Dangerous Revelations

Mavericks #1

by Lisa Jackson

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jackson comes a fan-favorite story of secrets and second chances. Rachelle Tremont hasn’t seen her hometown, Gold Creek, California, since a harrowing event drove her away. But now wanting to come to terms with her teenage past, Rachelle has decided to return home and write about the experience in her weekly newspaper column…which will include revisiting a murder scandal she was caught up in all those years ago. Lawyer Jackson Moore thought he had buried his bad boy days when he left Gold Creek for New York City. But when he discovers Rachelle’s column, he realizes his troublesome past is about to be resurrected. Crossing paths with Rachelle in their small hometown, the spark Jackson thought was long dead still burns between them. And in revealing the town’s tragic secrets, the two just might uncover a few of their own. Previously published.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Lisa Jackson is the number-one New York Times bestselling author of over ninety-five novels, including the Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya Series, the Pescoli and Alvarez Series, the Savannah series, and numerous stand alone novels. She also is the co-author of One Last Breath, Last Girl Standing, and the Colony Series, written with her sister and bestselling author Nancy Bush, as well as the collaborative novels Sinister and Ominous, written with Nancy Bush and Rosalind Noonan. There are over thirty million copies of her novels in print and her writing has been translated into twenty languages.

Before she became a nationally bestselling author, she was a mother struggling to keep food on the table by writing novels, hoping against hope that someone would pay her for them. Today, neck deep in murder, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.

With dozens of bestsellers to her name, Lisa Jackson is a master of taking readers to the edge of sanity—and back—in novels that buzz with dangerous secrets and deadly passions. She continues to be fascinated by the minds and motives of both her killers and their pursuers—the personal, the professional, and the downright twisted. As she builds the puzzle of relationships, actions, clues, lies, and personal histories that haunt her protagonists, she must also confront the fear and terror faced by her victims and the harsh and enduring truth that, in the real world, terror and madness touch far too many lives and families.

Visit http://www.LisaJackson.com where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

***Spoiler Alert***






I normally love Lisa Jackson’s work and have read a lot of her books, so I’m disappointed to admit that this book was nowhere near her best and is, to be honest, forgettable.

The premise of this book is very similar to another of her books, Final Scream - small town super rich guy sleeps with a woman from the trailer park and has a secret child (who of course ends up being the “bad boy” in town), which is found out much later on with a heated argument between the two. An overused trope to say the least. Next up is the fact that the two main characters spent one night together, essentially trauma bonded, and then didn’t see or speak with each other again for 12 years until they both come back to their small town and ran into each other. Then they very quickly and easily fall back into each other’s arms and are in love and wanting to get married within days of being back. Another overused trope.

The “twist”, which was easy to figure out very early on, was only revealed in the last 10 pages and then the story ended in a way that seemed very unfinished. An epilogue at the very least with an update on everyone’s lives would have tied this together better.

I would not recommend this book and am glad I checked this out from the library instead of purchasing.

[Kathy Blanton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachelle is a high school student who is on the school paper. She lies to her mom about going to the dance after the football game. She is planning on going with her friend Laura to a party given by Roy Fitzpatrick. Before they go to the party Roy Fitzpatrick tries to run down Jackson Moore. Rachelle sees this and begins to think she should just go back to school and go home. She doesn't and ends up at the party. Laura is upset after being with Roy, he only wants Rachelle. Rachelle says she will go get Laura's purse at the gazebo. Roy attacks her and Jackson Moore shows up and saves her. They end up running for their lives away from Roy and his friends. In fact Roy cuts Jackson in the back and calf. Jackson and Rachelle end up spending the night together. The next morning the police find them and arrest Jackson for the murder of Roy. Rachelle is Jackson's alibi because the did spend the night together, but sometime during the night Jackson had left their hideout. She was willing to believe that Jackson was not guilty of murder that she ruined her reputation on stating that. 12 years later they both come back to Gold Creek. They also discover that they mean something to each other. They both want to know the truth.

[Sep · Rating 4 out of 5]

The hero deserted the heroine after she saved him from a murder rap by publicly admitting they spent the night together. He promptly leaves town and she has the horror of spending her senior year being called all kinds of cruel names by her fellow high schoolers and pretty much the rest of the town.

Fast forward 12 years. She is now a reporter but still hasn't gotten over him.

Despite my criticism of the couple, this is an exciting book. The plot is full of twists and turns and it kept me interested right up to the end.

[Mandy Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was definitely not her best work. It was lame for reasoning... a reporter (supposedly famous because people in New York see it in the NY Times) returns home to write about her hometown. Where nothing is happening, she was part of a scandal 12 years before and wants some closure but that is not part of the premise for writing. The writing part dies out really quickly and gets lost. The boy, at the heart of the scandal, who broke her heart, sees she is going back and he goes back too. They immediately start right back up and solve the problem. The end.

