Romance is in the air, so buckle up and prepare for takeoff…

The Christmas season is a time for giving, and pilot Maria Walken has a planeload of gifts for refugees in Syria. She’s determined to get her cargo delivered in time for the holidays, come hell or high water. When a handsome Sheikh shows up in need of a lift, she can’t stand his arrogance and wealth… Or the way he makes her heart race. But when he offers a large donation to her charity, she can hardly refuse.

Sheikh Jarik Shadid is desperate to get to Lebanon, to testify in a high-profile trial. He needs discrete transportation, and he’s more than willing to contribute to Maria’s charity in exchange for a seat on her plane. But when a freak snowstorm prevents them from taking off, Jarik’s no-nonsense attitude starts to melt. And his attraction to the beautiful, principled pilot grows stronger.

Maria always promised herself she’d never fall for a man like Jarik. But as they work together to spread holiday cheer, she begins to wonder… Is Jarik the Christmas present she’s been longing for?

Titles in the Shadid Sheikhs series (trilogy) include — The Sheikh’s Christmas Maid —♥— The Sheikh’s Christmas Present —♥— The Sheikh’s Christmas Baby —♥—

This is an adult 18+ story that may contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

Booksprout ARC

Title:  The Sheikh’s Christmas Present
Series:  Shadid Sheikhs #2
Author:  Leslie North
Genre:  Contemporary Romance, Christmas Romance
Published:  October 20, 2022
Publisher:
My Rating:  4.5 stars

The Shadid Sheikhs trilogy/series continues with The Sheikh’s Christmas Present which tells the tale of two stubborn people, one extremely wealthy, and one who doesn’t trust anyone with enough money to buy their way out of anything they please.  That one might be completely wrong in their judgement of all wealthy people never, ever occurred to her for it’s been proven true to her in the most painful way.

Jarik is intent on reaching his destination, one he has ditched his bodyguard for and has not mentioned to his brothers or his father exactly what he intends to do.  He needs transportation and a chance encounter with an intriguing woman has set his course, now he just has to convince Maria that it’s worth her time to actually take a passenger along on her cargo delivery flight.

I adored Jarik from the start, he’s a good man who just happens to be a crown prince.  Maria, while I liked her, well, that attitude got a bit in the way at times but eventually, she won me over.  One complication after another will delay their arrival at their destination – and also allows Jarik time to get Maria to open up to the attraction sizzling between them.  I loved how he was able to get Maria to actually talk to him, to give him bits and pieces, enough for him to let himself fall for this stubborn woman… and to let her see him for the man he is at the core, not his money.

The Sheikh’s Christmas Present is well-written, and intriguing with a plot that has a few twists along the way, and definitely steamy moments.  I had fun here, and again the epilogue gave me just enough to immediately start the next story, The Sheikh’s Christmas Baby.  If you love a steamy romance that’s steamy in all the right places, and tender as well then you’ll want to get started on this series soon.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or author’s team via Booksprout. The opinions expressed in this review are my own -good, bad, or indifferent.*

Available for the Kindle as this series is currently in KU