THE TIGER AND THE TOMB

Author: Bonnie Vanak ISBN:0843952997 12/2003 HISTORICAL Publisher: Dorcester/Leisure
Time Period: Victorian - 1893

Warrior of the Wind The map to the treasure-filled tomb that would ransom Lady Katherine’s father was in the possession of a half-English “Khamsin,” a desert warrior renowned for tiger-like ferocity. Long ago, a tiger had scarred Katherine and taught her a lesson: Protect yourself from such powerful creatures, no matter how beautiful. The veil she wore would not be enough. Seeker of her heart Her foe was truly dangerous. His amber eyes were keener than his sword, his kisses too. They stripped away Katherine’s defenses and made her forget her duties, her promises, why she’d hidden so much from his view. Then the warrior took Katherine where she wished to go. In the depths of his ancestor’s tomb he made sweet love to her and proved she was his… and that very soon he would uncover everything she tried to hide. More information can be found on Bonnie's website: http://www.bonnievanak.com/

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Think warm desert sands…romantic starlit nights…and Rudolf. Valentino.

Imagine a pair of soft, silky, masculine lips pressed and whispering low against your ear, while you dream of a dark and handsome hero, come to possess and protect you as his beloved. Envision hardened male bodies in Egyptian kilts, and longhaired desert sheiks. And silk. Yards and yards of silk waving in the desert winds, smooth and cool against naked flesh as…

Oh, sorry. I forgot myself. I got so wrapped up in this romantic and refreshing Arabian Nights tale that I totally forgot what I was doing. But I know what I'd like to be doing, and that's transporting myself through time and into THE TIGER AND THE TOMB by Bonnie Vanak.

Ramses, a Khamsin warrior, is half English and half Egyptian. He detests and shuns his English culture and turns instead to those customs and beliefs of his father's people. Yet he finds himself betrothed to English Lady Katherine Kalila Smithfield, whom he's never met and who, unbeknownst to him, is half English and Egyptian as well. When Elizabeth's father's life becomes threatened by the greedy curator of the Giza museum over a lost gold mine, she is forced into stealing a map from Ramses in order to save him, unaware that Ramses is her betrothed. As for Ramses, he's expecting some proper stuffy Englishwoman; he hasn't a clue that this thief, this lovely little lotus blossom, as he calls her, is destined to be his dutiful bride.

A romantic adventure set in late Victorian Egypt, this book was such a great change of setting and so well paced that it wasn't long before I found myself thoroughly immersed in this tale of hidden treasure, sacred caves, and two young lovers struggling with emotional baggage and worlds culturally at odds with each other.

With its original setting, fascinating historical descriptions and vivid depictions of rituals and Egyptian culture, as well as good dialogue, memorable secondary characters and, at times, a storyline that had me comparing this book to movies such as "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "The Mummy", this book gets a rigid two-thumbs up from me. It's original, a learning experience, and a thoroughly enjoyable Victorian trip, full of adventure and sultry romance in the exotic land of the Pharaohs.

Oh, yeah. The cover isn't too bad either! ;-)

Nancy Davis