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Hot-Blooded Husbands #1
The Mistress Bride
MARRIED — TO HIS MISTRESS?
The whole world was interested in Sheikh Raschid Al Kadah and Evie Delahaye. Despite fierce opposition from their families their passionate, high-profile affair had lasted for two ecstatic years — but everyone knew that soon the relationship would have to end. Raschid was expected to marry an Arabian princess, Evie's mother was pushing her towards a member of the English aristocracy — and time was running out.
Then Evie discovered she was carrying Raschid's baby....
The whole world was interested in Sheikh Raschid Al Kadah and Evie Delahaye. Despite fierce opposition from their families their passionate, high-profile affair had lasted for two ecstatic years — but everyone knew that soon the relationship would have to end. Raschid was expected to marry an Arabian princess, Evie's mother was pushing her towards a member of the English aristocracy — and time was running out.
Then Evie discovered she was carrying Raschid's baby....
192 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1999
129 people are currently reading
415 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Reid
387 books637 followersHi, my name is Michelle Reid and I’ve been writing for Harlequin Mills & Boon for the last twenty years, and the crazy part about it is that I only realised it had been twenty years while updating this page!
So, hang on for a minute while I take this huge milestone in....
Twenty years with almost forty books published or in the pipeline ... I know it isn’t a great average when compared with some authors but it sounds pretty good to me!
So what was I doing twenty years ago before I wrote books? Well, I did the all of the usual things, like growing up and attending school, finishing at secretarial college, which I hated, then spent the next several years wandering aimlessly from job to job. Eventually I met my husband, we married and produced two daughters who then grew up and between them presented us with two gorgeous grandsons and one beautiful granddaughter. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Somewhere in between my girls growing up and the grandchildren arriving on the scene, I started writing. To this day I don’t know why, unless it was a natural progression from my never being without a book close by—often several—because books have always been an important part of my life for as far back as I can recall.
So, I started to write, by hand at first, scribbling short stories in notebooks which never saw the light of day. At some point I discovered Mills & Boon Romance books and that was pretty much it for me. I’d found my new love, as in reading romantic fiction and inevitably writing it too.
So twenty years on and almost forty books on, here I am still writing and still loving it!
So, hang on for a minute while I take this huge milestone in....
Twenty years with almost forty books published or in the pipeline ... I know it isn’t a great average when compared with some authors but it sounds pretty good to me!
So what was I doing twenty years ago before I wrote books? Well, I did the all of the usual things, like growing up and attending school, finishing at secretarial college, which I hated, then spent the next several years wandering aimlessly from job to job. Eventually I met my husband, we married and produced two daughters who then grew up and between them presented us with two gorgeous grandsons and one beautiful granddaughter. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Somewhere in between my girls growing up and the grandchildren arriving on the scene, I started writing. To this day I don’t know why, unless it was a natural progression from my never being without a book close by—often several—because books have always been an important part of my life for as far back as I can recall.
So, I started to write, by hand at first, scribbling short stories in notebooks which never saw the light of day. At some point I discovered Mills & Boon Romance books and that was pretty much it for me. I’d found my new love, as in reading romantic fiction and inevitably writing it too.
So twenty years on and almost forty books on, here I am still writing and still loving it!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
May 27, 2019
Re The Mistress Bride -Michelle Reid tries her hand at a more sorta realistic Shiekhy Lurve romance in this contribution to the HP general Society Weddings series and MR's very own Hot Blooded Husbands series.
The royal Sheikhy Prince H, Raschid, is heavily involved in a two year affair with our Lady Evie - a genuine English Aristocratic daughter when the book starts and NOBODY is feelin' the love for them.
Ras's family - mainly his elderly and sick dad- are all about Ras forgoing his evil Western ways and settling down in his desert kingdom permanently - with the suitably chosen Arabian princess to have mini H's and seal the deal on the family power hegemony.
Evie's family are all about getting Evie married off to a proper English Lord. Evie had one on the line a few years back, he was literally the Marquis next door, but Evie did not really love him and let him off the hook when he proposed.
To Evie's great consternation, she has a bit of a 9 month expansion problem that she is going to have address really soon, but more pressing is that Evie wants Ras to politely decline the invitation to her brother's wedding.
(A small word here on the title situation. Evie is continually referred to as "Lady Evie" but technically her brother is a "Sir" - which means that unless they are Scottish, and MR gave no indication that they were, Evie may be gentry but she isn't a Peeress. "Lady" for a woman of the English aristocracy indicates either she is the wife of a peer or a title holder in her own right OR she is the daughter of an Earl or higher - which leaves Marquis, Duke or Royalty and no "Sirs" are included.)
Ras refuses, because he is a stubborn, arrogant cuss. Which means Evie has to go to extraordinary lengths to avoid Ras at the wedding and avoid her vituperative mother's wrath. (Evie's mumsie dearest is OUTRAGED, I TELL YOU, that her wanton daughter is having a well publicized affair with a foreign barbarian who dresses in robes, for pity's sake.)
Naturally, because Ras is a super duper stubborn cus, Evie's avoidance tactics don't work and there is a huge purple passion moment, which Evie's mother takes great exception to. She wants her daughter married off to a nice English Lord ASAP.
Evie is made to feel completely ostracized and the crowning moment on Evie's public disparagement is when the bride throws the bouquet straight at Evie - she reflexively catches it and then is surrounded by the silent horror and the titers as English Society looks on.
Mainly because they know, and Evie doesn't, that Ras's father has just announced Ras's forthcoming marriage to the nubile Arabian girl. But Evie manages to hold her head up as she tosses the bouquet in the nearest lake.
Finally Evie admits that she has been hiding a pressing matter from Ras and she gets subjected to his beratement when she makes the bun in the oven admission. Ras isn't too happy and Evie's mumsie dearest is even less so - especially as Evie flees for home with the former Marquis flame and Ras chases after.
There is a big fight and then Evie's mumsie calls - the announcement of Ras's marriage and a picture of Ras and Evie are side by side on the front page and the whole big Wedding Coup of the Century by Evie's brother doesn't even get a mention.
Everyone is disappointed and there are many accusations from all the pertinent characters that Evie planned to get preggers, to which our girl uses her diminishing store of calcium to tell them off. Evie is hiding at Ras's penthouse by this time and Ras leaves her to fly home and try to sort his future marriage partner out.
Ras is off in HP Sheikdom telling his dad he marries Evie or he abdicates the throne, while Ras's dad's envoys are giving Evie a big check and card to a private clinic for a termination. Evie flees to the streets of London without a pocketbook - she shows up at mumsie dearest's place and she is bleeding badly.
Evie ends up in hospital, baby baking commences and mumsie dearest is very sorry for being a cow as Ras shows up, finally. But Evie won't see him and makes him suffer in the waiting room for two days. Finally Ras is granted entrance to Evie's presence and the marriage, (all three of them,) is on.
Evie and Ras marry in England, but then Ras takes her to his country. There is a spontaneous show of support from Ras's subjects as they travel from the airport to the Royal Shiekhy Palace, with headlights flashing and car horn accompaniment. When we reach the Palace, Ras is shunted off to do Shiekhy things and Evie is sent to Ras's father.
Ras's dad claims it wasn't his idear for Evie to terminate her pregnancy, it was an over enthusiastic aide, but he also figures he better apologize fast or he will never get to meet his grandchildren. Evie decides discretion is the better part of valor and she has to live in this country after all.
So apologies are accepted, a tentative truce is established and Evie and Raschid are finally free to celebrate their just married love for a pretty sweet HEA.
This one is pretty intense emotionally, but I am not a fan of the Sheikhy lurve trope, nor do I like how callous Raschid was about Evie and her family at her own brother's wedding.
Ras does apologize and he does eventually get his act together enough to marry Evie - but he would have married the Arabian girl without a second glance if Evie hadn't told him she was preggers.
So I wasn't totally buying the love on this one, plus we needed more on how Evie was going to cope with life in such a restrictive environment - one that she repeatedly said she wasn't sure she was cut out for.
Anyhows, this is HPlandia and after the HEA it doesn't really matter, plus we do get glimpses of Evie and Raschid in the next book in the series - they have kids and seem to be really super happy.
For drama and angst and some fairly decent grovelling - this one is a great one to seek out. I wasn't completely overjoyed with it, but I gave it 3.5 stars for being a pretty dramatic HPlandia voyage.
The royal Sheikhy Prince H, Raschid, is heavily involved in a two year affair with our Lady Evie - a genuine English Aristocratic daughter when the book starts and NOBODY is feelin' the love for them.
Ras's family - mainly his elderly and sick dad- are all about Ras forgoing his evil Western ways and settling down in his desert kingdom permanently - with the suitably chosen Arabian princess to have mini H's and seal the deal on the family power hegemony.
Evie's family are all about getting Evie married off to a proper English Lord. Evie had one on the line a few years back, he was literally the Marquis next door, but Evie did not really love him and let him off the hook when he proposed.
To Evie's great consternation, she has a bit of a 9 month expansion problem that she is going to have address really soon, but more pressing is that Evie wants Ras to politely decline the invitation to her brother's wedding.
(A small word here on the title situation. Evie is continually referred to as "Lady Evie" but technically her brother is a "Sir" - which means that unless they are Scottish, and MR gave no indication that they were, Evie may be gentry but she isn't a Peeress. "Lady" for a woman of the English aristocracy indicates either she is the wife of a peer or a title holder in her own right OR she is the daughter of an Earl or higher - which leaves Marquis, Duke or Royalty and no "Sirs" are included.)
Ras refuses, because he is a stubborn, arrogant cuss. Which means Evie has to go to extraordinary lengths to avoid Ras at the wedding and avoid her vituperative mother's wrath. (Evie's mumsie dearest is OUTRAGED, I TELL YOU, that her wanton daughter is having a well publicized affair with a foreign barbarian who dresses in robes, for pity's sake.)
Naturally, because Ras is a super duper stubborn cus, Evie's avoidance tactics don't work and there is a huge purple passion moment, which Evie's mother takes great exception to. She wants her daughter married off to a nice English Lord ASAP.
