I need the help of a collective brain!
I've got a patron looking for a book - She's knows A LOT about it, but not enough for me to have any luck trying to find it. I've used NoveList, Amazon & Google, all to no avail. I've also posted a request to Yahoo! Answers, LM-NET & YALSA-BK with no luck yet, either.
Anyway, I'm hoping someone will recognize the description and know what my patron is looking for.
It's actually a series of at least two books (probably historical romance) set somewhere in the ancient Middle East. She couldn't remember if it was Persia, Syria, Mesopotamia, etc.
The female lead runs away from a harem where she is being held prisoner. However, she's forced to leave her younger sister behind. She travels across the desert and eventually meets a man from another country, possibly Greece or Rome. I believe he becomes her love interest. The man has a "side kick/companion" who goes back to rescue the sister and they eventually become romantically involved, as well. The main plot deals with an elixir of immortality or eternal youth which is being kept in a golden box. The main villain is, of course, after this magic vial, and he has a whole army of "ninja-like" men he's trained to do his bidding. Eventually the 4 main characters get a hold of the everlasting life potion and use it on themselves.
She equated these books to being on par with Diana Gabaldon, but not quite so thick; at least one of them is hardcover and possibly blue. It’s also possible that she found them near the Gabaldon series on the shelf. She says she checked them out within the last few years, however they were on the regular fiction shelf, so I don't have a publication date to go off of either.
Is this ringing any bells for anyone? My patron will be forever grateful for any help! Thanks in advance!
