Death Valley Hideout – Dana Mentink

Death Valley Hideout is book four in a Death Valley series! It reads perfectly fine as a standalone, apart from making you want to add the other books to your TBR list… In Death Valley Hideout, the main character is Willow Duke, who is babysitting two small children for a friend. When she takes the two children to give their dad a birthday surprise, it’s Willow who is the one surprised…

Dana Mentink, the author, has written another fabulous book in one of my favourite collections, the Love Inspired Suspense. They are all easy read, cosy crime, rather predictable when it comes to the two main characters, but I love predictability. The rest of the story, although you know it will have a good ending, leaves you turning the pages fast! And when it came to the ending, I was amazed how Dana made it all work together.

Death Valley Hideout I the first book I have read that is set in Death Valley (I didn’t even know a place called Death Valley existed, but my kids filled me in…oops…). Dana Mentink loved Death Valley, as she explains that it makes such a wonderful setting for a suspense story as it’s such hostile terrain. It certainly sounded like it, and it definitely added to the story.

I love how the story starts all sweet and along the romantic storyline, to then get spun into suspense and danger within a few pages. Even though there are little worrying vibes right from the start, it still came as a shock when things go south quickly. It’s what I enjoy in the Love Inspired Suspense books.

Death Valley Hideout has so many unexpected twists and turns, from out-of-line characters to secret tunnels. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and especially the ending was unexpected. I despaired with Tony Ortega, wondering if he’d ever be free from the WITSEC programme, and felt for Willow as she had to navigate friendship as well as family bonds.

Death Valley Hideout not only provided me with a great story but also made me want to learn more about Death Valley. The way Willow and Tony have to handle the climate, as well as flying bullets, was interesting. I can understand Dana when she says she has been several times, as it sounds like an incredible place.

I loved how Dana dealt with the two younger children in the book and how Willow as well as Tony put them first and try to have their needs met. It’s the love for the children that help them through hard decisions; it’s also the needs of the children that persuade Willow’s family to help her and stand by her. Death Valley Hideout deals with some good questions as well, things like self-worth and blaming yourself when you get deceived by a friend. I appreciated the answers given to Willow when she struggles because of an ex-boyfriend.

I received a review copy via Celebrate Lit but was under no pressure or obligation to write a favourable review. Death Valley Hideout is a brand-new book, only released on 26th April! As it’s part of the Celebrate Lit Tour, there is a giveaway! (US only!).

To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away the grand prize package of the first four books in the series-Framed in Death Valley, Missing in the Desert, Death Valley Doublecross and Death Valley Hideout (Paperback for U.S. Only) and a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1d0af/death-valley-hideout-celebration-tour-giveaway

Here are the other Blog Tour stops for you to visit.

Blog Stops

Remembrancy, April 21

Texas Book-aholic, April 21

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 22

Bigreadersite, April 22

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 23

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 23

Life, Love, Writing, April 24

For Him and My Family, April 24