Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Consolation – Corinne Michaels

Shannon’s Thoughts

HOLY CRAP!  I knew from reading the author’s Belonging Duet that she can write an emotionally challenging story.  That she can create characters you absolutely fall for and cheer to get their HEA.  But she has completely outdone herself with CONSOLATION.  To quote my thoughts on Goodreads after I finished reading this:  “OMG! What did I just read? Why? ARGH!!!!!”  Yep, I still feel this way.

Natalie suffers an unimaginable loss, while at the same given her reason for living.  Her daughter Aarabelle is the reason she gets out of bed in the morning and ultimately why she manages to put a sense of order to her life and move forward.  It’s not easy for her and she’s drowning in grief and anger.  It takes her husband’s best friend to spend a month with her to learn how to smile again and to start to live.

Liam took his leave, figuring he’d help Natalie do the things he knew she’d been putting off.  Her understood, to a point, what she was feeling, but he also knew she needed to move forward.  He never expected to have feelings for the woman that was always off limits or to have them returned.

I loved Liam and Natalie together.  His arrogance and charm brought our her sarcastic wit.  The two of them just fit together, in fun times and in sadness.  Liam pushed Natalie, but only when he knew she needed it.  He was there to stand behind her when she needed his strength and cheered her on when she didn’t.  The sexual tension between the two of them could leave the pages smoldering, but Liam never pushed that either.  He was willing to do everything at Natalie’s pace.  From practically the first moment we met Liam, I was enamored with him, but seeing him with Natalie and Aara made me fall hard for this sailor.

As many endearing scenes as there were with Liam and Natalie, there were scenes that had me wanting to toss my kindle or slap a fictional character.  They are necessary to the storyline moving into CONVICTION (releases May 27, 2015), but they left me wanting nothing more than to see Liam and Natalie get their HEA at the end of the CONVICTION to prove to those a-hole characters that they can’t have it all.

I lift my head and press my lips against his. His hand cradles my cheek and he holds me as we kiss. I grab his neck and feel the weightlessness from letting a little part of myself go. He kisses me adoringly and cautiously, allowing me to lead but still commanding me. I lose myself a little more as I moan when his hand presses against the small of my back.

“Let go,” he says against my mouth. “Let me take it for you.”

Before I can say anything, his mouth is on mine again. Our tongues thrash against each other as the kiss becomes hungry. He pulls me close so there’s no space between us. The low sound resonates through his chest, sending shivers down my spine. It’s sexy, and before I know it, my hands are traveling to his chest. I pull his shirt out and my fingers trail up his chest. I want to feel his skin.

Liam breaks the kiss. “Natalie,” my name is both a plea and a request.

“Shhh,” I instruct him as I unbutton his shirt. “I want to feel your heart.”

My hands glide up and he trembles beneath my touch. We stand here with my fingers resting on his chest, feeling his heart beat beneath me. He’s alive and here with me. His hands stay at his sides as he once again lets me decide where I’m going with this.

“I want to touch you so bad,” he admits and his hand lifts then drops. “I’m fighting every muscle in my body right now.”

“Stop fighting,” I say without thinking.

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