Free book opportunity! I love getting to share some great books on the Suspense Sister blog, but this one is definitely a FAVORITE. And I have a copy to give away FREE to one of the members on my quarterly newsletter.
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Dana Mentink is an award-winning author with more than fifteen mystery or suspense novels to her credit. After reading her latest, Jungle Fire, I will certainly have to look up some of her other titles.
Preparing to leave Guatemala, missionary nurse Nina Truman’s plans change when a gunman opens fire on her bus. Propelled to take flight, her only help comes from a bomb-sniffing dog and his master, a man who detests missionaries in general and her in particular. This is not a match made in heaven.
Or is it?
While the romance and redemption in Jungle Fire is poignant, this is an incredible suspense. Dana Mentink has a new fan, and I have a new favorite! There were three main things I love about this story.
The Plot: The shot up bus is page one. Action accelerates from there then catapults into another issue that drives the missionary to put her trust in a man she hardly knows. (I literally gasped while reading. I don’t remember the last time I did that!)
This story is a work of art with subplots and players weaving in and out in perfect time. Surprising secrets and shocking revelations kept my attention until I reached the final page.
The Characters: I love well-crafted characters. Nina, a WAIF with a spine made of iron and elements of a NURTURER, has let her father’s life, his calling and dreams, influence her. Shaw Wilder, a SWASHBUCKLER turned WARRIOR, accuses her of hiding behind her father. Both have great character arcs, though Shaw has a more complex arc than Nina.
Though they are the main characters, others—Otto, Captain Fuentes, and Escorpion—have distinctive voices and strong personalities.
The Writing: I notice that many of the books I like have a specific rhythm to them. As the action escalates, sentences shorten and tighten. When things relax, the writing broadens with more description. The opposite is true for Jungle Fire.
During the deadliest situations, the sentences lengthen, offering graphic details. The reader is drawn in by the feeling of slow motion. Such a creepy-good experience.
If you’re looking for the perfect read, make sure Jungle Fire is on the top of your stack. And Precious Redhead agrees! She just finished the book and claimed it as one of her all-time favorites as well!
Your turn: What book is on the top of your to-read stack? Why are you looking forward to reading it?
Marji Laine 