Bride Behind the Desert Veil

The Marchetti Dynasty #3

by Abby Green

This sheikh is in for a surprise when he meets his new bride, in this marriage of convenience romance by USA TODAY bestselling author Abby Green.

The stranger at the altar…
Is the woman he was meant to forget!

Sharif Marchetti is deliberate. Controlled. Especially in his strategic choice of a royal bride. So after surrendering to his instincts with a mystery woman, he must erase their desert encounter from his memory. Until they meet a second time…moments before they exchange wedding vows!

Princess Aaliyah Mansour is stunned that her arranged marriage is with the man who’d stirred her soul. She was prepared for a union that left her independence and defenses intact. Not a jet-set lifestyle with a husband who’s the ultimate distraction…

From Harlequin Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds.

Read all The Marchetti Dynasty
Book 1: The Maid’s Best Kept Secret
Book 2: The Innocent Behind the Scandal
Book 3: Bride Behind the Desert Veil

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

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published March 30, 2021

About the author

Abby Green spent her teens reading Mills & Boon romances. She then spent many years working in the Film and TV industry as an Assistant Director. One day while standing outside an actor's trailer in the rain, she thought: "there has to be more than this". So she sent off a partial to Mills & Boon. After numerous rewrites, they accepted her first book and an author was born.
She lives in Dublin, Ireland and you can find out more here www.abby-green.com

Reviews

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm really bummed that this heroine wasn't a virgin. Still they were a hot couple. The evolution of their relationship was nice. I liked the way they progressed as a couple. It was a decent book but not my favorite Abby Green book.

[Somia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light and fluffy read.

Luckily the male lead isn't a epic douchebag, although he is emotionally constipated at the start of this.

The heroine's dad sounded horrid and very neglectful, wish had gotten what he deserved.

99p on amazon.

[Bree Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
This was so good! This book has a lot! Rich, revenge driven hero. Marriage of convenience. A Princess who steps up to take the place in a marriage so her little sister can marry the man she wants to. A passionate night between two strangers. It had a bunch of moving parts that made this read fun, glamorous, very romantic and so sexy. Happy this was my first Abby Green!

[Raffaella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hero and heroine have a ons and they don’t even know their names. The night is the best sex ever for both, of course. When H wakes up she’s already gone and the same day he marries his bride of convenience that he has never met before and of course she’s his mysterious woman. He’s angry because he thinks she knew who he was, and since he only wants a MOC for six months he doesn’t want to have sex with her any more even if she makes him hard at ten foot distance. Very smart this hero. Of course he gives up and they have hot and magic sex, agreeing that it’s only sex (but yes, very much, we believe you) she falls for him but the very smart and intelligent hero accuses her of betraying him and leaves. She goes back to her country and after one month the genius comes back to her, having found out that she was not the one to betray him. All is well. But not for me, not for meeeeee! Because:
-the hero was too cold and aloof for most part of the book, I did not feel all that chemistry nor any love at all.
- the hero is ready to accuse the heroine without any evidence, and this was really unacceptable.
- he came back only because he found evidence of her innocence, that means that he would have never forgiven her.
-the heroine is too ready to forgive him and to take him back. I’d like a little more groveling.
- I’m not interested in the heroine’s virginity but I don’t understand why heroines who are not virgin must have had awful experiences, often only one very bad or unsatisfactory experience, while heroes have had always great sex. Why can’t they have one or more good experience? In this one she lost her virginity with a boy for a bet, who disappointed her and traumatized her.
- one thing I noticed in many modern romances is that beauty standards are often those of models, but I disagree. Models can be ornamental but they are often too skinny and don’t correspond to standard beauty: in modern star system most of pop singers, actresses and socialites are not skinny at all so I don’t understand why all this fixation on skinny girls being the best. They are not fashionable any more. And the description of the heroine, tall, with curves, long curly hair, olive skin and green eyes, well I think she would be considered gorgeous everywhere in the world, Europe Asia America and all, it’s a little bit hard to believe she was bullied for her skin tone or her height. Whatever, IMO.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed the storyline and the characters. This was a well constructed novel and the editing was great! I enjoyed the h and was surprised that she was no doormat. The H was the emotionally repressed, revenge filled, uber rich dude who only existed, he did not 'live.' The h was the unfortunate daughter who blamed HER for looking like her mother who he loved to extreme. He showed no affection for his daughter and only humiliated and used her at every opportunity.

The resulting marriage of convenience started the healing process for them both and the H actually developed a heart and soul. Their romance was hard won and all of the feels were there.

[EuroHackie]

Though I appreciated the uniquely HP setup (an anonymous one night stand/final fling between two strangers who discover the next day during their arranged marriage ceremony that they are now married to their dream lover from the night before), ultimately this wasn't for me. The "hero" was way to Old Skool for my tastes: he immediately thinks the worst about the heroine after discovering that he's married her - she obviously set out to seduce him For Reasons and he certainly can't have that; she's an idiot socialite who led a trashy life in Europe and she can't do that if she's to be married to him, etc. He is quite cruel to her For Reasons and is more focused on destroying his father's legacy, until he's overcome with lust and suddenly she's a convenient receptacle for his desire.

The heroine wasn't much better. She's a complete pushover; she takes her half-sister's place at the last minute during the wedding ceremony because this is the only person in her immediate family who's ever shown any kindness to her. She just takes what the "hero" dishes at her because she doesn't think she deserves better, and she welcomes his amorous advances because she's so love-starved and pathetic. I just couldn't take anymore of their lusty interludes because they are so ill-matched in every other score. How are they going to build an actual relationship with each other? I didn't stick around to find out, because ugh.

I did enjoy the author's prose enough to want to give her another try, but this one is going on the PBS pile. All those people who lament HP changing from its old school glory days of asshole heros and pushover heroines would be delighted with this one. It's still out here, ladies, if you just look hard enough!

[Melody Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I am placing it on my reread list.

[Harlequin Books]

Categories
Contemporary Romance, Multicultural & Interracial Romance
Miniseries
The Marchetti Dynasty (Book #3)

[Susan in Perthshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Final book in the series and I loved it. The author manages to creat three completely different stories but each one is emotionally engaging, beautifully written and really enjoyable. I loved all 3 but perhaps this and number one one have the edge. Highly recommended.

[Carmelita Clardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great finish

This is the 3rd and final book in the series. It didn’t disappoint. The h and H had a marriage of convenience, they had a one night stand right before their wedding, they had never seen each other. The H wanted revenge against his deceased father because his father had betrayed his mother. The h was very sweet, kind and beautiful, she was neglected by her family. They were able to find their way to each other. Great ending to the series.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

2nd time I've read this

I love the way this story unfolds. This one is indeed my favourite of the Mills and Boons catalogue! lol... the image of an independent freedom loving woman with a falcon and horse won't leave me! And Sharif just floors me :-D

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

[Lori Ritondale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read!

Love the conclusion to this series. Alpha male,pretty quiet book nerd and intense attraction. The Oasis chapter was awesome! Definitely a must read!

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cracking read that ticks all the boxes. Sexy, smart, and with a hero and heroine you can't help rooting for. Loved it!

[Brenda Pou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story

I have read Abby Greens stories for a very long time. She never disappoints.
I enjoyed this story very much.

[Sireli R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked Liyah but that was about it. Maybe the ending as well.

[Mary Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written, not cloying or trite as some harlequins can seem.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was excellent. Like a romantic fairytale from beginning to end. I want more just like this.

[RomLibrary]

The stranger at the altar…
Is the woman he was meant to forget!

Sharif Marchetti is deliberate. Controlled. Especially in his strategic choice of a royal bride. So after surrendering to his instincts with a mystery woman, he must erase their desert encounter from his memory. Until they meet a second time…moments before they exchange wedding vows!

Princess Aaliyah Mansour is stunned that her arranged marriage is with the man who’d stirred her soul. She was prepared for a union that left her independence and defenses intact. Not a jet-set lifestyle with a husband who’s the ultimate distraction…

[ck8 · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75*

Great book to wrap up this series.