Betina Krahn

Historical/Late 19th Century US, Mexico, Caribbean

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There's a lot of talk on the web about defining romance fiction. And even though it's said there'd be fewer wars if women were in charge, this is surely the topic that could bring to blows a goodly sum of us who write -- and write about -- romance.

A portion of the debate goes like this: If a man and a woman have a go at a relationship somewhere within a novel, can one consider it a romance?

There are a lot of awfully cogent arguments from many very bright people who would answer yes.

But I say, it's only a romance if the arc from "boy meets girl" to "boy and girl begin HEA" is realized, and is the most prominent element of the novel.

Let's be honest, shall we? That's the first definition everyone thinks of when one thinks "romance novel," and I, for one, am proud to embrace it.

Now, that doesn't mean a romance has to be all mooning and crooning and June-ing.

In fact, sometimes there's nothing better than a novel at once thrilling and empowering for character and reader alike -- a dashing adventure like "The Book of True Desires," the witty and delightfully sensual new novel from Betina Krahn.

Cordelia O'Keefe is an American adventuress of the first order, thoroughly modern in spirit, yet decidedly Gibson-esque in charm. She needs cash to finance a once-in-a-lifetime African expedition and shakes down for the scratch her estranged grandfather, ruthless Pennsylvania steel baron Hardacre Blackburn.

Blackburn backs O'Keefe, but with caveats: She's first got to prove her mettle by finding Mayan treasure for him, and she's got to take along his fusty prig of a British butler.

As if butling for Blackburn isn't demeaning enough, Hartford Goodnight can't believe he's being forced to continue paying his debt-of-service to the old coot by hieing off to the jungle keeping tabs on a … a woman!

But said woman ends up taking Goodnight on an adventure that could revive the university-trained chemist's career. And his knowledge of things exotic, especially one appallingly tempting female explorer, may end up helping the pair find treasure in one another neither thought ever to reveal.

Krahn has honed her writing skill to a new level of mastery with "The Book of True Desires." She creates a romantic "Victorian road trip" during which we're treated to a refreshing and mature twist on the "opposites attract" theme, along with sensual tension that grows from restrained to unbridled.

Krahn knows how to entertain and enchant while telling a marvelous love story. And since everybody loves a true romance --

Buy the book.

www.BetinaKrahn.com