Threat of Danger

Dana Marton — 2018

Falling in love can be a deadly proposition in this pulse-quickening Mission Recovery novel from the New York Times bestselling author. Jess Taylor and Derek Daley were in the throes of first love in a small Vermont town when they were kidnapped by a serial killer. They escaped his clutches--but not the trauma of the unsolved crime. With their lives changed forever and their romance cut short, they went their separate ways to exorcise their fears. Jess is living on the edge as Hollywood's hottest stuntwoman. It's no longer terror thrumming through her veins. It's adrenaline. Derek is a former Navy SEAL spinning his ordeals into heart-pounding bestselling thrillers. But when Jess is called home on a family emergency, she must face the past--and face the man she left behind, who is just as haunted and, like her, still so much in love. Now, as an old flame reignites, Jess and Derek are taking advantage of second chances and putting their bad memories behind them. But here, in the quiet town of Taylorville, a killer is getting a second chance as well.

Reviews

Lynn Braden@ftbooklover

Apr 16, 2024

Jess Taylor had been in love with Derek Daley most of her life, but when he finally saw her for the woman she'd grown into, the two of them were kidnapped. Derek had to watch for three days as Jess was raped and tortured. Once they escaped, Jess ran to California and eventually found a career as a stunt woman and Derek joined the Navy and became a SEAL. After finding success as an author, Derek came home to Vermont to live permanently. Jess came back to take care of her injured mother, but had a hard time dealing with the memories, especially since it appeared that her kidnapper had struck again.

Threat of Danger is a compelling romantic suspense novel that draws the reader in from the very first page. The intense history of the two characters adds angst early on that runs throughout the story. However, the clues to the mystery don't lead to the culprit until the kidnapper is revealed near the end of the book, making it seem like the solution comes out of the blue. While there is a love triangle aspect to the plot, it is never really developed. Overall, Threat of Danger is a captivating mystery with and emotional romance.

Nicola Sarah Brooks@nikkisbooknook

Dec 8, 2021

There may be some triggers that some may find uncomfortable in this book: Rape, sexual assault, abduction, survivor guilt. However, this is an exceptionally well written story dealing with past traumas and highly worth sitting to read all in one go! Jess loved Derek from afar when she was a teenaged. The eponymous boy next door, he finally notices her and on a date they are abducted. After a horrific 3 days Derek finally manages to get loose and rescues Jess. But with all she has been through Jess can't unlink Derek from her nightmare and as soon as she can she leaves town, never to return. Fast forward a few years and Derek has been invalided out from the Navy and Jess is now an in demand stuntwoman. But when she is forced to go home to look after her injured mother, Jess is forced to face her past and all that it dredges up. But when she becomes of aware of new abductions having taken place, Jess wonders if her nightmare is as over as she thought it was! Jess and Derek both suffer from the torture they shared. Derek never feels that he did enough to save her and Jess refuses to be anyone's victim again, but that also means never letting anyone into her tightly controlled world either. Great mix of edge of your seat thriller romance and suspense. The secondary characters all have a purpose, some sadder than others and I loved trying to untangle the web the author wove! Although this is the 2nd book in the series they are stand-alone and there is no crossover characters or storylines.