Customer Reviews

Lord Of The Desert (Mira Romance)

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Houston investment analyst Maggie Barton leaves Texas to work in Qawi as the personal assistant to the ruling Sheikh. On the way over, Maggie accompanied by her best friend Gretchen Brannon stop for a short vacation in Tangiers. However, after only one day in Africa, Maggie learns that her beloved Cord Romero was severely injured in an accident. Although she believes Cord will never love her, Maggie needs to return home to help him recover. Maggie tries to persuade a doubting Gretchen to continue on to Qawi and take her job.

Still in Tangiers, Gretchen accidentally runs into a handsome man, who enjoys her enthusiasm and gusto. He turns out to be Maggie's new employer Sheikh Philippe Sabon, who sees the ardent American as an answer to one of his problems. Both hide the truth from one another, but soon fall in love, leaving each one worrying over what will happen to their relationship without the foundation of veracity.

Best-selling author Diana Palmer provides her fans with a heated contemporary desert romance. The story line is fast-paced, but requires leaps of faith. Gretchen is a warm heroine and Philippe is a hunk of the highest order. The secondary cast adds depth that brings Mediterranean Africa and the Middle East to life. Although not one of Ms. Palmer's better novels, fans of Middle East romances will delight in LORD OF THE DESERT.

Harriet Klausner

Lord Of the Desert is a book that I highly recommend to fans of diana Palmer books and also those that may have not read her books. Philip and Gretchen are great characters because she made Gretchen strong, she was willing to stand up for what she thought was good and willing to fight and support Philip because she loved him. Gretchen speaks her mind and isn't afraid that it will shock people. This was great for Philip because he finally found his match. Someone who didn't care about any physical defects he might have and this helped Philip with some residual emotional problems stemming what happened to him nine years previous. Also if you've read the Once In Paris & Paper Rose, Diana Palmer updates you on those characters as well. I HIGHLY recommend this book. It's worth the read.

Diana Palmer has long been a favorite author of mine ever since the 80's. You might be familiar with the excellent "Long, Tall Texans" and "Soldiers of Fortune" series. Jacobsville, Texas; is a fictional town that links many of her books together. The Lord of the Desert is loosely connected though more a continuation from two of her early books...Paper Roses and Once in Paris. This book is Trademark Diana Palmer.. alpha male heros ...tall dark and dangerous. Since of the early classic "The Sheik", the desert story has been part of the romance readers' experience. Bring it up to the 21st century and you have Phillippe and Gretchen's story. It would have been nice to see more of the mystique to offset the predictable storyline. Certainly a subtle approach in exposing the developing characters would have added an edge. As it was, much was revealed in the early chapters. What saves this book from being just the standard is TALENT. Diana Palmer has the ability to capture our hearts. Her gently flawed characters are never to far from real.... Real enough for us to care. Add to that her amazing skill in writing ...truly sensual love scenes! Faithful fans will be well pleased this latest Palmer.If you are new to Diana Palmner. this would be a great start. (Be forwarned that you may want to search her backlist <g>)

Convinced to take Maggie Barton's job in Qawi after she flies home to her injured stepbrother, shy Gretchen Brannon never expected to find love and danger. Prince Philippe Sabon had felt nothing sexually for nine years, the result of a landmine that horribly injured him. Then came Gretchen with her innocent delight in all she sees. Their love leads to danger from Philippe's most dangerous enemy.

Thank you, Diana, for giving Philippe his miracle and happy ending. Fast-paced action and vibrant descriptions make for an enjoyable read. Old and new friends weave in and out of the story, some of whom required serious memory jogging. Gretchen is just the woman for Philippe, even if he did try to sabotogue his own happiness.

I debated about buying this book. I am a Diana Palmer fan, but recently I felt her books has been lacking. I bought this book and read it in one day. I thought the story started too fast and the heroine was giving too much away in the beginning. However, I under estimated Ms. Palmer and she kept me intrigue throughout the book and I couldn't put it down. What I've enjoyed most about this story is that I always feel the hero and heroine are always fighting but in the end they fall head over heels in love. This story touch me like no other I've read from Diana Palmer. The characters took the time to communicate and develop a friendship and oneness that eventually give rise to a great love, dedication and protectiveness from both side. I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK WITH ALL MY HEART. Diana, Thanks for making my day and this has become one of my favorites to share with friends and read again and again.

Gretchen Brannon was a small-town Texan who had lived a very sheltered, protected life. She had never done anything adventurous in her life - until she took a vacation to Morocco with her best friend Maggie, who is going to be the personal assistant of the ruling sheikh of Qawi. Maggie is called away unexpectedly, and insists that Gretchen take her place as the sheikh's personal assistant. Gretchen agrees, but before she goes to Qawi she intends to enjoy her vacation in Morocco. While at the hotel, she meets a charming man who goes by the name of Philippe. She finds herself falling for him, but little does she know that Philippe is her new boss!

Philippe knew right away that Gretchen wasn't Maggie, but he found himself completely charmed by Gretchen. He hired Maggie to play the part of his lover because he must appear powerful and virile even though he hasn't been a "true man" since a landmine accident nine years ago. As his feelings for Gretchen mature, even though he knows he can never have a "true" marriage or children, he finds himself offering her marriage so her reputation won't be sullied. His enemy, however, is shadowing Sheikh Philippe and he knows Gretchen won't be safe as long as she is by his side.

This book was really good, so good that I couldn't bear to put it down! Every time I was going to put the book away and do something else (like study for one of my college exams!), I promised myself that I would read "only one more chapter," and before I knew it I had finished the book. I was absolutely fascinated by the characters and the setting! Philippe, although he could be high-handed at times, was an incredible hero who made my mouth water :) After finishing the book, I really wanted to start all over from the beginning!

The only reason I gave this book four stars instead of five was Philippe's treatment of Gretchen once Brianne, his former flame, came into the picture. Quite frankly, he was a jerk, but he more than made up for it in the end :) The book was a captivating piece of escapist literature. If you want to relax for a few hours and escape from reality, this is an excellent way to do it.

At first I thought this would be totally fluff and just like the usual romance novels, but I was quite impressed with the book itself. While it is quite unbelieveable, (afterall it is a book), I found myself transported. I actually finished the book in one day. I would highly reccomend it to anyone who enjoys a good romance novel.

I thought that this book was really good. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because it was really far-fetched and would NEVER happen in real life. Anyway, Phillppe Sabon is the ruler of Qawi. He is a dark man with a dark past and he has sworn that he would never fall in love again. Gretched Brannon is on a vacation with her friend Maggie. Maggie is supposed to take a job as a secretary for Phillippe. She is suddenly called home to care for her stepbrother who was just hurt in an accident. (Read Desperado) So, Gretchen fills her shoes. At first, she is going to lie and say that she is Maggie, but she is an honest woman and decides to tell the truth. There is someone after Phillippe and wants him to pay for sending him to prison, so Phillippe and anyone around him is in grave danger. Gretchen and Phillippe fall in love and she makes him feel like he is a man again. (He was hurt and told that he could never have sex or father any children) But Gretchen makes him feel desire.
I thought that Phillippe was a great man and very sexy to boot. He is a take charge man and very romantic also. I liked Gretchen, but she talked about Texas way too much. Everytime she opened her mouth, something about Texas came out of it. There is lots of romance and action in this book. It will keep you reading from start to finish.

I have to admit, this book did make me laugh. Unfortunately, I'm sure that's not the author's intention.

Our heroine ,Gretchen, has nobly cared for her dying mother over the years. She "wasn't able to date much", and so came under the spell of a cad who ditched her when he found out there was no inheritance. O.k., so far. Then this story turns into "Barbie goes to Morrocco"

Due to amazing circumstances, apparently a lead in for the next Palmer book, Gretchen and her friend decide to switch identities, and Gretchen will use her friend's plane ticket, ( no photo i.d. in the Middle East?)and become assistant to the Sheik of the teeny, but oh so important, country of Qawi.Yeah, right!

We go on to incredible coincidences, several HUGE misunderstandings, and characters who are shallow, immature, and totally unconvincing.

Ms. Palmer manages to use every desert sheik movie and book cliche possible. But that's o.k. because The DESERT SHEIK, LAURENCE OF ARABIA visuals were the best part of the book.

My biggest problem with this book is the writing itself. In one instance, Gretchen's blouse is desribed first as silk,on the next page,"wonderblouse" has turned into cotton.She is descibed as wearing a long skirt, a few sentences later the hero is fumbling with the waistband of her slacks!

I realize that Palmer fans will say I'm nitpicking. But mistakes like this, and I've only mentioned two, tell me that either the author, or her editor, thinks I'm not smart enough to notice!

The wonderful Sean Connery movie THE WIND AND THE LION is mentioned here. You would do far better spending a couple of bucks to rent this movie than to shell out $7.oo for this poorly written, ridiculous book.

This was my first, and last, Diana Palmer book. If it were possible to rate this lower than one star, I would have. In my opinion, it's books like this that give romance novels such a bad time. A complete waste of time and money!

I love this book - it is one of Diana Palmer's best. If you like her other books, you will love this one - it is the story of Sheikh Phillippe Sabon, who was featured in "Once in Paris". If you read that story, then you know that he was injured and believes himself to be impotent - imagine his surprise when Gretchen stirs long dormant desires in him that no one else can(even the heroine from "Once In Paris" who he believes himself to be in love with). Here's what the back cover says:

From seduction in the royal sheikhdom to high adventure in the hot Arabian desert comes a breathtaking love story by international bestselling author Diana Palmer...

Sheltered small-town girl Gretchen Brannon was out of her element when she aligned herself with Sheikh Phillippe Sabon, the formidable ruler of Qawi. They came from different worlds, yet she found a soul mate in the powerful, sensual man who'd suppressed his passions for far too long -- and harbored a secret anguish. Nevertheless, he made the virtuous young woman aware of her own courage....and, in turn, she aroused his sleeping senses as no other woman could. However, now that Gretchen's heart belonged to the Lord of the Desert, danger loomed when she became a target for vengeance by the sheikh's most diabolical enemy. In a final showdown that would pit good against evil, could love and destiny triumph...?