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The Lost Temple of Karttikeya | 
 enlarge | Author: Laura Baumbach
Publisher: MLR Press
Category: Book
List Price: $14.99
Buy New: $12.10
You Save: $2.89 (19%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  3 reviews
Sales Rank: 69596
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 204
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5 x 0.6
ISBN: 1934531936
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9781934531938
ASIN: 1934531936
Publication Date: July 27, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Brandon King is a LA police detective intimately involved with his older male partner. Brandon longs for a stable relationship with his abusive lover, but when a mysterious stranger offers him a chance to have his heart's true desire, he rebuffs the unbelievable offer. Then circumstances change and he fears loosing what he thinks he wants the most, he accepts the offer and takes on a deadly assignment that has him traveling to the isolated jungles of India in the company of hunky archeologist Christan Carter, who is intent on achieving his own heart's desire, as well. Combining Brandon's police skills with Christan's knowledge about ancient cultures, the two make an unstoppable pair, but will that winning chemistry carry over into their budding personal relationship and interfere with their quest?
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| Customer Reviews:
The Lost Temple of Karttikeya- A Joyfully Recommended Title October 7, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Brandon King, as a cop, should have been able to see the signs of an abusive relationship, but it's really hard to see what is going on with yourself. Now he not only has to face this, but take in the fact that his lover and partner just wants to keep him on the side as a hidden secret. Brandon still does not want to believe he was just a guilty pleasure to be easily discarded, and when a chance to get his heart's desire comes his way, Brandon decides to try and keep his lover.
Christian Carter is the hunkiest archaeologist that Brandon has ever met. Brandon needs Christian's help if he is to find the temple and make it safely into and out of the jungles of India. Christian eagerly agrees to accompany Brandon on this quest, but he has more reasons other than wanting to get to know Brandon better and the thrill of finding the unknown. These other reasons he is keeping from Brandon for now.
Brandon quickly finds that Christian is more than he hoped to find in a lover and finally accepts that his prior relationship was a mockery of love. Passion brings out feelings that just might be forever, when Brandon learns of Christian's other reason for coming. Not wanting to be used again, but wanting to give the benefit of doubt, the journey continues. Finding the temple and getting inside means danger and possible, maybe probable, death for both. The budding love between Brandon and Christian just might be the key to let them achieve their heart's desire, if they can trust each other enough.
It is almost impossible to describe all the emotions that The Lost Temple of Karttikeya makes you feel. I will say that Brandon had me from the very beginning and I just wanted to see him find the real love that seemed to escape him. Then there was Christian who showed Brandon the wonder of a real love and relationship. There were times that I wanted to hug both of them and then I wanted to turn around and slap them both for being so stupid. I watched as Brandon and Christian discovered passion, found love, and almost lost it, fight for it, and finally observe just what the miracle of a true heart's desire can bring.
Ms. Baumbach brought Brandon and Christian not only to life, but made them people I would love to know. That alone show the quality of the words and how they were put together. When the strength of emotions, which leap off the pages at you, are considered and added to the mix, there is very little doubt that I would consider The Lost Temple of Karttikeya one of the best books I have read in a while.
Jo
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed
Whew! Sizzling! August 22, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
"The Lost Temple of Karttikeya" is the final installment of a series of long novellas from publisher Loose-ID. [...] The Collector is searching for the pieces of a mysterious artifact known as "The Love Totem." Each piece has the ability to grant a heart's true desire, and each novella follows the search for a piece. However, it is not necessary to read any of them to enjoy or understand this story.
You know it's a Laura Baumbach romance when the story starts with a hot sex scene on the very first page, and continues on for several more pages! Brandon is a cop. His partner and lover Phil is in the closet and engaged to marry Susan. He's callous of Brandon's feelings and keeps their relationship secret, but Brandon is desperate for commitment and lets himself believe all Phil's excuses. Brandon is devastated when actions speak louder than words about Phil's true motives. When Brandon is given the chance of a lifetime to find the last artifact for the Love Totem, he seizes it thinking to save his relationship with Phil. But, he'll need an expert in archeology to succeed. Enter Christian. Christian is well regarded in his field, and sexy as hell. And he knows Brandon isn't in love with Phil, he's afraid of being alone. Christian just needs to convince Brandon to take a chance with him. And when things take a dangerous turn on their expedition, their true feelings for one another may be the only thing that saves them.
Like all of the author's novels, this one is packed with piping hot sex scenes. And the ones between Christian and Brandon will have readers squirming on their sofa. To say sparks fly between them would be an understatement. When Brandon finally lets Christian into his heart, it's love at first sight. His thoughts become quite poetic, and it sweetens the sex. Thankfully, Baumbach is one of the few M/M authors that can manage love at first sight without it being ridiculous. They aren't teens just coming out, they have lives and careers. And, the expedition to find the statue is a great backdrop for their budding romance. The tension and danger explode when they find the Temple...and it's guardian.
Overall, this was a fantastic erotic romance with an exciting adventure story. The main characters are very appealing, especially Brandon. He's a good cop, but his relationship with Phil has made him vulnerable and a little insecure. When he realizes this about himself, the moment is bittersweet and enlightening. These men are on equal footing with one another, and their actions throughout the conclusion bear it out. My one slight disappointment was that readers never see Phil again. On the one hand, that works because the story is really about Brandon and Christian. On the other hand, the petty vindictive part of me wants Brandon to throw his new love in Phil's face!
Highly recommended! (Though I have to say, I preferred the original e-book cover).
The Lost Temple of Karttikeya (The Collector 9) by Laura Baumbach August 17, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Laura Baumbach adds her enstalment in the Collector series by Loose Id.
Brandon is a young gay cop. He has a relationship with his older partner Phil. But Phil is a gay in the closet, worse he is also a cheating man, using Brandon as "mistress" while he has a betrothal in course with a woman. Brandon accepts all cause he has a deply sense of abandonment and fears to be alone.
But then he is convinced to leave on a search for an ancient artifact, the amour statue of Karttikeya, who legends say grant every heart's desire and in his search he is mated with Christian, an handsome archeologist. Christian is Brandon's perfect man, protective and loving and has no fear to commitment. Brandon soon changes his heart's desire: he no more wants Phil's love, he wants this man, Christian.
As always Baumbach's sex scenes are hot and detailed but I find in this novel a novelty in her style: even if Christian is a huge man while Brandon is the cute type, during love (and I don't mean only sex, I intend also during the day-by-day relationship) the alpha male's role is not as clearly assigned to Christian; the man is willing to play also the bottom's role, and Brandon likes, sometimes, to hold the reins in the relationship.
And the plot is also more adventurous, and departs from the usual one-to-one's love story. Interesting supporting characters (I don't speak of them to not doing spoilers).
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