Book of Secrets by R. J. Scott

Title: Book of Secrets

Series: Oracle 02

Author: R.J. Scott

Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal

Length: Novel (183pgs)

Publisher: Silver Publishing (27^th October 2012)

Heat Level: Low – Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Alex is trying to make things right when his past catches up with him. A Serbian ex-art thief blackmails him into stealing an ancient folio from Windsor Castle… Luke is kidnapped… and that’s just the beginning.

Alex is making good on his promise to put things right. Along with Griff and Chris, he retrieves items he had stolen with Edward and replaces them. It’s dangerous work, especially since he lost his most useful Oracle-given powers. When a replacement goes wrong and Alex ‘disappears’ he realizes that something has left a mark he can never rid himself of.

Meanwhile Luke is kidnapped to work on a manuscript that could hold the key to the secrets of alchemy and offer the reader eternal life. The Voynich manuscript is missing its cypher and it’s up to Alex to steal it for the Serbian ex-art thief. Only–it’s held in the private library at Windsor Castle.

Purchase Link: https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/products_id/1325

Review: This book is part of a series and must be read in order. Alex made Luke a promise to return the items he stole; unfortunately it is harder for him than he thought now that he no longer has his powers. But, it gets even worse when Luke’s life is threatened, if Alex doesn’t retrieve an item from Windsor Castle. Alex also has more problems than he wishes to admit to Luke. when his powers start to reappear and Luke is pissed when he is kidnapped in order to translate a manuscript, but the lure of translating old texts is hard to resist.

A wonderful story where we get to see how Alex and Luke along with their friends Griff and Chris are now doing, and also the new adventure that they all get dragged into by a father desperate to save his daughter. Alex is confused and a little afraid when his powers seem to be re-awakening and is dreading confessing it to Luke in case Luke leaves him. But, he then also has to worry about a figure from his past suddenly reappearing and placing them in danger. Luke has to accept that sometimes breaking the law has to be done when it saves a life. And when his life is threatened by a man who believes in alchemy and untold riches, Luke might not want to help him, but discovering the secrets that are hidden in the Voynich manuscript are something he just can’t resist.

This is a very interesting storyline that has many mystical puzzles for you to question. I know I haven’t been able to find the answers so I will leave it for the Gods to decide if R.J. Scott will bless us with the answers (and if not she’s a big meanie) or if we should just accept that the mystical doesn’t always have an answer. Having Alex’s powers come back gradually was a well thought out plot and to have it woven into an impossible theft was exciting and very interesting. Linking Luke into the mystery was brilliant and adding a figure from Alex’s past was an added bonus. I was left with questions as to why and how some things happened, but some of it was just so incredible that to question it is impossible.

I loved how everything seemed to come together, but I loved it even more that the characters were as clueless as we were about what was happening. Alex and Luke are an exceptional couple and to be honest, at times I felt like Alex had to be a saint because Luke and translating would have sent me insane. There are actions in this book that will shock you, but there are also actions that you can understand (if you had a screw loose yourself that is) and some very interesting detailed descriptions (is R.J. really a cat burglar?). We also have some touching scenes between Luke and Alex.

I have to recommend this to those who love the mystical and the magical, some great action, a touch of angst and a very happy ending in unusual circumstances.