Evie is made to feel completely ostracized and the crowning moment on Evie's public disparagement is when the bride throws the bouquet straight at Evie - she reflexively catches it and then is surrounded by the silent horror and the titers as English Society looks on.
Mainly because they know, and Evie doesn't, that Ras's father has just announced Ras's forthcoming marriage to the nubile Arabian girl. But Evie manages to hold her head up as she tosses the bouquet in the nearest lake.
Finally Evie admits that she has been hiding a pressing matter from Ras and she gets subjected to his beratement when she makes the bun in the oven admission. Ras isn't too happy and Evie's mumsie dearest is even less so - especially as Evie flees for home with the former Marquis flame and Ras chases after.
There is a big fight and then Evie's mumsie calls - the announcement of Ras's marriage and a picture of Ras and Evie are side by side on the front page and the whole big Wedding Coup of the Century by Evie's brother doesn't even get a mention.
Everyone is disappointed and there are many accusations from all the pertinent characters that Evie planned to get preggers, to which our girl uses her diminishing store of calcium to tell them off. Evie is hiding at Ras's penthouse by this time and Ras leaves her to fly home and try to sort his future marriage partner out.
Ras is off in HP Sheikdom telling his dad he marries Evie or he abdicates the throne, while Ras's dad's envoys are giving Evie a big check and card to a private clinic for a termination. Evie flees to the streets of London without a pocketbook - she shows up at mumsie dearest's place and she is bleeding badly.
Evie ends up in hospital, baby baking commences and mumsie dearest is very sorry for being a cow as Ras shows up, finally. But Evie won't see him and makes him suffer in the waiting room for two days. Finally Ras is granted entrance to Evie's presence and the marriage, (all three of them,) is on.
Evie and Ras marry in England, but then Ras takes her to his country. There is a spontaneous show of support from Ras's subjects as they travel from the airport to the Royal Shiekhy Palace, with headlights flashing and car horn accompaniment. When we reach the Palace, Ras is shunted off to do Shiekhy things and Evie is sent to Ras's father.
Ras's dad claims it wasn't his idear for Evie to terminate her pregnancy, it was an over enthusiastic aide, but he also figures he better apologize fast or he will never get to meet his grandchildren. Evie decides discretion is the better part of valor and she has to live in this country after all.
So apologies are accepted, a tentative truce is established and Evie and Raschid are finally free to celebrate their just married love for a pretty sweet HEA.
This one is pretty intense emotionally, but I am not a fan of the Sheikhy lurve trope, nor do I like how callous Raschid was about Evie and her family at her own brother's wedding.
Ras does apologize and he does eventually get his act together enough to marry Evie - but he would have married the Arabian girl without a second glance if Evie hadn't told him she was preggers.
So I wasn't totally buying the love on this one, plus we needed more on how Evie was going to cope with life in such a restrictive environment - one that she repeatedly said she wasn't sure she was cut out for.
Anyhows, this is HPlandia and after the HEA it doesn't really matter, plus we do get glimpses of Evie and Raschid in the next book in the series - they have kids and seem to be really super happy.
For drama and angst and some fairly decent grovelling - this one is a great one to seek out. I wasn't completely overjoyed with it, but I gave it 3.5 stars for being a pretty dramatic HPlandia voyage.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2016
3 1/2 stars. I'm not a fan of sheikh stories, so MR had to work hard to win me over. I think what I liked best was that the author didn't gloss over the problems of a western woman involved with a man from the Middle East.
There were prejudices from both sides - and what made them compelling were that they were well meaning judgments. The heroine's mother is pretty horrible to her daughter at her son's wedding, but she shows her love and concern when the heroine needs her the most. The hero's father is horrible, but he shows his vulnerable side at the end of the story. It's the side-characters finally turning human that allow a happy ending here.
And that's where the romance falls down. The angsty love the H/h have for each other isn't enough to break the logjam. The hero's pride and the heroine's stubbornness make for lots of deliciously angsty scenes for the first half of the book. The hero does do a good grovel for his pride and the story would have been better/consistent? if it had ended with the civil ceremony and the hero giving up his position. But the last 20 % with the hero's father doing an about face and the hero's welcome in the streets seemed disconnected from the romance. Maybe if we had met the hero's father at the beginning? I don't know. Something was missing.
Still, this is a compelling story with lots of angsty goodness.
There were prejudices from both sides - and what made them compelling were that they were well meaning judgments. The heroine's mother is pretty horrible to her daughter at her son's wedding, but she shows her love and concern when the heroine needs her the most. The hero's father is horrible, but he shows his vulnerable side at the end of the story. It's the side-characters finally turning human that allow a happy ending here.
And that's where the romance falls down. The angsty love the H/h have for each other isn't enough to break the logjam. The hero's pride and the heroine's stubbornness make for lots of deliciously angsty scenes for the first half of the book. The hero does do a good grovel for his pride and the story would have been better/consistent? if it had ended with the civil ceremony and the hero giving up his position. But the last 20 % with the hero's father doing an about face and the hero's welcome in the streets seemed disconnected from the romance. Maybe if we had met the hero's father at the beginning? I don't know. Something was missing.
