Customer Reviews

An Arabian Marriage

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The Sister Brides series by Lynne Graham is wonderful, because the thread of each sister's story picks up in the next book so we get to find out more about the beloved characters we left behind, and the new things that have happened in their lives. I love that!

This title is the first telling the stories of sisters Freddie, Misty & Ione. Freddie is a gentle family-oriented heroine that uses any means at her disposal to protect her nephew, which sets us off on an emotional story spanning the equator in the intriquing story of both Freddie & Jaspar, the sexy and honorable hero in this tale. Lynne Graham's description of Jaspar is enough to make the ladies swoon!

I am not about to cast religious stones across fictional borders, and think that any culture that is not being bashed would be thankful that theirs is one being written favorably about; so I am somewhat confused by the post below. There is definitely not any bashing going on in this book IMHO, but I understand that everyone takes offense in varying degrees, so I'll just say that I did not get a negative impression of Arab men at all; in fact, if I wasn't already married....

Plus, Lynne Graham's heroes are *all* oversexed. Do we really want to read about a guy with a beer belly who sits blindly in front of the football game on tv all day/every day belching out the occasional "I love you" to the heroine, or about one of Lynne Graham's oversexed heroes?

The line forms behind me, just bring along your favorite LG book to share!

-Cyndi

It amazed me that the previous reviewer was so negative about this book. I read a romance for the emotion and the developing relationship and love between the hero and heroine. I enjoy the foreign, exotic setting, but the setting only serve as the romantic backdrop for the story. I don't get all work up over the details of the setting as long the story and characters grab me. Besides which, the Arab country in the book was FICTIONAL so why couldn't Ms. Graham take some literary liberties? Even if there has never been a Christian shiek in real life, it is not beyond the realm of possibility to have a Christian shiek in a FICTIONAL Arab country since his mother was Christian. I did not find Ms. Graham's portrayal of the Arab world as negative or off the mark. The setting gave me a general feel for the Arab world and that is all I need in a short romance. Lynne Graham is an exceptional writer, and her Harlequin Presents are all a notch or more above the rest. She does the foreign heroes like no other! All her heroes are YUMMY! Most of her books are 5-stars reads for me. The reason I gave this book 4 stars is that I have enjoyed some of her other books a little more. Even her 4-stars books is still much more enjoyable than any other series writer in the Harlequin Presents line.

back cover: When Crown Prince Jaspar al-Husayn bursts into Fredrica`s life, she is struck by his arrogance and sensuality. Jaspar has come to take his nephew, Ben, back to his homeland. But Freddy refuses to part with the child she cares for, so she makes a proposal to Jaspar...

Jaspar is God (there`s no words to describe him...he`s perfect alpha male) and Fredrica is so sweet...

best sentence said by Jaspar to Freddy: "The stammer was overkill..." he told her huskily, white, even teeth flashing as he slanted a mocking smile down at her, "but the welcome invitation was ace-"

Freddy's cousin Erica has died leaving Freddy alone with Erica's baby son Ben. Erica had never been actively involved in Ben's caring preferring to carry on with her outrageous lifestyle,now after a skiing accident she is gone. But so far in Bens short life his only source of love and nurturing had come from Freddy, Erica had said that an Arab prince was Ben's father but Freddy had not given much credence to that. Until Prince Jaspar turned up on Freddy's doorstep demanding to take custody of his brother's child. His brother had revealed before he had died of a heart attack Ben's existence. Fearing that she would lose Ben she allows Jaspar to believe that she is her dead cousin Erica. Ben is then kidnapped by Jaspar's father the King and Freddy threatens Jaspar with the police or the press. Although Jaspar does not want this matter to be made public he explains that he is unable to return Ben. Freddy retaliates by insisting Jaspar marry her take her back to his country so she can be reunited with Ben or she will follow through with her threats. Pushed into a corner Jaspar agrees. This is a good romance I liked the hero very much, he was commanding and sexy. Freddy was not a wimp she stood up to Jaspar refusing to be pushed aside. The relationship between the two leads was electric and very hot. I really enjoyed this book. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

This is a re read for me as i have not left a review before for this book. this book starts the series of the sister brides. Crown Prince Jaspar went to the States to retrive his nephew Ben who was the son of his deceased brother. Upon his arrival He meets Freddy who he assume is the mother of Ben who he has read about in the reports.Freddy is actually Ben's cousin who she has been caring for since he was born. Ben's mom Erica who is Freddy's cousin has passed away. Freddy will do what she needs to in order to stay with Ben even if it means blackmailing Jaspar. Again cute read loved it its one of my favoorite series by the author. Towards the end Jaspar finds out some information about Freddy and the sisters she never knew she had which ties into the series.



Storyline: FAIR
Enjoyment: FAIR


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Heroine has been the main caregiver of her beautiful but flighty cousin's 2yo son since he was born. She fears losing him to his biological father's family since his sister died & they can't find her will. Her fear is realized when her nephew's grandfather abducts him to his Middle East kingdom. She deceives sheikh Hero about being his nephew's mother & blackmails him into marrying her secretly to gain access to the boy. Hero reluctantly agrees. Matters become more complicated once Hero finds out that heroine cannot be the mother of his nephew on their wedding night.

This was a cute romance. It had some drama but it wasn't heavy. Sexual chemistry & sex scenes were good. Characters were likeable, even though heroine made some stupid decisions. Heroine was loving, protective, & naïve. She easily resorted to deception & lying out of fear of losing her nephew. It would've been much easier to have told Hero the truth about who she was in the beginning but that's what put a bit of drama in the story. I liked Hero's moral standards especially with women. He wasn't a man-ho. He was a thoughtful, self-disciplined, & wise man.

Recommended.

I`m really disappointed in Ms Grahan, I expected her to be more professional rather than imperialist or racist. I though a good writter suppose to do her/his research before writing a story but in this book Ms Graham just jump started and she wrote what ever come to her mind without doing reseach or using common sense. The story unbeleivible and prejudice againist Arabs and I do not believe there is enough space in here to write what I think of this story & writter......

the book was nice but I would have loved the hear the hero's point of view, at some point in time, about the heroine but I have always loved anything written by lynne graham and I wouldn't stop now.

I bought this book thinking that I was going to enjoy a romance taking place in one of my favorite cultures. I was disappointed when I realized that this book is filled with negative stereotypes about arabs and muslims. Miss Graham is selling the idea to her readers that Arab men, particulary Muslim men, are all sexual fiends who can't get enough. Also, it is obvious that she has not studied much when it comes to arab culture. There is NO such thing as a Christian Sheik! The idea of a Christian sheik is perposterous. I assume she made the characters Christian since Muslims have been getting a bad wrap after September 11th. Maybe it is silly for me to assume that a mere romance novel should be respectful to the culture it is writing about or at least critique that culture from a place of knowledge rather than using stereotypes that are as old as the Crusades. It is also bizarre that her characters have distincly Muslim names but they are Christian. I wasn't sure if I was reading a love story or a book against Islam. I think Miss Graham needs to stick to love stories and cultures that she is fimiliar with and not comment on such things that she seems to have little knowledge of. Certain pages stick out--page 6-7, a character referring to four wives and concubines. Sorry, but most Muslim marriages, 99%, are monogomous. Only poor farmers or rich kings practice polygamy. Page 79, the veil, Turkey is a Muslim country and the women AREN'T allowed to wear veils. I could go on but I won't. If anyone wants to read a real Arabian love story, try Leila and Majnun or The Arabian Nights!