Elizabeth Lowell
William Morrow
May 22, 2012 / ISBN978-0061629860
Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Amazon
Reviewed
by Linda Morelli
Dr. Lina Taylor is an archaeologist at Houston's Museum of the
Maya. She is a direct descendant of Mayan royalty. Her mother, Cecilia
Reyes Balam, runs the family import-export business in the Yucatan
and lives apart from Lina's father, Philip Taylor, an ego-centric
archaeologist.
Lina plans to return home to celebrate her great-grandmother's birthday
on December 21, 2012, the day known as the "Turning of the
Wheel" or Mayan world end. The change requires a royal blood
sacrifice performed by the Mayan priest-king.
Hunter Johnston, a former employee of ICE, Immigration and Customs
Enforcement, is informed by his friend Jase that rare Mayan artifacts,
captured during a raid, have gone missing from ICE's warehouse.
Jase must find them within three days or lose his job. Hunter agrees
to help and seeks Lina's expert assistance. He shows her photos
of the stolen items, stating he believes they may have come from
illegal digs on her family's land. Lina studies the photos and realizes
their rarity and import. She is anxious to help. She's sure her
family isn't involved in the illegal exportation of the items, but
if they are from family land, her family and the proper authorities
must be made aware.
Before Lina, Hunter and Jase can leave for the Yucatan, an attempt
is made to kidnap her, leaving Jase severely wounded and Hunter
determined to protect Lina as the two head for Mexico - and heart-stopping
danger.
I enjoyed this book. The physical attraction between Lina and Hunter
was hot from the onset, and I loved the simmering fireworks between
them. Romance is secondary to both characters, for they want to
discover who is stealing Mayan artifacts. The Mayan history is interesting
and, having been to the Yucatan, I can avow that the scenery is
believable. A highly enjoyable read.
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