The Book of the Seven Delights

Library of Alexandria #1

by Betina Krahn

Librarian Abigail Merchant stumbles upon the journals of an eccentric scholar, leading her on a quest to find the Great Library of Alexandria and recover a priceless artifact with the help of an ex-legionnaire with a checkered past.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Adventure, Victorian, Adult

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 28, 2005

About the author

Krahn, born Betina Maynard, is the second daughter of Dors Maynard and Regina Triplett. Krahn learned to read at the age of four, and began making up her own stories when she was only six. In fifth grade she won a silver "Noble Order of Bookworms" pin for her achievements in reading, and the following year she began writing down her stories.

Krane was graduated from high school in Newark, Ohio and received a B.S. in Education (Biological Sciences) at Ohio State University. After college, Krahn taught science in Newark, and studied for a graduate degree at Ohio State in the summers. It was during those summers that she met her future husband, physics graduate student Donald Krahn.

The family moved to Oklahoma, where Krahn finished the work for her Masters of Education in Counseling in 1973. In 1974, she gave birth to her first child, Nathan, with the second son Zebulun arriving in 1978. With two young children, Krahn became a stay-at-home mother for a time, also finding time to volunteer on a community board working to get funding for mental health care in part of Western Oklahoma. Once the funding was secured, Krahn worked as an HR director for a mental health center.

Reviews

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply said, this historical romance was a fun story to read.

Relegated to a basement, a librarian -Miss Abigail Merchant- found a treasure trove of clues in a dark and dusty room of the British Museum. It turned out that one T. Thaddeus Chilton Ph. D., now-deceased, had been looking for a lost library. He bequeathed to the historical archives his personal notes and journals, maps and correspondence. Flustered at the injustice with the use of her degree -and- because she was a woman, Abigail decided to quit her job and continue Chilton's search.

Seasickness, stolen luggage and threats touched the surface of this historical farce. Included in this likeable comedy was Apollo Smith. The patched-eye hero who doesn't want to save Abigail again (and again!) but his emotions drew him in. In some ways, this story reminded me of the movie, Romancing the Stone with a strong, fearless man helping a book-smart heroine save the day.

Thank you, Christina, for suggesting I read this romance!

[Sam I AMNreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such fun, sexy and yet understated, and entirely imperfect.

I really loved the main characters here!

[Joanna Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just delightful. It was so much fun and very satisfying.

May add more later.

Thanks Sam for the buddy read. And I am so glad this was recommended to me! Thanks Christina!

[Regan Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 and 1/2 Stars! Intriguing Tale of Adventure and Love in Morocco!

Want to take a trip to Morocco searching for the remnants of the Library of Alexandria? Want to do it with a sexy, funny hero with a name like Apollo Smith? Then this is the romance for you!

Betina Krahn has become a favorite of mine. This book is the first in her Library of Alexandria duology. (The Book of True Desires is the second.)

In this first one, set in the late 19th century, we meet librarian Abigail Merchant (“Educated, opinionated, respectable, headstrong and too caught up in her high-minded pursuits to recognize, much less respond to the lust she inspired”), who is traveling to Marrakech to find what she believes will be some lost volumes from the famed Library of Alexandria. On her way, she encounters Apollo Smith, who due to treachery, was forced to serve 5 years in the French Foreign Legion and, having escaped, has returned for some mysterious “family matter.” He agrees to help Abigail reach her goal for half the prize she uncovers.

Krahn does a superb job of bringing the Moroccan desert to life, the Berber tribes, the Legionnaires, and the hazards of travel at the end of the 19th century in such parts of the world. Very cleverly she helps us experience the mind of a librarian, who catalogs everything she thinks of under various numbered library categories.

Then there is Apollo. Had to love the guy who described Abigail as a woman “who had a way of finding every sensitive nerve in his body and every sore subject on his mind.”

Great writing and a great story. A worthy romp.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a good example of not judging a book by its cover, because I hate this cover and stepback but I LOVED this book.

Set in the late 1800s, American librarian Abigail Merchant has finally gotten her dream job at the Oxford Library. However, she finds herself delegated to mind-numbing cataloguing work in the library basement. One day she finds the notes of a scholar detailing his research into finding the location of texts that were rescued from the destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria. Abigail decides to travel to the Moroccan desert to finish that scholar's quest. In Morocco she finds herself unwillingly teamed up with Apollo Smith, a mysterious ex-Legionnaire on the run from his former regiment.

This book was seriously so much fun to read. It definitely reminded me of the 1999 cinematic masterpiece The Mummy starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz. That is one of my favorite movies and whenever I watch it I think of how well that story would lend itself to a romance novel.

This book really had it all: adventure, romance, history, danger, humor, you name it! Betina Krahn absolutely nailed the librarian trope with Abigail. I loved Apollo as well and loved the dynamic between the two leads. I was also very impressed with her evocative writing style. I really felt like she was able to make each location come to life on the page. You could tell this book was well researched, but Krahn incorporates her research in a way that elevates her storytelling and made me feel totally swept away into the story as a reader.

I actually got a "book hangover" from reading this - something that hasn't happened to me in years. I'm definitely keeping my copy of this to re-read in the future, and I will be on the lookout for the next book in this series!

[Keri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet romance about a librarian in search of herself and an English, ex-French Legionnaire, eye-patched man in search of his past. What better place to discover both and each other than in the ancient city of Morocco. By the way, why not look for a long ago buried ancient library while you are at it. Overall, I enjoyed the book, just wish her love scenes could have been a bit more descriptive or less rushed or something.

[Shellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. Read this for Regan Walker’s Historical Romance Review blog, August is exotic locale month. This was a fun book full of action and adventure, which I often like in my HR’s. Liked the H/h, but not much description about them. I think the H has dark hair? It was mentioned once that he was dark and I think hazel eyes we got a little more of a description of her, but the step back on my book shows the hero is blonde? If your looking for romance doesn’t get there until the last 3rd or so of the book. Overall it’s a good adventure, but I don’t think I’d read it again.

[Melania Ramona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe it's not a very deep story and indeed feels like an adventure-romance movie made into a novel, but it's a really entertaining book.
I've read so many books in my life that I don't remember if I've read them or not after some time. But this one is hard to forget. It was enchanting and, while I read it, I felt I was right there with the heroes. Plus, it's like a great fantasy come true: the geeky girl and the adventurer on a mysterious quest in an exotic setting.

Sometimes it is best to enjoy than to look for flaws. I don't really like to tear a story to shreds just because it doesn't seem realistic enough or I don't fully like the characters. Life is full of unrealistic situations and perfect people don't exist (apart from the fact that I wouldn't like them it they did).

I read books because I enjoy them. If I get emotionally involved in a story, if the story keeps me curious and if I can learn something from it, that's good enough for me.

[Jenifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a kind of tough book to review. The first 190-something pages were so good I could barely stand it. I loved the people, and the adventure, and the writing. It was fab! Then it went kind of paranormal-ish, which is a pet peeve of mine (not paranormal - I like that - but paranormal that comes into a story way late and isn't hinted at up front because it feels like a cheat). The paranormal was bad enough, but the rest of the end felt like it was written by a different author, which was disappointing since I loved the beginning soooooo much.

Still, most of the book was so amazing that I'd highly recommend it. Had the rest held out, I'd give it 5 stars, but I had to go with 4 because of the change of feeling.

[Kristina Brownell · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was shelved at the library as an "adventure". It was NOT an adventure. Definite romance...AND it was comical because the author tried to make the book into something it wasn't. This was NOT a book about how love (and sex) can save the world no matter how much she tried to push that issue. It made me laugh. It wasn't what I'd call "dirty", but it wasn't clean either. I did get a good laugh.

[Dawn ♥ romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice adventures in Morocco story but I kept waiting for the romance to begin and by the time it did I had already started skimming. Librarian Abigail wants to prove her worth by going to Timbuktu to find ancient books and on the ship over she meets ex-legionnaire Apollo.

[Antoinette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic Betina Krahn, with a distinct "Raiders of the Lost Arc" flavor. Krahn's heroines are usually very close sisters to one another, and her heroes very close brothers. The heroines are women with strong beliefs and either little experience in general, or little experience in the type of adventure they've embarked upon. The heroes have pasts and prejudices, and are arrogant in an irresistibly Harrison Ford way. I don't mind in the least that her heroines and heroes tend to be variations on a theme (in the Victorian, Medieval, and one Viking novels I've read - not necessarily in the Regency and Modern).

The first two thirds of this novel are an adventure journey, with each stage revealing a bit more about the characters and bringing them closer together. It's a very harried strip-tease. It's not a placid read. But it's worth for those moments of connection, and especially when one comes to the last third of the novel, when the external plot is resolved, and then the two internal plots are resolved as well. Not many romance novelists are successful with developing character arcs for *both* protagonists, not just because one tends to lose focus, but also because it's difficult to connect both to the external plot. Here, the greater development is on the heroine, but the hero gets sufficient treatment to pop him into real-life 3D from the typical hero cardboard cutout.

If you're looking for explicit sex scenes, then look elsewhere. Krahn writes a romance novel so they'll hook up, never fear, and you'll get the narrative satisfaction that comes with it - but her focus is on the tension that gets them there, and she has the class to pull the bed curtains and tiptoe out of the room.

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was set up to be an adventure book, but the plot line was laughable. You knew who the bad guy was from the time you met him, and it wasn't a surprise at all. The characters were set up to be intellectuals, but they made easily avoidable mistakes that got them in trouble, and then the trouble magically disappeared. The author treated some characters callously, which left a sour taste in my mouth. I ended up skipping multiple pages at a time towards the middle because it was dragging, and then I didn't like the ending, so I was happy that I skipped so many pages. This author usually does much better work, so I was surprised.
The whole librarian priestesses bit was ridiculous and shows a lack of forethought. They were guardians of the books, but they didn't actually protect them. And 150 years old? Why let it end for them like that? And yet the uncle survived? The situation with the dad at the end was like a pipe dream come true.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a solid 4-stars for me. It started a little slow, and took a moment to build, but eventually I was drawn in by the chase.

One thing I really liked about this novel is how the author alternates between Abigail’s and Apollo’s points of view. This was especially helpful in the beginning as the two main characters were not yet in each other’s stories.

Though I don’t consider myself a huge fan of any sort of excavation — and especially not for lost texts — I couldn’t help but enjoy the excitement and hope of finding a lost library. I was constantly imagining this book as a movie while reading, and I think it’d make a great one.

It did get a little fantastical (and frankly, weird) towards the end, but by that point in the book, I was able to forgive that. I particularly enjoyed the epilogue, which, without giving too much away, I thought was the perfect way to wrap it up given the turn of events.

Honestly the only thing I didn’t “like” about this book was that the fifth “delight” is not mentioned, and that irks my very linear brain. But overall I think this book blends action and romance really well so that neither overtakes the book, and therefore, I recommend it.

[Tim Covell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part romance, and part ripping yarn. It begins with the somewhat tired trope of an adventurous but naive woman in over her head, and I had some difficulty with how unprepared she was for a trip to Casablanca, after she had travelled from America to England and is living there by herself. She's soon rescued by a lovable rogue (of course), and their goals align enough for them to seek treasure together. That's not a metaphor, but it might as well be - the story is delightfully rich in symbolism and flavoured with exotic locations and characters. It's a fun read, as long as you don't try and take it too seriously.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is exactly what you think it will be and I have no regrets. It’s exactly what I was looking for when I started it and I was pleasantly surprised that:
a) the FMC wasn’t a know-it-all (although she thought she was well-prepared!),
b) The MMC had some issues and, although swarthy and handsome, was portrayed far more realistically than I expected,
c) It was nice to see Berber tribes playing such a pivotal role in the story, and
d) The actual Book of the Seven Delights was more poignant that I thought it was going to be which was a nice little burst of delight to end with.

A nice novel to while away a few hours with.

[Emilee Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun read! I picked it up thinking "this sounds like The Mummy," and since I absolutely love that movie, I had to give this book a go. I wasn't disappointed. A Librarian, an ex-Legionnaire, and an action-packed adventure as they search for treasure in Morocco. Add in a healthy dose of sexual tension between the main characters and a twist on the fate of the great library of Alexandria, and I was hooked. Loved it!

[Sherry S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, part romance, part "Indy Jones" , part funny. I enjoyed the "Husband Test" books, and other books by Betina Krahn. You never know what will happen next in this book! I loved all the Library dewy decimal catalog references, hilarious !!!

[Cecilia Rodriguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Krahn's historical romance is a blend between: Raiders of the lost ark and the Mummy(the Brinden Frazier version).
A good balance of steamy romance and humor.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh! Fun and sort of an extra romantic Mummy/National Treasure/Uncharted kind of story. Great for when you're busy and just want fluff!

[Kit★ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moving on down the TBR pile, upon which this book has been sitting for quite nearly a full decade! I’m pretty sure it was a dollar store find when I originally got it, the premise of the story sounded really interesting. I’ve never read a single thing by this author before, so I’m diving in all fresh and new here. Let’s see how it goes!

Solid 3.5 Stars. I’ll elaborate further later today when I’m not rushed to get to work.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Abigail Merchant has moved from her job in the archives of the state of New York to a place in the British Museum. She had worked for years for the job, only to be placed in the basement with acquisitions. It is this work that leads her to discover the papers of Professor T. Thaddeus Chilton, and his search for remnants of the Library of Alexandria. Abigail follows his quest into the Moroccan desert, hoping to prove her worth as a female scholar to her fellow colleagues at the British Museum. Along the way, the ex-legionnaire Apollo Smith joins her crusade, and Abigail is torn between her annoyance with him and her growing desire to be with him. It doesn’t help that one of the manuscripts she discovers belongs in the 613s!

This book is pretty hilarious, but it would be better if there were more descriptions of the exotic location. Instead, the book is filled with bad writing and a lot of jargon.

[Deirdre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very funny, very charming and a great read. It's not very deep but it's a story that dragged me in, had me grinning and giggling at parts and I found it thoroughly enjoyable. Now don't get me wrong, it's not really realistic, along the same lines as The Mummy, and I liked it as much.

Abigail Merchant works in the British Museum and is certain that she has a hope of finding a famous but missing manuscript. She heads off to the middle east with knowledge from old guide books and a fist full of slightly moronic optimism. She meets up with Apollo Smith who decides to take her under his wing and keep her from harm. The two of them spark and a relationship ensues.

Now it sounds not so good but I have to admit that several weeks later I still have a smile on my face from remembering it.

[BettyAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I picked this one up, I thought it would take place in current day. Don't know what I was thinking, it's not. It's during the time when women still wore corsets. I was a little disappointed when I finally figured this out and it kept me from getting into it. But once I got over that, it was actually a fun read. Nothing compared to a great classic, but a fun romantic adventure. A lot of my complaints about romance books is that once the characters fall in love, the book ends. That's where I think it just gets more interesting! So this was nice because the falling in love happens around the middle and continues. Reminded me a lot of the film "The Mummy" and "Indiana Jones"-- which I loved both those movies.

[Annette Summerfield · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the whole idea of the story behind this. The ancient scrolls, the lost library they are out to find..wonderful story line...I just found it dragged. There is a lot of action, but I still felt like "come on, get on with it" and ended up speed reading and flipping past some paragraphs and moving on.
I think my mind needs something else. I read Mystique by Amanda Quick and I've been reading Lost Lady by Jude Deveraux for a while now and haven't got it done and then The Book of the Seven Delights was just along the same kind of writing.
Nice books but I want some fantasy. I have a book by Mercedes Lackey here I'm going to read next so maybe she'll give me something new.

[Read With Chey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is literally the plot of The Mummy (1999) and uses so many of the same lines!
Scholarly librarian finds a lost treasure map/diary in the archives of the Museum; her father is a famous adventurer; meets a scoundrel on the run from the French Foreign Legion; has a lovable and goofy sidekick; hot desert nights. NEED I SAY MORE?!

While this book is hilarious and slow burn, enemies to lovers goodness, my only gripe is that it’s fade to black. While still satisfying, bonkers fun, I would always prefer on-page romance scenes but it’s okay it’s okay, I still recommend this!

[Rebekah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Everything about this book screams that it would be a romance novel made for me. Instead I kept feeling like the author was that guy in "As Good as it Gets" played by Jack Nicholson. Someone playing on stereotypes. Yeah yeah all romance novels play on stereotypes, but this one just irked. Couldn't finish it.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great adventuresome romance! Delightful characters, witty and strong. Most of the setting of this book takes place in Morocco at the time of French occupation with a hero and heroine who break the mold of typical Regency England. A lot of action and chase scenes. The romance is pretty "PG" in this book which is different from previous books written by Betina Krahn. Still very enjoyable to read.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would really give this book a solid 3-1/2 stars. I liked it, the story, the characters, the adventure. Though there were a few loose ends that were never explained, I still enjoyed the read. And truthfully, I might have given this four stars if I hadn't just finished Mr Impossible before this one...

[Romanceh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Il est rare de trouver une Romance historique ayant pour cadre le Maroc et là, je suis comblée ! On s'y croirait ! Sous la chaleur de ce beau pays, on vit une magnifique histoire. C'est tour à tour enchanteur, drôle, poignant, tendre, rebondissant. Un roman rare. Une perle du genre. A savourer !