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Escape from the Harem
It would be like returning to a prison
For five years Leonie had tried to put the past behind her, make a new life for herself and Jade, the daughter her husband had never seen. Now, Badyr's sudden appearance in London had shattered her orderly life.
Leonie remembered Dhoman--its traditional Arab way of life, the hours of loneliness, the increasing strain between herself and Badyr. She couldn't quite believe Badyr's assurances that now he was the Sultan, things were different.
And yet, what choice did she have? He was still her husband and, in spite of everything, she still loved him....
For five years Leonie had tried to put the past behind her, make a new life for herself and Jade, the daughter her husband had never seen. Now, Badyr's sudden appearance in London had shattered her orderly life.
Leonie remembered Dhoman--its traditional Arab way of life, the hours of loneliness, the increasing strain between herself and Badyr. She couldn't quite believe Badyr's assurances that now he was the Sultan, things were different.
And yet, what choice did she have? He was still her husband and, in spite of everything, she still loved him....
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
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128 people want to read
About the author
Mary Lyons
135 books20 followersMary-Jo Wormell, whose nom de plume is Mary Lyons, was a popular British writer of over 40 romance novels for Mills & Boon from 1983 to 2001. She was also a Conservative Party parlimentary candidate.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 26, 2023
Leonie, at 18, met in London a much older handsome Sheikh, Badyr, of a made up Arab country, Dhoman.
They fell in love and got married.
Soon after the wedding he took her to his backward country where ruler was his senile father who placed Badyr on house arrest and shut away Leonie in a medieval fortress.
Pregnant Leonie escaped with the help of Badyr's mother.
Five years later Leonie was living in London with her 4 year old daughter. She never saw or spoken to Badyr since her escape.
She knew Badyr had led a coup against his father soon after she left the country. He was now the Sultan of Dhoman. He had succeeded in reforming the country and he was well liked by his people.
Now Badyr came back into her life. He told her he was in war with the rebels and busy reforming the country. Now that it was safe he wanted to take the two of them back to his country. Leonie refused but relented in the end.
All three returned back to a much improved Dhoman. Leonie was given her own palace to stay.
Badyr and Leonie started living like a married couple again. They professed their love for each other, in fact they never stopped loving one another.
Leonie was pregnant again.
All was going well until Badyr's sister during an argument said: "You are a fool to welcome your husband straight from his other wife's bed. Yes, Badyr has married Aisha five years ago. She is living in a palace of her own and Badyr is visiting regularly."
Leonie fainted and when she came to, Badyr was there. He admitted he had another wife but no other children.
Leonie accused him of bringing her back to use her as a broodmare as obviously his second wife failed to produce a child.
She'd asked him to divorce Aisha and he said he could not do that as it would be too unkind and cruel for his Aisha to bear.
Furious Leonie banished him from her palace and threatened to abort the child if he did not comply.
Months past, Leonie was now 7 months pregnant. She'd just got reunited with Badyr but she knew he was visiting Aisha regularly and that knowledge caused her an unbearable sadness and jealousy.
One day her mother in law visited. She told Leonie she was sorry for what she did to them 5 years earlier. Apparently she did not want a foreign girl for her son. Badyr was a prisoner back then and he'd asked his mother to help Leonie escape to save her life. His mother told him in order to do that he had to agree to marry an Arab wife of her choice. Badyr did not want to but he relented to save Leonie.
Leonie's mother in law took her to see Aisha as she was dying of tuberculosis. Aisha told her she was always in love with Badyr, he was good to her but he loved Leonie and their marriage was never consummated. While Leonie was telling her about her little girl Aisha slipped away.
Badyr loved Aisha like a sister. One of the reasons he did not come to Leonie all those years was the existence of a second wife.
Aisha was sickly from the beginning and kept getting worse. He couldn't bring himself to divorce her it would had been cruel. So he had buried himself in work for the country.
At the end he couldn't keep away from Leonie any more and he brought her back. He knew that she would never tolerate another wife so he tried to keep the fact from her.
They fell in love and got married.
Soon after the wedding he took her to his backward country where ruler was his senile father who placed Badyr on house arrest and shut away Leonie in a medieval fortress.
Pregnant Leonie escaped with the help of Badyr's mother.
Five years later Leonie was living in London with her 4 year old daughter. She never saw or spoken to Badyr since her escape.
She knew Badyr had led a coup against his father soon after she left the country. He was now the Sultan of Dhoman. He had succeeded in reforming the country and he was well liked by his people.
Now Badyr came back into her life. He told her he was in war with the rebels and busy reforming the country. Now that it was safe he wanted to take the two of them back to his country. Leonie refused but relented in the end.
All three returned back to a much improved Dhoman. Leonie was given her own palace to stay.
Badyr and Leonie started living like a married couple again. They professed their love for each other, in fact they never stopped loving one another.
Leonie was pregnant again.
All was going well until Badyr's sister during an argument said: "You are a fool to welcome your husband straight from his other wife's bed. Yes, Badyr has married Aisha five years ago. She is living in a palace of her own and Badyr is visiting regularly."
Leonie fainted and when she came to, Badyr was there. He admitted he had another wife but no other children.
Leonie accused him of bringing her back to use her as a broodmare as obviously his second wife failed to produce a child.
She'd asked him to divorce Aisha and he said he could not do that as it would be too unkind and cruel for his Aisha to bear.
Furious Leonie banished him from her palace and threatened to abort the child if he did not comply.
Months past, Leonie was now 7 months pregnant. She'd just got reunited with Badyr but she knew he was visiting Aisha regularly and that knowledge caused her an unbearable sadness and jealousy.
One day her mother in law visited. She told Leonie she was sorry for what she did to them 5 years earlier. Apparently she did not want a foreign girl for her son. Badyr was a prisoner back then and he'd asked his mother to help Leonie escape to save her life. His mother told him in order to do that he had to agree to marry an Arab wife of her choice. Badyr did not want to but he relented to save Leonie.
Leonie's mother in law took her to see Aisha as she was dying of tuberculosis. Aisha told her she was always in love with Badyr, he was good to her but he loved Leonie and their marriage was never consummated. While Leonie was telling her about her little girl Aisha slipped away.
Badyr loved Aisha like a sister. One of the reasons he did not come to Leonie all those years was the existence of a second wife.
Aisha was sickly from the beginning and kept getting worse. He couldn't bring himself to divorce her it would had been cruel. So he had buried himself in work for the country.
At the end he couldn't keep away from Leonie any more and he brought her back. He knew that she would never tolerate another wife so he tried to keep the fact from her.
May 5, 2016
Re Escape from the Harem - this is a highly emotive story and given the state of the world today, I am really not sure how this book would be received if it were a new release. Fortunately, we can just relax and remember we are in HPlandia, so real world things just don't apply.
The story opens with our 23yr old h, who has been separated from her Sheikh husband for five years, accepting an appointment for a rare Middle Eastern carpet valuation. She married her Sheikh at 18 when they fell wildly in love. He had been educated in Great Britain and the h was a shy English rose who was completely unprepared for life in a very old skool Middle Eastern country run in a VERY old skool (like a thousand years ago old skool,) style. She was even more unprepared for the H's father, the country's ruler at the time, to be completely bonkers.
They were very medieval in the Sheikdom when the h first visits and the H's father is pretty much insane. He throws her husband in an isolated prison and the h is held as a hostage to his good behavior.
Every locked up captive in a harem stereotype is put into play while the H and h are imprisoned and the h's fear and desperation to escape was only increased when she found out she was preggers. She hides the pregnancy and is praying for rescue, when the H's mother arranges for her to be smuggled out of the country in a shipment of rugs.
The h returned to England and thought the H would soon follow. However after five years, she has read all about his coup d'etat against his father and she hasn't seen him or spoken to him even though he rules the country, and now she just wants to get on with her life and raise her child and get a divorce. (Like THAT is going to actually happen, but anyways this is the h's plan.)
The carpet appointment turns out to be a set up. She is greeted by her husband instead of a carpet seller and it soon comes to light that her mum contacted the H and asked him to come as the mum is going to be married and can't watch the h's daughter anymore.
The h is furious, she had kept the H unaware because she feared that he would kidnap her child and after the truly horrible experience and culture shock, she is determined to NEVER go back to the H's country again.
She had told her mother about her fears, but her mum was a busybody and worried that the h did not have appropriate child care and took it upon herself to upset the apple cart. ( I don't blame the h for her actions either, the imprisonment experience was truly horrifying and I still don't get WHY any mother would do what this mum did. Just the way the h looked and acted upon her return would have been enough reason to set up new identities and go into hiding, let alone her description of the treatment she received from the H's father.)
