Review of Falcon's Prey by Penny Jordan

Finally! After being off the grid for a month and a few days, here comes a fresh review of a Harlequin classic: Falcon's Prey by Penny Jordan.

SYNOPSIS:
In order to marry Faisal, Felicia Gordon flies to Kuwait to meet his family and get the approval of his overbearing uncle, Raschid. Now Raschid believes that Felicia is just another gold-digging British girl with loosened morals and non-existent virtue. Which of course, pisses off Felicia. It's definitely hate at first sight but slowly, Felicia begins to realize that she might be engaged to the wrong man...


Unlike the bulk of sheikh romances these days where things are so steamy each page burns to the touch, Penny Jordan stokes the fire gently until it blossoms into a stunning conflagration as Raschid and Felicia begin to accept their feelings for each other. I thought to point this out because the wringing out of tension in this manner is so rarely done these days, and this well. This book is a triumph!

Another plus is the story's real setting: Kuwait. The novel was written in 1981, just nine years before the shit Saddam ignited that led to the first Gulf War. Reading this novel thirty-one years later, knowing what had happened, was devastating, in fact. Yes, Raschid and Felicia are only fictional characters, but because of what had happened, you want to know if they survived the war. It's rare for a book to make the reader long to know what happens beyond "happily ever after."

Unfortunately, I'm never going to know because Penny Jordan died only last December.

I think the rendering of Faisal comes off as almost caricature-like because of his over-the-top possessiveness and how he blows then scorching. Raschid, though also blowing hot and also cold, has been tempered. Of course he's arrogant, autocratic, and comes off as an asshat in the first few pages that he comes in but after that, you begin to feel..well, sorry for the guy. He's the uncle, for crying out loud. And he's got the hots on his nephew's fiancee. He knows it's an impossible situation but the harder her pushes Felicia away by throwing the scarlet paint at her and painting A's all over her body, the more he longs for her.

This book, a bit unusual for a Mills and Boon novel at the time, gives a brief perspective of the novel from the male protagonist. A huge part of why I don't like the vintage novels much (sheikhs and beyond) is that it's told only from the female protagonist's point-of-view. So I remained unconvinced when, five pages into the end of the novel, the guy crashes to his knees and confesses his love. By giving the reader some flashes of story as seen from Raschid's eyes, I couldn't help getting all tingly and hot when he finally said, "..I want you! I have wanted you from the first moment I saw you."

Unoriginal, true, but Raschid's confession pole-vaults over the waiting abyss of cliche because of the development of his character. And may I say that it's a relief to read about this romance without the sheikh tormented by some great tragedy or loss or mounting bitterness? I'm sick of reading about men who swear to never love again because they were betrayed or the wife/girlfriend/insert relevant female in his life here died/had something tragic happen. Or detachment/insert any angsty feeling here about his homeland. And don't even get me started on those reunion plots. Or revenge. Or kidnappings! UGH.

Felicia too is another character that's written well.You feel for this girl whenever Raschid gets to her, and it's not because she resorts to to all-too passionate outbursts (there are defensive ones), or she weeps in some dark corner and wishes for the ground to swallow her up. Felicia's pain and confusion over her feelings for Raschid beautifully steps over the all-too-common mistake of making her a pathetic, clueless boob because she does her damnest to rise over his taunts. She is determined to do what's right and, good for Raschid, he respects her for it. Not to say that he doesn't sneak in a kiss or two and a boob feel. He does. But as said already, these are characters that are so well-written that in spite of the cliches, they are pulsating, they're real. It is difficult to depict "normal" without being "too normal."

If you can get your hands on Falcon's Prey, I suggest that you do so now, as soon as you're done reading this post. By the way, this was Penny's first novel accepted by Mills and Boon, and I can see why. Falcon's Prey by Penny Jordan--definitely staying in the kasbah, people!

Review of The Sheik's Secret by Judith McWilliams

A Google search of Judith McWilliams yielded the information that she had published seven novels under Silhouette Romance and ten more with Harlequin Temptation. She also writes under the name Charlotte Hines (from RomanceWiki).

Whenever I review books here, I make it a point to see if the writer has any more books and if she's focused on a specific genre or two. The Sheik's Secret is the only Judith McWilliams book I'm aware of and I still have to check out if, under the name of Charlotte Hines, she had also published more boosk of the sheik/desert genre. This blog, after all, focuses only on these books and nothing more (I'm not a big fan of fantasy or the paranormal, sorry). 

