Dangerous Passions

by Lynn Kerstan

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451216237
• ISBN13: 9780451216236
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: Signet Book
• Length: 370 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.2" x 6.7"

Customer Reviews

Part Romance--Part Mystery

I gave this a 5 because, really, it is very well done and gripping. I, personally, would have preferred a little more romance and a little less investigation, but I knew what I was getting in for, having read the previous book. The author creates believable characters, there is no black and white, just many shades of gray. I particularly like her heroes. This is not so much a trilogy as a series of related books. The only common denominator in the first two has been the brief appearances by the Duke and Duchess of Sarne who, I devoutly hope, will be the subjects of the final book in the series.

interesting historical romantic suspense

In 1817 Colonel Lord Marcus Cordell returns to England after twenty years away at war only to receive a summons from the Black Phoenix fellowship. The mysterious organization wants him to hunt for an upper-class serial killer; making it easier for Marcus to hide his mission is that he and popular amongst the Ton Lady Eve Halliday will masquerade as an betrothed couple. Marcus can see immediately that his "fiancée" hates his guts, but he has no idea why. His instincts prove correct as Eve wants to destroy him based on letters received between 1810 and 1813 from close friend Johnny Brandon on the Iberian front. As they spend time together Marcus falls in love with his partner, but though he believes she reciprocates he sense that her priority to destroy him remains on top of her list, but he still has no explanation why even as he risks his life to keep her safe from their target that has targeted his beloved for death. DANGEROUS PASSIONS, the sequel to the fine DANGEROUS DECEPTIONS, is an interesting historical romantic suspense thriller starring two solid protagonists, and a heroine who, though falling in love, believes her heart is betraying her life. The story line is well written from the beginning when Sir Peregrine of the mysterious Black Phoenix organization admits to Marcus things often go awry and stays at a fever pitch until after the last murder is resolved. Though readers never learn why Lady Eve suddenly became open minded though disagreeing with her beloved over the Brandon scenario, fans will enjoy this tense tale and look forward to all the threads tied up in the finale. Harriet Klausner

Highly Entertaining - Suspenseful and Romantic

In this second book of the Black Phoenix trilogy, author Lynn Kerstan again gives a wonderfully exciting suspense filled historical tale. Along, with her expressive style of writing using crisp and witty dialogs the reader will be pulled into the suspense of several sub-plots within the main story. As two people were summoned by the mysterious Black Phoenix organization to track down a killer, Colonel Lord Marcus Cordell, who had returned to England after a 20-year absence found himself partnered up with Lady Eve Halliday, a fashionable society heiress who was to pose as his betrothed. Cordell sensed right from the beginning that beneath the façade of the lady's beautiful but cool exterior was a hidden animosity that made no sense to him considering his long absence from England and lack of social connections. Lady Eve's animosity towards Cordell was real and while she was prepared to help track down the elusive murderer stalking the haut ton - her most immediate object was to trap and ruin Cordell. The rage would recede though as the retribution she so desperately wanted to rain down on Cordell would be harder to exact as her passion for the man overcame her fury. It soon became apparent that as they came closer to unmasking their prey, Lady Eve herself appeared to have been earmarked as a target as well. After spending time posing together as the besotted couple, Cordell would have to rationalize which was worse, death at the hands of a killer or falling in love with a woman who seemed to have vengeance, betrayal and possibly his death on her mind. ___ Written with exquisite prose, dialogs and wonderfully complex and unique characters, I thoroughly enjoyed this second entry to Kerstan's latest trilogy. Unfortunately, I am rating this just a smidgen lower than my initial plan and the reason is that I did not feel the author wrapped up sufficiently all the burning questions that were raised. First and foremost, who was behind the attacks on Lady Eve and why? The answer to the other murders was tied up very nicely and with a very good twist, BUT the `person' behind the attacks on Eve was never revealed as I ask myself, is the author going to wrap this up in the final book of the trilogy??? Also, as each chapter started, we saw a letter that was from Eve's childhood sweetheart that more or less was setting up the scenario as to why she hated Cordell so much. After all was said and done, the last batch of hidden letters was delivered, and Eve was ready to beg forgiveness from Cordell. Was there something in the letters that caused her change of heart, other than the realization that revenge left a bitter taste in her mouth? One thing I could not fault though was the very poignant and heart tugging declarations Eve and Cordell issued to one another in the end -- Now that's what romance is all about! Picky things aside, I can enthusiastically recommend this highly entertaining read! - Marilyn, for www.romancedesigns.com ---