Cover Image: Dangerous Lies

Dangerous Lies

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I loved the characters and the storyline development of this book. It was absolutely one of my favorites so far and I can't wait to delve in to the next one that this author writes. The storyline was simple, enjoyable, and entertaining.

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I attempted to read the advance reader copy of this novel more than a year ago, and just couldn't get into it, especially since it was the second title in a series and I hadn't read the first title. I'd been reading a host of new authors and starting in mid-series and was tired of getting lost way too often, so I put it down. Wow, was I ever wrong! Dangerous Lies, which is the second novel in Claudia Shelton's Shades of Leverage series worked just fine for me as a standalone and was one heck of an action-packed romantic suspense novel. Because it was a little light on the romance, it gets 4 stars from this reader.

I really liked and admired Elizabeth Walkert (Liz), the heroine. She's a smart, snarky, independent and accomplished journalist and she isn't about to just accept and go along for the ride when the hero, Mitch Granger, an operative for a shadow organization called OPAQUE, shows up in her life, informs her he's there to protect her, and he has a host of reasons why, none of which he shares easily. Elizabeth had received a message from her father warning her that she was in danger and that he was sending protection for her, and as hot alpha males go, I'd have stopped asking Mitch questions as soon as he arrived and she set eyes on him. She's about to learn that her entire life has been a lie, and she doesn't take the news lightly, especially after she and Mitch are accosted as soon as they leave the cafe/marina where they met, and then, to quote Bette Davis, "hang onto your hats, it's going to be a bumpy night," and the bumps just keep on coming, and so do the other sexy OPAQUE operatives, and enough bad guys to keep the danger level high throughout this novel.

From that first meeting on, this is one exciting, sexy, and action-packed read that doesn't really let up until the astonishing conclusion, and I wish I could tell you more, but to do so I'd have to let you know what the danger is and the reasons for it, and I prefer not to do spoilers. While I wish I'd read the first novel in this series before reading this one, it certainly didn't hamper my appreciation for this one. All I can tell you is that if romantic suspense is a favorite genre of yours, don't miss this one--it's a winner.

As stated at the outset, I read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

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What's Coercion Ten?

Nice of Drake to get him to drop the bomb.

What happened to Cat, I wonder.

A professor. I see.

What kind of boat is this?!

Poor woman is a safety hazard.

It's a great theory.

Gosh, I can't imagine being afraid of going to the movies.

That is one heavy letter.

Be nicer to your brother, Jeremy.

Ha!

Aww, he can be nice!

Ugh. Whoever took in his siblings should have taken him as well. If they had noticed, he wouldn't have had to do bad things.

This is really exciting.

I knew it!

Stealth loves Cat.

Son of a cracker...

Argh, why didn't he just get in the raft.

Sweet proposal.

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As a romantic thriller/suspense fan, I’m mystified that I’ve just discovered Claudia Shelton’s Mitch Granger. This is my kind of guy; all kick-ass, take no prisoners and tough as an old boot. Mitch is a former Navy SEAL, now an operative and team leader for the Opaque Security Team. In “Dangerous Lies” he’s tasked with keeping journalist Elizabeth “Liz” Walkert alive and safe from the rogue Coercion Ten organization which has ostensibly taken her father hostage and intends to use her as leverage to further their illegal activities. Liz is not just unreceptive to being protected and having her actions controlled by Mitch, she’s downright belligerent at times. and comes off as petulant and mercurial, some of which is understandable given her feelings that her life is spinning out of control. Mitch understands her ambivalence but won’t tolerate her pushback, thus forcing her to accept his authority. This ratchets up the tension between them which is further complicated by their mutual attraction to each other.

As the storyline unfolds, a tad too slowly sometimes, there’s plenty of action and adventure, lots of twists and turns that led me down a blind alley or two and kept me guessing as to who the bad guys really were. Through it all, Mitch’s attitude of “failure is not an option” is always evident and guides his strategic thinking and subsequent actions. Not quite a super-hero, but close enough to my way of thinking.

So, having established that I admire Mitch’s character, Liz sometimes rubbed me the wrong way. For a so-called journalist, her naïveté was astounding. True, she carried lots of emotional baggage from her childhood but don’t most of us? However, she has redeeming qualities that become more evident as the plot unfolds. This is Book Two of the Shades of Leverage series but each can be read as a stand-alone without getting lost. Will I go back and read Book One? Yeah, probably. Four stars.
#NetGalley #DangerousLies

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To ex-Navy SEAL Mitch Granger, responsibility isn’t just a word. It’s his Code of Honor. But when assigned to protect Coercion Ten’s latest target, she challenges his authority, defies his rules, and wreaks havoc on his personal willpower. Fighting for her isn’t a problem. Giving his life for her isn’t a problem. Forgetting their world-stopping kiss? Definite problem. And if he can’t concentrate solely on keeping her safe, it may cost them both their lives. Journalist Liz Walkert’s missing father sent her a cryptic message that she was in danger. What he didn’t tell her was why. Unbeknownst to Liz, her family has been in Witness Protection all her life. Mitch may be her bodyguard, but his protection comes close to being control, the one thing she has none of in his presence. After a kidnap attempt and a narrow escape from attacking CT forces, they both realize they’re going to need to focus on the mission and fight their attraction if they have any hope of surviving.
This was a pretty good book with plenty of action. I liked both characters, particularly Mitch. The romance was ok, but the adventure made up for it. I look forward to reading more from this author. I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

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This book was a no-go for me. The storyline was just too preposterous and the characters too one-dimesional. Mitch is tasked with protecting Liz, and while he is supposed to be a consummate professional, he ends up crossing the line with Liz in no time. Their attraction isn’t all that believable. Thrown together and dealing with one urgent and dangerous situation after another, they still manage to hook up. I can’t imagine anything less professional. Plus, Liz is far too quick to simply accept all the things that are happening around her. A missing father, learning her family was in Witness Protection, bad guys all around. And she is willing to throw her trust behind a guy she has just met. Like I said, it was just all too unrealistic for me. Plus, this shadow group Mitch belongs to seems to have all sorts of high-tech gadgets and access to anything and anyone. Unless I’m reading sci-fi, I prefer my storylines be a little more grounded in reality.
Note: This title was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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This book is part of a series, however, I did not read the first book and I had no issues with this book. This book is a standalone.

Our two main characters, Mitch and Liz had the sizzle. Mitch a former Navy Seal, is of course, is all Alpha and I thought that is character was my favorite. Liz, an investigative journalist was a little hard for me to warm up to as I felt like her character wasn't consistent. The story was full of twists and turns, and was action packed. Trying to determine who were the good guys and bad guys kept me on my toes. The romance was okay in my book, I like a little more steam in my books, but that is just a personal preference for me, still enjoyed the book just wished for a little more. The characters did grow together, so it wasn't an insta anything. Overall, I enjoyed this book and will go back and read book 1 and look forward to book 3.

Happy Reading!!!

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Liz, a journalist, received a cryptic message from her dad that she was in danger...and now he's missing. Maybe if she knew WHY, she'd be better equipped, have some idea what to look out for. What Liz was never told was that her family had been part of Witness Protection her entire life.

Mitch, a former SEAL and friend of the family, is tasked with keeping her safe. That's something he can handle as he's trained for it and he wants to ensure she survives the attempts to get rid of her, but he may be in more danger than she is...at least emotionally.

When you're with someone, lives on the line, an attraction brewing under the surface that's hard to contain, things are bound to get complicated...and they do.

The question is, can they survive what's coming their way and get the future they're both beginning to dream of? Or will their chance be over before it even begins?

One-click now and follow along as two people fight for their lives and futures.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.**

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I enjoyed this action packed story between Mitch and Liz very much. My favorite thing about the book is Mitch. I love his intense depth of character. He is loyal, loving, strong and stubborn. The writing is very good. The book moves along smoothly, logically and quite easily. My least favorite thing was the waffling of Liz. .

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Entangled Publishing via NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

This book was full of intrigue and mystery. I have not read the first book in this series so I was a little lost in the beginning. I continued on as the suspense was right there in the story from the very beginning. As I continued to read the story, the terminology became easier to understand. I did enjoy the plot and the characters. I also was thankful for the dual POV. The background of these two led them into decisions that would have baffled me if I didn't read into their thoughts.

These two characters were sparking off of each other right from the beginning. While Elizabeth (Liz), questioned and rebuffed Mitch's orders in the beginning, she quickly realized the necessity for them and followed through. I did enjoy that. She was a strong female protagonist but she was able to see the reasoning for the rules in benefiting her protection. Mitch on the other hand was stand-offish but seeing getting his POV, I was able to see the strong protective alpha male in his prime.

There were some lightly steamy scenes but nothing to graphic that really shouldn't offend anyone. I recommend this story to anyone who loves intrigue, mystery, action and adventure along with the romance.

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Dangerous Lies is the second stand-alone novel in the Shades of Leverage series by Claudia Shelton

The book overall was decent, but there was one thing that got on my nerves and I couldn't move past it. What was that? The 165 mentions of the word OPAQUE. I know the group the guys belong is called that, but at some point, it was very frequently mentioned and since it was in caps my eyes kept going there. That was what bugged me the most. I liked the rest of the story and the group of people we met was interesting. I want to see what will happen to the characters after everything that went down in this book. At some point, I got frustrated with the heroine because it was obvious that she was walking in a trap and she was so oblivious.

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This book thrived on tense moments. The dangers were real and just kept escalating. The people in the book were good and kept my interest.
Mitch and Elizabeth (Liz) were strong personalities with their own ways of doing things. So of course, you know they will be butting heads from the start. It takes a while for Liz to get on board with being told what to do and when to do it. She had enough of that as a kid when her dad was super controlling. That is a whole different but important part of the story.
It was mentioned that Mitch probably came out of the womb and slid right into responsibility. And as parts of his history were shared he had taken on a lot of responsibility from a young age. It took a while for Liz to see the difference between control and being responsible. The romance part of their story was enjoyable without too much detailed sex being included.
I have to say that I did have my eyes on a couple of people that I wasn't sure were part of the good guys posse. One of them I was tossing back and forth between the two camps. But the way their true motives were exposed was good and brought a good twist to the story.
I felt like a few things were left unanswered when it came to the outcomes but it does have a lot of fierce action at the end. Also includes an Epilogue, which is something I always like.

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

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Really well written romance full of emotions and actions...
Interesting from the start, it grabs your attention and doesn't let go.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.

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The second book in this series that had some steam, suspense and some twists and turns that kept you guessing. When Liz’s father disappears and is threatened, an old friend of the family steps in to protect Liz, having Mitch become her bodyguard. As truths surface, Liz’s life gets turned upside down leaving her reeling and Mitch racing to protect as their safety has been breached, leaving them on the run for their lives. As secrets are revealed and their close proximity, it gets hard for them to deny their attraction....but at what cost.
A good read that had me turning the pages and enjoying the sparks between these two. The story took a bit to get to the good stuff and I would have liked a bit more background on Mitch as he is still a mystery, especially the picture and how it relates to the house...left me confused. I did like him finally coming to his senses and going after what he wants and Liz’s ability to bounce back after everything she learns.
*I voluntarily read an advanced copy and expressed my honest opinion*

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How do you deal with the fact that your entire life as you know it is based on a lie? If you’re journalist Liz Walkert then you tackle it head-on just like another story, only this time, the story is about your family and a dangerous past.

Mitch Granger is on that edge, he’s been doing for everyone else most of his life, he’s an ex-SEAL (although not sure if there is such a thing as a real ex-military person), has been working in security/protection with a unique company on a specialized team — but he’s on that edge of doing too much for too long and he needs a break. He thought he was about to get one, right up until this assignment landed in his lap. An assignment that is going to change his world in ways he never expected.

DANGEROUS LIES is an action-filled Romantic Suspense that brings two unlikely people together to not only fight to solve a mystery, fight the bad guys, but to fight the sizzling attraction between them. Some fights they’re going to win, one important one they’re going to lose with lifelong commitment and love as that prize. But first, they have to protect Liz, find her father, and take down the bad guys.

I enjoyed DANGEROUS LIES. It’s an intriguing story with twists and turns, some expected others not, the chemistry between Liz and Mitch is off the charts, and at the core, it’s a good, suspenseful romance. And I’m still not sure who won the “who can out-stubborn who” contest between this couple – probably comes in at a draw. It is the second story in the Shades of Leverage series, yet I didn’t feel as though I’d missed anything by not reading the stories that came before (the first in the series, and a story that sets up this series). I will probably go back and read those earlier books for I like to know the whole story, but I do not feel it’s necessary to do so.

If you love getting lost in a good Romantic Suspense that will keep you flipping pages, then I’d recommend DANGEROUS LIES without hesitation.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

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A big thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This is part of a series but reads well as a stand alone. This is a convoluted book. Basically Liz's whole life is a lie. witness protection, her dad is not her dad Still I liked it. 4 stars. If you like suspense try this!!

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This is a good romantic suspense novel. There were lots of twists and turns and while the romance angle was good, it didn't overshadow the plot too much. I was able to follow the story line quite well, and keep track of who was who. I liked that I wasn't able to guess too early who all the bad guys were. That kept me glued to the pages, and eager for whatever came next.

I recommend this novel, and look forward to more from this group of fearless men.

I voluntarily read & reviewed an ARC of this book, which I received via NetGalley & Entangled Publishing.

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✦‪Review: DANGEROUS LIES (Shades of Leverage) by Claudia Shelton https://wp.me/p3d0RZ-bbj
Publication Date July 22, 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated 3.5 Stars

This is an action-packed suspense, with danger around every turn. Some situations could seem improbable, but that only added to the thrills. I liked Mitch…the alpha-I’m-in-charge leader of this mission, especially when his thoughtfulness was at odds with his behavior. It gave him a nice depth to his character. I just could not understand his attraction to Liz beyond the physical one. She was all over the place. Petulant, frightened, sullen, shrew, and then sweet or sexy. Her behavior didn’t always match the situation or her world-traveler experience, or how she reacted to Mitch’s instructions when there was imminent danger. However, the romance progressed nicely with the physical relationship kept behind-closed-doors. All in all, this was an exhilarating, fast-paced story that truly kept you wondering how it would end.

*Review copy provided by Entangled in exchange for an honest review.

~*~*~*~
Kindle https://amzn.to/2YbI63B ‬

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Fair

Emotional, intense and sweet with some great twists. It felt like the story was too long and found myself skimming to get heart of the plot.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy.

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It’s hard to review romantic suspense books without dropping spoilers into the mix. I don’t want to hint at any plot twists, big or small, that might interfere with anyone’s enjoyment of the book.
So I’ll just say this. As a romantic suspense fan, I’m usually pretty good at guessing who the bad guy(s) are. This read was no different. I liked Liz and Mitch, I liked the crew from OPAQUE. I did not like the pacing of this book. It was slow and the real action took a long time to get moving. I also was disappointed in the small, unfulfilled taste of one of the characters backgrounds. I was hoping for more,.
I didn’t feel anything was missing by coming in on book 2 of the series. Normally, I’d go back and read book 1. I don’t think that’s in the cards this time. Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read and review this book, but I don’t think this series or author is for me.

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