Customer Reviews

A Pharaoh, a Spell and Jade

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Miss Arwen's PHARAOH, is a compelling, fast-paced feast for the senses, guaranteed to keep you hooked from beginning to end!

Someone is trying to kill Egypt's Pharaoh, Sneferu. Knowing it will only be a matter of time before they succeed, he makes a pack with the God Osiris--asking if murdered, he be brought back to avenge his death by one worthy to aid him in his quest.

Flash forward to modern day. Egyptologist Jade Morgan is in the middle of a dig when she finds a secret doorway. Hidden within the small room is an intricately inscribed armband, she can't help but slip on...and the sexiest man her virgin eyes have ever seen. Mesmerized, she reaches out to touch the man's chiseled muscles and bronzed flesh. When her fingers caress the gold amulet on his chest, the next thing she knows, she's lying in a bed next to him. A bed smack dab in the Pharaoh's palace of ancient Egypt.

Sneferu knows this pale beauty is the one the Gods sent him by the armband she wears. While he can't believe they would send him a woman, he sees her as a precious gift and enjoys initiating her in all the pleasures his world has to offer. But when his feelings for her deepen and the threats on both of their lives seem overwhelming, will these two be able to work together to overcome the evil working tirelessly to smote them? Or will the Pharaoh's fate play out as it did before?

Stunning, inspiring and evocative all come to mind when I think of this book. Though short, it lacks nothing in content, characterization or emotion. With a delectable hero, vivid imagery and lyrical prose worthy of the God Osiris herself, this talented author weaves a spell over the reader as strong as the one binding the fated lovers together. Miss Arwen deftly fleshes out all of the characters with such precision they come alive in your mind's eye. So much so, I found myself on the verge of tears right alongside them, only to smile with joy at the wonderful ending. I highly recommend this book! In fact, I am running to my keeper shelf to place PHAROAH on it, while grabbing her debut and subsequent efforts, so as to read more from this fresh, new voice in romance who has proven she is here to stay.

If you're looking for a time travel romance that is a bit out of the box, then A PHARAOH, A SPELL & JADE is for you. I've always been fascinated by Egyptian history, so I was really drawn into this story, and impressed by the author's skillful storytelling. Jade is a very likeable and endearing heroine, while Sneferu is all things masculine and exciting. There's the matter of the harem, Sneferu's other wives and his children. The author dealt with that matter very adeptly and realistically. This book was a joy to read.

Aysel Arwen is a voice that is sure to please every reader with her insightful and colorful characters, intricate plotting and great delivery. Jade Morgan is a heroine of strength and determination, whose love for her Pharaoh transends time--literally. She finds herself thrown back in time when she enters the tomb of a mystery-laden Pharaoh, and the answers she seeks are found first hand when the handsome, compelling Sneferu not only comes alive, but pulls her into his world. Want a trip into Egypt several thousand years ago? Then settle down with this book and give yourself plenty of time, because you won't put this down until the last page has been turned. A MUST read!

This awesome book is why we should never discount stories published by small press. When I picked up Pharoah one evening after a busy day, it took me away from my troubles, sweeping me into a distant land and an even more distant time. Ms. Arwen creates a world that captured me as truly as it did the heroine.

Egyptologist Jade Morgan is drawn back in time to save the pharoah's life by Rahotep's spell. Jade is expected to do her duty in Sneferu's harem--a stretch for a modern girl, for sure. She unwillingly becomes entangled in the assassin's web of treachery and must make some choices which could be at the expense of her own life.

Frankly, I don't want to say too much about the plot because it's so unique and special. The time travel device is original and fresh as well. Everything about this book kept me enthralled from the beginning until the last page. My only gripe was that it ended too soon!

I see all these five-star reviews, and I'm baffled. I'm by no means an expert in Egyptology or history, but the language used in this book was much too modern. Jade is back in time, and there's no explanation as to why Sneferu and the others can understand her, and she them. Is Jade suddenly speaking ancient Egyptian, or are they speaking modern English, or is there some kind of magical Universal Translator thing going on? Jade's understanding of what they were saying seemed too modern; it didn't reflect Egyptian manners of speaking and expression. At one point, Jade asks for aspirin, and I forget the character's name, but Sneferu's sister/wife asks her if she's in pain. They didn't even have aspirin back then! Shouldn't the woman have asked, "What is aspirin?"

The story was too quick, and should have been longer, since the base of the story was reasonably good, but I can't say I was disappointed in the length, with all the flaws in communication. I was glad to get it over with.

The editor also missed some typos in the book. Those should have been fixed before publishing, but I've seen worse. The story itself is original, and includes the problem of falling in love with a man who already has many wives and concubines. The mystery within is clever, too. I see potential in Ms. Arwen, and perhaps her other novels are better, but I felt she needed to do more research into communication and translation for this story, as well as explain how Jade and the Egyptians understood one another.

I like time travels. But I also like traditional romances in that the heroine gets the hero and ONLY the heroine gets the hero. I can understand the purpose behind the author's writing another woman for the hero but it just didn't fit my ideal of what a romance is. The other woman died but I felt it was sort of tacked on so the heroine could finally get the hero to herself without feeling guilt etc.

Aysel Arwen's second novel, A Pharaoh, A Spell and Jade, transports us to ancient Egypt. The hero, magnificent Pharaoh Sneferu, knows he's marked for death. Who keeps trying to kill him is the mystery. After a spell is spoken, our Egyptologist heroine, Jade, is transported back in time to help Sneferu uncover the plot against his life. The two slowly discover love for each other, one that transcends time.

I thoroughly enjoyed this love story, the mystery, and the secondary characters. This author has penned an imaginative, sensual story, and it's one I highly recommend. I look forward to her next novel, A Clan Chief, A Dragon, and Evelyn.

Sneferu and Rahotep knew after several assassination attempts and failure to uncover an assassin's identity it would only be a matter of time before they succeeded. Making a pact with Osiris, if the assassins succeeded there would be a way to bring Sneferu back from the dead for a second chance by one -- `the Gods deemed worthy' for the task.

Jade's passion and expertise in Egyptian jewelry had brought her to the attention of other notable archeologists entitling her to an invitation to accompany them on a new excavation project at Memphis, Egypt. Stumbling upon a secret door, Jade's natural enthusiasm overrode caution when she found a gorgeous man wearing an exquisite golden armlet. Reading the inscribed armlet Jade had to slide it onto her arm. Spotting a beautiful golden amulet -- the Eye of Ra lying on his admirable chest she couldn't help running her finger over it a few times. Next thing she knew she was waking up in a wonderfully soft bed with the most divine chocolate brown eyes staring down on her.


Jade soon realized not only was she in bed with one perfectly gorgeous man but she was in another time altogether - ancient Egypt! Recognizing the armlet she wore, Sneferu knew that she had been sent by the Gods to save him, but a woman! After being bathed, oiled, and perfumed Jade was initiated into loving by a master in the art of seduction. On one hand, she'd found the love of her life, but treachery and betrayal in the palace dogged her steps from the very beginning. After being stolen from the palace by a sick and demented noble, Jade would have to fight her way back to warn Sneferu of his planned assassination before it was too late.


--- The reader will be hooked from the very first pages of this well-written vividly sensual, and outstanding suspenseful adventure. A very well-developed prequel lays out the story as Pharaoh Sneferu and his faithful priest Rahotep set the stage for this action-packed and sensually delicious adventure. Snerferu and Rahotep were both very well fleshed out with the author outlining in great detail their motivations. The characters were plentiful, cleverly drawn with depth and passion. Jade was a perfect foil for Sneferu coming from a knowledgeable background of Egyptology her ability to fit in with a minimal amount of problems. Trying to convince Snerferu that she was NOT really `his' - no matter what he seemed to think when she was sent to his harem -- was a light hearted and totally enjoyable scene. The suspense surrounding Jade's kidnapping by one very sick villain was both spine tingling and erotically sensual all at the same time.


While her debut A PIRATE, A SECRET AND ROSE was very good, showing promise with originality and adventure, this reader firmly believes this second brilliant effort surely solidifies in establishing Arwen as an author to watch! As a whole it is an emotional read that runs the gamut from edge of the seat suspense, to some delightfully humorous situations, to highly sensual and loving relationships, and a most poignant and tearfully joyous ending! For this reviewer A PHARAOH, A SPELL and JADE was a complete and totally satisfying read and one that ends firmly on my `keeper' shelf!

Ms. Arwen has penned a very creative and sensual romance for her second effort and the reader will be well entertained by her make believe world and characters.

Jade has a passion for anything Egyptian. She thinks she is the only virgin Egyptologist left on the planet. This is fine with her...sort of since she has just been asked to participate in the dig of the century in Egypt. She'll worry about her lackluster romance once she returns. But, while on the dig Jade finds something she didn't think possible and before she knows it she has traveled back in time to the rule of Sneferu the Pharaoh. At first she thinks she's living a dream but the kisses and touches are too real. She is instantly drawn to this ruler. He awakens her dormant desires and Jade is having a hard time accepting the fact that she must share this man with his harem and his many wives. But, Jade is there for a reason. Someone wants Sneferu dead and it's up to her to sort out who will stop at nothing to kill this leader. But will her love believe her or will he be stubborn and not willing to listen?

This was a very entertaining romance. Ms. Arwen has brought to vivid life the Egyptian world. One can almost see themselves in ancient Egypt. This is a wonderful romance and I can hardly wait to get my hands on her first effort.

I see all these five-star reviews, and I'm baffled. I'm by no means an expert in Egyptology or history, but the language used in this book was much too modern. Jade is back in time, and there's no explanation as to why Sneferu and the others can understand her, and she them. Is Jade suddenly speaking ancient Egyptian, or are they speaking modern English, or is there some kind of magical Universal Translator thing going on? Jade's understanding of what they were saying seemed too modern; it didn't reflect Egyptian manners of speaking and expression. At one point, Jade asks for aspirin, and I forget the character's name, but Sneferu's sister/wife asks her if she's in pain. They didn't even have aspirin back then! Shouldn't the woman have asked, "What is aspirin?"

The story was too quick, and should have been longer, since the base of the story was reasonably good, but I can't say I was disappointed in the length, with all the flaws in communication. I was glad to get it over with.

The editor also missed some typos in the book. Those should have been fixed before publishing, but I've seen worse. The story itself is original, and includes the problem of falling in love with a man who already has many wives and concubines. The mystery within is clever, too. I see potential in Ms. Arwen, and perhaps her other novels are better, but I felt she needed to do more research into communication and translation for this story, as well as explain how Jade and the Egyptians understood one another.