What do you think?
Rate this book
Black Raven #4
Imagine: A Black Raven Novel
One cruise ship. Multiple kidnappers. In the dark waters of the South China Sea, a handful of Black Raven agents are the only hope anyone has of living to see Christmas. From the back Seventy-five of the world’s wealthiest gamblers are ringing in the holidays with a high-stakes, three-day tournament aboard the Imagine. As the ultra-luxury cruise ship departs from Macau, financial risks are enormous and security is tight. Agents Sylvia (Leo) Leon and Adam (Ace) Evans lead Black Raven’s on-board team. Months earlier, they gave into feelings that caught them both by surprise. Now, Leo wants nothing more than to ignore what Ace is dying to confront. While adversaries execute a seemingly perfect, diabolical plan, Leo and Ace operate in stealth mode to save the Imagine’s passengers. As danger tests the limits of their training and expertise, and their simmering chemistry hits a boiling point, their chances of living to see Christmas narrow. For these two best friends, the Imagine job could change everything…in more ways than one.
- GenresRomantic Suspense
284 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 30, 2018
89 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Stella Barcelona
10 books254 followersStella Barcelona is now a full-time author but was previously an attorney and a history teacher. Her love of history and experience as an attorney influence her writing and provide a fertile backdrop for her romantic suspense stories.
Stella and her husband Bob split their time between New Orleans and Fort Lauderdale. In addition to faraway places, both Louisiana and South Florida provide inspiration for settings in Stella’s novels. When Stella is not writing, she is often reading. She also enjoys Pilates classes, loves Italian food, and has a thing for early mornings and sunrises. Stella and Bob’s two papillons, Sucre and Summer, are their “children.”
Stella's stories have romance, mystery, and action, as intelligent protagonists face dark adversaries. From her fertile imagination, Black Raven Private Security Contractors, the continuing character in her romantic suspense series, was born.
As Stella tells it, “Black Raven is introduced in Deceived and is featured in my other novels. The genesis for Black Raven was my experience with Hurricane Katrina. At the time, we lived in downtown New Orleans. Our condo was centered between the Superdome and the Convention Center, within easy walking distance of both. We evacuated for the storm, and lived in Memphis, Tennessee for the weeks that New Orleans was closed to residents. Before Katrina, I had imagined devastating hurricanes. I had also imagined floodwaters inundating the area. I had never imagined how quickly civilization would erode once a storm of Katrina’s magnitude hit, nor had I imagined the depravity that ruled the streets of my beloved city in the days following the flood. Because we did not stay for the storm, I was able to watch the news coverage of the horror that unfolded in New Orleans. I was glued to the television for days and nights.
“Later, I learned that individuals, business entities, and governmental agencies had hired private security contractors to protect people and assets to fill the void left by the inability of government officials to provide safety. When I returned home, I was the beneficiary of such protection. I started researching private security contractors, and from that research my fictional company, Black Raven Private Security Contractors, was born. Black Raven is called upon when there’s a wrinkle in time, when civilization has faltered. They handle problems that others can’t solve, and they do it capably, efficiently, and with confidence. They protect, when no one else can. It’s what they do.”
Stella and her husband Bob split their time between New Orleans and Fort Lauderdale. In addition to faraway places, both Louisiana and South Florida provide inspiration for settings in Stella’s novels. When Stella is not writing, she is often reading. She also enjoys Pilates classes, loves Italian food, and has a thing for early mornings and sunrises. Stella and Bob’s two papillons, Sucre and Summer, are their “children.”
Stella's stories have romance, mystery, and action, as intelligent protagonists face dark adversaries. From her fertile imagination, Black Raven Private Security Contractors, the continuing character in her romantic suspense series, was born.
As Stella tells it, “Black Raven is introduced in Deceived and is featured in my other novels. The genesis for Black Raven was my experience with Hurricane Katrina. At the time, we lived in downtown New Orleans. Our condo was centered between the Superdome and the Convention Center, within easy walking distance of both. We evacuated for the storm, and lived in Memphis, Tennessee for the weeks that New Orleans was closed to residents. Before Katrina, I had imagined devastating hurricanes. I had also imagined floodwaters inundating the area. I had never imagined how quickly civilization would erode once a storm of Katrina’s magnitude hit, nor had I imagined the depravity that ruled the streets of my beloved city in the days following the flood. Because we did not stay for the storm, I was able to watch the news coverage of the horror that unfolded in New Orleans. I was glued to the television for days and nights.
