by Abby Green, author of Secrets of the Oasis (Harlequin Presents, January 2012)
Firstly I’d like to dedicate this blog to Penny Jordan, without whose books I’d never have been inspired to write. She was a true story-telling genius and sowed the seeds in me to want to try and create these passionate stories and characters.
I am so excited to see that this book is on the shelves. Well, I’m excited to see any of my books on the shelves to be honest, especially when most of them took blood sweat and tears to get there!
This one is special to me though because it came out of a character I wrote about in Breaking The Sheikh’s Rules. In that book about Nadim and Iseult, I found myself creating a beautiful woman called Jamilah, who basically served the purpose of making the heroine believe she might be involved with the hero, Nadim. But she wasn’t. She was just the head groom and incredibly enigmatic and beautiful and nice. Then I found myself writing a scene where Jamilah warns Iseult to be careful because the men of the Al Saqr family can be ruthless — she mentions how she’s had first hand experience at the hands of Nadim’s younger brother.
This was all unpremeditated and suddenly I had the germ of another book. Jamilah and Salman.
When I started their story I knew it was going to be dark and intense. I wanted Salman to have really broken Jamilah’s heart. (Cruel aren’t we??!) He’s the last man she ever wants anything to do with again but then after years of exile from his home, Merkazad, he’s back, and on Jamilah’s doorstep.
Salman finds he can’t stay away from Jamilah, even though he knows he should. He is deeply scarred after traumatic events in his youth and he knows he has no heart left, and very little soul, which is largely why he rejected her so cruelly all those years before.
The things that happened to Salman in his childhood shape him to this day and the only one with the power to potentially heal him is Jamilah, the question is: will he let her in?
Do you ever find when you’re writing that you’re suddenly creating a secondary character that won’t go away?? I know Sandra Marton has has written her amazing series about the Orsini brothers and then got asked to write about the sisters too…I love seeing stories interconnect.
The beginning of Secrets of the Oasis is a short prologue and shows Salman and Jamilah forging a bond when they’re very young. This bond is the seed of their future relationship and I was inspired to write it by a scene in a famous movie. If anyone can correctly guess the movie I’ll send them a copy of the book! Hint: It’s set in Scotland 
Update: Lori correctly guessed the movie and is the lucky winner of Abby’s book! 
Oh Abby, I loved this book, it was so compelling and Salman is a man with a very dark past, which made the relationship between him and Jamilah so much more intense… And I think I know which movie you’re talking about, but I won’t say it and spoil other people’s chances of winning a copy of this delicious book.
Is it “Braveheart”?
I loved this book Abby. I just finisbned The Call of the Desert and Kaden stole my heart! Loved the dedication.
Hi Lori, you got it in one… Abby has asked me to look out for the first right answer as she is currently out of the country!!
If you email her at abbygreen3@yahoo.co.uk with your snail mail addy she’ll post you the book when she gets back… And let me tell you, you’re in for a treat!
Thank you Heidi and Abby. I emailed Abby at the email address you provided. I look forward to reading it.
Hi. I am lucky enough to already have a copy of this book so I just wanted to say that if you dont know the answer it’s worth the research to enter the comp. I loved the story and it’s a keeper in my opinion
))
I loved this one too! Abby’s sheikh stories are absolutely irresistible – she seems to bring a freshness to them which makes them incredibly modern and believable, whilst still keeping their timeless, intense passion.
(What makes her think she’s allowed to go away on holiday when she should be writing MORE??)
i wanted to read this book but wasn;t sure where to go to be able to read it. thanks and i want to be entered in the contest to win a copy of Abby Green’s Secrets of the oasis with giveaway. thank you. have a nice week.
Hi there, sorry I wasn’t able to reply when the blog was up! and thank you to Heidi Rice for being Mistress of Ceremonies! A book is on the way to Lori who answered correctly. Sheila – sorry I don’t have any more books to giveaway!
x Abby