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Colorblind #1
Black Keys
To save a stranger’s life, she put her own in the hands of a man who represented everything she loathed.
Young CEO Marie Archer was shocked when her brother, Joseph, returned from the Middle East with a contract for a new office in the Kingdom of Alfaidya, a royal fiancée, and a wedding four days away.
Despite her concern over his rush to get married, there was nothing Marie wouldn’t do for Joseph. She silenced the alarm bells echoing in her head and traveled halfway across the world with him to attend the wedding.
The language barrier in Alfaidya disoriented Marie, and she was bewildered when traditions demanded her involvement in the ceremony as the groom’s sister.
The bride’s brother, Crown Prince Mazen Alfaidy, fascinated Marie; a breathtakingly handsome man with mysterious eyes, his silent attentions to her only increased her confusion.
The last thing she expected was the brutal betrayal by her beloved brother, forcing her into an arranged marriage with Prince Mazen to seal a Sisters Trading deal.
Confined in the palace with a perfect stranger - a husband she doesn’t know or trust - Marie’s life is riddled with lies and secrets. Royal intrigue, traditions, and rules have put her in danger. Now, the new princess has a lot to learn, and many black keys to find.
Can she open her heart to a world so unlike her own, or will her prejudices prevent her from finding happiness?
Because when it comes to love, rules blur and traditions fade.
Young CEO Marie Archer was shocked when her brother, Joseph, returned from the Middle East with a contract for a new office in the Kingdom of Alfaidya, a royal fiancée, and a wedding four days away.
Despite her concern over his rush to get married, there was nothing Marie wouldn’t do for Joseph. She silenced the alarm bells echoing in her head and traveled halfway across the world with him to attend the wedding.
The language barrier in Alfaidya disoriented Marie, and she was bewildered when traditions demanded her involvement in the ceremony as the groom’s sister.
The bride’s brother, Crown Prince Mazen Alfaidy, fascinated Marie; a breathtakingly handsome man with mysterious eyes, his silent attentions to her only increased her confusion.
The last thing she expected was the brutal betrayal by her beloved brother, forcing her into an arranged marriage with Prince Mazen to seal a Sisters Trading deal.
Confined in the palace with a perfect stranger - a husband she doesn’t know or trust - Marie’s life is riddled with lies and secrets. Royal intrigue, traditions, and rules have put her in danger. Now, the new princess has a lot to learn, and many black keys to find.
Can she open her heart to a world so unlike her own, or will her prejudices prevent her from finding happiness?
Because when it comes to love, rules blur and traditions fade.
454 pages, ebook
First published May 13, 2015
About the author
Rose B. Mashal
13 books406 followersRose B. Mashal is an Amazon and Smashwords Hotlist bestselling author of contemporary romance novels. She enjoys writing suspenseful plots about strong female protagonists and the men who love them. Her Colorblind series is a multicultural love story between an American CEO and an Arab prince, and her latest trilogy is a dystopian science fiction thriller, featuring a female scientist and her human-like android creation.
Rose taught herself English, chose writing over her career as a lawyer, and lives in Egypt with her family.
Rose taught herself English, chose writing over her career as a lawyer, and lives in Egypt with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 257 reviews
February 7, 2017
***I was provided with a complimentary ARC from the publisher, through Netgalley.com, in exchange for honest feedback.***
When Marie is whisked away by her older brother to attend his rushed wedding to an Arabian princess, she had no idea that the wedding she would be attending was also her own. Never in her life had Marie ever been treated with anything but love and a tender protectiveness by her brother. She never would have imagined that he would betray her in such a devastating manner.
Unbeknownst to Marie, her older brother Joseph has impregnated the princess Janna. In her traditional Muslim culture, Janna faces severe punishment, and possibly death, for her indiscretions. Janna's culture demands blood for blood to make amends, and Joseph offers up his younger, virginal sister, Marie to marry Janna's brother, Prince Mazen. Joseph's deception runs deep though, as he's convinced his bride and her brother that Marie willingly agreed to marry the prince.
Once the lies are exposed, Marie is trapped in a foreign land and married to a royal stranger, a far cry from her life in New York. She has been betrayed by her own brother and left to an unknown fate. Marie is shattered, utterly broken.
For his part, Prince Mazen was appalled at Joseph's treachery. He would have never agreed to marry Marie if he thought she was being forced against her will, even if the life of his beloved sister depended on it. He would have found another way to save her.
In accordance with tradition, Marie and Mazen spend the first seven days following their wedding in their personal quarters, getting to know one another. It is during this seven day period that 95%+ of the book takes place. Although it was a very brief moment in time, it felt like a much more substantial amount of time.
During their time together, there was a surprising number of ups and downs. The couple reluctantly begins to develop feelings for one another, despite their ill-fated beginning. I really enjoyed watching these two fall in love, all the while trying to fight their feelings and do what they believed was right.
Although I was really put off by Marie's behavior, I came to understand where her narrow-minded, bigoted views came from, even if they were inexcusable. How Mazen tolerated some of her hateful words was beyond me. He was definitely an upstanding guy right from the start. The fact that Marie eventually does see the error of her ways was a long time coming, but did bring everything full-circle.
This story was a little slow-going at times, but once I got started, I couldn't put it down. I loved the love story between Mazen and Marie. Although it was a full-length novel, it is part of a series and I was left with many unanswered questions. There was plenty of romance, but don't expect any sex in this book. This author knows a thing or two about building anticipation. I need closure, and definitely didn't get it in this book. I am dying to find out what happens with Mazen and Marie, so I'll definitely be reading the next book ASAP.
When Marie is whisked away by her older brother to attend his rushed wedding to an Arabian princess, she had no idea that the wedding she would be attending was also her own. Never in her life had Marie ever been treated with anything but love and a tender protectiveness by her brother. She never would have imagined that he would betray her in such a devastating manner.
Unbeknownst to Marie, her older brother Joseph has impregnated the princess Janna. In her traditional Muslim culture, Janna faces severe punishment, and possibly death, for her indiscretions. Janna's culture demands blood for blood to make amends, and Joseph offers up his younger, virginal sister, Marie to marry Janna's brother, Prince Mazen. Joseph's deception runs deep though, as he's convinced his bride and her brother that Marie willingly agreed to marry the prince.
Once the lies are exposed, Marie is trapped in a foreign land and married to a royal stranger, a far cry from her life in New York. She has been betrayed by her own brother and left to an unknown fate. Marie is shattered, utterly broken.
For his part, Prince Mazen was appalled at Joseph's treachery. He would have never agreed to marry Marie if he thought she was being forced against her will, even if the life of his beloved sister depended on it. He would have found another way to save her.
In accordance with tradition, Marie and Mazen spend the first seven days following their wedding in their personal quarters, getting to know one another. It is during this seven day period that 95%+ of the book takes place. Although it was a very brief moment in time, it felt like a much more substantial amount of time.
During their time together, there was a surprising number of ups and downs. The couple reluctantly begins to develop feelings for one another, despite their ill-fated beginning. I really enjoyed watching these two fall in love, all the while trying to fight their feelings and do what they believed was right.
