ARC Review: Contracted Defense by Piper J. Drake (Safeguard 3)

 Title: Contracted Defense

          (Safeguard Series 3)

Author: Piper J. Drake

Release Date: September 12, 2017

Publisher: Carina Press

Category: Contemporary Romance

Type: Digital

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Piper J Drake Website

Blurb:

Time is running out and the enemy is at the gate.

Adam Hicks may be the rookie at Safeguard, but he’s no novice in the field. Retired from active duty after multiple tours and back fresh from a brief rest in New Zealand, he’s itching to return to action. But the challenge he hoped for arrives in an unexpected form: his sexy yet stern new partner.

The last thing Victoria Ash wants is to work with the new guy—especially one as gorgeous as Adam. His relaxed attitude about their first “easy” assignment together—setting up a private home defense network for a reclusive client—doesn’t impress her. Easy usually means trouble. She’s proved right when Adam discovers that the multiple incursions on the physical and cyber security systems aren’t just glitches. They’re under attack…and there’s a traitor in their midst.

As tension mounts, so does the attraction between Victoria and Adam. They must protect their client and the research he’s desperately trying to keep secret. Working together, they have to find the mole before their defense measures, in the fortress and online, are compromised and the deadly secrets they’ve sworn to protect are revealed.

Favorite Line:

“Can’t stop idiots from their own idiocy.”  ~Adam

Dialogue Highlight:

“I had a chat with your friend Jay.” Victoria entered the study and stopped to study Tegan.

For his part, the corgi grunted and stretched his forepaws in her direction.

Well, Adam had known she was a direct sort of person but this bordered on psychic. “I saw.”

“Good job with the drone, by the way.” She stepped farther into the study and leaned her hip against the deck. “He didn’t show any signs of having seen it, and I didn’t hear it either.”

“Thanks.” Adam eyed her, cautious. Her arms were crossed over her chest, and her expression was closed off. He was learning it meant her mind was working faster than the words coming out of her mouth. “Jay say anything interesting?”

“To a certain extent. It’s fairly certain he doesn’t consider you a close friend.” She put an interesting inflection on the word.

He scratched his chin. “Man doesn’t have to be a friend to work with him. I’ve been trying to give everyone the chance I hope they’ll give me.”

She shook her head. “If he were in a burning building, would you go after him?”

“Yes.” He regarded her solemnly. “But not because I know him.”

Her ice-blue gaze settled on him and held him. “If he ran into a burning building to recover money or valuables, would you have his back?”

Ah, well that was a different question. “Can’t stop idiots from their own idiocy.”

She nodded. “That clears up a few things, then.

Excerpt:

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Victoria kept watch on the trio without turning toward them. She could see just fine in the reflection on the floor-to-ceiling glass windows of the bar’s street front. With luck, they’d take themselves out to the sidewalk in a minute and she could return her attention to her drink.

“I dunno. This place has something going for it. Saw some familiar faces maybe.”The third pitched in at a more reasonable sound level, but he was still completely audible even from across the bar. “Gabe Diaz is here tonight for some event. You heard of him? Where he is, his team is too.”

Sipping her scotch, she kept her glass raised to obscure part of her face. If she could see them in the reflection, they could turn and see her. Despite their careless words, they had been slowly turning to take note of the people in the room. None of their gazes had lingered longer than a second but they could’ve recognized her. Most people in her line of work made it their business to recognize another person in the private contractor field. It wasn’t easy, but if they were familiar with Gabe then they’d have a chance at identifying her. She’d been with Gabe’s team longer than any of her previous stints in the business.

She wasn’t dressed for work though. It’d been a good time to wear the rose gown with the subtle golden shimmer, so sheer, it required a nude silk sheathe beneath. It fit her perfectly, the fabric poured over her torso to fall from her hips and pool into a fuller skirt around her ankles. She’d left her hair down for once. It hung free of the severe knot she kept it in for when she was working. A few soft curls worked well in her golden blond hair. Nothing about her shouted private security or former military.

“Ah, Diaz and his Safeguard experiment. Whatever.”Belligerent Boy flopped his hand around in mockery. “Word is they aren’t worth the contract fee. Clients aren’t happy. If they’re here, it’s going to be a clusterfuck. Guaranteed. There are better companies to do the job.”

She kept her expression neutral, but she filed the tidbit of information away. It would be wise to follow up and see if the comment had any validity to it at all. At the very least, Gabe would want to know it’d been said out in the bar.

His companions snickered. “Like yours?”

“Hey, I work for the best.”Belligerent Boy raised his hands. “They appreciate good work and don’t get their panties in a twist when a man heads out for well-deserved time off.”

This was starting to sound like a badly scripted commercial. These men had walked into this bar on purpose. There was no way it was a coincidence. Yet, it had to be to pick a fight or stir up some similar ridiculousness. Real clients with serious contracts wouldn’t be getting their information from bar gossip. On the other hand, journalists had been hanging around the Safeguard teams ever since Kyle Yeun had stood trial to testify against Phoenix Biotech. The trial had been right in the spotlight of public scrutiny, and Safeguard, specifically Lizzy Scott, had been his bodyguard. Perhaps Belligerent Boy was trying to score an interview with some journalist trying to get dirt. Either way, she’d best get them out of here before they cast a shadow on Gabe and Maylin’s special night.

“Excuse me.” The nice bartender had approached at this point, quite possibly at the worst moment. “If you gentlemen aren’t going to order a drink or food, I’m going to have to ask you to head on to your next destination.”

“Yeah?” That was a challenge. Belligerent Boy cocked his head to one side and threw out his chest. “You think so? You one of Diaz’s wannabe real mercenaries, on watch at the perimeter? Maybe we should head inside and see how good Safeguard’s security really is.”

Actually, no. The bartender was simply doing his job. Since this event wasn’t a contract, Safeguard wasn’t maintaining high-level security. There shouldn’t have been any need to. As far as anyone else was concerned, this event was a simple engagement reception. Victoria set her glass down, promising herself another scotch after this was resolved.

“Yeah nah bro, I reckon we take this outside.” Another new voice had entered the mix, and this one had a wonderful accent. It wasn’t British or European, closer to Australian but not a match for that continent either. Perhaps New Zealand?

“Who’re you?”Belligerent Boy did seem to be looking for a fight.

“Does it matter?”The newcomer wasn’t much taller than Belligerent Boy, but he managed to look down the few inches he had on the other man in a genial way. Truly, his broad shoulders and chest cut an impressive figure, and there was a strength of presence that filled available space in a way normal physicality could not. He took a few steps through the other three, forcing them to step aside before they thought to stand their ground, and headed outside.

The newcomer was ballsy.

Review:

Victoria Ash doesn’t like to be idle. Always aware and hyper-organized, she’ s ready to do her job, even when she isn’t working. Years of training produces habits and old habits are hard to break – especially when it’s a lifestyle. She currently works for Safeguard (basically as a Bodyguard), but lately she hasn’t been feeling challenged enough. She’s considering a career move; especially with a new partner coming in; a new partner she doesn’t want at all. She doesn’t have time to train a newbie and she doesn’t think this latest assignment is going to be as cut and simple as it was presented. Easy just doesn’t happen. When she meets Adam, she’s flummoxed -she knows him and his presence will only complicate things. Yep. Career change might be a good idea. But first, she has to finish her assignment with the newbie.

Adam Hicks is anything but a newbie. Several tours with the military and tactical teams has given him a background that will be useful to this team. But he has to prove himself. Unknown to the team and trying to get his crap together following an honorable discharge had him reeling for quite a while. He was on a path and suddenly it was ripped away. He’s grateful for the chance with Safeguard and he can’t mess it up. And his biggest challenge just got bigger – prove to Victoria that he is a worthy partner both professionally and personally.

I really enjoyed my time with this book. I appreciate when I read a book that is part of a series, but not the first that can also be read alone without baffling the reader from several missing pieces. So to Ms. Drake, I say Thank You for that! The secondary characters, who were obviously from the first two books, were given enough time within the plot to be useful and with just enough background information to explain their roles without taking anything away from this story. Good balance.  I have to say I found myself playing so much of this book out as it was occurring – almost as if the movie was playing out in my head as I read. In fact, I wouldn’t mind watching this book as a movie.

Everything in this book happens quickly – occurring over the space of a few days. So realistically, maybe it’s a little too fast – but with everything occurring so quickly, you forget that not much time had passed. I found that I liked Adam quite a lot. He is hard and soft – serious and nonchalant – skilled and gorgeous – smart and sexy – he’s everything wrapped up in an adorable accent. And who doesn’t love an accent. Victoria is almost his exact opposite in personality, but his equal in profession. She’s been hurt in the past and because of it, she’s questioning some of the choices she’s made. Adam challenges her in a good way; a way no one else ever has. He coaxes her into a side that she isn’t used to … unguarded, passionate, open … and she isn’t sure if it’s a good thing. But he’s persistent with his sights focused on her and each time she gives in a little, she loses herself to him a bit more. Their dynamic is interesting to follow and it wasn’t long before I was rooting for them as a couple. A strong heroine is great – a strong heroine who is damaged and finds a new sense of self is even better. And Adam? Well, he had me at “Queenie”. I would recommend this book, might possibly read it again, and would not turn down the first two books in the series. Ms. Drake has a great world here in Safeguard. I only wonder who the next book would be about.

Kindle version provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.