The mum thinks she knows best though, and for some reason thought the h was exaggerating, plus the h's mum has a deep aversion to women being outside the home and outside childcare. So she called up the H and now he is telling the h she either returns or he will take her daughter and the h can just deal with it.
The h loves her child and can't watch her or guard her all the time, so she is forced to accompany the H back to his Sheikdom after the mum's wedding. The mum is shocked at the H's tactics and offers to postpone her wedding, but the h tells her to get on with it, as it won't matter at the end. So much for motherly protection.
The H sends a lot of jewels and pricey items, which was good cause the h knew even getting a toothbrush in the H's country was a bit of a problem. They all go back to the desert and the H also brings along an English teacher for his daughter. There is a lot of arguing between the H and h, but he seduces her in the end and it appears he really is trying to modernize the country.
The h is offered the position of overseeing a new carpet industry in the country - between refugees fleeing other Middle East countries and getting exiled citizens to return, the H thinks the h could help establish a new economic industry. The h is thinking life might not be to bad at all and the H swears he always loved her. He explains that it took a long time to get the country stabilized and he wanted to make sure it was safe before he brought the h and his child home.
The h realizes she still loves him and now she is preggers again. The H is hoping for an heir. Then the H's malicious sister spills the beans, the H has a second wife and the h loses her temper, badly. She and the H have a terrible fight and she banishes him from her palace when he won't divorce his other wife.
She makes the H leave her alone by telling him she will abort the pregnancy if he doesn't stay away. She doesn't mean it, but she has been so manipulated and lied to that she just wants him gone. She knows she is trapped for life and she REALLY doesn't like the thought of another wife or the effect it will have on her daughter - and wonders why he doesn't have the full four as he can afford it. She accuses him of bringing her back because his second wife has given him no children and he knows she gets up the duff at the drop of a hat.
The h spends the next six months isolated in her palace with only her daughter, the teacher and occasional visits. She is really, really angry and hurt and the H, by all accounts, isn't doing much better. The h gave him a very well done smackdown before she kicked him out, but now she has to return to the capital where he lives as her palace isn't safe from the severe monsoon season and she is too far from medical care. The h and troupe go back to the city where the H and h have a few more passionate moments interspersed with some big fights.
Everyone is pretty miserable, the h knows the H is living with his other wife and things look very grim. Then the H's mum shows up a takes the h to see the other wife. Along the way the full story is revealed.
The H's mum, when she found her son was imprisoned, decided to use her influence and make a deal to get him citizen support for a coup. She tells the H she will help him if he will marry a woman of her choosing. The H is incredibly reluctant, but the h is in big danger so he finally agrees. The H's mum arranged the h's smuggling out of the country and got him another wife from a prominent family in the country's north and then the coup was set into motion with the H winning.
The only problem was the wife the mum chose had been exposed to TB - her mum died from it. The second wife was sent to the H's prison and there was no medical care and her illness worsened dramatically - the girl was only 16 at the time of the marriage and she had been handed a death sentence because the H's father wouldn't let her get treatment.
As soon as the H was able, he took the second wife to all the big treatment centers but it was too late. Because she is going to die, the H decided he couldn't divorce her, and instead of telling the h about the situation and getting her sympathy, he lied by omission and the h went ballistic.
The h meets the second wife and she is dying. She is also very young, yet she loves the H too and hastens to reassure the h that it was a marriage in name only. The h now feels horrible for her outbursts, as she is describing her daughter to the other wife(at her request,) to give her a vicarious glimpse of a life she will never have, the other wife dies. (It was a very powerfully sad scene and very well written.) The H is waiting when the h returns and they both start apologizing all over the place to each other.
The h is sorry she wouldn't hear him out after she lost her temper and the H is extremely sorry that he married her and brought her back to live in his homeland when they first met - he knew he should have secured the country first- but he was afraid someone else would snag the h and he couldn't take the chance.
He is also feeling guilty that her treatment was so horrible and that she had to be smuggled out, but he was under threat of execution and his mum was really his only hope to get the h out. He never wanted to marry the second wife, but he had no options and then when the girl became so ill because of the poor conditions, he couldn't bail on her and yet he had to hurt the h more. This was a pretty decent grovel for an HP H and by the end I was pretty empathetic to both of them.
They finally talk it all out and avow eternal love and they have a son to go with the daughter and the country's modernization is off to a roaring start for a big HEA.
ML does a good job on the set up and all the emotions and the dramatic angst is intense. She also does a pretty convincing H redemption and the h is no slouch at doling out some fairly harsh treatment for all that she suffered.
I liked it and I am fairly certain that this is the only HP where the H has two wives at the same time. The H did not cheat tho and that is a huge biggie for such a sensitive topic. ML obviously did some research on how a medieval Sheikdom was run in regards to females and she manages to set that up in a modern context pretty well. Both the h and the H had some big wrongs done to them, the h was validated in her anger and yet ML shows that the H had to suffer a lot as well.
All in all this is a pretty decent story of Sheiky lurve gone wrong in HPlandia with a nice redemption for both the H and h. Just keep in mind Katie V's assessment that HPlandia is a whole 'nother Universe and we are only there to observe the culture, so we should all use the Prime Directive and not interfere when voyaging there.
The story opens with our 23yr old h, who has been separated from her Sheikh husband for five years, accepting an appointment for a rare Middle Eastern carpet valuation. She married her Sheikh at 18 when they fell wildly in love. He had been educated in Great Britain and the h was a shy English rose who was completely unprepared for life in a very old skool Middle Eastern country run in a VERY old skool (like a thousand years ago old skool,) style. She was even more unprepared for the H's father, the country's ruler at the time, to be completely bonkers.
They were very medieval in the Sheikdom when the h first visits and the H's father is pretty much insane. He throws her husband in an isolated prison and the h is held as a hostage to his good behavior.
Every locked up captive in a harem stereotype is put into play while the H and h are imprisoned and the h's fear and desperation to escape was only increased when she found out she was preggers. She hides the pregnancy and is praying for rescue, when the H's mother arranges for her to be smuggled out of the country in a shipment of rugs.
The h returned to England and thought the H would soon follow. However after five years, she has read all about his coup d'etat against his father and she hasn't seen him or spoken to him even though he rules the country, and now she just wants to get on with her life and raise her child and get a divorce. (Like THAT is going to actually happen, but anyways this is the h's plan.)
The carpet appointment turns out to be a set up. She is greeted by her husband instead of a carpet seller and it soon comes to light that her mum contacted the H and asked him to come as the mum is going to be married and can't watch the h's daughter anymore.
The h is furious, she had kept the H unaware because she feared that he would kidnap her child and after the truly horrible experience and culture shock, she is determined to NEVER go back to the H's country again.
She had told her mother about her fears, but her mum was a busybody and worried that the h did not have appropriate child care and took it upon herself to upset the apple cart. ( I don't blame the h for her actions either, the imprisonment experience was truly horrifying and I still don't get WHY any mother would do what this mum did. Just the way the h looked and acted upon her return would have been enough reason to set up new identities and go into hiding, let alone her description of the treatment she received from the H's father.)
The mum thinks she knows best though, and for some reason thought the h was exaggerating, plus the h's mum has a deep aversion to women being outside the home and outside childcare. So she called up the H and now he is telling the h she either returns or he will take her daughter and the h can just deal with it.
The h loves her child and can't watch her or guard her all the time, so she is forced to accompany the H back to his Sheikdom after the mum's wedding. The mum is shocked at the H's tactics and offers to postpone her wedding, but the h tells her to get on with it, as it won't matter at the end. So much for motherly protection.
The H sends a lot of jewels and pricey items, which was good cause the h knew even getting a toothbrush in the H's country was a bit of a problem. They all go back to the desert and the H also brings along an English teacher for his daughter. There is a lot of arguing between the H and h, but he seduces her in the end and it appears he really is trying to modernize the country.
The h is offered the position of overseeing a new carpet industry in the country - between refugees fleeing other Middle East countries and getting exiled citizens to return, the H thinks the h could help establish a new economic industry. The h is thinking life might not be to bad at all and the H swears he always loved her. He explains that it took a long time to get the country stabilized and he wanted to make sure it was safe before he brought the h and his child home.
The h realizes she still loves him and now she is preggers again. The H is hoping for an heir. Then the H's malicious sister spills the beans, the H has a second wife and the h loses her temper, badly. She and the H have a terrible fight and she banishes him from her palace when he won't divorce his other wife.
She makes the H leave her alone by telling him she will abort the pregnancy if he doesn't stay away. She doesn't mean it, but she has been so manipulated and lied to that she just wants him gone. She knows she is trapped for life and she REALLY doesn't like the thought of another wife or the effect it will have on her daughter - and wonders why he doesn't have the full four as he can afford it. She accuses him of bringing her back because his second wife has given him no children and he knows she gets up the duff at the drop of a hat.
The h spends the next six months isolated in her palace with only her daughter, the teacher and occasional visits. She is really, really angry and hurt and the H, by all accounts, isn't doing much better. The h gave him a very well done smackdown before she kicked him out, but now she has to return to the capital where he lives as her palace isn't safe from the severe monsoon season and she is too far from medical care. The h and troupe go back to the city where the H and h have a few more passionate moments interspersed with some big fights.
Everyone is pretty miserable, the h knows the H is living with his other wife and things look very grim. Then the H's mum shows up a takes the h to see the other wife. Along the way the full story is revealed.
The H's mum, when she found her son was imprisoned, decided to use her influence and make a deal to get him citizen support for a coup. She tells the H she will help him if he will marry a woman of her choosing. The H is incredibly reluctant, but the h is in big danger so he finally agrees. The H's mum arranged the h's smuggling out of the country and got him another wife from a prominent family in the country's north and then the coup was set into motion with the H winning.
The only problem was the wife the mum chose had been exposed to TB - her mum died from it. The second wife was sent to the H's prison and there was no medical care and her illness worsened dramatically - the girl was only 16 at the time of the marriage and she had been handed a death sentence because the H's father wouldn't let her get treatment.
As soon as the H was able, he took the second wife to all the big treatment centers but it was too late. Because she is going to die, the H decided he couldn't divorce her, and instead of telling the h about the situation and getting her sympathy, he lied by omission and the h went ballistic.
The h meets the second wife and she is dying. She is also very young, yet she loves the H too and hastens to reassure the h that it was a marriage in name only. The h now feels horrible for her outbursts, as she is describing her daughter to the other wife(at her request,) to give her a vicarious glimpse of a life she will never have, the other wife dies. (It was a very powerfully sad scene and very well written.) The H is waiting when the h returns and they both start apologizing all over the place to each other.
The h is sorry she wouldn't hear him out after she lost her temper and the H is extremely sorry that he married her and brought her back to live in his homeland when they first met - he knew he should have secured the country first- but he was afraid someone else would snag the h and he couldn't take the chance.
He is also feeling guilty that her treatment was so horrible and that she had to be smuggled out, but he was under threat of execution and his mum was really his only hope to get the h out. He never wanted to marry the second wife, but he had no options and then when the girl became so ill because of the poor conditions, he couldn't bail on her and yet he had to hurt the h more. This was a pretty decent grovel for an HP H and by the end I was pretty empathetic to both of them.
They finally talk it all out and avow eternal love and they have a son to go with the daughter and the country's modernization is off to a roaring start for a big HEA.
ML does a good job on the set up and all the emotions and the dramatic angst is intense. She also does a pretty convincing H redemption and the h is no slouch at doling out some fairly harsh treatment for all that she suffered.
I liked it and I am fairly certain that this is the only HP where the H has two wives at the same time. The H did not cheat tho and that is a huge biggie for such a sensitive topic. ML obviously did some research on how a medieval Sheikdom was run in regards to females and she manages to set that up in a modern context pretty well. Both the h and the H had some big wrongs done to them, the h was validated in her anger and yet ML shows that the H had to suffer a lot as well.
All in all this is a pretty decent story of Sheiky lurve gone wrong in HPlandia with a nice redemption for both the H and h. Just keep in mind Katie V's assessment that HPlandia is a whole 'nother Universe and we are only there to observe the culture, so we should all use the Prime Directive and not interfere when voyaging there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2018
Boogenhagen has all the spoilers, so I won't go through every plot point, but suffice it to say this is a fun little second chance story. Heroine married the heir to a desert kingdom when she was 18. The hero's father was crazy and paranoid from dementia and her husband ended up under arrest with the heroine kept in the palace as a hostage to insure the hero's best behavior.
The heroine, pregnant at the time, escapes back to England with the help of the hero's mother. Then she doesn't hear from him for five years. She has applied for a divorce, but the hero wants to meet her in person. The heroine refuses but is tricked into a meeting.
The hero quickly explains that it has been dangerous for the heroine and his daughter to return to the kingdom (but he's had them watched) until now. Then he uses a few kisses and threats of taking his daughter away to bully the heroine back to his country.
Heroine is really angry and bitter about her treatment five years before and she gives the hero a very difficult time. But he puts up with it and eventually she settles into the life. Her daughter loves the horses and she is engrossed in growing the carpet industry to help the economy. She is also pregnant and happy and then . . .
The other shoe drops.
Heroine flips out - makes all kinds of threats against the baby she is carrying and demands the hero live elsewhere. It is just the kind of display you would expect after hearing news like that.
Seven months pass - both the H/h are unhappy. Then
The hero admits to lying by omission and being a coward about telling the heroine. They both forgive the other for being too proud to communicate. There is an epilogue with four month old son and his doting sister. HEA
I like this one because the heroine learned Arabic and had a lot to offer her adopted country besides being the hero's wife. She was really bitchy at the beginning, but she grew on me. Her take down of the hero after finding out his lie of omission was great. Hero was pretty great, too. He played the hands that were dealt to him and didn't whine. He also had a lot of patience with the volatile heroine.
The heroine, pregnant at the time, escapes back to England with the help of the hero's mother. Then she doesn't hear from him for five years. She has applied for a divorce, but the hero wants to meet her in person. The heroine refuses but is tricked into a meeting.
The hero quickly explains that it has been dangerous for the heroine and his daughter to return to the kingdom (but he's had them watched) until now. Then he uses a few kisses and threats of taking his daughter away to bully the heroine back to his country.
Heroine is really angry and bitter about her treatment five years before and she gives the hero a very difficult time. But he puts up with it and eventually she settles into the life. Her daughter loves the horses and she is engrossed in growing the carpet industry to help the economy. She is also pregnant and happy and then . . .
The other shoe drops.
Heroine flips out - makes all kinds of threats against the baby she is carrying and demands the hero live elsewhere. It is just the kind of display you would expect after hearing news like that.
Seven months pass - both the H/h are unhappy. Then
The hero admits to lying by omission and being a coward about telling the heroine. They both forgive the other for being too proud to communicate. There is an epilogue with four month old son and his doting sister. HEA
I like this one because the heroine learned Arabic and had a lot to offer her adopted country besides being the hero's wife. She was really bitchy at the beginning, but she grew on me. Her take down of the hero after finding out his lie of omission was great. Hero was pretty great, too. He played the hands that were dealt to him and didn't whine. He also had a lot of patience with the volatile heroine.
January 27, 2022
"Escape From the Harem" is the story of Leonie and Badyr.
Well, escape from the harem indeed.
Heroine is a English woman who had fallen madly in love with an Arab Sheikh, only to be caught in an oppressive regime as she goes to his kingdom. After loads of anguish, she escapes when she is pregnant while her husband is imprisoned.
Years later, she is a successful employee and mother, when the hero returns. Turns out, he had a major hand in her escape and now wants his wife and daughter back. She resists him at every turn, until she doesn't, and they confess their love for each other..at 70%.
Ofcourse there was more drama to come as a tragic secret is revealed and both go through a lot of heartbreak.
Maybe one of my least favorite plot twists, but I suffered through it. Also very dated and filled with stereotypes.
SWE
3/5
Well, escape from the harem indeed.
Heroine is a English woman who had fallen madly in love with an Arab Sheikh, only to be caught in an oppressive regime as she goes to his kingdom. After loads of anguish, she escapes when she is pregnant while her husband is imprisoned.
Years later, she is a successful employee and mother, when the hero returns. Turns out, he had a major hand in her escape and now wants his wife and daughter back. She resists him at every turn, until she doesn't, and they confess their love for each other..at 70%.
Ofcourse there was more drama to come as a tragic secret is revealed and both go through a lot of heartbreak.
Maybe one of my least favorite plot twists, but I suffered through it. Also very dated and filled with stereotypes.
SWE
3/5
January 30, 2019
Incredibly silly but I’ve read it without a break! However, I need a brain transplant. Lol
June 22, 2011
I actually liked the book,usually i avoid shiekh books but this one was good
The hero suffered so much,he had to marry against his wishes so that his love his first wife is safe,but he never gets physical with the second wife never consummated that marriage always waited for his love his first wife and when they meet after a gap of i guess 5 years he is so happy and they also have a child which he did'nt knew and obviously he hides the fact he got married again then the evil in laws tell her about it and bomb explodes
when the first wife comes to know about it,she is heart broken and shattered but she really makes him pay but here i must say he was at no fault,it was really hard for me to digest the fact hero got married second time to save the first wife till today it pricks me
but when i keep myself in his shoes,i came to accept it,he was forced and had no choice in marriage but still he remained faithful and acknowledged and respected his first marriage vows
the second wife dies in the end,we have the HEA
Good read but not a keeper for me
The hero suffered so much,he had to marry against his wishes so that his love his first wife is safe,but he never gets physical with the second wife never consummated that marriage always waited for his love his first wife and when they meet after a gap of i guess 5 years he is so happy and they also have a child which he did'nt knew and obviously he hides the fact he got married again then the evil in laws tell her about it and bomb explodes
when the first wife comes to know about it,she is heart broken and shattered but she really makes him pay but here i must say he was at no fault,it was really hard for me to digest the fact hero got married second time to save the first wife till today it pricks me
but when i keep myself in his shoes,i came to accept it,he was forced and had no choice in marriage but still he remained faithful and acknowledged and respected his first marriage vows
the second wife dies in the end,we have the HEA
Good read but not a keeper for me
October 18, 2013
Wow! Poor hero! Heroine was shrewish, bitter and a major bitch! And I know that this was written in the 80's but I was disgusted by the author's relentless vilification of Arabs and Arabic culture.
November 29, 2011
The heroine Leonie is shocked when she meets her estranged husband Badyr, the hero, for the first time in years. After escaping from his civil war torn country, Leonie tried to put all her memories of her lonely marriage out of her mind and make a new life for herself and her daughter. Badyr has always known about his daughter but has waited until now to come back and claim both of them, he needed to rebuild and stabilise his country after his power-mad father almost ruined it. And he wanted to make it a better place for his wife and daughter to return to. Leonie is terrified of going back to the country where she felt so oppressed as well as returning to her less than perfect marriage, but for her daughter's sake she knows she has no choice.
Leonie quickly recognises all the change and good that Badyr has done for his country and they begin to grow close again. They marriage is stronger than ever and Leonie is very happy, until she discovers what Badyr did during the years they were apart, and is once again heartbroken.
This is an interesting and well executed book. The actual romance between the hero and heroine feels very real and I really responded to the hero and how he was not afraid to express his total love for the heroine. What I found particularly interesting about this book is that it actually raised and dealt with the subject of social and religious differences between the hero and heroine and their lives. There are many Sheikh romances that simply ignore these things, so it definitely added depth to this book.
However, as a western woman I couldn't accept the hero's other marriage. I know that it's an accepted and perfectly fine part of some eastern cultures, but for me I feel that it is a little upsetting, and doesn't fit with the 'romantic fantasy' that is an integral part of reading romances.
Unfortunately this put me off the book, but it was very enjoyable up until then...
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
Leonie quickly recognises all the change and good that Badyr has done for his country and they begin to grow close again. They marriage is stronger than ever and Leonie is very happy, until she discovers what Badyr did during the years they were apart, and is once again heartbroken.
This is an interesting and well executed book. The actual romance between the hero and heroine feels very real and I really responded to the hero and how he was not afraid to express his total love for the heroine. What I found particularly interesting about this book is that it actually raised and dealt with the subject of social and religious differences between the hero and heroine and their lives. There are many Sheikh romances that simply ignore these things, so it definitely added depth to this book.
However, as a western woman I couldn't accept the hero's other marriage. I know that it's an accepted and perfectly fine part of some eastern cultures, but for me I feel that it is a little upsetting, and doesn't fit with the 'romantic fantasy' that is an integral part of reading romances.
Unfortunately this put me off the book, but it was very enjoyable up until then...
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
June 21, 2018
All sorts of drama in this one!
There’s a younger h and an older H
A trip to Arabia
An unpleasant MIL
A batshit crazy FIL
The H gets imprisoned
The h has to flee for her life and that of her unborn child
The H escapes and there’s a coup
Five years later the H returns and turns the h’s life upside down
The H drags the h and their daughter back to Arabia
They make up and all is well, until....
