Dangerous Pursuit by Bethany Rosa is a contemporary romance that features the themes of vulnerability, personal struggle, and the challenges of attraction amid uncertainty. Mia is a talented young poker player with a strained family history and has a tumultuous relationship with her boss, Jackson, who seems to be anything but lovable. Their chemistry is woven into a rich tapestry of emotional tension, self-discovery, and obstacles. Initially portrayed as innocent and somewhat naive, Mia’s character evolves throughout the story as she navigates the dual pressures of a budding career and an unexpected gambling debt inherited from her father. Her encounters with Jackson reveal her resilience, intelligence, and independence. Jackson, on the other hand, is a more conflicted character. As a successful businessman, he embodies authority, yet underneath his brusque exterior lies a protective nature that increasingly reveals his deeper feelings for Mia. When Mia leaves, he discovers unanswered questions and a heart longing for her. What will it take for him to find and win her?

Bethany Rosa is a skilled storyteller with the innate ability to capture human emotions and the tension that grows between two loving hearts. Dangerous Pursuit explores several themes, including the struggle for independence and self-identity, the impact of trauma, and the intricacies of power dynamics in relationships. Mia’s journey reflects her fight against external circumstances that threaten her sense of security, making her a relatable heroine and a symbol of resistance. The precarious balance of desire and danger marks the romance. The plot is a blend of romance and suspense, maintaining tension as Mia deals with her growing feelings for Jackson while facing the threat posed by her father's past actions. The stakes are heightened through Mia’s participation in high-stakes poker games, leading to consequential meetings with unsavory characters that test her resolve. This thrilling backdrop situates the romance in a world filled with potential danger, accentuating the choices Mia must make both as a player and as a woman seeking autonomy in a male-dominated environment. The setting oscillates between the polished environments of Jackson’s business life and the gritty underbelly of underground poker games. Fans of The Hating Game by Sally Thorne and Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire will enjoy this gripping romance.

Dangerous Pursuit by Bethany Rosa offers readers a gripping contemporary romance filled with risk and suspense. Mia Nightingale Marcos, tough and determined, juggles her day job and her secret life, while her boss, Jackson Soloman, plans to drive her away but is drawn in by her strength and mystery. As the tension between them grows, Mia's secrets unravel, pulling them both into a dangerous game of deceit, attraction, and survival. This story explores the high stakes of love and the choices that can change everything. Rosa perfectly captures the fine line between romance and suspense to maintain excitement and tension, keeping readers on edge while immersing them in each character's emotional turmoil through a myriad of twists and turns.

The complexity of Mia and Jackson's dynamic is brilliantly portrayed, with nuanced layers that make their relationship both thrilling and relatable, and I loved the way the dialogue immediately characterized them and brought their contrasting attitudes to the fore. I was particularly impressed by Bethany Rosa's sharp and evocative writing style, which effortlessly pulls the reader into the high-stakes world of business, poker, and dangerous secrets, and shows all the glamor, but also the dark side of these seemingly attractive pursuits. The underlying themes of resilience and personal sacrifice are deeply layered, demonstrating Rosa's talent for crafting a story with emotional depth and real-world relevance, but never so much that the themes overtake the story. The intricate plot development and complex characterization create a compelling and emotionally charged read. Overall, I highly recommend Dangerous Pursuit for fans of contemporary romance who enjoy a healthy dose of suspense and characters with depth and complexity.

Taking over his family’s business after his parents' retirement, Jackson has a lot on his plate. He certainly does not need a seventeen-year-old as a replacement for his competent assistant going on maternity leave, especially if said replacement is a stunning bombshell with curves to die for and defiance lurking in her round, innocent eyes. And untouchable. Graduating earlier from high school than her classmates, Mia is eager for a job besides playing poker. But with a boss from hell willing to make work miserable, Mia has to put on her poker face and do her job. They may be at each other’s throats, but their attraction is undeniable. And no matter how much Jackson wants her, he will not touch her until she is legal. Blackmailed with a threat to her mom's life, Mia begins playing games with a lot at stake, capable of destroying her relationship and her life as she knows it in Dangerous Pursuit by Bethany Rosa.

Banter, tension, and thrilling suspense abides in Dangerous Pursuit. In this office romance, the push-and-pull, sexual tension, and care are worth the while. Bethany Rosa handles the age gap and forbidden attraction delicately. Jackson’s development from a bossy asshole into a protective, caring alpha male will delight readers, seeing the lengths he would go to get Mia back. The flow is easy, with delightful characters: Cici, Jackson’s sister, Mia’s gay best friend, Walker, and Jackson’s loyal friends. Rosa hits a lot of romance tropes in this sultry novel, keeping readers hooked.

Dangerous Pursuit by Bethany Rosa begins with Jackson, who is frustrated by his parents' decision to hire Mia, a seventeen-year-old assistant, during his current assistant's maternity leave. He doubts her qualifications and fears she will impede his efforts in managing the family business. Mia, facing her own problems due to her father's gambling addiction, secretly plays online poker to support her family. As she starts her new job, she finds herself attracted to Jackson despite his harsh demeanor and initial dismissal of her abilities. Tension builds between them as Jackson becomes increasingly protective of Mia, particularly after she experiences threats related to her father's debts. Their relationship evolves through various obstacles, culminating in a turning point where Jackson must fully confront his feelings for Mia as her eighteenth birthday approaches.

Dangerous Pursuit by Bethany Rosa offers up some thoughtful sizzle with its strong writing and dual first-person perspectives from both Jackson and Mia. I like this style of perspective because it allows us to truly understand their motivations and emotions intimately. The poker aspect of the story was particularly enjoyable for me, as my wife lived in Las Vegas for over a decade, and it's a unique angle that props Mia up and shows she has a source of agency herself. The age disparity between the adult Jackson and the under-aged Mia may be uncomfortable for some readers, but I thought it complemented the interplay of their characters. Jackson embodies the protective alpha male archetype, while Mia stands out as an equally formidable quasi-alpha female, breaking stereotypes in the genre. Their flirtatious banter and the evolution of their relationship make for a fantastic mix of romance and suspense, and it's a solid read.