The Book of the Seven Delights (Jove Historical Romance) [Mass Market Paperback]

During a time, and in a field where women were not wanted but simply tolerated, Abigail Merchant was determined that she would succeed where others had failed. Having trained and been experienced as a fully qualified librarian and armed with her mother's eternal faith and support, Abigail knew she would persevere in the lowly position given to her of `cataloguing acquisitions' in the British Museum. Here she would stumble upon the journals of a noted scholar that would compel her to leave England and venture forth to the remote city of Timbuktu in order to complete said scholar's quest in locating the Great Library of Alexandria.

Along the way, her path crossed that of the arrogant and insufferable `Son of Satan' (SOS) Apollo Smith. Handsome in a swarthy pirate kind of way, complete with eye-patch, he was not her idea of hero material, although his somewhat tender care of her seasickness on the ocean crossing did garner him some points. Once she was well enough to notice - he certainly inspired and aroused some very annoying and unladylike feelings. As her un-appointed but necessary guide they battled the Sahara desert, nomad tribesmen, and some merciless French Foreign Legionnaires in their quest for the hidden treasures of the fabled Great Library of Alexandria, and discover an ancient scroll that would change their lives - The Book of Seven Delights.

*** This was an exciting romance filled with a suspenseful adventure as the protagonists battled one another as well as the dangers found in the Sahara desert. Initially bound to each other out of necessity, both Abigail and Apollo soon came to discover that some of the traits that infuriated them the most were those in the end they came to admire and embrace as they fell in love with each other. Krahn does an admirable job of inserting enough detail to keep the pace briskly moving from one harrowing escape to another as the two managed to keep one step ahead of the dangers that dogged their every move. In Abigail, the author has created a character with credible issues and feelings that the reader can relate to and Apollo was well drawn out as well, though I would have liked to discover what the inheritance was that his Uncle was willing to murder for. Otherwise, for those looking for a marvelous adventure set in the exotic locales of Casablanca and Timbuktu then this is the ticket. --- Marilyn, for www.historicromancewriters.com ---

Think The Mummy. Much fun ensues when a librarian goes after the lost library of Alexandria in the company of a man who's being hunted by the French Foreign Legion for desertion.

The good:

The banter. Abigail and Apollo's banter had me laughing out loud.

The adventure. It's fast-moving and exciting.

The book references. Abigail has learned everything she knows from books, and is constantly referring to them. It's funny and occasionally poignant.

All the twists and turns in the plot. There's one after the other.

The bad:

Not a thing, as long as you suspend your disbelief and just go along for the ride.

The surprising:

That in such a fun, romantic adventure, you also get character development and growth.

The verdict:

A wonderful read, particularly for fans of The Mummy, or Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody series.

I am not a professional reviewer like the other ladies who addressed this book, so my review will not contain a plot summary or be as long and polished as theirs were.

I'll simply say that this book is a great example of its genre. It's a fabulous, well-written, FUN historical adventure romance. You fall in love with the places they visit, and you root for the characters and boo the bad guys. It's a great couple of nights' read-yourself-to-sleep book -- if you can put it down!