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Danger Zone
A Game Of Chance
He was a renegade, a gun for hire. He'd lived by his own rules, playing a high-risk game of danger and intrigue. For a man like Steven Colter, the future held no promises...
Until he rescued Karen Walsh from the hands of South American militants. He thought she was lovely, yet his instincts told him to run for cover. He had never known a more caring, more captivating woman. And now the lady was reversing the odds - for the first time in his life, he was in love. Though becoming a hostage to his heart was against his nature, he discovered that surrender could be oh, so sweet.
He was a renegade, a gun for hire. He'd lived by his own rules, playing a high-risk game of danger and intrigue. For a man like Steven Colter, the future held no promises...
Until he rescued Karen Walsh from the hands of South American militants. He thought she was lovely, yet his instincts told him to run for cover. He had never known a more caring, more captivating woman. And now the lady was reversing the odds - for the first time in his life, he was in love. Though becoming a hostage to his heart was against his nature, he discovered that surrender could be oh, so sweet.
251 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
21 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
About the author
Doreen Owens Malek
80 books66 followersaka Faye Morgan
{From Amazon} "I am Doreen Owens Malek, author of over forty books and lifelong fan of romantic fiction. I live in PA with my husband and college student daughter, a mini dachshund and a sun conyer parrot. I would like to tell you a little about myself.
I came to writing by a circuitous route, starting out as an avid reader of JANE EYRE and WUTHERING HEIGHTS and GONE WITH THE WIND and REBECCA and any other similarly themed books I could find. I first worked as a teacher and then graduated from law school when I desired a more lucrative and independent career. I had always been discouraged from pursuing a writing career by the volatile nature of the business and the relatively poor chance for success. But the realization that I needed a focus for the future encouraged me to do what I had always wanted to do. I sold my fledgling novel to the first editor who read it, and I have been writing ever since. I have written all types of books for all types of people, but my favorite literary pursuit is and always has been romance. Nothing is as rewarding as hearing from my readers, so please use my website to communicate your thoughts and criticisms, as I am always eager to learn from you.
A romance novel rarely disappoints me: in an uncertain world filled with tragedy and sadness, reading about an appealing woman finding a strong man to love her and share her life is the perfect escape. I like to read and write stories in which the main characters overcome obstacles to get together, and then stay together because their mutual devotion cannot be denied no matter what else is happening around them. They always HELP each other and reinforce the quaint but enduring notion that love conquers all - at least in the fictional universe of my imagination. So pull up a chair and take down a book- or pick up a Kindle- and join me in a world where the heroes are tough and headstrong but never boorish and the heroines are feminine and sympathetic but never helpless."
{From Amazon} "I am Doreen Owens Malek, author of over forty books and lifelong fan of romantic fiction. I live in PA with my husband and college student daughter, a mini dachshund and a sun conyer parrot. I would like to tell you a little about myself.
I came to writing by a circuitous route, starting out as an avid reader of JANE EYRE and WUTHERING HEIGHTS and GONE WITH THE WIND and REBECCA and any other similarly themed books I could find. I first worked as a teacher and then graduated from law school when I desired a more lucrative and independent career. I had always been discouraged from pursuing a writing career by the volatile nature of the business and the relatively poor chance for success. But the realization that I needed a focus for the future encouraged me to do what I had always wanted to do. I sold my fledgling novel to the first editor who read it, and I have been writing ever since. I have written all types of books for all types of people, but my favorite literary pursuit is and always has been romance. Nothing is as rewarding as hearing from my readers, so please use my website to communicate your thoughts and criticisms, as I am always eager to learn from you.
A romance novel rarely disappoints me: in an uncertain world filled with tragedy and sadness, reading about an appealing woman finding a strong man to love her and share her life is the perfect escape. I like to read and write stories in which the main characters overcome obstacles to get together, and then stay together because their mutual devotion cannot be denied no matter what else is happening around them. They always HELP each other and reinforce the quaint but enduring notion that love conquers all - at least in the fictional universe of my imagination. So pull up a chair and take down a book- or pick up a Kindle- and join me in a world where the heroes are tough and headstrong but never boorish and the heroines are feminine and sympathetic but never helpless."
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 3, 2012
Rating 3.5
I liked this book, the heroine meets the hero when he comes to rescue her and the other people who have been taken hostage in a rebel bid. The heroine is a divorcee who got married to an older man at 21 to kind of get away from her conservative aunt and see the world, now she's been divorced two years and still friendly with her ex. There is this connection between her and the hero who calls himself a mercenary selling his services to the highest bidder, she later finds out that he is an expert at rescue.
The hero has the habit of not considering himself good enough and is a loner. He was an orphan and somehow never found anyone who cared about him enough so he has become used to the way things are and the fact the he would die in some conflict zone.
The hero and heroine part ways and then a few weeks later she gets a call from Belfast that he has been injured and she drops everything to be with him, first to take care of him and then out of love. He tries to fight what is between them since he doesn't think he is what she deserves but somehow they end up spending weeks together in a cottage until his reality intrudes.
He leaves and then comes back for her, telling her to find someone who deserves her but then he's back a few weeks later grovelling and telling her that he doesn't know how to survive without her.
I liked the way the book was written and I know we weren't supposed to question that instant connection that formed between these two which made the heroine look past his I don't care attitude.
I liked this book, the heroine meets the hero when he comes to rescue her and the other people who have been taken hostage in a rebel bid. The heroine is a divorcee who got married to an older man at 21 to kind of get away from her conservative aunt and see the world, now she's been divorced two years and still friendly with her ex. There is this connection between her and the hero who calls himself a mercenary selling his services to the highest bidder, she later finds out that he is an expert at rescue.
The hero has the habit of not considering himself good enough and is a loner. He was an orphan and somehow never found anyone who cared about him enough so he has become used to the way things are and the fact the he would die in some conflict zone.
The hero and heroine part ways and then a few weeks later she gets a call from Belfast that he has been injured and she drops everything to be with him, first to take care of him and then out of love. He tries to fight what is between them since he doesn't think he is what she deserves but somehow they end up spending weeks together in a cottage until his reality intrudes.
He leaves and then comes back for her, telling her to find someone who deserves her but then he's back a few weeks later grovelling and telling her that he doesn't know how to survive without her.
I liked the way the book was written and I know we weren't supposed to question that instant connection that formed between these two which made the heroine look past his I don't care attitude.
November 8, 2010
*** 3 1/2 stars ***
Parts of the story were a bit dated since they related to current events in the late 1980's but the story was pretty well written for a Harlequin.
Parts of the story were a bit dated since they related to current events in the late 1980's but the story was pretty well written for a Harlequin.
September 4, 2012
While I might like to be able to tell you that I read this book because all of my classics were at the cleaners, that would just be a sadly snobbish lie and a bit of a disservice to an author who delivered just what she promised. We would both know that I simply wanted to read a story about a seemingly ruthless mercenary with a heart of gold and the ability to change for the woman he loves. Yes, I may preach cynicism and even practice it to a fair degree, but I love a good dose of ridiculously optimistic bad boy reformation as much as the next romantic hypocrite. It seldom, if ever, looks as pretty in real life, but that is for another forum. I saw this free on Kindle and with a click of a mouse, it was mine, all mine. I did not expect much because, frankly, I was not asking for much, but this was truly an enjoyable read with compelling characters and a plot with just the right amount of momentum to keep the reader interested, but not frustrated by an overabundance of damsel in distress. I would read more by this author.
September 24, 2019
Okay, another book from the yard sale box, holy cow. I really liked the plot... unexpected. It's an old SIM but really the old SIMs are where the likes of Nora Roberts and Linda Howard came from... If you find a copy read it.
January 6, 2013
First thing first! If I am ever held hostage I want a man like Colton to rescue me. That is first things first.
What I did not like: I think they should have given more background to the hostage situation. I think it would have been good to begin the book with more than just the rescue. Just my thoughts. Also why is the hero in the book always an orphan this irks me to no end from a readers standpoint because sometimes I want to see the normal guy become a hero join the armed forces and protect his heroin. Just a little thought on the situation. Okay I don’t want to spoil the book but, at this point I have cried, laughed, and cursed this darn book and I still don’t know if I like it or not! The author takes so long to get to the good stuff I found myself bored in between but I am still not saying it is a bad book. I am still intrigued by the entire story just don’t know how much I really got into it.
What I did not like: I think they should have given more background to the hostage situation. I think it would have been good to begin the book with more than just the rescue. Just my thoughts. Also why is the hero in the book always an orphan this irks me to no end from a readers standpoint because sometimes I want to see the normal guy become a hero join the armed forces and protect his heroin. Just a little thought on the situation. Okay I don’t want to spoil the book but, at this point I have cried, laughed, and cursed this darn book and I still don’t know if I like it or not! The author takes so long to get to the good stuff I found myself bored in between but I am still not saying it is a bad book. I am still intrigued by the entire story just don’t know how much I really got into it.
February 20, 2013
This was a great book. Steven Colter was a merc who only took on jobs to rescue people but came from a childhood of loneliness that impacted they way he let people see him. He comes off as a real tough guy, nothing and no one can get to him, that he doesn't need friends or family. Deep down our Hero has a sensitive and emotional side but is scared to get attached and then have to face being alone again. He meets Karen on the job, he literally has to rescue her and a bunch of her coworkers and from the word go there were sparks. The book progress like you would think but it doesn't feel like the same old story told so many times before because of 2 main reasons, first he really is ALL alone not even 1 friend and 2 because of his emotional side that you come to love. Of course he is the Hero and all alpha in every way. He did have a tantrum moment right at the end, but redeemed himself:)
December 12, 2014
A very good story, but the new cover gives the impression that it's a contemporary story. I read a lot of 70s and 80s stories, so the fact that it's an old story didn't bother me too much. I just think it should have been made clear that it was first published in 1987.
Now, if that doesn't seem like a big deal, remember that 1987 was... 27 years ago. So, the H and h in this story could've buggered off into the sunset for their HEA, spawned... And their kid would be old enough to have their own story!
Disclosure, people. Disclosure.
Now, if that doesn't seem like a big deal, remember that 1987 was... 27 years ago. So, the H and h in this story could've buggered off into the sunset for their HEA, spawned... And their kid would be old enough to have their own story!
Disclosure, people. Disclosure.
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Want to Read
May 12, 2012Free on Amazon 05/11/2012.
I read this about 20 years or so ago and remember this author as being good.
I read this about 20 years or so ago and remember this author as being good.
kindle-i-own-to-read
October 20, 2012Amazon Freebie 10/19/2012
November 19, 2012
Love the author but the story was a little dry for me
July 20, 2016
4 stars for this.
Want to Read
March 3, 2012Part of 'Men of Intrgue: A Trilogy' A Free Kindle Book
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews