Dangerous Beauty was an interesting read. It started off intensely and grabbed my attention, but then the story seemed to slow down. The ending was good, though, and I liked the twist.

The romance was okay...not really a favorite for me, just because it seemed to be too quick at times. I also found it frustrating how Meric acted towards Liliana - I get WHY he was that way, but it led to some unnecessary misunderstandings/hurts.

All in all, Dangerous Beauty was a good read about an important topic. Not always 100% believable to me, but I liked it overall.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.*

This thrilling and fast-paced story about a woman on the run from escaping some men trying to traffic her and how a mysterious rich man saves her in the moment is a wild ride and I devoured this in 2 sittings. I felt the author handled the topic respectfully and with care but didn't shy away from the realities of human trafficking. I LOVED the faith elements and growth from Liliana but wanted more of those elements for Meric. I was left slightly disappointed in how it was wrapped up because I wanted more. Definitely highly recommend, if you love Christian suspense.

My review is my own and I greatly appreciate Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Dangerous Beauty
A Novel
by Melissa Koslin
Pub DateSep 06 2022
Revell
Christian| Romance| Thriller


I am reviewing a copy of Dangerous Beauty through Reveal and Netgalley:


There is something Liliana Vela hates about the term "victim". She is not a victim, she is a fighter. With a quiet elegance, she is determined to take back her life after escaping the clutches of human traffickers in her poor Mexican village. She can't stay in America safely unless the man who rescued her is serious about his unconventional proposal to marry her.


Meric Toledan stopped at a service station for a bottle of water. After assessing the situation, he rescues Liliana from traffickers. His wealth and position give him many resources to help her if he keeps his secrets at bay. A mysterious buyer who funded her capture will not sit idly by as his prize is stolen.


I give Dangerous Beauty five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

A suspenseful and tension filled read, with courageous characters in this high stakes read.

A difficult read at times because of the subject matter of sex trafficking. This book had plenty going on, but it never quite clicked for me and I think that I just never really enjoyed reading it because of how dark it was, and that is a personal preference on my end. Also I suppose I didn't especially love how the story had them lingering on each other's physically attractive attributes alot.

In the end I think this book had a lot of good things going for it, but it wasn't for me. As a result thank you to the publisher for letting me read this book but, I will not be sharing my feedback beyond this netgalley submission.

While I found this book a bit far fetched at times (admittedly, I'm not a big fan of the marriage of convenience trope), I did enjoy most of the storyline. I also appreciate it when authors tackle such heavy topics, such as human trafficking. I think I would have loved this book if the faith elements were more prominent.

Dangerous Beauty by Melissa Koslin had an interesting premise. A young woman from a poor Mexican village is being trafficked. A young man recognizes what is going on and rescues her. Good so far. But as the story goes on it strained my belief. The fact that a young village woman could go from knowing very little English and become fluent within weeks stretches the realms of belief. Also, she quickly becomes a counselor to the man that rescued her. Furthermore, she becomes adept at self-defense in this same time frame. Although this book had promise the story was too unbelievable for me. I must admit in all fairness that I did not like the male Main carrier either. Even though I did not care for this story a fellow reviewer loved it.

So settle back with a large pot of tea and an open mind. I hope you find this book more enjoyable than I did.

I dnfed at about 30%. This is probably more of a me thing and less about the book. I couldn’t connect to the characters and the dialogue felt a little stilted to me. I want to revisit it in a few months to see how I feel, but it just isn’t for me right now.

I couldn’t put this down. It was a clean romance with a great plot that addressed a heavy topic. Very intense.
Many thanks to Revell and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This novel starts off strong with a young Mexican woman fleeing from her captors. Liliana escapes to a large gas station in Texas and another women in the restroom recognized the signs of abuse and fear.

From there I struggled with the plausibility of events. It's difficult to believe a wealthy and successful man, even one with a heart for the oppressed, would offer marriage as a solution within 30 minutes of meeting Liliana.

The events following their marriage mildly kept my interest.

Unfortunately, this novel was a miss for me.

I thought this book was really good. I like how strong Liliana is and how she overcomes. I love the romance in the book as well. Very well done!

“Remember someone loved you enough to come for you. Remember you are worthy.”

A beautifully, intense story written on a subject that has needed more attention. The hopefulness of this novel was woven into a story about the dangers of human trafficking and how one person can make a difference. The storyline was engaging. Meric and Liliana really drew me in right from the start. There was danger, mystery, romance, and some secrets that were intense, but well written. However, though it was intense, there were no suggestive themes that would be overwhelming to the reader. It was very well handled, especially in dealing with tough material. At times the story did seem unrealistic, but the hopeful theme won out for me. I really enjoyed it.

“God was in this moment. “I’m not broken.” She didn’t fully realize the whispered words had come from her lips until Meric squeezed her hand.”

As the story unfolded, the mystery behind Meric really pulled on my heartstrings. Both characters had so much to overcome. I loved how honorable Meric was with Liliana and with his own mission in life. Also, the author did a great job in teaching safety and self defense in the midst of danger. It was well explained and really brought the scenes to life. I enjoyed how she took something meant for evil and turned it into something good, which was threaded throughout the story. I really look forward to reading more from this author.

I was given an advanced reader copy from the publisher through NetGalley. I did find the ARC needed some smoothing out, but I’m sure the final book was better. Overall, I enjoyed this book and the topic. The romance was beautiful, too.

This was my first book by this author and although not one I would usually pick up I heard so many people recommend it that I requested a copy via NetGalleyUK.

It took me a while to get into it, even though the first chapter is very fast paced and throws you right into the story. The writing was great and the characters likeable and well developed, you can’t help but want a positive outcome for the heroine with all that she has been through.

Looking forward to reading more from this author.

I’m not going to lie I didn’t like this one as much as I did the author’s first book. But it was still a good read. However it was a hard and emotional read as it deals with human trafficking. Which is something a lot of people might not want to read about. But it is something that people need to learn about and know that it happens. And sometimes it’s easier to learn about it in a work of fiction.

After Liliana Vela’s family is murdered and she is trafficked from Mexico to Texas, she escapes at the first opportunity and is rescued by the mysterious Meric Toledan. Meric then offers a marriage of convenience as a way of keeping her safe, so she doesn’t have to return to Mexico where she fears she’d just be kidnapped and trafficked again.

(I’m fairly sure that it takes more than marriage to a stranger to be allowed to stay in the USA, but we’ll let that minor detail pass. The “billionaire marrying a stranger” did remind me of Streiker’s Bride by Robin Hardy, if you’ve been reading Christian fiction long enough to remember that one.)

I initially hesitated to request Dangerous Beauty for review because the topic was human trafficking. I read for entertainment, and there’s nothing entertaining about forcing women into sexual slavery.

But after reading Melissa Koslin’s debut novel, Never Miss, I decided to give Dangerous Beauty a chance and I’m glad I did. While trafficking provides the main tension in the plot, there is nothing explicit about trafficking (although there are a couple of well-written fight sequences).

Liliana is an excellent character. She’s strong, intelligent, and determined. She’s also brave – she’s not afraid to trust Meric, to leave the apartment, to learn new things, even when that will potentially put her at risk.

Meric is more of a mystery, one that is uncovered slowly as the novel progresses. It’s obvious he’s hiding something from Liliana, but it’s also clear that she trusts him. It’s a credit to Koslin’s writing that she convinces me that because Liliana trusts Meric, I should as well.

The story is fast-paced to the point where I didn’t stop to ponder the logic or possibility of plot points like the marriage of convenience or even Liliana’s feelings towards Meric. It swept me along to the inevitable yet satisfying conclusion that answered all my questions, including one I hadn’t even realised I had.

Recommended for romantic suspense fans who enjoy authors such as Dee Henderson and Dani Pettrey.

Thanks to Revell Books and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

Human traffickers killed her family and snatched Liliana Vela from her poor Mexican village. Though she manages to escape after crossing the United States border, the danger is far from over. The buyer wants her back. With no family, money, or legal status, it is only a matter of time before he finds her.

When Meric Toledan stopped at a gas station for a bottle of water, he had no idea how his life was about to change. Though he eludes demons of his own, rescuing Liliana from her traffickers was the right thing to do. However, simply walking away would leave her vulnerable and exposed. So Meric does the only thing he can think of — propose an in-name-only marriage.

Joining forces may mean they are no longer alone. It also doubles their enemies, putting Meric and Liliana in the crosshairs of those hunting the other.

As a Spaniard, the prospect of a story with a Hispanic heroine thrilled me, and the summary promised two of my favorites — marriage of convenience and lots of action. Melissa Koslin’s Dangerous Beauty started with a bang, plunging me smack in the middle of a fight for life. I was hooked. Sadly, that didn’t last.

The main issues boiled down to pacing and the heroine. After exiting the gate with a dash, the story slowed to a repetitious crawl, with the suspenseful moments being few and far between. While Liliana’s loop of studying English, cooking, shopping, and exploring might be realistic, it didn’t make for the most scintillating read. I found myself skimming those sections to reach moments with more action.

The heroine herself often came across unrealistically. Outside of the mention of some traditional foods and that her native language is Spanish, there was nothing particularly Hispanic about her. Her English level bounced all over the place. It alternated between being described as basic and holding advanced conversations. Considering the audience is English-speaking, I might have overlooked her moments of advanced English had she not repeatedly attributed her improvement to her day and a half to one week of independent study. Language learning entails a lot more than that.

In addition, Liliana has endured one of the most horrific experiences imaginable — human trafficking — yet she comes across a bit too innocent, naïve, and trusting. Most of the time, the trauma one expects to see wasn’t present. On occasion, she felt more like a tourist making friends than a woman in hiding.

While believable that she would feel she had no choice to marry and follow Meric, the reader witnesses very little of the internal struggle or the fear and desperation that would accompany making such a decision.

Dangerous Beauty has incredible potential. During the faster-paced moments, Koslin’s writing style had me riveted. The slower parts of the story helped keep an otherwise heavy topic from becoming too overwhelming. All in all, it’s not a bad book. It just leans more in the direction of romance than suspense/thriller. If you go in expecting the latter, which I did, you’ll be disappointed. If you want a read that focuses more on the former, then this book is a good option.

Wow, what a journey! This is the second book I've had the opportunity to read by this author. She does an excellent job of creating strong and extremely intelligent female characters without being even remotely cliche or using tired stereotypes.

Liliana Vela observes her family being murdered and is taken captive by the perpetrators, yet she escapes and is ultimately rescued by Meric Toledan, a multi-millionaire. She instinctively sees something in him she can trust and when he offers to "marry" her for protection, she surprisingly accepts. Integrating into his world is a challenge, but Liliana is intelligent and resourceful. Will their relationship grow into something real? Is the danger still out there?

I really enjoyed this book! The author did an excellent job of balancing the harsh realities of abuse and learning how to trust as well as painted a very clear picture of the lead characters' motivations and allowed for a surprising and interesting (also satisfying) conclusion. I will happily recommend it.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

"Tomorrow, she might break down, but not today."

Dangerous Beauty by Melissa Koslin is a fast-paced action/suspense that will put you squarely on the edge of your seat from page one and keep you there all the way to the end. Human trafficking continues to be a prevalent and horrendous activity worldwide, and Texas is definitely no exception. Melissa Koslin presents this terrible crisis through the eyes of one young women taken from her home in Mexico and sold to a buyer in Texas. With Liliana Vela’s striking beauty, she remains at risk, even after she escapes her captors at a gas station and is ultimately rescued by Meric Toledan, a complete stranger who promises to help.

For her protection, Meric proposes marriage in name only, but should Liliana trust this man when so many others have betrayed her? What choice is there when she is now in a foreign country illegally, albeit against her will, and has no money, no home, no family, and only a rudimentary grasp of the English language? Fortunately, in addition to her natural grace and beauty, Liliana is blessed with thoughtful intelligence, an eagerness to learn English, and a fierce determination to thrive and survive in her new home in Houston, Texas, and to help other women who have been captured and abused.

With some shades of the movie Pretty Woman, Dangerous Beauty evolves into so much more than a beautiful woman rescued by a wealthy man. While Liliana and Meric meet under horrendous circumstances and marry out of convenience, both quickly develop mutual respect and admiration for each other’s strength and honor, laying the foundation for deeper feelings to blossom. But the villainous threats against both Meric and Liliana are far from over.

Melissa Koslin presents an explosive, suspenseful drama involving an abominable plight that rarely ends with happily ever after. Human trafficking and illegal immigration are undeniably real situations, and Dangerous Beauty brings the human condition and the various perils of such situations into the spotlight, providing a broader glimpse into the helplessness and hopelessness of those affected by such serious jeopardy. The main characters are three dimensional and engaging, and the overall plot is rife with uncertainty, courage, Christian beliefs, and steadfast resolve to help as many people as possible, all viewed through the chaotic, rose-tinted lens of a classic fairy tale that is filled with danger, good over evil, trust, redemption, and love.

If you are not afraid of a strong, intelligent female protagonist and a taciturn man with secrets and a good heart, then Dangerous Beauty by Melissa Koslin is a great choice for your next thriller fiction. While the overall plot of human trafficking is distasteful and disturbing, this book will keep you riveted from the beginning, eagerly wondering if, how, and when Liliana and Meric will prevail against such ubiquitous, relentless corruption and malevolence. Nothing is ever certain when human predators stalk their prey and heroes try to stop them, but you can rest assured that Dangerous Beauty is well written, top notch, and quite the page turner.

It took me a little while to get into the book as it took me a while to warm up to the characters’ personalities. I had a little bit of disbelief that Liliana would give herself fully to marrying a stranger after having her family murdered and kidnapped to be trafficked. Also, with how understanding Meric seemed to be at the beginning, I couldn’t quite understand how Meric never thought of how the various people coming to the apartment while Liliana is there by herself would make her uncomfortable and potentially lead to panic. However, the further I got into the story, I could suspend my disbelief in their reactions enough to enjoy watching how it would play out and was invested in things as they slowly get revealed.

Liliana Vela is a strong survivor. Not willing to accept the events that conspired to pull her into human trafficking, she escapes. Meric Toledan stops at a service station for a bottle of water, but he happens to be the right person in the right place in order to rescue Liliana from being trafficked.

In order to help keep Liliana in America and hopefully away from the cartel threatening her life, she marries Meric within a few hours of meeting him. However Meric is full of secrets. The he has wealth and resources to keep Liliana safe, both of them are still concerned about the mysterious buyer that continues to try and capture his stolen prize.

To be honest, I saw Melissa Koslin was the author of this book and I snatched it up because I had so enjoyed reading her first book, Never Miss. When I started reading Dangerous Beauty, I was surprised by some of the content, however I could not put this book down. I was drawn into Liliana's journey of healing, and was so curious about the demons Meric was fighting that caused him to be so secretive, even when he was clearly so caring and kind.

Through a series of high intensity events, Koslin takes you on a journey through what it might feel like to be trafficked, the impact it takes on the lives of all those surrounding those involved and is a reminder that trafficking is often closer than we ever realize it is. While the subject matter of Dangerous Beauty is dark and scary, I so appreciated Koslin taking me as a reader along on this journey.

While the premise of this story was interesting, it seemed to lose a bit of steam after the half way point. An interesting mystery that sheds light on human trafficking.