The Whispering Pages Book Blog

 Blog Tour Review

Defenseless
by

Corinne Michaels

Release Date: January 19, 2016

Cover Design by: Okay Creations
Photograph by: Nicole Ashley Photography

  ~ Synopsis ~

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.

  

~ Excerpt ~ 

“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.  

~ Links to Buy ~

Amazon ** Amazon UK ** iBooks ** Barnes & Noble ** Kobo  

~ Link to Book Trailer ~

 ~ Review ~ 
This book had it all, suspense, intrigue, a sexy alpha and a strong willed female lead and a love story.  This standalone novel will keep you engaged right till the end.

I couldn't tell you who I liked more Mark or Charlie!  Their interactions from the start had me smiling with the amount of sarcasm.  Each with their own agenda and determination to solve the same problem, it was fun to watch them verbally spar with one another.

It was fun to watch them fall for one another even with all of the resistance Charlie gave to the idea.  Her goal was to find out who killed her father and Mark was a distraction she didn't need.  Well, until she realized he was exactly what she needed.

Mark's sense of loyalty to his friends and to Charlie was unwavering.  He was so devoted to Charlie that he was willing to sacrifice his own life just to make sure she was okay.  Their love story is not the one little girls dream of but it is so worth the journey.

Where the story fell flat for me was the resolution.  There was underlying suspense throughout the story but when the mystery behind the turmoil on foreign soil and the demise of Charlie's father was revealed I was disappointed.  It just didn't have the WOW factor for me.  

You be the judge for yourself.  Grab your copy of defenseless and take the journey with Mark, Charlie and the gang.

~ Rating ~


~ About the Author ~

Corinne Michaels is the USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author of The Salvation Series (Beloved, Beholden, Consolation and Conviction). 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.

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.

 ~ Connect with Corinne ~

Website ** Facebook ** Instagram **  

Twitter ** Goodreads ** Pinterest