Prequel to the Desert Royals series
“Awakened by the Sheikh” — a forbidden love romance with royalty, redemption, and a celestial destiny written in the stars.

In a kingdom ruled by ancient stars and modern secrets, Awakened by the Sheikh is a sweeping prequel romance of hidden identity, sovereign desire, and soul-deep recognition.

Celeste Valente, a brilliant Italian astrophysicist betrayed by her peers and exiled from the career she once loved, journeys to the desert kingdom of Qamar with one mission—to disappear. But destiny has other plans.

At the unveiling of the royal observatory, Crown Prince Zayad al-Rami glimpses her in a moment of wonder—one that sparks not just his curiosity, but a magnetic pull he can’t explain. She is not merely a scientist. She is a mirror of everything he has buried: awe, ache, and the desire to choose love over legacy.

But love in Qamar is not simple.

As tradition, power, and politics collide, Celeste and Zayad are drawn into a quiet revolution—one that begins with stargazing and ends in the possibility of reshaping an empire.

Tropes include:
Grumpy x sunshine
Royalty & commoner
Forced proximity
Slow-burn emotional intimacy
He falls first—but she won't trust her heart easily

AWAKENED BY THE SHEIKH is part of Mollie Mathews' DESERT ROYALS series, featuring maverick sheikh billionaires and the extraordinary women who challenge their legacy. While it can easily be read as a standalone romance, you’ll likely enjoy falling in love with the other royals in the series, too.

Awakened by the Sheikh (Zayad and Celeste)

Liberated by the Sheikh ( Rafi and Noor), coming soon

If you love true romance and beautiful love stories set against a sensuous backdrop of the desert, art, and architecture, you’ll love the prequel of Awakened by the Sheikh.

Praise for other books in Mollie's Sheikh-Inspired Romance Series

CLAIMED BY THE SHEIKH (The Sheikh's Untamed Bride)

Compellingly page-turning

“Wow, just wow, I can’t articulate enough how compellingly page-turning this remarkable story was. If I could give it more than 5 stars this would be it! This author has the gift & the power to make you experience her remarkable craft on a whole other level. I’m not one to tell the story; the blurb & other reviewers will cover that, but I will concede that this magical, mystical, hauntingly beautiful story will stay with me for the longest time. Highly recommended.”
~ Terry