Sunburst's Citadel

by Therese Nichols

Shamsi, a beautiful but penniless entertainer, is haunted by a childhood tragedy that changed her life. She hides behind silken veils, praying to escape the desires of men. And keeps her secret close... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1932815619
• ISBN13: 9781932815610
• Release Date: November 2006
• Publisher: Medallion Press
• Length: 443 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 4.3" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

strong refreshing historical romance

Princess Shamsi was eleven years old when the massacre occurred. The Moghul Empire Overlord Prince Fazid desired Shamsi's mother, who was happily married to her father, the local ruler of Rajputana. When she was not handed over to him, he had his powerful army lay siege to the city before invading it. Anyone in his path was killed, but Prince Fazid failed to take his prize as she and the others killed themselves in an inferno. Outraged at this final act of defiance, Fazid slaughtered many more residents, but missed Shamsi in his wrath. Instead Gupta the thief found her amidst the ruins and took her with him. Seven years later, Shamsi is a beautiful veiled dancer that every male covets. When the military advisor to the Moghul Emperor Lord Karim rescues her and her "grandfather Gupta from a performance that turned ugly, he finds he desires her and is shocked to learn she is a virgin. As he learns the truth about who she is, he believes they have no future together; besides her being Rajput and he Moghul; he led the military excursion that Fazid turned into atrocities including the fiery deaths of her aristocratic family. SUNBURST'S CITADEL is an exhilarating eleventh century (my guess based on the deep descriptions of the city) romance that will grip the audience from the onset when the preadolescent Shamsi finds the ash remains of her mom and other beloved family members. The tale never slows down as Karim finds he must choose between love and loyalty though the insane Fazid makes it a bit easier to select as the military expert refuses to allow history to repeat itself with his beloved. Therese Nichols provides a strong refreshing historical romance. Harriet Klausner

Visual, lush romance at its best!

This is a refreshingly exotic and lush romance. It doesn't matter whether you're a whizz at Indian history or know nothing about it, Therese Nichols's vivid writing creates a visual feast for the senses. The reader is thrown into each unfolding scene: from the terrifying battles to the intimate moments between Shamsi, the Rajput princess, and Karim, the Moghul nobleman. There is a tremendously heartbreaking conflict that keeps Shamsi and Karim torn apart. Not since I read Candice Proctor's Whispers Of Heaven did I fear that a romance might actually finish unhappily. Thankfully that's not the case, and the incredible high-stakes ending will please and reassure die-hard romance readers. For a debut, this packs power and passion.