| Title | : | Desire Me (The Legend Hunters, #2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0446541974 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780446541978 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 338 |
| Publication | : | First published May 14, 2010 |
The Men of Solomon's meet in secret, their very existence only a rumor among the best of Victorian society. They are treasure hunters, men of wealth and title, seekers of myths and legends. And no legend is as mystifying as the lost city of Atlantis . . .
DESIRE ME
Years ago, Maxwell Barrett found a map to Atlantis and dedicated his life to the search for the mystical lost continent. But when an alluring woman makes a wager for the priceless artifact, he may have discovered an even greater treasure.
A descendant of Atlantis, Sabine Tobias needs the map to decipher an ancient prophecy. What she doesn't need are the sparks flying between her and Max. He's too devilishly charming to be trusted: The fate of her people is at stake as well as her heart. Yet a ruthless killer also covets the map. Now Max and Sabine must race to decode the prophecy's riddle before this criminal fulfills his deadly mission.
Desire Me (The Legend Hunters, #2) Reviews
-
2,5 Stars
Set in late Victorian London (1888), this is a fast paced adventure-driven Romance.
Sabine Tobias is an Atlantean, descendant of the ancient and legendary lost civilization, and she desperately needs to retrieve an old map that will help her fulfil a prophecy representing the last chance to save her people from definitive destruction. Said map is in possession of dashing and handsome Maxwell Barrett, who fortuitously found it in a sea-cave when he was still a teen.
Intrigued and fascinated by the mysterious and exotic beauty, Max joins Sabine's quest, also hoping to find the final piece of evidence in order to prove the existence of Atlantis, the goal of all his studies and researches as a Legend Hunter and member of the Men of Solomon Club. But achieving his ultimate project could mean betraying the only woman he has ever loved.
Just a brief comment.
Action-packed with the occasional witty repartee, though lacking character development and a really meaningful depiction of the blossoming relationship between the H\h, which I never felt going beyond the initial lust-stage, too little for a full-length Romance. The rather disjointed overlapping of the love story with the adventurous subplot creaked in several places and the action often excessively took over the romantic aspects (again, being this a Romance).
The paranormal elements relied upon the lore and myths surrounding Atlantis and suspension of disbelief went as far as contemplating the possibility of undercover Atlanteans roaming the streets of London and blending into society, trying to preserve the secrets about their destiny. Nothing as elaborate and in-depth as world-building and alternate reality, just some charming added layers that got the plot ticking and gave the villains purpose.
A decent story as a whole. I didn't like it enough to make me want to read the other two instalments in the Legend Hunters trilogy, but since the writing style per se was quite good and showed some nice spark, I may consider in the future the author's more recent releases. -
En fait c’est plus un 2,5 ... Le mythe de l’Atlantide bof ... par contre, j’ai adoré le côté course-poursuite façon Indiana Jones ... Seulement voilà je n’ai pas réussi à apprécier les personnages ni à croire à leur romance.
-
Il m'aura fallu 1 an et demi pour lire ce livre... oops.
Ce qui n'est pas lié à son écriture mais plutôt à moi-même, je l'ai laissé tomber sans raison valable, explicable pendant longtemps.
Bon il faut avouer que le premier tome avec son héros entre Indy et la Momie et son héroïe qui rappelle Evy, avait une place particulière dans mon coeur^^
Ici nous suivons Max, rencontré dans le tome 1, qui cherche le continent perdu de l’Atlantide (et il a même trouvé une carte....) et Sabine, une descendante des Atlantes, qui doit contrer une prophétie.
Et un méchant qui croit en cette prophétie.
Tout comme le premier une saveur d'aventure et de surnaturel, mais ici c'est sans doute le mythe de l'Atlatide, j'ai été moins embarquée dans l'histoire. Pas la faute de l'auteur ni des héros. 'avec ma mémoire de poisson rouge, va surtout falloir que je le relise XD (mais là, j'ai envie d epasser au 3 enf ait ^^) -
Maxwell Barrett found an ancient map of Atlantis when he was only 17. This discovery led of years of searching for even more proof of the lost city's existence. Sabine Tobias is an actual descendant of Atlantis and her aunt is even a "guardian" of the healing elixir from Atlantis. When Sabine must use the map to uncover clues about an ancient prophecy that may save her aunt's life, she has no choice but to seek Max's assistance. Sabine and Max are not happy to be together on this adventure, piecing together clues and possibly even falling in love.
"Desire Me" was heavy on the action-adventure and light on the romance. The romance did kick into gear in the last 100 or so pages and I finally felt like I got to know the characters. I didn't feel like I knew much about the characters at the beginning. I did like how Max slowly (very slowly) revealed his real self at the end, including why he pushed away anyone who got close to him.
The most interesting character to me was probably one of the villains. Cassandra was a great villain, a vain society girl you love to hate. She even had her evil footman/lover at her side to do all of her dirty work. I would have liked to have seen more of the other Legend Hunters in the story because I love secondary characters, especially in a series.
The Atlantis myth is fascinating to me and the Atlantaen elixir adds a bit of the paranormal to the story. The paranormal elements seemed believable and blended into the story seamlessly.
This book will appeal to readers who like a good adventure and hidden clues to solve a la The DaVinci Code, with a bit of romance thrown in.
This book was provided for review by Hachette Books.
reviewed for:
http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com/ -
Desire Me is the second book in Robyn DeHart's Legend Hunters series which revolves around a gentlemen's club in Victorian London called Solomon's. Each member of the club has his own specific legend he is researching to find proof it exists. Our hero, Maxwell Barrett, is a member of Solomon's and he has dedicated his life to searching for Atlantis. He is in possession of a map of the lost continent but he hasn't found irrefutable proof that the island truly existed. Our heroine, Sabine Tobias, is a descendant of Atlantis and she needs Max's map to unravel a an ancient prophecy. She needs it to stop the Chosen One who is bent on resurrecting the Atlantean army and bringing forth the destruction of the world. Now, Max and Sabine must work together to decipher the prophecy before it's too late.
I did read the Seduce Me (the first book in the series) prior to reading this book, but Desire Me is standalone. If you're looking for an Indiana Jones type of adventure in your romance, Desire Me is it. There's a lot of twists and turns in this book. The hero and heroine travel all over England to search for clues in the prophecy that includes digging up old graves, secret passages, breaking into the British museum, and running from villainous thugs. There was so much running around that I feel like the romance between Max and Sabine was pushed to the side and it became secondary. Also, while we're given some background on the hero and heroine, we don't really get to know them until almost the end of the book and even then I'm still left with questions. I didn't feel like I connect with either of them and it took me longer to finish this book because of that--I'd take a break reading and I had to make myself pick it up again.
Nonetheless, this book was a fun read with edge of your seat action and adventure with some paranormal elements in the form of a magical Atlantean elixir. I had my doubts in the beginning but I thought the author did a good job integrating the legend of Atlantis into the story--it was done smoothly and believably. Robyn DeHart is an author not to be missed. Though I enjoyed Seduce Me (I give SM 4/5 stars) a bit more than this one, you can't go wrong with either. 3.75 out of 5 stars -
This was a great book. It had everything: suspense, romance, adventure, just to name a few.
The story was so good. I loved the search for Atlantis. It made the story so exciting. I also really liked Sabine, she was a great heroine. While I didn't really have an emotional connection to any one character they were all easy to relate to. Max was so cool and collected most of the time, I was so infuriated with him at times because of this. But I guess you can't make a life of searching for mystical artifacts if you get frazzled easily...
As we start to uncover some of the secrets of Atlantis, and the sparks between Sabine and Max start to fly, the story really starts to take off. Although the opening of the story is pretty faced paced also. Sabine's desire to keep her secret while also saving her family forces her to make some "unwise" decisions. That and it's hard to keep things from Max when he stirs her up so much.
The writing was really good. This was another one I couldn't put down. The twists and turns are so unpredictable, I was really shocked quite a few times. I was so enthralled with trying to help them solve the riddle that even though I couldn't see what they were looking at it had my brain working nonetheless. -
Robyn DeHart has captured a new fan. It was by chance that I came to read her books as I was choosen as a winner of a book for Desire Me, I had to pick up the first book Seduce Me, which I read while on vacation. The Legend Hunters Series (treasure hunters, men of wealth and title, seekers of myths and legends) is a brillant idea, I throughly enjoyed the strong Heros and equally strong Heroines with their particular search of mythical and legendary treasures and the trouble that the searches bring with each story.
Seduce Me - Fielding Grey and Esme Worthington search is Pandora's Box, both an expert with knowledge of the box.
Desire Me - Maxwell Barrett and Sabine Tobias deals with Atlantis, he the expert scholar and she a decendant of Atlantis.
Treasure Me which is due out around March 2011 is definately on my list of books to be picked up. -
3.5*
This is Max's story (who we met in book one). Max happens to have a fascination with all things Atlantis. Sabine happens to be descended from Altanteans. Sabine and her aunts (one of whom is the 3rd Guardian) have moved to London because of the "prophecy." Someone is killing generals who can't be bought and Guardians to steal the elixir in an attempt to take England's army (and thus the world).
While I enjoyed this, I wish there hadn't been so much "I can't love you because of Reasons." There was too much of that. I did like that there were 2 "evil-doers" in this one (with completely different goals). All-in-all, this was a fun, Indiana Jones type romance with some supernatural and legend through in. -
This book didn't really hit it off with me. I bought it cause of the good reviews and I've pretty much learned my lesson with that. I didn't feel any real development between the heroine, Sabine, and the hero, Max. Their relationship was mostly based on superficial aspects, such as beauty and sexual attraction.
Throughout the book, they just basically went on a treasure hunt for clues to find a weapon in order to kill the enemy. The plot was unique but it didn't pull me in. I had to force myself to finish it because I never leave a book unfinished. If you like a lot of sex that don't hold much meaning (in most of the book) and some mystery tossed in, this is the book for you. -
Second in a series of quick and highly enjoyable books.
Maxwell Barrett is a member of the treasure hunting society, Solomon's. He earned his membership by finding a map of the lost island of Atlantis. But now Sabine Tobias, a descendant of Atlantis, needs the map so that she can read the prophecy contained there. They get caught up working against another descendant of Atlantis who is determined to take down England and to do that, he needs to kill several high placed generals as well as the three Guardians, one of whom is Sabine's aunt. -
This is fairly standard romance fare. I like that stuff, especially when there's a fresh twist. Part of a series whose common thread is people who search for legends (in this case, Atlantis), the details around the romance plot were fun and new. It's perfect beach reading, and I'll be sure to pick up the others in the series.
-
This was a fun read...a little like Mr. Darcy meets Indiana Jones. About halfway through it slows down a tad, but soon picks back up with their next adventure. The plot and the characters were good...I just wish there were a few more riddles and puzzles for them to solve. Overall it was pretty entertaining.
-
This is the second book in Robyn DeHart's Legend Hunters series. Attractive characters endure hot sex, murder, mayhem against the search for proof that Atlantis really exists. The search for clues and answers on a quest for the dove made this a more interesting read than the typical romance books. Light read, good for a trip or a day at the beach.
-
I thought the romance in this was really meh. Not very convincing. Same goes for the adventure plot. Normally I would appreciate a crazy adventure but this was a little too crazy and mostly seemed like reproduced filler. Sad, because the premise was so interesting.
-
Won a copy
-
My review for this book can be found here:
http://amomentwithmystee.blogspot.com... -
Loved it.
-
Sexy and fun:)
-
Sweet book. I enjoyed it!
-
This book was amazing! I love the characters and how they were very organized by Robyn DeHart. I hope she'll continue to fascinate her readers with books like this.
-
http://www.theromancereviews.com/view...
Sabine Tobias is a beautiful young woman in the prime of her life. The year is 1888 and she is still unsure as to why she was not chosen as the new guardian, when her mother passed on. The villagers made their choice and that was that. Her mother had been training her in the ways of a guardian, but Sabine really felt the villagers got it right when the chosen was her Aunt Agnes. But why then did her mother begin her training?
In “Desire Me”, Robyn DeHart has done a wonderful job creating a cast of characters, in a time a place that draws the imagination. Sabine lost her mother when she was still young and was raised by her aunts in a small village in order to keep their real identity a secret. There are small pockets of these villages throughout England where the inhabitants keep to themselves and remain hidden as some of the last decedents of the original inhabitants of Atlantis. As the rumors and signs of the prophesy increase Sabine and her Aunts move to London to open a shop. Here they will hide in plain sight and use the very thing that set them apart, the elixir, in a crème for ladies skin. This will keep their nemesis from finding them easily.
Sabine has to learn how to fit in, and she also has to find a way to know more about the fabled map of Atlantis, in order to learn more of the legend. Her origin puts her at risk but she must remain strong, and for some reason she feels that it is up to her to save her Aunts from exposure and to help them get in touch with the other guardians.
