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The Fifth Kingdom
Dr. Deanna Vasquez hasn't spoken to her mother in years, not since the renowned archaeologist abandoned her family in her quest to find the lost tomb of Montezuma. When CIA agent Bill Santana shows up in her classroom with the news that her mother has been abducted by terrorists, Deanna has to help in any way she can.
Bill needs Deanna's expertise to determine the location of her mother's latest find, before her kidnappers do. He fears whatever mysteries the tomb holds could be deadly in the wrong hands. In an effort to make contact with the terrorist cell, Bill accompanies Deanna to Mexico posing as her fiance--a ruse made doubly dangerous because of the very real heat between them...
68,000 words
Bill needs Deanna's expertise to determine the location of her mother's latest find, before her kidnappers do. He fears whatever mysteries the tomb holds could be deadly in the wrong hands. In an effort to make contact with the terrorist cell, Bill accompanies Deanna to Mexico posing as her fiance--a ruse made doubly dangerous because of the very real heat between them...
68,000 words
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2011
15 people are currently reading
173 people want to read
About the author
Caridad Piñeiro
175 books1,132 followersCaridad Pineiro is a transplanted Long Island girl who has fallen in love with the Jersey Shore. When Caridad isn’t taking long strolls along the boardwalk, she’s also a NY Times and USA Today bestselling author with over a million romance novels sold worldwide. Caridad is passionate about writing and helping others explore and develop their skills as writers. She is a founding member of the Liberty States Fiction Writers and has presented workshops at the RT Book Club Convention, Romance Writers of America National Conference as well as various writing organizations throughout the country. You can connect with Caridad at www.caridad.com. You can also find Caridad on:
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 5, 2024
Deana es profesora de historia, de padres separados y con una fuerte herida de abandono por parte de su madre.
Un día llega a su trabajo un agente de la CIA a decirle que ocupan su ayuda para encontrar a su mamá, una arqueóloga de renombre, la cual se encuentra desaparecida en México mientras buscaba la tumba de Moctezuma (Por qué en todo el libro esta escrito como Montezuma, no tengo idea 🧐)
Ella y el agente, Bill, se van a México a buscar a las personas que tuvieron contacto con ella. En la lista figuran personalidades involucradas en un grupo extremista llamado Primera Mexica (y de la mitad del libro al final esta como Primera Mexico jajajaja enserio que ocupa una revisión por un editor). Y para no levantar sospechas, se hacen pasar por una pareja comprometida.
Esto de pistas y misterio estuvo genial, me gustó bastante. El romance iba paso a paso y de repente todo se aceleró al mil. Era como... Qué ha pasado? 👀
Siento que al final le faltó más emoción. Como que se intentó provocar lágrimas y no funcionó. 😅
Un día llega a su trabajo un agente de la CIA a decirle que ocupan su ayuda para encontrar a su mamá, una arqueóloga de renombre, la cual se encuentra desaparecida en México mientras buscaba la tumba de Moctezuma (Por qué en todo el libro esta escrito como Montezuma, no tengo idea 🧐)
Ella y el agente, Bill, se van a México a buscar a las personas que tuvieron contacto con ella. En la lista figuran personalidades involucradas en un grupo extremista llamado Primera Mexica (y de la mitad del libro al final esta como Primera Mexico jajajaja enserio que ocupa una revisión por un editor). Y para no levantar sospechas, se hacen pasar por una pareja comprometida.
Esto de pistas y misterio estuvo genial, me gustó bastante. El romance iba paso a paso y de repente todo se aceleró al mil. Era como... Qué ha pasado? 👀
Siento que al final le faltó más emoción. Como que se intentó provocar lágrimas y no funcionó. 😅
July 6, 2011
The Fifth Kingdom by Caridad Piñeiro is a novel that combines romance and adventure in equal spades delivering a romantic suspense that ought to please many a fan of the genre. Most of the story takes place in Mexico where the buried treasure of a long lost civilization seems to bring out the most cutthroat criminals who would cross no boundaries in order to attain the prize they are after.
The heroine Dr. Deanna Vasquez is a history lecturer at one of the premier prep schools in Manhattan. When Special Agent Bill Santana from the CIA seeks her out claiming that her estranged mother might be in trouble, Deanna's first reaction is to go crawl under a rock and forget that she ever heard the news.
When Deanna comes to know that her mother's quest to find the tomb of Montezuma, one of the last Emperors of the Aztecs might have borne fruit after 14 long years during which she had left behind her 13 year old daughter and husband behind, Deanna knows deep in her heart that she can't turn away from her mother's obvious need for help with her conscience intact.
What stirs Deanna more than anything else is the strong and larger than life Bill who manages to invoke all sorts of emotions in her, a man with a heartbreaking past of his own who finds a haven of warmth and comfort in Deanna's arms. As Bill and Deanna travel to Mexico in the guise of engaged lovers, their pretend arrangement suddenly takes a more realistic edge as both of them give into the feelings of passion that have stalked them right from the very start.
As danger escalates together with each step they take closer towards the buried treasure, their salvation comes in the form of a relic that could change the world as we know it, that could drive the world to the brink of disaster and beyond if it were to land in the wrong hands.
The Fifth Kingdom proved to be an entertaining romantic suspense with an endearing hero and heroine thrown together by circumstance, and yet find the best thing to happen to each of them in one another. Bill is a tender hero who doesn't let his past color his future and Deanna is a strong heroine who finds reason enough to trust in a man like Bill. The scenes of passion between the two were hot and tender at the same time, perfectly in tune with the adventure aspect of the novel.
Recommended for fans of romantic suspense.
Rating=4/5
Original review posted on MBR's Realm of Romance
The heroine Dr. Deanna Vasquez is a history lecturer at one of the premier prep schools in Manhattan. When Special Agent Bill Santana from the CIA seeks her out claiming that her estranged mother might be in trouble, Deanna's first reaction is to go crawl under a rock and forget that she ever heard the news.
When Deanna comes to know that her mother's quest to find the tomb of Montezuma, one of the last Emperors of the Aztecs might have borne fruit after 14 long years during which she had left behind her 13 year old daughter and husband behind, Deanna knows deep in her heart that she can't turn away from her mother's obvious need for help with her conscience intact.
What stirs Deanna more than anything else is the strong and larger than life Bill who manages to invoke all sorts of emotions in her, a man with a heartbreaking past of his own who finds a haven of warmth and comfort in Deanna's arms. As Bill and Deanna travel to Mexico in the guise of engaged lovers, their pretend arrangement suddenly takes a more realistic edge as both of them give into the feelings of passion that have stalked them right from the very start.
As danger escalates together with each step they take closer towards the buried treasure, their salvation comes in the form of a relic that could change the world as we know it, that could drive the world to the brink of disaster and beyond if it were to land in the wrong hands.
The Fifth Kingdom proved to be an entertaining romantic suspense with an endearing hero and heroine thrown together by circumstance, and yet find the best thing to happen to each of them in one another. Bill is a tender hero who doesn't let his past color his future and Deanna is a strong heroine who finds reason enough to trust in a man like Bill. The scenes of passion between the two were hot and tender at the same time, perfectly in tune with the adventure aspect of the novel.
Recommended for fans of romantic suspense.
Rating=4/5
Original review posted on MBR's Realm of Romance
July 9, 2011
The Fifth Kingdom was a short, quick read, a little about old tombs and more about second-chances and healing I think.
Special Agent Bill Santana, CIA goes to see Dr. Deanna Vasquez about her estranged mother, Miranda. Deanne is a teacher and has not seen her mother since she left them when she was thirteen for her quest of Montezuma tomb and she has no interest in seeing her either, it took a long time for her to stop waiting for her.
But Bill informs her that her father has reported his mother missing, Deanna is shocked and even feels betrayed at this news since she had no clue her father was in touch with his mother. He also tells her that her mother may have been captured by terrorist and he needs her help, she refuses of course and goes to confront her father.
Bill recognizes the wounded look in her eyes when her mother comes up, he has scars of his own after he bounced from foster home to foster home, but he's learned to do without love and put on an act. That they are attracted to each other is something they both don't hide but they have a job to do, to which Deanna agrees. So, they first research what her mother was working on and when there is an attack, go to a safe-house and access the materials garnered from the key mailed to her.
Deanna is kind of affected emotionally when she sees the mementos her mother kept of her and Bill comforts her in a completely friendly and non-sexual way. They make their way to Mexico where they put their trap in motion.
What I enjoyed about the book was the honesty between the characters. Bill and Deanna are very open with each other and when Deanna offers him sex without strings Bill refuses since he knows they can have more than that. I also liked how they both kind of found that they were missing in life with each other and how Bill faced his past.
The last part introduced some mythology elements that kind of jarred me, but it was pleasant read.
Rating 3.5
ARC provided by Netgalley
Special Agent Bill Santana, CIA goes to see Dr. Deanna Vasquez about her estranged mother, Miranda. Deanne is a teacher and has not seen her mother since she left them when she was thirteen for her quest of Montezuma tomb and she has no interest in seeing her either, it took a long time for her to stop waiting for her.
But Bill informs her that her father has reported his mother missing, Deanna is shocked and even feels betrayed at this news since she had no clue her father was in touch with his mother. He also tells her that her mother may have been captured by terrorist and he needs her help, she refuses of course and goes to confront her father.
Bill recognizes the wounded look in her eyes when her mother comes up, he has scars of his own after he bounced from foster home to foster home, but he's learned to do without love and put on an act. That they are attracted to each other is something they both don't hide but they have a job to do, to which Deanna agrees. So, they first research what her mother was working on and when there is an attack, go to a safe-house and access the materials garnered from the key mailed to her.
Deanna is kind of affected emotionally when she sees the mementos her mother kept of her and Bill comforts her in a completely friendly and non-sexual way. They make their way to Mexico where they put their trap in motion.
What I enjoyed about the book was the honesty between the characters. Bill and Deanna are very open with each other and when Deanna offers him sex without strings Bill refuses since he knows they can have more than that. I also liked how they both kind of found that they were missing in life with each other and how Bill faced his past.
The last part introduced some mythology elements that kind of jarred me, but it was pleasant read.
Rating 3.5
ARC provided by Netgalley
Read
June 20, 2024Ah ha! I knew this book had to be supernatural some how. I had to read to the end to find it, but it's there. I love how real the magin in this book was. and how it really wasn't even certain to exist. The ehole time they were looking for either a symbol the terrorist group could rally arround or like maybe a disease that was entombed like the egyptians had. (It wasn't a curse, it was bacteria that we done lost the ability to fight, lol.) It wasn't until the very end, when you were about to start cursing out the author for got giving the MC's the HEA, that is when the magic appeared. And it wasn't grand world event creating magic either, something so small, so delicate, but yet smething so impactful to one person. And then... everyone gets a happy ending? *Chef's Kiss* i put this book down, positivly glowing with happiness that everyone and they mama got HEA's. So totally worth the suspense and drama she puts us through, lol.
January 22, 2025
It starts with a frightening scene with a gang of captors interrogating a woman in Mexico. We go to America to meet the two protagonists. Then back to Mexico.
We get history of Mexico, Cortez and Montezuma. There is some geography. Sacrifice.
A roller coaster of a story that will keep excitement to the end.
We get history of Mexico, Cortez and Montezuma. There is some geography. Sacrifice.
A roller coaster of a story that will keep excitement to the end.
July 13, 2011
You can also read this review at Reflections on Reading Romance
For some reason I seem to be reading a lot of really great romantic suspense lately, and I just finished another RS novel, Caridad Piñeiro’s The Fifth Kingdom. I requested this book from NetGalley, because I was intrigued by the idea of an archaeologist looking for Montezuma’s tomb. As a Spanish Instructor, it was a pleasure to read a book that integrates Mexican history and culture so easily into the action of the plot, and the mythical aspects of that culture make for an unusual setting for the novel. The Fifth Kingdom was an engaging read that packs a powerful emotional punch, but I think it needed to be just a little bit longer to adequately resolve the complex family situations. I also should warn readers that the Prologue is uncomfortable to read, as it references torture involving a car battery and jumper cables. The violence in the prologue is not described in depth, however, and I think with a Romantic Suspense you expect that anyway.
The prologue begins with archaeologist Miranda Adams’ torture at the hands of a Mexican terrorist organization, Primera Mexica (PM). Dr. Adams has been searching for Montezuma’s tomb, and now that she’s discovered it, PM wants her to tell them the location. Realizing that providing the information would mean certain death, Dr. Adams refuses to talk. The action then shifts to New York, where CIA Special Agent Guillermo “Bill” Santana enters Dr. Deanna Vazquez’s history classroom. Deanna is a teacher at an elite Prep School, and Miranda Adams is her mother, although they have been estranged for years since Dr. Adams abandoned her family when Deanna was only thirteen. Bill Santana informs Deanna that her father has reported Miranda missing in Mexico, and they suspect she’s been abducted by a terrorist group aiding Mexican drug cartels. In spite of Deanna’s initial reluctance to join the search for her mother, she quickly changes her mind when she and Bill have to fight off two attackers just outside the school. Deanna learns that her mother’s hunt for Montezuma’s tomb has apparently been successful, and the CIA and FBI fear that she has uncovered some sort of weapon, making her a target of the Primera Mexica terrorist organization. While Deanna is skeptical about the presence of any weapon in the tomb, she agrees to help Bill and the CIA recover her mother. To add to Deanna’s emotional distress about her relationship with her mother, she’s very attracted to the CIA Special Agent. She and Bill Santana need to find a way to discover the truth about Montezuma’s tomb and the Primera Mexica, all while fighting their mutual attraction.
Ms. Piñeiro is very successful at creating evil villains and tense confrontations. We keep wondering if Deanna and Bill are going to find Miranda in time and if they do find her, what shape she’ll be in physically. The couple travel to Mexico City and pose as a recently engaged couple, hoping to establish some contacts that will provide information leading to Primera Mexica. This leads to an extended stand-off with the terrorists that will keep you turning the pages, questioning whether or not Bill and Deanna can escape with their lives. The action in the second half of the novel seems to fly by, because of their rescue of Miranda and attempts to secure the so-called weapon in the tomb.
The growing romance between Bill and Deanna is definitely a case of two wounded souls finding one another. Bill’s parents abandoned him when he was little, and he spent years bouncing between foster homes before finally settling in a good home with a military foster father. Despite working with the CIA, he’s never sought out his parents, so he’s able to relate to Deanna’s mixed feelings about having to rescue a woman who abandoned her. I particularly like that their romance develops gradually, rather than having them immediately jump into bed together. They’re clearly attracted to one another and the fake engagement they use as their cover story in Mexico City allows them to develop the relationship.
One thing that bothered me about the novel is the handling of the relationship between Deanna and Miranda. I felt that we never really receive a good answer for why Miranda abandoned her husband and daughter. Eventually we learn Miranda’s reasons for leaving through a short interior monologue, but she never explains those reasons to her daughter. One of my pet peeves is having a character reflect on why s/he wronged another but never explaining her actions to that other person. How will the wronged party know that the other person truly regrets her actions if what we readers know is never expressed to the other characters? I would have liked to see more interaction between Deanna and her mother before the resolution, because from the beginning it’s made clear that Deanna feels a great deal of resentment towards her mother and I found the resolution of those feelings to be explained away too quickly. The epilogue merely served to exacerbate my feelings about the mother-abandoned child theme of the novel. I won’t go into details, but I’m not really sure it was necessary, and it seemed to only resolve the conflict between those characters in a superficial manner.
Overall I felt The Fifth Kingdom was a fast and enjoyable read. The romance was touching, and the crescendo of action in the last half of the novel kept me on the edge of my seat. But it was the cultural aspects driving the conflict that made this book stand out for me, and I look forward to catching up on Ms. Piñeiro’s other books.
I received this book for review from the publisher through NetGalley.
For some reason I seem to be reading a lot of really great romantic suspense lately, and I just finished another RS novel, Caridad Piñeiro’s The Fifth Kingdom. I requested this book from NetGalley, because I was intrigued by the idea of an archaeologist looking for Montezuma’s tomb. As a Spanish Instructor, it was a pleasure to read a book that integrates Mexican history and culture so easily into the action of the plot, and the mythical aspects of that culture make for an unusual setting for the novel. The Fifth Kingdom was an engaging read that packs a powerful emotional punch, but I think it needed to be just a little bit longer to adequately resolve the complex family situations. I also should warn readers that the Prologue is uncomfortable to read, as it references torture involving a car battery and jumper cables. The violence in the prologue is not described in depth, however, and I think with a Romantic Suspense you expect that anyway.
The prologue begins with archaeologist Miranda Adams’ torture at the hands of a Mexican terrorist organization, Primera Mexica (PM). Dr. Adams has been searching for Montezuma’s tomb, and now that she’s discovered it, PM wants her to tell them the location. Realizing that providing the information would mean certain death, Dr. Adams refuses to talk. The action then shifts to New York, where CIA Special Agent Guillermo “Bill” Santana enters Dr. Deanna Vazquez’s history classroom. Deanna is a teacher at an elite Prep School, and Miranda Adams is her mother, although they have been estranged for years since Dr. Adams abandoned her family when Deanna was only thirteen. Bill Santana informs Deanna that her father has reported Miranda missing in Mexico, and they suspect she’s been abducted by a terrorist group aiding Mexican drug cartels. In spite of Deanna’s initial reluctance to join the search for her mother, she quickly changes her mind when she and Bill have to fight off two attackers just outside the school. Deanna learns that her mother’s hunt for Montezuma’s tomb has apparently been successful, and the CIA and FBI fear that she has uncovered some sort of weapon, making her a target of the Primera Mexica terrorist organization. While Deanna is skeptical about the presence of any weapon in the tomb, she agrees to help Bill and the CIA recover her mother. To add to Deanna’s emotional distress about her relationship with her mother, she’s very attracted to the CIA Special Agent. She and Bill Santana need to find a way to discover the truth about Montezuma’s tomb and the Primera Mexica, all while fighting their mutual attraction.
Ms. Piñeiro is very successful at creating evil villains and tense confrontations. We keep wondering if Deanna and Bill are going to find Miranda in time and if they do find her, what shape she’ll be in physically. The couple travel to Mexico City and pose as a recently engaged couple, hoping to establish some contacts that will provide information leading to Primera Mexica. This leads to an extended stand-off with the terrorists that will keep you turning the pages, questioning whether or not Bill and Deanna can escape with their lives. The action in the second half of the novel seems to fly by, because of their rescue of Miranda and attempts to secure the so-called weapon in the tomb.
The growing romance between Bill and Deanna is definitely a case of two wounded souls finding one another. Bill’s parents abandoned him when he was little, and he spent years bouncing between foster homes before finally settling in a good home with a military foster father. Despite working with the CIA, he’s never sought out his parents, so he’s able to relate to Deanna’s mixed feelings about having to rescue a woman who abandoned her. I particularly like that their romance develops gradually, rather than having them immediately jump into bed together. They’re clearly attracted to one another and the fake engagement they use as their cover story in Mexico City allows them to develop the relationship.
One thing that bothered me about the novel is the handling of the relationship between Deanna and Miranda. I felt that we never really receive a good answer for why Miranda abandoned her husband and daughter. Eventually we learn Miranda’s reasons for leaving through a short interior monologue, but she never explains those reasons to her daughter. One of my pet peeves is having a character reflect on why s/he wronged another but never explaining her actions to that other person. How will the wronged party know that the other person truly regrets her actions if what we readers know is never expressed to the other characters? I would have liked to see more interaction between Deanna and her mother before the resolution, because from the beginning it’s made clear that Deanna feels a great deal of resentment towards her mother and I found the resolution of those feelings to be explained away too quickly. The epilogue merely served to exacerbate my feelings about the mother-abandoned child theme of the novel. I won’t go into details, but I’m not really sure it was necessary, and it seemed to only resolve the conflict between those characters in a superficial manner.
Overall I felt The Fifth Kingdom was a fast and enjoyable read. The romance was touching, and the crescendo of action in the last half of the novel kept me on the edge of my seat. But it was the cultural aspects driving the conflict that made this book stand out for me, and I look forward to catching up on Ms. Piñeiro’s other books.
I received this book for review from the publisher through NetGalley.
August 31, 2011
This was a mixed romantic thriller/suspense, provided to me by netgalley. It had some things which I really appreciated, but others less so. Overall, I found it quite an enjoyable read.
Things I liked:
- The setting - set in contemporary Mexico (although the cover looks a bit Edwardian to me for some reason), amid the rise of terrorist/guerrilla groups (some fueled by drugs and some not), this is an excellent choice. It is close enough geographically to the US to be relevant and accessible to most readers, but also exotic enough to introduce an element of the unknown. It's also geopolitically spot-on. The author makes up a terrorist group, but these groups really do exist.
- The thriller plot - aside from the setting, I really liked the archeological discovery aspect of the plot. It blends enough truth and fiction to be a bit on the Indiana Jones side, but the Mexican setting grounds it. Loved it.
- The hero and heroine - they are OK. Not fabulous, but they suited the story, I felt. I also really liked that they were both American hispanic, a group massively under-represented in romances IMO. I liked how the hero unwittingly rubs the heroine the wrong way right off the bat, and I wish the author had made a bit more of this, by showing what the heroine was like normally, instead of rushing straight in there to make her appear a crabby harridan.
What I didn't like so much:
- I had two big problems with this book, which did kinda ruin it for me. The first is that the author has a compunction to wrap up every little, teeny-tiny, loose end before the last page. In fact, the author doesn't so much tie-off every loose end, as contort them into highly-decorative, festive bows, like the ones only professional gift-wrappers in stores during the Holidays can actually execute. Every single, little minuscule detail has to be resolved, and I hated this. I'm sorry, but life really isn't that way, and frankly, I find it incredibly irritating when the loose-end tying thing detracts from the resolution of the hero/heroine's HEA and the main plot elements. There were so many loose ends tied that I really was expecting the HEA baby to rear its ugly head, which would have been totally out of place. We didn't need the heroine's parents to have their lives resolved, we didn't need to have the hero's parents resolved - the plot worked out fine without that. Also, the HEA resolution felt rushed and cheesy-pie to me.
- My second big problem was with the heroine's mother. Now, she is a significant character in the book. The heroine and her mother have some serious issues, which are resolved with... a quick hug and "I forgive you" discussion lasting about 2 lines. We never really get to see her motives for doing what she did, and yet, the story is written in such a way that we are automatically expected to empathize, sympathize and understand, when, truthfully, I found her an incredibly selfish individual, whom no one calls to book. I can't have one iota of sympathy for her, and so, I found the heroine far too forgiving towards her, especially when considering all the hurt and pain she has caused over the years. One little pat on the shoulder from mother to daughter, and all is well?! I don't think so. I personally think she deserved a sharp slap and an unresolved ending.
- I also felt that the plot dragged in some sections (particularly the first half), and galloped in others (particularly about 80% through), leading to some rather rapid transitions which I didn't quite get, particularly around the paranormal stuff, although I have to say the action stuff was very well written. The paranormal stuff was less well-written - we could have seen more description, more internal dialogue and less "doing", but it was OK. But all this was killed by the dreadful, awful, saccharine ending IMO.
3 stars. I did like it for the setting, the credible romance and the thriller plot, but wanted to bitch-slap the mother and hated the loose end-tying compulsion.
Things I liked:
- The setting - set in contemporary Mexico (although the cover looks a bit Edwardian to me for some reason), amid the rise of terrorist/guerrilla groups (some fueled by drugs and some not), this is an excellent choice. It is close enough geographically to the US to be relevant and accessible to most readers, but also exotic enough to introduce an element of the unknown. It's also geopolitically spot-on. The author makes up a terrorist group, but these groups really do exist.
- The thriller plot - aside from the setting, I really liked the archeological discovery aspect of the plot. It blends enough truth and fiction to be a bit on the Indiana Jones side, but the Mexican setting grounds it. Loved it.
- The hero and heroine - they are OK. Not fabulous, but they suited the story, I felt. I also really liked that they were both American hispanic, a group massively under-represented in romances IMO. I liked how the hero unwittingly rubs the heroine the wrong way right off the bat, and I wish the author had made a bit more of this, by showing what the heroine was like normally, instead of rushing straight in there to make her appear a crabby harridan.
What I didn't like so much:
- I had two big problems with this book, which did kinda ruin it for me. The first is that the author has a compunction to wrap up every little, teeny-tiny, loose end before the last page. In fact, the author doesn't so much tie-off every loose end, as contort them into highly-decorative, festive bows, like the ones only professional gift-wrappers in stores during the Holidays can actually execute. Every single, little minuscule detail has to be resolved, and I hated this. I'm sorry, but life really isn't that way, and frankly, I find it incredibly irritating when the loose-end tying thing detracts from the resolution of the hero/heroine's HEA and the main plot elements. There were so many loose ends tied that I really was expecting the HEA baby to rear its ugly head, which would have been totally out of place. We didn't need the heroine's parents to have their lives resolved, we didn't need to have the hero's parents resolved - the plot worked out fine without that. Also, the HEA resolution felt rushed and cheesy-pie to me.
- My second big problem was with the heroine's mother. Now, she is a significant character in the book. The heroine and her mother have some serious issues, which are resolved with... a quick hug and "I forgive you" discussion lasting about 2 lines. We never really get to see her motives for doing what she did, and yet, the story is written in such a way that we are automatically expected to empathize, sympathize and understand, when, truthfully, I found her an incredibly selfish individual, whom no one calls to book. I can't have one iota of sympathy for her, and so, I found the heroine far too forgiving towards her, especially when considering all the hurt and pain she has caused over the years. One little pat on the shoulder from mother to daughter, and all is well?! I don't think so. I personally think she deserved a sharp slap and an unresolved ending.
- I also felt that the plot dragged in some sections (particularly the first half), and galloped in others (particularly about 80% through), leading to some rather rapid transitions which I didn't quite get, particularly around the paranormal stuff, although I have to say the action stuff was very well written. The paranormal stuff was less well-written - we could have seen more description, more internal dialogue and less "doing", but it was OK. But all this was killed by the dreadful, awful, saccharine ending IMO.
3 stars. I did like it for the setting, the credible romance and the thriller plot, but wanted to bitch-slap the mother and hated the loose end-tying compulsion.
June 30, 2011
RATING: 4.5)THE FIFTH KINGDOM by Caridad Pineiro is an exciting suspense set in Mexico City.The characters will capture your heart and hope for more.They are engaging, sexy, and very determined. The plot is easy to follow,well written with depth and details. We have a sexy CIA,an adventurous professor,and possible mystical power ancient relic.This story has everything a reader could want.It has romance,sweet sensuality,mystery,suspense,torture to some degree,love,facing the past,longing for love,peace and happiness.It is fast paced,page turner that will have your heart pumping and you on the edge of your seat from the first page to the last. The hero,Bill Santana,a CIA agent,sexy,handsome,and on a mission to locate and bring home Deanna's mother.The heroine,Dr. Deanna Vasquez,is beautiful,a professor,the daughter of the renowned archaeologist,whom she has not spoken to in years,Since her mother abandoned her and her father years prior. Her mother is not only a renowned archaeologist, but also has possibly found the Tome of Montezuma.She has been kidnapped and tortured by terrorist who will stop at nothing to have what may have been found in the Tomb.Thus enter Special Agent Bill Santana and Dr. Deanna Vasquez.Together they will follow the leads to Mexico City,battle terrorists,found themselves,discover the secret of the Tomb of Montezuma,stop fighting their attraction for each other,have passion, and fall in love.This is an action packed story."Fifth Kingdom" is a treasure,a keeper,and a must read.I won this book and would highly recommend it to all mystery,suspense,and romance readers.Also,if you enjoy a little Indiana Jones in the mix you will definitely enjoy this one.Details for this book can be found at Carina Press and My Book Addiction And More
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July 22, 2011There's just something about books involving long lost treasures & historical mysteries that just lure me in. The promise of a steamy pairing doesn't hurt either. I got both, but I'll admit that this book was heavier on the steamy pairing than it was on the historical mystery. And I didn't mind a bit.
What made this book was the awesome pairing of Bill & Deanna. It's hot, it's tangible, & it's very easy to get wrapped up in. Piñeiro might have gone a little lighter on the anthropological side with this book, but she stepped it up with the romance. One of the more intriguing & inviting things of the romance here is that the gender roles are switched. Normally when it comes to initiating sex it's the man who takes charge, but in this book the women are the ones who are large & in charge. It's really a nice turn of pace to see a woman doing this.
The action scenes are tense and fast paced, but a good chunk of this book focuses on the romantic & emotional state of our two main characters. It might seem a little risky, but it does seem to work here. I really felt myself connect with Deanna, although I'll admit that at times I was a little impatient for the plot to shift towards the inevitable action & discovery scenes. This might result in some readers getting a little anxious to get to the action, but trust me- the first sex scene more than makes up for it. (Yowza!)
I really enjoyed Piñeiro's Aztec Gold & this is no exception. I'm really looking forward to the next book she puts out along these lines. Caridad Piñeiro has a wonderful way of bringing a scene to life that's really exciting.
4/5
(ARC provided by Netgalley)
What made this book was the awesome pairing of Bill & Deanna. It's hot, it's tangible, & it's very easy to get wrapped up in. Piñeiro might have gone a little lighter on the anthropological side with this book, but she stepped it up with the romance. One of the more intriguing & inviting things of the romance here is that the gender roles are switched. Normally when it comes to initiating sex it's the man who takes charge, but in this book the women are the ones who are large & in charge. It's really a nice turn of pace to see a woman doing this.
The action scenes are tense and fast paced, but a good chunk of this book focuses on the romantic & emotional state of our two main characters. It might seem a little risky, but it does seem to work here. I really felt myself connect with Deanna, although I'll admit that at times I was a little impatient for the plot to shift towards the inevitable action & discovery scenes. This might result in some readers getting a little anxious to get to the action, but trust me- the first sex scene more than makes up for it. (Yowza!)
I really enjoyed Piñeiro's Aztec Gold & this is no exception. I'm really looking forward to the next book she puts out along these lines. Caridad Piñeiro has a wonderful way of bringing a scene to life that's really exciting.
4/5
(ARC provided by Netgalley)
October 14, 2011
Contemporary, New York & Mexico
Dr. Deanna Vasquez hasn’t seen her renowned archeologist mother since she was child. Deanna’s mother was obsessed with finding Montezuma’s tomb and left the family behind in her quest to find it. Now a CIA agent comes into Deanna’s life to tell her that her mother has been kidnapped by terrorists. Now Deanna is going to have to find a way to help the mother she hasn’t seen in years and rescue her.
Guillermo “Bill” Santana is a CIA agent and he has been assigned the task of finding Deanna’s mother and saving her from the terrorists that have her before they can use what she has found to their benefit. Bill is good at his job but he is suddenly finding it difficult to do a job he has never had trouble doing before.
What Bill and Deanna never expected was their attraction to each other and how that was going to interfere with the mission they are on. As Bill poses as Deanna’s fiancée to draw out the terrorists so that they can stop them from getting what just might be deadly in the wrong hands. The item that Deanna’s mother found that caused her to be kidnapped in the first time. It will be a race against time to get to the discovery before the terrorists do and before they get rid of Deanna’s mother too.
This is a story that has an interesting premise that will draw the reader into the story without letting go. The story is fast paced and comes to life as the reader gets into the story. The story has some wonderful twists that will keep the reader turning the pages. This is one story that the reader will not be disappointed in once they start reading it.
Dr. Deanna Vasquez hasn’t seen her renowned archeologist mother since she was child. Deanna’s mother was obsessed with finding Montezuma’s tomb and left the family behind in her quest to find it. Now a CIA agent comes into Deanna’s life to tell her that her mother has been kidnapped by terrorists. Now Deanna is going to have to find a way to help the mother she hasn’t seen in years and rescue her.
Guillermo “Bill” Santana is a CIA agent and he has been assigned the task of finding Deanna’s mother and saving her from the terrorists that have her before they can use what she has found to their benefit. Bill is good at his job but he is suddenly finding it difficult to do a job he has never had trouble doing before.
What Bill and Deanna never expected was their attraction to each other and how that was going to interfere with the mission they are on. As Bill poses as Deanna’s fiancée to draw out the terrorists so that they can stop them from getting what just might be deadly in the wrong hands. The item that Deanna’s mother found that caused her to be kidnapped in the first time. It will be a race against time to get to the discovery before the terrorists do and before they get rid of Deanna’s mother too.
This is a story that has an interesting premise that will draw the reader into the story without letting go. The story is fast paced and comes to life as the reader gets into the story. The story has some wonderful twists that will keep the reader turning the pages. This is one story that the reader will not be disappointed in once they start reading it.
July 1, 2011
The Fifth Kingdom was fantastic. The story takes you on an exciting journey to discover the tomb of Montezuma and secrets that may have been buried with him. Terrorist groups are convinced something is hidden that could help their cause but change the world forever. When Deanna's long lost mother sends a request for help in excavating her find, Deanna seeks the help of Bill who is trying to stop a major terrorist group from finding the tomb and its contents. While working together Deanna and Bill discover an attraction for each other that cannot be denied, no matter what the consequences. The author throws a surprise in the book regarding Bill & Deanna that will leave your mouth hanging open. But the events have you turning page after page as the author weaves this story into a book filled with emotion, love and shocking surprises. Its a book you cannot put down until the final word.
August 29, 2011
I obtained a copy of this book from NetGalley. The premise of the story caught my eye and intrigued me. I greatly enjoy reading about other cultures, especially their history so I was looking forward to reading The Fifth Kingdom. I was not disappointed.
The characters were enjoyable and well written. I enjoyed traveling through Mexico with Bill Santana, a CIA agent, and Dr. Deanna Vasquez as they searched for Deanna's long, en-strangled mother, Miranda, and the location of Montezuma's lost tomb, which Miranda claims to have located before disappearing.
The chemistry between Bill and Deanna was fun to watch. Their romance was a interesting foil to the mystery of finding her Miranda and the possibility of finding Montezuma's tomb. Ms. Pineiro did a great job of blending Mexican history and the search of Montezuma's lost tomb into this suspense.
FTC Notice: I received an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley.
The characters were enjoyable and well written. I enjoyed traveling through Mexico with Bill Santana, a CIA agent, and Dr. Deanna Vasquez as they searched for Deanna's long, en-strangled mother, Miranda, and the location of Montezuma's lost tomb, which Miranda claims to have located before disappearing.
The chemistry between Bill and Deanna was fun to watch. Their romance was a interesting foil to the mystery of finding her Miranda and the possibility of finding Montezuma's tomb. Ms. Pineiro did a great job of blending Mexican history and the search of Montezuma's lost tomb into this suspense.
FTC Notice: I received an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley.
July 24, 2011
Reviewed at: Over A Cuppa Tea
Review date: 25 July 2011
Review link: http://cleffairy.com/?p=5791
The Fifth Kingdom by Caridad Pineiro is a very thrilling and exhilarating read. I've always loved adventure-romance kind of story and it pleases me that this story is not draggy or long winded. The plot is easy to follow and the pace is just nice, not too fast, not too slow. I love the mystery, and the romance was well developed as well. I feel as if I'm reading 'Indiana Jones'... the romantic version, that is.
I enjoyed reading this book very much and I hope to read more from the author. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. I received an ARC of this book from Carina Press via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review for this book.
Review date: 25 July 2011
Review link: http://cleffairy.com/?p=5791
The Fifth Kingdom by Caridad Pineiro is a very thrilling and exhilarating read. I've always loved adventure-romance kind of story and it pleases me that this story is not draggy or long winded. The plot is easy to follow and the pace is just nice, not too fast, not too slow. I love the mystery, and the romance was well developed as well. I feel as if I'm reading 'Indiana Jones'... the romantic version, that is.
I enjoyed reading this book very much and I hope to read more from the author. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. I received an ARC of this book from Carina Press via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review for this book.
July 22, 2011
This is a fantastic novella about learning to forgive and love. The story grabbed my imagination and took me on a thrill ride that kept getting better. Even with the artefact having supernatural qualities it didn't make the story any less believable or enjoyable. The romance between Bill and Deanna is sweet and intense and really nice to watch bloom. I liked that Caridad Pineiro took time to round the story off slowly so I got a feeling of real closure when the novella came to an end. I will definitely be looking out for more from this thought provoking author.
August 28, 2011
I enjoyed the characters in this story - I liked how the H/h worked well together as partners. I was disappointed that they didn't really search for or explore the tomb or any artifacts. This book felt like a romantic suspense set in an exotic location instead of the archeological action/adventure I was hoping for.
July 22, 2011
This was good. I felt the ending was rushed and still left me with questions. The sex scenes were good and the characters were enjoyable to read about but some of the events seemed a little far fetched.
January 4, 2024
wow!
This book had everything you could want, a great story, great suspense, great romance. I loved the dynamic between Bill and Deanna, but also with Miranda and Papi!
There were two love stories intermixed with some amazing suspense.
Highly recommend
This book had everything you could want, a great story, great suspense, great romance. I loved the dynamic between Bill and Deanna, but also with Miranda and Papi!
There were two love stories intermixed with some amazing suspense.
Highly recommend
December 13, 2011
Caridad Pineiro writes some fine books.
September 27, 2011
Review is coming
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