My rating: 2 of 5 stars
**I am providing a true and honest review for Creataspace as this book was received via NetGalley**
This book is due to be published in e-book on 23rd November 2016.
The premise of this book and the cover was what drew me initially to this book. The authors writing style is light and easy to read but I have differing thoughts on the storyline.
The first half of this book was a quick read for me it introduced the character of Adbulla to us and how he lost his wife and unborn child due to a road accident, it also described well the idea of living on a family compound in Qatar and the restrictive nature or the way the Men and Women live and celebrate (often apart) as well as the Qatar method of marriage.
When we are first introduced to Abdulla his life has been devastated with grief and survivors remorse. The loss of his wife Fatima not only impacts however on his life but also on that of his sister in law Luluwa whose father leaves her mother for another women on the day of her sisters funeral and her mother leaves in despair.
The introduction and interaction of Abdulla and Luluwa was of great interest to me in the first half of the book and when Abdulla's family finally decide they can no longer be patient with him and choose him another wife from amongst his cousins Luluwa's loving nature for her brother in law and all he has done for her shines through. His family choose Hind who is a Qatar women who loves her bling and dreams of seeking her independence. As part of this she therefore requests as part of the agreement to marry that she go to study in London for a year prior to the marriage being secured.
I was intrigued by Qatar culture and thought for that reason I would enjoy the book however, I have the following thoughts which I believe may have improved the story.
I felt at times despite the family dynamic that the character of Abdulla missed some back bone and although portrayed as a dynamic business man was in fact an at times dull and lack lustre spectre of what I think the author was endeavouring for.
The character of Luluwa was introduced to us and her tragic story explained however, I would have liked to continue to know more about the change in her life when she is taken in by her uncle and also her point of view of compound life and the lack of options available to a women growing up in the restrictive nature of Qatar.
The character of Hind was unfortunately way too spoilt to feel sorry for her, even when she got her freedom in London it seemed she was unable to do so unaided by her family and that detracted somewhat from the idea of escape. Introducing her and her character life took way too long in my opinion and her later actions with Ravi way too vague, we never really fully understand what she learns (if anything from that interaction) or what that relationship really brings of value to the story.
Sangita brought again another character which I felt was somewhat under developed she clearly linked in with another very interesting religious life style again under played and replaced with americanisms which I felt somewhat cliche and unnecessary.
For those of you not into "insta love" stories, this is not for you and unfortunately although the first half of the book was enjoyable to me the second half was dry, predictable slow reading with a somewhat unrealistic "happy ever after" ending.
I gave this book 2 stars as it is not one of the better romances I've read to date.
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