Still, this is a compelling story with lots of angsty goodness.
December 29, 2014
I'm in the minority on this one it seems.
I think what bothered me was that in this case the pregnancy was SUCH a cop-out. It's a well-used trope in mistress plots. In fact, it usually doesn't bother me because it really makes the H face up to his feelings for the heroine and sometimes realize he's been a huge jerk and loves her.
In this case the two already supposedly professed their love for one another, but the understanding was that as an Arab prince he would one day have to leave the heroine to marry some cousin of a cousin to unite two kingdoms and keep the country happy. Also, to balance things out, the heroine's family wasn't at all happy with her affair and wanted her to marry some titled Englishman since she was part of that society.
So, this is one of those cases where I REALLY wanted to know what would have happened had the convenient pregnancy not occurred. I sort of feel like the hero may have just gone off and cooperated with the arranged marriage whether he liked it or not.
I'll also admit to not being a particular fan of the sheikh romance. Fairly or not, I assume that any gorgeous, wealthy man who comes from a society that sanctions multiple wives and mistresses is going to eventually stray. Personally I wouldn't want to be involved with any man with that much opportunity, regardless of his cultural norms. Just take rock stars and Hollywood actors for an example. TOO MUCH TEMPTATION. The majority of them can't keep it in their pants to save their lives. I still don't understand why those people even bother to get married.
I know some people love to read the rock star/actor romances but I shy away from them for many of the same reasons I generally stay away from the sheikh romances. I just can't suspend disbelief to that extent. I guess I'm a cynic. It just doesn't make for a belivable HEA for me.
I think what bothered me was that in this case the pregnancy was SUCH a cop-out. It's a well-used trope in mistress plots. In fact, it usually doesn't bother me because it really makes the H face up to his feelings for the heroine and sometimes realize he's been a huge jerk and loves her.
In this case the two already supposedly professed their love for one another, but the understanding was that as an Arab prince he would one day have to leave the heroine to marry some cousin of a cousin to unite two kingdoms and keep the country happy. Also, to balance things out, the heroine's family wasn't at all happy with her affair and wanted her to marry some titled Englishman since she was part of that society.
So, this is one of those cases where I REALLY wanted to know what would have happened had the convenient pregnancy not occurred. I sort of feel like the hero may have just gone off and cooperated with the arranged marriage whether he liked it or not.
I'll also admit to not being a particular fan of the sheikh romance. Fairly or not, I assume that any gorgeous, wealthy man who comes from a society that sanctions multiple wives and mistresses is going to eventually stray. Personally I wouldn't want to be involved with any man with that much opportunity, regardless of his cultural norms. Just take rock stars and Hollywood actors for an example. TOO MUCH TEMPTATION. The majority of them can't keep it in their pants to save their lives. I still don't understand why those people even bother to get married.
I know some people love to read the rock star/actor romances but I shy away from them for many of the same reasons I generally stay away from the sheikh romances. I just can't suspend disbelief to that extent. I guess I'm a cynic. It just doesn't make for a belivable HEA for me.
March 30, 2017
Very mixed emotions. So much was done right, then not. It's still a good angsty read, and I felt the language and poetry better done than most Harlequins.
As just about every other reviewer has said, the Sheikh romance is not my go-to romance. This tale had a strong whiff of Olivia Gates who, for me, is the standard bearer for Sheikh's and their tormented h's romances. Probably works so well with Olivia Gates as both MC's come from similar backgrounds as opposed to the rest that star English/Australian-frail-flower-meets-gold-eyed-lion-of-the-desert malarkey. Plus her prose is just beautifully grandiose and golden. But back to MR.
Mistress Bride (what a terrible title) hits and misses. Spoilers so read at your peril.
Premise is the two MC's, he the gold-eye lion of the desert and she an aristocratic English rose, have been having an affair for a couple of years. This is obviously pre-Katrashian skankiness as Evie's mother is horrified her daughter is having a public affair with a Sheikh that will never marry her. Frankly, Evie's mom is pretty cold and condemning which in some ways made me appreciate her as a real character. Current times, I'm afraid more than one ambitious mama would make a deal with the devil as well as pimp out pornos of their daughter for a shot at royalty, even second hand.
Evie and Raschid have a turbulent and steamy relationship. I appreciated the fact that Evie acknowledges and appreciates the sexual connection they have rather than the dismay too many < I>innocent heroines have over their exploding lady parts. He is equally as smitten. Too bad he's Muslim and a whatever Arab prince, and that she's Christian and English.
Push comes to shove on the relationship when Evie admits she's pregnant. NO ONE takes the news well, and I actually felt sorry for our fictional h. Raschid's reaction was the most unenthusiastic and made me question just how much in love he was especially when he says she screwed up on her timing. If she had mentioned it two weeks earlier then mysterious steps would not have put in place. Bottom line, pop had laid out an ultimatum: drop the side piece and marry the nice Arab princess of the adjoining kingdom, or I will sacrifice myself and not get the life-saving heart transplant I need. Stars are starting to drop now. The heroine says she will not marry him as it would de-stabilize his region, and something other reason I can't remember.
