When You Dare (Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor) (editie 2011)

On a romance reading binge. Getting ready to read some less fluffy books. This one seems to be typical Lori Foster. ( )

The first in her new series Edge of Honor, When You Dare by Lori Foster is a solid start. The characters are solid, and the action and suspense keep you on the edge of your seat. I figured this one out about when Dare did, though I did have my suspicions earlier. The only real issue I had--and it wasn't actually with this book but with its prequel ("Ready, Set, Jett" from the anthology The Guy Next Door)...the weather in the two stories just doesn't "work". They--at least in the beginning--take place at the same time and fairly close geographically. However, the prequel has a freak snowstorm that is a major plot point and this novel has abnormally warm spring weather. The two locations are close enough that is those two weather events were indeed occurring it most likely would be mentioned, yet they're not. It really made the snowstorm in the prequel feel like it had been forced into being, regardless of the consequences. As I said, though, that was really the prequel, not this story. I had no major complaints with this story--except that I couldn't put it down and it was over too soon. :-) ( )

Oh my Dare! He could melt a stick of butter just by looking at it! *swoon*

Dare is asked to rescue the sister of one of his closest friends from the clutches of human traffickers. He not only saves Aliana, but another American woman. His newest "complication" is a successful romance writer. She's convinced that she wasn't taken by chance only to be sold into sex slavery. She hires Dare to find out who might have been behind her abduction, and unfortunately for them, there is a long list of suspects ranging from disgruntled fans, a sleazy ex fiance and possibly even her own father.

The UST was killer! I loved the two characters instantly and got invested in them. Molly was tough, even during her captivity. She's a straight-shooter, says pretty much what is on her mind, and for a rich girl, she wasn't a spoilt princess. Dare is pretty much like her in regards to speaking his mind and calling things the way he sees them. His quiet brooding was really sexy too. Dare is very protective while trying to sort out his feelings for Molly, which was very sweet. He didn't smother her, not that he really could, since she seemed to be very observant and have a keen sense for what was going on around her. I thought it was a great personality trait of his to let her still retain her independence and not necessarily make decisions for her. The plot twist was well planned out and some people may have put the puzzle pieces together much sooner rather than later. It was still exciting all the way to the end.

My first book by this author and I look forward to reading the rest of this series. ( )

really enjoyed it... In fact, I loved it. I can't wait to read more in this series. ( )

When You Dare
3 Stars

Synopsis:
On a mission to recover his friend’s sister from human traffickers, professional mercenary, Dare Macintosh, rescues a badly beaten Molly Alexander. Intelligent and independent, Molly is not your usual victim and she hires Dare to help her track down those responsible for her abduction. As the suspects pile up and the danger increases, Dare becomes the only person Molly can trust but can he save her from the looming threat?

Review:
A little disappointing after all the hype. The basic premise of human trafficking is interesting but most of the action takes place before the book even begins. The rest of the story lacks tension and suspense and the ending is predictable. Hard Evidence by Pamela Clare offers a far more in-depth and detailed look at this theme and is a more intense and exciting read.

While Molly and Dare have steamy chemistry, their character development is problematic. There is too much focus on their internal thoughts, emotions, and motivations. Molly's reaction to her ordeal is unrealistic - no one could possibly be that stoic after the torture and abuse she suffered. Dare is very sexy but seems too laid back, sweet and caring to be a mercenary and is more in line with law enforcement.

Finally, the villain is obvious and the motivation for the crime is bewildering and even trivial.

Nevertheless, the writing flows and the romance is sweet. So if you are interested in a light read to take your mind off things then this fits the bill. I will probably read the next one if I come across it at a used book store but I won’t be going out of my way to get it. ( )