Two young princesses hide as their father dies. They barely knew the man but his putative successor, a man aged sixty, intends to marry the older girl and send the other to America out of the way. Layla doesn't want to marry this man, and she hates the thought of being separated from Yasmin. Their country of Tazkhan is modernising but still very traditional. The only other heir is Raz Al Zakhi, a prince who lives like a Bedouin among his people and has been named an outlaw. Layla cooks up a harebrained idea of riding out into the desert - the girls can barely ride and there is no guarantee they will find the prince. But what choice do they have?

LOST TO THE DESERT WARRIOR is the next step, for Layla is found by a scout and brought to the prince after she says she has an urgent message for him. Of course, she's dressed as a boy. Her sister has got lost somehow and she's injured her ankle from falling off the horse. But she's here, and Raz Al Zakhi has to decide what to do with her. As a widower he cherishes the memory of his lost wife and when Layla offers him the chance to marry her for political advantage, he doesn't want to consider it. But she has strength, courage and honesty, and she assures the warrior that all she wants of a husband is respect. And the safety of young Yasmin. Maybe the idea is worth consideration after all.

I liked bookish Layla who has lived behind closed doors, reading, and knows a lot about life except how to live it. She was never allowed to visit the desert or have friends. Her hasty wedding is still a cause for celebration among the Bedouin, but it hadn't occurred to her that other women might be envious. We're told that helicopters and jeeps are in use but we see the characters riding Arabian horses instead, making for a timeless setting. Apart from silken cushions in tents, Raz has a home across the border so we see stables, cool courtyards and fountains, along with a library. But as Yasmin has not been found the tension is maintained and both Layla and Raz revisit unhappy memories.

This book by Sarah Morgan is a lovely romantic read in an exotic setting and getting LOST TO THE DESERT WARRIOR is not the worst that could befall this princess.

Book Summary

"Walking into the lion's den unprotected, Princess?"

For Layla, princess of Tazkhan, her arranged marriage means one thing—a lifetime of cruelty and captivity. Such an unendurable prospect drives her to throw herself at the mercy of Sheikh Raz Al Zahki—her family's greatest enemy!

Raz demands one thing in return for the safe haven Layla is seeking—this brooding desert king wants to make her his queen! Her freedom might be secured, but now her heart is at risk, for soon she's lost to the scorching heat of their marriage bed. However, it will take more than fire to thaw her guarded husband….