The h runs away. Okay, just to her apartment. The H followed. Papparazzi followed. Mother follows and freaks out. H freaks out. H leaves for his unidentified Arab kingdom to have it out with pops.
While H is away, the heroine has a lovely visit with the Arab king's henchman who bow politely, offer her a $2 mill pound bribe and toss down an appointment card with an abortionist. Very. Creepy. Scene. I was waiting for them to haul her off against her will.
The h flees, on foot, to her mother's where she arrives bleeding and collapses. Her mother tosses aside her tags of Worst Parent Ever and Rotten Relative and protects her baby like any good mother should. The H finally arrives at the hospital, and goes into the Romanceland-hero-decline mode. I had to laugh at Evie as when she finally lets him in the hospital room she's more than a little peeved at how good he looks for not sleeping or eating for two days. Men! They lose weight easier too.
The two eventually marry, and they hoof it to the Arab kingdom for their Muslim blessing. The Arab king offers an explanation about what happened with the abortion card which was a tad too convenient (an underling over-stepped his bounds.)
Yeah, it's a HEA, but two factors prevented me from jumping on board for four stars. Evie's capitulation: she went from a spine of steel that would not marry him, would not forgive him for thinking she got pregnant on purpose to I love you, and can't live without you. Better than average for a HarleyLand h, but still run of the mill. Secondly, the H. The hero was going to leave her and marry nebulous Arab princess until she got pregnant or was he? A little nebulous.
As just about every other reviewer has said, the Sheikh romance is not my go-to romance. This tale had a strong whiff of Olivia Gates who, for me, is the standard bearer for Sheikh's and their tormented h's romances. Probably works so well with Olivia Gates as both MC's come from similar backgrounds as opposed to the rest that star English/Australian-frail-flower-meets-gold-eyed-lion-of-the-desert malarkey. Plus her prose is just beautifully grandiose and golden. But back to MR.
Mistress Bride (what a terrible title) hits and misses. Spoilers so read at your peril.
Premise is the two MC's, he the gold-eye lion of the desert and she an aristocratic English rose, have been having an affair for a couple of years. This is obviously pre-Katrashian skankiness as Evie's mother is horrified her daughter is having a public affair with a Sheikh that will never marry her. Frankly, Evie's mom is pretty cold and condemning which in some ways made me appreciate her as a real character. Current times, I'm afraid more than one ambitious mama would make a deal with the devil as well as pimp out pornos of their daughter for a shot at royalty, even second hand.
Evie and Raschid have a turbulent and steamy relationship. I appreciated the fact that Evie acknowledges and appreciates the sexual connection they have rather than the dismay too many < I>innocent heroines have over their exploding lady parts. He is equally as smitten. Too bad he's Muslim and a whatever Arab prince, and that she's Christian and English.
Push comes to shove on the relationship when Evie admits she's pregnant. NO ONE takes the news well, and I actually felt sorry for our fictional h. Raschid's reaction was the most unenthusiastic and made me question just how much in love he was especially when he says she screwed up on her timing. If she had mentioned it two weeks earlier then mysterious steps would not have put in place. Bottom line, pop had laid out an ultimatum: drop the side piece and marry the nice Arab princess of the adjoining kingdom, or I will sacrifice myself and not get the life-saving heart transplant I need. Stars are starting to drop now. The heroine says she will not marry him as it would de-stabilize his region, and something other reason I can't remember.
The h runs away. Okay, just to her apartment. The H followed. Papparazzi followed. Mother follows and freaks out. H freaks out. H leaves for his unidentified Arab kingdom to have it out with pops.
While H is away, the heroine has a lovely visit with the Arab king's henchman who bow politely, offer her a $2 mill pound bribe and toss down an appointment card with an abortionist. Very. Creepy. Scene. I was waiting for them to haul her off against her will.
The h flees, on foot, to her mother's where she arrives bleeding and collapses. Her mother tosses aside her tags of Worst Parent Ever and Rotten Relative and protects her baby like any good mother should. The H finally arrives at the hospital, and goes into the Romanceland-hero-decline mode. I had to laugh at Evie as when she finally lets him in the hospital room she's more than a little peeved at how good he looks for not sleeping or eating for two days. Men! They lose weight easier too.
The two eventually marry, and they hoof it to the Arab kingdom for their Muslim blessing. The Arab king offers an explanation about what happened with the abortion card which was a tad too convenient (an underling over-stepped his bounds.)
Yeah, it's a HEA, but two factors prevented me from jumping on board for four stars. Evie's capitulation: she went from a spine of steel that would not marry him, would not forgive him for thinking she got pregnant on purpose to I love you, and can't live without you. Better than average for a HarleyLand h, but still run of the mill. Secondly, the H. The hero was going to leave her and marry nebulous Arab princess until she got pregnant or was he? A little nebulous.
January 2, 2014
This one was very different from most HPs. The 2 of them had been lovers for the last two years which neither family liked. However, now she is pregnant and he is being pressured to marry a nice girl from his own culture. So the story involves them deciding to be together anyway and troubles ensue. However, they admit they love each other from the very first which is very different from most HPs and he is never really an ass to her. Anyway an interesting different read. I really enjoyed it.
April 26, 2014
I never felt heroine's love for the hero. Hero was smitten with her and did everything in his power to make their relationship work but she never met him halfway. Plus I felt the author was very insulting to the Arabian culture.
December 14, 2021
Una historia con poca consistencia. Poco profunda. Realmente no tengo mucho mas para decir aquí. No había leído nada sobre jeques pero evidentemente esta novela no fue la mejor. Por suerte fue corta.
A story with little consistency. Shallow. I really don't have much else to say here. I hadn't read anything about sheikhs but this novel was obviously not the best. Luckily it was short.
A story with little consistency. Shallow. I really don't have much else to say here. I hadn't read anything about sheikhs but this novel was obviously not the best. Luckily it was short.
March 23, 2018
***2.75 STARS***
This wasn't too terrible of a story. Wish I had felt more connection between the main characters. I also think I'm out of touch with the culture of the Hero. His culture and offstandish ways didn't exactly have me rooting for Raschid and Evie to get married. There was plenty of drama in this story, but even that wasn't enough to keep me in love with this story.
This wasn't too terrible of a story. Wish I had felt more connection between the main characters. I also think I'm out of touch with the culture of the Hero. His culture and offstandish ways didn't exactly have me rooting for Raschid and Evie to get married. There was plenty of drama in this story, but even that wasn't enough to keep me in love with this story.
November 28, 2016
He was going to marry another and just stayed with her because she got pregnant. He never found the heroin good enough to be his wife.
August 25, 2011
She wasn't good enough for marriage until she became preggers. Of course after the fact, he was willing to fight and figure out a way to marry her for the baby's sake. This made me wonder why he wouldn't just for the heroine, when she has been so utterly and slavishly devoted to the hero when everyone, including her family had turned their backs on her. His mouthing off sweet little nothing really was nothing, because his action didn't follow what his mouth was saying. Consequently, I felt like all that adoration was too one sided, because he didn't treat her like she was the most important person/thing in his life, as he clearly was to her ...
I don't find stories like this romantic. The heroine started to come across as some stupid, spineless TSTL female and the hero an arrogant, egotistical jerk. Therefor, it turned into a firm DNF (did-not finish).
I don't find stories like this romantic. The heroine started to come across as some stupid, spineless TSTL female and the hero an arrogant, egotistical jerk. Therefor, it turned into a firm DNF (did-not finish).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2018
"The Mistress Bride" is the story of Rashid and Evie, and has got to be one of the best mistress-baby trope books Ive ever read.
Sheikh Raschid Al Kadah and Evie Delahaye both belong to royalty from different parts of the world- and both face opposition from their respective parents and fascination from the rest of the world- but this hasnt stopped them from engaging in a scorching love affair for two years.
Things take an abrupt halt when two things happen simulataneously- Raschid's father falls ill and demands his marriage to a cousin, and Evie falls pregnant!
I loved this intensely passionate and loyal couple- the hero wasnt mean, the heroine wasnt a doormat- both fought for each other and their love- and yes, there was angst and family drama too! I also liked that there wasnt a negative character, and everyone had shades of gray.
Overall, a satisfying read.
Safe
4/5
Sheikh Raschid Al Kadah and Evie Delahaye both belong to royalty from different parts of the world- and both face opposition from their respective parents and fascination from the rest of the world- but this hasnt stopped them from engaging in a scorching love affair for two years.
Things take an abrupt halt when two things happen simulataneously- Raschid's father falls ill and demands his marriage to a cousin, and Evie falls pregnant!
I loved this intensely passionate and loyal couple- the hero wasnt mean, the heroine wasnt a doormat- both fought for each other and their love- and yes, there was angst and family drama too! I also liked that there wasnt a negative character, and everyone had shades of gray.
Overall, a satisfying read.
Safe
4/5
April 12, 2021
I didn’t like the hero, heroine or their relationship. This book almost depressed me.
December 3, 2021
I just really disliked the fact that if she hadn't fallen pregnant by accident, he would've married someone else. He was going to dump her. But then, dammit you're pregnant and now I have to marry you. How romantic. It's what a girl always dreams about.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2012
Evie and Raschid come from very different worlds. For the past two years they have been conducting a very public affair to the chagrin and consternation of both families. They know that their time together is limited since Raschid will one day become king and must marry a woman from his own country. Evie becomes pregnant and of course, Raschid declares that they will marry for the sake of his heir. He becomes absolutely possessive and will stop at nothing to marry Evie.
What could have been a wonderful, powerful lover story...just somehow never happens. Raschid tends to come off rather high-handed and self-centered. Though he loves Evie, it's only with words rather than actions... Or at least Evie never gives him a chance to show it, because though she talks "tough", she always caves in. I particularly hated when she gave him the "boot", only to cry out no....when his hand was on the doorknob. Talk about spineless.
The Price of a Bride still remains my favorite by this author.
What could have been a wonderful, powerful lover story...just somehow never happens. Raschid tends to come off rather high-handed and self-centered. Though he loves Evie, it's only with words rather than actions... Or at least Evie never gives him a chance to show it, because though she talks "tough", she always caves in. I particularly hated when she gave him the "boot", only to cry out no....when his hand was on the doorknob. Talk about spineless.
The Price of a Bride still remains my favorite by this author.
March 23, 2017
Was this the best book ever? Probably not. Did it make me cry? Yes. So five stars.
Evie and Raschid are lovers and in love when we meet them at the beginning of the book. So where is the story you may well ask?
For two years they have had a high profile affair. Not their choice but when you are an Arab prince and a high society British gal, the paparazzi are bound to be on your case. The affair has always had an end date, because there is a cousin of a cousin waiting back home in the Middle East for an arranged marriage.
But everything is about to change. Evie is pregnant and Raschid's father is sick. Their time has run out.
I think I started crying with this on maybe two thirds of the way in when something happens to devastate an already fragile Evie. From then on I was pretty misty the whole way. It may not have the same effect on you, but for me, it was all the feels. The emotional seesaw was well done and the fact that both Evie and Raschid were in love only added to the tragedy and angst of it all. I loved it.
Evie and Raschid are lovers and in love when we meet them at the beginning of the book. So where is the story you may well ask?
For two years they have had a high profile affair. Not their choice but when you are an Arab prince and a high society British gal, the paparazzi are bound to be on your case. The affair has always had an end date, because there is a cousin of a cousin waiting back home in the Middle East for an arranged marriage.
But everything is about to change. Evie is pregnant and Raschid's father is sick. Their time has run out.
I think I started crying with this on maybe two thirds of the way in when something happens to devastate an already fragile Evie. From then on I was pretty misty the whole way. It may not have the same effect on you, but for me, it was all the feels. The emotional seesaw was well done and the fact that both Evie and Raschid were in love only added to the tragedy and angst of it all. I loved it.
October 23, 2020
I have just found out I didn't marked this book as "read"... I read this book many years ago and liked it at that time, but I don't know what would be my opinion 10 years later 🤔
After I checked my book list I found the rate a gave this book was 8 out of 10, which it means to me something similar to a 4 stars in Goodreads.
I hope to re-read it one day ☺️🙌
Reread
October 2020
P.S.: I forgot to add the exact day I finished the reread, I think it was 10 days ago, but I'm not pretty sure 🙉
After I checked my book list I found the rate a gave this book was 8 out of 10, which it means to me something similar to a 4 stars in Goodreads.
I hope to re-read it one day ☺️🙌
Reread
October 2020
After I skimmed-reread the book, I found the story still of my tastes. The only one thing missing for me was an epilogue, but we can found out about these main characters in the first book of the series Hot-Blooded Husbands by the same author
P.S.: I forgot to add the exact day I finished the reread, I think it was 10 days ago, but I'm not pretty sure 🙉
July 27, 2020
I enjoyed this but felt Evie loved Raschid slightly more than he loved her. In an ideal world, which is what romance is all about, the hero should always love the heroine more than she loves him. She wouldn't be shortchanging him at all because she'd still love him tons. ;)
Anyway, the happy ending came about a little too conveniently. They'd already been together for two years, but Raschid hadn't proposed yet. If this hadn't happened to Evie, , I think Raschid would probably have chosen duty and his country over her in spite of his personal desires.
Anyway, the happy ending came about a little too conveniently. They'd already been together for two years, but Raschid hadn't proposed yet. If this hadn't happened to Evie, , I think Raschid would probably have chosen duty and his country over her in spite of his personal desires.
December 28, 2016
An engaging story about the test of true love. Evie and Raschid had their love for each other tested time after time. But in the end they found they were stronger than the people who tried to stand in their way.
Their story kept me turning pages to see how it would all play out.
Their story kept me turning pages to see how it would all play out.
July 29, 2016
Truly excellent. On second reading I've upped 4*'s to 5.
Michelle Reid is an awesome writer and excels at angst, heartbreak and the HEA, and here she achieves the perfect balance between the romance, the conflict, the resolution and HEA, wrapped up in a sexy tale. She does this with insight and depth you do not see in current Mills & Boon/Harlequin books.
This tale has the typical trappings of a Mills & Boon, pure fantasy in its setting. Yet the core of it is a real reflection on the issues many of those that love across race and cultures face.
You don't have to be Arab royalty or an English aristocrat to feel the pressure from family, judgement of society and the expections of upbringing and to live up to what honour and duty dictate.
I loved that the H and h are honest and courageous about their feelings, no blowing hot and cold which truly gets so old so quickly.
The question of whether Raschid would have committed given their relationship was already a couple of years old and is unanswered for me but since this is a Mills & Boon, I'll go with the fantasy and be sure he would have found a way.
July 13, 2018
This book had it all, from forever disappointed parents to rebellion against the world, when in love. This has the power to put any reader through an emotional wringer.
Like some of the reviewers before me, I too am not a great fan of ‘Sheikh’ romances, but Raschid clinched a spot among top bookish romantic heroes. He is truly in love with her, and against their family’s aristocratic, and cultural snobbery, he and Evie weather all the storms together. The writing is so wonderful (and very few authors could do that to me) that I could feel Evie’s anger, frustration, vulnerability, within me. Now, this book was what I would call a true love story. How paparazzi can sometimes be a nuisance for the people in position has been shown. But what I loved most was their verbal war with each other which made the book spicier. I loved the character of Asim, he appears more as a friend to them both in spite of actually being who he is (which came as a shock to me as much as it shocked Evie!)
Like some of the reviewers before me, I too am not a great fan of ‘Sheikh’ romances, but Raschid clinched a spot among top bookish romantic heroes. He is truly in love with her, and against their family’s aristocratic, and cultural snobbery, he and Evie weather all the storms together. The writing is so wonderful (and very few authors could do that to me) that I could feel Evie’s anger, frustration, vulnerability, within me. Now, this book was what I would call a true love story. How paparazzi can sometimes be a nuisance for the people in position has been shown. But what I loved most was their verbal war with each other which made the book spicier. I loved the character of Asim, he appears more as a friend to them both in spite of actually being who he is (which came as a shock to me as much as it shocked Evie!)
August 12, 2016
Michelle Reid is an excellent writer. She writes such vivid fiery passion between her hero and heroine. They always come to life and jump out at you. This story was a huge cop out though. The relationship between the leads gave me everything I was expecting, but came to an abrupt stall when I realized that I was just going to be reading another hero marries heroine because she was pregnant story-line. I was hoping for a tangible story with the lovers conflict being resolved in a substantial way. The heroine getting pregnant was way too predictable and easy. I would have loved to see their love for each other withstand the pressures and strictures that were placed on them and watch them defy convention without the cop out of a pregnancy. 2.5 stars
November 9, 2020
I don’t really like sheikh stories but this was so good! I adored how in this book, the overwhelming plot was not getting H/h to say they love each other—they already told each other that. It was wonderful seeing them fight to be together and plan escapes and all, and so much good angst!
October 9, 2014
OMG this book. Classic Michelle Reid. Wonderful characters, you could feel how madly in love they were. Her writing moves me as always. Loved.
January 14, 2022
It's important to remember that this was written 20 years ago, because that makes this a vintage toxic mess.
July 28, 2020
It would have been better if the author gave us some background to their two year relationship because I didn't feel their chemistry and the heroine was quite unlikeable and cold. They have been together two years even though Evie is aware Raschid will never marry her. However, he has told her he loves her and cares a great deal for her.
But then she falls accidentally pregnant so he decides they will marry and goes to great lengths to ensure he can. Why didn't he do that before she got pregnant? She doesn't actually say 'i love you' until near the end of the book. It seems to be Raschid putting all the effort in. We also don't get many love scenes or scenes of tenderness with him kissing her etc. It wasn't a very romantic read.
Also, it ends quite abruptly with no epilogue even detailing her having the baby.
But then she falls accidentally pregnant so he decides they will marry and goes to great lengths to ensure he can. Why didn't he do that before she got pregnant? She doesn't actually say 'i love you' until near the end of the book. It seems to be Raschid putting all the effort in. We also don't get many love scenes or scenes of tenderness with him kissing her etc. It wasn't a very romantic read.
Also, it ends quite abruptly with no epilogue even detailing her having the baby.
July 15, 2020
When I realized I hadn’t starred this I decided to reread. This was my first Sheikh book, and he’s actually a Prince. It’s well done, written before 9/11, religion and cultural differences are large parts of the storytelling.
December 9, 2021
First ever Sheikh romance for me and only because I'm a MR completist. It has confirmed that it's not the kind of romance that does it for me. Not a huge fan of pregnancy based getting togethers at the best of times. But MR writes so well, hence the star rating.
May 26, 2016
Just did a re-read of this one. I rated it 4 stars a few years ago, but I'm upping it to 5.
Wonderfully angsty and almost no big misunderstandings.
Wonderfully angsty and almost no big misunderstandings.
January 21, 2017
I really liked this book but didn’t love it. It took me a while to get through it, but I did enjoy the story. And I'm glad that the hero was in love with the heroine from the start.
March 26, 2014
mind-blowing ! absolutely beautiful one ! it's not like other sheikh stories which is pure fantasy where the english heroine is readily accepted as wife 2 the sheikh. in this one, they had 2 work at it. it broke my heart how evie lost her self-respect, how she suffered humiliation n how low she sunk. she loved rachid too much! she sacrificed so much, everything; her pride, her family's honour, her future n marriage 2 harry while all along rachid knew his duty, clinged 2 it n wud have married aisha had she not been pregnant. the book was a 5 star but i minused 1 due 2 dat. it disturbed me, i felt like he used her but he did love her.. n i really cud not fault evie's mother 4 believing evie wud continue her affair wid rachid even when he got married, bcoz dats how low she had sunk. n it was sad.
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