Title: Ricochet: Locked and Loaded
Series: Ricochet #1
Author: Heather C. Leigh
Releasing: 29 March 2015
Blurb
Rick "Ricochet" Brennan served eight years as an elite Marine special ops Force Recon soldier. After an injury, and the terrible memories from that night, he retires and goes to work for his former Command Officer, Howard "Mack" McEvoy, at his training center in Atlanta.
Sanctum MMA appears on the surface to be a normal gym, training elite fighters to be the best. Except each trainer, hand-picked by Mack, possesses a special background that allows Mack to run one of the best-kept secrets in the country.
When twenty-four year old Quinn Wallace finally escapes her abusive husband, she turns to her father’s old Marine Corps buddy, Mack, for help. Broken and skittish, Quinn finds herself surrounded by large, intimidating men— men who could easily overpower her. She avoids them the best she can, but when Rick turns out to be more than just a rough fighter with bruised knuckles, she finds herself wondering if she can allow herself to trust again.
Ricochet is a full-length novel to be released as three parts.
***This book contains hot sweaty men, sexy scenes for those over 18, and uncomfortable, sometimes violent scenes.***
Excerpt
“Tucker? What the fuck are you doing up here? Where’s Quinn? Is she sick?”
The wiry man pushed his glasses up on his nose, glancing at Rick from behind his computer screen. “In back.” He stabbed his thumb over his shoulder in the direction of the main gym. “I’m just watching the door for her while she trains.”
“Trains?” Rick growled. “What the fuck does that mean?”
Tucker sat up straight and crossed his arms, giving Rick his full attention, something the socially challenged man almost never did. “What’s it to you, Ricochet?”
Rick scowled at Tucker’s use of his nickname, knowing that the man was baiting him. Tucker might look small and geeky and love computers, but he was a fifth degree black belt in Shotokan karate. He had held his own in a spur of the moment karate match with UFC welterweight champion George St. Pierre.
“Nothing. Forget it.” Rick huffed, storming past the front desk and the smirking Tucker. He swiped his badge, irritated at himself for letting Tucker get under his skin. Hell, he was irritated at himself for letting Quinn get under his skin. Rick was even too pissed to call the small guy “big man” like he usually did.
Twenty-eight fucking years without a single person to worry about except myself. Less than a month after Quinn walks through the front door and I barely recognize the guy in the mirror or the thoughts in my own head anymore.
Rick marched into the training area in a cloud of anger.
Fucking Tucker, messing my head all up.
When he reached the edge of the mat covered floor, his world stopped spinning and came to a screeching halt. He blinked, certain that his mind was playing tricks on him. Nope. It wasn’t. Across the gym, standing in front of the heavy bag wearing a tank top and those damn miniature shorts, was Quinn. She was barefoot, punching and kicking the bag with a jab-front kick combo
.
Quinn all sweaty, wearing next to nothing, was a sight to see. But what made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, what Rick immediately zeroed in on, was Xavier’s fucking hands on Quinn’s hips, touching what belonged to Rick.
Belong to me? Quinn doesn’t belong to me.
Rick shook the thoughts from his head, squeezing his eyes shut until the angry red haze cleared. When he opened them back up, he saw Xavier and Quinn staring at him, their lesson interrupted by his odd behavior.
“Hey man.” Xavier held up a wrapped hand in greeting. “Good to have you back.”
Rick’s furious scowl surprised his friend, causing Xavier’s dark eyes to narrow suspiciously. Rick flicked his gaze over to Quinn. She stood next to Xav, unmoving, her face blank as she waited for her lesson to continue. It made Rick feel as if he were a mere annoyance.
Already pissed and now embarrassed on top of it, Rick spun on his heel and stomped down the hall. He swiped his badge and punched in his code, opening the door to an empty Mission Control. Rick paced the room, raking his hands through his hair in frustration. He wanted to tear the room apart, but knew he’d face everyone’s wrath if he destroyed the expensive equipment.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
These unfamiliar feelings were messing with his head. Rick couldn’t define them, couldn’t explain them, and had absolutely no idea how to deal with them. The only way he knew how to release frustration was fucking or fighting. Right now, he was way to volatile to fuck.
Fighting it is then.
Review
Foxy Rating = Five stars
*ARC copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest
review
This is the first novella in the Ricochet series which is a
full length novel set in 3 novellas.
Special ops elite marine, Rick ‘Ricochet’ Brennan is now retired and working for his
old CO Mack, who runs a secret operations unit fronted by Sanctum MMA gym. Rick
works as a trainer at the gym when not out on one of the secret missions. He is
known for his revolving door of women, never one to settle down or place his
trust in any woman. His nickname reflects that lifestyle, never staying after
he has worn a woman out. That is until he meets the new sweet and shy
receptionist at the gym. There is just something about this tiny enticing
woman.
Quinn is in hiding for her abusive husband and has moved
back to her old state when she gets support from her departed Dad’s old comrade
in arms, Mack. He asks no questions but knows Quinn is in some sort of trouble,
so he offers her a job that pays cash in hand. Quinn is a mild and meet woman
but this is what she has become at the hands of her husband. Before that she
was a strong and vibrant young woman, learning to step out into the World on
her own but he took all that from her and most of all her trust in men. She is
therefore weary of all the hot tough guys she is forced to interact with at the
gym, especially Rick who seems to have some kind of pull for her.
This was a great start to the series and even though a quick
read it was packed full of the intense build-up of the chemistry and passion
between Rick and Quinn. Both have issues to work through but neither letting
each other in on those hidden fears.
The secondary characters of the tough and
sexy guys at the gym were a must have and I can see this could be an offshoot
for further books about the other guys. There are some hard issues covered such
as domestic violence and war combat but that just enhances the story from a
simple romance to so much more.
There is a cliff-hanger but what is great is that the next
two are due out in April so not long to wait. I was lucky to be able to read
all three and all I will say is this is a fabulous storyline! Plenty more
sexiness to come from this passionate pairing. A great start to entice the
reader in and a five star read for me.
Ricochet: Locked & Loaded (Ricochet, #1)
Releasing April 5, 2015
Pre – Order ….
Releasing April 12, 2015
Pre – Order ….
About the Author
I grew up in New England and currently live
outside Atlanta, GA with my husband, two kids, a French Bulldog and a pug.
I'm a full-time procrastinator and a part-time everything else.
I love the Red Sox, chocolate, and traveling.
When I'm not writing, I'm dealing drugs legally as a pharmacist.
Giveaway
No comments:
Post a Comment