Black Hearted by Julie Ann Walker

He’s everything she ever wanted. She’s everything he never knew he needed. Can she convince him she’s the one?

The Black Knights are back and better than ever!

Samuel Harwood has spent his entire career working in the black and gray areas of international intrigue. Living in the shadows for so long has made him forget who he was and where he came from. Then a blast from the past, in the form of his ex-girlfriend’s kid sister, arrives on the front steps of Black Knights Inc, reminding him of everything he left behind. Except, she’s no longer a kid. And she’s in serious trouble.

Hannah Blue has been in love with Sam Harwood since she was in braces. When someone sabotages her entire life, he’s the first person she turns to. She has critical information about a potential cyber-attack on the U.S. power grid that could end in catastrophic financial damage and loss of life. But the FBI thinks she’s a traitor. And now she’s on the run to save herself and the fate of the entire nation.

Who does Samuel trust? The smart, sexy woman he’s known since he was a teenager? Or the government authorities who give him his orders and cut his paychecks? He’ll make one desperate play to find out. A play that could cost him everything… including his heart.

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of the Black Knights Inc: Reloaded series!
For book one, Back in Black, click HERE.

 

 

Book 2
Buy Links

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Why you should read romantic suspense!

Hello all you Wicked Readers! My name is Julie Ann Walker and I write romantic suspense—a genre that’s seen a dip in popularity over the last decade, and for good reason. Who wants to read about international intrigue when the real world feels like a blazing dumpster fire? Escaping into the frolicking fun of romantic comedies or disappearing into another world vis a vis a fantasy or a paranormal romance feels more comforting, right?

But I’m here to tell you it’s time to revisit the world of Black Knights Inc. Because I’ve found there’s nothing more satisfying than penning “true to life” stories about spies and covert operators who work behind the scenes to save the world for all mankind. Spies and covert operators who restore my faith in humanity. Spies and covert operators who take a hose to the dumpster fire and make me believe, once again, that it’s possible we all get a happily ever after.

I hope you’ll join me for all the motorcycles and mayhem, all the action and adventure, all the rowdiness and red-hot romance that is Black Knights Inc: Reloaded.

Author’s Note: You don’t have to read the original 12-book series to enjoy the new Black Knights Inc: Reloaded stories. All books can be read as standalones. Although, I would suggest starting at the beginning of the spin-off, with Back in Black.

And now for an excerpt from Black Hearted…

“And that’s the problem.” She pointed at his nose. “You’ve done nothing to change the way you see me. You’ve done nothing to change the way you treat me. I’m a perpetual thirteen-year-old girl to you, and it drives me insane because…” She swallowed and shook her head, unable to go on.

When he crossed his arms, his biceps bulged against the fabric of his sleeves. “Because what? You may as well finish your thought.”

There was something in his voice. Something that made her stomach flip. Glancing at him sharply, she was frustrated when his expression remained unreadable.

“Because I want you to see me as I am now,” she admitted sullenly.

“Why?”

Screw it, she decided. He must suspect how I feel about him, how I’ve always felt about him. It won’t change anything if I come right out and say it.

“Because I want you, Sam,” she blurted. And then for good measure, and so there was no way he could misconstrue her words, she added, “And not in the puppy love way I wanted you when I was in middle school. I want you the way a woman wants a man. With all the accompanying nakedness and sweat and the exchanging of fluids.”

Even in the low light, there was no mistaking the path his Adam’s apple took up the length of his throat.

“I lost my virginity to your sister.” The words were rough, like they’d been dragged over sandpaper on the way out of his mouth.

She waved a dismissive hand. “So what?”

“So doesn’t that mean I’m off-limits?”

She blinked. And then remembered what he’d said months ago. That because he’d dated Candy back in high school, it meant he was more or less her brother-in-law.

She’d scoffed at the notion then. She wasted no time telling him what she thought of it now.

“I mean, if you’d actually married her and become my brother-in-law, then yeah. Or if Candy would have a problem with it, then sure. But a high school fling that began and ended a million years ago? And a sister who doesn’t care about much besides the good standing of her membership at The Metropolitan Club? Pretty sure that means you’re fair game.”

“Candy might not care,” he insisted. “But don’t you?”

“Why would I?” She canted her head. “I spent my entire life being given Candy’s castoffs. All her old clothes. All her old makeup. Heck, I even got her old Honda Civic when she married Jared and he bought her a new Mercedes. I kind of feel like it’s only fitting that I should lust after her old boyfriend.”

Her words elicited the response she was after. One corner of his mouth quirked. “Why do I feel like you just called me Sloppy Seconds?”

“Are you sloppy?” she teased. “I’d just assumed you’d learned a thing or two since the days when you groped my sister on the park bench at Jackson Park.”

His jaw slung open. “She told you ’bout that?”

“Not at the time,” she assured him, deciding she was going straight to hell for having such fun at his expense. “I was too young. But once we were both adults? Over bottomless mimosas? Sure. I heard the stories.”

“For fuck’s sake.” He ran a hand through his hair and then paced about ten yards down the tunnel to where Fisher had parked the motorcycle. The light from his cell phone haloed him in a circle of white. “And this is why a man should never date sisters,” he muttered. “They compare notes.”

“I hate to break it to you, but it isn’t just sisters. All women share their experiences. It’s one of the ways we protect ourselves since we’re forced to date our only natural predators.”

That stopped his pacing. “Your only natural predators?”

“Think about it. When you hear about a woman being assaulted or killed, is your first thought that the perpetrator was a mountain lion or a man?”

“Jesus.” He shook his head. “When you put it that way, it’s amazing any of you step foot outside your front doors.”

“The urge to mate is strong.” She sighed breathily. “Unfortunately.”

He really played up the whole Super Man theme by shoving his fists onto his hips and taking up a wide-legged stance. “Is that the reason you want me? Because I’ve been vetted and deemed safe?”

“Oh, for—” She threw her hands in the air. “Are you serious?” When he refused to answer, simply stood there glowering, she was forced to go on. “I want you because you’re smart and sexy. Because you like the Coen brothers and because your sense of humor matches mine. I want you because of you, you big, dumb… dummy.”

She shook her head when her insult made that one corner of his mouth twitch again. For good measure, she added, “As for being safe? You’re probably the most dangerous man I’ve ever met.”

 

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series, and I would definitely recommend that you read book one first as this follows directly on from it – and we meet Hannah and see the beginnings of this budding romance there. I was so happy that we got to watch these two get on the same page!

I have enjoyed all the Black Knights stories, and this new Black Knights Inc team are such fun – there is something rather wonderful about a group of slightly dysfunctional but incredibly close knit collection of strong, well-trained, and some super tech-savvy individuals who work at the behest of the president. In this book, they have to trust one of their own over the FBI, and that could create trouble... but only if their trust is misplaced.

Hannah is a super clever hacker who works for the government, but has been made to look like the terrorist – she needs help and how, so she contacts her long-time crush and Black Knight, Sam. From that moment on, the plot races along with some intriguing ideas about what could happen if the wrong people get hold of the power grid. Throw in the attraction between Sam and Hannah and the tension is scorching, and we can only hope for one outcome!

Another delicious storyline with some hilarious scenes and fun camaraderie, as well as some poignant moments. Cannot wait until the next Black Knight finds his match... and I think we get some strong hints in this book!


Mary – ☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars

We met Sam and Hannah in the first book and there were sparks flying them. Now the sparks have turned into a simmering flame.

When Hannah's life gets turned upside down, her roommate runs to Black Knights Inc and Sam is all fired up to rescue her, even if she is being held by the FBI. But Hannah has to figure out who and why they are trying to sabotage her. The team at BKI helps Hannah, but can they stop the threat?

While Sam dated Hannah's sister when they were in high school and Hannah was 13, she had a crush on him. He has always seen her as a kid and still does now. Hannah has to make him see that she is a grown woman and she is in love with him, or she needs to leave with her heart in one piece.

This story is fast-paced, suspenseful, funny, steamy, and will keep you guessing until the end. I enjoyed this one and can't wait for more.


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
Sam and his black ops group are always tasked with impossible missions. When he asks for help for his old friend, he doesn’t expect to see her in a totally different way. She’s no longer the 13 year old girl – she’s now a beautiful, intelligent woman.

Hannah has always had a thing for Sam. Knowing he thought her sister was gorgeous, Hannah has always kind of hand a complex about that. But she knows she’s capable and has great friends. When she finds herself embroiled in a scandal, she calls the only person who might be able to figure this out.

With an unknown villain, a target, and a country to save, it’ll take everyone to figure out why Hannah was targeted and how to stop the attack that they all know is coming.

This is almost like a second-chance romance, but it’s more friends to start. It is a slow burn of a relationship. For me, this was a slower romance – almost like a young adult romance.

The story is faster paced, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.

 

 

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, JULIE ANN WALKER grew up in a house full of women – she has three older sisters. As you can imagine, there was no lack of drama… or romance. Her mother enrolled her in a book club as soon as she began to read and it was the small spark that ignited her voracious appetite for the written word.

Because of Julie’s early immersion in literature, she found writing came quite naturally. In high school, she won multiple writing contests and was the proud senior editor of The Tiger’s Tale – her school newspaper.

During her college years, however, she longed for a challenge. “Reading and writing felt like second nature to me, so I looked for a way to flex my mental muscles,” she recalls. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree, Julie began teaching advanced high school mathematics.

“I loved working with the students and facing the challenges of the classroom, but I longed for the occasional snow day when I could race to the local book store, buy two or three new novels, and curl up in front of the fire to read.”

It wasn’t until a fortuitous move to Chicago that Julie once more returned to her first passion.

Now Julie loves to travel the world looking for views to compete with her deadlines. When she’s not writing, she enjoys camping, hiking, cycling, cooking, petting every dog that walks by her, and… reading, of course!.

Connect with Julie Ann Walker!

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Black Hearted (Black Knights Inc: Reloaded #2) by Julie Ann Walker to read and review.