Review Post : Flirting With Disaster by Victoria Dahl (4.5 Stars)

Flirting with Disaster by Victoria Dahl
Series: Girl's Night Out #3
Published by HQN Books on 2015-02-01
Genres: Contemporary
Pages: 384
Format: eBook
Goodreads

There's no hiding from sizzling chemistry…

Artist Isabelle West has good reasons for preferring a solitary life. Tucked away in a cabin in the woods, she has everything she needs…except a red-hot love life. That is, until a hard-bodied US marshal threatens to unearth secrets she's spent years protecting. But giving in to the sparks flying between them can only lead to one thing…disaster.

Tom Duncan lives by the letter of the law. But no one has tempted him—or confused him—more than free-spirited Isabelle, who arouses his suspicion and his desire. As their connection grows, and their nights get hotter, they find their wild attraction might shake everything he stands for—and expose everything she has to hide.

Bonus Girls' Night Out novella, Fanning the Flames, included!

FTC : I requested this from NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

I have always enjoyed Victoria Dahl’s work but I think this series is her best to date. The heroines in this series are complex, sexual and down to earth. These are women with history and flaws, characters that make you believe that love can happen for anyone and everyone. Her books are empowering and the thing that I love the most is that her heroines get the spotlight in all aspects of the plot. These are women whose lives don’t revolve around their relationships with men, even during the love story that develops over the 200 plus pages that make up their books.

Isabelle is a women with secrets and because of this she has a healthy distrust of strangers. When she meets the handsome Tom, she finds she can’t help but be attracted to him, despite her desire to keep people at a distance. When they both give into the insane chemistry between them, they fall into an easy relationship, filled with sex and laughter. When her secret comes back to bite them on the ass, they find they have some decisions to make..

The relationship between Isabelle and Tom was so easy to read about that it pushed this book to it’s 4.5 Star rating. They fit together so well, both of them complimenting the other, that it made this a joy to read. Both of them were such believable characters (Isabelle a snarky, fun, mature woman and Tom an overworked, slightly world-weary cop) that it made the romance more believable and fulfilling. This is not a romance where I had to check my own snark at the door and it makes for a more fulfilling read when you’re not rolling your eyes every other sentence.

Isabelle was a snarky, independent, mature woman who was happy with her body and her sexuality. At no point does she belittle herself or need Tom to give her personal assurances (he does anyway ‘cos he’s a sweetie) and I loved her. She is a real heroine who makes no bones about who she is. We need more heroines like her in romance. Tom is a fantastic hero as-well. He isn’t grumpy, demanding, an arsehole, an Alpha or any other romantic lead stereotype. He is a good man who is overworked and just trying to do his best. He falls into his relationship with Isabelle because the chemistry between them is too overwhelming to let the chance of something real pass, even if he does know she isn’t telling him the whole truth about her past. The element of romantic suspense that runs through the plot kept it moving well and left me wanting more.

I have loved all the heroine’s in this series so far, but Isabelle is the character I have loved the most. From her complete acceptance of herself to the importance she puts on her friendships, she was a heroine that I could adore. Along with the light, funny writing style (that argument with Siri? I’ve totally had that one) it made the story an easy, engaging read with a sexy edge that means it may well be a reread. You don’t need to read the previous two but I definitely recommend them.