Her Aunt Agnes, the guardian, is a wonderful character, in the guardianship she is the healer. She is elderly but quite lively and very likable. Throughout the story we find out new and unique things about her that create such a yearning, I wanted her for my own family. She had a forbidden love from her youth that was forever in her heart. The love is so heartfelt and genuine it is a shock to find it also so forbidden. Her sisters Lydia and Calliope have their own idiosyncrasies and make for an interesting and fun group of characters. They are as close as friends as they are sisters and each rally around when any threat should occur. I was quite amused during one episode and could actually visualize it when they showed up, one with an old pistol and the other with a fireplace poker. They certainly have certain panache.
Our jaunty and extremely handsome hero of the piece, Maxwell Barrett is also the Marquis of Lindberg. He also belongs to a group called Solomon’s, a selective and secretive group of treasure hunters. Max/s whole life has revolved around proving that Atlantis really existed. At the tender age of seventeen he risked his life and found buried deep in a cave, an actual map of the fabled land. Off and on throughout his life he had been approached about the map, but his visit from Sabine was most unique and piqued his curiosity. He is very astute and incredibly intelligent so he is not fooled by her naivety when questioning him on the map. He is very attracted to her for her beauty but also finds her aloofness a challenge.
Spencer Cole, the chosen, is the nemesis of this story, and Robyn has created a character that is steeped in evil and easy to hate. He is oily and elusive believing his own hype while he stalks and murders members of the Queens guard. He considers himself above reproach and the murders as necessary to create the world as he was meant to rule.
Summary
The inhabitants of Atlantis have now started escaping their beautiful but doomed homeland. As the destruction continues, three ships leave port each carrying one of the guardians of the elixir, the nectar of Atlantis, understood by some to be the possible fountain of youth. Somehow the ships are separated and as landfall is reached so begin the separate settlements of the last of the remaining people of Atlantis. As years pass into decades and then to centuries, the tales and lore, as well as the guardianships are passed down in order to keep the hope of Atlantis alive. The guardianship is passed from father to son until the most recent guardianship known as the healers. This guardian did not have male offspring and so the guardianship was passed on to the first female in history.
Sabine Tobias is the daughter of that female guardian, and while not chosen by her village as the next guardian, her Aunt was chosen instead, she has taken on the challenge of saving the rest of her race. The signs have come that the guardians are under attack and that the elixir will be stolen to create an unbeatable army, an army that will take over the world. The prophesy makes mention of a weapon, the dove, which will save the world. It is this weapon that Sabine plans on finding. In order to get more information she needs to see the map of Atlantis rumored to be in the hands of Maxwell Barrett, the Marquis of Lindberg. She starts a madcap masquerade to try and relieve him of the map. Max is intrigued and is determined to find more about this beautiful and very elusive woman. As they work at cross purposes, each trying to outguess and outmaneuver the other, they do not realize they are being pulled into a dangerous game. And as murder and madness surrounds them they have to decide what is important.
This is a well written story of love and betrayal, where faith in humanity can overcome evil intentions. -
Love this series. A brilliant exciting and sexy historical romance by a great author. Already reading the next book in the series.
-
buku ke 2 seri tresure hunter...kali ini ceritanya ttg maxwell barret (max) lord of apa gitu...
dia terobsesi dengan kota atlantis..pengen banget menemukan atlantis....
beberapa tahun yang lalu max berhasil menemukan peta asli menuju atlantis yg sekarang di pasang di dinding ruang kerja nya...
our heroine namanya sabine...seorang gadis cantik keturunan asli atlantis yang tinggal berpindah2 di london versama 3 org bibi nya yg eksentrik demi untuk menghindari 'the chosen one'...orang yang mau membunuh para guardian penjaga rahasia atlantis dan mencuri ramuan keabadian mereka...
the chosen one pingin menggunakan ramuan tersebut buat membikin pasukan khusus yang kuat dan hebat supaya bisa menggulingkan kerajaan inggris dan menguasai inggris....
salah satu guardian atlantis adalah bibi sabine sendiri..so sabine berusaha menyelamatkan bibi nya sambilan mau mencuri peta atlantis di rumah max...buat mencari cara menghentikan kehancuran yang akan terjadi kalo the chosen one menguasai semua elixir dan membunuh guardian...
masalahnya the chosen one udah berhasil membunuh 2 org guardian..so tinggal bibi sabine seorang...
max sendiri sejak ketemu sabine udah langsung suka, sabine sangat cantik dengan kulit kecoklatan, beda banget dengan ce2 inggris lainnya...
sabine sendiri juga tertarik dengan max yang ganteng....
so waktu max berusaha menyelidiki siapa sabine sebenernya dan menyusup ke toko sabine....max bertemu dengan 3 org penjahat yang rupanya di suruh seseorang buat mencuri ramuan keabadian....
yang nyuruhnya adalah seorang ce bitchy mantannya si max yang pengen pake ramuan itu buat awet muda selamanya...(namaya lupa...gak penting)
si bitchy masih suka max..selalu berusaha merayu..tapi max udah ilpil...soalnya 10 tahun yang lalu waktu mereka masih pacaran, si bitchy kepergok ML sama pelayan nya ...dan rupanya si bitchy emang haus sex dan hobby tidur sama siapa aja...makanya max udah gak nafsu...di tambah lagi after ketemu sabine, max gak merasa tertarik sama ce lain...
sayangnya waktu salah satu bibi sabine keluar membawa pistol, dia salah menembak max dan bukan para penjahat itu..so mau gak mau max di rawat di tempat sabine...
en sabine pula yang ngerawat..so kesempatan dalam kesempitan...si max mulai merayu2 sabine ....apalagi sabine liat body max yang oh-so-sexy ...betah ngerawat max :p
akhirnya mereka sepakat buat kerjasama mencari atlantis...menggunakan peta yang max miliki buat mencari rahasia2 atlantis yang bisa dipake buat ngalahin the chosen one...
max dan sabine pergi berdua ke berbagai tempat...
dan tentunya sambil di kejar2 penjahat utusan si bitchy....
tapiiii hebatnya mereka...sambil dikejar2 penjahat selalu ada mood dan kesempatan buat melepaskan gairah :p
awalnya di kereta...di kompartemen...abis dikejar2 penjahat...sambil ngumpet sempet2 nya melepas stress dan ketegangan dengan beruhuk2 walo masih tetep pake baju (quickie ceritanya)
sabine nya ternyata juga bukan perawan....jadi nya ya oke2 aja kali ya....
abis gitu di tiap kesempatan selalu ada jeda buat begonoan...sepertiiiii....di tempat salah satu guardian yang di bunuh the chosen one....bisa2nya abis ngubur si guardian mereka pake bed nya buat berasik masyuk ckckckck....(ceritanya stress kan abis di kejar2 penjahat :p)
nantinya dengan kepintaran max dan sabine akhirnya mereka berhasil memecahkan rahasia atlantis..dan ketauan pula kalo the chosen one adalah orang kepercayaan ratu....
si bitchy juga akhirnya mati celaka karena udah dibilangin kalo ramuan keabadian hanya boleh di minum setetes aja...si bitchy gak percaya dan malah minum 1 botol...akhirnya bukan awet muda dan idup selamanya...si bitchy malah mati dalam keadaan kering kerontang...
max yang awalnya hanya mau mistress dan sabine yang awalnya juga gak mau serius karena dia harus menjaga bibi2 nya akhir memutuskan kalo mereka seharus nya bersama....cinta mengalahkan segalanya......
so max dan sabine bersama2 deh (lupa sampe kawin apa enggak).
MY OPINION :
di banding semua buku2 robyn gw paling gak suka yang ini...memang sih sex scenes nya paling banyak diantara buku lain...tapi chemistry antara tokoh2 nya kurang dapet feel nya...terlalu cepet tertarik dan ngeduluanin gairah fisik...
apalagi si sabine kan awalnya di ceritain ce yang baik dan lugu, selalu menjaga bibi2 nya, pergi berpindah2 kota menghindari penjahat nya...tapi ternyata dia gak perawan lagi ...entah sama siapa dia melakukan dan seberapa sering ? dan kok sempat2 nya....
pas max nanya sabine bilang itu bukan urusan max dan seperti nya robyn dehart lupa menjelaskan kepada pembaca...jadinya ada dari masalalu sabine yang keliatannya 'hilang' tanpa ada penjelasan dan membikin pembaca bertanya2..seperti apa sih sebenernya sifat sabine itu ? apa dia gak bisa menjaga diri nya dan gampang menyerahkan dirinya ke pria ? tapi keliatannya dia ce baik2....
gak jelas banget..makanya gw kasih 3 bintang aja....
tokoh max juga gak terlalu keingetan di hati...gak seperti fielding...tokoh di buku sebelumnya....yaaah so-so lah..... -
I reviewed this book for
Fiction Vixen Book Reviews
Maxwell 'Max' Barrett, the Marques of Lindberg is persistent, adventurous and charming. He is also convinced he doesn’t need someone in his life to care about. He cared about his family and lost them in a tragic way when he was he was young and he now has his quest for Atlantis to keep him occupied and enough interested ladies to keep him satisfied. That is, until he meets Sabine Tobias. She is stubborn, quick-witted and aloof but more importantly she’s a descendant of Atlantis. She’s in need of the map of Atlantis Max found when he was just a teenager, the map containing a prophecy Sabine needs battle an evil villain out to destroy her people.
From the moment their paths cross Max and Sabine challenge and entice each other while working together to fight the danger that threatens Sabine's people, the English people and Sabine's life. They fight the growing feelings between them acknowledging only the passion and desire that flares whenever they're together. The romance is subtle but definitely there and I loved how Max and Sabine were both reluctant in the beginning to admit there’s more than just physical attraction between them but ultimately their feelings cannot be denied.
With a crazed serial killer on the loose, an elixir to protect and the last of the 3 Guardians of Atlantis’ life in danger, the adventure part was well taken care of and you might think with these elements the book would fit better into the paranormal genre but I would disagree because despite the light paranormal elements I would definitely qualify DESIRE ME as a historical adventure romance. The mystical elements were smoothly embedded in the story making it a less standard historical romance. However the vibe remained very much that of a historical and adventurous and not once during reading was I tempted to see this as a paranormal romance.
DESIRE ME would have taken me by surprise if I hadn’t read its predecessor, SEDUCE ME. From that book I knew that adventure, romance and wonderful writing were the things that awaited me between the cover pages of this second installment of The Legend Hunters series. And I was not disappointed. I must admit to be a bit confused in the beginning, finding out things about Sabine and her background but the confusion soon cleared as the story took form.
This book was just as very well written and a thrilling read as the first one was. The multiple plotlines were threaded together logically and gradually to give me both lots of aha-moments and moments where I'd think "hmm wonder how this is going to play out.” Though the plots and role of the characters therein aren't difficult to discern and Robyn DeHart doesn't use elaborate ways to hide information needed to figure things out, the adventurous element is exciting and not too predictable.
Robyn DeHart writes delicious heroes, sharp-witted heroines and adventurous plots that rival with any Indiana Jones movie. And in the background there's the development of a heartfelt and endearing love story that’s nicely balanced out against the fast-paced adventurous action. So if you like to read out-of-the-box historical romances, spiced with adventures surrounding mythical legends, DESIRE ME should definitely end up on your to-buy or to-read list because it will undoubtedly entertain you and leave you wanting to read the next adventure as soon as possible.
Favorite quote:
“I’m not a gentleman, Sabine, and I never pretended otherwise.” His smile was purely wicked. “I’m standing here wondering precisely why I’m not tossing that screen aside and pressing you up against the wall.” -
Fans of Amanda Quick’s intriguing storylines and Madeline Hunter’s wonderful characters will love DeHart’s writing! Desire Me is The DaVinci Code with romance!
Maxwell Barrett is a member of London’s most exclusive club, the Men of Solomon’s. They meet in secret, each one searching for some piece of ancient history. One man’s search is a mystifying as the next and Maxwell is looking for the city of Atlantis. He found a map showing the location of Atlantis years ago. Since that discovery, he has dedicated his life and studies to prove, once and for all, that Atlantis does exist. Finding this lost land has become his passion...that is until Sabine Thomas walks up to him and tries to win the map from him in a game of poker.
Sabine is just as mysterious as Maxwell. She is a decent of Atlantis and has to see the map in Max’s possession in order to stop The Chosen One on his path of destruction. This evil adversary is killing guardians of Atlantis and taking their elixir, risking exposure of one of the greatest secrets in the world. The only lead Sabine has is this map, which supposedly has the prophecy written on it explaining how to stop this catastrophe from occurring. What neither one of them expects is the attraction they feel towards one another on their quest to stop this dangerous foe.
Be prepared to sit down and devour this book. The story is so original, yet so timeless readers will fall in love with it from the first chapter. There is something very intriguing about this book. The characters are just as fascinating as the story. If you love books about adventure, ancient artifacts with a bit of romance thrown in, this book is perfect for you. DeHart is a charming writer. She is not perfectly in touch with the time period, but rather has added modern touches to this Victorian era and made the writing funny and clever. There were many times I smiled or laughed out loud, enjoying the journey I was on with this book:
“She’d been surprisingly passionate. Yet full of pluck and fire. Precisely the sort of combination Max found irresistible in women...Under normal circumstances, he would pursue her, yet she seemed utterly unmoved by his charms. Of course, this wasn’t surprising given that he had broken into her home.”
Max is irresistible. He is so confident, so sure of himself, that it’s incredibly sexy. But he is not overly vain, he is a strong capable hero. Sabine is the strong, independent heroine that is the perfect match to Max’s personality. They feel an attraction towards each other in the beginning of this book, but it really becomes nothing more than that. I could see many readers interpreting this as a lack of development in the characters romantic relationship but really it is a consequence of the two being so perfect for each other. They are both so independent and driven by their respective desires with the lost city of Atlantis that the ignore what is developing between them. They become oblivious to how much they are starting to depend on each other, but at the same time, as the reader, you see their connection as soul mates.
This is book two in the Legend Hunters series, but it is easily a stand alone book. There is hardly any time or enough pages to introduce the other members of the society so the previous story is not necessary to enjoy this book. While the hero from the first book is introduced, it just a brief glimpse of that character and nothing more. You will not be lost in picking up this book without having read the first one. Although I’m sure once you finish Desire Me you will want to read it!
Overall Rating: 4/5
Heat Level: 4/5
Lisa @ Once Upon A Chapter -
The heroine has always felt a bit cheated when it came to her destiny. Her childhood was spent training for her to become the next guardian succeeding her mother but her mother past before the heroine could officially take the title. Now, she is still responsible for the Healer dynasty of the Atlantian culture and now more than ever their very lives are threatened but a man who has taken an ancient prophecy and molded it to his own evil plots. When she and her aunts receive word that one of the 3 guardians of the elixir have been murdered, time to figure out a plan is short. She knows she must find that map and see the prophecy for herself if she has any hope of stopping it. But the map is in the hands of a man who has no plans of agreeing politely.
The hero takes one look at the heroine and sees something he wants. He had always had a gift of charm and he uses this to have any woman he so choses. Something about the heroine, be it her beauty or her boldness, has captured his attention and he wants to know more. The icing on the cake is her interest in Atlantis, even though she tries to act nonchalant about it. When he breaks into her shop to search for clues about what she may know of about the subject, he instead finds himself knee deep the prophecy that has captivated his attention for so long. He saves the women from 3 intrudes and gets shot but the aunt in gratitude. But he and heroine know that they need each other if they have any hope of stopping mass world destruction. They are, however, distrusting of one another and keep a lot of secrets from the other but this doesn't stop the intense sexual attraction the exists between them. This is made even more palpable by the adrenaline of either surviving an attack by the enemy or finding a clue on their search for the Dove, a weapon they need to kill the enemy. The hero is a funny man who seems to care for naught while the heroine is typically serious and stern though she does crack a smile at the hero's antics or quick humor. Together they make great partnership, this woman who would be guardian and this man who yearns for adventure and glory. And though they fight the notion that emotion is involved it soon becomes clear that they need each other for more than the thrill but instead for the love.
I found this book nice. The beginning was funny, especially the scene where the hero is shot and the heroine must try to understand this strange but comical man. At face value they were vastly different but they both longer for adventure and exploration even if it was dangerous and time short before the end of the world. They had a lot of adventures on their quest through mythology and clues to find the Dove and I liked the Indiana Jones feels about it. The story really did pick up once the search began for the weapon and it showed the pair hunt graveyards and break into people’s houses in the process. I quite liked the hero and heroine as characters and found they had great banter and a healthy amount of chemistry. I enjoyed the fact that while the hero was a flirt and someone who didn't show weakness, he eventually could trust himself to let the heroine in on his darker memories and show her a bit of himself that no one else sees. He was very reluctant to accept the fact that he was just attracted to the heroine, that he has grown to love her and the heroine in turn felt responsible for her people and all that came with it. Perhaps it could have been better at times but I did enjoy the book over all.
