The Commander

Men of Hidden Justice, Book 3

By: Melanie Moreland

Narrated by: John Lane, Maxine Mitchell

Length: 5 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's Summary

My instincts had always served me well. Listening to my gut, the warning voice in my head that told me when to walk away. I never failed to heed the signs.

Until the day she walked into my office.

I knew she would be trouble, but I ignored the alarm bells. And then it was too late, and I fell. Hard.

A lie tore us apart, and I thought I’d lost her forever. But now she’s back- with a secret she’s been keeping.

This time, I’m not letting her go. 

©2021 Moreland Books Inc (P)2022 Moreland Books Inc

Tally and Julian

This was Julian, the Commander's story. We learn more about Julian, the calm efficient leader of Hidden Justice, and the organization. Julian's administrative assistant leaves and he ends up hiring a beautiful young woman, who has some issues of her own (in the past, he only hired very mature women). Julian is bitten by the love bug almost as soon as he sees her. Tally likes that the job is in a very secure building and we find out why. This was a nice romance between them but I found Tally annoying at times. Although this book was good, for me, it was not as good as the previous two books. John Lane and Maxine Mitchell did a great job with the narration.

commander

great book. lots of action. just ok romance. love these two narrators so much. they make the story even better.

Loved The Commander

I totally expected a uptight grouchy man but oh my. I was really wondering how Julian's story would go and I loved it. All the feels expected were there plus some extra emotions too. Nice steam in parts and the narrator's knocked it out of the park as always.

Great easy listen

Loved all 3 books. Read all three!! The characters are all interesting twined! Enjoy!

great ending to a series

I love the story in this book. It is different from the other books.I love how the author was able to go from past to present seamlessly. Of course, I enjoy my HEA ending to this series. Well done.
Kim

enjoyed

I enjoyed all 3 books in series. worth credits. I waited a while to listen to Julians story.

Julian And Tally's Story

Book 3 of Men of Hidden Justice is an awesome saga of a group of men with a particular set of skills who band together on behalf of stolen and kidnapped women and children. Who are dispensing 'justice' to the thieves and killers who fall in their wake. This story of Julian (The Commander) and Tally who begins as his secretary is a wonderful tale, start to finish. So well written, I could not put it down. And the narration by John Lane and Maxine Mitchell is superb. I consider this a 5 star book and look forward to re-reading at some point in the future. Love the HEA. BRAVO Melanie Moreland!!!

Absolutely incredible!

This series has been amazing......and I can't imagine a world where Melanie Moreland didn't write a book for Julian, because holy smokes - this story was incredible!! From the beginning to the very last word, I just devoured Julian and Tally's story. And listening to John Lane and Maxine Mitchell's narration - it was incredible!! I loved how protective and dominant Julian was - John nailed that part of Julian's character perfectly! He truly believed what he was doing was in Tally's best interest, which did mean hiding things from her. But knowing what she had gone through in her past, all he wanted to do was keep her safe. It obviously took some time for her to truly understand that, as evidenced by her keeping a huge secret from him too. But, oh my goodness......seeing Julian once he discovers her secret......swoon. This guy, I adore him.

Truly, if you haven't picked up this series.....you really need to. It's so good - you won't regret it!

Omg I ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ this book!!

The Commander is part of the Hidden men of justice series, and it focuses on Julian. He is the Commander of the group and we get to learn so much about him in this book. His past, the way he acts as he does, why he's involved, his wife... yeah his wife!!!! She worked at the office as his secretary even though he knew better than to hire her!!

Their whole romance is so sweet, but she has some stuff in her past that ends up biting Julian in the backside since he's been hiding so much from her. Can she ever forgive him??? So she runs away... and the man who can find anyone is unable to find her.

Until one day when an employee spots her at an airport and the gloves come off. Cause not only was she seen at the airport, but she has a baby with her that looks just like Julian!!

I received an audible version of this book and listening to the story was absolutely enthralling. Both narrators, John Lane and Maxine Mitchell, brought the story to life in such a way, I barely wanted to stop listening. I'd previously read this book, but listening to the story made it SO MUCH BETTER!!!! Read or listen to this book!! You won't regret it!!

I received an ALC for my honest review.

a lovely romance with a heartwarming HEA

I really enjoyed this audiobook. The story with a heartbreaking beginning takes us through what feels like a love of a lifetime. This was my first John Lane listen and he adds depth the story, but Maxine Mitchell had a special way of making you feel like your right there with the couple.

