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Danger at the Door
Since her fiance's tragic death, Laney rarely leaves her home, and even then it's only for emergencies. Over time, she becomes a recluse. Loneliness begins to dominate her life, but it's the overwhelming fear that controls it. She manages to survive -- barely -- on food delivery services and her work-at-home job. When she tries to move on from her grief the commemorative meal she orders is ruined, but it leads to an unlikely friendship with an attractive man who speaks little English.
Bojan feels awful about delivering the ruined meal. He befriends Laney out of compassion for her circumstances and the sense that she needs him. Unfortunately, he continually says the wrong things, upsetting her. But Bojan is determined to win her trust -- and perhaps her heart.
As the two grow closer, Laney has this strange feeling of being watched and wonders if she's losing her mind. Complicating things further, the few times she leaves her house something goes wrong, confirming that she is safer at home.
Can Bojan convince Laney she'll be safe with him, or will his presence put her in further danger?
Bojan feels awful about delivering the ruined meal. He befriends Laney out of compassion for her circumstances and the sense that she needs him. Unfortunately, he continually says the wrong things, upsetting her. But Bojan is determined to win her trust -- and perhaps her heart.
As the two grow closer, Laney has this strange feeling of being watched and wonders if she's losing her mind. Complicating things further, the few times she leaves her house something goes wrong, confirming that she is safer at home.
Can Bojan convince Laney she'll be safe with him, or will his presence put her in further danger?
132 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 31, 2009
119 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Sutton
45 books419 followersMichelle has written over two dozen edgy, inspirational novels. She is a book reviewer and a retired supervisor for the State of Arizona. She currently lives in North Carolina. but will soon be moving to Florida.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 5, 2012
Danger at the Door in 140 characters or less: Lonely grieving Arizonan orders pizza, gets hunky deliveryman & a stalker. Add budding romance, cute puppy love. House analogy. Tension!
From Christian fiction writer Michelle Sutton comes Danger at the Door: a romance/suspense novel set in Arizona.
There, Elaine "Laney" Cooper, is a recluse due to the death of her fiance' Sam. While Sam was well off financially, Laney has nothing but a half-million dollar house she can't afford to maintain, a rock of an engagment ring she hides away, and "Baby," her lovable chihuahua.
She is being watched by "Creepy Mystery Stalker Man," who does so under the guise of birdwatching. You WILL NOT find out who homeboy really is until the end, and by then, I didn't care about his name or his background. He just needed to be punched. Hard. Over and over again.
Though Laney is broke, she orders out for pizza often (I don't judge!) at Little Italy. This particular week is the anniversary of Sam's death. To commemorate the occasion, she orders a sentimental meal, which gets completely screwed up by Bojan (like "bouillon") Trajkovski, He's a Macedonian hearthrob of a deliveryman with a good heart who speaks REALLY poor English. Bojan, whom she calls Bob for short, also has a lovable chihuahua, "Dude."
Turns out, Bojan is not a deliveryman, but a deep-pocketed part-owner of three other stores in the Little Italy chain. He stays undercover for a while until it is apparent he and Laney have something cooking. But while the relationship is undefined, Bojan/Bob/Boki leaves and "Creepy Mystery Stalker Man" plots his next move.
Danger at the Door is near perfect. The romance draws you in. You'll root for Bojan/Bob/Boki and Laney. Laney is totally sympathetic, the symbolism is understated but effective, and, unlike A LOT of Christian fiction, the spirituality isn't overly convenient or Bible-over-the-head-like.
I think the thing I liked most about it is that I believed these characters could exist. There's nothing that happens that makes me question their authenticity. Sutton writing carries a fast pace and sustains it. I started the book and finished it over two days. It's that good.
Under normal circumstances, romance/suspense would not be my selection of book, but Sutton's Danger at the Door opened me to a new genre I would have not otherwise known. Kudos!
From Christian fiction writer Michelle Sutton comes Danger at the Door: a romance/suspense novel set in Arizona.
There, Elaine "Laney" Cooper, is a recluse due to the death of her fiance' Sam. While Sam was well off financially, Laney has nothing but a half-million dollar house she can't afford to maintain, a rock of an engagment ring she hides away, and "Baby," her lovable chihuahua.
She is being watched by "Creepy Mystery Stalker Man," who does so under the guise of birdwatching. You WILL NOT find out who homeboy really is until the end, and by then, I didn't care about his name or his background. He just needed to be punched. Hard. Over and over again.
Though Laney is broke, she orders out for pizza often (I don't judge!) at Little Italy. This particular week is the anniversary of Sam's death. To commemorate the occasion, she orders a sentimental meal, which gets completely screwed up by Bojan (like "bouillon") Trajkovski, He's a Macedonian hearthrob of a deliveryman with a good heart who speaks REALLY poor English. Bojan, whom she calls Bob for short, also has a lovable chihuahua, "Dude."
Turns out, Bojan is not a deliveryman, but a deep-pocketed part-owner of three other stores in the Little Italy chain. He stays undercover for a while until it is apparent he and Laney have something cooking. But while the relationship is undefined, Bojan/Bob/Boki leaves and "Creepy Mystery Stalker Man" plots his next move.
Danger at the Door is near perfect. The romance draws you in. You'll root for Bojan/Bob/Boki and Laney. Laney is totally sympathetic, the symbolism is understated but effective, and, unlike A LOT of Christian fiction, the spirituality isn't overly convenient or Bible-over-the-head-like.
I think the thing I liked most about it is that I believed these characters could exist. There's nothing that happens that makes me question their authenticity. Sutton writing carries a fast pace and sustains it. I started the book and finished it over two days. It's that good.
Under normal circumstances, romance/suspense would not be my selection of book, but Sutton's Danger at the Door opened me to a new genre I would have not otherwise known. Kudos!
August 1, 2009
Danger at the door was really good. I’m giving it 4 stars not because the story was in any way lacking, but because I wish it could have been a little longer, and the crisis a little more drawn-out. I don’t normally read suspense, but this was not too scary, even for me. It isn’t horror at all. This was very different from her other book “Its Not About Me”, as that one is written more toward teens, and this one more toward adults. Though, any age group older teen and up can relate to Sutton’s books, I believe. The romance in this book was more warm/sweet than her other book, though, in typical Sutton-style, she has one very romantic kiss. It seemed to me like the actual conflict with the stalker was a little rushed, but that might be because I was imagining all kinds of long, horrible battles in my mind. I loved Bojan! He is hilarious, and I loved how she used their communication barrier to create funny, awkward, and other kinds of situations throughout the book. Laney’s fears were dealt with in a very unique way, and she is also an amazing character. One thing I love about Sutton’s books is that she always includes God. He becomes another character in the story, not just a deity casually mentioned whenever she thought she had not done so in a while. In our real lives, it should be they same way. He should be a main character, comfortable and familiar. Sutton did a great job of showing everyone’s need for God, while not shoving “religion” down people’s throats.
August 2, 2009
A very fast read, and you get hooked quickly. I enjoyed this book. It would be perfect to take on a vacation to read in the car or on a plane, or while just laying on the beach.
March 14, 2011
4 1/2 stars.
Struggling to overcome her financé’s death in a car accident, Laney Cooper has all but closed herself off from the outside world. She works from home, orders food in and rarely leaves the house, only in part due to her terrible phobia of riding in a car. The loss of her fiancé has been one of many losses she has endured, and so fear has cut her off from other human beings as well, and she spends her days with her sweet and protective Chihuahua, Baby. But though much of Laney’s fear is grief and loss induced, a sinister character who plots darkly in the shadowy sidelines of the story indicates that, perhaps, she has some other very real reasons to be afraid.
Michelle Sutton’s Danger at the Door is a fast-paced and extremely enjoyable romantic suspense that leans a little more toward the romance than the suspense. While the presence of the frightening figure who threatens Laney always keeps a chilly sense of menace in the story, more of the focus is on the other “danger” Laney must face – the danger of opening her heart again and the risk of pain that comes with doing so. Her cautious relationship with Macedonian “pizza delivery man,” Bojan, is developed wonderfully, and his humorous attempts to understand the nuances of the English language are as touching as his sympathetic wish to help Laney fight her fears and overcome her tragedies. Bojan’s commitment to his faith and to his family still in Macedonia interweaves a subtle, but beautiful spiritual aspect into the story and offers reader’s an understanding of how he can be so patient with Laney, despite the sometimes coldly oversensitive reactions to his language-barrier foibles her fear of loving again produces. It is also this faith that will give Bojan and Laney the strength necessary when they at last come face to face with the dangerous stalker who has been threatening Laney for a much longer time than she has even known to fear him.
A charming and exciting romantic suspense I highly recommend to all fans of the genre, and I’m eagerly looking forward to revisiting the story’s characters in In Plain Sight.
Struggling to overcome her financé’s death in a car accident, Laney Cooper has all but closed herself off from the outside world. She works from home, orders food in and rarely leaves the house, only in part due to her terrible phobia of riding in a car. The loss of her fiancé has been one of many losses she has endured, and so fear has cut her off from other human beings as well, and she spends her days with her sweet and protective Chihuahua, Baby. But though much of Laney’s fear is grief and loss induced, a sinister character who plots darkly in the shadowy sidelines of the story indicates that, perhaps, she has some other very real reasons to be afraid.
Michelle Sutton’s Danger at the Door is a fast-paced and extremely enjoyable romantic suspense that leans a little more toward the romance than the suspense. While the presence of the frightening figure who threatens Laney always keeps a chilly sense of menace in the story, more of the focus is on the other “danger” Laney must face – the danger of opening her heart again and the risk of pain that comes with doing so. Her cautious relationship with Macedonian “pizza delivery man,” Bojan, is developed wonderfully, and his humorous attempts to understand the nuances of the English language are as touching as his sympathetic wish to help Laney fight her fears and overcome her tragedies. Bojan’s commitment to his faith and to his family still in Macedonia interweaves a subtle, but beautiful spiritual aspect into the story and offers reader’s an understanding of how he can be so patient with Laney, despite the sometimes coldly oversensitive reactions to his language-barrier foibles her fear of loving again produces. It is also this faith that will give Bojan and Laney the strength necessary when they at last come face to face with the dangerous stalker who has been threatening Laney for a much longer time than she has even known to fear him.
A charming and exciting romantic suspense I highly recommend to all fans of the genre, and I’m eagerly looking forward to revisiting the story’s characters in In Plain Sight.
August 3, 2009
In Danger At The Door Michelle Sutton has created believable characters and story line. Laney is a woman who has lost everyone she’s ever cared about and that has made her afraid to step foot outside of her own home. On the night that she is receiving take out from her favorite restaurant the delivery guy isn’t the same and the meal she orders is ruined. What begins from there is a friendship that neither Boki nor Laney is expecting. He is in need of learning English and she is barely making ends meet. The friendship begins to take root. Both are surprised at the friendship that happens yet they are drawn to each other. They both have no idea that there are other forces at work drawing them together. This is a story filled with passion, edge which is what Michelle is known for; the spiritual element in the book is beautiful. This book is a beautiful depiction of the Salvation story. I highly recommend it. Pick up a copy today! You won’t be sorry!
August 1, 2009
Danger at the Door is a great little romance / mystery. I found the storyline completely engaging and I read it front to back in a couple hours! Michelle Sutton did a wonderful job creating intriguing characters who deal with real life passions and fears. I always appreciate the honesty in Michelle's writing because it makes it easy to relate to the characters and their struggles. Danger at the Door is a perfect summer read and I definitely recommend it!
September 14, 2011
Danger At The Door by Michelle Sutton had just the right mix of suspense, romance and ‘steam’. As someone who doesn’t normally read a lot of straight up romance, I couldn’t put this one down. I found myself reading well into the night, and that’s no lie! It’s the story of a grieving woman who has become paranoid in her fears since her fiancé was killed in a car accident. She refuses to go anywhere, orders in all her food and other necessities, and won’t see anyone – until a new, sexy delivery man brings her pizza one night!
Little does she know, he is actually the owner of the restaurant, and through a series of events they strike up a friendship. His foreign accent and miscues with the English language soon have him finding a place in her heart. However, unknown to either of them, a crazed stalker is out to get her, putting her life and their newfound love in jeopardy.
I thought the author did a wonderful job with the Macedonian accent of the male lead. It came across as very authentic and added quite a bit of humor to a story that also had a lot of melancholy elements. As well, she knows how to make a romance sizzle without taking it into the realm of erotica. I also thought the characters were well developed and believable, with just the right mix of emotion and reality. From a Christian perspective, I also enjoyed the fact that they were believers but they were not ‘goody-goody’. They were portrayed as real people who struggled with anger, desire, jealousy and a whole host of other feelings. I highly recommend this book. Readers will also be pleased to know that a sequel In Plain Sight carries on where this one leaves off.
Little does she know, he is actually the owner of the restaurant, and through a series of events they strike up a friendship. His foreign accent and miscues with the English language soon have him finding a place in her heart. However, unknown to either of them, a crazed stalker is out to get her, putting her life and their newfound love in jeopardy.
I thought the author did a wonderful job with the Macedonian accent of the male lead. It came across as very authentic and added quite a bit of humor to a story that also had a lot of melancholy elements. As well, she knows how to make a romance sizzle without taking it into the realm of erotica. I also thought the characters were well developed and believable, with just the right mix of emotion and reality. From a Christian perspective, I also enjoyed the fact that they were believers but they were not ‘goody-goody’. They were portrayed as real people who struggled with anger, desire, jealousy and a whole host of other feelings. I highly recommend this book. Readers will also be pleased to know that a sequel In Plain Sight carries on where this one leaves off.
July 19, 2011
Talk about a very good read! I recently read a LI that was well written, but the suspense in it was just lame! Danger At The Door is not only good, but it is a real suspense story. Laney lives alone in Arizona, and she's afraid of leaving her house and getting into cars. Ever since her fiance died, she's just been rather reclusive. In the background of this story is the bad guy, who not only knows her, and has tried to hurt her before but killed her fiance-his cousin! So, in comes the hero Bojan. He is a Macedonian who is owns the restaurant Laney gets her food from. It's when she is bringing closure to the death of her late fiance, that she meets him. He is not the regular guy, and he gets her order all wrong, yet there are sparks there that cannot be ignored. I like how Bojan gets her to get past her fear of getting into cars. He prays with her to get over her fears. The most comical parts of the book is when he gets his English wrong. Sometimes the misunderstanding is funny, other times serious as Laney thinks he was being rude to her. Bojan was a giving and great hero in the story who saves her in the end. Laney, when Bojan has to return home, forces herself not to be so afraid anymore and works on her fears and going back to church. There is nothing that I didn't like about this story. Read it if you don't like lame Love Inspired suspense novels.
July 17, 2012
DANGER AT THE DOOR tells the story of Laney, a young woman paralyzed by fear after losing her fiancé Sam in an accident. She shuts herself off from the world not knowing when/how she will recover from the loss. It is in this state of doubt that a new person enters her life and an old enemy lurks in the shadows.
The author characterizes the novel as "edgy Christian fiction," a relatively new term in that category. It is that if you are accustomed to novels that do not explore the sexual impulses and desires of its characters (as the majority of Christian fiction does not) but fails to make its case for a Christ-like life without becoming too preachy. If that aspect had been more subtle, I would have probably given 4stars. I just could not suspend my disbelief for those characters to be so verbal about their faith. Most people who are living that kind of life do not speak of it so much...they just do it. Otherwise, I really liked the story.
If you like romantic stories with a bit of danger/suspense, then check out DANGER AT THE DOOR.
The author characterizes the novel as "edgy Christian fiction," a relatively new term in that category. It is that if you are accustomed to novels that do not explore the sexual impulses and desires of its characters (as the majority of Christian fiction does not) but fails to make its case for a Christ-like life without becoming too preachy. If that aspect had been more subtle, I would have probably given 4stars. I just could not suspend my disbelief for those characters to be so verbal about their faith. Most people who are living that kind of life do not speak of it so much...they just do it. Otherwise, I really liked the story.
If you like romantic stories with a bit of danger/suspense, then check out DANGER AT THE DOOR.
March 25, 2010
This was my first Michelle Sutton book, and it won't be my last! Michelle makes a creepy situation into a romance with a natural ease. Her characters make me feel as though I've come to meet them. I've experienced agoraphobia and been treated for it, so I understand Laney's reluctance to wander too far outside the house; even using spiders for an excuse. I'm not much of a pet person, either, but Michelle used the pets in this story to move along the action and unite the characters in a special way that would have been phony otherwise. Read the book to find out what kind of pets the couple had.
I also enjoyed her Greek characterization and appreciate the depth of research she did to allow me to understand her hero's personality. Danger at the Door was fun. I read it in pdf form from the publisher and was comfortable with the format.
I also enjoyed her Greek characterization and appreciate the depth of research she did to allow me to understand her hero's personality. Danger at the Door was fun. I read it in pdf form from the publisher and was comfortable with the format.
August 24, 2009
Once again another great read from Michelle. She did not disappoint. She's a talented writer and has the gift of drawing the reader in. You become invested in the characters.
She had both suspense and romance. Two things I love in a book. Would highly recomend Danger at the Door to any of my friends.
She had both suspense and romance. Two things I love in a book. Would highly recomend Danger at the Door to any of my friends.
December 5, 2012
You just gotta love language barriers. They create such goofy situations sometimes. *G* Having lived in the past with disabling fear, I could SO identify with Lacey. And what's not to love about Bojan? So sweet. :-) A wonderful story that beautifully illustrates how the Lord truly can set us free, even from our worst fears.
January 19, 2011
Michelle Sutton can write. Loved this book. It's fast-paced about a woman who lost everyone she loved in car accidents and became a recluse until owner/pizza delivery man delivered love and trust right to her door.
July 29, 2011
This book has all the excitement, suspense and action you're looking for with a love story as well, and it's something you won't put down once you start--I loved it! Michelle has taken a faith-based story to a new level and I look forward to reading more!
May 31, 2012
this book was my first taste of edgy Christian fiction. it had a great dose of romance and lessons to learn about faith.
August 1, 2009
I wrote the story, so of course I'd love it.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews