What do you think?
Rate this book
Mercenaries of Fortune #1
The Knight of Ambra
Brant Jacobs is determined not to screw up his first mission as a Knight of Ambra. Sneak in, retrieve the stolen artifact and disappear. Easy...right up until a woman in yoga pants stumbles through the wrong door at the wrong friggin' time. She's too cute and too innocent to be left on her own, but bringing her along might put them in the greatest danger of all.
Michaela Alberto only took the stupid delivery job out of necessity. How the crap she wound up here - between the barrel of a mobster's gun and some super secret government agent - is beyond unfair. Now they're on the run and Brant promises her safety, but what happens to all that when he has her life...and her heart...in his hands?
Michaela Alberto only took the stupid delivery job out of necessity. How the crap she wound up here - between the barrel of a mobster's gun and some super secret government agent - is beyond unfair. Now they're on the run and Brant promises her safety, but what happens to all that when he has her life...and her heart...in his hands?
Nook
First published April 13, 2015
315 people are currently reading
479 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
Want to read
October 18, 2017FREE on Amazon today (10/18/2017)!
Want to read
October 24, 2017 Currently FREE! http://amzn.to/2h5waJV
May 23, 2015
The Knight of Ambra is a non-stop ride of high-energy action, danger and thrills. Everything seems to go wrong for the Brant Jacobs, Knight of Ambra, on his first solo mission to reclaim a world treasure. The first thing that goes wrong is not a thing, but a person. Michaela Alberto stumbles into a scene cast with mob figures. And with Brant. When the attempted purchase of a treasured sword goes bad, Brant and Michaela become unlikely partners when they are forced to flee. At this point, anything can happen. Could be good things happening. Could be bad things. Mostly it is bad.
From the US to Honduras, from mobsters to drug dealers, Brant and Michaela's misadventures will keep your eyes glued to the page. There is hardly a dull moment. When the action does quiet down just a little, Brant and Michaela use it to get to know each other better. What starts as attraction, grows to sweet, hot, sexual tension.
I would definitely peg The Knight of Ambra as a New Adult story. Why? Because of Michaela. She is young. Too young for my taste. I did not care for Michaela. I found her whiny and immature. As a new Knight of Ambra, Brant is also young, so I believe the author intended these two characters to come off as young, inexperienced and still able work as a team to defy the odds. So I can't fault it too much, even if a character like Michaela is not someone I care to read about in my books.
I would have liked the artifact they were chasing to have more import, more history, associated with it. After all, these Knights of Ambra expend a lot of time, money and energy to track them down. Why? Art for art's sake. I get that in real life. But in a suspense novel, an artifact ought to have a little more substance.
In general, I liked the story. The action and the romance mesh very nicely. The ending was very satisfying. Ms. Brittan has done a very nice job on this first book in her new series. I devoured the book once I started it. If you are after a fast-paced romantic suspense, try The Knight of Ambra.
I received an ARC from the author.
From the US to Honduras, from mobsters to drug dealers, Brant and Michaela's misadventures will keep your eyes glued to the page. There is hardly a dull moment. When the action does quiet down just a little, Brant and Michaela use it to get to know each other better. What starts as attraction, grows to sweet, hot, sexual tension.
I would definitely peg The Knight of Ambra as a New Adult story. Why? Because of Michaela. She is young. Too young for my taste. I did not care for Michaela. I found her whiny and immature. As a new Knight of Ambra, Brant is also young, so I believe the author intended these two characters to come off as young, inexperienced and still able work as a team to defy the odds. So I can't fault it too much, even if a character like Michaela is not someone I care to read about in my books.
I would have liked the artifact they were chasing to have more import, more history, associated with it. After all, these Knights of Ambra expend a lot of time, money and energy to track them down. Why? Art for art's sake. I get that in real life. But in a suspense novel, an artifact ought to have a little more substance.
In general, I liked the story. The action and the romance mesh very nicely. The ending was very satisfying. Ms. Brittan has done a very nice job on this first book in her new series. I devoured the book once I started it. If you are after a fast-paced romantic suspense, try The Knight of Ambra.
I received an ARC from the author.
December 10, 2018
Fun but doesn't deliver on a promise
Michaela is just trying to survive. An orphan forced to work two jobs just to make ends meet she's not looking for trouble. But trouble is just what she gets when she stumbles into a deal gone bad.
Brant is trying to make a name for himself as a Knight of Ambra... Treasure hunters with a mission... To save the world's cultural treasures before they're destroyed. His job was supposed to be a simple buy... It wasn't.
Now they're on the run with drug dealers, mafiosi, and crooked art collectors all after them.
So unlike other reviewers, I didn't have a problem with Michaela. Her reactions felt normal. Real. She was brave in the moment, but when the adrenaline wore off she crashed. Brant was kinder to her than I would have been, and easier on her than he should be. Some of the things she did were dumb... But they made sense for the character. I loved the dialogue. I loved the characters. I want to read more from this author.
So why drop it a star... Well two reasons. One, there's a line in the book that references that the characters will do this thing if they get out of the predicament they're in. That thing never happens on the page. There's also no real conclusion... Oh there's a happy ending, but plots that are introduced aren't fully resolved. Two, there were too many grammar errors, wrong words, and missing words for my taste. Things like of instead of off. Viscous instead of vicious. No understanding of coordinating conjunctions. Things a good editor would catch.
This is a fun book, and what I needed right now.
So for the reasons above...
Four stars.
Michaela is just trying to survive. An orphan forced to work two jobs just to make ends meet she's not looking for trouble. But trouble is just what she gets when she stumbles into a deal gone bad.
Brant is trying to make a name for himself as a Knight of Ambra... Treasure hunters with a mission... To save the world's cultural treasures before they're destroyed. His job was supposed to be a simple buy... It wasn't.
Now they're on the run with drug dealers, mafiosi, and crooked art collectors all after them.
So unlike other reviewers, I didn't have a problem with Michaela. Her reactions felt normal. Real. She was brave in the moment, but when the adrenaline wore off she crashed. Brant was kinder to her than I would have been, and easier on her than he should be. Some of the things she did were dumb... But they made sense for the character. I loved the dialogue. I loved the characters. I want to read more from this author.
So why drop it a star... Well two reasons. One, there's a line in the book that references that the characters will do this thing if they get out of the predicament they're in. That thing never happens on the page. There's also no real conclusion... Oh there's a happy ending, but plots that are introduced aren't fully resolved. Two, there were too many grammar errors, wrong words, and missing words for my taste. Things like of instead of off. Viscous instead of vicious. No understanding of coordinating conjunctions. Things a good editor would catch.
This is a fun book, and what I needed right now.
So for the reasons above...
Four stars.
July 3, 2015
It's indeed rare for me to like a romance that does not give me details - as exclusive as possible - for the love scenes. But in this book's case, I feel like that hating the whole thing is not even an option.
Michaela Alberto is a delivery girl - for laundry - with little to no money in her name. During one of her delivery trips, she stumbles upon a crime scene, and ends up being targeted by dangerous criminals. Her only way of surviving is sticking close to Brant Jacobs, a mercenary whose mission involves securing an ancient sword.
Well, while the concept of the story was original, both of the main characters were not. We've seen Michaela's type before, and Brant's, too. There was also little actual lovemaking, and the reason behind Brant's organization was really an odd one - and a bit hard to be believable...
However, the book was full of action and humor, the kind you see in fast-paced movies. The dialogues were refreshing, and the way the couple interracted was cracking me up every single time.
Therefore, I have to admit it was a nice breather, and a good story to take a break once in a while in one's reading.
***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***
Read this and other reviews at: http://cupcakesandpopcorn.wordpress.com/
Michaela Alberto is a delivery girl - for laundry - with little to no money in her name. During one of her delivery trips, she stumbles upon a crime scene, and ends up being targeted by dangerous criminals. Her only way of surviving is sticking close to Brant Jacobs, a mercenary whose mission involves securing an ancient sword.
Well, while the concept of the story was original, both of the main characters were not. We've seen Michaela's type before, and Brant's, too. There was also little actual lovemaking, and the reason behind Brant's organization was really an odd one - and a bit hard to be believable...
However, the book was full of action and humor, the kind you see in fast-paced movies. The dialogues were refreshing, and the way the couple interracted was cracking me up every single time.
Therefore, I have to admit it was a nice breather, and a good story to take a break once in a while in one's reading.
***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***
Read this and other reviews at: http://cupcakesandpopcorn.wordpress.com/
May 5, 2015
Brant I loved him a lot:
"Are you going to yell at me for crying?”
He squeezed one of her fingers between two of his. “I might yell at you for the cramp in my hand, but... hey... stay,” he said, curling his fingers around her pinkie when she tried to withdraw. “My hand’s cold and a little shaky, too."
Brant may think he wears the pants in the relationship when really it's his woman, "money.” She slapped his chest with a stack of fifties. “Go buy yourself something pretty, and get out of my light." I loved that Brant teased his woman he seemed at ease at those times, "ow! Don’t pinch. I’m just teasing. Nah, I figure any predators here are used to people— tourists, wandering locals, drug runners, whatever. And I reckon we made enough noise to keep any primates entertained. Still, I could use an hour of shut-eye." I enjoyed this book lots of action, romance and then there was Brant.
January 24, 2022
Micheala is a delivery girl that half the time doesn’t know what she’s delivering. One day she’s in the process of a drop off and ends up in the middle of an exchange that turns into a shootout. Brant is an agent of some secret organization that hunts down unique antiquities. He’s in the process of acquiring a sword that belonged to Hannibal. Everything heads south once the shooting begins and then he watches some young female turnover the sword he was there to collect to the bad guys. The thing is she then becomes a target for everyone that is involved with this sword so Brant takes it upon himself to try and protect her and get the sword back. They head to Honduras where everything and anything can go wrong and it does. But love is in the air while they run through the jungle trying to retrieve a sword for the Dragon.
November 11, 2017
I do not like the 'boss' or the nature of the organisation Knights of Ambra. Although it is a secret group, they are not a special ops group working for the Government in some way. The function is to
retrieve lost or stolen artifacts to be held for the nation. It does not come across as a pleasant group doing a worthwhile job. However, this was an enjoyable read although the characters were difficult to like at first. This promises to be a good series, and the story line was interesting.
retrieve lost or stolen artifacts to be held for the nation. It does not come across as a pleasant group doing a worthwhile job. However, this was an enjoyable read although the characters were difficult to like at first. This promises to be a good series, and the story line was interesting.
February 15, 2017
DNF - enjoyed intro but became increasingly bored with the characters and saw little development. The main female character became annoying and the conflicts/lies irritating. Couldn't be bothered to finish the last bit the story
June 10, 2019
Well worth the time!
I just love Brant and Michaela. Their days start out fairly normally until they run into each other at a restaurant where Michaela is about to be murdered and Brant is just supposed to buy a sword.... Hilarity ensues along with adventure and romance.
I just love Brant and Michaela. Their days start out fairly normally until they run into each other at a restaurant where Michaela is about to be murdered and Brant is just supposed to buy a sword.... Hilarity ensues along with adventure and romance.
December 11, 2019
It was ok
Just a bit too unreal for my tastes, didn’t like the moral choice the heroine made and, while the chemistry was promising, there was only one (very) brief intimate scene, the rest are just alluded to. The storyline wasn’t all that plausible either
Just a bit too unreal for my tastes, didn’t like the moral choice the heroine made and, while the chemistry was promising, there was only one (very) brief intimate scene, the rest are just alluded to. The storyline wasn’t all that plausible either
October 3, 2017
DNF. It sounded like my kind of adventure but I just could not get into it.
October 24, 2017
Good Read
Interesting. Fast paced plot. Likeable characters. Smooth writing. Humorous in spots. All this adds up to a very good read.
Interesting. Fast paced plot. Likeable characters. Smooth writing. Humorous in spots. All this adds up to a very good read.
November 3, 2017
Loved it
Just the right mix. Of humor, danger ,and love.Great book.Want to read the whole series now.Loved the action that went on.
Just the right mix. Of humor, danger ,and love.Great book.Want to read the whole series now.Loved the action that went on.
December 2, 2017
Had trouble getting going reading this but later it got better.
December 4, 2017
I found this book okay. It was not my favorite though. There were a couple of times when I thought about quitting it.
December 21, 2017
Great read ☺
Romance, well written adventure, believable likable characters. Worth missed sleep to finish. Can't wait to read more like this one.
Romance, well written adventure, believable likable characters. Worth missed sleep to finish. Can't wait to read more like this one.
January 24, 2018
Good book!
Really enjoyed this book. Lots of twists and turns. The character development was really good. I like the author’s style of writing.
Really enjoyed this book. Lots of twists and turns. The character development was really good. I like the author’s style of writing.
February 9, 2018
It is a great book to read
November 12, 2019
An enjoyable romp. Predictable plot, but I liked the characters and the writing style.
February 2, 2021
Different twist
This adventure has a bunch of twists and turns. Can the guy save himself and her or leave her to her own mistakes and Annoying choices???
This adventure has a bunch of twists and turns. Can the guy save himself and her or leave her to her own mistakes and Annoying choices???
August 24, 2021
Surprisingly enjoyable. Brant and Michaela are trying to retrieve Hannibal’s sword but everything keeps going wrong.
July 19, 2023
Just not my kind a book.
Was done after the second chapter
Was done after the second chapter
January 3, 2020
Quick read worth the time! Great book with comedy and romance, I've read it twice now. Ready to read the rest of the series.
February 21, 2017
I got annoyed every time someone kept mentioning her colossal lisp. And the main guy wasn't much of a hero figure with the lying and repeated mentioning of his lowly status as a knight. I severely disliked the protagonists and therefore could have cared less what happened to them.
April 28, 2015
Romantic adventure and believable characters
This sci-fi romance successfully combines action and sex with enough humor to make it fun to read but not detract from the action or serious emotions.
Brant is something like an archeological bounty hunter for culturally and religiously significant objects--objects that are important enough for a shadowy organization to find and protect. On his first solo hunt, Brant is charged with obtaining Hannibal's Sword, a sword used by Hannibal as he crossed the Alps on elephants and defeated Rome.
Loner Michaela is barely making ends meet as a "gofer" and delivery girl who accidentally witnesses a mob killing over the very same artifact that Brant seeks. Despite violating his organization's rules and all of his training, Brant saves Michaela and takes her with him as he follows the sword's trail.
As Brant and Michaela grow closer together, he finds himself repeatedly having to balance Michaela's safety and his mission. But Brant is not the only one with conflicted feelings. Michaela is an orphan and does not trust others easily but feels the draw of her pretend life as Brant's girlfriend who has lots of friends and family waiting for her at home.
They are both torn between reality and fantasy--and duty and love.
He isn't an overblown alpha male--he has doubts and flaws, but he still protects Michaela and for the first time, begins to question his life. Both characters are very real. Their feelings intensity as they search for the sword and a way to stay alive.
This is the first book in Mercenaries of Fortune series about the Knights of Ambra and their quest for important artifacts. I believe that it takes place in the same universe and has a shared background with some of Lyn Brittan's other books.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
This sci-fi romance successfully combines action and sex with enough humor to make it fun to read but not detract from the action or serious emotions.
Brant is something like an archeological bounty hunter for culturally and religiously significant objects--objects that are important enough for a shadowy organization to find and protect. On his first solo hunt, Brant is charged with obtaining Hannibal's Sword, a sword used by Hannibal as he crossed the Alps on elephants and defeated Rome.
Loner Michaela is barely making ends meet as a "gofer" and delivery girl who accidentally witnesses a mob killing over the very same artifact that Brant seeks. Despite violating his organization's rules and all of his training, Brant saves Michaela and takes her with him as he follows the sword's trail.
As Brant and Michaela grow closer together, he finds himself repeatedly having to balance Michaela's safety and his mission. But Brant is not the only one with conflicted feelings. Michaela is an orphan and does not trust others easily but feels the draw of her pretend life as Brant's girlfriend who has lots of friends and family waiting for her at home.
They are both torn between reality and fantasy--and duty and love.
He isn't an overblown alpha male--he has doubts and flaws, but he still protects Michaela and for the first time, begins to question his life. Both characters are very real. Their feelings intensity as they search for the sword and a way to stay alive.
This is the first book in Mercenaries of Fortune series about the Knights of Ambra and their quest for important artifacts. I believe that it takes place in the same universe and has a shared background with some of Lyn Brittan's other books.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 6, 2015
4 Stars
I loved the beginning of this story. Michaela isn't to fond of her life especially this day. She starts the day off by throwing a choice finger to a jerk who has yelled at her. Okay so maybe she wasn't looking where she was going or using her signal lights on her bicycle with attached delivery trolley that had gone out weeks prior. It was fix them or buy food, pay rent or credit cards, so yeah he could just take a hike.
Michaela's job is to drop off clean clothes and pick up dirty ones. Michaela is on her way to one of the more stranger stops. She never drops off clean clothes just picks up one very lumpy bag weekly. Not weird…right?
Well once Michaela walks into the restaurant she realizes that this won't be a normal pick up….
Brant is one his first solo job as A Knight of Ambra. The plan was simple-get in, get out, retrieve the artifact, take it back to home base, and get the Sergeant off his back. The simple plan came to a halt the second he stepped inside the restaurant.
So this story is about Brant and Michaela taking on "Cigar Man" who has stone the artifact which is a sword. As you can decipher, Michaela may cause more trouble than not, but Brant has no choice, she essentially has no home to go to, the thieves know who she is. So against his better judgement Brant takes Michaela along to retrieve the sword. This will lans them in some situations.
I did enjoy the story. It stated off great and then there was so much going on, at times I felt lost but then about 80% into the book, it became a fast paced story again. Again throughout the story it keeps your attention, there is just a lot going on that it can take some real concentration keeping who/what in check.
I look forward to reading book 2 The Sergeant of Ambra.
I loved the beginning of this story. Michaela isn't to fond of her life especially this day. She starts the day off by throwing a choice finger to a jerk who has yelled at her. Okay so maybe she wasn't looking where she was going or using her signal lights on her bicycle with attached delivery trolley that had gone out weeks prior. It was fix them or buy food, pay rent or credit cards, so yeah he could just take a hike.
Michaela's job is to drop off clean clothes and pick up dirty ones. Michaela is on her way to one of the more stranger stops. She never drops off clean clothes just picks up one very lumpy bag weekly. Not weird…right?
Well once Michaela walks into the restaurant she realizes that this won't be a normal pick up….
Brant is one his first solo job as A Knight of Ambra. The plan was simple-get in, get out, retrieve the artifact, take it back to home base, and get the Sergeant off his back. The simple plan came to a halt the second he stepped inside the restaurant.
So this story is about Brant and Michaela taking on "Cigar Man" who has stone the artifact which is a sword. As you can decipher, Michaela may cause more trouble than not, but Brant has no choice, she essentially has no home to go to, the thieves know who she is. So against his better judgement Brant takes Michaela along to retrieve the sword. This will lans them in some situations.
I did enjoy the story. It stated off great and then there was so much going on, at times I felt lost but then about 80% into the book, it became a fast paced story again. Again throughout the story it keeps your attention, there is just a lot going on that it can take some real concentration keeping who/what in check.
I look forward to reading book 2 The Sergeant of Ambra.
April 22, 2016
LOVE, LOVE, LOVED it! Adventure + Danger = Romance, of Course!
This was the first book of Lyn's that I have read! AWESOME! I loved it from page one with neverending action!
I know it will sound like I have copied other reviewers, I haven't, but they have already said it all!
Brant Jacobs works for a secret Government Agency, the Order of Ambra, which finds and protects ancient artifacts at any costs. For a heavy price, I might add. His current mission, his first solo one as a Knight of Ambra, is to get in, collect the sword of Ancient Rome’s greatest enemy, Hannibal of Carthage and get out. It should have been that simple. But let's face it, nothing is every really that simple is it?
Michaela Alberto, who seems to owe everyone, works delivering and picking up laundry for her boss. On one of her deliveries/pick-ups she finds more than "laundry" is waiting for her. She never thought she would be the one to interrupt something so important. That is if you call a mob hit important. She never thought that one little pick up could change her life like it did.
This is when Brant shows up to collect the artifact and how they meet. The action continues on keeping you on the edge of your seat. It not only includes danger and adventure but also some light humor and OF COURSE Romance for our two heroes.
I LOVED THIS BOOK and recommend it and this author and series to everyone! You will NOT be sorry that you did. However, you may have issues getting anything done once you begin to read it!
And NO I DID NOT receive an ARC copy for a good review, it was ALL ON MY OWN!!!! However, I would LOVE to be and ARC reader for this series
This was the first book of Lyn's that I have read! AWESOME! I loved it from page one with neverending action!
I know it will sound like I have copied other reviewers, I haven't, but they have already said it all!
Brant Jacobs works for a secret Government Agency, the Order of Ambra, which finds and protects ancient artifacts at any costs. For a heavy price, I might add. His current mission, his first solo one as a Knight of Ambra, is to get in, collect the sword of Ancient Rome’s greatest enemy, Hannibal of Carthage and get out. It should have been that simple. But let's face it, nothing is every really that simple is it?
Michaela Alberto, who seems to owe everyone, works delivering and picking up laundry for her boss. On one of her deliveries/pick-ups she finds more than "laundry" is waiting for her. She never thought she would be the one to interrupt something so important. That is if you call a mob hit important. She never thought that one little pick up could change her life like it did.
This is when Brant shows up to collect the artifact and how they meet. The action continues on keeping you on the edge of your seat. It not only includes danger and adventure but also some light humor and OF COURSE Romance for our two heroes.
I LOVED THIS BOOK and recommend it and this author and series to everyone! You will NOT be sorry that you did. However, you may have issues getting anything done once you begin to read it!
And NO I DID NOT receive an ARC copy for a good review, it was ALL ON MY OWN!!!! However, I would LOVE to be and ARC reader for this series
April 19, 2015
I received The Knight of Ambra as an ARC and I loved it!
Michaela Alberto is in so much debt trying to make it in the world and she is all alone. Working one of her many jobs she picks up dirty laundry and leaves the clean laundry with only bike to get her to where she needs to go. There was only one stop that she only ever picked up and never dropped off anything on one of her routine stops she goes into Mr. Lugesti’s restaurant to pick up the normal delivery only to find him red faced with his hands sticking out shaking. The man pointing a gun at Mr. Lugesti she dubs as Cigar Man ends up killing him right in front of her and then turns the gun on her…
Brant Jacobs duty of the Order of Ambra is to protect antiquities and the world’s priceless treasures at any cost. He is on his first solo mission as a Knight of Ambra all he has to do is go into the restaurant and buy or retrieve the sword of Ancient Rome’s greatest enemy, Hannibal of Carthage. However, when he walks in there is a dead man and a woman with a gun held to her head. He ends up getting her out of there but loses the sword in the process. He decides the best way to keep her safe from the MOB and the other players in the game is for her to stay with him, so he takes her with him to retrieve the sword but starts to fall for Michaela. Falling for her would only complicate his life’s work.
Will Brant be able to keep Michaela safe and retrieve the sword or will the sword be lost? Will he continue to fight his feelings for her or give into them?
Michaela Alberto is in so much debt trying to make it in the world and she is all alone. Working one of her many jobs she picks up dirty laundry and leaves the clean laundry with only bike to get her to where she needs to go. There was only one stop that she only ever picked up and never dropped off anything on one of her routine stops she goes into Mr. Lugesti’s restaurant to pick up the normal delivery only to find him red faced with his hands sticking out shaking. The man pointing a gun at Mr. Lugesti she dubs as Cigar Man ends up killing him right in front of her and then turns the gun on her…
Brant Jacobs duty of the Order of Ambra is to protect antiquities and the world’s priceless treasures at any cost. He is on his first solo mission as a Knight of Ambra all he has to do is go into the restaurant and buy or retrieve the sword of Ancient Rome’s greatest enemy, Hannibal of Carthage. However, when he walks in there is a dead man and a woman with a gun held to her head. He ends up getting her out of there but loses the sword in the process. He decides the best way to keep her safe from the MOB and the other players in the game is for her to stay with him, so he takes her with him to retrieve the sword but starts to fall for Michaela. Falling for her would only complicate his life’s work.
Will Brant be able to keep Michaela safe and retrieve the sword or will the sword be lost? Will he continue to fight his feelings for her or give into them?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews