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Black Queen, Dark Knight

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Jagger Johansson
I was made for pulling the trigger of a stainless steel .357 Magnum. It's cold and ruthless like me.
Mikayla Bryant is my next target. She's the princess of a fallen nation.
I've been tasked with taking my beautiful, new mark to a powerful South African king.
But now that I have his virgin queen, screw the mission!
I'm claiming her.

Mikayla Bryant
My past was sordid and deadly.
But all that matters was my promising future in the medical field.
Well, that mattered before I was taken by a beautiful devil, who was just deranged enough to believe me a princess. Truthfully, I'd play any part he wanted me to. I'm smart enough to believe he's a Hitman but it does not stop my deceitful cravings. Once satiated, I will get away from him... I must. Or he will take my heart and ruin me.

650 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 25, 2018

802 people are currently reading
251 people want to read

About the author

Amarie Avant

53 books661 followers
USA TODAY Bestselling Author Amarie Avant focuses on writing romantic suspense, contemporary romance, dark romance with the occasional redeemable anti-hero.

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5 stars
226 (48%)
4 stars
128 (27%)
3 stars
67 (14%)
2 stars
29 (6%)
1 star
20 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
Profile Image for Pearline.
378 reviews16 followers
March 29, 2019
I struggled to get through this story... While the two characters had great chemistry. I just didn't understand the main characters obsession with being raped?? I also thought the author should have done way more research on South Africa. There were so many inaccuracies that it was hard for me to follow. I think when these authors want to make a fictional background/history in a country. Why not create a fictional country? I wasn't sure if this book was taking on some of the story elements from the Fear series as well. How the story ended I couldn't tell if there was going to be a part 2 or if the story was done. By the end I was pretty much done with both characters. I'm really surprised since this author has greatly improved with the Fearless series. She's doing a great job with the two main characters and creating a realistic relationship. I didn't see that with this story.
Profile Image for Kenya Wright.
Author 147 books2,655 followers
March 15, 2019
Ok. I'm glad I gave this a try. I like action with my romance and this packed a nice punch of intrigue and steamy romance.
1,269 reviews26 followers
March 11, 2018
This book has a lot of problems on the surface, but it's also the pretty cover and basic concept that got me to read it. I thought, "Yes, I'll read an interracial romance about these two together."

The thing is, I wonder if the author has a beta reading circle. This isn't her first book, but it is so obviously in need of editing that it should embarrass her. There are sound-alike errors, forgotten endings (ie, no -ed on the end of verbs that should be in past tense), and a richness of other typos. If she would have had readers, not just ARC readers but beta readers, take a look beforehand, much of this could have been eliminated. I understand wanting to get something out and share it with people, but this is just silly.

This is a bad boy romance. It kept me reading despite the problems with typos. An assassin captures a princess to take her back to her rightful kingdom so she can become queen. Along the way, they fall in love. The characters have obvious chemistry and do from the start, but I'm dubious how Mikayla can fall in love with Jagger considering everything he puts her through.

In summary: loved the cover and book concept; didn't like the typos/lack of editing, some of the convoluted plot. Still somewhat glad I made it through the book. I don't know that I'm likely to jump into this author's books again, not without reading a sample at first to make sure she's not all typo-ridden as this. Even so, this might be a fun, action-oriented romp for those readers who aren't normally bothered by imperfections in a final product.
Profile Image for EbonyMonae.
167 reviews18 followers
March 3, 2018
Great Storyline 3.7*

So I liked this book I am giving it a 4 but it’s really a 3.7 stars. The storyline was well written. It had a little bit of everything in this book and I think that’s why it intrigued me a lot.

The characters were well defined. I would of liked a little more closure for both of them. I would of also like an epilogue to see how the characters were doing the author left me wondering.

All in all the book was a good read and well written, only thing that makes this book a 3.7 is as the reader I was confused at some points in the book. I didn’t understand what she was trying to say and then she would go onto another topic. So it had me re-reading quite a bit.
Profile Image for Speed.
995 reviews2 followers
March 9, 2018
I really tried to finish but I just couldn't. The writing was all over the place. Jagger is a total jerk and a murderer and Kayla is just TSTL...I found myself pushing myself to finish reading it and I decided life is too short. Not for me at all.
Profile Image for Nene.
1,786 reviews26 followers
February 27, 2018
Totally Enjoyed
Received this novella as an ARC for my honest review. So much more can be told from other characters in this book.
Love the characters, great storyline and would recommend this novella.

Merged review:

Totally Enjoyed
Received this book/ novella as an ARC for my honest review. So much more can be told from other characters in this book.
Love the characters, great storyline and would recommend this book/novella.
Profile Image for Kashi Ashley-Ann Lowe.
484 reviews6 followers
March 7, 2018
Love this book. Nagger is soooooo sexy. Hehe. This was really a definition of a bad boy novel. The only thing is that I wasn't totally satisfied with the end. But all in all it was worth the read
Profile Image for Kelly Vidito.
274 reviews2 followers
February 27, 2018

This is a great read! It's a fast paced, action packed, suspenseful super hot read! I loved the chemistry between Jan and Kayla. I highly recommend it. I received an ARC for an honest review.
Profile Image for Kaye.
7,177 reviews70 followers
February 27, 2018
YOU MIGHT WANT TO GRAB SOME POPSICLES!!!
An exciting, fast paced, easy to follow read that captures your attention and holds you prisoner until the very last word. Unexpected circumstances, twists and turns that keep you jumping and frozen to your seat at the same time. Wow, what a wild, crazy, sensual, hot off the charts attraction that spark with an electrifying chemistry that shines as bright as the sun. Danger everywhere you look. Running from someone who you don't understand and everything changes. I really have to hand it to Amarie, she brought the characters and their personalities out in such a unique way that was so natural it felt entirely realistic. An amazing read.
Profile Image for Michaela.
362 reviews7 followers
July 22, 2018
This one started out fast paced and great. Makayla is in the moment of having her life interrupted in the shattering experience of being kidnapped. She was in the middle of celebrating and preparing for going off to start med school. Now she's Jagger's captive. And Jagger is an assassin, hired on the rare assignment of not killing but transporting her to his client. When trouble arises and a wrench is thrown into Jagger's plans, he tries to solve the mysteries of Makayla's past and figure out who truly paid him to kidnap her.

For someone so against falling for their captor, she sure was hit with the Stockholm syndrome stick pretty hard. But we've got a routine case of the magic dick. Where in symptoms include forgetting everything that was ever important to you in some capacity, friends, family, and self preservation. Makayla exhibited all of them and refused to process anything. This girl has been running from herself her whole life. Past trauma is understandable, but she hid behind the ignorance is bliss motto.

And let's not get started on Jagger's selfish manipulative antics masquerading as love. His main goal was trying to mold her into the woman her wanted in order to satisfy himself despite what she wanted. And she was so naïve she wanted to play like they were beauty and the beast. But when she no longer wanted to be manipulated by his affection, did he put in any effort to win her. At some point I just was exhausted with these two. But despite my complaints, I enjoyed it none the less. 3.5
Profile Image for Tiffany.
423 reviews19 followers
March 19, 2018
So the story ends at 65% and another book starts. 😒

Ok, I’ll start off with this.....this is just another version of John Wick to me. Jagger is set up, as a test, by a fellow X Member. According to her (this X Member), he fails. She places a mark on him to have him killed. Mikayla is a long lost princess that Jagger is tasked to getting back to her country in South Africa, safely.

I enjoyed the fight/shooting scenes. Of course that made the book. Let’s talk about how Mikayla magically listened to her ancestors and killed a highly trained assign. I don’t think I rolled my eyes that hard in a very long time. Girl, bye 😒

Jagger had to deny his love, publicly, to get Mikayla to step into her role as queen. Everyone else gets why he did it except for Mikayla. For a woman who, supposedly, graduated at the top of her class and got a full scholarship to medical school, she sure was dense. All that groveling she made Jagger do was straight up nonsense to me. Um, what happened to Jagger being an “alpha”? It felt like a game she way playing and she was enjoying it. I don’t know, it was a turn off.

I was excited for this book when I started to read it but, I’m sad to say, that I was bored with it. I love the cover though.

Oh, an epilogue would have been nice. Too many unanswered questions.

2.5 stars

Happy reading, friends ❤️📖
Profile Image for JESSICA .
441 reviews
March 9, 2018
This dark interracial romance was hella long {Long! Long! Long!} Great story but could have been cut in half. The back and forth (trying to get through to Mikayla) started to get annoying. Mikayla, i loved how strong willed she is but damn she got on my frickin nerves at times. She needed some sense slapped into her. I swear Jagger, should have took her across his knee (a few times) I know if I acted that way with my husband, I would be bound and my ass would be hot for a month. Lol. Speaking of Jagger, he is a savage {with a capital "S!"} I'm in love with this assassin (he remind me of John Wick, sigh) but he had way, way, way to much PATIENCE with Mikayla. Smh. Me, personally, I would have killed her and been on to my next kill (but that's just me)
Profile Image for Arlena.
3,481 reviews1 follower
February 27, 2018
Title: Black Queen, Dark Knight
Author: Amarie Avant
Publisher: A. A.
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"Black Queen, Dark Knight" by Amarie Avant

My Thoughts...

This was quite a interesting story that will definitely keep you turning the pages to see what was coming next for Mikayla Bryant as she is taken from the Gianni's Cafe by Jagger Johansson who really bringing it all in on her as she has been kidnapped by this hit man who was a member of the 'X-Member Status [paid assassin]. Now, to get it all about this Jagger Johansson you will just have to read this good read!

Get ready for a long story that will have a little bit of it all in it from loads of action, murder, mystery, drama, suspense and definitely some steamy hot sex, romance and love that will keep your attention all the way through the read.

Be ready for a a list of characters that will only leave one saying wow...from Mikayla, Jagger, Aram, Trick, Ava Sinclair, Earl & Joyce Bryant, Cree, Ronald, Terry, Brittany, Wiam, Freedman, Prince Fari, Shaka, Kmota, Uncle Qaaim, Aboyomi, Thulz, Ms. Ghanda, Zane Solarin, MamLalumi, Cartwright to only name a few of these very developed, portrayed individuals that helped carry this story to a very interesting end.

It was interesting seeing how this love will come to these two[Mikayla and Jagger] who was definitely a alpha. Now, how will this come about? This is where I will say you will have to pick up this engaging read to see what is this story 'Black Queen and a Dark Knight is all about. I will say at times Mikayla got on my nerves but as the story continued I was able to understand some of her reasoning..like the reason she had blocked out her memories of her past and she really didn't know herself? Coming from Long Beach, California [adopted] and ending up in Africa was truly something hard to have had to endure. What will happen as Mikayla gets her memory back? Will she be able to let Jagger back in her new life as a Queen? Will Jagger finally get his 'Uthando Iwami' in the end? Well, again to get all of these questions answered and so much more you will have to pick up "Black Queen, Dark Knight: A Bad Boy Romance" to see how well written this author brings it out so well to the readers. I do wish there had been a epilogue of life after a year, however, it still had a satisfying ending.

Would I recommend? YES!
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews128 followers
Want to read
February 17, 2019
🎁 FREE on Amazon today (2/17/2019)! 🎁

Blurb:
Jagger Johansson
I was made for pulling the trigger of a stainless steel .357 Magnum. It's cold and ruthless like me.
Mikayla Bryant is my next target. She's the princess of a fallen nation.
I've been tasked with taking my beautiful, new mark to a powerful South African king.
But now that I have his virgin queen, screw the mission!
I'm claiming her.

Mikayla Bryant
My past was sordid and deadly.
But all that matters was my promising future in the medical field.
Well, that mattered before I was taken by a beautiful devil, who was just deranged enough to believe me a princess. Truthfully, I'd play any part he wanted me to. I'm smart enough to believe he's a Hitman but it does not stop my deceitful cravings. Once satiated, I will get away from him... I must. Or he will take my heart and ruin me.
Profile Image for Cherryl.
2,159 reviews1 follower
April 12, 2019
Love of power and control corrupts absolutely!

That is the crux of this story. Likable Bryant's uncle Qaaim's greed and thirst for power started this 20 yr story by murdering her parents, the king and queen and sending a 5yr old to exile. The jealousy of a woman scorned started the beginning of the end of life for e style involved. Jagged Johannsen, a top tier assassin for X Member, did not expect to call in love with Kayla when he kidnapped her to bring her back to the kingdom.

This story is full of action, drama and suspense. I had to stop reading a calm my heart. This story was well researched and written with gray African culture references. The author wrote about a young child witnessing a tragic event in her life and trying her best to live on the best way she can., until she is thrust in the path of her kidnapper Jagger and his lifestyle. She could see the underlying goodness in him and was determined for him to see it in himself. To Jag, she was his uthando lwami, his love. He did not expect her to have that affect on him. She was forbidden to touch but they both could not help themselves.

If you like action packed romances, this is the story for you!
2,670 reviews23 followers
March 17, 2018
Good Story!

The writer bring you into story that not only gets the blood pumping but takes you on ride that's pure speed.This was not your everyday conventional romance and that is why it's so good.The two characters are so strong willed and stubborn that you can't help but like the both of them.It was also refreshing to get a heroine that was some limp lily.This was good story and is book club worthy if the only thing you want to talk about is how the heroine kicks butt.
Profile Image for Meagan.
334 reviews213 followers
dnf
May 15, 2018
DNF at 22%

I can overlook some problematic things, but, Boo, he killed your boyfriend and friends and you start having feelings for him???????? I wanted love this, but that is just too damn unbelievable.
241 reviews1 follower
March 16, 2018
Missing depth

This story was difficult to read as it was so unrealistic. This hard-nosed assassin became a wimp! Killing a millionaire in cold blood, yet allowing a woman to slap him silly...repeatedly? To go one step further, he begs on bended knee? No need an alpha male to stay alpha, even if his edges are polished a little.
934 reviews8 followers
March 15, 2018
This was a mess

I truly don't get the high ratings. This book was all over the place. I certainly didn't like Mykala and her scene with Ava was beyond believable. Jagger was a not so interesting character either. The best I can say about this book is that it has a dynamite cover. But beyond that, proceed at your own risk. Disjointed and too many loose ends.
Profile Image for Sayletta.
470 reviews1 follower
March 14, 2018
This was just ok to me. I struggled to get thru it.
182 reviews3 followers
March 7, 2018
AMAZING!!!

This book was exciting from start to finish. Some parts were full with such high octane reading just like watching a very great action movie. This book takes us on a wild ride known as Mikayla and Jagger. This has enough going on that it wi!l have you reading from the beginning to the end. Jagger accepts an assignment from Ava Sinclair, who is one of the higher ups of the X Members Society. If you can remember it's the same organization that Victor worked for in Fear by Amarie, if you haven't read it yet, you simply have it's amazing. Jagger assumes the assignment is going to be easy very cut and dry but he soon learns and realizes not all is as it seems. Jagger and Kayla' chemistry is off the charts even if they are doing a great job hiding their attraction. As they traverse the situation they find themselves in especially in a city like Las Vegas, Jagged decides to complete another assignment before he completes the one involving Kayla. Along the way Kayla's long forgotten memory of her childhood is slowly coming back to her, unfortunately it does last past her dreams enough for her to fully remember once she's awake. There is so much that is going on from the past till now, you won't be able to stop reading. You'll absolutely love Trick and will be begging Amarie to write his book when she gets the time. To find out what's going on or to find out who Trick is, you definitely want to get this book. Highly recommended!!!
25 reviews
March 12, 2018
Interesting read

I am a big fan of Ms Avant’s work. I usually read everything she writes and enjoy it. I really liked Jagger and Kayla in the beginning. Especially Kayla. I like my heroines strong, and with convictions. I liked the journey this story took us on. Very different from what is normally written in this genre. I loved the South African Backdrop. It was strange to read of SA with no mention of Apartheid or it’s effects on the people of the country. Especially knowing how deep racial tensions still run there to this day. Jagger mentioned how rich his grandfather was and how much land he owned. Yet we know that land was stolen from South Africans. And Kayla was cool about it all.
Kayla did get on my nerves with the way she kept pushing her legacy away. All she wanted was Jagger. She was willing to walk away from not only her family in the US, her dream of being a doctor, as well as her Queendom, just to be with jJagger. After knowing him for 2 weeks!!!
I lost a lot of respect for her there. And then he rejects her, and suddenly she is ready to be Queen. Smh
Also, the name Mikayla seems an odd choice for African royalty to name their child. It is completely at adds with their culture and does no service to their heritage. Mikayla should have been her adopted name and she should have had a name that was culturally appropriate. One that she would remember when she remembered her past.
109 reviews
April 8, 2018
😝 Definitely not your typical romance story! 🤩

Wow!!! This book was totally unexpected and I do mean that in a good way! Mikayla is a African princess, but she doesn’t know because she doesn’t remember what happened. She gets adopted by an American family and is now having a goodbye dinner before leaving home to become a doctor. Everything is going good for Mikayla until someone wants to bring Princess Mikayla home and they hire Jagger. Jagger was intense, he was sexy, but he was a killer who didn’t blink when pulling the tigger. This book was fast pace and had me at the end of seat! Definitely had a lot of action and so hot and steamy sex scenes between these two.
I took away a star because this book had some typos, but the book was still so good and interesting that I didn’t mind as much. I also would have liked to know what was next for Kayla and Jagger, but I’m hoping the author will continue with this series because I really enjoyed it, definitely not your normal romance, but I enjoy reading books that aren’t so predictable. This is my first time reading this author’s work, but I have a feeling it won’t be my last time! FYI the story ends at around 66%, but the author has thrown in a another story that I will start reading as soon as I hit the submit for this review! 😆
Profile Image for Jaye.
154 reviews
February 28, 2018
I love them

I received an ARC copy of this book and decided to not only voluntarily give a review but to purchase the book as well. I loved and enjoyed reading Mikayla and Jagger's story very much. From the first page the story grasp you and holds you until the very end. Am I wrong because I loved Jagger from the very beginning? If so I don't care. There nothing like a real no nonsense Alpha. Mikayla was stronger than she was aware of. That nasty uncle of hers had me 38 hot and then he had the nerve to say he loved her. If that how he loves I hate to see how he hated her. He's proof that greed can do nothing but destroy. This book was everything. Victor used to be my favorite X member but now Jagger has been promoted to book husband and Vic is my side piece lol. Yes I whole heartedly recommend thus book along with anything else Mrs. Amarie Avant pens. I found her on a whim via a reccomendation from kindle and I haven't regretted it yet and you won't either.
6 reviews
March 14, 2018
Solid

Black Queen, Dark Knight was a really good read. I will admit that I was a bit apprehensive about reading a book with an assasin as the "romantic lead", but I was pleasantly surprised.

Jagger was definitely a walking contradiction. He was cold, calculating, had a serious case a blood lust. The only thing that rivaled that was the lust he felt for Mikayla. Kayla started as a reluctant heroine but came into her own.

Both characters suffered from trauma and their love was the balm to both of their battered hearts. (Cheesy as that may sound, it worked really well in this story) It was well written and the flashbacks never seemed frivolous. The book was well thought out and executed.

I wouldn't even mind revisiting the couple to see what new adventures they get in to as their story progresses.

*** I really liked Trick and would love to read his story.***
86 reviews1 follower
February 27, 2018
I received this book as an ARC for an honest review. I first read the novella of Jag and Kayla that was included in her book Fearless 2 and immediately wanted more and boy did I get it. This story is packed with action, suspense, mystery, drama, and most of all romance. Jag wanted to think that Kayla was just a job for him until his feelings (that he didn't want to have) got in the way. Kayla was confused as to what was going on and why she was being kidnapped. Most people would say that she was annoying but wouldn't you be if you didn't know why someone wanted to kidnap you (while killing people that you know and don't know) and then tell you that you...well if you want more you will have to buy the book. All I can say is that this was an awesome book. Amarie Avant you did it again.
729 reviews16 followers
March 3, 2018
Wonderful!!!!

OMG, I loved this story. I could not put it down and was so annoyed every time that I had to since I was called several times for other obligations...
Although I have read several beautiful story from you MS. Avent and some not so great, this by far was the best... I love Jagger and how much alpha he was and a badass and strong and perfect like James Bond together with a Mission Impossible and the Bourne Identity put together to produce JAGGER"... I was so enthralled and happy and turn on, that I realized that this is the type of alpha I like and then you have Kayla/Mykayla who has changed this alpha in a blink of an eye...
Wow! I can't wait for more, and I will be so grateful to read them as I was getting very antsy when I could not find a book to read...
96 reviews1 follower
March 23, 2018
Awful

I tried to read it, I really did. The premise sounded like it could be interesting. But in the end or should I say the beginning because I couldn't get that far, the characters were completely unbelievable the story was so implausible as to not be engaging to me as a reader. So the main character gets violently kidnapped several of her friends and boyfriend are murdered and yet her mouth is watering because the man who murdered her friends...is cute? Maybe if the characters and their reactons had been more realistic and there interaction were more believable I could possibly buy that at some point she would legitimately fall for him after the shock and violence of their initial contact had worn off... I think this is the first and last book I'll ever read from this author.
Profile Image for Gina Martin.
765 reviews11 followers
March 10, 2018
4 Stars

When I read the first page of this book, I thought that Jagger was going to be a major nut job like Victor was in the Fear series, but that was not the case. Now don’t get be wrong, Jagger did get the side a time or two, but he was not like Victor at all...lol. Anyway, I enjoyed this book. Jagger and Mikayla had some major chemistry that leaped off the pages of this book. Their story was quite entertaining. The back and forth between them an Mikayla’s smart remarks were funny. I love that she was not weak and stood up for herself. Oh and even though Jagger was a paid assassin he was one big teddy bear when it came to Mikayla. Lastly, I liked Trick. He was a cool dude. Great job, Amarie Avant!
Profile Image for La Vida Rose.
605 reviews22 followers
March 6, 2018
I spent the weekend reading this and I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I didn't know what to expect but this was a pleasant surprise. The story was not one dimensional and neither were the characters, Mikayla and Jagger. What a hot duo! It was pretty exciting reading about their adventures from Long Beach, CA to Las Vegas, NV to...South Africa? lol This is a story that will keep you on your toes with some really steamy love scenes written in there to boot. I liked the assassin aspect of this book and I really liked how Amerie Avant writes each chapter from the main characters' points of view. I look forward to reading more from this author!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews

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