THE BOOK OF TRUE DESIRES

Author: Betina Krahn ISBN: 0515141704 9/2006 HISTORICAL Publisher: JOVE
Time Period: 1898 US, Cuba, Mexico

Cordelia Blackburn has struck a deal with her crusty tycoon of a grandfather to fund an expedition that will make her name as an explorer. But first, he requires she prove herself—by locating three Mayan stone carvings and something known as""the gift of the jaguar." To make matters worse, he insists on sending along someone—his arrogant butler!—to authenticate her findings, and it becomes clear that a powerful and ruthless third party is set on finding the fabled stones and treasure first... As the trail leads them across the Caribbean and into Mexico, Cordelia learns that tall, sardonic Hartford Goodnight is far more than just a butler. And Goodnight learns that beautiful, provocative Cordelia is as tough as she is tempting. Soon, the pair is hip deep in danger and desire, racing the competition to the prize—and trying to keep the sparks between them from setting the rain forest ablaze...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

What a great romantic adventure tale! Cordelia O'Keefe is the disowned adventuress granddaughter of a money-hungry tycoon. He likes to gamble, so when, upon their first meeting, she brings him her latest treasure-hunting plan, he counters with a suggestion that she go looking for a certain cache of Mayan Gold. Over the years, he has collected various people and artifacts when they have borrowed money from him and lost it. Cordelia knows she is out of options without her grandfather's investment, so she accepts his adventure, as well as his suggestion of a traveling companion, an indentured servant who was once a chemist.

Hart Goodnight had risked his company with the old tycoon and lost, but has been given a way out of his butler-contract if he can find a miracle cure for gout. The two set off for Cuba, then Mexico, with Cordelia's intrepid aunt in tow. Krahn makes great effort to keep these 1898 adventures historically correct, with fascinating details of this tumultuous period.

Cordelia and Hart are both mismatched and matched perfectly. Krahn is a master at the dance of love, and it is a delight to read Hart's sardonic journal entries as he falls in love with sexy explorer, Cordelia. Cordelia's fifty-ish aunt has a romance of her own, which adds greatly to the story.

THE BOOK OF TRUE DESIRES is a substantial, satisfying read.

Heather Hiestand