CONTRACTED DEFENSE (Safeguard #3) by Piper Drake-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway Tour
CONTRACTED DEFENSE
Safeguard #3
by Piper J. Drake
Genre: adult, contemporary,erotic, romantic suspense
Release Date: September 15, 2017
Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes
About the book: Release Date September 15, 2017
Time is running out and the enemy is at the gate.
Adam Hicks may be the rookie at Safeguard, but he’s no novice in the field. Retired from active duty after multiple tours and back fresh from a brief rest in New Zealand, he’s itching to return to action. But the challenge he hoped for arrives in an unexpected form: his sexy yet stern new partner.
The last thing Victoria Ash wants is to work with the new guy—especially one as gorgeous as Adam. His relaxed attitude about their first “easy” assignment together—setting up a private home defense network for a reclusive client—doesn’t impress her. Easy usually means trouble. She’s proved right when Adam discovers that the multiple incursions on the physical and cyber security systems aren’t just glitches. They’re under attack…and there’s a traitor in their midst.
As tension mounts, so does the attraction between Victoria and Adam. They must protect their client and the research he’s desperately trying to keep secret. Working together, they have to find the mole before their defense measures, in the fortress and online, are compromised and the deadly secrets they’ve sworn to protect are revealed.
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REVIEW: CONTRACTED DEFENSE is the third installment in Piper Drake’s contemporary, adult SAFEGUARD romantic, suspense series focusing on the men and women who work for the SAFEGUARD Division of the Centurion Corporation-military veterans turned mercenaries for hire who specialize in protection and security. This is Safeguard agent Victoria Ash, and former US solider Adam Hicks’ story line. CONTRACTED DEFENSE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from previous story lines is revealed where necessary but I would recommend reading the series in order as there is an ongoing premise and threat throughout.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Victoria and Adam) CONTRACTED DEFENSE focuses on the Safeguard’s latest assignment-a well to do businessman whose need for protection appears unwarranted. With a well-trained security team already in place, Safeguard sends in Victoria Ash, and newcomer Adam Hicks- Victoria’s one-night stand from the night before, and the man with whom Victoria will fall in love. As Victoria and Adam struggle to ensure their latest contract duties are met, secrets behind the walls of the beautiful estate place our leading couple in a perilous situation. What ensues is the building romance between Victoria and Adam, and the potential fall-out as Safeguard Security falls victim to a former adversary.
The relationship between Victoria and Adam is one of immediate attraction. When Victoria is partnered with her anonymous one-night stand she is reluctant to further explore the attraction between them. Adam is willing to give their relationship a try but Victoria is fresh off a divorce, and the resulting aftermath has hardened her heart. The $ex scenes are intimate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Gabriel Diaz and his fiancée Maylin Chen (Hidden Impact #1) , sniper Lizzy Scott (Deadly Testimony #2) : billionaire businessman Roland Edwards; Roland’s in house security team- Dante, Ray, Brian and Jay- a man who struggles with Adam’s presence on his latest assignment.
CONTRACTED DEFENSE continues to focus on the negative rumors circulating throughout the security industry-rumors that are directly affecting Safeguard’s contracts and their bottom line. Their battle with Phoenix Biotech does not appear to be over although their relationship with Seattle law enforcement and the US Marshals office should have garnered most positive coverage.
CONTRACTED DEFENSE is a story of suspense, intrigue, romance and love. The premise is energetic and exciting although the guilty party is easily deduced; the characters are spirited and dynamic; the romance is intimate and intense.
CONTRACTED DEFENSE is a sexy, passionate and dramatic story line that will captivate your attention from the very start.
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Sandy
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HIDDEN IMPACT
(Safeguard #1)
by Piper J. Drake
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romantic suspense
Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / itunes /
About the book : November 9, 2015
He’s not the hero she’s looking for…
As part of the elite Centurion Corporation team, military-veteran-turned-mercenary Gabriel Diaz is a natural defender. He’ll do anything to ensure a mission is successful. Anything but get emotionally invested—he learned the hard way that can be deadly. Easy bodyguard jobs in between the more challenging missions are all he’s interested in now.
Maylin Cheng is desperate and running out of time. Her younger sister has gone missing but no one seems to take her concern seriously. Her last hope lies in asking an aloof bodyguard for help. He dismisses her outright, but all that changes when she is almost killed in a not-so-accidental hit-and-run right before his eyes.
As Maylin leans on Gabriel, she begins to rely on him for more than just her safety. But as their attraction grows, so does the danger surrounding them. When the elaborate web they’re trapped in unravels, Gabriel will do anything to protect them. Even if that means putting his heart in the crosshairs.
Book one of the Safeguard series
••••••
REVIEW: HIDDEN IMPACT is the first installment in Piper J. Drake’s contemporary, adult SAFEGUARD romantic, suspense series focusing on the men and women who work for the SAFEGUARD security agency. This is US military veteran/mercenary for hire Gabriel Diaz, and caterer Maylin Cheng’s story line.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Gabriel and Maylin) HIDDEN IMPACT focuses on the search for a missing person. Caterer Maylin Cheng is desperate to locate her sister who was abducted at a genetics conference in China , and her latest catering job brings our heroine up close and personal with the Centurion Corporation- an elite group of former military personnel; private military contractors for hire. Enter Gabriel Diaz, the man with whom Maylin will fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship between Maylin and Gabriel; the search and rescue of An-Mei Cheng; and the revelation that the Centurion Corporation has been targeted from someone once on the inside. The Centurion Corporation is a training center for private military contractors who work ‘outside’ of the US and international laws but there are threats against the mercenaries for hire-threats that are both professional and personal.
The relationship between Maylin and Gabriel is one of immediate attraction but Gabriel knows to fall in love would mean to threaten his position within the Centurion Corporation. Maylin’s attraction to Gabe is palpable, and in this she is determined to seduce the man with whom she is falling in love. Maylin is a strong heroine; and Gabe’s protective nature does not come with the alphahole attitude that many romantic suspense heroes have ingrained. The $ex scenes are intimate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
We are introduced to Gabriel’s fellow teammates including sniper Lizzy Scott, Victoria Ash, and her partner Marc; Harte-the man in charge of the Centurion Corporation; and Jewel, Gabriel’s former lover. The requisite evil has many faces including the Edict –another private military contractor out to destroy the Centurion Corporation.
HIDDEN IMPACT is a quick read; an action packed story of intrigue, romance and suspense. The premise is entertaining and exciting; the characters are sexy and colorful; the romance is erotic and passionate.
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Sandy
Adam stepped back, drawing her attention to him and tapping the dry-erase marker against the palm of one hand. “If one of us was planning an attack on this place, what would we do?”
Easy. Planning an attack was easier in her mind than planning the defense of a place. She immediately ran through any number of possible approaches to gather information about the defenses and security.
And his point hit her right in the chest. “The alarm. It wasn’t to check to see if there was an alarm. It was to time the response from the security team and local police.”
Possibly, it was to time how long it would take for Victoria and Adam to arrive on site.
Adam turned to face her. “There is an impending attack in the works. We have no idea what the scale is or even why. But Roland is not delusional.”
Suddenly, this mission was a whole lot more serious, and Adam, to her eyes, was looking incredibly dangerous.
“Let’s get back to setting up the layered defenses then.” Before she jumped him, right against the wall.
Piper J. Drake is a bestselling author of romantic suspense and edgy contemporary romance, a frequent flyer, and day job road warrior. She is often distracted by dogs, cupcakes, and random shenanigans.Connect with Piper at: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google + | GoodReads | Youtube
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