To ex-Navy SEAL Mitch Granger, responsibility isn’t just a word. It’s his Code of Honor. But when assigned to protect Coercion Ten’s latest target, she challenges his authority, defies his rules, and wreaks havoc on his personal willpower. Fighting for her isn’t a problem. Giving his life for her isn’t a problem. Forgetting their world-stopping kiss? Definite problem. And if he can’t concentrate … concentrate solely on keeping her safe, it may cost them both their lives.
Journalist Liz Walkert’s missing father sent her a cryptic message that she was in danger. What he didn’t tell her was why. Unbeknownst to Liz, her family has been in Witness Protection all her life. Mitch may be her bodyguard, but his protection comes close to being control, the one thing she has none of in his presence. After a kidnap attempt and a narrow escape from attacking CT forces, they both realize they’re going to need to focus on the mission and fight their attraction if they have any hope of surviving.
Each book in the Shades of Leverage series is STANDALONE:
* Slater’s Revenge
* Dangerous Lies
more
**I received a copy of Dangerous Lies from Net Galley and Entangled Publishing in exchange for a voluntary and honest review. My opinions expressed are mine alone and not solicited in any way.**
Dangerous Lies (Shades of Leverage) by Claudia Shelton is the second book in the series. I’ve read the first book, Slater’s Revenge, and each is a stand alone without needing the previous books. This is Mitch Granger and Elizabeth “Liz” Walkert’s story.
Elizabeth Walkert is a investigative journalist so when her father disappears and a family friend asks her to meet one of his agents at the Mariner’s bar. To say her journalistic radar goes off would be correct. She meets Mitch Granger and you guessed it life as she knows it goes out the window. They are constantly on run from CT (Coercion Ten) with a lot of secrets and a mole within their own ranks with a climatic ending. Can Liz find the family she’s always craved to have and will Mitch finally realize that she could be his HEA?
Mitch Granger had to grow up fast after his father is killed during a overnight shift. So he becomes the sole bread winner supporting his siblings and mom any way he can. (Even puts them through college) until his brother reminds him that he needs to have his own life. Little does he realize that protecting Liz would mean constantly running and when he finds out who the mole is plus her Dad’s secrets may be very hazardous to his and his teams health.
I do agree that the bad guys story did take quite awhile to play out but the ending is worth it.
Liz is a journalist and her father goes missing. Her fathers friend is the leader of a group of special soldiers. Mitch is ex military and now part of a group that protects people. He must keep her alive and find out who’s after her. Is it the group the they have been after or is it someone from the past?
A guy who takes responsibility seriously and a woman who questions everything. Pretty good story with action and suspense. My first time reading this author. No cliffhangers and can be read alone.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for NetGalley *
Very suspenseful. Read straight through. One of the best books I’ve read in a very long while. Couldn’t put it down. Gonna read the rest of the series.
Fast moving with some interesting turns to keep your attention.
Kept my attention,
Liz Walkert, aware only that her father is missing, is blindsided when the only family friend she trusts appoints a protector.
As an elite agent in OPAQUE, Mitch Granger has had some tough assignments. However, from the moment he shields Liz with his body during the opening gunfight—he’s aware this one will be different.
Ms. Shelton takes us on a fast-paced, water-filled adventure centered on the Gulf Coast. Hang on tight as Liz and Mitch are tested to the limit—learning about themselves as well as each other.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Entangled Publishing via NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
This book was full of intrigue and mystery. I have not read the first book in this series so I was a little lost in the beginning. I continued on as the suspense was right there in the story from the very beginning. As I continued to read the story, the terminology became easier to understand. I did enjoy the plot and the characters. I also was thankful for the dual POV. The background of these two led them into decisions that would have baffled me if I didn’t read into their thoughts.
These two characters were sparking off of each other right from the beginning. While Elizabeth (Liz), questioned and rebuffed Mitch’s orders in the beginning, she quickly realized the necessity for them and followed through. I did enjoy that. She was a strong female protagonist but she was able to see the reasoning for the rules in benefiting her protection. Mitch on the other hand was stand-offish but seeing getting his POV, I was able to see the strong protective alpha male in his prime.
There were some lightly steamy scenes but nothing to graphic that really shouldn’t offend anyone. I recommend this story to anyone who loves intrigue, mystery, action and adventure along with the romance.
Claudia Shelton never fails to entertain or keep me up way past my bedtime reading her books!
This book thrived on tense moments. The dangers were real and just kept escalating. The people in the book were good and kept my interest.
Mitch and Elizabeth (Liz) were strong personalities with their own ways of doing things. So of course, you know they will be butting heads from the start. It takes a while for Liz to get on board with being told what to do and when to do it. She had enough of that as a kid when her dad was super controlling. That is a whole different but important part of the story.
It was mentioned that Mitch probably came out of the womb and slid right into responsibility. And as parts of his history were shared he had taken on a lot of responsibility from a young age. It took a while for Liz to see the difference between control and being responsible. The romance part of their story was enjoyable without too much detailed sex being included.
I have to say that I did have my eyes on a couple of people that I wasn’t sure were part of the good guys posse. One of them I was tossing back and forth between the two camps. But the way their true motives were exposed was good and brought a good twist to the story.
I felt like a few things were left unanswered when it came to the outcomes but it does have a lot of fierce action at the end. Also includes an Epilogue, which is something I always like.
“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”
The second book in this series that had some steam, suspense and some twists and turns that kept you guessing. When Liz’s father disappears and is threatened, an old friend of the family steps in to protect Liz, having Mitch become her bodyguard. As truths surface, Liz’s life gets turned upside down leaving her reeling and Mitch racing to protect as their safety has been breached, leaving them on the run for their lives. As secrets are revealed and their close proximity, it gets hard for them to deny their attraction….but at what cost.
A good read that had me turning the pages and enjoying the sparks between these two. The story took a bit to get to the good stuff and I would have liked a bit more background on Mitch as he is still a mystery, especially the picture and how it relates to the house…left me confused. I did like him finally coming to his senses and going after what he wants and Liz’s ability to bounce back after everything she learns.
*I voluntarily read an advanced copy and expressed my honest opinion*
This is a fast-paced read that will grab your attention from the beginning. It has wonderful characters and a suspenseful storyline. It is full of action, intrigue, suspense and danger.Mitch is Liz’s protector. She feels trapped by all of his rules. Will he be able to keep her safe? This is an intriguing romantic suspense and I would definitely recommend it.
Journalist Elizabeth Walkert’s life has spun out of control. Her father is missing and she receives a message from him that she is in danger. Ex-SEAL Mitch Granger, an operative with OPAQUE’s special ops force, arrives to protect her at the request of her father’s friend Drake. Liz is stunned when Mitch tells her that she and her family have been in Witness Protection since prior to her birth. When the house they are in is attacked by a group called Coercion Ten (CT), she goes on the run with Mitch knowing that he and his team are the only ones that can save her life. Where is her father? Is he safe? I was a little confused at first as even though this is advertised as a standalone book in the “Shades of Leverage” series, I think I would have had a better grasp of the characters, etc., if I had read the previous books. Beyond that, this was an exciting romantic suspense and I plan to read the first books to “catch up” with the characters. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
If I had to choose a few words to describe this book they would be; intense, twisted and really good. Some fiction books when you are reading it you can see it happening, in this story some of it was so far fetched you know that’s why it’s fiction. But with the twist and turns in this story makes you wonder if just maybe this has happened to someone before. The author keeps you guessing and keeps you drawn in that’s for the hole book. I had the hardest time putting this book down, it truly seem to just fly. This book does have sec and adult language in it. This book for sure was really good. I wonder what OPAQUE will be up to next. I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley. I was under no obligation to post a review and have given my honest opinion
Fast paced and action packed. Mitch is laser focused on his job. Liz is having her life turned upside down. Mitch and his group is tasked with protecting Liz from a host of bad actors. As the adrenaline spikes so too does the heat between them. They are constantly on the move trying to stay alive and ahead of who is trying to kill them. An adrenaline fueled story that will keep you turning the pages to the sweet end.
This is the second book in this series but each is a stand alone but after saying that I loved this one so much that I went out and bought the first book in the series
Elizabeth “Liz” Walkert is a journalist and her father has gone missing and now she has a message to meet one of her father’s friends agents at a bar yes her radar is going off When she meets that agent it is Mitch Granger former military and now working for OPAQUE’s special ops force. Mitch has always been the one to protect everyone he supported his family after his fathers death and protected while in the military so is it any wonder he now protects in his new job. Now he will have to go on the run with Liz if he is to protect her from CT (Coercion Ten) but in the process he may fall for her but they will have to work together if they are to survive
This is a roller coaster ride with plenty of suspense and danger that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
I do love romantic suspense and this story is good. The camaraderie between the team members is great. The suspense is pretty good. However, I do not think it delved enough into the mystery itself. I won’t give it away but what really motivated the true villain? The romance is nice (most is behind closed doors so I would call this book fairly clean in case you are wondering). I have not read Ms. Shelton before but would like to know more about these men of OPAQUE.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
An exciting suspense.
Action packed, loved every minute of this story. Kept me reading well into the night. Strong characters with vulnerabilities that make them more relatable to the reader. Would love to read more by this author.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This stand alone book is an action packed, contemporary romance thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from the start to the end.
Former Navy SEAL Mitch Granger, an agent for OPAQUE, is sent to protect journalist Elizabeth/Liz Walkert. What at first appears to be a simple protection assignment quickly becomes much more. An evil group named CT (Coercion Ten) is out to eliminate Liz’s father using her as bait. At least that ’s what it appears on the surface.
But as the danger intensifies , and more secrets are revealed, the truth is far from the assumption.
In the midst of the danger, feelings start to develop between Mitch and Liz. But not only is she a “job” , but he also believes he can’t have a life with her.
The story has an engaging plot with complex characters , some evil individuals, hunky good guys and of course, romance. But in the end, will Mitch and Liz find their HEA or will the enemy and/or fears stop them from it?
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
Claudia Shelton has another winner on her hands! Two thumbs up!
Liz knows that when trouble comes calling, she is to contact her fathers oldest friend. The man, Drake, runs his own very elite security form and she always loved visiting him when she was younger.
When her dad does go missing, she tracks down Drake and he sends Mitch to be her guardian. He is one of Drake’s best but you can allow him being a tad miffed, he was supposed to be going on holiday after all! But once he meets Liz, he is at turns intrigued and irritated by her wilful, stubborn nature. She is used to digging in to get the truth and won’t be fobbed off with half answers. And she will not follow orders blindly…that just about sends him over the edge LOL.
Mitch, being former military, never met an order he didn’t follow and to say he is annoyed at having to reason his every order with Liz…well he doesn’t know whether to shout at her or smother her n kisses, although the 2nd one is getting more likely! But CT is not backing off, and as they gain ground on the SOL team, another layer of intrigue is uncovered.
Superb story. I really enjoyed the characters and the snappy dialogue. I haven’t read the first book in the series (which will be quickly remedied) but that in no way hindered my enjoyment. Totally had a hoot at the name of Mitch’s shell corporation!