The love story in City of Jasmine gets overwhelmed by the frantic pace of the action scenes in this history-lite romance set in Damascus, 1920. Evie Starke believes her husband died in the sinking of the Lusitania, but five years later, she discovers that he's alive and well and living in the Middle East. Set amidst the political turmoil following World War I, during which European powers carved up the former Ottoman Empire to suit their own needs, City of Jasmine presents a surface-level view of the intrigues, conspiracies, maneuverings, and intelligence operations of the time, while at the same time the plot revolves around attempts to capture and recapture a priceless ancient artifact discovered in an archaeological dig. 
 Meanwhile, Evie and her long-lost husband navigate the ruins of their impetuous marriage and its subsequent failings, while trying to stay alive despite a whole slew of people trying to kill or kidnap them. 
 The romantic elements of the story are promising, and there's a nice chemistry between Evie and Gabriel, but I do feel that their backstory needs more substance in order for a reader to feel truly invested in the outcome of their love story. 
 A full review is posted at Bookshelf Fantasies. Review copy courtesy of Harlequin MIRA via NetGalley.