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Hawk
A decade lost and a Daddy who won’t lose her twice…
Hawk
War carved the softness out of me. Regret buried the rest. Ten years ago, I let the only woman I’ve ever loved slip through my fingers because I wouldn’t trust her with the secret that blackens my soul. I've buried myself in dark-ops missions, violence and blood to forget what it meant to own her.
In a twist of fate, I find Reese Thompson thrust back into my life. She’s not just my past. She’s the job. Protecting her is the one mission I can’t afford to fail, even if it means ripping open old wounds and wanting her like I never stopped.
Reese
I swore I’d never forgive him. Christopher Hawkins. The man who shattered my heart and left me broken with nothing but questions. Now he’s back, not by choice but by circumstance. He’s the only thing standing between me and the people who want me dead.
Being this close to him again is like standing in the wreckage of everything we were, the heat between us burning hotter than my hatred. The thought of trusting him again feels just as dangerous as the enemies closing in. He’s harder, darker, and lethal in ways that scare me… But Daddy has always known how to break me and make me be his good girl.
Hawk
War carved the softness out of me. Regret buried the rest. Ten years ago, I let the only woman I’ve ever loved slip through my fingers because I wouldn’t trust her with the secret that blackens my soul. I've buried myself in dark-ops missions, violence and blood to forget what it meant to own her.
In a twist of fate, I find Reese Thompson thrust back into my life. She’s not just my past. She’s the job. Protecting her is the one mission I can’t afford to fail, even if it means ripping open old wounds and wanting her like I never stopped.
Reese
I swore I’d never forgive him. Christopher Hawkins. The man who shattered my heart and left me broken with nothing but questions. Now he’s back, not by choice but by circumstance. He’s the only thing standing between me and the people who want me dead.
Being this close to him again is like standing in the wreckage of everything we were, the heat between us burning hotter than my hatred. The thought of trusting him again feels just as dangerous as the enemies closing in. He’s harder, darker, and lethal in ways that scare me… But Daddy has always known how to break me and make me be his good girl.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 11, 2025
33 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
J.L. Quick
38 books339 followersJ.L. Quick is an author of spicy, dark, contemporary (18+) romance novels and novellas. Utilizing a mixture of her life experiences and Master's degree in Psychology, she creates deep, rich characters who battle their demons while finding savage and brutal love. In her free time, she enjoys reading, food festivals, visiting distilleries, and cult-classic movies. J.L. Quick resides in the Mid-Atlantic with her husband and the pack of pitties.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
December 16, 2025
When Reese Thompson, a journalist documenting humanitarian reconstruction in Zambidia, Africa happens upon something she shouldn’t have seen, her boss insists on immediate protection. The best in the business, Aegis Tactical Solutions is called to be her protection detail while investigating the atrocity. What no one expects is the leader to be her ex and love of her life, Christopher Hawkins.
Damn… The push and pull in this opening book of the series gripped me immediately and wouldn’t let go. I came for a Daddy, but the spice took a backseat to the storyline which was much more than I expected.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥
Darkness: 🖤
Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Range of Emotions: 😭😳😬😊😍
Ending: 💗 {HEA}
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present • Past}
🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): Action, Dark, New Adult, Suspense
✨ Tropes: Enemies-to-Lovers, One Bed, Second Chance
💫 Microtropes: “Good Girl”, It’s Always Been You, Reformed Player, Sassy FMC, Secrets & Lies, Tattooed MMC, Tragic Past, Trauma Bonding
🔆 Character: Military, Photographer
💋 Kinks: Daddy, Discipline/Punishment, Domination, Finger Licking Good, Praise, Spanking
🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a
🚩 Red Flags: Alphahole, Touch-Her-and-💀
⛔️ Safety Squad: Kidnapping/Captive (Not by MMC), Rape (Brief, Side Character, Not by MMC), Unaliving, Violence, and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page, and in the past and present. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!
📍 Setting: African Desert, City
⚠️ Warning: The angst in this slow-burn will edge you to the point of combustion!
📣 Type: Hawk is the first book in the Dark Daddies of Delta Force series, but can be read as a standalone.
🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.
Damn… The push and pull in this opening book of the series gripped me immediately and wouldn’t let go. I came for a Daddy, but the spice took a backseat to the storyline which was much more than I expected.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥
Darkness: 🖤
Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Range of Emotions: 😭😳😬😊😍
Ending: 💗 {HEA}
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present • Past}
🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): Action, Dark, New Adult, Suspense
✨ Tropes: Enemies-to-Lovers, One Bed, Second Chance
💫 Microtropes: “Good Girl”, It’s Always Been You, Reformed Player, Sassy FMC, Secrets & Lies, Tattooed MMC, Tragic Past, Trauma Bonding
🔆 Character: Military, Photographer
💋 Kinks: Daddy, Discipline/Punishment, Domination, Finger Licking Good, Praise, Spanking
🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a
🚩 Red Flags: Alphahole, Touch-Her-and-💀
⛔️ Safety Squad: Kidnapping/Captive (Not by MMC), Rape (Brief, Side Character, Not by MMC), Unaliving, Violence, and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page, and in the past and present. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!
📍 Setting: African Desert, City
⚠️ Warning: The angst in this slow-burn will edge you to the point of combustion!
📣 Type: Hawk is the first book in the Dark Daddies of Delta Force series, but can be read as a standalone.
🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.
December 5, 2025
A deliciously dark military/special ops romance that owned me from page one. I love military romances, and Hawk? Yeah… Daddy Hawk did not disappoint. The man is lethal, brooding, filthy-mouthed, and absolutely obsessed, exactly how I like them. 😏
This second-chance, bodyguard-meets-burning-resentment tension had me devouring chapter after chapter. The chemistry between Hawk and Reese snaps like a live wire, pain, history, desire, and that dangerous edge only a man like Hawk can carry.
The flashbacks hit hard, the suspense kept me hooked, and the kink? Chef’s kiss, enough to blush but not enough to overshadow the emotional punch behind their story.
🪖 Dark military / mercenary
💣 Daddy kink
🎖️ Second chance
🔫 Bodyguard
💥 Spanking
🥾 Age gap
🪂 Forced proximity
🚁 Suspense
This second-chance, bodyguard-meets-burning-resentment tension had me devouring chapter after chapter. The chemistry between Hawk and Reese snaps like a live wire, pain, history, desire, and that dangerous edge only a man like Hawk can carry.
The flashbacks hit hard, the suspense kept me hooked, and the kink? Chef’s kiss, enough to blush but not enough to overshadow the emotional punch behind their story.
🪖 Dark military / mercenary
💣 Daddy kink
🎖️ Second chance
🔫 Bodyguard
💥 Spanking
🥾 Age gap
🪂 Forced proximity
🚁 Suspense
December 6, 2025
You are the beginning and end of every thought, reminding me nothing— and no one— will ever come close to making me feel the way you do.”
I really enjoy J.L. Quick's writing and this was another great read. Aside from sexy AF Daddy Hawk, the plot and story really kept me engaged the whole time.
Hawk and Reese are reunited after 10 years, on not so good terms and even less than ideal circumstances. A journalist who will get to the bottom of the story, Reese needs protection after seeing something she shouldn't have and Hawk's team is hired to do the job. Being in close proximity to each other brings up feelings that never really left.
The spice, plot, and emotional rollercoaster is so good and I loved that we got to see some Jagger personality being brought out since ( I believe) he's the next book
Overall great read and I highly recommend!
I really enjoy J.L. Quick's writing and this was another great read. Aside from sexy AF Daddy Hawk, the plot and story really kept me engaged the whole time.
Hawk and Reese are reunited after 10 years, on not so good terms and even less than ideal circumstances. A journalist who will get to the bottom of the story, Reese needs protection after seeing something she shouldn't have and Hawk's team is hired to do the job. Being in close proximity to each other brings up feelings that never really left.
The spice, plot, and emotional rollercoaster is so good and I loved that we got to see some Jagger personality being brought out since ( I believe) he's the next book
Overall great read and I highly recommend!
December 1, 2025
ARC Review!
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5/5
I am going to start by saying this was a good book. I enjoyed it for the most part, but this isn’t one I am going to shout from the rooftops about.
The plot for the first half of the book was amazing! It kept me up late at night because I was on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next.
But things fell flat for me when that plot kind of wrapped up. It became a little repetitive for me regarding the daddy kink, like it was hot at first but it became very repetitive where it lost me and had me flipping through the scenes because I already knew what was happening.
It was not a bad book, but was not my favorite.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5/5
I am going to start by saying this was a good book. I enjoyed it for the most part, but this isn’t one I am going to shout from the rooftops about.
The plot for the first half of the book was amazing! It kept me up late at night because I was on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next.
But things fell flat for me when that plot kind of wrapped up. It became a little repetitive for me regarding the daddy kink, like it was hot at first but it became very repetitive where it lost me and had me flipping through the scenes because I already knew what was happening.
It was not a bad book, but was not my favorite.
December 25, 2025
Ammetto che sono di parte per i military romance e sono poco imparziale (non è vero). Questo libro mi è piaciuto troppo, non riuscivo a staccarmi soprattutto grazie alla componente della second chance. Per quanto riguarda la trama mi è piaciuta e non l'ho trovato lento.
Tropes:
Second Chance
Bodyguard
Daddy Kink (no age play)
Sworn off Love
Age Gap
Found Family
Military/War Zone
Trigger Warning:
-Violence
-Gun Violence
-Spanking
-Drug Trafficking (not MMC or FMC)
-Graphic Sexual Scenes
-Murder
-Breath Play
-Sexual Assault (not MMC or FMC, not descriptive)
I admit I'm biased toward military romances and am not impartial (that's not true). I loved this book so much, I couldn't put it down, especially because of the second chance element. As for the plot, I liked it and didn't find it slow.
Tropes:
Second Chance
Bodyguard
Daddy Kink (no age play)
Sworn off Love
Age Gap
Found Family
Military/War Zone
Trigger Warning:
-Violence
-Gun Violence
-Spanking
-Drug Trafficking (not MMC or FMC)
-Graphic Sexual Scenes
-Murder
-Breath Play
-Sexual Assault (not MMC or FMC, not descriptive)
I admit I'm biased toward military romances and am not impartial (that's not true). I loved this book so much, I couldn't put it down, especially because of the second chance element. As for the plot, I liked it and didn't find it slow.
December 30, 2025
I love a good Daddy kink story but if it comes with a meaty plot I can sink me teeth into, even better. Hawk is the first in a new series, Dark Daddies of Delta Force and after reading this book, I'm hooked!
This series starts off with an adrenaline fueled murder mystery with a heavy dose of government cover ups and a race to uncover the truth and expose the baddies. All while our journalist heroine, Reese struggles emotionally with old wounds when her security detail turns out to be her ex, Hawk.
After disappearing without a word, 10 years ago, Hawk has a lot to answer for but being in a foreign county with a target on their backs isn't the setting he ever imagined having when reunited with the only woman he has ever loved. He thought he was protecting her when he ran but his demons don't have anything on the pull he still feels for Reese.
This story was exhilarating and had all my attention until the last page. I loved the action and the suspense, the side characters and the angst between our MCs. Not to mention the spice! This author knows how to write daddy kink that doesn't go over the top or sound rehearsed. The Dom/sub dynamic between Reese and Hawk was flawless and was just what I look for in a good Daddy book! Definitely would recommend!
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
SPOILER-Y EXTRAS:
This series starts off with an adrenaline fueled murder mystery with a heavy dose of government cover ups and a race to uncover the truth and expose the baddies. All while our journalist heroine, Reese struggles emotionally with old wounds when her security detail turns out to be her ex, Hawk.
After disappearing without a word, 10 years ago, Hawk has a lot to answer for but being in a foreign county with a target on their backs isn't the setting he ever imagined having when reunited with the only woman he has ever loved. He thought he was protecting her when he ran but his demons don't have anything on the pull he still feels for Reese.
This story was exhilarating and had all my attention until the last page. I loved the action and the suspense, the side characters and the angst between our MCs. Not to mention the spice! This author knows how to write daddy kink that doesn't go over the top or sound rehearsed. The Dom/sub dynamic between Reese and Hawk was flawless and was just what I look for in a good Daddy book! Definitely would recommend!
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
SPOILER-Y EXTRAS:
November 25, 2025
Bodyguard AND second chance? Yes please!
Now I wanted plot, I wanted spice, I wanted longing and angst and hurt and pain because that’s the perfect combo in any second chance romance, but J.L. Quick gave me more! She gave me two badass MCs, obsessive and possessive about each other, ten year regrets and hurt feelings AND delicious spice. I was over the moon reading.
Reese is perfection. She is brave and reckless but with the best reasons to be. She stands up for what’s right and stood up for herself, her broken heart and her work in front of men that wanted to take her down or make her run away. And that includes the MMC, because she had every right to go off on him. I was so proud of her, she spoke her mind and wasn’t afraid to be vulnerable.
Her big ass heart got Hawk forgiven earlier than I would have liked because a good grovel is my favorite thing ever, but it was perfect pacing and it fit her character to a T.
And Hawk…hate to love him. He was a coward ten years ago, or well for ten years until faced with the love of his life and the consequences of leaving. But trauma is weird and we get to see things from his perspective. I did love that he knew he fucked it all up, that it was on him and up to him to make sure his forgiveness was earned…forever earning it in my opinion.
But the highlight was the perfect blend of spice, plot and character growth. The way both characters change and evolve, with the heavy plot giving us an edge of thriller and the spice place in the perfect moments to push the story forward…an amazing story and I can’t wait for the other guys to get their happily ever after.
J.L.Quick, I’m beyond grateful for this arc and so so soooo hyped for what’s to come!
Quotes:
"People spend their whole lives looking for a love that ruins them like this. We don't just work, baby."
"This is Daddy's pussy. Forever. I'm going to spend a lifetime stretching it out and fucking ruining you."
Now I wanted plot, I wanted spice, I wanted longing and angst and hurt and pain because that’s the perfect combo in any second chance romance, but J.L. Quick gave me more! She gave me two badass MCs, obsessive and possessive about each other, ten year regrets and hurt feelings AND delicious spice. I was over the moon reading.
Reese is perfection. She is brave and reckless but with the best reasons to be. She stands up for what’s right and stood up for herself, her broken heart and her work in front of men that wanted to take her down or make her run away. And that includes the MMC, because she had every right to go off on him. I was so proud of her, she spoke her mind and wasn’t afraid to be vulnerable.
Her big ass heart got Hawk forgiven earlier than I would have liked because a good grovel is my favorite thing ever, but it was perfect pacing and it fit her character to a T.
And Hawk…hate to love him. He was a coward ten years ago, or well for ten years until faced with the love of his life and the consequences of leaving. But trauma is weird and we get to see things from his perspective. I did love that he knew he fucked it all up, that it was on him and up to him to make sure his forgiveness was earned…forever earning it in my opinion.
But the highlight was the perfect blend of spice, plot and character growth. The way both characters change and evolve, with the heavy plot giving us an edge of thriller and the spice place in the perfect moments to push the story forward…an amazing story and I can’t wait for the other guys to get their happily ever after.
J.L.Quick, I’m beyond grateful for this arc and so so soooo hyped for what’s to come!
Quotes:
"People spend their whole lives looking for a love that ruins them like this. We don't just work, baby."
"This is Daddy's pussy. Forever. I'm going to spend a lifetime stretching it out and fucking ruining you."
November 29, 2025
ARC Read: my first read by this author and I’m not even sure how; I’ll definitely be reading more….but GD the spice, the plot, I enjoyed it all. Dark military/mercenaries?!? Sign me up because this is what this series is going to entail. I cannot wait to get Jaggar, Gunner, and Damon’s story. This author did such a great job with the side characters in this that you’re left wanting to know their stories as well.
Reece & Chris (aka Hawk) get a second chance but it didn’t come easy. I don’t want to give too much way but let’s just say the suspense was great and trying to figure out certain things. I will say Reece and Chris’s love,,,,It’s one of those once in a lifetime loves, that always finds its way back no matter how much time passes. Reece is fierce FMC with a sassy mouth and I love how Chris doesn’t try to change her, he just wants to help guide her safely while she does what she loves. But his dominant side is really a perfect balance for her. Add a daddy kink and the age gap and I’m over here drooling.
Reece & Chris (aka Hawk) get a second chance but it didn’t come easy. I don’t want to give too much way but let’s just say the suspense was great and trying to figure out certain things. I will say Reece and Chris’s love,,,,It’s one of those once in a lifetime loves, that always finds its way back no matter how much time passes. Reece is fierce FMC with a sassy mouth and I love how Chris doesn’t try to change her, he just wants to help guide her safely while she does what she loves. But his dominant side is really a perfect balance for her. Add a daddy kink and the age gap and I’m over here drooling.
December 24, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This story wrecked me in the best possible way.
A decade of separation, secrets soaked in blood, and a love that never truly died—Hawk and Reese are the definition of second-chance devastation. Hawk is the kind of MMC who feels carved from war and regret: lethal, dominant, and completely undone by the woman he walked away from. The Daddy energy is intense, protective, and deeply rooted in trust and history, making every interaction crackle with tension.
Reese isn’t weak or naïve—she’s hurt, furious, and still achingly vulnerable. Watching her fight her feelings while danger closes in had my heart in my throat. The push and pull between hatred and desire is chef’s kiss, and the emotional payoff is worth every painful flashback.
This book delivers high-stakes suspense, scorching chemistry, and a dark romance that hits hard emotionally. If you love morally gray heroes, protective Daddy dynamics, and second chances forged in danger and desire, this one will absolutely own you.
🔥💔🖤
This story wrecked me in the best possible way.
A decade of separation, secrets soaked in blood, and a love that never truly died—Hawk and Reese are the definition of second-chance devastation. Hawk is the kind of MMC who feels carved from war and regret: lethal, dominant, and completely undone by the woman he walked away from. The Daddy energy is intense, protective, and deeply rooted in trust and history, making every interaction crackle with tension.
Reese isn’t weak or naïve—she’s hurt, furious, and still achingly vulnerable. Watching her fight her feelings while danger closes in had my heart in my throat. The push and pull between hatred and desire is chef’s kiss, and the emotional payoff is worth every painful flashback.
This book delivers high-stakes suspense, scorching chemistry, and a dark romance that hits hard emotionally. If you love morally gray heroes, protective Daddy dynamics, and second chances forged in danger and desire, this one will absolutely own you.
🔥💔🖤
December 9, 2025
Title: Hawk
Author: J.L. Quick
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I absolutely loved it.
I devoured it in a day because I literally couldn’t put it down!
I loved Reese and Hawk! I could literally feel their chemistry and it was 🔥
The plot was great and the whole structure of the story was so easy to follow.
The spice … was SPICE-ING!! 🌶️
Did I shed a tear at how sentimental Hawk is? Absolutely 🥹
Can I wait for the rest of the gangs stories? Nope!!
“I don’t deserve you or your forgiveness, but I’m too selfish not to take both, so I’m going to spend every day earning them.”
I know Christopher Hawkins. And if he’s still breathing—if he’s still out there—he’ll burn the world to the ground to find me.
Author: J.L. Quick
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I absolutely loved it.
I devoured it in a day because I literally couldn’t put it down!
I loved Reese and Hawk! I could literally feel their chemistry and it was 🔥
The plot was great and the whole structure of the story was so easy to follow.
The spice … was SPICE-ING!! 🌶️
Did I shed a tear at how sentimental Hawk is? Absolutely 🥹
Can I wait for the rest of the gangs stories? Nope!!
“I don’t deserve you or your forgiveness, but I’m too selfish not to take both, so I’m going to spend every day earning them.”
I know Christopher Hawkins. And if he’s still breathing—if he’s still out there—he’ll burn the world to the ground to find me.
December 20, 2025
Hawk ARC Review
4⭐️
3🌶️
Ok full disclosure, I running plot point for the first 20% of this book had me STRESSED!!
I knew everything was gunna be fine but my blood pressure didn’t. Overall though I thought this was a very interesting and appropriately dark romance.
I thought Hawk was so deliciously authoritative with his team and the mission but yet he was so gentle with Reese.
Reese was a spitfire and I absolutely love her. I would have liked to see more of their past together, maybe some more callbacks to how they met and the early stages of their relationship. But overall I liked how they established her as having a strong disposition.
I also loved the rest of Hawk’s team and I can’t wait to see what kinds of stories they get to have.
4⭐️
3🌶️
Ok full disclosure, I running plot point for the first 20% of this book had me STRESSED!!
I knew everything was gunna be fine but my blood pressure didn’t. Overall though I thought this was a very interesting and appropriately dark romance.
I thought Hawk was so deliciously authoritative with his team and the mission but yet he was so gentle with Reese.
Reese was a spitfire and I absolutely love her. I would have liked to see more of their past together, maybe some more callbacks to how they met and the early stages of their relationship. But overall I liked how they established her as having a strong disposition.
I also loved the rest of Hawk’s team and I can’t wait to see what kinds of stories they get to have.
January 13, 2026
Had the potential to be good but the last 100 pages ruined it. I like smut but ok it was nothing but smut the last 100 pages. No story just sex. In addition he liked to be called “daddy” no explanation as to why. It got to be too much for me.
November 30, 2025
Thank you, Luna Literary, for the gifted arc!
I did not quite vibe with this book. There's a lot of snarking and growling happening, yet I don't quite understand the full reason they broke up in the first place (as this is a second chance romance). They didn't communicate much so hints of what happened had to be dragged out slowly and painfully.
The sex also felt lacklustre and too frequent. I've skimmed the final 4 scenes as I found them very same-y.
I did not quite vibe with this book. There's a lot of snarking and growling happening, yet I don't quite understand the full reason they broke up in the first place (as this is a second chance romance). They didn't communicate much so hints of what happened had to be dragged out slowly and painfully.
The sex also felt lacklustre and too frequent. I've skimmed the final 4 scenes as I found them very same-y.
December 9, 2025
This book is a daddy delight! Hawk is a complex alpha man who has all the angst and pinning! Reese is an absolute boss, I just loved her so much! Their history is not pretty and the world is unforgiving but they are fighting their way through! This crew of delta daddies are gonna to be amazing, I just know it! So excited to see where this series goes next! Thank you Luna for the ARC!
December 11, 2025
5⭐️
4🌶️
Hawk and Reese’s story was amazing!! I loved reading this one so much. The book had my heart racing to know what was gonna happen the whole time and I really did not want to put it down. Seeing these two make up from the past was heart melting and finding out the reason they were not together from the start hurt. Poor Hawk didn’t think he was worthy of Reese and instead of just telling her from the beginning he let so much time past between them when he could’ve had her from the beginning and Reese not knowing the reason for him disappearing assumed the worst and held so much anger for him that when they are thrust together again she doesn’t want anything to do with him. Seeing them navigate the current positions they’re in while harboring the past that had was bound to push them together and when it did it was explosive and so worth the crash. Their chemistry was absolute fire, they deserved the happy ending they got. This was an action packed read with hot as sin spice and the inevitable ending of them getting the second chance they deserved.
