Dark of the Night (Ivy Books Contemporary Romance) [Mass Market Paperback]

Dee Davis (Author)

Book Description

Series: Ivy Books Contemporary Romance | Publication Date: February 26, 2002

When she was only eight years old, Riley O’Brien survived the unimaginable: the deaths of her mother and sister. As a result she vowed never to desert her father, a brilliant young congressman whose star was on the rise. Now, twenty-one years later, after trading her dreams of a normal life for his ambitions, Riley stands by her father’s side as he makes a bid for the presidency. Growing up in the political spotlight, she has become an expert at hiding her feelings behind the surface of her regal beauty. But her defenses are about to be shattered.

Investigative reporter Jake Mahoney resents wasting his time covering an ice princess at a presidential campaign rally. But when a car bomb throws him–literally–on top of the candidate’s daughter, Jake quickly realizes that Riley O’Brien is pure fire. No one has ever gotten under his skin like this before. Their attraction is instant, and possibly fatal, as dangerous secrets from the past explode into the present, destroying one life after another in a nightmare of blind ambition.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

When she was only eight years old, Riley O'Brien survived the unimaginable: the deaths of her mother and sister. As a result she vowed never to desert her father, a brilliant young congressman whose star was on the rise. Now, twenty-one years later, after trading her dreams of a normal life for his ambitions, Riley stands by her father's side as he makes a bid for the presidency. Growing up in the political spotlight, she has become an expert at hiding her feelings behind the surface of her regal beauty. But her defenses are about to be shattered.

Investigative reporter Jake Mahoney resents wasting his time covering an ice princess at a presidential campaign rally. But when a car bomb throws him–literally–on top of the candidate's daughter, Jake quickly realizes that Riley O'Brien is pure fire. No one has ever gotten under his skin like this before. Their attraction is instant, and possibly fatal, as dangerous secrets from the past explode into the present, destroying one life after another in a nightmare of blind ambition.

About the Author

Dee Davis is the author of After Twilight and Just Breathe. She has a B.A. in political science and history, and a master’s degree in public administration. During a ten-year career in public relations, she wrote television and radio commercials, three award-winning public service announcements, and multimedia presentations for several large organizations.

Davis is a member of the Romance Writers of America and various community volunteer organizations. Right now, the time she doesn’t spend at the computer is spent with her husband, daughter, and cat.

Visit Dee Davis on the Web at www.deedavis.com.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Ivy Books (February 26, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804119767
• ISBN-13: 978-0804119764
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.8 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #896,677 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dee Davis has a BA in Political Science and History, and a Masters Degree in Public Administration. During a ten-year career in public relations, she spent three years on the public speaking circuit, edited two newsletters, wrote three award winning public service announcements, did television and radio commercials, starred in the Seven Year Itch, taught college classes, lobbied both the Texas State Legislature and the US Congress, and served as the director of two associations.

Her highly acclaimed first novel, Everything In Its Time, was published in July 2000. Since then, among others, she's won the Booksellers Best, Golden Leaf, Texas Gold and Prism awards, and been nominated for the National Readers Choice Award, the Holt and two RT Reviewers Choice Awards. To date, she has sold eighteen books and three novellas, including Set-Up in Soho, A Match Made on Madison, and Dark Deceptions.

She's lived in Austria and traveled in Europe extensively. And although she now lives in Manhattan she still calls Texas home.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Romantic Suspense, March 31, 2002

By 

Jody Allen (US) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dark of the Night (Ivy Books Contemporary Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

It is always exciting to find an author who keeps getting better and better with each new book. With DARK OF THE NIGHT Dee Davis has created the new standard for excellence in Romantic Suspense.

What makes this book a classic is that she has been able to weave together the "romance" readers crave, within the body of a suspensful tale that pushes the reader scrambling toward a satisfying final page. Quite often in Romantic Suspense offerings either the romance or the suspense suffers at the expense of the other. Yet not with this offering. Ms Davis has effortlessly blended the two together: the romance nor the suspense plot suffers as both are professionally presented and executed creating an especially statisfying read. The reader will adore this hero and heroine who struggle to find a way to have what they each seek but not at the expense of those they care for. Although at times there seems to be maybe one to many subplots going on, she weaves them altogether making a rich tapistry the readers will cloak themselves in.

