Born into a distinguished Arab-American family, Lisa Halaby joined the first co-ed class at Princeton University and graduated in 1974 with a degree in architecture and urban planning. Two years later, while visiting Jordan, she was casually introduced to King Hussein, a leader widely admired in the Arab world as a voice of moderation and a proponent of peace. Their next meeting some time later escalated into a secret, whirlwind courtship, and Lisa Halaby became Noor Al Hussein, Queen of Jordan.

In Leap of Faith, Queen Noor speaks with eloquence and candor about her journey from a naïve young bride navigating the intricacies of a royal court to a mother, humanitarian activist, and partner to a monarch. As she gradually took on the mantle of queen, Noor's joys and challenges grew. After a heartbreaking miscarriage, she gave birth to four children. Meshing the demands of motherhood with the commitments of her position often proved difficult, but she kept her young children by her side, even while flying the world with her husband in his relentless quest for peace. This mission reaped satisfying rewards, including greater Arab unity and a peace treaty with Israel, and suffered such terrible setbacks as the Gulf War and the assassination of Prime Minister Rabin.

Dramatic and inspiring, Leap of Faith is the story of a young American woman's transition to a queen. It is a compelling portrait of the late King Hussein and his lifelong effort to bring peace to his war-torn region, and an insider's view of the growing gulf between the United States and the Arab nations. It is the refreshingly candid account of a mother coming to terms with the demands the king's role as a world statesman placed on her family's private life. But most of all Leap of Faith is a love story about a woman who lost her heart to a king, and to his people.