SAVING ME is a very quick but enjoyable read. Juarez managed to give a story that felt complete that actually encompassed a little suspense with Angel's mystery stalker. There is also a lot of heat when Mike enters the picture through an unusual service. Mike's relationship with Angel also ends up having a nice twist.
The only problem that I have with SAVING ME is that I would have loved to have had more. Juarez made Mike and Angel interesting and likable so I really wanted to get more in the way of both character and romance building. I also would have liked to have gotten more of a storyline with Angel's brother Marc. The little nuggets about him that Juarez drops would be enough to give him a book of his own with a well deserved HEA. See? This is why short reads are so hard for me. If I enjoy it, which I did; I want more, which I do. However, if you are looking for a quick, sexy, and enjoyable short read SAVING ME is a safe bet.
Happy Reading!
Monica
**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
Michael Brannan has had enough of one night stands that go nowhere and leave him empty. After watching his heroes, Tom and Aaron, married and happy, he longs to learn the secret to their content, full lives. He yearns for a girl he left behind and who's now out of his reach.
Angel Rivas has attained superstardom as a plus-sized model. But Angel's success comes with a price-an unknown stalker who seems to have eyes into her most private moments is terrorizing her.
When Michael's bosses set him up with Madam Eve's 1Night Stand, he finds his unattainable woman so near, yet so far. Can she forgive him for his treachery all those years ago? Can Michael protect Angel from things that go bump in the night? This last entry into the RED HORSE Trilogy is guaranteed to take your breath away.
Excerpt
"You…." she whispered.
This blind date had to be some kind of elaborate, cruel joke. Michael Brannan had single-handedly caused her the worst humiliation in her life. In an instant, she vividly recalled the laughter and whispers directed at her as the mean girls made her last month of high school the worst sort of hell. Blinking, she watched in horror as he walked toward her. At any minute, her already-frayed nerves would snap. So many emotions converged on her at once: the trauma of high school, the stress of her hectic work schedule, and the terror of an unknown stalker. Seeing the boy who'd broken her heart-making it impossible to trust men-almost put her over the edge. From the time she'd met Michael in their freshman English class, she'd had a huge crush on the ginger-haired football star, and he'd humiliated her in front of the entire senior class.
"Angel? Is that really you?"
She stumbled back as he moved closer.
"What the hell are you doing here?" she blurted.
"I'm meeting someone. What are you doing-"
"Who?" she asked.
"I don't know her name. It's supposed be a blind date. Why?"
"Oh, hell no! Not again! Not you…anybody but you."
He grabbed her as she turned away. While Michael touching her had been something she'd longed for the entire time they'd been in high school, right now it made her white hot with fury. Without thinking, she spun around, balled her fist, and punched him as hard as she could.
As she drew her arm back, when she tried to yank free, her Pandora bracelet caught and broke, spilling the charms all over the wooden porch floor. Michael's eyes widened, and his gaze followed the broken jewelry as it rolled away.
"Angel, I'm sorry. I deserve that," he said as his hold slackened.
"I hate you!" she screamed, breaking free and rearing back again, the jewelry forgotten.
The cobalt eyes that had charmed her back in the day now sparked with dangerous anger. He caught her wrist in a death grip and yanked her closer, causing her to lose her balance. Measuring six feet in five-inch heels, she tilted her head back to meet his eyes. She'd tried to forget how tall and strong he was. In an instant, the powerful, taut football player who could make her damp when he'd pull her against him in a light, friendly hug came back to her with sharp clarity. Was it possible he'd gotten stronger over the years?
"I don't care," he growled. "You owe me a date. After making me wait for an hour, you will see this thing through. Am I clear?"
About the Author
\Bella Juarez has a passion for writing and tells her stories with a high level of military suspense and erotic romance. A few years ago, Bella was an IT technician with a craving for military and espionage history and would devour anything, fact or fiction, about the subject. Today, she lives on a south Texas ranch with her family and dogs.
With stories of intrigue running through her imagination, she always dreamed of writing a novel. Finally, in 2012, she wrote and released Rapid Dominance, book 1 of the Black Ops Brotherhood Series. Since then, she has released five more novels in this series. Branching out, she’s written three erotic romance novellas all with military elements.
Her stories blend today’s headlines into thought provoking, intricate plots interwoven with razor-sharp suspense, intrigue, and scorching, white-hot romance.
Bella’s idea of a perfect day starts out with a run, followed by a pot of strong French roast coffee, to keep her going while she sits at her keyboard tapping away on another story.
Thank you!
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