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Η Τελευταία Περιπέτεια του Σεΐχη - ΧΡΥΣΑ ΑΡΛΕΚΙΝ SPECIAL #337
Όταν ο σεΐχης Σαρίφ της προσφέρει ένα αστρονομικό ποσό για να γίνει συνοδός της αδελφής του, η Αϊρίν ούτε που σκέφτεται να αρνηθεί τη θέση –επιτέλους, θα καταφέρει να εξασφαλίσει οικονομικά την οικογένειά της. Επειδή όμως ξέρει πόσες ραγισμένες καρδιές αφήνουν πίσω τους οι σαγηνευτικοί πλεϊμπόι σαν τον Σαρίφ, ορκίζεται πως δε θα υποκύψει στην ερωτική πολιορκία του…
Ο Σαρίφ διαπρέπει σε ό,τι κι αν κάνει –μεταξύ άλλων και στην κρεβατοκάμαρα! Ο αρραβώνας του δεν έχει ανακοινωθεί ακόμη επίσημα και μέχρι τότε σκοπεύει να απολαύσει την ελευθερία του. Και η γοητευτική Αϊρίν είναι ιδανική για μια τελευταία περιπέτεια.
Όμως κάποιες φορές, ακόμα και τα σχέδια ενός σεΐχη μπορεί να πάνε στραβά…
Ο Σαρίφ διαπρέπει σε ό,τι κι αν κάνει –μεταξύ άλλων και στην κρεβατοκάμαρα! Ο αρραβώνας του δεν έχει ανακοινωθεί ακόμη επίσημα και μέχρι τότε σκοπεύει να απολαύσει την ελευθερία του. Και η γοητευτική Αϊρίν είναι ιδανική για μια τελευταία περιπέτεια.
Όμως κάποιες φορές, ακόμα και τα σχέδια ενός σεΐχη μπορεί να πάνε στραβά…
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
37 people are currently reading
232 people want to read
About the author
Jennie Lucas
554 books331 followersJennie Lucas had a tragic beginning for any would-be writer: a very happy childhood. Her parents owned a bookstore, and she grew up surrounded by books, dreaming about faraway lands. Her mother read aloud to her in French when she was little; when she was ten, her father secretly paid her a dollar for every classic novel (Jane Eyre, War and Peace) that she read. As a chubby teenager, Jennie covered her bedroom with travel posters and always had her nose in a book.
At fifteen, she went to a Connecticut boarding school on scholarship. She took her first solo trip to Europe at sixteen, then put off college and traveled around the U.S., supporting herself with jobs as diverse as gas station cashier and newspaper advertising assistant.
At 22, she met the man who would be her husband. For the first time in her life, she wanted to stay in one place, as long as she could be with him. After their marriage, she graduated from Kent State University with a degree in English, and started writing books a year later.
Jennie was a finalist in the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart contest in 2003 and won the award in 2005. A fellow 2003 finalist, Australian author Trish Morey, read Jennie’s writing and told her that she should write for Harlequin Presents. It seemed like too big a dream, but Jennie took a deep breath and went for it. A year later, after seven years of writing and eight finished manuscripts, Jennie got the magical call from London that turned her into a published author.
Since then, life has been hectic, juggling a writing career, a sexy husband and two young children, but Jennie loves her crazy, chaotic life. Who needs a clean house? Every day, Jennie gets swept into drama, glamour and passion. Now if she can only figure out how to pack up her family and live in all the places she’s writing about!
At fifteen, she went to a Connecticut boarding school on scholarship. She took her first solo trip to Europe at sixteen, then put off college and traveled around the U.S., supporting herself with jobs as diverse as gas station cashier and newspaper advertising assistant.
At 22, she met the man who would be her husband. For the first time in her life, she wanted to stay in one place, as long as she could be with him. After their marriage, she graduated from Kent State University with a degree in English, and started writing books a year later.
Jennie was a finalist in the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart contest in 2003 and won the award in 2005. A fellow 2003 finalist, Australian author Trish Morey, read Jennie’s writing and told her that she should write for Harlequin Presents. It seemed like too big a dream, but Jennie took a deep breath and went for it. A year later, after seven years of writing and eight finished manuscripts, Jennie got the magical call from London that turned her into a published author.
Since then, life has been hectic, juggling a writing career, a sexy husband and two young children, but Jennie loves her crazy, chaotic life. Who needs a clean house? Every day, Jennie gets swept into drama, glamour and passion. Now if she can only figure out how to pack up her family and live in all the places she’s writing about!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
February 2, 2014
Disappointing book from my favorite author. The fact that hero and heroine never consummated their love left a bad taste in my mouth. I really wanted to read about their first time together and I felt like Jennie Lucas robbed me of this joy. I don't expect graphic sex scenes from my Harlequin Presents but a sweet love scene would be much appreciated. Also heroine was a bit too judgmental. But if you like smitten dreamy super good and kind heroes you will LOVE this book.
March 18, 2014
Such a disappointment from one of my favorite M&B authors.
Sharif, who is the emir of some little country in the desert, sees Irene, who is a nanny of sorts, at a wedding they are both attending in Italy somewhere. He’s having his last fling before he marries someone suitable and she’s looking for the man who will love her forever…ooh, aren’t we all!!!!
She plays hard to get…of course she does…she’s a virgin waiting for the perfect man and the gorgeous sheikh’s offers her a job as a companion to his sister in his palace….and before we know it….Irene is whisked off to wonderland to stay in his fab palace
…oops, sorry that was the palace then, when Sharif took over as Emir at 15…yes 15 YEARS OLD….and built the palace from ashes to this
So, here is Irene , living the life of luxury,
earning megabucks for a 3 month job, totally in love with Sharif, who loves her too…..but he just can’t do it with her…because he respects her and he has to marry some shrew for political reasons!!! What a sad thing………how could he ever agree to marry some like 
even for political gain??????
The guy must be mad….his subjects, including all the palace workers LOVE LOVE Irene…yes, she’s a real great gal….strong minded, caring, loving and wait….she loves his subjects such as much as they do.
This is like one of those old-fashioned love stories….if you want heat…forget it…there ain’t any…..One of the reviewers mentioned something about it being a bit like reading a Barbara Cartland book…remember those???? Yes, I thought that too!!!!
But don’t despair….you all know that this is a HEA for the h/h…so I guess I am not giving away any spoilers when I tell you that Sharif & Irene finally “do get it together” in all ways…wink wink…u know what I mean……….so, the girl from the wrong tracks in that small town in USA, that are often called “white trash”, meets her prince and lives happily ever after…and oh yes, she has such a kind and loving heart….she gets her trashy Mom and sister sorted out in such a nice way…..Irene is one of those heroine’s that has her heart in the right place and deserved everything she got with her prince!!!
Sharif, who is the emir of some little country in the desert, sees Irene, who is a nanny of sorts, at a wedding they are both attending in Italy somewhere. He’s having his last fling before he marries someone suitable and she’s looking for the man who will love her forever…ooh, aren’t we all!!!!
She plays hard to get…of course she does…she’s a virgin waiting for the perfect man and the gorgeous sheikh’s offers her a job as a companion to his sister in his palace….and before we know it….Irene is whisked off to wonderland to stay in his fab palace
…oops, sorry that was the palace then, when Sharif took over as Emir at 15…yes 15 YEARS OLD….and built the palace from ashes to this
So, here is Irene , living the life of luxury,
earning megabucks for a 3 month job, totally in love with Sharif, who loves her too…..but he just can’t do it with her…because he respects her and he has to marry some shrew for political reasons!!! What a sad thing………how could he ever agree to marry some like even for political gain??????The guy must be mad….his subjects, including all the palace workers LOVE LOVE Irene…yes, she’s a real great gal….strong minded, caring, loving and wait….she loves his subjects such as much as they do.
..NO, I KID YOU NOT!!!
This is like one of those old-fashioned love stories….if you want heat…forget it…there ain’t any…..One of the reviewers mentioned something about it being a bit like reading a Barbara Cartland book…remember those???? Yes, I thought that too!!!!
But don’t despair….you all know that this is a HEA for the h/h…so I guess I am not giving away any spoilers when I tell you that Sharif & Irene finally “do get it together” in all ways…wink wink…u know what I mean……….so, the girl from the wrong tracks in that small town in USA, that are often called “white trash”, meets her prince and lives happily ever after…and oh yes, she has such a kind and loving heart….she gets her trashy Mom and sister sorted out in such a nice way…..Irene is one of those heroine’s that has her heart in the right place and deserved everything she got with her prince!!!
Oh, I gave it a 3 star….because the author took me on a really great tour of Dubai!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 7, 2017
when Irene Met Sharif.
Totally cheesy and OTT but so much fun. Any resemblance to reality is purely coincidental.
Pollyanna Irene, a sweet, honorable virgin, meets the Rico Suave, manwhore-on-the-prowl Sheikh Sharif at her friend's wedding. He pulls out all the seduction moves on her until she tells him she is holding out for true love. This makes him angry for two reasons: why did he waste all that time on a virgin, and why can't he have sex. His inner monologuing is quite self-serving and entertaining. Hmm, he shrugs it off and decides to honor her virginal status when he hires her to be his little sister's chaperone for three months until her marriage to a neighboring sheikh who is three times her age. He had to jettison the last chaperone as she showed up in his bed nude. He knows Pollyanna won't be so crude. This doesn't explain his change of heart when he decides to seduce her for her own good. How will she know when true love comes if she can't tell the difference between lust and love? What a mensch! Adds new meaning to the phrase falling on your sword.
There is lots of talk of honor and love. The Sheikh is a manwhore, but he's a goodhearted manwhore who places his sheikdom's needs before his own. His upcoming MOC to the bitch from hell is evidence of that. She's so bad his own staff wants her out. In fact, once the h leaves they call her to come back.
I'd say it's a 3 to 5 level angst on a ten point scale as the H emotes about his duty, the evil OW flies around the palace on her broomstick, and Pollyanna figures out how to save her man.
The H grows up and morphs from a manwhore to an lovesick hero.
Quite a fun and frivolous piece of fluff.
Totally cheesy and OTT but so much fun. Any resemblance to reality is purely coincidental.
There is lots of talk of honor and love. The Sheikh is a manwhore, but he's a goodhearted manwhore who places his sheikdom's needs before his own. His upcoming MOC to the bitch from hell is evidence of that. She's so bad his own staff wants her out. In fact, once the h leaves they call her to come back.
I'd say it's a 3 to 5 level angst on a ten point scale as the H emotes about his duty, the evil OW flies around the palace on her broomstick, and Pollyanna figures out how to save her man.
The H grows up and morphs from a manwhore to an lovesick hero.
Quite a fun and frivolous piece of fluff.
February 2, 2014
It was steady, great, emotional right up until the end. Then it rocked out of this world. I'm impressed.
February 2, 2021
"The Sheikh's Last Seduction" is the story of Irene and Sharif.
Another disappointing read.
Our hero is a rich Sheikh who spots our beautiful heroine at his friend's party. She is an idealist looking for a HEA, he is a rich guy who wants her in his bed- but respects her morals. Basically, they want to bang but cannot because he is engaged to a shrew and trapped due to his kingdom, she is in love with him but wants a wedding ring... loads of drama happens and ofcourse it leads to a HEA.
Underwhelming.
Safe
2/5
Another disappointing read.
Our hero is a rich Sheikh who spots our beautiful heroine at his friend's party. She is an idealist looking for a HEA, he is a rich guy who wants her in his bed- but respects her morals. Basically, they want to bang but cannot because he is engaged to a shrew and trapped due to his kingdom, she is in love with him but wants a wedding ring... loads of drama happens and ofcourse it leads to a HEA.
Underwhelming.
Safe
2/5
July 7, 2018
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4,5 αστέρια
Επιτέλους ένα άρλεκιν που με συνάρπασε.
Πρώτη φορά που διαβάζω άρλεκιν το οποίο να μην έχει καθόλου σκηνή σεξ κατά τη διάρκεια της ιστορίας (τουλάχιστον ολοκληρωμένη!). . Μεγάλο μέρος άρλεκιν και smut βιβλίων από τη μέση του βιβλίου και μετά τουλάχιστον έχουν μια σκηνή σεξ. Μετά έχουν παραπάνω. Αλλά αυτό όχι. Ένα γεγονός που με εξέπληξε. Ένα άρλεκιν που ήταν ενδιαφέρον χωρίς να έχει σκηνές σεξ μέσα. Και αυτό πιστεύω οφειλόταν στη χημεία των πρωταγωνιστών που την κρατούσε ζωντανή την ιστορία χωρίς σεξ, αλλιώς δεν θα έμπαινε στην κατηγορία των άρλεκιν.
Χαρακτήρες:
~ Ήρωας : Ωραίο αρσενικό, ετοιμόλογο και γενικά είχε τα συνηθισμένα χαρακτηριστικά που έχουν όλα τα αρσενικά στα άρλεκιν. Αλλά μερικές φορές μου φάνηκε ότι για κάποια πράγματα δεν είχε κατανόηση. Δηλαδή για κάποια πράγματα ήμουν σε φάση "Φίλε δεν καταλαβαίνεις ότι αυτό είναι λάθος;". Τέλος πάντων, ευτυχώς στο τέλος με διέψευσε. Να είναι καλά η ηρωίδα.
~ Ηρωίδα: Αυτή είναι ηρωίδα! Έχει τις αρχές και τις αξίες της και παράλληλα έχει και τους φόβους της αλλά δεν ντρέπεται κατά τα άλλα να μιλήσει και να υπερασπιστεί αυτά που θέλει ή να υπερασπιστεί τον άλλον αν χρειάζεται. Αλλά και να δώσει αγάπη στα πρόσωπα τα οποία την πλήγωσαν στο παρελθόν χωρίς να τους κρατά κακία. Και χάρη σε αυτήν άλλαξε στάση σε πολλά πράγματα και ο ήρωας. Να είναι καλά!
4,5 αστέρια
Επιτέλους ένα άρλεκιν που με συνάρπασε.
Πρώτη φορά που διαβάζω άρλεκιν το οποίο να μην έχει καθόλου σκηνή σεξ κατά τη διάρκεια της ιστορίας (τουλάχιστον ολοκληρωμένη!). . Μεγάλο μέρος άρλεκιν και smut βιβλίων από τη μέση του βιβλίου και μετά τουλάχιστον έχουν μια σκηνή σεξ. Μετά έχουν παραπάνω. Αλλά αυτό όχι. Ένα γεγονός που με εξέπληξε. Ένα άρλεκιν που ήταν ενδιαφέρον χωρίς να έχει σκηνές σεξ μέσα. Και αυτό πιστεύω οφειλόταν στη χημεία των πρωταγωνιστών που την κρατούσε ζωντανή την ιστορία χωρίς σεξ, αλλιώς δεν θα έμπαινε στην κατηγορία των άρλεκιν.
Χαρακτήρες:
~ Ήρωας : Ωραίο αρσενικό, ετοιμόλογο και γενικά είχε τα συνηθισμένα χαρακτηριστικά που έχουν όλα τα αρσενικά στα άρλεκιν. Αλλά μερικές φορές μου φάνηκε ότι για κάποια πράγματα δεν είχε κατανόηση. Δηλαδή για κάποια πράγματα ήμουν σε φάση "Φίλε δεν καταλαβαίνεις ότι αυτό είναι λάθος;". Τέλος πάντων, ευτυχώς στο τέλος με διέψευσε. Να είναι καλά η ηρωίδα.
~ Ηρωίδα: Αυτή είναι ηρωίδα! Έχει τις αρχές και τις αξίες της και παράλληλα έχει και τους φόβους της αλλά δεν ντρέπεται κατά τα άλλα να μιλήσει και να υπερασπιστεί αυτά που θέλει ή να υπερασπιστεί τον άλλον αν χρειάζεται. Αλλά και να δώσει αγάπη στα πρόσωπα τα οποία την πλήγωσαν στο παρελθόν χωρίς να τους κρατά κακία. Και χάρη σε αυτήν άλλαξε στάση σε πολλά πράγματα και ο ήρωας. Να είναι καλά!
September 13, 2021
Holy molly! I liked this book a lot! I loved both Sharif and Irene. But it was Sharif who did this book for me. He was such a very compelling character. I fell for him straight off the bat. He wasn’t perfect, and he wasn’t at all what he seemed. He was not the asshole playboy that Irene assumes he was, he's sweet, lovable, honest, loyal, honorable, and at times, his emotional struggles never failed to pull at every heartstring I had. I loved how he never forced herself on her and how he respected her beliefs. And as much as I loved Sharif, I also adored Irene. I admired how she stood up for herself. She also has an absolute faith in love that I agree with, making me love her even more. And I loved how she fought for him; it made me admired her more for that.
Some readers complained about the sex scenes or rather lack of it. Well, I wasn't bothered by it. I'm not particular about that since I'm used to reading old/vintage HP, where most of them don't have any sex scenes at all. Anyway, even though there's not much here aside from kissing and making out, you can still feel the passion and the chemistry between them that radiated off the pages. I loved seeing the change in Sharif from vowing to never have love in his life to being totally, irrevocably in love with Irene and doing what he thought was best for her, even if it meant tearing his own heart in the process. And my heart broke seeing him struggle with his feelings and his needs as well as the needs of his country, of his people.
The Sheikh's Last Seduction was such an intense and passionate read that I was hooked from the first page up to the last. It was a roller coaster ride of emotions for me. It made me laugh out loud at some points and aching during others. This was exactly everything I love about romances.
February 3, 2014
It's hard to pull off a novel without graphic love scenes these days. I didn't expect Jennie to do it with flying colors. This book was just classic, sweet, enthralling.. Didn't think the billionaire sheikh would have a mushy bone in his body. I got used to arrogant alpha males. I couldn't put the book down, I was anticipating for them to get together page after page. But it never happened. I couldn't imagine all those pent up emotions by the hero. Latter part was really emotional, making a decision to send the heroine home because he thinks it's what's best for both of them. To find her happiness with someone else. It was still a HEA kind of story. -- JB
January 12, 2017
Leí varios reviews negativos sobre esta novelita porque la escena hot de los protagonistas nunca se concreta por escrito, pero a mí sinceramente me encantó.
Y es que, en las últimas novelitas que leí, el sexo parece tan vacío y sólo porque "debe de estar en novelas de este género", que perdieron la novedad para mí y prefiero leer una buena historia que me atrape sin esos condimentos que una llena de escenas tórridas que de tanto repetirse ya aburren.
La relación entre los protagonistas fluye tan fácilmente que no pude leer ávidamente. La historia de ambos personajes es muy linda y muy recomendable.
Y es que, en las últimas novelitas que leí, el sexo parece tan vacío y sólo porque "debe de estar en novelas de este género", que perdieron la novedad para mí y prefiero leer una buena historia que me atrape sin esos condimentos que una llena de escenas tórridas que de tanto repetirse ya aburren.
La relación entre los protagonistas fluye tan fácilmente que no pude leer ávidamente. La historia de ambos personajes es muy linda y muy recomendable.
June 15, 2016
3.5 stars.
I felt identified with the heroine (in the 'I want to wait for love' part, not the family thing).
I liked the hero and his flaws, wanting to be honorable but failing sometimes.
It was very entertaining reading the part when the almost fiancée from hell appears and everybody hates her and love the heroine.
It was missing that first time between hero and heroine.
I felt identified with the heroine (in the 'I want to wait for love' part, not the family thing).
I liked the hero and his flaws, wanting to be honorable but failing sometimes.
It was very entertaining reading the part when the almost fiancée from hell appears and everybody hates her and love the heroine.
It was missing that first time between hero and heroine.
September 25, 2017
why? jennie lucas why? not even one tiny little love scene! !? God , I am depressed
March 28, 2014
This was such a beautiful and emotional love story that really touched my heart so much while reading. I just enjoyed it so much and was very much into the characters of Sharif and Irene loving them equally because they were just such well written, well rounded, beautiful characters that anyone would cheer for or love. It was such a nice journey to follow them on and read their love story, which was so sweet and so beautiful and very well developed it was not hard to see why and how they fell in love with each other. This showed the progression of their relationship perfectly to create this great love story, which I was glad to go on with them.
The journey wasn't easy to say the least with many bumps and bruises along the way and filled with lots of sexual tension along the way. It just oozed off the pages and I could feel how each of them wanting the other with both of them making it quite clear they wanted one another and made no secret about it, but despite all that didn't given in. The tension in this book was just so hot and created lots of great moments along the way. This sexual tension and all this wanting just drove the story forward and kept me completely engrossed wondering when they would finally give into their passions for one another.
With the sexual tension also came lots of angst with both Sharif and Irene trying to talk themselves out of wanting the other and believing it was for the best that they didn't give into their passion. All that angst was just delicious and exactly what I love and what I love to read. It's another point that kept me totally sucked into the story and wanting to keep on going. Plus I could feel the angst coming off the pages much like I could feel the sexual tension coming off the pages. Just each of them had this struggle of dealing with their attraction for another then later on their growing feelings for one another. And at times it was heartbreaking and hard to read because I knew they were meant to be together and just fit so well and made the other a better person, and circumstances kept them apart.
For example, she wanted to wait for love and marriage before she made love for the first time with the belief that giving herself only to her husband was to show him as well as their relationship that it was special and worth the wait and it the act would be an expression of their love and nothing less. She didn't want to act out of lust alone even though she was attracted to Sharif very much. As you can imagine, Sharif had the complete opposite view from Irene and believed that lust and sharing his body with women was completely acceptable and had no problem with just the physical aspect of a relationship. After all he had needs. Typical male and playboy philosophy, which Sharif very much was. And he wanted Irene from the moment he spotted her at Ceasare and Emma's wedding being completely drawn to her and immediately wanting her and vowing to have her and believing he would after all the skills that he possessed in the bedroom. So he tried to seduce her, and even though she rejected him once he tried again upping his seduction skills by using camaraderie to make her feel comfortable and feel more friendly towards him and just like him as a person. Then he asks again after he kisses her and once she found out that he was basically using those skills to get into her to bed she was furious and wanted nothing more to do with him. But more to the point she was hurt that he would do this to her especially knowing her feelings about marriage and lovemaking, which he ignored anyway and did his best to seduce. She vowed she wanted nothing more to do with him and just felt suckered punch by him acting as her friend just to land her under him. But of coarse more circumstances throw them together so they can't escape one another.
