The Tiger & the Tomb

Bonnie Vanak's Desert books are very enjoyable. I think this one is my favorite because of the relationships between the characters. I really enjoy reading about other cultures and I think MS. Vanak does that very well.

This sequel was as good if not better than the first....the leading lady was tragic, but still finds happiness. She is disfigured and does not believe anyone would ever want her so she runs away to escape an arranged marriage and finds her hero, who turns out to be the person she was supposed to marry.

In 1893 an arranged marriage pairs Lady Katherine Smithfield with an Egyptian family friend known as Nazim. Despite her dual English and Egyptian heritage, Katherine only fulfills the marriage contract because it was her mother's dying wish. Besides, her scarred left cheek assures a dearth of marriage proposals. The scar was left by tiger cub in her youth. Now her father is in danger. Unless she can steal a treasure map from a man known as Ramses, her father is bound for jail for a crime he did not commit. Her blackmailer assures her that her father will not survive the experience.Ramses deplores his half-English heritage. Like his sacred totem, Ramses is fierce and relentless as a tiger when he stalks something he wants, and he wants the mysterious woman for a night of passion before he signs his marriage agreement. Like his ancestors, as a Guardian of the Ages (those sworn to protect his sheikh), Ramses is a warrior sworn to sacred bonds of trust. Once he marries his English bride, he will take the name Nazim and must remain faithful to his wife to ensure an heir to carry forth his family's sacred trust. When they meet, both Katherine and Ramses experience an overwhelming chemistry, even though neither knows the identity of the one they are sworn to marry or that their missions put them at cross purposes.Bonnie Vanak weaves a captivating tale of love and intrigue in THE TIGER & THE TOMB. The sequel to THE FALCON AND THE DOVE, Both Katherine and Rames suffer from deep inner torment that finds love's remarkable power of healing. Vanak displays impressive flair for capturing the atmosphere of ancient Egypt, lending the exotic past a vivid presence that lingers with the reader long after the last page is turned. With a remarkable blend of eroticism, adventure, and humor, THE TIGER & THE TOMB belongs on the historical romance fan's keeper shelf. THE TIGER & THE TOMB comes very highly recommended.

In 1893 Lady Katherine Smithfield travels to Egypt where she is to fulfill her late mother's death bed wish that she marries a family friend, Nazim. Katherine is not too happy with this arrangement, but besides honoring her deceased mother she rationalizes that it is not like she has any other prospects ever since an accident scarred her visage.However, her father is in trouble and if Katherine wants to see him free and alive she must steal a treasure map from someone named Ramses or the blackmailing tomb robbers will insure an accident occurs. Ramses knows that once he marries his English bride, he will be sworn as a Guardian of the Ages to take the name Nazim and remain faithful to his wife. Katherine tries to buy one of his famous Arabian stallions but the stud discussion leads to a kiss that moves the earth. Though she feels she found her soul mate, she steals the map. Ramses vows the thief of his heart will be his, but neither knows the danger nor whom the other really is.THE TIGER & THE TOMB, the sequel to the delightful FALCON AND THE DOVE, is a tremendous Victorian era romantic suspense that will make believers out of readers that Bonnie Vanak is a great writer. The story line is action packed yet filled with humor, some of which is erotic. The secondary cast adds depth to the era, the intrigue, or amusing insight into the lead couple. Ramses and Katherine are a charming duet whose adventures in late nineteenth century Egypt is a winner for historical readers of any age.Harriet Klausner

Lady Katherine Smithfield, is in Egypt with her father to complete betrothal arrangements for a marriage promised years earlier between her and a family friend of her deceased mother. He was called Nazim, whom she assumed was some kind of goat-herder and not too thrilled, but she would obey her father's wishes to honor her mothers last dying request. Katherine didn't expect much of the marriage since an accident had scarred her face. She knew, by the looks of revulsion from her peers, that no one else would be offering for her. Unfortunately, the betrothal was the last thing on her mind as Katherine was being blackmailed and forced by unscrupulous tomb raiders to become a thief in order to save her father from being framed for a crime and locked up in an Egyptian jail where she was promised - accidents happen all the time. She instructed to find the man called Ramses and steal the map that he carried on him which showed the way to a gold mine. This man, whose reputation as an incomparable lover, was gloriously handsome and Katherine would have to disguise herself as a veiled Egyptian in order to get close enough to steal the map.Ramses, aware of his reputation, used it to his advantage, giving as much pleasure as he took, knowing that once he married his dreaded English bride there would be no more dalliances. He was honor bound as a Guardian of the Ages to complete the betrothal process, taking the name of Nazim - and he would also swear an oath to cleave unto no woman but his wife. Before going to sign the necessary betrothal papers, Ramses, was to meet a woman who was looking to breed her mare with one of his famous Arabian stallions. Katherine was using this as an excuse to have Ramses meet her discreetly. After a `double entendre' conversation it was not clear as to which `stud' service she was looking for, but after one kiss that shook her to the core, she almost forgot to steal the map - but with that kiss she stole a piece of Ramses heart. Ramses, later discovering the map to be gone, knew where it would lead and vowed that they would meet again - his little thief with green eyes. In an attempt to save her from her captors, he would be mortally wounded and she would end up saving him. Through the days of convalescence, alone in a desert cave, Ramses would discover that his enigmatic `lotus flower' was actually his betrothed English bride. He would have his hands full trying to convince her to trust him but his bigger battle would be convincing her that he thought her beautiful and should not hide her face behind a veil. Wow! This romance was soooo very hot - and I don't mean because of the setting in the Egyptian desert - that it could almost be classified as erotic! Not only was the plot fast paced with plenty of suspense and romance, but the interplay between Ramses and Katherine was fabulously sensual along with the touching openness and honesty of their feelings for one another. The secondary characters were well thought