Treasure Me

The Legend Hunters #3

by Robyn DeHart

The Legend Hunters . . .

The Men of Solomon's meet in secret, their very existence only a rumor among the best of Victorian society. They are treasure hunters, men of wealth and title, seekers of myths and legends. And no legend is as captivating as the Loch Ness monster . . .

Graeme Langford, Duke of Rothmore, has always been torn between his beloved Scottish homeland and his duty to the English Crown. Yet his is truly an adventurer's soul-and he's determined to find a long-lost stone hidden near Loch Ness.

Bookish Vanessa Pembrooke heads to the Highlands to prove the existence of the legendary beast. Instead she finds the first man who has ever shared her hunger for adventure. Soon Graeme and Vanessa are fighting a dangerous battle as well as their own simmering attraction. As their passion grows, so does the danger. Ultimately, they must risk everything to keep the cursed stone out of a murderer's hands. But can they survive without losing the greatest treasure of all-their love?

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Adventure, Victorian, Historical Fiction, Scotland

315 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 10, 2011

About the author

National Bestselling author, Robyn DeHart’s novels have appeared in the top bestselling romance and historical romance lists. Her books have been translated into nearly a dozen languages. Her historical romantic adventure series, The Legend Hunters, were not only bestsellers, but also award-winners, snagging a Reader’s Crown and a Reviewer’s Choice award. She had three releases in 2013 and 2014 will see four more, all set in the popular historical romance Regency and Victorian eras.

Known for her “strong dialogue and characters that leap off the page” (RT Bookclub) and her “sizzling romance” (Publishers Weekly), her books have been featured in USA Today and the Chicago Tribune. A popular writing instructor, she has given speeches at writing conferences in Los Angeles, DC, New York, Dallas, Nashville and Toronto, among many others.

When not writing, you can find Robyn hanging out with her family, husband (The Professor) a university professor of Political Science and their two ridiculously beautiful and smart daughters, Busybee and Babybee as well as two spoiled-rotten cats. They live in the hill country of Texas where it’s hot eight months of the year, but those big blue skies make it worth it.

You can find Robyn online in a variety of places.
Sign up for Robyn’s newsletter www.robyndehart.com/newsletter/
Robyn’s website www.robyndehart.com
Robyn on Twitter twitter.com/RobynDeHart
Robyn on Facebook www.facebook.com/pages/Robyn-DeHart-H...
Robyn on Goodreads www.goodreads.com/author/show/288853....

What others say about Robyn’s books.
“Robyn DeHart’s vibrant characters sweep the reader into a clever and sensual romp that is not to be missed.” – Julia London, NYT Bestselling Author
“Robyn DeHart proves that falling in love is the greatest adventure of all.” – Teresa Medeiros, NYT Bestselling Author
“Sizzling romance…DeHart makes the romance believable and enticing.” - Publishers Weekly
“DeHart is a genuine treasure.” – Booklist
“Robyn DeHart has become one of my favorite authors…where she shines is in creating character…. DeHart’s romances are tender and adventurous, and funny enough you may laugh your nethers off.” – FreshFiction
“One of the best historical romance authors writing today.” - Shana Galen, National Bestselling Author

Reviews

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

What’s a girl to do when she walks in on her fiancé getting down and dirty with her little sister two days before their wedding? Why go on an adventure, of course! Vanessa has always been fascinated by the study of bones, but has never gotten a chance to dig. She seizes the opportunity to run away to the Loch Ness area to find evidence that the legendary “water kelpie” really did exist there. Graeme, the hero, does her a good turn when she’s in a bit of trouble and unintentionally tangles their lives together.

I absolutely adored Vanessa. She was book smart, but kind of foolish in real life situations. Some might find that frustrating, but I found it charming. She never doubted that she could handle any situation and confidently approached them. They didn’t always turn out well, but she never panicked and lost her head. She was extremely logical and didn’t believe in stuff like love. She reminded me a bit of Darius from Not Quite a Lady by Loretta Chase.

You might be nervous that the romance between Vanessa and Graeme comes too soon after her breakup. Rest assured, there is nothing to worry about on that front. Vanessa chose her fiancé specifically because he was “level-headed, analytical, intelligent, and not at all moved by the frivolities in life.” There was no passion between them. At the most I would say there was a distant, pleasant liking.

The adventure wasn’t quite as serious as I was expecting. It was still a lot of fun to read about, but I felt that the villain and the way he manipulated people was a little bit too silly for me to take seriously. Also, there was a scene involving a member very high up in society that I found a little ridiculous. That being said, I had fun watching Graeme try to handle things on his own, only to have Vanessa thwart his every attempt to leave her behind.

The dynamic between Graeme and Vanessa was my favorite part of the book. I enjoyed their back and forth dialogue and liked that there was very little conflict involved in them being together. It was a little unrealistic at first—considering the unplanned way they found themselves stuck together—but I quickly grew to appreciate it. It made it a lot easier to go along for the ride as they tried to discover the treasure.

Although I enjoyed this story, I did find a few things (other than what I’ve already mentioned) irritating. I really, really disliked the fact that Vanessa’s sister and ex-fiancé seemed to be excused from their wrongdoing because they were “in love” and things ended up turning out well for Vanessa in the end. That really pissed me off. That “in the name of love” thing is not an opinion I ascribe to, so I had a hard time swallowing it when it was presented here. Also, I found it a little perplexing that a duke was treated like Joe Blow down the road. I don’t claim to be a history expert, but it seemed a little weird.

This is the third book in The Legend Hunters series, but it’s the first one I’ve read. I didn’t have a problem jumping into the series, but I did hear something about the villain that I think seems likely to be a spoiler for a previous book in the series. I could be wrong, but I wanted to give a head’s up just in case I was right. It didn’t bother me, though. I still plan on picking up the first two books and giving them a try as well. I think they’ll be a lot of fun!

One last mention before I end the review… There was a teeny amount of magic/supernatural event thrown in that I found surprising. It’s wasn’t a large part of the story, but I just wanted to let everyone know so they could go in with their eyes wide open.

Favorite Quote:

"I was asked to look into something that another man is doing. Make certain that he's not doing anything illegal or dangerous."

"By whom?"

"Some men I work with in London."

"Your flair for detail is astounding. Truly, the entire situation makes perfect sense to me now," she said.

Review originally posted on Fiction Vixen.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to BookSprout for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.

This is book 3 of the Legend Hunters series, and is the story of the search for the Stone of Destiny. Graeme Langford, the Duke of Rothmore is half English/half Scottish, but finds he does not fit well in either world. But he loves his Scottish side and his great quest, as a member of Solomon's, is to find the true Stone of Destiny, thought to be hidden in and about Loch Ness.

Vanessa Pembroke is a scholarly woman who wants to focus on her research in the new science of paleontology. She had contracted what she thought was a sensible and logical match with an American researcher. But two days prior to their marriage, finds him naked in the arms of her younger sister. She decides that she cannot marry him, but will take the chance to fulfill her desire to travel and focus on her research, taking the train and her already packed trunks with her to Scotland, where she hopes to find the bones of the beast of the Loch.

I love the character of Vanessa... she is bold and smart, but also naive, and this makes her vulnerable. She inadvertently ends up in a dangerous situation at a local inn, saved by a handsome stranger... who of course is Graeme. He takes on the hero alpha male role and saves the strange woman from being ravished by ruffians, and takes her to his mother's cottage for safety, while planning on sending her back to England on the first train he can.

Vanessa and Graeme end up stuck with each other, and Vanessa drawn into the drama of Graeme's search for the Stone, which now involves family secrecy and drama, and the involvement of the nemesis in the previous book, the Raven. Graeme and Vanessa find themselves increasing attracted to each other, while also growing to like each other and hope for a future together.

Another adventure story with strong shades of Indiana Jones, and the paranormal. The Raven makes an appearance again, manipulating family members around Graeme and Vanessa, putting their lives and loyalties at risk. But where the Raven's goal before seemed to be greed, being a treasure hunter for profit and gain, now the goal seems to be power and domination, thanks to the mythology of the Stone of Destiny and the Kingmaker.

