Kayla Edana Binte El Qadir, Keeper of the Flame is bound by vow and duty to the Goddess of Fire as a priestess and must remain chaste, a virgin. But she is extremely attracted to and suspects she may be in love with Tariqu El Zafir, Sultan of Khatarza. Tariqu must find a wife who is a virgin and will give herself willingly to him heart, mind, and soul by his next birthday or an old family curse will condemn him to become a beast. So Tariqu has asked for all virgins to present themselves at court so he can try to find “the one.” Kayla is required to go because she is a virgin but she is not eligible because of her vow, or is she? Of course the priestess who is forbidden to Tariqu is the only one that captures his attention. What will they do?

Deadly Desires by April Reid is an interesting, science-fiction type paranormal where the people live on a different world with different plants, animals, and customs and some of the people possess paranormal powers. I liked the characters of Kayla and Tariqu. Even when they appear to be in a no-win situation both are looking for a compromise and a way to save their people. There are also cute, tiny dragons that are companions to the couple. Early in the story both Kayla and Tariqu demonstrate their compassion for all living creatures as they work to save a young water dabbler (another mythical type creature on their world). I also enjoyed the struggles Kayla and Tariqu face trying to take care of the people and animals of their world while also trying to do what is right for each other. It is obvious early on that their attraction is more than just a chemical reaction and that they need each other. Wouldn’t we all love to have this kind of compassionate, loving, and loyal connection to our mate or potential mate? If you want a sweet romance in the midst of a troubled kingdom with seemingly insurmountable odds, then you’ll enjoy this story.

Reviewed by: Stephanie B.