The H has another wife!!!
DRAMA 4 YO MAMA!
I had so much fun reading this one! Book drama is sooo much lovelier that rl drama! This one is worth the read and is definitely a keeper!
There’s a younger h and an older H
A trip to Arabia
An unpleasant MIL
A batshit crazy FIL
The H gets imprisoned
The h has to flee for her life and that of her unborn child
The H escapes and there’s a coup
Five years later the H returns and turns the h’s life upside down
The H drags the h and their daughter back to Arabia
They make up and all is well, until....
The H has another wife!!!
DRAMA 4 YO MAMA!
I had so much fun reading this one! Book drama is sooo much lovelier that rl drama! This one is worth the read and is definitely a keeper!
March 14, 2012
The h. didn't run fast or far enough. Every non PC plotline the author could hurl out she did. I know this serial romance was written 20+ years ago, but I don't believe that is a good enough excuse. I am glad I read Monarch of the Sands written by Sharon Kendrick a couple of weeks ago, I may not have read it given the similar theme (and I would have missed a great read)
January 27, 2022
She knows how happy he is with her pregnancy and she threatens to have an abortion if he doesn’t do what she says. That’s awful.
June 25, 2023
3 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ misleading title! There was no harem, just an ancient fort to escape from. This kept me glued to pages to get to back story. Not a bad sultan story, though I usually try to avoid.
September 5, 2022
I must say that this would be a great modern day story if rewritten. But since this was written in the 1980's is it ok. This is about a woman who marries into an Arabian family who happen to be leaders of the nation. The father is insane and the son must safeguard his western wife. She 'escapes' back to the west where she is safe from harm. After the fathers demise he has to rebuild his nation. Here is where the story starts. It's about being reunited and the angst of finding out your not the only wife that your husband has. It's about learning to look beyond what you see to the whole story. This is a good read. And I will be keeping this book to re-read it again.
Wish more stories that were written back then to be placed in ebook form.
Wish more stories that were written back then to be placed in ebook form.
May 22, 2013
A pleasant way to pass free time, reading this romance. Not very believable, yet an enjoyable story.
Read
October 31, 2017Fugitiva Del Harén (1990)
Título Original: Escape From The Harem (1986)
Título Original: Escape From The Harem (1986)
August 29, 2021
Re-read as an adult...it was much better as a teen
January 29, 2022
ENTRETENIDO
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2022
Yeah, this one had a lot of story and kept me up reading. 👍🏻
Wont go into the details since a lot of other reviewers have done so already.
A solid read. Go for it!
Wont go into the details since a lot of other reviewers have done so already.
A solid read. Go for it!
January 17, 2020
It would be like returning to a prison
For five years Leonie had tried to put the past behind her, make a new life for herself and Jade, the daughter her husband had never seen. Now, Badyr's sudden appearance in London had shattered her orderly life.
Leonie remembered Dhoman--its traditional Arab way of life, the hours of loneliness, the increasing strain between herself and Badyr. She couldn't quite believe Badyr's assurances that now he was the Sultan, things were different.
And yet, what choice did she have? He was still her husband and, in spite of everything, she still loved him..
For five years Leonie had tried to put the past behind her, make a new life for herself and Jade, the daughter her husband had never seen. Now, Badyr's sudden appearance in London had shattered her orderly life.
Leonie remembered Dhoman--its traditional Arab way of life, the hours of loneliness, the increasing strain between herself and Badyr. She couldn't quite believe Badyr's assurances that now he was the Sultan, things were different.
And yet, what choice did she have? He was still her husband and, in spite of everything, she still loved him..
November 30, 2024
This is my third time reading this book. Each time I picked up different nuances, thoughts etc.,
I understand more where the characters are coming from, thoughts etc I still get angry at the lack of communication which would have changed everything for the better.
However this is common theme in Harlequins.
It is a good book for the tropes (Sheikh, royalty, second chance).
If you like these old romances, this is one to read!
I understand more where the characters are coming from, thoughts etc I still get angry at the lack of communication which would have changed everything for the better.
However this is common theme in Harlequins.
It is a good book for the tropes (Sheikh, royalty, second chance).
If you like these old romances, this is one to read!
Read
September 8, 2016review to come
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews