Ravenstone

by: Deborah Cannon

Published by: Trafford Publishing

Reviewed by Stephanie Boyd

Jake and Angeline are back working together with another archaeologist’s mystery and adventure. But the evil man that almost raped Angeline is also back and this time he seems to be holding a lot of the cards. Jake and Angeline will have to work fast and hard to figure out the petroglyphs, pendants, and secrets of the Ravenstone to find the answers they need to save their lives.

After reading other glowing reviews of this book–including one that said it could stand alone, and I didn’t need to read the earlier two books–I am greatly disappointed in Ravenstone.

The underlying story is interesting. I liked the background of the Ravens and Eagles and the mystery of the Ravenstone. But I had a hard time staying focused while reading this book.

First, I did not care for several of the seemingly stupid decisions that Jake (the hero) makes that just further embroil the couple into conflict with the evil bad guy and endangers his fiancée Angeline. For a character that is supposed to be a genius, I just could not accept that he would do some of the dumb things he does in the story. Jake is supposedly in love with Angeline, and they are not just partners but also lovers. But in this story he is sexually attracted to another woman, and again shows he makes dumb decisions.

I also had great difficulty believing that regardless of how much money the bad guy has that he would be able to continue to manipulate police and the authorities and get by with everything he gets away with.

I cannot in good faith recommend this book to my friends.

Armchair Interviews says: Heed this reviewer’s comments.