This book was in a word, fabulous. A book with both great sex and a great LOVE story is a rare find. This wrapped them together in an unforgettable package. Kudos Ms. Rice!

5 Stars.
Dangerous secrets is a fast paced and very enjoyable new thriller by Lisa Marie Rice.
This is one of those books that you don't want to put down, the story is just that good! It features a tall dark and very sexy hero,a beautiful damsel in distress,and a truly evil villain who will make your blood run cold.

The author has done an excellent job with her character building, and I found the characters to be extremely interesting and likable. At times I even found myself feeling sorry for villain because of the torture that he'd endured in a Russian prison.

This book, although it does have sex in it, isn't as explicit as some erotic romances. This probably is because the hero is more of a right to the point kind of lover. Luckily for him Charity seems to be the same kind of gal, otherwise it probably wouldn't work for them.

Small-town librarian Charity Prewitt is very surprised when wealthy businessman Nicholas Ames shows a decided interest in her. What she doesn't know is that he is actually an undercover agent who is after one of Charity's friends, Russian immigrant Vassily Worontzoff. Worontzoff used to be a great author until he was put in a Russian labour camp where his girlfriend Katya died a brutal death. Afterwards he became the head of a brutal criminal organisation under the camouflage of the great author / victim of the Sovjet Regime. He is after Charity since she looks a lot like his dead love. Nicholas' plan seems to work out fine until he not only falls in love with Charity but also realizes that she is at great risk since Vassily starts losing his grip on reality and thinks she really is Katya. Now he is confronted with a life-altering choice: He can go on as planned and risk Charity's life and their love, or he can tell her the truth - and risk his job as well as the mission...
The plot and the characters are actually great and I think this could have become a really good erotic suspense novel. There are two reasons why I personally find it disappointing - although this may not get on other reader's nerves as much: One point comes toward the end of the novel when the undercover agents decide that Charity will have to meet Vassily despite a great risk to her life since they couldn't get any listening devices into his house. Then the agents suddenly make it to the house, drill a hole in the wall while the criminals are in that room and put a microphone and camera in. Despite that, Charity is still sent there wired, which promptly leads to a dangerous showdown. It's clear the author wanted that showdown, but this simply doesn't fit to the characters or it isn't remotely convincing or realistic. The other reason lies in the erotic elements of the book. This is supposed to be an erotic romance and it has a lot of sex scenes - almost each ends in a less than satisfying way (pardon the pun) since the two are either interrupted or he is so intensely in lust that he simply can't last. That may be realistic, but it's not particularly erotic for my taste. So despite a great basis for the novel, it fails for me both on the erotic and the suspense level. I could imagine that some readers may also not be too happy with the romantic elements, since our hero keeps lying to his lover and even lets her mourn him for several painful days after his seeming death - which he himself arranged. He has good reasons, but it's still unpleasant. I have read several other books by this author and would definitely recommend those over this novel. It's disappointing how this story and the characters were wasted.
Dangerous Lover (Avon Red) Deadly Shadows

Sexy, sweet and seductive are the perfect words to explain Dangerous Secrets and author Lisa Marie Rice who writes some of the best alpha male heroes in romance.

Nicholas Ames is a rich stockbroker who starts to woo the local town librarian. Actually, Nick is a former Delta operator on an undercover mission. He is really Nick Ireland a.k.a. the Iceman who must befriend and even seduce Charity because she is best friends with Vassily Worontzoff, a Russian immigrant who has acclaim as a world renowned writer. He also happens to be head of a world wide crime syndicate that aids terrorists. If Nick can get close to Charity, he will be able to get to Worontzoff and stop him from ruining more innocent lives.

Charity has no clue who the real Nick is and her courts her very smoothly. Things happen very quickly between these two and Charity is so enthralled by Nick, that she takes him into her bed and gives him her heart. Even though Nick's nickname is the Iceman, he is not cold at all. He is sick over the way he has to lie to Charity. He hates the fact that the woman he is falling for is being placed in danger because of him. Charity is such a sweet and kind woman and her love wraps Nick in a wonderful bubble of promises and hope for a future. But he knows that all will end because he has to betray Charity in the worst way.

Ah yes, that nasty word- betrayal. Nick does something that tears Charity apart and probably will make most readers growl because Charity feels so deeply for Nick and her heart is ripped in half to the point she is ready to die. As she goes through these emotions, I felt so deeply for her. And when Charity finally confronts Nick, he has no words to explain how sorry he is over her grief. Even if he groveled on his hands and knees (and we all know we love when a hero gets down and begs for forgiveness) it won't be enough. The only promise Nick can give Charity is the fact that she will no longer be alone and he will make it his life's purpose to bring her joy, happiness and all the hot loving she can handle..

Dangerous Secrets is very much an erotic thriller because of the plot about terrorists. Worontzoff is borderline cartoonish in his villainy, but Lisa gives the reader enough background on this man that you actually do feel sorry for him. For he is a man that has loved and lost; much like Nick. The difference is that Nick does not descend into madness like Worontzoff.

Charity is sweet yet not so innocent where she will annoy most. If I were in her shoes, I would have fallen for a man like Nick and never question his motives. There is a point where she does something some would place under the TSTL (to stupid to live) category but her actions pulled everything together in the end.

Dangerous Secrets is a nice read for the summer season, even though it takes place in the cold winter of Vermont. But Nick and Charity steam up the sheets just fine with some nice missionary sex I have come to enjoy in a Rice novel.

Katiebabs

This story starts off with sweet little Charity who is the small town libraian and in walks Nick and blows her out of the water. He comes in undercover and thinkin that sweet little Charity can be handeled but instead she totally gets under his skin.
Yes there are some great love scenes and some very sweet moments where Charity knows right away she has meet the man of her dreams. I liked the vulneralbility that he showed. They call him "iceman" because he has shielded his heart since he was young and the only one he has let in was a little kid he protected in an orphanage that they were in together.
I really loved this book, but I love the whole alpha male going in to protect a girl, then of course falls completly head over heals for her and doesn't know what hit him. You totally get that with this book.

Charity Prewitt lives in Parker¢s Ridge, Vermont. She¢s a librarian living a quiet life, until business man Nicholas Ames saunters into town. Nick is sexy, charming and sophisticated, and he wants Charity, mild-mannered, soft spoken Charity who cares for her ailing aunt and uncle. Charity feels she¢ll never have this opportunity again so she leaps headfirst into an affair with Nick.

Most of what Nick¢s told Charity about himself is a lie. Nick is a member of the Unit, a secret special ops branch of the government. He¢s trying to take down Russian mob boss Vassily Worontzoff who is living in Parker¢s Ridge and best friends with Charity. Charity is a job to Nick, a way to get close to his target, until she becomes more. Unfortunately, Nick still has a job to do and Worontzoff still wants Charity for his own. Now, all Nick wants is to help stop a madman, save the world, and get the girl. If Worontzoff doesn¢t get her first, will Charity still want Nick if she finds out what he¢s done and who he is?

Nearly breathless with anticipation I waited for Dangerous Secrets to arrive. When it did, I couldn¢t put it down. Dangerous Secrets is everything I hoped it would be and more. It¢s loaded with emotion, packed with action and drama, and filled with raw sizzling sex. Nick is strong, determined and rough around the edges. Charity is lovely. She¢s brave and independent and yet soft and sweet. They are so explosive together, a perfect match. Vassily is a really bad, bad guy and yet, I still pitied him. He suffered greatly in his past and that pain brought about the man he became. The angst between Charity and Nick kept me anxious but it¢s not overwhelming. The action is thrilling and exciting and the storyline is completely engaging. Fantastic characterization and tons of intensity make Dangerous Secrets another poignant, erotic, and extremely well written novel. Lisa Marie Rice has once again left me in awe of her talent and very anxious for her next novel.

Nannette
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I have read several other books by Lisa Marie Rice and loved them all but this one was beyond disappointing. The story was slow, boring, predictable and through-out the book I had the "ick factor". I wasn't impressed with the character of the hero or heroine. Clearly not what I expected from this author.

Another great book from Lisa Marie Rice in her trademark style: gentle, strong heroines, tender alpha heros, and steamy, emotional romance.
Other reviews have discussed the plot, so I'll just hit a few highlights that reveal why Rice is a cut above her peers.
1) When confronted with the villainy of a cherished friend, Charity doesn't indulge in romance-land denial. She accepts the compelling evidence Nick provides and immediately wants to help.
2) The setting is vividly and beautifully described, so the reader has a real sense of place, weather, time, etc. But the descriptions never bog the plot down.
3) The villain is a truly evil man, but his backstory allows readers to see him as a gifted human being twisted by suffering and ego. Still, you're glad when he dies.

Unfortunately, there is one flaw that is also typical of Rice: the rushed ending. (If her stories weren't so wonderul, perhaps the rush wouldn't be so painful.) At the end of Dangerous Secrets, Nick reveals himself to be a totally different guy than Charity believes him to be. Not a wealthy polished banker at all, but a rough-around-the-edges soldier/spy. I wanted to have more time with Nick and Charity in order to watch them address this revelation, to see how they adjusted to the very real differences in their social statuses. I wanted Nick to reveal a bit more of his true self outside the bedroom and witness Charity's acceptance.

But in the grand scheme of things, this is a small quibble. I'll keep reading Rice's wonderful stories, and I suggest you do the same.

Like other readers I came across the 'Midnight' series of books quite by accident. I have read everything she has written since.

Her writing is fast paced and keeps you on the edge of your seat!

The romance is both passionate and explicit yet clearly loving. Its rare to find that in a book!

Bravo Ms Rice! You cannot write fast enough for me!

Lisa Marie Rice. I have been a fan of hers since the midnight series. Yes this book was formulaic, BUT WHO CARES, THIS IS WHAT MAKES THIS BOOK SOOOOOO GOOD(A needy heroine, a strong protector, lust at first sight, a sleepy new england town, a blizzard, bad guys after the heroine). LOVED IT LOVE IT LOVED IT.

You know what. I knew I would like this story even while I read the prologue. I actually considered calling in sick to work for the day. And sitting in a Starbucks all day to read it from cover to cover. I was so tempted. In the end though, like Nick and Charity, I did my duty and fulfilled my obligations to my employer.

There is no way any words from me can do justice to this stonkingly enjoyable novel. I like this author's voice so much. I don't care that many less fawning readers might say that the hero and heroine from each book are completely interchangeable. It's the nuances of difference that matter to me. Like. I just loved the driving-ability thread. And happily. The suspense in each novel is so completely unique.

If I was a son or daughter of that proud nation of Russia I'd be just a tad annoyed that a man with the sheer determination, guts, willpower, talent and class of Vassily Worontzoff is aired out by an alpha male dimbo and his dumb blonde bunny girlfriend. Sheesh. I'm not Russian though. And I liked the message the author gave out. That there is no excuse for soft or hard terrorism where innocent people die. Not even if you have suffered gut-wrenching heartache and awful physical deprivation as did Vassily. I personally. Would have liked to witness Vassily do something baaad. He is built up as this evil evil guy. But doesn't really display any behaviour that justifies this rep. He is very menacing though. And is killed far too quickly.

This time the hero and heroine are Nick and Charity. And yes. She's as dumb as her name suggests. However. Being dumb is not a crime. So I'm not ashamed to say I liked Charity. Even though she gets married to a guy she's known for a week only. And then totally forgives him for lying his head off to her. There is a great chapter in the story that illustrates exactly why Charity falls for Nick. It totally worked for me too.

What didn't work in the novel was why Nick let Charity go to Vassily's house for the meet. It's not exactly unknown for terrorists to have the same scanning technology as black ops guys. So really. Nick should have expected the mike to be detected. A big weakness is that Nick does not save Charity. Vassily does. Nick just blusters. That's the tragedy of Vassily. Hope he and Katya are reunited in the afterlife. Also I completely felt Arkady's love for his Vor.

There's a lot of reader teasing in the romance scenes. Sometimes the reader is shut out of the bedroom. Other times the reader is allowed to see the hot visualisations in Nick's head. Hmm. There are no hot scenes after the marriage. The plot took over. But overall the story certainly did qualify as erotica. It is streets ahead of 99% of the e-book romantica rubbish I have recently read.

A very very special mention needs to be made about Chapter 22. It contains some of the campest scenes, images and dialogue that I have ever read in all my life. My eyes practically bugged out as it's outrageousness unfolded before me.

Lets start at the beginning of Chapter 22. Where Nick and John display their shiney DHS badges for Charity to coo over. As if badges were a proof of anything. Then there's the bit where Charity asserts she's made of steel and agrees to spy on Vassily because she's a true patriot. To say nothing of the paragraph where Nick throws the test-tube, bolt and CD in front of Charity and proceeds to explain how they are proof of Vassily's evil mafia network. That dumb bunny Charity laps up every word Nick spills from his lying mouth. But oh, she believes that when he went to bed with her his body told her the truth. Jeez. That poor girl. I expect Consuela believed in Nick's body too. Hur hur. And it goes on. At the end of the chapter Nick weeps all over Charity. Oh brother. Like I said. The whole of Chapter 22 belongs in the weird-zone.

But that didn't stop me totally loving the experience of reading this book.

I absolutely LOVE novels by Lisa Maria Rice. She is such a consistently excellent author, with very unique and very hot erotic romances that never fail to please. Lisa Marie Rice is in a class all her own. Her erotic romances are very classy. Her writing is so intelligent and sophisticated, I always feel like I'm enjoying something very special when I read her books. I love how her alpha heroes know what they want and aren't afraid to go after it -- no waffling for them, unlike in so many romance novels. Her heroines are a unique combination of femininity and strength. I loved this novel. It's a definite keeper, and another gem to go on my special Lisa Marie Rice shelf.

Nick is the perfect creation of a hero, every woman's dream. A good strong all American character, an alpha male that all women love certainly, but not so alpha as to be like Batman (not that there is anything wrong with Batman). He has just the right balance of strength that is counterbalanced by his growing affection and love for Charity. Action packed, passionate and sexy, the perfect blend. A much recommended book, it goes on my best book shelf. Kushiel's Mercy (Kushiel's Legacy) is also well worth reading, as is 100 Percent Erotica

Nick Ireland has spent the better part of his life being someone else. Known as the Iceman, he assumes new personas with each new undercover assignment. His assignment this time was to get close to Charity Prewitt. She has befriended Vassily Worontzoff a world renowned writer thinking he was a broken man after all he has suffered through in his life when in fact he is an ice cold clever terrorist. Vassily is also obsessed with Charity because she is a mirror image of his deceased love, Katya. Nick insinuates himself into her life through her work at the library when he goes there to perform some research on a new business venture. Having only seen her from a distance, he is blindsided at her beauty, and humbled at her charming innocence. Nick has had to have many sexual encounters in the line of duty, but none before have claimed his heart and soul like this woman has. From the moment they met, the chemistry between them was explosive surprising them both.

When Nick felt things start closing in, he knew something big was about to happen. He knew that he had to do anything to protect Charity. The only thing he could think of was to marry her. If they were married, and he was killed in this mission, his team would protect her with any and all resources at their disposal. He also called, and had his will changed naming her his only beneficiary. Nick knew it was wrong to marry her while undercover, but this one time he was following his heart.

I have been reading LMR's books for a long time enjoying them all. This one is no exception. Nick and Charity are well written multi-layered characters making a wonderful couple. Strong, silent, and completely alpha Nick is just what the doctor ordered. He encompasses the all American hero, and is very appealing. Charity is his perfect counterpart. She is a strong centered woman that puts her life on the line when the chips are down. This story has suspense and incredibly hot erotic scenes. The only thing I didn't like was the abrupt ending. We go on this long journey with Nick and Charity only to have it all wrapped up in a couple of pages.

There are a number of criticisms I could make about Lisa Marie Rice's latest offering if I really wanted to be picky. Here are a few things: the book is a little formulaic; the hero is not as strong as some of her previous action men; the secondary characters were largely undeveloped; the heroine is a little too naïve; the ending is a little rushed and therefore weak. However, none of this adds up to enough detraction in my reading pleasure of this book to give it less than 5 stars. As ever, the author creates a great story with well-orchestrated action and a coterie of contemporaneous villains and all in very polished prose (despite the usual masculine vernacular!!). And, compliments to the author for a really gut-wrenching depiction of grief beyond imagination.

At times Dangerous Secrets is more of a straight thriller than erotic romance and Nick wasn't quite as sexy for me as the three Midnight Men but, boy, oh boy, he'll do nicely, thank you very much! Lucky Charity! I do hope her next book isn't as long in coming. I waited for this with much anticipation and read it in one sitting. Now the wait begins....

The first thing that struck me, is this book is a movie waiting to be made. Charity is incredibly appealing as the innocent and vulnerable heroine, and boy does she deliver the passion when she needs to. My husband has also read it and says that Charity is his idea of the perfect woman (after me of course he hastens to say). a great read. I can also recomend Wild, Wicked, & Wanton (Berkley Heat) and if red hot and raunchy short stories light your candle have a look at 100 Percent Erotica

I love all of Rice's books and was eagerly awaiting this one. Other people have already summarized the plot, so I just want to say one thing. (I couldn't find Rice's home page or I would have written this directly to her)
Rice is the only author I know who, when she uses a foreign language - Italian in this instance - uses it correctly. It should be taken for granted that when you write something, be it English or whatnot, you check the grammar and the spelling. Well, unfortunately, that is not the case.
I live in Italy and HATE authors who use a few Italian words here and there, every one of them with errors.
So Ms Rice, thank you and I hope other authors will follow your example.

is a gripping, exciting tale of a man and woman falling in love with each other while in the midst of danger. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and I never guessed the secret that was waiting for the heroine.

Thanks Lisa. Once again this author has created a great story that focuses on all that is important in erotic romance, love, sex, and great writing. I will admit that the story is very similar to her previouse novel, but who cares! If writing about secret CIA agents who show up in a bookstore owners life and rocks her world for all of seven days before the bad guys come after them both, is what works for this spicy romance author, then I say stick with what you know and keep heating up my pages!

"Dangerous Secrets," another great book by Rice, is a tight, erotic, and suspenseful romance with the usual strong, honorable, loner hero, coupled with a feminine woman in a dangerous world. Rice loves to use conventionally feminine careers for her heroines--librarians, decorators, etc.--who match the hero in honor and duty. Charity thinks Vassily is just her friend, the world-famous writer who had endured years in a Russian gulag, not the terrorist he is. She also doesn't know that her startling resemblance to his dead lover has made her the focus of his dangerous obsession. Rice is excellent in conveying villains' menace and evil without giving the gory details--an choice I appreciate. Nick, a Homeland Security agent passing as a retired stockbroker, plans to use Charity to plant bugs in the Russian's mansion. He does not plan, however, to fall in love and is both bewildered and dismayed as that happens. Like Rice's other heroes, Nick is hugely protective, tender, and sexy. If you love a romance novel for its hero, you will love this one! Rice captures the intense excitement of sex between two people in the beginning of their relationship in her explicit scenes between Nick and Charity. Charity is not a vapid heroine as she, also, falls in love, and when faced with the truth that a man she has admired and trusted is a deadly enemy to the US and to the world, she does not engage in typical heroine stubborn denials. Instead, she acts courageously, attempting to save her country and innocent lives. If you love intense, suspenseful, and erotic romances, you'll love this one!

Rushed home from work to rip open the Amazon package so I could curl up with Lisa Marie Rice's newest hero. I enjoyed this heroine more so than some of the previous ones - she wasn't clueless about how she ended up in her man's arms or bed. She read the signals, thought about them and decided she definitely wanted what he had to offer. In addition, in Ms. Rice's previous books, as much as I enjoyed the story, the HEA was always rushed for me: acknowledge love, get heroine out of danger, a one page or paragraph epilogue that might not even reference the hero and heroine. In this one, there is a 3 page epilogue with just the hero and heroine! Way more satisfying.

The only drawback to me, and I am actually still on the fence on whether this should be a nit or not, is that, again, the hero and heroine were both only children, orphaned at early ages, with not much to look forward to in the future, living fairly satisfactory lives - these characters (to me) were too interchangeable with those from "Dangerous Lover".

All in all, I spent an enjoyable evening immersing myself in this book - I definitely recommend this book!

From the Krasnoyarik Power Plant in Russia, an undeclared flight containing a nuclear engineer Arkady Andreyev of the Bratva Brotherhood carrying enough Cesium 137 to blow up Wall St takes off. Arkady calls the Vor, renowned writer Vassily Worontzoff informing him the weather is fine as he begins his trip. Vas feels good as his plot has begun successfully. He and Arkady are survivors of Kolyma Prison Camp, the cruelest the Soviets had; but Vas' beloved wife Katya was raped and murdered at the prison. Vas now lives in Parker's Ridge, Vermont because the local librarian Charity Prewitt looks like Katya's twin. Soon she will be his Katya.

Former Delta officer Nick" Iceman" Ireland is working undercover for the Homeland Security counterterrorism cell the Unit. He and two cohorts John Di Stefano and Alexei Nestrenko are conducting surveillance of The Russian in Vermont, as they know something big is coming. Whereas his partners are in a van, Nick poses as retired Wall St broker Nicholas Ames in town considering a business investment. His assignment is to seduce the librarian so that he can get access to Vas. Soon this trio will forge a triangle that changes each of them forever.

The romantic subplot between the Iceman and the librarian is well written, feels plausible and dominates the tale; whereas the villain though his appearances are limited comes across as brilliantly insane with his motive obvious. Although a minor quibble, a gizmo error by the Feds that goes astray seems wrong especially with fanatical Nick involved; still fans will appreciate this strong thriller in which the triangular relationships propel the tale to a terrific climax.

Harriet Klausner