CHARACTERS: 3/5
WRITING STYLE: 3/5
CLIMAX: 2.5/5
ENTERTAINMENT QUOTIENT: 3/5
Shamed in the Sands is the second book in the “Desert Man of Qurhah” series.
But, even though you may have not read the first book, it is alright, for the stories are exclusive of each other and your understanding of one does not depend upon having read the other.
Each book picks up one character from the royal desert household of Qurhah and recounts their story.
The first one being about the diplomat Suleiman Abd-al-Aziz and Sarah, the second book about Princess Leila and British tycoon Gabe Steel and last but the not the least, the third book is about the desert Sultan Murat and his love; the feisty Welsh beauty Catrin Thomas.
In this book, Princess Leila is shown as a smart young desert royal, who is frequently tormented by her dreams of becoming a photographer.
In her quest for a job which befits her fantasies, she seeks out Gabe Steel, the powerful British Media tycoon who has recently been invited by her brother the Sultan Murat, to design an ad campaign to promote his country as the ultimate desert destination.
Leila’s only mistake is the fact that she chooses the wrong timing and the wrong place for her first meeting with a prospective employer.
The place being Gabe Steel’s hotel suite and the time was when she was closely followed by her bodyguards.
Be it the thrill of meeting a strange man in such an intimate setting or the adrenaline rush from running away from her guards, Leila ends up in the arms and the bed of Gabe Steel.
Even more disastrous is the fact that despite she being a desert royal and one who will soon be betrothed to another royal, she gets herself pregnant.
Now, what will Leila do? Will she be able to face her Sultan brother? How will she tell Gabe? What will Gabe’s reaction be? Will he be able to accept his duty and act responsibly? What does the future hold for Leila?
To know this and much more about this tantalizing romance story, read this wonderful book today.
The best part of Shamed in the Sands is its characters. Both Leila and Gabe are quite fearsome and fiery in their own ways.
With their inherent charm and charismatic selves, they more than compensate for the lack of a solid plot and a fast-pace narration.
The book overall is quite interesting and the exoticism of the locations and the characters add a specific spice to its overall appeal.
The climax, though not so overwhelming, is a happy one and brings a feeling of content in the end.
In short and to sum all of it up, the seemingly fiery and sensuous story, in the end, becomes a sweet and cute one, not that I regret the fact of it being so, but I truly believe that a less suggestive title and cover, would have surely done more justice to the actual story.