On their way to an Italian honeymoon, newlyweds Lord and Lady Astley take a detour to visit Fredrick's cousins in Egypt. Upon arrival in Cairo, it is clear that something is not quite right among the archeologist party at the Amarna site. Cousin Georgia's husband is determined to leave the site before season's end. The archeologists want to stay. Jewelry has gone missing, and artifacts from Amarna are showing up in unexpected places. When Grace accidentally stumbles upon an "undiscovered" tomb that appears to being excavated, it sets off a series of events that include multiple murders, kidnapping, and near-death experiences.



Normally I would not read a book that is labeled 'Christian fiction,' but I was intrigued that the mystery was set in Egypt. It took me until about the halfway point before I finally got into the story. For me, it dragged up until then. Yes, the reader is being introduced to the characters and is being set up with little clues that something fishy is going on. I was also confused about references to events in the first novel, THE MISTLETOE COUNTESS. Having not read the first novel in the series, I did not understand the references and could have used a bit more explanation. The action did pick up in the second half of the novel, and I got more into the story. I will admit to skipping over the really religious parts. I also didn't really like either of the main characters and couldn't really bring myself to care about what happened to them. Overall, the novel was well written and packed full of facts about Egypt.

Lord and Lady Astley are out for another adventure to celebrate their nuptials with an exotic honeymoon.. They travel to Egypt where they tour ancient tombs, ride camels and find mystery and murder. As with the first novel, this one provides plenty of humor and romance. Lord Astley's valet, Elliot has a prominent role in this book and I kinda fell in love with him as well. Grace is such a hoot and Fredrick is so sweet and tender with her, it is absolutely precious. I am enjoying this series, I really do hope there will be more.
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

Pepper Basham’s book Authentically Izzy made it to the top of my favorite reads of 2022! All the book references (cue all the heart eyes). It was unexpected and Delightful! So I began this arc with exceedingly high expectations (which is rather unfair to any book) and expected to fall madly in love with the book in the first pages, but unfortunately, I didn’t. (It’s not you, it’s me). I didn’t read the previous book, so I started out with a disadvantage. The couple was cute, but I hadn’t witnessed their courtship and so I wasn’t already invested in their story, and because I had such sky high expectations, I lost interest (truly, it’s my issue).

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC! I really liked this book. In fact I think I liked it more then the first one. I loved the traveling aspect of things, and was surprised by the outcome of it all. I knew there would be trouble where Grace is, but didn’t suspect who the trouble makers were.

I look forward to reading more, especially if there was an Elliott and Amelia portion.

Pepper Basham should add travel guide to her resume. Without fail, every book she writes immerses her readers in the setting. It’s like reading while wearing a virtual reality headset. And inevitably, these destinations she guides us through, becomes one of the characters. This book was a fabulous escape into a story with twists and turns galore. It was like the game Clue got together with the movie The Mummy, and had a baby. But with the added bonus of romance and faith elements. So much fun!

This is the first book by this author that I have read. I was drawn in by the title and I was not disappointed. It was well written, with wonderful characters and the setting was so well described, I could imagine myself there. I found it a little different in that it is written from the perspective of 3 characters but I found that delightful. The mystery was well laid out and it kept me guessing till the end. I was surprised to find a lovely Christian message throughout the book, but it didn’t overshadow the story. I found it very uplifting and a nice addition to the story. Even though it is the second book in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone. Well worth reading. I received this as an ARC from NetGalley and freely give my review.

The Cairo Curse is a well written historical mystery. Great plot and character development. I definitely recommend this book. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

Oh, I am so excited for this new adventure with Freddie and Grace! We find Grace and Freddie making plans to start their honeymoon with a trip to Egypt. When Grace and Freddie find themselves caught in the middle of the discovery of a secret tomb, crooked antiquities dealers, ulterior motives and murder, they work to uncover the truth. However, for every question answered, more are uncovered as everyone involved schemes to hide their secrets.

Well done, Pepper! What a delightful read, full of everything we love about Grace and Freddie - romance, adventure and humor - but more importantly we see once again how the love of God and understanding of our identity in Him transforms lives. While this book is a sequel to The Mistletoe Countess, it works well as a stand alone read.

I received an early copy for review. My opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved Frederick and Grace in The Mistletoe Countess and was so excited to see a second book that included them.

Camels, pyramids, tombs, and Graclyn Percy. What possibly could go wrong? This was a truly enjoyable sequel. I loved that it closely followed Mistletoe Countess so we didn't lose a lot of time in Grace and Fredrick's lives. We also got to know Elliott, learning about his background and what made him the man and friend that he is. It is a story of adventure, redemption, acceptance, and as always, allowing God to work in our lives and that He knows what is best for us.

I thoroughly enjoy all of Pepper's books, but Grace and Freddy are my favorites of her characters and I hope we get to enjoy many more stories of their adventures.

I read an ecopy from the publisher and Netgalley but all opinions are my own.

3.5 stars
So I really adored the first book in this series, The Mistletoe Countess. It was just so cute and a breath of fresh air. I was really excited to see that there was going to be a second book. The Cairo Curse is the second book in the series and it is written by Pepper Basham. It follows Freddie and Grace as they travel to Egypt.
I did enjoy this book but it took me a bit to get into and longer to read than usual. The characters were engaging but I was not super invested in the plot. However I was invested enough to keep on reading and see what was going to happen. As I read more of the book, it got more interesting.
It was fun to see Grace and Frederick again and see their relationship grow. They have certainly been through a lot. The side characters were also engaging and I hope that some of them come back in later books.
The Cairo Curse is a Christian historical mystery read. I did not even guess how the story was going to end so that was cool. I would recommend it to those who enjoy historical mystery books with a hint of romance.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

Frederick and Grace stole my heart in The Mistletoe Countess, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the sequel. And then I devoured The Cairo Curse in two days.

Basham manages to keep the romance going between Frederick and Grace. It’s beautiful to get to see their romance continue. But she sneaks in another romance to with a secondary character. I don’t want to give away anything, but it was a pleasant surprise!

Then, of course, there’s the mystery element. The mystery gave me Agatha Christie vibes. With a twist I didn’t see coming, Basham really outdid herself. She added plenty of suspense to keep me hooked with enough romance to keep me smiling.

Overall, The Cairo Curse is a captivating mystery paired with sweet romance. Historical romance and mystery fans alike will enjoy this tale.

I have enjoyed other books by Pepper Basham so I was happy to receive The Cairo Curse from NetGalley. Let me begin by saying, I didn't know this was a second book. Apparently there is a previous book called The Mistletoe Countess. It details all of the adventures of Lord and Lady Astley before they married. Not having read this book, I felt very disconnected with the characters and their history. There was a lot that I missed! I would recommend reading The Mistletoe Countess so that you are not lost.

The Cairo Curse follows Grace and Frederick on a stop in Egypt while on their honeymoon. Grace is excited to explore tombs, see mummies, and ride a camel. But when people start dying under mysterious circumstances, Grace feels that she must determine if the deaths are natural or suspicious. With clues pointing to different members of their party, Grace and Frederick must carefully investigate, all while keeping out of the line of fire.

Overall, The Cairo Curse is just OK. The plot line is good, the mystery is engaging but I found the character of Grace a bit annoying. I understand that the author was trying to paint her as an unconventional woman. Grace says and does exactly what she wants regardless of what others around her expect. Unfortunately, I felt this made her seem very silly. Similar to Kitty Bennett in the book, Pride and Prejudice. I kept getting annoyed with Grace for rushing into danger with no thought for her personal or other's safety.

For example, Grace promises her husband that she would stay put in her hotel room while he is gone. The next minute, she is writing him a note and disappearing into the night. This makes her character feel very flighty and unreliable. Despite this character flaw, I did enjoy the book, and I will be getting my hands of a copy of The Mistletoe Countess and finding out what I missed.

Thank you to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for electronic advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This comes as the second installment in a series of adventures had by Lord Astley and his energetic, spirited & book-loving Lady Astley. Set just a short time from the end of the first book in the series, there are many characters and events referenced that make this feel like a true sequel. If chosen to read as a stand-alone, it can be done, but certain details may leave you confused.

The endearing Grace Astley is an enchanting heroine who seems to stumble upon adventure and mystery wherever she goes. She’s imaginative, spontaneous and as annoyed by social customs as she is thrilled by her husband. And here comes to something I greatly appreciated about this book - a marriage relationship portrayed where the two partners truly value and honor each other as friends and soulmates. This isn’t often found in fiction, but I found it dear and refreshing
Lord Frederick Astley has grown in his likability from the first book and performs as a man of honor, loyalty, and courage in the face of danger.
The setting of an archeological dig in Cairo, Egypt was unique and seemed to take a great deal of research leading to accurate details, as far as I could tell. The many action scenes were well depicted and followable - truly some of the best of any Christian fiction I’ve read.

But what proves to be my favorite part of Pepper Basham’s writing is the way she takes foundational truths of the Christian faith and seamlessly weaves them into her stories. There’s echos of forgiveness and redemption, and a clear picture of the gospel of grace and the life-changing power of love throughout.

Apart from one story-line of an individual in the group turning up to be a displaced granddaughter of an Earl back in England, which seemed a bit far-fetched, the ending suited me just fine! And left ample room for more Frederick and Grace books in the future - yes please!

This is my favorite quote from the book: “For the most beautiful and memorable stories were only the best because people had to overcome obstacles or fight for truth or brave dangers to get to the happily ever after. Risks and tears and moments when all seemed lost abounded, but the very best stories left a smattering of hope braided into every hardship to ensure the readers the ending would be worth the difficulty.”

The Cairo Curse is the sequel to The Mistletoe Countess both by Pepper Basham. The sequel works well as a stand alone also. The newlyweds Lord and Lady Astley end up in Egypt on their honeymoon. Grace an avid reader, has read up on the subject of Egyptian archeology and is very excited for new adventures. There is plenty of romance, mystery and dangerous situations. This is also a great example of a beautiful redemption. This book releases February 1,2023 but is available for preorder now. I received this ARC through the publisher via Netgalley and was under no obligation for a positive review. All opinions are my own.

This was a fun and intriguing mystery to read! From the setting to the characters, I had a hard time putting this book down!

I really enjoyed Grace and Frederick’s first book, so I was excited to read this new story about them. Grace is such a delightful sunshine character! I love her enthusiasm for life and the way she talks about books and characters from books often. Frederick loves Grace so much, and it’s sweet to see him supporting her and accepting her as she is, while still working to keep her safe as danger and adventure constantly find her.

The Egyptian setting was so intriguing, and I loved the descriptions of the culture and the scenery! I felt like I was right there with the characters. The mystery was fast paced, and I enjoyed reading it very much!

I hope there will be more books about Grace and Frederick!

4.5/5 stars!

Content:
Romance between a married couple, fade to black scene without specific details
Several murders happen, no graphic descriptions

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A delightful sequel to The Mistletoe Countess! I enjoyed following Grace and Frederick's story further as this fun pair take a delayed honeymoon. It turns into quite an adventure as they take a side trip to Egypt in 1914.
There is a mystery or two, sinister characters, brushes with danger and mishaps that seem to follow Grace wherever she goes. Her childlike wonder is a nice offset to some of the cynical people in their party. It is lovely how she manages to stay upbeat and find humor in even dire situations. She sees the best in others, as their worth as a person is more important than what others think. Frederick and Grace grow as a couple and it was sweet to see his love expand even as she keeps trying his patience. The side character Elliott takes on a bigger role and he adds a lot to their adventure. The exotic setting reminded me of an Agatha Christie mystery.
Recommend to readers who enjoy a historical romance with some peril. Hope to see more stories with these characters. 4.5 stars

4.5 stars for this second segment in the Freddy and Grace Mysteries. If you haven't read the Mistletoe Countess, I'd recommend reading that one first. While this story CAN be enjoyed on its own and gives enough detail that you won't be lost, there are definite spoilers for book 1 in this one, so this series is best read in order. This book follows Frederick and Grace (the new Lord and Lady Astley) a few months after their wedding. Due to the events in the first book, they were not able to get a proper honeymoon and so they're planning a trip to Italy for their long-awaited honeymoon. When Frederick gets word from his cousins in Egypt that they'd enjoy seeing him and meeting his new bride, they leave early and take a detour through Cairo, and find themselves drawn into yet another life-and-death adventure.

When they arrive in Egypt, there are a a lot of characters introduced. Some who I assumed to be villainous turned out to be good and some who I assumed to be good ended up being villainous, which is just how I like my mystery cast to work out. Ms. Basham did an excellent job in setting the scene. Though I've never been to Egypt, I felt a bit how Grace does in that I've now traveled there through fiction. As in the first book, Grace was a bit "too much" for me at times, but she seemed a bit more tempered in this one - probably because she's now been married for a few months. I enjoyed seeing the love between Freddy and Grace play out a bit and Frederick's valet also finds a bit of romance in this one. There was an adoption theme in the undercurrents of this book as well, and as that's near and dear to my heart, I thoroughly enjoyed that element being included. The faith thread in this one was present, but subtle. I enjoyed how Grace proselytized one of the bad guys who was holding her captive (I won't say more than that for spoiler reasons) and that whole exchange was thoroughly enjoyable. There was a lot of Egyptian history included in the story thread and I've always been fascinated by ancient Egypt, so I really enjoyed those extra tidbits as well. There was enjoyable banter, and I enjoyed sleuthing right along with Freddy and Grace. All in all, this was a very good read that I'd definitely recommend to fans of historical mysteries and romance. Special thanks to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

A fun continuation of Grace and Frederick’s story from The Mistletoe Countess. We get to see more of Grace’s personality in this one. She’s a ditz and a klutz, but so entertaining. A whole group of new characters join us for this adventure in Egypt. Elliot’s story unfolds in this one.
And a mystery ensues as things are stolen, tombs are discovered, and people are murdered.
If you like Death on the Nile you will enjoy this fast paced mystery.

I can’t wait for the next one in Venice I’m guessing!

The Cairo Curse by Pepper Basham is a unique yet thrilling historical mystery. The early twentieth century features many numerous explorations and discoveries in the Egyptian world. I really liked this story and have enjoyed following Grace and Freddie in another installment of their new love and Grace's love of using her knowledge of mysteries to solve real life mysteries. Basham does a wonderful job at crafting the scene and allowing readers to become familiar with the tombs and the environment for readers that have never been to Egypt. Readers will feel like they fallen into a whole new world of adventure. Speaking of adventure, Basham takes readers for a thrilling and exciting ride through the eyes of Grace. I love historical mysteries. It combines my love of a good mystery and a little bit of history. Readers will be delighted to hear that Basham says that there will be a third installment in this series. I CAN"T WAIT!!! Another favorite aspect of this novel is Basham's ability to show a romance between a husband and a wife who really love and respect each other. The story hinges on Freddie's ability to trust his wife and allow her to be her without changing her for society's graces. I highly recommend this novel. If fans are interested in another Egyptian Christian story, please read Among Sand and Sunrise by Stacy Henrie. It was a wonderful novel too.

I received a complimentary copy of The Cairo Curse by Pepper Basham published by Barbour Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

Adventure, intrigue, romance. And laughter. This is a fun ride with lovable characters and a wonderful, immersive atmosphere. Nineteenth century Egypt comes alive, laced with the rich history of ancient Egypt and a madcap adventure. One critique - I love Grace's whimsy but had hoped her character would reflect less naivete this time around. Her cheery intrepdiness veers toward one-dimension at times. I look forward to more adventures but more character development and depth for the leading lady. That said, the story and writing are strong and a very fun ride.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Pepper Basham for the opportunity to review the ARC.