Thrill Ride (Black Knights Inc. Book 4)

Loved the book as I was merged into it. The gravitational pull of the book towards solving a murder mystery to adventurous ride through the dense forest to romance to sacrifice to patriotism and more pulled me to turn each page before I could reach the happy ending of ever after....

Not a bad read 4 books in and as a clandestine operation the black knights are ok but still a bit disjointed as a team for me but for quick weekend reads they are ok, overall they could use more depth in the storyline, plot and characters

Thrill Ride by Julie Ann WalkerThis is the forth book in the "Black Knights Inc" SeriesIt seems his little job on the side has gotten him into a right mess of trouble, trouble that comes with the words "Shoot to kill" attached to them!He has no where to go, no one to turn to even his friends have a hard time understanding if he could be in this kind of trouble!Only one stand out as knowing that he didn't do all these terrible things he has been linked to. The only hope is to bring him in and fight to clear his name.Sounds easy doesn't it................... Oh how wrong they were!!!!!!!So along the way I have fallen in love with this series of books from Julie Ann Walker, her writing style is close to Susan Stoker who I also love, their books are along the same themes and have the love of family, loyalty & humor throughout.This book was awesome! I can't speak enough on these books, the same old team with more trouble thrown in, humor from all sides as well as "heart in your throat" fear, pain & love.Loved the story and the back grounds on both main characters and who they fought to be who they are and why they are the way they are!Fantastic read, really bringing the sense of forever friends & family through the whole book.Roll on the next read.P.S. I want my own Black Knight Alpha!!!!!!***** FIVE STARS *****

Imagine being a soldier, fighting to protect your country and then having the very people you've dedicated your life to accuse you of going Rogue. In Thrill Ride, it's exactly what happens to Rock Babineux, the Black Knights' ellusively sexy Cajun. Aside from working with the Knights, Rock has been working a second, secretive job, and this time he finds himself on the receiving end of the U.S.'s hit list and with a need to run and hide for his life. For six months Rock has evaded both the U.S. Gov't, and BK Inc, but to his dismay, the sexy communication specialist, Vanessa Cordero, has found him, and she's determined to bring him back. Now, together in the Costa Rican forest, they must evade special ops forces that have been ordered to shoot on sight. For Vanessa, this isn't just a journey to help Rock clear his name, she's on a mission to win the Cajun's heart, but Rock is determined to keep the sexy latina at arms length.Rock's character isn't one that jumps out at you during the series. Much like Vanessa said, he's not the type of man who's beauty is instantaneous, his beauty takes a second look. But his loyalty, not only to his friends but his country is undoubtedly honorable and all the more heartbreaking. I fell in love with Rock little by little, and at the end, he'd completely won me over. Much about his life he keeps secret, but he soon finds out that the only way to save himself is by letting those around him know what he's been through. He was such a stubborn man, but watching him fall in love with Vanessa was such a treat! It wasn't that he didn't want to get hurt, it was that he refused to make someone fall in love with him, only to be killed and leave behind a grieving partner, because he knows what it's like to be on the receiving end of THAT much pain.But Vanessa Cordero will not be deterred. She knew from the very first time she walked into BK Inc and heard that man speak that she was a goner. After six months of trying to find Rock, Vanessa and the Knights finally get a lead, and it's up to Vanessa to convince him to let them help. We started to see more of Vanessa in Rev It Up, as well as the chemistry between them. She refuses to let him push her away and she's extremely feisty. I enjoyed her POV alot, and watching her break through Rock's defenses was hilarious at best. And to be honest, this is the first time from the series where I actually liked the female lead. Vanessa just seemed much more strong willed to me, and it was refreshing to have a heroine who didn't jump to conclusions abut every little thing regarding our sexy Knight.The whole time these two are fighting to stay and making sure they walk away with their hearts in tact, the Knights are gathering in Costa Rica risking their own safety to save Rock. We get to watch the story unfold through Wild Bill and Eve's eyes. And I gotta say, Bill is quickly becoming a favorite of mine as well, but Eve, although I don't have much of a problem with her.. I don't want her for Bill :( She doesn't have a backbone, and just seems spoiled. I honestly don't see anything interesting about her, so we'll just have to wait and see if her story changes my mind.I know I've been focusing mostly on the characters, and it seems never ending, but... I'd like to talk about just ONE more, and then we're through I promise xD Since the very first book, Hell on Wheels, my favorite of the Knights has always been Ozzie, BK Inc's resident tech-geek and self proclaimed man-whore. Unfortunately for me, he's been somewhat of an enigma throughout the series. But on this journey to save one of their own-- Julie Ann gives me Ozzie!! *cue fangirl squee here* We get to see more of his personality throughout. How he goes from being a complete goofynerdball to the serious and smart soldier he is. I'm <s>im</s>patiently awaiting for his book, but to be honest, I don't see him with anybody. I do however hope his heroine will be deserving of his heart... the man whore! xD LOLNow while the story focuses on saving Rock from an untimely death, we also get to learn from the person who betrayed him. But not every secret can be told at once, this mysterious Rwanda Don character stays hidden behind a corrupt CIA agent, and you'll be surprised to find out who it is ;)Julie Ann Walker's Thrill Ride promises an exhilarating ride full of action, romance, and lots of humorous intrigue. Her writing is light, fun and fans of Romantic Suspense are bound to fall in love with the Black Knights.

OMG I love this series and this book was no exception!! I laughed, I cried and was completetly in love with Rock. I couldn't put this booj down I read it in one sitting:)love it keep up the great writing and definatly pick this book up if you haven't yet.

Black Knight Mitglied Rock, der harte Cajun Typ, 'fühlt' sich in seine Befragungsopfer ein, und entlockt ihnen sämtliche Geheimnisse.Vanessa, die linguistische Sirene aus dem Black Knight Team liebt ihn heiß und innig, aber Rock will sich nach einer persönlichen Tragödie nicht mehr auf die Liebe einlassen, aus Angst er könnte wieder einen Verlust erleiden, der ihn so schwer trifft wie zuvor...Dann wird er eines Tages von der CIA gehetzt, weil seine Aktivitäten angeblich illegal waren. Er taucht unter, und wird von seinen ehemaligen Kollegen nur mit Mühe gefunden und zurück geholt damit sie ihm aus der Misere helfen können...Ach Gott, man weiß gar nicht wo in diesem Roman die Ungereimtheiten anfangen bzw. aufhören. Die ach so harten Jungs von Black Knight Inc. schicken eine Frau allein in den Dschungel von Costa Rica die Angst im Dunkeln hat (!) und auch sonst reichlich naiv ist. Der Super-Duper Actionheld Rock HEULT, als seine guten Freunde ihn wieder ausspüren, weil er Angst um sie hat.(Buuuahhh...)Was zuvor als die geheimnissvolle Fähigkeit des tollen Rock hochstilisiert wird -nämlich die innersten Geheimnisse aus den bösen, bösen Verbrechern mit der weißen Weste herauszulocken- stellt sich am Ende als ganz normale Verhörmethoden heraus. (laaaangweilig!)Die Story über die Rekrutierung und Mitwirkung des Helden Rock in dem streng geheimen 'Projekt' ist an Dummheit und Naivität nicht mehr zu überbieten, und er wird noch nicht einmal für seine Mühen bezahlt!!!Das ist einfach nur dämlich.UND es taucht völlig unvermutet der eigentliche Schuldige an Rocks Gewissenskonflikt auf, der auch brav alle Schuld auf sich nimmt, und am Ende noch Selbstmord begeht, damit alle anderen wieder ruhig schlafen können.Wie nett!Wirklich uninteressant ist aber die Liebesgeschichte.Das ist der vierte Roman der Black Knight Serie in dem der Held immer und immer wieder betont 'er sei nicht gut genug' für die wunderbare Frau die ihn soooo liebt. Er muß aber unbedingt mit ihr ins Bett springen. Das nervt schon mal ordentlich.SIE läßt sich, wie auch die Damen in der vorhergehenden drei Romanen zu einer Nacht der Extase mit dem Helden ein, nur um sich am folgenden Morgen (genau wie schon drei Mal zuvor in dieser Serie - wer hätte das gedacht) von ihrem Lover wegstoßen zu lassen. Hurra!!!!Was in den ersten beiden Romanen noch Spaß brachte, nämlich die witzigen Sprüche von dem einen oder anderen Black Knight oder die Interaktion des Teams ist zu bloßen Stereotypen verkommen, die absolut uninspiriert daherkommen.Ozzie trägt ein Star Trek Shirt nach dem anderen auf, und Boss küßt in einer Tour die Schläfe seiner Frau Becky, während Wild Bill und seine 'wunderbare Frau für die er nicht gut genug' ist, schon die Vorhersehbarkeit des fünften Black Knight Romans einläuten...Schade, schade. Der Schreibstil der Autorin ist eigentlich ganz gut, und die Figuren sind nach einer interessanten Idee aufgestellt, aber auf die Dauer ist es einfach nicht genug einen Roman wieder und wieder zu kopieren. Da ist schon mehr Fantasie gefragt.Vielleicht beim nächsten Mal, Mrs. Walker?