Dangerous as Sin [Mass Market Paperback]

I picked up Dangerous As Sin, by Alix Rickloff, on a whim thinking it was in a period I loved, Regency, and from the book blurb it also had a half-fey amazon along with a dangerously attractive soldier with nothing left to hope for. All ingredients that spurred me to purchase the book and give it a try. Boy, am I ever glad I did! From the first page until the very last I was swiftly drawn into a world of dark magic and intrigue, of betrayed alliances, of evil so vile it poisoned all that were touched by it's malevolent blade and lastly, a love that would survive and grow within the midst of heartbreak and fear. I loved this book and have ordered the first in the series, Lost In You. I understand that more in the series are in the works and can only say, thank you to Ms Rickloff and the publisher smart enough to have nabbed this wonderful talented author. I will not spoil your fun by giving an indepth description of the story line...but will encourage...nay, I will emphatically tell you to rush out and get your copy of Dangerous As Sin and it's predecessor, Lost In You....and become infatuated with the magical world created by this very talented author. Many kudos to Ms Rickloff from a newly devoted fan!!!

Morgan Bligh is secretly in love. While she can't tell anyone about the joy she feels, she can at least admire Cameron Sinclair from afar. Morgan overhears several people discussing the man in question and she doesn't respond but when she hears that her lover is married, her world comes crashing down on her. Feeling like the worst fool and heartbroken, Morgan escapes to the garden and does the forbidden - she escapes the only way she knows how - by letting out her inner wolf.

Cameron Sinclair has spent the last six months drunk. Not because of his now deceased wife, but because he is upset that her death means he is finally free of the pain of being married to a woman he could not stand. It is like he has been let out of prison. With the arrival of his friend Brock, Cameron finds out his drinking days are over, at least for now, because he is needed in London. Arriving at his appointment, he is disturbed by the presence of an extremely large woman - a veritable Amazon of sorts. It is who comes into the room after Cameron that has his attention - and his love. Morgan and Cameron are to be partners in a search for men disappearing from the army. Rumors abound that evil has invaded the men in her Majesty's service. Cameron's assassin skills will come in handy, there is no way he would ever let Morgan be hurt. Hopefully the time together will erase some of the hatred she feels towards him. At least that is what he hopes.

DANGEROUS AS SIN grabs you immediately once you start reading. Morgan's pain at finding out the lover she adores is married broke my heart and I felt her pain. No matter that Cameron didn't love the women who shared his name; I do think he should have told her that he had a wife. Morgan, however, was stronger than I because I would have forgiven Cameron way too easily just on the fact alone that he was sexy, passionate, and a charming rogue. He wanted a second chance with Morgan and their mission gave that to him. Trying to get into Morgan's good graces was harder than Cam realized but he didn't give up.

With a gripping plot, DANGEROUS AS SIN explores the paranormal. Morgan is an Other. Her fighting skills are honed and ready to be used. I thought her characterization just about perfect because she was able to take care of herself without being to boyish and above all, she still loved Cameron and with the life that he had, he needed someone to love and cherish him.

Alix Rickloff has a winner with DANGEROUS AS SIN. It is compelling and passionate, intriguing and romantic. There was nothing about this book that I didn't like. Coming in July, 2009, don't miss DANGEROUS AS SIN. Readers will be totally captivated with this striking and highly intense story. I know I was!

Natalie S.

Mini Summary: Morgan and Cam were exlovers who were forced to work together to stop mage thief who stole a power Fey weapon with plans to control the Fey and human world.

Usually it takes me a couple of days to finish a book. On the weekends if I am not busy a day. I started this book Monday and just finished last night which was Thursday. I would pick the book up start reading and after a few pages lose interest. I really can't put my finger on why it was so easy to put this book down so many times. Cam was my ideal male lead. He wasn't the perfect Ton gentlemen; he had flaws and they affected him in a way that the reader could feel for his pain. He was brave and did his duty during the war for crown and country at a huge cost to his mind and soul. Yet his peers and family did not understand or appreciate his sacrifices.

Morgan was also a great female lead. She was beautiful but not in that blonde blue eyed ideal of the Ton. She was a trained warrior with mage powers. However, she also had real flaws about who she was as a woman and conflicts about what she wanted most. Life as a warrior or life has as a wife and mother. The best thing about Morgan was that she accepted Cam as he was. She didn't even consider trying to change or "fix" him. She accepted his emotional scars as a part of who he was jut like she acceted his battle scars.

So why didn't I love this story? I think the main problem with this book was that it is listed has a historical romance but it was really a paranormal novel and the romance seemed the be the secondary story. If a book is called a romance than the romance should have the main role in the story.

Also the end of the book with the showdown to save the human and mage world was bit of a let down after all the build up.

Overall the writing flowed well, the characters were good but for me the story was just to focused on the magical aspect of the story.

I gave the book 3 stars because it was just to easy for me to put the book down and do other things.