England and Egypt - 1907

Growing up in strait-laced London has its ups and downs for a young lady born of Egyptian parents. Even though Jasmine Tristan has been formally adopted by her step-father, a viscount, she is constantly snubbed by Society. Nicknamed "the Brown Scorpion" by some, Jasmine is determined to show everyone she is a proper English lady. Unfortunately, her methods lack thought, and when she is caught at a masked ball by the very woman who gave her the demeaning nickname, Jasmine's reaction is to seek revenge. When she discovers that her real father was a sultan who was hated and reviled by all he encountered, she worries that she may have more of his influence than she wants -- for the revenge she wreaks does nothing but hurt too many people, including the man she cares for.

Lord Thomas Claradon has had a difficult childhood - beaten and demeaned by his father, and then losing his older brother to a freak accident. Now he is the heir, and he has set out to turn his and his family's fortunes around. His Arabian horse breeding business is going well, and he is planning a trip with the Duke of Caldwell to Egypt to buy up the remaining horses of the al-Hajid, a Bedouin tribe that the duke had lived with. Thomas is also completely smitten with the exotically beautiful Jasmine Tristan, who is accompanying her uncle, the duke, and Thomas. She plans to write articles for a London newspaper of her travels. She is totally off-limits to him as the sole heir, especially since his mother has shown him how much she despises Jasmine. What will happen when he and Jasmine must see each other every day? Can Thomas control his feelings for her?

Angering not only the Claradons by her revengeful acts, but also her parents, Jasmine is determined to clear her name by writing stories of her journey back to her homeland. She is also hoping to find someone who doesn't hate her father -- there must have been something good about him? Will Jasmine find that the truth is too painful? And how can she resist the handsome Thomas?

THE SCORPION & THE SEDUCER is a continuation of Ms. Vanak's popular Egyptian historical romances. Characters from previous novels appear, but the story is centered on Jasmine and Thomas -- two star-crossed lovers who yearn to find a way around society's rules. Jasmine, head-strong, sometimes a bit too impetuous, and occasionally thoughtless, nevertheless feels the sting of being ostracized by her step-father's peers. Her cruel revenge alienates her even more, especially from the one she loves. Thomas is caught in a no-win situation. Can he fulfill his destiny and still have the woman he adores?

There is lots of excitement and adventure pulsating through this novel, along with some hot, sexy scenes that will have readers' hearts pounding. This is a stand-alone book, but check out Ms. Vanak's website ( http://www.bonnievanak.com/) for the list of the previous stories, as they shouldn't be missed.

Jani Brooks