WhiskeyintheJar Romance

Another older heroine, twenty-nine? Oh Ms. Loretta Chase you crazy adventurous woman!

So the end of chapter one made me think of the movie "The Mummy" ooh I'm excited now.

I'm so excited with the reveal of what the main plot of this book is about: brother who the world thinks is an Egyptian scholar is kidnapped while his sister who is the Egyptian scholar teams with a man who she thinks is dumb but needs to be the brawn, search for both the brother and a treasure map stolen by a Frenchman who is an enemy of the smart, not dumb, brawn man. Whew! I like how the plot is laid out right away so now I can just sit back and enjoy the adventure. Bring on what I think is going to be an "Indiana Jones"/"The Mummy".

Loved the setting, so different then many regency stories out there. The author does a commendable job of describing Egypt and really taking the reader there. The setting stole the show for me a lot of the time and I lost myself to the adventure of it all.
Because of all this adventure Daphne and Rupert's relationship took a backseat. Apparently nothing pleases me because here I am complaining about too much action when the previous three or four reviews I've complained of too much relationship and not enough action. Go figure.

When Rupert finally says to Daphne's brother when love is mentioned “Do you know,” Carsington said mildly, “I’ve been wondering what it was.” I couldn't help but grin like a fool. Such a perfect line for his character.
And then Rupert's final declaration to Daphne:
“But I liked you from the moment I first heard your voice,” he said, “when I had no idea what you looked like. I thought it delicious, the way you bargained for me, as though I were an old rug. Then I loved the way you looked at me. Then I loved the way you ordered me about. I loved your patient and impatient ways of explaining things to me. I love the sound of your voice and the way you move. I love your courage and your kindness and your generosity and your obstinacy and your passion.” He paused. “You’re the genius. What do you think that means?”
So freaking adorable!

This book could so easily be made into a romantic/adventure movie (please do so!) and in fact it felt more like I was watching a movie than reading a book. Rupert was such a great character and definitely could be called my favorite beta male character ever. I loved how he dealt with the situations he was thrown into and how he kept humorously assuring Daphne he was ok with the fact she was brilliant. Daphne was drowned out by Rupert for me. She seemed nice with flashes of some real personality when Rupert tries to rile her up (loved that!) but a little cardboard cut-out. This was sooo very close to be a keeper but for some reason Rupert and Daphne didn't have sparking chemistry which drives me to read a story over and over again. I think if I was new to romance books or hadn't read very many this would have been a keeper. It's just because I have read so many books, with a huge to be read list still, and have a fair amount of keepers already that a book has to be pretty spectacular to crack into a top spot. If you're wanting a light hearted read with an adorable beta male character, Egyptian adventure, and liked the movie "The Mummy" this book is one you have to read.

B++