REVIEW: City of Jasmine by Deanna Raybourn

City of Jasmine by Deanna Raybourn: I’m going to preface my review by saying this isn’t what I would call a ‘standard’ romance novel. I’d classify it as more of a Historical Intrigue/Adventure story. That being said, if you stop now – you’re missing out on one of the best books I’ve read in a long time, written by an amazingly talented author. If you decide to pick this up, do yourself a favor, go and get the prequel – Whisper of Jasmine. It gives the background on the two main characters in this story, and sets up the intrigue plotline as well.

Five years after the spur-of-the-moment elopement of Evie Merriweather and Gabriel Stark, things couldn’t be any different. Evie is a not-so-grieving widow after Gabriel went down on the Lusitania – just before their divorce was final. She’s made a new life for herself as a rather famous aviatrix, gathering sponsors and taking trips around the world with her Aunt Dove and a bird named Arthur.

Before she can finish her latest tour, she receives a picture of her husband that seems to be taken quite recently. Of course, that’s surprising since he’s supposed to be deceased. Her mechanic, Wally is with her when she finds it, and he thinks they should follow the lead that points them in the direction of Damascus as inscribed on the back of the photo.

So, she comes up with a plan to make a slight detour – yet still keep her plans to fly across the seven seas of antiquity to appease her sponsors. Taking a trip through Damascus in 1920 was rather foolhardy, as it was in the throes of the Franco-Syrian War. But Evie was never one to shy away from adventure – she needed to find out if her suspicions were correct. If her husband really was alive.

Knowing her husband was involved in archaeology, she investigates a digsite, where she meets the team involved there. She gets an invite to dinner with them and meets the co-leaders of the expedition, Mrs. Green and Mr. Rowan. While we – the reader – get no indication of suspicious behavior, Evie manages to pick up some subtle hints about Rowan’s true identity. Disguised behind yellowing teeth and a hunched back is her husband, Gabriel.

Once he’s discovered by her, the intrigue is afoot. He sent the picture as a sort of ‘rabbit hole’ to entice her to find him. He regrets the way he treated her, and wants to do something to set it right. He’s on the verge of retrieving and reassembling a great treasure, which he hopes to hand over to Evie – and he’d like her help to get it.

I won’t go into detail here – but I’ll say that the chase and the discoveries along the way are engrossing! I was drawn so far in that I *literally* stayed up all night to find out who was a good guy and who was a bad guy – where the pieces were going to fall… it was just amazing. Also, the level of historical detail that I got out of reading the story was breathtaking. I got out a couple of my history books and re-read things to fill in some gaps, but it was great to get the feel of some ‘color’ instead of just reading facts.

Okay, back to the story. Along the way, Evie learns that Gabriel had reasons for becoming distant so quickly after they were married, and that faking his death was not as it seemed. He has since parted ways with the obstacles that separated the two of them, and they found themselves getting closer. She learned so many things about him that she never could have guessed. Things that would surprise even the most wizened of diplomats. However, after their short reconciliation, they must yet again part. He still had obligations, and she could have no part in them.

The ending is bittersweet, but I will tell you that the couple reunites and has a “ride off into the sunset” moment. Definitely a Happily Ever After, even though there is a bit of sadness and betrayal before that can happen.

I almost have a hard time describing how amazing this book is. I urge you, even if you think this might not be your cup of tea, just try it. Hopefully they’ll offer a sample, but wow – it’s well worth reading. This book is going on my “To Keep” shelf – that means it doesn’t get removed or archived, but put aside so I can read it again. The highest praise I give any book in my collection.

Book Info:

Publication: February 25th 2014 by Harlequin MIRA

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…