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Hollow Code
One network. Two operators. And a jealous rival who won't stop until he proves he's the better man—even if it means bringing the whole system down with them.
Two months ago, Gideon Rhodes was escorted out of Hyperion with a sealed NDA and a lie pinned to his name. Now he's off-grid in the BC wilderness, dismantling the telemetry network he built one node at a time. He works alone, trusts no one — except a woman on the dark web who goes by Felicity. She's the only person who's kept him from disappearing completely. Until she pulls him out of a firefight and says three words that stop him cold: Darwin sent me.
Lieutenant Zadie Noor has spent years admiring the legend, Gideon Rhodes from a distance. She never expected she'd be saving his life. But the mission doesn't wait for feelings to sort themselves out. Her team needs Gideon to help them crack ORACLE, a digital fortress so advanced that even she can't breach it alone. Together, they're the only two people who stand a chance.
Working side by side in an underground bunker, Gideon and Zadie are forced to navigate a mission that's getting more dangerous by the day and a connection that's getting harder to ignore by the hour. The walls are thin. The stakes are lethal. And falling for each other might be the one variable neither of them can hack their way out of.
Black Where betrayal forged a family, and vengeance became a mission.
Betrayed. Hunted. Left for dead in Damascus. Four elite Canadian operators survived the kill box—and now they're coming for the man who tried to bury them. Four missions. Four love stories forged in fire. One reckoning.
Two months ago, Gideon Rhodes was escorted out of Hyperion with a sealed NDA and a lie pinned to his name. Now he's off-grid in the BC wilderness, dismantling the telemetry network he built one node at a time. He works alone, trusts no one — except a woman on the dark web who goes by Felicity. She's the only person who's kept him from disappearing completely. Until she pulls him out of a firefight and says three words that stop him cold: Darwin sent me.
Lieutenant Zadie Noor has spent years admiring the legend, Gideon Rhodes from a distance. She never expected she'd be saving his life. But the mission doesn't wait for feelings to sort themselves out. Her team needs Gideon to help them crack ORACLE, a digital fortress so advanced that even she can't breach it alone. Together, they're the only two people who stand a chance.
Working side by side in an underground bunker, Gideon and Zadie are forced to navigate a mission that's getting more dangerous by the day and a connection that's getting harder to ignore by the hour. The walls are thin. The stakes are lethal. And falling for each other might be the one variable neither of them can hack their way out of.
Black Where betrayal forged a family, and vengeance became a mission.
Betrayed. Hunted. Left for dead in Damascus. Four elite Canadian operators survived the kill box—and now they're coming for the man who tried to bury them. Four missions. Four love stories forged in fire. One reckoning.
- GenresAction
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 2, 2026
About the author
Jen Talty
236 books518 followersJen Talty is the USA Today Bestselling Author of Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, and Paranormal Romance. In the fall of 2020, her short story was selected and featured in a 1001 Dark Nights Anthology. She is currently contracted to write in the With Me in Seattle series by Kristen Proby with Lady Boss Press, as well as Susan Stoker’s Special Forces: Operation Alpha and Elle James’s Brotherhood Protectors.
Regardless of the genre, her goal is to take you on a ride that will leave you floating under the sun with warmth in your heart. She writes stories about broken heroes and heroines who aren’t necessarily looking for romance, but in the end, they find the kind of love books are written about :).
She first started writing while carting her kids to one hockey rink after the other, averaging 170 games per year between 3 kids in 2 countries and 5 states. Her first book, IN TWO WEEKS was originally published in 2007. In 2010 she helped form a publishing company (Cool Gus Publishing) with NY Times Bestselling Author Bob Mayer where she ran the technical side of the business through 2016.
Jen is currently enjoying the next phase of her life…the empty nester! She and her husband reside in Jupiter, Florida.
Grab a glass of vino, kick back, relax, and let the romance roll in…
Regardless of the genre, her goal is to take you on a ride that will leave you floating under the sun with warmth in your heart. She writes stories about broken heroes and heroines who aren’t necessarily looking for romance, but in the end, they find the kind of love books are written about :).
She first started writing while carting her kids to one hockey rink after the other, averaging 170 games per year between 3 kids in 2 countries and 5 states. Her first book, IN TWO WEEKS was originally published in 2007. In 2010 she helped form a publishing company (Cool Gus Publishing) with NY Times Bestselling Author Bob Mayer where she ran the technical side of the business through 2016.
Jen is currently enjoying the next phase of her life…the empty nester! She and her husband reside in Jupiter, Florida.
Grab a glass of vino, kick back, relax, and let the romance roll in…
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 2, 2026
Second book in this dual author series and if possible it is even better than the first book
There is something so incredibly satisfying about a romantic suspense novel where the characters don't drag out the "will-they-won't-they" angst—especially when they're actively dodging bullets and hacking networks. Gideon and Zadie choosing to lean into their connection rather than fight it makes the ticking clock feel that much more urgent. Plus, wrapping all that intense cyber warfare and danger in a warm blanket of banter and found family is the ultimate way to keep you hooked without completely exhausting your nerves.
This is a series that I am sure is just going to get better and better with each additional book
There is something so incredibly satisfying about a romantic suspense novel where the characters don't drag out the "will-they-won't-they" angst—especially when they're actively dodging bullets and hacking networks. Gideon and Zadie choosing to lean into their connection rather than fight it makes the ticking clock feel that much more urgent. Plus, wrapping all that intense cyber warfare and danger in a warm blanket of banter and found family is the ultimate way to keep you hooked without completely exhausting your nerves.
This is a series that I am sure is just going to get better and better with each additional book
June 10, 2026
Hackers, Ghost Ops, and Chaos—Black Hollow Levels Up
Outmanned. Outgunned. Unhackable. Black Hollow Doesn’t Care--
--All in a day’s work for the operatives of Black Hollow.
The team of bad-ass ghost operatives has successfully defeated an evil commander controlling super-enhanced soldiers, and Neve Monroe has finally reunited with her soulmate, Coulter. But the mission is far from over because there is more than one villain involved in the deadly super-soldier project. This time, saving the world will require the skills of two gaming nerds and white-hat hackers. Thus begins the second installment in the Black Hollow series, Hollow Code, written by the second half of this talented writing duo, Jen Talty.
The two main characters in this military suspense romance are exactly what readers have come to expect from Talty’s creative imagination:
A broken hero and heroine more comfortable in a world of binary code, 1s and 0s, than with actual human beings.
Talty’s character development makes Zadie and Gideon feel incredibly real and believable. You can easily imagine meeting them at a friend’s game night or local gaming club—even if you have never touched a gaming console in your life. Only Jen Talty could create a Ghost Ops mission where Gideon and Zadie’s combined hacker skills are essential to success—and somehow make readers believe this team has a snowball’s chance in hell of pulling it off.
But then, both Kris Norris and Jen Talty specialize in happily-ever-afters born from situations that are anything but fairytales.
Neither Gideon nor Zadie expects to find the kind of love romance novels are famous for. Even more intriguing is the secret connection from their past, slowly revealed as their relationship evolves from mutual respect for each other’s intelligence and skills into something far deeper. Their chemistry is so off the charts it is a wonder their computers do not short-circuit.
The only thing hotter than the two of them is the mission itself: shutting down Oracle, a nearly unhackable computer fortress designed by a genius who never intended it to fail.
The suspense is relentless from beginning to end. Nearly every chapter throws the Black Hollow team into another impossible situation where death—or catastrophic mission failure—is only seconds away. Success depends on quick thinking, superior military training, and pure determination. Most of the time, Black Hollow is hopelessly outmanned and outgunned. While the enhanced soldiers possess terrifying strength and stamina, they lack the ability to adapt tactically in the heat of battle.
Now admittedly, readers with a military Special Ops background may need to suspend disbelief at times—especially if, like me, you have a retired Special Operative critiquing the mission in your other ear while you are trying to read! Still, for the rest of us mortals, Hollow Code delivers the kind of fast-paced suspense guaranteed to cost you sleep.
As a final observation, the story becomes highly technical during the Oracle mission, especially as Gideon and Zadie race toward dismantling the supercomputer’s overwatch system. Techno-thriller fans will likely love the detailed hacker battles and tension-filled ninety-second countdowns before disaster strikes. Personally, I struggled at times with the heavy tech jargon. It slowed the pacing somewhat as I found myself Googling terms and consulting my computer-savvy friends for translation.
