Okay, if someone can explain this to me, I'd be grateful.
Normally, I don't find myself attracted to Middle Eastern men. I can't figure out why -- dark hair & eyes are my "thing". I mean, there ARE incredibly BEAUTIFUL men there -- Tarkan and Oded Fehr spring to mind immediately. And while I love to look, I just don't swoon.
Anyway, I have a passion for romance novels with arrogant, unforgiving Arab princes as the hero. And it's a pretty by-the-formula passion. The Arab prince falls hard for the reserved and misunderstood British heroine but he won't allow himself to express it. He treats her unfairly. She cries but puts up with it. He sees the error of his ways and gives her the earth. Tra-la-la... happy ending.
Seems like she's always a blonde, too.
Case in point: An Arabian Courtship by Lynne Graham. First published in 1989, Courtship came to my collection late. Pretty sure it was included in a MASSIVE box of books I bought on eBay 3 or 4 years ago. I read it for the first time on Friday night.
LOVED IT!!
Not only is it formula, there are a few pieces of humor thrown in unexpectedly. Perhaps unintentionally, but they're funny nonetheless.
I'd love to give a better review but I'm still dwelling on the whole "don't find Middle Eastern men attractive" thing... I'm confident that it has nothing to do with racial prejudice. I think it's something with the shape of the nose or the set of the ears.
They're not alone, either. I don't happen to find men with very light blond hair attractive, either, which pretty much rules out all of Scandinavia. And, try as I may, I can't for the LIFE of me think of an exception!!
Julian Sands, maybe.
Naaah... That's just his accent...
