Arranged by Lexi Blake
Release Date: April 25th 2017 by Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated
Pages: 220
Genres: Romance, Contemporary
Kash Kamdar is the king of a peaceful but powerful island nation. As Loa Mali’s sovereign, he is always in control, the final authority. Until his mother uses an ancient law to force her son into marriage. His prospective queen is a buttoned-up intellectual, nothing like Kash’s usual party girl. Still, from the moment of their forced engagement, he can’t stop thinking about her.
Dayita Samar comes from one of Loa Mali’s most respected families. The Cambridge-educated scientist has dedicated her life to her country’s future. But under her staid and calm exterior, Day hides a few sexy secrets of her own. She is willing to marry her king, but also agrees that they can circumvent the law. Just because they’re married doesn’t mean they have to change their lives. It certainly doesn’t mean they have to fall in love.
After one wild weekend in Dallas, Kash discovers his bride-to-be is more than she seems. Engulfed in a changing world, Kash finds exciting new possibilities for himself. Could Day help him find respite from the crushing responsibility he’s carried all his life? This fairy tale could have a happy ending, if only they can escape Kash’s past…
My Review:
Not having read the other books in the Masters and Mercenaries series, I wasn't familiar with the previous books, but I have read a couple books by Lexi Blake and she didn't disappoint at all. From the eye catching to the intriguing synopsis, Arranged delivers a story filled with steamy scenes and a second chance at love that will leave you wanting for more.
At the beginning of the story we get to meet Kask Kamdar and Dayita Samar two university students who are just trying to live normal lives. They both are into science and want to make a better world, but Kash's future completely changes when he gets news that he is about to be king. His future never involved being a king before, and just when he was getting the courage to ask Dayita on a date things suddenly changed. After living as a playboy, Kash has now take control of his country and that also includes finding a bride. It is through a ancient law that his own mother sets him up into an arranged marriage that he can't brake, but he wasn't expecting for his future bride to be Dayita. Now he has to find a way to make her see that he has changed or lose her forever.
Coming from a respected family hasn't always being in Dayita's favor, as someone who is in charge of the country's education system she has to work extra hard to make the people in charge see that kids deserve equal opportunities. Yet, that all comes stops the minute she is summoned to meet with the queen about her future marriage to Kash. Dayita knows that it has been years since she has seen or heard from him, but marriage isn't what she is afraid of. What she truly is afraid of is of what Kash is going to do when he discovers her secret. It will take one wild night for them to discover each other's secrets and see if they truly want to be with each other after that.
I very much enjoyed the over concept of the story, the characters are well thought out and even though they are completely polar opposites, they somehow manage to connect quiet well. Dayita is such a strong female character in the book that somehow overshadowed Kash from time to time. On the other hand, Kash is the typical playboy who also happens to hold secrets that could ultimately ruin his reputation as king. For being a novella, the story kept me intrigued and entertained until the very end. I don't think I've read a story where the female has so much power over the guy. There were times when I felt unsure about Dayita, and her personality, but it all works out in the end. I would recommend picking it up if you're looking for a short and steamy read. ;)
***ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.***
My Rating:
{EXCERPT}
“Did you enjoy the dessert? They had been planning on serving crème brûlée, but I remembered you like gelato. Strawberry.”
She turned and Kash was standing in the doorway, the tie to his tuxedo undone and the first few buttons of his shirt open, showing off golden skin.
Oh, how the girls must swoon over that man.
Unfortunately for him, she was a woman and not a girl. She curtseyed, recalling her etiquette classes and going down deep, to show her respect for the crown. “I thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Come now, Day. I asked you not to call me that long ago, and now it appears there’s even less reason. We were friends then. We’re going to be husband and wife in a week. Shocking how quickly that woman can move when she wants to.”
He looked so composed, but she couldn’t forget that he’d only found out his mother was dying this afternoon. That was when she’d seen the real man. She’d interrupted them with her silly dress and she’d seen the shock and pain on Kash’s face before he’d smoothed it out and gone back to being the polite royal he’d become.
“Are you all right?” She asked the question for two reasons. First, she wanted to know the answer and second, to see if they really were still friends.
His lips curved up slightly. “I’m faring quite well. We Kamdars are made of sterner stuff than this. Did you enjoy the dinner?”
So, not so friendly he would talk about private things with her. It was good to know where they stood. They needed to have a long conversation about how this was going to work. They might be marrying to protect the Kamdar line and to give his mother some peace, but they needed a plan of action about how best to achieve their goals.
Partners. That was how she’d decided to look at this. They were partners. And if she ended up governing the kingdom while he was out fucking around with supermodels, she wouldn’t get her heart broken.
Just humiliated.
Yes, they needed a talk and perhaps a contract.
“I enjoyed the meal very much. The company left something to be desired, but I suspect I’ll get used to dining with windbag politicians.” She turned back to the balcony, leaning against it. The view from here was spectacular. Beyond that, it was soothing in a way.
“Yes, Mother told me they’re giving you trouble.” He joined her, leaning beside her, their bodies so close but not touching. “I’ll talk to them, ensure you have your funding.”
“Don’t. It can wait a few weeks. I need to go back to them and introduce myself as their new queen.” She wasn’t about to let them think she sent her husband in. If he behaved as he so often did, he wouldn’t be around much and it would be up to her to keep everyone in line.
“Is that why you agreed to this arrangement? Because you wanted power?”
“I agreed because I care about this country. I’ve spent the last ten years of my life working here and trying to ensure that our children get what they need to make it out in the world. I agreed because your mother is excellent at putting one in a corner. I agreed because someone has to and I wasn’t sure who you would bring home if given the chance.” She shuddered at the idea of some brainless model attempting to be a role model for Loa Malian girls.
“Ah, you don’t think I have good taste in women.”
“I think you have an unquenchable appetite for them, Your Majesty, and that is something we should talk about.”
“Ah, the wifely lectures begin,” he said with a sigh. “Please proceed. I’m anxious to get this over with so I can be properly chastened.”
“I only ask that you attempt some discretion, Kashmir. I don’t expect you to be faithful in any way, but I do expect you to not humiliate me.”
He turned, frowning a bit as though she’d surprised him. “You don’t expect me to be faithful?”
It was time for some honesty. “I don’t think you can be. How long have you kept a single woman? A month? Three?”
“Six,” he replied. “I was with Tasha Reynolds for six months before we went our separate ways.”
“And were you faithful to her?” She already knew the answer to that question.
“We had an agreement.” He frowned as though the conversation wasn’t going at all as he’d expected. “She was on set much of the time. She knew I had a highly stressful job, so she was understanding. I gave her the same options.”
“Excellent, then let’s be fair with each other. As long as we’re both discreet, this marriage of ours doesn’t have to mean the end of our lives.”
ABOUT LEXI BLAKE:NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog int eh world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.
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