Lori Foster is back with another amazing Body Armor book, and I have to say, that out of all the books in the Body Armor series, Close Contact is by far my favorite!

When Maxi Nevar awoke outside, with no recollection of how she got there, it was the straw that broke the camel's back, of strange and progressively worse things that had happened to her, after she took over her Grandmothers ranch, and her collection of feral cats. But there was only one person that she felt confident to go to, Miles Dartman.

Miles Dartman, aka The Legend, in his MMA days, is now working for Body Armor Inc. But the last person he expected to see again was Maxi, especially in his bosses (Sahara Silver) office. But when she spills her story, his desire, not only to protect her, but for her kicks in, and he is determined to protect her from whomever is after her.

As I said before, this book is seriously my favorite of the series. Not only do we get to know Miles and Maxi's characters, but we also revisit with Leese, Justice and Brand. But on top of that, we get to know more about Sahara, and I have to say, no matter what book I read in this series, Sahara's character stands out the most, and I think a lot of that has to do with the disappearance of her brother, and her determination to find him.

I honestly cannot say enough great things about every part of this book. There is romance, suspense, a little mean mugging, cats, and at the very end, something really gross, that made me want to bathe in hand sanitizer! And this is why I give Close Contact 5 stars!
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Very good book. Miles was an MMA fighter at the top of his game when he gave it all up to become a bodyguard. He likes the variety of the work, his boss is great, and he enjoys working with his two friends, Leese (Under Pressure) and Justice (Hard Justice). The only downside is the woman he hasn't been able to forget or find again after their last encounter. That is, until the day she walked into Body Armor looking for his help.

Maxi's life is in an uproar. She recently lost both her mother and her grandmother. The need for distraction is what sent her to Rowdy's bar to start with, where she hooked up with Miles. It was supposed to be a "one and done" thing, but something about Miles kept drawing her back. When she inherited her grandmother's property, and the hassles that went with it, she didn't want to pull him into her troubles, so she pulled away. But when unexplainable things began happening, she knows that Miles is the only one she can trust to help her.

I was caught up in the story from the beginning, as Maxi woke up in a field with no idea how she got there. Her fear and determination were palpable, and I held my breath as she tried to get to safety. Her reunion with Miles was just as tension-filled. Miles was angry, hurt, and confused about the way that Maxi had left, and isn't quite sure how to take her story. He also can't deny that he still wants her. Maxi wants Miles just as much, but also believes that he doesn't need someone with her issues. I also thoroughly enjoyed the way that Sahara stirred the pot in getting both Miles and Maxi to do what she wanted.

I enjoyed the development of Maxi and Miles's relationship. Though initially suspicious of her story, Miles's protectiveness is unquestionable. I really liked how understanding he was of her fear of letting him out of her sight for the first few days. Though he really wanted to give in to the attraction that still burned between them, he also didn't want to take advantage of her while she was vulnerable. It was fun to see Maxi's frustration with his restraint and how she tried to demolish it. When they finally gave in, it was just as explosive as they remembered.

There were definitely communication problems between Miles and Maxi. Miles's feelings for Maxi continue to grow, but he doesn't tell her how he feels. He is unsure of her feelings and doesn't want to risk the rejection he felt when she disappeared without a word. However, he does try to show her how he feels, even though that tends to leave her confused. I liked that he was protective without being overbearing, and respected her enough to back off when possible. Maxi knows that her feelings for Miles have grown, but she doesn't tell him either. Instead, she worries that his actions are simply because of his job. She can't help being hopeful, but that is a roller coaster ride for her. I liked seeing her stand up to him when she needed to retain some of her hard-won independence. It was equally fun and frustrating to watch the two of them dance around each other, as the smallest things would give them hope or, just as likely, dash their dreams. It took surviving an attempt on their lives for them to cut through their fears and just say what they felt, with a little push from Sahara.

The suspense of the story was very well done. The trouble began after Maxi inherited her grandmother's property. Thanks to family issues, both Maxi's sister and brother have pressured her to sell the property and split the proceeds with them. There is motive on both their parts to get her to give up the property, putting them on the suspect list. There is also Maxi's ex-fiancé, who suddenly wants back in her life, and is forceful about pushing his agenda. The occasional segment from the viewpoint of the bad guy as he ramps up his attempts adds to the intensity of the danger. The final confrontation had me on the edge of my seat until it was all over. There were enough twists and turns throughout the story that I wasn't sure who was behind it until right before it was revealed. Even then, there were some surprises.

The secondary characters added an extra layer of depth and fun to the book. Sahara has been my favorite through the series. She is quite the dynamo and has no trouble going after what she wants. I love her pursuit of the various fighters she wants for the agency. I think she was the one who said, "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." Both Leese and Justice, and their ladies, also make appearances. I love the depth of friendship among the men and how there is never any hesitation when help is needed. I also loved the work party when, in addition to Leese and Justice, Cannon, Armie, Denver, and Stack (Ultimate Fighter series) also came to lend a hand. ( )

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. ( )

I have not read the first two books in this series. Yet, this book can be read as a stand alone novel. I like the idea of the Body Armor agency employing "sexy" men as bodyguards. As owner, Sahara says "Body Armor is the place to go for sexier protection".

Maxi is my type of woman...strong. I love a good, strong, female lead. There can never be enough in my opinion. It was especially welcome in this male driven story. Although, I am not complaining as Miles is easy on the eyes. I like that he was the one that wanted more from Maxi and his arrangement. It showed that he was caring and not just in it for the looks but also for the long haul.

Yet, as much as the two of them were hot together, I did find the story a bit lacking in intensity for the first half of the story. It seemed to be just about Maxi and Miles back story versus the reason that Maxi hired Miles. The second half was better. Still a good read. ( )

Great plot, hot Alpha ex-MMA fighters turned bodyguards, sexy girlfriends, steamy sex & tension filled moments of danger - - This one has it all! Lori Foster has found the perfect balance between romance & mystery in her Body Armor series. From the moment this book opened, the reader is swept into Maxi's life & emotions. As the plot unravels, there is a perfect sense of tension growing in two ways - between Maxi & Miles regarding their relationship & the anticipation of the ending. The supporting characters are well developed & add additional depth to the story. I love Sahara! She's so poised & elegant but sarcastic & witty at the same time. She has a tough she'll but has a soft & tender side too. Ms. Foster crafts her characters in such a way as to give the readers several suspects. She misdirects your suspicion until you really have a hard time figuring it out. I never would have guessed this ending! ( )