An amazing romance brought to life

It’s been a wee while since I’ve listened to a Melanie Moreland book and it wasn’t until the first words were spoken that I realised how much I’d missed the dreamily dulcet tones of John Lane. I wish his voice could be my boyfriend.

Anyway, this is the third book in the Men of Hidden Justice series featuring Julian Grayson - the enigmatic, Commander of the group of covert, baddie-busting elite squad the series is named for. But, as always, fear not if this will be your first book in the series, or even of Moreland’s at all, as this book stands completely alone, follows a new couple and you don’t need to have read, or listened to, the other books in the series to understand and enjoy this one.

As I’ve mentioned, our hero is Julian. He’s in charge, he’s a little bit aloof and he’s used to being alone. Oh and he’s grumpy and arrogant - thinking he knows what’s best. And from the moment he meets Taliyah - Tally - he’s obsessively smitten and desperately trying not to be. Oh even now it makes me giddy thinking of how the mighty will fall! And as I mentioned, he is voiced by the growly voiced, John Lane. He does such a good job of Julian. He’s got a deep, authoritative voice that you believe every word he says. Even when voicing a conversation between Julian and Tally - he’s clear about who’s who - making it very easy to follow.

Tally is voiced by Maxine Mitchell and as Tally is the perfect match for Julian, Maxine is the perfect narrator as Tally. Tally has a great blend of similarities with him as well as differences with Julian; She, too, is something of a loner, a kindred spirit that Julian immediately recognises. She’s determined and a fighter and once she’s comfortable, she’s never afraid to say what’s what. And her desire for organisation was just the cherry on the top for me. A girl after my own heart! Maxine has something of a lower, almost gravelly voice but still in a very feminine way. I believed her both as the scared version of Tally, and as the take no prisoners version.

I loved Julian and Tally together and even though their passion was evident and hot - it gave me more smouldering vibes than burn-the-house-down ones. That’s definitely not a problem and I did get those lovely jumpy butterflies in my tummy during their sex scenes. In the quieter times, I really enjoyed seeing Julian become touchy-feely, loving and tactile with Tally. It spoke to a deeper connection which I always love to see in my romances. The real feels that I always associate with Ms Moreland’s writing.

With regards to the story itself, as I’ve come to expect, Melanie Moreland delivers. I was 100% absorbed in this tale and I loved every second. I also have to say that I full-on laughed out loud on occasion, too. It was unexpected but so nice to have.

While there’s no overarching ‘big bad’ in this story as there was in the first two books in the series - there’s still a small element of suspense and danger. It’s not too scary (for a card-carrying wuss like me) and it really was connected to the story and in some way affected the love story of Julian and Tally.

I’m not sure if this will be the end of the Hidden Justice books but I’ve loved every single one of them for different reasons. This book has a different angle to it what with the secret baby, capture his fleeing wife thing going on. Even though I’ve read the book prior to listening to the audio, I was still so absorbed in the story that I listened to it in record time. All in all, I had a great time with this book and I wouldn’t happily recommend it and give it the full 5 stars for the story, the narrators and their performance.

An amazing conclusion to a perfect series

The Commander is book three of the men of hidden justice series and is the second chance romance/secret baby story of Julian and Tally.
This series captured my attention from the start and Matteo and Marcus will forever own a piece of my heart, Julian however, well he took me on a rollercoaster ride and had me hooked on his incredibly emotional/beautiful journey after catching glimpses him in book one and two.
Julian and Tally’s chemistry was off the scale from the start, however, the two had to work hard for not only what they needed but what they deserved.
Julian is the man behind the scenes of hidden justice, the man with a plan and all the rules and Julian is a stickler for the rules, that is until he meets Tally.
Tally is a smart, loyal, driven woman who turns Julian’s world upside down and has him not only breaking the rules but demolishing them. The road to their HEA is a rocky one filled with lots of ups and downs and twists and turns, but Melanie Moreland has a way of giving her characters the ending they deserve even if it turns us readers inside out to get there.
Maxine Mitchell and John Lane are back for this amazing conclusion to what has been a truly captivating series.
I really love this pairing; they are a narrating dream team. John’s deep, commanding tone is perfect to portray commander Julian and Maxine’s beautifully smooth tone conveys Tally’s strength, resilience, and her vulnerabilities phenomenally.
Overall, I loved this audiobook. It was not only the story Julian deserved but also the most incredible conclusion to what has been an amazing series.
If you love sexy alpha protective men who bring all the chemistry, hot Dads, second chance romances and perfect HEA’s then this is the book for you.

A great book

I loved reading this book and to hear it brought it life via narration was great. A lovely story of love and trust , I would thoroughly recommend it xx

Julian and Tally!

Julian is the man in charge of Hidden Justice so even though he doesn’t take an active role in all the missions he does spearhead the intel to ensure the safety of his teams. With his current receptionist retiring he needs to replace her and has a certain type of employee in mind however when Tally comes to interview, he is intrigued and quickly decides she is the perfect woman for the job.

Tally has escaped a dangerous past and all she wants is to keep a low profile and live her life. It is only a matter of time before the chemistry between her and Julian ignites however their happiness is short-lived when she realizes she never really knew him at all. When fate brings them together once again Julian wants a second chance, but will he be able to convince her?

The love and chemistry between them was never in question however Julian’s determination to protect Tally causes turmoil and he has a few important lessons to learn if they are to find their way back to each other. The narrators were a great match for the characters as they brought out the protector in Julian as well as the strength and resilience in Tally.

The Commander

A great story and great 3rd book in the series "Men Of Hidden Justice".

I enjoyed listening to this one as much as I enjoyed book 1 and 2.
The narrators did a great job.

The first meeting between Julian and Tally was really unexpected for him, but she came and stayed in his life.
But both kept secrets which led to Tally's disappearance.

The story is very captivating and I didn't want to press the pause-button.

Love this series!

I cannot get enough of the Hidden Justice men! Each one alpha protective, but have their own truth and paths to happiness. This one focuses on Julian. He was in need of a new assistant. Taliah is hired, She is inexperienced, but he doesn't know that. She is organized and professional. And he can't stop thinking about her. He knows he cannot act on their mutual attraction, but it becomes to hard to even think when she is around. He knows he can't bring a woman into his line of work and she has no idea of his true occupation or his past. When they collide though, all bets are off and he knows what he wants. Twists, turns, love, passion, excitement, all the things I love are brought out in this truly passionate story. Julian is quite the man, and he wormed his way right into my heart. Taliah is a tough nut, and at times I wanted to shake her, but could feel her doubt and fear. It's a true love story with a glimpse at our other Hidden Justice families. I love this series!

The continued narration by Maxine Mitchell and John Lane just add so many feels to the story, it's incredible. I love this team, their professionalism shows with the way they choose their voices and bring out the emotions they both have. From the chemistry, to the fear, to the love, it's all there and absolutely wonderful.

Great narration for a wonderful story

I've really loved this series, which is a perfect, well balanced mix of action and romance. This book follows the Commander, Julian, and his love, Tally. This book can be split into two parts- the meeting and falling in love and the aftermath of Tally leaving Julian and then they next time they meet. This is something that was mentioned in the last book when we learned that Julian finally found Tally after more than a year. So that really whet my appetite to find out what happened!

While I appreciated the story and the way it played out, Tally's actions really upset me overall. All's well that ends well and the story ended beautifully but I couldn't get over her actions or even her intent. That's the reason for the 4 stars for the story.

That said, this is a must read- this whole series, actually. The interconnectedness of the main characters and how the stories and this series resolves made me so happy.

For my second "read" of this series, I listened to the audiobook. John Lane's gruff's voice and Maxine Mitchell's smooth voice were perfect for Julian and Tally. And the way they could control their voices to play the multiple parts truly brought me into the story. A wonderful reading by a great narration team.

And, another great series by Melanie Moreland!

The icing on the cake

Just so you are aware. I'm not a huge fan of Mafia type stories, so I would not normally choose to read this book. But I am a huge fan of Melanie Moreland and her writing.
This series is set in the world of Hidden Justice, an under ground agency set up to rescue victims of organised crime & deal with the organisation behind the atrocities. Just like all the stories in this series The Commander is relationship driven & the setting is the scaffolding. By that I mean it's not the the focus, so if like me you're not a Mafia romance fan you are still going to love reading The Commander.
Julian, The Commander, he's in charge, running the operation. He is a very alpha male. Very in control, passionate, protective, detail oriented. Just hawt!
Taliyah Wells is trying to make her dreams come true. To make something of her life after a traumatic, sad start. Tally is a strong, independent woman alone in the world until she bursts into Julian's office to interview for the secretarial post.
When Julian lets his heart rule his head, something he's never done before, and offers Tally the post. His whole well controlled exterior begins to crack.
I can't tell you how much I loved this story. It is the icing on the Hidden Justice cake.
John Lane as Julian and Maxine Mitchell as Tally are just fab, as they always are. I really could listen to them all day.