Treasures

A long seduction is the centerpiece of this Victorian love story combining murder, blackmail and the quest for an ancient Egyptian papyrus wanted by the English government. Three years after her father is accused of stealing the ancient manuscript and Spencer Lyonns deserts her at the altar, Catherine Farrell attends a house party, hoping to rehabilitate herself into society. At the behest of Queen Victoria herself, Spencer intrudes on Catherine's first foray into society and asks for her help in finding the papyrus. With smoldering intensity and heated exchanges, the lovers veer dangerously close to melodrama. Despite the lack of interesting secondary characters and little time spent on period detail, the reader becomes drawn into the story as Catherine's and Spencer's reconciliation leads to plot twists that reveal family secrets and put Catherine's life in jeopardy. A steamy wedding night and an exciting finish are enough reason to forgive the flowery prose. (Apr.)