Overview
The Cairo Curse by Pepper Basham is based around a honeymoon trip between newlyweds Grace and Freddie Astley, where they go to visit Freddie’s family in Egypt. It’s far from the ideal honeymoon, however, when an archeological dig funded by Freddie’s cousins becomes the hotbed of mystery, theft, and murder. 😱
The story is a romance/adventure novel with a unique narrator, strong characters, and solid plot development, but it has a few snags. The spiritual aspects are mostly on the nose, with some nuances to unpack.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Story: 4 out of 5.
Worldview: 3 out of 5.
For writing style, plot, and characters alone, I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars. Even if the plot was a bit predictable, the characters come off the page with their personalities—especially Grace Astley herself. She’s both endearing and aggravating at times, but I know I am too!
In regards to spiritual matters, I wonder if there’ll be confusion in comparing Egyptian religion and God. Maybe it’s just that I used to love learning about mythology when I was younger—lumping Christianity in with Norse, Greek, and Roman mythology—that I don’t like the comparison now that I know Jesus is the only truth.
The book does share a message of salvation, even going as to explain Jesus’s death on the cross for our sins. Many characters had mentioned previous experiences with God in transforming them, but it would’ve hit so much harder if one character would’ve accepted Christ into her life. She was taking strides in the right direction, though, so maybe a sequel would explore her development.
Final Thoughts
This is a solid read, and I would be tempted to pick up a third installment in this series depending on the topic. Thanks to Netgalley and Barbour Publishing for the book in exchange for an honest review.
Note: I do not recommend the first book, The Mistletoe Countess, due to a weird power dynamic between the couple, and intimate scenes that went a little spicy. The Cairo Curse doesn’t do that, as it focuses on the plot and drama.
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One response to “The Cairo Curse by Pepper Basham”
[…] If you like cozy, sweet Christian romances, I recommend checking out other reviews on my blog! After growing up reading spicy novels, I’ve come to appreciate more down-to-earth books that reflect more healthy messages regarding love and life. (Though I do still appreciate a good adventure/mystery novel!) […]