The Hot Arabian Nights historical romance series is
replete with unusual men and women holding interesting
jobs. An equine vet, archaeologist, and a botanist are among
the interesting roles created by Marguerite Kaye. What
challenge could she create for the SHEIKH'S MAIL-ORDER
BRIDE? I had to find out.
Arabia lies between North Africa and Asia, and in 1815 it
was something of a crossroads. Kadar is Prince of Murimon,
having recently inherited the throne on the death of his
brother. Kadar had lived in Europe and tries to face up to
the challenges provided by being an enlightened ruler of
his people, including inheriting his brother's fiancée.
Lady Constance Montgomery, aboard the East Indiaman sailing
ship Kent, is heading out to India. She has a merchant's
wife as chaperone, although she is twenty-five, for she is
going out to be married - for money; her family insists.
The Arabian Sea abruptly throws up a storm and fate takes a
hand.
Constance is not found for a few weeks, surviving in a
fishing village, and news of the shipwreck has already been
sent to Bombay and Cairo for forwarding to her family. When
she is presented to Prince Kadar, he tells her that her
relatives will think she is dead. This offers some
intriguing opportunities. Both Arabian and English families
are used to arranged marriages. Could Constance possibly
marry for love? The exotic, ornate palace, fine fabrics, and
sensual denizens are outside her experience. As it happens,
the kingdom is in need of a temporary court astronomer.
Love it! Uranus has recently been discovered and the Prince
has bought one of William Herschel's telescopes. What a
wonderful occupation for an intelligent woman. During the
Napoleonic period the upper class could not travel to the
Continent, and lavish balls were often frowned upon in
wartime, so they developed arts in their homes.
Among the other characters we meet are Christopher Fordyce,
adventurer, and we hear news of other people I recognize
from the series. This is a standalone book though, lavish
with description and the taste of sun-kissed freedom. If
you have ever gone on holiday and thought suddenly that you
need never go home, you could find work out here and
explore life, you will understand exactly how Lady
Constance feels with the weight of duty lifted off her
shoulders. SHEIKH'S MAIL-ORDER BRIDE is classic
Marguerite Kaye with many of her trademarks, including a
tantalizing mature romance. Read this and you'll want more.
Sailing to India to marry a stranger, Constance Montgomery
is shipwrecked off the Arabian coast of Murimon. The world
believes her lost at sea, and only the kingdom's ruler,
Kadar, knows the truth. She's honor-bound to leave, but the
brooding prince tempts Constance to stay…
Kadar knows that no matter how beautiful Constance is, she
is forbidden. But every moment with her seduces him, until
temptation becomes torment! Kadar thinks he has no heart
left to offer any woman… Can Constance prove him wrong?
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