“Later, I learned that individuals, business entities, and governmental agencies had hired private security contractors to protect people and assets to fill the void left by the inability of government officials to provide safety. When I returned home, I was the beneficiary of such protection. I started researching private security contractors, and from that research my fictional company, Black Raven Private Security Contractors, was born. Black Raven is called upon when there’s a wrinkle in time, when civilization has faltered. They handle problems that others can’t solve, and they do it capably, efficiently, and with confidence. They protect, when no one else can. It’s what they do.”
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 3, 2018
Ace is the King of Hearts
Stella Barcelona takes countdown romantic suspense to an art form. I was introduced to this method of taut timeline suspense in her first Black Raven Book, Shadows. Like that book, an enormous amount of the plot in Imagine takes place in a 24-hour period. How she manages to not only inject but evolve emotions and feelings in the middle of a military crisis in just a matter of hours is truly amazing. There is also no shying away from R-rated violence in a Barcelona novel. Be prepared for blood.
Despite the over-the-top villains in Barcelona's books, there is always a high amount of realism and competency among her Black Raven mercenaries. The security company employees in this instance are former Marine Ace and cyber-wizard Leo. They are on an assignment undercover as a couple, and things just went sideways. (However, I am proud of myself. For the first time in a Black Raven book I actually figured out the suspense plot before all was revealed). Feelings are getting in the way for these two as they proceed with duty amid a truly horrifying situation.
The suspense is superb (I was up most of the night reading, although that might have been more related to the XL mocha I had in the evening). The romance was good, but not great. The book also ended before I felt the romance was concluded, and in fact there is a postscript note that there is more in store for Ace and Leo in the next book. Barcelona hasn't done that before, and I didn't react well. Somehow, I knew this inconclusive ending was coming when I was at 91% and there was absolutely no way I was going to see them.....It wasn't a cliffhanger, but it didn't end with me sighing my happy sigh. What it did do was drop this book from 5 stars to 4.
But will I be happy to read more of Ace and Leo? You bet. (And there is an Easter egg for this book).
Book source: Kindle Unlimited.
Stella Barcelona takes countdown romantic suspense to an art form. I was introduced to this method of taut timeline suspense in her first Black Raven Book, Shadows. Like that book, an enormous amount of the plot in Imagine takes place in a 24-hour period. How she manages to not only inject but evolve emotions and feelings in the middle of a military crisis in just a matter of hours is truly amazing. There is also no shying away from R-rated violence in a Barcelona novel. Be prepared for blood.
Despite the over-the-top villains in Barcelona's books, there is always a high amount of realism and competency among her Black Raven mercenaries. The security company employees in this instance are former Marine Ace and cyber-wizard Leo. They are on an assignment undercover as a couple, and things just went sideways. (However, I am proud of myself. For the first time in a Black Raven book I actually figured out the suspense plot before all was revealed). Feelings are getting in the way for these two as they proceed with duty amid a truly horrifying situation.
The suspense is superb (I was up most of the night reading, although that might have been more related to the XL mocha I had in the evening). The romance was good, but not great. The book also ended before I felt the romance was concluded, and in fact there is a postscript note that there is more in store for Ace and Leo in the next book. Barcelona hasn't done that before, and I didn't react well. Somehow, I knew this inconclusive ending was coming when I was at 91% and there was absolutely no way I was going to see them.....It wasn't a cliffhanger, but it didn't end with me sighing my happy sigh. What it did do was drop this book from 5 stars to 4.
But will I be happy to read more of Ace and Leo? You bet. (And there is an Easter egg for this book).
Book source: Kindle Unlimited.
December 3, 2018
Imagine begins with Agents Sylvia (Leo) Leon and Adam (Ace) Evans in New Orleans celebrating Halloween. The two have been best friends since joining Black Raven. Nothing has ever threatened that friendship until that night and that one unforgettable kiss…….. As they come to their senses, Leo wants nothing more than to forget that ever happened. Ace, however, has other ideas……….
Flash forward about six weeks or so, and we see Leo, Ace and a whole lot of other Black Raven agents in a meeting planning their next job. This is the first time the two have seen each other since New Orleans and the job sounds easy enough, until they find out they’re going undercover as an engaged couple. Once they are on board the ship, they play their respective parts to a tee, as do the other agents who have gone in undercover. During a break before the night’s festivities, Leo and Ace head to their room in order to get ready for the night. Ace confronts Leo about what happened between them and the feelings it has stirred within him and wants to know if she feels the same. She tries to shut him down, but gives into their mutual attraction. Ace then awakens a little bit later, or so he thinks. When he sees the time, he knows they’re in trouble. Knowing they’ve been gassed, he drags an unconscious Leo out onto their balcony so that they can get some fresh air and, hopefully, recover quickly from the affects of the gas. It doesn’t take either of them long to determine that the ship has been hijacked and spring into action. It also doesn’t take them long to figure out that they are up against a foe that is willing to do anything to get what he wants……
Imagine is a superbly written tale that draws you in from the very beginning. Leo and Ace have a chemistry that jumps out at you from their first words, but when the feelings heat up, the chemistry reaches out and grabs you and doesn’t let go. Their backstories add to the complexity of their friends to lovers story, but it’s Ace’s who will tug at your heart. The mystery and suspense is very well written and keeps you guessing, and gasping, until the end. If you’re a fan of friends to lovers, with a lot of suspense and action thrown in, along with scorching chemistry, you will never go wrong with any of the Black Raven novels. Well done, Stella Barcelona! Very, very well done!
Flash forward about six weeks or so, and we see Leo, Ace and a whole lot of other Black Raven agents in a meeting planning their next job. This is the first time the two have seen each other since New Orleans and the job sounds easy enough, until they find out they’re going undercover as an engaged couple. Once they are on board the ship, they play their respective parts to a tee, as do the other agents who have gone in undercover. During a break before the night’s festivities, Leo and Ace head to their room in order to get ready for the night. Ace confronts Leo about what happened between them and the feelings it has stirred within him and wants to know if she feels the same. She tries to shut him down, but gives into their mutual attraction. Ace then awakens a little bit later, or so he thinks. When he sees the time, he knows they’re in trouble. Knowing they’ve been gassed, he drags an unconscious Leo out onto their balcony so that they can get some fresh air and, hopefully, recover quickly from the affects of the gas. It doesn’t take either of them long to determine that the ship has been hijacked and spring into action. It also doesn’t take them long to figure out that they are up against a foe that is willing to do anything to get what he wants……
Imagine is a superbly written tale that draws you in from the very beginning. Leo and Ace have a chemistry that jumps out at you from their first words, but when the feelings heat up, the chemistry reaches out and grabs you and doesn’t let go. Their backstories add to the complexity of their friends to lovers story, but it’s Ace’s who will tug at your heart. The mystery and suspense is very well written and keeps you guessing, and gasping, until the end. If you’re a fan of friends to lovers, with a lot of suspense and action thrown in, along with scorching chemistry, you will never go wrong with any of the Black Raven novels. Well done, Stella Barcelona! Very, very well done!
March 5, 2020
Leo and Ace have been friends for as long as they have worked for Black Raven Security as field agents as well as Leo's work with the IT department. It never occurred to either of them that their relationship might be more until they shared a kiss on Halloween in New Orleans. Since then, they have both avoided the subject until they are assigned to impersonate a husband and wife on the maiden voyage of the cruise ship, Imagine, and work with Black Raven security forces there to insure the safety of the passengers. A takeover of the ship leads them into a treacherous situation together that neither one of them is ready to face.
Although this book is not quite as good as the previous book in the series, it does hold its own as strictly romantic suspense. The main characters are very likable and their predicament makes for interesting reading. The involvement with the Chinese government makes this a very timely novel as well. I'm anxious to read the next book in this series, which promises more adventures for Leo and Ace.
Although this book is not quite as good as the previous book in the series, it does hold its own as strictly romantic suspense. The main characters are very likable and their predicament makes for interesting reading. The involvement with the Chinese government makes this a very timely novel as well. I'm anxious to read the next book in this series, which promises more adventures for Leo and Ace.
December 27, 2018
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
After THAT kiss on Halloween, Leo and Ace have been avoiding the issue.Or rather, Leo has, and it's all Ace has on his mind. Sent together with a team of Black Raven agents undercover on a gambling cruise liner's maiden voyage, they are thrown into the thick of things, with so much left unsaid.
This is book 4 in the Black Raven series, but you don't need to have read the other three for this to make sense, they can all be read as stand alone novels. Books one and three are five star reads from me, though.
But this one?? Not so much and I've no idea why! And ya'll know how much that pains me so! maybe it will come as I write this up.
Leo is emotionally stunted after the death of her father on 9/11. She doesn't wanna talk to Ace about what happened on Halloween but she has been thinking about it. Ace is her best friend, has been since they started working together. That kiss, though, changes everything for them both. Ace wants to move the relationship on, but they have a job to do first. Feelings for your partner cannot get in the way of a job. But they have a way of worming in, and Leo can see those feelings in Ace's eyes, even if he doesn't want her to see.
Told mostly from Leo and Ace's point of view, we also get some of the bad guy in a couple of places, and in the other two books I've read in this series, I loved that. Those bad guys are deeply twisted, and were difficult to read, but it's more of less why I gave those two books 5 stars: the connection I had to the minds of those bad guys. But something didn't quite work here, for me. While clearly insanely greedy (cos it's all about the money) and a lot screwed in the head (cos a LOT of people will die) I didn't feel any connection to the bad guy at all. That makes ME sound a lot twisted in my head, but I think you know what I mean. There seemed to be no background as to WHY (other than the money) the bad guy was doing this, what made them want to blow up a brand spanking new ship, and kill all those people? I needed some background and I didn't get it.
This book is HEAVY on the agents work. A little bit too much for me, I think. I got lost when they were running around the ship cos I have no idea what half of those ship terms meant!
AND!! It's only the first part of Leo and Ace's story. They are Happy For Now, and I do hope they get their Happy Ever After in the next book. Ain't gonna be plain sailing for them I know that much!
So, because on the lack of connection to the bad guy, and because of the heavy action (which gives me the WHY I didn't enjoy this one quite so much) . . .
4 stars, still a really good read, just not on a par with books one and three.
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
After THAT kiss on Halloween, Leo and Ace have been avoiding the issue.Or rather, Leo has, and it's all Ace has on his mind. Sent together with a team of Black Raven agents undercover on a gambling cruise liner's maiden voyage, they are thrown into the thick of things, with so much left unsaid.
This is book 4 in the Black Raven series, but you don't need to have read the other three for this to make sense, they can all be read as stand alone novels. Books one and three are five star reads from me, though.
But this one?? Not so much and I've no idea why! And ya'll know how much that pains me so! maybe it will come as I write this up.
Leo is emotionally stunted after the death of her father on 9/11. She doesn't wanna talk to Ace about what happened on Halloween but she has been thinking about it. Ace is her best friend, has been since they started working together. That kiss, though, changes everything for them both. Ace wants to move the relationship on, but they have a job to do first. Feelings for your partner cannot get in the way of a job. But they have a way of worming in, and Leo can see those feelings in Ace's eyes, even if he doesn't want her to see.
Told mostly from Leo and Ace's point of view, we also get some of the bad guy in a couple of places, and in the other two books I've read in this series, I loved that. Those bad guys are deeply twisted, and were difficult to read, but it's more of less why I gave those two books 5 stars: the connection I had to the minds of those bad guys. But something didn't quite work here, for me. While clearly insanely greedy (cos it's all about the money) and a lot screwed in the head (cos a LOT of people will die) I didn't feel any connection to the bad guy at all. That makes ME sound a lot twisted in my head, but I think you know what I mean. There seemed to be no background as to WHY (other than the money) the bad guy was doing this, what made them want to blow up a brand spanking new ship, and kill all those people? I needed some background and I didn't get it.
This book is HEAVY on the agents work. A little bit too much for me, I think. I got lost when they were running around the ship cos I have no idea what half of those ship terms meant!
AND!! It's only the first part of Leo and Ace's story. They are Happy For Now, and I do hope they get their Happy Ever After in the next book. Ain't gonna be plain sailing for them I know that much!
So, because on the lack of connection to the bad guy, and because of the heavy action (which gives me the WHY I didn't enjoy this one quite so much) . . .
4 stars, still a really good read, just not on a par with books one and three.
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
February 7, 2020
Fantastic suspense, action, and romance.
Assigned to a mission Leo and Ace are prepared for it, or so they think. In close courters and on a mission, thinking of nothing else until they find out they will be one of the guests on board the ship, and they will have to play the part of lovers to the max.
Leo has a knack for numbers and play's it to the max at a card game meant only for the wealthy elite. When she starts besting the high rollers, they are looking at as a couple of wealth and power, and this places even more pressure on Ace to best the best within the ship.
Ace finds himself even more drawn to Leo when he sees she can hold her own in the game of chance and even best them. Finding himself drawn like a moth to a flame, and their passion ignites. Fate has a way of interrupting their spark with an unexpected security breach.
Cruising on this mighty ship with it has many wealthy partitions from all over the world, intending on flexing the money might until someone wants to rid them of it. If they don't comply, there are life-threating consequences, and you might find yourself at the wrong end of a gun. Great skill and determination, the villains intend to extract all that they can from the patrons on board her.
Imagine is an excellent addition to the series, and I find myself loving the main characters with the storyline as original as I've seen it. Excellent world-building and imagination bring this story to life. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I can only hope she continues the series, for it is an excellent one.
Assigned to a mission Leo and Ace are prepared for it, or so they think. In close courters and on a mission, thinking of nothing else until they find out they will be one of the guests on board the ship, and they will have to play the part of lovers to the max.
Leo has a knack for numbers and play's it to the max at a card game meant only for the wealthy elite. When she starts besting the high rollers, they are looking at as a couple of wealth and power, and this places even more pressure on Ace to best the best within the ship.
Ace finds himself even more drawn to Leo when he sees she can hold her own in the game of chance and even best them. Finding himself drawn like a moth to a flame, and their passion ignites. Fate has a way of interrupting their spark with an unexpected security breach.
Cruising on this mighty ship with it has many wealthy partitions from all over the world, intending on flexing the money might until someone wants to rid them of it. If they don't comply, there are life-threating consequences, and you might find yourself at the wrong end of a gun. Great skill and determination, the villains intend to extract all that they can from the patrons on board her.
Imagine is an excellent addition to the series, and I find myself loving the main characters with the storyline as original as I've seen it. Excellent world-building and imagination bring this story to life. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I can only hope she continues the series, for it is an excellent one.
January 1, 2019
Sylvia (Leo) and Ace worked together in Black Raven. They had a great friendship but found out there was more between them. Ace realized first and was willing to try, but Leo had her doubts about that "more". They realize how much more they mean to each other in the midst of danger, kidnapping, death. The action was definitely exciting, not too graphic, and had me holding my breath and turning the pages. I highly recommend this story.
I received a copy of this story through AXP Elite Reads, and this is my unsolicited review.
I received a copy of this story through AXP Elite Reads, and this is my unsolicited review.
January 5, 2019
I am glad to give this book the highest number allowed on the rating scale. I would give it a 10 if that were possible. This book is totally awesome and amazing. The story and characters quickly draw you into the book. I don’t remember the last time I truly could not put a book down. The two main characters have some issues but they cannot let these issues interfere with their task at hand. This is a serious page-turner. I highly recommend this book book to everyone.
November 27, 2018
Superb thriller with a military orientation. Marvelous characters and a plot that will draw the reader into a world of terrorism. High seas intrigue and a group of the finest paramilitary forces fighting to keep their clients safe. This is NOT a novel you want to miss!
October 31, 2018
Fantastic
I couldn't put this down once I started ! I felt like I was in the story myself. Very enjoyable
I couldn't put this down once I started ! I felt like I was in the story myself. Very enjoyable
April 15, 2019
Blah blah blah. Another page Turner..by that I mean sipping multiple pages of unnecessary dialogue. So far , this series is on serious need of editing and combination into ONE book. What a mess.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews