Opening up her new coffee shop, Ooo La Latté, and getting into Gabriel Martinez’s pants is all Madison Phillips wants. But Gabe won’t co-operate, he can’t forget she’s his best friend’s brother no matter how hard she tries to seduce him. Then her shop is robbed, and she finds herself being the only person able to identify the Espresso Bandit.
Gabe’s cop instincts tell him the Bandit will be back, and at the urging of Maddie’s brother, Eric, he appoints himself her personal protector. Knocking back Maddie’s advances was hard enough before, now it’s impossible. How can he resist this sexy woman when she’s with him twenty-four hours a day? But when sex turns to something more can he keep her alive long enough for them to work out how much more or will the Espresso Bandit get what he’s after?

This book is a must buy. Shelli Stevens has written a tantalizing story that managed to take my mind off an eight hour flight. I’m a bad flier but with my laptop open and Ms. Stevens book in front of me the eight hours felt like eight minutes. With suspense, humor and sex, Dangerous Grounds is an enthralling read, with enough depth of emotion, heat and tension to engross anyone. Madison is perfectly written and easy to identify with, even with her privileged back ground. Sexy and independent, she goes after what she wants and doesn’t take no for an answer, and Gabe gives her plenty of nos. Gabe’s struggle with doing what he thinks is the right thing and what he really wants is well written and at times, fun to watch. There’s enough tension between this pair already but throw in a dangerous criminal and things only get more so. With this pair forced together 24/7 things could only get hotter, and Ms. Stevens doesn’t fail to deliver, but really she should give out fire extinguishers with this thing. It’s a good thing I was flying business class with plenty of room between me and anyone else, because getting hot and bothered on a plane is probably not a good idea. With a voice and style all her own, Ms. Stevens has yet again proven her worth with Dangerous Grounds. If she’s not on your list of to buy authors, she should be, and Dangerous Grounds is the perfect book to start your collection with. Believe me, you’ll be collecting them.

Reviewed by: Rachel C.