16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Who do we trust?, 27 Dec 2002
By A Customer - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Arabian Love-Child (Harlequin Presents) (Mass Market Paperback)
Back Cover description: RAFIQ'S SECRET SON. Half Arab prince, half French, Rafiq Al-Qadim wears his pride like a suit of armor...as Melanie had discovered when she fell in love with him years ago. Then Rafiq chose to believe ugly lies about her, and blew her out of his life like a grain of desert sand in the wind...But Melanie will never stop wanting Rafiq--unbeknownst to him, she gave birth to his child. Now that Robbie is old enough to need his father, Melanie is determined Rafiq will accept his son...even if he can never forgive her....
Good, tight story with strong characters. Interesting that the author doesn't/can't have the heroine prove her "truth". The hero has to take it on faith. Strong female lead, vulnerable and proud hero. Even the child's character was interesting and he didn't take over the story. Good read--try it.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An emotionally and passionately charged love story ....., 3 Nov 2007
By KayLovesToRead - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Arabian Love-Child (Harlequin Presents) (Mass Market Paperback)
The Arabian Love-Child by Michelle Reid
Harlequin Presents # 2290 - December 2002
Hot-Blooded Husbands ~ Book 3 of 4
Eight years before, Melanie had been shattered when Sheikh Rafiq had refused to speak with her, and then later when she had spoken to Rafiq's brother Hassan it was clear that if the child she carried turned out to be Rafiq's, the mighty Sheikh would use all his powers to take the child from her. Now upon the death of her great-uncle, Melanie has her own financial security and sees that her son needs his father. Rafiq is devastated that he has missed so much of his son's life, and demands that Melanie marry him so that Robbie will have a family. But how can their marriage work, if Rafiq continues to believe that Melanie had betrayed him with another man all those years before.
Fantastic story! Rafiq is tortured with insecurities of his own upbringing and when he discovers he has a son, he is determined that the boy shall never know those same insecurities. Ms. Reid gives us great insight into Rafiq's inner torment, and into Melanie's pain of being so ruthlessly discarded and then the fear for her child. Theirs is an emotionally and passionately charged love story. Their HEA was well fought and achieved a huge sigh from this reader. It was also a great treat to revisit the other characters in the previous books from this series. :D
other books in this series ....
A Passionate Marriage - Harlequin Presents # 2307 - March 2003
Ethan's Temptress Bride - Harlequin Presents # 2272 - September 2002
The Sheikh's Chosen Wife - Harlequin Presents # 2254 - June 2002
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
if it wasn't for the doormat heroine..., 23 Sep 2010
By RomReader - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Arabian Love-Child (Harlequin Presents) (Mass Market Paperback)
Heroine approaches wealthy banker Hero, who was her lover for a brief time 8 yrs ago, for help with financial inheritance matters. But Hero misjudges her once again & boots her out of his office. But she accidentally left behind her legal papers at his office & he then finds out about their 7-yr-old son's existence. He demands marriage for their son's sake & heroine wavers about her decision to marry him b/c she wants to marry for love but also sees the importance of being married for their son's sake.
Reid writes well. The story, dialogue, & emotional involvement were good. Sexual chemistry & love scenes were hot. But the heroine really irritated me. Hero made some gross misjudgements about her both in the the past & present & she wouldn't assert herself enough to explain the truth fully to him. She just tucked her tail under her legs & whimpered in the corner somewhere. Ugh! When he realized his mistakes, she just quickly swept it under the rug instead of taking the time to openly discussing matters with him. Yes, he should also have explained himself fully or he could have asked her to discuss things more fully. But the way heroine gave in to Hero too easily & forgave him too quickly did not invite explanation. Given the big misunderstandings & wrong assumptions they both have with each other, Hero needed to explain himself more fully to heroine and/or grovel more. But she seemed satisfied with him just admitting he made a mistake, which didn't make sense to me since she's been hurting & agonizing over it for the past 8 years. She also readily jumped into bed with him, even when she felt hurt & upset with him for thinking she was still a slut. It was frustrating reading about such a doormat! It distracted from what-could-have-been a good, poignant romance.
Recommended with caution.