Descent Into Danger

Shannon Greenland takes readers on an emotional and suspenseful ride with DESCENT INTO DANGER. Fifteen years ago, Lou grieved after his sister committed suicide over her fiancé ending their engagement. During the same time frame, Maddy Theros and Corey Grainger met briefly at a gym and the tiniest spark developed. This spark turned into a flame 5 years later when they met yet again. All of these incidents now intersect in a startling turn of events. Maddy and Corey are both drawn to the land owned by Mr. Hanes in New Mexico. Maddy wants the land to remain pristine while she is free to explore the vast underground cave she has discovered. Her business, M & S Outfitters, takes adventurers on nature tours that include canoeing and spelunking. Corey wants the land for his company, East Coast Transactions, so he can obtain the coveted vice-presidency position. Unfortunately, his company intends to strip mine the land and so he finds himself at odds with both the townspeople and the lost love of his life. Lou has traveled to New Mexico with Maddy, along with several of her friends from her dancing career. Maddy believes Corey ended the relationship with a "Dear John" letter while Corey believes Maddy just vanished without saying goodbye. Lou wants things to remain that way and is willing to do anything to achieve that goal, including seriously injure or kill Corey. The "accidents" begin to escalate and Corey and Maddy must rekindle their flames or risk losing everything. Shannon Greenland has written a very emotional story which cleverly uses misdirection to keep the reader guessing. The action coupled with the sizzling tension between Maddy and Corey keeps the plotline entertaining and enjoyable. There is never a dull moment in this story and yet the action does not overwhelm the emotional impact of a story of soulmates unjustly separated. DESCENT INTO DANGER is intriguing on several levels. On one level, it is a fascinating romantic suspense in which the reader hopes the love between Maddy and Corey is strong enough to overcome the multiple obstacles provided by Lou. On another level, it is a fantastic mystery as one wonders why Maddy and Corey can't figure out who is behind the rapidly escalating attacks. Finally, it is also an examination of environmental concerns, both what is best for the physical world as well as what lengths are appropriate to protect that environment. Corey initially suspects the townspeople as being behind the attacks as he is used to such attacks when his company comes in to strip mine an area. This provides great food for thought as the reader is free to analyze his/her own feelings on this issue while meeting the very likeable character of Corey. DESCENT INTO DANGER is an enthralling story full of red herrings and romantic intrigue. Although there are several aspects of the novel that slightly stretch the imagination, Ms. Greenland's writing style is so superb and