No Regrets

by Wendy Justine

Life was good for Lieutenant Commander Dexter Dawson. A career he loved, and a beautiful woman filling his time between missions. But his world comes crashing down when Lieutenant Kelly Kimber is captured by terrorists. Ignoring orders, Dexter goes rogue with his team to bring home the woman who has been in his life since the day she was born. No training could have prepared Kelly for the horror of her captivity. The reality of what happened leaves her broken, afraid and confused. Once, she would have given anything to hear Dexter say I love you. Now, she isn’t sure it’s enough. Dexter must deal with the aftermath of his actions, face up to his faults and insecurities, and find a way to get back the woman he loves as she tries to fight her demons. When the terrorists who captured her return for revenge, Dexter and Kelly are targeted. Dexter will do whatever it takes to protect her, determined to prove he can be the man she needs him to be. Even if that means giving his own life.

Genres: Suspense

346 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2023

About the author

Born in London, UK, I now live in the beautiful Niagara Benchlands Region in Ontario, Canada.
Writing is my happy place, my passion, my love. That thing I do and five hours seem to pass in five minutes.
An avid reader of many romance genres, I am also a lover of biographies.
I confess I love a book that takes me away from reality into a place where great words and creative imagination meet.

My dream has always been to create stories that take my reader to a different world, out of their everyday existence. A world of alpha men and strong women, with romance, action, drama, tension and a little spice. Feel those strong arms reach out from the pages and engulf you in a hug and take you away from reality.

I can't wait to introduce you to the guys and girls of the Onyx Black Ops series. They have become a part of my life and I am forever surprised by the journeys we are going on together.
This series takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions, is full of action, suspense, trauma, love and lust before getting to the happy ever after. Are you ready to be transported into a world of heroes and heroines, masculine men and kick ass feminine women? Enjoy.

Reviews

[Tonya Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!!! THIS BOOK WAS FANTASTIC. I can not wait for the next book. Onyx is going to be fearce. In this book all the men realised that tomorrow may not come and family is always #1. Dex had learned a lot working with Sam. Kelly had so much to work through but with her family right next to her she was where she needed to be.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rach3l · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read. It had some action but wasn’t too descriptive when it came to any torture which I appreciated since I’m squeamish. The author was able to tie everything up and give you a good love story. I just wish I would have seen more of Kelly and Dex’s long friendship/relationship.

Side note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a damn fine story by a damn fine author

I honestly have no words to describe how much I enjoyed this book. The author has built her tale around one of the most brutal experiences that can happen to a woman, how this one act can destroy more than one life and, wow, does she do it well.

It's deep and in some cases dark. I am not a military/secret ops expert/follower, but I can see why the team made the swap from to Joe to Sam as their reporting officer (and I can only hope that I have that terminology correct).

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wendy Justine is a new author for me, Lt. Commander Dexter Dawson and Commander Kelly Kimber have known each other since they were little kids. Six years ago they took their friendship to the next level everything was going good until something bad happens to Kelly. Dexter does something stupid and it almost ends his career. Kelly goes through something traumatic and it takes her a while to move through and she puts Dexter at arms length. In the end they get their happily ever after. Really well written and loved the story would read from this author again

[BecReadReview · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started the book, I didn't expect the opening nor did the way the book went. There was so much emotions & feelings the Author evoked from me. Dex & Kelly both awed & frustrated me. Dex's team is one to admire & the banter leaves you laughing. A series I will be following. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the story but it was slow going for me. Couldn't put it down, but just wanted to finish it and move on to the next book. I liked the detail that was involved, but too much Nicholas Sparks vibe for my liking. Totally worth reading!

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. A new to me author, and I can't wait to get the next book.
Lots of action, romance, and more. It kept me interested from page one until the end.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Woodatsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a new to me author, I've checked for other books but have found none, so I assume this is her debut? And I have to say, I'm pleasantly surprised.

The book centers around Dexter, a Navy Seal and Kelly, Navy Intelligence Officer. They've known each other since youth, became best friends which turned into a sort friends with benefits relationship over the years. Kelly's feelings are a bit deeper then Dex' but when Kelly is taken hostage by a terrorist group during a mission in Daram and her whole team gets killed, Dex sets out to rescue her. It is then that he realises his feelings for her are much stronger than he thought, he's in love with her.

When he finds her, she's been horribly abused, raped and is a shadow of herself. He vows to be there for her, to be who she wants him to be and to hunt the guy who did this. Kelly however doesn't want to see him in the beginning, she wants to heal, feels she no longer worthy and takes her distance. Dex is not giving up though and slowly they rebuild their relationship.

When Dex set out to recue Kelly he was told to stand down by his superiors but nothing stopped him from going after her. He got punished but was remarked by a secret Ops group and gets recruited with his whole team. Meanwhile the people responsible for the attack have found out about Dex and Kelly and are bent on revenge.

I loved both MC's, Dex for being so understanding and patient with Kelly once he realises she needs time. Kelly for being portrayed as a strong woman despite what's happened to her. And I loved all the support she got from the team.

This was a great start to the series and I can't wait to read the next book. We got introduced to a bunch of characters and I believe it's Ryan story next.

*#ARC kindly received from the author via Booksirens. This is my honest review.*

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am new to Book Sirens and I must say that No Regrets by Wendy Justice was fantastic. I have not heard of her as an author before but certainly will add her to my list of favorites.

This book has so much depth, hard subject matter and there were times I was in tears.

Dexter and Kelly have known each other since they were kids and are best friends. Dex is an Navy Seal and Kelly is also Navy, but in Intelligence.

Now as adults are still together, but their relationship has changed to a more intimate one. Kelly believes her feelings are deeper than Dex's, but when Kelly is taken hostage by a terrorist group while on a mission with another Seal Team (Bravo) who were all brutely murdered, Dex knows he has to be the one to rescue her as he realizes he loves her.

Dex and team are on their return from another mission when he finds out about Kelly. In turn, he asks his commanding officer to let them go in as they are closer than another team, but the Commander says no. For Dex, this is a defining moment for him and asks his team if they would go in. As he is the team leader, he can only hope they will agree. Of course, there is no question as his team if on board.

When they find Kelly, she has been beaten, abused, and raped and doesn't even acknowledge that it's Dex and team. She is taken stateside to a hospital for review and Dex is the first one to go to see her. She doesn't want any visitors and Dex is beside himself over not being able to see her and comfort her.

Once Kelly is released from the hospital, she is seeing Claire who is a therapist and also keeps in contact with her doctor and friend Sophie. She finally sees Dex and lets him know that there can no longer be anything between them and told him to find someone else. Dex is furious over this but decides to give her space.

Dex is reprimanded for disobeying a direct order and is under review. Kelly finds out about this and writes a letter to the panel letting them know she would definitely have been killed if Dex's Seal Team had not rescued her that day.

Dex gets sidelined for a month while his team goes on missions. During that time, he receives a call from a legendary Seal, Sam Harrison who offers Dex a job leading a team of black ops. Dex is torn about what to do as most of his thoughts are around Kelly.

As time goes on Dex and Kelly start to rebuild their relationship, but there is danger looming as the people responsible are going after Dex and Kelly again.

This was a fantastic book, and I can't wait to read the entire series. There were lots of great characters within the Seal team and I see Ryan will be next up in the series.

I received this as an ARC review vis BookSirens.

[Anika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wendy Justine's "No Regrets" catapults readers into a world of intense military operations and heart-wrenching emotion. Lieutenant Commander Dexter Dawson's seemingly perfect life takes a drastic turn when Lieutenant Kelly Kimber, the woman he loves, is captured by terrorists. Ignoring orders, Dexter goes rogue to rescue her, setting the stage for a thrilling tale of love, sacrifice, and redemption.

The narrative delves into the aftermath of Kelly's captivity, portraying the harrowing impact on her and Dexter's relationship. The emotional turmoil and insecurities faced by Dexter add layers to the characters, making them relatable and compelling.

The story skillfully combines heart-pounding action with tender moments as Dexter confronts his faults and strives to reclaim the woman he loves. The bond between the characters is tested not only by external threats but also by the internal struggles they must overcome.

As terrorists seek revenge, the stakes are raised, and Dexter's determination to protect Kelly at any cost adds a gripping layer of suspense. The narrative is a rollercoaster of emotions, with love, sacrifice, and redemption at its core.

In "No Regrets," Wendy Justine delivers a powerful military romance that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The balance between action-packed sequences and the emotional depth of the characters makes this a compelling read for fans of the genre. Justine skillfully weaves a tale of love and resilience, leaving readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in the Onyx Black OPs series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book " no regrets " was quite an entertaining read, for me it was a short, quick and easy read.

While I did enjoy this book I was slightly bored for about 40% of the book, I feel that instead of focusing on our main characters relationship this book spent most of the time trying to get our MFC to talk to our MMC, I understand the experience she endured however I feel the book could have gotten to the point it was trying to get to in about half the book.

One of the main things I really enjoyed about this book was the fact that the MMC understood the FMCs boundaries and both understood and followed them. I also loved how we were shown so much character development from both our MCs and we got to see how relationships can shatter and be built up again piece by piece.

Overall, was this a five star read? No. Do I think that this book could have quite a few improvements, like listed above,? Yes. But considering the book as a whole I think it was an engaging read which also raised awareness about how traumatic experiences can have a negative impact on both oneself and ones loved ones, and how through patience and love these relationships can be healed. I would definitely recommend this book for someone who wants a nice, romantic read, however would definitely tell everyone to check the trigger warnings.

I received an advance review copy for free via BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lorena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

After finishing the book, I have to say that the second half of the book is so much better than the first half.
The first half of the book is a lot about trauma and healing from trauma but it felt repetitive (which in reality it probably is, so it might be a good representation). The pace seemed very slow and there was not a lot going on. Essentially it makes the first half a bit boring at some point. But pretty much at 50%, the book, it's pace, and the entire action changes a lot. There was a suspense in the plot as well as the romance. It kept me engaged in the book and I am very happy that I ended up finishing the book. I really liked that the ending wasn't drawn out too much.
Though, throughout the first part of the book we got a lot of insights into the mindset and fears of the main characters. This made it a lot easier to understand their actions and decisions throughout the book.
The book is very hard to rate because the parts are so different but I will rate it 3,5 stars. If the first part had just a little bit more action, I would had loved the book so much more and it would have been easily 4 stars. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good that at times it made me anxious, and I had to take a 5-minute breather because the action was nonstop, and I just could not read fast enough to get to what was happening next. The tension of how they could catch the bad guys and still keep it together. Thank goodness that the guys were highly trained special forces and the worse it got the better they got. The book’s two main characters were Dex, the team lead of one of the units, and Kelly his lifetime best friend and lover. She was also an intelligent officer and was captured by some bad guys and Dex and his team rescued her. Her time in captivity was extremely difficult and she needed a great deal of time and care to recover. It was during this time that Dex realized just how much he was in love with her and needed her in his life. The plot thickens and is filled with twists and turns and the author does a great job in explaining how rape victims react and have flashbacks and how they feel during recovery. I really can’t wait for the next book in this series and loved they guys and their love of country and the women in their lives. Add this to your TBR list.

[Jen ME Warrior · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 1st book I've read by this author and I was pleasantly surprised.

The story is in depth, believable (as a layman) and powerful.

Kelly and Dex are life long friends with a side of benefits, but neither of them has really appreciated the other before disaster strikes.

Dex gets himself in trouble rescuing Kelly, but is Kelly able to overcome the damage from her capture.

I appreciated the level of detail in Kelly's recovery, no 'the right man will fix you' here. There is therapy, set backs, support from friends and time passes before she is ready to move forward.

Poor Dex doesn't know what to do with himself. I liked the human aspect of his struggle to abide by Kelly's requests. He is alpha all round so it doesn't sit right with him that he can't fix her.

Trigger warnings, capture tourture and rape of female character very early in the book. Some readers may want to give it a miss for that reason.

All in all a great 1st book in the series - I will definitely be reading the next one!

I received a free reader copy for review and and leaving this voluntarily.

[Denise H · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book by a new author/series that checks all the boxes for a great, intense romantic suspense. Action, danger, suspense, turmoil, angst, laughs, healing, romance, and more. Dexter and Kelly tug at the heartstrings and hold you captive for their story. The team camaraderie and brotherhood stay strong throughout the story and their planning and executing of missions are detailed and descriptive giving the story a more real feel. The entire read holds a powerful intensity that keeps you engrossed in the book. Dexter and Kelly’s relationship spans many years back to their youth and has a stable foundation that’s shaken badly by Kelly’s capture and torture during an op. Between her capture and the loss of her team her spirit and body are broken and she feels lost and full of self-loathing. Dexter feels helpless and heartbroken for what she’s suffered and it ungrounds him. Both of these characters have a lot of healing, self-reflection, and growing to do and the author does an amazing job of taking us along on their journey. These two fight hard for their HEA. It’s definitely a story that will consume your thoughts and emotions from beginning to end.

*I received an ARC through BookSirens and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Heather Wray · Rating 5 out of 5]

TRIGGER WARNING, aspects of Kelly’s hostage situation could be sensitive to some readers.

Wendy Justine is a new author to me and it appears this is her debut book as well.
Dexter and Kelly are long-time friends that both enlisted in the Navy. They have a more than friends relationship, but are not quite a couple.
When a mission goes wrong, and Kelly is the only survivor from her team, and take hostage. Dex against orders is determined to rescue her. He knows he will probably no longer be a Seal because of it however; his deeper feelings prevail against his stand down orders. Luckily for Dex and his team they’ve now been recruited by the Onyx Black OPs group.
Dex can now spend time on Kelly and helping her heal. The author does an excellent job of showing Dexter’s softer side, when dealing with Kelly’s needs, and the team aid were they can too.

Took a bit for me to get into the story, but when I did I loved it, very emotional. With such a great start, I am really looking forward to the next book in the series.

I received a review reader’s copy of the book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Cathaleen Way · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wendy Justine is a new author for me. This book was full of all the feels. Love, angst, friendship, sorry and rebuilding.

Dexter and Kelly have been friends since they were young. Over the years more friends with benefits. When Kelly is taken hostage Dexter understands the true feelings, he has for her. She isn’t the same woman upon her rescue as the one he saw last. I loved how even though she pulled away he stuck strong at her side through the horrendous healing that she needs to do. Kelly was also portrayed as a strong woman even with what she went through.

This was a great start to the series. I am excited to see more of the team. I loved the interaction between the team and Kelly. The strong support and the fact everyone had her back. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually a lot more action-packed and suspense than I had anticipated. I loved the plot - it kept me going and reading for more. In this first of a new series, I do believe the author has set up the world quite nicely. We get to know the basis of how things work and still have a great story at the same time. Dexter and Kelly have a lot of history together and have gone through quite a bit with one another. Before lovers, they are friends who serve together and from there, the natural attraction and relationship builds - although I do love that a good portion of the novel isn't about them building a romantic relationship with one another but instead focuses on how they support each other despite everything going on around them. I think, overall, this is a great start of a new series to come.


Received ARC for honest review

[Viper Spaulding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense, engrossing, swoony romance!

This was simply an amazing read. Kelly and Dex both work for the Navy, she as an intelligence officer attached to a SEAL team, while he leads his own (different) SEAL team. They've known each other all their lives, and have been casually dating for the past six years. Then Kelly is kidnapped and tortured, and Dex will break every rule necessary to rescue her.

The story starts with the stark, gritty realism of Kelly's captivity, and is not for the faint of heart. The author gives us only enough detail to know that yes, that happened, without too many details. Still, it's heartbreaking to read and even more heartbreaking to go through her recovery with her.

Kelly has her own hell to recover from, Dex has to face the consequences of his decisions, and there's a lingering threat that sneaks up on them when they least expect it. Throughout all this, Kelly and Dex have to navigate their changed relationship, one painful step at a time. I was completely captivated by this story and couldn't put it down until I got to the very satisfying HEA.

This is a new author, and this appears to be her first book. She's definitely an author to watch, and I'm looking forward to reading more in this fascinating series. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the series and the first book I have read by the author, and I have to tell you I can’t wait for book 2. I was glad I picked this book as it is not the typical genre I read.

This book starts off with a bang. As the story progresses, the development of the characters is nicely done. The story takes you on a roller coaster of emotions from start to finish. The strength and courage that Lieutenant Kelly shows throughout the book is astonishing. Then, you have the heartache Dex has to deal with throughout the book. In the end, they get their happily ever after.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Amanda Marlowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kelly and Dex have known each other all their lives, they grew up near each other and were each other's best friend.
Dex joined the Seal's and Kelly was in Navy Intelligence. Then Kelly went on a mission with her team and was captured. Being a woman she was treated very badly. Dex and his team are nearer to rescue her, but are told to stand down, Dex ignores the order.
He's then in a lot of trouble, but doesn't regret anything. Can Kelly come through what's happened to her? Will Dex treat her differently? What about his career?

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A really great romantic suspense from Wendy

[Silke · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Regrets is the 1st book in the Onyx Black OPs series and also the first book I've read by this author. It's a mix of fast-paced, heart-stopping action and a slow re-gaining of a romantic relationship. There are scenes of torture that could be triggers and some seriously scary scenarios that sound all to possible. It was an entertaining read and I liked both the main characters as well as the side characters, who will hopefully get their own stories soon. Definitely an author I'll keep on my checklist!
I received an advanced copy through Booksirens and am leaving this review voluntarily and honestly.

[Rhonda Boone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a very raw, gritty, emotional, heartbreaking with traumatic events… It is a Romantic Military themed Suspense and does have trigger warnings….read them before hand. I did find myself fully captivated by the plot, some parts and things were hard to read, hiwever, I felt the author did portray the military life and the traumatic events with compassion and realistic. I loved the characters and the supporting secondary characters of friendas well… the dialogue, action scenes and flow of words will keep you on the edge of your seat till the end!! I recommend this book it will heal that heart in the end…

I received this book as an ARC and leaving my honest opinion voluntarily.

[Poppy · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Copy given for a fair & honest review.

Author is new to me, and this book is a great start to a new series, a must for me as it the 1st book doesn’t catch my interest I’ll not continue with the series.

Childhood friends who become lovers. Both enlisted in the forces.

Dex goes against team orders to save his girl and the story begins.

Great chemistry and dynamics with the leads, thrilling story telling with no gaps or fillers. Ties all up nicely, I’ll definitely be looking for the next instalment

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story has a LOT of triggers if you’re sensitive - just saying. Also a lot of time spent on the military side of the story. There is romance and feelings, as well as the camaraderie of guys who fight and work together. Well developed characters. Dex came a long way from “all about me” to “what does Kelly need”. And Kelly did all the right things for her physical and emotional healing and still found the strength to step up when Dex needed her.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Laura R · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an emotional read, especially as the main female character Kelly Kimber is captured by terrorists and tortured. But there's also a lot of love, camaraderie between the team members and Kelly, suspense, and danger. The relationship between Dex and Kelly is challenged due to her capture and it tests their friendship. Dex is not only a protective alpha male but he's a bit of a maverick and tends to act first and beg forgiveness later. I enjoyed the story and look forward to seeing what happens in the next book.

[Darcie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one began a little slow for me, but as I continued reading Dex and Kelly sucked me in and I fell in love with both characters. Both Kelly and Dex grew so much throughout their story, and they did it together; they fought so hard for their HEA.I love the Raven men and enjoyed meeting the other group of Onyx men. The love this team of men have for one another and Kelly was amazing. I can’t wait to read the next one with Ryan and Sophie.

I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kelly A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. The writer, Wendy Justine, writes so well that you feel every emotion the characters are feeling. This was a rollercoaster of emotions with hints about the simmering suspense about to happen. The characters are well rounded and very likeable with the perfect HEA and hints at the next book. How could I not love a book where the main character has my name, Kelly. Wendy Justine is now on my TBR pile of books.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mg Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I downloaded NO Regrets I didn't really know what to expect as this is a new author to me but I'm glad I did even though this has plenty of action and plot twist it's the raw emotional journey of Kelly's recovery that moved me to tears at time's if you are a fan of Riley Edward's and the 707 series this is for you I look forward to exploring future books in this series.
I received a advance readers copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is number one of the Onyx Black OPS series. It has started off with a bang. Captured by terrorists Kelly is praying someone comes to rescue her. Dexter is just the man to get the job done. I love series like this. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.