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Beautiful Sacrifice
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.

Reviewer Linda Morelli is the award winning author of three published romance novels.
Reviewed 2012
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