FOR HIS EYES ONLY (Masters and Mercenaries #13) by Lexi Blake-Review and Excerpt Tour
FOR HIS EYES ONLY
Masters and Mercenaries #13
by Lexi Blake
Release Date: February 28, 2017
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romantic suspense
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 28, 2017
A night he can’t forget
Five years ago, Nick Markovic found himself consumed by his quest for vengeance. The one time he managed to find peace was in the arms of Hayley Dalton. Being with her was like bathing in sunlight, and he ached to feel that again, but he couldn’t. He gave his oath to Hayley’s cousin Desiree, his partner at McKay-Taggart and Knight, that he’d never let his darkness infect Hayley’s innocent world.
A spark she can’t put out
It was years before that Hayley offered everything she had to Nick. After that one amazing night, all she wanted was to be his forever. Unfortunately, Nick’s reaction was to walk away from her and never look back. The warm and caring man she’d discovered was gone, and after Des’s death, he’d only grown colder. But when Hayley finds herself in mortal danger, she’s forced to seek protection from the man who broke her heart.
A flame that threatens to consume them both
Haunted by the women he failed, Nick can’t allow himself to grow close to Hayley again. Running to stay ahead of the powerful forces that endanger their lives, they travel from the lush Garden in London to the glittering lights of Rio. As the threat against her becomes clearer, he realizes that to keep her safe he must confront the demons from his past, even if it costs him a future with the woman he loves.
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REVIEW: FOR HIS EYES ONLY is the thirteenth full length installment in Lexi Blake’s contemporary, adult MASTERS AND MERCENARIES erotic, romantic suspense series focusing on the men and women who work for McKay-Taggart and Knight Agency. This is former Russian agent Nick Markovic, and history professor Hayley Dalton’s story line. FOR HIS EYES ONLY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from previous story lines is revealed where necessary although there are references to ongoing scenarios from previous investigations and fall out.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Nick and Hayley) FOR HIS EYES ONLY is a second chance romance between Nick Markovic and Hayley Dalton. Ten years earlier, a then fifteen year old Hayley Dalton fell in love with her cousin Desiree’s friend Nick Markovic; fast forward five years and twenty year old Hayley finds herself giving her virginity to the man that she loves only to learn that Desiree was the woman that Nikolai wanted. Five more years would pass before Hayley walked back into Nikolai’s life when her own life sat on the precipice of danger and death. Someone wanted Hayley dead and Nick is the man she turns to for protection and help. What ensues is the rekindling relationship between Nick and Hayley, and the search for the people responsible for threatening our heroine’s life.
FOR HIS EYES ONLY has a very large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters (most of whom were previously introduced in earlier story lines). The slow building premise finds Nick Markovic as both protector and lover to the woman that calls to his heart. Nikolai is a Dom, and as a member of The Garden BDSM Club he does not want Hayley a part of that life but attention from a number of other males, and fellow agents at McKay-Taggart and Knight finds Nick on the offensive as he slowly introduces Hayley to the role as his submissive. The $ex scenes are intimate; the BDSM scenarios are light with some limited spanking, rope play, and oral $ex.
Throughout the story line the reader is inundated with numerous references to Nick’s ex partner and girlfriend Desiree. Desiree is a former agent who got caught up in the game of power and greed, and when her life was forfeited, Hayley became the target of some powerful people hoping to acquire some information that Desiree kept hidden. Nick’s promise to protect Hayley comes with the guilt of his feelings for Desiree, and his continuing attraction to Hayley as well. For all intents and purposes, FOR HIS EYE ONLY felt more like a love triangle between Hayley, Nick and Desiree. Desiree was never out of mind for Nikolai, and in this I struggled with his attraction and love to our story line heroine. Nick’s need for Hayley was more of a power struggle with himself; a need to control that which he believed was his.
FOR HIS EYES ONLY is an infinitely detailed and comprehensive story of mystery, suspense, betrayal and regret that follows several paths converging in a final show down where secrets are revealed; lies are confessed; the truth is a hard pill to swallow. The copious number of references to Desiree made it difficult to like our story line hero; the constant reminders of his relationship with Desiree was troubling not only for Hayley but for this reader as well. The premise is intriguing; the romance is heartbreaking and spicy; the characters are colorful and sensational. FOR HIS EYES ONLY is a provocative tale of betrayal, intrigue and love.
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Sandy
Who had been tired the night before and that was why she’d said the things she’d said. This morning she’d seemed much more sensible. After she’d had some sleep and a shower and had straightened herself up, she’d been quiet and seemingly reflective. She was very likely embarrassed by what had been said the night before.
I would get safety from murderers and I would get orgasms. I’m sorry, Nicky, you’re going to tell me how that’s a bad deal for me.
He was going to make sure she understood that his protection wasn’t based on whether or not she slept with him.
Because he wasn’t sleeping with her. He couldn’t hurt her that way again.
“So she was your old lover’s cousin,” Owen mused. “The lover you weren’t exclusive with and who wouldn’t marry you. The pretty girl who looks at you like you’re the sun in the sky is her cousin.”
“She looks at me like she would look at man who can save her.”
“I can save her.” Owen’s eyes lit up, his brows waggling. “Maybe she’ll look at me like that.”
Anger flared through his system. “Don’t you dare. I told you I would take care of her.”
His arms crossed over his big chest and Nick knew he’d been had. “Well, that answers the question with more honesty. You can pretend, but you like the girl. And if you honestly don’t then you need to know that the boys got a good look at her last night. If she’s going to be hanging about, she should be ready for some serious male attention.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The lads talked it over last night and decided there’s no dibs on this one. They all saw her at pretty much the same time. They looked over that dead body and saw her walking in the hall and that was when the fighting started. We all sat down and decided no dibs on her. She’ll get to pick. You should know that Sasha and Jax have decided if she picks either of them, they’re willing to share. I don’t play that way. That’s something I do know about meself. No need for you to be telling me that tale. If there’s going to be some sharing in the bedroom, it’s going to be the traditional kind between a man and a woman and her stacked best friend. That’s what I say.”
“You tell those boys to stay away from her or they will be dealing with me. They will not like to be dealing with me. I will put up with many things from them. They can poke all the corpses they like. They can punch each other. I do not care. They touch Hayley and I will be caring.”
“Wow, now you do sound Russian. A scary Russian. Still, I think if you don’t want the girl, shouldn’t she be allowed to choose? Think about it. It could be fun.”
“Are we talking about the lost boys and their battle for the new chick?” Kayla strode in, her hair in a high ponytail. It bounced as she walked, a testament to her seemingly ever-sunny personality. “I had babysitting duty last night and they kept talking about her even after lights out. Bad boys. I had a plan though. I think we make them compete in a beauty pageant. Hayley gets to judge.”
“I’m judging a beauty pageant?” Hayley followed behind Kay, and both women were followed by Charlotte Taggart and Penelope Knight. It looked like Hayley was rapidly being accepted by the women on his team.
That was not necessarily a good thing. The women on his team could create chaos like no others.
“That sounds like fun,” Charlotte said with a smile. “I think we should require Speedos for the bathing suit competition. No boring board shorts. If Hayley’s picking a lover, she needs to see some booty.”
Hayley stopped, her cheeks going the sweetest color of pink. “Wait. What?”
Penelope put a hand on her arm. “They’re teasing you, dear. Don’t worry about it. The lads will be very polite. Though you should expect some suitors while you’re here. Especially if you come down to the dungeon.”
Now he was the one flushing. “Excuse me?”
Hayley shook her head as she joined him at the table. “It’s nothing. I was just talking to the girls. Did you get the report? Penny said the Dallas office had found something.”
He was all too aware that they weren’t alone. Damon and Ian walked in with Brody Carter and Walter Bennett. The four men settled into chairs as the women joined them. Nick held out a chair for Hayley. He would have to remember that he couldn’t leave her alone for a minute or someone would be whispering in her ear, giving her ideas she shouldn’t have.
Like visiting The Garden on a play night.
It wasn’t happening.
NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog int eh world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.
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Wonderful review, Sandy. Looks like a story that has a bit of everything.
great review, sandy this looks like a wonderful series to try.
Wonderful review, thanks for your honesty . Hard to compete with a ghost from the past!
Another excellent review. Thanks for your honesty.
Great review Sandy.
Wonderful review, thanks Sandy. I have read a few books in this series!
Terrific review, Sandy. Sounds like a great read.