Kawehi's Book Blog.: Blog Tour Review & Giveaway!- Ricochet: Locked & Loaded (Ricochet #1) by Heather C. Leigh

Title: Ricochet: Locked & Loaded (Ricochet #1)

Author: Heather C. Leigh

Publication Date: March 30th 2015 by Shelbyville

Plot: 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.***

☆✮ My Review ✮☆

☆ 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!

My Rating:

♥♥♥♥

☆✮ Excerpt ✮☆

“Tucker? What the fuck are you doing up here? Where’s Quinn? Is she sick?”

The wiry man pushed his glasses up on his nose, glancing at Rick from behind his computer screen. “In back.” He stabbed his thumb over his shoulder in the direction of the main gym. “I’m just watching the door for her while she trains.”

“Trains?” Rick growled. “What the fuck does that mean?”

Tucker sat up straight and crossed his arms, giving Rick his full attention, something the socially challenged man almost never did. “What’s it to you, Ricochet?”

Rick scowled at Tucker’s use of his nickname, knowing that the man was baiting him. Tucker might look small and geeky and love computers, but he was a fifth degree black belt in Shotokan karate. He had held his own in a spur of the moment karate match with UFC welterweight champion George St. Pierre.

“Nothing. Forget it.” Rick huffed, storming past the front desk and the smirking Tucker. He swiped his badge, irritated at himself for letting Tucker get under his skin. Hell, he was irritated at himself for letting Quinn get under his skin. Rick was even too pissed to call the small guy “big man” like he usually did.

Twenty-eight fucking years without a single person to worry about except myself. Less than a month after Quinn walks through the front door and I barely recognize the guy in the mirror or the thoughts in my own head anymore.

Rick marched into the training area in a cloud of anger.

Fucking Tucker, messing my head all up.

When he reached the edge of the mat covered floor, his world stopped spinning and came to a screeching halt. He blinked, certain that his mind was playing tricks on him. Nope. It wasn’t. Across the gym, standing in front of the heavy bag wearing a tank top and those damn miniature shorts, was Quinn. She was barefoot, punching and kicking the bag with a jab-front kick combo.

Quinn all sweaty, wearing next to nothing, was a sight to see. But what made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, what Rick immediately zeroed in on, was Xavier’s fucking hands on Quinn’s hips, touching what belonged to Rick.

Belong to me? Quinn doesn’t belong to me.

Rick shook the thoughts from his head, squeezing his eyes shut until the angry red haze cleared. When he opened them back up, he saw Xavier and Quinn staring at him, their lesson interrupted by his odd behavior.

“Hey man.” Xavier held up a wrapped hand in greeting. “Good to have you back.”

Rick’s furious scowl surprised his friend, causing Xavier’s dark eyes to narrow suspiciously. Rick flicked his gaze over to Quinn. She stood next to Xav, unmoving, her face blank as she waited for her lesson to continue. It made Rick feel as if he were a mere annoyance.

Already pissed and now embarrassed on top of it, Rick spun on his heel and stomped down the hall. He swiped his badge and punched in his code, opening the door to an empty Mission Control. Rick paced the room, raking his hands through his hair in frustration. He wanted to tear the room apart, but knew he’d face everyone’s wrath if he destroyed the expensive equipment.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

These unfamiliar feelings were messing with his head. Rick couldn’t define them, couldn’t explain them, and had absolutely no idea how to deal with them. The only way he knew how to release frustration was fucking or fighting. Right now, he was way to volatile to fuck.

Fighting it is then.

☆✮ Teasers ✮☆