Scent of Danger

Secrets of Rios Azules #3

by Alexa Verde

To find her missing sister, small-town cop Maya Hutchinson risks her life by posing as her glamorous twin. Under escalating attacks, Maya accepts protection from dashing senator's son Connor McNamara. Cop turned PI, Connor McNamara has his own secret mission and is forced to choose between family loyalty and love. When the scent of danger draws near, will Connor and Maya survive long enough to forgive and accept each other?

Secrets of Rios Azules series: sweet, wholesome books about faith, love, and murder. Welcome to Rios Azules, a small Texas town where rivers and emotions run deep, and the secrets are deadly.
Prequel River of Danger (Jacob and River), Book 1 Color of Danger (Luke and Mari), Book 2 Taste of Danger (James and Soledad), Book 3 Scent of Danger (Connor and Maya)

Genres: Romance, Suspense, Mystery, Christian, Romantic Suspense, Novella, Contemporary Romance

124 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2016

About the author

Alexa Verde writes feel-good small-town romances with a smile. She'd love it if you subscribed to her newsletter https://dl.bookfunnel.com/gitieu15ex. Every subscriber gets a free Christian romance after confirming the subscription as a thank-you gift.
She penned her first literary "masterpiece" (a rhymed poem) at the ripe age of eight, and since has had over forty books and 200 short stories, articles, and poems published in the five languages that she speaks. Over 60 million pages of her books have been read worldwide. She has bachelor's degrees in English and Spanish, a master's in Russian, and enjoys writing about characters from diverse cultures. She's worn the hats of reporter, teacher, translator, assistant, model (even one day counts!), and caretaker, but thinks that the writer's hat suits her the best. She hopes and prays that her stories will bring joy to her readers. Heartfelt thanks for your interest in her books!

Reviews

[Julie Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Book

Very fast and suspense filled. Will definitely keep you interested. I can’t wait to read more books by this author.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not the world's biggest novella fan. I like my books to be thick and juicy, but occasionally I do break from my norm and pick up a short story or novella to read when I'm pressed for time or just want to unwind before bed. The Smoke and Mirrors collection is a volume of 8 novellas to satisfy those who crave romantic suspense. I've only had the chance to read "Scent of Danger", but let me tell you, if this story is any indication of what the others are like, it's a must-have for your e-reader. This story jumps right into the action -- Alexa Verde doesn't waste time!

Maya, undercover, hoping to find her missing twin, meets up with gunfire, kidnappers, as well as a handsome senator's son who may or may not be on her side. Connor is just trying to figure out who the intriguing woman who looks exactly like glamorous model January really is. In their journey though the city streets and into a world of lies and secrets, they uncover more about themselves and a the hope found in a rock solid faith.

"Scent of Danger" is a treat for suspense fans. I loved that the danger and edge-of-your-seat action did not let up. Sometimes, suspense stories can lag a bit in the middle, but there isn't a chance for that to happen in this novella. I only wish that the romance didn't move so fast. I liked the chemistry between Connor and Maya, and would have liked them to have more time to explore that side of things after the criminal side of the story was resolved. Such is the life of a novella reader. A good story always ends too soon. This story in and of itself is worth the $0.99 price you pay for the entire set of novellas on Amazon!


*I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.*

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scent Of Danger : Christian Multicultural Romance Suspense (Secrets Of Rios Azules - #3 )
By: Alexa Verde

Scent of Danger is book three in Secrets of Rios Azules series. I have read the other two books in this series and loved them all. Scent of Danger can be read as a stand alone with no problems. Scent of Danger is a fast paced clean, Christian, Suspense, romance, and the author drew me in right at the start and did not let go till the end. Verde’s pens a page turner that will have you on the edge of your seat , and trying to read faster to see what is going to happen next. I loved the story and the characters, both were easy to follow. Maya, a small town cop , has a twin sister who has gone missing. Maya posing as her sister puts her life in danger. She does not trust anyone. Conner, the senators son ,gets caught up in this scent of danger . Can Maya trust him ? Hang onto your seat with Maya while she tries to find her sister.
I was given a copy of this book by the author for my honest review.

[Joyful · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is book 3 in the Secrets of Rios Azules series and is a sweet wholesome multicultural Christian romance of faith, love, and murder. Maya Hutchinson, small-town cop, risks her life by posing as her glamorous twin sister in an effort find her missing sister. Maya Is under escalating attacks when she accepts protection from the dashing senator's son, Connor McNamara. Connor who is a cop turned PI has his own secret mission. When forced to choose between family loyalty and love, whom will he chose? Will Connor and Maya survive long enough to forgive and accept each other? I loved this romance and the scent of danger that draws you into the storyline. This book can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend that you read them all in order. I was given a free copy and I chose to review this book because I enjoyed the storyline so much and fell in love with the characters.

[Ellen White · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is # 3 in the series SECRETS OF RIOS AZULES,by Alexa Verde. First, I must add I hope this is not the last book for this series.
We meet Maya, who has an identical twin, gone missing. How far is she willing to go, pretending to be January. Can she even pull it off, for she is a cop, January a top model. Maya sneaks into a charity event, an annual event by the senator, as January. Everything starts going wrong, and the only weapon she has is her stilettos for a weapon. Powerful packed story, with the senator's son, Conner in the chase with her. He now is a PI , how is he involved, and why all the phone calls from his father, the senator. You won't be able to stop till the last page. Great read, once again by Alexa, for all ages to enjoy.
Given ARC for my honest opinion, of which I have given.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspense, romance, murder, and faith all in one book kept me turning the pages. The images just jumped off the page with the detailed descriptions. It's unbelievable how much the author put into 130 pages.

I loved Maya for devotion to her twin sister. The bond she had with her twin let her know something wasn't right. I understood too when someone goes astray how we just have to be there for them and pray.

I loved that the ending totally took me by surprise. I would have never guessed.

This book can stand alone without a problem. You don't need to read the previous books in order to feel as though you know everything. I had no problem at all. Now, I can't wait to go back and read the first!

A great great read!

I was gifted this book by the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

[Iola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small-town cop Maya Hutchinson risks her life to find her missing twin sister by posing as her (now this one could have been called Identity Theft!). She is helped by dashing senator's son and cop-turned-PI Connor McNamara, but he’s keeping a secret from Maya as well . . .

Scent of Danger was an excellent finish to the Smoke and Mirrors collection, with solid writing, great characters and a plot that was exactly the right mix: straightforward enough to follow, but with enough twists and turns to keep me guessing. Another author I’ll watch out for.

This story was previously published as part of the Smoke and Mirrors collection. I received a free copy of Smoke and Mirrors from another author for the purposes of reviewing the set.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Secrets of Rios Azules Series but it can be read as a standalone. I know if you read this one, you will definitely want to read the first book in the series. It is a quick but action packed read that once I started it I couldn't put it down. The story follows Maya as she connects with Conner, a Private Investigator, to try to find her missing twin sister. There are lots of twists and turns and a ending that I wasn't expecting. This author is one of my favorite authors of Christian suspense and this is another one from her that I definitely recommend. I was given a copy of this novella in return for an honest review.

[Linda Rainey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alexa Verde again brings us a heart stopping, suspense filled novella.This novella packs lot in fewer words.
Maya and Connor race across Texas trying to find Maya's twin and solve the mystery of why she is missing.
I loved the , characters and the Texas setting.
Maya and Connor share God's love and forgiveness and it helps their journey.
The story line was heart wrenching and I loved the ending.
Alexa is a good storyteller and I look forward to more by this author.
A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.

[Louise Pledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've loved everything I've read by Alexa Verde but especially enjoyed this one. One of my favorite plots is twins portraying each other, but this had a few intriguing twists on that. One twin is missing, so her counterpart has to portray her in order to find out what happened. Even though they look identical, their personalities are not, so it is a challenge. This book has everything one could ask for: mystery, suspense, romance and all accomplished without disturbing language or sex scenes. Thanks for another hit, Alexa. Please keep 'em comin'!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maya and Connors story is truly amazing. When Maya starts searching for January her life changes. Connor is surprised when he first meets Maya. Watching these two and all the dangers they face will have you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next. You will feel God working throughout this whole book. I would give this book a higher rating than a five star review if I could. I had the honor to review this book for the author for a honest review. The review is my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.

[Laura Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

again! I have enjoyed each book in her series and this is no exception. Soledad is a wonderful heroine that the reader is rooting for during the entire story and watching her grow, change and fall in love was awesome. The suspense kept me guessing and I don't want to say too much for fear of giving anything away, but I will say that once you start reading you won't stop until you reach the end.

[JoAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Christian suspense/romance. The book is well written and has a great plot and well developed characters. I have read three other books in this series and loved them as I did this one. If you like the edge of your seat type of suspense I recommend this book to you

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, what a hair raising story. Great character development. Engaging characters. Learning more and more about Rios Azules and its citizens. Would love to be able to visit such a place of close connections. Eerie story line of danger and excitement. Loved it!!!!!

[Trudy Cordle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Connor and Maya's story!! Connor and Maya meet when she's impersonating her twin sister, a fashion model, at a party put on by Connor's father, a Texas state senator. Before Connor realizes that Maya isn't her twin, he's suspicious because he's drawn to her when he was not drawn to her sister. When Connor figures out who she is, she's gone. When they meet for the second time, he's even more drawn to her, and they decide to work together to find her sister. The more they are drawn to each other, the more they realize that they have to tell their "secrets" and they both think the other won't be able to get past that. When they finally learn to trust each other, it's almost too late. Love the way this story comes together, and love that Maya helps Connor find his way back to God!

I received a complimentary copy of this book was not required to leave a review, and the opinion expressed is my own.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scent of Danger is a captivating romantic suspense. The main characters, Maya and Connor, have had tragic occurrences in their pasts that they have not completely dealt with emotionally. Their working through these things makes them more believable and relatable. There is a definite sizzling to their chemistry, and they do get their HEA. But on their way to that HEA, there is plenty of mystery, suspense, and action to keep the reader's interest engaged. The plot has some major twists and the characters are having some much needed breakthroughs in dealing with their pasts. I highly recommend this addition to Secrets of Rios Azules to clean romantic suspense readers and to Christian romantic suspense readers.

[Debbie Chatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

So very good. Read it in one sitting. Can there be a chance for2 people who meet under complicated circumstances, come from very different backgrounds and are keeping secrets from each other? Get a copy of this book to find out more about Maya who meets Conner the senator son while searching for her missing twin sister. Good suspense thrown into the mix on the search for her sister as well.

[Andrea Byers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maya is on the hunt for her sister, whom she thinks is in trouble. Her first stop in January’s friend Connor’s house, where his parents are throwing a party. Some mishaps start the adventure, and Connor, being with her is in on it. Lots of action as we’ve come to expect from this series. Another keeper and looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets of Rios Azules is a fabulous and EXTREMELY addicting series! Scent of Danger, just like the previous books and characters in the series, pulls you right into the actions and takes you on an adventure of a lifetime. These are books that you can’t put down, and can’t get to the next one in the series fast enough!

[Pam Merrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maya must find her missing sister. Conner at first thinks she is January but she lacks self confidence. Conner decides to help her after she tells him January is missing. What did January do? Will they find her? I know how you can find out. I enjoyed the story and attraction between them. Thanks for my ARC.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A man raised in privilege and wealth and a woman raised in neglect and abuse are drawn together when they start the search for her missing sister. This book is action packed with so many twists and surprises that it is hard to put down. I highly recommend this book!

[Karen Miracle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is amazing

I love the characters in this book and can't wait to read more. Alexa Verde keeps you interested in the story with all of the plot twists she includes so you don't want to stop reading until you see what happens next.

[Mary Jane McLeod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really Great Christian Series

I'm totally enjoying this series about the Danger Girls. It's wonderful to read about this group of close knit group of women that stick together and support each other no matter what. I loved this book and look forward to the next book.

[Paula Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Danger Girls of Rios Azules, and love reading a new adventure with the suspense that Alexa Verde writes so well! I cannot get enough of her books!

[Sandra Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow....great, hard to put down!

[Michaela | Reading in the Heartland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was expecting this next book to be about another of the danger girls. However, I was quickly drawn into this drama.

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery, suspense, romantic story. It has several characters with varied emotional baggage and will keep you reading to see what happens next.

[David Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. The secrets involved were a compelling incentive to keep reading. There was also enough masculinity in the male characters to not threaten the romantic side. Definitely recommend this book.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the characters and all the action

[Bhriv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scent of Danger, written by Alexa Verde, is book 3 of the Secrets of Rios Azules series.

I enjoyed this mystery/suspense. It starts off with a bang in more ways than one and continues through to the very end. Edge of your seat. Suspense at each page turn.

I have enjoyed this series by Verde as has had the thrill of suspense throughout each book. This book is about twin sisters, January & Maya. The mystery is mainly about January with Maya as the cop sister who is investigating. The action scenes seemed very realistic. Near murder, guns, kidnapping, and secrets fill the pages of Scent of Danger. Verde keeps the reader enthralled through it all.

Since it is a novella, it's an easy read. There does seem to be the natural rush feeling with the romantic side of things which is very common in novellas. But...I'm glad there was an epilogue at the end that helps make the romance a little more realistic. I do feel that the spiritual side of this book is light. There is a couple "spiritual themes" of prayer and forgiveness of others.

I was given this book by the author. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.