Mara Castillo is in the passenger seat as she heads to the Rocking Horse Ranch, and her brother Seth is driving. He’s also keen to invest in the tourism opportunity, which realistically is not sound. A trekking ranch in Death Valley? As we open MISSING IN THE DESERT by Dana Mentink, the siblings are not getting on so well, but that ceases to matter as the vehicle runs off the road and down the side of a canyon.

Levi Duke is first on the scene, as he owns the Rocking Horse, and he realises that this was no accident. Mara is in better shape than Seth, but she comes under attack again in the hospital, cementing the stress. Is this something to do with the ranch deal? Or does it concern Mara’s missing sister Corinne, who left a trail in Death Valley five years ago?

Mara decides in Seth’s absence that she should help Levi run the Camp Town Days, which provide a tour of the old borax mines. Anyone who read the first book in this series, FRAMED IN DEATH VALLEY, will remember those mines and be keen for more "Desert Justice." 

We meet some ranch horses and mules, Banjo the scruffy, loyal dog, and the law enforcement men of Furnace Falls.  And in town, we gain clues as to the possible whereabouts of Corinne, because someone who may or may not be Corrine has been trying to contact Mara. But the bad guys are keen to contact Mara too, and not in a good way. Levi has his hands full keeping everything together while the resourceful, determined lady refuses to be scared off the property.

I enjoy the outdoor situations and lively scenes, and I have to say that a clue was very creatively provided. Indoors at his ranch, Levi has an excellent setup for fresh greens, and I should think we’ll all want one. Plenty of novelty and good ideas then, to keep the background of this exciting romance busy, while Levi and Mara spend time together and try to survive. They might just fall in love, if they can keep their heads down long enough. Dana Mentink is an experienced author and hardly a word is wasted. MISSING IN THE DESERT is suitable as a romance for anyone from teens to adults, but it is pretty scary and suspenseful. Love it!

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