Consolation (Salvation, #3)

by Corinne Michaels

Liam wasn't supposed to be my happily ever after.
He wasn't even on my radar.
He was my husband's best friend-forbidden.
But my husband is dead and I'm alone. I ache for him and I reach for Liam.
One night with Liam changed everything. Now I have to decide if I truly love him or if he's just the consolation prize.

• ISBN10: 1942834055
• ISBN13: 9781942834052
• Publish Date: 26 February 2015
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Baae Publishing
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 302
• Language: English

Reviews

[Lynn]

Having read Beloved and Beholden, I was excited to find out what happened to Natalie when her life comes crashing down around her. Consolation is the first book in Consolation duet focusing on the re-building of her life after tragedy strikes.

The book begins with Natalie Gilcher struggling to cope and come to terms with life as widow, three months after her husband Adam Gilcher is killed in Afghanistan. It is heartbreaking how she's attempting to adjust to being a single Mum to her baby daughter Aarabelle whilst consumed with grief and loneliness as she tries to live each day without the man she loved and adored so much.

Liam Dempsey, as Adam Gilcher's best friend feels it is his duty to his deceased friend to look out for Natalie and Aarabelle, although falling in love with them both wasn't something he expected as a consequence of his good deeds to his friend's wife and child. Liam is a real darling with a heart as wide as the ocean and his loyalty to do the right thing is extremely endearing or questionable depending on which side of the fence you sit on.

This first part of the story ends on a massive cliffhanger which I just love. For me there is nothing better than an author delivering something quite unexpected and was totally unprepared for. Love it!

Corinne Michaels has a talent for wringing out every singe ounce of emotion from her characters and an ability to do so without repetition and that is definitely something worth noting. You are never in any doubt about either Natalie or Liam's inner feelings and emotions, whether in connection with one another or with regards to their inner conscience. Don't think at this is all angst and emotion as there is humour to lighten the mood too.

Overall I liked Consolation, but the rating reflects that the beginning was bit slow and the plot slightly underdeveloped in places. However the ending leaves me craving more and I anticipate that the conclusion in Conviction will be even better than the beginning.

3.5 Stars

***arc generously received via Author/TRSOR PR in exchange for an honest review***

[Cocktails and Books]

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.