The Cobra & the Concubine (Leisure Historical Romance) [Mass Market Paperback]

Bonnie Vanak (Author)

Book Description

Series: Leisure Historical Romance | Publication Date: May 2005

THE SAND

Badra sought refuge in the Sahara, but she could never truly escape the sheikh who'd stolen her childhood. Fareeq had proven that her long dark hair and lush body aroused a passion in men that meant only pain-and neither his death nor protection by her rescuers, the Khamsin, the Warriors of the Wind, could change that. Badra could no more forget her past than one Khamsin's burning sapphire eyes. And she could no more accept the feelings Khepri aroused than she could admit the secret shadowing her heart.

& THE FURY

Kenneth Tristan, heir to the duke of Caldwell, had ridden with the Khamsin since his English family's slaughter. Known as Khepri, the Cobra, he'd grown up in Egypt and loved the land. Yet, now, all was sand in the wind. The love of his Arabic brothers, the title that awaited him in London, the treasures from his family's archaeological dig - all was nothing, for he could not protect Badra, could not avenge her past and win her love. He would sacrifice all to make her whole. But until he did just that, they would still be just... THE COBRA & THE CONCUBINE

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

After his family is killed, young Kenneth is trained by the Khamsin tribe to become a "warrior of the wind." Given the name Khepri the Cobra, Kenneth loves his new life, and there is nothing he would not do for his adopted family. So when Khamsin warriors rescue a beautiful young concubine, Badra, from a rival tribe, Khepri accepts the challenge of protecting her from her vengeful former owner. For five years Khepri guards Badra, but when English relatives finally locate him, Khepri must give up his warrior ways--and Badra--to return to England as Kenneth. A year later, when fate brings them together again, Kenneth vows to do whatever it takes to win Badra's love. When a heroine haunted by her brutal past finds new hope and love with a hero torn between two cultures, their passion for each other proves to be as scorchingly hot as the desert sands in the latest of Vanak's vivid, lushly sensual historical romances set in colorful nineteenth-century Egypt. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 342 pages
• Publisher: Leisure Books (May 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0843955295
• ISBN-13: 978-0843955293
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #581,663 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm the author of Egyptian historicals and werewolf paranormal romance novels. My latest Nocturne release is The Shadow Wolf. This story features Gabriel, perhaps the most deadly of the Draicon werewolves.

Taken by the Alpha Wolf is a short story published on Kindle that features Etienne, the eldest of the Draicon werewolf brothers. It's a prequel to my other Draicon stories, including The Empath, Broken Souls, Enemy Lover and Immortal Wolf.

Starting in October 2011, I will have a trilogy of short novellas released by Harlequin's new Nocturne Cravings line. These stories are part of my new series called The Ancients and feature triplet sisters who are half angel, half demon. Bitten by the Vampire is the first novella.

Many of my backlist Egyptian historicals are now available on Kindle. These include The Falcon and the Dove, The Tiger & the Tomb, The Panther & the Pyramid, The Sword & the Sheath and The Lady & the Libertine.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intense - Emotional, and THRILLING, May 3, 2005

By 

M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Cobra & the Concubine (Leisure Historical Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

Setting - Egypt and England 1890's --- For Badra, her childhood ended early for at the age of 11 she had been sold as a slave to a maniacal sheik who raped and beat her unmercilessly for the next four years. After an attack by an enemy tribe, the Khamsin, she and another slave begged the attackers to take them away promising to be slaves to a new master. The sheik of the Khamsin was kind and when Badra's terror of being touched by another man was revealed and Badra's history related to him by the other concubine, he assigned one of his finest warriors, Khepri, to be her Falcon guard, admonishing him that he should guard her with his life and let no one touch her including himself until she was ready. For Khepri, this would be both a trial and a labor of love for he'd fallen head over heels with the beautiful young girl from the very first moments. Over the next five years they would become friends with Khepri's feelings intensifying, and though Badra loved him, the memories of the pain of intimacy still held her hostage and kept her from admitting to Khepri how she felt.

At around this time it was revealed that Khepri, only adopted by the Khamsin was Kenneth Tristan, English by birth and heir of a wealthy English Duke who came to claim him. Not wanting to leave his Arab brothers, the desert, or woman he loved, he asked Badra to marry him only to be turned down. Devastated thinking Badra didn't love him, he turned his back on all he loved and went to England. When he saw Badra a year later in England, he realized he still loved her, and when he discovered she was making the ultimate sacrifice to save a child, he would risk everything he possessed to save her, praying that he would one day be able to heal the woman he could not touch with his love.

*** Once more this author has revisited Egypt with another exciting and thrilling tale featuring the Khamsin Warriors of the Wind, the women they loved and who loved them! In this entry, the author tells the story of the young child Badra, sold to a brothel at the age of 4 by her parents then sold as a slave to cruel master who raped and brutalized her until at the age of 11 until she was lucky enough to escape. (Unfortunately, a horrendous practice that while fictionalized here with a happy ending, still exists in the world today.) This was an emotional as well as lovely romance with the lead protagonist's motives and feelings fully developed into characters whom the reader can truly empathize with. The action and suspense was well paced with just enough humor injected into the dialogs to add a little levity into the mix. This author just sweeps you away with another exhilarating Egyptian romantic adventure. --- Marilyn , for www.historicalromancewriters.com ---

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Perfect Romance Novel!, June 1, 2005

By 

Toni Lea "Avid Reader" (Miami, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cobra & the Concubine (Leisure Historical Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

Novels like this are the reason I started reading romance in the first place. Exotic locations, a woman who keeps both her humanity and her determination despite impossible circumstances, a passionate and dangerous hero...

I was caught up in Badra's tale and could not stop until I got to the end. A completely satisfying romance. More, please!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful love story, December 4, 2005

By 

Pat "readaholic" (Atlanta,GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cobra & the Concubine (Leisure Historical Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

A wonderful story that flowed from start to finish.Our hero Khepri is adopted by the khamsin when his parents are killed in Egypt.Badra the heroine is rescued from a sadistic sheik and given sanctuary by these warriors.Khepri is given the responsibility of protecting Badra but forbidden to touch her.He consequently falls in love with her and worships her from afar in true courtly love fashion for a time.Badra returns his love but is afraid to show this because of the horrors of her past.Khepri believing she doesn't love him returns to England vowing to forget her.They are reunited,and face obstacles to their love which they overcome.I enjoyed this book because the hero and heroine were sympathetic characters.The hero wasn't arrogant and overbearing which is a plus in my book as I get tired of reading about these types of men who ride roughshod over their heroine's feelings.After being rejected by Badra Khepri was hurt but he was still very protective of her,he did not seek to get any form of revenge on her,very chivalric like a knight of old.he's my favorite hero to date.Badra's story is sad and I'm glad the author did not have her getting over her traumatic experiences very quickly.There was a progression from her facing what happened to her,talking to khepri about it and being able to make love with Khepri-superbly done.This book is a sad love story but it's beautifully written.There are enough truly romantic moments in that it doesn't become morbid.I will be buying The Tiger and the Tomb and The Falcon and the Dove by the same author because of this book.