Laurie G. (beachgal) reviewed The Book of the Seven Delights (Library of Alexandria, Bk 1) on + 30 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Krahn is such fun to read! Spicy, but with lots of emotional connection between the characters. This story has tons of great historical seasoning...the main character is in search of the Great Library of Alexandria after she finds a text that gives her clues while working in the basement of the British Museum. Though she's a great scholar, she's put down there because she's a woman. One of the texts she finds during the course of the story (the aforementioned title of the book) has a list of seven ways couples can enhance their love for each other, sexually (hence, the spice...) and she finds lots of ways to explore them! Great read!
Margaret J. reviewed The Book of the Seven Delights (Library of Alexandria, Bk 1) on + 99 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Abigail Merchant is determined to prove her worth as a librarian to the stodgy old men running the Brittish Museum. When she uncovers the journals of an eccentric scholar in the basement, she sees the opportunity to earn the curator's respect and vows to complete the old boy's search for the remnants of the Great Library of Alexandria...even if she has to go all the way to Timbuktu to do it.
Drawing on her inheritance, Abigail travels on her own to Casablanca, where her quest becomes entangled with the fate of a hansome ex-legionnaire with a murky past. Arrogant, brash Apollo Smith hardly inspires trust, but he certainly inspires unladylike thoughts. Together they discover the remnants of the great library-including a scroll that will change both of their lives, The Book of Seven Delights. But a host of vengeful legionnaires and greedy bandits is soon on their trail, threatening to steal their priceless archaeological find... and put an end to the sensual delights they have just begun to discover....
Drawing on her inheritance, Abigail travels on her own to Casablanca, where her quest becomes entangled with the fate of a hansome ex-legionnaire with a murky past. Arrogant, brash Apollo Smith hardly inspires trust, but he certainly inspires unladylike thoughts. Together they discover the remnants of the great library-including a scroll that will change both of their lives, The Book of Seven Delights. But a host of vengeful legionnaires and greedy bandits is soon on their trail, threatening to steal their priceless archaeological find... and put an end to the sensual delights they have just begun to discover....
Kathy L. reviewed The Book of the Seven Delights (Library of Alexandria, Bk 1) on + 30 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Wonderful mix of romance with a bit of mystery. Could not put it down.
D.A. C. reviewed The Book of the Seven Delights (Library of Alexandria, Bk 1) on + 20 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
If you've ever felt discounted as a woman, you'll enjoy this story of Victorian librarian Abigail Merchant at the British Museum. Her courage and intelligence shine through Bettina Krahn's writing. Assigned to the most boring of tasks, she discovers notes that she thinks point to the location of the Great Library of Alexander! Laughed at by the British Museum, she journeys on her own to Casablanca and becomes entangled with a murky gentlemen. Together, they win through in many satisfying ways.
Jamie B. (mrsb) - , reviewed The Book of the Seven Delights (Library of Alexandria, Bk 1) on + 78 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I have read Betina Krahn's Wife Test (Husband Test and Marriage Test) series and I loved it. But this book I had a difficult time getting into at first as it was slow. It took me a while and I even debated quitting a time or two ... but I was glad that I kept on because it did get better and I enjoyed it.
There is a sequel, The Book of True Desires that was released in 2006.
There is a sequel, The Book of True Desires that was released in 2006.
Anny P. (wolfnme) reviewed The Book of the Seven Delights (Library of Alexandria, Bk 1) on + 3389 more book reviews
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
fabulous late Victorian romantic suspense , June 29, 2005
Reviewer: Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
In 1899, American librarian Abigail Merchant obtains a job with the prestigious British Museum due to the influence of her estranged scholarly father. However, the chauvinist management has problems with a female working in a museum so they assign her to the basement to catalogue the zillion donations received over the decades. Though upset with the position Abigail accepts it as a foot in the doorway.
After several of weeks monstrous monotonous classifying, Abigail uncovers the suitcase given to the library by Professor Thaddeus Chilton five decades ago. Inside is scholarly information that provides clues to where someone could find the remains of the ancient Library of Alexandria destroyed by the Romans. Abigail travels across the Mediterranean towards Casablanca on the Star of Persia, but becomes ill. The crew refuses to deal with an infidel female, so passenger Apollo Smith nurtures her back to health. In Northern Africa they follow clues but others wait to steal any artifacts they find while even worse problems plague them as rogue legionnaires want them dead.
