I received this book for free from Rachel's Random Resources in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Troy Story by Carla LunaSeries: Romancing the Ruins #2
Published by Moon Manor Press on May 23, 2023
Genres: Adult Contemporary Romance
Pages: 314
Source: Rachel's Random Resources
Format: E-galley
My Rating:
Goodreads
Blurb:
The friendship that launched a thousand adventures is about to embark on the greatest one of all…
Ever since Stuart Carlson and Dusty Danforth met as kids on a dig in Egypt, they’ve been best friends, supporting each other through heartaches, triumphs, and countless archaeological expeditions. So when Stuart gets hired to help run the American excavations at Troy, he asks Dusty to join him as the site illustrator.
For Dusty, the Troy project isn’t just another adventure. It’s the chance to tell Stuart how she really feels. After years of pining for him, she’s ready for more than friendship.
But soon after they arrive at the site in Turkey, they’re caught up in a feud with a group of German archaeologists. While both teams are eager to make a major find, Stuart’s boss is so determined to beat his rivals that he’s willing to break a few rules. Or laws.
As Stuart and Dusty work together to keep the dig on track, they give in to the passion that’s been simmering under the surface. But will their romance survive when their boss’s scheme puts the entire project in jeopardy?
Purchase Links
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BWGKBFNT
B & N Nook Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/troy-story-carla-luna/1143099586
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id6445787375
UBL (Books2Read): https://books2read.com/u/bMN2k8
My Review
I really like this author and enjoyed the first book in this series so was excited for this one! I really liked the new dig site with a different historical aspect that our characters were working on. It was neat to think about this area in Turkey, when I usually really only think about Egypt or Greece or other parts for big historical digs. The characters were great best friends, not wanting to ruin their friendship even though they both liked the other more than friends and wanted more.
There was a really good bad guy, Dr. Hughes, and boy did he really fit the part and messed so many things up. I liked the way the characters dealt with him. It made a lot of sense. A lot of times I think it is stupid when a character doesn’t tell the other because they are trying to protect them, but the way Hughes handled things, it made sense that he’d put the fear into Dusty so that she wouldn’t want to mess up Stuart’s new job and career. Especially with her own career/life choices kind of up in the air.
I also like how the other characters in the story that may have seemed like they would also be problems were able to be redeemed in things they did or as Dusty and Stuart got to know them better. We did get a few moments with Olivia and Rick, the main characters from the last book, Field Rules. The sexy times were perfectly fit into the story and added to the couple and their relationship and the directions the story took. And I loved the way that Dusty was able to put a stop to the big disaster waiting to happen at the end.
Normally it is when a book isn’t well written that it inspires me to get back to my own writing. But in this case, the way the whole excitement in the book developed and wrapped up in the end actually gave me a spark of an idea to get back to the first novel I ever started writing, and some ways to maybe get it fixed up and back on track since it features a paleontologist and his own kind of feud with a publicity hound type of guy like Dr. Hughes in this book.
Now I’m just eager for the next book in the series as we got to know the couple in this story and I’m looking forward to seeing how they will end up with their own HEA.
About the Author
Carla Luna writes contemporary romance with a dollop of humor and a pinch of spice. A former archaeologist, she still dreams of traveling to far-off places and channels that wanderlust into the settings of her stories. When she’s not writing, she works in a spice emporium where she gets paid to discuss food and share her favorite recipes. Her passions include Broadway musicals, baking, whimsical office supplies, and pop culture podcasts. Though she has roots in Los Angeles and Vancouver Island, she currently resides in Wisconsin with her family and her feisty Siberian cat.
Social Media Links –
Website: https://www.carlalunabooks.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/casacullen
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarlaLunaAuthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlalunacullen/
BookBub Page: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/carla-luna
I’m glad that you enjoyed this book and that it inspires you to get back to writing Lisa!
I do like this author a lot too!
I could totally dig this series…hehe.
Lol, love it!
I might have to read this. It looks pretty good!
It’s a cute series and I like the author’s other series that I’ve read too!