Take Me If You Dare
by Candace Havens
Release Date: January 19, 2010
Publisher: Harlequin Blaze
standalone
Number of pages: 214
paperback
Source: Warren Public Library
Romantic Suspense M/F
Rating: NC-17
Read 8/23/19 to 8/25/19
For Mariska Stonegate, the gorgeous guy she’s now met is everything she’s looking for in a man–hot, hot and…oh, right. Hot. And just because every pore of his body screams danger and sex doesn’t mean she’s getting herself into too much trouble….
But Mr. Thomas isn’t who he says he is. In fact, his real name is Jackson–no last names, please–and he’s a burned CIA agent on the run. And he’ll do just about anything to stay alive…including seducing Mariska one hot, steamy night at a time!
When I reviewed this author’s Bet Me to Stay I had said I would most likely give her another chance but in a different genre. Well, I didn’t really follow my own thought process and ended up trying this book instead. Although it has hints of suspense, it’s still a contemporary romance. I had said I was going to try one of her paranormal books. I should have listened to myself.
This story is good, but not great. Jackson is a wonderful hero and really swoony when he’s in his spy mode. I like Mariska, but didn’t feel like I could get a bead on her. She was either inept or skilled, depending on what the story called for. Which made me feel as though the author was phoning it in on this one.
There are some great scenes in this story, especially when Mar and Jackson are actively in their investigation. There was also chemistry, just not as much as I was looking for. More like a low simmer than a full-on boil. Yet the ending was a bit anticlimactic and was wrapped up a bit too quickly for what was happening in the story.
I may still read more from this author if I come across one of her paranormal books, but I’m done with her contemporary romance for now. The stories I’ve read are not bad at all, but I have too much on my TBR to keep trying with her at this point.
All In Good Time 