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High-Risk Agenda #1

Jungle of Deceit

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Mitch Hasslet, a war photojournalist relegated to a desk job, is the sole witness to a heist of Mayan artifacts. Recruited by the enigmatic director of the Museum of Art and Antiquities, Mitch is sent to Guatemala, the last location the shipment was tracked to. Acting as the museum staff photographer, Mitch joins a group of archaeologists. His goal is to locate the artifacts as swiftly as possible so that he can collect his compensation and get the hell out of the jungle.

Alexandra Langley is about to run out of funds. She has yet to discover the lost Mayan civilization she knows lurks in the rainforest. To achieve her grant, she will accept the museum's latest nuisance, Mitch Hasslet, and any other obstacle that is sent her way.

Unsuccessful and desperate, Alex has decided to move the group to a portion of the jungle referred to as, “No Man’s Land”−a sector where archaeological teams have ventured but never returned.

As Mitch and Alex discover romance, will their bond protect them in a jungle filled with deceit?

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First published August 15, 2011

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About the author

Maureen A. Miller

32 books1,272 followers
USA TODAY bestselling author Maureen A. Miller worked in the software industry for fifteen years. She crawled around plant floors in a hard hat and safety glasses, hooking up computers to behemoth manufacturing machines. The job required extensive travel. The best form of escapism during those lengthy airport layovers became writing.

Maureen’s first novel, Widow's TALE, earned her a Golden Heart nomination in Romantic Suspense. After that, she became hooked on the genre. As hooked as she was, childhood fantasies still danced around in her head––little voices calling for her to write the young adult science fiction BEYOND series. To her, it was still romantic suspense…just on another planet!

Maureen is a wife. A mother of a crazy Corgi. A lover of mozzarella. And she truly believes there is a portal to outer space somewhere in her house.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for JoAn.
2,503 reviews1 follower
January 14, 2021
A smoothly paced plot that is filled with suspense, action and deceit that kept me turning the pages. Alexandra Langley/Alex was a smart, resourceful and an independent woman leading an archaeological expedition through the Guatemalan jungle. Mitch Hasslet is a photojournalist with a hidden agenda. The secondary characters in Alex's team, Chuck and Wes, were excellent as they provided insights into the plot as well Alex and Mitch's characters. Ms. Miller's descriptive writing and attention to detail made this a intriguing and entertaining read.
Profile Image for Amanda.
163 reviews4 followers
August 24, 2011
Ms. Miller steps away from the chilling elements typically found in her stories and takes us into a sweltering ‘Jungle of Deceit’. For me the suspense pulled this story along; the mildly romantic subplot took a back seat to the mysteries that were filtered throughout this book.

A beautifully descriptive setting, typical of Ms. Miller, shows us a hidden compound deep within the jungle that provides little sense of comfort for her characters. The details of Mayan artifacts and those who search to uncover them, or those who wish to profit off of them, are also well written. However, the hero and heroine lacked something I’m not quite able to put my finger on in this particular tale. She makes it work though - the books is about more than exchanging witty digs in avoidance of the inevitable, there is intense adventure in which two people are trying to find out the truth about the compound, their roles in the plan and the deceit of those in their lives. Love develops as a consequence, I get that.

In short, Ms. Miller always pulls through with an enjoyable page turning read and we should look forward to her next piece.

[Rating based on genre]
Profile Image for Vicki Tyley.
Author 8 books101 followers
October 18, 2011
Doctor Alex Langley is a tough (on the outside) archaeologist, her estranged father the esteemed Doctor Franklin Langley. When it comes to men, she has serious trust issues. Enter Mitch Hasslet, a digs photographer foisted on her by the Museum of Art and Antiquities, who has his own agenda…

Adventure, romance, mystery, thrills, twists… Jungle of Deceit has them all. The sultry Guatemalan jungle complete with mosquitoes (made me itch) is more than simply a backdrop – it’s integral to the story and a character in its own right. Deceit is all around.

Miller’s fluid and easy writing style makes for a fast, page-turning read. Engaging and entertaining. Highly recommended.
116 reviews1 follower
April 15, 2026
Wonderful

Alex and Mitch were terrific characters. The plot and setting were unusual and the writing was so intense it was like a great action movie!

The only odd incident was why Mitch did not replace the grate.
26 reviews
April 15, 2026
Just WOW!!!

Loved the story line and family angle subplot. The long buried secrets at the end really c!osed out this compelling story. The repartee between Alex and Mitch was delightful. Good choice cor readers who enjoy ro.a tic suspect we reads.
Profile Image for Penelope.
1,510 reviews16 followers
September 8, 2025
4.5 Stars for JUNGLE OF DECEIT by Maureen A. Miller (since retitled JUNGLE AGENDA, bk1 in her 3bk High-Risk Agenda series).

The Danger/Proximity setting is one of my favorite tropes to read. When it is coupled with strong characters who will fight to the last breath and the action takes place in an exotic or wild landscape, I have high hopes for a captivating read. Maureen A. Miller did not disappoint in Jungle of Deceit (recently given a new cover and retitled Jungle Agenda). I was pulled into the action from the first chapter and couldn’t read quickly enough to see what would follow. I was intrigued by the 2 main characters and what made them “tick.”

I loved JUNGLE OF DECEIT. I recommend it to readers who enjoy action/adventure or suspense romance novels with settings in wild places. This is a standalone title with a HEA.

Mitch Hasslet/MMC is an experienced photojournalist with various war assignments overseas on his business resume. His latest job has him grudgingly traveling deep into the Guatemalan jungle supposedly to film Dr. Alexandra Langley’s/FMC archeological expedition of a yet to be discovered ancient Mayan civilization. When Mitch suddenly appears at Dr Langley’s jungle location, believing the Museum of Art and Antiques who sponsored her expedition sent him to document her work, Dr Alexandra decides to tolerate Mitch’s presence as a necessary evil.

While the Dr Alexandra’s team of archeologists have succeeded in discovering clues and artifacts of an earlier civilization, they have yet to locate any temple ruins. Dr Alexandra decides to relocate her camp further into an uncharted area and search again there. This move edges them nearer a section recently labeled “No Man’s Land” - a potentially dangerous area where a number of tourists, archeologists, and researchers have disappeared into the rain forest and never returned. As Dr Alexandra’s time and funding winds down, will this last desperate move finally lead her expedition to great discovery and glory, or rather put everyone in the path of danger and ultimately death?

*READER CAUTIONS -
VIOLENCE - Yes. Shots fired, but no graphic violence on-scene. PG/PG-13.
POSSIBLE TRIGGERS - MMC was a war photojournalist (prior to the beginning of the book) and witnessed the the raping of women. This experience is mentioned (in few sentences) as a memory when he briefly discusses his past, and his nightmares. The violence of the Mayan culture is obliquely mentioned.
LANGUAGE - Yes. Strong language is used occasionally.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - Yes. The 2 main characters relationship develops into intimacy in the final chapters. IMO, this scene could be skipped, as it is a small portion of the entire story.

*That being said, while I would not call JUNGLE OF DECEIT either a Steamy or a dark read, readers and YAs who prefer Clean fiction may prefer to look elsewhere.
Profile Image for Gina Brown.
91 reviews2 followers
February 13, 2021
This is the first time that i have done an read for BookSiren. I did not know what to expect. I normally read very different trope/genre than this but I wanted to branch out and I am so glad that I did. This book simply feels like history and the good ol days when books had so much adventure. This book was this for me. It was adventure, romance, suspense, all of it, and it was told in a way that was detailed, smart, creative and had me on the edge of my seat. I was not expecting this type of caliber. This author is great at what she does that is for sure. I will definitley be researching more of what she writes and branching out of my normal genre.

Alex was a breath of fresh air. She was not a conformist. She did what she felt was her passion and she was unforgiving about it. Mitch had a troubled past, and was in a situation not of his own making. And that spells trouble with a captital T. These 2 certainly went on a life changing journey in a short period of time. You can truly tell the bones of a person in a life-threatening situation and I think they both realized it just doesnt get any better than this. To meet in the jungle and then be in the fight of your life will show what type of people you are. I feel like this was portrayed in a spectacular way.

All in all this book definitley shows time put into as I didnt see any errors, It flowed well, it kept my attention. All in all an epic adventure ending in a exciting conclusion

This is the first time that i have done an ARC for BookSiren. I did not know what to expect. I normally read very different trope/genre than this but I wanted to branch out and I am so glad that I did. This book simply feels like history and the good ol days when books had so much adventure. This book was this for me. It was adventure, romance, suspense, all of it, and it was told in a way that was detailed, smart, creative and had me on the edge of my seat. I was not expecting this type of caliber. This author is great at what she does that is for sure. I will definitley be researching more of what she writes and branching out of my normal genre.

Alex was a breath of fresh air. She was not a conformist. She did what she felt was her passion and she was unforgiving about it. Mitch had a troubled past, and was in a situation not of his own making. And that spells trouble with a captital T. These 2 certainly went on a life changing journey in a short period of time. You can truly tell the bones of a person in a life-threatening situation and I think they both realized it just doesnt get any better than this.

All in all this book definitley shows time put into as I didnt see any errors, It flowed well, it kept my attention. All in all an epic adventure ending in a exciting conclusion

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Laurie.
616 reviews132 followers
March 4, 2012
With her archeological grant money nearly exhausted, Alexandria Langley still hasn’t discovered the location of the ancient Mayan city. When she is forced to accept a cocky photographer on her team, she tries to mask her ire. However, he dogs her every move with determination, even as he fails to impress her with his seductive smile.

Coerced into an unplanned assignment, photojournalist Mitch Hassett nevertheless discovers he has a soft-spot when it comes to the haughty, cool leader of the expedition, Alex Langley. His job is two-fold: find the missing artifacts and protect Alex without letting her know his true purpose.

Sparks fly between the two right from the start. The heat of the humid and unforgiving jungle seems a perfect setting for the fireworks exploding between Mitch and Alex. However, later a blazing inferno forces the tiny group into a hasty retreat. Regrouping at the base of a hulking concrete bunker, the exhausted team members seek asylum within; however, Mitch is nowhere to be found.

The author excels at providing just enough descriptive detail to keep the mind-movie rolling through my head. Carefully calibrated and artfully delivered, the conversations flowed naturally. I loved the writing style and the voice of this novel. There were plenty of twists to keep me guessing what the outcome would be. For me, however, the whole, massive conspiracy operation just seemed too far-fetched. I tried to suspend disbelief but more often than not, those attempts felt futile to me, so I would mentally shrug and continue reading. I enjoyed the rapport between the characters and I adored the vast jungle setting. This book was a fast read for me because I could not easily dislodge the images that cavorted with abandon in the recesses of my imagination.

Laurie
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
Profile Image for Debra Martin.
Author 29 books250 followers
January 23, 2016
Dr. Alexandra Langley is a woman trying to get out from under the shadow of her famous archeologist father, Franklin. It seems no matter what she does in the field, his name looms large. When an opportunity comes up to look for lost Mayan artifacts in the jungle of Guatemala, she jumps at the chance to lead her own expedition. She runs her group with an iron hand. She must not show any weakness or vulnerabilities, that is, until photo-journalist Mitch Hasslet joins her team.

Mitch has his own demons to overcome from a past war assignment. When he accepts the assignment from the enigmatic Museum Director, Mr. Nicholson, to track a stolen shipment of Mayan artifacts, he has no idea that he would be joining Alex's team.

Sparks fly between Mitch and Alex and not always in a good way. Ms. Miller does a good job of revealing the back-stories for both of the main characters while weaving an intense and engaging storyline. Searching for Mayan artifacts in the jungle has its own perils especially when the team stumbles into an area known as "No Man's Land." The jungle comes alive with vivid descriptions, almost too vivid. It made me realize that I never want to visit there--the humidity, the mosquitoes and the screeching night sounds are definitely not for me, but it’s a sign of excellent writing when you're so immersed in a story that you start to feel itchy right along with the characters.

Jungle fires, lies, deception and a fight for their lives make JUNGLE OF DECEIT a romantic suspense story at its best. This is the second story I've read by Ms. Miller and I have no problem recommending her books highly to fans who want more than a typical romance story.
Profile Image for Amy R.
594 reviews5 followers
March 7, 2012
This was my third book from Maureen Miller! As with her other books I enjoy how she takes her hero and heroine on a journey together. They don't meet and instantly fall in love, but they get to know each other through crazy circumstances and that pushes them together. It seems more real and believable to me. Maureen has very descriptive writing that makes you feel as though you are in the story - you can feel the elements, the fear, and the love. I wasn't sure about this book at the beginning - meaning I wasn't sure about the story line as it was different than what I have read in the past, but once I got started I was really hooked and wanted to follow all the paths to the end. I enjoyed Mitch and Alex's interactions and wanted to find out more about Phillip and the compound. There was enough romance throughout the book, too. As with her other books, it is sweet romance that I like - a look here, a kiss there, a touch, a comforting embrace, leading up to tasteful intimate scenes. All of Maureen’s books have been fun for me, as they have taken me on a journey I would (hopefully) never be on! Now I just have to pick out which book of hers to read next!
Profile Image for Jennifer.
976 reviews9 followers
October 29, 2021
Jungle adventure and romance
This is a very easy to read story with great descriptive language that sets the scene in the jungle allowing you to picture the environment with little effort. There’s lots of adventure to carry the reader from the opening pages right through the end with some twists and turns along the way.
I loved the banter between the two main characters; Alex is sassy and fiercely independent, and Mitch puts on a good show of not caring, as they pick at each other, with him not sharing why he’s there and her feeling put out that he is! Their romance develops throughout the story – both feel the chemistry, but neither is going to admit to it until a ‘kiss for show’ makes it undeniable for both. The sex is hinted at but not described in detail making the story suitable for everyone. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Profile Image for DarcLibrarian .
356 reviews2 followers
May 22, 2022
Jungle Fever

Maureen has written a intriguing tale of artifact trafficking in the jungle.

When a washed up photo journalist witnesses a successful heist he finds himself enlisted to find the location of missing Mayan artworks. To enable his hunt he must go undercover as a museum grunt documenting a archaeological expedition. Finding that the archaeologist in charge is the beautiful but coldly controlled Dr Langley changes his mission perameters. Now not only does he have to find the missing treasures, but he needs to keep her safe all whilst fighting the growing attraction between them. And that might be the hardest thing to do of all

Excellent book with great characters and an intriguing plot. Can't wait to find out what happens to Chuck, one of my favourite secondary characters, in the next book.
Profile Image for Deborah.
461 reviews8 followers
January 19, 2021
This is a thriller with overtones of romance and an undercurrent of treachery. The writing is strong, there is no flab or wasted energy in this book. Shades of Raiders of the Lost Ark appear from time to time and, like that movie, there is much that is implausible, but it all fits together well and the book is quite enjoyable.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
24 reviews6 followers
February 20, 2024
Fast paced story with a surprise ending

This is the 1st book I've read of this author & I look forward to reading more. There was just the right amount of tension between Alex & Mitch. If I was in the jungle I would want someone like Mitch to help me out, but it's hard being a woman in a man's "job," so Alex relied on no one but herself. As this story shows, sometimes friends are better than family.
Profile Image for Teri Heyer.
Author 4 books53 followers
July 16, 2014
I started reading 'Jungle of Deceit' on my Kindle while at the beach - the sun, sand, surf and a great read. So I can honestly recommend it as a beach read. Of course, I finished it up back at home in the wee hours. This is a fast-paced, entertaining, romantic suspense with lots of twists and turns.
Profile Image for Heather.
30 reviews5 followers
December 5, 2012
I don't expect much from my romance novels. However, I left the story had great potential with an exciting setting and plot. I just could not get past the characters. I didn't find myself cheering for either of them and the dialog was awful.
521 reviews4 followers
May 26, 2023
Great story

This story has a lot of danger,history from the past Civilization,and keeps you turning the pages t see what happens next with a little romance at the end,looking forward to reading more book books from this author
Profile Image for Conrad Samayoa.
Author 11 books2 followers
August 13, 2023
Fascinating

The description and knowledge of the Guatemalan jungle in Peten is astounding. I was enthralled by the plot, the plucky Alex and cunning Mitch. A very enlightening read.
Conrad Samayoa.
76 reviews2 followers
January 21, 2015
Great

Great adventure story. Loved the characters and the story line. Fun mystery adventure exciting romantic what else could you want.
332 reviews
May 16, 2022
Excellent book, very interesting plot and a good study of characters
Highly recommendable
Profile Image for Jefrois.
481 reviews6 followers
October 5, 2022
.
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Very well-written.

Predictable.

Maureen A. Miller can write!

But she seems to get carried away at the LOVE parts.
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104 reviews
November 6, 2022
riveting

Excellent story about lost treasures, greedy men and a love found. Kept me reading until the end, just had to see justice done.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews