Author: Pinkie Paranha

ISBN: 1-59414-430-3

Pinkie Paranha’s novel Treasure of the Amazon seemed like the perfect book to take the the beach.  Beach reads need to have and easy style, a fluid yet streamlined plot, interesting characters, and an element of fantasy.  A beach read should not be complex, overly thought-provoking, pessimistic or in any way cause the reader to evaluate her life.  Treasure of the Amazon was, indeed, a beach reading treasure.

The plot moved along nicely with the main character already en route to Brazil to find a pilot to whisk her off to find her ancestor’s treasure. Of course, the idea that an engaged albeit disillusioned schoolteacher would actually think this an easy task is humorous in and of itself, I, as a teacher, can certainly understand the overwhelming desire to escape.  A romp through the Amazon with a hunky millionaire pilot could lure any overworked, underpaid teacher from her classroom.  The back summary mentioned that the booked was “sensually erotic,” which made me fear a Fabio-on-the-cover story filled with heaving bosoms, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that Paranha did not rely on gratuitous sex scenes to further the plot.

I was actually engaged as Marisa sought her family matriarch Sara’s legacy in the detached Amazon tribal communities.  Her involvement with Scott peaked and ebbed throughout the novel, but ended with the expected outcome – the promise of happily ever after.  While this can sometimes seem contrived, it works in this novel.  Without spoiling the ending, suffice it to say that I was pleased with the way the treasure-seeking portion of the plot worked out. 

Marissa is a person that I can almost believe exists.  She is strong-willed but has an element of fear and even treachery that makes her more than a robotically strong heroine.  I particularly enjoyed her reserve plan of using Scott as a mere piece of journalism in the event the treasure does not pan out. Her instant jealousy of the beautiful Elaine also rings true. The added elements of Marissa’s apathy toward her fiancé, her need for her father’s love and her career disillusionment add believability to her character and a nice departure from the stock females in most beach reads.

Scott was a bit more difficult for me.  A handsome millionaire is believable enough, rare, but believable.  His immediate motivation to hide his wealth and occupation is explained as by once-bitten status with a previous journalist.  It almost makes me wonder how many beautiful female journalists find their way to Scott’s remote airstrip in Brazil?  That aside, his intense love for Brazil and disdain for the United States is underdeveloped but perhaps not as central to the story. 

The setting provides the requisite element of fantasy.  The exotic Amazon location is described vividly, but the best descriptions are of the small villages in the rainforest.  The people come alive as do their surroundings. 

While note a complex literary masterpiece ala Jane Austen (and nobody can read that at the beach), the Treasure of the Amazon is a must for your beach bag this summer.