Tuesday, March 20, 2018

About the Book

Book Title: The Tempering Agent

Author: Victoria Pitts Caine

Release Date: February 14, 2014

Dr. Priscilla Hackling finds herself thrown back into the murder investigation of her fiancé, Trey Whittington. While she was a suspect three years ago, she’s now working with the police to find the murderer, Egyptian artifact trafficker, Zarka El-Din. During a sting operation in Siwa, she and Agent Donnie Barnes are drawn to each other but Priscilla, overcome by personal ghosts from her past, decides a relationship isn’t possible. Priscilla realizes she’s the bait in the ruse and uncovers others involved with El-Din. Will she and Donnie reconcile and unravel the reason behind Trey’s death before El-Din kills her, too?

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About the Author

Victoria Pitts Caine is a native Californian and lives in the central portion of the state. Her varied interests include genealogy and exotic gemstone collecting both of which she’s incorporated into her novels.

The author has received recognition in both fiction and nonfiction from: Enduring Romance top 10 picks for 2008, William Saroyan Writing Conference, Byline Magazine, Writer’s Journal Magazine, Holt International Children’s Services Magazine, and The Southern California Genealogical Society. Her first novel was published in 2007 followed by two more as well as novellas and short stories in anthologies.

Victoria is a former staff technician in air pollution control. She is the mother of two daughters. Now retired from the work force, Victoria and her husband enjoy travel, cooking, and are self-appointed “foodies”.

Guest post from Vicki Caine

Since childhood, I have been interested in genealogy and ancient Egypt. Two of my prior novels, Alvarado Gold and Cairo, let me follow my fantasies into those two areas. Donnie the hero in The Tempering Agent is also in the other two books, and it was his turn to find his own romance. When archaeologist Dr. Priscilla Hackling finds herself drawn back into the murder investigation of her fiancé and the missing breast plate of the high priest, Agent Donnie Barnes, is just the man to help her out, even if she doesn’t think so.

Traveling along with Priscilla and Donnie, I discovered some interesting facts about ancient Egypt, from the ruins in the Siwa Desert to the mystery of the Valley of the Kings. The genealogy factor in my novels is Donnie is loosely based on my cousin. Alvarado Gold tells the story of my family while Cairo and The Tempering Agent fueled my inquisitiveness about Egypt.

I love books that take you to places far away without having to leave your house. Egypt has always been a very intriguing place to me. The author does a superb job of giving us historical facts that make you feel as though you are viewing artifacts right along side the characters. I'm sure many will compare the story to an Indiana Jones adventure and they would be right.

Dr. Priscilla Hackling is about to have an assignment that will remind her of her fiance's death and relive the horrors of that unforgettable time. I felt so bad that she had to be placed in danger for the mission to work. Priscilla is definitely up for the challenge. She wants to see justice served and the killer punished. Her encounter with her partner , the dashing Agent Donnie Barnes doesn't exactly feel all warm and fuzzy at first. The tension between them is just what you would expect from a stubborn woman and a determined agent who is out to solve the crime.

The story takes us into the world of artifacts, gems and secrets people are willing to die for. The action is nonstop and filled with tension. Donnie to me was the star of the book and I soaked in everything about him. He can handle dangerous situations with wisdom and authority. Did he plan to fall for Priscilla along the way? I kept thinking how she tried to pull away from him, but she didn't fool me one bit. When Priscilla becomes victim to the people after the artifacts, I could sense an intensity in Donnie. Can he continue to keep her safe? This is one story that has all the elements of an action packed adventure with characters that are well developed.

One of the things I like the most about the story is the realization Priscilla gets when she finds out friends can turn into enemies. It's one that hurts as she feels defeated. Having to let go of her past is hard, but knowing that you have been betrayed by friends hurts to the core. Learning to let go of past hurt and letting God show you how to find peace is something both Donnie and Priscilla will have to come to turns with. Don't miss this story filled with adventure, history and finding peace

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.