I really enjoyed Heba’s previous book so I couldn’t wait for this one and it did not disappoint - we start out in the Louvre and then spend most of the rest of the book in Egypt. Marvat is an artifact - an art expert that studies them to understand their background- so of course I loved this Princess! Louis is traveling to visit his friend and find the beautiful smart women he falls for back in Paris. These two have so much chemistry but must overcome background, religion, customs, and a King’s wishes. I really enjoy this historical and can’t wait to read more of Heba’s work. Low spice - All the stars!

DNF at 20%

I was really looking forward to this Egyptian-set historical romance and the perspective that it would take on colonialism, repatriation of artifacts, and interracial relationships of the era. However, I realized pretty quickly upon starting this that the writing style of these Harlequin novels is just not for me. Everything feels very surface-level and concise; I prefer my romances a little more flowery than this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Historical for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

I loved this novel!!! I loved that it gave a different perspective and setting. We don't get to read these novels often. Thank you so much for allowing me to read this ARC.

Good book. I enjoyed the unusual setting of 1870s Egypt and the blending of cultures in the story. The richness of the details, from food and clothing to traditions and folklore, gave depth to the story and added to my enjoyment.

I liked the first meeting between Louis and Mervat. She is an Egyptian princess visiting Paris with her mother. Mom is most interested in shopping, but Mervat has deeper interests. She is fascinated by the genealogy of artifacts and sneaks away to the Louvre for an afternoon of research. There, she meets Louis, an English viscount, who is there to attend a lecture about a Turkish artifact. He is drawn to Mervat, introduces himself, and proceeds to get her talking about the sculpture she is standing in front of. He is fascinated by her and her story, while she is unused to someone genuinely interested in what she has to say. He invites her to the lecture, not knowing of her connection to the artifact, and never expects to see her again.

Imagine his shock when he arrives in Egypt to attend his friend Hussam's wedding and discovers the mysterious lady is Hussam's fiancée! He's not sure why he's dismayed, but when he learns that neither wants the arranged marriage, he offers to help. Here's where the story gets very complicated. Hussam claims to be in love with someone else and develops an elaborate plan to prove to his father that he and Mervat are not suited. It involves Hussam and Nadine, and Louis and Mervat being seen together, with the ultimate goal of Hussam being able to marry Nadine.

Louis believes he is safe to help because he has no intention of falling in love before marrying, thanks to a family history of poor choices. As soon as he made that statement, I knew he would fall hard. He and Mervat connect over their interest in the Cerulean Crown and work together to investigate its history. They connect over their interest in the stories behind things and spend as much time together as possible. Neither expects the feelings that grow between them.

I liked the scenes of Louis and Mervat together. I liked Louis's belief in and respect for Mervat's intelligence and abilities and his support for her dreams. Mervat does a great job of boosting Louis's self-confidence in his writing and what he can do with it. But Louis has little confidence that he is worthy of Mervat, and Mervat doesn't believe she can hold his attention. Both have insecurities that hold them back from sharing their feelings, and it takes effort to overcome those obstacles. I liked the ending and Louis's big moment.

I didn't like Hussam very much. He came across as shallow and spoiled, more interested in pulling one over on his father than actually achieving the purpose of the deception. Trouble comes when his plan fails, putting all their plans in jeopardy. I was happy to see that he learned from what happened and came through for his friends in the end.

This was such a cute and sweet book, I absolutely ADORED this romance book!!
The Author took care to include Egyptian culture and history which very much intrigued me.
I am looking forward to seeing if there are any other books in the series.

When Viscount Louis Wesley first encounters the captivating Princess Mervat at the Louvre, he has no idea that destiny has brought them together. Arriving in Egypt for his best friend’s royal betrothal, Louis is stunned to find that Mervat is the reluctant bride-to-be. Determined to help her evade the unwanted union, Louis becomes entangled in a whirlwind of intrigue and forbidden love.

This is a high-emotion story of forbidden love. I enjoyed the slow burn and the Egyptian setting.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Such a sweet romance (with lots of Egyptian and Turkish sweets mentioned too). It’s always refreshing to take a break from England when reading an HR, and the author does a great job with the Egypt setting, with most of the book taking place in Cairo.

The romance is tender and tentative because of circumstances — she is set to marry his best friend in an arranged marriage. They have to navigate that, court politics, etc. But the thing that stood out most for me in their relationship is how much respect they have for each other. The MMC’s respect for the FMC boosts her confidence and helps her stand up against those who try to keep her down.

I've never read a book that's taken place in 1870s Egypt, so I was excited for this one ... and it did not disappoint. This is a great book for historical romance fans to check out.

Helmy does a great job of making the reader feel a part of the story with the descriptions of the fashion, food, bazaar, ball, etc. Louis and Mervat were realistic and sincere. You can't help but like them, and their relationship didn't feel forced. Themes of love and family are woven throughout.

There has been a long history of romances filled with sheiks or Middle Eastern princesses by white authors that are weirdly exoticizing and culturally appropriative. So this is a breath of fresh air. A Viscount for the Egyptian Princess is a historical romance by an author who is herself Egyptian and Muslim. It weaves in Egyptian culture, food, and history, Arabic language, and touches on the issue of colonial powers taking historical artifacts.

