Passion and Peril: Scenes of Passion / Scenes of Peril

Aftershock #3.1

by Suzanne Brockmann, Jill Sorenson

Acclaimed authors Suzanne Brockmann and Jill Sorenson bring you two tales of sizzling attraction…where danger is never far behind 

Scenes of Passion 

Safe and steady pretty much sums up Maggie Stanton's life. But a chance encounter stirs long-buried desires and urges her to do the unimaginable—take a risk. Shockingly, the man who convinces her to forsake predictability for passion is the full-grown version of her childhood best friend. Only, this Matthew Stone wants more and Maggie almost believes that their whirlwind romance is meant to be. Then she learns that Matthew is keeping a secret…and the consequences could change everything…. 

Scenes of Peril 

The snowstorm forecast says it's a big one, but wildlife photographer Paige Dawson is prepared. Until a terrible car accident brings a sexy stranger to her remote mountain cabin and the bad weather strands them together…for days. The heat between them is like nothing she's ever known—incendiary, undeniable. And just as she begins to hope for something real with Colin Reid, after the snow melts, he remembers what caused his accident…and it may be too late for them both.

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Romance, Suspense, Anthologies, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin

315 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 26, 2013

About the author

After childhood plans to become the captain of a starship didn’t pan out, Suzanne Brockmann took her fascination with military history, her respect for the men and women who serve, her reverence for diversity, and her love of storytelling, and explored brave new worlds as a bestselling romance author.

Over the past thirty years she has written sixty-three novels, including her award-winning Troubleshooters series about Navy SEAL heroes and the women—and sometimes men—who win their hearts. Her personal favorite is the one where her most popular character, gay FBI agent Jules Cassidy, wins his happily-ever-after and marries the man of his dreams. Called All Through the Night, this mainstream romance novel with a hero and a hero hit the New York Times hardcover fiction bestseller list. In 2007, Suz donated all of her earnings from this book, in perpetuity, to MassEquality, to help win and preserve equal marriage rights in Massachusetts.

In addition to writing books, Suz writes and produces indie movies and TV including the award-winning romantic comedy The Perfect Wedding. Her recent feature, Out of Body, is streaming on Amazon Prime.

In 2018, Suz was given the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award from the Romance Writers of America. Her latest projects are Blame It on Rio (Tall, Dark & Dangerous # 14), available in print and e-book from Suzanne Brockmann Books, and Marriage of Inconvenience, a six-episode LBGTQ rom-com TV series, streaming on Dekkoo in April 2023.

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2013/12/10/...

When Sorenson asked for a review I was pretty excited to read her contribution. I’ve enjoyed her suspense books in the past and was looking forward to seeing what she could do with a short story. It wasn’t until I finished reading both stories that I found out the Brockmann story was re-released from an older Silhouette book. There were probably about twenty times I thought about quitting mid-way through her contribution, but stuck with it. Had I known it was a previously released title, I have to say I probably would have put that story to rest and skipped directly to Sorenson’s story.

Scenes of Passion was a second chance love story about Maggie and her childhood buddy Matt. Matt had always had a crush on Maggie, but between his on again off again relationship with her best friend, it never went anywhere. Now that Matt is back and needs Maggie’s help, they are free to explore the attraction between them.

I really felt like this book was older than it’s original 2003 release date. It felt almost “retro” in it’s contemporary category. I’m not a huge fan of category books from the 90s and early 2000s, so my problems with this novella were plentiful. Maggie let everyone and their mother (hell, her own mother) walk all over her. She was a doormat and although she loathed it about herself, she never got the gumption to make a change. She was content just floating through life hating everything. It was so annoying. Then, once she got the stomach to stand up for herself, it seemed like she constantly second guessed herself. I needed more from her.

Matt was a little better, but I had a hard time with their romance because of Maggie’s obnoxious ways. Why he continued to put up with her, especially after she flipped out on him, was something I couldn’t understand.

I really didn’t enjoy the first story at all, but was glad that the Sorenson novella made up for it. In Scenes of Peril, Paige is stranded at her cabin home during a horrible storm when she takes in a reckless driver. Colin can’t remember anything that happened the day he was rescued by Paige, but after just a few short days together, the attraction is more than either can stand. But a stalker has been waiting to make the move on Colin, and won’t let Paige get in her way.

I thought Sorenson did a great job with throwing a little bit of the classic suspense she is known for, while balancing the romance. I thought Paige and Colin had a very QUICK but sweet courtship. I always struggle with characters who get their HEA after just a day or two, but these two worked for me. Probably because they were committed to each other, but also to taking it slow. I needed that for their characters, and was so glad to see the way it all worked out for them.

I liked the twist of Colin having memory loss because of the car accident, because I think it added a lot to not only the suspense subplot, but also because it gave them the chance to really focus on nothing but each other and getting better. Along with the storm, it added another layer to the little cocoon they had going on in Paige’s cabin.

All in all I really liked one story, and really disliked the other. Brockmann fans might enjoy this previously released novella, however fans of Sorenson may want to just give this one a skip. If I had to rate Scenes of Passion as a solo book, I would give it a D-. However, Sorenson gave us a wonderfully short story about two people caught up in the pain of their pasts that want to move forward and find something and someone special. I adored their romance and would give Scenes of Peril a B+.
Overall, I give the Passion and Peril duology a C.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Scenes of Passion - Brockmann

Woof, what a stinker. At first I thought I had a Crusie readalike on my hands - banter! flirting! wacky families! a heroine coming into her own! But then things just went downhill. You see, Maggie can't trust Matt because he was such a good actor in high school. You know, in high school musicals. Also, I respect that some authors write heroes with long hair (as is the case here) even though I pretend that isn't happening when I read them. But this - this turns into a mullet situation. And that is where I draw the line. Mullets: where I make my stand.

Scenes of Peril - Sorenson

Even though she only has a third of the page space, Sorenson manages to write a much better story than Brockmann. It's a short story, so the danger can't be too over the top, and it isn't. Some silly things happen, but what would you do trapped in a cabin with no power for a weekend, other than have crazy sex. I don't know, I probably wouldn't oil up for a photo shoot but that's just me. Still hangs together better than the first story.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this pair of novels. Suzanne Brockmann always writes a great story with believable characters. I was pleased to find this story that I didn’t know she had published. The second novel in the book was a worthy partner. The character development was outstanding, and the sort of surprise suspense element was really well done.

[Dewey · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF the 1st story. Passion, is some of the worst writing I have found, and that's saying something. The 2nd story, by Jill Sorenson, is good. Thank goodness for library books and I didn't waste any $ on this. This is my reminder to always check the reviews here 1st.

[Jacqueline SG · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stories without depth - read and forget type

[Linda George · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed these stories.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only read the novella, Scenes of Peril by Jill Sorenson from this anthology, which also includes a novella by Suzanne Brockmann.  I may or may not return and read Scenes of Passion at some point, once I figure out whether the novella is part of a series or not.

Anyway...

I was looking forward to Scenes of Peril, both because I like Jill Sorenson's work, and also because I love the "Snowed In" plot device.  They're always so much fun depending on the circumstances--for added romantic tension, for a murder mystery, etc....

Scenes of Peril was a fast-paced and exciting book, and I've always appreciated Sorenson's attention to detail to the grittier, more down-to-earth aspects of her books.  And while Scenes of Peril was enjoyable in its own right, I felt like a lot of the book felt a little forced.  Overlooking the insta-love situation, since this is a romance novella, first and foremost, I also found the activities between Colin and Paige during their, what seemed like one single day of entrapment by snow in her cabin kind of awkward.  The whole photo shoot as a means to display sexual objectifying of a human being was an interesting thought... but it actually felt kind of tacky in its execution.

And the conflict felt like it involved a lot more angst than it really merited.  The reason for their argument at the end felt a bit overdone.  And I don't know how I feel about the ending suspenseful twist.

Nonetheless, for anyone looking for a quick, easy, and entertaining novella to pass a couple hours, Scenes of Peril isn't a bad choice.  I will admit that I was hoping for more of a "Snowed In" experience than just a day of bad weather...

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

short but intense romantic suspense story. Paige is a wildlife photographer living in the mountains of California. There's a huge snowstorm coming but she's ready for it. As the storm starts a large tree branch falls onto the road and she heads out to remove it before some unwary motorist runs into it. Just as she's getting ready to move it a large SUV comes tearing around the corner and she's sure she's about to get run over. The driver manages to avoid her, but crashes into the lake. He's unconscious and the car is sinking fast so she goes into the freezing water to drag him out. After reviving him enough to get him on his feet she gets him into her house where he passes out. Paige gets him out of his wet clothes and under covers to warm up, but not before noticing just how good looking he is. She gets under also to help warm him up. In the morning Colin wakes up not knowing where he is or how he got there, but he certainly notices the beautiful woman lying next to him. After a few moments of awkwardness Paige fills him in on how he got there, but he has no memory of what happened. Thanks to the storm he is stuck there with her.

I really liked both Paige and Colin. Paige mostly enjoys her solitude, but there are times when she gets a bit lonely. She has trust issues with men because of an ex boyfriend who cheated on her, so she's pretty wary of Colin. She can't deny that she's attracted to him, but senses that he's the type that prefers an emotional connection to go along with any intimacy. It's not a surprise that the chemistry takes over, but there is more than just sex that goes on. I really enjoyed seeing Paige getting to know Colin, even sharing some of her past with him. I loved the photo shoot she did of him and the effects it had on both of them.

Colin is a pretty straightforward guy. He is attracted to Paige and has no problem letting her know it, but he's also enough of a gentleman that he doesn't try to force anything. I loved his reaction to waking up next to her. He was also confused though because of his inability to remember how he got there. I really enjoyed his inner dialogue as he tries to remember what led up to the wreck. He also has some great conversations with himself as he tries to figure out how far he can go with Paige. One thing that he does that comes back to bite him in the butt is not being completely honest with her about who he is. As a famous author he gets a lot of attention for things that have nothing to do with who he is as a person, so when she doesn't recognize him he gives her only partial information, not realizing at the time how much she hates dishonesty of any kind.

Being stranded together gives a bit more impetus to the usual getting to know you activities. I liked the way that they had enough of a connection to share some pretty personal information. Things were going along pretty well until he confessed his secret which caused a pretty intense reaction on her part.
The suspense part was well done and completely believable for me. Stalkers are something that most celebrities have to deal with and Colin was no exception. I also thought the partial amnesia was logical too, as many people can't recall the events surrounding a traumatic event. The concluding confrontation was intense without being over the top and I loved seeing it bring Colin and Paige back together.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two books in one. The first story involves two high school friends who reunite ten years later and discover their feelings have blossomed into love, if old secrets don't keep them apart. The second, shorter, story revolves around a woman wounded by love in the past who must decide whether or not to risk a relationship with the mysterious man she rescues when his car goes into the freezing lake after an accident.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reviewed Scenes of Peril by Jill Sorenson. This was my first sampling of Jill's work and I must say, I really enjoyed this novella. Scenes of Peril is a well paced novella that strands two people who long for more substance in their life, together during a snowstorm. When Colin swerves on an icy road to avoid Paige he plunges into the river, hitting his head in the process. Paige successfully pulls him out and manages to get him back up the embankment, across the street and into her house. Definitely a herculean effort on her part. Taking care of an injured Colin brings them closer than Paige would like but hey, body heat is the best remedy for hypothermia right? When he wakes he can't remember why he would have been driving so recklessly, the wreck or who the beautiful naked woman is pressed up against him. Paige likes her solitude (even though she's dreadfully lonely since her brother moved out) and so she's surprised when she reacts so much to the injured man now stuck in her house until the storm blows over.

I always enjoy stories where the characters end up marooned together for a length of time. It gives the story an intimate feel which keeps the characters honest. There isn't all the background noise...aka action, adventure, drama...just two characters getting to know each other without all the other intrusions. Sorenson did really well at keeping the story interesting and spicy in a short period of time. Paige and Colin complimented each other well and the progression of their relationship felt completely natural.

Since Colin has a bit of amnesia there is a bit of inner dialogue as he tries to work out why he was out on the road and his emerging feelings for Paige. I like the bit of action towards the end as he figures out what he was doing prior to the accident that brought him to Paige and as he tries to protect her. It completed the novella with some flair and it also brought the characters the opportunity to finally admit their feelings toward each other. A great starter novella for a new to me author. I will definitely pick up more from her in the future!

I give Scenes of Peril by Jill Sorenson 3.75 stars!

[Brianna (The Book Vixen) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review copy provided by author (Jill Sorenson)

Scenes of Passion by Suzanne Brockmann – DNF
I had yet to read a book by this author, though I’ve been wanting to. Because of that and the cryptic blurb I wasn’t sure what to expect. The beginning narration from Maggie’s POV was annoying but after the first chapter it got better. The thing is, the story arc wasn’t of interest to me so I did not finish the book. Matt has to prove his ability to run his late-father’s company in order to have it handed over to him, per the provisions in his father’s will, and so he hires Maggie to help him. The thing they have in common is theater acting and instead of putting all of his focus into the family business that he supposedly cares so much about, he decides it would be a great idea to audition for the town’s summer musical. He only has 3 months to prove himself capable of running the company yet he wants to play around at the same time. Right there I was done. I can’t deal with a character who can’t get his priorities straight.

Scenes of Peril by Jill Sorenson – 4 stars
I read this story first because the blurb sounded really interesting. Overall, this was a good story. I liked both lead characters. The impromptu photo session Paige had with Colin was hot. Colin was a very interesting character with his dual careers. There was a bit of suspense going on, though not too heavy. The chemistry between Paige and Colin was believable and sizzling. For being a 100-page read, it was a well told story with good pacing that didn’t fall short. I only wish there had been an epilogue to follow up on the HFN. I got the impression that this story somewhat ties in with the author’s Aftershock series, as Paige’s parents had “died in a car crash during the San Diego earthquake” which was the setting for the first book in that series. If that is the case, I hope this couple makes an appearance in one of the later books.

[Kaetrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up.

Why I read it: I received a review copy from the author. This brand new novella is being packaged with a re-release Silhouette title from Suzanne Brockmann called Scenes of Passion. The anthology is called Passion and Peril and releases on November 26.

What worked for me (and what didn’t): While I thought the beginning of the story was a little overdone (too many exclamation marks), things really picked up in chapter two. Paige and Colin had a lot of things in common and their connection and attraction was obvious. I thought Colin in particular was pretty funny in the way he thought about things. Some of his musings regarding a naked Paige made me chuckle. The novella is only about 70 pages long, so there wasn’t a lot of time in which to draw the characters and make me care about them, but by the end of chapter two, I did. There’s not time for deep character exposition but the essential parts of them were on the page and it was clear that their connection was based on more than mutual lust.

Read the rest of the review here: http://www.kaetrinsmusings.com/2013/1...

[Trader (RedHotBlueReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review for Scenes of Peril...

Paige Dawson is a professional photographer. After being burned by her ex, she's very leery about establishing any sort of relationship with a man beyond a casual fling. She's holed up in her mountain cabin, and when a car goes into the lake while swerving to avoid her while she's bringing a tree limb off the road, she ends up saving a hottie by the name of Colin Reid. The opening scene is full of action and Paige ends of bringing Colin back to her house to wait out the dangerous storm.

There's an instant chemistry between these two, and well, you know what happens from there. But Colin has lied-by-omission, and things between them hit some rocky ground. Everything culminates with an unexpected twist.

This was a great little action/romance story that is just perfect for a one-night read. Both the action sequences and romantic sequences are very satisfying.

Jill Sorenson is quickly moving up my list of favorite authors.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Passion and Peril is comprised of an old Suzanne Brockmann title and a new Jill Sorenson title. The Brockmann story is one of her early category titles. It is not romantic suspense, so it represents the passion in the title. The story is well-written and moves forward quickly. Maggie, the heroine, is not as strong as many of her later heroines. In the end she does stand up for what she wants.

Sorenson’s title represents the peril. Paige and Colin, the hero and heroine, are believable and fully developed characters. The peril is not overwhelming, but enough to move the story forward.

Both are fun, easy reads that will go nicely with a winter snowstorm.

[LaFleurBleue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating and comments for Scenes of Peril by Jill Sorenson
Look here for those of Scenes of Passion by Suzanne Brockmann https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

This was a rather short, though sweet and nicely written story. The characters were interesting. There could have been more demonstration regarding their past and characters, with a longer story, but as it was with this short format, it worked and did not leave the lead characters looking too much like caricatures. The plot was ok, though I am not a huge fan of the crazy stalker episodes.
I might try another book from this author some day.

[Griz Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two super-fun short stories by two superb authors! Suzanne Brockmann never fails to deliver a fun, fast-paced, and sexy romance...and this story was fantastic! Matthew is a delightful character--sexy and strong and a true gentleman. Maggie is a bit of a basket-case, but totally comes together in the end.

Jill Sorenson wrote a clever romantic thriller, complete with sexy hunk Colin, and intelligent & capable Paige. I enjoyed their cabin-in-the-woods antics & satisfying ending.

Both stories made for a perfect afternoon of reading!

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I averaged the stars and wrote separate reviews for the two books. The first book, by Suzanne Brockmann, was four stars for me. The second one, by Jill Sorenson, was just a two star book. Scenes of Peril by Jill Sorenson I didn't really care for at all. The author writes of the heroine "She'd had a couple of flings with tourists." Maybe it's the prude in me, but I thought this made her sound slutty and made this relationship seem more like a fling than an actual relationship. I don't like to read about heroines having been with multiple partners before.

[Amanda [Novel Addiction] · Rating 4 out of 5]

So really, I'm giving the Jill Sorenson story the four star review (I loved it, but no surprise there as I've loved everything I've read by her thus far). I really thought the Suzanne Brockmann story was a three, or maybe three point five. I both did and did not like the characters in the Brockmann story. Half of Matt's character I liked, and the other half I found to be.. not pretentious, but just... I don't know, I didn't connect with the story enough, I guess. But hey, I was interested enough to keep going, after all.

[Sandie Pikel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received the book as a giveaway to read, it arrive on a Monday and I was going to wait until the weekend to start reading but I opened the book started reading and could not put it down. I wanted to see what was going to happen between Maggie and Matt. So much has happen to them since they saw each other. Well written but I wish they would of at the end do a paragraph for 5 years down the road to see how they were doing.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review for Scenes of Peril - Jill Sorenson

This was a awesome novella. I usually don't like novella's because I always feel like the story is rushed and sometimes key info is lacking. But I didn't feel this way at the end of Scenes of Peril.  I really love how Jill's characters are so relatable, real and they always have great chemistry. In short it, was a great little read!

[Sonia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review: Scenes of Passion by S.B. I absolutely hate giving two stars and a bad review to S.B., who is one of my favorite writers and I always love her books. I didn't realize this was an old Harloqueen romance. I found it lacking her typical military romance excitement, this story was just boring.

[Mandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF'd the Suzanne Brockman story at 50% because I didn't like the heroine or what was happening in the story.

I liked the Jill Sorenson story - a little too much drama towards the end but the romance was nice.

Review coming

[Nicole Luiken · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the Suzanne Brockmann book years ago, so bought this for the Jill Sorenson novella, Scenes of Peril. A quick, hot read. The beginning and ending were action-packed, and the middle had the snowbound-with-a-hot-guy trope going for it. I especially enjoyed the photography scenes.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story by Jill Sorenson was OK, but the other by Suzanne Brockmann was terrible; I skimmed most of it.

[Foggygirl · Rating 1 out of 5]

I now remember why I stopped reading contemporary romances.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four stars for Scenes of Passion by Suzanne Brockmann; three stars for Scenes of Peril by Jill Sorenson.

[Mskychick · Rating 1 out of 5]

Scenes of Passion by Suzanne Brockmann- 1 star
Scenes of Peril by Jill Sorenson- 2 stars

[Sybylla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must rate anything I stay up until 3 am reading at least four stars.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated for Scenes of Peril only.

[Ginny · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7