Den Roman habe ich leider auf deutsch gelesen. Ein Fehler. Entweder ist die Übersetzung so schlecht ("er nahm seine Flossen nicht weg" igitt) oder das englische Original ist im Grunde ebenso schlecht, ich merke es nur nicht… Die Sprache hat mich so gestört, dass ich mich nicht richtig drauf einlassen konnte. Eine Indiana Jones Geschichte ist es nicht, sie laufen halt sehr lange durch den Jungel, finden die alte Stadt und laufen wieder zurück durch den Jungel. Das beste ist eigentlich die Liebesszene auf der Waldlichtung im Regen. Albern ist die Tatsache, dass die Frauengestalten in modernen Liebesromanen an manchen STellen sehr bemüht sind, ihre Emanzipation durch zu setzen, so hier wenn es um das Wäsche Waschen für den Liebsten geht. Er hat sich zwar die ganze Zeit ein Bein für sie aus gerissen, aber seine Wäsche will sie nicht waschen... Albern. ( )

Wonderful story. The kind of book you can't put down until it's finished. The characters were engaging, the action well paced. The only thing keeping it from being a full 5 star read was a silly bit of conflict thrown in at the very end that would have made more sense had it been an issue throughout the story.

Brief synopsis: Jillian Sherwood is an archeologist determined to clear her father's name and reputation by locating the lost city of the Amazon warriors using the map her father had created before he died. River guide and jungle survivalist Ben Lewis is hired to lead Jillian and her no-account brother deep into the jungles of the Amazon. Used to having any woman he desires, Ben finds it hard to comprehend when Jillian seems immune to his sex appeal. Jillian is one tough cookie, however, determined to beat Ben at his own game.

The romance is good, beginning with dislike, moving through lust and into respect and finally trust and love over the course of the entire story. The heat between the hero and heroine is well drawn, and when they finally give in to their raging hormones, the effect is sizzling.

Ben is an alpha male but with enough uncertainty over Jillian's apparent disinterest in him to keep him from being overbearing or arrogant. Rather, he comes across as confident yet very sweet.

Jillian is the kind of strong heroine I most enjoy. She isn't easily rattled, can hold her own with the men, and doesn't turn into a simpering pool every time Ben looks her way. She acknowledges her own reaction to Ben's animal magnetism but is able to control herself and keep him at arms length. Too, she isn't prone to whining when things don't go her way. She came to truly trust Ben rather than hanging on to her initial distrust once she'd gotten to know him. I really liked her.

Definitely a keeper. One of Howard's best. ( )