Julie Ann Walker Follow

4.5stars-BLACK HEARTS is the second instalment in Julie Ann Walker's contemporary, adult BLACK KNIGHTS INC: RELOADED romantic suspense series-a spin off from the author's BLACK KNIGHTS INC. This is thirty-four year old, former US Marine Raider turned BKI agent Samuel Harwood, and twenty-nine year old, DOD IT specialist / hacker Hannah Blue’s story line. BLACK HEARTED can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line or series is revealed where necessary. Several characters cross over from the original series for cohesion.

Told from several omniscient third person perspectives including Hannah and Sam BLACK HEARTED follows in the wake of the arrest of our story line heroine. Hannah Blue uncovered a possible threat to the US power grid but someone has placed the blame squarely on our story line heroine. Arrested by the FBI and held on terrorism charges, Hannah’s one call to her best friend Cesar results in the escape and rescue of our story line heroine. Enter thirty-four year old, former US Marine Raider turned BKI agent Samuel Harwood, the man Hannah has love most of her life. What ensues is the search for the truth, and the building relationship between our story line couple.

The world building continues to focus on a new crew of Black Ops agents working for Black Knights Inc. Hannah Blue has lusted after Samuel Harwood since the first time her older sister brought Samuel home but Samuel sees Hannah as a younger sister, and as such is desperate to keep their relationship as friends but when the FBI comes looking for our story line couple, Samuel becomes guardian and protector of our story line heroine.

The relationship between Sam and Hannah is one of unrequited love. Sam has kept his distance from the woman that stirs something deep but it is only a matter of time, and a suspicion that Hannah has been set up to take a fall, that Sam will realize Hannah is the woman he loves. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

Several of the original Black Knights Inc team return a secondary and supporting characters. We are re-introduced to Eliza Meadows, Fisher Wakefield as well as Grace Beacham and Hunter Jackson (Back in Black 1). The requisite evil has many faces. There is something developing between Fisher and Eliza.

BLACK HEARTED is a story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, espionage and terrorism, family, friendships, relationships and love. The fast paced premise is intriguing, captivating and dramatic; the romance is seductive and fated; the characters are powerful, determined and dynamic. BLACK HEARTED ends on a happily ever after for now-the main conflict and the people involved has yet to be resolved.