The Desert King's Secret Heir

Secret Heirs of Billionaires #5

by Annie West

The child she hid…

Surrounded by society’s glitterati, Arden Wills finds herself staring up into the eyes of her first and only love. But Sheikh Idris Baddour has a surprise title and heavy responsibilities…so she clings to her precious secret even tighter.

Time has done nothing to dampen the intense ardor between them. And when their kiss is blasted across the world’s front pages, Arden’s truth comes to light—the sheikh has a secret son! To avoid further scandal, Idris must legitimize his heir and make English rose Arden his dutiful desert queen!

Genres: Harlequin Presents, Harlequin, Romance, Marriage Of Convenience, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Fiction

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 2016

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Hello! I love writing passionate, intense love stories about sexy alpha men and the women who are their perfect match. Look out for my books with Harlequin (Presents) or Mills & Boon (Modern/Sexy) and for my indie stories, full of passion and intense emotion with a touch of glamour. My latest stories are my Hot Italian Nights series including 'Bound to the Italian Boss' June '17, 'The Italian's Bold Reckoning' July '17, 'At the Italian's Bidding' August '17 and 'Falling for the Brooding Italian' September '17.
Yes, I do like a dark, handsome hero!

You can catch up with my news at www.annie-west.com (where you can also sign up for my exclusive reader newsletter with giveaways and behind the scenes info). I'm on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/anniewest.au... and I adore hearing from readers. You can also contact me at annie(at)annie-west(dot)com

I live with my family at beautiful Lake Macquarie on the east Coast of Australia and my favourite things when not writing are good food, good company, great books, getting outside in nature and travel.

Bookwise, I'm a multi USA Today bestselling author with millions of books sold, in English as well as in lots of other languages. I've won the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award and the Romantic Book of the Year (Romance Writers of Australia). One of my favourite review quotes is from Romantic Times which said in its review of The Sheikh's Ransomed Bride 'This is what a love story could be.'.

Reviews

[Esther · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay read. Average story line.
Young love. Hero is a prince but never revealed it to the heroine. Hero has family emergency (death in the family and he is now King of his country) and so never showed up at the meeting place the lovers had scheduled. Heroine is pregnant and because the hero didn't give her his full identity she could never find him to let him know of the baby. Year go by and they have a chance meeting and of course he learns of the baby and decides they will marry. Heroine is hurt and bitter. Hero is closed off but still attracted. Their relationship starts off as sex and progresses into somewhat of a marriage. I found their romance to be somewhat shallow and uninspiring. The heroine was to stuck in the past and the hero I found to be off putting as he never tried to find her. The ending was abrupt and disappointed no epilogue.

[Vashti · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
I had a few issues with this story.First being the heroine,she dwelled too much on her abandonment issues with practically everyone who had a major part of her life including the hero who also left her 4 years prior.Unknown to either of them,she was pregnant at the time with their son.It for me,took over the entire story and she was one bag of insecurity over everything once she became Sheikha to her Sheikh and his country.It was not till almost the end that I felt any sympathy for her.Next comes the hero,if he had wanted to continue any sorts of relationship with the heroine,he should have made an attempt after he became ruler of country to make some kind of attempt to try and find her after he had his country in some sort of stable condition.He did though once he found her again make every attempt to get her to be his again along with his now 3 year old son who I felt "owned"him.It took a long time for them to finally admit to their feelings,the hero more so.
I did ultimately enjoy this story ,the spicy moments,and looking forward to reading the story of the almost fiancee of the Sheikh,Ghislan.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent love story, it kept me engaged. I thought the heroine was too bitter though. I couldn't stand her. Also I needed a cute epilogue, the ending was too abrupt. So 3 stars for the sexy hero and the cute toddler.

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

Another great read from Ms. Annie West. And like I've said before in my review of The Desert King's Pregnant Bride, Annie West was an excellent writer. She's very good at taking a very familiar storyline/plot and then fleshing them out emotionally. This book was no exception! I enjoyed it, really. So why 3 stars? For about 90% of this book, I was sure that this would be 4 stars. Unfortunately, the heroine, Arden, ruined it for me with her immature way of dealing with the problem. Plus, the fact that it had a rather rushed ending and no epilogue. But overall, The Desert King's Secret Heir was such an enjoyable read about second chances.

[AvidReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been a HP marathon reading two weeks! I dont know why but I’m compelled to write a review for this one. Annie west is one of my favorite HP author and as usual this was an enjoyable read. There was so many memorable scenes in this book for me.

Our protagonist meet 4 years back have a week long affair and circumstances lead them to separate and unknown to them heroine Arden was pregnant at that time. They meet again accidentally and story proceeds from there.
I loved Arden. She was strong and likable character. She was orphaned, young and naive when she first met Idris and so hopelessly in love with him so in my opinion you cant call out on her bitterness at present. Come on ..she brought up her son alone for 3 years all the while with no financial or mental support from anyone. In my opinion that need strength.i could feel her loneliness and hurt about her past.
Idris mean while wasn’t completely mean or jerk hero. Once they got married I was warmed with the way he understood Arden and supported her. I also liked his interaction with his son. The background and cultural portrait was stunning along with character development. But for me the most stunning scene was ,Idris’s love confession and realization. The problem I had with this book was even though he sort out her immediately after their second meeting he didn’t search for her in 4 years! And also it wasn’t clear (at least for me ) if he was faithful to her event hough there was some hints he wasn’t. Which is the reason for 4stars. And also no epilogue but I read Ghizlan’s story first so if I’m not mistaken there was a epilogue with this H/h.have to go back and read that now.

[Debbie DiFiore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Double Standards. Spoilers below

I just hate books with separations for many reasons and this one of course also has a secret baby to boot. They have been apart four years and they meet up at a reception at his embassy. the H is pretty much engaged to a princess but he sees the h and he remembers her out of all the women he's done. And then he is extremely jealous and we are privy to his thoughts and anguish over her sex life over the past four years. Which by the way was zilch. He took her virginity and then she got pregnant and worked hard to make ends meet so basically there is no time. During his thoughts we learn he didn't want to be a ho like his dad and he kept himself busy with work and,trying show his country he was a better man. So I was hoping he was jealous because he hadn't been with another woman either. Oh how wrong I was. Because all of a sudden he is thinking about his other lovers while with the h. How they liked his gifts how they would be clingy etc no sexing comparison but it just turned me off. And at the end he promises he will be faithful because he always loved her even before they separated. They had only been together one week before the separation so I knew that he wasn't going to avoid the ladies. But his thoughts in the book led me to believe he did. Then at the end he says he's wanted no one but her since he saw her again. And that just did it. He was jealous over supposed love connections while apart but he can have them. I really hate c storylines like this so just ignore this rant. It wasn't a bad book but I just hate double standards and I don't want the H to ever want a woman but the h while apart. Stupid I know so don't judge me. I still gave it four stupid stars!

[Rgreader · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Desert King's Secret Heir plot intrigued me unfortunately reading the story left me underwhelmed.

The problems-

Bland storytelling
Bland romance
Bland chemistry between the hero and heroine
Bland hero

Last.
Annoying heroine. Why? Because she spent most of the book hostile to the hero instead of realizing a holiday fling rarely lasts; she didn't use birth control so having sex while on vacation without it was stupid on her part. It was annoying for half the book she took no personal responsibility.

Dnf'd at the half point. The heroine irrationality towards the hero, lack of intimacy with the hero & general coldness left me uncaring about her hea.

[Melody Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book and I liked it well enough to recommend it to other readers, however, it will not go on my re-read list.

When Arden Wills was twenty she went on vacation and met a man (Shakil) who was her dream come true. She fell in love with him and thought he felt the same until he didn't show up at the rendezvous point where they were going to leave together. She was crushed, her heart shattered and she felt so used and disposable. It was likely something that she would never completely recover from. Several weeks after his departure she discovered she was pregnant and tried to contact him repeatedly but no one would help her try and reach him through the embassy. The only name she had was Shakil, which was a childhood nickname he used when away from his family to give him more privacy.

Between the time Sheikh Idris Baddour (aka Shakil) left Arden to gather his things to leave and meeting her in the designated area he received a phone call saying that his uncle, the present Sheikh, was dying. He left without meeting her, without a word of explanation and went home to accept his duties and responsibilities. The man had just asked her to spend more time with him and then poof!!

Four years had passed when Arden accompanied her landlord to a party in England and was introduced to his cousin...the Sheikh. To say they were both shocked is putting it mildly.

What bothered me: They spent those four years apart and he thought of her often but not one single time did he try to contact her to see how she was doing, to make sure she was okay after their affair, to make sure their were no consequences. That was very troubling to me to let all that time pass and not talk to her or at least tell her why he left so she wouldn't blame herself.

I do recommend it.

[Emona · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sheikh Idris Baddour is a dedicated ruler of Zahrat.
At the London embassy, fate decides he see his lover.

Four years ago, Arden Wills had a brief affair with a man known only to her as Shakil, who never turned up at a rendezvous point.
Her landlord, Hamid, a Zahrat émigré, who is Idris’ cousin too, invites her for a party at the Embassy in London.
But the Shakil-secret is out, when Arden meets Idris face to face.

Idris could not stop himself from letting go of her, and so, the next day when he turns up at Arden’s doorstep, her secret is plastered all over the paper and becomes the talk of the town - Dawud - their son!
Being a sheikh, he is filled with a sense of duty and honour, and decides it's best they're married, to prevent any more scandal or put their son in danger.
Arden agrees, and is soon ensconced in her role as Sheikha.
She’s determined to guard her heart from Idris, having been made a fool of once, and knowing that it’s only because of their son that Idris has married her.
But as they grow closer, will they be willing to admit that there is more than their desire to make a family for their son that draws them together?

Turns out, Idris never really meant to leave her, but duty as sheikh bound him to his country first.

There were sensual scenes filled with great chemistry and passion between the characters amidst exotic locations.
Unfortunately, Arden was too bitter, and made the story fall behind in quite a few ways.
Idris, on the other hand, though more of the beta-H, was confident, smart and very kind.
Little Dawud can steal your heart with his cute blabbering.

[Maria Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annie West sweeps us into another desert kingdom and the sultry romance between Sheikh Idris Baddour and the woman who captured his heart but whom fate decreed he couldn’t have. When a chance meeting at a party at the Zahrat embassy in London brings him face to face with her again, he cannot stop himself from seeking her out the next day – and discovering that he has a son.

Four years earlier, Arden Wills had a brief holiday affair with a handsome foreigner, the week they spent together ending too soon. When he never showed up at their rendez-vous point, her heart broke but she was left with a reminder of him when she discovered she was pregnant. Making every effort to find him, she soon realized that he’d given her a false name and didn’t believe she’d see him again. Alone without any family, she’s been the single mother to her son, working long hours and scraping by. Her landlord, a Zahrat emigre (who happens to be Idris’s cousin) invites her to the party at the embassy and she can’t resist going, not expecting to see her one time lover, but wanting to remember a bit of him and his culture. Her shock over discovering that the man she knew as Shakil is really the ruler of this Arab nation is compounded by discovering that he’s practically engaged to a royal from a neighbouring country, an alliance needed for both countries. But when Idris’s daytime visit to her is captured by the paparazzi, the fallout could be disastrous unless Arden agrees to marry him and move her and their son back to Zahrat. It’s the only way he can protect her from the press, and deal with the scandal of the broken alliance. It’s also apparent that he wants the chance to be a father to his son. Arden agrees, and is soon ensconced in her role as Sheikha. She’s determined to guard her heart from Idris, having been made a fool of once, and knowing that it’s only because of their son that Idris has married her. But as they grow closer, will they be willing to admit that there is more than their desire to make a family for their son that draws them together?

I really enjoyed this story! From the start Idris comes across as a dedicated ruler, a confident and steadfast man whose duty to his country is first and foremost in his heart. When he first met Arden he’d been delighted to find that she had no idea who he was, a far cry from the women after him only for his wealth and position. The nights they spent together were ones he treasured, until he got the call of his uncle’s death and had to return suddenly to Zahrat to assume the throne. While he’d sent a messenger to their rendez-vous point, she hadn’t shown up and so he’d gone on with his life leaving her a memory, but one he’d never forgotten. Seeing her again brings up the old passions and the loss of control over his emotions is something he has difficulty accepting. But when Arden agrees to marry him and move with him to Zahrat, it’s a chance for him to introduce her to those passions again, resulting in some steamy scenes between them even as he hopes it can become something more.

In truth, Arden had shown up at the rendez-vous with Idris late only to discover no one there, and believed he’d abandoned her. Later, when she’d found out she was pregnant, her own fragile family circumstances had instilled in her a desire to have her son know a little about his father even if he never got to meet him. As such, she’d researched Zahrat customs, named her son Dawud, and learned a bit of Arabic so that she’d be able to share some of these things with her son when he was older. These decisions mean a lot to Idris, and he admires her strength and fortitude in raising their son. He’s determined to do his part now that he has the chance and there are some sweet scenes between him and Dawud that clearly show his love for his son. Arden worries though about what will happen when he tires of her and pushes her aside for a new lover. Idris must convince her that he wants their marriage to be real in every sense.

The setting is well described, from the opulent palace to the gowns and jewelry that Arden wears to royal events, to the customs and culture of Zahrat. It’s a country that is working to become more in line with modern ways of thinking for education and women’s rights and Arden quickly becomes beloved by the citizens for her efforts to engage with them. I enjoyed all these details and they are an added bonus to the sexy romance as Idris and Arden take the embers of their initial affair and let them flare into a loving and committed partnership. 4.5 stars!

This review appears as a blog post at Harlequin Junkie: http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-the...

A copy of this story was provided by the publisher for review.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know I am always eagerly awaiting another Annie West story to be released and always ensure I have the time to sit with it and savour every word and this one is a beauty I mean Sheikh say no more and MS West well she brings the characters and setting to life and brings the joy of romance to her readers.

Arden Wills has led a pretty lonely life orphaned as a child living in foster homes and has learnt to always make decisions for herself and when on a holiday when only twenty in Santorini she meets and falls in love with Shakil the most wonderful and loving man she has ever met but as seems to be the way with Arden she has loved and lost again but this time she is left with consequences. After searching Shakil and not finding him she carries on with her life in London working hard but never forgets Shakil.

Sheikh Idris Baddour is loyal strong and does everything he can to run his country justly and with honesty having come to be Sheikh suddenly and while having a break on Santorini under and assumed name. This is where he meets the most beautiful English woman Arden a passionate affair ends when he has to return home without Arden but he never forgets her, even as he is planning a wedding to neighbouring countries princess for the better of the country, but when he meets Arden at a dinner in London well the sparks fly and there are secrets to be unearthed and a future to settle there are things that will need to be changed.

I loved Idris he is a hero to die for such strength thoughtfulness and a sensual warmth flowing from him and Arden is such an accomplished heroine strong caring but with a vulnerability to her but these two were made for each other and with a son to care for this brings them to a marriage that is so very sensual as they both realize their love has never faulted from their first meeting and they plan to be together forever in such a beautiful setting. Thank you MS West for another fabulous story that had me smiling and cheering them on and has given me hours of reading pleasure this one is going to stay with me for a long time.

[MaryD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Straight-forward story of a wonderful week, separation, (expected) consequences, accidental reunion & more consequences.

The thing that bothers me in this one & others like it is that it's doubtful H (Idris) would have continued the relationship/ marriage if there wasn't a child.

[iamGamz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is a 3.5er

The blurb for this made it seem as though that the heroine hid her child from the hero. Not the case.

Arden met and fell in love with Shakil on a holiday to Santorini, Greece. They spent a week together, he made her feel loved and cherished, then he disappeared.

Four years later she is attending a embassy event with her friend Hamid when she is introduced to Hamid’s cousin, Sheikh Idris. The Sheikh looks just like Shakil but he couldn’t be because Shakil was a easy going student and the Sheikh was harder and intense.

Turns out, the Sheikh and Shakil are one and the same and Arden learns this when the Sheikh shows up at her door. Arden is angry because he took her virginity, made promises and abandoned her to deal with the consequences of their week together.

Idris soon learns that Arden is the mother of his child. He breaks the intended engagement with the woman he was courting and forces Arden into marriage to secure his heir. He soon learns that Arden is no longer the sweet, malleable girl he knew four years ago.

Arden tried to fight the attractions he has for Idris, and Idris tried to convince himself that he only wanted Arden for his son’s sake. They were unable to resist the sexual pull they exerted over each other and soon began forging a real relationship that neither wanted to acknowledge in order to protect themselves.

The story was enjoyable. The characters interesting but not really complex. No great surprises happen within the story, but it was sweet.

[Sofia · Rating 2 out of 5]

It feels like this story could be right off Wattpad! It's a light and enjoyable summer read, perfect for some easy fun, but don’t expect anything too deep.

[Julie (Let's Read Good Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

This book irritated me at first. Arden is a single mother, skimping to provide the best for her 3 year-old son. Her world is turned on end when she is reunited with Idris, her holiday lover and Dawud's father. Only now she learns his true identity is Idris, Sheikh of Zahrat. Discovering that he lied to her, and then abandoned her, breaks her heart all over again.

Idris is furious to learn that he has a son, and that Arden has kept him from Dawud for years. Oh, dude, you left her in Greece, after lying about your name, and not leaving her any way to contact you. Duh. I thought that Idris was a conceited jerk, and I would have thrown him out of my apartment. He seduced the young, naive Arden, never once considered that he might have gotten her pregnant after their week long affair, and then has the nerve to be upset with her for her inability to contact him? Really, I was angry with him and upset with her for not putting him promptly and firmly in his place.

Now that he knows he has an heir, and after causing a scandal of epic proportions, Idris convinces Arden to come to Zahrat and marry him. I was all set to hate this book, but found it quite pleasant, if ultimately forgettable. Idris turns out to be a decent guy, with the usual hero hangups - he'll never fall in love and be faithful because it's just not in his DNA. Never mind that DNA has nothing to do with it, and ethics and morality are all that's needed for a happy, contented marriage. He finally figures it out, but because he's too stubborn to admit his feelings, he almost loses Arden, who is fearful of Idris parading his lovers in front of her and their son (not that were any lovers).

Arden grew on me, and was very relatable. She's just your typical single mom working hard for a better life for herself and her son. When she's given the opportunity to become an honest to goodness queen, she initially turns it down. She has no experience with politics, appeasing diplomats, or high-fashion clothes, and she really doesn't want to learn. She's content with who she is and comfortable with her apartment, job, and life. When Idris convinces her that it will be best for Dawud to know the people he will eventually rule, and that he will be accepted only if they get to know him, she reluctantly agrees. Her journey from shop help to queen was engaging, as she tries not to step on any toes, or to offend anybody.

Overall, a solid weekend read, despite massive irritations at the beginning.

[Devika Fernando · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I love all romance novels I’ve read by Annie West so far, I have a favourite: all of her Sheikh romances. They made me fall in love with the sub-genre again after I had almost given up on it. And her latest is another gem that I will re-read with pleasure.

“The Desert King’s Secret Heir” begins in London of all places, and it throws the reader right into the story. One meeting brings back memories for both Arden and Idris, and with them comes pain and trouble. When a kiss leads to chaos, Arden’s secret sees daylight: Her affair with the Sheikh four years ago has left her with a son. Contrary to what might have happened, Idris claims him as his own and not only does all he can to assure that his son has a life befitting a royal, but also marries Arden and takes care of her.

Idris – those days Shakil to his lover – was captivating. Stern and serious with a will of iron and used to having his way, he still carries a softer side deep inside that endeared me to him. He sounded sexy as hell, smart and confident (but not cocky) and also surprisingly kind. This is how you write alpha males and sheikhs, as strong and independent men who have a heart and fall for women who could be their equal.

Arden (I love her name as much as his) was another great main character for me. Strong with a vulnerable edge, a single mother who wants only the best for her child, and refreshingly reluctant to conform or bend to the ways of others. She struck me as just the right match for the desert king, and I can see how her directness and determination were seen both as a flaw and redeeming feature by others.

Little Dawud stole my heart as much as his father did. While most “heir romances” deal with a pregnant woman or a small baby, a toddler who could speak a little and understand fundamental things was a welcome change. It made me smile and sniffle to see how he reacted to Idris, and vice versa. I could picture him so clearly and wanted to desperately give him and his parents a hug.

