The Desert King’s Secret Heir by Annie West is part of the Secret Heirs of Billionaires collection.

Surely Annie West grew up in a palace or is secretly married to a Sheikh. Else, how could she get it all so perfect, so absolutely real and believable? It’s just like you are there, right at home in exquisite palaces, surrounded by lavishly dressed beautiful women and handsome, powerful men. I didn’t grow up in a palace. I’m not married to a Sheikh. But I feel at home with Arden and Idris, two normal people in love, trying to trust and believe and make the best decisions they can for themselves and their son.

And why do I ever think I can pick up an Annie West book and put it down before I’ve finished it? Once I start I am so engaged with the story and the people that I must just read on through. I received a copy of The Desert King’s Secret Heir from the author, but it did not affect my review; a new Annie West book is always at the top of my to-buy list.

The beautiful imagery and descriptions start right away: hair the color of a sunburst, curling locks soft as down, the bronzed warrior. I have to stop myself from gushing. But there is humor, too. When Idris is caught looking at Arden’s breasts, she waves her palm in front of his eyes and says, “I’m up here.” Real people.

The Desert King’s Secret Heir is like that favorite movie you watch over and over and over. You know what’s going to happen but you want to see it again. With Annie West’s books you know there is a Happy Ever After out there somewhere, but you want to take the journey. And you do worry a little bit and want to jump into the story and shake the characters and tell them to stop, look and listen because it’s love.

This is a reunion story. Idris and Arden have history. And pasts. Because of their pasts and some miscommunication they each think they have met – and lost – their one true love and that they’ll never experience that again. Their chance meeting and events that follow throw them together again and the attraction is still there, but they are both wary and neither believes the other could truly love them. They agree to try to do what is right for their son, Dawud, neither having much hope for that Happy Ever After.

Dawud is just cute enough. Of course Arden is devoted to him, and she also wants him to learn his father’s culture, to feel like he belongs. Idris is determined to do the right thing, but he is also immediately taken with Dawud. Arden can see the love on his face. Idris doesn’t want to just care for Arden and Dawud and ensure his son enjoys his birthright; he wants to be a real family. And Arden has always wanted a real family.

The Desert King’s Secret Heir is a wonderful story and I highly recommend it. It will make you laugh and cry and hope – and smile. Read it now. ( )