No Love Lost

The Masters and Mercenaries: The Forgotten, Book 5

By: Lexi Blake

Narrated by: Ryan West

Length: 14 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

When Ezra Fain joined the ranks of the CIA, the last thing on his mind was romance. After meeting Kim Soloman, it was difficult to think of anything else. A tragic mistake drove them apart, leaving him shattered and unable to forgive the woman he loved. But when his greatest enemy threatens her life, Ezra leaps into action, prepared to do anything to try to save her.

Solo accepted long ago that she won’t get over Ezra. She’s worked for years to get back into his life, looking for any way to reignite the love they once shared. Unfortunately, nothing seems to penetrate the wall he has built between them. When she’s arrested for a crime she didn’t commit, she believes she’s on her own.

Racing across the globe, Ezra and Solo find themselves together again, caught in the crosshairs of the agency they sacrificed so much to serve. Days on the run soon turn to steamy nights, but Levi Green isn’t about to let them find their happily ever after. And when the smoke clears, the men and women of McKay-Taggart will never be the same again.

©2020 DLZ Entertainment (P)2020 Blackstone Publishing

Finally!! Ezra/Beck's story

I have to say, Lexi keeps it coming with this one. The spy games, the angst, redemption, love its all here. Ezra/Beck's story has been a long time coming. and I'm shockingly surprised at the span of time this one covered but it was just right for the roller coaster love story between him and Solo/Kim. Levi Green is one of the best villains I've read in romance. what a nut job!! Can't wait to see what's next in store for the McKay Taggart & Knight team 😃

Least favorite so far!

So because Solo became a mom they made her super weak and dumb smh not feeling it at all. If anything that should've made her harder more on point and ready for anything. Not what I expected when I started this book. She a whining idiot for an operative who was bad ass in all the other books! Beck is a whining angry man child who seem to not take responsibility for his actions that pushed Kim away. He was definitely part of the problem and hard to deal with, I'm annoyed! But the bitch Kim is selfish using his son against him as a pawn because of the way she feel and I don't respect that! This book was not worth the wait

I tried to enjoy it

Honestly, it was long and boring. I didn’t like Beck and his anger issues; while Kim, a lady that has all the skills & money to be dominant, is weak. I liked the supporting characters better: Tag, Arie, Ezra and Uncle Francis.

This book is destructive

Beck is an abusive guy. He didn't physically abuse her, but he verbally and emotionally abused her. He destroyed her. This book broke me down. I couldn't stop crying for Kim.
If Kim would have gone to therapy, she would have figure out that she was in an abusive relationship. Abusers don't change. This is a perfect example of what an abusive relationship looks like, just remove the BDSM and the romanticization of missions and obsession. I hate how society continues to push victims back to their abusers. This perpetuates blame and the responsibility on the woman. This is how it is; it's a cycle. Good performance but bad storyline and a romanticization of an abusive relationship. DISGUSTING!

Toxic

I’ve never wanted to throw a book more than I wanted to throw this one. Beck and Kim’s relationship is so toxic it’s actually disturbing. I just cannot stand when a strong female character throws everything away for a man. I don’t want to spoil things but the gaslighting and sexual manipulation were off putting. He was just as much of a manipulative stalker as Levi. I’m just glad it’s over and that I got a conclusion to this story arch. Literally the only reason I kept reading it.

Lexi + Ryan = Audiobook magic

No one, and I mean no one crafts a tale like Lexi Blake. If you’re finding her through this book, do yourself a favor and search for her combined reading list and start at the beginning. Intrigue, romance, sarcasm, family you make ... she just puts together a story and a full universe of characters like no one else. You’ll root for these main characters, maybe want to slap them once or twice, and be SO glad about the resolution. And the epilogue... now we’re chomping at the bit for the next book! No cliffhangers, just perfectly teed up potential.

As far as the narration: Ryan West is a voice actor god. The end.

Great New Series!

