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Innocent's Desert Wedding Contract
A sheikh, his innocent…and their desert wedding deal! USA TODAY bestselling author Heidi Rice is stirring up plenty of drama in this royal marriage of convenience romance!
A practical agreement…
An indisputable desire!Sheikh Karim needs a fiancée in order to avoid royal retribution from his tyrant father. Orla Calhoun needs to save her family’s legendary stud farm. The “no sex” clause of their contract should make things simple…if they can contain their simmering chemistry!
Orla’s rich-girl reputation belies years of hard work and her most protected she’s a virgin! That’s never been an issue, until the intense attraction between her and Karim refuses to subside. That attraction becomes unavoidable when duty calls Karim—and his bride-to-be—back to Zafar…
From Harlequin. Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds.
A practical agreement…
An indisputable desire!Sheikh Karim needs a fiancée in order to avoid royal retribution from his tyrant father. Orla Calhoun needs to save her family’s legendary stud farm. The “no sex” clause of their contract should make things simple…if they can contain their simmering chemistry!
Orla’s rich-girl reputation belies years of hard work and her most protected she’s a virgin! That’s never been an issue, until the intense attraction between her and Karim refuses to subside. That attraction becomes unavoidable when duty calls Karim—and his bride-to-be—back to Zafar…
From Harlequin. Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2021
61 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Heidi Rice
600 books412 followersMy name's Heidi Rice, I'm a USA Today Bestselling author. I'm married with two sons (which gives me rather too much of an insight into the male psyche!).
I love my job because it involves sitting down at my computer and getting swept up in a world of high emotions, sensual excitement, funny feisty women, sexy tortured men and glamourous locations where laundry doesn't exist ...
I also tutor a 14-week in-depth online Write a Romance Novel course. So, if you have ever wanted to learn how to write romance from a bestselling author, check it out here: www.profwritingacademy.com/course/wri...
Now I believe wholeheartedly that readers should give honest and open reviews on Goodreads and Amazon and elsewhere. If you didn't like a book you are entitled to say so (even if it's mine! ouch). But you may notice that none of my book reviews are less than four-stars. That's simply because as an author myself I know how pathetically sensitive I am about bad reviews and with that in mind I prefer to spread the love among other authors — and don't do public reviews of books I didn't like. Just thought I'd clarify that!
You can find out about my latest releases and all my other books at www.heidi-rice.com
I love my job because it involves sitting down at my computer and getting swept up in a world of high emotions, sensual excitement, funny feisty women, sexy tortured men and glamourous locations where laundry doesn't exist ...
I also tutor a 14-week in-depth online Write a Romance Novel course. So, if you have ever wanted to learn how to write romance from a bestselling author, check it out here: www.profwritingacademy.com/course/wri...
Now I believe wholeheartedly that readers should give honest and open reviews on Goodreads and Amazon and elsewhere. If you didn't like a book you are entitled to say so (even if it's mine! ouch). But you may notice that none of my book reviews are less than four-stars. That's simply because as an author myself I know how pathetically sensitive I am about bad reviews and with that in mind I prefer to spread the love among other authors — and don't do public reviews of books I didn't like. Just thought I'd clarify that!
You can find out about my latest releases and all my other books at www.heidi-rice.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
July 30, 2024
Before I begin, let me take the opportunity to wish you all a belated Happy New Year, especially the pet lovers, whose furry babies make life easier during these stressful times...
🥂🍾🎊🎉🥂🍾🎊🎉🥂🍾🎊🎉🥂🍾🎊🎉🥂🍾🎊
4.5 stars.
An engaging, angsty, sensual, passionate, emotional and sexy, slow burn romantic romp written with a lot of heart, by an author who shows, as well as tells, the story of an arrogant, brooding, lusty and closed off alpha male H who fights his romantic destiny to the very end.
If it's one thing that Heidi Rice knows how to do well, it's her heroes. She's cornered modern HPlandia's market in brooding, tortured hotties. And she's especially skilled at creating the sexiest desert sheikhs/princes.
I never know if I want to kiss them, comfort them, just stare at them or climb 'em like a tree 😉.
And in this escapist romantic story, Karim Khan joins the list of my favourite desert hunks.
This is the H, Karim:
She already knew Karim Khan was stupidly handsome. She’d studied enough photographs of him...But the photos had not done him justice. In the flesh, and up close, and even without the luxury of a stylist, the man was quite simply breathtaking.
And because he's sooo hot, here's more:
Karim's paired with an adorable, humble, hardworking, horse loving, tomboy heroine named Orla.
This is Orla:
She hadn’t had money for new clothes in years. Plus she lived in boots and jeans and T-shirts to work with the horses, and was already wearing her best clothing.
Karim's estranged father has been trying to pressure him to marry and produce heirs. The H, who's the Crown Prince of Zafar, loathes his abusive, corrupt, bullying, wife beating dad and refuses to be trapped or coerced into matrimony.
Orla provides a solution to the H's problem: he'll purchase her bankrupt Irish stud farm and clear her debts in exchange for her pretending to be his fiancee. She's not willing, at first, despite her instant attraction to him. But she's not in a position to refuse...
Their first meeting is quite dramatic and sexy, because the H turns up unexpectedly and is stunned to find a half naked redhead cleaning up in the stables...
The reader's able to feel the sexual tension in the atmosphere, and this is something that permeates this slow burn romance. These MC's don't consummate their relationship until the final quarter of the story, but the reader's always aware of the sexual chemistry.
Many authors can't accomplish this when writing slow burn romances and end up producing dry, boring drivel that's a trial to finish reading. That's because the reader loses interest in slow burn romances, if the storytelling's dull and it seems like there's nothing spectacular to look forward to.
However, in this story, I was totally eager for these two to seal the deal and enjoyed the scorching, slow burn build up from the time they meet to their consummation scene. It's akin to how fans of The Vampire Diaries felt when bad boy Damon finally got together with Elena. The anticipation was just as sexy as the eventual sex.
Karim tried really hard to ignore the heroine and to fight his insane attraction to her. He couldn't even understand or explain it, because she wasn't his usual type:
And he had the answer to a question he hadn’t even acknowledged... Avoiding her hadn’t worked, if anything it had only made the hunger, and the inexplicable emotions that went with it—jealousy, envy, need—all the more volatile.
He still thought he was coping fairly well too, until he saw her, in her ball gown, after her makeover and couldn't stop staring...
But the minute she’d heard the gruff whisper behind her, and turned to see Karim standing staring at her in the vestibule, that intense gaze making her skin prickle and pulse beneath the sheer fabric of the glittery gown, she’d known something was terribly wrong. Because he didn’t look pleased, he looked...
Volatile.
His movements and his demeanour had been stiff and formal ever since, as if he were trying to hold onto his temper.
This brings out the possessive, jealous alpha within the H, especially when Patrick, her former fiance, manhandles her on the dance floor. The angry, jealous H plans his own retribution too:
Patrick Quinn was going to regret touching her. Quinn and his whole damn family, when he buried their business.
Things become more complicated when the MC's are propelled into an unexpected, emergency wedding after the H's dad dies and he becomes the new king. By this time, they're both deeply attached to each other but trying hard to fight it. The H intends to annul the marriage and decides not to sleep with Orla but sexual chemistry has a power of its own:
He was behaving like a madman, the way he had at the ball. But he couldn’t wait any longer to get this damn desire out of his system.
And boy, did he do that, because their sex scene was worth the wait. It's sensual, mildly erotic and very sexy, without being crude, repetitive or mechanical. Not many authors can write beautiful and tasteful sex scenes, so this was a joy to read.
There's no separation in this novel, because the MC's sort out their problems before the heroine could return to the UK. The heroine's instrumental in helping him deal with a traumatic, childhood memory he'd been repressing for decades. And the change in the H's demeanour, was almost cathartic. It's like he became a different man, after being released from the burdens of those horrible memories.
A huge plus, in this novel, was a couple of detailed cameo appearances from the MC's ( and their kids ) from 2 of my fav Heidi Rice books: Carrying the Sheikh's Baby and Claimed for the Desert Prince's Heir.
Their cameo appearances were a cause for celebration !
Hmnnn... I need to teach my puppy, Frederika, to dance like this adorable Brazilian doggo.
It was awesome and heart-warming to discover what Zane, Catherine, Raif and Kasia have been up to. Man, there was so much hunky hotness in one room, when these 2 guys were interacting with Karim. I confess I re-read that part, before going on to the epilogue 😊.
And in case anyone is curious, Zane is still my favourite desert hunk, even though his oldest child is almost a teenager. Some men are like fine wine: they get better with age 😉. And Raif, from Claimed for the Desert Prince's Heir, is the dad of 2 pairs of twins ! But the poor man loves it and has learned to chill out and stop brooding so much.
I decided to give this novel a 4.5 rating, because:
1. I had a huge smile on my face when I finished reading it.
2. I wasn't bored at any point in the story.
3. Both MC's were compelling, sympathetic and didn't come across as HPlandia cardboard cutouts.
4. The cameo appearances from the MC's of 2 old favourite HR novels. It makes me want to go and read those books again.
5. A sweet, quirky and lovely epilogue where the H is ecstatic to hear that he's going to be a dad in 8 months' time.
6. The author's storytelling skills were on point. Her prose was impressive and she amped up the sexual tension between the MC's, in a way that kept me glued to the story.
7. I read this right after Lucy Monroe's new book, After the Billionaire's Wedding Vows... and it was so much more romantic and filled with the type of escapism that I love. I don't like to overrate books, by comparing them to others but I just couldn't help it, in this specific instance. LM's book was a bit of a disappointment, but I'll summon the energy and review it later tonight.
8. I was listening to Loreena McKennitt's album Lost Souls a few times while reading this book and maybe the beautiful background music just enhanced the storytelling because it was a wonderful reading experience. So, I don't know... maybe other readers might have a slightly different experience...
I'm wondering about 2 minor characters, though: Dervla, the heroine's adorable, chatterbox little sister and a mysterious upper crust Toff named Piers Devereaux.
One wonders if they'll get their own books in the future ...🤔
Safety: No OW, a former OM ( heroine's former fiance ), no separation and no cheating. The OM's role was just to infuriate the H and drive him crazy with jealousy 😂.
🥂🍾🎊🎉🥂🍾🎊🎉🥂🍾🎊🎉🥂🍾🎊🎉🥂🍾🎊
4.5 stars.
An engaging, angsty, sensual, passionate, emotional and sexy, slow burn romantic romp written with a lot of heart, by an author who shows, as well as tells, the story of an arrogant, brooding, lusty and closed off alpha male H who fights his romantic destiny to the very end.
If it's one thing that Heidi Rice knows how to do well, it's her heroes. She's cornered modern HPlandia's market in brooding, tortured hotties. And she's especially skilled at creating the sexiest desert sheikhs/princes.
I never know if I want to kiss them, comfort them, just stare at them or climb 'em like a tree 😉.
And in this escapist romantic story, Karim Khan joins the list of my favourite desert hunks.
This is the H, Karim:
She already knew Karim Khan was stupidly handsome. She’d studied enough photographs of him...But the photos had not done him justice. In the flesh, and up close, and even without the luxury of a stylist, the man was quite simply breathtaking.
And because he's sooo hot, here's more:
Karim's paired with an adorable, humble, hardworking, horse loving, tomboy heroine named Orla.
This is Orla:
She hadn’t had money for new clothes in years. Plus she lived in boots and jeans and T-shirts to work with the horses, and was already wearing her best clothing.
Karim's estranged father has been trying to pressure him to marry and produce heirs. The H, who's the Crown Prince of Zafar, loathes his abusive, corrupt, bullying, wife beating dad and refuses to be trapped or coerced into matrimony.
Orla provides a solution to the H's problem: he'll purchase her bankrupt Irish stud farm and clear her debts in exchange for her pretending to be his fiancee. She's not willing, at first, despite her instant attraction to him. But she's not in a position to refuse...
Their first meeting is quite dramatic and sexy, because the H turns up unexpectedly and is stunned to find a half naked redhead cleaning up in the stables...
The reader's able to feel the sexual tension in the atmosphere, and this is something that permeates this slow burn romance. These MC's don't consummate their relationship until the final quarter of the story, but the reader's always aware of the sexual chemistry.
Many authors can't accomplish this when writing slow burn romances and end up producing dry, boring drivel that's a trial to finish reading. That's because the reader loses interest in slow burn romances, if the storytelling's dull and it seems like there's nothing spectacular to look forward to.
However, in this story, I was totally eager for these two to seal the deal and enjoyed the scorching, slow burn build up from the time they meet to their consummation scene. It's akin to how fans of The Vampire Diaries felt when bad boy Damon finally got together with Elena. The anticipation was just as sexy as the eventual sex.
Karim tried really hard to ignore the heroine and to fight his insane attraction to her. He couldn't even understand or explain it, because she wasn't his usual type:
And he had the answer to a question he hadn’t even acknowledged... Avoiding her hadn’t worked, if anything it had only made the hunger, and the inexplicable emotions that went with it—jealousy, envy, need—all the more volatile.
He still thought he was coping fairly well too, until he saw her, in her ball gown, after her makeover and couldn't stop staring...
But the minute she’d heard the gruff whisper behind her, and turned to see Karim standing staring at her in the vestibule, that intense gaze making her skin prickle and pulse beneath the sheer fabric of the glittery gown, she’d known something was terribly wrong. Because he didn’t look pleased, he looked...
Volatile.
His movements and his demeanour had been stiff and formal ever since, as if he were trying to hold onto his temper.
This brings out the possessive, jealous alpha within the H, especially when Patrick, her former fiance, manhandles her on the dance floor. The angry, jealous H plans his own retribution too:
Patrick Quinn was going to regret touching her. Quinn and his whole damn family, when he buried their business.
Things become more complicated when the MC's are propelled into an unexpected, emergency wedding after the H's dad dies and he becomes the new king. By this time, they're both deeply attached to each other but trying hard to fight it. The H intends to annul the marriage and decides not to sleep with Orla but sexual chemistry has a power of its own:
He was behaving like a madman, the way he had at the ball. But he couldn’t wait any longer to get this damn desire out of his system.
And boy, did he do that, because their sex scene was worth the wait. It's sensual, mildly erotic and very sexy, without being crude, repetitive or mechanical. Not many authors can write beautiful and tasteful sex scenes, so this was a joy to read.
There's no separation in this novel, because the MC's sort out their problems before the heroine could return to the UK. The heroine's instrumental in helping him deal with a traumatic, childhood memory he'd been repressing for decades. And the change in the H's demeanour, was almost cathartic. It's like he became a different man, after being released from the burdens of those horrible memories.
A huge plus, in this novel, was a couple of detailed cameo appearances from the MC's ( and their kids ) from 2 of my fav Heidi Rice books: Carrying the Sheikh's Baby and Claimed for the Desert Prince's Heir.
Their cameo appearances were a cause for celebration !
Hmnnn... I need to teach my puppy, Frederika, to dance like this adorable Brazilian doggo.
It was awesome and heart-warming to discover what Zane, Catherine, Raif and Kasia have been up to. Man, there was so much hunky hotness in one room, when these 2 guys were interacting with Karim. I confess I re-read that part, before going on to the epilogue 😊.
And in case anyone is curious, Zane is still my favourite desert hunk, even though his oldest child is almost a teenager. Some men are like fine wine: they get better with age 😉. And Raif, from Claimed for the Desert Prince's Heir, is the dad of 2 pairs of twins ! But the poor man loves it and has learned to chill out and stop brooding so much.
I decided to give this novel a 4.5 rating, because:
1. I had a huge smile on my face when I finished reading it.
2. I wasn't bored at any point in the story.
3. Both MC's were compelling, sympathetic and didn't come across as HPlandia cardboard cutouts.
4. The cameo appearances from the MC's of 2 old favourite HR novels. It makes me want to go and read those books again.
5. A sweet, quirky and lovely epilogue where the H is ecstatic to hear that he's going to be a dad in 8 months' time.
6. The author's storytelling skills were on point. Her prose was impressive and she amped up the sexual tension between the MC's, in a way that kept me glued to the story.
7. I read this right after Lucy Monroe's new book, After the Billionaire's Wedding Vows... and it was so much more romantic and filled with the type of escapism that I love. I don't like to overrate books, by comparing them to others but I just couldn't help it, in this specific instance. LM's book was a bit of a disappointment, but I'll summon the energy and review it later tonight.
8. I was listening to Loreena McKennitt's album Lost Souls a few times while reading this book and maybe the beautiful background music just enhanced the storytelling because it was a wonderful reading experience. So, I don't know... maybe other readers might have a slightly different experience...
I'm wondering about 2 minor characters, though: Dervla, the heroine's adorable, chatterbox little sister and a mysterious upper crust Toff named Piers Devereaux.
One wonders if they'll get their own books in the future ...🤔
Safety: No OW, a former OM ( heroine's former fiance ), no separation and no cheating. The OM's role was just to infuriate the H and drive him crazy with jealousy 😂.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2021
Very enjoyable angsty read ,the sexual tension was SO HIGH , loved it when a nice sweet h brings a damaged H to his knees 🥰 epilogue was so heartwarming and cute ❤
Great job HR 👍
Great job HR 👍
February 23, 2021
"Innocent's Desert Wedding Contract" is the story of Orla and Karim.
Hero is a unwilling Sheikh, filled with childhood traumas and having a distaste for the m word. When his father tries to blackmail him into marriage, he decides to take matters into his own hand. His plan to buy a legendary stud farm turns into something else, when he enters into a bargain with the owner, our heroine. He explains he needs a fiancé in name only, but as this a romance novel things change, feelings get involve, a marriage DOES take place, a lot of pushing away and drama happens leading to a healing of scars and a HEA.
The heroine was very trusting and the hero wasn't a meanie.
Good one time read.
Safe
3/5
Hero is a unwilling Sheikh, filled with childhood traumas and having a distaste for the m word. When his father tries to blackmail him into marriage, he decides to take matters into his own hand. His plan to buy a legendary stud farm turns into something else, when he enters into a bargain with the owner, our heroine. He explains he needs a fiancé in name only, but as this a romance novel things change, feelings get involve, a marriage DOES take place, a lot of pushing away and drama happens leading to a healing of scars and a HEA.
The heroine was very trusting and the hero wasn't a meanie.
Good one time read.
Safe
3/5
February 16, 2021
I think I just wasn’t really in the right frame of mind to read this book.
Plot was decent and character development good. But I for some reason struggled with their romance, wasn’t feeling it.
Plot was decent and character development good. But I for some reason struggled with their romance, wasn’t feeling it.
January 26, 2021
It was very good, very slow burned and again childhood travmas were the cause of all the problems!
January 6, 2021
4.5 stars
Loved this book. Sweet and angsty. Loved Orla & Karim, more so Orla. She's a good mix of sweet, feistiness and caring. Loved how she took whatever came her way positively & tried to make the best of the situation. Also loved the sweet little gestures like sending Karim little notes in this day of latest technology to tell him she supported whatever may be his decision regarding them. Karim was the kind of hero I like --deliciously sexy, arrogant and stubbornly fighting not to fall in love. Loved the epilogue too.