There are plenty of twists, wonderfully sensual scenes that steam up the place, strong dialogues and exotic locations. Alongside the protagonists, they drew me in and made me yearn for more. This is a must read for fans of sheikh romances.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this story swept me away on a passionate, intense and scandalously delicious journey! Annie West waves her wand and creates magic with each vividly entertaining scene after another. There is depth and tension and along with the sparring between the hero and heroine made this a compelling story. Arden Wills is feisty and her tough-as-nails personality was refreshing and the secret she carries hold weight with the man she has always loved. She finds her match in the powerful, handsome and defying desert king, Idris Baddour. A lot has changed in the four years that she and Idris last saw each other. But what will happen once the king finds out her secret? Overall, an explosive read and one I couldn’t put down!

[Geraldine Sadiku · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful well written enjoyable, passionate Sheikh romance that gives you a moment of escapism.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

For whatever reason I just couldn’t get into this book especially in the beginning. The characters weren’t compelling nor was the story. It was a slog just to get through the first hundred pages. Nothing was really exciting about it. Arden and Idris sort of had chemistry, but I have read other stories where the chemistry between the couple has been a lot better. There really wasn’t a lot of angst, tension or turmoil, or at least not enough for me. There should have been a lot more angst especially considering their backstory of their week long affair in Greece, though I guess cause that was quickly cleared up of what had actually happened and the misunderstandings behind their parting. There weren’t a lot of feels for me either. I didn’t feel the rawness or the pain that Arden suffered over the course of her life. It was told, but I didn’t feel.

And I think another reason why that I didn’t connect with the story was Idris was just too nice, not that being a nice guy is a bad thing, but it has to be done in the right way. I have noticed lately and have come to a realization that I like my heroes to have a bit of an edge to them with that typical bad boy, playboy alpha male that can be an a**hole and beyond cruel to the heroine and would have major groveling by the book’s end in order to redeem himself. It just makes the story more interesting, more intense, and a lot more entertaining. It what makes fictional romance good. And Idris really was none of those things going for him, which made the story a lot less interesting in my opinion. He just let things go with the flow. He was too easy going. There was no sexy edge to him.

I will say the book wasn’t all bad and got better once Idris and Arden got married because there was more exploration of their passion and intimacy between the two of them. It was finally where they connected and actually talking to each other about things other than their son. Their wedding night scene was pretty steamy and started in the bathtub, which added a little extra punch to them being together after four years of not having been together. This was the moment they reconnected and showed they did still have some chemistry between them that didn’t seem to ebb over the last four years. And that scene kick started the rekindling of their relationship. After that they couldn’t keep their hands off of each other and started acted like the married more than in name only.

My favorite moment of the entire book was when they were in bed together, and not because they were in the throes of the aftermath of intense lovemaking, but to actually to go to sleep, and it was there that they had their first open, intimate conversation with each other. They started to learn about one another and their pasts and what made the other tick because they really knew nothing about each other. And the one that was pushing for that intimacy was him, not Arden because he wanted to know, and he held her close because he wanted her close especially once he learned about her past and how all her love ones abandoned her and left her alone in the world. While he could feel her hurt and pain over the past, he vowed that he was there for her and wasn’t going anywhere and she would never be alone in the world again because she had him and their son. It was really beautiful, intimate moment between the two of them, and I wish they had more of them like the scene at the other palace where they had their honeymoon, but that was just glossed over and summarized, instead exploring it more like I would have like to seen it. Just there needed to be more intimate moments between them both emotional and physical.

The ending was a little rushed as well, and again way too easy. I needed to see all the tension build and build until it finally came to head at the end. There was no real groveling from Idris at the end, and his declaration was sweet and all, but I don’t if I believed it. I believed he cared for her, but not necessarily that he was in love with her at least not yet. He did make a tiny gesture to show his feelings for her, but I don’t think it was enough. The ending was unsatisfying for me.

I was highly disappointed in this one. I was expecting to like this one so much more than I did especially being an Annie West book, who I usually have really good luck with, but this one just felt rather flat to me. It took me forever to get into the book, and I even contemplating stopping and picking up another book to read because it was just boring me to tears. Didn’t care for the Idris nor Arden, and I was more interested in his jilted fiancée than the two of them combined. They didn’t mesh well in my opinion. He was too nice and not enough playboy/bad boy/alpha male four my tastes. He could have been a little bit more edgier for me. Bottom line the story wasn’t as compelling as I would have liked it to be. There were a few highlights here and there near the middle but by the end it petered out again for me. There wasn’t enough of spark there. There needed to be something more, and it just wasn’t there for me.

