Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

Desperate to escape the abuse of her husband and his second and third wives,  Samia went into the desert intent on dying.  A group of archeologist found her before death claimed her.  They nursed her back to health and gave her a purpose for living.    Each day she gathered their notes, organized, and recorded them.  Spiro was kind to her and offered her a new life.   Her ex-husband came looking for her.  He was not ready to give her up so easily.   She was his possession, his slave.  He would see her dead before he would let her divorce him.

Mary Lukes Stamoloulis weaves a story of romance around history, while demonstrating the culture of the land and era.  I’m not sure how much of the story is based on fact.  Samia and Spiro fit well together.  The secondary characters added dimensions to the plot.  I feel as though I looked back at Carter’s expedition and watched his triumph.