After Ardin Wesley's cousin Suziette is murdered, her widower, Brett, asks Ardin to help him adopt Suziette's little girl, whom he's grown to love. Trouble is, no one knows the identity of the child's natural father. Ardin decides she wants to adopt Leonie, and take her to home to Manhattan.
Although she is drawn to Brett, an abusive husband turned Ardin against love and marriage. Brett feels betrayed when he learns of her plans to adopt the child. When someone sets fire to Ardin's aunt's house, she barely escapes with her life. Despite their differences, Brett offers her shelter and together they work to create a secure home for the bereft little girl and to discover the identity of her father before someone else dies to protect his terrible secret.
Professional Reviews
Romantice Suspense at Its Best!
Ardin Wesley heads to her hometown when her cousin Suziette is murdered. Suziette leaves behind her husband, Brett, and her young daughter, Leonie. Ardin's Aunt Julia is named as Leonie's guardian, but when her health takes a turn for the worst, guardianship falls to Ardin. Ardin is more than happy as she intends to adopt Leonie and take her back to Manhattan where she lives and has a great job as a lawyer. Ardin wasn't counting on Brett wanting to adopt her too. After all, he's a step-father and not Leonie's biological father, but he loves the little girl as if she's his own. Ardin begins to wonder if uprooting Leonie is such a good idea, especially when she sees how much the girl loves Brett.
Ardin and Brett team up to find Suziette's murderer and Leonie's biological father. If they find her father, they have a better chance of adopting the girl. Brett thinks Ardin is helping his case, but it's not long before he discovers Ardin is planning her own adoption case and plans to take Leonie away. He is furious and feels very betrayed.
Meanwhile, Aunt Julia's home is hit by an arson and burnt to the ground. Ardin's own life is being threatened as she continually discovers secrets about her cousin, which may have led to her death and is now putting Ardin's life in danger.
This is a real page-turner. I didn't want to put it down. I loved the mix of romance and mystery - it was the perfect combination. The characters were realistic and sympathetic (except for the bad guys, of course). The plot kept me thinking until the end. Each one of Marilyn's stories are well-crafted and her story-telling talents get better and better. I'm looking forward to her next book.~~Yvonne Reviews
Great Romantic Suspense
Dangerous Relations by Marilyn Levinson is a great romantic suspense. Ardin Wesley’s cousin, Suziette, is murdered and leaves behind a young daughter, Leonie. She becomes the guardian of Leonie and has to decide if it’s in the child’s best interest to take her to Manhattan with her and away from everyone she knows and loves. One of those people that Leonie would be leaving is Brett, her mother’s husband. Brett wants custody of Leonie, but he doesn’t have any legal rights to becoming her guardian. What follows is a suspenseful tale of trying to find out who killed Suziette and deciding the best guardian for Leonie. Of course there are problems that arise, including romantic problems and finding out who Leonie’s father is. The unknown father may be willing to commit more murders to keep his secret safe.
This book is the perfect combination of romance, suspense and mystery. Trying to find Suziette’s murderer is complicated by the fact that she was promiscuous and had made some enemies because of her behavior. There are many twists and turns throughout the story and this made it nearly impossible to figure out the murderer before it was revealed. I like the fact that I couldn’t figure it out by myself because it wasn’t obvious and made me think trying to solve the mystery.
The writing style flows easily and it is a quick easy read. The author does a great job with character development. I felt the characters were well developed, well rounded and realistic.
They were the type of characters you could get behind and root for, and hurt for them when things went wrong. This makes for an exceptionally good book, in my opinion.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romantic suspense books. I thought it was one of the better ones that I’ve read. I have read Marilyn Levinson’s Giving Up The Ghost and I loved that one as well. I feel this author is very talented, she is able to write different styles of books equally well. I will be checking out the other books that she’s written because I know they will be a good read.~~M. Brown
Romantic Suspense at Its Best
Arden Wesley returns to her home town because her cousin, Suziette, has been murdered leaving behind her husband, Brett Waterstone, and her young daughter Leonie. When Suziette's will is read, Arden has been named as Leonie's guardian. She loves Leonie, but there is a big problem--the girl's stepfather, Brett, also loves Leonie and Leonie loves him as her father. Arden is torn because she doesn't want to leave her good job as a lawyer in New York, but she also doesn't want to take Leonie away from the only father that she knows. Of course it isn't long before she realizes she has feeling for Brett and he for her--though nothing is simple for either of them.
Though the romance is the main part of the story, there is still the big question, who killed Suziette? There are many suspects and a disagreeable detective as the tale unfolds, Suziette's indiscretions revealed and motives uncovered. While Arden wrestles with her decisions and feelings, she realizes she also is in danger with threats coming from several directions.
Dangerous Relations would make the perfect Lifetime move. If you like a strong romance woven into a compelling mystery, you'll love this romantic suspense.~~Marilyn Meredith
Willa Goodheart, honest and hard-working white collar worker finds herself connected to a police investigation for a serial killer; and she hasn't a clue why - that is, until she begins digging.