I appreciate an author who can leave just the right amount of clues along the way and still offer up some surprises to the very end. This is a fullbodied story with many twists and turns, yet the reader will appreciate the lack of red herrings so often used by authors to throw off the readers scent. It is apparent she always has the reader at the forfront of her story, something some more experienced authors could learn from.

Davis provides all the right ingriedients with an especially high level of sensuality in the romance, the sexual tension between our couple seems to increase effortly as they crave each other when the suspense heats up. With so many big names leaving traditional romance to enter this fast growing subgenre, it is wonderful to see a newcomer set the classic standard of what a romantic suspense should be. Garwood, Johanson and Coulter could take a few lessons from this newcomer on what romantic suspense should be and often isn't.

If you haven't read any romance suspense before starting with this classic best may make all others pale in comparison. Yet, why not start with the best of this subgenre! If you read no other romanctic suspense book this year, DARK OF THE NIGHT should be on the top of your TBR pile. This one is surely destined to be a future RWA RITA recipient.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Winner of the WordWeaving Award for Excellence, March 4, 2002

By 

C. Penn "WordWeaving" (Greenville, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dark of the Night (Ivy Books Contemporary Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

Ice queen Riley O'Brien devotes herself to her father's campaign, setting aside her own needs and desires for the goal of her father's presidency. They are at last poised for success, and a romantic relationship now could mean political suicide. Then a car bombing following Riley's appearance at an abortion clinic results in violence when she mistakes a reporter's car for her own ride. When the bomb explodes, investigative reporter Jake Mahoney knocks Riley to the pavement just in time to prevent serious injury. Police are at loss to determine if the bomb was aimed at reporter Jake Mahoney or at the senator's daughter.

Ordinarily, Jake would not be trailing senator's daughters. But the usual political reporter was indisposed, and he stepped in to cover the story. As luck would have it, a contact introduces him to Riley, landing him a quick interview, and Jake finds the spark of fire carefully concealed within the perfect façade irresistible. He later assumes his car was destroyed as a result of a bad case of mistaken identity. Then to add insult to an already bad day, Jake follows a lead to Police Chief Douglas Michaels' home, only to run into Riley who has arrived for a scheduled meeting. When no one answers the door, they venture into the unlocked house only to find the police chief dead by his own hand.

The incidents of the bombing and the suicide seem unrelated, yet they bring Riley and Jake into a collision course of danger and passion, even as their overwhelming attraction could endanger Riley's father's election. Jake finds Riley to be a sweet mix of fire and ice, and he refuses to back away. Riley has never met anyone who makes her feel such a gamete of emotions from anger to desire. But the only place the future president's daughter and the journalist can meet is in the dark of the night.

Author Dee Davis pens a multi layered romantic suspense that readers won't be able to put down in THE DARK OF THE NIGHT. Living in Atlanta myself, I was impressed with the ability Davis has of working in the atmosphere and the detail that marks this sprawling metropolitan area. From the park that runs along side the Chattahoochee River to the OK Café at the corner of Paces Ferry and Northside Drive, Davis uses this city to great effect, capturing the political minefields and southern affectations with flair. Characterizations are likewise artfully wrought from the innocent and the manipulative, to the guilty. A deftly woven tale of corruption and secrets, THE DARK OF THE NIGHT wins the WordWeaving Award for Excellence.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ROMANTIC SUSPENSE AT ITS ABSOLUTE BEST!, March 13, 2002

By 

E. Criswell (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dark of the Night (Ivy Books Contemporary Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

Dee Davis just gets better with every book. DARK OF THE NIGHT is not only a wonderful romantic suspense, but an edgy political thriller. Riley O'Brien and Jake Mahoney are wonderfully drawn characters. It's said that opposites attract, and these two certainly do. If Riley doesn't want Jake, I'll be happy to take him home with me. :) There's enough twists and turns to keep the most ardent suspense fanatic happy, and a gripping love story that will leave you breathless and wanting more. It doesn't get any better than this.