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pattyfgd's review
5.0
Black List: HOT Heroes for Hire: Mercenaries
Black's Bandits, Book 1
By: Lynn Raye Harris
Narrated by: Joe Arden, Emma Wilder
I love listening to an author for the first time, and knowing they are the perfect fit for my tastes! Lynn Raye Harris has romantic suspense nailed! This is the first book in the Black Bandits series and I am hooked. Jace Kaiser is a mercenary. His set of skills is niche as he has the best instincts in the business. But with bad information in, comes bad information out and he captures Maddy, the wrong person. Once cleared though, he knows Maddy is in danger, and he instincts now are telling him to protect her. And our story begins. Twists, turns, romance and excitement all flow bringing on high suspense and unexpected outcomes. Every twist leads to a new path, and each day, the heat between Maddy and Jace grows.It's the best blend of romance and thrills keeping us on the edge and filling our hearts. Jace is complicated. He has a lot of layers and his past is dark. Maddy is average which is what makes her so interesting. Nothing that stands out, just a person doing her job yet has a true heart that shines to Jace. I am invested now and need to start Black Tie to see the next adventure of the Black Bandits!
Joe Arden and Emma Wilder are our storytellers and what story they tell. Jace's many layers are peeled with Arden's voice. He has so many things to work through and Arden lets us into each one with his nuances. Wilder falls into character as Maddy. Indignant, angry, frustrated, scared, loving, she brings it all out and lets us see Maddy for who she is. This is a fabulous pairing for this book and total entertainment.
Black's Bandits, Book 1
By: Lynn Raye Harris
Narrated by: Joe Arden, Emma Wilder
I love listening to an author for the first time, and knowing they are the perfect fit for my tastes! Lynn Raye Harris has romantic suspense nailed! This is the first book in the Black Bandits series and I am hooked. Jace Kaiser is a mercenary. His set of skills is niche as he has the best instincts in the business. But with bad information in, comes bad information out and he captures Maddy, the wrong person. Once cleared though, he knows Maddy is in danger, and he instincts now are telling him to protect her. And our story begins. Twists, turns, romance and excitement all flow bringing on high suspense and unexpected outcomes. Every twist leads to a new path, and each day, the heat between Maddy and Jace grows.It's the best blend of romance and thrills keeping us on the edge and filling our hearts. Jace is complicated. He has a lot of layers and his past is dark. Maddy is average which is what makes her so interesting. Nothing that stands out, just a person doing her job yet has a true heart that shines to Jace. I am invested now and need to start Black Tie to see the next adventure of the Black Bandits!
Joe Arden and Emma Wilder are our storytellers and what story they tell. Jace's many layers are peeled with Arden's voice. He has so many things to work through and Arden lets us into each one with his nuances. Wilder falls into character as Maddy. Indignant, angry, frustrated, scared, loving, she brings it all out and lets us see Maddy for who she is. This is a fabulous pairing for this book and total entertainment.
snaze6's review against another edition
5.0
I’m a huge fan of Lynn Rae Harris and her HOT series, HOT SEALS and now Black’s Mercenaries. Each book always seem to be better than her last, and this first book in her new series was fantastic.
Jace and Maddy meet by accident due to mistaken identity while Maddy was on a job to appraise art for a super rich Russian businessman. Jace and his team think she’s an international assassin.
This is a fast paced thriller with steamy romance and surprises you will want to read in one sitting.
I received an ARC from the author and happily wrote a review because I loved the book.
Jace and Maddy meet by accident due to mistaken identity while Maddy was on a job to appraise art for a super rich Russian businessman. Jace and his team think she’s an international assassin.
This is a fast paced thriller with steamy romance and surprises you will want to read in one sitting.
I received an ARC from the author and happily wrote a review because I loved the book.
romancejunkie1025's review
5.0
Black List is definitely the beginning of an all new adventure, hinting at some of the characters that have peeked out in the HOT series (which you should absolutely read!), and I am really looking forward to reading more. Harris again shows us that sometimes the truth of a man lies not in simply the black and white of the world, but in the grays of our natures that we have to explore in order to do what is right. Jace is a man that I could easily see myself falling for; strong, brave, loving, and devoted to those he gives his loyalty, Jace is willing to do whatever he needs to protect those he sees as in need of protection and there is no truer definition of a hero to me. Maddy is a woman pulled into a shadowy world she really never knew existed and she is blind to how to survive in it, but she refuses to let it beat her down. She will defend herself, her man, and those she loves with the strength and courage of the lioness she never knew lived in her heart. The heat and chemistry between these two is off the charts, even when they are at cross-purposes and you can tell that will last forever. I really enjoyed seeing Maddy and Jace heal one another and find their path to walk together in life. I am dying to see where this series goes and hope to see some of my favorite HOT operators perhaps cross paths with Black’s Bandits in future novels, but even if not, just glimpses of Ian are enough for me…until he of course is brought low by his own sexy, sassy, heart-stealing woman! Keep the magic coming, Lynn.
see full review on the blog at :
https://romancewitchreviews.blogspot.com/2019/04/arc-review-black-list-blacks-bandits-1.html
see full review on the blog at :
https://romancewitchreviews.blogspot.com/2019/04/arc-review-black-list-blacks-bandits-1.html
afestivalaparade's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
syndi3's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I thought this book is about that romance spy. Thriller. Well... after listening to the audiobook, the story is a promising spy romance only about 10%. After that it turned into sappy romance.
You know the romance where a bad ass hero turned into hopeless romantic and a damsel in distress heroine who needs saving but playing hard to get.
It's kinda of boring. I read this type of romance too many times.
You know the romance where a bad ass hero turned into hopeless romantic and a damsel in distress heroine who needs saving but playing hard to get.
It's kinda of boring. I read this type of romance too many times.
avid_read's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ptoridactyl's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
cait_robi's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
whatcha_listening_to's review
4.0
I always struggle with book 1 from a series. Usually because there is a lot of world and character building and the storyline can get a little lost. But I have to say I didn’t with this book at all.
The characters were sharp and the world building easy to get right into. I really enjoyed getting to know the men and the women. I was on the edge of my seat for parts of it.
Jace is intriguing I like that he wasn’t the leader. I think that made me like him a little more. Ian just seems like the right fit for the leader role.
Maddy is fierce! I love when the heroine is just as witty and strong as the men maybe even more so. She doesn’t break and she has ample opportunity to but she is a strong one.
The chemistry was perfect. The love story being told along with the suspense I just thoroughly enjoyed myself.
The narration was perfection I am a huge fan of Joe Arden. But I think who stole the show was Emma Wilder she gave such depth to her voice it was awesome to listen to.
The characters were sharp and the world building easy to get right into. I really enjoyed getting to know the men and the women. I was on the edge of my seat for parts of it.
Jace is intriguing I like that he wasn’t the leader. I think that made me like him a little more. Ian just seems like the right fit for the leader role.
Maddy is fierce! I love when the heroine is just as witty and strong as the men maybe even more so. She doesn’t break and she has ample opportunity to but she is a strong one.
The chemistry was perfect. The love story being told along with the suspense I just thoroughly enjoyed myself.
The narration was perfection I am a huge fan of Joe Arden. But I think who stole the show was Emma Wilder she gave such depth to her voice it was awesome to listen to.