King's Ransom (Silhoutte Romance, No 971)

Rating:
Summary: Tender, exotic, unforgettable!
Review: I started to read this book without expecting more than a mildly pleasant way of passing my time. After the first few pages, I was hooked!

The story is a modern version of Cinderella.

The life of twenty three year old Brianna has, so far, being very sad. A few years ago, she lost her parents in a car accident; her beloved brother Tad (now age 9) has remained in a coma ever since. She was more fortunate: after a series of complicated hip surgeries, she has rejoined the human race.

Needless to say, although she has a comfortable salary, most of it is spent on Tad's medical bills. Therefore, although not over-enthusiastic, she agrees to shelter in her house (for a few weeks only) the most important client of the jet company she works for - in return for his paying the Tad's hospital.

You see, he (Ahmed - what a lovely name) is the prime minister of an imaginary arab country called Saudi Mahara, and terrorists are after him.

At first, of course, they hate each other with a vengeance but in time much more tender feelings arise. He proposes - she accepts, in spite of all their cultural differences.

In the meantime Tad wakes up from his coma and the terrorists are annihilated. Ahmed has to go home immediately, but promises that when everything is ready he will return to take Brianna and Tad with him.

Still, a month has passed without a sign... and one day Tad sees Ahmed on TV, but surprise! he's not the prime-minister, he's the KING!

So Brianna must resign herself to losing him, because of course he couldn't have been serious when he proposed.

Until a few weeks later someone knocks at the door...

The one thing I didn't like about the seductive Ahmed is that, in the beginning, he behaves in a horrible manner. He treats Brianna more like a servant, he is obnoxious and lacking in consideration for others. But don't worry, she can hold her own and in a few days he is (nearly) tamed and reformed.

Apart from his infamous behaviour at the beginning, Ahmed is everything you can imagine and more. This is by no means an ordinary "sheik book"... and most of the romantic heroes I encountered are but the dust beneath Ahmed's chariot wheels!