[Mattie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like it. The MMC left FMC and never planned to see her again and when they met again 4 years later he was mad she didn't tell him about his son. He gave her a false name and she had no idea who he was or how to contact him.
Then he was mad when he thought she was in a relationship with his cousin and slept with him (she didn't sleep with anyone other than the MMC), yet MMC slept with who knows how many woman in the 4 years and was only celibate since he started negotiations to marry another woman.

The MMC was respectful to FMC and didn't treat her horribly and even broke off his engagement once he learned he had a son. However he only broke off the engagement because she was the mother of his son, he never would have broke off the engagement for her. When the pictures came out of him kissing the FMC he was going to smooth the situation out with the other woman until he learned about his son.

He may have felt drawn to her and felt more for her than other women, but he abandoned her, slept with other woman, almost married someone else and only proposed because she had his son.

As for the FMC, I didn't like her all that much. She told him one of her conditions to marrying him was that he can have lovers but has to be discreet, she didn't demand that he not have lovers. Even when he said she can't have lovers at all she just agreed and didn't demand he abide by the same condition as her. She never told him she was upset that he might eventually have lovers (he never planned to have lovers) and preemptively left him. Everything was fine between them so her leaving made zero sense, it would have made sense if she saw him talking to a woman and then she did what she did. T.




** something that bothers me is with how many times he pulled the fake name, sleep with a woman and disappear act. How many kids could he have out there if all those women also had no idea who to contact if they fell pregnant?

[Lynn Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 STARS!

An attention grabbing read with a powerful sheikh and the one that got away!

The last person Arden Wills expects to see at a society party she's talked into attending is her one and only love! She learns he is royalty as a name she doesn't recognize.
Sheikh Idris Baddour is surprised to see Arden, and can't resist looking her up after the party. Imagine his surprise when it turns into a media frenzy that alerts him to a son he knew nothing about! To avoid further scandal and unrest in his country, he needs to marry her and legitimize his heir.

The attraction flares between them like it was only yesterday that they were lovers, but years have passed and hurt has festered. Are they only fooling themselves that they can make this work for their son?

[Helen Moulden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bugged me right from the start. The story didn't really move along smoothly. As for Idris complaining about missing out on his son it was his own fault for not telling Arden is real name. Best character was, obviously, Dawud. Once again I needed more to the ending. The cover really annoyed me. It is supposed to be a mirror reflection.............his hand on her shoulder is different (curled fingers), her arm is down, her hair is a different style and colour and her head is in a different position. ahhhhhhhhh. A rubbish cover puts me off.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Desert Kong's Secret Heir

They had an affair and he disappeared. Years later he sees her on the arm of his cousin. When he finds out that she had his child he is enraged. Why didn't she tell him? How could she find him when all she had was the name he gave her. And it wasn't even his real name? He is be married to a princess. How could she be good enough for a Sheikh?

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annie West's Harlequin Presents book, The Desert King's Secret Heir, is a fun book about a Sheikh discovering that he is a dad. It involves compromises and learning new customs. I enjoyed reading it.

[Peggy Clayton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is part of the Secret Heirs of Billionaires and was an enjoyable book. I found it to be fast reading and so interesting

[Liba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story.I just can't accept the nanny's name- Misha.I don't think this is an Arabic female name.For me, Misha is a short version of Mikhail (Michael).

[Lori Byrd · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful short book on a 1st love lost and then found in the most unexpected place. Lots of surprises in this one that I loved reading about. Very sweet book.

[Leiomesmo.eai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fofo, meio rapido...meio forçado...mas fofo

[Ryley Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pleasant read and I liked the setup and the heroine more than I thought I would. Annie West did a good job creating an enjoyable story and I look forward to future books from her.

[Calysta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Non-fetishy, I really liked the woman and the guy was pretty decent. The kid actually sounded like a kid that age too. I enjoyed the way the happy ending was found.