But I found that the menace of the Raven and his storyline ended with a bit of a fizzle and was rather anticlimactic considering his level of menace and manipulation earlier in the story and the other books.

I did enjoy the story as it revolved around Graeme and Vanessa though. I do wish that there was an epilogue though to see what happens in the end to them, considering her dream with the stone of destiny. I would have liked to have known if she did have part of her dream, to follow her science dreams. It seemed like she pretty much gave that over to help Graeme with his endeavours, and that just did not seem to fit with her character; not unless she got an opportunity to go back to it later.

A fun, romantic historical adventure romance.

3.75 stars out of 5

[Rachel-RN · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vanessa dreams of being a scientist and is set to marry a follow scientist. One who will let her do her work and be a friend. Until she finds him with her sister. Graeme is a treasure hunter/explorer for Solomon's. He hunts antiquities and Solomon's protects them.
This had a good start and was on track to be the best book in this series. However, I thought Vanessa goals/dreams got lost. She helps Graeme on his quest to find the Stone of Destiny/Kingmaker. I liked how he accepted her and fell in love with her just as she was. But at the end I felt Vanessa pretty much gave up on her dream of being a scientist/paleontologist to just be Graeme's wife. Now, I'm not saying it's wrong to want to do that, but I felt it was a let down. I also thought the ending was a little rushed and thought The Raven's end was too easy.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Treasure Me was an exciting Victorian-era adventure with plenty of action, danger and a bit of romance along the way. Vanessa was truly the star of the book. She was smart, skilled and independent. She was a scientist and a scholar, determined to be taken seriously in a man's world. You have to respect a woman who sees calling off her wedding over a cheating fiance as more free time to search for fossils! The story's main focus was on the quest to locate The Stone of Destiny, and Vanessa and Graeme's romance was somewhat overshadowed. Still, there was a strong connection between the two characters, and it only grew stronger.

A fast-paced plot and interesting characters blended with Scottish legends made Treasure Me an enchanting tale. This is the final book in Robyn DeHart's Legend Hunters trilogy, though it can be read stand-alone. I have not read the first two books yet, and I never felt lost. Of course, because I enjoyed this one so much, I have some catching up to do with the rest of the series!

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blah. That's how I felt about this book. The writing was subpar, and the characters were unoriginal. The heroine is the same as the heroines found in the earlier books in this series. Spirited, ignoring society's niche for women, stubborn, dropdead gorgeous, yada yada yada. Basically like you've dropped a 21st century woman into the book.

Of course, at his first site of her, the hero is enamored with our heroine. Boy, am I tired of that. Where's the build-up? Oh, wait, there isn't any. I think they had consummated their marriage by the first 15% of the book. After that, the loosely strung-together plot had to carry the book. Very, very, loosely. As in, riddled with plot holes and the most ridiculous and/or overused plot devices.

Pass on this one.

[Tonileg · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a hard time finishing this story. I felt like it was relatively well written with no noticeable typos. I just couldn't get into the characters. I like a book smart heroine, but did the author have to make her so socially odd? If she can understand many ancient languages, then shouldn't she be able to figure out her own society, even if she doesn't find it interesting or agreeable?
There is a cute scene where the bride seduces her new husband ... with her glasses on. Seriously. It was sweet.

[Nancy Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

TREASURE ME by Robyn DeHart is Book 3 in The Legend Hunters series. All 3 books are treasures to read. They could be read as standalone, but I enjoyed all of the books. Each book has a unique story and romance. There's plenty of adventure!

Graeme Langford, Duke of Rothmore, has duties in London, but loved to visit his homeland of Scotland. He is also a member of a gentleman's club famously known as the Solomon's, and the select members are the Legend Hunters. Graeme is there this time to find a long-lost stone hidden near Loch Ness. When he is at a Scottish bar & tavern, he rescues a fair maiden in distress. In doing so, he accidentally ends up married to her. Her name is Vanessa Pembrooke and is sort of a run-away bride. She too ends up surprisingly married to her savior the Duke of Rothmore, Graeme. She doesn't know that he is a Duke or that she is now a Duchess. But that means a little to nothing to Vanessa. The really exciting news to her is that her new husband has an adventurer's soul. She has always wanted to go on adventures, but her strict family would never allow such unladylike actions. Her new husband learned right away, there was little chance of her staying home, if he left without her, she would just follow him. Graeme found it was easier to take Vanessa along with him on his treasure hunt adventures. That way he'd be able to keep her out of trouble and safe. At least that is what he thought! These books all end well.

[Jamie Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wicked Good Legend Hunter Fun

The gentleman on the book’s cover is not quite an accurate depiction of the hero. That cover makes him look like an oiled-up medieval Scot, but he's not. He's actually a Victorian nobleman of English descent on his father's side and Scottish on his mother's. So he's an English lord in the British Parliament’s House of Lords with a powerful pull to the Scottish Highlands.

I found this book so much fun! Right from the beginning, you are pulled into the adventures of the hero (ooh, nearly lost his life in the first scene!) and heroine (good riddance to bad rubbish) and are intrigued by how they will meet and what will happen between them romantically and what adventures they may have together. The story definitely has an Indiana Jones vibe to it, and I loved how the heroine is, at the very least, the hero’s intellectual equal... if not his superior! So much happens in this book, and it has several intriguing subplots. This is the first of the Legend Hunters series I've read, but after this one, I am certainly interested in reading more! By the way, I loved the casual side mentions of other legends, like Atlantis! If you like treasure hunt and/or scientific exploration romances with intelligent characters who have sizzling chemistry, you will probably enjoy this book as much as I did.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Treasure Me by Robyn DeHart is a thrilling romantic action adventure. It focuses on Graeme and Vanessa. The men of Solomon’s are back, but in this case they are shown not to be infallible. The bulk of the story takes place outside of London which was refreshing!

Graeme and Vanessa are well-suited even though their relationship started out in a non-traditional way. I have to say, so far the men of Solomon’s have proven to be honorable in under stressful conditions, and Graeme fits right in. Vanessa is a refreshing heroine: intelligent, honest, and willing to go for what she wants.

Together, Graeme and Vanessa have sizzling chemistry, but it’s written in a way that makes it believable for them. One of my favorite scenes in the book is when Vanessa goes for it and attempts to seduce Graeme. The way she is willing to be so vulnerable but tries to keep her scientific mind about her is perfection!

Finally, I appreciate the research that goes into writing and these legends. I’d heard of the legend of Pandora’s box and the legend of Atlantis. I hadn’t heard the legend of the Kingmaker, but I was educated while reading a truly amazing romance. I can’t wait to see what Robyn writes next!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Pam Bereznak · Rating 5 out of 5]

So one of the admins in one of my FB reading groups gave me book 1 as an ARC while back. It was late 1800’s which I’m not really a huge fan. I did like the characters and the adventure of the storyline. It was a fun read. Sex was okay; not super descriptive. I didn't think I was going to read any more of hers because at the time the other 2 books were not KU and I didn’t really want to pay for them. Don't know if they turned KU after they'd been out for awhile or what, but this book and book 3 are KU so decided to try her again. I’m so glad I did. I don’t remember book 1, but I didn’t realize how much excitement there was in this series.

I really loved the adventure of this whole story. It was pretty intense. I wish the characters from each story would have interacted more since they were in the same "club" but was still a good read. Reading it was like watching an action packed movie. It was like National Treasure meets Indiana Jones. It didn’t read super modern, which I worry about in late 1800 books. I loved Graeme and Vanessa. I loved their story and their adventure. I was really glad I picked up this series again because it was a fun read.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Treasure Me is a captivating story that takes readers on a thrilling adventure filled with passion, secrets, and a love that defies all odds. With its well-developed characters, intriguing plot, and beautiful prose, this novel is sure to leave readers longing for more.
Set in Regency-era England, the plot is filled with twists and turns, ensuring that readers remain engaged throughout the story. The treasure hunt aspect adds a layer of excitement, as the main characters, Vivian and Adrian, race against time to solve the mystery and confront their own inner demons. The chemistry and slow-burning romance between the two characters are beautifully developed, keeping readers eagerly turning the pages.
Robyn DeHart has once again proven herself to be a talented storyteller, and readers will eagerly anticipate her next book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Fun Steamy Adventure!

I have to say I’m addicted to this authors ‘Legend Hunters’ series. I love the concept of finding treasure in unusual places and the adventure that goes with each story. It keeps you glued to every page. It also helps that you have wonderful characters with a sexy hero and heroine add in some steamy moments and it’s just perfect!

This time the story is based around Loch Ness, Vanessa is looking for the beasties bones as proof it was alive and Graeme is looking for the a long lost stone, together they are magic.

I love both their personalities, the fun and adventure they had along the way, trying to keep ahead of the enemy to stop a disaster from happening!

This series will be one I’ll read and re-visit many times and I cannot recommend it enough!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Linda J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 STARS - ROUNDED UP

First book I've read in the series and wasn't lost.

Some suspense, mystery, touch of magically, intrigue and romance that builds slowly. I did like each MC, but as another mentioned I felt our h gave up on her dreams. I also wanted the h's sister and her ex betroth to be more apologetic. Plus the h's mother acts like nothing wrong happened.

Lovemaking within marriage, heat level 3 out of 5 if that. I did enjoy them as a couple and loved the take charge attitude of the h. There is funny banter between the MC that was enjoyable.

No cheating, no cliffhanger, HEA, romance and a tad of spice. I did feel the ending was rushed. I can't improve on the blurb, just giving you some tidbits to decide whether to purchase.

I received ARC from Booksprout. All opinions are my own and freely given. (ljb)

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oops, I’m married! Not something Vanessa nor Graeme wanted to hear. This is my favorite book of the series. I loved everything about it. Robyn balances action with romance perfectly. Oh yes, Raven is still lurking about being his bad self. I have to tell you, he is one of the worst villains I have read and I was strangely drawn to his character. What does that say about me? Not that I am romanticizing him but he is very charismatic. Okay, now into Vanessa and Graeme, I loved their oops marriage and how they realized that love (okay lust at the beginning) could not be ignored. They work together really well and genuinely appreciate each other. What a great ending to this series (I do wish there were more). If you love adventure with your romance, I guarantee you will love this story.

I received a complimentary copy.

[BookishMya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling adventure filled with mystery, secrets and an unexpected match. Vanessa has never fit in. She is her father’s daughter, even if he never appreciated it. A budding scientist who longs to make her mark on history. When she inadvertently finds herself married to Graeme, a Scottish adventurer, she begins to find the missing pieces of her life. Despite a rocky start, these two make a remarkable team. They compliment each other strengths and assist in their weaknesses. The reappearance of the Raven was a great catalyst to the traps and troubles we’ve come to expect in the Legend Hunters. He is a villain that is easy to hate. I always find myself drawn into the mystery of these legends and they are told with such a flair for dramatics that you can’t help but love. I’ll admit there were a few spots that brought me to tears. A truly well told story!

[Jayne Butcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story! Damsel’s in distress; an accidental marriage; multiple betrayals; kidnappings; misunderstandings; manipulations and murders, all add up to a story filled with danger, lore and lust. Graeme’s saving Vanessa from several unscrupluous drunks sets off a chain of events that changes their lives forever. They both become entangled in a quest to find specific treasures in the hopes of stopping an evil mastermind. This story will get your heart pumping, ignite your ire and break your heart. Some passages are humorous, some are distressing and some are steamy, but all-in-all this book is a wild ride!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cay Scheumack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mysterious, suspenseful, entertaining, witty, emotional, well written book of the legend hunters.
Graeme Langford, Duke of Rothmore, member of Solomon's. and a legend hunter. His goal is to return the real stone of destiny to Scotland.
Vanessa Pembrooke ran to Scotland when she found her sister and fiancee in a compromising position. She believes she's a scientist like her father was. She's looking for bones and fossils. Vanessa runs into trouble in a tavern. Graeme saves her.
The Raven, a turned nasty, bad legend hunter is after the loch ness stone. The last to finish the Kingmaker. He doesn't care how he gets the stone.
This is Graeme and Vanessa's story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Theresa25 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked from the Prologue. A Regency Raiders of the Lost Ark. Hidden tunnels in caves, lost treasure, code books, damsels in distress. Lucas Films, this would make a great addition for a new Raiders series. Where are you, George Lucas??

