Blog Tour: Review & Excerpt of Chicago by Chance by Michelle Donn

 

Series: The Protecting Love Series
Author: Michelle Donn
Genre: Romance Suspense
Cover Design: T E Black Designs
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56587953-chicago-by-chance
 
Blurb:
A one-night stand, a new city, and a danger she never saw coming.
 
Katherine Ford thought the public scandal she left behind in DC was the worst life could send her way. She was wrong.
Her fresh start in Chicago isn’t the new beginning she dreamed of—it’s a nightmare. An ambitious real estate deal lands her on the wrong side of the Chicago mob. And her only ally is the one night stand she can’t forget.
 
Falling into bed with a sexy redhead that lives on the other side of the county isn’t Air Marshal Craig March’s usual style. But Katherine Ford is an unusual woman. When her life is threatened, he’ll risk it all to protect her.
 
•••••
 
Chicago by Chance is a steamy, standalone, romantic suspense story with nail-biting action. Expect tangled sheets and perilous rescues. A protective hero and a bold heroine in a long-distance relationship must overcome more than geography for their happily ever after.
 
Buy Links (Kindle Unlimited):
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3cQm7EH
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/31eriJf
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/3lD07Rt
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2OVyXJD
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3tksqXu
 
My thoughts:

Chicago by Chance is the second book in the Protecting Love series. It worked very well as a stand alone.  Characters from the first book do make an appearance in this one, but it was fine. I never felt lost.  I do want to go back and read the first book now.  This one is Katherine and Craig's story. 

I really enjoyed this romantic suspense.  The chemistry between Craig and Katherine was intense.  I loved it!  I also liked that both characters had insecurities about the relationship.  Especially Craig.  It's rare to see the man voice his anxiety about a relationship. The other aspect that was great was that they got to know each other over long phone calls and texts.  There is also a bit of suspense that affects Katherine and her assistant. There was a good balance between the romance and the suspense. The ending was very sweet! I highly recommend this one.

 

Excerpt:
Katherine awoke smiling. The kind of smile teenage girls have the morning after their first kiss. Last night was decadent. Craig was delicious, and she couldn’t wait for more. Her hand roamed the bed, finding his side cold and empty. She knew he’d been there. He climbed into her bed last night after a shower, his skin warm and smelling like her bath gel. He’d cuddled her against his chest while his large hands smoothed over her naked body until she fell into a deep sleep, safe in his arms.
She’d slept better than she had since the incident in DC. Getting away from that city was good for her. The new location and a few chart-topping orgasms were better than any sleeping pill.
She sat up and glanced about the room, a pout forming on her lips. Damn. She’d wanted to another round with him. Her recent lovers had been adequate. And now that she found a man who made her body sing, she wanted to indulge.
From the outer door of the suite, she heard a knock.
She scrambled out of bed, retrieving one of the hotel robes, not bothering to tie the sash. She rushed to answer, assuming he’d be waiting on the other side with coffee. Before opening the door, she cocked a hip and draped the robe so it hung open, showing a scandalous amount of skin.
“I missed you,” she purred as she pulled the door open.
“I missed you too, sweetie, but I still don’t swing that way,” Todd, her personal assistant, replied. His amused expression matched his teasing tone. He swept past her and into the room in a cloud of designer cologne.
With a glance, he took in the evidence of last night’s debauchery. “Oh, Katherine, you naughty girl. Already indulging in a fun-filled night on the town, I see.”
She turned, tying her robe tightly, and followed in Todd’s wake. She bent to retrieve her dress, which lay in a crumpled heap on the floor in the middle of the main room. She shook it out and tossed it over the ridiculous Foosball table in the corner. Todd had seen worse mornings after. He’d dealt with the chocolate syrup human sundae incident way back in the day that had required a team of professional cleaners.
She joined him in front of the rumpled blue couch. He eyed it suspiciously.
“Any need to disinfect before I sit? These are new Dolce & Gabbana jeans,” he asked, a blonde eyebrow raised.
She playfully smacked him on the shoulder, snorting when she tried to swallow her laughter. They both turned and flopped into the couch. Directly in front of them on the chrome coffee table were her stilettos, her neatly folded black lace thong, and a note on hotel stationery.
They both dove for the note at the same time. She managed to keep it out of his grasping but well-manicured hands.
“So what’s lover boy have to say?” He wanted to know.
She read the note, first to herself then for her audience of one:
Sorry Gorgeous-
Flying out to DC early, more fallout from the shooting. You were too peaceful to wake up, but I was tempted. Please, keep in touch. You’re spectacular. --Craig
“Shooting? WTF Katherine. I let you take one flight alone, and there’s a shooting?” Todd ran his fingers through his perfectly styled hair. Never a good sign.
“It’s a long story. Have you seen or listened to the news this morning?”
“No, I was driving your car in from DC, binging on a true-crime podcast. Wait, you’re on the news?” He looked flustered.
She stood, tossing the TV remote to him and inching toward the bedroom. He was going to flip into super overprotective momma bear mode as soon as he found out about yesterday. She was fine—more than fine. Last night had been one of the best nights she’d had in years, maybe a decade. Todd fussing over her would be a lot of drama for no reason. The sexy air marshal had already handled consoling her.
“Check out CNN, look for the O’Hare stuff. I can fill you in on the details on the way to meet the real estate agent.”
The TV flipped on, and the terrorist shooting at O’Hare was the main story, the only story. A flashing red terror alert banner scrolled across the screen, and a talking head was spouting off about a national tragedy averted by a DHS officer.
Todd waved the remote at the screen. “This is a big deal. You were there?”
“Ah, yeah. I was definitely there. I’ll tell you the details on the way to our meeting, but I need coffee and a shower first. Okay?”
“Ahh.” He was engrossed in the CNN coverage.
Wait until she told him she was the hostage and Craig, the DHS agent who rescued her, was lover boy. She could already see him offering to book hotel dates for their wedding. Todd was a hopeless romantic. 
She swept her cell off the charger on the nearby table and headed for her room. Once safely away from Todd’s prying eyes, she composed a text to Craig:
Next time give in to temptation.
When she clicked send, her heart might have skipped a beat.
 
In The Series: Kindle Unlimited
Savannah Run
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/37HK4Mv
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/37HKp1J
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3aJoQ2Q
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/3bAxdwT
 
Author Bio:

Michelle introduced herself to romance novels by stealing them off her mother’s bookshelf. She got caught red-handed when she destroyed a new book by dropping in the bathtub before her mom could read it. From stolen paperbacks to an overloaded iPad, Michelle’s passion for reading grew into her debut contemporary romance novel: Savannah Run.
 
She lives in South Florida with her real-life prince charming, two dogs, two horses, a cat, and Daisy the donkey. Most evenings, you will find her floating in the pool, enjoying a cocktail, and working out the plot of her next book with her husband.
 
Get your fix of happily ever after with a shot of action and adventure.
 
Social Media Links:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3lf7xJ9
Facebook: https://bit.ly/30xPjuN
Website michelledonn.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20760900.Michelle_Donn
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelledonnauthor/