As the black sheep of the Fehrs, a powerful desert family, middle son Zayed has sworn off love and marriage. This playboy prince is happiest when cruising the casinos of Monte Carlo. But then family tragedy leaves him the heir to his kingdom's throne. Custom dictates that a wife must be seated beside him, and he's got just the bride in mind....

Rou Tournell is a feisty, independent woman—and if she won't marry Zayed for duty, maybe desire will help persuade her....

Born in Visalia, California, Jane Porter is a small-town girl at heart. She loves central California's golden foothills, oak trees and the miles of farmland, rich with the sweet and heady fragrance of orange blossoms.

As a little girl Jane spent hours on her bed, staring out the window, dreaming of far-off places, fearless knights, princesses and happy-ever-after endings. Her parents fed her imagination by taking her family to Europe for a year when she was thirteen. That incredible year in Europe changed Jane's life, and overseas she discovered a huge and wonderful world with different cultures and customs. She spent much of her high school and college years abroad, studying in South Africa, Japan and Ireland. South Africa remains a country of her heart, the people, the land and politics complex and heart-wrenching. Jane loved everything about Europe, as well, but felt especially passionate about Italy and those gorgeous Italian men (no wonder her very first Presents hero was Italian).

With her bachelors degree from UCLA in American Studies, a program that combines American literature and American history, she's worked in sales and marketing. Later Jane earned her masters in writing from the University of San Francisco and taught junior high and high school English. She now lives in rugged Seattle, Washington, with her two young sons. She never minds a rainy day, either, because that's when she sits at her desk and writes stories about far-away places, fascinating people, and most important of all, love. Jane likes a story with a happy ending. But then, she believes we all do.