This now out there, I'd like to add that more than enough has been said about the incomprehensibility of the popularity of the sheik/desert genre in light of 9/11 and the continuing terrorist attacks. I've also been asked by fellow romance lovers why I couldn't be normal and be head over heels on Regency romances, for example, or vampires (I've never thought of vampires as sexy--guys on liquid diets or diets of any kind have never been a turn-on and I think a guy with twenty extra pounds on him who still gorges on Big Mac is way, way hot). I like to read romance to escape for a good hour or two, nothing more. I certainly do not fantasize about some hot Arab sweeping me off my feet into his desert kasbah because they don't exactly live in such places these days and can you just imagine how much sunblock I'll be needing living out there in the friggin' desert? I'll need a truckload of Coppertone! That and it is never, never going to happen. But reading a Harlequin or a Mills and Boon sheikh romance allows me the opportunity to witness a fantasy. 

And when we talk about fantasy, truths and the news and geopolitics do not come into play. When you fantasize about eating nothing but chocolate chip ice cream, calories certainly won't be a part of it, and so is splitting your pants open when you sit down. So I think it is really quite ridiculous that sheikh romances continue to be branded with the bull's eye tattoo that have yet to see the end of another scholar aiming to blow its head off. Fantasy, people! Fantasy! 

But I do get it, you know. I get the shock of a career woman suddenly giving it all up to live the rest of her life veiled and subjugated. I get the outrage and the disbelief. I also get the what-the-fuck matter of religion basically leaped over and forgotten! But I will say it again--FANTASY! FANTASY!

Judith McWilliams, taking the genre where it usually never turns, gives our heroine (Kali) an idea of what it would be like to live in the Middle East. She's not given dreamy silks or jewelry, not right away. It's her fiance Karim who's actually the twin brother Hassan (oh pfft, I didn't give anything away, the novel begins by stating the Hassan's got a twin that Kali is engaged to) who gives her an overview of life with him: separate meals, abayas that are potential death traps, and basically being ignored most of the time. Most of the women depicted in sheik romances willingly put on the veil and think it's sensual and feminine. Kali trips. By this alone, Judth McWilliams not only aimed to answer the oft-unheeded bemoaning of literary critics but also ended up pleasing her reader by giving, what is in my opinion, a damn good ending for a plot that's more threadbare than a well-worn t-shirt.

CHARACTERS
Hassan Rashid masquerading as Karim, the fiance
Kali Whitman

PLOT

Hassan sees Kali to tell her that his brother no longer wishes to marry her. Kali has no idea about Karim having a twin. Hassan is knocked off his feet upon seeing Kali the first time. The novel is your typical guilty twin plot who's not only racked by guilt too long but doesn't hesitate to get his hands on boobs and booty.

BEST LINE (and I mean this ironically)
"Thanks, Karim. Umm...Hassan. Why do you want to be called Hassan all of a sudden?" she asked.
"It's my nickname in the family," he lied. "And I much prefer it to Karim."

I don't know which to deck on the head first. Kali for being dumb or Hassan for thinking she is that dumb. 

GOES INTO THE KASBAH OR CAST OUT
For Judith McWilliams attempting to give critics what they've long wanted to see..fine.The novel isn't as bad as I'm making it out to be, so this has a sure space in my shelf. That and this appears to be the only sheikh romance by the author.

Hajar's Hidden Legacy by Maisey Yates

This is my first of Maisey Yates sheikh romances (the other being The Inherited Bride, which I haven't read yet) and I gotta say that I look forward to reading more from her. I usually don't like princess characters but Katharine comes off as having a lot (and I mean a lot) more strength than a glass slipper and a silver spoon combined. She's assertive and self-sacrificing and Yates writes her in such a way that this reader didn't feel about never going to be able as selfless as she. I wouldn't want Katharine for a best friend, but if she'd step out of the pages, I would definitely admire her. Zahir  isn't your usual alpha desert hero too. He's wounded, literally and figuratively and while his seemingly endless suffering could be quite maddening, you do cheer the guy on. Both of them, actually (Notice how I seem to despise Alpha males? They do not exist outside beyond the pages of a book and romance is already glutted with the sort. Give me wounded, bleeding men with their hearts throbbing on their sleeves, please!).

Characters

Zahir, Beast of Hajar and Katharine, Princess of Austrich

Plot

To secure the crown for her younger brother and to prevent a possible civil war by a cousin who would be grabbing the crown as soon as it's confirmed that there's no male heir of legal age in Katharine's immediate family to reign, Katharine insists that Zahir marry her, in accordance to a marriage contract agreed between her and his dead brother Malik. Zahir sends her away, clearly having no interest in marrying her. An assassination attempt that wiped out his entire family left Zahir with wounds that had drove him into acquiring near-hermit status, and the nickname The Beast of Hajar. 

Hajar's Hidden Legacy is Beauty and the Beast retold, still with fairy tale elements but with characters that are wonderfully real. Each is determined to put the other first, but when the call of the heart drowns out the wail of duty, readers get an ending that's not just rooted in earth but destined by the stars.

Best Lines

"I told you to get out."

"Of your office."

"Of the country. And you knew what I meant."

We rarely get smart-ass heroines! Owned, Katharine! 

Goes Into the Kasbah or Cast Out
I'm keeping this one!

Review of The Sheikh and the Virgin Secretary by Susan Mallery

My love for the sheikh and desert romance genre stems from it being the first romance and adult book I got my hands on. I've since branched out to fantasy, historical and modern romances penned by Brenda Joyce,and Jayne Ann Krentz. But as it always goes with first love, it never dies so sheikh romances are my ultimate, quickie romantic escape.

That being said, looking for a well-written one is a lot like searching for a diamond among peanuts or however you say it. Needle in the sand. Needle in the haystack. But there are good ones, and Susan Mallery's got one of them.

Susan Mallery wrote the Desert Rogues series. You can read it any order or chronologically. I 've only read one so far, which is The Sheikh and the Virgin Secretary,# 10 in the series. I don't like the title (I bemoan the lack of creative titles in romance these days and will get to that in another post) but this is a jewel of a book! Simply unputdownable!

Characters

Prince Rafiq of Lucia-Serrat and Kiley Hendrick

Plot
Kiley catches her fiance Eric cheating on her just days before the wedding. In revenge, she calls on her boss, Rafiq, to be her lover. Kiley's attractive and smart so of course, Rafiq agrees. Things are easy-breezy until his stepmother comes along and shakes things up. As it goes with stepmothers, she's a bitch and knows how to get to Rafiq. He reacts by proposing marriage to Kiley. Again, things are easy-breezy until Eric makes another appearance (this guy pops out like a jackrabbit, really) and, whether intentionally or out of genuine concern for Kiley (really now), bursts the happy bubble of fun and sex the boss and secretary are floating in. 

I Love Them Both!
I've never seen a couple as well-matched as Kiley and Rafiq. They are both strong, assertive people. 

Of all the fictional sheikhs I've come across, I like Rafiq the best. He's really sweet on Kiley, is pretty down-to-earth, friendly and he trusts her to fight her own battles though he would step in the second she snaps her fingers. Kiley too is no wimpy, weepy heroine. She's sure about what she wants, and doesn't hesitate to let them be known. I just love her.

And they're really funny together. Kiley keeps on reminding Rafiq what a waste of time it is for him to put on all those seductions moves as she's "the sure thing:" but he's just as insistent that her first time should be perfect.  

Hands down, Kiley and Rafiq are my favorite couple. 

Best Lines

"So is there a place one goes to find a woman fit to be a princess? Like a princess store?" 

Her eyes were bright with humor and the corners of her mouth curved up.

"There's an Internet site, he said, pretending to be serious.

"Oh, I'd love to see it. Do you type in specifications? Height, weight, number of sons required."
"Of course. Along with how many languages I want her to speak and what accomplishments she should have."

Goes into the Kasbah or Cast Out
Are you kidding me? I'm never letting this book out of my sight!

Another Classic: Captive Bride by Johanna Lindsey

I don't know exactly how I feel about Johanna Lindsey. I find that it takes her characters too long to get it on and when they finally do, it's limited to only a couple of instances or she resorts to the 'fade to black' device. I believe the goal of romance is to give it all. While as a writer you do have to tickle the imagination of the reader, people these days are just too tired to conjure up what happens after the curtains have been drawn, the door closed,etc. I like my romance given. I want specific instructions. And I want plenty of passion, sex and fire between the romantic leads. Entertain me!

I have more than a couple of Johanna Lindseys and frankly, if someone wants them, I won't hesitate to give them all away. But my friends aren't huge fans of Lindsey either, so it's gonna be a while before someone takes these books. The first Lindsey sheikh romance I read wasn't from my bookshelf as well, but my sister's.

 

Captive Bride is Lindsey's first book, if I'm not mistaken. I won't be nitpicking the writing for the moment. What makes this quite different from her subsequent books is that there's a good number of sex scenes by comparison. That's one plus because frankly, this book bats negative all the way. 

Characters

Christina Wakefield and Philip Caxton a.k.a. Sheik Abu

Plot
Christina Wakefield is a goddess come to earth. Philip Caxton wants her. She rebuffs him. So he hatches this plan that  brings her to Egypt to be abducted and to be brought into his desert encampment. In his robes and around horses, he's not Philip Caxton but Sheik Abu, barbarian and thief.

Gripes
Phillip is no Alpha male but actually comes off as a sociopath. The man's got no guilt, no conscience. Here's a list of his transgressions:

abduction

beatings

rape
if he isn't saying bullshit like "your body was made for love" he threatens her.

he's alive (and thank God, only in this book)

Christina is no good either. How can she stand being around this dick?  You know it's a bad romance when you go, "Man! Oh, yeah!" when Christina stabs Philip. She should've aimed lower.

Philip cements his top spot in the Dick Hall of Fame by insisting that it won't be rape between them. I don't care how you say it, package and wrap it in shit but when a woman says, yells, shouts, No, it sure as hell ain't yes. Rape is rape. 

EVERYONE SCREAMS! EVERYONE! AAAH! 

Goes into the Kasbah or Cast Out?

Out. Out. Out.

Here's A Golden Oldie: The Sheik's Captive by Violet Winspear

Much has been said about the popularity of sheikh and desert romances. It's a genre in which opinion doesn't swing to great extremes, alternating between revulsion and plain confusion. People often forget that one of the aims of romance is to provide escape from reality. And there's nothing wrong with hopping on the dream plane every now and then. We need to entertain ourselves, and if it involves some two hundred pages about swarthy desert Alpha males, then why not?

I have to say that this Violet Winspear-helmed romance (uh-huh, she of the writing her males as "capable of rape") will always be special (though I think she's nuts). She gave me my first swarthy desert Alpha male, after all.

Characters
Sheikh Khasim ben Haran and Diane Ronay

Plot

Our heroine gets thrown off her horse and ends up crawling her way to the Sahara until our desert hero comes her way. She's given water, is rescued, plunked on the divan. Standard hospitality, so far so good. Then the big reveal: Diane is the granddaughter of the man who massacred Khasim's tribe, his mother among the victims. Khasim then thinks to keep her and terrorize her grandfather about all the unthinkables he'd be doing to her.

And did he?

*SPOILER ALERT*
Except for two instances that had them horizontal and him "wandering the soft hollows and curves" (i.e., boobs) and when he was "at the very gates of her innocence," this Harlequin romance is pretty GP.

Best Line

"I should hope I've more sense than to behave like a frustrated nitwit out of a novelette!"

I Like Her and I Also Don't Like Her

Diane really fights Khasim. Among the women of the many sheikh romances I've read, she's pretty up there when it comes to keeping her head on her shoulders and absolutely refuses to be swept away. But then she does an about-face. Ah, love. The extremes we're driven to.

Goes into the Kasbah or Cast Out:
I'm keeping this one. Flowery language aside, this book is pretty decent.

Desert Prince, Defiant Virgin by Kim Lawrence

Main Characters

 Prince Tair Al Sharif and Molly James

Plot

First impressions not only last with Tair, but it also drives him to abduct Molly James. Molly is the half-sister of his cousins Tariq and Khalid. Molly’s English mother leaves Zabrania because she can’t stand desert life and it’s only now that Molly’s been made aware of her link to royalty. But such good news should not only not spread fast, it shouldn’t be spread at all. For the moment. Molly is then introduced as the friend of Beatrice, Tariq’s wife. Since Tair is completely clueless, he assumes that the looks of concern exchanged between Molly and Tariq mean an affair in the works. That is simply not going to fly with Tair, who, of course, takes Molly away via plane and camel, along with dehydration-induced fainting.

Worth Noting

Tair calls her Miss Mouse. Derides her for her love of beige-y and mushroom colors.  Tair actually has a sense of humor. Despite the false assumptions and the kidnapping. Yes. I can't believe I'm saying these things but he is  a funny guy.

Typical

Tariq Exhibits the classic male disability for not listening and interrupting females who have something really important to say. Molly, of course, is outspoken. But she’s always yelling.

Best Lines

“I was not quiet. I made a great deal of noise, and if it makes you feel any better I had no desire to leave you..”

Gripes:

Honestly, if this much miscommunication, yelling and non-listening are already taking place before they leaped into the sack, I’m willing to bet both would have busted ear drums in three years, tops. Why is being outspoken often synonymous to being a shrew?

Goes into the Kasbah or Cast Out:  

I’ll keep it on the threshold. I'm not a big fan of the book but it's not that bad. It's a relief to read sex scenes where you don't have to worry if both hero and heroine are on the verge of an asthma or panic attack because of the volume of gasps and breathless moments. I don't think you even do that much gasping if your kink is asphyxiation.