The Pride of Zohayd series, by Olivia Gates; Harlequin Desire, 2010-2011

The Pride of Zohayd series is about the stories of three princes who find love while doing everything in their power to save their country from the hands of the enemies.

When I read To Tame a Sheikh, the first book of the series, I thought nothing could surprise me anymore. At that point of my life, I had turned myself in some sort of cynic, someone who didn’t really believe in love no more. I read it because of who had written it. It had been a long time for me, only having read a couple of books or so in years. Yet, I knew that any story artfully weaved by Olivia would appeal to me, so I bought it. And am I happy I did!

In this story you get to meet Shaheen, a man numb inside. He was prepared to do his duty to his country by marrying the princess of his father’s choice. But on his last night in the States, in a gathering organized by one of his friends, he saw her. More than that, he felt her. It only took one look, and it was as if he had known her all of his life. And he did; only he didn’t know it at the time.

Johara had been in love with Shaheen ever since she met him, when she was a little girl and he saved her life. She knew he would never be for her, so she decided to see him one last time before his betrothal. And magic happened.

Then I had to wait a couple of months to finally read the second book in the series, To Tempt a Sheikh. And believe me, it was worth the wait. In this story, the ordeal of the family continues as they try to find who is behind the scheme to dethrone the Aal Shalaan’s. They finally had a lead, and Harres was following it very closely. Thanks to that, he found out that T. J. Burke, the man who knew more about the scheme against them, had been kidnapped. So he set to rescue him. But instead of finding him, he found her. It was T. J. Burke, indeed, but the wrong one.

Talia Jasmine Burke was set on saving her twin brother. He had been framed by the Aal Shalaan’s and now she was using the information she was given to destroy them. What she didn’t count on was on being kidnapped. And then saved by the most wonderful male specimen she had ever seen. The chemistry was palpable between them. Until she learned his name.

But throughout their ordeal, being stranded in the desert, with him hurt and her tending to his injuries, they came to a truce of sorts. Then they got to the oasis that saved their lives. And their hearts.

Then came Amjad. Oh, Amjad! Believe me; you don’t want to read his story without reading the earlier stories, where he makes his first appearances. Not only would it help you get a grasp of what’s going on with the disappearance of the Pride of Zohayd, but you’ll get a first taste of the wonderfulness of Amjad. And not that his brothers aren’t incredible in their own way. They are. But I have to agree with Olivia on this one. Amjad will always have a special place in my heart.

In the third –and last– book of the series, To Touch a Sheikh, the brothers finally know who is behind the theft of the Pride of Zohayd jewels. And Amjad has the perfect plan to get them back. He would kidnap Yusuf Aal Waaked, ruling prince of Ossaylan. But he was dealt a different set of cards, and so he had to change his game.

Maram Aal Waaked had been drooling after Amjad ever since she met him four years ago. Everybody thought he was crazy, hence his nickname, the Mad Prince. She thought differently, though. She was sure that there was goodness beneath that cold, careless face he gave everybody, and with good reason. So, when he invited her father to a gathering in the desert, she jumped at the opportunity of taking her father’s place.

I have only one complaint. Amjad deserved a single title. He is such a wonderful character, and Maram is perfect for him in every sense. I loved their sparring, how they kept adapting each other names in Arabic to mock the other; and the way she kept getting closer to him, closer and closer until she got in.

The way Olivia weaves her stories is one-of-a-kind. She is an artist from head to toe. She’ll use your senses to tell her story. With Amjad, you can see him, you can feel him, hear him, smell him… and you can almost taste him. The name she gave to this story is the most accurate, To Touch a Sheikh. And it means everything it can mean. You can almost touch him, as if he were in front of you. Maram touched him where he needed to be touched to free him from his prison inside his heart. At some point of the story, you’ll see their roles reversed. And it’ll hurt. And it’ll make you feel their pain. And it may take you to the verge of tears. And you’ll love every minute of it.

I also loved the bits here and there of the Arabic culture. Idiomatic expressions, such as the sheep doesn’t care if she’s skinned after she’s slaughtered; or how she picks the names of her characters. I keep wondering if she created the character and then looked for a perfect name for him or her, or if first came the name and then the character. And, of course, eshg.

Olivia Gates, I stand in ovation and applaud you and the way you work your craft. I could say this is your best work ever, but I know you’ll prove me wrong when you outdo yourself on the next story. And the next. And the next. Please, don’t ever stop surprising me.