When Fatima was growing up in the affluent neighborhood of Kalorama in Washington D.C., she never imagined that her father, an ambassador, would force her into an arranged marriage that would take her across the world.
After graduating from college, Fatima is thrust into the bed of a ruthless military man with revenge on his mind. Away from family and friends in a foreign country, she gradually accepts her fate… until an encounter with a handsome doctor ignites feelings and desires that jeopardize her life as she is torn between an unrelenting husband and a forbidden liaison. Her choices will uncover secrets that will unravel a chain of events that will change her life forever.
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“Draws you in from the very first paragraph”
Perfect romance suspense novel. A captivating story that draws you in as soon as you start reading, and it just keeps getting better. The author does a great job of creating an escape from everyday life. A story full of romance and suspense that which also includes cultural differences that adds to the richness and draw you further into the story. You won’t want to put it down.
“Must Read”
“Perfect for a rainy Sunday!”
“A Great read!”
Such a captivating book. A page turner that I couldn’t put down. The author did a great job bringing the characters to life with every dramatic event.
“Couldn’t put it down!”
Well written, suspenseful story. I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen next.
“Captivating read”
“Romance and suspense at its best!”
Great read. Couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend!!!!!
“Awesome book! I fully recommend it.”
“Always interesting to learn about other cultures”
“Wow!”
“Intriguing Book”
“Mediterranean Sunset review”
I absolutely loved this book. It was hard to put down. A must read!
“Loved it! Highly recommend”
Intriguing read. Especially enjoyed all the cultural references. Great combination of reading for pleasure while you learn. Hoping for a follow-up book to this one. Can’t help wondering “what next?”
“Captivating story”
I loved this book. It’s such a captivating story. Great read!
“Captivating”
“Great book!!”
“Must read book”
“Add to your book list!”
Thoroughly enjoyed it.
“Suspense…”
“You cannot put this book down!! Amazing!!!”
“The descriptions!”
I enjoyed and loved reading Mediterranean Sunset. It was a book that I did not want to put down. The way the author sent you back and forward made the story more intriguing. It was also educational learning different customs of other countries. I am looking forward to the second part.
“Spectacular Story”
I loved this book, it’s a beautiful story full of suspense that kept me trapped in each chapter, wanting to know what was next. Spectacular as the author manages to keep you anxious to know what will happen.
I recommend it 100%.
“You must read it!”
A very well weaved story, hard to stop reading it. Its detailed narrative, the cultural and religious references, the use of the flashbacks, the erotic scenes…I loved it! A must read!
“The Perfect Romance Novel”
“It was amazing”
“Unexpected Surprise”
This book was an unexpected surprise. Well written, romantic, suspenseful, it’s a page turner. I was only going to read three chapters and ended up finishing the book in two days. I’m not a fan of romantic novels (even though I read my share of Barbara Cartland, Joan Collins and Danielle Steele as a teenager) yet I lived this book. Started to read it before I interviewed the author and was captivated by the plot, the characters and the combination of romance and suspense. Fatima is a young Muslim woman raised in DC who has to enter an arranged marriage. Turns out her forced marriage leads her to the love of her life. Even though I’m not a fan of romantic novela, this one has enough turns to maintain your interest. Exciting, exotic and timeless.
“Mediterranean Sunset”
Great quick read that will transport you to another continent.
“First Time Reader”
Stayed up late every night untill I finished this book. A perfect blend of romance and intrigue that kept my interest to the very end.
“Good Fun Read”
This novel will captivate you. You will find yourself trapped in its own little world. It just has everything: a love story that will make you cry and a suspenseful plot line that won’t let you put it down. Also, it’s a refreshing cultural experience. Buy it and enjoy yourself reading it.
“Good Book!”
I loved this book. The flow and content were easy and interesting. You will not be disappointed.
“Beautiful unveiling”
The suspense interwoven with the romance kept me reading through to the finish line! This was so well written as informative of cultural practices that I was unaware of. I look forward to reading another page turner mystery by this author!
“Excellent work”
Excellent book. Very entertaining. Once you start reading, cannot let it go . Congratulations, Yvette! Expecting to read the trilogy.
“More than fabulous!”
It was like love at first site. I fell in love with the cover and what was inside was even more fascinating. So romantic. I read it on a plane and couldn’t wait to get home and watch a sunset with my husband. I haven’t read a book in a long time and when I started reading this one, I couldn’t put it down. Looking forward to much, much more from this author.
“Loved it”
I definitely recommend reading. This is such a beautiful book.
“It’s fabulous”
Perfect Reading!
“Page Turner”
I love to read and this book is at the top of my list. Very interesting, informative, exciting, mysterious, a great read.
Kudos to the author!
“A romance with a twist”
An intriguing read. I was impressed with the detailed descriptions of life in Antarah , I learned so much about a different culture. I loved the sinister side of some of the characters and how invested I was in the outcome of their relationships. I can not wait for the next book!
“Captivating!”
Amazing read. The book pulls you right in and before you know it you feel yourself living the story firsthand. Absolute page turner.
“A Must!”
You just can’t stop reading it!! Love it!!!
“Captivating and Entertaining”
The book was captivating and entertaining. Just what I needed to submerge and enjoy.
“Romance and Suspense, didn’t disappoint!”
Captivated my interest and couldn’t put it down. Romance and suspense with a side of culture! 100% recommend.
“Captivating”
Captivating, suspenseful. You’ll have to finish the complete novel in one sit!
“Must Read”
Love this book. Left me wanting more!
“Couldn’t put it down!”
I had a hard time putting it down. Tasteful love story with suspense. Exposed an age-old tale through a new culture and religion for me.
“Truly enjoyed reading it!”
I thought that it was very well written and that the author did a great job in keeping the suspense from beginning to end. It was really entertaining and educational at the same time. The characters became alive in my head and there have been moments when my mind goes back to events in the book, post-reading.
“Page turner”
Must read! I enjoyed it very much! Looking forward for the Spanish translation.
“Intriguing”
Loved the book! Romantic and quite educational (regarding mid eastern traditions and beliefs). Love the happy ending!!!!!
“Loved It!”
This is great I definitely recommend it.
“Excellent!”
Excellent novel! Perfect balance of romance and suspense! Highly recommended!
“Great Book”
Not the typical fairy tale. A good mix of thriller and romance. Can’t put it down. Looking forward to more work from this author.
“Amazing Story”
A great book , amazing story. I loved the cultural education, the love and the sexiness a book that has it all. ” A must read” and I very much looking forward to the second book.
Let your imagination fly! Enjoy!
A captivating story, very good descriptions. Environments and well connected characters. The flow of history does not allow us to separate from it.
CHILDREN OF ANTARAH Thrilling!!! Could not put the book down!!!
Children of Antarah
This book was SO intriguing!!! There are many twists and turns in this Love Story! I read this book in 2 days!! I could not wait to see what was coming next!
I am Married to a Palestinian, I love the Middle East twists in the book. The author is also very thorough and very detailed. She makes it as if you can invision every single detail!! I highly recommend this book!!! Can’t wait for the trilogy to come…
CHILDREN OF ANTARAH Captivating
Children of Antarah is a captivating page-turner I couldn’t put down! A great sequel to Mediterranean Sunset. Kudos to the author!
CHILDREN OF ANTARAH Love and Thrills
Children of Antarah
This is the second book in the series. The series starts by giving a bit of the background story on one of the main characters. I found that story very compelling and nerve-wracking.
From there we are taken on the main characters many adventures, trips and life for some years. We watch the children grow and then the thrills begin. The author has wide knowledge of different cultures which teach you something at the same time that it entertains. Read it you will not be disappointed
CHILDREN OF ANTARAH Amazing
Children of Antarah
Was not disappointed with this page turner. The excitement and story of love is captivating and will keep you intrigued. Love everything about this book as I did with the first book of this series. The author does a great job of keeping you wanting more.
CHILDREN OF ANTARAH Congratulations on your 5-star review! Readers’ Favorite
I’ve always been curious about Middle Eastern culture, religions, food, gender relationships, and politics, but I’m afraid too many of my perceptions have been influenced by the media. The chance to get a less biased view into the real lives and interactions between the families of these countries is what drew me to Children of Antarah by Yvette Canoura. Yvette didn’t disappoint. I’ve come away enlightened. At the same time, Yvette treated me to a touching love story, an interesting travelogue, and to my surprise, a bit of a thriller!
The female protagonist, Fatima, has a secret and a past from which she has sheltered her two children. But the past always seems to find a way to catch up with you. Fatima’s past includes her former abusive husband, Fouad. The details of the past intertwine with the beautiful love story between Fatima and Ibrahim and their relationship and travels with their children until suddenly all hell broke loose. The family and romantic love story readers have been enjoying takes a dramatic turn, complete with terror and violence, bringing a close to a story that pleases a diversity of readers on various levels. I had to ask myself after reading this novel how this award-winning author, born in the Bronx, is so familiar with the Middle-Eastern way of life. She provides the answer on her website: “Canoura’s affair with the Middle East began in 1989 when she met and married her husband. Her love for his family, culture, and people inspired her first romantic suspense novel, Mediterranean Sunset.”
That “love” mentioned in the above quote, is my biggest takeaway from Children of Antarah. It permeates the novel. Fatima’s happiness in her new life and the love she feels for her husband and family is an obvious mirror of the author’s own life. How wonderful that Yvette Canoura can so skilfully imbue her characters with this joy and love!
CHILDREN OF ANTARAH Congratulations on your 5-star review! Readers’ Favorite
Children of Antarah by Yvette Canoura is the second book in the Mediterranean Sunset trilogy. Fatima enters into an arranged marriage to fulfill her father’s wishes. She marries Fouad, a controlling and egoistic man with lofty political ambitions. Her marriage is troubled due to Fouad’s narcissistic behavior. Fatima soon finds herself in the arms of a doctor named Brahim Al-Kateb, who falls helplessly in love with her. After spending years in prison, Brahim reunites with Fatima and they get married. They had a happy marriage and two wonderful children. However, the family did not realize there was someone evil lurking in the shadows. An enemy had infiltrated their personal lives and was about to ruin their happy family. Will Fatima be able to save her family from the intruder?
In Children of Antarah, politics, love, religion, charity, and friendship are the major themes. Yvette Canoura’s writing style is impressive. She portrayed the emotions of the characters very well, and each character had a unique personality. Fatima and Brahim’s marriage was the ideal type of marriage for me. I learned a lot from their relationship. Brahim, who happens to be my favorite character, is smart, romantic, and generous. The family faced discrimination for being Muslims, especially during the time that an Islamic group was terrorizing some countries. The discrimination did not affect their beliefs or change their relationships with other people. I was impressed by how the story flowed perfectly. I’m interested in reading the other books in the trilogy because I enjoyed this one. I believe people who love to read cultural fiction will find this book interesting.
CHILDREN OF ANTARAH Congratulations on your 5-star review! Readers’ Favorite
Children of Antarah by Yvette Canoura is the sequel to Mediterranean Sunset. Continuing the story of Fatima, the tale follows her and Brahim as they continue their lives after the sacrifices they had made to be together. Their troubled past continued to haunt them. Brahim was plagued by nightmares of his torture in the military prison and he refused to share this with Fatima. Although their situation was not exactly a fairytale, Fatima and Brahim tried their best for the sake of the marriage and their children. When matters kept getting out of hand and new secrets emerged to threaten the bliss they had created for their little family, it was up to Fatima and Brahim to keep the peace and shield their precious Iman and Hasan from the chaos.
Children of Antarah by Yvette Canoura is a brilliant story with romance, struggles, and plenty of twists to keep readers hooked. The chemistry between Brahim and Fatima was off the charts. They were the backbone of the account and made sure readers were invested from outset. The chapter names revealed what readers could expect. Jamila was the breath of fresh air Fatima needed in the tense atmosphere, although she and Brahim made sure they protected one another. The ending was appropriate and exceptionally satisfying. The narrative style was perfect for the turns in the plot. Nothing was confusing and events worked toward a happy ending, providing a feeling of calm closure. I loved the book and highly recommend it to fans of romance as well as cultural fiction.
CHILDREN OF ANTARAH Congratulations on your 4-star review! Readers’ Favorite
It was a forbidden love between Fatima and Brahim. Fatima was married to another man and surrounded by coups, conspiracies, obligations, heated politics, and threats to their lives. But love overcame, and they survived the chaos with battle scars. Unfortunately, Fatima knew secrets that could break the family. She led a wonderful life with her husband and children until a powerful villain from her past came calling. He was the link to everything wrong in her life. However, a woman will tolerate anything until her children are threatened. Then she has to make tough choices. Will Fatima reveal this secret to protect her family and lose their love, or will she hold on to the secret and watch her boy die? Find out in the Children of Antarah by Yvette Canoura.
Children of Antarah by Yvette Canoura is a fascinating novel that exposes politics and government. It also portrayed how ambition, aspiring to power, and the strength of societies are rooted in family. I loved the plot and storyline, which the author set in the Middle East and locations across the world. It was also interesting to learn about the cultures of different places that I could not have imagined otherwise. This novel was also thought-provoking and I was concerned about how to protect impressionable children from predators. How do we get our children to always confide in us without fear of judgment? The way the villain penetrated the Al-Kateb family scared me. Unfortunately, such a situation is the reality for children who leave their homes to attend school or go to the playground. There is always someone lurking around to prey on their naivete. May all our families be whole. Thank you for a beautiful story, Yvette.
CHILDREN OF ANTARAH Congratulations on your 5-star review! Readers’ Favorite
Fatima and Brahim escape from Antarah and begin a new life across the Atlantic. They are determined not to let the horrors they experienced dictate their future together. But as their family grows and their children mature, Fatima is unsure if her decision to keep the truth about her past and their marriage a secret is as wise as she originally thought. She fears that the unrest in Antarah will draw her back and open the can of worms she has worked so hard to keep hidden. Unknown to her, old enemies have returned to seek their retribution and will stop at nothing to retrieve what is rightfully theirs in Yvette Canoura’s Children Of Antarah.
Yvette Canoura elegantly combines elements of orthodox Islamic family dynamics with western lifestyle in Children Of Antarah. She takes extra care to describe her characters’ origin stories in striking detail, making it easier to understand the rift between Fatima and Iman concerning her romantic interest. The storyline is interesting and the espionage subplot blended into this romantic story does a rather nice job of keeping a reader guessing at the eventual outcome. The conversation between characters, though veiled in some instances, is straightforward enough for anyone to grasp. Romance readers will enjoy this book and I daresay the same for adventure aficionados. Yvette Canoura has done a lovely job with Children Of Antarah. This unique novel tells an amazing story that everyone irrespective of age, ethnicity, or religious orientation will not just relate to but will enjoy reading.
CHILDREN OF ANTARAH Congratulations on your 5-star review!
Children of Antarah by Yvette Canoura is the second installment in the award-winning Mediterranean Sunset trilogy. The book continues the story of Fatima and Brahim as they escape their troubled past. Together, at last, they raise their children, Hasan and Iman, in Maremma in Italy and try to keep the horrors they endured in the past a secret. The family leads an idyllic life traveling to other countries and visiting relatives in Antarah. When Brahim receives an offer to be the chief of General and Thoracic Surgery and the director of the Pediatric Surgery Fellowship Program, the family moves to Washington, DC. Their past lives, however, threaten to disrupt their family life in the US as the secrets they have been hiding come back to haunt them.
Yvette Canoura’s Children of Antarah is a fast-paced adventure and romance novel that grips the reader’s undivided attention. I haven’t read the first book in this trilogy, but the background stories provided are more than enough to follow the narrative easily. The cultural elements are fascinating and informative. With well-developed characters, the story is relatable. Fast-paced and filled with numerous twists and turns, the political intrigues also serve as a social commentary, highlighting the flaws of a system that sadly prevails in some parts of the world today. Most of all, Children of Antarah is a story of love that endures in the face of seemingly insurmountable barriers. Against all odds, Fatima and Brahim try to lead a happy family life, and one can’t help but root for them.
