Customer Reviews

The Desert King (Silhouette Desire)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Occasionally a story almost overwhelms one emotionally, and THE DESERT KING is definitely an example of this consuming power. From the first exceedingly gripping scene filled with open feelings to the last compelling moment, there is never a respite from the depicted emotions pouring off the pages between this most unforgettable couple. Olivia Gates has absolutely outdone herself in creating a deeply affecting love story with touching sentiments and two particularly appealing characters.

There has only been one woman who has been able to bring Kamal Aal Masood under her control; that is, until he discovered the truth about Aliyah Morgan. She professed to love him seven years ago, and although he also desired her above all others, he believes she is keeping secrets plus lying to him. When her addictions become known to him, any real feelings he had at the time are destroyed. Kamal regretfully knew their relationship had to end, and he informs her of how he never wants her in his life again.

Destiny has a way of not adhering to one's wishes, as Kamal will shortly become the new King of Judar and the chosen queen for him will be Aliyah. With the recent disclosures of several misconceptions, he has learned marriage to the one woman whom he did not ever want to see again is the only way to keep peace in his desert kingdom. Though he has never forgotten one instant he shared with this stunning woman including all the tremendous heartache, he knows the future of his country is more important than his personal feelings and summons Aliyah to meet with him to discuss their upcoming marriage. From the moment these two are reunited, their inner declarations to not let the other have power over them in any way quickly dissolve, as emotions and passions come into play.

Olivia Gates has once again masterfully created a beautifully told story of intense anguish and untold passions. Each story in her Throne of Judar miniseries has been totally fascinating throughout, and I believe this story is the most noteworthy. The characters are distinctive, as their true natures come through loud and clear with originality. Both Kamal and Aliyah possess a dogged determination and do not like to give in to others without a good reason, so it was very moving to watch these two go through such a myriad of emotions when it came to how they reacted toward each other. Their responses are always honest and frequently shown with a candidness which had me smiling from their sharp barbs. The intimate scenes between these two are overflowing with so much blazingly sensuality, I kept expecting to feel heat coming from the pages. Ms. Gates expertly depicts the passion felt by Kamal and Aliyah, and every single moment of these encounters ignited my own imagination. As for the story, it is told with such visual descriptions, letting the reader also experience each enchanting scene. The lavish traditions of the royal wedding are breathtakingly portrayed with such colorful facts, making all the circumstances surrounding this event seem convincing. THE DESERT KING will pull the reader into every mesmerizing instant of this extraordinary story. All in all this is a gratifying finale to these stories about three princes.

Although the Throne of Judar miniseries has now concluded, readers can take heart in knowing Olivia Gates has another miniseries, The Castaldini Crown, arriving in May of next year for the Silhouette Desire line. I am thrilled as this means more dynamic characters will be featured in an original storyline from this prolific author!

I loved this book! This author writes with great emotion and intensity. I could literally feel what the characters were experiencing and as a fellow "professional romance reader" (grin), I'm sure I don't have to tell those of you who know, that's a writing technique hard to execute, but a pleasure as a reader to experience. I read this authors whole series, enjoyed each book and wait impatiently for her future work. Keep 'em coming!

A great ending to a good series I enjoy all 3 books. How sexy was Kamal this was a good read you will enjoy this book if you know Olivia Gates writing style as well as liking the other 2 books.

Third in the Throne of Judar series, THE DESERT KING by Olivia Gates tells the passionate and tempestuous romance of the third brother Kamal Aal Massod. THE DESERT KING takes the reader on a journey into an exotic imaginary kingdom that combines hereditary and merit as entitlement to the throne. Be prepared to be swept into a world all its own in THE DESERT KING. Combining traditional ancient culture and passions with modern characters and concerns, Olivia Gates sets off a firestorm of passion between strong characters placed in a tension-filled drama that threatens to overwhelm character and region but just as the intensity builds, threatening to overtake all, she unveils a surprising tenderness, a turn that delights and uplifts, embracing not only the two lovers but also family and region. My main word of advice is put everything aside, open this book and be prepared to be transported with her unique sense of imagination, characterization and delightful, poetic use of language.

Seven years ago, Kamal Aal Masood loved Aliyah with a passion, an addiction even, that consumed ever fiber of his being but then he discovered what she has been trying to hide. Addicted to drugs and promiscuous, Aliyah is now the woman he must marry to preserve peace among rival kingdoms! No matter the cost to him, Kamal will honor his duty. Of all the brothers, he alone now holds the key. How dare she refuse him! Kamal will do anything and give anything to honor his responsibilities to rule the kingdom and produce an heir, but will he find the way to Aliyah's heart? Can he give her the one thing she needs the most? Aliyah thought losing Kamal was the worst thing that could happen. Seven years later, a revelation and declaration turns her world upside down. She discovers her parents are not whom she thought, she must adapt to having new parents and she is expected to marry the one man who nearly destroyed her seven years ago and all for some outdated notion of power. How much more loss can she take? Now, as a pawn in a political game, must she lose everything, even herself and then be discarded when she has produced the desired heir? One thing is for certain --- Aliyah is no pushover and in a battle of wills, she can give just as much as she gets! Can destiny and love have a way of overpowering and upending the best laid battle strategies?

In THE DESERT KING, Olivia Gates concludes her Throne of Judar series with an emotional, passionate romance that blends beauty, power, legend and innovation all in one. Kamal is all power and beauty behind his restrained, duty-bound intentions and yet, Olivia Gates also gives the reader an insight to the side of him even his brothers cannot see. Not only do we understand the reasons for his attitudes in the previous books, but here, we catch the insider's look into the heart of gold that lies hidden behind his all consuming power. Beneath the intense emotions provoked by Kamal, Aliyah is a rock, a woman who has her entire life pulled out from under her and still, she stands up to this man, making a unique place for herself. In her characterization, Olivia Gates draws together a perfect combination of man and woman, ancient customs and modern sensibilities, all consuming passion tinged with moments of rich tenderness, sensuous exotic scenes with dynamic dialog pitting wills and wit in a powerful tug-of-war.

Olivia Gates's THE DESERT KING takes the reader away to a world where her characters breathe passion not just with their bodies but in the heart, in every word and action. Open this book and be prepared for everything else to go by the wayside except Kamal and Aliyah's story! Olivia Gates thrills with her descriptions. Power radiates from the bodies of her characters, Aliyah as much as Kamal, as they face one another, indeed surprise one another, with their strength of character. The ending leaves the reader convinced that Kamal and Aliyah are two lovers who have given the other exactly what they needed to be whole and also given to the kingdom, through their passion for one another, an amazing gift that will revitalize not only them but the kingdom. From trickery comes eternal love, a love able to change lives and land. The very language of THE DESERT KING mesmerizes the reader as Olivia Gates has some of the best one-liners ever. Indeed, her unique vision revitalizes language itself in the dialog with lines that inspire this reader to memorize them for their sheer uniqueness, beauty and humor. From the heights of passion to the threat of gut-wrenching loss, Olivia Gates takes the reader on one intense emotional journey. In her debut series for Silhouette Desire and this spellbinding finale of THE DESERT KING, Olivia Gates has a powerful, intense voice destined to become a classic in the romance genre.

Loved this book. One of my absolute favorites. I have read a lot of Sheikh romances where I felt the author just took a western romance and stuck it in an Arab setting, without any knowledge or respect for their culture. Reading this book was such a treat! It felt like I was traveling to a foreign land, experiencing their culture. Olivia Gates has such a great writing style, makes you feel you are watching the whole story unfold before your eyes. The depiction of the coronation and the royal wedding was unbelievable. Very detailed, without being boring. I liked this book the best in the "Throne of Judar" series.

What can I add to what other reviewers have already said? Let me first say that I love Olivia Gates' novels because they have a depth of feeling that other modern romance authors seem to lack, but without doubt 'The Desert King' is my favourite of all her books and I have read it so many times that I have lost count! The story of an arranged marriage between King Kamal (oh be still my beating heart) and the daughter of the King of Zoyahd, Aliyah is one of old love, misunderstanding and pain. How these issues are resolved and a deep and true love rekindled is a wonderful, heart-wrenching story of redemption, forgiveness and the unselfishness of real love. I take this book with me everywhere on my ebook reader for when I need a cathartic weep!
Highly recommended for the true romance lover.

This is the third and final book in the Throne of Judar Trilogy.
This is the story of Kamal and Aliyah. This story will keep you in suspense from beginning to end. Unlike his brothers Kamal was a man referred to in the region as out of control. Kamal and Aliyah have a history. At the point of the story they don't even like each other. Passion will make these two forget the past and the future will take care of itself. Years earlier these two star crossed lovers parted in hatred for each other. Kamal when he sees Aliyah again he still feels the connection. He will marry her and he will save Judar. Aliyah has no intention of going meekly to the marriage bed.
Their wedding is like a scene out of The Arabian Nights. No one has ever witnessed a ceremony like this one. It is a wedding for the ages. These two volatile individuals go to flames throughout their relationship. Neither one wants to back down, they both want to win. In the end they find out that what they have is never ending.
Kamal finds that the feelings he had before for Aliyah is nothing to how he feels here and now. At first he can't believe the brothers he thought were the most in control amongst men were tamed by a woman. He now understands why his brothers abdicated for their love of Carmen and Farah.
Much of the problems of the past come to fruition and it doesn't matter who relinquishes the power struggle within them. In the end all that matters is that they have each other. Love will conquer all.

Their story is about the forgiveness and starting over. In the end no amount of wealth or power matters without love. They know that love is never easy but that when it works its all that matters.
This story is a five star read. A MUST read.

Prince Kamal and the future King of Judar was the most ruthless brother of all in the final book in The Throne of Judar's miniseries. You'll just want to shake him for his lack of insight and anger when it came to a past affair with the lovely and fragile Aliyah. Seven years earlier they had been a couple and then the fierce and emotional break up when Kamal believed his lover to be a drug user and slut as he spat out to her, ending the relationship and leaving Aliyah in an emotional mess.

Now he needs Aliyah to marry him, become his queen while he rules two nations, one being her father's. For Aliyah she's an emotion mess, not only is her heart broken by the parents she believed she had, she now finds out that she has not only a new father but also a new mother and a sister. On top of everything the insults she receives from Kamal and the realization she must marry him to save both nations and in the end, after she bears him an heir, they will divorce. Can her heart bear anymore hurt?

This was an incredible ending for this miniseries with many lessons being learned in the end.....forgiveness, appreciation of each other, healing and miraculous love. The Desert King and The Throne of Judar minseries you won't want to miss written by the talented Olivia Gates.

This was my favorite of the Throne of Judar series because we see a hard, immovable man brought to his knees with the realization that he did wrong the woman he loved and who loved him. Not that I like to see a person suffer, but this hero does grovel and does make amends for the horrible way he treated the heroine when he should. He also makes a decision that a power-craving man would only make if he really loves a woman, although he is in no way manipulated or guilted into to doing so by Aliyah. He was told some things about Aliyah that were definitely lies, and his own misgivings and fears based on an event in his past made him push her away. Aliyah had some personal issues that affected her health and personality, and made it easier for Kamal to believe the lies he was told, and made his rejection even more devastating. I also loved that Aliyah was strong in her own right, and was an incredible queen and this was realized fully by Kamal and those around her. The first scene between Aliyah and Kamal was great. She didn't turn into a ball of mush because of his awesome masculinity. She told him off and didn't back down from his imperious manner. Bravo, I was thinking. At the same time, she made a choice to marry a man she thought she hated for the good of her country and his. That took some bravery and emotional strength. As characteristic of Ms. Gates' novels, the writing is deeply involving and emotional as you see and experience the love and anguish that her characters feel. There are also vivid descriptions of Judar and its customs and the beautiful surroundings that its characters inhabit. The wedding ceremony is one of the best I've ever read. It practically played like a scene from an exotic movie. The love scenes are scorching and passionate as well. If you are a fan of sheikh romances and want to read a romance with three-dimensional, characters who take an emotional journey from desolation and loneliness to a deep, abiding love, you should read this book."

This is the last book in the Throne of Judar trilogy. Kamal is king and he must marry Aliyah so there will be peace among his people and hers. He does not want to marry her because of the way they broke up. Once they are reunited, all the old feelings resurface and nothing can stop them. Every scene between them is beautiful. Their passion is breathtaking. It is a great read from start to finish.