A free copy of this book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Sheikh's Bought Wife is about a Sheikh called Zayed who in order to claim some inherited land must be married. However Zayed does not wish to be married and so finds someone willing to marry him temporarily who won't cling to him when it's time to get an annulment. For this, he chooses Jane, but before long, Zayed is struggling to control himself around and wants to get closer.
This is a book of two halves for me, because I really liked Jane as a character. I found her sympathetic and unlike some Mills and Boon stories, actually has a good reason for getting involved in the marriage charade. On the other hand is Zayed, who is so arrogant and has the world's worst attitude towards women. I did like the chemistry between the two main characters, but something about this book just didn't zing for me. 3 stars.

Sharon Kendrick makes even a trope I don't care for - Sheikhs! - and turns it into something thoroughly readable. Recommended for anyone who is looking for a book in this genre.

4.5 stars! Plain Jane? - think again...

Soooo, I’m just shy of two years late writing this review *blushes* Better late than never, eh? *snorts*

Would now be a good time to mention that I’ve read it three times though? Phew! Okay, good... I feel a bit better now.

Zayed Al Zawba, Sheikh of Kafalah (try saying that when you’ve had a drink *smirks*) doesn’t understand the concept of the word no. Inconvenient to his lifestyle though it may be, a recent bequest means he’s in need of a wife in order to inherit a valuable piece of land. For a man who doesn’t believe in ‘love’ there is only one thing to do: marry someone who doesn’t rev his engine - so to speak...

And, he knows just the woman.

Bookish Jane Smith has always lived in the shadow of her beautiful and gregarious sister. Hiding behind her comfy clothes and tight bun. She spends her days immersed in the texts and history of the country she loves.

But no matter what, there is nothing she wouldn’t do to protect her family in times of need. When her sister gets herself into a bit of pickle, financially speaking, it’s Jane to the rescue. So what if she has to wed the most arrogant man in existence, aka the desert king, in order to get the money she needs? It’s only for six months *shrugs*

Zayed’s made it very clear, it’s to be a marriage in name only. Once the allotted period is over, the marriage will be dissolved due to non-consummation, and they can go their separate ways.

With zero chance of any hanky-panky, apparently *rolls eyes*, it’s a win-win on both sides. Riiiigght!

What is it they say? Never judge a book by its cover. Well, the veil is about to be well and truly lifted from Zayed’s eyes. And for Jane, she realises there is a complexity to this man she has yet to uncover.

I have to admit that each and every time I’ve read this story, I spend half my time spitting feathers at Zayed. He is an arrogant bleep-da-bleep! There may, or not, have been threats to certain bits of his anatomy *whistles* But you gotta love him. I know, I know - I have issues. Tell me something I don’t know!

I have to be honest and say there was only one thing that stopped this book being a 5🌟 for me, and that was due to the ‘m’ word being used twice. It was enough to give this Scottish lass the boak, lol.

Oops, I’ve been prattling on for a while, haven’t I?

Finally, as the author says, don’t ever turn your back on love.

Sheik Zayed needs to be married in order to inherit his uncle’s oil-rich lands, and decides that Jane (an employee) would be suitable. With her sister in debt, Jane agrees to a short term marriage in name only.
Jane, who Zayed had considered too plain to interest him, is overwhelmed when he sees his bride dressed in beautiful finery for their wedding, and his interest is sparked!
The book is well-written and explores how the diverse couple become more interested in each other and ultimately fall in love.
I enjoyed reading the book, seeing how the couple develop as the story unfolds. A sparky, sexy story which I recommend.

4 Stars!
IMAGE.

Mills & Boon Sheikh romances used to be my catnip back in the day. There was just something about the unique locale that the stories usually played out in, accompanied with the arrogance and often over-the-top entitlement of the Heroes, and their ruthless romancing of the Heroines to get exactly what they wanted, that just kept me going back time and time again.

She wasn’t immune to the undeniable allure of the desert Sheikh…

Sharon Kendrick is one of those authors that I read on a regular basis as well, so it was really good to revisit her writing again a few years on. And she delivered on every expectation I had with Jane and Zayed’s story.

"Careful… You may have rejected the very obvious methods of making yourself attractive to men, but I’m assuming nobody warned you about the sexual frisson produced by verbal sparring."

Plain Jane Smith, may love Shiekh Zayed Al Zawba’s country, but she certainly doesn’t feel the same way about its ruler, and I loved the fact that she gave him a total run for his money, this is a woman who may not have much experience with men, but that doesn’t mean she is just going to lie down and think of England, when her husband (in name only) decides to change the parameters of their deal.

Somewhere along the way she’d come to know the man beneath the arrogant exterior.

As you would expect with a title from this publisher, it was well written, enjoyably predictable, and a great way to escape into my own imagination for a couple of hours.

ARC provided via Netgalley as part of the Mills & Boon Insiders review programme, in exchange for the above honest review.

Another engaging journey from Ms Kendrick, 4 stars 🌟 :

Ms Kendrick is a go to author for me her books are always full of strong alpha males who sweep their loves into happily ever afters, and The Sheikh's Bought Wife is no different.

We meet our hero Sheikh Zayed Al Zawba in the prologue meeting with his advisor's discussing the terms of his grandfather's will and the associated conditions. It is Zayed's actions during the meeting and his comments about women or more specifically our heroine Dr Jane Smith that show Zayed to be extremely superficial and arrogant. Dr Jane Smith is an academic working at the Kafalah Embassy and is the polar opposite of the type of women Zayed normally gets involved with which is why he approaches her for his plan to work, a unconsummated marriage for six months to meet the conditions of his grandfather's will. Jane is innocent and has spent her life dedicated to her studies of Kafalah, giving no thought to men or her looks, however in order to help her twin sister who Jane feels is everything she isn't, she agrees to Zayed’s plan. What follow’s is an engaging journey between two people who as we learn more about their backgrounds see the trust and confidence between them grow, will Sheikh Zayed Al Zawba keep to his original plan or will Dr Jane Smith infiltrate the Sheikh's heart so he realises his plan was flawed and he and Jane are in it for the HEA!

Although it is not referred to in this book I hope Ms Kendrick is planning to write the story of Jane's sister Cleo, as the character and circumstances we are introduced to at the end of the book suggests an intriguing story very close, fingers crossed!

Fyi I received my copy from NetGalley and Mills and Boon via Mills and Boon Insiders, although this does not influence my opinions.

Zayed Al Zawba. He is so unbelievably arrogant you are just dying for him to take a great fall.
Unfortunately the heroine, Jane Smith , is in a serious bind and to agree to his 'proposal' will help her out of an otherwise impossible situation.
He thought Jane was going to fit into his plan as she is 'plain Jane' so he can divorce her on the grounds on an unconsummated marriage. But she is more than he bargained for. His attitude is so out of date and chauvinistic, and incredibly insulting he is incredibly dislikeable.
Quite frankly she deserved better.