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Masters and Mercenaries #4

On Her Master's Secret Service

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Her submission fulfilled her

When Eve St. James married Alex McKay, she had her whole life ahead of her. They were the FBI’s golden couple by day, but by night Eve gave herself over to her husband’s world of Dominance and submission filled with pleasures she came to crave.

His betrayal destroyed her

Worried for her safety, Alex left Eve behind to tackle a dangerous mission. But Alex never suspected that Eve was the real target and her security is destroyed by a madman. By the time he rescues her, his wife has been changed forever.

But when her life is in danger, he is her only hope

Unable to heal the damage, Alex and Eve are still trapped together in a cycle of pleasure and misery that even their divorce cannot sever. But when a threat from Eve’s past resurfaces, Alex will stop at nothing to save her life and reclaim her heart.

338 pages, Paperback

First published May 12, 2013

389 people are currently reading
3003 people want to read

About the author

Lexi Blake

183 books6,383 followers
NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn't until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

Her first novel, Their Virgin Captive: Masters of Ménage, Book 1, was a collaboration with New York Times bestselling author Shayla Black. There are five more books available in the series: Their Virgin's Secret, Their Virgin Concubine, Their Virgin Princess, Their Virgin Hostage, and Their Virgin Secretary. The next book in the series, Their Virgin Mistress, is releasing this April.

In addition to the Masters of Ménage series, she is the author of the Masters and Mercenaries series. There are eight full-length novels and four novellas available now, with more coming in 2015.

In 2013, Lexi also began releasing her urban fantasy series, Thieves. The first five are available now, with Ripper, a spin-off to the series, coming in 2015.

Sign up for Lexi's newsletter at http://lexiblake.net/contact.html#new....

For more information about her books, her appearances and her wacky life visit her Facebook page (http://goo.gl/q2IHnJ) or her website (http://www.lexiblake.net).

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Profile Image for Astrid - The Bookish Sweet Tooth.
797 reviews921 followers
May 27, 2018


READ MY REVIEW ON THE BLOG





I can't repeat it often enough: Lexi Blake writes one hell of Romantic Suspense. She has been keeping me on the edge of my seat with the overarching plot about a rogue CIA agent throughout four books so far. This time we also get a second-chance romance made for the ages.

Five years ago Eve and Alex were the couple everybody was jealous of until Alex's obsession with a case at the FBI led to his wife being abducted and raped by a well-known terrorist. It is hard to move past such trauma and it isn't really surprising that their marriage didn't survive. Yet, everybody knows that they are still deeply in love with each other - they lost their way to each other and can't seem to find their way back. When new leads turn up and Alex gets a second chance to capture Evie's rapist he is coming close to making the same mistake again but this time his ex-wife won't have it. She is ready to start fighting to salvage what's left of their love.
"I thought he cared more about punishing the man who hurt me than he wanted to be with me."

Angsty? Yes! Deliciously so. What made this installment so good was that there was no doubt that Alex and eve were IT for one another. They struggled, fought, despaired but they did it together with love ever present. They were frustrating but not in the way I wanted to slap them. These were two broken people who truly wanted to break the cycle and heal the damage. What they didn't manage the past five years, acknowledging guilt in both of them, communicating their respective needs so that the other one can take care of them was possible this time because they were forced to work together.

I loved Eve and Alex, as a couple and individually. Their adoration for one another, their strength, which multiplied once they were on the same page, it was so good to see them move on and build something new. Eve was a resilient woman, strong but with a penchant to be inside her head a lot. Alex was the dominant alpha guy who was man enough to admit that there would be no one else for him but his ex-wife.
“I can let go of the twenty-three-year-old idiot who didn't realize just how much he could love you. I can. He's gone.
I can let go of the man who was so tied up in his own guilt that he didn't really see you for years.
But I will never let go of the eighty-year-old man who will hold your hand until the day he dies.
I will fight for that old man. I will never let go of him.”

One word about the BDSM in these books. D/s lifestyle isne't for everyone - I'm not sure I would be cut out for it but there is one thing that all the books in this series have in common. They explain how these relationships work and there is nothing degrading or derogatory about it. It is not being used to hurt somebody emotionally. In fact, it's based on respect and love and the rules actually ensure a safe environment to practice your kink. I have no idea how true to the reality it is but it's definitely interesting to read about.

I've praised Lexi Blake for the intricate plot lines and overarching story lines in her books. While the romance in the first two books wasn't entirely my cuppa she seems to have found the right balance with me now. I loved Liam's story already and On Her Master's Secret Service was another success.

Finally I'm getting to badass and asshole extraordinaire, Ian Taggart, whose story I've been waiting for since the beginning. He is one tough bugger and he definitely needs a sassy, strong heroine.




Profile Image for Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾.
2,320 reviews13.7k followers
May 18, 2013

"If you want to play, angel, we're going to play it my way. You want to take on the role of my slave? You better think about what that means. It means I'll have you the way I want you. I'll fuck you when I want, where I want, how I want, and I won't listen to your protests. You belong to me. Mine. You're fucking mine for however long this lasts"



Please let it all stop right here. Let this be it. Forever. Forever with his lips on mine and our hearts beating in time. Alex and Eve. Together.


Now THAT my friends is how you do Romantic Suspense!
I have loved this series since the very first book, The Dom Who Loved Me. And it only keeps getting better and better.

Six years ago FBI agent, Alex McKay, made a mistake that cost him everything. While pursuing a ruthless criminal, he chose to ignore the advise of his wife and brilliant profiler, his choices let to a devastating result that cost him what he values most, his marriage.

Now Alex and Eve exist in a state of limbo and the confines of a cold BDSM relationship that allows for sex but no intimacy. Eve views herself as broken and Alex suffers from guilt. Neither are willing to let go, but the relationship they once had is long gone.
They had begun their marriage on an island paradise, and they'd made love on the beach and watched the sun come up. She'd looked out and the ocean had seemed as endless as her love for him. The waves never ended, their potential infinite, and she and Alex had seemed the same way.
Her love was still there, but their potential had died in a fury of blood and pain and guilt. They were shattered. Nothing could take them back to a time when they weren't.


When the criminal that cost Alex and Eve everything escapes from prison and threatens Eve's safety once again, he is determined to bring him down at any expense. Going undercover, the case forces Alex and Eve together in something they didn't think they'd have again.

This book had everything: action, suspense, hot sex, and fantastic writing to wrap it all together flawlessly.

I really liked that Alex was not the typical Dom that I usually find in books. Sure he was possessive and super Alpha with a dirty mouth. What he wasn't was a manwhore. It has always been Eve for him since they met and married in their early 20s. I really liked that even though his marriage dissolved, he was still faithful to Eve. There was no unnecessary angst. The relationship between them was broken, but in a such a heartbreaking and realistic way, that it had me turning the pages anxious to see what happens.

He is determined to get his wife back, and he is prepared to do it at any cost. The sex scenes were hot, though I wouldn't say they were as erotic as the other books. I'd call it BDSM light, but it was still very hot.



What I really like about this book is that the romance and sex was seamlessly interwoven into the suspense plot. It was not out of place or repetitive or too much. I found it to perfectly balance out the story.

While the book brought back all of the favorite characters from the past book, it also introduced two very intriguing new characters in Kristen and Jesse. Kristen really made the book for me with her aura of mystery. She was such a fun supporting character. I loved her sense of humor.

"They think I'm a sweet little lesbian. It was easier that way. Until I met a Domme. She was scary and very aggressive, so now I'm a celibate lesbian because my lover died in a car crash and I can't get over her."

******
"If you decide I'm not trustworthy, shoot me in the gut because it would be a real loss to mar my boobs. They're real, by the way. Night."


Kristen is an enigma throughout the entire book, though we get a few hints here and there. Luckily, we get the answer for the mystery at the very end...and IT.IS.AWESOME!

We even get a little teaser into Ian's book. I have seriously been waiting for Ian's book from the very first. Something about the broken and jaded asshole Dom just speaks to me. And let me just tell you, the set up for his book?
Profile Image for Vintage.
2,720 reviews731 followers
April 11, 2020
Hate to be heartless as I feel Blake wants us to suffer the pangs of this couple's love, but I have never been able to get behind them as a couple.

The heroine was raped years before the series begins. She and the H were married. She was an FBI profiler and he was some kind of FBI alpha type. They are now more renegade as they work for Big Tag and his band of merry mercenary Master Doms. The h had warned her husband not to go after the bad guy, but when he ignored her she was the one that ended up kidnapped and raped for a week. The couple have been in a downward spiral for the past six years (? I think 6), and their emotional distance and emotional torture has done more damage than the rape.

They still have sex on a Dominant/sub base and, for me, just ick. Taking a page from Pretty Woman they don't kiss. The big bad guy's presence has come up again, and the H, having learned NOTHING from before, wants to hunt him down. The heroine tries to tell him not to for the same old reasons and rinse and repeat.

The secondary characters are here but with downplayed roles as the focus is an H and h healing through their kink. Way too long, and sorry to be judgey, but anal sex doesn't sound like the most bonding of experiences but apparently it's the Grail.

Read to further the story and the set up for Big Tag's story. Or not.
Profile Image for QuinnReads.
3,755 reviews212 followers
October 18, 2025
Lexi Blake Masters and Mercenaries bk 04 On Her Masters Secret Service

To Do It All Over Again

This is the book in the series I've been looking forward to the most. Since first meeting them, I've patiently waited to get here, and it was worth it!

Many moons ago, Eve St. James and Alex McKay not only married but also divorced. The sad and heartbreaking relationship that rises from the ashes of that is barely functional. If you've been reading along in series order, you have seen the unhealthy situationship that they've found themselves in and the perpetual trauma it brings.

This book changes all that.

Oh, they have a ton of work to do, but they both seem to rise to the challenge. (It's about time!)

She needed her husband. God, she needed her Dom so badly.
-- Eve St. James

Eve and Alex finding their way back to each other is sweet, poignant, and steeped in undeniable chemistry. These two do NOTHING the easy way, I swear.

There is plenty of suspense and mayhem (just ask Ian). It kept my attention for certain. I found some of the plot twists to be predictable, but one or two I was a little surprised on. Either way, I suspect I'll revisit at some point, because it is really good.

I read along with the audio book. The narrator, Ryan West, does a wonderful job! Not only does he have a voice that's easy to listen to, but he gives a really good performance when it comes to sass, ego, accents, and general delivery. A bit more of a feminine touch for Eve and the other ladies would've been ideal, but I'm still very happy. 🎧💚🎧

Story: 4.5 stars
Narration: 4.5 stars
Listening Speed: 1.8x
Profile Image for  Rosebud.
1,052 reviews194 followers
May 17, 2013
Just got done reading this contemporary BDSM erotica romance action adventure suspense series. book.

In this, the 4th installment in the Masters & Mercenaries series, the much anticipated story featuring Alex and Eve is told. Though divorced the two continue to work together at the McKay-Taggart Security Agency keeping their relationship very professional at all times. Why one of them doesn't leave has always bugged me. Yes, they do play at the BDSM club with Eve being upfront about the many hard limits she insists on, but why not just end it? Things are not always as they seem so learning what the 'problem' was is paramount into believing if a reconcilliation is even possible.

The 'problem' was one of many twists in this story that had me glued to my e reader. I'm pretty good about figuring out the many twists and turns that authors use early on and i was doing pretty good in this one too. But. I didn't see them all. Which is one of the reasons I loved this book. A couple are pretty obvious for sure but when....................... Sorry gotta read this story to know as I don't do spoilers. Just so you know. I did type out the biggie twist but erased it and added the dot, dot dots. So loved that part. hehehe.

As to the suspense. I'm not always a fan of an established married couple reconciling. Why I'm not sure except that i am. In this book the author made me a fan. Alex was a strong loving Dom husband who still had feelings for his sub but didn't know how to fix things. Eve, a natural submissive, had submitted to her man but for some reason 'something' happened and she no longer was the same girl. Life kicked her in the butt and she had never recovered.

I guess the bandaide had to be ripped off and allowed to heal in this relationship and so it did. Along the way a new problem arises that has the two having to work together in the most intimate of ways at .... you guessed it .... a BDSM club. With Alex no longer held to Eve's restrictions he's now free to show her that what they had was nothing compared to what they could have. giggle. giggle. giggle.

This book ended with the set up for Ian to meet his match. I am so used to the main guy getting his sub early in the series so why this author went the other route and waited for Alex and Ian til the end I know not. Could it be that she's saved the best for last? I just can't wait.

Let the stalking begin......
Profile Image for Kate.
2,287 reviews357 followers
October 30, 2016
At the end of everything – there was only love. And it was worth fighting for.

Not much I can say that no one else hasn’t said after 219 reviews.

I wasn’t really impressed by this series at the beginning. We got off to a rocky start.
With each book that I’ve read I’ve come to really enjoy this series.

I was so emotionally when it came to this book. My heart was beating really fast. My angst levels were up and my emotional ties to both characters were high.

There is not one couple and especially second chance romance that deserved it more than Eve and Alex. (IMO)

There were times I thought that they would never find their way back to one another. They have a once in a lifetime love. And well the second time round they didn’t do it all better. They did it differently. And it was, let me amend that it is beautiful to watch and to read.

I have come to love these guys and they are a cray cray bunch.

I’m intrigued by Jesse the lost puppy that he is.

Off I go to read the rest of the series. They seriously give me book hangovers but in a good way.
Profile Image for Sarah.
3,360 reviews1,237 followers
August 4, 2019
4.5 stars

I've been looking forward to Eve and Alex's story since the beginning of this series. It's been obvious all along that there is a lot of history between them and you can see that they still love each other but even though they're in a committed Ds relationship at the club that's where their connection ends. Their marriage ended in divorce and outside the club they can barely stand to be in the same room as each other. I've been desperately wanting to know exactly what happened between them for ages now and On Her Master's Secret Service finally gives us a chance to find out.

Years ago they were married, blissfully happy and working alongside each other in the FBI but that all changed when Alex left Eve behind to hunt down a dangerous criminal. Profiler Eve warned Alex not to poke the bear but he did it anyway expecting to become a target himself. Instead Eve was taken prisoner and held captive by a sadistic madman for a week suffering all kinds of torture while Alex was left desperately searching for his wife. Alex blames himself for everything that Eve went though and ever since them he has focused all of his energy into tracking down the man who hurt her. Eve never blamed Alex for what happened but she does blame him for not being there for her after she escaped. She felt like he kept his distance because he didn't want her anymore now that she was tainted by another man and she's been hurting ever since.

It's safe to say their relationship is complicated. There's a lot of guilt and hurt between them but in spite of all that there is also still a lot of love. It's not going to be easy to get their relationship back on track though and they're both going to have to be willing to put the effort in. Then when Alex gets a lead that might finally allow him to get vengeance for Eve he risks losing everything by leaving her in the dark. But this time Eve isn't quite so willing to watch him walk away and she's going to force him to confront their past together.

I loved both of these characters, it was so easy to see things from both of their points of view so even though I was really frustrated with Alex for not being there when Eve needed him most I could see why he was struggling with his own sense of guilt and blaming himself for letting her get hurt in the first place. Seeing them both working though their issues and find their way back to each other was extremely satisfying. I enjoy the suspense side to this series but it's definitely the relationships that keep me coming back for more. I also love the camaraderie between the McKay/Taggart team. The hints we get at Ian's past have me more eager than ever to read his book so I'm really glad that the next full length book is his.
Profile Image for ☆ Sammy ☆彡.
273 reviews1 follower
May 16, 2013
4 incredible stars!

I loved Alex and Eve's story! ♡ Their history together was heartbreaking but I just adore both of these characters! :)

In On Her Master's Secret Service, you finally find out what the heck happened to Alex and Eve and what led to their divorce. I won't give out any specifics because I don't want to spoil the story but basically when Alex was working a FBI case, Eve was hurt in the process. Neither of them were able to fully recover from the attack. Eve became obsessed with being in control and not showing emotion while Alex couldn't stop focusing on finding the man responsible. It was heartbreaking watching their marriage fall apart.

"I thought he cared more about punishing the man who hurt me than he wanted to be with me."

The only relationship that Alex and Eve have at the start of this book is through their D/s contract.. a contract Eve created and in which she dictates what happens between her and Alex. Let me tell you this contract is pretty cold.. no kissing, cuddling, or affection of any kind.

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Alex gets intel that could lead him to the man who hurt Eve. In order to get to the man, Alex and Eve have to go undercover at a wannabe kink club where Eve must pretend to be Alex's full time sub. This operation forces them to face some of the issues from their past as well as reignites their passion together

"If you want to play, angel, we're going to play it my way. You want to take on the role of my slave? You better think about what that means. It means I'll have you the way I want you. I'll fuck you when I want, where I want, how I want, and I won't listen to your protests. You belong to me. Mine. You're fucking mine for however long this lasts."

***

"I won't leave an inch of this gorgeous body untouched. I love this body. I loved it when you were heavier, and I still love it now. I love it scarred or perfect. I love it because this skin and bones houses your soul. There is nothing ugly about it. I don't care what he did. This is mine. Mine."

Can I just say that I love sweet, controlling, possessive, caveman Alex?

sexy couple photo: sexy-couple sexy-couple.jpg

Overall, I would give this book 4 stars! It was fast paced, action filled, romantic at times, steamy, and there were a few huge twists in the end!

Also, since I love Ian so much and his book is coming next, I thought I would throw in some of my favorite Ian lines from On Her Master's Secret Service:

Ian talking about his dead wife: "'Yes. A lovely name for a lovely woman. But she was a crazy bitch.' For Ian, that was practically a term of endearment. He was a man who appreciated a righteous bitch."

***

Ian talking to Eve about her relationship with Alex: "No point. If you and Alex can't make it, there's no hope for a dumb shit like me. You two had it all. You were what I was aiming for."
Profile Image for N.
80 reviews
July 21, 2014
Her submission fulfilled her

 

When Eve St. James married Alex McKay, she had her whole life ahead of her. They were the FBI’s golden couple by day, but by night Eve gave herself over to her husband’s world of Dominance and submission filled with pleasures she came to crave.

 

His betrayal destroyed her

 

Worried for her safety, Alex left Eve behind to tackle a dangerous mission. But Alex never suspected that Eve was the real target and her security is destroyed by a madman. By the time he rescues her, his wife has been changed forever.


But when her life is in danger he is her only hope.



Unable to heal the damage, Alex and Eve are still trapped together in a cycle of pleasure and misery that even their divorce cannot sever. But when a threat from Eve’s past resurfaces, Alex will stop at nothing to save her life and reclaim her heart.
Profile Image for Lover of Romance.
3,736 reviews1,131 followers
May 31, 2022
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

First Impressions
On Her Master’s Secret Service is the fourth installment in her “Masters and Mercenaries” series and it was such fun to get back to this series again and I definitely have been enjoying reading more BDSM lately, the more I read it in a romance, the more I tend to enjoy it, there is such a stronger sense of intimacy and trust that really works for me. Plus it’s Lexi Blake, so she definitely knows how to write her steam. This series is a plus because it’s also a romantic suspense series and I really like how they blend the BDSM culture in with the romantic suspense and having law enforcement backgrounds into the story. And this is such a big series, so I have been wanting to really read more books in the series. When this title finally became available at my local library, I immediately jumped right into it and I really enjoyed the setup of a marriage in trouble and seeing our couple work through their issues while being on an undercover mission.

Family, he’d discovered, was in the people a man collected along the way, the people who shared his life, like his precious wife.


Summary
Eve and Alex were a married couple that had everything at their feet with all the hopes for the future and getting ready to build a family, they were the FBI couple everyone admired and wanted to emulate. But when an enemy of theirs, kidnapped and raped Eve, their marriage took a nosedive as they both made drastic mistakes and didn’t face up to what was causing them to be torn apart and not face up to the distance that they created, when they should have been more united than ever. Eve and Alex are now divorced but still have a dom/subcontract in place, but its a contract both of them want to change for different reasons. When there comes a mission, Alex forbids Eve to take a part in it, as it would involve having her face the same man that kidnapped her and the man that Alex has never stopped hunting. But Eve is determined to be the one that will pose as his sub, she knows she is capable and she needs to do this. When it becomes obvious, that she wants to split their relationship, Alex knows he needs to fight for the woman he has never stopped loving. But as their scenes turn into something deeper, they find a reconnection and a second chance to rebuild their relationship.

“This is how my slave is to greet her Master. It reminds her always of her position. She is to serve me.” To love me. To give me a reason to live. To honor me with her trust.


What I Loved
This was such a fun book but intense at times too, I do love the flair of writing that this author uses in her books though. I really enjoyed Alex and Eve as a pair together and I have such a soft spot for a marriage in trouble and it was so interesting to see them work through their issues and see what they were capable of. It was also interesting to have the suspense element be thrown into the mix. You definitely see how they need to learn to communicate better and rebuild their trust and this aspect is so heavily focused on. I really was intrigued about the undercover operation that they were both under and how it was key in them relearning each other again and having to be so open with each other. The BDSM elements were done so well and balanced with the other build-up of the plot that was escalating. I really really liked seeing the group of other characters that I have enjoyed in other books and getting some new additions as well. What was a major plus to this story was the added need for trust and communication and see our pair work through their past and issues and find a new future together….

Love—real love—required courage. It required her to speak out. It required her to fight for it.


What I Struggled With
There wasn’t anything I could specifically focus on that was a major issue, these books aren’t ever a five-star read for me, they are entertaining and fun with some layers.

Overall View
I found “On Her Masters Secret Service” to be a delectable read, that focuses on the kink of the BDSM culture, the importance of trust and love, and overcoming an evil force …..together. It’s a brilliantly written romance that I found highly entertaining.

At the end of everything—there was only love. And it was worth fighting for.



 photo Addicted To Romance Reviews 2_zpsplp8m0tb.png
Profile Image for Harper Hamilton.
89 reviews
May 16, 2013
This is the latest installment in the Masters and Mercenaries series. Finally! Alex and Eve's story. If you are new to Lexi Blake, I would encourage you to go back and start at the beginning of the series. Is it absolutely necessary? No, it isn't but you gain an insight to the cast of characters that make up this ensemble and support the story of Alex and Eve that you otherwise might not completely grasp. I say this because I love each and every one of them. Each one brings a rich touch to this series.

Ensemble: Yes, there are many characters that are interwoven into the fabric of each story. Not many authors can adequately create characters who move in and out of the main storyline without you getting frustrated by their lack of depth and development. Story lines get too crowded. Not here though. Lexi is absolutely very talented in this regard with very few exceptions. Even though this is the culmination of Alex and Eve's story, she still manages to add depth to those already introduced and bring a few more into the fold.

Alex and Eve: After former FBI agent Alex totally screwed up a case that led to his then-wife FBI profiler Eve being abducted and tortured for days, they spend the next 5 years in a horrendous state of limbo. Both are damaged by the experience in different ways. Alex and Eve are divorced and still maintaining a barely-there connection with each other through their D/s contact. They can't move forward and they can't go back. They work together though and that complicates everything. When evil raises its ugly head again, everything is going to be resolved, one way or another. It could really be the end of everything. Life isn't fair and sometimes the good guy isn't who you think it is.

Masters and Mercenaries: The series is based on a group of individuals, some former FBI and military, who work special ops for individuals, sometimes the government, and who also just happened to be firmly entrenched in the BDSM world. Lexi creates men who are hot and sometimes a little bit flawed but filled with lots of potential and character. The women aren't all 22 and virgins. They are real women with curves and a little bit of life behind them. I love the way she can weave some humor in as well. Definitely one of my favorite authors. Can't wait for the next one!!!
Profile Image for Grace.
1,389 reviews46 followers
February 18, 2022
Not quite as strong as some of the others I've read so far, but Eve is the best and truly deserves the world. I also very much enjoyed

Reread 2/17/22: This is one I don't see myself coming back to very often because it's just naturally heavier than the others as it deals with Eve's trauma. However, reading the
Profile Image for Angel Padillo.
1,296 reviews10 followers
March 26, 2019
Alex was a complete asshole at the beginning of this story, so much so it actually gave me a bit of anxiety. And honestly he did something so incredibly stupid that I can’t forgive him for it. If it wasn’t for trickery on Eve’s part, Alex would of destroyed their entire relationship in the name of “love” and “revenge”. It’s situations like this on why second chance romance is my least favorite trope. The one thing I did really like about Alex was that in the 5 years he and Eve were divorced, he didn’t sleep with anyone else. That’s almost unheard of in romance books, and it’s so damn refreshing. And once it stopped being a complete moron, it was really very beautiful they way he openly loved Eve.

Alex and Eve’s journey back to each other is an emotional one. They have to deal with what happened, and come to realize they people they are now, and that path is not easy.
Profile Image for Sandra R.
3,368 reviews47 followers
February 7, 2022
Beautifully written, suspense, action, with BDSM romance. Great back-story. Can be read as a standalone re the HEA and this individual story. To understand the characters and the Master's world, I advise starting from book one. Parts of various back-stories weave throughout this series.
Profile Image for E.G. Manetti.
Author 18 books157 followers
March 30, 2022
3.5 Stars I read this as part of The Masters & Mercenaries Bundle (Books 1-5). I'd skipped this one and gone straight to book 5 when reading the series--I didn't find Alex and Eve very interesting in the earlier books. That didn't change but I did enjoy the introduction of Charlotte's character (Book 6) and Jesse who gets his own story in Book 8.
Profile Image for BookAddict  ✒ La Crimson Femme.
6,943 reviews1,439 followers
July 28, 2016
Good lord, can we have any more betrayal by someone you know? This one just slayed me. I felt so bad for Eve St. James. She obviously loves Alex McKay so much. He loves her. Their miscommunication and divorce is a complete travesty. They torture each other needlessly. Ms. Blake does a great job of creating so much angst it is hard to breathe. I tried hard not to cry and Eve's heart breaks a little.

The suspense to this story is good. I quickly figured out the betrayal and I prayed I was wrong. Nope. Dead on which just hurts to read about. Ms. Blake puts me through the wringer in this story. I am glad I bought this one and all the others in the series so I can read them one right after another. Sleepless nights, here I come.
Profile Image for ~ Cariad ~.
1,926 reviews54 followers
May 30, 2013
Another suspense filled 5 star read from Lexi Blake

What a fantastic book! They just hit the spot, I've given 4*, 4.5*, 5*, 5* for this series.
A seamless mix of sex, crime, mystery, love, hate, teamwork and friendship - erotic suspense at it's best. And all with a HEA.

The scene has been perfectly set for book 5 - I can't wait, Ian's THE ONE for me! Hoping for a 6* finish!

Love that we have 4.5 Sanctum too.
Profile Image for Aly is so frigging bored.
1,706 reviews266 followers
May 15, 2013
I was a little scared that Ms. Blake wouldn't handle their story well, but it was MAG!

One of my fav quotes:
“It’s nice to meet you, Eve. I’m glad it’s you and not that bratty ho-bag. What’s up with guys? All they see is a bright smile, and they never look past a woman’s tits until they get married and then they wonder why Mary Sunshine got replaced with Sally Yells a Lot.”

Profile Image for Julia Sykes.
Author 138 books2,033 followers
September 10, 2013
5+ amazing stars! This book was so sexy but so sweet at the same time. You really felt Alex and Eve's pain and their love. And I fell in love with Jesse a little bit too. He was just so broken and you want to give him a hug and tell him it will all be okay.

I can't recommend this book highly enough! I'm off to devour the rest of the series...
Profile Image for Andree.
12 reviews2 followers
March 5, 2015
Let me just rave about this series for a minute...

I really love it. Although there's not so much of erotic action going on here, the background story more than makes up for it. Really gripping and exciting.
Profile Image for Vikki ~ *squee* lite ~.
497 reviews182 followers
May 24, 2013
Holy moly - crazy awesome. Of you haven't read this series you really need to. It just keeps getting better. Full review to come.
Profile Image for Rara Loves to Read.
547 reviews26 followers
May 29, 2013
On Her Master’s Secret Service is the fourth book in the Masters and Mercenaries series. Throughout the series, we have been witness to the complicated relationship that Alex and Eve had. They were divorced but continued to maintain a sexual relationship. The readers have been witness to many verbal altercations between these two and fans have been chomping at the bit to delve into their relationship. Well Ms. Blake does not disappoint. On Her Master’s Secret Service is a moving, emotional look into the healing power of love.

Her submission fulfilled her

When Eve St. James married Alex McKay, she had her whole life ahead of her. They were the FBI’s golden couple by day, but by night Eve gave herself over to her husband’s world of Dominance and submission filled with pleasures she came to crave.

His betrayal destroyed her

Worried for her safety, Alex left Eve behind to tackle a dangerous mission. But Alex never suspected that Eve was the real target and her security is destroyed by a madman. By the time he rescues her, his wife has been changed forever.

But when her life is in danger he is her only hope

Unable to heal the damage, Alex and Eve are still trapped together in a cycle of pleasure and misery that even their divorce cannot sever. But when a threat from Eve’s past resurfaces, Alex will stop at nothing to save her life and reclaim her heart.

Alex and Eve were happily married when the unthinkable happened. A madman that Alex, an FBI agent, was tracking kidnapped and tortured Eve for seven days. She lived but the experience fundamentally changed both and their marriage was a casualty. But they couldn’t walk away from each other. Alex continued to serve as Eve’s master but only within the narrow constraints that Eve insisted upon. They found themselves unable to share their true thoughts and feelings and this lack of communication kept them apart emotionally. Alex would not give up his plans for revenge and when a lead came in, Alex dropped everything to give his wife the security he didn’t provide the last time.

But Eve had other plans. She decided to try one more time to repair her marriage, otherwise she needed to let Alex go so they could both move on. Alex can’t give up his desire for revenge and Eve is afraid that his single-mindedness will get him hurt or worse. She goes undercover as Alex’s submissive in order to ensure his safety. While serving as Master and submissive, the two are able to open up and reconnect.

As Alex and Eve struggle to reclaim the love they thought was lost, I felt a part of their journey. I was rooting for each to overcome the obstacles that were keeping them apart. Eve had been so busy being angry at Alex that she failed to realize her own responsibility in their marriage’s breakup. Alex had to learn to let go of his anger and guilt and give Eve what she needed. He had lost sight of his responsibility as Eve’s Dom. The physical scars left from the week of torture may have healed, but the emotional scars still remained. As Alex said to Eve, “Seven horrible days and we’ve let them ruin the thousands of good ones.”

I was deeply moved by Eve’s struggle to overcome the rape and torture she suffered. Ms. Blake has written a heart wrenching account of a rape victim’s determination to take back control. I can only begin to imagine the inner strength it takes to come back from such devastation. On Her Master’s Secret Service also shows the turmoil felt by the victim’s loved ones. Alex has his own emotional scars from the event and when he shed tears, I couldn’t help myself from crying along with him.

There are several twists in On Her Master’s Secret Service. While I saw each one early on, I didn’t find that it detracted from my enjoyment. Ms. Blake has written such three-dimensional characters, that I was excited and eager to see how they would respond to the twists. And I wasn’t disappointed. Alex and Eve’s reaction to each twist includes all the anger that I felt myself.

I love how Ms. Blake has written Alex as a strong man who didn't mind admitting that he needs the love of a special woman to survive. And her heroines are strong women who know that submitting isn't weak. Eve comes out of her tragedy a stronger woman who is in control of her life.

The romance enhances the storyline. Ms. Blake writes the love scenes as a natural extension of the love between two people not as gratuitous sex. But the sex is still hot, steamy and erotic.

On Her Master’s Secret Service also includes all the characters we have grown to care about and love in the Masters and Mercenaries series. I always enjoying visiting with characters that I have connected with in previous books. It’s fun to see how their relationships have progressed. We were also introduced to some new characters that most assuredly take center stage in future books. If you are a fan of this series, then you know that Ms. Blake loves to provide a sneak peek into the future as a wonderful tease.

By the time On Her Master’s Secret Service reached it’s highly satisfying conclusion, I was emotionally wrung out. I truly believe that this is Ms. Blake’s best book to date. On Her Master’s Secret Service has it all – believable characters that I care about, a well- written plot filled with passion and danger, and enough humor to keep you grounded between bouts of crying. While you can certainly read On Her Master’s Secret Service as a standalone book, you will enjoy it even more if you have read the entire series. And it will give you something to do while you wait for the next book. Hopefully, you won’t have to wait very long!
Profile Image for Laura.
1,695 reviews15 followers
June 16, 2018
3.5 stars. Nice addition to this series!!! This book has it all..romance, second chances, drama, sexy hot moments, mystery and a who done it plot all rolled into a book with a great story, continued characters and family made from love if not by blood. Looking forward to read the bad ass Dom/Ian’s story. In my opinion, these stories are not standalone. Different characters are developed in each of the books, but the reader is provided with updates on other characters from previous books, allowing for a nice transition.
296 reviews3 followers
July 20, 2019
This is the 4th book in the series. This can can be read as a stand alone but would be better if you read the series in order.

This is the story of Alex and Eve. I really enjoyed this book. The character development was really good. You meet the couple in the previous books and learn how connected but disconnected they are. You know they still love each other very much but don't understand what happened until this book. It is heart wrenching what Eve goes through and how Alex is so disengaged.

I would recommend this book.
Profile Image for Sally.
425 reviews4 followers
November 22, 2025
Re-read, I love this series especially the early books, Eve and Alex were frustrating at times but I just love these characters, the storyline and of course our introduction to “Kristen”
Profile Image for Chris.
323 reviews4 followers
June 23, 2019
2.5 disappointing stars. Rounding up because I like Alex and Eve, just didn’t enjoy the story they were given.
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