But it's also a romance, where a chance encounter at a museum in Paris leaves an impression and when the hero Louis travels to Cairo to visit a royal friend from University, he discovers that his intended bride is the mystery woman from Paris. Except that Princess Mirvat doesn't want to marry her distant cousin and is only at court to try and develop a relationship with her social-climbing mother. This is a slow-burn romance that I was really loving by the end. It's slow to start and I think the pacing in the early part of the book could have been better, but I ended up loving the relationship between Louis and Mervat and how she finally really stands up for herself. It builds romantic and sexual tension between them, but Mervat is also a devout Muslim and her religion is a part of the story. And as someone who spent the better part of a year in Egypt in my college days, I really enjoyed all of the details of food, clothing, and iconic places in Cairo. I would read more from this author! I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

Seeing brown folks on a cover makes me emotional. I love the cover of this book!

Anyway, this is my first read by Heba Helmy, and it will not be my last. I loved her writing, her voice, and her characters. I read this in one sitting and was kicking my feet up in the air?! Ahhhh.

Once again, Heba Helmy breathes life into the historical romance genre with her representation of Middle Eastern/Egyptian characters who are strong in their own way, while still tacking the very real socio-cultural and political landscape of the time. While it isn't asa instantly grabbing as the author's debut, this is still a solid second novel in what is sure to be a long career.

As a Middle Eastern woman, I cannot begin to describe how much I loved seeing the representation of Arab/Middle Eastern cultures in a historical romance. We are so used to seeing us played as villains that seeing us get a happy ending made me emotional. I say that honestly. The heroine was a strong minded and independent woman with such a intelligent mind. Strong female characters are always a win! However, there was a lot going on in the book with the very many tropes and competing plots. It came off a bit far too extra. It had so much potential, but it got lost along the outlandish scenes.

I will say that I intend to look into the author's other books though. I enjoyed her writing style.
*Honest and voluntary review via NetGalley and Harlequinn.

Take a trip to 1870s Egypt and savor the art, fashion, food, local bazaar, The Royal Opera House, a Midsummer Ball, and so much more in this heartwarming romance.

A Viscount for the Egyptian Princess breathes freshness to the historical romance genre with diverse characters and locations. While the young and ambitious Louis Wesley, Viscount of Allenborough, is bound by duty to his family and estate in England, the shy and conscientious Princess Mervat Abbas of Egypt dreams of opening a museum, so people from all walks of life can enjoy the cultural artifacts and legacies of their nation. I adored Mervat and Louis. They are sweet, sincere, and relatable characters. They exude goodness and kindness. These two soulmates were fated to meet at the Louvre, and their love blossomed and bloomed in the opulent setting of Cairo. Despite the vast differences in their background, they are kindred spirits. However, their journey to a HEA is paved with misunderstandings, outlandish schemes, and challenges of royal proportions. Heba Helmy weaves an endearing tale of love, family, and destiny. I really enjoyed it!

Also, Mishmish! <3

A Viscount for the Egyptian Princess releases around Eid, in April 2024.

This lacked something.
I was truly intrigued in the beginning when they were first meeting one another, but I felt like the plot started dragging.

There was too much being juggled and without the support.
- we have the khedive and the princess’ “marriage”
- we have the fake arrangement
- them looking into the crown
- her family history

This story just didn’t grab me.

A mysterious crown. A beautiful princess. A penniless viscount. What better combination could you want?
Good historical fiction is based on as much real facts as you can stuff in, and in this one we get the full feeling that we are there, experiencing Egypt in the 1870s. The smells, the tastes, the sunlight and of course the politics. Not only between countries, but between members of the royal court.
The basic story line reminds one of a Shakespear play where everyone is chasing after the one they love, but who loves another. Only in this case, Viscount Wesley falls in love with Princess Mervat from the moment he sees her, and she him. And the whole rest of the book they try to let the other know this fact, but never quite to so.
Oh, and of course there is fake dating.
And place manipulations.
And although I didn’t cry, I did enjoy all the emotional roller coasters that happened as two star crossed lovers couldn’t quite get it together.
This is a clean romance. The most we get is kissing, and the very real hint of perhaps there could have been more, but isn’t.
Truly delightful. The writing is fun. The characters are so very human though set in Victorian times. Love and politics are universal.


This is the second Heba Helmy historical romance I have read, and I loved it just as much as the first.


Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out April 23rd 2024.

If you like good historical romance, you can’t go wrong pre-ordering this. All the stars.

This is a wonderful second book by Heba! I loved that I really felt the attraction Mervat has for Louis, I felt that was lacking in the first book. Because the book took place almost entirely in Egypt we got to see and experience so much more of the historical culture of that time and I loved it. The struggles that she had finding her place and how strong she was to when it was necessary demand what she wanted/ deserved. Louis was enjoyable as well but Mervat stole the show for me. Hussam, sir you tsk tsk. I did immediately call my father and ask why he was not Egyptian royalty so ghat I could also be a princess. Thank you NetGalley for providing this ARC In exchange for my honest opinion.