Danger's Kiss [Mass Market Paperback]

Sarah McKerrigan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2008

She always ran from the law. Now she'll seduce it.
A trained thief, Desirée of Canterbury can wriggle out of any tight spot with a coy smile. Until she meets her match in Nicholas Grimshaw, the most feared lawman in the shire. Ruggedly handsome and all brawn, Nicholas is the key to avenging the unjust execution of her elderly guardian. Yet the crackling passion burning between them, stoked by every stolen touch, could defeat all her plans.
Nicholas is bound to Desirée by a debt of honor-though the lush, quick-witted beauty may be the death of him yet. Unwillingly installed in his household, Desirée mischievously disrupts his well-ordered life until he doesn't know whether to kiss or kill her. But soon Nicholas must use all his wiles to save them both from a merciless enemy...and, finally, claim her merry heart. (2008)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Desiree is a medieval grifter. As a child she was sold to master thief Hubert Kabayn so her parents could pay taxes. Now Desiree is on her own after Hubert, her mentor, has been hanged as a murderer. She vows to make Nicholas Grimshaw, the shire-reeve of Kent, pay for his death. Nicholas, who with his bag of torture tools is feared by all, is actually kind to a fault. He promised to look after Hubert’s “granddaugher,” so he allows Desiree to move in and keep house for him. As the two antagonists try to live together, they also delve into why Hubert would have been framed, and Desiree tries to discover what the hidden key he had given her opens. Desiree and Nicholas both are sexy, interesting, and atypical characters whose unique story will enthrall readers, and McKerrigan’s depiction of thirteenth-century Kent excites the imagination. --Diana Tixier Herald

Review

"McKerrigan has crafted her tale like a bard's ballad, capturing the era with rich detail and feisty characters." (RomanticTimes.com Kathe Robin on DANGER'S KISS )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Forever (May 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 044661887X
• ISBN-13: 978-0446618878
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.1 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,000,007 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

SARAH McKERRIGAN (pseudonym for Glynnis Campbell)

When Sarah isn't writing historical romance, she's the voice of several cartoon characters, the wife of a rock star, and the mother of two nerdy kids.

Sarah started her eclectic career as a ballerina in her hometown of Paradise, California, where she became the city's Gold Nugget Queen. She graduated from CSU Chico with a degree in Music with Distinction, singing arias by day and playing rock and roll at night.

Moving to Los Angeles with her college sweetheart, Sarah co-wrote music for award-winning science films for WARDS and BIOMEDIA ASSOCIATES, then joined the CBS RECORDS all-girl rock band, THE PINUPS, appearing on MERV GRIFFIN, DANCE FEVER, and LAUGH TRACKS. She showed up as the drummer in TOM JONES' video of "It'll Be Me" and recorded vocals for several children's albums with BECKWITH AND TOWNER.

While working as a typographer in a graphic arts studio, she continued to perform in Los Angeles nightclubs. Meanwhile, as Glynnis Talken, she wrote selections and provided voices for the best-selling JUMPSTART line of educational computer games, lent her voice to TIME-WARNER audiobooks, including A DRAGON-LOVER'S TREASURY OF THE FANTASTIC and STAR WARS audio adventures, playing everything from a rubber duckie to a Jedi knight, and landed the lead role as JULIE WINTERS in the MTV animated series, THE MAXX. Her mystic speeches and death screams can currently be heard on BLIZZARD's Games of the Year as The Rogue in DIABLO and DIABLO II, and as Sarah Kerrigan in STARCRAFT.

A lifelong love of towering castles, trusty swords, and knights (and damsels) in shining armor prompted Sarah to try writing historical romance. Her premiere novel, MY CHAMPION, was a finalist for a RITA, the romance industry's equivalent of an Oscar, for "Best First Book." Her subsequent MY WARRIOR, MY HERO, and A KNIGHT'S VOW received multiple awards and critical acclaim.

Under the nom de plume of Sarah McKerrigan, Glynnis has written three medieval romance novels for Warner Books featuring strong warrior wenches: LADY DANGER, CAPTIVE HEART, and KNIGHT'S PRIZE.

Sarah's husband of 23 years is Richard Campbell, vocalist/bass player who has performed with Natalie Cole, Badfinger, Tiny Tim, Joe Cocker, Ashford & Simpson, Edgar Winter, Ringo Starr, Simon Kirk, Peter Frampton, Three Dog Night, Chuck Negron, Dave Mason, and is currently touring with America. Her daughter Brynna has created her own major, Entertainment Industry Promotion, and is pursuing a singer/songwriter career, and her son Dylan is attending college as a percussionist.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fantastic Read!, May 19, 2008

By 

Amber Dawn Bell "Amber Dawn Bell" (TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Danger's Kiss (Mass Market Paperback)

I happened across this novel in a Hastings while browsing for a movie to rent, and I'm happy to say I found an author I plan to keep reading if her other novels are anything like this one. Danger's Kiss has everything I want in a book--romance, a hunky alpha hero, a spunky heroine, a bit of danger, intense attraction, a historical feel, and, of course, a happy ending. Sarah McKerrigan does a fantastic job of creating a historical setting. So many historical romances today read more like contemporary romances. If I wanted contemporary, I would buy contemporary. McKerrigan uses just enough historical wording to bring the reader into the year 1250 without it becoming cluttered and hard to read. Both hero and heroine are well developed, making me care enough about them to want them both to find love and happiness. Nicholas Grimshaw, the shire-reeve of Kent, is all alpha male with a heart he keeps well hidden. Desiree Kabayn is a petty thief who steals and cheats in order to live. To say the least, these two opposites clash head on when they are thrown together and sparks fly. The plot is a bit different which I found refreshing. I was pulled into the story right away and couldn't wait to read more. I have very little time to indulge in reading these days, but I found myself pushing that time limit because I just couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good historical romance. I truly loved the book. With all the controversy surrounding reviews lately, I was hesitant to even bother posting one; however, I felt the author deserved kudos for such a well put together novel and wanted to spread the word. I gave Danger's Kiss 5 stars because I honestly felt it deserved it. It's my opinion so take it for what it's worth.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Strong 4 1/2 stars, June 10, 2008

By 

Carol Spradling (Ormond Beach, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Danger's Kiss (Mass Market Paperback)

Desiree of Canterbury is a cheat, distractingly charming, but still a cheat. Nicholas Grimshaw is the shire-reeve of Kent. Sworn to enforce the law, by any means necessary, he is also Desiree's new employer, thanks to a debt of honor. Feared by everyone, he is surprised, and irritated, that Desiree intentionally tries to make his life miserable. Desiree learns there is another side to the tortuous shire-reeve and must convince him she has changed her ways. She has only hours to do it, for she hangs at dawn and Nicholas is her executioner.

Let me start by saying, if you have any preconceived ideas of historicals, romance novels, predictable titles, you are dead wrong with this book.

Ms McKerrigan does a brilliant job with the characters in this book. More than equally matched, Nicholas and Desiree are a wonderful complement to each other. One thing that I loved is that the characters were thinkers. The author doesn't resort to standard solutions to solve their problems. Very refreshing. I never knew what was going to happen next.

There were believability issues with a few details toward the end, but it wasn't enough to spoil my feeling for the book.

I loved the point of view approach Ms McKerrigan used in this book. By using this method, I felt like I knew each character's thoughts and emotion without feeling the de-je-vue of a repeated scene. And it was all done without head hopping.

The pace of this book...my my my. Top dead center! Whenever a story slows down, I skim to the dialogue until the action picks back up. Not here. I read all of it. Although there is action throughout the book, during the quieter scenes, they were so well done, I wanted them to continue forever.

This was an excellent read and an author to look for.

[...]

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most entertaining one yet!, May 21, 2008

By 

S. Lazear "Suzi, self styled Queen of the Fan... (lost in fantasy land) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Danger's Kiss (Mass Market Paperback)

I have read several books by the sassy and ever fabulous Sarah McKerrigan and this is by far the most entertaining. I should not have started it before I went to work one morning. For me this was a book I wanted to sit and read in one sitting and well, the car got hot sitting in it reading during my lunch break. McKerrigan writes historical romance novels that are well researched but not difficult to follow like some (and no footnotes!) This one is set in 13th century England.

What I like most about these books is that they all feature strong and sassy weapon-wielding heroines. Desiree is no exception. She's a thief by trade, with a quick tongue and light fingers. Nicholas is the local law man everyone fears. But he tries to be a just and swift lawman and on the eve of a hanging promises to take care of the victims granddaughter -- totally unaware of what he's just agreed to. Instead of an orphaned waif, he has just inherited a fiery, passionate thief. Quickly and in a humorous manner Desiree wins over his cat and takes over his house. Instantly the two clash but slowly they both find that they understand each other, since they are both misunderstood by others. Desiree is also on a quest to discover who really committed the murder that got her mentor/ "grandfather" hung and makes a powerful enemy. In the end the two of them have to work together to pull of the ruse of their lives if they are going to save theirs.

This Medieval historic is like nothing I've ever read. It's as much as mystery as a romance which makes it twice as entertaining. It has substance, it's compelling, and it captures the era in detail that leaps off the page. Their journey from enemies to friends and lovers is grounded and realistic but amusing. Their relationship has problems from the start, but they're not formulaic. The story flows well and is enjoyable, entertaining, and fresh. Desiree and Nicholas are very rich, very passionate, very real characters with strengths and flaws. These are characters you fall in love with, ones you cheer for. But I do have to say that cat steals the show.

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