Genre: Paranormal, Historical, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
Indiana Jones meets The Magpie Lord in this suspenseful MM Victorian era romance from award-winning author Stephanie Lake.
Tormented by nightmares, and fighting to maintain his sanity, Kit Asplin struggles to keep his business afloat. He might sell the occasional ancient artifact to make ends meet, but he never mixes business with pleasure. And he certainly does not have time for an inexperienced, prickly Englishman with a flirty sidekick.
Everything Dylan Mansfield holds dear is in jeopardy. If he doesn’t find a specific sacred object for his mentor, he and Bertie will lose their positions, and the only family they know. Their future lies in the hands of a man for hire, who seems a rather shady character. Can Dylan trust Kit who trades in stolen artifacts and secrets?
And if that’s not enough to cause Dylan angina, the object he must uncover and take to England has alternate plans.
His Tomb Raider is the first book in the Magic of the Lost Temple series. If you like charming characters and rich plots, you’ll love this page-turning historical romance by award-winning author Stephanie Lake. Discover this must-read paranormal series today!
The Review
In the year 1888, there’s a tomb to be found somewhere in Cairo, Egypt.
Dylan Mansfield and Bertie Hyde are on a secretive adventure. By the time they reach Cairo they’re already a day behind. Their ship was late, they missed their train, and now they have no guide. Bertie, however, is overjoyed to finally see Cairo and all that it holds. Dylan is not so excited. He already wishes he was back at Oxford. They have been selected by Professor Balcom, scholar of antiquities, language and myth, to find a powerful artifact at the “Unnamed Tomb.” Dylan wished Bertie hadn’t come, but she would be need for her expertise in hieroglyphs.
With the help of young boy, they are lead to an apothecary shop, but their hired guide is still nowhere to be found, delaying their expedition even mpre. Bertie wants to see all the sights of Cairo, and eventually Dylan gives in. But as soon as they are in the midst of it all, a commotion takes place. Dylan rushes them back to the shop, where a man makes a startling appearance.
Handsome Christopher “Kit” Asplin, the hired archaeological guide, has finally arrived, and he’s ready to leave, like, right now. Of course, Dylan objects – after all, they’re a day late already. What difference would another one make? Still, they finally get underway.
Dylan and Christopher are both keeping secrets. Bertie, not so much – she will say just about anything that comes to mind. There’s danger ahead as the three make the long journey to the “Unnamed Tomb.” Dylan tries not to be taken in by the attractive Kit, who is confused about Dylan and Bertie’s relationship. He ends up going against his own rules, and things get steam.
What will they uncover, far below sand and earth, and who will survive the unbelievable?
Lake brings readers a fast-paced, action-packed adventure in the desert outside of Cairo, a journey filled with danger, scorpions, a giant bird, an Egyptian curse, a mysterious book, deadly sand storms, cave-ins, magic and other spellbinding events.
The three main characters are likable, especially Bertie Hyde. She’s a woman to be reckoned with,and she earns her nickname “Flirty.”
His Tomb Raider is an entertaining, fun page-turner, a wild ride to start off Lake’s new “Magic of the Lost Temple” series. If this is how it all begins, I can’t wait to see what danger and excitement Lake has planned for Bertie, Dylan and Kit.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.