SHE had been very pretty - a most pleasant surprise.

The irony was, did she know who he was? Her suitor? She had to be the one! 'One way or other, I am going to have this woman,' Sikander vowed silently, tapping his hand on the steering wheel.

As he watched the car in front of them disappear in a cloud of dust, Sikander Din had a strange feeling that, in the last few minutes, his life had suddenly and forever become entwined with the beautiful woman dressed in black...

Synopsis - The Holy Woman is a powerful and compelling family drama. A romantic story of love and betrayal set in a wealthy Muslim community, with all the pressures and conflicts that modern life and old traditions bring.

Set in contemporary Pakistan, London and Egypt. Zarrie Bano is a glamorous 28 year-old daughter of a wealthy Muslim landowner. She falls in love with Sikander, a business tycoon and plans to marry him.

Her father, Habib Khan, takes an instant irrational dislike to Sikander and vetoes the match. When his only son is killed in a freak riding accident, Habib Khan decides to make Zarrie Bano his heiress, resurrecting an ancient tradition, which decrees that an heiress must remain celibate.

Zarri Bano is thus forced into marriage to the Holy Quran and becomes her clan's 'holy woman' - a nun.

You can find copies of this book at Redditch Library and the sequel by Qaisra Shahraz, which is called Typhoon.