Dangerous Allies

Ruby Danger #1

by Rickie Blair

No one invites the mob on their second honeymoon…

Ruby Delaney is at the bottom of a spiral. After the death of her sister, the young actress turned to pills and booze to numb the pain. Desperate to reconnect with her husband and get her life back on track, they take a luxurious second honeymoon cruise. Everything is going well, until she makes a surprising discovery in their cabin: $20 million in bonds!

Ruby knows stock fraud when she sees it, and it reeks of the Russian mafia. When she’s set up for a crime she didn’t commit, her only chance is a series of impossible escapes to clear her name. With the help of a few surprise allies, and a bit of luck, Ruby might just have a shot… if she can live long enough to solve the mystery.

Dangerous Allies is the first book in a series of gripping financial thrillers.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Ebooks, Fiction

316 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2015

About the author

When not hunched over my computer conversing with people who exist only in my head, I spend my time trying to tame an unruly half-acre garden and a mischievous Jack Russell-cross. I also share my southern Ontario home with two rescue cats and an overactive Netflix account.

I write The Ruby Danger series of financial thrillers, and a cozy mystery series, The Leafy Hollow Mysteries. The Ruby books reflect my interest in fraud and how it ruins lives, while the Leafy Hollow volumes are more light-hearted. I hope you enjoy them.

Rickie

Reviews

[Stephani Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the author Rickie Blair via her Cozy Mystery series (The Leafy Hollow Mysteries, which are wonderful, by the way) so I was surprised and extremely impressed by Dangerous Allies (The Ruby Danger Series Book 1). Rickie Blair shows off her "chops" and displays what a wonderfully talented and well rounded author she truly is. If you enjoy the "feel" of Film Noir (think Double Indemnity) you will absolutely enjoy this book!

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Dangerous Allies' was one of those books that pulled me in from the beginning and didn't let go. This cozy mystery, of sorts, was well written and well played out. Full of great characters, mystery and scenarios that keep me glued to the pages. Definitely a great add to your tbr list.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rickie Blair has a fascinating read in Dangerous Allies. Her plot is refreshing in that it has a fresh idea for a mystery. I haven't read one like it before and since I've read 100's and 100's of mysteries over the years that is saying a lot.

I really liked the character of Ruby 'Danger' Delaney who has a bit of a drinking problem, loves her husband (in my mind he is a selfish, criminal) and is a bit naive. She is an actress but hasn't had a job in 2 years because of a major pill and booze problem after her sister died. She did go to rehab but still hangs on to the booze a bit. Her world comes crashing down around her when she finds out what her husband has been up to and his secret plans.

Ruby is on a cruise with her husband when she makes her discoveries and then is on the run from the Russian mob. Ruby turns to a stranger to help her escape the ship and life just goes downhill from there but she turns out to be one tough, strong-willed woman who wants to set some of her husband's wrongs to right while trying to stay alive too.

Dangerous Allies is a fast paced page turner and I couldn't put it down. I recommend it to all mystery lovers! This is one you won't forget.

I received this ebook free from the author for review purposes. For more information about Rickie Blair check out http://www.rickieblair.com/about/

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

A former tv star and her hedge fund running husband are on a cruise. When they aren't drinking, they are acting erratically. Others on the cruise include Russian mob members, schemers and a retired cop. The mobsters are after the actress and her husband because of missing money. Going further into the plot will lead to spoilers, but what follows the cruise is far more engrossing than the introduction. It is fine weekend reading on a par with a Lifetime movie.

[Kelly Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been avoiding starting this series because, I thought, no one could make financial crime, of all things, interesting or exciting. Not even Rickie Blair.
But I finally decided to give it a try. I admit, I was wrong. Blair has made financial crime not only readable, but enjoyable. Well written, complex, and fast paced with compelling characters, this book is well worth the read. I look forward to the rest.

[Elizabeth Duffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Things Go Bad...

They really go bad. And, the action spirals further and further down into chaos. There were areas of "dryness," where the action seemed to be on a standstill; but, overall, a good book.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

For my taste, it moved a tad slowly for a thriller and there was a major plot point that was wonkily written which took me out of the action. With that said: I did find the over all story interesting, the protagonist was inventive and I did enjoy it.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, the characters were interesting and the story was very believable. I really like Rickie Blairs style of writing. I have read several of her books they were all good but this one I enjoyed the most can't wait for another one.

[Barbara Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

There were times when I thought, "Well, I'll finish it, but I'm not sure I want to read any more of this series," but I am so glad I did finish it and I definitely WILL be reading on in the series.

