Dangerous Affairs

by Kelle Z. Riley

A woman who doesn't exist…
hiding from her violent ex-husband, she hopes her next alias will be her last.

A man who wishes he didn't…

haunted by a string of failures, blaming himself for his sister’s murder.

Fate brings these two lost souls together in an unlikely alliance where they fight to protect themselves and to teach others to do the same.

Close proximity and circumstance ignite passion, and soon, long dormant dreams of love and family take root. Yet even as they cling to new hope, the past closes in. Desperate, they unite and take cover…defending themselves against the barrage of fears and failures that threaten to destroy the fragile bonds holding them together.

But evil may be more than the couple can endure when forced to face and conquer their deepest nightmares.

288 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2006

About the author

Kelle Z. Riley, writer, speaker, global traveler, Ph.D. chemist and martial artist weaves bits of her real life into the Undercover Cat Series books. The series features a scientist-turned-sleuth who juggles mystery, romance and the search for a perfect cupcake recipe.

By day Kelle is a full time chemist working in water treatment with multiple U.S. patents. At night she turns into an author whose accolades include finals in the RWA Golden Heart and numerous chapter contests. More information on her workshops can be found on her website.

Kelle can be reached at www.facebook.com/kellezriley www.twitter.com/kellezriley and www.kellezriley.net

Reviews

[Nita]

This is not exactly my typical read. Yes, it was a romance, but generally I avoid those with the topics you find in the news today-- domestic violence being one of those topics.

I'm so glad I decided to give this one a try. Ms. Riley's heroine is a complicated combination of the pitiful 'damsel in distress' and the courageous, independent woman. One the one hand, she is running/hiding from an abusive ex-husband. On the other hand, you see tiny glimpses of the courage this woman is capable of, and you find yourself rooting for her to tap into that courage and stop running. The heroine's own fear sometimes becomes an even greater villain than the ex-husband.

Our tortured hero (my favorite kind) has ghosts of his own, and he has shouldered undeserved guilt for far too long. He battles his own demons as surely as the heroine battles hers.

Ms. Riley's characters are well-developed and believable, and I would include secondary characters in that evaluation. The plot is realistic and interesting. I very much enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it as a compelling read and an emotional ride with an enormously satisfying happily-ever-after.


****Slight/Vague Spoiler**** Read no further if you want absolutely no hints as to how the plot plays out. But if you're still not convinced you'd like this book, read on...


I found the resolution to be refreshing in how neither the heroine nor the hero physically or emotionally "saves" the other. No one rides in to save the day and rescue the other. And yet, each character gives the other the tools and support they need to save himself/herself and conquer his/her own demons. As with most romances, I expected the hero to be the knight-in-shining-armor and arrive to rescue his lady. Not so with this one. And yet if not for the hero, the heroine would never be able to save herself. Nice surprise and deviation from the norm.

[Kevin]

Amanda Caruthers does not like to let people close to her. She's clearly been hurt in the past, but how is what nobody knows. What she cannot stand, though, are self-assured and overtly powerful men. Enter Burton Campbell, a martial arts instructor starting up a new series of classes at the gym where Amanda is the program director. His outward confidence as well as the violent nature inherent in his classes immediately sets the alarm bells ringing in her head. Yet, despite these internal warnings and her own history, she cannot entirely pull herself away as their lives seem to keep intersecting at the most inopportune moments. What Burton does not know, however, is that Amanda does have a past, a very dangerous one, and it hasn't given up the search for her. In all honesty, romance novels are not my "thing." Typically, a cover with a red rose on it would have me running for the hills, but this book was recommended to me and I'm not one to turn down a personal recommendation. And, thankfully, the romance aspect was the not the overarching theme. One of the best ways to think of this book is as a cross between Julia Roberts' Sleeping With the Enemy and Jennifer Lopez's Enough. At just under 300 pages, it's a very quick read and is perfect for those lazy summer days on the beach. However, I felt that the flow was almost too quick as some events happen too readily and without much lead-up. I also felt there could have been a bit more character development. But it is enjoyable enough to keep you wanting to read.

[Nancy]

Very good book. Interesting story and had a some suspense.

[Lori]

Great read. Enjoyed the characters and storyline. Perfect summer beach read