This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Published by HQN Books
Released on January 24, 2017
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
The Delight
Under Pressure gives you a knock of a story with secrets, love and some action both on the streets and between the sheets. Spinning off from MMA fighting series to personal protection, Under Pressure delivers on it’s promise to keep you coming back for more.
Review
Under Pressure is the first book in a sizzling new series by Lori Foster called Body Armor which combines former MMA fighters with a elite security firm that provides protection. Body Armor is a spin-off from the Ultimate series about the same MMA fighters. Alpha protective heroes meet their matches in the equally strong females they are protecting.
Leese Phelps first appeared in the Ultimate series as not quite the greatest of guys, but he pulls himself together and creates a man who can be trusted and befriended. He holds onto his past a little too long in this story and with it some values that make him who he is today. Protection helps define who he is and this new job as a bodyguard to Catalina Nicholson is going to challenge him on new levels.
“You’re hotter than even my imagination.” His gaze met hers for one searing moment. “And I imagined you naked a lot.”
Catalina Nicholson was a quandary to me. She was refreshingly blunt, but also held secrets close. A privileged life hasn’t changed her core values, but when she overhears something, she knows she has to keep the secret or risk others being in danger. In fact, Cat holds onto that secret to a weeeeeee bit too long. When Catalina wants something, she isn’t afraid to ask for it or even continue to go for it. Her character was amusing to watch as she tries to tempt Leese, while also trying to sacrifice herself for the good of all.
I appreciated the nod to a bad boy turned good with some tests thrown in to prove his worth. MMA fighting is a thing of the past, so if you wanted action, it comes in the form of good guy/bad guy action. Leese holds onto internal struggles a long while and then suddenly it seems he gets over it real fast. The story does tend to drag some in the middle when Cat won’t tell the secret and Leese won’t give in to her advances. It’s a cat and mouse fight that left me turning pages faster than I can read.
“Let’s put the seduction on the back burner, at least for a week.” When she started to protest, he cut her off. “One week, Cat. You can rein it in that long, and if after a week – ” which was about as far as he could push himself ” – we’re still holed up together , and you’re still sure of what you want, well then – ” She bolted up to face him. “You mean it?”
The fighters from Ultimate make appearances throughout the story in different ways, proving once again that friendship and family fight for each other. Justice is a standing figure throughout the story and Miles might be joining soon. Boss lady Sahara is one Hell of a lady boss. I hope we get her story as well.
While I enjoyed the story, it isn’t without some violence that was deep, meaningful and at points gutted me. I enjoyed the story, but it wasn’t a hit out the park. Recommending this story to anyone wanting some heat, love and a characters willing to risk it all for each other.
Need a song to go with the book? Might I suggest….Dangerous by Shinedown
If you read and loved Under Pressure,
here are some other stories you might like from Lori Foster.
About Lori Foster
Since first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. Lori has published through a variety of houses, including Kensington, St. Martin’s, Harlequin, Silhouette, Samhain, and Berkley/Jove. She is currently published with HQN.
Lori hosts a very special annual “Reader & Author” event in West Chester, Ohio. Proceeds from the event have benefited many worthy causes, including the Hamilton County YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, the Animal Adoption Foundation, The Conductive Learning Center for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy, and The One Way Farm, Children’s Home.
Each year Lori donates all proceeds from one book to charity. You can see the benefit romance books here: http://lorifoster.com/benefit-books/
Shari
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Oh maaaan! Reading all those lines from the story makes me blush. I really need to check this one out. Awesome review Shari 🙂