Defenseless by Corinne Michaels Published by Baae Publishing on January 19th 2016
Pages: 324
Amazon
**CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE STANDALONE! **
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.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a good military romance. Defenseless reminded me how much I enjoy the sub-genre.
Mark, a former SEAL turned independent contractor, and Charlie, a CIA undercover operative, meet during a mission. Mark is a cocky, irritating but loveable smartass, and Charlie is stubborn, secretive, and feisty. There’s instant attraction on Mark’s part, but definitely no Insta-love between the two. Together they are oil and water, which makes for some delectable chemistry. Charlie and Mark bicker constantly, and he’s quick to call her out on her crap, but it’s highly endearing and flat-out funny. The two are perfect for each other. There’s a lack of unnecessary relationship drama—which I really appreciated—and just the right amount of sexiness.
The first couple chapters seem bogged down by the number of characters and how each player relates to each other. Further confusing matters, Mark’s friends are sometimes referred to by their given names and nicknames interchangeably in the same scene. Natalie, Lee, Sparkles—I thought they were three separate characters, but no. It’s one lady. Once I got over that initial hump, it was fairly smooth sailing.
The intricacies of their dual mission were sometimes lost on me, and I confess I wasn’t overly interested in the investigation. However, the plot is primarily character-driven, and we’re given a fun cast of characters to enjoy.
This book has a little bit of everything: intrigue, action, bad guys, suspense, humor, and romance. Corrine Michaels cleverly ends each chapter on a mini-cliffhanger, daring the reader to put the book down. Defenseless is a delightful standalone novel.
Recommended for fans of:
Cindy Gerard
Military romance
Badass heroines
Sarcastic heroes
** ARC provided in exchange for an honest review. **
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About Corinne Michaels
New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Corinne Michaels is the author of nine romance novels. She’s an emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun loving mom of two beautiful children. Corinne is 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. She enjoys putting her characters through intense heartbreak and finding a way to heal them through their struggles. Her stories are chock full of emotion, humor, and unrelenting love.
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