Candice Cushing and the Lost Tomb of Cleopatra by Georgette Kaplan is the second book in The Cushing–Nevada Chronicles series. This novel begins where the first one ends and continues the adventures of Easy Nevada and Candice Cushing.
Easy Nevada is a character similar to Indiana Jones or Lara Croft, only in lesbian form. She is on a mission to find the twelfth crystal skull for her employer, after already finding the last eleven. For this last one, she needs the help of Candice Cushing, a by-the-book, British educated archaeologist. Candice does not agree with Easy’s grave robbing. However, after being connected with Easy in her last project and facing the wrath of a religious zealot whose son Easy killed, she finds herself a partner in the quest for Cleopatra’s tomb and the last crystal skull. Thus the adventure continues with lots of bad guys, bullets, rockets and bombs, with hardly time for the two to breathe in between.
I love the character of Easy Nevada. She is sarcastic, funny, rude and caustic; everything you expect from a character like this. Add in the straight-laced, British taught, all business, law abiding archaeologist, and you automatically have some wildly funny and exciting times. The adventures in this tale are really non-stop. It is best to set aside any expectations of realism before you begin to read. This is not a realistic story, but it is very enjoyable if you just sit back and let the tale unfold.
Don’t expect a lot of romance, though there is a definite attraction between Easy and Candice. The attraction began in the first novel and continues here, but it is not the major plot line of this tale, at least not yet. This is an action and adventure story for the most part. I will mention that this is not the end of the series. There will be at least one more novel added to the chronicles.
This is NOT a standalone book. If you have not read Easy Nevada and the Pyramid’s Curse, you will not understand, and probably not enjoy this story. There is simply too much information in the first novel that you need in this one. I read the first book a little over a year ago, and even I had a bit of a hard time remembering some of the secondary characters that turn up in this one. I can’t imagine trying to understand everything without some knowledge from book one.
If you love adventure stories like Indiana Jones or the Tomb Raider, then I think you will enjoy these books. I enjoyed both novels and will be looking for the third one as soon as it is published.
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing for an honest review.
Rainbow Reflections 