In need of a February pick-me-up, I decided to read these two romance books. As one of the highlights of February is Valentine’s Day, I thought these were excellent choices. So, without further ado, here are reviews!
Guarded Treasure by Mae Lovette
Edith Taylor is a librarian, keen to explore the ancient tombs she’s read about in books. However, when she’s hired as a translator, she encounters an unforeseen problem. This is Benjamin Brooks, who she dislikes intensely. However, when these rivals need to work together to unlock each of the three doors of the Cursed Tomb of Argo, sparks start to fly in this steamy opposites-attract adventure.
My Review:
This is a unique and delightfully unusual romance. It’s cute and immersive, with strong leading characters. With a tantalising dose of Egyptian history, it made me think of the film The Mummy.
Edith and Ben have an excellent dynamic. Uptight and intelligent, Edith is a strong female main character, who needs to fight against sexism in order to make her mark. Ben, on the other hand, is arrogant, her complete opposite. The author is skilled at building their relationship, as they bounce off one another, escalating the sexual tension between them at a steady pace.
There was also a wonderful sense of mystery and intrigue in the plot, with Ben and Edith unearthing information about the tomb they were attempting to open. Edit is intent on solving the puzzle, trying to get to the bottom of what happened so many years ago. With Ben at her side, protecting and supporting her, she tries to uncover this truth. I loved the way he cheered her along, making her smile, showing her affection, and creating passionate moments together, too!
All in all, this was an exciting romance. There was archaeology, mystery, spice, and lots of witty exchanges between the main characters. I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for something different, and, of course, to those who enjoyed The Mummy film.
Our Darkest Summer by Hanga E. Pavel
Elizabeth Rhodes went missing twelve years ago. The case went cold, and the town of Coldwater, Maine, assumed that she’d abandoned her family and run away. In this romance-crime fiction hybrid, Elizabeth’s sons, and their friend, Kinsley, have returned to Coldwater.
My Review:
This is a mystery/romance book, which sounds unusual, but worked extremely well. I loved the smalltown setting and dual POV, with the Rhodes brothers (Thomas and Connor) and their friend, Kinsley, visiting the lake house for the summer.
Kinsley and Thomas’s relationship is, simply put, sizzling hot, with loads of tension and chemistry. It’s spicy, the words, at times, flying off the page. Thomas’s character is a morally grey one—something that will appeal to readers who enjoy dark romances. He is charming, charismatic, while Kinsley is bright and inquisitive. They make an excellent couple, the push-pull of their relationship creating suspense throughout the story.
Thomas is determined to get to the bottom of his mother’s disappearance, and the interspersing of newspaper articles and text messages within the narrative added an interesting and immersive dimension to the plot. All the way through, I was uncertain who was involved in the disappearance, making this book a real page turner.
Our Darkest Summer is a thoroughly bingeable read, which readers of summer romances and mysteries are bound to enjoy. The author weaved of these two genres together expertly!
Have you read any good romance books lately? If so, which ones? Hope you all have a good week!
The Introverted Bookworm 
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