Book Review- The Golden Barbarian

The Golden Barbarian(Sedikhan Series)
Iris Johansen
Bantam, 316 Pages, Published April 1992
Sheik Historical Romance
ISBN: 0-553-29604-3

Synopsis:
FROM THE HALLS OF A PALATIAL PRISON TO THE HOT SANDS OF AN ENDLESS DESERT...

Here is a timeless story of love and adventure set among hills of gold, warring tribes, and fabled kingdoms -- the story of a fearless princess and a barbarian sheikh....

SHE WAS A RAVISHING PAWN IN A GAME OF POLITICS AND PASSION....

Flaunting the oppressive destiny decreed for her by the kingdom of Tamrovia, Princess Theresa Christina Rubinoff struck a sensual bargain with a handsome barbarian chieftain. She vowed to play his seductive game, surrendering herself to his will, all the while determined to fight for her independence in a land that considered women only as playthings.

HE WAS A DESERT WARRIOR KING, DRIVEN BY PASSION AND PRIDE....

Mysterious as the desert night, rich as Midas, Galen ben Rashid swept Tess away to his palace in exotic Sedikhan, offering her freedom in exchange for the marriage that would join their kingdoms. A man surrounded by enemies, he would make her a slave to his passion in order to bind her to his side, little knowing that when he took the captivating princess as his bride, he would lose his heart....

My Review:
This timeless love story starts out with  the willful and independent Princess Theresa Christina Rubinoff has been in a convent for quite some time now. When her cousin Sacha gets her out, she is relieved to say the least. However she doesn't want to have to go back to court and face her father once again. Tess and her father have always rubbed the wrong way to say the least, since Tess is a free spirit, her father has always been a bit harsh with her. However when Galen Ben Raschid convinces Tess to marry him and bear him a son to help him unite with the other tribe leaders, and then she will be free to go anywhere she wants after her three years are up, she agrees. Having ached for being able to be free to choose her own path in life, much more desirable than the plan her father would have set for her. However, she never realized how much her life would change once being married to a barbarian chieftain whose way of life is very different from what she is accustomed to. But despite all the dangers surrounding them, there is a profound love that will blossom beneath the desert sun.

I truly enjoyed reading The Golden Barbarian, and it flew by so quickly, and by the end I was disappointed that the story was over, I was wanting more and more, but a book can only last so long right? Its been quite some time since I have read anything from Iris Johansen, and after reading this one I am eager for more of her books. I love her historicals, she has such a talent to portray the historic events and scenery surround the story, and it comes alive for the reader. Its very exhilirating for me, to read this one, because I felt so enraptured like I was actually in the story and seeing it all come to reality. The characters and the plot are so vividly written it really astounded me about how much I was drawn into it.

My Grade For This Book
5 Blossoms

Other Books In The Series:
The Golden Valkyrie
The Trustworthy Redhead
Capture The Rainbow
Touch The Horizon
A Summer Smile
And The Desert Blooms
Always
Everlasting
Till The End of Time
Last Bridge Home
Across The River Yesterday
Star Light, Star Bright
Man From Half Moon Bay
Blue Blue Skies and Shining Promises
Magnificent Folly
Notorious
A Tough Man To Tame