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Sweet Danger

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When bookseller Lindy Oliver and undercover cop Jesse Nightwalker sit down to share a pastry at the local deli, they're strangers. But as breakfast suddenly becomes a heart-stopping life-or-death ordeal, a stolen kiss changes everything between them.Escaped convict, Tabor Hardin, blames Nightwalker for his imprisonment. With Lady Luck on his side, the brutal murderer plans to quickly gain a fortune, then make the cop pay with his life – very slowly.Hardin's gang enters the deli in a hail of bullets, and Jesse shoves Lindy beneath a table to shield her. But as he does, he steals one hot, life-altering kiss that forms an unbreakable bond between them. Now, with someone to live for, survival takes on new meaning for both of them.Secrets and vengeance are bound to crush any thoughts of a future between them.Fate provides a glimmer of hope for true love, but can it last in the firestorm of this Sweet Danger?

248 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 3, 2010

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Cheryl Pierson

131 books51 followers

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5 stars
26 (44%)
4 stars
17 (29%)
3 stars
13 (22%)
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1 (1%)
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1 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for Michelle.
631 reviews33 followers
April 16, 2017
amazing story telling with a punch and a hea to swoon over.

Oh my goodness. Talk about a romantic suspense adventure!! A minute after finishing the book and happy sighing, I dived back in to reread a few favorite scenes. I couldn't quite leave after how wrapped up I was in the book.

Intense, twisted, sweet and touching, its all packed together in one awesome package.

Even though I didn't want to stop because I just had to see how it would all work out, I needed to pause several times through the book just to catch my breath, and not necessarily in the way you think. Cheryl Pierson put some glimpses of humanity into characters you'd not expect, delivered punch after punch of surprise and shock, and fully fleshed out a believable happily ever after story. What makes this even more awesome, all this was contained within a few short pages with the majority of them dedicated to about a 30 hour period. That's good story telling.
Profile Image for Stephanie Jenkins Ortiz Cerrillo.
373 reviews13 followers
March 27, 2020
Omgoodness, Cheryl Person outdid herself with this book! If your a person that needs a book to grab ahold of you  very quickly and get your attention this is the book for you!

Jesse and Lindy have been neighbors for a year and both have been unknowingly admiring the other. On one ill fated morning they end up in line together at their favorite deli both wanting the last sugar ring. The elderly owner, Mr. Silverman, is dead set on doing a little match making and pushes Jesse and Lindy to take the time to enjoy their breakfast pastries together before each of them head to work. Little did Jesse and Lindy know that this morning was fixing to turn into the best and worst day of their lives. Gun fire starts and one of Jesse's worst enemies, Tabor Harbin, is the leader of a gang of men that invade the deli. A semi-automatic welding group of men that begin to terrorize the patrons of the deli after a failed bank robbery attempt.  But, why a deli...

Sweet Danger is a spot on title for this book, a must read that isn't for the faint of heart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for LynnMarie.
856 reviews79 followers
October 2, 2010
Christy’s Review

When I selected Sweet Danger for review, I went into it without having a blurb or book cover to go by. All I knew about the book was that it was a romantic suspense. Also, Cheryl Pierson is a new author to me. Having said that, I can tell you that I am really happy I took a chance on reading this book. It is a very good read. The plot is quite good, the characters were realistic, and the situation they faced was believable.

After reading several pages of Sweet Danger, I found myself thinking there is no way Ms Pierson is going to be able to keep the scene of Lindy, Jesse, and the other characters who were held captive by four convicts going throughout the entire book. Well, I can say she did just that. The storyline flowed really well. There weren’t any parts of the book that slowed down or lost my interest. I kept turning page after page to find out what happened next.

I really liked Linden Oliver aka Lindy. She’s a strong, independent young woman who works at a bookstore and is also a writer. Jesse Nightwalker is an undercover cop who lives in the same apartment building as Lindy. He’s a strong alpha male with jet black hair, dark eyes and is just mouth watering.

Lindy’s noticed Jesse a lot and wants to get to know him. For over a year they have nodded and said hello to one another but haven’t taken things further than that. Jesse has some past issues he’s dealing with which makes him reluctant to start anything new. Right from the beginning I thought wow these two are going to be great together. The secondary characters of Sweet Danger were very interesting as was their backgrounds. I really enjoyed learning all about them.

I can’t say enough good things about this book. I loved it and would recommend it to all of you who love a good romantic suspense with a happily ever after. I look forward to reading more novels by Ms Pierson. With a heat rating of 2 and 4 ½ Tea Cups, Sweet Danger is a definite recommended read.




4 1/2 Tea Cups!
Profile Image for Pamela(AllHoney).
2,760 reviews377 followers
June 3, 2017
Lindy Oliver was running late that day but had to get her Friday treat from Silverman's Deli. She finds herself in line behind her neighbor, Jesse Nightwalker. When they finally get to the front of the line, Mr. Silverman plays matchmaker and tells them to sit in the back booth to eat their goodies. About that time gunmen run in and take them all hostage.

Very intense read. Being in a hostage situation doesn't make for much romance but this author did the best that she could. The bad guys were pretty scary and ruthless. The leader of the baddies is Tay Hardin and he blames Jesse for his being in prison for the last five years. Jesse is a cop who testified at Hardin's trial. Anyway, it rolled along nicely without a dull moment. I would recommend this to Romantic Suspense fans.
Profile Image for Tonya Lucas.
1,266 reviews20 followers
November 22, 2020
Wow!! What an amazing rollercoaster!!
Standing in line to get their morning pastry, neighbors Jesse and Lindy make eye contact and sparks fly.... but that’s just the beginning of an awful day, which is about to begin.
As gunmen enter the deli, open fire, and take everyone left alive hostage, their encounter is about to get real personal.
An amazing book of courage, bravery, and love.
Cheryl Pierson is a very gifted author. She truly can make her characters come alive and weave themselves into your heart.
Profile Image for Terryan.
742 reviews
December 31, 2022
This is an awesome read even for me. I'm more interested in historical romance especially westerns. This book would normally be out of my comfort zone but boy it definitely changed my view on reading modern romantic suspense. I would highly recommend reading this book. It has its ups and downs with hostages ranging in age from the elderly to the newborn. There is tragedy, trauma and lots of learning curves for those involved. Glad I read it and would certainly read again in the near future.
Profile Image for Veda.
346 reviews3 followers
July 31, 2017
How fast can you fall in love? Well this book can show you how fast an attraction can turn into love. All you need is coffee, sugar ring, and oh some major danger. This book was pretty fast moving and had some twists and surprises I wasn't expecting.
14 reviews
April 30, 2020
Great love story.

Really enjoyed the story line. I love Cheryl's writing style. I would love to see a series come from this amazing love story.
Profile Image for Lisa.
294 reviews
January 25, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up!

Great story. Lots of action.
Profile Image for Stephanie Burkhart.
Author 44 books416 followers
December 10, 2010
Pierson pens a riveting suspense with "Sweet Danger." Lindy Oliver and Jesse Nightwalker are neighbors that barely know each other, but one fateful day in Silverman's Deli will change that and redefine their relationship forever.

Silverman's Deli and Bakery is a popular spot for breakfast. Lindy is a clerk in a bookstore and an aspiring writer. Jesse is a Native American Indian and a police officer. Shortly after they exchange pleasantries as they wait in line at Silverman's, a madman named Tabor Hardin takes over the Deli and grabs hostages, including Jesse and Lindy.

Hardin is backed up by three henchmen. An eclectic group of people find themselves hostage. Soon, the motive is clear - Hardin wants money in exchange for the governor's children who are hostage.

Jesse's old partner, Ryan Lucas, arrives to begin hostage negotiation, but Hardin is firm - he wants money - period.

Jesse tries his best to protect the hostages, but Hardin puts a bullet in his shoulder. Lindy tries to help those who are injured, including Jesse.

Despite the intense situation, it's hard for Jesse and Lindy to hide their attraction. Lindy cares for Jesse's wounds in such a tender, delicate way, he begins to realize that she cares deeply for him. It's around this time, Jesse realizes his son, Nash, is also being held as a hostage. The stakes for his survival have never been higher.

Hardin orders Lindy to remove the bullet in Jesse's shoulder. They retire to a back room and are left alone. After Lindy takes out the bullet, the couple consummate their love.

Will Jesse and Lindy be given a chance to have a life together, or will Tabor Hardin finally destroy Jesse once and for all?

Pierson's plot is tight with several unexpected twists and turns that will leave the reader on the edge of their seat.

Pierson's realistic dialogue adds to the authenticity of the hostage scenario. There are times when the reader will feel like they're in the deli along with Jesse and Lindy.

The supporting cast is strong and interesting. Pierson infuses them each with quirks, faults, and positive traits that will leave the reader rooting for all of them.

The violence of the hostage taking, while authentic, can be a little unsettling, and the story isn't for the faint of heart.

Jesse and Lindy are interesting characters. Jesse embodies heroism, but it's never been tested to such limits. He's been hurt, emotionally, and only in an intense situation such as this, does Jesse dare to let his heart live again.

Lindy is brave in the face of danger, making a strong heroine. Her steadfast and unwavering support gives Jesse the strength he needs to face all his demons.

The love scenes are sensual as well as tasteful for romance readers. "Sweet Danger" puts the reader on the heart-pounding thrill ride from the first chapter and doesn't let up until the end.
Profile Image for Karen.
Author 72 books1,029 followers
December 30, 2010
Jesse Nightwalker and Lindy Oliver are neighbors, who have been attracted to each other for a while, but didn’t know how to jumpstart the relationship until they met in Silverman’s Deli.

The fateful morning turns out not to be the best day to start a relationship. Tabor Hardin, an escape killer enters the Deli with his men, firing shots. His band has also taken over the Kindergarten class next door where Jesse’s son, Nash is attending. With Hardin’s hostages under control, his plans are set in motion.

Though Jesse is shot, he will do anything to protect Lindy, his son and the other captives in the Deli. The only problem is he’s the cop, who put Hardin away five years ago. Hardin takes great delight in knowing he can now settle his personal vendetta with Jesse Nightwalker and he’ll use Nash, Lindy or any of the other hostages to do so.

Hardin is the master of mind games and excruciating torture until the victims beg for death. The chances of Jesse coming out of this alive are slim, but he hopes to bargain his life for the safety of Lindy and the other hostages. Unfortunately, Lindy has other plans. She’s found a man she could fall in love with and she won’t let him go without a fight.

Wow, what a story. It kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next. Hardin is a diabolical villain whose mind games make you believe he may have a heart, but the man is severely twisted. Jesse Nightwalker is a hero you want in your corner. His courage in the face of death makes you love him even more. Lindy is just as brave when faced with a man like Hardin, standing up to him and not backing down. Even the secondary characters will pull on your heartstrings. One moment you’ll tear up as the heart wrenching scene plays out and the next you’ll be biting your nails terrified the ending won’t be happily-ever-after for any of them. Readers, you won’t want to miss this fast-paced suspense thriller. A must read!
Profile Image for Pamela .
1,440 reviews78 followers
March 25, 2013
I was actually surprised at how much I really liked this novel. Talk about a suspenseful and action-packed thriller. There's much going on in a span of 24 hours; I can't believe the entire book was dedicated to that one day; but Cheryl Pierson does at the same time keeping me engaged from beginning to end. This is a well-developed story that includes an intricate number of interesting characters including the two protagonists, Jesse and Lindy, which add to the suspense and character of the novel. The author does an amazing job providing insight with each character; giving the reader a sense of who they are, and how the crisis changes who they are leading them to a different future. What makes it even more thrilling is Hardin - a man so evil that nothing is off limits to him when it comes to the pain and suffering of others.

I would have given the novel five stars if it wasn't for the romantic angle between Jesse and Lindy which I didn't find very realistic. Basically within 24 hours they've gone from talking to each other for the first time to declaring their love for one another. I know people respond in different ways when it comes to a crisis; but the fact that Hardin leaves them in a room alone to make love, and Jesse finding out Lindy's a virgin really rubbed me the wrong way. As the violence escalates, both Jesse and Lindy try to convince Hardin to take them and not harm the other which I totally understand. However, constantly harping that Lindy should save herself because it's possible she's carrying his child - a little too much for me (hence four stars). But if this is all believable to you, you'll enjoy it a lot more.

To all those who love an action-filled romance done well, I highly recommend this novel as it will take you on an emotionally-charged roller-coaster ride. Be prepared to stay up late as this is a well-told story that will keep you engaged right up until the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Keena Kincaid.
4 reviews17 followers
December 15, 2010
Cheryl Pierson weaves a raw, edge-of-your seat tale that grips the reader on the first page and doesn't let go until the last bullet is fired.

Lindy Oliver and Jesse Nightwalker, neighbors who share a love of pastries, finally meet one morning over sugar rings. A spur-of-the-moment breakfast date becomes a struggle for survival when local thugs burst into the bakery and take them, along with several other patrons and the shop’s owners, hostage.

As the hostages await their fate, violence, pain and fear strip away the protective layers Lindy and Jesse have built around their hearts. And though their love develops at hyperspeed because of the life-or-death situation, the romantic tension between the couple sizzles from the start. Readers know they would have fallen for each other fast and hard regardless of circumstances.

In addition to the sweet love story, Pierson’s pièce de résistance is in the wildly unpredictable leader of the criminal band. Tabor Hardin is a mercurial, dangerous killer with a taste for torture and revenge against the Oklahoma police in general—and officer Jesse Nightwalker in particular—but with a soft spot toward children. Neither reader nor Hardin knows what he’s going to do next. In the hands of a less skillful writer, this inconsistency would seem like poor character development; in Pierson's hands, it provides a look into the mind of a disturbed man who is both victim and brutalizer.

Sweet Danger is a taut romantic suspense that will keep readers up all night turning pages, and then leave them satisfied with the story’s resolution and Lindy and Jesse’s happy ever after. It’s a must-read—a perfect gift for all readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for LK Hunsaker.
Author 23 books48 followers
November 14, 2010
The bulk of the story of Sweet Danger is encompassed on one day: one very gritty intense day. Can an author pull off enough action and plot over 300 pages with only one day in time? Apparently.

Cheryl Pierson has a flair for action. Her earlier releases, Fire Eyes & Time Plains Drifter both have a fair share of action that keeps readers surging forward. In Sweet Danger, she has pushed this to the limit. The whole book, minus a bit at the beginning and end is full of an intense action sequence. Of course there is romance weaved in between, in the form of a chance meeting between neighbors who have eyed each other but never spoken until that morning.

Lindy is easy to believe, sympathetic and vulnerable but also quite strong inside. Jesse is hard to resist, an undercover cop with a hard edge but gentle soul.

Several supporting characters complete the cast with their fullness and quirks. I would have liked to have had more of their stories, especially the older lady with attitude and the older lady with a weaker constitution who disappears from view. I also think the relationship between Jesse and Lindy could have been developed more slowly, maybe with a couple of days leading up to the robbery where they get thrown together. But that may be my literary-reader side coming out. Romance is, after all, confined to so many pages.

I found myself staying up too late reading in order to see what mess was coming next and how they would get out of it. The story was fully believable, dramatic and romantic, on the hotter side of sensual, and hard to put down.
Profile Image for Julie Wilcox.
5 reviews
July 26, 2011
While this story could have begun as a romantic novel, it is no "piece of fluff" as many believe romances to be. It is so full of suspense and danger that I was unable to sleep, but for wanting to know what happened next. The story was so in-depth and the characters so complete and detailed that it felt more like a true-to-life accounting of an actual event by one who experienced the situation, than a fictional storytelling. I found no part of this story to be lacking in its content or believability. The majority of women who generally only read romance novels will be able to enjoy this tale as well as suspense enthusiasts. This author held my attention for days after I finished this story and made me want for more.
Profile Image for Toni.
Author 93 books45 followers
October 14, 2011
Sweet Danger isn’t long on action since all of it occurs in one location, but it is high on drama and has enough tension on both sides of the door of a hostage situation. Undercover cop Jesse has until midnight; then escaped criminal Hardin is doing to kill him…slowly…and enjoy every minute of it. Will Ryan find a way into the deli in time? Will the few hours Jesse and Lindy have together be all they will ever get? Will Tabor Hardin savor the revenge he’s waited five years to give? Those are the three threads running through the story, and the answer to each may or may not be a foregone conclusion. Sweet Danger is a romance, to be sure, but it’s also a suspense thriller. An enjoyable, exciting read.
432 reviews7 followers
November 30, 2012
Wasn't sure about this one, but turned out I really enjoyed it. SOrt of a Dog Day Afternoon premise, with a variety of characters taken hostage. The villains are really nasty but have more layers than the typical romantic suspense bad guy. Likewise the hero, Jesse, is brave and a really good guy who has enough flaws to make him believable. I did find Lindy a little too perfect, but the whole story worked so well it was ok. Very action packed as the whole thing takes place in about 24 hours. In fact the 24 hour time frame worked so well, I felt the final chapter could have been left off, although it was nice to see a bit of the future for Jesse and Lindy
2,346 reviews
November 19, 2017
Absolutely perfect!!!

Jesse has a lot of baggage but he finally gets a chance to talk to his neighbor Lindy at the bakery.Unfortunately they end up in a hostage situation with a sadistic criminal that Jesse helped out away. The romance flows beautifully fraught with tension and blood. This is a keeper!!!!
Profile Image for starsaga.
772 reviews8 followers
July 15, 2013
An interesting book. 2.5 stars
This was a gritty story. There were a lot of characters, doing a lot of things and I skimmed a bit, but overall a good read. I liked Nash and he made the story better, otherwise the book was a good read, hostage-action with some romance thrown in.
Profile Image for C.A. Jamison.
Author 7 books5 followers
March 24, 2016
If you don't know it yet, you should learn as I did, reading this book, Cheryl Pierson is a talented author. Sweet Danger rocks the world from beginning to end. Bullets, blood and passionate romance--I got a my Jesse on and thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews