Zufar is the king of Khalia and is about to get married, but his bride runs off with another man, so he chooses the maid, Neisha, as his substitute bride. He intends to marry her and produce an heir for his kingdom, all the while guarding his heart from love as he had seen what it had done to his father, loving Zufar's mother, who hadn't loved his father or her children in return.
Neisha grows from a shy, timid woman to a kind, regal queen. She also has a mysterious past, in which she is an orphan, but can't remember her family. She eventually finds out that she was born a princess in a neighboring country and has to make the decision to rule there as queen or fight for her marriage to her aloof, reserved husband.
This book was just okay. Zufar was cold and aloof throughout almost the whole book. I didn't feel much chemistry between the main characters. It was really only the last 30 pages or so where you got to know his feelings for Neisha, which didn't seem very realistic. And it was only the last 10-15 pages where he let those feelings show for her.
There was only 1 smex scene between them (the few in the epilogue were off page) and it was okay. I realize this is a Harlequin romance, but I've read far steamier smex scenes in other Harlequin books.
Overall, it wasn't a bad read. I just didn't feel any chemistry between Zufar and Neisha and there was very little romance between them. It would have been better to get his pov more throughout the book and see him gradually warming up to her. I can't understand romances where the H has to act cold and aloof throughout a book and then only realize in the last few pages how much he loves the h and doesn't want to lose her. 🤷♀️ I'm all for angst, but I'd like some romance and the Hero to warm up a lot earlier in the book.
If you like sheikh romances, give the book a try, but it just didn't do it for me. Still, the writing was good.