[Jamie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of the writing style. I had it figured out by page 50 that the town "patriarch" was the father of Jackson and that's why his life was decidedly less than stellar. It was hard to keep reading when I had almost everything but the killer figured out by the halfway point of the book. I usually don't take 6 or 7 days to read 300 pages, but trying to get through this book felt like it took forever.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rachelle Remont returns to the town where she grew up twelve years after
She was almost raped and a boy was killed when she was saved by the town bad boy Jackson Moore. Rachelle now writes a nationally syndicated
Column and Jackson a big NY lawyer return to find out what actually
Happened twelve years ago and who killed Roy Fitzpatrick. A fast read
With secrets, and murder. Not as good as other books written, but still
An ok read.

[Vicki Chicago-Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It had a bit of everything: a forbidden romance, mystery, intrigue, murder, lies, rags-to-riches, atmosphere, a gorgeous hero, & all the twists that make a great read! The only thing about this book that didn’t completely thrill me was that it was a quick read & I didn’t want it to end. 5 stars for sure!

[Michele Wilson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Writing in juvenile and repetitive. The author said the same things 3 different ways in one paragraph. There was also a lot of mistakes and inconsistencies. Plus details that the author added that had absolutely no relevance to the story.
It was also a very predictable ending.
Would not recommend.

[Carol Maciej-Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the storyline. The story was somewhat predictable but I liked the bad boy, Rachael’s seemed to have a rather weak storyline but she was strong enough to overcome her almost rape and then the humiliation forced on her by the town folk, just to hide the rich families secrets.

[Shelley Sharp Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good easy read. Been an avid reader of author Lisa Jackson. I thought Forbidden Secrets was a reissue but unsure of what the original books name was, then found out it was “He’s a bad boy”
I got hooked on her books there’s a little romance, mystery, and thriller! Keeps you wanting more!

[Michelle Meleskie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good book - really short so you can get through it really quickly, with the perfect mix of romance and mystery. I never would have guessed the ending but it didn’t seem like it came out of thin air - totally made sense.
Could not put this down once I started

[Linda Dye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book

Kept my interest finished in three which is fast for me. If you like love and murder mysteries read this book and many more of Lisa books.

[HTP Books]

Contemporary Romance, Action & Adventure Romance, Romantic Suspense

[Rafferty Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Now published as Forbidden Secrets——she returns home on assignment and reconnects with town bad boy. Very contrived——borders on trashy

[Sandy Gartin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good suspense novel.

[Jess Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.8

[Rebecca Aspinwall · Rating 4 out of 5]

It started slow, but once it got going it was suspenseful, hard to put down and worth every minute of it.

[Mary Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very easy read. Love story with an old murder mystery. I was able to determine who killed Roy pretty early in read.

[Joann Benton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining and easy read.

[Justine Gower · Rating 1 out of 5]

lol are all of her books this silly and trashy?

[Wanda Sturgeon demunck · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a thrill ride all the way!! Hopefully all little towns don’t have these kind of secrets.

[Cataluna6 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not 100% sure how I feel about this book at the moment, I had a bit of a rocky start with the beginning.

I didn't buy Rachelle (our heroine), being ok with wet hugs just after being assaulted. I was also laughing at her amazing first time, where she soared all sorts of magical heights - several times - with our resident bad boy Jackson Moore, (our hero). I it was kinda a dick move on his part to keep going, even though he felt bad about 'taking advantage' of Rachelle.

I quite like both of the main characters, both likable enough, I was a little annoyed that Jackson felt the need to over exaggerate all the other negative aspects of the other characters, namely Roy Fitzpatrick - local asshat and our number one bad guy at start of the story. All his friends are similarly painted, none of Roy's friends have any redeeming qualities, even when we meet them 12 years later. This aspect of the story didn't feel real to me. I felt like Jackson wanted me to know these were the bad guys and so she made a list of things asshats do and made sure they had all those traits. I don't like being told how to feel about a character, I like to make up my own mind and I'm sure I would've come to the conclusion that they were not nice.

Overall, this was pretty predictable, I had an idea of who the killer was and I was on the money. That being said I did enjoy listening to it once I got past my issues, plus I always have such fun listening to these older Harlequin Loveswept titles. Would I read it again. No. But would I read the other three titles in the series. Yes.

[Emma Maher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well read. The plot was interesting. I couldn't put it down. I should of knew who the murderer was from the beginning but I enjoy books that aren't too obvious. Its a light read and easy to get caught up in the characters. A good storyline.

[SimpleBrandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed both books in one. I thought it was a great easy enjoyable read.

[JMV · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very harlequin. Nice change from the intense reads of lately.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story but the narrator was very monotone... I had a hard time getting past that!

[HTP Books]

Categories
Contemporary Romance, Action & Adventure Romance, Suspense, Romantic Suspense

[Melissa Bullock · Rating 3 out of 5]

I normally love her books, but this one felt off. It was short, and I felt like it moved slowly until the last 75 pages or so. Not one of my favorites by her.

[Barbara Holubeshen · Rating 1 out of 5]

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