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Dangerous Affairs
When soap opera star Abby Langford leaves Los Angeles for her Minnesota hometown, she’s hoping to give her nine-year-old daughter the peaceful childhood she never knew. But instead of tranquility, Abby finds an old knife hidden behind a wall of her new house. Then the nightmares start: a blood-soaked victim and a killer’s arm slicing through the air, again and again.
Abby wonders if she’s having the nervous breakdown the tabloids claim she already had, especially when sexy, skeptical police chief Josh Kincaid questions her story. When menacing hate mail arrives, Josh’s professional concern for Abby soon evolves into an intense attraction, and the feeling is mutual. But as Abby’s visions grow more graphic and gripping, so does her fear.
Somewhere in the shadows of Abby’s memory lies the key to a very present danger. But she’ll have to stay alive long enough to find it…
Abby wonders if she’s having the nervous breakdown the tabloids claim she already had, especially when sexy, skeptical police chief Josh Kincaid questions her story. When menacing hate mail arrives, Josh’s professional concern for Abby soon evolves into an intense attraction, and the feeling is mutual. But as Abby’s visions grow more graphic and gripping, so does her fear.
Somewhere in the shadows of Abby’s memory lies the key to a very present danger. But she’ll have to stay alive long enough to find it…
356 pages, Paperback
First published October 30, 2012
About the author
Diana Miller
3 books118 followersWhen she was eight, Diana Miller decided she wanted to be Nancy Drew. But no matter how many garbage cans she dug through, conversations she “accidentally” overheard, and attics she searched, she never found a single cryptic letter, hidden staircase, or anything else even remotely mysterious. She worked as a lawyer, a soda jerk, a stay-at-home mom, a hospital admitting clerk, and a conference host before deciding that the best way to inject suspense into her otherwise satisfying life was by writing about it.
Diana is a five-time nominee for the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award and winner of a Golden Heart for Dangerous Affairs—a romantic suspense novel that shows not everyone in her home state is Minnesota Nice. She lives in the Twin Cities with her family.
Diana is a five-time nominee for the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award and winner of a Golden Heart for Dangerous Affairs—a romantic suspense novel that shows not everyone in her home state is Minnesota Nice. She lives in the Twin Cities with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
August 10, 2013
4 1/2 stars - unabridged audio
Narrated by Karen White
Unfamiliar with Diana Miller’s work, I was hesitant to give Dangerous Affairs a try (although I found the synopsis intriguing) until I realized it was narrated by Karen White. Karen is one my auto-buy narrators - if I think a book may interest me, her narration will sway me to give it a try. So, I must give credit to her narration for leading me to this very enjoyable listen of Diana Miller’s debut novel.
Although I have watched few daytime soap operas over the years, for some reason I find their female stars work well for me as romance heroines, something I rarely see. Abby Langford has left her soap star days and her cheating ex-husband behind, moving back to her hometown in Minnesota where she hopes to provide a better quality life for her nine-year-old daughter. Then mysterious incidents start to occur – an old bloody knife is found in her new home, she starts receiving threatening letters, and someone breaks into her home. But Chief of Police, Josh Kincaid, believes Abby is creating the events for publicity and has a hard time believing there is a real threat to her life.
My first experience listening to Karen White was her 2010 performance of Julie James’ Just the Sexiest Man Alive. My audio reviews were much shorter in those days and I summed up my thoughts on the narration with, “Karen White excels in her narration.” And somehow, Karen just keeps improving which is a little amazing. First of all, she “gets” romance and understands the importance of the byplay between the leads and the timing needed for an effective delivery. Second, she clearly distinguishes her characters and has improved her ability to provide the romance listener with that longed-for male deeper voice. In Dangerous Affairs, she once again “excels in her narration” – just at a higher level.
Miller delivers a taut mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. In addition, it is quite romantic. For a debut author’s effort, it’s impressive and combined with Karen White’s performance, it’s likely an audio I will listen to again.
Written for Speaking of Audiobooks 3/25/13 http://www.likesbooks.com/blog/?p=9539
Narrated by Karen White
Unfamiliar with Diana Miller’s work, I was hesitant to give Dangerous Affairs a try (although I found the synopsis intriguing) until I realized it was narrated by Karen White. Karen is one my auto-buy narrators - if I think a book may interest me, her narration will sway me to give it a try. So, I must give credit to her narration for leading me to this very enjoyable listen of Diana Miller’s debut novel.
Although I have watched few daytime soap operas over the years, for some reason I find their female stars work well for me as romance heroines, something I rarely see. Abby Langford has left her soap star days and her cheating ex-husband behind, moving back to her hometown in Minnesota where she hopes to provide a better quality life for her nine-year-old daughter. Then mysterious incidents start to occur – an old bloody knife is found in her new home, she starts receiving threatening letters, and someone breaks into her home. But Chief of Police, Josh Kincaid, believes Abby is creating the events for publicity and has a hard time believing there is a real threat to her life.
My first experience listening to Karen White was her 2010 performance of Julie James’ Just the Sexiest Man Alive. My audio reviews were much shorter in those days and I summed up my thoughts on the narration with, “Karen White excels in her narration.” And somehow, Karen just keeps improving which is a little amazing. First of all, she “gets” romance and understands the importance of the byplay between the leads and the timing needed for an effective delivery. Second, she clearly distinguishes her characters and has improved her ability to provide the romance listener with that longed-for male deeper voice. In Dangerous Affairs, she once again “excels in her narration” – just at a higher level.
Miller delivers a taut mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. In addition, it is quite romantic. For a debut author’s effort, it’s impressive and combined with Karen White’s performance, it’s likely an audio I will listen to again.
Written for Speaking of Audiobooks 3/25/13 http://www.likesbooks.com/blog/?p=9539
November 12, 2012
Soap Opera star Abby Langford moved back home to Minnesota, wanting to retire and become a writer instead. Abby felt a special connection with the home she bought, wanting her daughter to experience a normal life. When Abby finds a knife that looks to be bloodied hidden behind a wall, it becomes the first in a series of strange events.
Police chief Josh Kincaid is not about to be duped by a woman again, his ex-wife taught him enough hard lessons. When he gets called to Abby’s home to investigate the mysterious knife, he believes she is trying to manipulate a “pretend” series of events to create publicity for herself. Unfortunately he finds out the hard way that she truly is in danger and the attraction he has been fighting for Abby becomes intense when he goes into protective mode.
I was immediately captivated by this story. Abby not only is coming off the aftermath of negative publicity thanks to her ex-husband’s publicity agent, she is dealing with repressed memories from her past. The chemistry between Abby and Josh is enough to ignite the pages, I loved the way Abby puts Josh in his place when it comes to younger women. Excellent read.
Police chief Josh Kincaid is not about to be duped by a woman again, his ex-wife taught him enough hard lessons. When he gets called to Abby’s home to investigate the mysterious knife, he believes she is trying to manipulate a “pretend” series of events to create publicity for herself. Unfortunately he finds out the hard way that she truly is in danger and the attraction he has been fighting for Abby becomes intense when he goes into protective mode.
I was immediately captivated by this story. Abby not only is coming off the aftermath of negative publicity thanks to her ex-husband’s publicity agent, she is dealing with repressed memories from her past. The chemistry between Abby and Josh is enough to ignite the pages, I loved the way Abby puts Josh in his place when it comes to younger women. Excellent read.
April 21, 2018
I enjoyed this book the way I enjoy movies like The Room. Not because they're good but because they're hilariously awful. Everything in this book felt almost like a satire of a romance book but the writing was too disorganized and lame for me to believe that was the intent. The hero hates women except til he doesn't and then only doesn't hate them until he does again. He flips seamlessly in and out of these two totally disparate mindsets with absolutely no catalyst or character development. On off on off. Worse he's got a certain level of charm that makes you tend to gloss over the on phases. Like the sweet moment of him dealing with her stretch mark insecurities...but don't forget that just a few days earlier he was banging a 23 year old because her "incredible body" was "much better than a thirty five year old woman who'd had a baby." Also don't forget that just one day prior he was telling at her that she was faking having a deadly stalker for attention, a fact which he'd decided before even meeting her because of course if you were married to a fickle bitch all women must be fickle bitches amiright? Heroine was a virtuous lady with a white washed tragic backstory (because how else would she be nominated for martyrdom?) who freely forgives everything he does...worse actually, she acts like he did nothing wrong in the first place. She's like someone's stock idea of the perfect romantic heroine...aka she was boring and thoroughly uninspiring. The mystery/thriller subplot was nearly as bad as the romance. The buildup did not match the utterly absurd result that made no sense based on the entire rest of the book. The person accidentally killed once but just kept killing and not getting caught despite not having planned anything? But also was still unsuspicious for decades but also at the last minute decides to do the right thing? Yeah ok totally believable.
Bottom line: this was a terrible book. Godawful characters, less than stellar writing, plots that made no sense and a marriage proposal for a less than three week relationship in which they hated each other for some amount of time and broke up for a bit too. Only worth the read if you think a terrible book would make you laugh.
Oh omg I can't believe I almost forgot to mention that hero, the POLICE CHIEF, runs after heroine to beg for forgiveness and laments the fact that she changed her locks recently because NOW HE CAN'T BREAK IN HER HOUSE AS EASILY...because that's a totally rational way to get someone to forgive you especially someone who's had a stalker breaking into their house the entire time you've known them. What the actual fuck was the author thinking writing this.
Bottom line: this was a terrible book. Godawful characters, less than stellar writing, plots that made no sense and a marriage proposal for a less than three week relationship in which they hated each other for some amount of time and broke up for a bit too. Only worth the read if you think a terrible book would make you laugh.
Oh omg I can't believe I almost forgot to mention that hero, the POLICE CHIEF, runs after heroine to beg for forgiveness and laments the fact that she changed her locks recently because NOW HE CAN'T BREAK IN HER HOUSE AS EASILY...because that's a totally rational way to get someone to forgive you especially someone who's had a stalker breaking into their house the entire time you've known them. What the actual fuck was the author thinking writing this.
July 25, 2013
I went into this hoping for a really good story with a bit of a supernatural twist of sorts. But it really failed to deliver in so many ways.
The story just seemed to get more and more unbelievable as it went on.
There wasn't a lot that was memorable about Abby's character. In fact upon writing this review I had totally forgotten her name and had to go back to the synposis and its only been a couple of days since I finished this.
Josh was a bit of an idiot, I didn't really feel that the "hero" of this book had alot going for him, at times he was really mean and angry, jumped to alot of ASSumptions and almost seemed like he didn't want to do his job. I didn't really think it was very realistic of the character of Abby to totally forget about his past behavior and then sleep with him. I just didn't feel the chemistry between the 2 main characters and considering the love story was a big part of this book, it made it even more disappointing for me as the reader.
For me the story just felt like it was getting more farfetched the longer it went on. I cannot believe anyone would be that good at blocking things out like that, especially with how close she was to the killer, i cannot believe she didn't get any creepy vibes or anything like that. And at the end he was telling her how he was so sorry for having to kill her etc but then ended up killing himself. Yes I didn't see that coming BUT I don't understand why he was going to kill her one minute and then prompty shot himself. Very odd.
I am not sure I would ever read anything else from this author again and not just because of the story. I just don't think this book is memorable in any way and probably this time next week all I will remember is that I didn't enjoy it that much. I read it all because I do hate to give up on a review book but to be honest I wouldn't have missed anything if I had given up with it.
The story just seemed to get more and more unbelievable as it went on.
There wasn't a lot that was memorable about Abby's character. In fact upon writing this review I had totally forgotten her name and had to go back to the synposis and its only been a couple of days since I finished this.
Josh was a bit of an idiot, I didn't really feel that the "hero" of this book had alot going for him, at times he was really mean and angry, jumped to alot of ASSumptions and almost seemed like he didn't want to do his job. I didn't really think it was very realistic of the character of Abby to totally forget about his past behavior and then sleep with him. I just didn't feel the chemistry between the 2 main characters and considering the love story was a big part of this book, it made it even more disappointing for me as the reader.
For me the story just felt like it was getting more farfetched the longer it went on. I cannot believe anyone would be that good at blocking things out like that, especially with how close she was to the killer, i cannot believe she didn't get any creepy vibes or anything like that. And at the end he was telling her how he was so sorry for having to kill her etc but then ended up killing himself. Yes I didn't see that coming BUT I don't understand why he was going to kill her one minute and then prompty shot himself. Very odd.
I am not sure I would ever read anything else from this author again and not just because of the story. I just don't think this book is memorable in any way and probably this time next week all I will remember is that I didn't enjoy it that much. I read it all because I do hate to give up on a review book but to be honest I wouldn't have missed anything if I had given up with it.
December 10, 2012
I won this book in a goodreads giveaway! :)
Wow, I don't even know where to start. I couldn't put this book down, it was exciting, thrilling, and fast paced.
Main character, Abby Langford left her small town in Minnesota after she graduated to get away from her terrible childhood/parents. She moves to L.A to pursue acting and ended up working on a soap opera called Private Affairs. Through the years Abby won Emmy Awards and had a large fan base. She also got married to Colin and had a daughter,Maddie.After years of Colin's cheating she filed for divorce.
Wanting to give Maddie a happy, normal childhood away from all the paparazzi and tabloids,she moves back to Minnesota and buys the house she loved when she was a child. After finding a knife in the walls covered with what she thinks is blood, she alerts police chief Kincaid but he blows her off. The two instantly dislike each other. Soon after finding the knife Abby starts having nightmares about a murder with the knife she found.
Josh Kincaid was a detective in Chicago but moved to where his sister lives, needing to get away after his messy marriage.
Along with the dreams of the murder, Abby starts getting threatening letters telling her to leave from a stalker. She doesn’t pay much attention to them as she has always gotten hate mail for the character she played.
From here we are led on a journey to solve the case of who the stalker is, and if Abby’s dreams are just nightmares or suppressed memories. Dangerous Affairs has just the right amount of romance in this book between Josh and Abby.
I annoyed my sister the whole time I was reading this, telling her every little thing that was going on lol.
I LOVE this book, it was even better than I had imagined!!!!
Wow, I don't even know where to start. I couldn't put this book down, it was exciting, thrilling, and fast paced.
Main character, Abby Langford left her small town in Minnesota after she graduated to get away from her terrible childhood/parents. She moves to L.A to pursue acting and ended up working on a soap opera called Private Affairs. Through the years Abby won Emmy Awards and had a large fan base. She also got married to Colin and had a daughter,Maddie.After years of Colin's cheating she filed for divorce.
Wanting to give Maddie a happy, normal childhood away from all the paparazzi and tabloids,she moves back to Minnesota and buys the house she loved when she was a child. After finding a knife in the walls covered with what she thinks is blood, she alerts police chief Kincaid but he blows her off. The two instantly dislike each other. Soon after finding the knife Abby starts having nightmares about a murder with the knife she found.
Josh Kincaid was a detective in Chicago but moved to where his sister lives, needing to get away after his messy marriage.
Along with the dreams of the murder, Abby starts getting threatening letters telling her to leave from a stalker. She doesn’t pay much attention to them as she has always gotten hate mail for the character she played.
From here we are led on a journey to solve the case of who the stalker is, and if Abby’s dreams are just nightmares or suppressed memories. Dangerous Affairs has just the right amount of romance in this book between Josh and Abby.
I annoyed my sister the whole time I was reading this, telling her every little thing that was going on lol.
I LOVE this book, it was even better than I had imagined!!!!
February 16, 2020
Abby Langford is known for her role on a popular soap opera. Her character on that show is conniving, aggressive and sleeps with whoever is handy. Abby is just the opposite in real life. She and her husband have just divorced and the tabloids have slaughtered Abby in the press. Accusing her of multiple affairs and behavior her character on her soap would be proud of.
Abby is honest and loving and a great mother and friend. After the divorce she moves her daughter back to her hometown in Minnesota wanting her daughter to have an upbringing away from the Hollywood hype and publicity. Abby purchases the house she always wanted as a child and slowly begins to refurbish it while taking on her new career as a mystery writer. When she finds a knife hidden in a wall and begins getting hate mail at the house Josh, the police chief, comes out to investigate. He has his own ideas about Abby and what is really going on, but soon finds it hard to believe what his cynical mind is telling him.
I love the mystery part of the story. I was actually surprised who did the murder and how the story tied together with the house and the story. Why Abby bought the home. I also loved the relationship between Josh and Abby once he got past her calling the police for false reasons which they actually where real. I liked the story a lot it kept me engaged.
Abby is honest and loving and a great mother and friend. After the divorce she moves her daughter back to her hometown in Minnesota wanting her daughter to have an upbringing away from the Hollywood hype and publicity. Abby purchases the house she always wanted as a child and slowly begins to refurbish it while taking on her new career as a mystery writer. When she finds a knife hidden in a wall and begins getting hate mail at the house Josh, the police chief, comes out to investigate. He has his own ideas about Abby and what is really going on, but soon finds it hard to believe what his cynical mind is telling him.
I love the mystery part of the story. I was actually surprised who did the murder and how the story tied together with the house and the story. Why Abby bought the home. I also loved the relationship between Josh and Abby once he got past her calling the police for false reasons which they actually where real. I liked the story a lot it kept me engaged.
July 17, 2017
TBH, I had a hard time reading the first few chapters.
AS per the synopsis state, Abby Langford is an actress who came back to her Minnesota hometown with her daughter so that she can escape the press and gives her daughter a chance to know the hometown she grew up at.
When Abby found a knife hidden in the house that she purchased, she called the police in case that's a murder weapon. Unfortunately for her, the police chief, Josh Kincaid dislike Abby to the max that he presume Abby staged the knife in her house so that she can have free publicity for her upcoming mystery novel.
Josh has been a a** to Abby since the first time he met her and kept throwing insults at her face. Abby didn't retort back much to my dismay. The press has been printing and reporting that she's been having numerous affairs that her husband couldn't take it anymore and demand a divorce from her.
The way he treated her and the way he handles the whole issue didn't sit well with me. And the fact that he's dating a girl who's young enough to be his daughter is a downfall for me. I'm sorry to say but this book doesn't work for me.
AS per the synopsis state, Abby Langford is an actress who came back to her Minnesota hometown with her daughter so that she can escape the press and gives her daughter a chance to know the hometown she grew up at.
When Abby found a knife hidden in the house that she purchased, she called the police in case that's a murder weapon. Unfortunately for her, the police chief, Josh Kincaid dislike Abby to the max that he presume Abby staged the knife in her house so that she can have free publicity for her upcoming mystery novel.
Josh has been a a** to Abby since the first time he met her and kept throwing insults at her face. Abby didn't retort back much to my dismay. The press has been printing and reporting that she's been having numerous affairs that her husband couldn't take it anymore and demand a divorce from her.
The way he treated her and the way he handles the whole issue didn't sit well with me. And the fact that he's dating a girl who's young enough to be his daughter is a downfall for me. I'm sorry to say but this book doesn't work for me.
August 12, 2017
The plot line of the book had promise. Unfortunately, the relational interactions more resembled the hormones and lust of the main character's soap opera role than good romance writing. I'd hoped for a good mystery with a romance thread. I'd even have settled for a good romance with a mystery thread. Instead, the unrealistic interactions between characters made any mystery storyline fade into obscurity.
October 20, 2022
This story drove me insane and I had to skip forward to keep my sanity! Both MCs are idiots. The H makes assumptions about the superstar actress h based on the tabloids. The h puts herself in dangerous situations, plays down dangerous situations and lets the H treat her badly. I was listening to this story while running and I made a few people jump as I vocalized my frustration with the actions of the MCs.
June 15, 2018
This book kept my attention, because every time I thought I had the plot figured out, the author would take the story line in a different direction. I also enjoyed the heroine being a Soap Opera story, as that put a new twist on this mystery/romance theme.
December 14, 2018
Terrific mix of romance and mystery
Super interesting and totally unpredictable. So many twists and turns to hold the readers interest. Anyone who enjoys a good romance with a little mystery mixed in will love this book. I gave it five stars because I wouldn’t change a thing.
Super interesting and totally unpredictable. So many twists and turns to hold the readers interest. Anyone who enjoys a good romance with a little mystery mixed in will love this book. I gave it five stars because I wouldn’t change a thing.
September 12, 2022
This was rough. This awful guy is convinced the gal is making up a crime for publicity and then he decides she might actually be telling the truth so she forgives him and loves him two chapters later?! Garbage.
February 15, 2018
Not bad.
August 26, 2021
Awesome
Awesome writing, I enjoyed the story and the characters and highly recommend it. Will look for other books by Diana
Awesome writing, I enjoyed the story and the characters and highly recommend it. Will look for other books by Diana
Read
April 17, 2024A little drawn out
I was pleasantly surprised by who the bad guy was. The book did keep me guessing. The hero was kind of awful for a large part of the book.
I was pleasantly surprised by who the bad guy was. The book did keep me guessing. The hero was kind of awful for a large part of the book.
March 27, 2017
It was ok. Listened via Audible. Not a bad listen but not the best.
November 18, 2012
Abby Langford is known for her role on a popular soap opera. Her character on that show is conniving, aggressive and sleeps with whoever is handy. Abby is just the opposite in real life. She and her husband have just divorced and the tabloids have slaughtered Abby in the press. Accusing her of multiple affairs and behavior her character on her soap would be proud of.
Abby is honest and loving and a great mother and friend. After the divorce she moves her daughter back to her hometown in Minnesota wanting her daughter to have an upbringing away from the Hollywood hype and publicity. Abby purchases the house she always wanted as a child and slowly begins to refurbish it while taking on her new career as a mystery writer. When she finds a knife hidden in a wall and begins getting hate mail at the house Josh, the police chief, comes out to investigate. He has his own ideas about Abby and what is really going on, but soon finds it hard to believe what his cynical mind is telling him.
I really liked this story. It is a good romantic suspense, and kept me guessing until the end. You really don’t know if Abby’s knife, dreams and stalker are tied together or separate. There is so much going on that the book is never boring. The romance between Josh and Abby is hot and believable and also made the book hard to set down.
The story is filled with side characters you love like Abby’s surrogate family, her daughter and Josh’s sister. And then there are the characters in the story you want to stab like Heather and Colin. I have never read two characters more instantly dislikeable! It was making me laugh at myself how much they were aggravating me. I got a little wrapped up in the story.
I love a good romantic suspense novel and this one definitely is – I would recommend to anyone wanting a little mystery in between all the snogging. This is my first time reading this author but it has inspired me to be on the lookout for other books.
Cherise Everhard, November 2012
Amazon Vine book review
Abby is honest and loving and a great mother and friend. After the divorce she moves her daughter back to her hometown in Minnesota wanting her daughter to have an upbringing away from the Hollywood hype and publicity. Abby purchases the house she always wanted as a child and slowly begins to refurbish it while taking on her new career as a mystery writer. When she finds a knife hidden in a wall and begins getting hate mail at the house Josh, the police chief, comes out to investigate. He has his own ideas about Abby and what is really going on, but soon finds it hard to believe what his cynical mind is telling him.
I really liked this story. It is a good romantic suspense, and kept me guessing until the end. You really don’t know if Abby’s knife, dreams and stalker are tied together or separate. There is so much going on that the book is never boring. The romance between Josh and Abby is hot and believable and also made the book hard to set down.
The story is filled with side characters you love like Abby’s surrogate family, her daughter and Josh’s sister. And then there are the characters in the story you want to stab like Heather and Colin. I have never read two characters more instantly dislikeable! It was making me laugh at myself how much they were aggravating me. I got a little wrapped up in the story.
I love a good romantic suspense novel and this one definitely is – I would recommend to anyone wanting a little mystery in between all the snogging. This is my first time reading this author but it has inspired me to be on the lookout for other books.
Cherise Everhard, November 2012
Amazon Vine book review
November 14, 2012
A thrilling, edge of your seat suspense with so many twist and turns that lead up to a shocking ending.
Abby Langford left a small town in Minnesota when she was 18 to get away from a horrible childhood. She went to Los Angeles to become an actress and she ended up on a soap opera and through the years won many Emmy Awards and had quite the fan base. She also got married and had a daughter. But after many years of her actor husband’s infidelities she got a divorce.
Wanting to give her daughter a normal childhood away from all the paparazzi and the bad press she got with the divorce she goes back to Minnesota and buys a house she loved when she was little. After finding a knife in the walls with what she thinks is blood on it she alerts the police chief but he blows off her suspensions. The two instantly don’t like each other. But then Abby starts having nightmares about a murder with the knife that was found.
Josh Kincaid was a detective in Chicago. His marriage went up in flames when his wife cheated in him with his best friend and also left him a very jaded man. He decided to take the job of police chief in the small MN town to get away from the betrayal and to be closer to his sister and her family.
Along with the dreams of the murder Abby starts getting threatening letters telling her to leave. She doesn’t pay much attention to them as she has always gotten hate mail for the character she played. But this make Josh’s cop instincts perk up.
From here we are lead on a chase to figure out who the stalker is, are Abby’s dreams just nightmares or are they suppressed memories. We also get a great romance between Abby and Josh even though these two have a ton of insecurity issues to work through.
I loved this book from beginning to end and look forward to more from this author in future.
Abby Langford left a small town in Minnesota when she was 18 to get away from a horrible childhood. She went to Los Angeles to become an actress and she ended up on a soap opera and through the years won many Emmy Awards and had quite the fan base. She also got married and had a daughter. But after many years of her actor husband’s infidelities she got a divorce.
Wanting to give her daughter a normal childhood away from all the paparazzi and the bad press she got with the divorce she goes back to Minnesota and buys a house she loved when she was little. After finding a knife in the walls with what she thinks is blood on it she alerts the police chief but he blows off her suspensions. The two instantly don’t like each other. But then Abby starts having nightmares about a murder with the knife that was found.
Josh Kincaid was a detective in Chicago. His marriage went up in flames when his wife cheated in him with his best friend and also left him a very jaded man. He decided to take the job of police chief in the small MN town to get away from the betrayal and to be closer to his sister and her family.
Along with the dreams of the murder Abby starts getting threatening letters telling her to leave. She doesn’t pay much attention to them as she has always gotten hate mail for the character she played. But this make Josh’s cop instincts perk up.
From here we are lead on a chase to figure out who the stalker is, are Abby’s dreams just nightmares or are they suppressed memories. We also get a great romance between Abby and Josh even though these two have a ton of insecurity issues to work through.
I loved this book from beginning to end and look forward to more from this author in future.
October 12, 2012
When Abby Langford returns to her Minnesota hometown, fleeing LA and the soap opera role she has played so very well, she is looking for relief from a broken marriage and her ex-husband's numerous infidelities. She is also hoping to finally put the nightmare of her childhood behind her and retrieve and deal with the most horrific memories that stand between her and peace.
She and her nine-year-old daughter Maddie move into a house she has admired for years. She is drawn to it almost inexplicably.
Connecting with old friends is a wonderful start to her new life, but almost immediately, as she tries to write a mystery novel, strange happenings intrude upon the peace she sought. Why was a bloody knife in the walls of the new home? What do her strange and increasingly disturbing nightmares mean? Is she remembering something, or is she psychic? And why does a stalker's threats seemingly mesh with her dreams and other weird events that are occurring more and more frequently?
Chief of Police Josh Kincaid is the first responder when Abby discovers the knife; when other events are brought to his attention, he thinks she is making things up for publicity. What will have to happen before he changes his mind?
An exciting journey through various twists and turns kept me reading "Dangerous Affairs," and the wonderfully fleshed out characters added just that extra something to make me eager to read until all the pieces fell into place. I was happy that I didn't figure it all out too quickly; by the time I began to suspect the one character who seemed the least likely perpetrator, I was almost at the end. And then there were more surprises. Five stars, and recommended for anyone who enjoys a romantic suspense novel.
She and her nine-year-old daughter Maddie move into a house she has admired for years. She is drawn to it almost inexplicably.
Connecting with old friends is a wonderful start to her new life, but almost immediately, as she tries to write a mystery novel, strange happenings intrude upon the peace she sought. Why was a bloody knife in the walls of the new home? What do her strange and increasingly disturbing nightmares mean? Is she remembering something, or is she psychic? And why does a stalker's threats seemingly mesh with her dreams and other weird events that are occurring more and more frequently?
Chief of Police Josh Kincaid is the first responder when Abby discovers the knife; when other events are brought to his attention, he thinks she is making things up for publicity. What will have to happen before he changes his mind?
An exciting journey through various twists and turns kept me reading "Dangerous Affairs," and the wonderfully fleshed out characters added just that extra something to make me eager to read until all the pieces fell into place. I was happy that I didn't figure it all out too quickly; by the time I began to suspect the one character who seemed the least likely perpetrator, I was almost at the end. And then there were more surprises. Five stars, and recommended for anyone who enjoys a romantic suspense novel.
October 21, 2012
What a great romance and set in my own home state of Minnesota, too! Abby comes home to Minnesota when she divorces her cheating husband after one too many affairs. She wants her daughter Maddie to have the wonderful childhood that she did not. Abby's parents were both drunks and her father threw in some physical abuse too. Enough that Abby learned to block out all the bad memories until therapy after her divorce started unblocking them.
Luckily, Abby was informally adopted by her best friend Laura's parents Bill and Mary. They are all still in her hometown to provide love and support. But Abby also seems to have attracted a stalker with her return home. It seems someone believes that the cheating adulteress she portrayed on a popular soap opera was the real Abby. Such a belief was aided by Abby's not defending herself when the press painted her as the one who had affairs that ended her marriage. Even the local police chief Josh has trouble separating the actress from the reality. Of course, Josh has the slight excuse of being in the process of getting over his own divorce and his own cheating wife.
At first, Josh is certain that Abby is manufacturing the stalker for publicity but it doesn't take long for him to see Abby as she really is. He begins investigating the stalker episodes and investigating the steadily more realistic dreams that Abby is having about a murder. Of course, things are even more complicated by a reappearance of the cheating husband and Josh's former young girlfriend who doesn't want to let him go.
This was a good mystery too. The identity of the stalker and his motives came as a complete surprise to me.
I really enjoyed this story and will be looking for more by this author.
Luckily, Abby was informally adopted by her best friend Laura's parents Bill and Mary. They are all still in her hometown to provide love and support. But Abby also seems to have attracted a stalker with her return home. It seems someone believes that the cheating adulteress she portrayed on a popular soap opera was the real Abby. Such a belief was aided by Abby's not defending herself when the press painted her as the one who had affairs that ended her marriage. Even the local police chief Josh has trouble separating the actress from the reality. Of course, Josh has the slight excuse of being in the process of getting over his own divorce and his own cheating wife.
At first, Josh is certain that Abby is manufacturing the stalker for publicity but it doesn't take long for him to see Abby as she really is. He begins investigating the stalker episodes and investigating the steadily more realistic dreams that Abby is having about a murder. Of course, things are even more complicated by a reappearance of the cheating husband and Josh's former young girlfriend who doesn't want to let him go.
This was a good mystery too. The identity of the stalker and his motives came as a complete surprise to me.
I really enjoyed this story and will be looking for more by this author.
January 23, 2013
Dangerous Affairs
by
Diana Miller
My "in a nutshell" summary...
Abby...Hollywood actress and soap opera star...returns to her hometown to get away from a not so faithful husband and write. Little does she know that not so nice surprises await her.
My thoughts after reading this book...
It's always difficult to write about a mystery. A mystery is so much more fun when events in it are a surprise. This one starts off innocently enough...Abby is vacuuming and finds a bloody knife in the new/ old house that she just bought. She's also getting nasty scary letters and someone actually gets into her house to write very threatening things. On a trip to school with her young daughter she feels a threatening presence...in a hallway. And this is just the beginning.
Of course there is a handsome sheriff in town...who isn't willing to believe Abby about all of these things that she says are happening. He is gruff and hurt...by his own ex wife and in deep denial about his feelings toward Abby.
Ok...that's all that I can tell you...I had an idea about the " bad guy" from the start but I was totally off base...this book was fast paced...maybe a bit over the top with the love affair with Abby and Sheriff Josh but it was good...almost clean...fun...it kept me so involved in what was happening that I could barely put it down.
What I loved about this book...
I loved the setting, the characters and the suspense of this cozy mystery.
What I did not love...
I actually enjoyed the characters that everyone loves to hate...Abby's ex husband was the perfect creep!
Final thoughts...
I thoroughly enjoyed this fun cozy mystery. I truly hope there are many more books from this author.
by
Diana Miller
My "in a nutshell" summary...
Abby...Hollywood actress and soap opera star...returns to her hometown to get away from a not so faithful husband and write. Little does she know that not so nice surprises await her.
My thoughts after reading this book...
It's always difficult to write about a mystery. A mystery is so much more fun when events in it are a surprise. This one starts off innocently enough...Abby is vacuuming and finds a bloody knife in the new/ old house that she just bought. She's also getting nasty scary letters and someone actually gets into her house to write very threatening things. On a trip to school with her young daughter she feels a threatening presence...in a hallway. And this is just the beginning.
Of course there is a handsome sheriff in town...who isn't willing to believe Abby about all of these things that she says are happening. He is gruff and hurt...by his own ex wife and in deep denial about his feelings toward Abby.
Ok...that's all that I can tell you...I had an idea about the " bad guy" from the start but I was totally off base...this book was fast paced...maybe a bit over the top with the love affair with Abby and Sheriff Josh but it was good...almost clean...fun...it kept me so involved in what was happening that I could barely put it down.
What I loved about this book...
I loved the setting, the characters and the suspense of this cozy mystery.
What I did not love...
I actually enjoyed the characters that everyone loves to hate...Abby's ex husband was the perfect creep!
Final thoughts...
I thoroughly enjoyed this fun cozy mystery. I truly hope there are many more books from this author.
January 8, 2013
Sinister, sexy and unexpected, Diana Miller's debut provides a rewarding balance of romance and suspense. Dangerous Affairs opens with a disturbing discovery—
The knife had obviously been there a long time, nestled in the dust bunnies and wood shavings between the walls, in the space one of the two mahogany doors that separated the Victorian-style living room from the Brady Bunch décor of the family room usually slid back into. And it was covered with blood.
—and that discovery brings together a hero and heroine who don't trust each other. At all. In fact, they don't even like each other very much. Not at first, anyway, and Miller gives them good reason. Josh has had more than his fill of manipulative, money-hungry women, and that's how he sees Abby. Not only is he convinced her "stalker" is nothing more than a publicity stunt, he also resents having to handle her case personally because of her affiliation with a former senator. Meanwhile, Abby wants nothing to do with a man who's as arrogant and narrow-minded as her ex-husband—especially when he seems to share the same predilection for twentysomething girlfriends. Watching these two learn to appreciate each other—in all sorts of delicious ways—makes for one riveting read. It's no wonder a Booklist reviewer likened Miller's style to that of Catherine Coulter and Sandra Brown. And I have another favorite I'd like to add to the list—Mary Higgins Clark.
The knife had obviously been there a long time, nestled in the dust bunnies and wood shavings between the walls, in the space one of the two mahogany doors that separated the Victorian-style living room from the Brady Bunch décor of the family room usually slid back into. And it was covered with blood.
—and that discovery brings together a hero and heroine who don't trust each other. At all. In fact, they don't even like each other very much. Not at first, anyway, and Miller gives them good reason. Josh has had more than his fill of manipulative, money-hungry women, and that's how he sees Abby. Not only is he convinced her "stalker" is nothing more than a publicity stunt, he also resents having to handle her case personally because of her affiliation with a former senator. Meanwhile, Abby wants nothing to do with a man who's as arrogant and narrow-minded as her ex-husband—especially when he seems to share the same predilection for twentysomething girlfriends. Watching these two learn to appreciate each other—in all sorts of delicious ways—makes for one riveting read. It's no wonder a Booklist reviewer likened Miller's style to that of Catherine Coulter and Sandra Brown. And I have another favorite I'd like to add to the list—Mary Higgins Clark.
October 30, 2012
"Dangerous Affairs" by Diana Miller is a romantic suspense about a soap star who returns to her Minnesota hometown after quitting her career in daytime drama. She and her daughter move into an old house she fantasized about during your unhappy childhood. Struggling to write a book, raise a child, and cope with her philandering ex, Abby doesn't know what to think about Josh, the handsome cop who thinks she's a media hungry opportunist. Someone does not want her back in town, in that house, and will stop at nothing to get her out.
Overall, this was a nice read. I kept coming back to see to check in on what the characters were doing. The pacing was good, the main characters likable, and the tension kept me eager to read more. Heather was a bit of a sterotypical bimbo. The romantic scenes could have used a little work; they didn't feel realistic, and the first big love scene between the main characters had a ridiculous conversation going on with the 'action'. This sentence, for example, would give a reader a glimpse at what to expect: "He was rock hard and so hot and damp she was surprised not to see steam."
I would like to read more of the author's work. One of the best things about his novel was that I didn't figure out the Whodunit part, and the suspense and mystery elements were well played.
Overall, this was a nice read. I kept coming back to see to check in on what the characters were doing. The pacing was good, the main characters likable, and the tension kept me eager to read more. Heather was a bit of a sterotypical bimbo. The romantic scenes could have used a little work; they didn't feel realistic, and the first big love scene between the main characters had a ridiculous conversation going on with the 'action'. This sentence, for example, would give a reader a glimpse at what to expect: "He was rock hard and so hot and damp she was surprised not to see steam."
I would like to read more of the author's work. One of the best things about his novel was that I didn't figure out the Whodunit part, and the suspense and mystery elements were well played.
January 27, 2013
This is one of the best romantic suspense books I have read this year. I was hooked from page 1 and did not want to put it down. If I didnt have to get up for work I am sure I wouldnt have.
Abby is a great character, complex and interesting. She has left the rich and famous life in LA for a more peaceful life in Minnesota with her daughter. Unfortunately for her some of the issues of the rich and famous follow her to the Midwest. When she meets Josh it is instant dislike but with an undeniable attraction. They work together to figure out who is stalking Abby and along the way discover appearances and misconceptions are not the best way to make a judgement on someone you just met.
The story is well-written and moves along at a great pace. There really is no wasted space, each event leads to the characters development and the conclusion of the story. The conclusion which is not at all what you are expecting. The mystery, suspense and romance are so well intertwined that they work together perfectly to keep you reading until the end.
Dont pass this one up if you are looking for a new romantic suspense. I for sure am looking out for more from this author. Hopefully sooner rather than later.
Abby is a great character, complex and interesting. She has left the rich and famous life in LA for a more peaceful life in Minnesota with her daughter. Unfortunately for her some of the issues of the rich and famous follow her to the Midwest. When she meets Josh it is instant dislike but with an undeniable attraction. They work together to figure out who is stalking Abby and along the way discover appearances and misconceptions are not the best way to make a judgement on someone you just met.
The story is well-written and moves along at a great pace. There really is no wasted space, each event leads to the characters development and the conclusion of the story. The conclusion which is not at all what you are expecting. The mystery, suspense and romance are so well intertwined that they work together perfectly to keep you reading until the end.
Dont pass this one up if you are looking for a new romantic suspense. I for sure am looking out for more from this author. Hopefully sooner rather than later.
November 19, 2013
When soap opera star Abby Langford leaves Los Angeles for her Minnesota hometown, she’s hoping to give her nine-year-old daughter the peaceful childhood she never knew. But instead of tranquility, Abby finds an old knife hidden behind a wall of her new house. Then the nightmares start: a blood-soaked victim and a killer’s arm slicing through the air, again and again.
Abby wonders if she’s having the nervous breakdown the tabloids claim she already had, especially when sexy, skeptical police chief Josh Kincaid questions her story. When menacing hate mail arrives, Josh’s professional concern for Abby soon evolves into an intense attraction, and the feeling is mutual. But as Abby’s visions grow more graphic and gripping, so does her fear.
Somewhere in the shadows of Abby’s memory lies the key to a very present danger. But she’ll have to stay alive long enough to find it…
Overall the book was good. Mystery, suspense, and romance all in one. Some parts I felt jumped a little fast to the next step. But I would recommend to a friend to read.
Abby wonders if she’s having the nervous breakdown the tabloids claim she already had, especially when sexy, skeptical police chief Josh Kincaid questions her story. When menacing hate mail arrives, Josh’s professional concern for Abby soon evolves into an intense attraction, and the feeling is mutual. But as Abby’s visions grow more graphic and gripping, so does her fear.
Somewhere in the shadows of Abby’s memory lies the key to a very present danger. But she’ll have to stay alive long enough to find it…
Overall the book was good. Mystery, suspense, and romance all in one. Some parts I felt jumped a little fast to the next step. But I would recommend to a friend to read.
Read
August 27, 2013Abby Langford is going back to the last place she ever thought she'd see again, home... A very successful soap opera star Abby is at least returning home in style, she has the money to buy her dream home (as well as enough money to fix it up), she has her daughther and she'll always have her fans. particularly her Biggest Fan, Abby begins receiving threatening letters, which is nothing unusual her character Samantha Cartwright was a bit of a bit*h! But these get a little personal. Not only that but while cleaning her house (she's procrastinating writing her novel) she finds a bloody knife hidden in the walls.
Police Chief Josh Kincaid has some very bigwigs breathing down his neck to offer assistance to Soap Star Abby Langford. He's not best pleased, and when he discovers she's a mystery writing working on her first novel, he's sure he's being set up to help in some sort of publicity stunt... Little do they know just how serious this situation is.
Police Chief Josh Kincaid has some very bigwigs breathing down his neck to offer assistance to Soap Star Abby Langford. He's not best pleased, and when he discovers she's a mystery writing working on her first novel, he's sure he's being set up to help in some sort of publicity stunt... Little do they know just how serious this situation is.
Read
November 13, 2016When soap opera star Abby Langford leaves Los Angeles for her Minnesota hometown, she’s hoping to give her nine-year-old daughter the peaceful childhood she never knew. But instead of tranquility, Abby finds an old knife hidden behind a wall of her new house. Then the nightmares start: a blood-soaked victim and a killer’s arm slicing through the air, again and again.
Abby wonders if she’s having the nervous breakdown the tabloids claim she already had, especially when sexy, skeptical police chief Josh Kincaid questions her story. When menacing hate mail arrives, Josh’s professional concern for Abby soon evolves into an intense attraction, and the feeling is mutual. But as Abby’s visions grow more graphic and gripping, so does her fear.
Somewhere in the shadows of Abby’s memory lies the key to a very present danger. But she’ll have to stay alive long enough to find it.
Bill was the killer of the woman and the man he paid to harass Abby. Abby and Josh get together.
Abby wonders if she’s having the nervous breakdown the tabloids claim she already had, especially when sexy, skeptical police chief Josh Kincaid questions her story. When menacing hate mail arrives, Josh’s professional concern for Abby soon evolves into an intense attraction, and the feeling is mutual. But as Abby’s visions grow more graphic and gripping, so does her fear.
Somewhere in the shadows of Abby’s memory lies the key to a very present danger. But she’ll have to stay alive long enough to find it.
Bill was the killer of the woman and the man he paid to harass Abby. Abby and Josh get together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2012
The premise of Dangerous Affairs sounded interesting, so I eager to dive into Diana’s story about Abby, a woman whose ex is beyond vile, a bloody knife, suppressed memories, and a sexy police Chief, Josh.
Dangerous Affairs is a roller coaster full of twists, turns, disturbing nightmares that might just be true. It’s also the journey of Abby and Josh to find love and faith in each other and in a possible future together... Of course, the fact he thinks she’s full of it when they first meet and she thinks him an arrogant ass doesn’t help either of them.
My suspect list kept changing and no, I won’t give any teasers on whodunit I will say, however, that I thoroughly enjoyed Dangerous Affairs and recommend it to any that enjoy a spicy romantic mystery! I can’t wait for more from Diana Miller.
Dangerous Affairs is a roller coaster full of twists, turns, disturbing nightmares that might just be true. It’s also the journey of Abby and Josh to find love and faith in each other and in a possible future together... Of course, the fact he thinks she’s full of it when they first meet and she thinks him an arrogant ass doesn’t help either of them.
My suspect list kept changing and no, I won’t give any teasers on whodunit I will say, however, that I thoroughly enjoyed Dangerous Affairs and recommend it to any that enjoy a spicy romantic mystery! I can’t wait for more from Diana Miller.
November 24, 2012
A nice, easy romance read about a soap opera actress, Abby, who decides to get away from LA and the tabloids to raise her young daughter in a small town and try a new career writing a mystery novel. She buys a home and begins to settle in when she finds a suspicious knife and strange things start happening. Enter the local police chief, Josh, who has preconceived opinions of Abby and is not inclined to believe her that the strange findings are not simply an act for her novel. Despite not liking each other, attraction blooms and as they realize Abby has a stalker. Together they work to find the stalker before it's too late for Abby. A nice little mystery thrown in that surprised me because I did not guess the ending. I would recommend this book if you are looking for a quick, interesting romance novel.
April 11, 2013
Not a bad story...lots of twists and turns! The only thing I had an issue with was the reality of having a child(ren) when attempting to begin a new relationship. It seemed that whenever Abby and Josh needed some sexytime alone, there was always someone willing to keep an eye on Maddie. However, and this comes from being a parent, the parents you dump your kids on when wanting to be alone with the beloved usually want some sort of return and they dump their kids on you for the night so they can be alone. In this story, that never happened and I found that kind of unrealistic. Other than that dumb picky thing, I enjoyed the mystery!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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