have read and re-read a number of this author's books and thoroughly enjoyed them. Not This one.
I would recommend that you read this book and judge for yourself.
Some parts were sweet but I could not stand that for majority of the book the hero planned to have lots of mistresses. I hated how he often thought of other women and every page he was comparing her to other women he had been with. Heroine was rebellious and I liked that but was really disappointed that she would accept her husband having mistresses (she didn't like it but she was planning on staying with him regardless). P.
Johari escapes her bodyguard to have fun before her marriage to Rasheed. Her marriage has been arranged by their grandfathers to bring about an alliance between their two countries. She thinks she’s on an adventure with “Monty.” Monty is actually Rasheed. Story: 4/5 stars Heat level: 4/5 stars POV: third person Heroine: Johari Yasir Hero: Sheikh Rasheed Valdemon Secondary characters: Jamal Yasir, Johari’s brother Celine Humphrey, Johari’s friend Ishaq, Rasheed’s valet and bodyguard Fatimah, Johari’s mother King Ari Yasir, Johari’s father
I enjoyed this book. It kept me reading and waiting for the secret to come out that Johari was having an affair with the man she is suppose to be marrying. Monty started out planning to get back at Johari for defying her parents and not going home to plan their wedding. She asked him to show her how to seduce her husband to be and he agreed not knowing that the lesson would catch him off guard and cause him to fall in love with her so deeply he would be willing to give up his mistresses and the playboy life. A very steamy story.
Rasheed (Monty) and Johari’s love fairy tale is just that. A whirlwind of a romance from romantic getaways to paradise. I am thrilled the Madrises and Westmorelands have a reason to come together. I continue to be an avid fan of Ms. Jackson. Thank you for another one.
This book started out with me not liking it.i didn't like Monty's character at first. He wasn't the same Shiek that loved his people, but more like the man that had kidnapped Corinthians ( Fire and Desire) But as I read, he was more like Jamal(Delaney's Desert Sheikh) In the end love won!
Monty and Johari chemistry jumps off the page from the first time they meet. This story was so good. I highly recommend this book. Kudos to Brenda Jackson for re-releasing this book as a stand alone.
Another great story. I loves how Johari was defiant throughout the story. It had me guessing how things would end up. Great read. Thamnk you Mrs. Jackzson for another wonderful story.
Not surprising this was just as great as all her other books 📚I have read. This Madaris series is one of my favorites. You get the suspense, drama, Chase and love in all her books . Thanks Mrs Jackson for another great read. Looking forward to my next one. Loved it!
It could have been better. I really enjoy her books but felt like this was a little slower to interest me. Also, it just felt like something that wouldn’t happen. I get it’s fiction but it felt like a dream type of fiction (as opposed to her other books). I still enjoyed it though.
Stubbornness, willfulness, independence, romance, and nightlife in the best city in the world captured my interest and kept me reading through to the epilogue. What a great romantic tale . Well done!
This book was really good. Jo and Monty had instant chemistry. He thought he was going to teach her a lesson but they ended up falling for each other. Really enjoyed this love story.
Maced in the face at 27% This guy is the worst. Like a whole drill team of red flags. I want to buy this heroine a rape whistle and self-defence course.