Black List: HOT Heroes for Hire: Mercenaries

Black's Bandits, Book 1

By: Lynn Raye Harris

Narrated by: Joe Arden, Emma Wilder

Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

Jace Kaiser is a man without a country, without connection. His only loyalty is to the group who saved him, and the man who leads them. Until her...

The assignment should have been easy. Capture a deadly assassin and take her to HQ. But flawed intel leads to disaster, and Jace abducts a beautiful art appraiser instead. Intrigued by her courage, he's drawn to her in ways he can't explain. Dr. Madeline Cole stood up to him, fought for her identity, and never backed down. She's the kind of woman he could fall for if it wasn't so dangerous - for her.

Then Maddy is targeted for elimination because she's the sole person who can identify the mysterious female assassin - and the only thing standing between her and certain death is the sexy mercenary who swears he'll die before he lets anything happen to her. As the passion between them ignites, it seems clear that keeping Maddy safe has become the most important assignment of Jace's life.

Even then, protecting her might not be enough - because Jace has secrets that could destroy them both. And someone is determined to unmask them all...

©2019 Lynn Raye Harris (P)2020 Lynn Raye Harris

First book in the Black's Bandits

Okay, I read this book when it first came out in 2019. Absolutely loved it and got addicted to the Black's Bandits series. I decided to listen to the newest 2 books in the series and loved it, especially when it is a series like this one where I just don't want to put it down. Lynn Raye Harris picks incredible narrators! So now I've decided I need to go back and listen to the whole series. Best decision ever!

Now I remember why I fell in love with this series. This is where we get introduced to Jace and the team and how Jace came to be a part of Black's Bandits. We also find out who Calypso really is. Lynn Raye Harris does such an incredible job in this whole series. Her books truly have it all. Action, intrigue, mystery, adventure, surprises, romance, family, and friendship. The narration in this series is also one of my favorites. Can't recommend this series highly enough.

Mistaken identity

I started this series a bit backwards…with Ian & Natasha’s story, then Jared & Libby, and got hooked. Now I’m at the beginning…Jase, formerly Nokali, misidentifies and kidnaps Maddie from the home of a wealthy Russian where she was cataloging his art collection. Being mistaken for a notorious assassin is not something that Maddie could have dreamed up but it’s happened and she’s back home trying to move on. Except that the ruggedly handsome man who kidnapped her wants to get to know her and she can’t deny the attraction between them. Now if Jase and the BDI team can keep her safe, especially since they’ve inadvertently put her in the assassin’s sights. Action, steamy romance and a swoon worthy hero. Couldn’t ask for more in a romantic suspense.

✫✫ 4 Stars ✫✫

I love to finding a new to me author that I enjoy. I really liked this Romantic Suspense story with a strong female lead and a hot but dangerous spy/mercenary. Their love story started out a little angry and very suspicious in the beginning but they still had that immediate attraction and chemistry that I love in any romance book. I also enjoyed the process of them getting to know each other and falling in love. It was a little quick but I feel like that is ok when tensions are high and lives are in danger. This story wasn't very steamy but I think we just get more story that way and I also felt like it was a little light on suspense and excitement until the very end but that didn't affect my enjoyment of the story line. I also really enjoyed the ending and the surprise reveal that I never saw coming. While I did find this story to be a little I will definitely be looking for the next audiobook in this series, I can't wait to see who's book it is!

The narration was great, Joe Arden and Emma Wilder mesh very well together in my opinion.

This series is going to be amazing!

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.

Great Start to a New Series

I've wanted to know more about Black's Bandits since they first appeared in Victoria and Nick's story. Jace is full of secrets. He and Maddie have incredible chemistry. Both narrators were great.

Joe Arden and Emma Wilder Both Did An Amazing Job!

Joe and Emma did an amazing job giving voice to Jace and Maddy.

I was so excited to read this new series spin off from the wonderful Hot Series. Ian Black and his bandits have been sprinkled here and there throughout the Hot books and have been peaking my curiosity for some time. It was great to read this first book of the Black Bandits Series. Jace is the first asset we learn about along with Maddy the woman he falls for. Jace is very much a man without a country and thanks to Ian's help he has been able to find a place to belong and teammates to call family. Jace is sent to find and bring back an assassin in Russia and ends up mistaking Maddy for the woman he was sent to find. The chemistry between these two is steamy from the start. What starts out as finding a criminal turns into Jace trying to protect Maddy while trying not to fall for her and bring her into his dangerous world. Not everything works the way Jace thinks it should and the two quickly fall for one another while trying to protect the other. This book had a few twists and surprises along the way that made for a very entertaining read overall. In this book not only do we find out more of Ian and how he works, we meet Jace's teammates, Brett, Colton, and Ty. Absolutely loved the HEA! Can not wait to find out which of Jace's teammates we get to meet next. Or will it be Ian?

Action packed, great romantic suspense!

This first book in the Black Bandits series had me riveted throughout the whole book. I love romantic suspense and Ms. Harris did a great job with this story and introducing us to this band of brothers.

Jace and Maddie had great chemistry and a love/hate thing going on. I loved watching Jace's barriers fall as he fell for Maddie.

The story kept me very interested and I didn't want to put it down! I know each one of these stories are going to be a wild ride and I can't wait to get through the series! Great read!

The narrators kept me captivated throughout the whole story. They did a great job with the accents and the pace of the story.

Love and spies

This was such a great entertaining story that was easy to imagine watching it play out as a show or movie with mysterious mercenaries and a heroine that was so relatable! I enjoyed every twist and turn of this spicy spy story. This is my first book by this author and it will not be my last! The narrator's performance was fantastic and brought the characters to life.

Phenomenal Series Starter!

Truth is - I read a more recent book in this series, and circled back around to read the entire thing. Yes, it’s that good. Jace Kaiser, an operative with BDI - is tracking the assassin Calypso. He is on-site when a shooting takes place, and he nabs his quarry.

Dr. Madeline Cole is an art appraiser, specializing in Russian artifacts. Returning to her room while working for a Russian art collector, she is tackled, zip-tied and flown back to the US. Maddy is a bit scared, but also feisty and affronted. Too bad her captor is drop-dead gorgeous. This can’t end soon enough.

Except she saw the woman who really may be Calypso, so she needs protection. You can feel Mddy’s frustration and spunk. Jace is drawn to this intelligent and beautiful woman. This is everything I look for in a Romantic suspense - and that much more! Pure entertainment.

Superb dual narration.

Smoking hot spinoff

Book 1 of the Black Bandits series, a spin off of the HOT series. Even as a spin off, you will have no issues immersing yourself into the world of BDI. You will be hooked from page 1. Its a Heart pounding, edge of your seat action packed story.