THE DANGEROUS THIEF (Stolen Hearts #3) by Mallory Crowe-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 23, 2017

James Weston hasn’t given a damn about anything or anyone ever since the first time he took a life. Except now the hired killer is on a very different type of job: Babysitting.

Willa Belli has trouble following her. She is used to partying and trips to the most exotic parts of the world, but her glamorous lifestyle has taken a heavy blow. Now that she knows exactly where her father’s money comes from, she’s determined to finally do something right and put a stop to it. That is if she can stay alive long enough.

But the stakes are high as her father’s men comb the country for her and she’s forced to put her trust in a stranger who seems torn between ignoring her and staring with a lust from her deepest fantasies.

But she needs to be careful. Because James Weston is deadly, greedy and sexy as hell.

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REVIEW: THE DANGEROUS THIEF is the third installment in Mallory Crowe’s contemporary, adult STOLEN HEARTS romantic, suspense series. This is mercenary for hire James Weston, and twenty four year old heiress Willa Belli’s story line. THE DANGEROUS THIEF can be read as a stand alone but for cohesion and back story I recommend reading the series in order as each installment picks up upon the events of the previous, as well as the continuing premise throughout the series.

SOME BACKGROUND: Following a theft that went horribly wrong, Jennifer, Melody and Toni Murray vow revenge against the men who stole from them something that can never be returned. These are their stories as they hunt down the men responsible.

Told from dual third person perspectives (James and Willa) THE DANGEROUS THIEF is a bit of a departure from the series as the story line focuses on the daughter of one of the men the Murray sisters are hoping to destroy. As the witness to a murder, Willa is on the run, one step ahead of those hunting her down. Enter James Weston, mercenary for hire, and the man tasked with protecting our story line heroine. What ensues is the building relationship between Willa and James, and James’ struggle to protect the woman with whom he is falling in love.

Throughout most of her life, Willa Belli has been sheltered from her father’s business but as a witness to a recent homicide, Willa finds herself the center of attention, and with it the revelation to the truth about her father’s income, and the who and what of his business contracts. James Weston is unable to let go of the guilt from his latest assignment-an assignment that resulted in the death of someone he was charged with protecting. Hoping to make amends, James struggles with his attraction to Willa, and his inability to let go of the past.

The relationship between Willa and James begins acrimoniously. Willa’s anxiety over the murder, and the fear of the unknown finds our heroine trying to come to terms with her current situation. James knows that to get involved with a client could risk everything he has struggled to achieve but falling in love was never in the future. The $ex scenes are intimate and seductive without the use of sexually graphic, over the top language and text.

Most of the previous story line couples and characters plays secondary and supporting roles including Austin and Jennifer (The Cocky Thief), Toni Murray, and former Chicago police officer Scott Hart who was first introduced in the author’s RELENTLESS (Fractured Farrells series #5) . Melody and Adam (The Beautiful Thief) are in hiding, as Melody must keep a low profile while the others hunt for the men responsible for destroying their lives. Toni and Scott’s story line is next in The Reluctant Thief.

The world building continues to focus on revenge; vengeance for an unnecessary loss but a loss that broke the hearts of the Murray sisters. The building relationship between Willa and James sets the couple on a path towards a happily ever after including the possibility of Willa working with the Murray clan.

THE DANGEROUS THIEF is a story of revenge, family, romance on the run and retribution. The premise is moving; the characters are charismatic and energetic; the romance is spicy and hot. THE DANGEROUS THIEF is a captivating story about two people thrown together by circumstance and fate.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
The Cocky Thief
The Beautiful Thief
The Dangerous Thief

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

ABOUT THE AUTHOR — Mallory Crowe is the award winning author of the Fractured Farrells series, the Bad Boys of the Underworld series and many other novels. She grew up surrounded by rescue dogs and escaping into romance books whenever possible. After trying to do the “adult” thing by getting an accounting degree and CPA license, she decided to try her hand at writing and never looked back.
An avid traveler, reader, and Netflix addict, Mallory currently lives in Michigan, with her husband and three laid-back dogs.

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