The Scorpion & the Seducer

This book kept my attention all the time and I could hardly put it down to do other things that needed doing. I couldn't wait to get back to it.

It is great you stay with it almost in the end you get a little confuse but you get in to it.

Egyptian born, Jasmine Tristan was part of London society by way of adoption by an English Viscount. Try as she might to adopt the strict rules of the upper crust in both manner and dress, Jasmine was shunned for her dark exotic looks and nicknamed "the little brown scorpion". After a disastrous attempt to disguise her dark skin and mingle with the upper crust at a masquerade ball Jasmine was unmasked and found herself once more in the limelight - the target of bigotry and hatred. Taking revenge on those responsible, Jasmine exposed their secrets in a gossip column with enough detail for readers to comprehend who they were. Revenge was sweet but it came with a price. Lord Thomas Claradon - heir to an Earldom had always admired Jasmine and her intelligent forthright manner, unlike the simpering ladies his parents expected him to, as was his `duty', marry and beget heirs. After sharing a passionate kiss with Jasmine, Thomas astounded by his response. However, he was later let down and furious after discovering Jasmine was behind the attempts to ruin his beloved sister's betrothal. Even though he could never marry Jasmine, it did not deter him from pursuing the woman who stirred his passion like no other. Later when Jasmine traveled to Egypt to seek the truth of her parentage, the threats and attempts on her life which started in London followed her in her wake. Someone wanted Jasmine out of Thomas' life; someone who knew the truth of Jasmine's connection to Thomas' twin brother's death. *** As always, Bonnie Vanak has created another memorable historical period piece with an Egyptian theme. In THE SCORPION AND THE SEDUCER, Vanak has zipped forward and reintroduced the child Jasmine from her previous books THE COBRA & THE CONCUBINE and THE PANTHER & THE PYRAMID as a grown up young woman. Even though I have read these previous titles, let me assure you that this, as any of Ms. Vanak's Egyptian titles, while connected do stand completely on their own. Let me also say, that each and every one is a thrilling book chock full of steamy sensuality, high adventure, and complete with imaginative and superb plots. Right from the start, Jasmine was an interesting composite of good and bad, or misguided, with a temper that overrode good sense. In a fit of anger and pushed beyond endurance by the bigotry of her peers, and for Thomas who seemed not to care for her feelings, Jasmine thirsted for vengeance against the people who had hurt her. Revenge was sweet but when found out, Jasmine felt ashamed and began to fear that the rumors of how vile her biological father was, were true and that the saying "...blood will tell..." would prove her as evil as he. When given the chance to travel to Egypt and write articles to send home of the history of her father's people, along with the updates on the latest archaeological dig, Jasmine knew she had to go. It was imperative Jasmine prove to herself that no one could be as soul-less as her biological

This book is set in the 1800's and takes place in England and Egypt. The heroine, who was a child in past books from this series, has to deal with bigotry and a sense of not knowing where she belongs. the hero is someone trying to fullfil his horrible family's expectations for his place in society. don't let that bore you...there is also a great mystery and twist with Eqyptian adventure! AND if that itsn't enough, there are great love scenes. If you enjoy this time period/setting in a romance, and like to see a little paranormal or adventure thrown in, then bonnie vanak's books are for you. this book didn't have really any paranormal elements, but some of her past work does. this is a great stand-alone page turner, however, the other books in this series are so fantastic and original, i would start there. the Eqyptian romances by bonnie vanak in order are: the falcon & the dove; the tiger & the tomb; the cobra & the cocubine; the panther & the pyramid; the sword & the sheath; and the scorpion & the seducer. the first one is still one of my favorites!!

In London, the Ton has always treated half-Egyptian Jasmine Tristan as a pariah disparaging her as the "Brown Scorpion". Perhaps the only exception besides her adopted father is the Earl Thomas Wallenford, who not only admires her élan, but believes he is in love with her. Although she reciprocates his feelings, she knows they cannot make a match; when he was twelve, his late father made it clear she was a loser two times as a heathen and as an illegit; affirmed by Thomas' mother. When his older twin Nigel the "perfect one" dies, Thomas becomes the duke and must ignore his heart for the sake of his title. Still he and Jasmine make a trek to Egypt where she hopes to learn who her natural parents are and he spent time with family there when Nigel was ill back when they were preadolescents. As they admit their love in the desert, the person who killed the twin plans to murder Thomas too. The latest desert historical romance is a superb tale that brings to life Egypt in the late 1890s. The lead couple is a strong pairing as both knows his mother thinks Jasmine is beneath her socially yet love blossoms between them. The murder mystery is well done, but serves as a minor subplot as Bonnie Vanak provides another strong Victorian Egyptian romance filled with a vivid background. Harriet Klausner