Empire of the Heart

Pseudonym of Jasmine Cresswell. A well done Historical Romance set in Afghanistan, India and Victorian England . Ignore the questionable cover art and the blurb on the back. This is no Bodice Buster. No lusty ingenue and her alpha paramour rolling in the desert sand. The Great Game is the contest between Russia and England for dominance in Afghanistan. Edward is an Agent for the British Crown. Disguised as the Native trader, Rashid, he gathers information - spying - on the Afghan Tribes and the Russians. Lucy, is the orphaned daughter of an English merchant. Part of a Trade Delegation, Lucy's father was murdered by the Amir Sher Ali. Lucy has spent two years as Hashim Khan's house slave. She is rescued by Edward/Rashid, and returned to her family in England. Lucy is her father's heiress, but that does not change her status as a fallen woman in the eyes of English society. Her sister's fiance is the only honorable man that she has meet since her return. Lord de Beaumont reminds Lucy of Rashid, but she knows that is impossible. Isn't it? Good historical background on Afghanistan. Sympathetic hero and heroine. Realistic societal travails. Believable adventures in England and Afghanistan. Recommended.

This is one novel that stays in my shelf which I pick up and read at least once a year. It's well written and like the previous review, the description of Afghanistan in 1870 is very similar to the situation today. The romance set behind the exotic settings is enjoyable to read and it's a pity the book had to end ... definitely a keeper.

This book is a superb romance novel. It is the very highest quality writing. Smart & resourceful heroine (except for a mistake she makes toward the end, putting herself & hero in grave danger...but love makes fools of us all, and she suffers for it, so I forgave her) and sexy, smart & wonderful hero! Setting is 1870's Afghanistan, India, and England -- how's that for different locales? (Also, it's amazing how the author's thoughts on Afghanistan are relevant to today's situation.) Everything about the plot is great, you can't stop reading it from the minute you open it...I am SO glad I took the trouble to get this long-out-of-print book. Even the supporting characters are so well written! The entire novel is a treat and a definite keeper. I was honestly sorry when it ended! What more can you ask of a romance novel?