Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Review: City of Jasmine by Deanna Raybourn

Rating:  ★★★★ stars
Date published: February 25th, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
Synopsis: Set against the lush, exotic European colonial outposts of the 1920s, New York Times bestselling author Deanna Raybourn delivers the captivating tale of one woman who embarks upon a journey to see the world—and ends up finding intrigue, danger and a love beyond all reason. 

Famed aviatrix Evangeline Starke never expected to see her husband, adventurer Gabriel Starke, ever again. They had been a golden couple, enjoying a whirlwind courtship amid the backdrop of a glittering social set in prewar London until his sudden death with the sinking of the Lusitania. Five years later, beginning to embrace life again, Evie embarks upon a flight around the world, collecting fame and admirers along the way. In the midst of her triumphant tour, she is shocked to receive a mysterious—and recent—photograph of Gabriel, which brings her ambitious stunt to a screeching halt. 

With her eccentric aunt Dove in tow, Evie tracks the source of the photo to the ancient City of Jasmine, Damascus. There she discovers that nothing is as it seems. Danger lurks at every turn, and at stake is a priceless relic, an artifact once lost to time and so valuable that criminals will stop at nothing to acquire it—even murder. Leaving the jewelled city behind, Evie sets off across the punishing sands of the desert to unearth the truth of Gabriel's disappearance and retrieve a relic straight from the pages of history. 

Along the way, Evie must come to terms with the deception that parted her from Gabriel and the passion that will change her destiny forever...


What I Thought:

I've read books written by Deanna Raybourn before.  She's never failed to impress me.  Her books have always been very well written, researched, and very entertaining.  I was excited when I read the synopsis for this book because I knew it was going to be a great read, and I wasn't disappointed.

Evie is one heck of a woman and so is her Aunt Dove.  They are two women who are intrepid, bold, and independent.  I admired them for their adventures, especially in a time when being a woman wasn't a favorable thing.  I loved how determined Evie was to get to the bottom of things.  

I was taken on this amazing journey with Evie as she looked for answers.  Was Gabriel alive or not?  Aunt Dove was a hoot.  She often had me in stitches.  There were many times when I was taken aback by the events in the book.  There were so many different developments and all of them took me by surprise.  I wasn't able to guess a single plot twist, which I loved.

Deanna Raybourn has written another great work. I can't wait to see what she writes next. This thriller was amazing and gripping.  I think it's perfect for reading on the beach or on vacation.  I wasn't able to put this book down and I don't think you will be able to either.  


Purchase Links:


About the Author
A sixth-generation native Texan, New York Times bestselling author Deanna Raybourn graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a double major in English and history and an emphasis on Shakespearean studies. She taught high school English for three years in San Antonio before leaving education to pursue a career as a novelist. Deanna makes her home in Virginia, where she lives with her husband and daughter.









* A copy was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for them in any manner.*

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