Graeme and Vanessa were so much fun to read and follow on their treasure hunting adventure. They kept me wondering what would happen next. The author also included the old Scottish tradition of hand fasting, which added extra complications to their relationship. Were they or weren’t they married? So much fun to read. Sorry to see the series end. If you enjoy action adventure and treasure hunting stories, you will absolutely love this one. I highly recommend you pick it up.

[Yukari Ushioda · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Treasure Me" is a Victorian-era, historical romance novel filled with suspense, adventures, dangers, and actions. It reminds me of scenes you see in Indiana Jones movies. Vanessa is the star of the book. She is intelligent, resourceful, and independent. She is a scientist and a scholar, determined to be taken seriously in a man's world. Graeme is an alpha male, described and saves the strange woman from being ravished in a tavern.
The dynamic between Graeme and Vanessa was my favorite part of the book. I enjoyed their back and forth dialogue and liked that there was very little conflict involved in them being together. It was a little unrealistic at first. But Robyn always writes good scripts in general and leaves me with satisfactory endings.

[Sarah Nielsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a phenomenal historical romance. It was the final book in The Legend Hunters series and though I have loved each one this became my favorite. It was so entertaining and certainly nerve racking at times. Graeme and Vanessa had quite a journey together and it was an interesting one to be a part of. They had amazing chemistry and they worked well together. I really enjoyed the story and I was sad to reach the end because I just wanted more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Catherine A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graeme and Vanessa’s story has many plot twists that keep the reader guessing. Vanessa is a Bluestocking interested in paleontology. Graeme is a treasure seeking Duke searching for the true Stone of Destiny. Just to keep things interesting, the author throws in a murderous antagonist, known as The Raven, lurking in the shadows wanting to kill Queen Victoria. Historical romance readers who enjoy fantasy fiction will throughly enjoy this book. It is a nice break from the typical historical romance genre.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vanessa is the paleontologist daughter of wealthy Englishman; Graeme is the son of a Scottish woman and her aristocratic English husband. Vanessa and Graeme are both searching for something, but they end up finding each other, as well as a dangerous adventure. Robyn DeHart has an amazing imagination, and her books never disappoint.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Flavia Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continuing the series, this is a story filled with adventure, mystery, romance, and passion. Graeme and Vanessa have the same passion for adventure, and together they discover that despite their rocky marriage, they have much in common. I always like the way this author writes and this story had me hooked from beginning to end.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emily Weinberger · Rating 3 out of 5]

kinda like Indiana Jones meets outlander but with way lower stakes. Didn't love that they were married within the first three chapters on accident. Also Graeme I get it Vanessa is so not like those other girls.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was amazing

[Gawelleb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bien meilleur que le second tome!
Du pur divertissement, du grand n’importe qui mais avec classe !!

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this series. Love Historical romance. I hate when I read the last book in a series I'm enjoying. Glad the Raven got his dues. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

[muriel somervell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book!

Have read all 3 book. Recommend to anyone who wants adventure,romance,mystery and a bit of magic! All 3 are must reads. Hope to see more! Of this series !

[Ing · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Synopis:
Vanessa Pembrooke walks in on her fiancee and her younger sister doing the nasty right in front of the library fireplace, two days prior to their wedding date. Vanessa is understandably upset and flees that night to Scotland. Vanessa is a budding paleontologist. She decides to head to Scotland to explore the caves where a fellow paleontologist, McElroy unearthed evidence that the legendary Loch Ness monster existed. Others in the paleontology community ignored McElroy's finding as nothing! Vanessa who believes that McElroy's claim does prove the existence of the Loch Ness sets out to Scotland to prove McElroy right.

Graeme Langford, Duke of Rothmore, is a member of Soloman's Legend Hunters club. The Legend Hunters are a secret society of men who love the adventure of seeking treasures. Graeme is longing for home. He is half Scottish and English. He is a Duke and mainly resides in London. His heart belongs in Scotland though.

Graeme runs into Vanessa in a tavern near is mother's home in Scotland. Graeme intervenes when Vanessa is being hassled by some of the local boys at the tavern by pretending Vanessa is his fiancee. Some verbal jabs are thrown at Graeme and somehow he is goaded into handfasting with Vanessa. Believing that the ceremony is not legally binding Graeme sets out on sending Vanessa back home to England on the next train. Graeme quickly learns Vanessa is her own person and doesn't take orders from anyone. After learning that the ceremony is legally binding Graeme and Vanessa set out on an unexpected adventure of the minds and heart.

My Thoughts:
Robyn was an author I had wanted to try for awhile now. Even though this is the 3rd book in the series it read very well by itself. I enjoyed my first Robyn Dehart book. Treasure Me, reminded me a bit of the movie National Treasure meets regency style. I don't normally say this about heroines in books (cause they tend to do something to annoy me) but Vanessa was an enjoyable character. She in my opinion outshines Graeme, the hero. Her character was very honest and endearing. She ran off to Scotland on her own which is a no, no during that time. After she runs off she acknowledges the stupidity of her action. I liked that! She's honest, level headed and is a no nonsense kind of gal. Her scientific mind gives her a different out look on things such as sex. Her thoughts on how to stay focus and not get caught up in the lusting was too funny. I kept thinking poor girl good luck trying to resist that sexy kilt wearing man!

As for Graeme I love him. I liked his protectiveness and the fact that he embraces his Scottish side to the fullest. When he's back home he likes to be in his kilt. Can I just say GRRRRR! LOL! I liked the chemistry between Graeme and Vanessa. She kept him on his toes and was a constant puzzle to him. She's not your typical virgin miss! In turn I love how Graeme appreciated Vanessa's mind and body. The secondary storyline involving the menacing bad guy Raven and Graeme's cousin Niall gave this book the suspense. Raven was really bad. If you are going to have a villain really make him a villain. That's what Robyn did. Raven was an evil bastard. Some parts of the book was a bit slow and I think more time could have been spent on the relationship between Graeme and Vanessa. It just seemed like so much was going on and the relationship felt a bit rushed at times. Overall an enjoyable read from a new to me author. I'll definitely check out the other books in this series. If you like adventure, treasure hunting, a smart heroine and a witty and sexy hero then I think you'll enjoy this book.

[Mary Gramlich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Treasure Me written by Robyn DeHart
Book #3 in The Legend Hunters Series
03/11 - Grand Central Publishing - Mass Market Paperback, 352 pages

When you don’t believe in love is there anything left to search for?

Graeme Langford, Duke of Rothmore was a man on a quest to find The Stone of Destiny. Graeme had followed all the symbols, read all the books and chased down every lead that had him returning to the land of his birth Scotland. He may be half English but his heart and soul belonged in Scotland the land where history and myth are always intertwined as one. Vanessa Pembrooke is also on a mission to prove the validity of the Loch Ness legend and while heart break had to chasing this dream, the love of science and study of bones created the scenario where she had no regrets.

So what would happen if Graeme and Vanessa were to meet – well get married of course what else? It was a quick ceremony meant to save her life but in Scotland handfasting is still legally recognized and the two of them became one solid couple chasing down their dreams during the day and fulfilling desires every night. Love was elusive for both of them but could that be the road they are heading down?

Where there is light in finding each other there has to be darkness and it takes the form of a terrible man known as The Raven who is trying to take the stone and destroy everything Graeme and his fellow Legend Hunters are trying to save. While Graeme and Vanessa search the caves, nooks and crannies looking for the treasure The Raven is creating havoc and using anything and everyone to get the goal he wants which is The Stone of Destiny and gain ultimate power of every land. Can the two of them stop him and in the end find what they are really searching for?

Between the gunshots, dynamite exploding, cave collapsing, untrustworthy relatives mix in an alpha male and an independent woman you know the action never stops and the fun goes on from one page to the next. Vanessa tries hard to not love Graeme and he refuses to believe in long term relationships but how do you fight the passion they share and connection that bonds them so closely as one?

I try not to have favorites in a series but this one is a slam dunk winner with me. Graeme and Vanessa get under your skin and make you love every moment you are reading about them. They are fun, exciting and downright perfect.