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The Missionary by Jack Wilder Review and Giveaway

The Missionary by Jack WilderI didn’t really want to read it. But I’ve met Jack a few times, and I really like both Jasinda and Jack Wilder. The Missionary by Jack Wilder is so far out of my comfort zone, and a book I thought would totally not be my type. Yet I found myself at 3:00 am with my hand to my heart unable to stop reading, and absolutely engrossed in it.

“Something sharp jabbed into her bicep…she was floating, weightless, unable to move…she couldn’t cry or whimper, but a tear trickled down her cheek…and all went dark.
“My name is Wren Morgan. She focused on that, it was all she had, all she knew”

If you have read Wounded by Jasinda Wilder (One of my favorite books this year – my review) I would say it had a similar feel, with a little more suspense (but don’t worry, there is sex, and Jack writes it well–Jasinda is a lucky lady). The Missionary was a quick read, because honestly, you just can’t put it down. While some parts were hard to read, they NEED to be read, because sex slavery exists around the world. This could have been a depressing book, but I would definitely classify it as more of an edge-of-your seat thrill ride with romance…kind of like the Bourne Identity.

Wren Morgan is a young girl in college. Sweet and fairly innocent, she is heavily involved in her church and had barely left her hometown. She has a crush on Stone Pressfield, a retired Navy Seal who is helping at the church. Stone feels the connection to Wren, but they have such vastly different backgrounds, and he has seen so much death and despair, that he could never sully the beautiful girl with his horrific background.

“He wasn’t a good Christian. He was a soldier, and he believed because he’d seen the truth. He’d experienced death and felt the presence of God. He’d witnessed miracles…
He’d seen the worst in humanity and dealt death to the scum of the earth. He’d also seen true heroism and courage, seen sacrifice and the power of faith…
So yeah, he believed. But his faith was…beyond the narrow field that these kids experienced.”

The church decides to send a mission to Manila in the Philippines to bring awareness to, and help to victims of human and sexual slavery. Stone has been there before. He knows the dangers. He lost his friends there and the full use of his knee. He has a BAD feeling about this mission. He begs the church to cancel. He begs Wren to not go. But they don’t listen.

“You’re coming, right? You can be our security.”
“I guess I am.” Stone pinched the bridge of his nose and tried to ignore the roiling in his belly, the warning bells in his head.”

Wren was adopted and they think she is Filipino, so her reasons for going to Manila were deeper than the rest. She wanted to know her heritage. On the flights over, she and Stone got to know each other more, and the connection deepened. When they got to Manila, as hard as they were working, Stone couldn’t fight the attraction to Wren. She was always there on the edge of his awareness.

“It was as if he was drawn to her by some strange magnetic force”

Even with Stone hovering over them, making sure they never go anywhere without him, the worst happens. Wren is snatched right off the street and disappeared without a trace. Stone knew of the slave organizations with informants and snitches all over Manila. Stone was a large white man who stood out in the poor country. Nobody would risk themselves to help a white man.

So began his search for Wren. Through some of the poorest, dirtiest places in the world. Through a mountain of garbage with shacks and shanties piled on top of each other, through a maze of trash, dirt and hopelessness, looking for any clue about Wren. Through puddles of sewage, clouds of drug fumes and fear, Stone followed leads and suspects.

In the meantime, we see snippets of Wren…locked in a pitch black hole with things crawling on her. They keep shooting her up with heroin and feeding her food that crawls. They kicked her, drugged her and beat her, but they didn’t rape her…yet. They were saving her for the highest bidder. But she held on to hope that Stone would find her.

When he did, it was a race through Manila. Here is where I couldn’t breathe, my hand was on my chest, my heart in my throat. They are literally running for their lives. After days without food and sleep, injured, they have a short rest.

Wren: “Will you kiss me again? Please?…I’m not asking for anything else. Just a kiss.”
Stone: “There is no such thing as ‘just a kiss.'”
“Sure there is”
“Not with me, there’s not.”

“I just…I just want to pretend, even for thirty fucking seconds, that it’s just you and me in a hotel room alone. Nothing else to deal with. Is that so wrong?” She wiped her eyes with both hands. “I just…I want to feel something else.”

“I know we’re both tired and hurt, but…stop holding back. Stop holding out on me” ~ Wren

And then the chase begins again…heart in mouth…edge of my seat, a clear picture in my head of the poor city. This poor couple just can’t catch a break, and there was no way I was going to sleep.

Likes:

  • So beautifully written, it flowed so well, and I felt like I could see everything described perfectly.
  • As edge-of-your-seat thriller it was, the romance and sex came at just the right time so that the horrors of the story don’t overwhelm you.
  • So much of the story was clearly based on fact.
  • It was a fast read, one or two sittings. Much more may have been too much. It was just perfect.
  • Mmmm…Stone was a totally hot, military protective alpha. Yum.
  • A curvy Filipino female lead.
  • A wonderful ending that educated, pulled out every emotion, and made you want to DO SOMETHING!
  • You must read the author note at the end.

Dislikes:

  • My only dislike was in Jack’s disclaimer after the book that he made up how the shanties were interconnected. This isn’t even a dislike, more of a disappointment…it just seemed so real, and almost felt like maybe this creative license shouldn’t have been taken (though it added a lot to the scenes).
  • I’m not a fan of the cover. Are they hairy man legs or dirt?

Rating: 5 stars 4 heat

stars_5Flame_FOUR copyThe Missionary is not for everyone. I just encouraged someone to read it and she had to DNF, but if you look at the amazing ratings, you know that’s rare. It was too much for her. For me (and I am not a fan of dark books), I couldn’t put it down for a second. It was a great change from the books I have been reading, and reminded me more of when I was reading all of the John Grisham books years ago, like The Firm, where you are on the edge of your seat the whole time…just with more sex.

Jack Wilder took what could have been a truly been a difficult read and wrapped it in an unputdownable story.  This is not a genre I want to read a lot, it was a little much for my nerves, but it was an eye-opening, exciting, sexy, raw, educational, thrilling, horrifying, scary trip through Manila that I stayed up all night to read.

Purchase The Missionary by Jack Wilder

206 pages, Standalone romance/suspense

Amazon

Meet both Jasinda and Jack Wilder at Wicked Book Weekend ’14 March 7-9 in Ft. Lauderdale!

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Comments

  1. Alyssa says

    Woah didn’t realize this was by Jasinda’s hubby. I’m not one who’s really into “dark” books but this sounds intriguing and I’ve been seeing the title everywhere. I’d love to check it out!

    Reply

  2. Emma Fitzgerald says

    Not sure it is really my type of book…but I give anything a go. Plus I have heard enough good things about it!

    Reply

  7. Ginnie Hutto says

    This has been on my TBR list since I first heard about it. Can not wait to read it.

    Reply

  12. sharon says

    much as I love his wife’s writing, I know I can’t bear the suffering in this book. I wish him well, it’s just not for me.

    Reply

  15. Nina says

    I want to read this book so bad. We are originally from the Philippines. I read the preview of this book and I had goosebumps. I wish things like these were just *stories*; sadly, theyre not.

    Reply

  19. Kelly Tannacore says

    I am a big fan of Jasinda’s work so I am really excited to read this book also. It sounds really good even if it wasn’t her husband. Thank you for the chance 🙂

    Reply

  21. Shelby Mead says

    This book sounds really good! I can’t wait to read it. It’s been promoted in almost every email I’ve opened this morning. I think someone is trying to tell me something so I’m gonna listen!

    Reply

  22. Melissa Crisp says

    I love stuff like this. Whether its a book or on tv. Sex slavery is a real problem and people just don’t know about it. I think I will really enjoy this book. It does sound interesting.

    Reply

  23. Karen G. says

    I love romantic suspense books and this sounds perfect for me, thanks for the post and the giveaway!

    Reply

  25. Megan Wickland says

    Wow! This sounds amazing. I love a good thrill read. Can’t wait to check this one out! ♥♡♥

    Reply

  31. Bookworm Brandee says

    Fantastic review, Ana! It’s always nice to step out of your comfort zone and be pleasantly surprised. I’m glad you loved this one! And I can’t wait to get my hands on it.

    Reply

  38. Erika says

    I keep hearing great things about this book! It looks like it will keep you on edge the entire time! Thanks for the chance to win!

    Reply

  39. nicole huffman says

    Met both Jasinda and Jack Wilder at the Windy City author signing and he was telling us about this book and it sounded amazing then and sounds even better after reading your review. Thanks for giveaway!

    Reply

  41. Colleen K says

    I read this book almost immediately after it was released, and I think your review is spot on. I basically read it in one sitting. It’s certainly not like the usual quickie romance read, but it has such an important message about sex trafficking abroad and here in the United States. Jack’s “HEA” wrapped it up as nicely as could be.

    Reply

  43. Kristina O says

    great review….not my usual type of book either, but you make it sound like a must read….hmmm.

    Reply

  52. Kim says

    Look forward to see how Jack Wilder’s book turns out. Sounds very intriguing!! Thank you for the giveaway.

    Reply

  60. Donna Moore says

    The missionary signed, would look so nice on my bookshelf next to Falling into Us. (After I finished reading it of course.) TY for the chance at giveaway.

    Reply

  66. Jay B. says

    I am Filipino and the moment I read Jack Wilder’s book blurb, I just wanted to get my hands on it. I’m so intrigued and curious how this story plays out. 😀

    Reply

  68. Beth Wharton says

    ohhh, this sounds good- I like to bust out of the genre every once in a while. Very interested!

    Reply

  69. Denise F says

    I had no idea Jacinda and Her husband wrote together, I’m looking forward to reading something from him

    Reply

  85. April Burch says

    Didnt realize this was Jasinda’s hubby. Would really love to read this one. Sounds good!!

    Reply

  93. Jassie says

    It dealt with real-life problems. Especially Human Trafficking. The rawness of everything is something someone who wants to read topics not so openly-discussed.

    Reply

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