Why not 5 stars? Would have loved the separation to be a bit more angsty and utter desperation and regret on Karim's part. I like to be choked a little to tears angst. Well, that's me
Overall, an enjoyable read.
Loved this book. Sweet and angsty. Loved Orla & Karim, more so Orla. She's a good mix of sweet, feistiness and caring. Loved how she took whatever came her way positively & tried to make the best of the situation. Also loved the sweet little gestures like sending Karim little notes in this day of latest technology to tell him she supported whatever may be his decision regarding them. Karim was the kind of hero I like --deliciously sexy, arrogant and stubbornly fighting not to fall in love. Loved the epilogue too.
Why not 5 stars? Would have loved the separation to be a bit more angsty and utter desperation and regret on Karim's part. I like to be choked a little to tears angst. Well, that's me
Overall, an enjoyable read.
January 7, 2021
Like my friend Carmen said this is a slow burn romance. It is romantic and passionate though and both hero and heroine are loving people. I am not really a fan of the desert king theme though and the love scene happened towards the end of the book. Epilogue was adorable!
May 22, 2021
Nicely balanced engagement of convenience story.
Heroine is shy and out of her depth at the beginning and then begins to feel compassion for the mixed-up hero. Hero treats her like an employee at first, but then begins to feel protective of her. It's a very enjoyable, *romantic* character progression for both the H/h. I truly believed in their HEA.
You could say I was almost "uplifted." Lol.
Ivy has all the details in her excellent review.
Heroine is shy and out of her depth at the beginning and then begins to feel compassion for the mixed-up hero. Hero treats her like an employee at first, but then begins to feel protective of her. It's a very enjoyable, *romantic* character progression for both the H/h. I truly believed in their HEA.
You could say I was almost "uplifted." Lol.
Ivy has all the details in her excellent review.
October 22, 2023
What I liked:
Slow burn ✅
Emotional angst✅
Sexual tension ✅
Engagement of convenience ✅
As much as I enjoyed this, the story also felt incomplete to me. Some characters made appearances in the beginning and then dropped without explanation never to be mentioned again *sigh*
Slow burn ✅
Emotional angst✅
Sexual tension ✅
Engagement of convenience ✅
As much as I enjoyed this, the story also felt incomplete to me. Some characters made appearances in the beginning and then dropped without explanation never to be mentioned again *sigh*
March 1, 2021
A slow burn romance; or as much as HP can be slow burn, although story itself was fast paced with good characters
I admire the way this author managed to write a politically correct and decent alpha H; which is a challenge in itself. This H is neither beta nor a stupid, inconsiderate manwhore alpha jerk
h is a sweet and hard working woman without being stupid or a pushover
And I really appreciate the way the author managed to convey their relationship with scorching chemistry without sex thrown in the beginning; this happens much later by which point they have built a believable relationship ... and the author has written an actual story rather than filling pages with mindless sex
totally enjoyed reading this book ...
I admire the way this author managed to write a politically correct and decent alpha H; which is a challenge in itself. This H is neither beta nor a stupid, inconsiderate manwhore alpha jerk
h is a sweet and hard working woman without being stupid or a pushover
And I really appreciate the way the author managed to convey their relationship with scorching chemistry without sex thrown in the beginning; this happens much later by which point they have built a believable relationship ... and the author has written an actual story rather than filling pages with mindless sex
totally enjoyed reading this book ...
January 27, 2021
Review 3.5 Star
I am a huge Heidi Rice fan, however, this story was just okay. I struggled between three and four stars.
The hero was a bit hard to take. What troubled me the most was the slow momentum of the story as it felt as though it drug throughout.
I am a huge Heidi Rice fan, however, this story was just okay. I struggled between three and four stars.
The hero was a bit hard to take. What troubled me the most was the slow momentum of the story as it felt as though it drug throughout.
April 8, 2021
note to myself: check if dane and dervla will have their own book.
February 21, 2022
Nice story ✔️
January 12, 2021
Heidi Rice is one of my favourite Mills and Boon authors: she creates fabulous plots, interesting characters and executes her tropes beautifully. She certainly delivered the goods once more, with this delectable and satisfying tale of Karim and Orla.
Everything about this story was perfect for me. Orla is the manager of her family’s Irish stud farm which is being sold. Karim is the Crown Prince of a desert kingdom run by his awful father. To avoid being forced into a political marriage he doesn’t want, he persuades Orla to pretend to be his fiancée in return for a generous settlement on the Stud Farm.
