Customer Reviews

Sheikh Boss, Hot Desert Nights (Harlequin Presents)

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

 

 

Again Susan Stephens charms her readers with a very steamy and sexy Sheikh Boss, Hotel Desert Nights.

Sheikh Rafik (Raffa as he's fondly called by Casey) is immediately drawn to the woman he's sent for from England to help market his country. Casey Michaels he realizes almost immediately is innocent however she amazes him with her business sense. Life has taught him many lessons and duty to his country is the most important thing in his life. However, she charms him and he's drawn to her and fights it every step of the way.

Casey Michaels is determined to prove herself and win not only the marketing job but earn the respect of her employer, the sheikh. However, she as well doesn't count on the intense attraction she feels towards him. She's there to impress and impress she does when she takes on a charity auction, the proceeds to benefit the desert inhabitants. As she finally spends time in the desert, every thing heats up and not only the weather. Seeing Raffa in his own element with his people makes him more human, and not the playboy sheikh the press makes him out to be but a man of "simple tastes".

Their love story was for the most part set in the desert, full of sensual tension until they make love and then everything becomes complicated for them both. Sadness like every journey takes place in the form of Casey realizing she must walk away only to have Raffa realize how important she was to him. Sheikh Boss, Hot Desert Nights was just a sweet and beautiful journey in finding happiness.

Behind the book from authors website:

"I couldn't resist another visit into the desert to unravel the secrets that lie behind the silken veil. I took a younger sheikh for this romantic adventure- a ruthless bad boy on the cusp of greatness, and gave him a determined young woman to go head to head with- in business, and in bed.

It was great to see Casey Michaels growing in confidence and in understanding of a very different culture- not to mention learning how to handle this dark and dangerous alpha male.

I had the best time writing the book and hope you enjoy your journey behind the silken veil..." S. Stephens

Book Description:

Casey Michaels has come prepared for her new job in the desert--complete with a safari outfit! But, faced with her gorgeous boss's potent sexuality, she suddenly feels out of her depth....

Sheikh Rafik al Rafar knows an inexperienced woman when he sees one, and in the sultry heat of the desert he begins her sensual awakening. To his surprise, Casey teaches him about the simple pleasures in life. But royal duty is never far from their door....

I have read about 4 books by Susan Stephens and I found them to be all utterly dreadful. But with two other reviewers giving this book 5 stars, I thought I would take one more stab at a book written by her.

All I can say is, at least I tried.

Casey Michaels believes she can sell anything. The new job she is trying to land would involve her selling A'Qaban, that is, doing PR to get A'Qaban in as the next big tourist destination. Rafa is A'Qaban's newly-come-to-power sheikh. Rafa sets out to personally test Casey's fit for the position. Predictably, the interaction turns less professional and more sexual as they spend more time together, until we get to the point where Casey is begging (yes, you read right...BEGGING) Rafa to have sex with her.

As you can tell from my addition of half a star, I prefered this book to the others she's written. With her other work, we (the readers) are usually subjected to page after page of internal monologues by the heroine. This was not the case with 'Sheikh Boss'. Instead, the H and h go to many different locales, and in each venue there are just endless paragraphs describing the locations. I really don't need to read about the polished sand.

I love a good setting and backdrop as much as the next person, but this is a 180-page book. At some point, editing should have come into play. When you have that many words dedicated to describing the sand and the outfits and the curtains etc, it doesn't leave enough for actual romance and character development.

What I did get out of the characters is that Rafa is full of himself and Casey has the temperament of a 2 year old. Whenever Rafa does something she doesn't like, she doesn't talk to him about it, but instead turns sulky. That got annoying very quickly.

My recommendation is to give this one a pass.

Loved every page of this book. Great chemistry between Raffa and Casey. Wonderful descriptions of country and lots of details to fill in the blanks. Wish Susan Stephens would come up with another winner like this one.