Readers who treasure strong female protagonists starring in historical romantic suspense thrillers will take immense delight in Betina Krahn's fabulous late Victorian tale. The story line starts off by introducing the audience to the intrepid, energetic but bored Abigail struggling to escape the restraints the chauvinistic English scholarly-library community imposes on women regardless of experience, education, or intelligence. The plot abruptly picks up speed at sea and becomes hyperspeed in Africa where the two lead characters go from one escapade to another while falling in love.
fabulous late Victorian romantic suspense , June 29, 2005
Reviewer: Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
In 1899, American librarian Abigail Merchant obtains a job with the prestigious British Museum due to the influence of her estranged scholarly father. However, the chauvinist management has problems with a female working in a museum so they assign her to the basement to catalogue the zillion donations received over the decades. Though upset with the position Abigail accepts it as a foot in the doorway.
After several of weeks monstrous monotonous classifying, Abigail uncovers the suitcase given to the library by Professor Thaddeus Chilton five decades ago. Inside is scholarly information that provides clues to where someone could find the remains of the ancient Library of Alexandria destroyed by the Romans. Abigail travels across the Mediterranean towards Casablanca on the Star of Persia, but becomes ill. The crew refuses to deal with an infidel female, so passenger Apollo Smith nurtures her back to health. In Northern Africa they follow clues but others wait to steal any artifacts they find while even worse problems plague them as rogue legionnaires want them dead.
Readers who treasure strong female protagonists starring in historical romantic suspense thrillers will take immense delight in Betina Krahn's fabulous late Victorian tale. The story line starts off by introducing the audience to the intrepid, energetic but bored Abigail struggling to escape the restraints the chauvinistic English scholarly-library community imposes on women regardless of experience, education, or intelligence. The plot abruptly picks up speed at sea and becomes hyperspeed in Africa where the two lead characters go from one escapade to another while falling in love.
Laura H. (lalalou) - , reviewed The Book of the Seven Delights (Library of Alexandria, Bk 1) on + 38 more book reviews
Good if you like Indiana Jones meets the Mummy meets your favorite romance author. An enjoyable read.
Frances K. reviewed The Book of the Seven Delights (Library of Alexandria, Bk 1) on + 31 more book reviews
A romantic adventure
Ms Kahn offers wonderful characters and a lovely sense of humor
I enjoyed revisiting her FMK
Ms Kahn offers wonderful characters and a lovely sense of humor
I enjoyed revisiting her FMK
TakingTime reviewed The Book of the Seven Delights (Library of Alexandria, Bk 1) on + 1072 more book reviews
Victorian age romantic adventure...a librarian, with the need to overcome the "good old boy" mentality of the Board of Directors, takes on a reserach project that not only takes her half way around the world, but also helps top complete her world...
Raquel G. (rmg321) reviewed The Book of the Seven Delights (Library of Alexandria, Bk 1) on + 159 more book reviews
Not one of her best, really far fetched adventure/romance
Pam B. (PamelaK) reviewed The Book of the Seven Delights (Library of Alexandria, Bk 1) on + 1217 more book reviews
This book is in the realm of "Lara Croft, Tomb Raider", and "Romancing the Stone". Adveenture, romance, some hateful chauvinists, lots of action - I can see this being made into a movie. Stick with it & enjoy.
Runa I. reviewed The Book of the Seven Delights (Library of Alexandria, Bk 1) on + 8 more book reviews
Cute and funny, like all of Krahn's novels!
Mhairi C. (ojodelmar) reviewed The Book of the Seven Delights (Library of Alexandria, Bk 1) on + 38 more book reviews
a really fun romance
Barbara A. (barbwired) reviewed The Book of the Seven Delights (Library of Alexandria, Bk 1) on + 130 more book reviews
Abigail Merchant travels to Casablanca to search for the remnants of the Great Library of Alexandria. There, her quest becomes entangled with the fate of a handsome ex-legionnaire. Arrogant, brash Apollo Smith hardly inspires trust...but he certainly inspires unladylike thoughts. Together they search for the remnants of the great library, but a host of vengeful legionnaires and greedy bandits is soon on their trail, threatening to put an end to the sensual delights they have just begun to discover.