Steamy Sessions with a Sheikh Surgeon

The Sheikh Surgeon’s Proposal

By: Olivia Gates      

The Setting: Fictional desert kingdom of Damhoor, an Arabic land

The Happy Couple:

Janaan Latimer – an emergency doctor, volunteering with a global aid organization 

Sheikh Malek Aal Hamdaan – Prince of Damhoor, Minister of Health and a playboy surgeon

The Set-Up: After her mother commits suicide, Janaan travels to the desert in the kingdom of Damhoor to volunteer her medical skills and find her family roots. On an emergency medical mission, Janaan falls for her boss, Malek, a superior surgeon and mega stud.

The Issue: Working under such close quarters on the mission, it’s hard for this pair to keep their hands off each other. But with Malek set to take the throne as King of Damhoor, he’s in no position to choose his own wife. He must marry, according to tradition, a suitable mate from a neighbouring kingdom. Janaan can’t bear the thought of Malek with another woman, and isn’t satisfied with his solution to be his mistress for life.

Happily Ever After: When Malek ascends the throne after his father’s death, Janaan is sure this is the end of their affair. Though she loves him, she knows they can never be together while he’s King. After six heartsick months apart, Malek takes a page out of King Edward VIII’s book and abdicates the throne, eager to start a family and the rest of his life with Janaan.

Scandalous Scale: Hot n’ Heavy +++     

The Verdict: In a bookstore, The Sheikh Surgeon’s Proposal would be in the curtained-off room labeled ‘adults only’. This is one steamy read. The medical angle adds interest, as do the well-developed backstories of the principle characters. This is the first fictional-setting romance reviewed on this blog, and it definitely did not disappoint!

The Ballet Babe and Her Guitar Hero

British Invasion: This week's book comes from Mills &
Boon UK, the British branch of Harlequin publishing

Keeping Her Up All Night

By: Anna Cleary  

The Setting: Modern times, Sydney, Australia

The Happy Couple:

Amber O’Neill – a violet eyed ballet dancer, turned florist  

Guy Wilder – a one night stand lover, ad agent, and singer/songwriter

The Set-Up: After her mom dies, Amber sets up house in an apartment in Sydney, leaving her days of touring with the Australia Ballet behind. When Guy moves in next door, he shakes up her life…and her heart.

The Issue: Left at the alter by the love of his life, Guy Wilder doesn’t think any woman will ever set his heart (or loins) aflame again. But then he meets beautiful, lithe Amber, a ballet-dancing vixen with violet eyes like Liz Taylor. Can he really learn to love again, or is it easier to leave things casual?

Happily Ever After: When Guy promises to help Amber’s failing florist shop, she thinks its just an excuse to spend more time together…outside the bedroom. She can’t help but dream about a future with the super sexy boy next door. But is Guy ready to take the leap, after being crushed so completely before? After a strangely sexual dancing scene, involving a baby grand piano and some probably unstandardized ballet moves, the pair realize they’re in more than just lust.  

Scandalous Scale: Hot n’ Heavy

(NEW!) The Verdict: Looking to get your jollies on? Keeping Her Up All Night is the perfect NSFW blush-inducing read. Guy Wilder is one dude who just can’t keep it in his pants…and Amber O’Neill is one ballerina who doesn’t seem to mind. Plot and character development fade quickly into the background as the sex scenes steal the show.

If the largest snowstorm in 5 years has you shuttered indoors, why not immerse yourself in a Harlequin? 

Bad Boys and Baby Drama

The Sabbides Secret Baby

By: Jacqueline Baird

The Setting: Modern times, Split between: Athens, Greece and Dorsetshire, England   

The Happy Couple:

Phoebe Brown – a naïve young girl in love, turned baby mama

Jed Sabbides – a multimillionaire hotel magnate with a bad boy appeal

The Set-Up: Phoebe meets Jed when she’s in her early twenties, working at one of his hotels to put her way through university. She immediately falls for his good looks and charm. She thinks its love. 

When she tells him she’s pregnant, she expects Jed to get down on one knee. He splits instead and she miscarries, and poor Phoebe is left with a broken heart.

The Issue: As Phoebe flees Athens to seek comfort back home in England, Jed is certain he’ll never see her again. And good riddance, right? Its not like he was ready to give up his playboy ways. As Phoebe settles back into life in Dorsetshire, she gets a surprise…of the baby kind. 

Turns out she was pregnant with twins and only one miscarried (a medical rarity and convenient plot point).

Happily Ever After: Phoebe can’t disguise her panic (or her arousal) when she runs into Jed five years later. He has no idea that Ben, their son, exists. When he comes to her house to rekindle the fire, he realizes the baby he thought miscarried is alive and well.  

A lot has changed for Jed, he’s no longer the bad boy philanderer he used to be. He’s ready to be a family man, but how can he make Phoebe see he’ll never break her heart again?

Scandalous Scale: Hot n’ Heavy

BONUS: Bad Boy Appeal

Jed Sabbides is a total classic when it comes to bad boys. He’s controlling, he likes to get his way, and he’ll stop at almost nothing to get what he wants. But we can’t exactly hate him. 

We should hate all bad boys on principle. But we rarely do. Why? Because bad boys are usually SO. DAMN. SEXY. Especially fictional ones.

My total swoonfest? Damon Salvatore in the Vampire Diaries.

Who’s your favourite fictional bad boy?

Wet, Wild and Knocked Up

Walk on the Wild Side

By: Natalie Anderson 

The Setting: Modern times, New Zealand 

The Happy Couple:

Kelsi Reid – violet-eyed petite redhead, web designer

Jack Greene – “sinfully hot champion snowboarder”

The Set-Up: Love at first sight, with a dangerous twist. When Kelsi runs into Jack with her car, he can’t help but notice the sexy siren behind the wheel. 

After a get-to-know-you coffee, the pair enjoys an afternoon of raunchy sexcapades in the surf at the beach. Their one-day affair turns into more when Kelsi realizes she’s pregnant.

The Issue: Jack is a snowboarding sex god who can’t be tied down. He’s forever chasing snowy mountains (and girls) and has never faced commitment. Kelsi thinks she’s ugly because she has pale skin, freckles and red hair she tries to hide with excessive amounts of bleach. 

She wants stability and a man to love her for her. With a baby thrown into the mix, how can the two ever get along?

Happily Ever After: After some tears (Kelsi) and explosive cursing (Jack), the pair reunites (in the bedroom at least…and on the kitchen floor…and in the foyer). But was their weekend-long sex fest a mistake? Jack seriously needs to get back to training if he is ever going to get an Olympic gold medal. 

After some soul searching (and a little bit more bedroom fun) Jack realizes Kelsi is all he ever wanted.

Scandalous Scale: Hot n’ Heavy

BONUS: Best Euphemism

Anatomical words just so aren’t the Harlequin way. This week’s best penile comparison? The Eiffel Tower.