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Ricochet #1
Ricochet: Locked & Loaded
Rick "Ricochet" Brennan served eight years as an elite Marine special ops Force Recon soldier. After an injury, and the terrible memories from that night, he retires and goes to work for his former Command Officer, Howard "Mack" McEvoy, at his training center in Atlanta.
Sanctum MMA appears on the surface to be a normal gym, training elite fighters to be the best. Except each trainer, hand-picked by Mack, possesses a special background that allows Mack to run one of the best-kept secrets in the country.
When twenty-four year old Quinn Wallace finally escapes her abusive husband, she turns to her father’s old Marine Corps buddy, Mack, for help. Broken and skittish, Quinn finds herself surrounded by large, intimidating men— men who could easily overpower her. She avoids them the best she can, but when Rick turns out to be more than just a rough fighter with bruised knuckles, she finds herself wondering if she can allow herself to trust again.
Ricochet is a full-length novel to be released as three parts.
***This book contains hot sweaty men, sexy scenes for those over 18, and uncomfortable, sometimes violent scenes.***
Sanctum MMA appears on the surface to be a normal gym, training elite fighters to be the best. Except each trainer, hand-picked by Mack, possesses a special background that allows Mack to run one of the best-kept secrets in the country.
When twenty-four year old Quinn Wallace finally escapes her abusive husband, she turns to her father’s old Marine Corps buddy, Mack, for help. Broken and skittish, Quinn finds herself surrounded by large, intimidating men— men who could easily overpower her. She avoids them the best she can, but when Rick turns out to be more than just a rough fighter with bruised knuckles, she finds herself wondering if she can allow herself to trust again.
Ricochet is a full-length novel to be released as three parts.
***This book contains hot sweaty men, sexy scenes for those over 18, and uncomfortable, sometimes violent scenes.***
120 pages, ebook
First published March 29, 2015
21 people are currently reading
619 people want to read
About the author
Heather C. Leigh
24 books571 followersHeather C. Leigh is the author of the Amazon best selling Famous series. She likes to write about the 'dark' side of fame. The part that the public doesn't get to see, how difficult it is to live in a fishbowl and how that affects relationships.
Heather was born and raised in New England and after spending 15 years in Atlanta, GA, currently lives north of Houston, TX with her husband, 2 kids, and French Bulldog, Shelby.
Heather loves the Red Sox, the Patriots, and anything chocolate (but not white chocolate, everyone knows it's not real chocolate so it doesn't count) and has left explicit instructions in her will to have her ashes snuck into Fenway Park and sneakily sprinkled all over while her family enjoys beer, hot dogs, and a wicked good time.
My favorite authors are Dan Wells, Ken Follett, and Stephen King.
Happy reading!
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Heather was born and raised in New England and after spending 15 years in Atlanta, GA, currently lives north of Houston, TX with her husband, 2 kids, and French Bulldog, Shelby.
Heather loves the Red Sox, the Patriots, and anything chocolate (but not white chocolate, everyone knows it's not real chocolate so it doesn't count) and has left explicit instructions in her will to have her ashes snuck into Fenway Park and sneakily sprinkled all over while her family enjoys beer, hot dogs, and a wicked good time.
My favorite authors are Dan Wells, Ken Follett, and Stephen King.
Happy reading!
Stalk Heather on
Facebook:
Twitter:
Instagram:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
April 15, 2015
Ricochet is a slow build to loveliness. I really enjoyed the first of this 3 part full length story... And it ended on the perfect climax of an OMG!!
During the early stages of the story the emotive histories of the protagonists are revealed. Rick is fighting a past memory from the marines and Quinn has a violent ex husband and memories she wishes to forget. As a result they both find themselves working for Mack at Sanctum. Only one of them is aware of the true specialized nature of this company.
Quinn Wallace, catches the attention of our hero from the get go. She's feisty and vulnerable all mixed into a girl who’s lost a little of her spark but equally she's able to enjoy playful banter with Rick, a banter that's so very enjoyable to read.
Rick is a player and an adorable charmer. He uses he’s charismatic prowess to woe the ladies and help him forget his past; help him ease his pain. He’s a one night-kind-of-guy who doesn’t do sleep-overs or continuous relationships.
If I'm 100% honest there are times when I felt the thoughts are a little clichéd and somewhat predictable but within the context of this story, it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment. The style is easy on the mind and flowed beautifully capturing my attention from the very beginning with its premise and interesting characters; tortured guy and broken girl end up thrown together in the same workplace allowing fate to take its coarse. This first part made me smile with the warm fuzzies and felt peppered with the ideal levels of angst.
Ricochet #1 Locked and Loaded is only the start of this story and tempted my reading taste buds to continue on and discover the developments in all its angst ridden glory. I knew it wasn’t going to plain sailing; the author set the tone and made me want to continue on with the promise of possible healing within the hearts of our hero and heroine.
Readers will be happy to know that all three books are out, especially when you hit the cliff-hanger of part one. My review thoughts about the concluding two novellas in this series can be found in the links below.
Ricochet is a full-length novel to be released as three parts: reading order
My review thoughts for Ricochet #2 FRIENDLY FIRE
My review thoughts for Ricochet #3 EXTRACTION POINT
All parts are live!
* Amazon US * Amazon UK *
Advanced copy received from the author, via TRSoR, for my honest review.
April 6, 2015
*Complimentary copy received from author*
3.5 ★
This is a first Heather Leigh read for me, and I’m actually glad I requested for it and was graciously given a copy.
This is a nice start to a 3-part story about Quinn and Rick who in some ways are both suffering from their own form of PTSD because of events in their past. Quinn met Rick in her new workplace and boy, is it a testosterone-laden place or what! Not necessarily the best place for Quinn to have found herself given what she's trying to overcome, but hey, it certainly didn't hurt to be surrounded by these boys *g*
It’s quite an emotional read, which I did not expect, to some degree. Yes in a way, given what Quinn went thru, but no in another way, given Rick’s background and the men that surround him. I felt Heather was able to give Rick an emotional voice without taking away his masculinity. I was concerned it was going to be cheesy but it wasn’t. In fact, I thought it was adorable. Here’s this alpha dude with new emotions he doesn’t know what to do with. And there’s Quinn, just doing her darndest to be strong. She’s mousy one minute but all feisty the next. It was sad and encouraging at the same time.
The last 15% felt a little off. I’m not quite sure how Quinn managed to quickly reconcile her fears with her wanting Rick at the same time, but apparently she did. And for an erotic romance reader like me, this is light on the steam, although the angst and intensity of the emotions made up for it.
It ends on a cliffie so let me just say I'm glad Ricochet: Friendly Fire is loaded up on my gadget to read. It’s definitely handy to have the rest of the series on hand. Myself, I jumped right onto book 2. I just had to!
3.5 ★
This is a first Heather Leigh read for me, and I’m actually glad I requested for it and was graciously given a copy.
This is a nice start to a 3-part story about Quinn and Rick who in some ways are both suffering from their own form of PTSD because of events in their past. Quinn met Rick in her new workplace and boy, is it a testosterone-laden place or what! Not necessarily the best place for Quinn to have found herself given what she's trying to overcome, but hey, it certainly didn't hurt to be surrounded by these boys *g*
It’s quite an emotional read, which I did not expect, to some degree. Yes in a way, given what Quinn went thru, but no in another way, given Rick’s background and the men that surround him. I felt Heather was able to give Rick an emotional voice without taking away his masculinity. I was concerned it was going to be cheesy but it wasn’t. In fact, I thought it was adorable. Here’s this alpha dude with new emotions he doesn’t know what to do with. And there’s Quinn, just doing her darndest to be strong. She’s mousy one minute but all feisty the next. It was sad and encouraging at the same time.
The last 15% felt a little off. I’m not quite sure how Quinn managed to quickly reconcile her fears with her wanting Rick at the same time, but apparently she did. And for an erotic romance reader like me, this is light on the steam, although the angst and intensity of the emotions made up for it.
It ends on a cliffie so let me just say I'm glad Ricochet: Friendly Fire is loaded up on my gadget to read. It’s definitely handy to have the rest of the series on hand. Myself, I jumped right onto book 2. I just had to!
February 9, 2015
5 'Doll' Stars
Ricochet is a short and sexy novella that's fast paced and thrilling all in one. It keeps you wanting to turn the pages faster than normal, devouring each written word and loving the images rolling through your mind's eye. This is only the beginning, Part 1 in this series.
Quinn Wallace has been on the run for a year. Running from an abusive husband, Quinn seeks help from her father's best friend and former Marine buddy. Married for three years and secluded and abused during those years, Quinn feels a sense of pride at having some independence and securing a job. Receptionist to a Mixed Martial Arts Gym, Quinn quickly learns the ropes and falls into uneasy companionship with most the members of the gym. On her first day at the gym, a frazzled Quinn meets Rick 'Ricochet' Brennan. A blue eyed muscled God, whose over confidence and soon to be seen sweet demeanor quickly draws her in.
Rick 'Ricochet' Brennan former Marine Corps. turned special ops mercenary and working at the MMA gym as a guise when not on a mission, is known for his 'hit em and leave em' lifestyle. Having no one to care for but himself, Rick uses his charm and brawn to draw the ladies in. Ricochet......... as his friends and Marine buddies call him. Because he always leaves before the women awake. Meeting Quinn, Rick quickly notices that she always keeps herself at a physical distance, soft spoken and skittish. She's broken, and it aches and infuriates him to know that someone abused this sweet woman. This woman that ceases his numb existence. She makes him feel.
Always carrying around the fear of being caught by her husband, Quinn continues to distance herself from the womanizing Ricochet. Especially after finding out what his nickname stands for. Slowly and cautiously Rick attempts to interact with Quinn by making small and sweet gestures that he knows she can't pass up. Quinn soon realizes that Rick may be bigger and stronger than her and could physically hurt her, but he wouldn't ever hurt a hair on her head.
Sigghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh................ that's all I have to say. I am sad that I have to wait for the second instalment. Heather C. Leigh amazed me at how well-developed her characters were in such a short novella. She created a strong heroine that continues to struggle with her past, while at the same time Quinn remained steadfast in her plight to become independent.
*Heather C. Leigh gave me permission to use her Marine Recon Image (skull image) as part of my graphics.* Thanks so much.
*ARC provided by Love Between the Sheets on behalf of the author for an honest review* Thanks!!
March 12, 2015
☆ I received an ARC via LBTS PR in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ☆
Ricochet: Locked and Loaded is the first part of three novels in the Ricochet series.
Going into it, I didn’t really know what to expect but was excited nonetheless due to the Marine and MMA themes.
Luckily for me, it worked out for the best as I had enjoyed it immensely!
Quinn is a survivor of domestic abuse and wants nothing more to do with a man romantically.
She finds herself in Atlanta, Georgia, looking to start over at her father’s esteemed training establishment, Sanctum, where she works as a receptionist and meets Rick.
With her being on the run from her ex and all the trauma that she’s suffered; and Rick having demons of his own, it was intriguing to see how such broken and jaded individuals could bring the light out of each other while facing the scars of their pasts.
I really loved how far both characters come throughout as Rick brings Quinn out of her hole of hiding and just existing but not living. While Quinn, on the other hand, gives Rick another reason to live and want to commit to something (or someone) for once in his life.
#Love, loved this starter of this wonderful trilogy!! I can’t wait for the next book, as bk1 does end on a cliffhanger, but I’m definitely excited to see what happens next for Rick and Quinn!
Ricochet: Locked and Loaded is the first part of three novels in the Ricochet series.
Going into it, I didn’t really know what to expect but was excited nonetheless due to the Marine and MMA themes.
Luckily for me, it worked out for the best as I had enjoyed it immensely!
Quinn is a survivor of domestic abuse and wants nothing more to do with a man romantically.
She finds herself in Atlanta, Georgia, looking to start over at her father’s esteemed training establishment, Sanctum, where she works as a receptionist and meets Rick.
With her being on the run from her ex and all the trauma that she’s suffered; and Rick having demons of his own, it was intriguing to see how such broken and jaded individuals could bring the light out of each other while facing the scars of their pasts.
I really loved how far both characters come throughout as Rick brings Quinn out of her hole of hiding and just existing but not living. While Quinn, on the other hand, gives Rick another reason to live and want to commit to something (or someone) for once in his life.
#Love, loved this starter of this wonderful trilogy!! I can’t wait for the next book, as bk1 does end on a cliffhanger, but I’m definitely excited to see what happens next for Rick and Quinn!
April 5, 2015
ssssiiiigggghhhhh....great start but I really need the second part. I love how Quinn is getting over her past. The stuff that happened to her should take time to resolve, and I'm glad Ms. Leigh didn't take the short road. Rick/Ricochet is perfect. Falling in love with her and not realizing it until someone else points it out. Cliffys are for the birds.
March 31, 2015
This review was originally posted on Cocktails and Books and reviewed by a member of our review team.
In RICOCHET: LOCKED & LOADED Heather C. Leigh tries her hand at a military romantic suspense in this novella series. I have to tell you, she gave it her special HCL finesse and had me absolutely hooked on the story of domestic violence escapee Quinn and Rick, one of the MMA fighters/secret military men of Sanctum.
Quinn was a broken woman who found the courage to escape her abusive ex-husband. She lands in Atlanta and working for her father's best friend at his mixed martial art studio, Sanctum. Quinn is a little timid around all the large men that work at Sanctum, but she you can see the beginnings of Quinn rebuilding her life. She learns when she should take an offer of help as just that and not having to worry someone might think it's something else. And for the first time in a long time, she meets someone she can see being friends with. You want a simple thing as a friend for Quinn and for her to find her safety net. And as the story unfolds, you can start to see a big piece of that net is Rick.
Rick is a guy who earned his nickname of Ricochet by jumping from one woman to the next. But the moment he meets Quinn, you can see thing for the mighty Rick are about to change. Rick is an Alpha male at this finest. He stumbles coming to terms with his feelings, but even then Quinn is always at the forefront of his mind. He definitely makes it hard not to love him.
I've yet to read a Heather C. Leigh book that haven't absolutely loved. This one is no exception and is definitely one I recommend.
Excerpt
RICK SMILED AS he stood on the small landing just outside of the tiny apartment above Sanctum. He could hear loud music playing inside, some top forty crap. What was Quinn doing— dancing, singing, cleaning while dancing and singing?
The locks disengaged and the door swung wide open. Rick nearly choked on his tongue at the sight in front of him. Quinn was standing on the threshold with a light sheen of sweat on her body, her hair pulled into a high ponytail, and wearing only a tiny blue sports bra and a pair of shorts so small they couldn’t possibly be legal to wear out in public.
Holy hell, I’m going to croak right here on her doorstep.
“Rick. What are you doing here?” Quinn’s amber eyes shone, but her face looked confused.
“Ummmm,” Jesus. He couldn’t think with her half naked and within arms length, it was too damn distracting. Her pale thighs were smooth and toned. All he could imagine was having them wrapped around his waist. “I uh, I mean… shit. I was going to bring you to the store again. If… if you wanted, I mean.”
Damn, I sound like a complete and total idiot.
Quinn’s already flushed cheeks turned an even darker shade of crimson as he stammered in her doorway. Her eyes cast downward until she was staring at her own feet. Rick marveled over how long and thick her eyelashes were against her pale skin. Her lush pink mouth captivated him as she licked her lips nervously.
This was a bad idea. His dick had a mind of it’s own whenever he was around Quinn and it was beginning to throb inside his jeans. He hadn’t gotten off since the pathetically unsatisfying experience on Sunday night and jerking in the shower at work and his cock was taking notice.
“You came here just to see if I needed another ride?”
Once again, when Quinn’s shy but pleased gaze lifted to Rick’s face, it hit him like a punch to the gut. He’d seen his share of beautiful women, hell, he’d had his share of beautiful women. But nothing he’d seen in his twenty-eight years would ever compare to the absolute perfection of Quinn Wallace.
Mesmerized, Rick could only nod.
The small smile she rewarded him with made his discomfort totally worth it. Like another hit of an addict’s favorite drug, Rick would probably give anything to see her smile more often. Quinn always looked sad, weary. Giving her a little bit of happiness, if only for something as simple as grocery shopping, seemed like a fair trade for a constant, aching hard-on, the inability to enjoy his usual no strings sex, and never ending mental torture.
“Yeah, I came to see if you needed another ride. Is that alright with you, doll?”
Quinn’s gorgeous face relaxed, her smile becoming wider. There were those adorable crinkles around her eyes again. “Yes, it’s fine. Let me just throw on a shirt. Uh, come in and just… wait here.”
He was pleased that she finally stopped telling him not to call her doll. She was a doll, his doll. Rick watched her tight ass as she scurried off to what he assumed was her bedroom. He groaned at the thought of her and her ass anywhere near a bed. As surreptitiously as possible, he adjusted his painful hard on.
Get your shit together, Brennan.
Minutes later, Quinn emerged with a small pink shirt pulled over her sports bra. She was still wearing the tiny, cheek hugging shorts. As he followed her out of the apartment, her delectable back end swaying with each step, Rick wondered if he had lost his fucking mind.
Ricochet: Locked & Loaded (Ricochet, #1)
Ricochet: Friendly Fire (Ricochet #2)
Releasing April 5, 2015
Pre – Order ….
Ricochet: Extraction Point (Ricochet #3)
Releasing April 12, 2015
Pre – Order ….
Giveaway!
April 1, 2015
[Originally appeared on SnarkyMomReads and refers to a gifted copy.]
RICOCHET is approximately 100 pages long and the first part of Rick & Quinn's story. Did you notice I said first PART? Yup. I got suckered into a serial. Dammit. Y'all know how that irritates me. Good thing is that Heather C. Leigh plans to release the three parts a week apart, so the first is available now; the next one is supposed to release on Easter Sunday and the final portion will be available on Sunday the 12th. Each part is 99 cents or FREE if you are part of Kindle Unlimited. (YAY!)