Although I was really put off by Marie's behavior, I came to understand where her narrow-minded, bigoted views came from, even if they were inexcusable. How Mazen tolerated some of her hateful words was beyond me. He was definitely an upstanding guy right from the start. The fact that Marie eventually does see the error of her ways was a long time coming, but did bring everything full-circle.
This story was a little slow-going at times, but once I got started, I couldn't put it down. I loved the love story between Mazen and Marie. Although it was a full-length novel, it is part of a series and I was left with many unanswered questions. There was plenty of romance, but don't expect any sex in this book. This author knows a thing or two about building anticipation. I need closure, and definitely didn't get it in this book. I am dying to find out what happens with Mazen and Marie, so I'll definitely be reading the next book ASAP.
October 30, 2015
(I tagged the real serious spoilers but be warned that there are some other things I didn't block that could be considered spoilerish in nature)
The hardest part of writing a critical review is remembering there is a person on the other end who cares what I say. They've invested so much time and so much of themselves into their work and what I say doesn't just have the potential to hurt them personally. It could affect their sales or whether anyone else reads what they write.
I can be horribly mean when I review. But I try, I really try, to restrict those reviews. I try to keep the venom for the authors I think are actually hurting people with what they write.
I don't think Ms. Mashal is hurting anyone. But, I also think she's written a terrible book. So I'm going to try to talk about why I think that is but also remember that she's a person who did a brave thing. She put herself out there, like every author does, and then she sat back and waited to see what the world thought. That is so brave, and so, so commendable.
Unfortunately the end result, well, to be frank I don't even know where to start so I'm just going to dive in and see what happens.
First off, I'm a huge fan and advocate of the self published author. I have the distinct pleasure of calling a few of them my friends. Its so impressive to see someone who tried and tried and tried to break into the publishing world and when they got one rejection letter too many they took their fate into their own hands. I think self publishing is the future of literature. I really do.
That said, self publishing has to be done with just as much care, commitment, and professionalism as a publishing company like Random House would provide. You cannot, you just cannot write something and throw it up online and expect to be taken seriously.
This book has clearly never been edited by a professional. The grammatical errors alone are absolutely mind boggling. But, it’s the story structure itself that almost drove me mad. I'm the last person who's going to complain if every now and then you start a sentence with "and" or you like the occasional adverb. But, there are rules if you want anyone to understand what the heck you're saying. Aside from the grammar and sentence structure the narrative is just all over the place. The most astonishing one show up toward the end of the book
This is just sloppy story telling and its the kind of thing that would be caught by a professional editor. I get it, Mashal started off the novel with one idea and by the end had come up with something different.There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. But it’s a HUGE plot point in an already indecipherable story.
As far as the characters themselves I can only say personality is important. All of these people are defined entirely by their emotions. Yes people get described physically but for the most part it’s in such a nonsensical way its meaningless.
"I couldn't deny that with the tan, bronzed, or pale skin they had that they were handsome, with the dark eyes and dark hair that was on either their chins or above their lips, or both - if not a complete beard."
What does that sentence even mean? They had skin so they were handsome? Everyone has skin that's either tan, bronzed, or pale! They all have dark eyes and hair that they all wear in a variety of ways? You just described every man in the world with dark hair. Is the intent to sort of generally say all Arab men are handsome?
"Janna's eyes were shocked, then they were sad, then ended up with being regretful."
Eyes literally cannot do this. No one's eyes in the history of the universe have been capable of this. Janna can do any number of things to express all these feelings but this sentence simply leaves the reader wondering how in the hell she's able to contort her eyes to make them do all this so quickly and accurately. You can argue that its 'figurative" or whatever all you want. I call it lazy. Instead of showing us what this looks like we're told (again and again and again) that its just happening.
I'm not going to go through this line by line but these two just leapt out at me.
I was talking about feelings. Everyone in this book, especially Marie Grace, has lots of them. And they all start at the highest possible volume and stay there. Everyone loves the things or people they love with all their body and soul and hates the things they hate with a murderous fury. People are not like this. People feel things by degrees. If you want interesting characters that readers care about you have to give them something to work toward emotionally. You can't start on the highest, loudest note you can sing in the first line of the song because you have absolutely no where to go from there. And no one wants to listen to or read one note characters.
I should probably point out that about a quarter of the way into reading this I opted to investigate the reviews just to get a sense of how this is being received and discovered not only its rabid fan base (who I notice do not take kindly to any kind of critique of the book) but that it was or is a "Twilight" fan fiction. So, yes, that did color my reading experience a bit.
Maria/Bella appears much as she does in "Twilight." She is what one great critic called a blank slate or canvas that the reader can project themselves onto. The only added trait here is she's also a bigot and a monumentally stupid one at that. She's also a Christian who seems to know absolutely nothing about her own faith.
Faith seems to play a huge role in this world so its honestly confusing that none of the characters seem to know a thing about what they believe in. Marie's a Christian who just blindly hates anything different just because she does and the myriad Muslims are rabid about some of their traditions but couldn't care less about others. They can't even explain their own faith to Marie. When Janna tries we get this insane sounding description involving Christians not "believing" in Muslims etc. Like grownups don't believe in the Easter bunny? Sure, everyone practices their faith differently but you can’t make it the cornerstone of the story and then pick and choose what you think is important.
If you're going to write something like this you just have to do your research. You have to understand every nook and cranny of the world you're putting your characters in. People know and call you on it when you don't put in that effort. Reading the definition of "honor killing" or looking up ancient Arab traditions of determining virginity on Wikipedia are just not the same thing. In this book god is someone who just gives you stuff if you ask enough if Marie's version of Christianity is anything to go by.
Your entire story cannot be about emotions. You have to have intent. Your characters have to have somewhere to go, something to fight for, something that moves them and the book forward. What we get here for 3/4 of the book is about 15 pages of plot followed by hundreds of pages where she sits in an apartment feeling things with other people who are also feeling things or describing feelings to her and she goes on a forbidden horseback ride in a slip at some point. There are no distinctions between characters other than physical descriptions and everyone sounds exactly the same. Well if they're bad guys they curse a lot.
Marie is just so insanely stupid. She apparently runs an international company that's hugely successful at something but she's got the world view of a five year old. You cannot do what she does and have that level of intelligence. She’s afraid of an incense burner? She's shocked when a non-white person has feelings? About anything? She is a literal stupid human being. There's nothing there for anyone to even like let alone fall in love with. The supposed feelings she develops for Mazen are entirely based on the physical which is fine, but its not believable romantic love.
Mazen/Edward, Janna/Alice, and the rest don't fair much better though you could argue that at least they seem slightly smarter.
Here's the thing that really kills me about this though. Its not the zero hour "this is why I hate Muslims" deus ex machina or the so cliche it almost killed me deli scene, or even why a farmer in the UK was breeding a purebred Arabian horse to be a work animal AND that a man would actually leave a human reared horse (that he is, dear lord, in love with) in a forest to “free it”, and its not, believe it or not, Marie's horrific "oh snap" catchphrase.
It’s that when this book had its moments it really had its moments. That's the worst thing. That there are glimmers here of something really, really good.
There's one moment that really stood out for me. As Mazen and Marie are growing closer she interrupts his work, sits on his lap and without the endless adjectives and references to his arms being full of "safety" she says;
"Your closeness comforts me."
I just loved that. I loved it. This simple four word sentence conveyed a depth of feeling that all the dramatic eye contorting and face mangling crooked smiling couldn't manage.
Because I could see it. I could see a woman looking at a man she didn't really know at all but couldn't help feeling connected to. It was such a pure, sweet line.
There's even potential for this story. But, please Ms. Mashal, let it be your story. You have one. It doesn't have to be built on the back of something as silly as "Twilight." You clearly have something to say and the will and drive to say it and get it out there. I can see that.
Write that story. Write about a girl in the 1700's forced into a marriage and a foreign culture by a heartless brother who comes to love her husband and his world despite what she's been taught. Or write one about an educated, modern woman who brokers financial deals and finds herself falling in love with a Saudi prince against the wishes of all their families. Just make it yours.
Find an editor, a real one, who can tell you honestly when something isn't working or show you how to be a better writer. Don't look for yes men who tell you what you want to hear. Because I really think its in there in you. I saw it.
When you find that story tell it as simply as you did in that one line. I believed that line and I would totally read that story.
The hardest part of writing a critical review is remembering there is a person on the other end who cares what I say. They've invested so much time and so much of themselves into their work and what I say doesn't just have the potential to hurt them personally. It could affect their sales or whether anyone else reads what they write.
I can be horribly mean when I review. But I try, I really try, to restrict those reviews. I try to keep the venom for the authors I think are actually hurting people with what they write.
I don't think Ms. Mashal is hurting anyone. But, I also think she's written a terrible book. So I'm going to try to talk about why I think that is but also remember that she's a person who did a brave thing. She put herself out there, like every author does, and then she sat back and waited to see what the world thought. That is so brave, and so, so commendable.
Unfortunately the end result, well, to be frank I don't even know where to start so I'm just going to dive in and see what happens.
First off, I'm a huge fan and advocate of the self published author. I have the distinct pleasure of calling a few of them my friends. Its so impressive to see someone who tried and tried and tried to break into the publishing world and when they got one rejection letter too many they took their fate into their own hands. I think self publishing is the future of literature. I really do.
That said, self publishing has to be done with just as much care, commitment, and professionalism as a publishing company like Random House would provide. You cannot, you just cannot write something and throw it up online and expect to be taken seriously.
This book has clearly never been edited by a professional. The grammatical errors alone are absolutely mind boggling. But, it’s the story structure itself that almost drove me mad. I'm the last person who's going to complain if every now and then you start a sentence with "and" or you like the occasional adverb. But, there are rules if you want anyone to understand what the heck you're saying. Aside from the grammar and sentence structure the narrative is just all over the place. The most astonishing one show up toward the end of the book
This is just sloppy story telling and its the kind of thing that would be caught by a professional editor. I get it, Mashal started off the novel with one idea and by the end had come up with something different.There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. But it’s a HUGE plot point in an already indecipherable story.
As far as the characters themselves I can only say personality is important. All of these people are defined entirely by their emotions. Yes people get described physically but for the most part it’s in such a nonsensical way its meaningless.
"I couldn't deny that with the tan, bronzed, or pale skin they had that they were handsome, with the dark eyes and dark hair that was on either their chins or above their lips, or both - if not a complete beard."
What does that sentence even mean? They had skin so they were handsome? Everyone has skin that's either tan, bronzed, or pale! They all have dark eyes and hair that they all wear in a variety of ways? You just described every man in the world with dark hair. Is the intent to sort of generally say all Arab men are handsome?
"Janna's eyes were shocked, then they were sad, then ended up with being regretful."
Eyes literally cannot do this. No one's eyes in the history of the universe have been capable of this. Janna can do any number of things to express all these feelings but this sentence simply leaves the reader wondering how in the hell she's able to contort her eyes to make them do all this so quickly and accurately. You can argue that its 'figurative" or whatever all you want. I call it lazy. Instead of showing us what this looks like we're told (again and again and again) that its just happening.
I'm not going to go through this line by line but these two just leapt out at me.
I was talking about feelings. Everyone in this book, especially Marie Grace, has lots of them. And they all start at the highest possible volume and stay there. Everyone loves the things or people they love with all their body and soul and hates the things they hate with a murderous fury. People are not like this. People feel things by degrees. If you want interesting characters that readers care about you have to give them something to work toward emotionally. You can't start on the highest, loudest note you can sing in the first line of the song because you have absolutely no where to go from there. And no one wants to listen to or read one note characters.
I should probably point out that about a quarter of the way into reading this I opted to investigate the reviews just to get a sense of how this is being received and discovered not only its rabid fan base (who I notice do not take kindly to any kind of critique of the book) but that it was or is a "Twilight" fan fiction. So, yes, that did color my reading experience a bit.
Maria/Bella appears much as she does in "Twilight." She is what one great critic called a blank slate or canvas that the reader can project themselves onto. The only added trait here is she's also a bigot and a monumentally stupid one at that. She's also a Christian who seems to know absolutely nothing about her own faith.
Faith seems to play a huge role in this world so its honestly confusing that none of the characters seem to know a thing about what they believe in. Marie's a Christian who just blindly hates anything different just because she does and the myriad Muslims are rabid about some of their traditions but couldn't care less about others. They can't even explain their own faith to Marie. When Janna tries we get this insane sounding description involving Christians not "believing" in Muslims etc. Like grownups don't believe in the Easter bunny? Sure, everyone practices their faith differently but you can’t make it the cornerstone of the story and then pick and choose what you think is important.
If you're going to write something like this you just have to do your research. You have to understand every nook and cranny of the world you're putting your characters in. People know and call you on it when you don't put in that effort. Reading the definition of "honor killing" or looking up ancient Arab traditions of determining virginity on Wikipedia are just not the same thing. In this book god is someone who just gives you stuff if you ask enough if Marie's version of Christianity is anything to go by.
Your entire story cannot be about emotions. You have to have intent. Your characters have to have somewhere to go, something to fight for, something that moves them and the book forward. What we get here for 3/4 of the book is about 15 pages of plot followed by hundreds of pages where she sits in an apartment feeling things with other people who are also feeling things or describing feelings to her and she goes on a forbidden horseback ride in a slip at some point. There are no distinctions between characters other than physical descriptions and everyone sounds exactly the same. Well if they're bad guys they curse a lot.
Marie is just so insanely stupid. She apparently runs an international company that's hugely successful at something but she's got the world view of a five year old. You cannot do what she does and have that level of intelligence. She’s afraid of an incense burner? She's shocked when a non-white person has feelings? About anything? She is a literal stupid human being. There's nothing there for anyone to even like let alone fall in love with. The supposed feelings she develops for Mazen are entirely based on the physical which is fine, but its not believable romantic love.
Mazen/Edward, Janna/Alice, and the rest don't fair much better though you could argue that at least they seem slightly smarter.
Here's the thing that really kills me about this though. Its not the zero hour "this is why I hate Muslims" deus ex machina or the so cliche it almost killed me deli scene, or even why a farmer in the UK was breeding a purebred Arabian horse to be a work animal AND that a man would actually leave a human reared horse (that he is, dear lord, in love with) in a forest to “free it”, and its not, believe it or not, Marie's horrific "oh snap" catchphrase.
It’s that when this book had its moments it really had its moments. That's the worst thing. That there are glimmers here of something really, really good.
There's one moment that really stood out for me. As Mazen and Marie are growing closer she interrupts his work, sits on his lap and without the endless adjectives and references to his arms being full of "safety" she says;
"Your closeness comforts me."
I just loved that. I loved it. This simple four word sentence conveyed a depth of feeling that all the dramatic eye contorting and face mangling crooked smiling couldn't manage.
Because I could see it. I could see a woman looking at a man she didn't really know at all but couldn't help feeling connected to. It was such a pure, sweet line.
There's even potential for this story. But, please Ms. Mashal, let it be your story. You have one. It doesn't have to be built on the back of something as silly as "Twilight." You clearly have something to say and the will and drive to say it and get it out there. I can see that.
Write that story. Write about a girl in the 1700's forced into a marriage and a foreign culture by a heartless brother who comes to love her husband and his world despite what she's been taught. Or write one about an educated, modern woman who brokers financial deals and finds herself falling in love with a Saudi prince against the wishes of all their families. Just make it yours.
Find an editor, a real one, who can tell you honestly when something isn't working or show you how to be a better writer. Don't look for yes men who tell you what you want to hear. Because I really think its in there in you. I saw it.
When you find that story tell it as simply as you did in that one line. I believed that line and I would totally read that story.
Want to read
August 22, 2016
FREE on Amazon US today (8/21/2016)
Book 1 of 3.
BLURB:
A Muslim Arab Prince with a heavy weight of responsibilities on his shoulders and a young Catholic American woman with a dark, haunted past living inside her heart. Unexpectedly thrust together in a deal of betrayal brokered by her brother, the last thing she imagines when she goes to his wedding in a kingdom far away from her home, is to find out that it's her own wedding, as well.
A bright, independent CEO struggling to live this new life, where the traditions and rules are too numerous to keep up with, and an attractive, intelligent prince wanting nothing more than for his bride to find the black keys.
Fate steps in to teach the troubled new princess a few lessons about love, life, understanding and acceptance, while destiny forces the Crown Prince into allowing his beautiful wife to break a rule or two.
Because when it comes to love, rules blur and traditions fade.
FREE: https://www.amazon.com/Black-Keys-Col...
FREEBIES are often good for MORE than one day, I have gathered all my FREEBIES on a special shelf: Kindle-freebies (currently over 500 books)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
October 23, 2018
As much as it sounds as a cliche story, is anything but. I was consumed by the story and the angst and even though it was almost instant love between them, it felt justified. I can't wait to read the next one.
April 30, 2015
Received this ARC from the author for an honest review
I want to start off by saying that I didn’t find out until I was a few chapters in that this was a former fan fiction. When I read the other reviews that are showing up for this book I get the impression they are former readers of the fan fiction, therefore a little bias. Not that there is anything wrong with that, I just wanted to state that I never read it as a fan fiction. Now with that out of the way…time to punch the time card.
*spoilers after this point*
Typo’s, run-on sentences, repetitiveness, and missing words were fairly prolific in Black Keys. There was even a Jasper slip in the story, letting me know that either A) the editors were not professional, and were merely just friends of the author, or B) the author just didn’t care.
Now the reason why I say that last part is because it is obvious that no research was done on how to write a book. You don’t end sentences with both a question mark and an exclamation point (for example: “What on earth?!”), or start over half of your sentences with the letter ‘I’. Also, if you are going to warn reviewers ahead of time that there are scenes in the book that people may have a hard time with, you need to put a warning at the beginning of your story to cover your butt. And a really big no-no, do not take lines from another book and insert them into yours. Even if it is the Bible. That is still copyright infringement. Bible Copyright Link
I found Marie to be incredibly disgusting. I seriously cannot think of one redeeming quality about her. She was hollow, ignorant, idiotic, and downright insufferable. As a writer your job is to make the main character likeable so that you can keep the reader interested, even if they are an asshole you can still make them a likeable asshole, but I feel Marie was the definition of an unlikable character. Everything was always ‘Oh God’ ‘Oh my God’ ‘Dear God’ (and no, she wasn’t having sex), and let’s not forget the burning hatred for everything Muslim, Arabic, and Islamic that was a constant theme with her for about 90% of the story.
Then you had Mazen. Marie treats Mazen like shit under her shoe and yet he still treats her like a princess. That was another thing, and I wish the author would have explained THAT because she explains everything else in the book, but throughout the entire story Mazen never once calls Marie by her name. It is always Princess. If he did I missed it. But with Mazen being treated like crap all the time by Marie I felt as though he swan dived into the predictable “perfect guy” routine. Mazen reminded me of an abused animal who keep going back to its abuser.
The story has incredible potential, and that’s why with everything I’ve said so far I’m still giving it 3 stars. If the author would have just tried to pull it a little farther away from its fandom roots, got a professional editor, and made the characters a little more relatable, I feel I would have 5 stared the hell out of this.
Sometimes you need to do more than just a simple semi-name change.
I want to start off by saying that I didn’t find out until I was a few chapters in that this was a former fan fiction. When I read the other reviews that are showing up for this book I get the impression they are former readers of the fan fiction, therefore a little bias. Not that there is anything wrong with that, I just wanted to state that I never read it as a fan fiction. Now with that out of the way…time to punch the time card.
*spoilers after this point*
Typo’s, run-on sentences, repetitiveness, and missing words were fairly prolific in Black Keys. There was even a Jasper slip in the story, letting me know that either A) the editors were not professional, and were merely just friends of the author, or B) the author just didn’t care.
Now the reason why I say that last part is because it is obvious that no research was done on how to write a book. You don’t end sentences with both a question mark and an exclamation point (for example: “What on earth?!”), or start over half of your sentences with the letter ‘I’. Also, if you are going to warn reviewers ahead of time that there are scenes in the book that people may have a hard time with, you need to put a warning at the beginning of your story to cover your butt. And a really big no-no, do not take lines from another book and insert them into yours. Even if it is the Bible. That is still copyright infringement. Bible Copyright Link
I found Marie to be incredibly disgusting. I seriously cannot think of one redeeming quality about her. She was hollow, ignorant, idiotic, and downright insufferable. As a writer your job is to make the main character likeable so that you can keep the reader interested, even if they are an asshole you can still make them a likeable asshole, but I feel Marie was the definition of an unlikable character. Everything was always ‘Oh God’ ‘Oh my God’ ‘Dear God’ (and no, she wasn’t having sex), and let’s not forget the burning hatred for everything Muslim, Arabic, and Islamic that was a constant theme with her for about 90% of the story.