Heidi’s prose is always brilliant and the story engages you from the first sentence right through to the epilogue. The sexual tension is ramped up slowly and we are a fair way into the story before the couple exchange much more than some very steamy kisses. It’s the development of their relationship on other levels which keeps you tied in and wanting more. Orla is a virgin but she is intelligent, feisty, intelligent, pragmatic and loyal. She acknowledges the attraction between herself and Karim and there’s no pretending that she isn’t. I loved Orla. Heidi Rice creates equally attractive and engaging heroes and heroines in her books and Karim is one of her best. He’s held back from love because of his parents experiences which badly damaged him and it is wonderful to watch how Orla’s love redeems him and helps him move forward to a place where he can both accept and receive love.
The epilogue was delicious!
One of the great things about this book was the appearance of characters from 2 previous books and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing what they were now up to.
Good romantic fiction is a joy at any time, but books like this in the current climate are simply pure escapist joy. 5 stars.
Everything about this story was perfect for me. Orla is the manager of her family’s Irish stud farm which is being sold. Karim is the Crown Prince of a desert kingdom run by his awful father. To avoid being forced into a political marriage he doesn’t want, he persuades Orla to pretend to be his fiancée in return for a generous settlement on the Stud Farm.
Heidi’s prose is always brilliant and the story engages you from the first sentence right through to the epilogue. The sexual tension is ramped up slowly and we are a fair way into the story before the couple exchange much more than some very steamy kisses. It’s the development of their relationship on other levels which keeps you tied in and wanting more. Orla is a virgin but she is intelligent, feisty, intelligent, pragmatic and loyal. She acknowledges the attraction between herself and Karim and there’s no pretending that she isn’t. I loved Orla. Heidi Rice creates equally attractive and engaging heroes and heroines in her books and Karim is one of her best. He’s held back from love because of his parents experiences which badly damaged him and it is wonderful to watch how Orla’s love redeems him and helps him move forward to a place where he can both accept and receive love.
The epilogue was delicious!
One of the great things about this book was the appearance of characters from 2 previous books and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing what they were now up to.
Good romantic fiction is a joy at any time, but books like this in the current climate are simply pure escapist joy. 5 stars.
January 7, 2021
Lovely story with a likeable couple. Not as angsty as I expected it to be, but a great read overall.
January 17, 2021
A desert sheikh story where the h and H get into a MOC to serve their interests. Karim is a prince and offers to buy Orla’s dilapidating stud farm in exchange for a faux engagement.
This story’s been done to death and wasn’t anything to write home about. Scene 1 featuring Orla and Karim was smoking hot and I wish HR kept that pace. Karim was a hot lover and their chemistry was ranking but the monologues crushed it to death. I wish there were more dialogues between the h and H as opposed to lengthy pages after pages of foreground and background noise.
Karim has some sad family history and was a slight too soft at one point. I loved how he was possessive of Orla but tbh I was left hankering for more at the end of it all. Orla was sweet but wasn’t given much screen space. Nice but long read.
This story’s been done to death and wasn’t anything to write home about. Scene 1 featuring Orla and Karim was smoking hot and I wish HR kept that pace. Karim was a hot lover and their chemistry was ranking but the monologues crushed it to death. I wish there were more dialogues between the h and H as opposed to lengthy pages after pages of foreground and background noise.
Karim has some sad family history and was a slight too soft at one point. I loved how he was possessive of Orla but tbh I was left hankering for more at the end of it all. Orla was sweet but wasn’t given much screen space. Nice but long read.
February 1, 2021
Firstly, can I just say, the cover itself deserves its own bright and shiny star.
A wonderful start sets the tone to an adventure in true Heidi Rice fashion. I love the way she is able to craft a story which keeps you thoroughly engaged while the brilliant blend of story and dialogue weaving through the emotion and adventure is pure gold.
Orla is the star that shines. She is a brilliant blend of everything; smart, beautiful, kind and feisty. Her passion to save her family’s horse farm has the potential to land her in a whole heap of trouble when she faces the instant attraction to the exceptionally good-looking Crown Prince Karim.
Innocent’s Desert Wedding Contract is the fake fiancée plot theme done right. The character and story development are clever and thoroughly entertaining. The romance shone through and the gradual build to the conclusion was enhanced by the skillful portrayal of Orla and Karim, the divine locations and the interesting backstory. The epilogue was what you always want an epilogue to be like and Karim’s humour shone though.
Lovely story, thank you Heidi Rice.
A wonderful start sets the tone to an adventure in true Heidi Rice fashion. I love the way she is able to craft a story which keeps you thoroughly engaged while the brilliant blend of story and dialogue weaving through the emotion and adventure is pure gold.
Orla is the star that shines. She is a brilliant blend of everything; smart, beautiful, kind and feisty. Her passion to save her family’s horse farm has the potential to land her in a whole heap of trouble when she faces the instant attraction to the exceptionally good-looking Crown Prince Karim.
Innocent’s Desert Wedding Contract is the fake fiancée plot theme done right. The character and story development are clever and thoroughly entertaining. The romance shone through and the gradual build to the conclusion was enhanced by the skillful portrayal of Orla and Karim, the divine locations and the interesting backstory. The epilogue was what you always want an epilogue to be like and Karim’s humour shone though.
Lovely story, thank you Heidi Rice.
September 18, 2021
4.5 stats but absloutely GOLD , Heidi Rice you are my favourite lady author when it come to Arab Heroes , Kasia & Raif/Kasim are still my favourite couple though I haven't finished their story yet .
Thanks Ivy H for the wonderful review and pics .
Thanks Ivy H for the wonderful review and pics .
February 10, 2021
Cute book
I love arranged marriage books! The Story was cute and I love stories set in Ireland and the Middle East. 🥰
I love arranged marriage books! The Story was cute and I love stories set in Ireland and the Middle East. 🥰
March 16, 2022
An indisputable desire!
Sheikh Karim needs a fiancée in order to avoid royal retribution from his tyrant father. Orla Calhoun needs to save her family’s legendary stud farm. The “no sex” clause of their contract should make things simple…if they can contain their simmering chemistry!
Orla’s rich-girl reputation belies years of hard work and her most protected secret: she’s a virgin! That’s never been an issue, until the intense attraction between her and Karim refuses to subside. That attraction becomes unavoidable when duty calls Karim—and his bride-to-be—back to Zafar…
Sheikh Karim needs a fiancée in order to avoid royal retribution from his tyrant father. Orla Calhoun needs to save her family’s legendary stud farm. The “no sex” clause of their contract should make things simple…if they can contain their simmering chemistry!
Orla’s rich-girl reputation belies years of hard work and her most protected secret: she’s a virgin! That’s never been an issue, until the intense attraction between her and Karim refuses to subside. That attraction becomes unavoidable when duty calls Karim—and his bride-to-be—back to Zafar…
March 19, 2021
This is the 2nd book I have read of Heidi Rice’s in less than 24 hours and I really want to get home and start a 3rd.
Once again the feelings and angst are there along with a good dose of sexiness.
I am a huge fan of alpha cruel heroes, revenge plots, and a spiteful OW(Lynne Graham, Diana Palmer, Penny Jordan just to name a few) However, you will not get that with this book and you will not miss it!! I also like that we get both the hero and heroine’s POV.
The hero in this book is not cruel. He is damaged to the point that he can’t afford anymore pain. So he builds walls,makes money, and has sex for physical pleasure and release. He doesn’t pretend to be anything else. His parents marriage was short lived, and dysfunctional.
The heroine, however, came from a family where love was modeled on a daily basis. The death of her mom devastating her dad and throwing him into a downward spiral that bankrupts the family before his death.
In walks the hero...he needs a fake fiancé and the heroine needs money. She is definitely not his type so he figures this arrangement will be fairly uncomplicated.
Except there was that kiss....and some touches....and what about that dress!!!
Of course you need to read it to get the full effect...
One more note on the heroine...she is caring, and loving. She could have been written as a doormat...however, (and this is what I have liked about HR’s heroines so far) she will not settle for anything less than love...even if that means living without her true love. She is not a game player and this is not a ploy to trap the hero...it’s just her being honest.
There is an epilogue which I always appreciate and my interest was piqued by mention of a couple of minor characters in the book...I did a quick google and have already discovered they have their own story🤜🤛So book 3 will be started shortly!
Once again the feelings and angst are there along with a good dose of sexiness.
I am a huge fan of alpha cruel heroes, revenge plots, and a spiteful OW(Lynne Graham, Diana Palmer, Penny Jordan just to name a few) However, you will not get that with this book and you will not miss it!! I also like that we get both the hero and heroine’s POV.
The hero in this book is not cruel. He is damaged to the point that he can’t afford anymore pain. So he builds walls,makes money, and has sex for physical pleasure and release. He doesn’t pretend to be anything else. His parents marriage was short lived, and dysfunctional.
The heroine, however, came from a family where love was modeled on a daily basis. The death of her mom devastating her dad and throwing him into a downward spiral that bankrupts the family before his death.
In walks the hero...he needs a fake fiancé and the heroine needs money. She is definitely not his type so he figures this arrangement will be fairly uncomplicated.
Except there was that kiss....and some touches....and what about that dress!!!
Of course you need to read it to get the full effect...
One more note on the heroine...she is caring, and loving. She could have been written as a doormat...however, (and this is what I have liked about HR’s heroines so far) she will not settle for anything less than love...even if that means living without her true love. She is not a game player and this is not a ploy to trap the hero...it’s just her being honest.
There is an epilogue which I always appreciate and my interest was piqued by mention of a couple of minor characters in the book...I did a quick google and have already discovered they have their own story🤜🤛So book 3 will be started shortly!
January 31, 2021
Love it
March 24, 2021
Excellent read
A wonderful story. I hated for it to end. The H and h had wonderful chemistry. I’ll read this one again!
A wonderful story. I hated for it to end. The H and h had wonderful chemistry. I’ll read this one again!