Quinn escaped from her husband, the Sheriff of a small town, after two years in a physically and emotionally abusive marriage. We've not yet learned how she escaped, but she hid out in battered women shelters while making her way to Mack, and old military buddy of her deceased father. Mack owns an MMA gym / training facility which is the front for a Black Ops group that does off-book work for the US government. Quinn doesn't know about the undercover business and she starts working for him as a front desk receptionist, which is how she runs into Rick, aka "Ricochet". Rick is attracted to her, but isn't sure how to approach her since she is so skittish.
This first part spends a lot of time detailing Quinn's panic attacks, while Rick has his own version of panic attacks about wanting more than a "hit it & quit it" interaction with Quinn. Since she has such a hard time interacting with ANY male, I was beginning to think that nothing was ever going to happen... but honestly, when it did, it just didn't seem realistic. However, the story had to move along, so I'm willing to suspend my disbelief for the sake of the fiction :). I look forward to finding out more of the back-story of how she escaped from her husband and see how she and Rick move on in their relationship!
RICOCHET is approximately 100 pages long and the first part of Rick & Quinn's story. Did you notice I said first PART? Yup. I got suckered into a serial. Dammit. Y'all know how that irritates me. Good thing is that Heather C. Leigh plans to release the three parts a week apart, so the first is available now; the next one is supposed to release on Easter Sunday and the final portion will be available on Sunday the 12th. Each part is 99 cents or FREE if you are part of Kindle Unlimited. (YAY!)
Quinn escaped from her husband, the Sheriff of a small town, after two years in a physically and emotionally abusive marriage. We've not yet learned how she escaped, but she hid out in battered women shelters while making her way to Mack, and old military buddy of her deceased father. Mack owns an MMA gym / training facility which is the front for a Black Ops group that does off-book work for the US government. Quinn doesn't know about the undercover business and she starts working for him as a front desk receptionist, which is how she runs into Rick, aka "Ricochet". Rick is attracted to her, but isn't sure how to approach her since she is so skittish.
This first part spends a lot of time detailing Quinn's panic attacks, while Rick has his own version of panic attacks about wanting more than a "hit it & quit it" interaction with Quinn. Since she has such a hard time interacting with ANY male, I was beginning to think that nothing was ever going to happen... but honestly, when it did, it just didn't seem realistic. However, the story had to move along, so I'm willing to suspend my disbelief for the sake of the fiction :). I look forward to finding out more of the back-story of how she escaped from her husband and see how she and Rick move on in their relationship!
April 16, 2015
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads
This is the first novella in a series of three. They are all now available, so no need to panic about having to wait!
This is a great start to a new serial, with two fabulous characters who bring their pasts firmly into the present with them. Obviously we know more than they do about each other, so at times it is incredibly intense. It is also a testament to the strength of humankind that they both still can feel strong emotions, in spite of their histories. So glad that book 2 is waiting on my Kindle!
This is the first novella in a series of three. They are all now available, so no need to panic about having to wait!
This is a great start to a new serial, with two fabulous characters who bring their pasts firmly into the present with them. Obviously we know more than they do about each other, so at times it is incredibly intense. It is also a testament to the strength of humankind that they both still can feel strong emotions, in spite of their histories. So glad that book 2 is waiting on my Kindle!
March 25, 2016
I received an ARC copy for my honest review. After reading Heather's Already Famous series and loving her writing style I was definitely looking forward to read more of her books, and then I received this series. It was I felt an honest portrayal of abuse and loss and how people deal with it and ultimately move on. Whether it was losing friends in a wartime situation or falling in love with the wrong person - I felt both the main characters stories were depicted honest and true.
April 17, 2015
5-STAR MUST READ…RAW HEART-WRENCHING, TEAR JERKING, AND TESTIMONIAL OF THE POWER OF LOVE!
Read my full review of the Ricochet series at:
http://justbooked.blogspot.com/2015/0...
Read my full review of the Ricochet series at:
http://justbooked.blogspot.com/2015/0...
March 6, 2015
Overall Rating: 4.5 Rockin’ ★★★★☆
This is the first of three parts in the Ricochet series by author Heather Leigh. It is a full-length novel that will be released in three parts. In this first part we meet Rick and Quinn and discover the past that haunts them and the beginning of their story
Memories are not always easy to put behind you and this is the situation that Rick “Ricochet’ Brennan finds himself. He was a retired Marine that had served in Special Ops Recon. After returning to civilian life he was recruited by Howard McEvoy, his former commanding officer. “Mack’ had opened a gym that fronted for an elite force of men that still served their country through covert black ops. Returning from a special ops job, he becomes fascinated with the new receptionist, Quinn. Her skittish behavior and refusal to have anything to do with him, intrigues him. He is determined to get to know her and find out what haunts her.
Trust no one! She had trusted a man that she thought loved her and had become trapped in an abusive relationship. Each day that she managed to stay alive was a day that she had not expected to die at the hands of her husband. Quinn knew that she had to find a way to escape before her time ran out. When she finally found a way out, she went to Mack, a friend of her father. Afraid of her shadow with a broken soul, Quinn was thankful for Mack’s help. The only thing was the men that she finds herself around are huge and fighters. This is extremely difficult for her to handle because of the violence she endured at the hands of her husband. One of the men refuses to take no for an answer, even when she tries to ignore. There is something about Rick that she finds irresistible. Is it possible that she can find more with Rick?
Regardless of her feelings, she has to stay hidden. She cannot be found. No one can know where she is or her abusive husband will find her. He would never let her go! There was no way she could involve Rick in her problems, let alone become involved with him.
Hero: Rick “Ricochet’ Brennan 4.5 stars
Heroine: Annette Quinn Hardy 4.5 stars
Plot: 4.5 stars
Steam Level: 4.5 stars
Cliffhanger: Yes
Would I recommend this book: Yes! This is a story of unrivaled strength from a woman that has known abusive cruelty and the man that helps her find redemption and love again. It has heated sexual encounters but is also filled with mystery and action filled drama.
Would I recommend this author: Yes! This author tells a story like no other. Her characters speak to the heart and her storyline is captivating. Ms. Leigh surpasses herself with this stirring tale of domestic violence, riveting heat break and hauntingly beautiful love story. She is an author worth reading!
***Received an ARC of this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review***
Ricochet: Locked & Loaded
Heather C. Leigh
This is the first of three parts in the Ricochet series by author Heather Leigh. It is a full-length novel that will be released in three parts. In this first part we meet Rick and Quinn and discover the past that haunts them and the beginning of their story
Memories are not always easy to put behind you and this is the situation that Rick “Ricochet’ Brennan finds himself. He was a retired Marine that had served in Special Ops Recon. After returning to civilian life he was recruited by Howard McEvoy, his former commanding officer. “Mack’ had opened a gym that fronted for an elite force of men that still served their country through covert black ops. Returning from a special ops job, he becomes fascinated with the new receptionist, Quinn. Her skittish behavior and refusal to have anything to do with him, intrigues him. He is determined to get to know her and find out what haunts her.
Trust no one! She had trusted a man that she thought loved her and had become trapped in an abusive relationship. Each day that she managed to stay alive was a day that she had not expected to die at the hands of her husband. Quinn knew that she had to find a way to escape before her time ran out. When she finally found a way out, she went to Mack, a friend of her father. Afraid of her shadow with a broken soul, Quinn was thankful for Mack’s help. The only thing was the men that she finds herself around are huge and fighters. This is extremely difficult for her to handle because of the violence she endured at the hands of her husband. One of the men refuses to take no for an answer, even when she tries to ignore. There is something about Rick that she finds irresistible. Is it possible that she can find more with Rick?
Regardless of her feelings, she has to stay hidden. She cannot be found. No one can know where she is or her abusive husband will find her. He would never let her go! There was no way she could involve Rick in her problems, let alone become involved with him.
Hero: Rick “Ricochet’ Brennan 4.5 stars
Heroine: Annette Quinn Hardy 4.5 stars
Plot: 4.5 stars
Steam Level: 4.5 stars
Cliffhanger: Yes
Would I recommend this book: Yes! This is a story of unrivaled strength from a woman that has known abusive cruelty and the man that helps her find redemption and love again. It has heated sexual encounters but is also filled with mystery and action filled drama.
Would I recommend this author: Yes! This author tells a story like no other. Her characters speak to the heart and her storyline is captivating. Ms. Leigh surpasses herself with this stirring tale of domestic violence, riveting heat break and hauntingly beautiful love story. She is an author worth reading!
***Received an ARC of this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review***
Ricochet: Locked & Loaded
Heather C. Leigh
February 15, 2015
**ARC Received for an Honest Review**
~Bookaholic Confessions~
Rick (Ricochet) Brennan is a sexy ex-Marine and a player. He gets his name by jumping from one woman's bed to the next. He never sleeps over and never goes after the same woman twice. Facing his own demons from his time as a Marine, he enjoys his secret ops job, which is run out the back of an MMA training gym. When he meets Quinn, there's something about her that draws him in.
Quinn (Annette Hardy) Wallace is a scared and damaged woman after her husband beat her down, physically and mentally. When encountering any male in her new home in Georgia (thanks to her father's old friend Mack), she becomes skittish and freaks out. Several times, while speaking to Rick, one minute she's having perfectly good conversation, but the next, she is cowering behind her hands and backing in to a corner. As she spends time with Rick, she does start to let her walls down.
The sexual tension is thick. Both want each other, but Rick doesn't know how to approach her to tell her he's falling for her. He's scared of his feelings. Quinn wants Rick desperately and feels safe with him, but has heard how he got his nickname. Quinn is not technically divorced from her husband and even though Rick suspects something has happened in Quinn's past, she up and leaves before he can convey his true feelings and find out any more about her emotional scars.
Yes, there is a Cliffhanger and Yes, I will be awaiting the next book in the series. I enjoyed the story line and the quick read. Actually wished this book was longer because I want to know where Quinn goes, if Rick finds her or if her Ex finds her first....
~Bookaholic Confessions~
Rick (Ricochet) Brennan is a sexy ex-Marine and a player. He gets his name by jumping from one woman's bed to the next. He never sleeps over and never goes after the same woman twice. Facing his own demons from his time as a Marine, he enjoys his secret ops job, which is run out the back of an MMA training gym. When he meets Quinn, there's something about her that draws him in.
Quinn (Annette Hardy) Wallace is a scared and damaged woman after her husband beat her down, physically and mentally. When encountering any male in her new home in Georgia (thanks to her father's old friend Mack), she becomes skittish and freaks out. Several times, while speaking to Rick, one minute she's having perfectly good conversation, but the next, she is cowering behind her hands and backing in to a corner. As she spends time with Rick, she does start to let her walls down.
The sexual tension is thick. Both want each other, but Rick doesn't know how to approach her to tell her he's falling for her. He's scared of his feelings. Quinn wants Rick desperately and feels safe with him, but has heard how he got his nickname. Quinn is not technically divorced from her husband and even though Rick suspects something has happened in Quinn's past, she up and leaves before he can convey his true feelings and find out any more about her emotional scars.
Yes, there is a Cliffhanger and Yes, I will be awaiting the next book in the series. I enjoyed the story line and the quick read. Actually wished this book was longer because I want to know where Quinn goes, if Rick finds her or if her Ex finds her first....
April 2, 2015
3.5 Stars!
This quick read got me interested in the series quickly. It’s full of angst, unexpected love, steamy melt your panties moments, and a fun cast of characters.
Rick “Ricochet” is a former marine, forced to get out when he was wounded in battle. Now, he trains at an MMA gym…sometimes. Mostly, he is part of an elite task force run from within the gym. He’s a playboy, a charmer, and a sexy as hell fighter. Who could resist? But, it’s not those traits that make him irresistible, no, it’s the man he chooses to become when he meets Quinn.
Quinn is deeply scared by her past. For the first time in her life, she is out from under a controlling man, first her father, and then her abusive husband. However, she is still hiding from that past. She isn’t looking for a relationship, she isn’t ready for one. But, Rick creeps under her skin and she begins to see that there are men out there who are trustworthy, loving, kind, and a gentleman. And yet, she lets the wounds underneath the scars fester and the burn makes her skittish and ready to run.
Splitting this novel into three parts was very smart in my opinion. I read through this book very fast and it kept it from any chance of getting tedious and long. In the end, I was so curious to see where the cliffhanger would lead, I jumped right into the next one. I like the cast of characters and would definitely be interested in reading about some of their stories as well. There was definitely some chuckling out loud from time to time.
There were a couple of things that pulled the rating down for me. I have to WARN you, there is a rape scene. It’s between a wife and her abusive husband, but none-the-less, it is still rape. However, I was able to get through it (which is saying a lot for me), but I would rather it had been inferred than described. Its right at the beginning, so I suggest you either power through and move on, or skip over it and keep reading. But, keep reading.
The military stuff can be a tad dry, but it’s not very often and most of the information is pretty interesting.
For a woman who was treated like Quinn was for two years, I found her resilience, when it comes to a physical relationship, to be a little bit unbelievable. It lingered in the back of my mind throughout the book, however, the story kept me going and it was fairly easy to ignore and enjoy the book anyway.
Overall, I liked Rick and Quinn as characters and want to get to know them better and continue their story in the next book. It was well written, the characters and plot were pretty developed, and the story kept me interested. I think you’ll enjoy these two and their friends.
This quick read got me interested in the series quickly. It’s full of angst, unexpected love, steamy melt your panties moments, and a fun cast of characters.
Rick “Ricochet” is a former marine, forced to get out when he was wounded in battle. Now, he trains at an MMA gym…sometimes. Mostly, he is part of an elite task force run from within the gym. He’s a playboy, a charmer, and a sexy as hell fighter. Who could resist? But, it’s not those traits that make him irresistible, no, it’s the man he chooses to become when he meets Quinn.
Quinn is deeply scared by her past. For the first time in her life, she is out from under a controlling man, first her father, and then her abusive husband. However, she is still hiding from that past. She isn’t looking for a relationship, she isn’t ready for one. But, Rick creeps under her skin and she begins to see that there are men out there who are trustworthy, loving, kind, and a gentleman. And yet, she lets the wounds underneath the scars fester and the burn makes her skittish and ready to run.
Splitting this novel into three parts was very smart in my opinion. I read through this book very fast and it kept it from any chance of getting tedious and long. In the end, I was so curious to see where the cliffhanger would lead, I jumped right into the next one. I like the cast of characters and would definitely be interested in reading about some of their stories as well. There was definitely some chuckling out loud from time to time.
There were a couple of things that pulled the rating down for me. I have to WARN you, there is a rape scene. It’s between a wife and her abusive husband, but none-the-less, it is still rape. However, I was able to get through it (which is saying a lot for me), but I would rather it had been inferred than described. Its right at the beginning, so I suggest you either power through and move on, or skip over it and keep reading. But, keep reading.
The military stuff can be a tad dry, but it’s not very often and most of the information is pretty interesting.
For a woman who was treated like Quinn was for two years, I found her resilience, when it comes to a physical relationship, to be a little bit unbelievable. It lingered in the back of my mind throughout the book, however, the story kept me going and it was fairly easy to ignore and enjoy the book anyway.
Overall, I liked Rick and Quinn as characters and want to get to know them better and continue their story in the next book. It was well written, the characters and plot were pretty developed, and the story kept me interested. I think you’ll enjoy these two and their friends.
March 31, 2015
Disclaimer: I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Ricochet Locked and Loaded is part 1 of a three part story about former Marine Rick aka Ricochet who is a love 'em and leave 'em type of guy who never spends more than one night with any woman. Rick also works at a MMA Training facility that covers his real job as a Mercenary Soldier. His world is flipped when his boss hires Quinn to work the front desk. The mysterious Quinn is oblivious to the charms of Ricochet, at times she is sassy and sarcastic and other times she is very skittish and almost seems afraid of him. Rick knows something is very wrong and suspects that he knows what is going on but is not quite sure how to handle the situation. Both characters have their own demons, Quinn with her husband and Rick with his memories of the events that led to his discharge from the military.
Quinn is a woman running from an abusive husband. Large muscular men make her skittish yet she is surrounded by just that. Most of the men make her nervous but the one called Ricochet invokes feelings in her that she hasn't felt ever, not even with her abusive husband. She feels safe with him even though her brain keeps telling her to run as fast as she can from this very dangerous yet sexy man.
This book was a fast read, one that kept me on the edge of my seat. The beginning of the book may be a bit hard for some to read as it does go into a great deal of detail about the abuse that Quinn suffers at the hand of her husband. The rest of the book you can just feel the panic and terror that Quinn feels anytime someone pounds on her door (which Rick seems to do quite often). Rick finds himself falling hard and fast for the mysterious Quinn and finds himself unable to find interest in any other woman. He struggles with his feelings but when they both finally give in the fireworks that ensue are hot and heavy and will leave you wanting more. In fact, the only real drawback to this book is that you will have to wait for the next book, since if you are anything like me you will not be able to put this book down and will have it read in a day or two.
Part 1 of Ricochet is available now, so what are you waiting for?!?!?!? Go get it now!!!!
April 2, 2015
I have been meaning to read a story written by this author forever and I choose the perfect book to start because “Ricochet” was outstanding! After reading this first installment of her new series I would have to say that Heather C. Leigh definitely gained a new fan.
Let’s face it, you would be insane if you couldn’t enjoy a story where the hero was not only a gorgeous alpha-male but a military man AND a MMA fighter too. Rick “Ricochet” Brennan was all these things plus so much more. Sure he was a known player (that’s how he ends up with his nickname after all) but in his defense it was as if he was waiting for that perfect woman to come along.
He found that woman in Quinn Wallace. At first it was just her beauty that appealed to him but as he got to know her better he felt this deeper pull. A pull that he never experienced with anyone ever before. For a man who was in all ways disciplined he wanted to lose all control with this woman. After seeing that vulnerable side of her, he realized that he didn’t just want her physically but he wanted her in every manner. He wanted to possess her, protect her and make her his forever.
