Customer Reviews

Dangerous

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(19)

 

 

my oh my I hate saying that. But please at roughly 20 plus dollars for a hard back and a thin hardback at that...please dont rush on buying. I love DP. She is my guilty pleasure. I admit it. I know the heroine will be naive to the point of tstl, I know the hero will be craggy, crabby, a rancher, a cop and a woman hater. Yes he will be all of that and as a bonus he will be a billionaire. I still love it but Dangerous was NOT worthy of being a hardback and even if it wasnt this bad and I hadnt shelled out the money, I'd still be disgruntled.

Kilraven is the undercover federal agent thats been working in Jacobsville. He's been pretending to be a regular cop when everyone knows he's something more. Winnie is Boone's sister and has of course the requisite crush on our hero. I'm thinking this will be good because even with Kilraven's dark past he has come across as a nice guy. He is nice in this story, although he assures Winnie that if and when they have sex that will be it because he's never getting married again. I was ok with this.its standard DP.

My problem is that there is almost no plot. The one thats there is so thin as to not even exist. Kilraven is looking for those responsible for the death of his family. He convinces Winnie that they must get married for real so that he can visit her summer home and accidently meet a woman that he thinks may have some answers about the killers that got away after murdering his family. That whole scene takes maybe 4-5 pages toward the end. The rest of the story is REALLY aweful dialogue between Kilraven and Cash as they make jokes and innuendo about his interest in Winnie, awful dialogue with his half brother Jon Blackhawk(a virgin hot FBI guy) making sly jokes about Kilravens interest in Winnie and awful dialogue with Kilraven and Winnie as they make NOT so sly reference to her obvious interest in him. ARGHHHH. This was not a wall banger it was a save my receipt and take right back to the store that sold it.

This had none of the fluidity that is usually in DP's stories, cheesy lines or not. Known of the sympathy for the heroine that I usually get because she's tstl. I couldnt feel any of that because the dialogue is bad and there are pages of it. More dialogue than narrative or plot. I felt like this was a half finished manuscript or outline.

I'm going to read some of my other DP hardbacks from last year so I can get the angsty guilty pleasure that I get from her books. Dangerous did not do it.

spoiler
**edited to add that it is 2 stars because the hero is the standard I've only had sex once in my life and it did have the virgin who will accidently get pregnant from the first time

I don't think I've read a worse contemporary book in years. I'm stunned that publishers considered Dangerous worthy of a hardcover release. It's clear that Diana Palmer has zero familiarity with gaming. Equally clear that she's not all that familiar with law enforcement. In fact, based on her writing, I'm wondering if she's familiar with 21st century life at all.

Our hero, Kilraven, is a fed working undercover. He's still haunted by the murder of his wife and three year old daughter 7 years before. And while he's aware that Winnie, our young heroine, has a crush on him, he's content to ignore her in the hopes that her feelings will fade with time.

Winnie has watched and loved Kilraven from afar for a long time. She keeps a frail hope alive that he will one day return her feelings. Her work as a 9-1-1 dispatcher keeps her in at least peripheral contact with him--even resulting her saving his life once due to her somewhat supernatural intuition.


Kilraven is at times callous, contemptuous of her feelings, and a real jerk. I really didn't care that he was still suffering. One minute, he avoids Winnie. The next he shoves his tongue down her throat. Followed by a stupid plan to use a "temporary" marriage as a cover for questioning a suspect.


Far worse than the "telling" way Palmer writes are the glaring inconsistencies in characters and plot. First, she shows our hero drinking a wine cooler, then a hundred pages later he claims he doesn't drink? Then we have the super naive, innocent too stupid to live 9-1-1 dispatcher who later references bondage?

I found the notion of "waiting until marriage" contrived and incredibly unbelievable here. As if a fake marriage was necessary to absolve these two people of having sexual feelings for each other. As if those feelings were unnatural or shameful. And as if divorce after sex was somehow more appealing than sex outside of marriage.

And as for the writing...I don't know where Palmer lives (or in what universe, really) but where I've lived, one doesn't "activate" a television. Unless you have a Wonder Twin power. You don't "activate" a cell phone either, unless you're turning on service for the first time. It's called turning it on. Powering it on. Clicking the remote. Not activating.

Equally annoying are her attempts to sell the reader on her gaming knowledge. In what are clear info dumps instead of characterization, she goes on and on about "gaming discs"-hint, they're just called games--then proceeds to practically door-to-door salesman pitch an Xbox 360 console complete with the names of various games. I don't need to know the entire game library owned by the characters. Especially when it seems obvious the author probably walked into an electronics store for a crash course on gaming and has never touched a controller or played a game.

I found the writing incredibly poor. Lots of telling rather than showing, which is understandable for a new author, but downright unforgivable for a veteran author like Palmer. But what really killed this book for me was the fact that the author seemed to be writing from isolation. Like she was stuck in a cultural time warp experiencing life through someone else's eyes. That prevented me from connecting with the characters, the plot, everything. And ultimately caused this book to fail badly with me.

FTC disclaimer: Digital galley received from the publisher for review.

I thouroughly enjoyed Dangerous. Read it in one sitting. Someone commented that Palmer doesn't know gaming, but Palmer is a gamer (she confessed to an addiction in another book) and even if not completely accurate I thought the games added a fun element to the story as all ages were hooked on the same games--made for camaraderie between varied characters. Perhaps she should just make up games from whole cloth so not to irritate gamers?

I had been looking forward to Kilraven's story ever since his introduction in the horrendous Fearless. Palmer is a guilty pleasure for me but this last year she has been on a roll with her Harlequin's (Diamond in the Rough is not to be missed for Palmer fans) and setting up this story to coincide on the timeline with The Maverick (Harley & Alice's story),

I enjoyed the interaction between Winnie and Kilraven. It is a given when you open a Palmer that the heroine is going to be virginal---(sometimes she jumps hoops to keep their virginity as in Beloved where the widowed Tira was married to a gay man LOL). But, with Winnie's over protective brother Boone, it was believable she was an innocent. I enjoyed Kilraven having not slept with anyone since his wife died. His cultural heritage and horrid sense of guilt and loss kept him so emotionally isolated that abstinance made sense. Many men lacking Klraven's strong moral compass would have resorted to excess drinking and meaningless sex. Frankly, I am sick of the male 'sluts' that seem to populate a lot of books lately, particulary those set in the Regency era.

While not perfect, I really enjoyed Dangerous and look forward to Jon Blackhawk's story later this year.

not in the way DP probably intended. I had read all the reviews before the library notified me that my hold was ready to be picked up. I was so thrilled!!! To me, DP is the written equivalent of "Whale Wars"-unintentional comedy gold! I knew I needed to go to the airport and get my children after their visit to gramma, and I needed some light, brainless reading for the wait. "Dangerous" was perfect: no thought processes were needed to grasp the plot or the dialogue, which was perfect for shuffling through the TSA security lines at Denver International Airport at 0830 in the morning.
Once again our hero is a super-secret covert agent, with mad skillz in gaming, hand-to-hand, and all sorts of other stuff (to include foreign languages, like Arabic, Farsi, and things like that!), with a Tragic! Past! that he cannot forget. Or heroine is a young (but not so young as some!), virginal, blonde-haired doormat (initially, at least), who believes our erstwhile hero is "dishy". Blahblahblah temporary marriage/questioning suspects/secret brother/illegitimate child molester son....
As I have mentioned in other reviews, DP's egregious use of random historical discourses by characters is disconcerting, to say the least. Who cares, one asks? Why, DP does! She apparently wants everyone to know that she has a degree in History (so do I, several in fact. I can have many many letters in the English alphabet, with punctuation, behind my name should I choose). I want to know where Kilraven went to university, because I wasn't allowed to specialise in any single area (like Scottish history) until my Master's work.
The info dumps on EOCs and dispatchers bothered almost as much as the random history lessons did. But the book is humorous, nonetheless.
I think I shall continue to get the hardcover books from the library, and wait for the used bookstore or the paperback reissue from now on. It is less costly, and more fun to read the reviews then read the book.

***This started as a one-star review, until I realised that "Dangerous" provided much more entertainment than one would expect from a one-star book. Once I determined that few people would read this book as anything other than mindless fluff, I enjoyed the story significantly more. Gloryanne is still my favorite DP heroine, though. She had an education, an attitude, and a career! Was that book ghostwritten, since the subsequent books all tend to have doormat heroines. OK, maybe Alice Jones was another exception....

Police dispatcher, Winnie Sinclair, gets off on the wrong foot with FBI agent, Kilraven, at a department Christmas party. She gives Kilraven a present she had drawn of a raven, with decorated beads. Winnie painted this just for Kilraven and is shocked at the anger he shows when he opens it. He takes one look at the painting and leaves the party in anger.

Later that night, Winnie is surprised by a visit from her mother. She hadn't spoken to her mother since her mother had run off with Winnie's uncle, a drug dealer. Winnie's father never forgave his former wife and when he drank, he used to beat Winnie because she looked so much like her mother.

Kilraven realizes he needs to explain his reaction to Winnie's gift. He invites her to his home and shows her a drawing that his daughter, Melly, had made. It was the last thing she had done before she and Kilraven's former wife, were murdered seven years before. The raven in Melly's drawing is so much like Winnie's that Kilraven thought someone had shown his daughter's drawing to her.

Kilraven is still in grief over his family's murder. He finds a connection to Senator Sanders and Sanders' brother, Hank. He also learns that the Senator has a thing for young girls and may have caused a young girl's death because of his actions. The Senator's wife won't stay with him because of his prediliction for underage girls. His wife stays at the family home in Nassau. When Kilraven finds that Winnie's family owns a home that borders the Senator's, he thinks of a plan.

There's not a lot of action or suspense in this novel but for the reader looking for interesting characters, this book is a treat. Kilraven reminds me of young Clint Eastwood's character, Rowdy Yates, in TV's "Rawhide." Also, when a young character named Matt enters the story, get ready to have your heart won over.

The author's theme seems to be the strength of family and forgiveness. I recommend the book to those who enjoy romantic mysteries with the empahsis on "romantic."

I been reading Diana Palmer books for many years. In the past I always enjoyed them. However this book and her last one lacked so much. I have always been a fan of the LTT series, however I think she is almost at the point of too much connection. I had to research older books just to refresh my memory, and I have read almost all of them. I think a new reader will be very confused. Too many secondary characters that don't have enough of a role in the book to be mentioned. It was over halfway through the book before the two main characters story took shape. I will probably continue to read her books, probably more for loyalty than enjoyment. Maybe the publisher is counting on this. Who knows. I will say this one had one advantage, the heroine was at least 21.

I an not sure why people are down on her books, but I love her books and always anticipate when she has one coming out, especially when it is one of her Long Tall Texans series. Yes, it continues the stories of the men who are former military who are in some sort of law enforcement. Kilraven has a past that he has not dealt with and wants those responsible who murdered his family. Winnie Sinclair is a 911 operative and has a past also. She also has a long time crush on Kilraven. In this book, though, Winnie is a stronger character than Palmer's previous books. He may not treat her right at first but as time goes on, he begins to have feelings for her. Spoiler Ahead if not read....I am glad that they are able to get those responsible for the murders of Kilraven's family and also those who have died since. I enjoy reading Diana Palmer's books and I will continue reading them, regardless. I recommend this book to those who want a good read and form your own opinion.

This is the worst book I have read since giving up on Danielle Steele decades ago. I do not believe that Diana Palmer wrote this. She had to have a ghost writer do it, a very young, very naive ghost writer at that. When the mother drives up to the Sinclair house and Boone thinks, "The spitting image of Winnie" and yet not one of the mutual people they knew put it together until Gail was shot. Really??? Gail never sleeps with the guy she leaves her husband for, really??? Winnie's a virgin and Kilraven has only slept with one woman at 36 years of age and no one for 7 years, really??? A plot so thin you can see through it and oh yeh, lets introduce a totally new villain in the last few pages and make him the murderer they've been looking for for seven years. really????

Does anyone think Kilraven is the least bit liaable or believable? Count me out. One more thing, Winnie paints him a picture identical to one his dead 3 year old painted and it's supposed to be good!!! Really???
Time for DP to retire if this is the best she can do.

Everytime I write one of these reviews I feel obligated to always say that "First off...I'm a fan", but 82 books later, I just dont know if I can say that.

Maybe, its not DP, maybe its just me. Maybe I've outgrown her overblown since of proventiality. Maybe I just cant relate to big hairy, "suthern drawlin'" men who live and breath hypocrasy. Maybe...I just dont wanna read about XBOX 360's in the middle of my romance books!

So...maybe I should just stop Chasing the dragon, or running behind a high I can never reach again. Thats what it feels like every time i pick up one of her books. I purchase it impulsively, sneer at it the way a addict might look a drug; both loving and hating it...yet helplessly drawn to its seductive call..then indulging...and hating myself afterward for doing it. For being stupid enough to believe that this time would be different.

I think all of us who have written negative reviews are all experiencing the same thing. We are wanting her to write about different characters, perhaps a male lead who is not so emotionally debilitated that hes bound to hurt and scar the only woman who would have him. Maybe we want a female lead whos not mad as a hatter ( see alice in the maverick) but also not an organic whipping post. (I dont necessarlily have a huge problem with the MORALITY CLAUSE that seems to be in all her books....but I really would like her to stop using words like "sophisticated" to indicate that a woman isnt a virgin.)
Maybe its just us. maybe its not that diana has changed.
Maybe we should just be grateful that this one wasnt quite as horrid as the others.
lets be thankful for the things that made this book different...
umm....
uh..
well..
ok...the sex scenes were a little bit spicy-ish?
Other than that minute i read it, it became almost merged into my mind with "heartlessmaverickwhosetoughtotamebearingwinterroses"

one of the readers wrote that she likes diana palmer because shes predictable, and is consistant, but...I think its more than that. Shes actually stuck in the same place, in the same time, with the same characters, doing the same things only now their playing with xbox 360s too.
I do hope that DP's recent literary decline is not due to her illness, by the way which in all sincerity I hope she recovers from, because shes a dear soul. But shes made addicts of us all...and now is not providing the "goods".

It was a confusing mess. There were too many back stories that left you wondering if you needed to remember them as a part of the storyline...and of course they were just extra. Supposedly, it was a story of two people with such high morals they couldn't act like husband and wife without an actual marriage certificate. It's ridiculous that someone who has such high morals would think so little of the sanctity of marriage that they could just divorce after the job was done. The whole books was just full of stupidity and coincidences that made it ridiculous even for a romance novel. I've read lots of books that I've never read again but this one actually annoyed me.