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lifeinthebooklane's review against another edition
4.0
I really need to read more Lexi Blake
I've felt a little crushed by arcs recently, a mix of bad planning, greediness and several authors all releasing work at the same time. So I took time for me, dug out a book that has sat on my kindle for FAR too long and rediscovered just how much I love Lexi's work. The fact that this included both second chance and BDSM was also a huge plus for me.
The absolute soul shredding pain and heartache that is Eve and Alex's lives has been so apparent in previous books. What was also very clear was just how much they still loved each other. On Her Master's Secret Service explores how love isn't always enough and how blind it can also be. Both main characters have their share of issues, have done their fair share of adding to the pain. However we see them both grow as individuals, learning to let go of the past, let go of their fears and learn to love again.
We meet some fabulous new characters, I did guess the true identity of one fairly early on in the book, though I wasn't sure until all later in the story. I also suspected the truth about another character, though I'm always suspicious of 'the boss'. I had no idea of either the why of the situation or how it would play out, so I still found the story incredibly engaging and was constantly surprised by other events.
The pace moves the story along really well and I love how this group of men and women interact. The banter, humour and brother/sisterhood just adds so much warmth, depth and character to the books. This is romantic suspense at its best, not to mention that Ms Blake writes BDSM so well, she clearly knows her stuff and SSC is foremost the entire time.
I'm miles behind on the series but I'm determined to catch up. Each book is better than the last with the stories and writing improving every time. These feel like real people who you want to know and hang out with. I so need to read Ian's book!
I've felt a little crushed by arcs recently, a mix of bad planning, greediness and several authors all releasing work at the same time. So I took time for me, dug out a book that has sat on my kindle for FAR too long and rediscovered just how much I love Lexi's work. The fact that this included both second chance and BDSM was also a huge plus for me.
The absolute soul shredding pain and heartache that is Eve and Alex's lives has been so apparent in previous books. What was also very clear was just how much they still loved each other. On Her Master's Secret Service explores how love isn't always enough and how blind it can also be. Both main characters have their share of issues, have done their fair share of adding to the pain. However we see them both grow as individuals, learning to let go of the past, let go of their fears and learn to love again.
We meet some fabulous new characters, I did guess the true identity of one fairly early on in the book, though I wasn't sure until all later in the story. I also suspected the truth about another character, though I'm always suspicious of 'the boss'. I had no idea of either the why of the situation or how it would play out, so I still found the story incredibly engaging and was constantly surprised by other events.
The pace moves the story along really well and I love how this group of men and women interact. The banter, humour and brother/sisterhood just adds so much warmth, depth and character to the books. This is romantic suspense at its best, not to mention that Ms Blake writes BDSM so well, she clearly knows her stuff and SSC is foremost the entire time.
I'm miles behind on the series but I'm determined to catch up. Each book is better than the last with the stories and writing improving every time. These feel like real people who you want to know and hang out with. I so need to read Ian's book!
cronkie12's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
- my favorite of the series so far. Love Alex and Eve’s love and this was a nice change of pace from the last ones that all seemed like the same story line.
eg_m's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars I read this as part of The Masters & Mercenaries Bundle (Books 1-5). I'd skipped this one and gone straight to book 5 when reading the series--I didn't find Alex and Eve very interesting in the earlier books. That didn't change but I did enjoy the introduction of Charlotte's character (Book 6) and Jesse who gets his own story in Book 8.
mylastromancenovel's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
My Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️.25
General Thoughts: Second chance is hard to do well. Lexi Blake did it justice here. I am so glad I stuck with this series because the last two have been amazing. I loved the characters in this one, and I loved the writing style. Eve and Alex are characters that have caught my attention since they first popped up. I have been waiting for their story since then, and the author did not disappoint. This series is one that keeps getting better and I love seeing that.
Steam Meter: ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥 It was definitely steamy. Not the most graphic or prolific, but definitely there and often and B.D SMy/k1nky.
Romantic Tropes
-romantic suspense
-spy
-second chance
-wounded heroine/hero
-BDSM
You can also find me on Insta @mylastromancenovel.
General Thoughts: Second chance is hard to do well. Lexi Blake did it justice here. I am so glad I stuck with this series because the last two have been amazing. I loved the characters in this one, and I loved the writing style. Eve and Alex are characters that have caught my attention since they first popped up. I have been waiting for their story since then, and the author did not disappoint. This series is one that keeps getting better and I love seeing that.
Steam Meter: ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥 It was definitely steamy. Not the most graphic or prolific, but definitely there and often and B.D SMy/k1nky.
Romantic Tropes
-romantic suspense
-spy
-second chance
-wounded heroine/hero
-BDSM
You can also find me on Insta @mylastromancenovel.
jigsawgirl's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to the audiobook. This was intense as we learn about exactly what Evans did to Eve. I don't think of this book as being a standalone because it involves the entire Taggert-McCay team, and makes references to things that occurred in previous books. I think you really have to start at book one and work your way through.
At the same time I had a problem with this book, I enjoyed the fact that it was full of suspense. It just seemed to go on forever. Very early on, it was easy to figure out who Christie/Charlie was in relation to the group. There was one thing that turned out to be a surprise to me. Most of the tension had to do with hoping Evan's did not get his hands on Eve again.
Alex and Eve have been doing this back and forth through the series. I know it was their book, but way too much time was spent on them needing to reconnect. I also felt like Alex didn't listen to her any better the second time around.
The narration was ok. There were a couple of times that I wasn't sure which guy was talking. The narrator seemed to have an easier time in the last book, and he was switching between 3 accents.
The last book introduced Simon. This book introduced Charlie and Jesse. There is someone named Penny lurking in the background at the office. Hopefully Ian's book is next. I honestly think of I could have skimmed some of the back and forth between Alex and Eve, and, some of the situations that were very obvious this book would have been much better.
It was still a pretty good listen with action, suspense, romance, and mystery. I admit that I did like Alex better in his Dom persona then when he was running around behind Eve being pitiful. The secondary characters were pretty interesting too. I still have to listen to Ian's story, even if I'm pretty sure it will also be way too long.
At the same time I had a problem with this book, I enjoyed the fact that it was full of suspense. It just seemed to go on forever. Very early on, it was easy to figure out who Christie/Charlie was in relation to the group. There was one thing that turned out to be a surprise to me. Most of the tension had to do with hoping Evan's did not get his hands on Eve again.
Alex and Eve have been doing this back and forth through the series. I know it was their book, but way too much time was spent on them needing to reconnect. I also felt like Alex didn't listen to her any better the second time around.
The narration was ok. There were a couple of times that I wasn't sure which guy was talking. The narrator seemed to have an easier time in the last book, and he was switching between 3 accents.
The last book introduced Simon. This book introduced Charlie and Jesse. There is someone named Penny lurking in the background at the office. Hopefully Ian's book is next. I honestly think of I could have skimmed some of the back and forth between Alex and Eve, and, some of the situations that were very obvious this book would have been much better.
It was still a pretty good listen with action, suspense, romance, and mystery. I admit that I did like Alex better in his Dom persona then when he was running around behind Eve being pitiful. The secondary characters were pretty interesting too. I still have to listen to Ian's story, even if I'm pretty sure it will also be way too long.
sjb86's review against another edition
5.0
Ever since I started reading M&M series, I'v been desperate to find out the full story to Alex and Eve thank god this book explains everything. From the first looks into Alex and Eve relationship you can see straight away it unhealthy and they were both hurting each other but not knowing how to break the bad cycle. I love the peeks at the other members of M&M and seeing how their HEA were going. This story is mostly about overcoming the past and learning to communicate fully and saying the hurtful stuff that will help to move on. I'm so happy with this ending and the little brain teaser that involved Ian can't wait to start that story.
chrissy3562's review against another edition
5.0
On Her Master's Secret Service was a phenomenal book. I have been curious about Alex and Eve since they were first introduced. I knew their relationship would be complicated and full of angst, but I couldn't anticipate how reading this book would make me feel. I can't even describe how worn out reading this book made me feel, but it wasn't a bad thing. This book is definitely not for everyone because it deals with Eve having been raped. The way this was dealt with was as tasteful as possible given the subject matter. The love between Alex and Eve was visible through the books prior to this and getting the back story on what happened between then was really satisfying. I don't want to rehash the story so I will end this review saying this is one of my favorite second chance stories and if you can handle the sensitive subject matter this is a must read.
kate_and_books's review against another edition
5.0
At the end of everything – there was only love. And it was worth fighting for.
Not much I can say that no one else hasn’t said after 219 reviews.
I wasn’t really impressed by this series at the beginning. We got off to a rocky start.
With each book that I’ve read I’ve come to really enjoy this series.
I was so emotionally when it came to this book. My heart was beating really fast. My angst levels were up and my emotional ties to both characters were high.
There is not one couple and especially second chance romance that deserved it more than Eve and Alex. (IMO)
There were times I thought that they would never find their way back to one another. They have a once in a lifetime love. And well the second time round they didn’t do it all better. They did it differently. And it was, let me amend that it is beautiful to watch and to read.
I have come to love these guys and they are a cray cray bunch.
I’m intrigued by Jesse the lost puppy that he is.
Off I go to read the rest of the series. They seriously give me book hangovers but in a good way.
Not much I can say that no one else hasn’t said after 219 reviews.
I wasn’t really impressed by this series at the beginning. We got off to a rocky start.
With each book that I’ve read I’ve come to really enjoy this series.
I was so emotionally when it came to this book. My heart was beating really fast. My angst levels were up and my emotional ties to both characters were high.
There is not one couple and especially second chance romance that deserved it more than Eve and Alex. (IMO)
There were times I thought that they would never find their way back to one another. They have a once in a lifetime love. And well the second time round they didn’t do it all better. They did it differently. And it was, let me amend that it is beautiful to watch and to read.
I have come to love these guys and they are a cray cray bunch.
I’m intrigued by Jesse the lost puppy that he is.
Off I go to read the rest of the series. They seriously give me book hangovers but in a good way.
jgilge's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked this one, but I have a feeling we were just introduced to a whole bunch of new characters that will keep the series going forever.
thatashgirl83's review against another edition
3.0
I think I just expected more from this story. I loved that Alex was the "cuddly Dom" but it lacked detail about their history and what had happened to Eve.