Then you had Mazen. Marie treats Mazen like shit under her shoe and yet he still treats her like a princess. That was another thing, and I wish the author would have explained THAT because she explains everything else in the book, but throughout the entire story Mazen never once calls Marie by her name. It is always Princess. If he did I missed it. But with Mazen being treated like crap all the time by Marie I felt as though he swan dived into the predictable “perfect guy” routine. Mazen reminded me of an abused animal who keep going back to its abuser.
The story has incredible potential, and that’s why with everything I’ve said so far I’m still giving it 3 stars. If the author would have just tried to pull it a little farther away from its fandom roots, got a professional editor, and made the characters a little more relatable, I feel I would have 5 stared the hell out of this.
Sometimes you need to do more than just a simple semi-name change.
March 12, 2017
No.
Just. No.
Marie is by far the most judgemental, racist ignorant characters I have ever come across. I wanted to DNf so many times but I was curious to see how it'll turn out. It's not every day you come across a Muslim Arab prince as a main character. I thought we'd get a nice respectable insight to the culture. Not through a jaded and ignorant pov that ruined it.
I was offended through 99 percent of this book. I'm not Arabian but I am a Muslim and some of the things Marie was saying hurt because there are people that are that ignorant in this world. Sure she realised not all Muslims are terrorists but by that point I just didn't care. I stopped caring from the very first chapter. And as for Mazen I don't know what he found appealing in someone like her.
I just thought this whole story could have been executed so differently. It could have been done without the stereotypes. It could have been done without the outright discrimination/racism....but whatever - if that's how to get the story driving, I'm just not going to be apart of it.
Why did I continue reading this then? Out of pure curiosity. You know what they say... curiosity is a bitch. Should have stayed curious if I'm being honest.
Just. No.
Marie is by far the most judgemental, racist ignorant characters I have ever come across. I wanted to DNf so many times but I was curious to see how it'll turn out. It's not every day you come across a Muslim Arab prince as a main character. I thought we'd get a nice respectable insight to the culture. Not through a jaded and ignorant pov that ruined it.
I was offended through 99 percent of this book. I'm not Arabian but I am a Muslim and some of the things Marie was saying hurt because there are people that are that ignorant in this world. Sure she realised not all Muslims are terrorists but by that point I just didn't care. I stopped caring from the very first chapter. And as for Mazen I don't know what he found appealing in someone like her.
I just thought this whole story could have been executed so differently. It could have been done without the stereotypes. It could have been done without the outright discrimination/racism....but whatever - if that's how to get the story driving, I'm just not going to be apart of it.
Why did I continue reading this then? Out of pure curiosity. You know what they say... curiosity is a bitch. Should have stayed curious if I'm being honest.
May 17, 2015
"I hope you find the black keys, Princess.... Knowledge is all around us, keys waiting to be found. They’re easy to see and use, but not when they are black, because in the darkness, you can’t see black items. Only if you know in your heart that they’re there you might find them, and to find them, you have to work hard. Those keys are there, and at some point they were easy to find, but assuming and judging made them black. The kind of knowledge that those keys give you has to make it to your heart first to be able to pass through to your mind.”
This is a love story, but it's far more than that. It's a story of learning to recognize and overcome prejudices, of growth and change.
Marie's life changes in a terrifying way when she finds herself forced into an arranged marriage with an Islamic prince. Marie is horrified at the marriage, but even more unsettled by the fact her groom is a Muslim. She cannot separate "Muslim" from "terrorist," though it's her own Catholic brother who literally holds a gun to her head to force her to sign the marriage contract. That prejudice is something she just can't bring herself to let go of, though we don't learn until much later in the story that Marie has painful scars in her heart from a tragic and terrifying event she suffered as a child.
Mazen, the prince, is the kind of romantic hero I like. He's an all-around good guy, kind-hearted and patient. He's initially hopeful his marriage can be a success, and he tries to make his new bride happy, only to be rebuffed at every turn. He's understandably hurt when Marie tells him she can't even be friends with a Muslim. Marie sometimes misses the messages he's sending her, like the story he tells her about an abused horse he tamed with patience and kindness. That scene was my favorite in the whole novel, because for a moment, Marie let go of all of the fears holding her back to enjoy the beauty and joy her new life had to offer.
Over the course of the story, Marie has to face some hard truths about herself as she learns about Islam and the culture of her new country - and how sometimes the culture and faith clash, especially in the modern world. It takes her a long while to come around, but it would. Hearts and minds do not heal overnight.
I thought the first-person style of the book well-suited the storyline. Marie's internal narration was believable for a young woman, especially one kept carefully sheltered as she had been. Marie has been mostly cut off from the world, cocooned by her family and occupied by her work. Her life experience is limited. It only makes it more enjoyable once she starts to realize how limited she's been and open up to the world of possibilities in front of her... and to love.
This is a love story, but it's far more than that. It's a story of learning to recognize and overcome prejudices, of growth and change.
Marie's life changes in a terrifying way when she finds herself forced into an arranged marriage with an Islamic prince. Marie is horrified at the marriage, but even more unsettled by the fact her groom is a Muslim. She cannot separate "Muslim" from "terrorist," though it's her own Catholic brother who literally holds a gun to her head to force her to sign the marriage contract. That prejudice is something she just can't bring herself to let go of, though we don't learn until much later in the story that Marie has painful scars in her heart from a tragic and terrifying event she suffered as a child.
Mazen, the prince, is the kind of romantic hero I like. He's an all-around good guy, kind-hearted and patient. He's initially hopeful his marriage can be a success, and he tries to make his new bride happy, only to be rebuffed at every turn. He's understandably hurt when Marie tells him she can't even be friends with a Muslim. Marie sometimes misses the messages he's sending her, like the story he tells her about an abused horse he tamed with patience and kindness. That scene was my favorite in the whole novel, because for a moment, Marie let go of all of the fears holding her back to enjoy the beauty and joy her new life had to offer.
Over the course of the story, Marie has to face some hard truths about herself as she learns about Islam and the culture of her new country - and how sometimes the culture and faith clash, especially in the modern world. It takes her a long while to come around, but it would. Hearts and minds do not heal overnight.
I thought the first-person style of the book well-suited the storyline. Marie's internal narration was believable for a young woman, especially one kept carefully sheltered as she had been. Marie has been mostly cut off from the world, cocooned by her family and occupied by her work. Her life experience is limited. It only makes it more enjoyable once she starts to realize how limited she's been and open up to the world of possibilities in front of her... and to love.
Want to read
December 7, 2022FREE on Amazon today (9/24/2017)!
August 24, 2015
Wow ,just perfect!!!Really ,really love it!I recognised myself through her eyes and so glad I realise how much one could be judgemental and mistaken.This story has the right amount of everything a story should have...can wait for more!
April 28, 2015
This book will open a lot of debates and discussions about the most talked subject internationally "Islam and Christians" and what i love the most about it that it don't shy away from the facts even if they are tough and heart breaking but it stands for the truth in the two religions. The power in the two characters and the struggle between them represent years of literal truth of how people are raising there children and teaching them selves to just absorb the facts from media's and what surrounds us from gossip and what i love also that in here it shows perfectly how wrong to judge a person from their name or religion, from their thoughts and believes. you are an amazing writer and i am proud to say that i have the pleasure to know such a great and amazing person i hope that people will see beyond the cruelties of media and search for the truth like your character did.
March 28, 2015
This book is an excellent read. Well written. It is full of culture and romance. The prince in this story is a beautiful and honorable man who stole my heart and will steal yours too (if you let him)! His reluctant American, Catholic bride was shocked to find herself betrayed by her closest family member and dealing with a strange land, with all it's customs and traditons! Homesick for her own country and religion, she is embraced by her new husband and his sensitivity and compassion so that she learns the true meaning of the term "love knows no bounds". This book kept me anxiously waiting for each chapter to complete and it just kept getting better and better! I cannot wait for the sequels to this story. My hats off to this author! There is no book like Black Keys. It is truely the best of the best. I highly recommend it.
April 29, 2015
This is a read for the 21st century. Out of the post-9/11 world come two believable characters: one suffering from culture shock and past demons, and one who has enough force of character to confront ignorance and stereotype with patience and understanding. Ms Rose sheds light on some common misconceived notions about Islam while she's at it, too. Hang onto your seats: gut reactions will ensue...
May 27, 2018
DNF at 16%
Can’t get over how racist and judgmental Marie is. I haven’t read such an ignorant character ever and found myself rolling my eyes almost every paragraph. Definitely not for me.
Can’t get over how racist and judgmental Marie is. I haven’t read such an ignorant character ever and found myself rolling my eyes almost every paragraph. Definitely not for me.
November 9, 2020
Excellent story!
May 15, 2015
So this didn't much time to finish because it's exactly the same-besides a few names-with its fanfiction form.
Marie is tricked by her older brother, Joseph, into marrying the Arab prince Mazen. Apparently, while on bussiness there Joseph fell in love and got pregant Princess Janna, Mazen's sister, and given that she was underage at the time the only way to not get executed-old traditions!!-even if Joseph and Janna eventually get married was for Marie to marry Mazen as well. It made no sense to me but...hey who am I to judge?
Anyway, Marie has suffered loss on 9/11 so living in a Muslim environment and being married to Mazen will be a revelation to her since she will have to confront her prejudices and later understand the ugly truth of racism in her own country, USA.
If you are looking for hot wild sex this is not the book to read...romance is there of cource but, given the circumstances and the religious and traditional setting of the story, it's quite modest. However, it's only the first book of the series so there is a lot of potential for Mazen and Marie... Also there is a lot of political scheming and a mother in law from hell!
It's a very interesting, very sweet and informative story...it's fun and it would make a really nice relaxing reading...I can't wait for the rest of the series!
Marie is tricked by her older brother, Joseph, into marrying the Arab prince Mazen. Apparently, while on bussiness there Joseph fell in love and got pregant Princess Janna, Mazen's sister, and given that she was underage at the time the only way to not get executed-old traditions!!-even if Joseph and Janna eventually get married was for Marie to marry Mazen as well. It made no sense to me but...hey who am I to judge?
Anyway, Marie has suffered loss on 9/11 so living in a Muslim environment and being married to Mazen will be a revelation to her since she will have to confront her prejudices and later understand the ugly truth of racism in her own country, USA.
If you are looking for hot wild sex this is not the book to read...romance is there of cource but, given the circumstances and the religious and traditional setting of the story, it's quite modest. However, it's only the first book of the series so there is a lot of potential for Mazen and Marie... Also there is a lot of political scheming and a mother in law from hell!
It's a very interesting, very sweet and informative story...it's fun and it would make a really nice relaxing reading...I can't wait for the rest of the series!
May 2, 2015
I was given an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Well, given the rather touchy premise, I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into. And when I started reading, I was even more unsure because I couldn't stand the main character, Marie. She was shallow, judgmental, hypocritical and bigoted.
Marie, A Catholic girl living in New York, is lured to the Middle East by her brother to attend his wedding to a princess. Turns out that he's not the only one getting married -Marie is to marry the prince, Mazen, as part of the deal. It's pretty awful; she's basically kidnapped and has to try and figure out how to un-do the situation she's gotten herself into. It all sounds very intense and even unrealistic, but the author somehow pulls it off (and does it quite well. I was totally into the characters - even the side characters, which is rare.)
The story quickly drew me in, and I began to see that Marie's character - the way she was written - was all very intentional. She goes through *major* changes in the story, and falls for the last person she ever thought she would. I really don't want to give anything away, because I feel like it's such a journey and deserves to be experienced as one.
Suffice to say, by the end I was totally rooting for Marie and her Mazen (who was hot, and patient, and kind, and sexy and brave and and and...) This story was very unique, which I appreciate. So many books feel the same these days, even the ones I like.
Well, given the rather touchy premise, I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into. And when I started reading, I was even more unsure because I couldn't stand the main character, Marie. She was shallow, judgmental, hypocritical and bigoted.
Marie, A Catholic girl living in New York, is lured to the Middle East by her brother to attend his wedding to a princess. Turns out that he's not the only one getting married -Marie is to marry the prince, Mazen, as part of the deal. It's pretty awful; she's basically kidnapped and has to try and figure out how to un-do the situation she's gotten herself into. It all sounds very intense and even unrealistic, but the author somehow pulls it off (and does it quite well. I was totally into the characters - even the side characters, which is rare.)
The story quickly drew me in, and I began to see that Marie's character - the way she was written - was all very intentional. She goes through *major* changes in the story, and falls for the last person she ever thought she would. I really don't want to give anything away, because I feel like it's such a journey and deserves to be experienced as one.
Suffice to say, by the end I was totally rooting for Marie and her Mazen (who was hot, and patient, and kind, and sexy and brave and and and...) This story was very unique, which I appreciate. So many books feel the same these days, even the ones I like.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2015
This is a must read! The plot is so unusual to anything I have ever read. I was lucky enough to get a copy of this before the release date on May 15th, let's just say it does not disappoint.
It is a truly epic love story of a clueless girl being forced into a marriage she had no idea about. She is a very religious catholic American girl who was lead to believe she was going to witness her brother getting married to a princess in another country. I don't want to give too much away but her brother was anything but sincere.
The love story between Mazen and Marie is unlike any other with the ups and downs and the amazing man Prince Mazen is will have you falling in love with him to.
The family dynamic in the story on both sides have been so well portrayed. I have learned so much about different religions through this story. It opens up a whole new perspective on so many topics.
I urge people to read this well written and very well researched story. I can't tell you how excited I am that this will be a trilogy. I'm desperate to see what is next for these characters that I've grown so fond of. The author is a very courageous lady to tackle lots of the subject matter in the story.
It is without a doubt one of my favourite stories I've ever had the pleasure of reading. You won't be disappointed. Go check it out for yourself! :D
It is a truly epic love story of a clueless girl being forced into a marriage she had no idea about. She is a very religious catholic American girl who was lead to believe she was going to witness her brother getting married to a princess in another country. I don't want to give too much away but her brother was anything but sincere.
The love story between Mazen and Marie is unlike any other with the ups and downs and the amazing man Prince Mazen is will have you falling in love with him to.
The family dynamic in the story on both sides have been so well portrayed. I have learned so much about different religions through this story. It opens up a whole new perspective on so many topics.
I urge people to read this well written and very well researched story. I can't tell you how excited I am that this will be a trilogy. I'm desperate to see what is next for these characters that I've grown so fond of. The author is a very courageous lady to tackle lots of the subject matter in the story.
It is without a doubt one of my favourite stories I've ever had the pleasure of reading. You won't be disappointed. Go check it out for yourself! :D
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2015
Black Keys / Rose B. Mashal Black Keys is a wonderfully written book about two very different people: a Middle Eastern Prince and a modern American business woman of the world with a haunted past. When through the acts of another they are thrown together, they find they must put aside their cultural differences and begin to learn of and from one another. Each has preconceived ideas of not only the other's culture but their religion and customs as well. Together these two exceptional characters must learn to search for the Black Keys that confront them and treat each other with respect, dignity and perhaps - love! I cannot begin to tell you the enjoyment and profound lessons I learned journeying with this couple! I also cannot endorse it highly enough! Run - do not walk to get your copy of Black Keys!
May 15, 2015
This story took a turn fast. I was taking in all the attention that was being given to the grooms sister. Ok she is his only family there ok. Next when The Prince offered his arm just as Joseph had offered Janna I was like OMG!!!
BLACK KEYS is an amazing read all the way through. There is cultural differences as well as religious challenges. The best part, you don't have to know these differences. The author has written the book to explain any questions you may have even regarding Muslim rituals. Prince Mazen is sharing customs to an American girl. A girl who has need raised to hate everything he stands for. Most importantly can love take away horrible nightmares? Betrayal, fights and lies from the only one you trusted.
Love this book so much, I got the paperback and kindle edition.
BLACK KEYS is an amazing read all the way through. There is cultural differences as well as religious challenges. The best part, you don't have to know these differences. The author has written the book to explain any questions you may have even regarding Muslim rituals. Prince Mazen is sharing customs to an American girl. A girl who has need raised to hate everything he stands for. Most importantly can love take away horrible nightmares? Betrayal, fights and lies from the only one you trusted.
Love this book so much, I got the paperback and kindle edition.
May 16, 2015
This is not your everyday romance novel. It's one that will stick to your head and heart, make you feel all possible feelings of the feelings' spectrum, but most of all it will teach you about stereotypes, prejudice, religion and true souls of people. It will make you think and story will stay with you.
Rose has a unique style in writing. The plot will bring you twists and turns that I don't want to spoil. I can just guarantee that this story won't leave you cold because you will get attached to the characters, no matter how loving, betraying or intreaguing they are. I can't wait to see how this rollercoaster of feelings is going to continue.
Rose has a unique style in writing. The plot will bring you twists and turns that I don't want to spoil. I can just guarantee that this story won't leave you cold because you will get attached to the characters, no matter how loving, betraying or intreaguing they are. I can't wait to see how this rollercoaster of feelings is going to continue.
June 1, 2015
I have no words!! simply BEAUTIFUL
This was so much more than a romance. I felt a connection with the story i haven't felt before. Maybe because i'm a Muslim myself and it touches my life in a way.
But it really doesn't matter, because it speaks of something i find anyone would relate to in a way regardless of who they are.
The writing was beautiful, and i LOVED Mazen the hero.
Can't wait for part two!!
And seriously! the cliffhanger! that was cruel
This was so much more than a romance. I felt a connection with the story i haven't felt before. Maybe because i'm a Muslim myself and it touches my life in a way.
But it really doesn't matter, because it speaks of something i find anyone would relate to in a way regardless of who they are.
The writing was beautiful, and i LOVED Mazen the hero.
Can't wait for part two!!
And seriously! the cliffhanger! that was cruel
February 7, 2016
This book is packed full of Culture/Religion. Since I am neither Christian nor Muslim I found the details of both Cultures interesting. It deals with Prejudices and Racism.
Black Keys ends on a cliffhanger of sorts, though Book Two - White Keys - is said to be coming soon.
My one problem was the heroine Marie. I disliked her strongly. She was ignorant and very much unlikable. She had nothing redeemable about her.
Black Keys ends on a cliffhanger of sorts, though Book Two - White Keys - is said to be coming soon.
My one problem was the heroine Marie. I disliked her strongly. She was ignorant and very much unlikable. She had nothing redeemable about her.
June 12, 2015
I started reading this book with no expectations. I didn’t know what to expect with the subject matter. I found it intriguing, thought provoking, and intense. At times, it was hard to read, but I pushed through. The author handled the story well,including the love story it produced, and I enjoyed it. I look forward to seeing where she takes the second installment of the series.
October 20, 2019
2.5 stars.
This book was really difficult to read and rate. The synopsis made it intriguing and promising. Unfortunately, I found the main character repulsive with her shallow mind and prejudice. The writing could have benefited from a better proof reading.
Strangely enough, I couldn't abandon the book as l kept hoping it would get better. I might read the follow up but it won't be on top of my TBR list.
This book was really difficult to read and rate. The synopsis made it intriguing and promising. Unfortunately, I found the main character repulsive with her shallow mind and prejudice. The writing could have benefited from a better proof reading.
Strangely enough, I couldn't abandon the book as l kept hoping it would get better. I might read the follow up but it won't be on top of my TBR list.
August 13, 2016
This book is really good and will really piss you off. The heroine made me feel like I needed a prescript for Zanax. I thought she would grow up in book two, and she did but she still drove me nuts at how easy it was for her to constantly think the worse in every situation she couldn't understand. I also did not feel like she was as smart as a person owning a large company would be. She couldn't put basic concepts together, and too many obvious things or sayings slipped right passed her or went so far over her head that I thought something was wrong with her. Owners of large corporations didn't become billionaires by being simple minded.
This story kept me engaged all the way until the end. I'll have to be honest that just because I said the book was good does not mean I liked it. I liked parts of it but does that make it a bad story? No, because the parts I hated was how so many of the laws made it difficult for people to do what's right or logical sometimes.
I'll admit that I don't know much about the Middle East and it's leniency towards Christians and Americans, and I don't mean to offend anybody, but to me this book made Americans seem like we're the ones commuting all the hate and hate crimes. I'm sure that many Americans are careful and maybe a little scared after all the things we've witnessed and learned about such as beheadings, suicide bombers, documentary's on the oppression women have to deal with, but this book will make you believe that we are stupid and have no reason to be afraid. I'm just saying.
Now the part that got to me and caused me to think a little deeper was how this story opens your eyes to the fact that all the hate and killings are not because of the "religion" or that it's not actually the true believers and Muslim followers commuting these crimes. Many are just as angry as we are towards the ones who are doing these evil things to other humans. This book shows you that we need to stop classing a whole people by the deeds of a small portion. You would have to read the book to understand. I thought I was a fair person because I try and claim to love all people but this book will make you think so much deeper.
Now the reason why I couldn't hate the heroine is because she grew in this book. There was such a higher difference between what she was raised to believe about Muslims to what she learned was true
And not true was a terrible and great journey. I think I grew with her, but I'm not sure how much of this book is fiction and how much is real. If for nothing more, it has caused me to think even harder before judging a whole nation off of the acts of some dispicable humans.
We Americans have our own issues with gang violence, hate crimes, and murderings that makes no sense at all so I'm thinking we have to clean out our own house before trying to point out all the dirt in others.
Because I knew that big things had to happen in the second book I had to buy it. I believe it was $5.99. I'm willing to send my 1 free loan of it to anyone wanting to read it.
This story kept me engaged all the way until the end. I'll have to be honest that just because I said the book was good does not mean I liked it. I liked parts of it but does that make it a bad story? No, because the parts I hated was how so many of the laws made it difficult for people to do what's right or logical sometimes.
I'll admit that I don't know much about the Middle East and it's leniency towards Christians and Americans, and I don't mean to offend anybody, but to me this book made Americans seem like we're the ones commuting all the hate and hate crimes. I'm sure that many Americans are careful and maybe a little scared after all the things we've witnessed and learned about such as beheadings, suicide bombers, documentary's on the oppression women have to deal with, but this book will make you believe that we are stupid and have no reason to be afraid. I'm just saying.
Now the part that got to me and caused me to think a little deeper was how this story opens your eyes to the fact that all the hate and killings are not because of the "religion" or that it's not actually the true believers and Muslim followers commuting these crimes. Many are just as angry as we are towards the ones who are doing these evil things to other humans. This book shows you that we need to stop classing a whole people by the deeds of a small portion. You would have to read the book to understand. I thought I was a fair person because I try and claim to love all people but this book will make you think so much deeper.
Now the reason why I couldn't hate the heroine is because she grew in this book. There was such a higher difference between what she was raised to believe about Muslims to what she learned was true
And not true was a terrible and great journey. I think I grew with her, but I'm not sure how much of this book is fiction and how much is real. If for nothing more, it has caused me to think even harder before judging a whole nation off of the acts of some dispicable humans.
We Americans have our own issues with gang violence, hate crimes, and murderings that makes no sense at all so I'm thinking we have to clean out our own house before trying to point out all the dirt in others.
Because I knew that big things had to happen in the second book I had to buy it. I believe it was $5.99. I'm willing to send my 1 free loan of it to anyone wanting to read it.
September 13, 2016
This series was recommended to me by a reading buddy. I liked the premises of the story and decided to read book 1 which was free. Then I was hooked.
This is Prince Mazen and Marie's story. This is a story of betrayal, love, bias, religious and racial ignorance. I thought some of the things Marie was saying about Muslims and Islam due to her ignorance was cringe worthy. Whoever said ignorance is bliss was an ass! However, unfortunately there are folks around who are just like Marie.
As the story progresses we get a clearer understanding of where Marie's fears stem from and the fact that she was totally indoctrinated from a child by a grandparent that she loved and totally believed.
I loved how the Prince showed Maire patience, consideration and caring all through her hurtful and misguided rhetoric towards him and his faith. It is a painful but beautiful love story of how love can bloom in the mist of total misunderstanding of others and their faith/race traditions and customs.
This is an Arab man with a white woman. I would recommend this series as worth reading. I can only hope that author will release book 3 quickly.
This is Prince Mazen and Marie's story. This is a story of betrayal, love, bias, religious and racial ignorance. I thought some of the things Marie was saying about Muslims and Islam due to her ignorance was cringe worthy. Whoever said ignorance is bliss was an ass! However, unfortunately there are folks around who are just like Marie.
As the story progresses we get a clearer understanding of where Marie's fears stem from and the fact that she was totally indoctrinated from a child by a grandparent that she loved and totally believed.
I loved how the Prince showed Maire patience, consideration and caring all through her hurtful and misguided rhetoric towards him and his faith. It is a painful but beautiful love story of how love can bloom in the mist of total misunderstanding of others and their faith/race traditions and customs.
This is an Arab man with a white woman. I would recommend this series as worth reading. I can only hope that author will release book 3 quickly.
May 15, 2015
"Knowledge is all around us, keys waiting to be found."
I truly fell in love with this book. It is a really compelling piece about two people from different religious backgrounds thrust together by betrayal. It is a powerful book with rich morals, beautiful culture, and a slow-simmering romance. It's kind of surreal and magical but an altogether passionate journey.
"Royalty is a dirty game."
I marvel at the author's wonderful storytelling. I immediately fell in line with it and nothing could have torn me away from reading. Her ability to keep me at the edge of my seat and my interest peaked throughout the entire book is fascinating to me. It was easy to continue reading into the night.
"It's not lands and buildings that make a home; it's people who do."
I really admire the honesty of the MC, a devout Christian having to cope with merging into a royal family of Islamic faith, of which she is not fond of. She holds Muslims responsible for her dark past. You might disagree, but you have to understand she shares the mindset of too many Americans and it's important to watch her growth.
"When it comes to love, rules blur and traditions fade."
This book is truly a gem, but every gem still needs a little polishing. This needs it in the form of professional editing. I'm not the grammar police, so the errors and typos do not bother me because in the grand scheme of things, the reading experience meant more to me than a few mistakes, but nonetheless needs to be mentioned.
"May you find the keys, Troubled Princess."
***ARC provided for an honest review***
April 26, 2015
This book was honestly unlike any other I have ever read. To be able to look through the eyes of a character and see a change in them that many wait lifetimes to see, is remarkable. Rose's work made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me feel hope in times of desperation, but most of all it just made me feel. This is something that I haven't gotten to do for such a long time. She teaches you through her story, to open your eyes and just look, we as humans miss so much of the world, and regardless of the situation, you will always have a chance to find your black key. I feel so very privledged to be able to read this and I cannot wait to see it grow. as I've said before, this is cosmic, new aged, and amazing.
August 18, 2016
"Black Keys" weaves together romance, religion, culture, and diverse characters to create a beautiful story and a wonderful reading experience!
Possessed of wonderfully flawed characters and a layered world, Black Keys tells the story of a young woman finding acceptance, love, and a better version of herself in the arms of those she never imagined she could care for.
I give this book five stars for it's beautiful imagery, it's emotion, and it's strong potential as a series.
Oh, and pay special attention to the credits... you may just see my name there! I had the awesome privilege of editing this book for Rose a week before it's release! :D
Possessed of wonderfully flawed characters and a layered world, Black Keys tells the story of a young woman finding acceptance, love, and a better version of herself in the arms of those she never imagined she could care for.
I give this book five stars for it's beautiful imagery, it's emotion, and it's strong potential as a series.
Oh, and pay special attention to the credits... you may just see my name there! I had the awesome privilege of editing this book for Rose a week before it's release! :D
August 20, 2020
I read the original version of Black Keys 5 years ago. I had a lot of questions that I felt were left unanswered with the story. I am THRILLED that Rose took a chance and basically "rewrote" BK! It's such an enjoyable read in learning how Marie got to be the way she presents herself. I feel sadness for her and how she was raised to be this way. I have always had a fondness for Mazen and couldn't wait to get this book on my Kindle. Who doesn't want a man that would treat you as if you were their world? I can't wait to get my hand on the paperback version of the book!!! I will be suggesting this book to friends and family for days to come!!!!
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