I picked up my first Loretta Chase book, in part for a reading challenge prompt and in part due to a recommendation, but that setting! Early 19th century discovery of ancient Egypt? I'm sold.

I loved that Daphne was a smart, capable heroine. I was annoyed with how much concern she had for her propriety given how stifled she was by her late husband and society in general when her passions were so clear. But I loved that Rupert was incredibly supportive of her passions and all the things that made Daphne unique, and gave her the support to embrace those things. I certainly love when a man admires his lady's brain. :)

Also, this book was hilarious. ( )

I didn't connect with this one as much as I wanted to, but it could have just been where my head space was when I read it. I loved Egypt as a setting (though the people were not shown in a great light, I don't know if that was because we were seeing it from the English-back-in-time perspective, or if Chase just didn't try very hard with them. They were pretty shallow stereotypes). Still, mummies and The Rosetta Stone, and the English and French racing to be the first to decipher it, and the characters questioning issues of preservation vs. grave robbing, etc., it was all quite a fun background! The H and h were both smart and capable and brave, which I love, and had snappy dialogue, I just didn't particularly fall for them like I would wish. ( )

Another re-read and I remember why I loved this book. Rupert Carsington has gone to Egypt to escape his father's dictum to marry a rich heiress. He becomes entangled with widow Daphne Pembroke, secret Egyptologist and lovely woman, who is looking for her kidnapped brother. It's a great story about Egypt after the Napoleonic Wars during the height of archeological finds (if you like that stuff and I do). Daphne and Rupert are so wonderful together, and it's a great adventure story as well as a romance. Ms. Chase has written a great series, well worth re-reading. ( )

I loved this fun adventure romance, although I’d also love to find out how Daphne and Rupert get on when there isn’t danger lurking around every bend in the Nile. ( )

Another older heroine, twenty-nine? Oh Ms. Loretta Chase you crazy adventurous woman!
 
So the end of chapter one made me think of the movie "The Mummy" ooh I'm excited now.
 
I'm so excited with the reveal of what the main plot of this book is about: brother who the world thinks is an Egyptian scholar is kidnapped while his sister who is the Egyptian scholar teams with a man who she thinks is dumb but needs to be the brawn, search for both the brother and a treasure map stolen by a Frenchman who is an enemy of the smart, not dumb, brawn man. Whew! I like how the plot is laid out right away so now I can just sit back and enjoy the adventure. Bring on what I think is going to be an "Indiana Jones"/"The Mummy".
 
Loved the setting, so different then many regency stories out there. The author does a commendable job of describing Egypt and really taking the reader there. The setting stole the show for me a lot of the time and I lost myself to the adventure of it all.Because of all this adventure Daphne and Rupert's relationship took a backseat. Apparently nothing pleases me because here I am complaining about too much action when the previous three or four reviews I've complained of too much relationship and not enough action. Go figure.
 
When Rupert finally says to Daphne's brother when love is mentioned “Do you know,” Carsington said mildly, “I’ve been wondering what it was.” I couldn't help but grin like a fool. Such a perfect line for his character.And then Rupert's final declaration to Daphne:“But I liked you from the moment I first heard your voice,” he said, “when I had no idea what you looked like. I thought it delicious, the way you bargained for me, as though I were an old rug. Then I loved the way you looked at me. Then I loved the way you ordered me about. I loved your patient and impatient ways of explaining things to me. I love the sound of your voice and the way you move. I love your courage and your kindness and your generosity and your obstinacy and your passion.” He paused. “You’re the genius. What do you think that means?”So freaking adorable!
 
This book could so easily be made into a romantic/adventure movie (please do so!) and in fact it felt more like I was watching a movie than reading a book. Rupert was such a great character and definitely could be called my favorite beta male character ever. I loved how he dealt with the situations he was thrown into and how he kept humorously assuring Daphne he was ok with the fact she was brilliant. Daphne was drowned out by Rupert for me. She seemed nice with flashes of some real personality when Rupert tries to rile her up (loved that!) but a little cardboard cut-out. This was sooo very close to be a keeper but for some reason Rupert and Daphne didn't have sparking chemistry which drives me to read a story over and over again. I think if I was new to romance books or hadn't read very many this would have been a keeper. It's just because I have read so many books, with a huge to be read list still, and have a fair amount of keepers already that a book has to be pretty spectacular to crack into a top spot. If you're wanting a light hearted read with an adorable beta male character, Egyptian adventure, and liked the movie "The Mummy" this book is one you have to read.
 
B ( )