Cover Image: GAMBLING WITH THE CROWN: Harlequin Manga

GAMBLING WITH THE CROWN: Harlequin Manga

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Member Reviews

Miniseries: Heirs to the Throne of Kyr
This Sheikh plays to win!

This was a very entertaining manga romance.
It had it all love and passion and all given through such a great artwork.
I really enjoyed this because Emily was so courageous and smart and with Kadir who was the typical alpha male. it was easy to fell for the story.
The story moved quickly, Emily Kadir's secretary was forced to marry him to save him from becoming king but unfortunately the events that followed changed everything.
What is going to happen between them now?
Is their marriage a joke or something more ?


Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I absolutely adore everything Harlequin Manga has put out recently and Gambling with the Crown was no different. These mangas take no time at all to read and I highly recommend them.

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I just can't seem to get enough of the romance mangas. Love them. Love the artwork and love that they are adapted from some truly excellent stories. This one is no exception. Beautiful. Romantic. Captivating. And pardon the similar reviews for all the books. I'm catching up and have loved all of them.

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I always wonder what is wrong with those Arabian Sheikhs and princes? Why do they seem appealing to date or...to eat? This prince of ours is without exception. He is about inherit the crown and is in need for a wife. He then pays his secretary to pretend as his horrible wife because he does not want to be tied. Ah sheesh, with several touchy-touchy, they become attracted to each other and that's where all the mess started!

A sweet and hot romance which is beautifully illustrated in the form of manga. Something one has to read to spice their romance up eh!

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This quick read was definitely a sweet story that seemed to be fairly cohesive. Though there doesn't seem to be a significant conflict, part of me really wanted to see more. However, the artwork was very lovely and the story flowed well. Though it is short, the ending was really satisfying to read and I honestly would make this one my go to if I needed a quick pick me up. The characters aren't necessarily very well developed but you do wind up caring for them at the end. I enjoyed it.

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There's a host of cliche romances with Arabian heros out there and you might think this is just another one. You would think worong. The story of Kadir has more depth than most romances I've read, let alone stereoptiped ones. The second son of the ruler of a small Arabian country, Kadir has struggled with his sense of guilt towards his older brother and led a life of careless sexual debauchery in the meantime. Only when he is short of taking the throne, does he realize that there's more to life than power and sex… in the form of his secretary Emily, the only person who stood by his side despite his many flaws for the past years. Will he still be on time to make the right choice?

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The exotic side of this story appealed to me. After all, the male character is a desert prince about to inherit a problematic crown.

The hook is an exciting one. He proposes marriage to his devoted secretary as a ruse. I really liked the expressive eyes of the characters, the beautiful palace and arabic-styled clothes, and the theme of overly attractive boss who's never found a partner but finds her unexpectedly in his demure secretary. I also liked the secrets that hid behind family quarrels and sibling rivalry.

On the other hand, the art includes too many flowers that give a flamboyant and exagerated air to the romantic atmosphere. Not to mention the rock-star hair of the two brothers which really doesn't match their ethnic origins.

In general, it's a pretty love story between a prince and a working girl that includes a touch of sensuality. The male character's realization of his feelings is very sweet too.

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I received this manga from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

I just adored the cover to this manga, and so this one was next. How appropriate reading a romance manga on Valentines Day! I hope it is very swoony, the blurb does seem to promise quite some romance, though I am curious about why she has to play the horrible wife... I guess we will find out.

"He has a deep voice, hot and rough like desert sand. His haughty eyes are sharp like an eagle's. I know better than anyone else that no woman can keep her cool when he gazes at her with those eyes." Oh my! <3

Mm, I can imagine that she isn't too happy that her boss is flirting and having sex with all the girls left and right. It must be pretty uncomfortable to step inside and see a girl hanging around (or getting pissed at you because they think you set it up).

"If I weren't his secretary, even I might have succumbed to his charm and fallen in love with him." Ohhh, now I am even more curious to see them get together.

*snorts* If you'll excuse me, your highness... why don't you try choosing your girlfriends by their intelligence instead of their bra size?" Ohhhhh, burn! That honesty! I am glad that he doesn't take it the bad way but instead talks to her and even makes a remark that he is apparently glad he never fell for her, because it would have ruined any other relationship. Ohhhhh. Yes! Ship ship ship!

So he wasn't destined to become a king, but now his brother doesn't want the throne and thus it is Kadyr who gets it. Well, if Rashid has his way. I can imagine that Kadir isn't happy with this turn of events, he has got a good business running (at least from what I can gather), and he would have to give that up (or only run it as a side job).

Ah, so that is what they meant with horrible. Kadir doesn't want the throne at all, so he marries Emily to play the terrible wife so that Kadir's father can't trust him with the throne. That is a smart move, since I am guessing daddy dearest isn't going to be listening to his son when he tells his father no.

Argh, the conversation between the two isn't working out. Emily, just be honest! Kadir is also honest with you about why he is bedding so many women (apparently feeling lonely and he wants some warmth in his bed), you could at least tell him you are interested in him, and yes that you were jealous so many times. But I guess we are only at 29 pages, so there is still enough time for them to be honest and explore each other. :)

"The hot embrace and his sweet kisses are all just to trick those who see us. Despite that, why... is my heart beating so fast?" Because you want it, you want Kadir! ARgh!

*swoons*I knew he would wear that outfit, but I hadn't expected it. Totally blindsided me. He looks so hot in that outfit. *swoons some more*

OH MY. That kiss. That was hot, and I love that we see Kadir's reaction to it. Not just Emily who is absolutely swooning, but also Kadir. Yes! We are finally getting somewhere with these two and I am shipping them even more than I did before.

*snorts*OMG, when they woke up in the same bed, and Emily got her first glimpse at a very happy morning penis. That reaction had me in stitches!

I didn't like how Rashid just kept avoiding phone calls and his responsibility. Again, I understand that he doesn't want the throne, and that he probably doesn't like his father much due to his father hitting him, but still, it is your father. The one thing you can do is come and visit him before he dies. You don't need to accept the throne, but at least don't end with regrets.

I felt sorry for Kadir. He wants to mourn but is now also full of sadness because he is going to lose Emily (oh no you don't) and he is angry because of his brother. I am happy that he can finally confess to someone the things he did as a kid.

And now I am crying. I want these two to be together, and of course I can tell my mind that there will be a happy ending (Harlequins so far always have a happy ending), but for now my mind just doesn't want to see that. All it seems at the moment are two people who love each other but can't be together forever, just for these last hours of the day.

Ah, Rashid is here, and oh my dramatic story that I totally didn't see coming! I am glad that Rashid and Kadir finally had a good heart to heart about their issues and that they were able to make up their differences.

The ending, it was so perfect. I am still crying here, OK. This was just beautiful. I am so happy for everyone. This was the ending I was hoping for.

The art was just gorgeous! I loved the character designs, and the backgrounds were done so prettily.

All in all, HIGHLY recommended!

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'Why don't you try choosing your girlfriends by their intelligence instead of their bra size?'

So says upright and serious secretary Emily to her boss Kadir who is a bit of a womanizer. Kadir appreciates Emily so much that he doesn't give her the boot for her unsolicited advice, instead he marries her.

Kadir needs someone to pretend to be a wife who is unsuitable for the throne of his country, because in that way he can avoid being made king.

According to Emily this is 'an eccentric and desperate plan' but she still agrees because she secretly cares for Kadir and she wants to help him. Also he promises her a bonus of 3 years salary and she wants to use that to pay for her father's hospital care. And so Emily agrees to be the fake bride and so the drama begins!

This was a very entertaining romance with love, passion and intrigue all brought to life by great artwork. I really enjoyed this because Emily was feisty, courageous and smart. Kadir was the typical alpha male hero who encounters real love and is also swept away by passion.

Thoroughly enjoyable and a story that all manga romance fans will like.

Copy provided by Harlequin/SB Creative via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

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