#FlashbackFriday featuring Desert Gold: A Southwest Adventure Romance by Kris Bock #Review / #Giveaway @Kris_Bock

On Flashback Fridays I will share with you
the books I was not able to review
when they were first released that have been screaming at me
from my To-Be-Read bookshelf.

Desert Gold: A Southwest Adventure Romance
Romantic Suspense
1st in Series
Setting – New Mexico
Pig River Press (October 29, 2020)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 257 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8553991869
Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08MB9YMMZ

A legendary treasure hunt in the dramatic – and deadly – New Mexico desert….

The lost Victorio Peak treasure is the stuff of legends—a heretic Spanish priest’s gold mine, made richer by the spoils of bandits and an Apache raider.

When Erin, a quiet history professor, uncovers a clue that may pinpoint the lost treasure cave, she prepares for adventure. But when a hit-and-run driver nearly kills her, she realizes she’s not the only one after the treasure. And is Drew, the handsome helicopter pilot who found her bleeding in a ditch, really a hero, or one of the enemy?

Erin isn’t sure she can trust Drew with her heart, but she’ll need his help to track down the treasure. She heads into the New Mexico wilderness with her brainy best friend Camie and a feisty orange cat. The wilderness holds its own dangers, from wild animals to sudden storms. Plus, the sinister men hunting Erin are determined to follow her all the way to the treasure, no matter where the twisted trail leads. Erin won’t give up an important historical find without a fight, but is she ready to risk her life—and her heart?

Just how far will Erin go to find the treasure and discover what she’s really made of?

Dollycas’s Thoughts

History Professor Erin is hunting treasure. The lost Victorio Peak treasure to be exact. After researching the treasure she finally thinks she has found a vital clue and can’t wait to show her more adventurous friend Camie. But before she can she is the victim of a hit and run and was very lucky to even survive. Thankfully, handsome helicopter pilot, Drew finds Erin on the side of the road and calls an ambulance.

Erin quickly realizes someone else is trying to find the treasure and they are willing to kill her to get her clue. Could Drew be involved? There are very few people who knew what she was researching so she doesn’t know who she can trust besides Camie. They decide the quicker they can get into the New Mexico wilderness the better and pack up everything they need including Camie’s cat Tiger and hit the road. This is just the start of a whirlwind adventure of trying to stay alive long enough to find the treasure. Is the injured Erin up to the challenge? Was the uninjured Erin up to the challenge? Is she willing to risk her life and her heart?

Ms. Bock sets a fast pace from the start as she introduces us to Erin, Camie, Drew, Tiger, and other assorted characters. Erin is quiet and studious and not really an adventure seeker but she loves a good mystery and the lost treasure of Victorio Peak is just that. Camie is more of a risk-taker and outdoor adventure enthusiast and a great friend. She has also invented something that will help them find the treasure when they get close. Hunky Drew concerned about Erin’s safety tries to stick close but after Erin is threatened he gets much closer. Add to that the romantic tension between them. You can cut it with a knife. Tiger is an awesome cat.

The author puts forth a very exciting story. Twists, turns, edge-of-your-seat moments, and breathless ones too, and not just because of the romance. I started reading and could not stop. I read the story all in one sitting. I found the main characters to be credible and engaging. The antagonists were written appropriately creepy. The ending was fantastic, I loved the planning and the thrilling way it played out.

Having never been to New Mexico I appreciated the descriptions of the desert and the places the characters searched and camped complete with some deadly creatures. Glad I was only reading their story because I don’t think even if I was in my best shape ever I couldn’t have endured what Erin and Camie did.

Desert Gold features strong solid female characters in a rip-roaring mystery that was so entertaining. Of course, in books like this, there was a happy ending and it was a satisfying conclusion.

I didn’t realize when I purchased the book that each book is completely stand-alone featuring totally different characters with New Mexico being the through line for the series. This was the longest book of the three and it was very well-plotted and written. I am looking forward to reading the other books.

Note – This series was originally published as The Mad Monk’s Treasure, The Dead Man’s Treasure, and The Skeleton Canyon Treasure.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

About the Author

Kris Bock lives in New Mexico, USA, where she enjoys hiking, archery, and watching the sunset from her patio. Her home office looks out on nature, complete with distracting wildlife such as roadrunners and quail. Her BFA in photography is used mainly to show online friends how lovely the Southwest is.

Kris writes novels of mystery, suspense, and romance. In the humorous Accidental Detective series, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty. Kate has followed the most dangerous news stories around the world, but can she survive going home? The series starts with Something Shady at Sunshine Haven, which made B&N’s list of Handpicked Favorites You’ll Love! Readers say, “I couldn’t put it down. This promises to be an exciting series and I can’t wait for the next!” and “Kris Bock is my new favorite cozy mystery writer. I loved this book so much!”

Kris is also writing a series with her brother, scriptwriter Douglas J Eboch, who wrote the original screenplay for the movie Sweet Home Alabama. Follow the crazy antics of Melanie, Jake, and their friends a decade before the events of the movie. Sign up for their romantic comedy newsletter and get “Felony Melanie Destroys the Moonshiner’s Cabin.” Sign up here: https://sendfox.com/lp/1rpny3

The Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the employees and customers at a cat café. Watch as they fall in love with each other and shelter cats. Start this popular series for only 99 cents and learn why readers say, “The Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series is one of my favorite series of all time” and “This is one of the most heartfelt series that you will ever read!”

Kris Bock also writes romantic suspense with outdoor adventures in Southwestern landscapes. Desert Gold follows the hunt for a long-lost treasure in the New Mexico desert. In Valley of Gems, estranged relatives compete to reach a buried treasure by following a series of complex clues. In Silver Canyon, sparks fly when reader favorites Camie and Tiger help a mysterious man track down his missing uncle. Whispers in the Dark features archaeology and intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins. What We Found is a mystery with strong romantic elements about a young woman who finds a murder victim in the woods. In Counterfeits, stolen Rembrandt paintings bring danger to a small New Mexico town.

Learn more at www.krisbock.com.

Also by Kris Bock

Find More Books by Kris Bock Here.

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 *This book was from my private collection.