In 1997 Saudi Arabia, American teacher Arden Armstrong and Saudi archeologist Faisal Abdul Aziz aren’t even supposed to look at each other, let alone admit any attraction, but their separate struggles for progress in the Kingdom bring them into an unlikely - and dangerous - alliance.
Assessment:
Arden Armstrong teaches English to young women at a university in Saudi Arabia. She hasn’t been there long when she finds herself quite taken with an archeologist named Faisal. This romantic novel is steeped in the customs and people of Saudi Arabia, which are portrayed to perfection. The narrative moves at a nice clip, and Arden and Faisal are fully realized characters about whom readers will care. Gates clearly knows how to set the stakes and when to raise them.
Date Submitted: June 11, 2016
Winner, Multicultural Fiction, 2015
"The intricately plotted story of a love affair with both a man and a culture, and the painful lessons learned from each. ...deft pacing and a number of unexpected but credible plot twists will keep readers interested. ...The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia comes alive...a haunting backdrop for the fast-paced action. Overall, this complex, enjoyable read will leave readers hoping for more from this talented new writer. Romance, geopolitical instability and coming-of-age angst in a well-crafted tale."
-- Kirkus Reviews