Quinn knew from the start that letting Rick in could potentially lead to trouble. She told herself repeatedly that she shouldn’t get involved. Their chemistry was so intense however that for a moment she was willing to turn a blind eye for this man. When her feelings towards him start to progress however she didn’t have a choice but to do one regretful thing…
Obviously, this story does end in a cliffhanger but I have to say that I am not the least disappointed since the next installment is scheduled to be released within the same week and the conclusion within a week after that. I thought that the break between each part provides me with an ample amount of time to process the story and its characters. What I’ve read so far is a well-balanced and solid story with very much likable characters.
With everything that Quinn has been through in her past relationship you can’t help but want her to get what she deserves and to me Rick was IT. Let’s just hope that he could convince her in the next installment. I enjoyed this one and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
liezelsbookblog.net
Let’s face it, you would be insane if you couldn’t enjoy a story where the hero was not only a gorgeous alpha-male but a military man AND a MMA fighter too. Rick “Ricochet” Brennan was all these things plus so much more. Sure he was a known player (that’s how he ends up with his nickname after all) but in his defense it was as if he was waiting for that perfect woman to come along.
He found that woman in Quinn Wallace. At first it was just her beauty that appealed to him but as he got to know her better he felt this deeper pull. A pull that he never experienced with anyone ever before. For a man who was in all ways disciplined he wanted to lose all control with this woman. After seeing that vulnerable side of her, he realized that he didn’t just want her physically but he wanted her in every manner. He wanted to possess her, protect her and make her his forever.
Quinn knew from the start that letting Rick in could potentially lead to trouble. She told herself repeatedly that she shouldn’t get involved. Their chemistry was so intense however that for a moment she was willing to turn a blind eye for this man. When her feelings towards him start to progress however she didn’t have a choice but to do one regretful thing…
Obviously, this story does end in a cliffhanger but I have to say that I am not the least disappointed since the next installment is scheduled to be released within the same week and the conclusion within a week after that. I thought that the break between each part provides me with an ample amount of time to process the story and its characters. What I’ve read so far is a well-balanced and solid story with very much likable characters.
With everything that Quinn has been through in her past relationship you can’t help but want her to get what she deserves and to me Rick was IT. Let’s just hope that he could convince her in the next installment. I enjoyed this one and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
liezelsbookblog.net
March 31, 2015
I received a copy of this review for an honest review for The Reading Room Blog.
Ricochet: Locked & Loaded is a gripping tale of the struggle two people face in starting their lives over after facing devastating, almost life ending tragedy. Warning - this book contains several intense scenes of violence. The scenes fit the story but may cause strong reactions.
What I Loved: Rick "Ricochet" Brennan has all the stuff a swoon worthy alpha male lead needs - history of service to his country, MMA fighter by day and trained special operative by night, and a special skill of charming the ladies and then running for the hills. He's big, gorgeous, and strikes an imposing figure. In crafting Ricochet author Heather Leigh has created a dynamic push and pull of Quinn's conflicting attraction to the hero. A brutal past has given Quinn a sense of Ricochet's blend of violence and sweetness that creates a wrenching and honest confusion.
What I Didn't Love: Ricochet: Locked & Loaded moves quick and at times I found myself wanting to slow down for a little more back story on Rick and Quinn and the demons they both deal with. Also be warned that the story ends on a pretty big cliffhanger that left me more than a little frustrated with tragic heroine Quinn. Just as I was falling for her I found myself yelling at her, "What are you doing???"
Favorite Quotes:
"This girl pushed all of his buttons - definitely gorgeous, sweet but feisty, and best of all, not willing to let him get away with charming the pants right off of her."
"Being the cause of Quinn smiles became his new fix. One he didn't think he could go long without. Like and addict, he knew he would crave it, do anything to make it happen."
"In her mind, what they did was more than just fucking, it was everything. It was pleasure, comfort, safety, and love all wrapped up in one amazing night."
Ricochet: Locked & Loaded has a lot of promise that I can share pays off in it's sequel Ricochet Part II: Friendly Fire (review to come on that release date). Fans of darker stories with bite will want to check this series out.
Happy reading.
Ricochet: Locked & Loaded is a gripping tale of the struggle two people face in starting their lives over after facing devastating, almost life ending tragedy. Warning - this book contains several intense scenes of violence. The scenes fit the story but may cause strong reactions.
What I Loved: Rick "Ricochet" Brennan has all the stuff a swoon worthy alpha male lead needs - history of service to his country, MMA fighter by day and trained special operative by night, and a special skill of charming the ladies and then running for the hills. He's big, gorgeous, and strikes an imposing figure. In crafting Ricochet author Heather Leigh has created a dynamic push and pull of Quinn's conflicting attraction to the hero. A brutal past has given Quinn a sense of Ricochet's blend of violence and sweetness that creates a wrenching and honest confusion.
What I Didn't Love: Ricochet: Locked & Loaded moves quick and at times I found myself wanting to slow down for a little more back story on Rick and Quinn and the demons they both deal with. Also be warned that the story ends on a pretty big cliffhanger that left me more than a little frustrated with tragic heroine Quinn. Just as I was falling for her I found myself yelling at her, "What are you doing???"
Favorite Quotes:
"This girl pushed all of his buttons - definitely gorgeous, sweet but feisty, and best of all, not willing to let him get away with charming the pants right off of her."
"Being the cause of Quinn smiles became his new fix. One he didn't think he could go long without. Like and addict, he knew he would crave it, do anything to make it happen."
"In her mind, what they did was more than just fucking, it was everything. It was pleasure, comfort, safety, and love all wrapped up in one amazing night."
Ricochet: Locked & Loaded has a lot of promise that I can share pays off in it's sequel Ricochet Part II: Friendly Fire (review to come on that release date). Fans of darker stories with bite will want to check this series out.
Happy reading.
April 1, 2015
Ricochet Part 1 Locked and Loaded was a great start to this series. I would give this book a 4 stars and would recommend to others. This book is short story with a cliffy, but it is full of angst, steam, and devastation.
Rick has been through a lot in his life and when he is discharged from the service because of an injury he will join forces with a team of rogue retired special force agents to the dirty work the government doesn't want to do them selves. They are concealed under the pretense of being an MMA gym that trains fighters. Rick has nickname of Ricochet and he is known for bed hopping with woman, he doesn't believe in love and by jumping beds he doesn't have to deal with the drama of a relationship. When he comes in to work one day he see's there is a new receptionist that he can see is damaged but gorgeous.. and he finds himself drawn to her in a way that he has never been before.. and he wants her not just for one night but possibly forever.
Quinn has a sordid past that she is running from and she seeks shelter with the only sudo family she has left because she has no other family and has to hide from her deranged husband. When her dad's best friend Mac offers her a job at his gym she finds herself very frightened of all the males that are at the gym at first but then finally after a couple weeks finds herself settling in. When she meets Rick for the first time she is instantly entranced by his good looks but also by his behavior towards her because what she knows of men in general non have ever been nice to her.. so when he starts to show her kindness and compassion she finds herself pushing him away.. but one night of unbridled passion sends her into a tailspin and finally making her make a decision she should have made a long time ago....
What will happen when Quinn disappears when Rick thought all was going well?? Will she return or will she run from him as well?
Go get this book now and let me tell you I have read the other 2 books in this series already and they are all awesome.. so get to once clicking Divas you won't be disappointed.
Rick has been through a lot in his life and when he is discharged from the service because of an injury he will join forces with a team of rogue retired special force agents to the dirty work the government doesn't want to do them selves. They are concealed under the pretense of being an MMA gym that trains fighters. Rick has nickname of Ricochet and he is known for bed hopping with woman, he doesn't believe in love and by jumping beds he doesn't have to deal with the drama of a relationship. When he comes in to work one day he see's there is a new receptionist that he can see is damaged but gorgeous.. and he finds himself drawn to her in a way that he has never been before.. and he wants her not just for one night but possibly forever.
Quinn has a sordid past that she is running from and she seeks shelter with the only sudo family she has left because she has no other family and has to hide from her deranged husband. When her dad's best friend Mac offers her a job at his gym she finds herself very frightened of all the males that are at the gym at first but then finally after a couple weeks finds herself settling in. When she meets Rick for the first time she is instantly entranced by his good looks but also by his behavior towards her because what she knows of men in general non have ever been nice to her.. so when he starts to show her kindness and compassion she finds herself pushing him away.. but one night of unbridled passion sends her into a tailspin and finally making her make a decision she should have made a long time ago....
What will happen when Quinn disappears when Rick thought all was going well?? Will she return or will she run from him as well?
Go get this book now and let me tell you I have read the other 2 books in this series already and they are all awesome.. so get to once clicking Divas you won't be disappointed.
April 17, 2015
Ricochet was my first experience reading Heather C. Leigh and I am totally addicted to this fabulous author. Locked and Loaded had me hooked from the first page, I just had to see where it was going and luckily had all three to read because after each instalment, phew **fans face** I just had to read the next for more. The characters are awesome showing growth, strength and angst. I would certainly love to read more on the supporting characters, who wouldn’t want to read more about hot MMA fighters. Especially Dane Nolan, he is VERY intriguing.