Overall, Hollow Code successfully pushes the Black Hollow storyline forward while expanding the team dynamic in exciting new ways. One thing is certain—the Black Hollow team may bend the laws of probability, physics, and common sense, but they will absolutely keep you turning pages long past bedtime.
Happy reading from one Romance, Suspense junkie to my other fellow fans!
Outmanned. Outgunned. Unhackable. Black Hollow Doesn’t Care--
--All in a day’s work for the operatives of Black Hollow.
The team of bad-ass ghost operatives has successfully defeated an evil commander controlling super-enhanced soldiers, and Neve Monroe has finally reunited with her soulmate, Coulter. But the mission is far from over because there is more than one villain involved in the deadly super-soldier project. This time, saving the world will require the skills of two gaming nerds and white-hat hackers. Thus begins the second installment in the Black Hollow series, Hollow Code, written by the second half of this talented writing duo, Jen Talty.
The two main characters in this military suspense romance are exactly what readers have come to expect from Talty’s creative imagination:
A broken hero and heroine more comfortable in a world of binary code, 1s and 0s, than with actual human beings.
Talty’s character development makes Zadie and Gideon feel incredibly real and believable. You can easily imagine meeting them at a friend’s game night or local gaming club—even if you have never touched a gaming console in your life. Only Jen Talty could create a Ghost Ops mission where Gideon and Zadie’s combined hacker skills are essential to success—and somehow make readers believe this team has a snowball’s chance in hell of pulling it off.
But then, both Kris Norris and Jen Talty specialize in happily-ever-afters born from situations that are anything but fairytales.
Neither Gideon nor Zadie expects to find the kind of love romance novels are famous for. Even more intriguing is the secret connection from their past, slowly revealed as their relationship evolves from mutual respect for each other’s intelligence and skills into something far deeper. Their chemistry is so off the charts it is a wonder their computers do not short-circuit.
The only thing hotter than the two of them is the mission itself: shutting down Oracle, a nearly unhackable computer fortress designed by a genius who never intended it to fail.
The suspense is relentless from beginning to end. Nearly every chapter throws the Black Hollow team into another impossible situation where death—or catastrophic mission failure—is only seconds away. Success depends on quick thinking, superior military training, and pure determination. Most of the time, Black Hollow is hopelessly outmanned and outgunned. While the enhanced soldiers possess terrifying strength and stamina, they lack the ability to adapt tactically in the heat of battle.
Now admittedly, readers with a military Special Ops background may need to suspend disbelief at times—especially if, like me, you have a retired Special Operative critiquing the mission in your other ear while you are trying to read! Still, for the rest of us mortals, Hollow Code delivers the kind of fast-paced suspense guaranteed to cost you sleep.
As a final observation, the story becomes highly technical during the Oracle mission, especially as Gideon and Zadie race toward dismantling the supercomputer’s overwatch system. Techno-thriller fans will likely love the detailed hacker battles and tension-filled ninety-second countdowns before disaster strikes. Personally, I struggled at times with the heavy tech jargon. It slowed the pacing somewhat as I found myself Googling terms and consulting my computer-savvy friends for translation.
Overall, Hollow Code successfully pushes the Black Hollow storyline forward while expanding the team dynamic in exciting new ways. One thing is certain—the Black Hollow team may bend the laws of probability, physics, and common sense, but they will absolutely keep you turning pages long past bedtime.
Happy reading from one Romance, Suspense junkie to my other fellow fans!
