Review: Fine Romantic Adventure Novel
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 31, 2012
Valley of the Shadows is my 3rd Kathryn Le Veque novel and second of her "romance adventure" books.  This is obviously a very well researched book filled with Egyptian history and archeology related terminology.  Don't expect the characters to pepper their dialogue with convenient definitions of things like "cartouche" or "antechamber."  Ms. Le Veque's love of the topic clearly shines through as does her respect for the reader by not "dumbing down" the dialogue.Kathlyn Trent and Marcus Burton don't have the most auspicious start. Marcus is resentful of Kathlyn's presence on his dig and rightfully so.  Marcus has spent three seasons trying to locate the tomb of Rameses VIII without success.  His sponsors have collaborated with another university to bring in "hit and run" specialist, Kathlyn. Kathlyn has the reputation of using a "sixth sense" to locate antiquities and relics.  She only stays long enough to find the item and rarely participates in the excavation. I thought Marcus' interactions with Kathlyn in the beginning were apropos.Kathlyn's "sixth sense" is instrumental in locating a hidden tomb which should have been her cue to leave for the next site on her itinerary.  Over the course of time, Kathlyn and Marcus have developed a mutual respect and admiration for each other.  Not to mention a flirtation that has not gone unnoticed by their colleagues.  Rather than rush off to the next place, Kathlyn wishes to stay with Marcus and explore the romantic feelings she has for him and participate in the excavation. Fortunately he shares those same feelings and thus begins the romance part of the novel.The love scenes are not graphic and there aren't many of them.  Marcus' stamina was so over the top that I had to roll my eyes.  He's the Energizer Bunny.  `Nuff said.Since Kathlyn knows Marcus and she share the same feelings, she feels comfortable going on to Israel for her next assignment. As a "hit and run" specialist, she can locate the item (the Ark of the Covenant) and return to Marcus and their dig site in short order. This run of the mill assignment (for Kathlyn) turns into something dangerous and deadly.I liked the plotting and pacing of this book very much.  The subject matter was intriguing and the action sequences well written. What I didn't like was a villain who had diarrhea of the mouth.  You know the type...the one who's going to kill you, but first has to tell you all the details of their evil plot.  I've never been a fan of this methodology of revealing plot and motivation. It feels contrived and unrealistic.Some of Kathlyn's behavior at the dig site I thought was boneheaded. Since she rarely sticks around for an excavation, I can only assume she's not highly experienced in the protocol. She engages in some actions that were not only risky to her physically but also to the integrity of the structure and the items therein.  It was meant to show her pluck.  I would have kicked her off the dig.  When you know for a fact that the tomb is booby trapped, why oh why would you lift up the shiny statue that seems out of place?Overall I enjoyed this book because of the subject matter and the action aspect.  The romance was OK and only marred for me by of the constant references to Marcus' "cobalt blue eyes."  I freely admit that repetition drives me bonkers.I've downloaded books 2 and 3 in the series and will definitely read them.