Lori Wilde, Mission: Irresistible

Lori Wilde, Mission: Irresistible - Cassie Cooper hopes one day soon she will work at the Smithsonian, but for now she must handle the garbage Phyllis Lambert, her boss at Fort Worth Kimbell's Museum, tosses at her. Currently, the Kimbell hosts an Ancient Egypt exhibit because noted Egyptologist Dr. Harrison Standish got permission from the Mubarak government to host an exhibit that includes a priceless artifact in the states so he chose his home city. Phyllis warns Cassie if anything goes wrong she will be fired.

During an Ancient Egypt masquerade gala at the Kimbell, the lights go out; when they come back on a man in a mummy suit is dead and part of the amulet is missing. Additionally, guest of honor, Harrison's half-brother Dr. Adam Grayfield has failed to arrive. Phyllis blames Cassie, but shockingly Harrison defends her innocence. As Cassie and Harrison work together seeking the missing half of the artifact, the nerdy Dr. "Standoffish" and the bouncy, flirtatious nut fall in love, but first an amulet must be found though the kisses send shivers up both their spines.

The sequel to CHARMED AND DANGEROUS is a fun, romantic, amateur sleuth tale starring two likable seemingly opposites. The pairing sort of reminds this reviewer of what if the Professor and Ginger made it except instead of an isolated overly visited island the background is Egyptian artifacts. The storyline is humorous and fast-paced, never taking itself seriously. Fans who appreciate a breezy, lighthearted, romantic suspense reminiscent of Romancing the Stone will enjoy reading the adventures of the wilder Cooper twin.

Warner, May 2005, $6.50, 368 pp.

ISBN: 0446615153

Harriet Klausner