Customer Reviews

Dangerous Lover (Avon Red)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's terrible to wish time and your life away, but ever since I've found out that Lisa Marie Rice was releasing a new book in August, I've been doing just that. Hoping that it might arrive a few days before its official date, I hounded book stores around me daily, and FINALLY, today, it was in! I started reading about 10 PM and just finished about 2. I don't care that I will pay all day tomorrow; it was worth it!

"Dangerous Lover" starts out with so many similarities to "Midnight Man,"I feared it would be a clone. Big, bad military man comes directly from "the field" (this time in Africa) where he's been forced to shoot the bad guys. Disheveled and unshaven, full of adrenaline, Jack, wanting to rent a room from Caroline, must control himself to calm her, knowing how he looks, sounds and smells. Sound familiar? Fortunately, although the plot does have some similarities with Rice's other Midnight books, it doesn't matter; you don't want to put it down.

Jack has loved Caroline since he met her when she handed out clothes and books to him in a homeless shelter when he was a kid. Twelve years later and free of the military, he is elated to find out that she is still as desirable and as unattached as before, although her wealthy, insulated world has collapsed. She has been devoted, but helpless, caring for her brother as he, paralyzed from the accident that killed their parents, declined and eventually died. Faced with huge medical bills, Caroline is barely holding on financially, and most of her friends have deserted her, not knowing how to cope with her grief. Because Caroline is the only woman he has ever loved and because her life is so barren of any pleasure or security, Jack and Caroline's almost immediate sexual intimacy is believable. Lisa Marie Rice said in an interview, that her heroes know sexuality, but are bewildered by their emotional attachment, in contrast to her heroines who are aware of their emotions but discover their sexuality. We, as readers, know the depth of Jack's love for Caroline, even though he thinks it is just sexual attraction, and his amazed and uncomfortable recognition of his love for this woman is a big part of the pull of "Dangerous Lover." As usual, Lisa Marie Rice has created just about the perfect man: one who is dangerous to others who threaten his beloved, but is gentle and protective toward her, one who is "hard all over," a tireless and extremely talented lover who always puts the woman's needs above his own AND one who willingly shovels the walk from a blizzard of snow, repairs the ancient furnace, and fixes the broken stairs. And, I need not mention: wealthy and honorable too. (But you knew that, didn't you?).

There were just a couple of niggling irritants (to me). We see Jack, destitute, hungry, and homeless, who has spent his life in homeless shelters as he trudges, in the snow, to stand outside Caroline's house at Christmas time, watching her and her family. His fixation on Caroline as a beautiful ideal is believable, but his being 18 at the time that he has broken into her house repeatedly to soak up its beauty and warmth transforms him from Oliver Twist into being just this side of a psychopathic stalker from one of Anne Rule's books.

Jack has returned from Africa, and Rice drops truly horrifying (and unfortunately, true) details from that brutal place. I skipped over them, but think the book would have been better without the graphic portrayals of torture. Fortunately, they last only a sentence here and there, and she does not go into detail, after detail.

The last (and biggest) disappointment to me was the ending. If you don't need or want epilogues, this ending is for you. Me, I want them. After reading for over 200 pages of Caroline and Jack's grave danger, I want more than to see Jack triumph as he saves Caroline. I wanted to see them, finally happily married. Instead, we see what Jack has done with the money from blood diamonds (and incidentally, I wanted him to spend the money on Africa--maybe with Doctors Without Borders--not on inner-city kids in Chicago).

But all my criticisms mean that Lisa Marie Rice is not a TOTALLY perfect writer. Yet. And I hereby offer my critical services to her in her future endeavors. (I'm selfless like that. Uh Huh). I'd give the very "Dangerous Lover" an A; if you are looking for a very erotic romance, this one's for you. You can't do much better.

I can always count on a great read from Lisa Marie Rice.

Jack and Caroline have a rich history, and their story is well written with a deep emotional connecton between them. Very sensual and sexy!

What happened to the end?? I was not happy with it at all. After all the drama and suspense, it just ended. It was so abrupt, that I felt like I was left hanging.

Caroline Lake has gone from riches to rags in 6 yrs. Her parents died in a car wreck and her younger brother was damaged so badly he had to live in a wheelchair, his face and body so torn nobody wanted to visit or help Caroline. But she has spent every penny and all her time caring for Toby and now that he is gone she is totally alone.

Jack Prescott is alone too, his adopted father has died and now Jack is free to seek out the woman he has loved for 12 yrs. Twelve yrs ago Jack was known as Ben and he and his abusive drunken father were living in a shelter. Caroline and her family brought books and warmth to the people in the shelter and love to a lonely boy. The night his real father died he went to the Lake's house to tell them and saw Caroline playing the piano with a golden boy by her side. Even knowing she is probably married he has returned to see her one more time.

To his surprise she is unmarried and runs a bookshop to support herself and lets rooms in the mansion which is all that is left of her inheritance. Everything else has been sold. Now Jack is wealthy but all he wants is a chance to be with this woman. Unknown to him his past as a RAnger and Security expert is about to catch up to him and the woman he has worshipped for all these yrs.

I absolutely adored this book. A warm wonderful sexy read that I give 5 stars and a smile too. Do not miss it and if you haven't read any other books by this author be sure to get WOMAN ON THE RUN another great read.

I'm not going to do a complete book report, which I would normally be inclined to do, because "lovesbooks" has already done a marvelous job. She describes the book absolutely perfectly, up to and including the minor imperfections. If you are somehow reading this review without having read hers already, please do so when you're done.

This book, along with the others Lisa Marie Rice has written, is so good that I wanted to add my voice to those who have already recommended it. I know that when I read the review section of an Amazon book and there are only a couple of reviews, I'm a little hesitant. I always wonder if those few reviews are really representative. But when there are many reviews saying the same thing (good or bad), the more likely I am to believe them, and either buy or avoid the book.

Get this book. Everyone out there who understands that sex and sexiness is at least as much a state of mind as it is physical appearance and behavior needs to read this book. And the rest of Lisa Marie's books, for that matter. Jeez, does Lisa Marie know how to write sex and sexiness! In one wonderful way, her books resemble each other: All of her heroes and heroines go through a similar maturation process, starting from similar points. But since Lisa Marie's characters don't resemble each other in any other way, each new book is a brand new terrain to explore.

At the beginning of Lisa Marie's books, her heroes are "men's men". They are strong, in great shape, either greatly talented or trained in one or more ways, have tons of self-confidence and they are smart. They look sexy and their behavior is sexy. As the book progresses, so do Lisa Marie's men. They develop -- on the inside. I could not possibly do justice to Lisa Marie's writing to describe how they develop and mature; her "peek" inside the minds of these men as they learn and grow is absolutely enthralling. We are witness, in each of Lisa Marie's books, to a "man's man" growing up into a complete, mature man, one who loves and is not ashamed of it; one who is sexy inside and out.

Her heroines mature, too. Not that they start off weak, by no means. Lisa Marie's women are strong women, just as her men are strong men. In "Dangerous Lover", for instance, we first meet our heroine (and our hero, too) in the prologue when they are only 18 years old. At that time Caroline is a pampered princess of a girl, albeit one with a very good heart. Jack is an uneducated and underfed homeless youth. By the time Jack meets up with Caroline again in Chapter One, it is twelve years after our first introduction to them, and they have each undergone a tremendous transformation.

But where Jack had physically developed into a well-trained warrior and leader, Caroline had undergone emotional trials and tribulations that had honed her internal strength, and all without souring her loving heart. They each have a strength the other lacks: Jack is physically strong; he is also a very sexual being, but one who is emotionally unawakened. He is compassionate, but he has never experienced male/female love. Caroline, on the other hand, is emotionally mature. Even though she went from rich to poor overnight and at the same exact time lost her parents in an auto accident that also left her young brother scarred, handicapped, and slowly dying, she does not become bitter. If anything, she is more compassionate than before. She even understands why she has been deserted by those who called themselves her friends and won't condemn them for it, even though she is lonely.

And where Jack is a very physical, sexual being, Caroline is sexually unawakened. The coming together of Jack and Caroline, and how that changes them both, is utterly sensual and utterly riveting. And although the plots are different, and the characters are very different, this same sensuality permeates Lisa Marie Rice's other books, especially the Midnight trilogy (all available in print at Amazon.)

For a completely absorbing, sensual and sexual experience, read this book. Then go get the Midnight series, starting with Midnight Man (Midnight Series, Book 1), then Midnight Run (Midnight Series, Book 2), and finally Midnight Angel (Midnight Series, Book 3).

A note to Lisa Marie Rice: The epilogue you chose for this book makes the ending seem a little...unfinished. Yes, we know what will happen next. But compare the way you ended this book to the way you ended "Midnight Angel". THAT was a perfect ending. Yeah, we knew what would happen in that book, too. But by giving us that sneak peek six months down the road, we could be SURE. And the best part, of course, is when Douglas restored something to Allegra before she woke up. I really, really like that firm of a closure. And I loved hearing his thoughts -- they showed how very, very far he'd come since he first met Allegra. Please?

Regards,

Roxanne Pierce

I became a fan of this author after reading the first page of "Midnight Man" about two years ago. I have waited for this book for the better part of a year. It's difficult to give kudos to the author without sounding as if I'm talking gibberish! I love, love, love the men the author has created; John, Bud, Douglas, Coop, Nick (from a novella) and now Jack are all exceptional men! I can't pick a favorite (probably Coop; he took Sally shopping!)

I agree with everyone regarding what seems like the abrupt ending, but really, after Caroline knows who Jack is (or was) and the bad guy has been dispatched we don't need to be told about the HEA. It's just that we want MORE! And More!

As one reviewer said, this book was worth the loss of sleep and I feel that I have been amply rewarded for the long wait. Jack makes your heart hurt with his feelings for Caroline. This author does not make us wade through love at first animosity/hostility. The men recognize almost immediately that the women are special.

Basically, I think of all of the LMR stories as adult fairy tales...truly...think about it. All of the stories have men that are way better that Prince Charming. The man's point of view is just so damned sexy not to mention, at times, very funny (can a man's [you know what] break?)

We did not want the story to end. Read the author's "Woman On the Run" it's a nice big book; you'll love every word written about Cooper.

If there is anyone out there who loves an alpha male (who does not at first seem like a jerk) Lisa Marie Rice has created your man. We do need another hero; we just don't need him to constantly remind us of that.

I could have done with less written about the bad guy and more about Jack (sigh). All I can do now is wait for the next book. At times, the author reminds me of the best of Linda Howard. No disrespect for either author intended, but there are those of you out there who understand exactly what I mean (Who knows the MacKenzies, especially Zane?)

Those of you who have not had the opportunity to read the "Midnight" series, the books are available through Amazon. They are keepers all.

Lisa Marie Rice, whoever you are, please write more!

Lisa Marie Rice is one of my favorite writers and I enjoy every book of hers that comes out and this one was no exception. Caroline is a woman in need of money who is living alone in a very big formerly stunning mansion that has fallen on hard times. But this is home and Caroline is determined to keep the home where the memories of her deceased family exist. She rents out rooms and on Christmas Eve when she is desperate for money a handsome stranger shows up anxious to rent a room from her and he has the money to do it. In fact he is the rich formerly poor guy that she befriended when they were children. A bad guy has been pressuring Caroline to marry him and bad guys are after our hero "Jack" but love will win out every time.

The love scenes are so steamy they will fog up your reading glasses so keep a cool drink handy. Buy and enjoy this book and after you do give her "Midnight" series a look. She is a great writer.

I loved this story completely (it's hot, sensual, erotic and shows a connection between Caroline and Jack that is so real it is unlike any other romance I have read)...until the end! Was that it??? Forget about the diamonds, does Caroline love Jack now that she knows he's Ben? Does she feel a sense of betrayal or relief? What happens to Jack and Caroline and their love for each other? Am I to assume that they will live happily ever after? There was no closure for me. It was disappointing.

Dangerous Lover is my first foray into the romantica/erotic romance genre, so I don't have much to compare this book to. I'll just speak from how I experienced it. I really loved this book. It's a pretty simple and straight forward romance in which the classic soft feminine woman gives herself over to the strong, but sensitive, manly man. She needs to be taken care of deep down and he needs to take care of her. It's primal. Oh, and there's lots of sex. But, it's loving sex.

Jack, the hero, has had a hard childhood and is saved by a military man who takes him under his wing. Jack is an intense, controlled, honorable and extremely loyal--he sticks with his adopted father to the detriment of his own wishes until the father dies. He has obsessed his whole adult life about Caroline, a girl from a wealthy family who befriended him when he was homeless, and seeks her out after the father's death.

Caroline is a sweet, cultured, trusting "lady" who has fallen on hard times after the death of her parents and the fatal injury to her brother, whom she took care of at home until his death. Caroline has a book store and just barely scrapes by financially, and her suitor's all disappear when they have to deal with the sick brother's presence in her life. Enter Jack. She rent's a room to him not knowing who he is, but somehow feels he's ok and of course feels a bit attracted, and the lurving sparks fly.

The secondary thriller plot of the gruesomeness of the diamond mining world in Africa to me was a good juxtaposition to the feel good romance. To some reading it, it might be a bit too harsh, but I like real, so it was ok for me. It is easy, however, to skip over those parts if one wishes. However, you'd miss some of the tension from this part of the story that culminates in the end and which threatens to thwart the relationship from going on.

There is also the former boyfriend of Caroline who decides that he wants her at all costs now that the brother has died, even if he has to force her into it. He's not a nice guy and it sets up the whole Jack as Caroline's hero who saves her in more ways than one.

I couldn't put this book down; I finished it in a couple of hours.

Things that were good:

Jack is written as the perfect man's man until he gets with Caroline, and then his world turns to mush. He's never had sex with someone whom he cares about and so he's a bit lost and awkward about what she might be experiencing with him. And he fumbles and frets about it, while at the same time being so consumed with desire for her that he goes for it regardless. Nice bit of first time angst reality there.

Caroline is the ultimate feminine female- she's caring, receptive, altruistic, likes fine music, art, clothes, and yet, there is an inner strength that has helped her to get through the rough times, which she does without complaint. And she's so honestly and openly vulnerable. Although she's horrified for Jack to see that straight away, she can't stop it from showing. She's an easily lovable character. Oh, and she so effortlessly whips up all this great food for him. All. the. time. Great big spreads that would feed like 20 people. Damn her! :-) Can anyone say "Like Water for Chocolate?"

The tension created by the former boyfriend pushing himself on her and how she tries to deal with it was good if not disturbing, but I liked that. We all know those types and it sets up the outcome of that as very satisfying.

The end: I know some people have complained that the end was too abrupt, but for me it was perfect. Readers get really hooked up in the characters and if too much info is given about the future then those of us who might take the story in a different direction in our heads than what might be the "normal" route can't do that.

Things that were a little bit off to me, meaning they stuck in my head, but didn't really affect how I ultimately felt about the book:

Jack is a little too stalkerish for my taste. If this were real life, he would be the guy I would say excuse me to, go to the rest room, and split out the back. That much focus on someone is a bit skeery. LMR does keep him in line though. I would have also liked to see his transformation from-- in his head-- lust towards Caroline to-- in his heart love-- a bit more developed. That's part of the best part of a romance, when people start going from lust to love. But it's pretty clear that that process is happening though.

Caroline seems a little too innocent for a woman in this day an age. Although she is shown to have a lot of inner strength and self reliance, she just kind of follows Jacks lead like a little lamb without questioning too much right from the start. She's a little too Donna Reed at times. Oh, and she's so poor yet she has all of this wonderful food just sitting there waiting to be prepared. In my really lean years it was all PB, soup, and veggies.

All in all it's an excellent read.

This book deserved five stars until the end. It just didn't have enough closure for me. It occurs to me that this is the first romance I've read where the characters didn't profess their love to each other - even though you knew they did, I needed to HEAR the words. I wanted him to tell her how he'd obsessed about her for twelve years and I wanted to experience her reaction. Her just running to him didn't do it for me. Great story but disappointing end.

If you've read the Midnight Series then get ready because you're going to love Jack. Wow, this woman can create an Alpha! The story is tight and his transition from cold blooded soldier to warm blooded man is perfectly gradual & believable.

I loved this book right up to the end - then I wanted to scream. The ending is so abrupt after a taut & the edge of your seat build up, that I couldnt believe it. I found myself turning back to see if I'd missed something. It was a real let down...

If you are new to Ms. Rice's writing you don't want to miss her Midnight series it is just outstanding.