[Sandee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little bit dark and an exciting mystery. I was on the edge of my seat through most of this book especially through the last few chapters. Ruby is a flawed hero but she does know right from wrong. So, when it becomes clear that many things in her life are wrong she is compelled to make them right. The characters in this story are well developed. There are obvious bad people and obvious good people but it also contains a selection of people who are a bit of both. This is a good book and I will be reading more in this series.

[Yvonne Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading Dangerous Allies. Not was I hooked. It has action, fear, danger, mafia, drama, and I couldn't put it down. I could feel the panic and fear as I read through the book.

[Sandy Lipinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a read. Well written and believable. Actress Ruby Danger snoops through her husband Antony's papers and files and discovers what a bad boy he is. Owing the Russian Mafia twenty million on top of cooking the books at work. Everyone wants Antony dead or in jail. Ruby runs for her life.

[Nancy Silk · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Fabulous Mystery Thriller Which Is Riveting"

Let's take a cruise ship and enjoy the sights, the food, and mystery. Cruise ships are like huge cities with all kinds of criminal activity if one takes a step in the wrong direction. Ruby Delaney is trying to enjoy a one-week Caribbean cruise aboard "Apollonis," a luxury liner. Her husband, Antony Carver, considered a Wall Street wizard, has requested she join him on this trip rather than her visiting her two motherless nieces in Vancouver. While sitting on her balcony of the Emperor Suite sipping cocktails before noon, she sees a paparazzo aiming a camera at her from a lower level. She decides to give him a great photo as she jumps onto the railing and does a pirouette for him and then jumps to the deck. Her husband is spending little time with her. She finds a set of her earrings on the rug in their suite, realizing they should be in the safe. She doesn't know what the code is, but takes a few guesses and opens the safe to place her earrings inside. She notices several passports, one being her brother-in-law's with the name of Quentin Wade. But the photo is of her husband. Another passport with a photo and name of a young woman, and some bearer bonds worth several million dollars, and an envelope with several thousands in cash. What is her husband up to? Is he leaving her for another woman? This vacation cruise turns into hell for Ruby Delaney. This is a very well written suspenseful story which grabs you from page one. It's well crafted and has many twists and turns, and high action. There's not a boring sentence in this intriguing novel. I became engrossed and never put the lamp out! Highly recommend.

[Laura Ruetz · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my deciding factors on if I love or hate a book deals with how the author treats the characters. Are they developed? Are they relatable to the reader? Do we learn about them through what they say or do or do we rely on the narration to tell us. In Dangerous Allies, the characters are complex, developed and very much three dimensional and you can relate to them.

Ruby Delaney is a character that you can relate to. She's not perfect but she is not a bad person and you can instantly connect with her. The mystery unfolds slowly, against the setting of a cruise ship where Ruby and her husband are taking a vacation and the tension between them is palatable. In the midst of this, she finds out that the cruise is not what it seems to be, and her husband is up to something that implicates her.

Where do you go when you are stuck on a ship in the middle of the ocean? When those you trust are no longer trustworthy. Through a series of choices, not all of them good, we follow Rudy as her panic escalates as she falls deeper into the rabbit hole of something she doesn't yet understand.

The plot is great, with twists to keep you guessing and the action is steady. The characters are well woven into the plot, making fora a great read.

I look forward to the next book - if you enjoy a solid mystery, pick up this book.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an exceptionally good mystery/thriller. I never got bored and even better I was totally surprised at most of the twists and turns in the plot, of which there were many. In my reviews I don't talk about details so don't expect to find any in this review, I try to express my reactions, how much I enjoyed reading a book as well as comment on grammar and punctuation so people will know why I liked or disliked or lived it.

Dangerous Allies is very well written so I was not distracted from the suspense, tension and the rare drop of humor. This is not my favorite genre usually but this is one of my favorite books now. I even held my breath during one high stress scene (you will know it as soon as you read it). One tiny spoiler, I really enjoyed finding out about behind the scenes on a cruise ship). As I was reading, I thought it was around 3 am, when I looked at the click I was shocked to see it was 6:35am. I feel that is the best indication of a truly good book when you lose yourself for a while. So put some excitement in your life, get this book. (If you want to, lol)

Disclaimer: I received my copy from the author through Librarything, which I love, in exchange for an honest review.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

** I received a copy of this book from Story Cartel in exchange for an honest review.**

'Dangerous Allies' pulled me in from the beginning and I literally did not put it down. The storyline was fast paced, full of action, deceit, mystery, suspense and some pretty clever scenarios. The way the story played out was great. The characters were a vast array of personalities, from mobsters, cops, cheaters, a$$holes, and of course an actress who became quite the investigator. Ruby made an awesome lead. Her not so innocent reply- 'Was that wrong?' cracked me up. She is definitely a kick-ass lead. Antony is an absolute a$$hole. Oh how I just wanted to throttle him at times. Mila was quite surprising. And Hari was great. At first I thought he was a little iffy, but as the story unfolded I found him to be a reliable friend. His dedication to Ruby was pretty evident. 'The Ruby Danger Series' is one I will definitely read more of. A great add to your tbr list. Recommended read.

[Pia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ruby Delaney (aka Ruby Danger) is on her second honeymoon with her husband when she finds out he's about to desert her (and also the investors in his company) and disappear with more than 500 million dollars. He's been laundering money from the Russian mob and he's in a hurry to make himself scarce. What's worse, she will surely be blamed for all this.

So, to make a long story short, Ruby disappears first. Through a series of improbable (but fun) events, she manages to go all the way from a ship in the Caribbean to Pintado Island, then to Florida and Canada.

Though at first Ruby looks like the typical tabloid actress (pretty, silly, vain) we soon see she's more than that, and has many resources to save herself.

This book is light and pleasant. Not much depth to characters and, as I said before, many improbable situations, but worth reading

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Lillie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't find Ruby Delaney (aka Ruby Danger) or her husband very likable characters at the beginning of the book. As the book progressed, I liked Antony less and less. However, Ruby became more likable, and by the end of the book I liked and admired her. There were twists and turns throughout the book, and the danger increased on every page. I really liked Hari and wanted to know more about him--maybe we'll learn more of his backstory in future books in the series. The book ended the way I like series books to end--with the resolution of the main plot in this book but a new beginning set up for the sequel.

I received a free copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Louise Pledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was provided a copy of "Dangerous Allies"in exchange for any kind of sincere review. Honestly, I'm very busy this week getting ready to leave for vacation, hadn't heard of the author and wasn't looking forward to reading it. My goodness, was I in for a surprise! Instead of dreading it, I found I couldn't put it down (found myself waking every few hours to read a little more)! Ruby Delaney, well-known actress is, also, known as Ruby Danger, and Danger is, exactly, what she keeps finding herself in. The story has an exciting beginning, but there isn't a time I recall where that excitement and suspense lets up.

I have, already, pre-ordered the next book in the series!

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars.
If anyone is after an action packed adventure then definitely choose this book. Ruby (an ex-actress) discovers that her husband isn't the man she thought he was and from then on her life takes a dangerous and sinister turn - who can she trust in this new, mad world she finds herself in? It certainly passes the time as you race through the pages wondering how she will escape from this scrape or solve that problem. A great stocking filler for the book lovers in your family! I was given this ARC by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[J. Ewbank · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book by Blair is definitely a good start to a series. The groundwork is laid for the personalities who will be in the next book of the series and the plot is enough to keep you turning the pages to find out what happens. I imagine there are many more twists and turns coming in this series. Read and enjoy, I did.

J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the Isms" "Wesley's Wars" "To Whom It May Concern" and "Tell me about the United Methodist Church"

[Paula Harp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an arc for a honest review. If you love page turning suspense and intrigue then this is the book for you. This is the first book in a great new series about Ruby Danger. I love the character Ruby Danger with all her flaws, she is still a wonderful character with a huge heart. Ruby is an actress fresh out of rehab on her second honeymoon with her husband on a cruise ship with lots of mysterious characters. Great story line!

[Huma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so the first thing I would say about the book is that the way its written is fantastic !
This is the first time I read a book by Rickie Blair and it is was fantastic. From the first chapter, the writer holds the attention of the reader. Superb.
Secondly, the way the story unfolds grips the reader to finish the book until the end is known.

Would like to read more by the author. Good work !

[Tori Clute · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read that kept me on the edge waiting to see what would happen next. It's always a pleasure when you can actually feel the characters mature and gdow in a novel. I have great hopes that the next book, Dangerous Benefects will be an equally exceptional read. All thar is left to say is, "Poor Hari."

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a little while to "like" Ruby, but by end of the book I loved her and am looking forward to more stories about her. The cruise ship setting was interesting and pretty different. Nice mystery/suspense!

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an exciting mystery to read. I had such a hard time putting it down, it was suspensful and intriguing. There were enough plot twists to keep one guessing and turning the pages. Can't wait to read the next in the series of Ruby Danger mysteries by Rickie Blair.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an intriguing book -in all senses of the word! Rickie Blair's fiction flows with a countless surprises and plot twists, sometimes making you wonder who the bad guy really is...but don't worry, it all gets sorted out in time to continue the series.

[Carolyn Dewalt · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not finish

Stopped half way through. Silly, Shallow plot with equally shallow characters. Will read no more in the Ruby Danger series.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. Kept me reading way past my bedtime. Loved every word. Suspense all the way. Couldn't believe what the main characters had to go through. More for sure. Jackie

[Kary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun fast read liked the plot moved well. Would read more in the series.