4🌶️
Hawk and Reese’s story was amazing!! I loved reading this one so much. The book had my heart racing to know what was gonna happen the whole time and I really did not want to put it down. Seeing these two make up from the past was heart melting and finding out the reason they were not together from the start hurt. Poor Hawk didn’t think he was worthy of Reese and instead of just telling her from the beginning he let so much time past between them when he could’ve had her from the beginning and Reese not knowing the reason for him disappearing assumed the worst and held so much anger for him that when they are thrust together again she doesn’t want anything to do with him. Seeing them navigate the current positions they’re in while harboring the past that had was bound to push them together and when it did it was explosive and so worth the crash. Their chemistry was absolute fire, they deserved the happy ending they got. This was an action packed read with hot as sin spice and the inevitable ending of them getting the second chance they deserved.
December 11, 2025
ARC provided by Luna Literacy in exchange for an honest review.
This story definitely grabbed my attention right away. The opening scene is intense, emotional, and sets the tone for a dark military romance with a strong second-chance thread. Hawk’s introduction — on deployment, fighting to save another soldier — immediately pulled me in, and the first 40% had me fully invested.
The premise itself is really compelling, and the emotional tension between the characters works well. But what pulled me out of the story was how unrealistic some of the military details and environment felt. It made it hard for me to stay immersed, especially in a book where the setting is such a major piece of the plot.
The second half felt drawn out, with a lot of spicy scenes that started to blend together instead of moving the story forward.
This story definitely grabbed my attention right away. The opening scene is intense, emotional, and sets the tone for a dark military romance with a strong second-chance thread. Hawk’s introduction — on deployment, fighting to save another soldier — immediately pulled me in, and the first 40% had me fully invested.
The premise itself is really compelling, and the emotional tension between the characters works well. But what pulled me out of the story was how unrealistic some of the military details and environment felt. It made it hard for me to stay immersed, especially in a book where the setting is such a major piece of the plot.
The second half felt drawn out, with a lot of spicy scenes that started to blend together instead of moving the story forward.
January 12, 2026
"You're chaos, baby. But I've never been more at peace than when I have you in my arms."
Hawk is the first in a new series, Dark Daddies of Delta Force and after reading this book, I’m hooked! The characters are engaging, the murder/mystery plot was exhilarating and the second chance romance had my heart racing.
This series starts off with an adrenaline fueled murder mystery with a heavy dose of government cover ups and a race to uncover the truth and expose the baddies. All while our journalist heroine, Reese struggles emotionally with old wounds when her security detail turns out to be her ex, Hawk.
After disappearing without a word, 10 years ago, Hawk has a lot to answer for but being in a foreign county with a target on their backs isn’t the setting he ever imagined having when reunited with the only woman he has ever loved. He thought he was protecting her when he ran but his demons don’t have anything on the pull he still feels for Reese.
This story was exhilarating and had all my attention until the last page. I loved the action and the suspense, the side characters and the angst between our MCs. Not to mention the spice! This author knows how to write daddy kink that doesn’t go over the top or sound rehearsed. The Dom/sub dynamic between Reese and Hawk was flawless and was just what I look for in a good Daddy book! Definitely would recommend!
As with a lot of books with long separations, I was a little miffed with our Hero, Hawk. I wish he'd pulled his head out of the sand a lot sooner when it came to Reese. His excuse for breaking her heart felt too much like a lazy cop out.
The fact that he doesn't seek her out, fate literally steps in for these two and then he acts all high and mighty! Aghh! I wanted Reese to hold out a little longer and really make him grovel for his second chance. Don't get me wrong, I loved these two together and I was rooting for their HEA but I still wish Hawk got a bit more of his own medicine when it came to Reese. I also would have loved if he'd remained celibate - maybe not the full decade apart but at least a few years leading up to their reunion!
Hawk is the first in a new series, Dark Daddies of Delta Force and after reading this book, I’m hooked! The characters are engaging, the murder/mystery plot was exhilarating and the second chance romance had my heart racing.
This series starts off with an adrenaline fueled murder mystery with a heavy dose of government cover ups and a race to uncover the truth and expose the baddies. All while our journalist heroine, Reese struggles emotionally with old wounds when her security detail turns out to be her ex, Hawk.
After disappearing without a word, 10 years ago, Hawk has a lot to answer for but being in a foreign county with a target on their backs isn’t the setting he ever imagined having when reunited with the only woman he has ever loved. He thought he was protecting her when he ran but his demons don’t have anything on the pull he still feels for Reese.
This story was exhilarating and had all my attention until the last page. I loved the action and the suspense, the side characters and the angst between our MCs. Not to mention the spice! This author knows how to write daddy kink that doesn’t go over the top or sound rehearsed. The Dom/sub dynamic between Reese and Hawk was flawless and was just what I look for in a good Daddy book! Definitely would recommend!
As with a lot of books with long separations, I was a little miffed with our Hero, Hawk. I wish he'd pulled his head out of the sand a lot sooner when it came to Reese. His excuse for breaking her heart felt too much like a lazy cop out.
The fact that he doesn't seek her out, fate literally steps in for these two and then he acts all high and mighty! Aghh! I wanted Reese to hold out a little longer and really make him grovel for his second chance. Don't get me wrong, I loved these two together and I was rooting for their HEA but I still wish Hawk got a bit more of his own medicine when it came to Reese. I also would have loved if he'd remained celibate - maybe not the full decade apart but at least a few years leading up to their reunion!
December 26, 2025
"I swore I'd never forgive him. Christopher Hawkins.
The man who shattered my heart and left me broken with nothing but questions. Now he's back, not by choice but by circumstance."
“We are fire and ruin, and neither of us knows how to put the other out.”
Ten years. Reese has carried the silence Hawk left behind. No explanation, no goodbye, just a wound that never fully healed. So when fate throws them back together, with Reese on assignment and danger closing in, the collision of past and present is devastating in the best way. Reese is a photographer, sharp-eyed and brave, but even she can't prepare for the moment Hawk's team steps in to protect her. The man who once walked away is suddenly the one standing between her and the threat. Every glance, every word, is heavy with the weight of what was lost and the ache of what might still be possible.
"War carved the softness out of me. Regret buried the rest. Ten years ago, I let the only woman I've ever loved slip through my fingers because ! wouldn't trust her with the secret that blackens my soul."
Hawk is gruff, commanding, but you feel the torment in him; why he left, what it cost him, and how much he still wants Reese. And Reese she is one of a kind of woman. She’s truly luminous with her strength, her vulnerability, her refusal to let Hawk's absence define her, all make her the kind of character you can't stop rooting for.
The enemies or the mission Reese was on, but it made perfect sense. Without it, Hawk and her wouldn't have reconciled - Hawk needed firsthand validation, and it showed.
The story she is writing and the turns it is taking, I had no idea what she was going to uncover. But with the danger she faced, Reese never falter, she was so strong after everything she did to uncover the truth for the people who deserved justice and the truth. And the way Hawk stood behind her and vowed to protect her after being away for ten years. I LOVED their second chance reunion. The tension that seemed between these two and they both have lived each other over the last decade and without their reunion they would have beer fessed up to their underlying feeling for each other.
“I never stopped loving you,” I confess, my lower lip trembling with nerves. “Not for a single day. Even when I hated you. Even when I told myself I was over it. You were always… there.”
This isn't just a story of protection, it's a story of reckoning. Of two people forced to face the ghosts of their past while standing shoulder to shoulder against danger. The tension is electric, the emotions are brutal, and the payoff is everything.
The man who shattered my heart and left me broken with nothing but questions. Now he's back, not by choice but by circumstance."
“We are fire and ruin, and neither of us knows how to put the other out.”
Ten years. Reese has carried the silence Hawk left behind. No explanation, no goodbye, just a wound that never fully healed. So when fate throws them back together, with Reese on assignment and danger closing in, the collision of past and present is devastating in the best way. Reese is a photographer, sharp-eyed and brave, but even she can't prepare for the moment Hawk's team steps in to protect her. The man who once walked away is suddenly the one standing between her and the threat. Every glance, every word, is heavy with the weight of what was lost and the ache of what might still be possible.
"War carved the softness out of me. Regret buried the rest. Ten years ago, I let the only woman I've ever loved slip through my fingers because ! wouldn't trust her with the secret that blackens my soul."
Hawk is gruff, commanding, but you feel the torment in him; why he left, what it cost him, and how much he still wants Reese. And Reese she is one of a kind of woman. She’s truly luminous with her strength, her vulnerability, her refusal to let Hawk's absence define her, all make her the kind of character you can't stop rooting for.
The enemies or the mission Reese was on, but it made perfect sense. Without it, Hawk and her wouldn't have reconciled - Hawk needed firsthand validation, and it showed.
The story she is writing and the turns it is taking, I had no idea what she was going to uncover. But with the danger she faced, Reese never falter, she was so strong after everything she did to uncover the truth for the people who deserved justice and the truth. And the way Hawk stood behind her and vowed to protect her after being away for ten years. I LOVED their second chance reunion. The tension that seemed between these two and they both have lived each other over the last decade and without their reunion they would have beer fessed up to their underlying feeling for each other.
“I never stopped loving you,” I confess, my lower lip trembling with nerves. “Not for a single day. Even when I hated you. Even when I told myself I was over it. You were always… there.”
This isn't just a story of protection, it's a story of reckoning. Of two people forced to face the ghosts of their past while standing shoulder to shoulder against danger. The tension is electric, the emotions are brutal, and the payoff is everything.
December 30, 2025
Thank you so much JL Quick, for letting me read your book. I enjoyed it and can't wait for the other boys to have their happy endings too.
🪖Characters: Reese Thompson is a journalist documenting humanitarian reconstruction in Zambidia, Africa. She is brave, determined, and occasionally a bit reckless. She has such a big heart and stands up for what is right in the face of men who want to take her down or make her run away. Chris Hawkins is protective and sweet, but also lethal and dominant. He has INTENSE daddy energy — deeply rooted in trust and history. He doesn’t try to change Reese or prevent her from doing what she loves or is passionate about. Even though he is a war vet and has been hardened by his time in the service, he is still a big softy.
🪖Brief Summary: While documenting the humanitarian reconstruction in Africa, journalist Reese stumbles upon something she shouldn’t have seen and is put under immediate protection detail by Aegis Tactical Solutions. Christopher Hawkins — her ex and love of her life — happens to be the leader of her protective detail. While she is investigating this atrocity, she will be reunited and in close proximity to Chris after 10 years. And all of those feelings that never really left are brought up all over again.
🪖Thoughts: Reese is my fav FMC so far in the series (yes okay, the only one so far). She spoke up for herself and went off on the MMC — which, honestly, she had every right to. She forgave him sooner than expected, given the incident 10 years earlier. I think I would have liked to see more of the slow burn. Maybe more groveling. I think Quick did an excellent job, perfectly blending the spice, plot, and character development. The suspense and thriller aspects were great! I felt that Reese and Chris had that once in a lifetime love — on that will always find its way back no matter what and no matter how long. This book delivers in the high-stakes, morally gray hero, and daddy kink categories. I recommend you read this and maybe commit to the series if you enjoy military romances, second chances, spice, high stakes, and “touch her & die” vibes.
I will say, honestly, I don’t completely jive with the daddy kink. but I still enjoyed this book and appreciate JL Quick for sharing it with me.
🪖Characters: Reese Thompson is a journalist documenting humanitarian reconstruction in Zambidia, Africa. She is brave, determined, and occasionally a bit reckless. She has such a big heart and stands up for what is right in the face of men who want to take her down or make her run away. Chris Hawkins is protective and sweet, but also lethal and dominant. He has INTENSE daddy energy — deeply rooted in trust and history. He doesn’t try to change Reese or prevent her from doing what she loves or is passionate about. Even though he is a war vet and has been hardened by his time in the service, he is still a big softy.
🪖Brief Summary: While documenting the humanitarian reconstruction in Africa, journalist Reese stumbles upon something she shouldn’t have seen and is put under immediate protection detail by Aegis Tactical Solutions. Christopher Hawkins — her ex and love of her life — happens to be the leader of her protective detail. While she is investigating this atrocity, she will be reunited and in close proximity to Chris after 10 years. And all of those feelings that never really left are brought up all over again.
🪖Thoughts: Reese is my fav FMC so far in the series (yes okay, the only one so far). She spoke up for herself and went off on the MMC — which, honestly, she had every right to. She forgave him sooner than expected, given the incident 10 years earlier. I think I would have liked to see more of the slow burn. Maybe more groveling. I think Quick did an excellent job, perfectly blending the spice, plot, and character development. The suspense and thriller aspects were great! I felt that Reese and Chris had that once in a lifetime love — on that will always find its way back no matter what and no matter how long. This book delivers in the high-stakes, morally gray hero, and daddy kink categories. I recommend you read this and maybe commit to the series if you enjoy military romances, second chances, spice, high stakes, and “touch her & die” vibes.
I will say, honestly, I don’t completely jive with the daddy kink. but I still enjoyed this book and appreciate JL Quick for sharing it with me.
December 1, 2025
ARC Review!! Thank you, Luna Literary and J.L. Quick, for the opportunity to read this steamy book.
Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, Dadddyyyyy. This man can get called Daddy any day of the week!
Now, don't get me wrong, Mr. Hawk messed up and hurt Reese, but after reading why, I can't help but try to understand him. I love the fact that after 10 years, his heart is still with Reese. It's admirable. Hawk is the sexy, brooding operative turned bodyguard, and I am LIVING for it. After being reunited with his girl, he is not wasting another minute longer. He has become the saying of "If he wanted to, he would". His protectiveness, filthy mouth, and possiveness is everything a girl can want. It's enough to get called "Daddy", that's forsure.
Reese is a spicy and intelligent woman. His career is rooted in finding the truth, no matter the cost. He doesn't back, and I love that about her. She's willing to risk her life to make sure justice is served. Not only that, but she holds Hawk and every member of his team accountable. She ain't taking no shit. Although she's hurts, she's willing to look past Hawk abandoning her and forgive him. She knows the type of man he is and she ain't letting go.
I am very fond of the supporting characters. I love the banter between Hawk and his team. I can't wait to read about Jagger, Gunnar, and Damon. Not to mention sweet and badass Abby. Her and Reese are alike and I think they will make great friends. Abby is a strong woman and I'm happy that she's able to still smile and laugh after what happened. Not only does this author make a amazing relationship between Hawk and Reese, but also make a sense of family and home with the main and supporting characters.
I highly recommend this book and just know you're going to be saying "yes Daddy" by the end of it!!
Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, Dadddyyyyy. This man can get called Daddy any day of the week!
Now, don't get me wrong, Mr. Hawk messed up and hurt Reese, but after reading why, I can't help but try to understand him. I love the fact that after 10 years, his heart is still with Reese. It's admirable. Hawk is the sexy, brooding operative turned bodyguard, and I am LIVING for it. After being reunited with his girl, he is not wasting another minute longer. He has become the saying of "If he wanted to, he would". His protectiveness, filthy mouth, and possiveness is everything a girl can want. It's enough to get called "Daddy", that's forsure.
Reese is a spicy and intelligent woman. His career is rooted in finding the truth, no matter the cost. He doesn't back, and I love that about her. She's willing to risk her life to make sure justice is served. Not only that, but she holds Hawk and every member of his team accountable. She ain't taking no shit. Although she's hurts, she's willing to look past Hawk abandoning her and forgive him. She knows the type of man he is and she ain't letting go.
