I am always intrigued by works of fiction that dares to take on heavy world topics and current world views. That style of writing can be challenging to read because of the way it pushes me out of my comfort zone, but sometimes that’s exactly what I need for inward reflection. Which is why I was drawn to reading Melissa Koslin’s latest novel, Dangerous Beauty. Just from reading the synopsis, I was sure that I was in for an emotional ride.

Dangerous Beauty was indeed emotional as it highlighted the horrific crime of human trafficking through the eyes of its courageous heroine, Liliana Vela, and fierce hero, Meric Toledan. I think the author did a fine job with giving life to their characters by keeping the story vibrant in suspense. Starting from chapter one, readers were greeted with an eerie sense of danger and secrecy that could be felt throughout the plot. It definitely helped with engaging readers to connect to characters and parts of the story that were sometimes hard to follow. This also isn’t your typical christian contemporary romance novel. First off, this novel involves a marriage of convenience between two wounded yet strong people, dealing with issues I rarely see in CC novels. Which made the beginning of the story shaky and stilted, but It eventually developed into a sweetness that encouraged me to finish reading it. And despite the serious backdrop, I was glad for the moments of humor that the author wove throughout the plot.

That being said, I really struggled with this novel. As much as I liked the suspense and the whole theme of Dangerous Beauty, it was so hard for me to like the romantic side of it. I know I’ve just said that it was sweet and all that… yet somehow I felt that it came short of the potential I hoped for it to be. That applies to other things, but suffice it to say that I wasn’t completely taken with this novel. But who knows, maybe in the future I will be. 😉

Thanks to Revell for providing a free copy for my honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Liliana was taken by traffickers from her Mexican village after watching her parents and younger sister killed. She saw and experienced horrific things before she was able to get away and was rescued by a man at a truck stop after being transported over the border into America. Her rescuer, Meric, is only able to keep her safe and protected by offering her marriage. Fortunately for her, he has great wealth and can offer her protection.
Who is Liliana's buyer and why is he so desperate to get her back? And, who and what is the mystery man, Meric? What does he do for a living? Why would he help Liliana to the degree that he has?
I found this story to be fast paced and a fairly quick read. Much of it was too far fetched to be believable, but I told myself it was 'fiction,' and went on with the story.
I was given an advanced ecopy by the publisher, Revell through Netgalley. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.

I really enjoyed the story of Liliana and Meric. Liliana has taken back her life and now is ready to move forward. She cannot do this without the help of Meric who has agreed to marry her. They run into many obstacles due to the circumstances of their meeting. A great thriller that kept you guessing.

Dangerous beauty is a story about sex traffiking. Liliana is kidnapped in Mexico and rescued
by Meric Toledan in the united states. Wwanted to protect her M. Toledan asked her to marry
him (a marriage of conveniance). After that Liliana moved in in his appartement and start learning
english in order to rebuilt her life and find a job. She is curious to learn more about her husband
she barely knows...

Sex traffiking is an important topic, Liliana and her familly suffered a lot but she is determined to
move on and seems courageous but I was not really captivated by the story.

He rescued her, can she return the favor...?

I'm going to be honest up front. I had mixed feelings about this book the entire time I read it. The title for Dangerous Beauty and the interesting cover initially caught my eye and then I was intrigued by the premise as soon as I read the cover blurb.

I loved the suspense angle as it was well thought out and quite chilling – and there even a surprise or two. I loved how strong and tough Liliana is, she doesn't let evil destroy her or her faith and when the bad guys keep coming after her she fights back – literally. I even appreciated Meric and his never-failing gentleness with her despite the fact that he has his reasons for being distant and he can be quite scary when the bad guys show up. But...

Generally speaking, the things that I liked far outweighed the things that I didn't. But, I had a really hard time stepping over some of the questionable and even erroneous legal aspects. Seriously, the mistaken belief that a wife cannot testify against her husband went out with black/white movies (which I love, by the way) The reality is that a spouse can't be forced testify in nearly, but not quite, all situations. But, anyway...

For the most part I enjoyed Melissa Koslin's standalone debut – she co-wrote one of the Coffey & Hill Novels – and I was caught up in the drama and emotion of the story. Dangerous Beauty is very emotional and emotion evoking. The idea of human trafficking is abhorrent to any Christian but sadly it is a fact that needs attention drawn to it and action taken in whatever way each persona can. Melissa Koslin has done so in a thought provoking and thoughtfully presented way and I can say that I will still be thinking about the story for quite awhile after finishing it...

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

This is a bit of a psychological thriller that I really loved. I love how the author wrote about human trafficking. I love that this story made me want to cry over how people can treat other people. I love how strong Liliana is. I love Meric and how he must learn from Liliana. I received a copy of this book from the publisher for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Melissa Koslin explodes out of the starting gate in her latest release, Dangerous Beauty. Addressing the horrific topic of human trafficking, Koslin opens with exotic Latina beauty Liliana in her escape from the men who are holding her for a very particular buyer. Her flight sends her into the path of Meric Toledan, a cold, hard man of many secrets as well as great wealth and notoriety. Under investigation himself for trafficking, Meric nonetheless offers Liilana the kind of protection only he can offer, and in a split second she must make a decision that could save her life or it could lead her right back into the bondage she has already struggled so hard to escape. When put to the ultimate test, both Liliana and Meric must decide if the reward is worth the risk. Especially when they have very different opinions on the magnitude of the risk and of the reward.

Human trafficking is the nightmare that lives in our own towns and too often in our own neighborhoods. While it is a difficult topic to read, and I can’t fathom how difficult it is to write, it is a necessary one to bring to our attention and put in the forefront. We will never know how many people we pass by who are living through the kinds of terrible situations Koslin addresses in this book. The story she has crafted handles this topic with great care, and although I did greatly appreciate the fictional story she weaves, I hope it also brings this darkness into the light and helps open our eyes. This is truly an, “If you see something, say something” kind of situation. There are organizations across the nation and around the world fighting for these individuals who are held in bondage and horribly abused. I would challenge you to find one and learn about the work they do.

Dangerous Beauty by Melissa Koslin is absolutely a must-read in my opinion. And then it is a must-share. Lose yourself in the exquisite storytelling and explosive action. Then go do good.

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.

Dangerous Beauty by Melissa Koslin is a book written about human traffickers and their victims.

I did not want to review this book because the subject matter is so abhorrent to me, but I did sign up to read and review the book.

Liliana Vela is a victim of human trafficking and is also wanted by the leader of the cartel as his mistress. She is being held by two men who have stopped at a truck stop and she uses the restroom. Meric Toledan had just stopped by the truck stop for a bottle of water when he becomes involved in Liliana’s rescue. Now they are on the run from the cartel.

He is a very wealthy man and has resources that can help Liliana. The buyer who funded her capture will not relent and is determined to re-capture her for himself. Liliana does not want to be a victim and demands to help in the capture of this human trafficker. This novel is very addictive and the threat of danger is always present. I highly recommend this book.

Dangerous Beauty was the first book I’ve read by this author and it won’t be the last. It was haunting and realistic and beautifully written. The author was careful to tone down the violence and horror that one would experience with human trafficking while still getting her point across. I don’t believe this book would cause one to have triggers from violence in their past because of how beautifully it was written.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

The overall storyline for this book is very interesting and so sad to think this stuff can and does happen.

Liliana and Meric are very strong characters in their own ways. I loved the slow romance that built between them.

I did feel the writing style was a bit distant or hurried at times but I can’t put my finger on why exactly. I felt Meric was a hard person to really get to know, but that might have been the point, as it was hard for Liliana to get to know him.

Overall, I did like this story and found it interesting.

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Grab your copy at your local bookstore, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Christianbook.com or your favorite retailer.

A copy of this book was given to me through the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Oh my goodness. What a gripping tale. I highly recommend Dangerous Beauty, it is a riveting, immersive, edge-of-your-seat, keep-me-guessing-until-the-end story!

"Lilliana hated that word-victim. She refused to think of herself like that, as a victim. She was a fighter. Even if she lost sometimes, needed help sometimes, she would never stop fighting."

Liliana Vela escapes the clutches of human traffickers and meets Meric Toledan at a gas station she stepped into to clean up. He sees she's barefoot and bruised, and the goons at both entrances waiting for her to come out, and he steps in to rescue Liliana from traffickers. He mysteriously says he can't get any more green cards so he offers her a marriage of convenience to keep her out of their hands.

Dangerous Beauty is a beautiful story of overcoming pain and loss that no one should have to suffer. Depth, caring, helping others, and plot twists kept me turning pages late into the night.

Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this second novel by this author more than the first. Things which bothered me in the first - too much focus and in depth thoughts on physical attraction - was improved on in the second - the characters did acknowledge deep attraction, but nothing that left me uncomfortable.

The suspense plot about the human trafficking was saddening. Meric was strong and made me think of James Bond - never looses a fight but did get hurt. Liliana was also strong and did not let what happened to her overcome her.

This author has an unique style. It is difficult to compare her to some of my favourite suspense writers, because the style is quite different for me.

I really wanted more of a Christian theme and that God is the one who saves and protect, not people. It felt like Liliana only saw Meric as her protector and saviour and for a Christian publisher, want the focus on the on true God.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*

This book was not what I expected in multiple ways. Most Christian romantic suspense that I have read are +70% suspense with very little focus on the romance, but that didn’t happen here. The focus on the strained relationship between the two main characters significantly slowed the pace, especially in the first half of the book where several scenes felt repetitive. At the midway point it picked up speed but never did leave me on the edge of my seat the way other suspense novels can and often do, and then there were a few coincidences that just didn’t sit well with me. That said I didn’t dislike it, but objectively speaking it wasn’t very successful as a suspense read in my opinion.

This is my first book to read by Koslin and I am sure it will not be the last. Dangerous Beauty is a fast-paced action/suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat as you turn the pages all the way to the last one. The book is about human trafficking which continues to be prevalent worldwide. It is so sad that one human would kidnap and sell another human for monetary gain. Also sad that one human would purchase another human for lustful purposes. As this book contains the illegal operation it is written with care. The characters come to life from the written words and the actions are intense. Liliana Vela’s striking beauty was her selling attraction and the perpetrators were not willing to lose her at any cost. Meric Toledan rescues her at a cost to him and agrees to marry her for her protection. Can she trust him when so many have betrayed her? Thus begins a most interesting novel that you can't put down.....Thanks to Revell and NetGalley for this great Read.

There are many books out there about human trafficking but this one is different because it features someone who risks their life everyday to rescue those who have been kidnapped. It was intriguing to see how the author unravels a dangerous game that puts Meric in a position that could cost him more than his reputation. I loved how the author brings Meric and Liliana together at a truck stop. After trying to escape her captors, it is hard to trust anyone. Will Liliana let down her guard and let Meric convince her he is there to save her?

There is plenty of suspense as Liliana finds herself in a strange apartment with someone she barely knows. The author surprised me with what measures Meric would do to keep Liliana close by him to know she was safe. Meric is a mystery to most everyone. He is very private and wealthy but why are women coming forward and saying things about him that would damage his credibility or possibly put him in jail? As the two start to get closer we begin to see that Meric is trying to heal from something. He is gentle with Liliana and always protective of her but he won’t allow her to know anything about his past. I did admire how he put his life before hers and at times found himself having to fight off people to keep her safe.

We do witness a softer side to Meric that made the story so emotional. All this time he has been doing everything he can to let Liliana heal from her past, but the author delivers a twist in the story that helped me understand Meric better. In a tender moment Meric explains that he was attracted to her for more than her beauty. He admired her strength and how she has compassion for others. What happens when his past catches up with him?

The ending is an adrenaline rush and the author illustrates how faith can heal the broken-hearted while showing them unconditional love. Get ready for action, surprises and a little romance in this book.

I received a copy of this book from Revell Publishing. The review is my own opinion.

This was my first book by this author. It was fast paced from the very beginning. A story with a subject we see all too much these days, human trafficking. One I am afraid I don’t know too much about. This story even though fiction brought much information on the subject as well as the heartache these victims and their families face. I simply could not put it down until the end. The emotions it invoked were a wide range. A well written story.


**I received an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this read and I havennt read anything quite like this before, it was more emotive than I expected it to be. Well written a grippimg storyline and well developed characters. I loved it.

Dangerous Beauty by Melissa Koslin is a story that delivers in the suspense and romantic drama genres, with moments of action balanced with great depth when an impulsive marriage of convenience (!!!) grows into a situation involving secrets, risk, trust, and emotional healing — with a story twist, of course!

I thought it clever that the reader gets Liliana’s POV mostly at first, letting the mystery of Meric, his unknown business activities, and other secrets uncover slowly along with her learning of each circumstance. The reader will gradually sense his involvement in something bigger and the danger surrounding it. While the subject matter of human trafficking is a sad reality, Koslin handles its portrayal with a balance of sorrow and hopefulness in the form of the people stepping in to stop its cycle.

Liliana is an admirable and smart heroine, and I was instantly in her corner. I appreciate how she grows throughout the story, overcoming much while facing some harrowing truths. Meric hides behind an enigmatic, cold exterior, but underneath is a vulnerable and fiercely protective hero whose own past motivates his work for good. His championing of Liliana and her strengths from the very beginning had me falling for his tortured heart right along with her :).

Fans of Susan May Warren and Dani Pettrey will enjoy Koslin’s captivating writing style — this is the first book of hers I’ve read, but it won’t be the last!

Thank you to Revell Reads for the copy of this novel. This is my honest review.

Emotional:
I enjoyed this Christian romantic suspense story and thought the marriage-of-convenience angle was a novel idea. The author did a good job of tackling all of the complexities tied up with human trafficking without being too explicit. However it was quite a heavy and emotional book to read.
I liked Liliana and Meric as a couple and seeing them both find healing and happiness together. However I would have liked to have seen greater spiritual growth and for faith to have featured more prominently. It was however an emotionally gripping read full of hope and healing.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Trafficking is a serious issue, modern slavery is still a mega problem. Therefore it's important to address this issue in novels. But I think this one is going over the top as far as regards Meric. He's a kind of hero that does not exist in real life. That makes the story unbelievable and takes away the awareness for the underlying issue.