New Release: The Belonging Duet Box Set by Corinne Michaels

The Bestselling Belonging Duet Boxset includes both books as well as Bonus Material available only in this set! 

Catherine Pope had her happily ever after in sight, only to have it ripped away. To ensure it doesn’t happen again, she constructs impenetrable walls around her heart. When Jackson Cole turns her world upside down, she’ll have to fight every fear she has. Jackson pushes her, gives her hope, and terrifies her. 

His training as a Navy SEAL never prepared him for the battle to win her heart, but he’s determined to claim her. However, Jackson isn’t without his own demons. If she lets him in and he destroys her … can she survive?

Together they must decide if they are each other’s beloved or if they’re beholden to their fears. 

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Review: Beholden by Corinne Michaels (Belonging Duet #2)

Synopsis

Catherine Pope got a second chance at love, only to have it ripped away—again. She should’ve known better.

But she dared to hope.

She refuses to let fate take the reins this time. Catherine decides she’s going to fight.

Jackson Cole risked it all.

He thought this time would be different.

With his loyalties pulling him in two directions—it’s time to make a choice…his past or his future.

Will they be beholden to their fears or will they both fight against their demons and finally find the love they both long for?

My Review

Holy crap. This book. I finished reading this at like 3am last night. I just couldn't put it down and I had to finish it before I went to sleep.

The first book ended on quite the cliffhanger and it doesn't take long in the second book to find out what happens. Jackson is injured and is not waking up. Catherine has not left his side and desperately wants him to wake up so they can start their life together. She has finally decided that she is going to fight for their relationship and just when think they are getting their happily ever after...BAM! Another stumbling block. 

I thought I got emotional during the first book. Nope. In this book I full on UGLY CRIED. And not just once. I cried multiple times and was emotionally spent by the end of the book. 

This book brings the DRAMA. A lot happens. Secrets are brought to light. Hearts are broken. Old enemies show their faces.  And most importantly, there are quite a few goodbyes. Goodbyes that broke my heart and made me sob like a baby.  

Throughout all the drama Jackson is still his wonderful self. He says the sweetest things, even after he has been unconscious for a week:

Jackson looks away uncomfortably. “All I can think about is that you won’t be here if I go to sleep. When I opened my eyes and saw you I thought I’d died."

“What? Why would you think that?” I ask confused.

He turns to me with love and conviction as he grips my hand. “Catherine, you’re my heaven. So I thought I was dead, because that’s when I thought I’d see you again.”

Cue me needing a tissue.  

Catherine goes through a lot in this book. She becomes this kick ass, amazing, STRONG woman that I want as my best friend. I want to hang out with her and drink a bottle of wine.

Mark was the unsung hero in this book because he FINALLY gives Jackson the words that he needed to hear. Yes, I wanted Catherine and Jackson to work things out, but the guilt that Jackson carried around with him was not only heartbreaking, but it was causing him to make crappy decisions. Thank god for Mark: 

“Of course not! You weren’t the only one in that village, asshole. You weren’t the only one who watched Aaron go and handle the issues in Afghanistan that either one of us could’ve dealt with. You didn’t fucking go to Natalie and tell her that her husband was dead. No, fucker, I did that. I had to knock on her door, catch her in my arms as she lost it. So kiss my fucking ass."

“You still don’t get it. We were a fucking team. I left the Navy after you did because where you go, I go. I followed because you, me, and Aaron— we’re a team.” Mark balls his fists up and steps toward me. “You aren’t the only one in this team. I’ve watched every single fucking one of them die. I watched you die too, you son of a bitch.” He points his finger and jabs me in the chest. I push him back away from me. And he stumbles.

High five Mark! I'm still hoping that he will get his own book. *fingers crossed*


The author's next book is about Natalie, who we meet in this book. She is the widow of one Jackson's friends and I can't wait to read it. My heart broke (it did that a lot while reading this book) for her and I really want her to get a happy ending that she deserves.  

Amazon buy link: http://amzn.com/B00OEMGIRE

Review: Beloved by Corinne Michaels (Belonging Duet #1)

Synopsis

Not enough.

Catherine Pope has never been enough. 

She repeatedly let’s men in—only to be left broken.

Then Catherine met Jackson Cole.

Jackson makes her feel alive, desirable, and consumes her with a fierceness she’s never known. 


But Jackson struggles with his own past. His training as a Navy SEAL never prepared him for the battle to win her heart. He’s different, honorable, and worth the chance…but he must prove it.

If she gives him what’s left of her heart—will he protect it? Will she get the one thing that has always evaded her – to finally be someone’s beloved?

My Review

Full disclosure...I was gifted both this and and the second book, Beholden, by the author. While on Facebook, I got in a discussion about Beloved and mentioned I hadn't read them yet. The author happened to be included in that conversation and gifted me the books. Having said that, these reviews are 100% my own thoughts.  

Having said that...I FREAKING LOVED THIS BOOK. This was my first read of 2015 and what a read it was! 

Catherine has lived her life thinking that she is not enough. Her father left when she was a child and now her fiance turns out to be a giant asshat. After three months of throwing herself into her work and licking her wounds she goes to dinner with her friend. It's there where she meets Jackson...oh Jackson. Catherine first notices him from across the room:

Ashton and Gretchen are babbling on about some movie they’re both dying to see, so I glance around the room and take in the crowd. When I hear a boisterous laugh, I turn, searching for the source of the sound. When I see him my breath catches. He’s sitting at a table to my left with a few guys. There’s something about him that’s mesmerizing, something that prevents me from tearing my eyes away. His entire presence pulses with energy, demanding my attention without saying a word. He has dark hair, styled— or maybe not— in sexy disarray. His strong jaw is covered in stubble, only adding to his attraction. Though I can’t see his eyes clearly from here, I can imagine the virility within them. But it’s not just his looks, which are more than any man should be allowed to have. There’s more … He’s commanding even in a relaxed state: confident bordering on arrogant. Every part of him is captivating.

Then when she gets up to use the restroom she FALLS INTO HIS LAP and gets to see him up close.  

I stand and turn, locking eyes with the most hypnotizing blue-green eyes I’ve ever seen. If I thought he was handsome from across the room, up close he redefines the word. He’s rendered me speechless. My eyes devour him, my mind cataloging every feature. A dimple on his left cheek, a square jaw, and an angular nose give him a rugged, almost beautiful face. Everything about him screams masculinity.  

He introduces himself and Cat starts to freak out. She is clearly attracted to him and is not sure what to do about it. 

Even his name is sexy. I’m in so much trouble. I need to get away from him and quick, before I say or do something stupid. Oh wait. I already did. As much as I would love nothing more than to sit, I’m not ready. I know exactly where this will end up— I’ll be hurt and he’ll be leaving.

Soon after meeting Jackson at the restaurant Catherine leaves and tries to put him out of his mind, but she can't. (The author put in a cheeky little scene that had me shaking my fist at her!) But wait! Before we know it, Jackson is back! YAY!! I love that man. Jackson is definitely on my BBF list. He's totally an Alpha, but not an asshole. He's successful. Sexy. Loving. Funny. Loyal. And quite the dirty talker. Can you say YUMMY?

Catherine and Jackson have a fantastic relationship, but the past is still haunting both of them them. Jackson carries a lot of scars from his time as a Navy SEAL and as much as Catherine wants to believe she is enough for Jackson, she always has the thought that she isn't in the back of her mind. I like Catherine but there were moments when I wanted to smack her in the head...thank god for Ashton!

This book has some fantastic secondary characters. Catherine's best friend Ashton is a wonderful friend and knows exactly what to say to Catherine when she needs to be spoken to. Mark, or Twilight as Jackson calls him, is Jackson's best friend. He is hilarious and also a wonderful friend to Jackson. I want to be friends with both of them. I really hope they both get their own book...or perhaps a book where they get together? Hee Hee. 

When I finished this book I was left with some questions that I hope will get answered in the next book. Thank god I didn't have to wait for the second book to come out!  

Amazon buy link:  http://amzn.com/B00KMDDDMM