I am very fond of the supporting characters. I love the banter between Hawk and his team. I can't wait to read about Jagger, Gunnar, and Damon. Not to mention sweet and badass Abby. Her and Reese are alike and I think they will make great friends. Abby is a strong woman and I'm happy that she's able to still smile and laugh after what happened. Not only does this author make a amazing relationship between Hawk and Reese, but also make a sense of family and home with the main and supporting characters.
I highly recommend this book and just know you're going to be saying "yes Daddy" by the end of it!!
December 8, 2025
Hawk is the exact level of messy, emotional, high-stakes, high-heat chaos I LIVE FOR. J.L. Quick did NOT hold back—this second-chance, bodyguard, Daddy-dom rollercoaster had me kicking my feet, screaming, and clutching my phone while I was reading!
This is the reunion of Reese and Christopher "Hawk" Hawkins after ten agonizing years. Hawk walked away, convinced his military trauma made him unworthy. Now, he's the leader of an elite security detail, and his new mission? Protecting the love of his life, Reese—an investigative journalist whose story got her targeted.
The bodyguard/second-chance combination is pure fire!
Reese is a QUEEN. She's angry, hurt, and refuses to run or back down. Watching her stand up for her broken heart and her work in front of Hawk was incredible! She had every right to go off on him, but her big heart and perfect character arc make her so easy to root for.
And Hawk? Christopher Hawkins is carved from guilt and pure, feral devotion. He's insta-obsessed all over again and knows he has ten years of groveling to do. The way he loves her is unhinged, protective, and dark. I swear every time he said "good girl" (IYKYK!), my soul left my body.
This book is a perfect blend of plot, spice, and deep emotional evolution. The high-stakes thriller plot gives us an edge-of-your-seat rush, while the spice is placed at the perfect, explosive moments. If you love:
🔥 Second-Chance Obsession after a decade of regret
🔪 Morally Gray Bodyguard who would kill the world for his girl
❤️🩹 High-Angst and Heart-Melting Grovel
⛓️ Daddy/Babygirl dynamic with sizzling chemistry
You need this book! I devoured every damn crumb. Get ready for an action-packed read with hot-as-sin spice and the inevitable crash that leads to the happy ending they finally deserve.
This is the reunion of Reese and Christopher "Hawk" Hawkins after ten agonizing years. Hawk walked away, convinced his military trauma made him unworthy. Now, he's the leader of an elite security detail, and his new mission? Protecting the love of his life, Reese—an investigative journalist whose story got her targeted.
The bodyguard/second-chance combination is pure fire!
Reese is a QUEEN. She's angry, hurt, and refuses to run or back down. Watching her stand up for her broken heart and her work in front of Hawk was incredible! She had every right to go off on him, but her big heart and perfect character arc make her so easy to root for.
And Hawk? Christopher Hawkins is carved from guilt and pure, feral devotion. He's insta-obsessed all over again and knows he has ten years of groveling to do. The way he loves her is unhinged, protective, and dark. I swear every time he said "good girl" (IYKYK!), my soul left my body.
This book is a perfect blend of plot, spice, and deep emotional evolution. The high-stakes thriller plot gives us an edge-of-your-seat rush, while the spice is placed at the perfect, explosive moments. If you love:
🔥 Second-Chance Obsession after a decade of regret
🔪 Morally Gray Bodyguard who would kill the world for his girl
❤️🩹 High-Angst and Heart-Melting Grovel
⛓️ Daddy/Babygirl dynamic with sizzling chemistry
You need this book! I devoured every damn crumb. Get ready for an action-packed read with hot-as-sin spice and the inevitable crash that leads to the happy ending they finally deserve.
December 18, 2025
“I swore I’d never forgive him. Christopher Hawkins. The man who shattered my heart and left me broken with nothing but questions. Now he’s back, not by choice but by circumstance.”
Ten years. That’s how long Reese carried the silence Hawk left behind. No explanation, no goodbye, just a wound that never fully healed. So when fate throws them back together, with Reese on assignment and danger closing in, the collision of past and present is devastating in the best way.
Reese is a photographer, sharp-eyed and brave, but even she can’t prepare for the moment Hawk’s team steps in to protect her. The man who once walked away is suddenly the one standing between her and the threat. Every glance, every word, is heavy with the weight of what was lost and the ache of what might still be possible.
“War carved the softness out of me. Regret buried the rest. Ten years ago, I let the only woman I’ve ever loved slip through my fingers because I wouldn’t trust her with the secret that blackens my soul.”
JL Quick writes reunion romance with a rawness that hurts and heals at the same time. Hawk is gruff, commanding, but you feel the torment in him; why he left, what it cost him, and how much he still wants Reese. And Reese… she’s luminous. Her strength, her vulnerability, her refusal to let Hawk’s absence define her, all make her the kind of FMC you can’t stop rooting for.
And then there’s the chemistry. It’s combustible, layered with years of longing and the sharp edge of power dynamics that neither of them can deny. Hawk’s protective dominance bleeds into the bedroom, and Reese’s bratty defiance sparks against it in ways that are both tender and scorching. The daddy kink woven into their connection isn’t just about heat, it’s about trust, surrender, and the ache of finally being seen. Every scene between them pulses with intensity, making their reunion as much about healing as it is about desire.
This isn’t just a story of protection, it’s a story of reckoning. Of two people forced to face the ghosts of their past while standing shoulder to shoulder against danger. The tension is electric, the emotions are brutal, and the payoff is everything.
I loved this second-chance romance so freaking much, it made me cry and swoon in equal measure. Hawk literally broken me open and put me back together again. So much longing and history, all resolved so beautifully.
A huge thank you to JL Quick and Luna Literary for the early copy!
Ten years. That’s how long Reese carried the silence Hawk left behind. No explanation, no goodbye, just a wound that never fully healed. So when fate throws them back together, with Reese on assignment and danger closing in, the collision of past and present is devastating in the best way.
Reese is a photographer, sharp-eyed and brave, but even she can’t prepare for the moment Hawk’s team steps in to protect her. The man who once walked away is suddenly the one standing between her and the threat. Every glance, every word, is heavy with the weight of what was lost and the ache of what might still be possible.
“War carved the softness out of me. Regret buried the rest. Ten years ago, I let the only woman I’ve ever loved slip through my fingers because I wouldn’t trust her with the secret that blackens my soul.”
JL Quick writes reunion romance with a rawness that hurts and heals at the same time. Hawk is gruff, commanding, but you feel the torment in him; why he left, what it cost him, and how much he still wants Reese. And Reese… she’s luminous. Her strength, her vulnerability, her refusal to let Hawk’s absence define her, all make her the kind of FMC you can’t stop rooting for.
And then there’s the chemistry. It’s combustible, layered with years of longing and the sharp edge of power dynamics that neither of them can deny. Hawk’s protective dominance bleeds into the bedroom, and Reese’s bratty defiance sparks against it in ways that are both tender and scorching. The daddy kink woven into their connection isn’t just about heat, it’s about trust, surrender, and the ache of finally being seen. Every scene between them pulses with intensity, making their reunion as much about healing as it is about desire.
This isn’t just a story of protection, it’s a story of reckoning. Of two people forced to face the ghosts of their past while standing shoulder to shoulder against danger. The tension is electric, the emotions are brutal, and the payoff is everything.
I loved this second-chance romance so freaking much, it made me cry and swoon in equal measure. Hawk literally broken me open and put me back together again. So much longing and history, all resolved so beautifully.
A huge thank you to JL Quick and Luna Literary for the early copy!
December 14, 2025
Dark Daddies of Delta Force: 1
Journalist Reese Thomspon comes across something she shouldn’t, so her boss arranges for protection from the best. Enter Aegis Tactical Solutions and team lead Christopher “Hawk” Hawkins, the love of her life, and the ex who left her.
What you get:
Enemies to lovers
Second Chance
Dark (ish)
Daddy kink
Violence
Touch-her-and-die
Slow burn with angst
Check your trigger warnings people!
This is not a safew book at all. Some events occur to side characters, but will have mention.
When we find out his turmoil and the action that led to him ghosting her, it was heartbreaking. Such a horrible act to correct.
But. It wasn’t a good reason for doing what he did to her.
‘It wasn’t mean to be permanent’… load of BS
I was actually pissed off… because she was written as a strong character to begn with, then when he gives vague information for his reason, she essentially just rolls over.
“I can’t lose you again, Reese.”
Seriously? You walked away, fool.
The story itself...
The first 40%, I was fully on board. So much tension and Reese was strong. It was action-packed, full of tension, and gave me solid 5 star vibes.
However, the redemption tour began with no work, the ‘Daddy’ became OTT and repetitive, which really put me off. I wish their ‘reconnection’ came later in the book, and he truly earned it. I’m all for it normally, but this one didn’t sit right, for some reason, maybe’s it’s the ways he always says ‘Daddy wants…’
Don’t get me wrong. This story hooked me, and I absolutely enjoyed it.
But….
The action and the story itself through this was still solid, and I was invested. I just found myself skipping their ‘Daddy’ sections, in the end because it just became off-putting to me.
Thank you J. L. Quick for the opportunity to read in advance.
Journalist Reese Thomspon comes across something she shouldn’t, so her boss arranges for protection from the best. Enter Aegis Tactical Solutions and team lead Christopher “Hawk” Hawkins, the love of her life, and the ex who left her.
What you get:
Enemies to lovers
Second Chance
Dark (ish)
Daddy kink
Violence
Touch-her-and-die
Slow burn with angst
Check your trigger warnings people!
This is not a safew book at all. Some events occur to side characters, but will have mention.
When we find out his turmoil and the action that led to him ghosting her, it was heartbreaking. Such a horrible act to correct.
But. It wasn’t a good reason for doing what he did to her.
‘It wasn’t mean to be permanent’… load of BS
I was actually pissed off… because she was written as a strong character to begn with, then when he gives vague information for his reason, she essentially just rolls over.
“I can’t lose you again, Reese.”
Seriously? You walked away, fool.
The story itself...
The first 40%, I was fully on board. So much tension and Reese was strong. It was action-packed, full of tension, and gave me solid 5 star vibes.
However, the redemption tour began with no work, the ‘Daddy’ became OTT and repetitive, which really put me off. I wish their ‘reconnection’ came later in the book, and he truly earned it. I’m all for it normally, but this one didn’t sit right, for some reason, maybe’s it’s the ways he always says ‘Daddy wants…’
Don’t get me wrong. This story hooked me, and I absolutely enjoyed it.
But….
The action and the story itself through this was still solid, and I was invested. I just found myself skipping their ‘Daddy’ sections, in the end because it just became off-putting to me.
Thank you J. L. Quick for the opportunity to read in advance.
December 15, 2025
Hawk is a retired military Sargent who served overseas. Now he owns a private security firm that is hired to protect individuals to doing private military work. Everyone that served in his command works for him.
Reese is an investigative journalist who travels around the world to where she needs for the story. She is currently in Africa stationed at an US military based for a story.
Reese unfortunately gets herself into a situation that requires her to either flea the country for her safety or to have protection while still there. Her boss hires the best, which happens to be Hawk’s company.
Unfortunately Hawk and Reese have a past. Hawk never returned to Reese and gave no explanation. This causes a lot of friction during his assignment with his team to protect Reese. Eventually the past rears its ugly head.
The reason Hawk never returned can viewed in different ways. It can be viewed as he had very valid reasons and what he did was honorable maybe took it too far. Or he did had valid reasons but should have given Reese the benefit of the doubt. Until you are in that situation you can’t really say how you would handle that situation. Especially after what he had just gone through.
Hawk is protective of Reese even to this day no matter how long it has been since they have seen each other. Like any forced proximity book and second chances you know there will be chemistry and tension. For Reese there is also inner turmoil because of the past and trying to reconcile what is happening in front of her.
This book keeps you on your toes and flipping pages every moment with action. You will not be disappointed!!
Thank you to Luna Literary for this ARC opportunity.
Reese is an investigative journalist who travels around the world to where she needs for the story. She is currently in Africa stationed at an US military based for a story.
Reese unfortunately gets herself into a situation that requires her to either flea the country for her safety or to have protection while still there. Her boss hires the best, which happens to be Hawk’s company.
Unfortunately Hawk and Reese have a past. Hawk never returned to Reese and gave no explanation. This causes a lot of friction during his assignment with his team to protect Reese. Eventually the past rears its ugly head.
The reason Hawk never returned can viewed in different ways. It can be viewed as he had very valid reasons and what he did was honorable maybe took it too far. Or he did had valid reasons but should have given Reese the benefit of the doubt. Until you are in that situation you can’t really say how you would handle that situation. Especially after what he had just gone through.
Hawk is protective of Reese even to this day no matter how long it has been since they have seen each other. Like any forced proximity book and second chances you know there will be chemistry and tension. For Reese there is also inner turmoil because of the past and trying to reconcile what is happening in front of her.
This book keeps you on your toes and flipping pages every moment with action. You will not be disappointed!!
Thank you to Luna Literary for this ARC opportunity.
November 25, 2025
*ARC gifted in exchange for review*
Please pay attention to the trigger warnings
Hawk is an age gap, Daddy kink, forced proximity, second chance romance and I ate it up. Imagine walking away from the one person you love the most in the world because you don’t feel like you’re good enough for them anymore, but they never know why you walked away. That’s the situation with Hawk and Reese when we first meet them. The dual POV really helped us understand why Hawk did what he did but it also showed us how deeply hurt Reese was by his actions. Fate brought them back together under the most dangerous of circumstances, and Hawk sure as hell wasn’t going to waste his second chance. Reese is strong, brilliant, stubborn and sometimes reckless but she has the biggest heart and a tenacity that just won’t quit. Honestly, I don’t know that I could do what she did or survive what she went through, but I think a key component to that survival was the trust and belief that her man was would burn the whole world down to save her. It was a quick, suspense filled, spicy read that I thoroughly enjoyed despite the anxiety it caused me because of the situation they were in. Hawk is pure German shepherd/ Doberman daddy energy and Reese is the perfect brat for him. Sometimes fate gives us a second chance, and we gotta grab that opportunity and make the most of it. The spice was scorching and so well done. Despite how spicy it was, the romance was hearts in eyes sweet, filled with yearning and the most heart warming moments between the main characters and their found family. Can’t wait to watch the rest of the Daddies fall in love.
Please pay attention to the trigger warnings
Hawk is an age gap, Daddy kink, forced proximity, second chance romance and I ate it up. Imagine walking away from the one person you love the most in the world because you don’t feel like you’re good enough for them anymore, but they never know why you walked away. That’s the situation with Hawk and Reese when we first meet them. The dual POV really helped us understand why Hawk did what he did but it also showed us how deeply hurt Reese was by his actions. Fate brought them back together under the most dangerous of circumstances, and Hawk sure as hell wasn’t going to waste his second chance. Reese is strong, brilliant, stubborn and sometimes reckless but she has the biggest heart and a tenacity that just won’t quit. Honestly, I don’t know that I could do what she did or survive what she went through, but I think a key component to that survival was the trust and belief that her man was would burn the whole world down to save her. It was a quick, suspense filled, spicy read that I thoroughly enjoyed despite the anxiety it caused me because of the situation they were in. Hawk is pure German shepherd/ Doberman daddy energy and Reese is the perfect brat for him. Sometimes fate gives us a second chance, and we gotta grab that opportunity and make the most of it. The spice was scorching and so well done. Despite how spicy it was, the romance was hearts in eyes sweet, filled with yearning and the most heart warming moments between the main characters and their found family. Can’t wait to watch the rest of the Daddies fall in love.
December 4, 2025
ARC REVIEW
We first met Hawk and his partners in Claimed by Daddy, and I swear, it took me about three seconds to fall head over heels for all four of those bodyguards. Total heart-stealers.
Now, listen—I am not a second-chance romance girl. I’ve said it a million times. The idea of going back to someone who once broke your heart? Usually a hard no from me. But this is JL we’re talking about, so of course I had to read it… and wow. Just wow. This book took me on a full-blown emotional adventure: swoony moments, gut punches, laugh-out-loud lines, and the perfect mix of spice and daddy kink that JL always nails.
Hawk walked out of Reese’s life ten years ago, but when she stumbles into a story big enough to put real targets on people’s backs, her editor brings in security. And who shows up? None other than Hawk and his incredible team. The tension? Immediate. The chemistry? Explosive.
The plot hooked me instantly. The military backdrop cranks up the intensity and keeps the stakes sky-high. And I have to mention this—Jagger’s humor absolutely stole my heart. Every time he opened his mouth, I was grinning. He adds the perfect amount of levity to balance the danger and heat.
And once Hawk and Reese decide to take another chance on each other… whew. Things get dangerous, steamy, and completely addictive.
And that ending? I adored it. They lift each other up, push each other forward, and never once hold the other back. It felt earned.
I cannot wait to read more about these boys. And please—PLEASE—let us get a book about Abby and Mattis next. I’m already impatient.
Thank you Luna Literary and JL Quick for this amazing ARC
We first met Hawk and his partners in Claimed by Daddy, and I swear, it took me about three seconds to fall head over heels for all four of those bodyguards. Total heart-stealers.
Now, listen—I am not a second-chance romance girl. I’ve said it a million times. The idea of going back to someone who once broke your heart? Usually a hard no from me. But this is JL we’re talking about, so of course I had to read it… and wow. Just wow. This book took me on a full-blown emotional adventure: swoony moments, gut punches, laugh-out-loud lines, and the perfect mix of spice and daddy kink that JL always nails.
Hawk walked out of Reese’s life ten years ago, but when she stumbles into a story big enough to put real targets on people’s backs, her editor brings in security. And who shows up? None other than Hawk and his incredible team. The tension? Immediate. The chemistry? Explosive.
The plot hooked me instantly. The military backdrop cranks up the intensity and keeps the stakes sky-high. And I have to mention this—Jagger’s humor absolutely stole my heart. Every time he opened his mouth, I was grinning. He adds the perfect amount of levity to balance the danger and heat.
And once Hawk and Reese decide to take another chance on each other… whew. Things get dangerous, steamy, and completely addictive.
And that ending? I adored it. They lift each other up, push each other forward, and never once hold the other back. It felt earned.
I cannot wait to read more about these boys. And please—PLEASE—let us get a book about Abby and Mattis next. I’m already impatient.
Thank you Luna Literary and JL Quick for this amazing ARC
January 4, 2026
Second chance love? Count me in. JL Quick tells the story of Christopher “Hawk” Hawkins and Reece Thompson beautifully. Every emotion was felt deep and made me connect to the characters even more. I know I can't wait to seethe other members of the team get their happy endings. This story follows Reece, an investigative journalist who is in the depths of a country torn by the expanding oil pipeline. When she’s approached by a distraught mother looking for her daughter who was in a village packed with people that is now rid of any sign of a living being; Reece finds herself seeing something she wasn’t supposed to. Only making her curiosity grow,she refuses to leave without finishing her story. The only way her superior will let her stay is if she takes the protective detail he is sending her; no questions asked. Reluctantly, she accepts only for that decision to come back and bite her in the butt only to bring a ghost of her past with it.Christopher “Hawk” Hawkins is great at his job. After leaving the military, he created his own security detail company. When a job comes in that requires the best of the best Chris realizes that it calls for him and his best friends to do the job. Arriving in Zambidia, Chris finds himself needed to protect the very last person he imagined. The girl he left in the shadows because he felt he was too haunted by his past. Can these two put their past aside and get to the bottom of what is going on in Zambidia? Can Reece forgive the one man she swore to never forgive and let back in? Will Hawk let his past destroy what might be his only chance at happiness? Read Hawk to find out! Out Now!
December 1, 2025
OH. MY. GOD. Hawk absolutely wrecked me in the BEST possible way. I am still sitting here clutching my Kindle like it personally betrayed me by ending. JL Quick did NOT hold back—this second-chance, Daddy-dom, danger-drenched rollercoaster had me kicking my feet, screaming, and questioning my life choices because WHY AM I LIKE THIS.
Hawk? Christopher freaking Hawkins? This man is carved from guilt, violence, and pure, feral devotion. Ten years of regret turned him into a lethal weapon and yet the SECOND Reese is back in his orbit he’s just… done for. Insta-obsessed all over again. I swear every time he said good girl my soul LEFT my body. The way he loves her is unhinged and protective and dark and I ate up every damn crumb.
And Reese??? My girl is a QUEEN. Angry, hurt, still burning for him even when she wants to strangle him—and honestly, same. Their chemistry is so explosive you could power an entire city with it. Every stolen look, every forced proximity moment, every “I hate you but I’ll die without you” beat had me SCREAMING.
The tension?? The danger?? The history between them?? The Daddy/babygirl energy?? I was literally vibrating. This book is the exact level of messy, emotional, high-stakes, high-heat chaos I LIVE FOR.
If you love:
🔥 second-chance obsession
🔥 morally gray Daddy who would kill the world for his girl
🔥 heroine who gives as good as she gets
🔥 danger pushing them right back into each other’s arms
🔥 steam so hot it should come with a warning label
Then Hawk is going to ruin your whole night, your whole schedule, and maybe your whole moral compass.
Hawk? Christopher freaking Hawkins? This man is carved from guilt, violence, and pure, feral devotion. Ten years of regret turned him into a lethal weapon and yet the SECOND Reese is back in his orbit he’s just… done for. Insta-obsessed all over again. I swear every time he said good girl my soul LEFT my body. The way he loves her is unhinged and protective and dark and I ate up every damn crumb.
And Reese??? My girl is a QUEEN. Angry, hurt, still burning for him even when she wants to strangle him—and honestly, same. Their chemistry is so explosive you could power an entire city with it. Every stolen look, every forced proximity moment, every “I hate you but I’ll die without you” beat had me SCREAMING.
The tension?? The danger?? The history between them?? The Daddy/babygirl energy?? I was literally vibrating. This book is the exact level of messy, emotional, high-stakes, high-heat chaos I LIVE FOR.
If you love:
🔥 second-chance obsession
🔥 morally gray Daddy who would kill the world for his girl
🔥 heroine who gives as good as she gets
🔥 danger pushing them right back into each other’s arms
🔥 steam so hot it should come with a warning label
Then Hawk is going to ruin your whole night, your whole schedule, and maybe your whole moral compass.
December 4, 2025
This was such an emotionally charged story. Reece and Chris's story was chefs kiss. This book is about second chances and coming home to the one person you are supposed to be with in this life. Even though they were torn apart for 10 long years they both never stopped loving each other. Their love was one for the ages. Reece is an investigative journalist on assignment when she witnesses something she should not have. She will not give up her story for anything. When she is almost killed her boss calls in an elite group of former soldiers to keep her safe and help her secure her story. Chris is the leader of the group and was with Reece when he was enlisted in the military. He did some things in the military that he felt did not make him a good man for Reece so he leaves her without a trace. Imagine both of their surprise when he is sent to be her security detail. All their old feelings rush back to the surface. They both must navigate her job and the threat against her. They also have to navigate how to get back to one another or stay apart forever. Will they finally let all the secrets and resentment go? You will have to read to find out for yourself. I will say that JL Quick is absolutely fantastic at writing daddy stories. I have been loving them so much and this one was no different. She does a fantastic job of mixing alpha men with women who need a man to take care of them because they are strong willed and sometimes need a dominate man to balance them out. She makes her characters fun and interesting. You cannot help but love them.
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