This origins story for new Bailey’s Brothers series is EVERYTHING! Protecting you sets the foundation for new series and is the story of young love that will have to overcome a heartbreaking adversity. We have met Grace previously in the Miles family series when she found her half siblings; and while it is not necessary to start with the Miles family, I would certainly recommend those amazing books.
In Protecting You we get a glimpse into Grace’s and Asher’s younger years and see the evolution of their childhood friendship into young love.
We get introductions to the five Bailey brothers, their Gram and learn about their upbringing; as well as their and Grace’s families dynamics and circumstances.
The vivid narration gives you a real life like experience and you feel like part of the story.
Claire Kingsley has an extraordinary gift for story telling; and Protecting You is an exciting promise for what’s to come. I can’t wait to see Grace’s and Asher’s love story to continue and look forward to visiting with old friends from Salishan Cellars; as well as getting to know a new cast of characters in the Bailey Brothers series.
#FreeAsherBailey

Finally!

Well done, Lexi Blake! An extremely satisfying wrap-up of this part of the story. These two have been dancing around their problems for many books, so I'm glad to see they got their second (or third or fourth) chance.
And of course kudos to Ryan West, who is the voice of Masters and Mercenaries - namely Big Tag.

Horrible

I can't believe 😪 I waited with anticipation for this book.How the heck Solo became an annoying whining b.....h. I can't believe that two characters that I loved in the other books, got a pathetic story line...and became other people, like Beck a weak crying loser with anger management problems,and Solo,Kim whatever she calling herself a whining weak selfish b....h..It was a struggle to finish..I really hated this book....Lexi Blake books is get worst and redoned...I wish I could give it zero star...

Good series

I enjoyed this series! The characters are well developed and love that strong women were portrayed as such but still being women!!

Good story

Good story but it seems I am vanilla....Doms and submissives aren't my thing, but story wraps up the saga and it's great.

The Lost boys

In love with the lost boys series. It got me to laugh, cry, worry and be happy for the characters. I Recommend it!

Too long!

Way too long and dragged out. Full of confusing and unnecessary parts, defiantly a no from me

Missing sparks

Kind of hard to enjoy this book. I feel like a certain character has lost all bad a** attributes. Feels like the author has a pretty rigid idea about motherhood, and I wish the characters real self still managed to shine through. Otherwise I still couldn’t stop listening.

Kink and espionage

This went on for 14 hours when the story could have been you’ve in half the time.
The story line is not bad but the author seems to know more about BDSM than how well he CIA works
Descriptions of shooting scenes a bit incredulous
I wouldn’t discourage anyone from reading it, but be ready for a whole lot repetition with only a splash of espionage

At last an end

Beck and Kim's story finally reaches a conclusion. All loose ends get tied up.

Ezra and Solo. The End.

Finally Lexi with Ryans wonderful narration brings Solo, Ezra and Levi's story to a thrilling conclusion. With a supporting cast of the McKay-Taggarts and the reappearance of the Lost Boys the plot took me on a roller-coaster of a ride through the years and across continents.

There are many twists and turns in this love story and when the smoke clears, the men and women of McKay-Taggart will never be the same again and neither was I. I will miss Beck and Kim and hope that Lexi will feature them in another story in the future. I'm not ready to let go of my friends just yet so I think that I will go back to the beginning and enjoy the series all over again.

The story is utterly captivating.

I was so frustrated with Beck and his team. I can't believe they were on the island for three day and still let Levi outwit the.
My heart was in my mouth in this part of the story. There were so many sections in this story where I was so entirely immersed, it was as if I was there. I want to get my hands on Levi and give a taste of his one medicine.
The story is utterly captivating and wish I had more of Kim and Beck together after they were finally together without doubts.

Way too long

Talk about drag things out. Good story, with lots of twists, but 14hrs? Narrator did a good job, but sometimes it was difficult to distinguish between some of the characters. Could’ve done with a female narrator. I just think that the story could have been 4 - 5hrs shorter.

long time coming for this book

I love this book glad they both got their happy ever after, they both love each other but life and a twisted man keeps them apart