Review: The Sheikh’s Princess Bride by Annie West

Review:

I waited a long time on library hold for The Sheikh’s Princess Bride. After reading The Sultan’s Harem Bride, I was interested to see what happened to Asim’s sister, Samira. I was ultimately disappointed, though, because the book featured one of my least favorite tropes – the miracle baby. There wasn’t one hint in the synopsis about it, or I probably wouldn’t have checked it out from the library. This trope almost never works for me, so it was no surprise that it didn’t work here, either.

Samira longs for a family. After her miscarriage, she is unable to conceive again, so she decides to ask her childhood friend, Tariq, to marry her. He lost his wife and has young twin boys to raise, but juggling the duties of ruling Al- Sharath with raising his energetic sons is challenging. While at first put off by Samira’s proposal, he agrees to her plan, without telling her that he doesn’t really agree with her only condition, and who could blame him? What man would settle for a marriage in name only, without any of the benefits of matrimony?

Once Tariq makes it clear after their wedding that they will be a couple in all ways, Samira feels betrayed. Tariq had given his word that there would be no sex, after all, and now she can’t trust him. He’s persistent and persuasive, however, and she soon gives in to her attraction to him. They have agreed that neither will fall in love with other. Both have had disastrous relationships in the past, and neither wants to suffer through that again. Samira was publically cheated on by what she thought was the love of her life, and Tariq watched his wife wallow in sadness when he just couldn’t return her feelings for him. Both Samira and Tariq swore that love would never bring them low again, and of course, neither can stick to their guns.

Samira quickly finds married life satisfying and fulfilling. She now has two sons and an attentive husband. When she discovers that, miraculously, she’s pregnant, she can’t understand Tariq’s sudden distance from her. Tariq is still suffering from the guilt of not being able to save his late wife, who died in childbirth. At first he’s angry at Samira, believing that she lied to him, and then he’s fearful that the same fate will befall her. Samira is hurt now that Tariq is suddenly too busy to spend any time with her, and she wonders what she’s done wrong.

As previously stated, I dislike the miracle baby trope, so that earned a big groan of dismay from me. The other problem for me was Tariq. He constantly insists to himself that he is incapable of love because of his harsh upbringing, yet he dotes on his young sons. He’s furious that Samira didn’t discuss the pregnancy with him first, too, which made me want to slap him on the side of the head and say, “Hello!! Miracle baby, dude! These things just aren’t PLANNED!” It took him so long to realize that he did have deep feelings for Samira that I started getting impatient with him When she decided to put some physical distance between them and go to Paris – that was when Tariq finally has his light bulb moment. If I had been Samira, I’d have made him work a little harder for her forgiveness.

If the miracle baby trope doesn’t bother you like it bugs me, you will probably enjoy The Sheikh’s Princess Bride better than I did. Though it ultimately wasn’t my cup of tea, I did remain invested in the story.

Grade: C-

Review copy obtained from my local library

Wanted: royal bride and mother

For Sheikh Tariq of Al-Sharath, one miserable marriage was enough. With a kingdom to rule, he has no time—or wish—to find a bride, but his children need a mother.

Could Princess Samira of Jazeer be the answer? Samira has sampled passion, and it left a bad taste. With the knowledge she can’t have the children she’s always wanted, Samira steps into Tariq’s ready-made family. Her only condition? No sex!

Samira thought royal duties and her love for Tariq’s children would fill the hole in her heart, but a craving is building that only the sheikh’s touch can cure…