Untouched by Jerri Drennen
Men of the Jungle, Book 1
Liquid Silver Books
Suspense
ISBN 978-1-59578-748-4
Reviewed By Miranda




Mattie Wentworth is a botanist leading an exploratory team into the Peruvian jungle in hopes of discovering a new species of plant.  Mattie is trying to get out from under an obsessive ex and the horrible rumors he started about her.  She puts on this steel exterior—this is the person she wants to be—but she is battling her insecurities.

Travis Kane is a jungle guide hired to lead Mattie’s group after her guide mysteriously dies.  Travis comes off as a brash chauvinist upon meeting Mattie’s expedition.  Travis has an ulterior motive for taking on this expedition.  He recently inherited a treasure map that leads to a treasure somewhere in the jungle.

Mattie and Travis are instantly attracted to each other but neither wants the complication of a jungle fling.  Each is intent on reaching their goal.  When one of the team becomes gravely ill the expedition is put in jeopardy.  They soon discover it’s possible they are being targeted by an unknown faction.  Will Travis and Mattie be able to resist each other?  Can they reach their goals and make it out of the jungle alive?

I really loved reading Untouched.  There are so many elements that make this a wonderful read.  It is impossible to tell who you can trust.  The hero and heroine have tortured pasts that are still influencing their decisions.  They both have a chance to learn about themselves and discover who they really are.  There is just the right amount of mystery and suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat.  The heat between Mattie and Travis sets the jungle on fire.  I loved that this couple didn’t automatically get together.  They had to work for it.

Untouched touches you in all the right places.  At times I wanted to scream at both Mattie and Travis and several other characters.  Then there were times that I wanted to cry because I felt so deeply for these people.  I can’t forget the times I was holding my breath with nervousness for the characters.  Untouched is a scorching adventure that’s hot from beginning to end.  The secondary characters were great as well, and I will definitely be keeping my eye out for book two in the Men of the Jungle series.