ARC Review: Dancing with Danger by Kerrigan Byrne

About the Book:

Title: Dancing with Danger

Author: Kerrigan Byrne

Series: Goode Girls – Book 3

Page Length: 219

Publication Date: Feb. 9, 2021

Synopsis: Mercy Goode, is only truly good at one thing: finding mischief wherever she goes. Such as getting arrested at a murder scene with Raphael Sauvageau, a brutally handsome, ruthless smuggler with a dangerous past and a dubious future. The silver-tongued devil doesn’t deserve a lick of her confidence, but she has evidence that he’s not the killer.

But she can’t deny that he’s relentlessly wicked.

Raphael has no time for obsession. He’s an empire to run, a murder to avenge, and a plan to save his brother that is likely a suicide mission. But this clever, infuriating bluestocking who insists she’s an amateur sleuth keeps showing up where she doesn’t belong. And for some bloody reason they can’t seem to be in the same room without him yanking her into his arms and kissing her until they’re both breathless.

Power, prestige, and a staggering fortune hasn’t filled the abysmal void where Raphael’s heart should be…

Perhaps what he needs is a night with her.

Perhaps what he needs is redemption.

Perhaps what he needs is a bit of Mercy.

LINKS:     Goodreads   |        Amazon     |     Book Depository

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My Review:

Dancing with Danger is such a fabulous addition to the Goode Girls series! I love the characters, the mystery, and the messages of love, family, and redemption. The story follows Mercy as she investigates her friend’s murder. Raphael wants to save his brother from a life of crime and has plans for Gabriel to start over. However, when he meets Mercy, everything changes. Mercy shows him a future and the possibility of love and happiness. Can he, too, escape the criminal life he lives. Will Mercy give in to her feelings and embrace a future with Raphael? Murder, clandestine meetings, and an epic love story make for an exciting and engrossing read!

I love Mercy’s independent spirit and her unwillingness to conform to the dictates of society. She lives for herself and is her own woman, and Raphael respects and admires her for that. She’s also unconventional and smarter than most of the men in her life, especially when investigating her friend’s murder. Mercy notices clues that the investigators ignore. She delves deeper into the case and unravels more than anyone else – male or female. She is a strong and sharp woman who is passionate about her beliefs, assertions, and life in general.

Raphael is so charismatic and suave, and the chemistry between him and Mercy is amazing! He loves her boldness, her brazenness, and her intellect. She compels and fascinates him, and I love how enthralled he is with her. It definitely makes for some explosive, swoon-worthy scenes! Check out this swoon-tastic line:

Come with me, Mercy. Let me prove that I can deserve you.

Also, the banter between Mercy and Raphael is fantastic! They equally frustrate and fascinate each other, and their verbal sparring, intelligent discussions, and vulnerable and honest conversations show just how deep their feelings run.

Do not misunderstand me, mon chaton , I have no wish to censure you. It is only that I find your attempts at profanity relentlessly adorable and distracting. It is torture to be unable to do anything about it.

Though Raphael exudes charisma, he is so much more than that. At first, he appears a scoundrel, a criminal, and someone who can’t be trusted. But as the book progresses, you see a man with depth. Raphael has a reason for everything he does, and though his dealings are often unsavory, there is a good man underneath it all. Mercy is one of the few who sees this side of Raphael, and it is part of the reason she falls for him.

Above all, the couple gives each other hope. Both Raphael and Mercy never imagined they would have a future with happiness, adventure, and love, and then they found these possibilities in each other. They share a deep (and electric) connection, and their feelings are so raw and real. I love the hopefulness that they inspire in each other, and so rooted for this unique couple. They had difficult, though very different, lives and found a sense of belonging in each other.

There are definite messages about the strength and bonds of family. Not only is the Goode girls’ strong sisterly bond prevalent, but the close relationship between Raphael and Gabriel also shows a wonderful sibling relationship. Raphael is willing to sacrifice everything for his brother, even his own life, much like the Goode sisters. I love the themes of family, love, and selflessness.

The story also has a great redemption plot. Raphael and his brother are life-long criminals. Their dealings in the smuggling trade are nefarious and illegal. However, both Raphael and Gabriel show that they have so many redeemable attributes. They are bad guys with morals and a sense of duty. I love that there are so many layers to their characters. Nothing is black and white, and there are many shades of grey, which Raphael, Gabriel, Mercy, and many of the other characters prove throughout the series.

Dancing with Danger can be read as a standalone, but I think reading the series from the beginning provides a better understanding of the characters and context. I can’t wait for the next (and I think final) book in the series and to learn more about Raphael’s brother and the last unattached Goode sister! Thanks so much to NetGalley, Kerrigan Byrne, and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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Rating:

Favorite Parts:

• The romance, of course! I adore Mercy and Raphael’s love story, and their chemistry is off the charts!

• They intrigue. Who killed Mercy’s friend? Who wants Raphael dead?

• The well-developed characters.

• The strong and poignant messages.

Favorite Lines:

Nothing is so dangerous as the written word. It is how power is usurped and ideas are spread. Literature is the most dangerous weapon a man can use.

Shame is a futile emotion crafted to plague those fragile enough to care what others think of them.

He’d burn the entire world to the ground if she asked him, He’d accomplish any Herculean task. Sail to the ends of the world to fetch a trinket she liked. He not only loved her enough to stay if it were possible. He loved her enough to let her go if it meant keeping her safe.

Recommendations:

Want to learn more about the Goode Girls series? Check out the first two books!