Hilarious ( )

Pretty unbelievable situation, but fun tension. I really like Mallery's writing style, so this was a great escape read. ( )

Ghaaahhh. OK, happy ending - even a good ending. And true to character throughout, where many romances fail. But lordy! It's pretty purely a misunderstanding trope, with a generous dose of virgin wife - which means that for me it starts silly and goes on to stupid. When she admitted she was Honey (or rather, that she was Heidi), it wasn't quite as bad as I'd been thinking it would be but it was plenty bad enough. Talk to each other, people! Oh yeah, and I forgot to mention the meddling. Bah humbug. It actually ended pretty well, but I'm not going to put myself through the torture of the first 9/10ths to get to that ending again. Readable, but not gonna read it again. ( )

The Sheik's Arranged Marriage is the second book in the Desert Rogue series by Susan Mallery and is Prince Jamal's and Heidi McKinley's story. Heidi is a long time friend of the family as her grandfather and King Givon were friends. Now the King and his mother feel that Prince Jamal needs to marry and of course, they have chosen Heidi, the virginal and studious plain Jane to be his bride.

Prince Jamal is the middle son, has a love of history, and his country and is extremely handsome, is a prince in more ways than one and known to be a ladies man like his brother Kahlil. He had a former disastrous marriage to Yasmine who was no longer alive and he did not believe in love. However, he is honor bound to his father and country to marry and produce heirs. So he agrees to marry Heidi.

After they wed, Heidi announces that she cannot be a wife in the true sense and that she is a virgin. However, as their relationship progresses Heidi decides she has deeper feelings for Jamal and so with the help of his family she becomes "Honey" and disguises her looks and becomes a "hot" sexual kitten. Jamal sees through her act but decides to go along with her plan and is intrigued by his new wife. When Heidi learns that Jamal has been wise to her little game, she is heart broken and ashamed. However, Heidi finally learns that she could have won her husband by just being herself and that he already loved her not his deceased ex-wife.

This is just another great story by Susan Mallery. The scenes where Heidi becomes Honey are fun and endearing. This is a wonderful addition to the Desert Rogue series.

Book Summary:

Man-shy American Heidi McKinley winces when the king himself insists she marry - and make heirs with - his sinfully sexy royal son! For Prince Jamal was a legendary lover, an expert on erotic intrigue. Whatever would he see in serious-minded Heidi?

Plenty! Up to his crown in gold-digging bubbleheads, Jamal is secretly enchanted with the sweet and studious virgin. So why was homespun Heidi donning silken disguises and posing as siren "Honey Martin" to seduce him? And how could Jamal hope to choose between a bold, brazen "mistress" and a bashful, blushing bride? ( )