May 20, 2021
Loved this. Fantastic heroine and hero, great story, and super sexy!!!
June 14, 2021
2.5 stars I guess. The lack of drama and angst in the new hp's kinda make for boring reading.
April 9, 2022
Fake?
Faking an engagement to get pressure off his shoulders winds up becoming a trap for both parties with no way out.
Faking an engagement to get pressure off his shoulders winds up becoming a trap for both parties with no way out.
February 15, 2024
2.5
Meh. Orla, the precocious horse girl, and Karim, the self-exiled Crown Prince.
I always find it strange when very young women are imbued with skills and supposed experience of women ten years their senior, so that they seem more equal to the MMC. It ruins the plausibility right from the start. At 22, Orla had already been “betrayed by her fiancée 5 years earlier”…so she was engaged at 16 or 17? Really?
Orla really got railroaded. Agree to this fake relationship? Ok. Now I have to sign a contract and I’m not even going to read it? OK. Now we’re going to home country when you said you’d never go back. OK. Whoops, they’ve arranged a wedding for us? Sure, I trust you’ll figure it out. And I still trust you when you don’t. It’s only after sex that she finally stands up for herself…and does something foolish. She just seemed really immature.
Karim was older, but equally immature. In denial the whole story, up until faced with the threat of divorce. I thought the wedding thing was lame. He totally could have postponed—said he wasn’t his father and his fiancé deserved a proper courtship or something. Allowing it to go forward, he could have at least acknowledged it was what it wanted. But no, just denial and some weird guilt.
They reconciled, but it felt like there was a lot more work to do. Not a real HEA, despite the epilogue.
Meh. Orla, the precocious horse girl, and Karim, the self-exiled Crown Prince.
I always find it strange when very young women are imbued with skills and supposed experience of women ten years their senior, so that they seem more equal to the MMC. It ruins the plausibility right from the start. At 22, Orla had already been “betrayed by her fiancée 5 years earlier”…so she was engaged at 16 or 17? Really?
Orla really got railroaded. Agree to this fake relationship? Ok. Now I have to sign a contract and I’m not even going to read it? OK. Now we’re going to home country when you said you’d never go back. OK. Whoops, they’ve arranged a wedding for us? Sure, I trust you’ll figure it out. And I still trust you when you don’t. It’s only after sex that she finally stands up for herself…and does something foolish. She just seemed really immature.
Karim was older, but equally immature. In denial the whole story, up until faced with the threat of divorce. I thought the wedding thing was lame. He totally could have postponed—said he wasn’t his father and his fiancé deserved a proper courtship or something. Allowing it to go forward, he could have at least acknowledged it was what it wanted. But no, just denial and some weird guilt.
They reconciled, but it felt like there was a lot more work to do. Not a real HEA, despite the epilogue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2023
I wrote this book! So clearly my rating is biased... But just wanted to inform readers this is the 3rd book in my series The Khans, which are linked books about neighbouring (fictional) desert kingdoms, the Princes who rule them and the women who they cannot live without!
The last book in the series, Stolen for His Desert Throne, which released in May 2023, is my first 2nd generation romance and features Princess Kaliah, the daughter of my first Khan couple Zane and Catherine in Carrying the Sheikh's Baby...
Princess Kaliah, is in fact the baby in that book. Here is the series in order, if you want to read the rest of them and catch other glimpses of Kaliah along the way..
#1: Carrying the Sheikh’s Baby – Zane and Catherine
#2: Claimed for the Desert Prince’s Heir – Kasim (Rafe) and Kasia
#3: Innocent’s Desert Wedding Contract – Karim and Orla
#4: Banished Prince to Desert Boss – Dane and Jamilla
#5: Stolen for His Desert Throne – Kaliah and Kamal
The last book in the series, Stolen for His Desert Throne, which released in May 2023, is my first 2nd generation romance and features Princess Kaliah, the daughter of my first Khan couple Zane and Catherine in Carrying the Sheikh's Baby...
Princess Kaliah, is in fact the baby in that book. Here is the series in order, if you want to read the rest of them and catch other glimpses of Kaliah along the way..
#1: Carrying the Sheikh’s Baby – Zane and Catherine
#2: Claimed for the Desert Prince’s Heir – Kasim (Rafe) and Kasia
#3: Innocent’s Desert Wedding Contract – Karim and Orla
#4: Banished Prince to Desert Boss – Dane and Jamilla
#5: Stolen for His Desert Throne – Kaliah and Kamal
August 10, 2021
It was okay. I didn’t get a strong sense of the two characters understanding themselves very well. Orla is a virgin, but Karim was emotionally a virgin—still trying to piece together his relationship with his own parents. The two things I found most annoying were Orla’s overuse of the word “Grand” and all of these fictional countries in the book. When I buy even a romance book, I want to get to learn about actual places in this world—not made-up monarchies.
March 24, 2023
🌶️/🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
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