Dangerous Beauty has an interesting premise – a woman trying to escape human trafficking and the man who rescues her. And the book cover is fabulous, depicting the opening scene where Liliana is escaping through the forest, no shoes on her feet, and a dress she’s worn for days. It starts off with a suspenseful scene which resolves in an interesting manner. The author writes descriptions of locations well, making it easy for readers to picture where the characters are.
I had a difficult time with the rest of the story however. It wasn’t the content so much as a disconnect from the characters and the narrative style. The author’s narrative style tells exactly what is happening as it happens (more as a distant third point of view) which is either refreshing or frustrating depending on a reader’s preference. Liliana appeared relatively consistent with her reactions throughout the pages but Meric is a walking contradiction. Despite this, I didn’t relate to either the hero or heroine.
I enjoy a good marriage of convenience trope, especially if it’s in a modern setting. Dangerous Beauty is that, but I had a hard time believing the only way to save Liliana was to marry her. There just didn’t seem to be a solid reason (or enough believable reasons) for Meric to propose at the point in the story he did.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley and publisher, Revell. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating: 3/5 Stars
Publishing: September 6, 2022
Pages: 368

This is a first time read by Melissa Koslin, new author to this reader. “Dangerous Beauty”, I thought was a pretty good story. The premise… human trafficking and a hero fighting and in the process falling in love with Liliana, someone who refuses to be a victim. Although this was a good book, the writing and romance aspect was not as compelling for me and fell a bit short for me. The description captured my attention however, it was a bit too wordy. I would have loved a build up to the conclusion, but it came all too fast and a bit rushed. The insight on human trafficking was a plus, thus making my rating higher.

The premise of this story is really good - a hero who is fighting human trafficking and the woman who melts his heart. Liliana's character was uneven in presentation, as was some of the plotting, and that kept me from enjoying the book as much as I thought I would. Meric, the man who rescues Liliana from the criminals, was, for the most part, true to character and the most interesting one in the story for me.

It was also very interesting to see how authorities go after those who engage in human trafficking.

Because of the uneven writing, I almost stopped reading the book, but I was intrigued by Meric's past, as well as whether he would continue to "thaw" under the caring that Liliana brings to the relationship. I'm glad I read to the satisfying ending.

The thriller elements of this novel were compelling and all too vivid, bringing to life the unfortunate and horrible reality of human trafficking. Incorporating elements of MMA also made me exceedingly happy--this is one thing I've fallen in love, with thanks to the pandemic, that I otherwise wouldn't have tried.

The romance elements, however, along with the writing style, fell so very flat for me. Most of the book is spent on Meric walking away from conversations and out of rooms, in spite of telling Liliana she needs to face/deal with what she experienced; he frankly reads to me as a walking contradiction. The resolution happens so quickly in comparison with the build-up, it felt unbelievable and rushed compared with the serious communication issues the pair of them had the entire rest of the book.

And the writing style ... sadly, not at all my jam. Exponentially more telling versus showing, and overly descriptive; so much could have been edited out, and the resulting word availability diverted to advancing the romance or the two MCs' working on healing their emotional/psychological wellbeing.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Dangerous Beauty by Melissa Koslin.

Reviews matter. This is a new author for me and I read this book based on a review I read. Mine will not be near as beautifully written but know that I adored this book and I am so glad I chose to read it.

From the opening scene the author just grabs you. Liliana escapes and is saved from human traffickers. Meric proposes marriage to help keep her safely in the US. I know you are thinking that sounds crazy. But trust that the author made it feasibly. She created two characters that were destined to be together.

I highly recommend this book for the character dynamics and the suspense.

Sexual content - no physicals scenes
Violence - there are no active rape scenes. You know what has happened to some of the women and they are kept in cages. I have a hard time with violence and I was able to read this.
No language or drinking.

I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.

Dangerous Beauty
by Melissa Koslin
Publisher: Revell
Series: None
Rated: 3
Obtain: Pass
Back of the Book: “Liliana Vela hates the term victim. She's not a victim, she's a fighter. Stubborn and strong with a quiet elegance, she's determined to take back her life after escaping the clutches of human traffickers in her poor Mexican village. But she can't stay safely over the border in America--unless the man who aided in her rescue is serious about his unconventional proposal to marry her.
Meric Toledan was just stopping at a service station for a bottle of water. Assessing the situation, he steps in to rescue Liliana from traffickers. If he can keep his secrets at bay, his wealth and position afford him many resources to help her. But the mysterious buyer who funded her capture will not sit idly by while his prize is stolen from him.
Melissa Koslin throws you right into the middle of the action in this high-stakes thriller that poses the question: What is the price of freedom?”
Impressions: I didn’t finish this book. It sounds interesting but I’ve struggling to get into it. The flow of the text is choppy to me and the situation is hard to believe. I have to pass on this book.
I received an ARC of this book via the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here. For more book reviews go to: https://simplyannehere.wordpress.com

This is the second book I have read by Melissa Koslin and it won't be my last! She has a very good balance of suspense, romance, and Christianity. If you are a fan of Lynette Eason, Dani Pettrey or Terri Blackstock, then you will enjoy Dangerous Beauty.

The story begins with Liliana Vela in a gas station restroom plotting how to escape from the traffickers holding her hostage. She is rescued by a wealthy businessman named Meric. Meric knows that after Liliana gives her statement to the police, she will be returned to Mexico and certain danger. He offers to marry her and give her a safe place to recuperate. As she has no other options, Liliana marries a complete stranger and enters a world she has only imagined. She receives access to a luxurious apartment with plenty of food and clothes. Meric has promised not to touch her, but he finds that promise hard to keep. She is the most beautiful woman he has ever seen and knows the people she escaped from will not give her up easily. As the danger around Liliana increases, Meric has his hands full keeping her safe and safeguarding his own secrets.

If you like Christian suspense without blood and gore, with a light romance, then I recommend you read Dangerous Beauty.

Dangerous Beauty is a very good inspirational book. The book has a well crafted plot with fantastic character dynamics. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC*
I really loved this book. I’m a sucker for marriages of connivence, (I like to thank the proposal for that). I really loved how strong Lilliana was, sometimes I get annoyed with female main characters but I loved her! Meric got on my nerves a bit in the beginning but I can understand him, and why he was the way he was, but I did love him a lot by the end. Overall really enjoyable!

I had a hard time putting this book down. It starts out with a sense of urgency and doesn't let up. Just when you think it's safe, something happens that proves it's not.

This book deals with a very difficult, dark issue but it doesn't leave you feeling hopeless. It focuses a lot on healing and fighting the darkness. It made me thankful that there are people out there fighting to bring captives home and others who are committed to helping restore broken lives.

I liked Meric and felt like I understood his actions more and more as the book went on. I appreciated that Liliana could see the good, trustworthiness of him. I also enjoyed her friendships with the older people in the building. It was a great read. I'll look forward to more from this author.

Thank you to Revell for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Do not start this book until you have the time to read it in one gulp. This is a really fresh twist on a marriage of convenience with the potential for pages of suspense. The hero and heroine are each hugely compelling and I just wanted to protect them both. It’s also a sweet story of the healing power of hope. Highly recommend this novel for those who adore romantic suspense with a fresh twist.

Liliana Vale is a trafficking survivor. She is hiding from her captors in a gas station bathroom just over the border. When Meric Toledan is in the right place at the right time. He quickly saves Liliana but is left with a difficult choice. He offers to marry Liliana so she does not get deported back to Mexico. The two are quickly married. Liliana is now married and left to try and fit into Meric's life. The Rich businessman has secrets. Can the two trust each other and fight the attraction at the same time?

This book starts out with Liliana being kidnapped by human traffickers. She escapes and finds a gas station to hide in. She is found but Meric steps in and asks her to marry him as a way to save her from the traffickers. This is just in the first several pages.

I found Liliana to be a very strong woman who was determined to rise above what has happened to her. At first she seemed very naive. As the story progresses, she is shown as a very intelligent woman. I had trouble liking and understanding Meric. He seemed like a very sullen unapproachable person. As his story unfolded, I began to understand his character better. I would class this book as a dark book as it deals with human trafficking. I kept my interest and I would like to read more books by this author. This book was published by a Christian publishing house. But there little if any real reference to Christianity.

I was given this book by Revell Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

A heart breaking story that gives us a glimpse into the horrific life of human trafficking. The author’s storytelling draws you into and captures you making you feel as though you are traveling this journey with Liliana. Though she has seen and experienced horrific things, her strength is nothing short of incredible.

Though the subject matter is difficult, I highly recommend reading this redemptive story!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

I found this book moderately interesting and read the entire book. But I didn’t love it like I expected to.

It dealt with human trafficking and a wealthy man who rescues a beautiful young woman who herself eventually becomes involved in helping free trafficked women. The man who rescues her is mysterious but kind to her. More than that I will not say to avoid spoilers.

I received this book from the publisher via net galley in exchange for an honest review..3-1/2 stars

Everything about this book was great! The plot was quick moving and entertaining. I loved the characters. I would read more by this author!

The author starts this read with a God plan and has Meric Toledan at the right place at the right time, and he is there to help save Lilana Vela, and through this others, and we journey with these two for the answers. Hoping the evil does not bring them down.

We have a lot of action in this read, and Liliana has no idea how much her life is about to change from this fateful meeting. We are dealing with a dark subject, human trafficking, and it plays a big part in this story.

We are offered some sweet romance, and see a blossoming young woman, come alive after the horrors that she has endured, but wonder how this is all going to turn out!

A page turner and enjoyable read, and I loved how it all meshed together!

I received this book through the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.

Dangerous Beauty is an intense book because it sheds light on a horrible evil that plagues our world- human trafficking. The author uses fiction, two wonderful characters in Meric and Liliana, and a whole lot of action and suspense to bring awareness to what is happening to innocent people throughout the world. There were many times as I was reading I needed to stop and walk away from the topic. I chose to finish the book and I was glad there was a happy ending. But sadly many people caught in this trap do not find one. This book inspired me to try to help in some way and I believe that is what is most valuable from this author’s novel is the awareness and hopefully more will be inspired to fight against this evil.

This was such an amazing novel with a powerful story. The novel was easy to understand with a fluent set of dialogue between the characters. The characters were believable, and they each had their own personality that was very noticeable. I will miss them. This novel fits its genre. Anyone who loves romance and a good mystery will love this book. Although I do have to say, since it is a novel dealing with human trafficking, there are stuff that is mentioned that pertain to that sort of thing, but it completely clean from any sex and nudity. It is implied or merely stated. It is never stated in any graphic detail of what happens to these women. So that being said, this book is perfect for readers who love romance and mystery, but also mature enough to know about these topics. I liked how we got to see the journey of the characters with their walk with the Lord. Like everyone, there was a struggle with things of the Lord, but it was overcome in the end. It was a perfect happy ending all the way around. It was such an amazing book; you won’t regret it.
Disclaimer Statement: I received a review copy courtesy of Revell through NetGalley and Interviews & Reviews, for my honest opinion.

The first line had me wanting more, “She Ran. She’d finally orchestrated an opportunity, and she’d run!

Liliana Vela feared for her life. She’d been running through the woods for miles and was clueless as to her location. Where could she go where they wouldn’t find her? Then she sees bright lights, it’s a truck stop. There she could splash water on her face and rest for a little while.

Suddenly, a woman spies her in the bathroom and asks if she’s ok. Then things start to happen beyond her control. The police are called. What to do? Then she meets a man who says he can help her. Can she trust him?

She later learns the man that helped her is a wealthy businessman named Meric Toledan, a man of his word. Why is he helping her and keeping her safe? It’s a mystery she wants to solve.

I love how the author tells the story from Lilliana and Meric’s point of view, as readers can feel both of their struggles to do the right thing as Meric has his own demons chasing him. I enjoyed getting to know these two flawed characters and see them naturally struggle with their faith and trying to walk carefully as not to have their emotions take over their lives, but let their mind, and body heal from the trauma.

I appreciated how the author showed the harsh reality of sex-trafficking (not too graphic) and what people are doing to combat it. This is a brilliant, beautiful, multilayered story with complex characters my heart broke for. If you haven’t read this author’s debut novel ,Never Miss, you should. This author is one to watch.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by the publisher/NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/