Where the Library Hides (Secrets of the Nile, 2)
Egypt, 1885: Inez’s mother has disappeared after taking everything away from her—the discovery of Cleopatra’s tomb at her uncle’s dig site, the family she believed in, even her cousin Elvira’s life. Now, if Inez wants to stay in Egypt and bring her mother to justice, she must make an impossible choice: return home or marry former rival Whitford Hayes. She’s already fallen for him, but can she trust Whit’s motivations for marrying her? Within a few days, they’re wed. Shortly thereafter, her uncle’s dig site is attacked. All the artifacts, including Cleopatra’s mummy, are spirited away. But since she’s married, Inez can access her family’s fortune, help her uncle, and search for her mother. However, when Inez goes to the bank, she discovers her accounts have been emptied. Stunned, she realizes only one person would have access to her money: her new husband.
In this second book in the Secrets of the Nile fantasy duology, tension crackles from start to finish. Inez is spirited, outspoken, and not afraid to get her hands dirty. Whit is an Englishman with many secrets. The two are charming together, but their relationship gets complicated by their respective pasts. The majority of this book swirls around this fiery romance. Ibañez does a great job capturing moments with selective imagery and emotional impact so that chapters play out cinematically in the reader’s imagination. The setting details are less immersive than in Book 1, but when those details do pop in, they’re well done. Inez has lived her life trying to meet her parents’ expectations, and this story shows Inez’s growth becoming her own person while also blazing her own path. A captivating story full of surprising twists, feisty characters, and the shadows of Cleopatra. Young adult.
