Noel (Sigma International Security 1) by CD Gorri-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 25, 2025

Christmas is supposed to be merry—not murderous.

When curvy event planner Holly Winters lands a dream contract to design the biggest holiday gala of her career, the last thing she expects is a stalker threatening to turn her winter wonderland into a nightmare.

Enter Noel Kane—ex-Special Forces, Sigma International’s resident grump, and the bodyguard assigned to keep her safe.
Noel has one rule. Never get personal with a client.

But from the moment he lays eyes on Holly, with her sparkling eyes, lush curves, and stubborn determination to make Christmas magic happen, his iron control begins to crack. Protecting her isn’t just a job. It’s personal.

As danger closes in, sparks fly hotter than the crackling fire. Noel will do whatever it takes to shield Holly from harm.
But can he convince her that behind the badge and the bullets beats a heart that belongs only to her?

One bodyguard. One holiday. One shot at love.

•••••

REVIEW:NOEl is the first instalment in CF Gorri’s contemporary adult SIGMA INTERNATIONAL SECURITY erotic, romantic suspense series, a spin off, set in the author’s MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS series. This is former Special Forces soldier turned security expert Noel Kane, and event planner, thirty-one year old Holly Winters’ story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Holly and Noel) NOEL focuses on the protection of our story line heroine. Event planner Holly Winters has been hired by Clementine Callahan (Desperate Need/ Mergers and Acquisitions 2) as the event coordinator for a Christmas fundraiser but Holly has a stalker, and Clementine has contracted with Sigma International Security to protect our story line heroine. Enter former Special Forces soldier Noel Kane, the man with whom Holly will fall in love. As the fundraiser draws closer, the threats against Holly become more dangerous and dark, Noel claims Holly as his own, determined to protect the woman that calls to his heart. At every step, threatening letters and ‘gifts’ find their way to our story line heroine.

The world building focuses on protection Holly Winters in the days leading up to the fundraising event but as Noel struggles to keep Holly safe, someone else is always one step ahead, leaving messages and threats behind. Searching for the person responsible, everyone becomes suspect including the people with whom she works,

The relationship between Holly and Noel begins as a protective detail but quickly turns into something more. Noel is determined to claim Holly as his own but protecting the woman with whom he is falling in love is first and foremost on his mind. The $ex scenes are provocative and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters include Noel’s fellow security specialists: twins Ego and Kai; Holly’s co-workers, as well as the return of Connor and Clementine Callahan.

NOEL is a fast paced, story of jealousy and envy, betrayal and vengeance, friendships and love. The character driven premise is intriguing and dramatic; the romance is seductive; the characters are desperate and determined.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy