I like that each story in the Body Armor series seems to have more suspense than the last. Plus the fact this couple knew each other before hand makes the sexy times more believable.

While Justice in Hard Justice has been my favorite guy in this group of friends, Close Contact is my favorite book in the series so far. Why? Miles and Maxi’s romance doesn’t feel like and instant love like the previous couples. They may have only had three “night stands” with each, but they connected on a level neither was sure about until they see each other again two months after Maxi walked out on Miles without a trace.

Seeing Miles and Maxi move past their physical attraction and mind blowing sex into a trusting and loving relationship was very satisfying. Foster made me care about this couple’s future and had me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out who the bad guy was causing trouble on Maxie’s land.

While Alexander Cendese’s narration on the series has grown on me and I binge listen to catch up on the series. I will read the next book, Fast Burn. The biggest reason being his voice for Sahara Silver, the boss of the Body Armor company is the one that bugs me the most. I need to find her voice for myself when I read because I have a feeling her story with Brand Berry will be a good one.

My Review: This series is like the best of both worlds - fighters and bodyguards. Lori Foster's heroes are always delicious, and while Justice still remains my favorite from the Body Armor series, Miles has made himself a very close second. Close Contact is instantly engrossing, since we open with Maxi awaking in her yard with no memory of the previous night, and no idea how she got outside and on the ground. She may not remember what happened, but she does remember that Miles always made her feel safe - so she knows exactly where to turn when she thinks her life is in danger.

I think the suspense angle in this book is my favorite of the series so far. I was intrigued as soon as Maxi shared her story - things going missing, stuff suddenly in a different place the next day, etc. I had to know what happened, making this book hard to put down - which is always a great sign. I'll admit Maxi made me frustrated more than a few times, and she was my biggest issue with the book. I needed her to come to her senses about Miles so much faster than she did. But this is Lori Foster, after all, and everyone will get their happy ending, exactly when they're meant to, and not a moment before!

Cover Lovin': Oh my, yes!

Recommendation: This can be read as a stand-alone. But I suggest reading the rest of the series because they're all so good.

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE stars (4/5)! Another amazing read by one of my favorite authors. I can't wait for the next one!

An action, mystery, romance … close contact has it all.
Lori Foster knows how to write hot, tough, protective, caring macho fighters/ ex-fighters. Can’t help but like ‘em.
Enjoyed seeing The Legend in action, and the build between the two as they overcome past wrongs and Maxi’s wrong turn.
Always fun to revisit the SFC and Body Armor guys and those strong, if somewhat emotionally broken independent, stubborn women who own their hearts.

Another book in the Body Armor series. Maxi wakes up in the middle of her yard with no memory of how she got there so she seeks help from her ex-lover Miles to help her explain what is going on. ARC from NetGalley.

Not my first Lori Foster book, but my first from this series--it worked just fine as a standalone.

Maxi and Miles have a brief but memorable history before the book begins--I thought it was an interesting twist to make *her* the one who originally cuts and runs when things start to get close. It added an extra wrinkle to things when unusual (and more than a little creepy) circumstances cause her to seek out his protection as a bodyguard. Their romance heats up quickly, but with that history it's not outside the realm of possibility that it will. The suspense--which starts out pretty intense and keeps ratcheting up and up as the story continues--adds to that as well. I thought it was pretty clear who the perp was--though plenty of red herrings are given--though the "why" was definitely less obvious. (And kind of strange, IMHO.)

I was a bit put off at the beginning when Sahara, the current owner of Body Armor, suggests that she might use her employee's sexiness as part of their "brand"--it comes up again toward the end--and I couldn't help but feel almost as if she is pimping the guys out, which felt more than a little icky. Miles and Maxi's relationship is very much based on not them discussing their relationship like, ever, which is a bit annoying--plus they're sleeping together almost at once, which adds to the whole questionableness-behind-Body Armor's-business-plan factor.

So...will I read the first two books and get in line for Sahara's(#4)? Probably not. Though there were bits I enjoyed, overall this one just didn't quite do it for me.

Rating: 3 stars / C

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

The third book in the Body Armor series centers around Miles Dartman the “Legend,” former MMA fighter now new operator for Sahara Silver and her elite group. Maxi Nevar was a one night stand, that actually turned into three and then was gone. Miles thought they had something more, but obviously not. Suddenly Maxi appears at the Body Armor office, shaken, terrified and desperate for help. As much as Miles wants to turn his back on her, his conscience and his boss are not letting that happen. As always, Lori Foster has written another romantic suspense that is impossible to put down!

I always enjoy reading Lori Foster! There’s something so very charming and captivating about her heroes and heroines, interesting plots and the crossover/spin off series are always my favorite.

As much as I love her books, her latest release “Close Contact”, somehow lacked her special trademark of chemistry and vibes. MMA fighter Miles Dartman’s path crosses that of Maxi Nevar and after one passionate night between the sheets go their own ways. Now fate brings them together, as Maxi’s life is in danger from an unknown threat and he’s tasked with the job of protecting her.

Staying under one roof at the ranch that Maxi had inherited, old feelings are renewed, sparks are fanned to passion and love becomes the very air that they breathe. It’s a good plot, but lacked conviction and interest and somehow I did not see that chemistry between Miles and Maxi. I was more interested in Sahara Silver and Brand Berry!

Then again this is Lori Foster, and I am a bit biased and one read is given for “Close Contact”

Received an ARC from Harlequin via NetGalley for an honest review.

4.5 Stars from Renee!

I was pulled right into this story. The story has laughs, secrets, suspense, steam, and heartbreak.

If you have not read the below I would recommend reading them first:
Under Pressure (Body Armor, #1)
Hard Justice (Body Armor #2)

This is Maxi and Miles's story. Maxi met Miles and wanted him from the start, but she has a lot of things happening in her life. They had a few nights but then she disappeared from his life. When months later she ends up in his boss’s office looking for help he is not happy. She left him. He will help as she is in danger, but he does not understand why she walked away from him. The more time they spend together the more they fall for each other, but danger is lurking. Someone does not want Maxi at her grandmother’s house. They just have to figure out who is out to get her and why. Maxi thinks as soon as the danger is over Miles will leave. She is preparing for her heart to be broken what she does not understand is Miles is in this for the long haul. He has to get rid of the danger, so they can have a forever. Who is behind all the threats on her and the property? Is it who they suspect or someone they never suspected? Will they get away with there lives so they can have a future, or will one be lost in the process?

This story also pulled in some of the men from the Ultimate Series. Always nice to get a few updates on some characters we love and miss. I loved these characters and the side characters. I felt I could connect with the characters and the story was a great read.

I highly recommend this book and can’t wait for the next story from this author.

Close Contact is one of those books that you can read without the plot becoming too complicated. I was in desperate need to read a book like Close Comfort. I had read books with intricate plotlines. They required me to write them down so I could remember everything. So reading this book was a balm to my mind.

Close Comfort starts off with Maxi waking up in a field by her house with no idea how she got there. Terrified and still drugged, she manages to make her way to the house, get her keys, get into her car and take off. This isn’t the first time that something like this had happened to her. She decided that she needed to hire a bodyguard. She knew what agency she was going to use and who she wanted. It’s a matter of convincing him to overlook their past and take the job.

Miles is a retired MMA fighter who works for an agency called Body Armor as a bodyguard. He had a fling with Maxi several months back. She dumped him after the 3rd time they hooked up. So he was surprised when he was called into his boss’s office and told that Maxi was hiring him. When Miles returns with Maxi to her farm, he realizes that he didn’t know her at all. He realizes that protecting Maxi from her unknown stalker might be difficult. Since he/she seems to have unlimited access to her house and land. Maxi realizes that she doesn’t know the people she surrounds herself with as well as she thought she did.

Maxi was a tough cookie but she was also vulnerable. She refused to be driven from her farm. By the stalker or her siblings, who wanted her to sell it so they could take the money. She wanted to live there and honor her grandmother’s memory. But first, she had to find out who was stalking her. I loved, loved, loved that she was a crazy cat lady. She made no excuses to Miles about the number of cats on her property. Only that her grandmother loved them and Maxi was going to care for those cats and any others that turned on. I also loved how she took nothing from Miles. Nothing. Like I said, she was a tough cookie.

Miles did come across as a tool in the beginning of the book but I changed my mind. If that was me, put into that situation, I would have acted the same way. I did like his instincts about people. I felt the same way about Fletcher that he did. I also liked that he accepted Maxi, the farm, and the cats without even thinking about it. I actually loved him by the end of the book. He put his life on the life for Maxi a few times. Not because she was his boss but because he loved her.

The chemistry between Maxi and Miles was insane. I did wonder when they were going to hook up and I wasn’t surprised when it happened shortly afterward. After they first had sex, they bumped uglies everywhere. Including the kitchen, where the stalker got his own show because of no blinds or curtains. You betcha that they got blinds after Maxi noticed the stalker watching them. Other than that one scene, which was actually kind of funny, the sex scenes were hot.

I liked how the author kept you guessing at who the stalker was. At one point, she had 3 separate suspects going. Red herrings were thrown out everywhere. I did figure out who it was by the middle of the book. But I was shocked at why he was doing it. That twist caught me off guard and I loved it!!

Close Contact is part of the Body Armor series. It is book 3. I will save everyone my rant on picking books up mid-series. If you have followed my blog long enough, you know how I feel about it. Yet I still do it. This book can be read separately from the series. The main characters from the first two books to make appearances in the book. But the author did not allow them to take over the book. They had their scenes and then faded away. Other than that, the book can be read alone.

The end of Close Contact is typical for a suspenseful romance/mystery. The only thing that surprised me was why the stalker was doing what he was doing, which I mentioned above. Other than that very typical. Also very typical in the romance part too.

Close Contact is a fast-moving suspense, mystery romance. The main characters are likable and have unbelievable sexual chemistry. The suspense/mystery part of the book kept me guessing and on edge. There is a twist in the plot at the end of the book that did shock me. Even though it is book 3, you can read it as a standalone. The sex is explicit so I wouldn’t have anyone younger than 18 reading this book. I would recommend for anyone over 18.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

This is the 3rd book in Lori Foster's Body Armor series. This book focuses on Miles Dartman and his lady friend Maxi Nevar, though they had been more of acquaintances than friends. Miles left the MMA fighting circle & has joined Leese Phelps & Justice Wallington at Sahara Silver's Body Armor Agency.

Maxi works as a personal shopper & has had family difficulties. She is also dealing with the aftermath of a break up due to cheating. She is dealing with the loss of her grandmother & her siblings who want her to sell the house. Things have happened to Maxi & she knows she needs help so she turns to the Body Armor Agency & the bodyguard she knows she can trust, Miles.

Miles doesn't trust Maxi, after she left him several months ago, but since he was requested by Maxi to be her bodyguard at the house he has no choice but to go. During their time together at her house, they talk about their lives & why she left him. While Miles was working on the case, helping Maxi & protecting her, several suspects come to light as to who could be causing her danger.

This was another winner by Lori Foster.

Favorite Quote:

It’s like an assortment of delicious man candy, isn’t it? One at a time is shocking, but all together, they steal a girl’s breath away.

My Review:

Goodreads has 252 distinct listings for Lori Foster while I have just finished my first one, of many, where have I been? Close Contact was an entertaining and steamy tale of romantic suspense, although it was initially a bit maddening as the main character was slow to share information and was rather sparse on the details concerning her intriguing situation. I wanted to give her a pinch or two and tell her to spill it, but the story was worth the wait and in addition to suspense and dangerous devilment from an unknown menace, a sexy second chance romance was steaming up the windows and singeing the sheets. I had developed and cast aside several theories yet had not suspected the actual culprit, I love when that happens. The writing was interesting, intriguing, and easy to follow; I will be greedily haunting Ms. Foster’s listings from now on.

This is a gripping and suspenseful romance. When Maxi needs help, she turns to Miles, a man she ran from after a few one night stands. While Miles is still mad about the past, he wants her. Maxi left him because her life was a mess, and it's worse now. She also doesn't think Miles could possibly want her when he could have anyone. Miles is tough, determined, bold, kind, amusing and romantic. Maxi is stubborn, strong, independent, sweet and caring. The storyline is full of intrigue and entertainment, it keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat. It's very hard to put down and belongs on your TBR list.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.

Incredibly sensual, titillating romance mixed with intense, destructive and maliceful suspense with charismatic characters and nearly the whole gang from the previous books for a visit and we have the makings of an immensely entertaining story that is easy to recommend (to anyone over 18).
Miles Dartman and Maxi Nevar take the heat level to a new atmosphere. It is constantly high, the desire and lust oozing off them. The draw to each other is substantial, but so are the emotions growing inside of them. Even though there are plenty of detailed sex scenes, they are beautifully done, a part of the plot, indicating the growth of their bond, their feelings, and their need for each other in every possible aspect.
Both Miles and Maxi were characters easy to like and admire. Maxi is a strong female lead, she knows what she wants and is not afraid to say it or go for it. She is capable, loyal, gorgeous, and stubborn.
Miles, well, the Legend is just perfect. He is generous, kind, tough, smart, skillful in any situation yet he knows his limits and is humble and thoughtful - a true swoon-worthy hero, who is not afraid or ashamed to show his constant desire and growing feelings towards Maxi. Their previous history with the string of one-night-stands puts a damp into their relationship, the trust has to be built anew, the commitment has to be clearly spoken and demonstrated, not to mention accepted, for them to be able to move on.
The suspense grows with each new threat bringing intensity and dismay to the scenes. With Miles arrival, the attacks take a deadly turn putting their lives in peril, notching up the already intense vibes.
With the natural, effortless flow the story unfolds and charms the reader; there is the danger, there are threats, there is delightfully sexy romance, and characters you love and want to spend your time with. I have been enamored with this series since the first book and Miles and Maxi brought it up another notch, for sure!
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

This story starts off with a bang when our heroine, Maxi, awakens to find herself outside her home and under the stars near the pond on her property, with no memory of how she got there. Understandably freaked out, she walks back to her house, grabs her keys, and drives away as fast as she can. The only person she can think of to help her is Miles Dartman, a man she’d met a few months ago who told her he worked for the Body Armor security agency. She decides that with all the weird and unexplained things going on at her place, a body-guard might be exactly what she needs.

Miles arrives at Body Armor headquarters and walks into his boss Sahara’s office to find Maxi sitting there. She looks like she’s been through hell, but he still gets that shock to his gut at seeing her again after she blew him off a few months back. Maxi relays what happened that night and what’s been happening to her since she inherited her grandmother’s place. Miles is both confused and thrilled that Maxi sought him out to help her. When they’d met a few months back, he thought they had great chemistry and was hoping that a relationship was forming, but all of a sudden Maxi was gone just as fast as she’d appeared.

Foster changes it up a bit, by giving us two characters who have a history with each other. Miles and Maxi had hooked up a few times-and though the no-strings-attached sex Maxi offered to Miles might have been every man’s dream, Miles was falling for Maxi more and more each time they were together. He was sure Maxi felt it too, and he’d wanted more, wanted to see where they might go with it, but Maxi left with no explanation. He hadn’t seen her for months and is shocked when she shows up looking for a body-guard.

I wasn’t sure about Maxi at first, but she quickly grew on me with her intelligence and headstrong ways. The youngest of three children, she felt like the black sheep of the family. Her brother and sister both appeared highly successful while she was a personal shopper with two failed relationships under her belt. The latter made her distrust herself and her decisions where men were concerned and was part of the reason she’d approached Miles for a last hurrah no strings affair before moving into her grandmother’s home after she died.

I liked Miles. He wasn’t so overblown with the he-man protector mode, and he quickly learned that Maxi was very capable, while knowing her limitations and knowing when she needed help. Foster gives us time in both Maxi and Miles’s head so we are clear how they feel about each other. Miles wants more as does Maxi but each is waiting for the other to make the first move.

This caused the story to drag a little for me and may be why I felt the ‘romance’ fell flat with these two. I’m a fan of second chance love and this kind of falls into that category, but it felt like we spent a lot of time in their heads while they mulled over how much they wanted each other and very little time with them actually getting to that point. I’m not talking about sex scenes, there are……a few. The pieces of a blossoming relationship were all there, but I felt they just struggled to come together. I never got to the point where I felt like, “OMG these two are just so good together.” While I’m a huge, huge fan of Ms. Foster, I understand that I’m not going to love every single book.

The suspense part of this story was played out well. When I read suspense, I always try to figure out who did it based on the hints the authors appears to throw. I also like when I’m wrong, because for me, that shows a well done, thought out, mystery. I was so sure I knew what was going on and who was responsible for all of Maxi’s troubles, then changed my mind along the way and was still wrong when all is revealed.

What I do love about Lori Foster is her brilliant ability to connect her series together. This current series links to her previous Love Undercover and Ultimate series and I really appreciate that she does this because once I fall for these characters it is so fun to revisit them in secondary character roles. She gifts us with several of the previous couples/characters who all come to help out at Maxi’s when trouble is brewing. We also get a to see Sahara, Body Armor’s owner extraordinaire, in a bit of a more casual light and I enjoyed seeing her this way. I’m pretty sure she gets the next book, so I’m really looking forward to that.

Good story, believable suspense plot, but sadly a bit lacking in romance department.

When strange things start happening at her newly inherited farmhouse, Maxi Nevar can only think of one person to call for help…

Miles Dartman is a former MMA fighter turned security expert. When Maxi asks for his help, he will stop at nothing to get to the bottom of who is harassing her. No matter what happened between them, there is just something about Maxi that Miles is consistently drawn to…

This was a good read. I really enjoyed the plot and the underlying puzzle of who is after Maxi, and what their motivations would be in harassing her.

Although Miles and Maxi’s fling ended way too quickly for Miles’ liking, she is a woman whom he cares for and he makes sure her safety and happiness comes first.

Maxi is closed off to new relationships due to things in her past. When she and Miles had their brief interlude she kept him at arms length about her personal life so they wouldn’t be any more involved than they already were.

Working through the danger and identifying people from the past who might be after Maxi’s inheritance, will she and Miles be able to build a trust and relationship, or will Maxi’s insecurities be the end of them…

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.

Lori Foster is one of my favorite contemporary romance writers and this book doesn't disappoint! I have been waiting to learn Miles' story and I was so happy that he found someone like Maxi! Full of likable characters, steamy romance and little bit of drama - Lori Foster never misses the mark and her books always hit the spot!

4.5*

I really enjoyed the first 2 books in the Body Armor series- they're exciting, suspenseful, full of twists and turns, not to mention downright sexy. And Close Contact, the third book, is all that and more. Reminiscent of the books in the Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor series, Close Contact might just be my favorite of the three so far. I love the mystery of this one, and that it's a bit of a second-chance romance. The little history Miles and Maxi shared just added to the intrigue.

The action starts from word one, and the anticipation and uncertainty never let up. Ms. Foster had me guessing through the entire book, trying to figure out just who had it in for Maxi and why they were causing her so much trouble. Just when I thought I had things figured out I'd start questioning myself and everything I thought I knew!

When you open a Lori Foster book there's never a doubt that you're in for an entertaining, captivating, and romantic read, and Miles and Maxi' story did not disappoint. Miles is a quintessential Foster hero- strong, protective, chivalrous. He's the kind of guy that likes to take charge, but is not afraid to back off when necessary. Maxi's very strong in her own right, unwilling to just sit back and let Miles handle things, even though that's what she hired him for. She's willful without being too headstrong.
While their past fling caused a bit of conflict, and Miles really wanted answers, he didn't let it interfere with his job, but he also didn't let Maxi off the hook. Their back and forth, and the inclusion of rest of the Body Armor crew and their women, as well as some of the gang from the Ultimate series, (love them!), added a little levity and fun to what could have been a heavy and more serious story.

And now I'm eagerly awaiting Sahara's story!

Lori Foster continues her mix of passion and danger in her newest addition to her Body Armor series. Close Contact is the 3rd book in the Body Armor series and we get Miles’s story. He's one of the fighters from the last series. He’s new to Sahara's bodyguard agency. Two months ago Miles had three amazing nights with bar hook-up Maxi. He wanted more but it seemed she didn’t--she never called again, and just disappeared after their amazing time together. Maxi’s life got complicated and chaotic super-fast with the loss of both her mother and grandmother very close together then on top of finding out her fiancée was cheating on her. So she goes out and has a one night stand and that one night stand blew her mind. She ran but before she could get far, she ended up needing the services of Miles bodyguard firm and then Miles is back in her life as her bodyguard. Now that he's back in her life, Miles wants more from her…more answers, more trust, more openness but Maxi is so not to that point and she is just trying to shut down and freeze Miles out but that is something he refuses to let her do. The sexual chemistry, suspense and intrigue has this story as one of my favorites of Ms. Foster’s. I loved the connection between the main characters and the plot which has many twists and turns going. I sort of had an idea of who may have been after Maxi but really, it wasn’t until the end when everything came together in a huge BOOM and wow, loved the ending . I cannot wait until the next book comes out in this series.

My Rating: 4.5 stars *****
“I received an advanced copy of this book from the author at no cost to me."

I think I’ve said this before, but this series gets better with each new book that’s added. Of course, that’s pretty much the norm for me when it comes to any Lori Foster series, so I shouldn’t be surprised.

I loved the relationship between Maxi and Miles. They really wanted the same thing, but they were crappy at picking up the cues from each other. Their friends saw through them first, which was fun. They had serious problems to figure out first though. Like who was terrorizing Maxi and trying to get her to break her promise to her grandmother. It was more than that though. She honestly loved the farm her grandmother had left her and she wasn’t about to back down. Which meant that Miles, Body Armor and his friends weren’t giving up either. Not until whoever was threatening Maxi was taken care of – for good.

Once again, the sense of family was front and center. Not only the guys (and gals) from Body Armor, but Miles’ family from his MMA days. Which, by the way, was absolutely fine with me because I wasn’t ready to say good-bye to that bunch and having them drop in from time to time is the perfect consolation. 😉

The sweet (and hot) romance between Maxi and Miles, along with the suspense, danger and mystery kept the pages turning. There were quite a few bad guys to choose from in Close Contact so it was fun trying to figure out who the baddest of the bad really was. I almost saw it coming, but not quite.

The next book in the Body Armor series is Fast Burn and I really can’t wait for this one. I can’t think of a more appropriate title for whatever Lori Foster has in store for Sahara and Brand. 😉