Also another form of angst in the story was the fact that Sharif made a deal a long time ago when his father died when he was 15 to marry a councilman's daughter in order for him to be able to rule his country without any adversaries. Because the councilman wanted to act as regent until Sharif became of age, but Sharif wanted to be king so he could protect and rule his people so he had to agree to marry the daughter to make this happen. So he was living the playboy lifestyle until he had to bite the bullet and marry Kalila, who was just this witch of a women who had nothing but cruelness in her heart and her eye on the crown and ruling having that title, but Sharif wanted nothing to do with her and deeply disliked her and shuddered the thought at beginning married to her and making babies with her. He couldn't even stomach that act with Kalila. And he knew he would have to face the guillotine sooner rather than later so he was having fun while he could.
Irene wasn't happy when she found out about his plans to marry another while he tried to seduce her. It made her sick especially with the high values that she put on marriage and love and commitment and all that good stuff. So that was another no-no in her book, but that didn't stop her from wanting him and wanting to be close to him and just spend time with him. When he offered her the job after the wedding, to be a companion to his sister, she still wanted to be around him and wanted to be his friend. She just wanted to near him, knowing that they would never be able to be together especially with her belief systems, but that didn't mean she didn't fall for him because she very much did as did he.
Which was another thing I really loved about this book was the simmering and gradual development of their relationship, and just how it grew over time. Irene worked for Sharif and got to know him better for over three months. They became friends while trying to keep it completely platonic as much as they could, but they did slip because they cared and wanted each other so much especially after they got to know one another and knew each other on a deeper level than just the physical. They still wanted each other, sure, but it so much more than that and it was just so obvious and heart warming as it was heart breaking especially knowing they could never be together even though they wanted to be.
And I could totally feel the emotions that were going and how much of a struggle it was for them not to give into their feelings for one another. It was hard. There were a couple slip ups here and there with passionate kisses and denied want. It just created that sexual tension and angst that was engrossing as it was heartbreaking because the caring was apparent on both ends.
And I'll give an example of that, but first let me say one word the bath/massage scene. OMG! Totally hot! Scorching! And every bit as steamy as that steamy room was when they had that passionate encounter. It was just great to see after them denying their passions for so long and had been building and building until it basically exploded into this little scene right there. And it was totally worth it. Lots of passion, and lots of emotions going on in that little scene alone. They were hot for one another and were so close to doing the deed, which Irene decided to give into even though there was no wedding or future with him and just basically throwing her beliefs out the windows because she loved him and wanted to be with the man that she loved at least once before he got taken away from her again. She loved him and for her in that moment that was enough for her and it didn't matter if he loved her or not, she knew that he cared for her. So she was willingly to go for it. But Sharif admitted, at least to himself quite earlier than I expected, that he loved her too, knew that he couldn't do this to her and make her give up her fairytale dreams just for him, knowing that he could never give her a future that she deserved. So mid way to completely the deed he stopped and told her he couldn't do this and said that he would never force her to give up her dream of making love for the first time with her husband, who she was in love with and was waiting all her life for.
In that moment, I loved Sharif even more than I did throughout the book, and I knew that his feelings were true for her and he really did love her. This was a great testament to his love her and ensuring she got her dream when he wouldn't be getting his, which was her. And even though he desperately wanted her and dreamed of nothing else but her, he stopped and knew he had to put her first, which he realized what love was. It showed how much she meant to him. Which was sweet yet heartbreaking at the same time. I've read a scene like this in a while where it was so blatant or should say shown in such a way that there was no doubt what the hero's true feelings for the heroine were. No doubt. He loved her and that was it. It was very clear. And it showed that in fact emotions were paramount here not the physical. I just loved this scene not only for the hot passion that ensued, but also because of the emotions surrounding that scene and just showing how deeply involved each of them were with one another. They were thinking about the other first and that was beautiful. Just this scene really got to me and made me love the book even more.
Speaking of scenes that really got to me, the scene where Kalila showed up and ruined their semi-peacefulness around his home and basically demanded that Sharif announce his engagement to her and marry her the next week since his sister was no longer marrying (which was side plot that Irene and Sharif had a little tension about, but Sharif came to light and saw it Irene's way and did what was right, which lead to the bath scene where he came to tell her the news) her fiancé. And Kalila was cruel and harsh and acting like she owned the place. I hated her. But Kalila could see that Irene was in love with Sharif, which made her doubly cruel and wanted Sharif to force her out of his home and never return. And he did it much to Irene and my surprise especially when he was so cruel, and made me wonder what he was doing. Irene was devastated and Kalila was triumphant especially when Sharif practically dragged Irene out of the house to expel from his home, but as they got further and further away from Kalila the true colors and intentions of Sharif come out. And find that this was breaking his heart as well, but he knew it was the right thing to do to let her go. Irene didn't want to go and didn't want to leave him especially with Kalila and vowed to stay with him until they end and practically begged him not to kick her out. It was killing him as it was killing her as well as me, and just the whole scene broke my heart for both of them with their emotions fully on their sleeves now. But what was the killer really was when both of them blurted out their feelings for one another especially Sharif, who this was nearly gutting and gutted me in the process. It was just such a hard scene to read because it was so heartbreaking and devastating especially since they admitted their feelings for one another. It was killing them. But he knew he had to let her go even though it broke him to do so and knew that he was been sentenced to be married to Kalila for the rest of his life and never have or see Irene ever again and never be with the woman he loved. He told Irene to go and get her dream of being married and being loved and giving herself to him completely just like she always wanted while she regretted that she never made love to him when she should have, and knew she should have since the moment they met. She was wrong, and that was her biggest regret and just wanting to be with him. But he put her in the car and sent her away, killing and breaking him in the process while showing her the depths of his love for her.
My eyes teared at this heartbreaking goodbye scene, and my heart broke for each of them. It was just this gut wrenching and emotionally devastating scene. It was intense and full of deep seated emotions that just oozed off the pages. It broke my heart so I could just imagine what it did to their in that moment. But I would like to think I know because I could feel their pain and heartbreak in that scene because it was just so well written and well done and Jennie Lucas knew how to pack a punch to the readers hearts. I don't know who wouldn't have been affected by that scene. It was just that emotional.
But made it was all worth it in the end because of coarse this being a Presents they got their happily ever after even if it was a painful obstacle coarse along the way. The payoff was there in the end, which just made this book that much more satisfying. Just the whole love story was great from beginning to end and was worth the read. My only wish was that their wedding night scene would have been shown because I was very looking forward to seeing them finally get what they both being yearning for the entire book and been building up to the moment from page one when Sharif was entranced by Irene and immediately wanted her for himself. I just really wanted to see all that love and passion that I know would have set fire to page, but sadly there wasn't one. It was more of a fade to black kind of thing, which was a little disappointing. I would have liked to see it first hand, but I guess I just have to have my imagination fill in the gaps for me. But not having that scene didn't break the book or stop my enjoyment of it and still found myself in love with this book because of how it was written and the relationship development as well as the emotions behind the story that I could feel deep in my soul and just feel what they were feeling. Jennie Lucas did a great job in bringing the emotions to the surface of our characters and getting us to feel them, and I felt them trust me. Really felt them and just couldn't enough of them.
Combine that with great characters that I love, you get a great sweet, passionate and beautiful love story that I was completely engrossed in from cover to cover. I just fell in love with this book just like the characters fell in love with each other. I just loved them together and I loved the separately as individuals.
Even though Sharif was an arrogant playboy type in the book, he very much grew and changed along the way and fell in love, which made him even sweet and hotter in my opinion. Just his emotions ran deep, and that deep caring was there not only for Irene, but his sister as well. I loved he was loyal and had a sense of duty to what was right and making sure that people were taken care of along the way no matter the cost to himself. He would sacrifice anything to do the right thing, which he showed by not only giving up the woman he loved and refused to make love to her knowing he would never give her the dream she had her whole life, but also marrying a woman he despised in order to best serve his people, and he didn't take that lightly. He would make himself miserable if that mean he could make other happy, which made him even more lovable and more swoon worthy than he was before. Yes, he was a playboy and having fun while he could taking pleasure when he could, but the only reason he did that because he knew the hell he would be facing when he married Kalila and he wanted to have pleasure for long as he could partly for the pleasure itself but also to forget the predicament that he was in with Kalila in this no win situation for himself. So I understood why he did what he did. And even though he was arrogant, he was never jerk or rude to Irene or presented her with false hope at any time. He was just trying to get what he wanted, but he soon realized that what he wanted wasn't paramount, but what Irene wanted. And he came to realize what he felt for Irene and what he wanted to have with Irene was lovemaking not just sex and he came to realize the difference between the two. And realized that what he had in his playboy days was nothing compared to what he felt for Irene and what he wanted to have with her. He just was a great hero.
I also loved her and her feisty nature. She stood up to Sharif and never let him push her around. She had these strict beliefs of waiting until marriage and she wasn't going to give them up just for him no matter how hot he was or how much he tried to seduce her into giving in to him. She stuck to her guns, though later she kind of regretted it but I think those regrets stopped once she got her wedding night with Sharif, and knew it was worth it in the end. I also understood from her background why it was so important for her wait until she was married after her sister and mother were basically prostitutes who brought strange men home every night in hopes of getting attention and affection as well as things from them, and Irene vowed never to be like that. She was a bit insecure with her look being on the womanly side, which made it hard to believe that Sharif was interested in her, but he made her feel beautiful and desirable. But mostly she wanted love and nothing less. She was such an enjoyable character and I enjoyed her journey along with Sharif's. I rooted for both of them.
Jennie Lucas once again crafted a winner. A beautiful story filled with lots of intense emotions that tugged on my heart strings. There were definitely hard scenes to watch, but Irene and Sharif came out of it pretty unscathed and into their own happily ever after filled with love and passion. Jennie Lucas just created this realism to their relationship that made this book all the more special. I believed they were in love. It didn't happen over night and it built as time went on, which I loved seeing, until it developed into this very real intense relationship filled with love. The pacing of the book was good and never felt rushed. Even with the gap of three months later with a bit of summary of what happened the last three months was nicely done and showed the passage of time along with the deepening of feelings form both sides. Now usually I don't like summarize because they usually just feel very rushed and abrupt and makes me usually want to see more of what happened during this time period, but here it totally worked and Lucas did a great job in telling us what happened while making the jump to show that time has passed and things have been growing and developing between Sharif and Irene, not only the want and desire, but the friendship as well as the falling. That was good and handled very well. There wasn't really a lot to complain about. Like I said above I wished for the wedding night scene, but other than that I was quite pleased with this book, which was really just the perfect romance. I just loved it. I don't think I did justice to how and why I love this book so much but I tried. Why can't all romance books be like this one? Jennie Lucas just did everything right. So bravo Jennie Lucas. Bravo!
Can't wait to read more from Jennie Lucas in the future. Hopefully she keeps writing for Presents for a long, long time.
The journey wasn't easy to say the least with many bumps and bruises along the way and filled with lots of sexual tension along the way. It just oozed off the pages and I could feel how each of them wanting the other with both of them making it quite clear they wanted one another and made no secret about it, but despite all that didn't given in. The tension in this book was just so hot and created lots of great moments along the way. This sexual tension and all this wanting just drove the story forward and kept me completely engrossed wondering when they would finally give into their passions for one another.
With the sexual tension also came lots of angst with both Sharif and Irene trying to talk themselves out of wanting the other and believing it was for the best that they didn't give into their passion. All that angst was just delicious and exactly what I love and what I love to read. It's another point that kept me totally sucked into the story and wanting to keep on going. Plus I could feel the angst coming off the pages much like I could feel the sexual tension coming off the pages. Just each of them had this struggle of dealing with their attraction for another then later on their growing feelings for one another. And at times it was heartbreaking and hard to read because I knew they were meant to be together and just fit so well and made the other a better person, and circumstances kept them apart.
For example, she wanted to wait for love and marriage before she made love for the first time with the belief that giving herself only to her husband was to show him as well as their relationship that it was special and worth the wait and it the act would be an expression of their love and nothing less. She didn't want to act out of lust alone even though she was attracted to Sharif very much. As you can imagine, Sharif had the complete opposite view from Irene and believed that lust and sharing his body with women was completely acceptable and had no problem with just the physical aspect of a relationship. After all he had needs. Typical male and playboy philosophy, which Sharif very much was. And he wanted Irene from the moment he spotted her at Ceasare and Emma's wedding being completely drawn to her and immediately wanting her and vowing to have her and believing he would after all the skills that he possessed in the bedroom. So he tried to seduce her, and even though she rejected him once he tried again upping his seduction skills by using camaraderie to make her feel comfortable and feel more friendly towards him and just like him as a person. Then he asks again after he kisses her and once she found out that he was basically using those skills to get into her to bed she was furious and wanted nothing more to do with him. But more to the point she was hurt that he would do this to her especially knowing her feelings about marriage and lovemaking, which he ignored anyway and did his best to seduce. She vowed she wanted nothing more to do with him and just felt suckered punch by him acting as her friend just to land her under him. But of coarse more circumstances throw them together so they can't escape one another.
Also another form of angst in the story was the fact that Sharif made a deal a long time ago when his father died when he was 15 to marry a councilman's daughter in order for him to be able to rule his country without any adversaries. Because the councilman wanted to act as regent until Sharif became of age, but Sharif wanted to be king so he could protect and rule his people so he had to agree to marry the daughter to make this happen. So he was living the playboy lifestyle until he had to bite the bullet and marry Kalila, who was just this witch of a women who had nothing but cruelness in her heart and her eye on the crown and ruling having that title, but Sharif wanted nothing to do with her and deeply disliked her and shuddered the thought at beginning married to her and making babies with her. He couldn't even stomach that act with Kalila. And he knew he would have to face the guillotine sooner rather than later so he was having fun while he could.
Irene wasn't happy when she found out about his plans to marry another while he tried to seduce her. It made her sick especially with the high values that she put on marriage and love and commitment and all that good stuff. So that was another no-no in her book, but that didn't stop her from wanting him and wanting to be close to him and just spend time with him. When he offered her the job after the wedding, to be a companion to his sister, she still wanted to be around him and wanted to be his friend. She just wanted to near him, knowing that they would never be able to be together especially with her belief systems, but that didn't mean she didn't fall for him because she very much did as did he.
Which was another thing I really loved about this book was the simmering and gradual development of their relationship, and just how it grew over time. Irene worked for Sharif and got to know him better for over three months. They became friends while trying to keep it completely platonic as much as they could, but they did slip because they cared and wanted each other so much especially after they got to know one another and knew each other on a deeper level than just the physical. They still wanted each other, sure, but it so much more than that and it was just so obvious and heart warming as it was heart breaking especially knowing they could never be together even though they wanted to be.
And I could totally feel the emotions that were going and how much of a struggle it was for them not to give into their feelings for one another. It was hard. There were a couple slip ups here and there with passionate kisses and denied want. It just created that sexual tension and angst that was engrossing as it was heartbreaking because the caring was apparent on both ends.
And I'll give an example of that, but first let me say one word the bath/massage scene. OMG! Totally hot! Scorching! And every bit as steamy as that steamy room was when they had that passionate encounter. It was just great to see after them denying their passions for so long and had been building and building until it basically exploded into this little scene right there. And it was totally worth it. Lots of passion, and lots of emotions going on in that little scene alone. They were hot for one another and were so close to doing the deed, which Irene decided to give into even though there was no wedding or future with him and just basically throwing her beliefs out the windows because she loved him and wanted to be with the man that she loved at least once before he got taken away from her again. She loved him and for her in that moment that was enough for her and it didn't matter if he loved her or not, she knew that he cared for her. So she was willingly to go for it. But Sharif admitted, at least to himself quite earlier than I expected, that he loved her too, knew that he couldn't do this to her and make her give up her fairytale dreams just for him, knowing that he could never give her a future that she deserved. So mid way to completely the deed he stopped and told her he couldn't do this and said that he would never force her to give up her dream of making love for the first time with her husband, who she was in love with and was waiting all her life for.
In that moment, I loved Sharif even more than I did throughout the book, and I knew that his feelings were true for her and he really did love her. This was a great testament to his love her and ensuring she got her dream when he wouldn't be getting his, which was her. And even though he desperately wanted her and dreamed of nothing else but her, he stopped and knew he had to put her first, which he realized what love was. It showed how much she meant to him. Which was sweet yet heartbreaking at the same time. I've read a scene like this in a while where it was so blatant or should say shown in such a way that there was no doubt what the hero's true feelings for the heroine were. No doubt. He loved her and that was it. It was very clear. And it showed that in fact emotions were paramount here not the physical. I just loved this scene not only for the hot passion that ensued, but also because of the emotions surrounding that scene and just showing how deeply involved each of them were with one another. They were thinking about the other first and that was beautiful. Just this scene really got to me and made me love the book even more.
Speaking of scenes that really got to me, the scene where Kalila showed up and ruined their semi-peacefulness around his home and basically demanded that Sharif announce his engagement to her and marry her the next week since his sister was no longer marrying (which was side plot that Irene and Sharif had a little tension about, but Sharif came to light and saw it Irene's way and did what was right, which lead to the bath scene where he came to tell her the news) her fiancé. And Kalila was cruel and harsh and acting like she owned the place. I hated her. But Kalila could see that Irene was in love with Sharif, which made her doubly cruel and wanted Sharif to force her out of his home and never return. And he did it much to Irene and my surprise especially when he was so cruel, and made me wonder what he was doing. Irene was devastated and Kalila was triumphant especially when Sharif practically dragged Irene out of the house to expel from his home, but as they got further and further away from Kalila the true colors and intentions of Sharif come out. And find that this was breaking his heart as well, but he knew it was the right thing to do to let her go. Irene didn't want to go and didn't want to leave him especially with Kalila and vowed to stay with him until they end and practically begged him not to kick her out. It was killing him as it was killing her as well as me, and just the whole scene broke my heart for both of them with their emotions fully on their sleeves now. But what was the killer really was when both of them blurted out their feelings for one another especially Sharif, who this was nearly gutting and gutted me in the process. It was just such a hard scene to read because it was so heartbreaking and devastating especially since they admitted their feelings for one another. It was killing them. But he knew he had to let her go even though it broke him to do so and knew that he was been sentenced to be married to Kalila for the rest of his life and never have or see Irene ever again and never be with the woman he loved. He told Irene to go and get her dream of being married and being loved and giving herself to him completely just like she always wanted while she regretted that she never made love to him when she should have, and knew she should have since the moment they met. She was wrong, and that was her biggest regret and just wanting to be with him. But he put her in the car and sent her away, killing and breaking him in the process while showing her the depths of his love for her.
My eyes teared at this heartbreaking goodbye scene, and my heart broke for each of them. It was just this gut wrenching and emotionally devastating scene. It was intense and full of deep seated emotions that just oozed off the pages. It broke my heart so I could just imagine what it did to their in that moment. But I would like to think I know because I could feel their pain and heartbreak in that scene because it was just so well written and well done and Jennie Lucas knew how to pack a punch to the readers hearts. I don't know who wouldn't have been affected by that scene. It was just that emotional.
But made it was all worth it in the end because of coarse this being a Presents they got their happily ever after even if it was a painful obstacle coarse along the way. The payoff was there in the end, which just made this book that much more satisfying. Just the whole love story was great from beginning to end and was worth the read. My only wish was that their wedding night scene would have been shown because I was very looking forward to seeing them finally get what they both being yearning for the entire book and been building up to the moment from page one when Sharif was entranced by Irene and immediately wanted her for himself. I just really wanted to see all that love and passion that I know would have set fire to page, but sadly there wasn't one. It was more of a fade to black kind of thing, which was a little disappointing. I would have liked to see it first hand, but I guess I just have to have my imagination fill in the gaps for me. But not having that scene didn't break the book or stop my enjoyment of it and still found myself in love with this book because of how it was written and the relationship development as well as the emotions behind the story that I could feel deep in my soul and just feel what they were feeling. Jennie Lucas did a great job in bringing the emotions to the surface of our characters and getting us to feel them, and I felt them trust me. Really felt them and just couldn't enough of them.
Combine that with great characters that I love, you get a great sweet, passionate and beautiful love story that I was completely engrossed in from cover to cover. I just fell in love with this book just like the characters fell in love with each other. I just loved them together and I loved the separately as individuals.
Even though Sharif was an arrogant playboy type in the book, he very much grew and changed along the way and fell in love, which made him even sweet and hotter in my opinion. Just his emotions ran deep, and that deep caring was there not only for Irene, but his sister as well. I loved he was loyal and had a sense of duty to what was right and making sure that people were taken care of along the way no matter the cost to himself. He would sacrifice anything to do the right thing, which he showed by not only giving up the woman he loved and refused to make love to her knowing he would never give her the dream she had her whole life, but also marrying a woman he despised in order to best serve his people, and he didn't take that lightly. He would make himself miserable if that mean he could make other happy, which made him even more lovable and more swoon worthy than he was before. Yes, he was a playboy and having fun while he could taking pleasure when he could, but the only reason he did that because he knew the hell he would be facing when he married Kalila and he wanted to have pleasure for long as he could partly for the pleasure itself but also to forget the predicament that he was in with Kalila in this no win situation for himself. So I understood why he did what he did. And even though he was arrogant, he was never jerk or rude to Irene or presented her with false hope at any time. He was just trying to get what he wanted, but he soon realized that what he wanted wasn't paramount, but what Irene wanted. And he came to realize what he felt for Irene and what he wanted to have with Irene was lovemaking not just sex and he came to realize the difference between the two. And realized that what he had in his playboy days was nothing compared to what he felt for Irene and what he wanted to have with her. He just was a great hero.
I also loved her and her feisty nature. She stood up to Sharif and never let him push her around. She had these strict beliefs of waiting until marriage and she wasn't going to give them up just for him no matter how hot he was or how much he tried to seduce her into giving in to him. She stuck to her guns, though later she kind of regretted it but I think those regrets stopped once she got her wedding night with Sharif, and knew it was worth it in the end. I also understood from her background why it was so important for her wait until she was married after her sister and mother were basically prostitutes who brought strange men home every night in hopes of getting attention and affection as well as things from them, and Irene vowed never to be like that. She was a bit insecure with her look being on the womanly side, which made it hard to believe that Sharif was interested in her, but he made her feel beautiful and desirable. But mostly she wanted love and nothing less. She was such an enjoyable character and I enjoyed her journey along with Sharif's. I rooted for both of them.
Jennie Lucas once again crafted a winner. A beautiful story filled with lots of intense emotions that tugged on my heart strings. There were definitely hard scenes to watch, but Irene and Sharif came out of it pretty unscathed and into their own happily ever after filled with love and passion. Jennie Lucas just created this realism to their relationship that made this book all the more special. I believed they were in love. It didn't happen over night and it built as time went on, which I loved seeing, until it developed into this very real intense relationship filled with love. The pacing of the book was good and never felt rushed. Even with the gap of three months later with a bit of summary of what happened the last three months was nicely done and showed the passage of time along with the deepening of feelings form both sides. Now usually I don't like summarize because they usually just feel very rushed and abrupt and makes me usually want to see more of what happened during this time period, but here it totally worked and Lucas did a great job in telling us what happened while making the jump to show that time has passed and things have been growing and developing between Sharif and Irene, not only the want and desire, but the friendship as well as the falling. That was good and handled very well. There wasn't really a lot to complain about. Like I said above I wished for the wedding night scene, but other than that I was quite pleased with this book, which was really just the perfect romance. I just loved it. I don't think I did justice to how and why I love this book so much but I tried. Why can't all romance books be like this one? Jennie Lucas just did everything right. So bravo Jennie Lucas. Bravo!
Can't wait to read more from Jennie Lucas in the future. Hopefully she keeps writing for Presents for a long, long time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 4, 2014
Nothing really stands out here. It was enjoyable while I read it but I probably won't remember it long. I'm not generally fond of sheikh books. This one was okay. It always irks me though that the heroines never even have a thought about living in this part of the world and accepting its strictures especially after having grown up in Colorado. She was virgin out loud variety which is not a favorite stance of mine. Sure be a virgin but don't be so belligerent about it. Plotting was weak in places but this one is pretty middle of the road for this author. She's done much better and she's done much worse. There was some OTT angst which is not necessarily a bad thing for an HP. Sexual tension seemed as if it should have been higher but really wasn't. I wasn't too upset about the lack of sex scenes but at least it made the book a bit different.
February 5, 2014
The Sheikh's Last Seduction was compelling. The heroine was likeable, had a backbone.
The story was sweet, a bit of angst with the hero being a sheikh and the heroine a nanny. It is rare to see class differences being an obstacle in HP's.
The chemistry was sizzling but there's no detailed consumation.
I liked alot that the heroine didn't smex the hero within a day of meeting him. I'm not a fan of that plot device.
I would have given this book 5 stars but couldn't because the hero was too good. Damn near like a saint he was. I like heroes to be more flawed, edgy, badass and even douchy anti-heroish.
Oh and what the hell, no epilogue!!! So wrong this book didn't get one.
The story was sweet, a bit of angst with the hero being a sheikh and the heroine a nanny. It is rare to see class differences being an obstacle in HP's.
The chemistry was sizzling but there's no detailed consumation.
I liked alot that the heroine didn't smex the hero within a day of meeting him. I'm not a fan of that plot device.
I would have given this book 5 stars but couldn't because the hero was too good. Damn near like a saint he was. I like heroes to be more flawed, edgy, badass and even douchy anti-heroish.
Oh and what the hell, no epilogue!!! So wrong this book didn't get one.
May 11, 2014
I liked this one a whole lot. Irene was a little sassy, a lot honest, and she knew what she wanted...a love that was pure and real and would last forever. I'll be honest and say I shed a few tears reading this one :)
December 9, 2013
As expected from Jennie Lucas. Sigh ...
Thank you very much, Harlequin, for providing the e-ARC via Net Galley.
Thank you very much, Harlequin, for providing the e-ARC via Net Galley.
September 3, 2020
Irene Taylor is attending the wedding of Emma and Cesare from The Consequences of That Night, with Alejandro from Uncovering Her Nine Month Secret also making an early appearance too.
But Irene gets the tingle only for Sharif bin Nazih, who is on the prowl for some physical relief but she resists as she is keeping herself pure for, um, someone, someday.
Nevertheless, her chastity and honour means that she ends up on the private jet back to his made-up Arab kingdom to be chaperone to his sister. Cue palace plots, dodgy arranged marriages, a steamy scene in a sauna (!) but no sex, and some final scenes that might have been lifted from a Carry On movie.
I get the feeling this was a very early JL and not one of her best or even a good one.
But Irene gets the tingle only for Sharif bin Nazih, who is on the prowl for some physical relief but she resists as she is keeping herself pure for, um, someone, someday.
Nevertheless, her chastity and honour means that she ends up on the private jet back to his made-up Arab kingdom to be chaperone to his sister. Cue palace plots, dodgy arranged marriages, a steamy scene in a sauna (!) but no sex, and some final scenes that might have been lifted from a Carry On movie.
I get the feeling this was a very early JL and not one of her best or even a good one.
February 25, 2021
When Sheikh Sharif offers Irene Taylor more money as chaperone to his sister than she's ever made before, she can't refuse—finally she'll safeguard her family. Irene may be innocent, but she knows the trail of destruction playboys like Sharif leave behind, and will resist his skilled seduction….
Sharif excels at everything he does—especially in the bedroom! His engagement hasn't yet been announced and he'll enjoy his freedom until then. Starting with the beguiling Irene—she's the ideal final challenge before he embarks on a life of duty.
But sometimes even the plans of a sheikh go awry!
Sharif excels at everything he does—especially in the bedroom! His engagement hasn't yet been announced and he'll enjoy his freedom until then. Starting with the beguiling Irene—she's the ideal final challenge before he embarks on a life of duty.
But sometimes even the plans of a sheikh go awry!
July 2, 2014
I Ioved the friendship they fostered in the time they spent together. What I liked the most was the growing tension and honesty. I'd read it again. by the end i felt like it could've been a beauty and the beast story.
April 9, 2014
Oh how I miss those plot... I was sick and tired of the billionaire bdsm arrangement. This is gold old pure fairy tale mixed with a litle drama, because after all marying a prince charming is never too easy. There is a few dragon to slay. in this case the dragon name is kelila.
October 6, 2014
HP without intercourse! Surely, it lacks a lot! Yet the characterization is very good. It was an emotional read too. Especially on the part where they both love each other but there's no way to fight for it.
February 21, 2014
a very romantic book and a very good philosophy of d woman. I very much appreciate it.
May 29, 2014
They did not do the do till the end tho it wasn't written. Loveeeed the book:)
June 8, 2014
Very disappointing book from one of my favorite authors. The heroine was too naive and the hero was extremely weak and whiny.
November 9, 2020
3.5 Sweet Suddy Stars
These characters meet during Emma & Cesare’s wedding, The Consequences of That Night, and there’s some overlapping. Sharif bin Nazih al-Aktoum, the Emir of Makhtar, (King of his made-up country) is instantly smitten with Irene, and sets out to make her his (for the night) during the wedding weekend. After he learns she’s saving her V-card for marriage, he hires her to be his sister’s chaperone because he wants to be around her, and doesn't sleep with employees.
This is a sweet, slow/no burn. The couple starts out as friends, and definitely have feelings for each other (which they both admit) but have obstacles in their way. It’s low on drama, but pretty high on angst because they do love/want to be together, but his duty/obligations stand in their way. Sharif has been betrothed to an absolute evil bitch since he was 15.
“Because even then, I understood human nature.” He wouldn’t be a coward. He wouldn’t. He looked at her. “I encouraged my uncle to believe he would have great influence over me, to make him give up the idea of a regency. And as for the vizier—to him, I made a promise.” He said quietly, “I promised to marry his daughter.” Irene stared at him, as if she hadn’t heard right. She blinked.
“You...” She swallowed. “You’re engaged?”
“Can you understand what it is like to despise someone to the depths of your soul, and know you’ll still be forced to call her your wife? To have a child with her?” “I made the deal I had to make to save my country.”
“But why?” Weren’t they meant to be together? Hadn’t they been waiting in their loneliness for the other?
Bottom Line- I liked this one, and would recommend for anyone in the mood for sweet. I’m going to round up, but FYI, the pacing is quite slow, so if you're looking for a super sudsy drama crazy train… this isn’t it. The OW is absolutely vile, but she’s not around until 80%, and she gets hers thanks to an epic smackdown delivered by Irene. There’s little steam and zero sexytime. We get… “they shared their private, final vow, the one she’d waited for all her life” and then fade to black.
These characters meet during Emma & Cesare’s wedding, The Consequences of That Night, and there’s some overlapping. Sharif bin Nazih al-Aktoum, the Emir of Makhtar, (King of his made-up country) is instantly smitten with Irene, and sets out to make her his (for the night) during the wedding weekend. After he learns she’s saving her V-card for marriage, he hires her to be his sister’s chaperone because he wants to be around her, and doesn't sleep with employees.
This is a sweet, slow/no burn. The couple starts out as friends, and definitely have feelings for each other (which they both admit) but have obstacles in their way. It’s low on drama, but pretty high on angst because they do love/want to be together, but his duty/obligations stand in their way. Sharif has been betrothed to an absolute evil bitch since he was 15.
“Because even then, I understood human nature.” He wouldn’t be a coward. He wouldn’t. He looked at her. “I encouraged my uncle to believe he would have great influence over me, to make him give up the idea of a regency. And as for the vizier—to him, I made a promise.” He said quietly, “I promised to marry his daughter.” Irene stared at him, as if she hadn’t heard right. She blinked.
“You...” She swallowed. “You’re engaged?”
“Can you understand what it is like to despise someone to the depths of your soul, and know you’ll still be forced to call her your wife? To have a child with her?” “I made the deal I had to make to save my country.”
“But why?” Weren’t they meant to be together? Hadn’t they been waiting in their loneliness for the other?
Bottom Line- I liked this one, and would recommend for anyone in the mood for sweet. I’m going to round up, but FYI, the pacing is quite slow, so if you're looking for a super sudsy drama crazy train… this isn’t it. The OW is absolutely vile, but she’s not around until 80%, and she gets hers thanks to an epic smackdown delivered by Irene. There’s little steam and zero sexytime. We get… “they shared their private, final vow, the one she’d waited for all her life” and then fade to black.
September 26, 2019
An hour later, Irene was still staring at it in shock.
“You’ve got to be kidding,” she said for the sixth time. She tilted her head, regarding it from the other direction. Nope. It still didn’t look real. It was too outrageously huge, too ridiculous to be believed.
Beside her, Sharif tilted his head as well, looking down at it with poorly concealed masculine smugness. “Like it?”
Irene licked her lips, trying to find the words.
“A little too big?” he offered finally.
She looked up at him. “You think?”
“It’s purely for your pleasure.”
“I didn’t ask for anything that huge.”
“You didn’t ask for anything at all. But I knew you wanted it. Every woman does.”
Irene bit her lip, staring at it.
“Touch it,” he said encouragingly. “Go on. Don’t be afraid. It won’t bite.”
“That’s what you think,” she muttered, but finally, the temptation was too much to resist. It was too spectacular not to touch. She wanted to feel it for herself, every hard delicious curve.
Reaching out, she gently stroked her fingertips over the I Love this line . A Lovely story
“You’ve got to be kidding,” she said for the sixth time. She tilted her head, regarding it from the other direction. Nope. It still didn’t look real. It was too outrageously huge, too ridiculous to be believed.
Beside her, Sharif tilted his head as well, looking down at it with poorly concealed masculine smugness. “Like it?”
Irene licked her lips, trying to find the words.
“A little too big?” he offered finally.
She looked up at him. “You think?”
“It’s purely for your pleasure.”
“I didn’t ask for anything that huge.”
“You didn’t ask for anything at all. But I knew you wanted it. Every woman does.”
Irene bit her lip, staring at it.
“Touch it,” he said encouragingly. “Go on. Don’t be afraid. It won’t bite.”
“That’s what you think,” she muttered, but finally, the temptation was too much to resist. It was too spectacular not to touch. She wanted to feel it for herself, every hard delicious curve.
Reaching out, she gently stroked her fingertips over the I Love this line . A Lovely story
October 22, 2020
Least favorite book by this author
With a few exceptions, I usually love anything this author writes. And unfortunately this is one of TBR exceptions. It was a good plot. And it had plenty of angst and HP emotional torment, all leading up to the big moment. But it just fizzled out. Lots of build up and then...plop.
There was no consummation of their relationship and considering how wracked by desire the two were for each other throughout the book, that was a let down.
And for that reason it gets two stars.
With a few exceptions, I usually love anything this author writes. And unfortunately this is one of TBR exceptions. It was a good plot. And it had plenty of angst and HP emotional torment, all leading up to the big moment. But it just fizzled out. Lots of build up and then...plop.
There was no consummation of their relationship and considering how wracked by desire the two were for each other throughout the book, that was a let down.
And for that reason it gets two stars.
January 2, 2019
Wonderful read
Well I’m going to admit that I sobbed like a baby when Irene screamed and screamed for Sharif and how much she loved him when his guards took her away. This is one that I will definitely read again!!! Wow! Loved it!
Well I’m going to admit that I sobbed like a baby when Irene screamed and screamed for Sharif and how much she loved him when his guards took her away. This is one that I will definitely read again!!! Wow! Loved it!
July 16, 2017
3.5 stars
July 22, 2018
I read book like this for pure short and quick enjoyment. You really already know how it's going to play out but you just keep reading it.
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