Where one myth ends, can another tale take off?

Synopsis

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?

My review

Dusty Danford and Stuart Carlson have been best friends for years, from the moment they met as kids on a dig in Egypt. No matter where life took them, they could always rely on each other on not every high but also every low. They even worked together on several archaeological expeditions.
So when Stuart get the chance to help run the American excavations at Troy, in Turkey, he asks Dusty to help as the site illustrator.
Now that Stuart is available again, perhaps this is the perfect opportunity for Dusty to come clean about her feelings for her best friend, as she has been loving him for years.
But things aren’t that easy as it seems, because at the site it’s clear that Stuart’s boss is adamant to make a major find to restore his reputation, competing against the German archaeologists. And he is ready to break not only the rules, but also the laws…
Will Stuart and Dusty be able to keep things on track and protect not only the dig but also everyone involved? And will their passion surface and survive without their boss putting everything everyone worked so hard for in jeopardy? 

While I am not into the whole archaeology – thing, I am into Carla Luna 😊
She makes it possible for even a complete layman like me to enjoy a great story of archaeology. 

I always had and always will have a soft spot for stories where friends turn into something more. I find it so amazing to see that relationship evolve into something deeper, where characters know each other inside out. 

However… 

The real romance in this book takes a rather long time to happen. But that isn’t a bad thing! Because the longer we have to wait, the better we can understand both main characters and see not only their hopes but also their fears.
And whatever Dusty and Stuart do, they do it to protect each other, even if the feelings aren’t known. 

I felt a bit sorry for Dusty, because she has a lot of pressure on her shoulders. Not only from her parents, as especially her mother is pushing her, but Dusty doesn’t seem to appear to know what *she* truly wants…
And that made me sad, because everyone should know where their heart lays and should be able to follow their dreams.
But my heart went out to her also concerning Stuart…
It cannot be easy to be in love with your best friend and I could understand her fear of ruining their friendship. 

Even if it were wrong, I admired the lengths Dusty would go to protect Stuart. Because his boss, Professor Hughes, is truly a disgusting man. And I am not only talking about his persistence on the dig itself, but his behaviour in general… He also uses his ‘power’ in his own advantage, making people, Dusty included, do things that aren’t right. 

But Dusty isn’t the only one being protective, also Stuart is very protective towards Dusty. Yet we see him also struggling with doing the right thing. He isn’t doing anything bad per se, but he has also worked very hard to be where he is right now, and he doesn’t want to make any mistakes… Making him make mistakes obviously. 

I loved reading about the dynamic between these two lovely main characters, but I also absolutely liked all the side characters (with the exception of the professor of course!). While my archaeological knowledge is barely existing, I could feel myself getting enthusiastic at the dig myself, eager to see if there would be any actual discovery!
And there are two characters that I for sure would like to have their own story, as their antics for sure made me laughs throughout this book!    

This was again a story that didn’t disappoint, as it shows us not only the curiosity of a dig, but also the dynamics in a changing relationship, where the love for each other make the characters want to protect each other at their own cost.
But also about characters finding not only the courage to admit their feelings towards each other, but about characters finding themselves, with the help of those who they love the most. 

As this book was way too quickly over, I cannot wait to read what else this author has in store for us!