ARC Review: Dangerous to Her by Virna DePaul

Title: Dangerous to Her

Author: Virna DePaul

Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Harlequin
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Heat Rating: 3/5
Received by: Author for Review

~*~Book Blurb~*~

"I'm not afraid anymore."

For years, court reporter Mattie Nolan kept her child a secret. The man she once loved chose his dangerous job—undercover cop—over her. But now, Sacramento detective Dom Jeffries is all that's standing between her and the drug kingpin set on revenge against everyone who put him away. Including Mattie.

Though teetering on the edge of burnout, Dom goes undercover as a bailiff in Mattie's courtroom. While he pretends not to remember her, thoughts of her touch, her smell and the smile that had been his alone keep resurfacing. Then he uncovers the secret she's protecting. To save the daughter he's never known and the woman he's never forgotten, Dom's ready to sacrifice not just his job, but his life…

Just when Dom (Dominic) Jefferies thinks he'll never see the long lost love of his life again, life shows him you can never say never. A killer is on the loose, targeting those that had anything to do with locking him up -- or anyone who stands in his way. Dom already had a personal motive for going under cover as a bailiff, but when he finds out he'll be acting as a bailiff in the same courtroom as his old college sweetheart, old emotions and current obligations war for top priority in Dom's conscience and heart.

Mattie never thought she would see Dom again, despite her never forgetting the man who stole her heart and gave her a beautiful baby girl. But ten years later she finds herself shaken to the core that Dom has abruptly stepped back in her life. In spite of her fear of the rekindled feelings towards the sexy detective, she's even more fearful that he'll discover her deepest secret: their daughter.

No matter how hard Dom and Mattie try to keep their past out of the present, the danger keeps getting closer and closer to Mattie until Dom is forced to take matters into his own hands -- and neither can escape the close confines that force them to face the fact that a love as deeply embedded as theirs is hard to fight. With the unidentified perpetrator making deadly, dangerous, and calculating moves towards his target, Mattie and Dom are forced to face the facts: Maybe they gave up a little too easy on their young love. But life's given them an odd chance at making things right, if only they can stay alive long enough to give it shot.

Passion and desire that consumes, fear that threatens and overwhelms, and internal and external conflicts that raise all the bars, come together for a story that is sure to captivate and please every romantic suspense fan. 

Virna DePaul is quickly proving that when it comes to creating dynamic characters, she holds nothing back. Believable emotions and reactions to life-like events create some fantastic three-dimensional characters. And, when it comes to igniting passion and heart wrenching feelings, I highly doubt any reader can sit down the book and feel unaffected. Internal conflict adds to the engaging external conflicts making the characters fight for more than their lives and of those they love. They must fight past their own fears and the past mistakes. And when it comes to the hero and heroine, emotions and passion run deep. 

Anticipation, mystery, and suspense lend to the whodunit plot. Just when I thought I knew who was behind the killings and attacks, bam.. there was more contradictory evidence presented that completely threw me off the assumed breadcrumb trail. DePaul lends her background as a former criminal prosecutor to create a great fictional plot with believable events and circumstances that never overwhelm, but simply propel a believable storyline. While executing a law-and-orderish plot, she leaves the hero and heroine to remain the ever present focus as they grow and change, find themselves, and fight for a future filled with a love and family they both so desperately desire. 

This is a story sure to delight romantic suspense fans who love dynamic characters, a life-like plot line driven by criminal law, that includes a heated passion and unforgettable love and the characters desperately try to fight for both their lives and the people they love. Enjoy!

Come back tomorrow to see my interview with Virna DePaul as she talks more in depth about her newest release, DANGEROUS TO HER.