Today's blog tour is for Missing in the Desert by Dana Mentink, the second book in the Desert Justice series. I am also including the review for Framed in Death Valley.
Title: Framed in Death Valley
Author: Dana Mentink
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense
Format: Kindle
No. of Pages: 224
Date of Publication: March 9, 2021
My Rating: 5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
A killer who will stop at nothing...
Framed for a murder he didn't commit, firefighter Beckett Duke gave up on everything--including his marriage to spirited Laney Holland. That is, until Laney's life is threatened. Knowing the real killer is still at large, Beckett now has one purpose: protecting the woman he loves...and their unborn child. But sometimes an innocent man's second chance comes with a deadly price.
From Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.
MY THOUGHTS:
Recently released from jail while awaiting trial for murder - which in fact, he was framed for - firefighteer Beckett Duke rushes to the aid of his wife Laney Holland when her life is threatened. Married barely a month before Beckett found the body of Pauline Sanderson, Beckett is more than stressed. Laney has something to tell Beckett, and with this news is determined that he stay out of her life as much as possible - she is pregnant. Their marriage is over and Laney does not want that to change. However, if Beckett wasn't already concerned for Laney's safety, the fact that she is carrying his child changes everything.
Laney never once doubted Beckett's innocence, but when Beckett gave up on their marriage after being framed, so did she. However, will their current circumstances be enough to give them a second chance? There is something signficant in Laney's case. She was told she'd never be able to get pregnant. She really feels blessed and is more than prepared to raise their child on her own.
However, they are both still in love. Can they overcome their obstacles and try again? Then there is the fact of Beckett being framed. There is someone that places both Laney and Beckett in danger. Thus, this story is filled with action, twists and turns, as well as emotion. Framed in Death Valley is an exciting book in the Desert Justice series by Dana Mentink. I went right on and read the next book in the series and am looking forward to each and every story as the series continues.
**Featured Blog Tour Post**
Title: Missing in the Desert
Author: Dana Mentink
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 224
Date of Publication: July 27, 2021
My Rating: 4 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
Five years ago, her sister disappeared…
Now someone is coming for her.
Who would believe that Mara Castillo's sister—missing and presumed dead—suddenly sent a one-word text? Now Mara wants answers, even if it means stepping into a killer's sights with her brother's best friend, rancher Levi Duke, as her only protection. But with someone who has everything to lose after her, uncovering a long-buried secret could save her life…or claim it.
Buy Missing in the Desert by Dana Mentink!
MY THOUGHTS:
I love series! In Missing in the Desert, the second book in a six-book series by Dana Mentink, I really loved the first book in this series, Framed in Death Valley, and went right on to read this book.
Mara Castillo's sister Corinne disappeared five years ago, and due to a specific piece of evidence, is assumed dead. When Mara receives a strange one-word text - Marbles - which is her childhood nickname, Mara finds that her hopes are raised. Who but Corinne knew that Mara's nickname was Marbles? Mara gets together with her brother's best friend Levi Duke in order to track down that mysterious text - and hopefully her sister. Levi proves to be a good protector for Mara as someone is not too keen on her looking for answers when it comes to Corinne's disappearance.
What a thrilling story - answers regarding Corinne, the danger that faces Mara at every turn, the brewing romance between Mara and Levi, and hope. Yes, hope that Mara is determined to hold onto. Factor in cute pets, such as Banjo the dog and Tiny the kitten, and of course a Rabbit, and this story proved absolutely wonderful. I also enjoyed the emotional edge in this story, especially after Mara's brother Seth was injured. Levi's sensitivity and concern for Seth's future was really nice. This extended to the fact that Levi and Seth had recently purchased a ranch together, and this has an impact on Levi's future. This is where Levi's selflessness shined.
As things turned out, the text Mara recived was only the first clue, and again, this kept Mara hopeful. This story also had an emotional edge that captured my attention from beginning to end. Factor in faith as a basis for not giving up and this book definitely proved a winner for me. I cannot wait for the next book in the series.
Many thanks to Love Inspired Suspense and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy the following excerpt:
Missing in the Desert - Excerpt
Dana Mentink
Levi Duke let the engine idle and rubbed his temple. Another headache, courtesy of the wreck. The headaches were probably temporary, the doctors said. He sighed. Yes, the car accident four months before had left him with a scar, but worse yet, his hospital ti
me made him miss out on a perfect horse to add to his herd. That was the real pain of it.
“Not this time,” he said. “We’re gonna have ourselves a new mare, ’Jo.”
Banjo, the sizable mutt with a chunk missing from one ear, sprawled in his passenger seat and licked the knee of Levi’s jeans. The dog slithered his way under Levi’s palm until he got the ear rub he was looking for. Mission accomplished, he flopped over and presented his belly, long legs taking up more than his fair share of the room. His fleas and the mud were gone now, thanks to a bath that had been a struggle of epic proportions, his leg wound treated, too. His ribs were not quite as prominent as the day Levi had found him panting and half-dead in a dry creek bed. The dog had introduced himself with eyes desperate for help and the faintest of tail wags. Who could say no to that?
The cell phone chimed.
“We’re just driving past the Funeral Mountains.” Mara’s voice was cool, in spite of the faint Southern drawl. Never could hide her feelings. She was upset with him for inviting her brother, Seth, to partner with him in purchasing the Rocking Horse Ranch. Maybe she had a right to be. A busted-up old ranch just outside Death Valley National Park, a place so hot it was nearly uninhabitable four months of the year? Not exactly a surefire moneymaker. But it wasn’t really about the money—not for him, anyway. He was surprised Mara had even agreed to accompany Seth to meet the mare. Maybe Mara was softening to the idea? Not likely.
“Be careful,” he said. “Road’s steep. I’ll meet you at the farm and introduce you to Cookie. She’s a sweetheart.” Offered for sale by a local, the mare would be a perfect fit for their current herd of eleven if co-owner Seth approved. They needed more horses pronto to meet the tourist demands for the November Camp Town Days Festival the following week.
There was a pause. “All right.”
He forced cheer into his voice to counteract her lack of enthusiasm. “Laney and Beckett are having a barbecue at the Hotsprings. They asked me to invite you both.” His cousin Beckett’s hotel was making a slow recovery after the set of killings that had resulted in Beckett’s false imprisonment and a threat to Laney’s life. It was easier to forget those days now, as the couple prepared for the spring birth of their first child.
Mara queried her brother and returned her attention to the phone. “Seth says he’d love to go, but I have some business to work on.”
Business? Mara helped run her parents’ furniture store in Henderson, Nevada, some two hundred miles away. Odd that she’d have business here in podunk Furnace Falls. It wasn’t his nature to pry. Then again, she might just be making an excuse to stay far away from him. He blew out a silent breath. Horses were so much easier to read than people, especially women, most especially Mara Castillo.
Connect with the Author
Website: https://www.danamentink.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Danamentink
Framed in Death Valley especially stands out to me. I enjoy a second chance romance.
ReplyDeleteI've not read books set in death valley before. Sounds exciting. Great reviews.
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