This is the second of my linked 'Desert Kings' books, the first being 'The Desert King's Secret Heir'. I was writing that first one, about Sheikh Idris and his long lost love, Arden, when I realised I had another story on my hands.

In that first book, Idris is on the verge of making a dynastic marriage to the beautiful, cultured Princess Ghizlan from a neighbouring state. Originally Ghizlan wasn't even going to appear on the page but somehow that changed and she had a small but vital role in 'The Desert King's Secret Heir'.

I found myself fascinated by her and drawn to her kindness. I also wondered how she would deal with the sudden shocking news that her arranged marriage wasn't going ahead. Would she be hurt or pleased? How would she cope with the aftermath? I couldn't wait to finish that first book and dive into Ghizlan's story. Especially as, the more I thought about it, the more I realised it was anything but a mere sequel. In fact, 'The Desert King's Captive Bride' (aka, The Princess and the Barbarian) was one of the most fascinating, all-consuming projects I've had.

Ghizlan was such a strong, real, appealing character to me that she deserved an equally strong, real and appealing hero. Enter Huseyn, who marches onto the page, and into Ghizlan's palace and takes over. I adored writing about the instant charge of attraction between this pair as much as the continual tussle of wills over might vs. right, especially when they each discover there are hidden depths in their opponent.

If you enjoy enemies to lovers stories, and marriages of convenience, if you like exotic settings and people who grow and change and fall in love despite their expectations, I hope you'll try my Captive Bride and enjoy the story as much as I did! This book is particularly special to me. Do feel free to contact me and let me know what you think of it.