I can't believe I'm saying this about one of Raybourn's books because she is one of my favorite authors and I've really liked everything she has written but this one really didn't do a whole lot for me. I felt like the storyline was all over the place. It's like she couldn't decide what the main plot should be so she just threw all of her ideas in there together; from searching for Evangeline Starke's missing husband, to locating a missing artifact and to top it off, leading a group of Bedouins to fight off rebels etc. etc. Don't get me wrong, I do like a lot of action in my stories but a little cohesiveness goes a long way and this one was lacking in it. I also didn't care for Evangeline's personality. She came across as rude and childish most of the time I thought. The story wasn't completely terrible but it definitely wasn't Raybourn's best writing either. 

Five years after meeting the man of her dreams at a New Year's eve party and eloping with him, the first World War has ended. Evangeline "Evie" Starke is a celebrated aviatrix, flying across the seven seas of antiquity with her elderly aunt as a companion. Her marriage to dashing adventurer Gabriel Starke only lasted a few months, most of them turbulent and fraught. Evie had just declared that she wanted a divorce when Gabriel was lost, believed drowned when the ocean liner Lusitania went down.Then Evie receives an anonymous letter, featuring a clearly current photograph of Gabriel, at an archaeological dig in the desert outside Damascus. She won't find peace until she discovers what happened to her husband and why he faked his death.

Gabriel had very good reasons to drive his wife away and fake his death. He also has good reasons to attend an archaeological dig in disguise, and sent Evie the photograph well aware that she wouldn't be able to stay away. He needs her help to get a priceless relic out of the country. He also hopes that he may be able to set the record straight about their relationship, but barely dares to hope he'll have a chance to earn Evie's forgiveness or a second chance at happiness with her. 

City of Jasmine and its prequel novella were written before Night of a Thousand Stars, which I read first, but the books are absolutely connected. For new readers, I would recommend reading this one first, as there are some spoilers for this book in Night of a Thousand Stars when Gabriel appears in a cameo. He and Sebastian were part of the same shadowy government organisation during the war and his secret government responsibilities were the reason Gabriel shouldn't have married Evie in the first place and had to try his best to drive her away by acting like a complete bastard, before faking his own death. Five years later, his loyalty to merry old England and the Vespiary has pretty much evaporated. He wants to reconcile with his wife and tell her the truth (although of course he doesn't actually do that - that would have been far too sensible and made this a very different book). 

Like the other 1920s set Raybourn book, this novel also features adventures in the desert, ancient archaeological treasure hunts, dastardly villains, brave Bedouin warriors, a taciturn and manly hero, a brave and unconventional heroine. There are great supporting characters, like Evie's eccentric aunt Dove and her mechanic, Wally, who also happens to be the heir to the Viscount Walters, hiding his homosexuality by flirting with Evie every chance he gets. This book also goes on my growing list of romances where the heroine has shot the hero at some point over the course of the story (I've come to find that it's a great story trope, as all the books on the list are books I'm very fond of). I still liked Poppy and Sebastian's book more, probably because they are falling in love for the first time, while Gabriel and Evie have a history, and there is so much pain, hurt, deception and miscommunication here before they can actually be honest with one another and face the future together. These books are so much fun, though, and I'm determined to also read the last of Raybourn's 1920s set novels, as well as very much looking forward to her new book, once again featuring a Victorian heroine, coming out in September.

Famed aviatrix Evangeline Starke married her wildchild husband after knowing him just one night, and though it was a relationship full of passion they were on the verge of divorce when he died suddenly in the sinking of the Lusitania. Or did he? Five years later Evie discovers he just may be alive, which sets her off on a crazy quest to find him and get some answers. With lovely sensory-rich writing and a charming cast of international characters, including Evie’s Aunt Dove who in her younger days had been one of those forward-thinking, world-traveling Victorian women, City of Jasmine is an entertaining escape, though I missed Aunt Dove when Evie takes off across the desert without her. Part romance and part a fast-paced Indiana Jones type adventure it manages to include both Peter Pan themes and post-WWI Mideast politics.

My favorite mornings are those waking up and finding books in the mail. (Or on the porch in a box!) Today was that kind of morning. I received the two new books I ordered from Deanna Raybourn, A Spear of Summer Grass and Silent in the Grave. As I've mentioned before, I adore historical fiction and I recently learned of these two great titles from Brenda Novak's Annual Online Auction for Diabetes Research. I placed a bid for two of Raybourn's books, Spear of Summer Grass and City of Jasmine. The books were so attractive and beautiful AND they were autographed. I absolutely HAD to HAVE them!! Alas, it was not to be. Someone outbid me at the very last moment. I'm not gonna lie. My feelings were hurt but it just made my need stronger, even if I am running out of space for books in my home. (One can ALWAYS find a book nook somewhere, eh?) I searched for a couple of days to locate copies because, of course, the books HAD to be autographed or at the very least FIRST EDITIONS, an extra plus if I could locate ARC copies. Lo and behold, I did manage to snag an autographed, first edition copy of Silent in the Grave and the other two titles were both FIRST EDITIONS and ARC's!!! The BEST part?! Although I was willing to pay more during the auction, (my dad has diabetes) I got all three books for LESS than I would have paid during auction. With one more title!!! I was determined to get those lovely books. A girl must be persistent! (I would have included City of Jasmine in picture but it has already been loaned out to my mom.)

Landline and Intimate Surrender are two ARC's that I received from a giveaway. Looking forward to reading Landline. I was so excited to win that book. It was a giveaway that I really did want to receive. Of course, I love all my books and I am so appreciative for the great ARC's that I do get. I've been very fortunate lately in the ARC department. So much so that I am beginning to fall behind and find myself with less time everyday for the amount of reading I want to get accomplished. Which reminds me: The more time I spend typing away at my rambling thoughts on this blog is less time I have to read. I'm off to snuggle up in bed with one of my great stories and lose myself in a dystopian world and I hope tomorrow morning begins with a hot cup of coffee and more books in my mailbox. In the meantime,  Happy Reading!!

My review for City of Jasmine is up at The Broke and the Bookish today. Overall, it was entertaining but really hard to get into. Once the book started (like 100 pages in), it was good. I liked the setting a ton and enjoyed how the main characters played off each other.