"I'm in love with you, Liv and the little that I have, I lay at your feet."
How much are you willing to risk for a complete stranger? Your time? Your safety? Your heart?
All Liv seems to be doing lately is taking risks, because it's the right thing to do and just maybe because it distracts from the heartache she's desperate to leave behind. But one of those good deeds sets her neatly in the path of the men from Fortress Security. Specifically, Heath Hayes, a force of nature whose wildly romantic heart is in the right place even if the rest of him has a few issues. His tongue might sometimes get away from him and his anger might flare, but his feelings for Liv are the one thing he's sure of and he's not playing games. Life is serious business, there are dangers everywhere and people are counting on him. There's a job to do, a city to keep safe and family to protect.
Theirs is a bumpy road and tomorrow isn't guaranteed, but isn't that always the case? Read how it all goes down from their point of view.
** This is not a "traditional" romance. There is NOT a happily ever after hidden in the epilogue, but the story does continue in the second book which does have a HEA. Please take this into consideration before making your purchase.**
Okay, wow. I’m not sure what I think about this one, having just finished it. Maybe I need to let it settle and try to see the big picture, but on the other hand, you’ll get a more authentic review if I just dive in. There were some things I loved, and some things I wasn’t thrilled about.
First, the underwhelming. The long paragraphs with a lot of telling rather than showing are cumbersome for me. I think there's something that triggers my brain when paragraphs are short, like “here’s a little break in the reading, but hurry up to the next paragraph so we can see what's happening.“ It makes a difference for me, but it may not be an issue at all for you. And then there’s the ending. Definitely not thrilled with that, and no lover of contemporary romance will be.
What I loved? I applaud the author for taking the chance she did with this story. It takes so much courage to write a story knowing it won’t appeal to every reader. But I’m a firm believer that an author should write what she loves, and I love that she stayed true to her heart.
I loved Liv. Her strength and bravery, and her refusal to let life get the best of her, even though she got knocked around again and again. Despite this, she has a kind and giving and beautiful heart. And her BFFs, especially Ren, are awesome.
And Heath. Gah, this man! He's all in, and he doesn’t let anything stand in the way of getting his girl. He's growly and protective, and one of the best heroes I’ve ever fallen for. And the guys of Fortress Security. I freakin' adore them and hope the other single guys get their own stories, because I’m here for all of them!
I usually love going into a book blind, but in this case, I’m not sure I recommend it. With a Nicholas Sparks ending, although this is part of a duet, I don’t have much hope of getting a lot of specifics about Liv's next chapter since the second part is about her friend, Ren.
But the writing is spectacular, the imagery is stunning, and the emotion is poignantly beautiful, and because of this I’ll eagerly be awaiting Ren’s story. Now that you have a little more information, be brave, guard your heart, and take a chance on this fairly new but extremely gifted and talented author.
The action in the story will blow your minds. Liv Parrish has been though some stuff. She is finally ready to settle down with her village, Ren and Evan. One day when walking home, she finds a man that has been badly beaten up. He begs her not to call an ambulance and instead takes him home with her. They both notice each other but want to keep things to the bare minimum. Heath doesn't even give Liv his name until he is walking out of the door.
Heath, Riley, Aaron and Mike established Fortress Security after getting out of the Navy. All were on the same SEAL team. They are brothers in every sense of the word. Heath tries to get go back and talk to Liv but she is not there. He vows to move on with his life convinced that she has probably moved out of the city by now. It took Liv a while to find a place to call home so she did move pretty frequently. They both still thought about each other a lot.
One day Liv finally makes a move to call Fortress Security and Riley answers. They become friends. As you can imagine Heath was not too happy about their friendship. Will he be able to sneak into Liv's life? He wants it all with Liv. He knows she is it for him. Liv needs reassurance at every step.
This book is not just a romance. There is action and intrigue. Liv seems to be a magnet for dangerous situations. Fortress Security was started to find Aaron's sister, Melissa, who disappeared while they were deployed. The revelations that come out will have readers' mouths wide open. I don't know how Ms. Fontaine came up with all of this but I am grateful I was able to read this incredible story. The emotions this story evoked were overwhelming. Run don't walk to this great adventure. I can't wait for Book 2.
Okay firstly this is my first book by this author and would like to say a big thank you for reaching out and asking me to ARC.
Some of what to expect;
- Insta-love - Romantic suspense - Ex military MC - Protective MMC - found family - Dual POVs
Our two leads are Liv Parrish and Heath Hayes, they don’t have the cute meet everyone looks for. In fact one of them is barely conscious when the other comes along. However this meet will take them into a change of events they didn’t expect.
Heath is ex military, who now works within a special security company that him and his military brothers founded and run. He is protective by nature, so when Liv comes along at a time he needs her most but doesn’t want to accept the help.. he is ready to do anything just to have a bit more time with this mysterious woman.
Liv is an unfortunate soul, I swear all that follows her is sadness and trauma. She is very emotional guarded and with every right to be. She can’t walk past this man that needs her help but she definitely isn’t ready to let him in. So she makes it obvious that when the time comes he must leave, even if there is an unexpected yet undeniable connection.
Liv and Heath part ways after this unseen night, her not expecting to see him again and him wanting nothing more… some time later they will meet again.
This book is very fast paced, maybe a bit too much for me. The timeline got confusing at times, especially with Liv and Wyatt I felt like they had known each other longer. It seemed like he would have been the reason she had no issues taking Heath in to help but it obviously wasn’t.. timeline was just a bit unclear.
I am going to be completely honest I’m finding it really hard to write this review. There were moments I enjoyed, the book was engaging and I actually really liked Livs friendship with Wyatt and Riley. I liked Heaths relationship with his brothers and how much he enjoyed seeing Liv join their family. This books has drama for days you won’t be bored.
I respect the author’s decision to do what she did with the ending, that was a brave choice. Unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me. I felt like I was just getting invested and then BAM.
This is one of those books you will either love or hate. If you only want HEA at the end of your books, then this will probably not be the book for you. I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. Yes, I was heartbroken at the end and really not expecting that ending. However, I truly believe that it is an ending that plays true to life.
The story is fast-paced, full of emotion, and will keep you guessing. It is intense at times as well. L.Fountaine is a fantastic author, and I am excited to read the 2nd book in this Duet.
I dont want to give too much away, so I will just add that if you like: Contemporary Romance Suspense Possessive MMC Fast paced.
Then you will enjoy this book. Just be aware that not all stories have HEA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Well, that was a book and a half! I’m not going to give any spoilers, just know that you need to read it. It’s full of angst, mystery, danger, laughter, and plenty of sizzle in between. It is beautifully written. Loved it, and cannot wait for the second book.
This book is a fast paced story following the ups and downs between MCs Liv Parrish and Heath Hayes. A broody initial meeting by chance in a dark alley sets off a string of events that will forever change both MCs, weaving their lives together in more ways that either can anticipate. While the story moves quickly, the mystery and secrets unravel slowly. Heath is ex-military and a partner in Fortress Security, a company he founded with a few military brothers. He is a protective and possessive alpha hero, the embodiment of ex-military MMCs. Liv is an emotionally guarded FMC who has been living a transient life since the end of her last romantic relationship. After a brief separation, and several traumatic events, Liv and Heath are back in each others orbit. Unable to deny the pull between them, they embark on a cautious relationship. At the height of their trust and care for one another, their relationship is put to the ultimate test.
If you enjoy the following this might be a book for you: Insta-love Romantic suspense Ex military MC Protective / possessive MMC
I enjoyed the story’s pacing, which kept things moving along. As someone who does not read military romance, I was surprised that I enjoyed this more than I expected. However, I struggled with the timeline of events, which occasionally felt disjointed and unclear, and the lack of dialogue between the MCs, which did a lot of telling rather than showing.
Thanks so much to my dear IG friend and author, who is so incredibly kind and was one of the very first people to engage with me on Bookstagram, for the opportunity to read their work.
In Liv Parrish, we meet a young lady who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. When Heath is assaulted and stabbed in an alleyway, she takes him home to fix him up. Little does she know this will change her life. As Liv and Heath’s relationship grows, her past comes back to haunt her, and she is in danger once again.
I really enjoyed Liv Parrish! I loved Liv and felt my heart break for her whenever anything went wrong (which was quite often). As she learns to trust and love another, I loved seeing her come out of her shell. Heath is an amazing man, who will do anything for those he loves. I did, however, find things a bit rushed at times. I would have liked a deeper insight into Heath’s job and his life outside of his relationship with Liv. I also found the ending quite rushed, and again, would have liked more depth to certain parts of the story. This book doesn’t end in a HEA, but I can’t wait for book 2!
At 260 pages, this took me just over 2 and a half hours to read - in one sitting. The dialogue could be confusing at times, having to guess who was speaking. A tiny thing, but there were quite a few times when contractions weren’t used - such as “doesn’t” was “does not” which made it seem quite robotic at times. There are mentions of SA and attempted rape, so please bear this in mind before reading. Recommend to anyone who enjoys dark romance, and is fine with a non-HEA ending.
I received a free Advanced Reader Copy of this book, and this is my honest and voluntary review.
Blurb: •How much are you willing to risk for a complete stranger? Your time? Your safety? Your heart? All Liv seems to be doing lately is taking risks, because it's the right thing to do and just maybe because it distracts from the heartache she's desperate to leave behind. But one of those good deeds sets her neatly in the path of the men from Fortress Security. Specifically, Heath Hayes, a force of nature whose wildly romantic heart is in the right place even if the rest of him has a few issues. His tongue might sometimes get away from him and his anger might flare, but his feelings for Liv are the one thing he's sure of and he's not playing games. Life is serious business, there are dangers everywhere and people are counting on him. There's a job to do, a city to keep safe and family to protect. Theirs is a bumpy road and tomorrow isn't guaranteed, but isn't that always the case?
Mini review: •This story was action packed! From cover to cover this book was full of action! When Liv meets Heath they form an instant connection. They have a rocky relationship with lots of tragic events.
•I was really not expecting the ending at all! I was a little sad about the ending but I’m looking forward to reading the next book! This book ended on a cliffhanger and ah I want more!!
•"I'm in love with you, Liv Parrish and the little that I have, I lay at your feet."
I don’t know where to begin. I love how Liv and Heath met. I know it wasn’t under great circumstances but it was still a great beginning to their relationship. I loved all of the characters in the book. I was hoping for the best when it came to Aaron’s sister and when I found out what she was doing I was like heck yeah. She is a BA chick. I really like Wyatt and Riley they were hilarious always picking on Heath and getting him riled up. I obviously was not happy with the ending but I understand it and I know Liv and everyone else will come back stronger in the next book. I have a feeling of what she is going to do next as well as Melissa. Can’t wait to find out if I am right.
This starts out with Liv finding Heath hurt and taking him and caring for him. Then, eventually, they end up in a relationship in which she struggles to open up and allow herself to feel everything. They become immersed in each other's life with quite a bit of drama and stuff happening with their individual work and family and friends. I don't want to give it away, but it keeps you invested. It ends very unconventionally, so read the spoilers or trigger warnings if you have triggers. Highly recommend this book.
This is my first book I’ve read by this author and it will not be my last I can’t wait for book 2 Liv is a private lady who works at a children’s center and loves her job One night when coming home she sees a man that is injured and knows she has to help him Liv was a paramedic that’s how she meets Heath she takes him back to her apartment to tend to his wounds There’s instant chemistry between them I would highly recommend this book Well written kept me gripped from start to finish
What was that ending?! Liv and Heath were so good I couldn't put it down. It was a rollercoaster but a good one. The chemistry was great and it was well written
This book was really good. I was not expecting that ending at all. There's a ton of action and a great story here though. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
I honestly don't know what to say...the story was so good and I absolutely loved Heath!! But I did NOT see that ending and I'm not sure how I feel about it... If you want a book that has twists and turns, then this is one for you...but please read the trigger warnings...
This book is a fast paced story following the ups and downs between our main characters Liv Parrish and Heath Hayes. Holy shitting rollercoaster ride! And, like a f*cking good rollercoaster ride!! I had no idea where this story was heading! I definitely enjoyed the ride getting there! There was so much intensity, so much emotion, and a crazy connection sparked almost instantly for Heath and Liv, the heat that came off them could set the whole building on fire.
when we meet liv, she seems to be in the wrong area at the wrong time or maybe the right area at this right time!! Depends on how you look at it, there she meets Heath who has been assaulted and stabbed in an alleyway, she can't leave him there so she takes him home to fix him up, and call his friend, but she then decides it best he stays so she can keep and eye on him and he can phone them in the morning! Little does she know this will change her life forever. As Liv and Heath’s relationship starts to grow, her past comes back to bite in the ass.
Heath, Riley, Aaron and Mike established Fortress Security after getting out of the Navy. All were on the same SEAL team. They are brothers in every sense of the word. Heath tries to get back and talk to Liv but she is not there. He vows to move on with his life convinced that she has probably moved out of the city by now. It took Liv a while to find a place to call home so she did move pretty frequently but for a good reason They both couldn't get each other off there minds.
Liv is an unfortunate soul, I swear all that follows her is sadness and trauma. She is very emotionally guarded and has every right to be. She feels the spark but can't let it be So she makes it obvious that when the time comes he must leave, even if there is an unexpected yet undeniable connection.
Now, that ending was totally surprising! I would call it a cliffhanger? Only because there is a second book. But, be prepared that it is not going to end how you think and you will either really love it or be completely shocked, I’m very curious to see where the next book goes for some of these characters!
Holy rollercoaster ride! And, like a good rollercoaster, I had no idea where this story was headed but, I definitely enjoyed the ride getting there! There was so much intensity, so much emotion, and a crazy connection sparked almost instantly for Heath and Liv. I loved Liv. She was definitely guarded in a lot of ways, but strong and determined to move forward in her life and let some of her past hurts go. Even after Heath shows some sides of him that make her hesitate due to her own triggers, the depth of their feelings for each other pulls her through. Oh Heath! Ever the protector and force to be reckoned with knows that Liv is someone he needs in his live and he wastes NO time trying to convince her of that in any way that he can. He wore his heart on his sleeve for her and I loved it! I thoroughly enjoyed the writing in this! It really brought a lot of the more intense moments to life and definitely made the emotional parts hit on a whole different level! Now, the ending was surprising! I’d call it a bit of cliffhanger? Only because there is a second book. But, be prepared that it is not going to end how you think and you will either really love it or be completely shocked. I’ll leave it at that because it will ruin it otherwise. I’m very curious to see where the next book goes for some of these characters!
🔥Quick Notes🔥 Romantic Suspense Fast-paced Instant attraction/connection Definitely some 🌶🔥🌶 Sort of a cliffhanger? Not your typical romance
How to start, first there is Liv, who finds an injured man on her way home. She helps him to her apartment and gives him medical treatment. Liv is a paramedic. After he is well enough to go home he starts having feelings for Liv. Many things happen before they actually meet up again and start dating. This is steamy read, with a good relationship, between the couple. This story is intense and good. There is sadness as well. I loved this book!!! I have to stop to avoid spoilers. I received an ARC from the Author and I am Leaving this Totally Honest Review because I Choose to and Loved this Story!!!
The book starts out with Heath in need of help and Liv is there to see him through. The book has many ups and downs and a great plot that pulls you in. You feel the push and pull of the MC's to be together although it does take a bit for the passion between them to play out. Your in for a great story with great storytelling as well as plot. You will definitely enjoy the romance and the spice as well. I loved Liv's character and strength as well as her good heart and I felt like the two were a great match. I love that it wasn't an instalove story and that Heath had to work to find out about Liv everything didn't come easy. Great story down to the bones and a great read.
Heath, part owner of a security company and former Navy SEAL, is found by Liv, a volunteer tutor, after he had a run in with a group that his security company was investigating. As the story progresses a connection snaps into place, she hides emotions she’d rather not face, and to reach their goals against the past they will race. Liv Parrish is filled with heartbreaking moments offset by enough gooey romance to maintain a perfect balance.
I received a free copy of the book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.
I really enjoyed this read. There is a lot going on in it. This book is pretty fast paced, and action packed. I feel like it is beautifully written and love the characters. The chemistry between Liv and Heath is undeniable, and I love how they met. There is a lot of drama, and goings on in this book. It is one of those books that you have to read because there is so much going on to tell you about it. This is the first book I have read by this author and I can’t wait to read more!
What a story!!!!. Of course I was a little sad/upset about the ending, but man,,, this was a great storyline. And of course, L. Fontaine did not disappoint with her roller-coaster of emotions throughout the book. I cannot wait for the next book in the series. What a fantastic writer.
This is a fast paced love story, but unfortunately the pacing and the ending left me in limbo... I felt the love come fast and quick between Liv and Heath, and when I finally felt invested, it was ripped away from me. I felt like a lot of the scenes were a little rushed, but the book was engaging enough so it didn't end up on my did not finish pile. Unfortunately just wasn't for me :(
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Where to start this book was full off angst mystery and heat. Liz had been trew a hell of alot. The style of writing with have you hooked from beginning to end and is a brilliant read the author really knows how to pack a punch
I loved writing this book! Telling the story I wanted to tell, knowing it won't be for everyone, it was a challenge. Hopefully readers will see the message though, and always keep reading.
This book starts fast, continues fast and leaves you gutted at the end. For those that love a happily ever after, this may not be the book for you (fair warning).
It was really refreshing for me to read a book this year that didn't end with a happily ever after (or a story that was part of a series that would end with both MC's getting everything they want out of life). Liv and Heath certainly have a rocky start to their relationship- she literally finds him fighting for his life outside her apartment- but despite all of that and then some, they certainly make up for all of the lost time while forming a very deep connection with each other.
While this story does move at a very fast pace (especially once you get into it), there is not a moment where there is a lack of danger to our MC's and secrets come spilling out of the woodwork. All of the action that happens in the book is beautifully woven in between the sweet and tender moments between Liv and Heath that at times make you forget you are even reading. There are many layers to this tale and while that can sometimes be too much for most stories, all of these layers are introduced at just the right moment and only serve to enhance the story instead of hurt.
Great story (despite the somewhat sad ending) that will have you hooked from start to finish. I can't wait to see what is in store for Liv's friend in the next book (and hopefully get some life updates as well)