Rick “Ricochet” Brennan is a twenty-eight year old ex-Marine that has turned to MMA training in Muay Thai. Ricochet’s definition is the motion of an object rebounding or deflecting one or more times from surface to surface. This describes Rick perfectly when it comes to women. The only problem Rick didn’t count on was meeting a woman that took his breath away and having his protective instincts kick into overdrive.
Annette “Quinn” Hardy/Wallace is twenty-three and hiding from a terrible past. She made contact with her dad’s best mate and was given a job as a receptionist and an apartment above Sanctum MMA. Her first impression of Rick, he was model-like with the bluest eyes she’d ever seen, but he seemed cocky and self-assured. She isn’t interested in a relationship and wanted to squash any interest he may have in her.
But Rick isn’t easily dissuaded. Quinn wasn’t falling for his usual charms and turned the feisty switch on when needed. Will Quinn give Rick a chance to befriend her? Will she let down her guard, knowing that Rick won’t harm her? Has Ricochet finally hit his target with Quinn? What is Quinn running from?
Locked and Loaded certainly set up the trilogy perfectly. I was hanging on throughout wondering if they would get together and the ending, what a cliff-hanger. Intense, hot/steamy/sizzling, mercenaries, MMA fighters, love and major drama is all included in this whole series. All romance readers should pick this one up.
Rick “Ricochet” Brennan is a twenty-eight year old ex-Marine that has turned to MMA training in Muay Thai. Ricochet’s definition is the motion of an object rebounding or deflecting one or more times from surface to surface. This describes Rick perfectly when it comes to women. The only problem Rick didn’t count on was meeting a woman that took his breath away and having his protective instincts kick into overdrive.
Annette “Quinn” Hardy/Wallace is twenty-three and hiding from a terrible past. She made contact with her dad’s best mate and was given a job as a receptionist and an apartment above Sanctum MMA. Her first impression of Rick, he was model-like with the bluest eyes she’d ever seen, but he seemed cocky and self-assured. She isn’t interested in a relationship and wanted to squash any interest he may have in her.
But Rick isn’t easily dissuaded. Quinn wasn’t falling for his usual charms and turned the feisty switch on when needed. Will Quinn give Rick a chance to befriend her? Will she let down her guard, knowing that Rick won’t harm her? Has Ricochet finally hit his target with Quinn? What is Quinn running from?
Locked and Loaded certainly set up the trilogy perfectly. I was hanging on throughout wondering if they would get together and the ending, what a cliff-hanger. Intense, hot/steamy/sizzling, mercenaries, MMA fighters, love and major drama is all included in this whole series. All romance readers should pick this one up.
Read
May 3, 2015Quinn is married to a real "charmer" who likes to beat her and keep her prisoner and just to add insult to injury he's the town sheriff. She realises that she's going to die at his hand and has to leave soon, she has a plan but she just needs to be patient.
Seems Quinn's time has arrived....FINALLY! I cry for her, her loss, her suffering,her fear,the abuse and suffering.
She turns to Mack , a fellow marine and friend of her father.
Mack runs Sanctum MMA , a training facility with some of the best and most skilled in their field but what is unknown ia that each trainer has other skills,skills that are vital to the actual purpose and function of Sanctum.
You see, the guys at Sanctum are mercenaries that do black ops for the government.
Rick has a reputation for being a player and something of a ladies man and he has commitment issues.
One of the things I find endearing about him is how he gives people nicknames. He has also just come back from a mission in Turkey and is on his way for debriefing with Mack at Sanctum and that's where his path will cross Quinn's........
Quinn works as a receptionist at Sanctum and nobody know of her violent history.
I must be honest I was a little confused for someone with her history that she went to a place surrounded by testosterone and fighting but on the flip side maybe that is where she felt safe if he came for her they would kick his ass !
Rick can sense she's hiding something and he has his suspicions....
Rick wakes up Quinn's inner goddess and she experiences emotions and sensations that are new to her.
It was heart warming to see how a big bad ass man can be so gentle and patient with a woman ♥
Be warned the ending is a major cliffhanger! Having said that , well done to Heather C Leigh for capturing her audience and leaving them hungry for more !
A ★★★★★ shout from the roof tops read.
Seems Quinn's time has arrived....FINALLY! I cry for her, her loss, her suffering,her fear,the abuse and suffering.
She turns to Mack , a fellow marine and friend of her father.
Mack runs Sanctum MMA , a training facility with some of the best and most skilled in their field but what is unknown ia that each trainer has other skills,skills that are vital to the actual purpose and function of Sanctum.
You see, the guys at Sanctum are mercenaries that do black ops for the government.
Rick has a reputation for being a player and something of a ladies man and he has commitment issues.
One of the things I find endearing about him is how he gives people nicknames. He has also just come back from a mission in Turkey and is on his way for debriefing with Mack at Sanctum and that's where his path will cross Quinn's........
Quinn works as a receptionist at Sanctum and nobody know of her violent history.
I must be honest I was a little confused for someone with her history that she went to a place surrounded by testosterone and fighting but on the flip side maybe that is where she felt safe if he came for her they would kick his ass !
Rick can sense she's hiding something and he has his suspicions....
Rick wakes up Quinn's inner goddess and she experiences emotions and sensations that are new to her.
It was heart warming to see how a big bad ass man can be so gentle and patient with a woman ♥
Be warned the ending is a major cliffhanger! Having said that , well done to Heather C Leigh for capturing her audience and leaving them hungry for more !
A ★★★★★ shout from the roof tops read.
February 18, 2015
I won an ARC of this book, and really liked it! This is also my first time reading Heather C. Leigh, and all of my friends will be hearing about her! (Also, I don't write spoilers, but please forgive me if something is spoiler-ish, I have a thing or two to say.)
I really liked the connection between Quinn and Rick. The story line seemed to flow at a really steady pace, not too fast and not too slow. I felt like I got to know enough about the characters that I knew where they were coming from, why they were thinking and feeling the things they were, and why they do the things they do. I really like that connection in a book I'm reading. I like this book enough that I'm telling all my book reading friends to get it when it releases in March. I'm hoping there isn't too much of a wait between installments.
Right now, there are only two things that I'm not thrilled with (and they could change upon the books release date). The first, I felt like there should be some kind of prologue or time marker. I went from point A (no spoilers) to point B later on in the timeline, and was confused about how much time had passed, what happened, how did they get to where they are now. I'm still waiting to find out the "how did they get from A to B" parts of the story line, and hoping they come out in the next two installments.
Second, on Amazon, it plainly states that "Ricochet is a full-length novel to be released as three parts." I want the full novel. Right now! lol :D
I really liked the connection between Quinn and Rick. The story line seemed to flow at a really steady pace, not too fast and not too slow. I felt like I got to know enough about the characters that I knew where they were coming from, why they were thinking and feeling the things they were, and why they do the things they do. I really like that connection in a book I'm reading. I like this book enough that I'm telling all my book reading friends to get it when it releases in March. I'm hoping there isn't too much of a wait between installments.
Right now, there are only two things that I'm not thrilled with (and they could change upon the books release date). The first, I felt like there should be some kind of prologue or time marker. I went from point A (no spoilers) to point B later on in the timeline, and was confused about how much time had passed, what happened, how did they get to where they are now. I'm still waiting to find out the "how did they get from A to B" parts of the story line, and hoping they come out in the next two installments.
Second, on Amazon, it plainly states that "Ricochet is a full-length novel to be released as three parts." I want the full novel. Right now! lol :D
April 2, 2015
4.5 Stars
“Ricochet” is Rick Brennan’s handle that he received when serving in a Marine Corps special ops unit. After an injury that ends his military career he comes home and works for his former Staff Sergeant Mack McEvoy at Sanctum. Sanctum is a mercenary group disguised as a gym training MMA fighters.
Quinn Wallace seeks refuge with Mack, a friend of her father, after escaping an abusive husband. Rick is attracted to Quinn and wants to build a relationship with her. Unfortunately Quinn doesn’t feel like she can move forward until she resolves issues from her past.
What’s not to like about a book with a group of hot ex-Marines with flaws that make them interesting characters. Rick suffers with PTSD and sometimes has a hard time getting through the night. In addition to his physical and emotional scars the man has a big heart and the need to play protector.
The attraction between Quinn and Rick is immediate but neither one of them is ready to act on it. Rick wakes up when he sees that some of the other guys take an interest in Quinn. It is the kick in the pants that he needs to make his feelings known.
These two main characters are great. I fell instantly in love with them. They both have multiple layers that Ms. Leigh is gradually peeling away to reveal all their inner most thoughts and feelings. I can’t wait for the next installments releasing this week.
“Ricochet” is Rick Brennan’s handle that he received when serving in a Marine Corps special ops unit. After an injury that ends his military career he comes home and works for his former Staff Sergeant Mack McEvoy at Sanctum. Sanctum is a mercenary group disguised as a gym training MMA fighters.
Quinn Wallace seeks refuge with Mack, a friend of her father, after escaping an abusive husband. Rick is attracted to Quinn and wants to build a relationship with her. Unfortunately Quinn doesn’t feel like she can move forward until she resolves issues from her past.
What’s not to like about a book with a group of hot ex-Marines with flaws that make them interesting characters. Rick suffers with PTSD and sometimes has a hard time getting through the night. In addition to his physical and emotional scars the man has a big heart and the need to play protector.
The attraction between Quinn and Rick is immediate but neither one of them is ready to act on it. Rick wakes up when he sees that some of the other guys take an interest in Quinn. It is the kick in the pants that he needs to make his feelings known.
These two main characters are great. I fell instantly in love with them. They both have multiple layers that Ms. Leigh is gradually peeling away to reveal all their inner most thoughts and feelings. I can’t wait for the next installments releasing this week.
April 2, 2015
4.5 Stars!
I loved this book. This is the first installment in this sexy and suspenseful new series by this amazingly talented author. This book was sexy, sweet, suspenseful, and kept me on my toes until the very end. This author has woven a tragically beautiful love story mixed with mystery, drama, angst, and one seriously sexy, bad ass knight in shining armor.
This is the beginning of Quinn and Rick's story. Quinn is on the run from her abusive ex and has no intentions of ever looking back. Finding safety with one of her late father's friends, she is trying o rebuild her life and mostly herself. Rick or Ricochet as he is famously known doesn't do relationships hence his nickname. When he meets the mysterious Quinn, he feels a connection to her and has to have her. Quinn has secrets. Rick has hang ups. Get ready for the beginning.
Oh Rick.... I really liked him from the very beginning. He was drawn to Quinn and could see the damage in her eyes because he has seen desperation and despair too, just in different ways. Rick is still very much a mystery so I can't wait to get to know him more. And Quinn oh how you broke me from the very beginning. I admired how she started to show independence and strength towards the end. I can't wait for more of these two together because they have sizzling chemistry.
I highly recommend this book!
Review Post---> http://reneeentress.blogspot.com/2015...
I loved this book. This is the first installment in this sexy and suspenseful new series by this amazingly talented author. This book was sexy, sweet, suspenseful, and kept me on my toes until the very end. This author has woven a tragically beautiful love story mixed with mystery, drama, angst, and one seriously sexy, bad ass knight in shining armor.
This is the beginning of Quinn and Rick's story. Quinn is on the run from her abusive ex and has no intentions of ever looking back. Finding safety with one of her late father's friends, she is trying o rebuild her life and mostly herself. Rick or Ricochet as he is famously known doesn't do relationships hence his nickname. When he meets the mysterious Quinn, he feels a connection to her and has to have her. Quinn has secrets. Rick has hang ups. Get ready for the beginning.
Oh Rick.... I really liked him from the very beginning. He was drawn to Quinn and could see the damage in her eyes because he has seen desperation and despair too, just in different ways. Rick is still very much a mystery so I can't wait to get to know him more. And Quinn oh how you broke me from the very beginning. I admired how she started to show independence and strength towards the end. I can't wait for more of these two together because they have sizzling chemistry.
I highly recommend this book!
Review Post---> http://reneeentress.blogspot.com/2015...
April 15, 2015
Review from Rising Indies United.
This is the first book in the Ricochet serial series. It's a great, quick read that I couldn't put down. It does end in a cliff hanger, but all the books are out, so you'll be able to start Ricochet: Friendly Fire right away.
Rick "Ricochet" Brennan is 28 and a Marine. He did get an honorable discharge because of what happened in the first chapter. He was part of the Force Recon team (special ops). He is also a Muay Thai expert and now works for Mack at Sanctum, a MMA training gym. He is hot, and a man whore. Even though the author never states it, I'm 99% sure he has some PTSD also.
Annette Quinn Hardy, or, Quinn Wallace as she goes by now, is on the run from her very abusive husband. We see some of what she went through at the beginning of the book. It's not pretty. She had to leave him before he finally killed her. She couldn't leave him. He kept her isolated and he is a sheriff. She is working as a receptionist at Sanctum. Mack was her father's best friend. I am curious about how she got away and the scar. She may only be 23, but she has been through a lot.
Rick may be a man whore, or was, but that changed when he met Quinn. He knows she has secrets and has been through hell. He has an idea of what that was. Quinn is bringing him to his knees. But she is falling also.
"Hmmm, huge, muscly, egotistical fighters who open doors for women and push shopping carts."
This is the first book in the Ricochet serial series. It's a great, quick read that I couldn't put down. It does end in a cliff hanger, but all the books are out, so you'll be able to start Ricochet: Friendly Fire right away.
Rick "Ricochet" Brennan is 28 and a Marine. He did get an honorable discharge because of what happened in the first chapter. He was part of the Force Recon team (special ops). He is also a Muay Thai expert and now works for Mack at Sanctum, a MMA training gym. He is hot, and a man whore. Even though the author never states it, I'm 99% sure he has some PTSD also.
Annette Quinn Hardy, or, Quinn Wallace as she goes by now, is on the run from her very abusive husband. We see some of what she went through at the beginning of the book. It's not pretty. She had to leave him before he finally killed her. She couldn't leave him. He kept her isolated and he is a sheriff. She is working as a receptionist at Sanctum. Mack was her father's best friend. I am curious about how she got away and the scar. She may only be 23, but she has been through a lot.
Rick may be a man whore, or was, but that changed when he met Quinn. He knows she has secrets and has been through hell. He has an idea of what that was. Quinn is bringing him to his knees. But she is falling also.
"Hmmm, huge, muscly, egotistical fighters who open doors for women and push shopping carts."
February 8, 2015
****A gifted copy was provided by the author for an honest review***
Heather did it again. Quinn (Annie) has been systemically abused by her policeman husband and all she wants is to either die or get away from him so she doesn’t have to live the way she has. Next time we see Quinn, she is in Atlanta and she has met Rick, who has been discharged from the military due to a career ending injury. Rick now works at Sanctum which is an MMA gym for his buddy Mack. Rick sees Quinn and he is very smitten with her and wants her in his life but Quinn is too scared to let Rick in.
I do not want to give any spoilers away but I want to say how wonderful this story is. There are some definite twists in the story but I want to I loved the chemistry Rick and Quinn gave out. Rick really was such an Alpha character but when it came to Quinn, he made sure he softened his Alpha-ness for her to make her feel safe. LOVED IT!! I loved the cast of secondary characters. Cant wait for book two to come out.
Ms. Leigh wrote this story from Quinn’s story and you could literally feel the pain, the panic and the despair when Quinn thought of her husband and how she was abused by him. I had to grab my box of Kleenex for this story. Ms. Leigh writes this story and makes sure to grab the readers’ attention and keeps it the entire time. Kudos !
My rating: 5 stars *****
Heather did it again. Quinn (Annie) has been systemically abused by her policeman husband and all she wants is to either die or get away from him so she doesn’t have to live the way she has. Next time we see Quinn, she is in Atlanta and she has met Rick, who has been discharged from the military due to a career ending injury. Rick now works at Sanctum which is an MMA gym for his buddy Mack. Rick sees Quinn and he is very smitten with her and wants her in his life but Quinn is too scared to let Rick in.
I do not want to give any spoilers away but I want to say how wonderful this story is. There are some definite twists in the story but I want to I loved the chemistry Rick and Quinn gave out. Rick really was such an Alpha character but when it came to Quinn, he made sure he softened his Alpha-ness for her to make her feel safe. LOVED IT!! I loved the cast of secondary characters. Cant wait for book two to come out.
Ms. Leigh wrote this story from Quinn’s story and you could literally feel the pain, the panic and the despair when Quinn thought of her husband and how she was abused by him. I had to grab my box of Kleenex for this story. Ms. Leigh writes this story and makes sure to grab the readers’ attention and keeps it the entire time. Kudos !
My rating: 5 stars *****
April 16, 2015
**I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.**
Ricochet revolves around Rick "Ricochet" Brennan. He is part of Force Recon, basically a group of men from different military branches or agencies working missions for Mack. All of the men have different talents and skills working well when put together. All of them have some sort of MMA skill which they use while they use Mack's MMA training facility, Sanctum, as their headquarters. Ricochet earned his name by bouncing from one woman's bed to another. Is there a woman who can finally settle Ricochet?
Annette Quinn Hardy hates the life she is living. Her husband Travis is abusive and mean. When she finally has had enough she leaves. She gets help from Mack, a new job at Sanctum is just what she needs. She's scared and timid around the fighting and the muscled up men. Can she ever move on from the damage Travis caused?
I loved this read. There was action, super hot men, suspense, a sweet love story. Ricochet had it all. With an ending like that I can't wait to see what happens next.
Ricochet revolves around Rick "Ricochet" Brennan. He is part of Force Recon, basically a group of men from different military branches or agencies working missions for Mack. All of the men have different talents and skills working well when put together. All of them have some sort of MMA skill which they use while they use Mack's MMA training facility, Sanctum, as their headquarters. Ricochet earned his name by bouncing from one woman's bed to another. Is there a woman who can finally settle Ricochet?
Annette Quinn Hardy hates the life she is living. Her husband Travis is abusive and mean. When she finally has had enough she leaves. She gets help from Mack, a new job at Sanctum is just what she needs. She's scared and timid around the fighting and the muscled up men. Can she ever move on from the damage Travis caused?
I loved this read. There was action, super hot men, suspense, a sweet love story. Ricochet had it all. With an ending like that I can't wait to see what happens next.
March 24, 2015
Ricochet: Locked & Loaded is a great start to an awesome series! I'm not usually a fan of serials since they sometimes take months between books and I generally lose interest but I was so excited to give this one a try and I'm sooo glad that I did.
Quinn is on the run from an abusive husband when she decides to seek out Mack, her father’s old Marine Corps buddy, and begins working at his MMA gym as a receptionist. At first she's skittish around all of the burly fighters, which makes sense given her background, but she eventually beings to open up and become the fun girl she was before Travis.
Rick earned the nickname Ricochet thanks to his manwhorish ways, and even though Quinn is extremely attracted to him and vice versa, both are hesitant to make the next move. When Quinn decides it's time to start dating again Rick becomes all alpha and stakes his claim.
This book starts off with a bang and literally keeps right on going until the very last page. But OMG!!! That ending...
Definitely a must read! And now I'm onto the next one...
*ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
Quinn is on the run from an abusive husband when she decides to seek out Mack, her father’s old Marine Corps buddy, and begins working at his MMA gym as a receptionist. At first she's skittish around all of the burly fighters, which makes sense given her background, but she eventually beings to open up and become the fun girl she was before Travis.
Rick earned the nickname Ricochet thanks to his manwhorish ways, and even though Quinn is extremely attracted to him and vice versa, both are hesitant to make the next move. When Quinn decides it's time to start dating again Rick becomes all alpha and stakes his claim.
This book starts off with a bang and literally keeps right on going until the very last page. But OMG!!! That ending...
Definitely a must read! And now I'm onto the next one...
*ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
March 30, 2015
4.5 Stars
This is the first book by Heather C. Leigh that I have read and I can say that I am honestly now a fan. Ricochet: Locked & Loaded was a fast paced, action packed, and emotionally loaded read.
Rick is an ex Marine who retires after an injury and goes to work with his former command officer. He is still fighting demons from all he seen and did while serving his country being one of the elite Special Ops Soldiers. He never stays in one place ..or one woman too long and didn't earn his name for his marksmanship.
Quinn Wallace is running from a past that could literally kill her if it catches up with her. She has endured more pain and suffering than anyone should have to. But she is a survivor. She prepares herself physically for the day that her past finds her and she builds walls emotionally so it never repeats itself again.
Two emotionally guarded people haunted by demons of their past find themselves in unfamiliar territory that no amount of training can prepare them for. Will fate win?
Hero: Rick Ricochet Brennan 4.5 yummy stars
Heroine: Quinn Wallace 4 Stars
Plot: 4.5 stars
Steam Level: 4 Stars
Cliffhanger: Ugh..why? just why? Yes lol
I can't wait to see what comes next in this series and from this author.
Relentlessbookchic recommended & Approved.
www.facebook.com/relentlessbookchic
This is the first book by Heather C. Leigh that I have read and I can say that I am honestly now a fan. Ricochet: Locked & Loaded was a fast paced, action packed, and emotionally loaded read.
Rick is an ex Marine who retires after an injury and goes to work with his former command officer. He is still fighting demons from all he seen and did while serving his country being one of the elite Special Ops Soldiers. He never stays in one place ..or one woman too long and didn't earn his name for his marksmanship.
Quinn Wallace is running from a past that could literally kill her if it catches up with her. She has endured more pain and suffering than anyone should have to. But she is a survivor. She prepares herself physically for the day that her past finds her and she builds walls emotionally so it never repeats itself again.
Two emotionally guarded people haunted by demons of their past find themselves in unfamiliar territory that no amount of training can prepare them for. Will fate win?
Hero: Rick Ricochet Brennan 4.5 yummy stars
Heroine: Quinn Wallace 4 Stars
Plot: 4.5 stars
Steam Level: 4 Stars
Cliffhanger: Ugh..why? just why? Yes lol
I can't wait to see what comes next in this series and from this author.
Relentlessbookchic recommended & Approved.
www.facebook.com/relentlessbookchic
April 13, 2015
"Being the cause if Quinn smiles became his new fix. One he didn't think he could go long without. Like an addict, he knew he would crave it, do anything to make it happen."
Ricochet: Locked & Loaded is the first of a three part serial by Heather C. Leigh which tells the story of Rick, a former marine turned fighter and Quinn, who has run away from an abusive marriage. Book one and two end with cliffhangers and the series must be read in order. Book one gives us some of the background between these two and introduces us to many former marines that I’m sincerely hoping will get their own books as well.
Rick works at Sanctum, an MMA Gym run by Mack who also runs a special ops group, when he meets their new receptionist, Quinn. Rick is instantly attracted to her and while she might feel the same, she is very wary of allowing anyone to get too close. That’s because she’s already on the run from a husband who repeatedly abused her until she was able to finally escape and went to Mack, her dad’s best friend and former buddy in the Marines for a job. The book, while short and ending with a cliffhanger, was good. I finished this one and immediately picked up the next. I thought the characters have gone through a lot and you feel a lot of sympathy towards Quinn due to her past. The writing was good and the characters were likable.
Ricochet: Locked & Loaded is the first of a three part serial by Heather C. Leigh which tells the story of Rick, a former marine turned fighter and Quinn, who has run away from an abusive marriage. Book one and two end with cliffhangers and the series must be read in order. Book one gives us some of the background between these two and introduces us to many former marines that I’m sincerely hoping will get their own books as well.
Rick works at Sanctum, an MMA Gym run by Mack who also runs a special ops group, when he meets their new receptionist, Quinn. Rick is instantly attracted to her and while she might feel the same, she is very wary of allowing anyone to get too close. That’s because she’s already on the run from a husband who repeatedly abused her until she was able to finally escape and went to Mack, her dad’s best friend and former buddy in the Marines for a job. The book, while short and ending with a cliffhanger, was good. I finished this one and immediately picked up the next. I thought the characters have gone through a lot and you feel a lot of sympathy towards Quinn due to her past. The writing was good and the characters were likable.
April 19, 2015
Ricochet: Locked and Loaded
Ricochet Series Part I
by
Heather C. Leigh
Girl on the run, man on the hunt. Can love bloom when someone has had their ability to trust damaged?
This writer was provided with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rick “Ricochet” Brennan served his country in the Marines. Having returned home, he now works with an elite group of men, often hired by the government to get the job done, when no one else can or will.
Annette “Quinn” Hardy thought she married the man of her dreams. That dream turned into a nightmare, with the torture of physical and psychological abuse her husband inflicted upon her. After years of being used as a punching bag, she is able to escape, and start a new life. When an old friend of her father offers her a job at a MMA school, with an apartment to boot, Quinn is able to begin her new life and assume her new identity.
When Rick meets Quinn, the chemistry is almost instant. He knows little about her, but he knows that she has been through something that has been traumatic. He offers friendship and support at first, but it becomes clear that they both want more.
I really liked this book. Rick and Quinn are well developed and likable characters that are easy to root for. The book is action packed and full of plot twists. Definite must read!
Ricochet Series Part I
by
Heather C. Leigh
Girl on the run, man on the hunt. Can love bloom when someone has had their ability to trust damaged?
This writer was provided with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rick “Ricochet” Brennan served his country in the Marines. Having returned home, he now works with an elite group of men, often hired by the government to get the job done, when no one else can or will.
Annette “Quinn” Hardy thought she married the man of her dreams. That dream turned into a nightmare, with the torture of physical and psychological abuse her husband inflicted upon her. After years of being used as a punching bag, she is able to escape, and start a new life. When an old friend of her father offers her a job at a MMA school, with an apartment to boot, Quinn is able to begin her new life and assume her new identity.
When Rick meets Quinn, the chemistry is almost instant. He knows little about her, but he knows that she has been through something that has been traumatic. He offers friendship and support at first, but it becomes clear that they both want more.
I really liked this book. Rick and Quinn are well developed and likable characters that are easy to root for. The book is action packed and full of plot twists. Definite must read!
April 17, 2015
I received a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads, so here is my review. Quinn has been living in hell since her father died and she married the man of her dreams. Or so she thought, Travis is an abusive man and he loves the control it gives him over Quinn. After two years of finally running away from him, she ends up in Georgia working for Mack, her father’s best friend. She didn’t tell anyone about Travis because she fears he will find her and will succeed in killing her. She meets the guys that work at the gym, they are all big, strong and terrifying to her. When she meets Rick, she can’t believe her eyes. He is the best looking man she has ever seen and her body’s reaction to him is unreal. Rick is the ladies’ man, with a different woman almost every night. She is so scared of everyone she doesn’t know, so she keeps to herself. Will she give in to her feelings for Rick? Can Rick deal with these new feelings towards Quinn? Will Quinn stick around in the end? This is a great story and I can’t wait to start book 2.
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