Danger Close

by Maia Dylan

Ricky Bowen isn’t the kind of man who lets people in. Not into his head, not into his heart, and definitely not into his bed. But Ezra Navarro had a way of dismantling Ricky’s defenses with nothing more than a steady look and a quiet promise. One night together changed everything. By morning, Ezra was gone—without a word, leaving Ricky shattered.

Now, months later, an encrypted message drags Ricky back into the fight. Ezra is injured, on the run, and carrying proof of a cartel-backed child trafficking network—along with one devastating one of the children on the list is the daughter of their fallen brother-in-arms. To save Ezra and protect the girl, Ricky must risk everything—including his heart—for the man who broke it.

Genres: Contemporary

152 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 24, 2025

About the author

Mother, Wife, Author, and all around crazy...

I write the kind of books that I love to read. Love stories between strong men and their independent soulmates. Usually, their path to Happily Ever After is a bumpy one, but there is always a Happy Ever After.

​In the world's I create there is someone (or two, or three) for everyone! Love comes in many forms and I believe it is all beautiful and should be celebrated!

I live, love and write in New Zealand, married to my husband of eleven years with two beautiful children who I truly believe were sent as a blessing, but sometimes to try my patience, and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Reviews

[Deb Kel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danger Close is the second instalment in the Pathfinders series, and is fast-paced, angsty in all the right moments, and full of heart. The story grips you straight away, dropping you into a tense, emotionally charged second-chance romance between Ricky and Ezra. Ricky’s the sort of man who keeps his walls high and reinforced, so watching them crack the moment Ezra reappears, wounded, hunted, and carrying explosive intel, adds a brilliant undercurrent of vulnerability to all the action.

The plot blends high-stakes danger with raw, personal conflict. The revelation involving the trafficked child hits particularly hard, tying their mission to a shared past and raising the emotional stakes even further. Amidst the gunfire, encrypted messages, and desperate escapes, their connection feels genuine and hard-won.

I received a free copy of this book via Evernight and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lisa Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lot of story, not just a romance, the second in the Pathfinders series. Ricky Bowen has never let anyone in until Ezra Navarro. The next day he ghosted him and has not been seen since. Months later he gets a message that Ezra is in trouble, he was looking for his niece, Van's daughter. There is no way the team is not going after him, with Ricky leading the charge.

I loved this story, these two needed the other in their life. Looking forward to the next in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Evernight and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[stardragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Pathfinder’s series and it’s awesome. The main characters are part of a military type unit that goes where others don’t. Ezra finds out a fellow member who has died was looking for his kidnapped daughter and takes up the search. Ricky who was close to Ezra thinks he just disappeared but then receives an encrypted message to track him. This book keeps you on the edge until the end. It involves child trafficking, romance, action and suspense. A must read story.

[Nicole Deanne Veracruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this was a really well-written book and I did love the fridge, Ricky, and Ezra, I really wish there had been trigger warnings. To be completely honest, I almost stopped reading when Ricky overheard the conversation between the guards. It made me so sick that I had to take a minute before continuing.

I received a free copy of this book via Evernight and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Akasha721 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ricky was heartbroken when Ezra left at first. Finding Ezra bloody and beaten makes Ricky heart beat faster because he is alive. Together they both have a new mission from Van. Action pack and a nail biter!.

I received a free copy of this book via Evernight and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amanda Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danger Close is the second book in the Pathfinders series, I didn't read the first book but didn't have any issues with reading this. This is a second chances story that is action filled with some angst about Ezra and Ricky. Loved this book so much, very happy to have found it.

[Kurtins R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this was a good story. Book 2 in the Pathfinders series. This story had all the action, emotion, chemistry and suspense that a read could want.
Loved Ezra and Ricky, both a little emotionally stunted but got there in the end. This sereis keeps getting better, can't wait for more

[C bond · Rating 4 out of 5]

These two belong together. Action packed romance. Ezra and Ricky click, have each other's back and will always save each other. Loved this book. Looking forward to more.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book of the Pathfinder’s series and it was another great read, I really liked Ezra and Ricky together and the story had plenty of action as well, looking forward to book three.