Sandy M’s review of Stolen Heat (Stolen Series, Book 2) by Elisabeth Naughton
Romantic Suspense published by Love Spell 28 Jul 09

The action, danger, suspense, and romance haven’t slowed down one bit in this second book in Ms. Naughton’s series. This story is about Pete, who is the best friend of the hero in Stolen Fury, the first book, and Kat, the woman he knew he’d never see again. Literally.The moment she amazingly and unexpectedly shows up in his life again, they’re on the run, all the while finding their way back to one another as they learn to trust each other again after all the lies, secrets, deceit, and murder they went through when together six years before.

And the lies and secrets are on both sides. Pete has kept his past from Kat because he didn’t want her to think badly of him, especially since he’s thinking of proposing. It’s a very poignant moment near the end of the book when he tells Kat how she influenced him, even when he knew she wouldn’t be in his life anymore. Kat’s deceit went a little deeper — she faked her death. The men after her had threatened her family, so you can’t fault her for her decision, and she thought it was over between her and Pete, so she didn’t look back when she took the opportunity to die.

Six years later Kat comes out of hiding when she learns Pete is auctioning off all of his Egyptian artifacts he’s collected over the years — pieces he couldn’t resist because they reminded him of her. She has to get her hands on a certain piece, and from the moment she does nothing goes right, including getting to know Pete all over again. It’s Pete himself who doesn’t want to get tangled up in Kat’s life again. He had enough the first time around, especially after grieving for her, but when the chances come to walk away from her, he just can’t do it.

Together they unravel the mystery surrounding the dig Kat was on in Egypt all those years ago, the missing antiquities she reported to the proper authorities, and the evidence that’s been hidden in plain sight during the time of her supposed demise.  They also work to learn about each other again. The spark, the lust, the chemistry, and finally the love they both finally acknowledge is still there. They just have to want it at the same time to make things work. And when that moment comes, it’s Pete who breaks the reader’s heart as well as Kat’s. He’s a hero in a million.

This is a well-thought-out concept and wonderfully written books in the trilogy so far. The mysteries are complex but the love is simple, a balance achieved with characters you can’t help but like. The third book, Stolen Seduction, is due out next year and I am looking forward to it. You get to know both the hero and heroine of that book while reading the first two. I like them already, so I know their story is going to be just as good as these first two.

After reading these two books, Ms. Naughton is now on my auto-buy list.

Grade: A

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Summary:
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His past tore them apart. Her lies thrust them back together. Now a killer’s out for revenge, but the biggest threat for both may just be the heat they thought they’d already lost…
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Antiquities dealer Peter Kauffman walked a fine line between clean and corrupt for years. And then he met the woman who changed his life—Egyptologist Katherine Meyer. Their love affair burned white-hot in Egypt, until the day Pete’s lies and half-truths caught up with him. After that, their relationship imploded, Kat walked out, and before Pete could find her to make things right, he heard she’d died in a car bomb.
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Six years later, the woman Pete thought he’d lost for good is suddenly back. The lies this time aren’t just his, though. The only way he and Kat will find the truth and evade a killer out for revenge is to work together—as long as they don’t find themselves burned by the heat each thought was stolen long ago…
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Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series: