Published by Harlequin
Released on April 18, 2017
Pages: 224
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
The Delight
I love romance troupe’s where the hero makes the mistake of not seeing the heroine for who she is, and then falling for her. This is that such story, but it failed to grab my attention.
Review
Jane Smith is a woman so locked up, no one sees her for herself. Supposedly her twin sister got all the looks, while Jane got the brains. When her sister gets into trouble, Jane thinks to ask her boss, the Sheikh Zayed for the money even though she can barely tolerate him and his arrogance. When the Sheikh asks her out for dinner, she goes along with it even though her mind rebels.
Sheikh Zayed needs a wife, but doesn’t want one. He needs one to get his inheritance, so he decides Jane meets the criteria. In no way is he attracted to her so he won’t be tempted to consummate the marriage he intends to annul in six months. He is arrogant, thinks he is God’s gift to women and the world, and doesn’t intend to change his life.
The story if fraught with boring dialog, jumps in the timeline and no chemistry. No way to sugar coat it. I found myself skimming paragraphs between conversations. These two get so lost up in their heads. I didn’t like the hero from start to finish and even though he had some issues, I couldn’t feel any depth of sadness for him. The heroine lays in a bed of her own making. The transformation she makes isn’t so much surprising as much as non-existent. I mean it happens, you just don’t see how.
For example: you see her arrive in the country she will soon be the queen over and then it jumps to her walking down the aisle for her wedding. Suddenly she goes from the dowdy librarian to the sexy bride with exotic makeup and figure. Then a jump from the wedding night to some time later in Washington DC for their honeymoon.
I picked up the story, nostalgic for the Harlequin Romances I read when I was poor and could only afford these books. Unfortunately I wasn’t reminded so much of my past. It lacked a depth of story to engage my mind as well as my emotions.
Challenges
New To Me – Author
Review Writing – #11
Literary Pickers – Fake Mates/Marriage of Convenience
Suggested reviews based upon The Sheikh’s Bought Wife!
Shari
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Yikes, I think this is a firm pass for me. Sorry this one didn’t work out for you.
Me too. I guess I expected more, but it didn’t deliver.
I’ve had the same experience with every Sharon Kendrick book that I’ve read. I don’t think her writing is for me.
Oh, no. Then I guess I will not be trying her books again.
I don’t like the sheikh, price, king type stories when it comes to romance. Sorry this one wasn’t great for you.
Oh too bad. It does sound like it is a good set up but so sorry it fails and is way too shallow. Hope the next one you pick up rocks! Brilly review!
Yeah, all that jumping around and then not transitioning her ugly duckling to swan change where you could see it would make this one a toughy to get into to.
This sounds like a book with problems everywhere you look. Chemistry and dialog are important parts of a romance! Sorry this one wasn’t better for you.
I can understand why it could be complicated for this one… sorry it didn’t deliver more
As soon as I saw this title I knew it had to be a Harlequin! (lol) Years ago, I had a friend who was hooked on Sheikh stories, and we used to laugh about it. I remember finding a whole stack of them that this lady had, and sending them all to Arizona. Sorry this one didn’t work out for you, Shari. Hugs…
You know, I love Sheik romances and the minute I saw the cover I knew I had to see your thoughts on this. I haven’t read too many of these short harlequins but I do love the variety they write in. This story sounds interesting, but a bit too quick in how things happen in this one. Sorry to hear it didn’t work out for you.