Wednesday 27 January 2016

New Release & Review: Defenseless by Corinne Michaels


Meet Mark Dixon in Defenseless, the newest contemporary romance from Corinne Michaels!



Barnes & Noble➜ http://bit.ly/1XP2huY



View Defenseless Trailer HERE: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxTYjKDKndQ


My life is a secret.
His life is dangerous.
We’re both stubborn, calculating, and controlling.
Mark Dixon doesn’t know what he’s getting into. He doesn’t know his games could cost us our lives. I have to do what is necessary to keep us alive, and that means guarding my heart.
But I know I’m defenseless against him, and in the end, he’ll force me to surrender.



Defenseless
Copyright © 2016 Corinne Michaels
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written consent of the author.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or publisher.



I made you a promise, Charlie.” Mark’s already deep voice is layered with desire.
Once again, my control begins to slip. “What’s that?”
His hands drop a little lower beside my head. His lower body shifts so his knee is between my legs. I feel his arousal against my thigh.
My traitorous body shows its own awakening. My nipples hardening through the silk material don’t go unnoticed. Heat pools in my core and my breath hitches. I want him. There’s no use denying it.
I told you I’d kiss you again. If you don’t stop me now, there’s no getting away.”
I should stop him. I need to stop him. There’s no way in hell it’s going to happen, though. I’m craving his lips again.
He gives me one second before he crushes his mouth against mine. His entire body shifts forward, and now I’m trapped. There’s nowhere to go. Nowhere to move that’s not Mark. He takes every part of my mind and body. Our hands roam each other as his tongue slides against mine. Passion ignites between us; it sets the room on fire. His fingers cup my neck and then glide down the front of my dress. His hand brands my skin as he takes his time exploring the open skin between us.
My fingers grip the lapels of his tux, holding him, molding him to me. I can’t get close enough. Our mouths stay fused as we both lose control.
Then my mind snaps.
I push back and my hands fly to my lips. They’re swollen, bruised from the force of the kiss. His hands brace against the wall. I keep my eyes downcast. I can’t believe I just did that, against the damn wall, at a ball commemorating my father.
I shift my dress, rake my fingers through my hair, and pull myself together.
Charlie . . .” Mark finally speaks. It sounds like shouting even though it’s only loud enough for us to hear.
That was the last time that will ever happen,” I say with no tremor to my voice. “Tonight we become partners. It’s not about whatever this is.” I shift my hands between us. “It’s about finding the information we’re both searching for.”
And what if we find something else?”
We shut it down. There’s no room for feelings in this world.”
Mark pushes back, giving me space. I instantly feel cold. “Okay, then. Have it your way.”
This is what I wanted, what we both need, but suddenly I wish it wasn’t. I wish I could pull him close, kiss him, fuck him, and just feel.
But wishes are for little girls.



The wait is finally over! It's now time for Mark 'Twilight' Dixon's story.

Ever since Mark said “Hey Muffin,” way back in Beloved, I've wanted to know more about the man who works alongside Jackson “Muffin” Cole; with his blond hair and tattooed arms…He is the definition of alpha male, but it's his humour that makes him so irresistible! His arrogance is clearly on show...or is that over confidence. She wants me, not that I can blame her – I'm a catch.

Charlie Erickson is a woman living in a man's world. Groomed by her father, she followed in his footsteps to become a CIA agent. Her work is her life, especially now that her father is dead. She wants to find out how was responsible for his death. The desire to seek justice a constant in her life.

What surprised me the most was how quickly Mark fell for Charlie, once they took their relationship to the next level, but then in some ways it isn't really surprising. He and Charlie both secretly want what they see as unobtainable...an opportunity to have a normal relationship and life. The similarities between the two of them make them perfect for each other, but Mark really has to work hard, turn on the charm to convince Charlie that the two of them together makes perfect sense.

The writer again manages to wrings out every emotion from her protagonists so that we the readers clearly understand what they're thinking and feeling. The chemistry between Mark and Charlie is undeniable; Mark needed a strong woman to keep him in check and Charlie more than meets that requirement! The plot is fast paced, twist ridden and surprisingly suspenseful. The fun and humorous banter is entertaining.

Defenseless can be read as a standalone and is without a shadow of a doubt my favourite book in the Salvation series. Romantic suspense is my favourite genre and this book hits the spot 100%.

5 stars

***arc generously received courtesy of the author via TRSOR Promotions***


Corinne Michaels is an emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun loving mom of two beautiful children. She’s happily married to the man of her dreams and is a former Navy wife. After spending months away from her husband while he was deployed, reading and writing was her escape from the loneliness.
Both her maternal and paternal grandmothers were librarians, which only intensified her love of reading. After years of writing short stories, she couldn’t ignore the call to finish her debut novel, Beloved. Her alpha Navy SEALs are broken, beautiful, and will steal your heart.





Spotlight: Snowed by Veronica Forand


Can he keep his cover and save her life? Find out in SNOWED by Veronica Forand.

Don’t let the snow and cold get you down…and don’t let the title fool you. SNOWED by Veronica Forand will keep you on your toes and your adrenaline pumping taking you on a journey through lies, deception…and more.



SNOWED is on sale, for a limited time only, for only #99cents! Make sure to grab your copy today!


Don’t fall in love with the man sent to kill you…

Lorena Rubio lived a safe, simple life until she’s kidnapped by Andres “Con” Conesa, right hand man for the drug lord who murdered her sister. Con must keep her at a cabin in the snowy Sierra Nevada Mountains until his boss can confirm or deny the rumor that she’d provided specifics about his drug cartel to the police. Their attraction ignites in the middle of this winter wonderland, but he’s in deep cover for the FBI and has to remain there, and she refuses to attach herself to someone in the criminal world. When the boss arrives a few days and wants Lorena put on ice, Con’s willing to blow his cover to save the woman he craves beyond reason, but he may be too late.



Other Romantic Suspense by Veronica Forand:
Untrue Colors | True Deceptions and coming soon, True Peril.



A Bostonian by birth, Veronica Forand regrettably lost her Boston accent while moving from state to state and country to country. Cleveland probably had the most profound effect on her ability to pronounce the “r” in the word “park.”
She does try to return now and then to visit family and eat long neck clams and lobster. Summers on Cape Cod are also high on the priority list.
Her experience in crime involves time as a court appointed attorney. Eventually, she switched fields to where bigger crimes take place, corporate tax. The allure of spending mornings in her pajamas homeschooling her children and writing fascinating fiction caused her to change careers again. Now that the kids are out of the house (in school), she writes romantic thrillers by day and is the perfect wife and mother at night.

Her experience in romance is limited to one man. Luckily, he’s still finding ways to charm her by taking her on vacations to the south of France, Fiji, and the Green Mountains when time is short. Avid travelers, they love to roam with their kids across continents in pursuit of skiing, scuba diving, and the perfect piece of chocolate.
She’s lived in London, Paris, Geneva, Washington D.C., and the accent destroying city of Cleveland. She currently resides near Philadelphia.




Review: Naked by Gina Gordon


Naked
 Body and Soul #1
 by Gina Gordon
Publisher: Loveswept
Release Date: 26th January 2016


The deeply sensual Body & Soul series kicks off with “a fun, sexy emotional read” (Lisa Renee Jones), as one woman discovers the courage to face life’s greatest challenges—and explore her connection with a handsome neighbor.

Violet Walker has been hiding. Withdrawn after a terrible car accident, she is worried about going back to her high-pressure job, where she’s expected to project confidence and sleek refinement. Allowing herself a distraction, she’s been watching her sexy neighbor work on his house. But when the shirtless, grinning hunk catches her in the act, Violet is struck by the unmistakable jolt of physical chemistry, a sensation that’s both thrilling and terrifying.

Noah Young is used to moving from one construction job to another, never laying a firm foundation. The same goes for the women in his life—until Violet changes all that. His beautiful voyeur embraces his rough edges and shows him a hint of real love. But even Noah can tell that she’s holding back, hiding her body and her heart from what they both truly want. If only he could get a little help convincing Violet to see herself as he sees her: perfect in every way.


 Sometimes a story is much so much more than expected. Naked definitely fits into that category.

A car crash left Violet Walker with physical and emotional scars. She's spent the past five months in Stillbride, hiding out in a little house she's purchased. She has plans to relaunch her career within her father's company but his unfortunate health diagnosis means she has even more to prove when she comes back. The hot guy renovating the house next to hers proves to be a short-term distraction, but can she walk away when the time comes?

Noah Young flips houses in his spare time and his current project is one close to his heart. He's not selling this one because he and his sisters have bought it as a retirement house for their Mom...it was previously their family home. Faking a fall off the roof works wonders to attract the attention of the woman who keeps watching him from her house. He wants to get to know her more and a short affair is just what he needs right now. Will a few short weeks be enough?

The physical attraction between Noah and Violet is powerful. The spark is always there but Violet also uses sex to shut down Noah when she isn't able to confront her fears and deal with her low self esteem and confidence. Help comes from an unlikely source as Harper Jones challenges her to see her life from a different perspective. Unfortunately lies by omission threaten to destroy the hopes and ambitions both protagonists desire, but this only leads a path back to each other when Violet confronts her biggest fear and exposes herself to him...naked!

Violet's struggles really struck a chord with me although I didn't always agree with how she tackled her issues. In contrast, Noah is the real deal...patient, compassionate, caring and incredibly sexy. Every woman's dream!

This is the second book I've read by Ms Gordon and definitely wont be the last.

4 stars

***arc generously received courtesy publisher Loveswept via NetGalley***