June 3, 2026
Gideon Rhodes aka “MacGyver” enjoyed his “online gaming” time with “Hopper”, not knowing who she is, but wishing that he did. After his time in the military, he had enjoyed his work at Hyperion until without notice he was let go. Now his plan is to dismantle the telemetry network that he had created. The team at Black Hollow needs to find him as they need his assistance in their hope to eventually takedown Oliver Finch the CEO of Hyperion. Finch is responsible for the creation of weaponized soldiers with the use of a dangerous drug. Gideon is found and taken to the fortress by Lieutenant Zadie Noor who he soon learns is Hopper. He learns that her entire team were attacked by weaponized soldiers, barely surviving, and now accepted by the outside world as being killed in action. Gideon and Zadie work together to gain access to his previous work for Hyperion and crack Oracle, a digital fortress. Zadie and the other elite Canadian operators, who survived the original attack, will not rest until they bring down Hyperion and abort whatever plans they have in place. As she and Gideon work closely together, the attraction that began over the internet has become so much more. Their close interaction has forged a strong attraction along with their shared goal to survive, take down the entire Hyperion location and a hope for their future, although not sure what that will look like. Non-stop action and suspense, with that special touch of romance! I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)
June 2, 2026
If you love badass women and the men they love, this book is for you. It’s action packed, it’s hard put down, some romance and it keeps you on the edge of your seat. Zadie Noor is a tech girl who knows her way around computers and networks. She has been off the grid since she and her team were targeted and now is supposed to be dead. They fight to find out who gave that order. Gideon Rhodes is a tech guy too. He worked for Hyperion, until he was let go. Someone set him up. Who? When he’s asked to join Zadie’s team, he agrees. He wants to destroy the person who set him up. For some reason Zadie seems familiar. He finds out that he and Zadie played lots of games on-line months before. He’s drawn to her. She’s smart and beautiful. She has heard about the great Gideon. She can’t wait to work with him. The two work to get information about the man who gives his soldiers a drug that makes them stronger, faster but the poison can kill them. Will the two found the information? Will they finally catch the bad guys? There is a lot of twists and turns, lots of bullets flying, and injuries. I didn’t want to put it down. I was rooting for these two. They are a match made for each other. All the characters are wonderful. They are one big family who will takes on the world to save people. Worth the read. I received this book for my honest review. I give it voluntarily.
June 7, 2026
From the moment Zadie and Gideon finally meet, their chemistry is off the charts, and so is the non-stop suspense.
Zadie Noor and her team need to locate Gideon Rhodes and get him to help them crack ORACLE, a digital fortress to the Hyperion company, to take down the people creating super soldiers.
Zadie and Gideon at first don’t realize that they know each other but the pieces soon fall into place as they work together with the team at Black Hollow. They both have their own reasons for destroying Hyperion and quickly realize those reasons will cross paths as they work together to destroy those responsible for multiple deaths.
The Black Hollow series is co-written by Jen Talty and Kris Norris - both favorite romantic suspense authors of mine. After previously reading Hollow Point by Kris Norris, I was excited to read Hollow Code by Jen Talty. Now I’m anxiously awaiting the next books in the series - Hollow Trace by Kris Norris, and Hollow State by Jen Talty.
I received an ARC and freely offer this review.
Zadie Noor and her team need to locate Gideon Rhodes and get him to help them crack ORACLE, a digital fortress to the Hyperion company, to take down the people creating super soldiers.
Zadie and Gideon at first don’t realize that they know each other but the pieces soon fall into place as they work together with the team at Black Hollow. They both have their own reasons for destroying Hyperion and quickly realize those reasons will cross paths as they work together to destroy those responsible for multiple deaths.
The Black Hollow series is co-written by Jen Talty and Kris Norris - both favorite romantic suspense authors of mine. After previously reading Hollow Point by Kris Norris, I was excited to read Hollow Code by Jen Talty. Now I’m anxiously awaiting the next books in the series - Hollow Trace by Kris Norris, and Hollow State by Jen Talty.
I received an ARC and freely offer this review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Hollow Code throws you straight into a cyber warfare storm that keeps you trapped in a binary loop from beginning to end. I loved watching Gideon and Zadie find each other and realise just how much they truly meant to one another.
The battle they’re fighting feels almost impossible at times, but it’s softened beautifully by the banter, camaraderie, and found family dynamics that strengthen the foundation of the story. Gideon and Zadie are adorably sweet together, and I loved that they didn’t waste time denying their feelings, especially with the clock constantly ticking down around them.
The suspense keeps your adrenaline pumping with thrilling chases, bullets flying, knives flashing, and survival hanging by a thread. Every twist keeps you on edge while the romance brings warmth amongst the chaos.
Hollow Code delivers danger, heart, and connection in all the right ways.
The battle they’re fighting feels almost impossible at times, but it’s softened beautifully by the banter, camaraderie, and found family dynamics that strengthen the foundation of the story. Gideon and Zadie are adorably sweet together, and I loved that they didn’t waste time denying their feelings, especially with the clock constantly ticking down around them.
The suspense keeps your adrenaline pumping with thrilling chases, bullets flying, knives flashing, and survival hanging by a thread. Every twist keeps you on edge while the romance brings warmth amongst the chaos.
Hollow Code delivers danger, heart, and connection in all the right ways.
June 4, 2026
This is book two in this dual author mini series and things are heating up...danger I mean.
You really need to read book one to understand what's going on.
Gideon worked for Hyperion, he is a programmer extraordinaire and admired by Zadie who is part of the team presumed dead in the previous book. When he is set up and fired he disappears to enact his revenge. Zadie never expected to meet him let alone save him.
They end up working together to crack the system he created and put a stop to the madness.
Of course Gideon and Zadie had their romance, two strong individuals who had so much in common.
I still don't understand most of the technical coding that went on in this book but there was so much more to the story, the danger, the romance and survival.
I can't wait for book three.
You really need to read book one to understand what's going on.
Gideon worked for Hyperion, he is a programmer extraordinaire and admired by Zadie who is part of the team presumed dead in the previous book. When he is set up and fired he disappears to enact his revenge. Zadie never expected to meet him let alone save him.
They end up working together to crack the system he created and put a stop to the madness.
Of course Gideon and Zadie had their romance, two strong individuals who had so much in common.
I still don't understand most of the technical coding that went on in this book but there was so much more to the story, the danger, the romance and survival.
I can't wait for book three.
June 6, 2026
With no forewarning or understanding why, Gideon was called into his boss’s office and fired from his highly classified tech job, made to sign an NDA, and escorted out. Now he is living in the woods and is slowly working at taking out nodes. This is where he meets Zadie, who ends up coming to his rescue. As she is also a techie, it doesn’t take long for them to find out that they have been gaming together until they had to each go dark for a while. They end up working together trying to get into ORACLE. As they work together, it doesn’t take long for love to shine through. This story has action and also how the team Zadie is part of considers his as part of their family and everyone strives to take down Finch and his enhanced enforcers.
June 2, 2026
Gideon Rhodes is a former Director of Network Security of Operations at Hyperion.
Zadie Noor is also Hopper and Felicity character for gaming and on the dark web.
Darwin Oswald is a former colleague of Gideon’s.
Gideon and Zadie meet again under hair raising danger, suspense and to stop an evil criminal organization.
This criminal organization is creating supposedly a drug to help soldiers out in the field, but it has come
to light it can be more harmful than good.
Can Gideon, Zadie and her team succeed?
Can they have a Happily Ever After?
This book keeps the suspense , danger jumping from the beginning.
Great Job. Jen Talty !!!
Zadie Noor is also Hopper and Felicity character for gaming and on the dark web.
Darwin Oswald is a former colleague of Gideon’s.
Gideon and Zadie meet again under hair raising danger, suspense and to stop an evil criminal organization.
This criminal organization is creating supposedly a drug to help soldiers out in the field, but it has come
to light it can be more harmful than good.
Can Gideon, Zadie and her team succeed?
Can they have a Happily Ever After?
This book keeps the suspense , danger jumping from the beginning.
Great Job. Jen Talty !!!
June 3, 2026
An action-packed, page-turner, tech story. Gideon Rhodes, fired from Hyperion, started a systematic approach to destroy a network he built. Zadie Noor, and her teammates needed to stop him because they needed the network to bring down the man who destroyed their lives. Gideon was asked to join Black Hollow and help with their plans. Gideon felt he knew Zadie, but couldn't place her until she said one thing that triggered his mind. Mutual respect, mutual admiration, and mutual attraction brought Zadie and Gideon together. Can they survive a jealous rival and enhanced soldiers to get their HEA? I recommend this book along with the whole Black Hollow series.
June 2, 2026
When Gideon is fired from his top secret job for something he didn't do, he goes off grid trying to find a way to bring his boss and the organization down. Gideon's mentor who got him his job is now looking for him and has sent Zadie out to find him and bring him back to the bunker. Gideon later finds out that Zadie is working on the same thing as he is and also that she's his gaming friend that he thought disappeared. As they grow closer working together there's romance, falling in love, action, lots of hacking and meeting his new team and family to bring down the organization.
June 7, 2026
Talk about finding a romantic connection while gaming on the dark web. That’s how it was for security operations experts Gideon Rhodes and Zadie Noor when he goes on the run after being fired from Hyperion, a high security company based on a lie and she’s tasked with finding him.
The Black Hollow series continues to be full of romantic suspense and super-enhanced, drug-infused mercenary soldiers. I received an arc of this book from the author. This is my honest and voluntary review.
The Black Hollow series continues to be full of romantic suspense and super-enhanced, drug-infused mercenary soldiers. I received an arc of this book from the author. This is my honest and voluntary review.
June 16, 2026
This was an awesome second book in this series. It’s fast paced, well written, exciting with great details in the computer world and romance right from the beginning. They come together after Zadie is sent out to find Gideon to ask him to help with her team’s mission. He developed the system that Zadie has been trying to get into so they can prove who ambushed them and created the super human soldiers. The series just gets better with each book and looking forward to the next one.
June 2, 2026
Gideon is fired from his top secret tech job on a lie. Only then he realizes his boss is dirty. Living in the woods on the down low he is slowly working at messing up their computer programs. Then he meets Zadie thought dead and quietly working on the same thing. Together they want to bring down the whole organization. But first they fall in love! Action packed and romantic!
June 3, 2026
This book will keep you reading until the end. It has twists and turns that will keep you guessing about what happens next. The person you think stabbed you in the back is now leading the team that needs your help to stop your old team from destroying everything good. It’s a book you will want to have in your library.
June 8, 2026
Hollow Code is book 2 in the Black Hollow series by Jen Talty and oh my…
Fired from Hyperion, Gideon’s determined to destroy the network, Zadie is sent to bring him back until she discovers they are both on the same side…twists, turns, action, danger and edge of your seat read!
I voluntarily read a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Fired from Hyperion, Gideon’s determined to destroy the network, Zadie is sent to bring him back until she discovers they are both on the same side…twists, turns, action, danger and edge of your seat read!
I voluntarily read a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 19, 2026
So good!!! They are getting c!peer to Finch!!!!
Gideon has been an annoyance to Hyperion since they fired him. Darwin sends Zadie out to pick him up. They figure out they were online gaming partners. Battle and a love e of computer coding forge a growing bond. I love that they have shared history before they met. I feel really bad for Scout!!! Cant wait for her book
Gideon has been an annoyance to Hyperion since they fired him. Darwin sends Zadie out to pick him up. They figure out they were online gaming partners. Battle and a love e of computer coding forge a growing bond. I love that they have shared history before they met. I feel really bad for Scout!!! Cant wait for her book
Review of advance copy
Fantastic Series by Kris Norris and Jen Talty. Book 2 continues with Zadie’s Story. Two Computer geniuses, coming from different experiences are joining to get to Finch. More Action, lots of Hacking, fighting and Romance.
June 2, 2026
Hollow Code is a fantastic addition to this series. It’s a keep you on the edge of your seat and on your toes, action packed battle to get to the bottom of a betrayal that cuts deep.
Grab Zadie and Gideon’s heart racing journey and enjoy!
Grab Zadie and Gideon’s heart racing journey and enjoy!
June 9, 2026
I'm voluntarily leaving a review after receiving a free copy. I liked that Gideon and Zadie get together and act on their feelings right away. The danger and cyber angle made things even more interesting. It kept my interest from start to finish.
June 15, 2026
This is a great story. The mystery and suspense are so well written that it pulled me right in and kept me there. The characters have depth, pain, strength, and loyalty. The romance is complex and very good. I enjoyed reading and look forward to reading more in this series.
June 7, 2026
Very different thank the first book but it was every bit as good. I'm loving these characters and can't wait to see what comes next.
June 17, 2026
Romance
Thank you for sharing these wonderful romance novel series books. Please keep writing more of these wonderful books. Thank you
Thank you for sharing these wonderful romance novel series books. Please keep writing more of these wonderful books. Thank you
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews