Zulu

Alpha Elite #4

by Sybil Bartel

Navy SEAL.

Sniper.

Mercenary.

The Navy trained me to be the best, but the Teams turned me into a deadly weapon. Every mission honing my tactical skills, I never missed a shot. Living for my brothers and the Trident I'd earned, I didn't look past my next deployment.

Then my friend and former teammate made me an offer—private sector, government contracts, combat missions and the chance to fly my own jet. Retiring from the Teams, but not the mission, I joined Alpha Elite Security.

As second-in-command at AES, I demanded precision because I didn't do things the wrong way. Until a mysterious brunette walked through the door, and everything went FUBAR.

Code name: Zulu.

Mission: Exfiltrate.

ZULU is a standalone book in the exciting new Alpha Elite Series by USA Today Bestselling author, Sybil Bartel. Come meet Zane "Zulu" Silas and the dominant, alpha heroes who work for AES!

Genres: Military Fiction, Romance, Suspense, Contemporary, Romantic Suspense, Slow Burn, Action

ebook

First published August 13, 2022

About the author

Sybil Bartel is a USA Today Bestselling author of unapologetic Alpha heroes. Whether you're reading her dominant Alpha Elite mercenaries, her protective Alpha Bodyguards, or her page-turning romantic suspense, all of her heroes are sexy-as-sin and unwaveringly Alpha!

Sybil lives in South Florida, and she is forever Oliver's mom.

Reviews

[Esther · Rating 5 out of 5]

First time reading this author.

W O W!!!!!

I am trying to wrap my mind around this incredible book that I just read and how I want to write this review.

I am kind of at a loss to be honest, need to gather my thoughts and put it altogether eloquently and coherently at some point.

But here's just some notes/thoughts.

~Absolutely hard to put this book down. Almost impossible!!!
~Incredible couple with very intense and hot chemistry.
~Very slow burn, like really slow. But that sexual tension between the two throughout the book is beyond worth it. HOT!!!
~Great plot, writing and character development.
~On the edge of your seat action.
~Military and mystery all part of the story. Oh, some Mafia too.
~I loved the heroine, she was strong, smart and sweet. Classy too!!
~Wow, Zulu was...no words. Now that is what I call an Alpha hero. Have to give him top rating.
~The love story between these two is filled with a lot feeling and heart. I might had shed a tear or two.
~Highly recommended!!!
~If I had anything negative to say about the book, something that didn't work for me, is the swearing. A lot, I mean a lot of swearing. Part of me understands it's very common in the military. But boy, I found it distracting and little bit much for my personal taste. That's just me. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I will definitely be reading more of this authors books

On a side note, sad side note. The author shared that she lost her one and only child about twenty-one months ago. Her son died from an undiagnosed birth defect in his heart. Very rare, less than 1% of the population has it. I cannot imagine the heartbreak and grief she has and is continuing to experience. My condolences, so so sorry. 💔 Praying for God's comfort to be ever present.

[Intel Chicky Reads Romance (Kara Merideth) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.5)
Trope: heroine in peril
Angst: 😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥

An action packed ride from page one! Zulu's life has been a three-foot world, first with the Teams and then with AES. Relationships are a complication that never fit. Then he met the young widow, Parisa Bahar on a mission when his whole life goes FUBAR. Frantically trying to escape her deceased husband's wake, Zulu is going to make it his new mission to keep her safe. But in what world does a billionaire heiress that graduated early from Harvard end up with a Navy SEAL who's never been in a relationship?

"𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒂𝒅 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇𝒇 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆, 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒑 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒉𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒆𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒔."

Absolutely loved it! The storyline is fantastic with the perfect amount of suspense and action that just keeps coming and coming! Zulu is dominant, alpha, unreasonably jealous and possessive and if those things really crank your chain, you've definitely got the right book. I've read almost all of Sybil's books and in comparison, this is a sloooooooow burn, but it was still super smexy somehow? Maybe because he was so dominant with her right from the start? The slow burn definitely worked with the storyline is and is so much action, tension, and emotional and physical foreplay between Zulu and Parisa that you don't really notice there hasn't been any actual smexy until very late in the book. My only "kinda" complaint was at one point in the book there was what seemed to be some heavy foreshadowing for a twist that never happened and it left me feeling a bit confused like I missed something, but maybe it's only me 🤷🏻‍♀️. Noticed it, but definitely didn't affect my overall enjoyment of the book. Overall, I absolutely loved this book and am loving the series. Definite recommend!

"𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝑰'𝒅 𝒎𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑵𝒂𝒗𝒚 𝑺𝑬𝑨𝑳 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒈𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒇 𝑰 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒍, 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒚 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒔. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝑮𝒐𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑 𝒎𝒆, 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒍."

On a personal note, let me say that Sybil Bartel is one of the BEST writers when it comes to characters with a military background. Super real. The lingo, the culture, the ... posturing, lol. I'm a retired Air Force intelligence officer who worked in a joint environment for my whole career and reading books with military characters that author's get wrong gets my eyes rolling and I get super cranky, lol. Has NEVER happened in one of Sybil's books. Seriously one of the best!

Zulu is the 4th book in Sybil Bartel's Alpha Elite series and can be read as a standalone, but best enjoyed when read in series order. There are also character cameos from her other series as well. It is told in first person, from dual perspective.

⛔️ My bookshelves can sometimes contain spoilers

[Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kinda really dig these alpha dominant ex-military men who save the damsel in peril and save the day! Yaaaay!

It's an action packed movie-like book with hot alpha males and ladies that learn to love them....*sigh*
right?! What's not to like?

Well, sometimes the right balance between dominance and domineering is indistinct...and in this case, the "too much" giving orders like sentences made me jump too, from time to time...well, not my kink...LOL

Anyway, regardless of that, I liked the story! *thumb up*

[Mindy Lou's Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure heart pounding action from start to finish! Zulu was everything I knew he would be as a Sybil Bartel hero. Dominant, possessive, protective and demanding. I loved him and everything he did for Parisa.

Parisa is one of my favorite heroines from this author. She was brave for everything she was dealing with, as well as regal and poised. I actually like that she had a mask she hid behind and I also liked we got to know what was behind that mask. The best part was Zulu could see right through her and always demanded her real self.

This was a great romantic suspense, with equally great characters and side characters. I can't resist mentioning that we got to see Neil again. That man is a legend and will always be my favorite hero by this author.

[Vee · Rating 4 out of 5]

SLOOOOOOWWWWWW BURRRRNNNNN

[Evalyne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too slow for me... I mean the guy didn't sleep with her untill the last few chapters... And it's a book of 300+ pages.

[Iqra · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF’d a 60%

[♥ I’d Rather Be Reading ♥ · Rating 2 out of 5]

- Main Couple: Zulu (aka Zane) / Parisa
- POVs Included: Dual POVs (Parisa, Zulu)
- Book Playlist (The Alpha Elite Book Series Playlist)

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SUMMARY: (SPOILER WARNING)

Parisa’s husband has died, and she’s ready to break free of the hold his family has had on her. So she sees an opportunity to escape during his wake by approaching one of the AES team working security for help.

Zulu finds himself neck deep in Parisa’s drama as he tries to help her escape a strangely obsessed step-son, and more danger lurking around every corner. Once he finds out what Parisa is really running from, it all makes more sense.

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REVIEW:

Too Slow. Too Boring. Too Long. There was virtually nothing I liked about this book, unfortunately.

Before I get to the rest of my review/rant, I want to say that I’ve been a big fan of Sybil Bartel and have read virtually everything she’s written (sans the remaining books in this series).

But Sybil Bartel’s writing has changed a lot in the last few years. Her Alpha Bodyguards, Uncompromising Alphas, Alpha Antihero, and Alpha Escort series’ were all written with the romance as the first priority and the suspense/story being present, but secondary. Alpha Antihero has the best balance of both worlds (that series is my favorite by her and one of my all time favorite series’ in general).

So for all those books, the romance was primary, her steam was on point, and the books were the perfect length. I’ve been really struggling with her latest, Alpha Elite, series because they are the opposite of her other books. The suspense and story is first and the romance is very VERY slow burn. Usually the couple doesn’t even officially come together until the last few pages. And instead of the incredible steam her other books had, the books in this series usually only have one mild sex scene near the end of the book (in this case they didn’t have sex until 94% — page 470 out of about 500 pages, and that was the only full scene but it was very brief).

The books are also getting progressively (unnecessarily) longer, which make them harder to get through. I’m happy to see they return to normal lengths after this book. But I’m pretty much at the point where I’m ready to walk away from this series. It just doesn’t hold my interest like her older books did. I have already previously purchased November, so it’s on my Kindle already, but I’m not buying any more of them until after I read that and determine if this is a series I want to continue or not.

Now, onto my thoughts on this book specifically…

Let’s first talk about the FMC. I’m never a big fan of most of Bartel’s FMC’s (with a few exceptions), but usually the MMC is so good that the books are worth it. In this case Parisa comes across as snooty and better-than-thou. I don’t like her prissy attitude. She basically is like an ice queen. Her responses to Zulu are short and frankly either rude or too proper-sounding. Her entire personality is really off-putting to me.

She also is supposedly very intelligent — she’s graduated from Harvard and is fluent in seven languages — and yet everything she does comes across as really stupid and naive. She can’t even work a fucking coffee maker! I don’t care if she’s so rich she’s never used one, a truly intelligent person would be able to figure out how to use a coffee maker without too many issues. But beyond that, she makes stupid, rash decisions — like walking towards a man holding a gun to “protect” Zulu (a trained Navy SEAL) and then waking away while getting shot at. Stupid things like this. She’s just dumb. I don’t buy that she’s smart. She doesn’t act smart, she acts prissy and ditzy and stupid.

As a side note, we are constantly told what Parisa is wearing — right down to the color and brand. I can’t stand this. I’m really not a fan of all the name brand dropping. I hate it when authors do this. It sounds so pretentious and makes the characters feel really materialistic and stuffy.

So yeah, not a fan of Parisa. But what about Zulu? Typically I’m a big fan of Bartel’s MMC’s. Overall she writes ex-military guys better than any other author I’ve read. I love how she writes them. I love all the terminology included and how badass and dominant they are.

But Zulu is one of the few Sybil Bartel MMC’s that I actually didn’t like. Zulu comes across as very arrogant and hard to please. I like dominant alphas, but communicating with him is like walking in eggshells because you might accidentally question his dominance without meaning too. He’s very touchy about any inkling of being told what to do. As an example, Parisa says she thinks he should eat something because he missed dinner, and in turn he got really defensive about her not telling him what to do and that HE’S the dominant one, not her. I get it. He’s dominant. But he’s also an annoying asshole and overly arrogant in an unattractive way to me. And for the record this is the 29th book I’ve read by Sybil Bartel and I’ve liked (or loved) virtually ALL of her other (very dominant and alpha) MMC’s.

So I wasn’t a fan of either of the main characters. What about the story?

Well first off it was too damn long for what actually happens. Most of the book is waiting around and preparing for SOMETHING bad to MAYBE happen…and nothing major actually happens until 75%! If the story had been condensed to maybe 300 pages and a lot of the repetitive dialog and internal thoughts had been consolidated, then yeah it would’ve probably been a fine story. But I can’t figure out why this needed to be 500 pages long.

And there are some confusing things about the story.

Like why didn’t he kill Kostas? I don’t understand. Even after he explained his reasons, it didn’t jive with his personality to leave him alive. He might not have been involved in her kidnapping, but he definitely drugged her on her wedding night and also shot a gun at her! This was weird and confusing that Zulu was okay with leaving him alive with only a warning.

I also don’t understand why Kostas drugged her at the wedding if he didn’t rape her? This whole scenario wasn’t explained at all and was just really confusing.

Then there’s another random epilogue scene from an unknown person that made absolutely no sense and didn’t seem connected to anything. Every single one of the books in this series has a mysterious scene at the end of the book that’s never explained and doesn’t seem to connect with the following book or anything else. I don’t get the point of these random scenes.

The only things I liked about this book was the crossovers with the previous books. Like Vance (Victor) borrowing the yacht from the end of his book. And Zulu helping Roark (Romeo). These crossovers to their stories going on at the same time were pretty cool.

I also liked them calling in Neil for help and his appearance in the book. I love seeing characters from her other series’ in her books. But where was Talon? He’s made an appearance in virtually every single book, so his absence was weird and sad.

Overall probably one of my least favorite books by this author. Not liking this series very much. One more book to go before I officially decide if it’s going to be worth it for me to continue or not. :-/

[Mtve41]

DNF

A little too action packed and not my preferred style of writing. The h didn’t interest me. Cover guy is 🔥

Things weren’t picking up for the MCs anytime soon and I was disturbed by how the H called the h ‘sweetheart’ right from the start and she won’t object. I’ve a pet peeve with micro dialogues. You can’t talk to each other like you’re reading off a clever script. Meh.

[Jemmsbookshelf · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favourite of the series…. Paris’s was a cold main character and although her story did come to light it was not in a clear way which lead to confusion reading the book. For half the book I was unsure if she could be trusted as she kept putting Zulu in precarious situations.

[(betts) ⚜ · Rating 4 out of 5]

here for my shenigans Echo+Victor 🖤
they remind me of Ghost/Soap from COD my babies
Echo just wants to blow shits up and kick doors and V can't fucking drive for the life of him

Echo clipped. “Me and Twin are behind you, but you got trouble.”
“Twin. Right,” Victor drolled sarcastically. “Victor, Vance, Conlon—all of them are acceptable.”

Echo snorted. “The way Twin is driving, I’ll be retired before we catch up —”
“Twin is driving fine,” Victor said dryly. “Because Twin wants to be in one piece”

Echo: Wake up, motherfucker. Twin’s trying to kill us. Which means your helo taxi is en route… if we survive his fucking flying. Remind me to hunt down the prick who gave Twin his pilot’s license.
Me: Victor doesn’t have a pilot’s license.
Echo: Shocker.

Echo smirked.
Twin, pay up. Zulu fucked her.”
“Right. First of all, I didn’t take that bet,—”

[Jasenka Radic · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted more time spent as a couple. There were only a few chapters at the end where they got together. Too much time was spent on other matters. A bit disappointing for me.

[Kimberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sybil Bartel writes an Alpha like no other and Zane "Zulu" Silas is no different.
Strong. Dominant. Commanding. Zulu bends to no one and once he locks onto Parisa lord help anyone that gets between him and his Kitten.
Parisa Bahar (can I just say I LOVE that name!), Parisa is so very wise beyond her years. She's been dealt a sh*t hand since birth but powers through as she was raised.
From start to finish, this book is action packed with a slowwwwww burn. If you're looking for lots of sexy time, you surprisingly won't find it here until closer to the end BUT you don't feel cheated in anyway because the slow burn, build up, gives you just enough to keep you wanting more!

[Reyne Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zulu should come with a "no adulting till finished" warning because it is a read in one day and accomplish nothing else type of book. Zane Silas is an over the top jealous/possessive dominant and I'm here for all of it. And Parisa is the perfect strong submissive to balance him out. If you can't get enough of former military, slightly dark romance, with delicious Alphas, intriguing plots, lots of fast paced action, and slow burn build up to burn your Kindle steam, grab Zulu, or the whole AES Series, and indulge! 5 Stars!

[Marian · Rating 1 out of 5]

76% and couple is still not together- repeating dialogue, reiterating the same ideas and feelings - wasting time and boring. This is a glacial pace and not really a slow burn because you've got all th other players popping up with too much frequency.
This is an action mystery at best - relationships between the guys feature almost as much as main couple
What a waste - I will finish but Come On!
The author can and has done so much better.
I'm sure they will eventually have sex - like at 85%
And she will write it well but it won't save this sad entry in this series.

[DanielleGN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zane and Parisa

Wow, I really loved this. I've been a big fan of Ms. Bartel's work for some time and this may be my favorite yet. I loved Parisa. A tight plot and lots of action. And Zane was next level. Talk about burning the world to the ground for his lady! All in, all the time!

(Adding Zane Silas to my list of awesome Zane heroes that includes Riley Edwards' Zane Lewis and Kris Michaels' Zane Reynolds!)

[Aou · Rating 3 out of 5]

More action less romance…

[Claudia, Cmarie927 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author has given us another addictive and powerful edition to this series with Zulu. Just as with every other story I have enjoyed from her, I was powerless to stop reading, once I started. She is an absolute master at crafting the delicious ache (of the slow burn) between two characters. The mystery and suspense of Parisa's circumstances was a bonus!

The men of AES are powerful, possessive and dominant men that fight and fall hard. I enjoy the relationships between these guys, even when it is difficult. What is critical for one, is critical for all. Although Trefor is always frustrating for me, I was happy he helped facilitate what Zulu needs. And Neil!! Always a great time when he arrives!!

This book contains everything we need and love from a Securities and SEAL story: Drama, weapons, a dominant and submissive relationship, bloody conflicts, camaraderie, mystery, intrigue, steamy chemistry and a perfect HEA. ❤

I will strongly encourage everyone to read the books in the correct reading order. Doing so will ensure a satisfying experience and continuity in the storyline. Ideally, you should already be aware and versed in both the Uncompromising and the Alpha Bodyguard series. Knowing those connections and character backgrounds will enhance this one.

I cannot praise this author's creativity and craftsmanship enough. Her works and writing are always easy to read and enjoy. She continues to be one of my no questions asked, pre-order, one-click, "have to have the new release" authors.
Zulu is addictive and I am sad to be at the end of this read. I look forward to reading the next one in this series.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This entire book is intense and compelling. The action in this book is pretty much non-stop. It's hard hitting and there's always that underlying sense of danger and urgency at play. I was completely enthralled. Everything about Zane "Zulu" Silas is intense. It's his default setting. Whether it was the Teams or it's AES, he lives and breathes his job. He's happiest at the controls of an aircraft but make no mistake he's a Warrior through and through. Parisa Bahar has been pushed, pulled and tugged throughout her life, never having a say or any control of her destiny. Just when she's ready to take a stand her plans go sideways and she has to rely on Zulu. He becomes yet another person telling her what to do. To say they get off to a rocky contentious start would be putting it mildly. Here's the difference though. He cares enough to protect her even if he's a bit high handed about it. Parisa becomes his mission and occupies his every waking thought. Convincing her he's all in, all the time will be a hard fought battle but one he's determined to win. Lucky girl!

[Andrea Harbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this!

I waited patiently for this book and it did not disappoint! Zane is by far my favorite so far and you absolutely did his character justice! I cannot wait for November!

[Kathleen Boston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zulu Alpha Elite series

This book is non stop, exciting, intense action. Parisa and Zulu must trust each other and navigate the dangerous people in her life.

[Marta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Sybil Bartel books but this series is not hitting the spot.
Yes, book three was great but this one was just exhausting! Secrets, secrets and more secrets. Yes! We get it, the heroine has secrets! Stop with the ... secrets!
And it goes on and on to around 60% and then finally I could read without foaming out of my mouth.

The female mc was not a believable person, not rooted enough, just written.
'The' sex scene made me cringe and I reall didn't understand the eldest brother (Kostas?) way of behaviour. It made no sense and that's a bad writing fault. Drug her, get her to bed and what? Do nothing?Yell and attempt to restrict movement in order to warn? Nah! I call it a plot hole.

The whole plot concept kinda laughable (so sorry).
Not a great one I'm afraid.

[Susana Sousa · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars! I think it was ❤ at first sight.....!

Zulu is the fourth installment in the Alpha Elite Series and can be read as a standalone.
Action packed, another mission, another slow burn, lots of angst and emotionally complex, Zulu reads as a tale inside a tale, an intimate account and, along with Kyle and his Princess in the Alpha Bodyguard Series, one of the most improbable love stories.

When I read the inicial chapters, the first thing that came to mind was love at first sight. It's not BAM or on point, it's something you conclude as soon as you finish the book and something I never thought would happen to one of the AES crew.
All it took was a very expressive cry for help and Zane 'Zulu' Silas was ALL IN.

Featuring Parisa Bahar, a billionaire heiress, a young woman wise beyond her age, used to give, follow and obey, never choose or oppinate, that finds herself in a difficult predicament after her husband's death. What follows is an uncontracted assignment, a job Zulu took to heart, vowed to fulfill on his own for the woman that made him see what dreams feel like, although how meager the possibilities might be.

I absolutely loved their very intrinsic dynamic: the care they had for each other and the secrets kept due to that same care. The way Zulu, an experienced man, dealt with Parisa's insecurities, fears and doubts, how he showed the options and taught her how to choose. Although a very intelligent and educated woman, Parisa was emotionally innocent, a nature she never had the chance to develop, exploit and grow. That dichotomy is clear and Parisa didn't live fully and completly until Her Favourite Seal, ex-special forces and mercenary revealed that it could be different, by her choice and demand. It was time for his Kitten to finally receive, decide and seize. The praises, the ensnarement until their much desired entanglement, we get to watch rebirth and metamorphose, for Parisa and Mr. Silas, respectively. Very unexpected possibilities for both. They, that wouldn't dare to approach beyond the now, the moment and what always made sense. It only took the right person, the proverbial soulmate and an unwavering will!

As with all of Sybil's books and teams, the narrative keeps pretty tight until the end, revealing bit by bit and inviting the reader to analize, theorize and make assumptions, almost like a direct exchange between the story and us, on this side of the pages, thinking the way they think and feeling the way they feel.

Once more, Sybil doesn't forget why the men of AES are a team and always will be and brings as well the ol' big guns, because....who has the Viking on their side, if it doesn't have it all, has a big part of it!
Simply superb!

[Misty (Reds Romance Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

He knows it's wrong to want her, but he can't seem to stay away from her, when he looks in her eyes he sees a woman who is broken from her past, and a woman dying to be free from it. She thought when her husband died that she would be done with his family and the obligations that came with being married to him, but that life is not done with her. With danger lurking around her, Zulu wants to be the one to keep her safe, and the one to give her the life she has craved for so long...

The pages of this perfectly penned read play out like a movie on the big screen, scenes painted so vividly you feel the rush of danger, the pang of emotion, and the chemistry sizzle. It's an action packed thrill ride that will have you at it's mercy the whole way through! These two were pure magic on the page, the way they tip-toed around one another, constantly testing and teasing one another, just giving enough to keep the other coming back for more.

Zulu was the fierce and loyal protector always putting Parisa's needs first, and always encouraging her to embrace her real self, not the façade she was forced to carry on. Parisa was a heroine worthy of admiration, the life she was forced to lead was nothing short of horrible and I cannot fathom being forced to marry for prestige and obligation and not for love. I loved though how she rebounded after her husband's death and took charge of her life, making it fully about her for once... it was inspiring and a great example of finding your inner strength.

This was such a good story, I didn't want it to end, I got so wrapped up in these two and wasn't ready to part with them when the last page came.. but alas I had to let them go. I know I say this every time I read one of Ms. Bartel's books, but this one is my favorite, it just hit a little different than the others, and I don't think I will be able to forget these two for quite a while!! Highly recommend you meet these two, they will capture your heart and attention at first glance!!

[Seanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

ZULU (The Alpha Elite #4)
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
"Zulu" was an absolute addicting, engrossing and exciting book!! Every time I read about one of Sybil Bartel's sexy Alpha men...I have to remember to stop drooling so much!!
Zane (Zulu) and Parisa are the perfect 'come together' couple....eventually. Zane is the dominant, tough and dangerously powerful ex-Navy SEAL; Parisa is the ultimate shy, beautiful and independent woman, who has stolen Zane's heart.
Running from her past, Parisa is an expert
at practicing her refined manners and hiding behind her 'mask'. When things start to turn chaotic and her life is in danger, who better to protect and rescue her, than a hot, sexy, former SEAL, who is deadly lethal and formidable against Parisa's enemies?
This book had me riveted to every page!! I LOVE a good story and this one checked all my boxes! It's filled with intrigue, action, surprises and lots of sexual tension between Parisa and Zane. As well, there are Zane's military brothers Echo, Victor, Whiskey and a sneak peek of Delta, in the story, too! As always, Alpha leads the team of these brave members of AES!
I have never met an Alpha I didn't love! There's something about a gorgeously sexy, dominant and jealously possessive....(whew!)....Alpha SEAL, who not only looks out for his woman, but falls for her entirely. Cold showers are probably part of his mission...🤣!! Parisa is the ideal opposite and is hard-pressed to keep denying what her body tells her about Zane.
Yes, the result I'd agree with IS................
......... S-L-O-W B-U-R-N.....................!!
I love the buildup, the threats of danger to Parisa, starting in Greece to Afghanistan, and of course, the long-awaited HEA story for Zane and herself. 💦💦💦 Highly recommend this "all in, all the time" book; suggestion.....keep a glass of cold water around! ME? I had to drink some and throw the rest on myself to cool off!! 😉🔥💦
Another masterpiece from Sybil Bartel!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+

[Claudia, Cmarie927]

This author has given us another addictive and powerful edition to this series with Zulu. Just as with every other story I have enjoyed from her, I was powerless to stop reading, once I started. She is an absolute master at crafting the delicious ache (of the slow burn) between two characters. The mystery and suspense of Parisa's circumstances was a bonus!

The men of AES are powerful, possessive and dominant men that fight and fall hard. I enjoy the relationships between these guys, even when it is difficult. What is critical for one, is critical for all. Although Trefor is always frustrating for me, I was happy he helped facilitate what Zulu needs. And Neil!! Always a great time when he arrives!!

This book contains everything we need and love from a Securities and SEAL story: Drama, weapons, a dominant and submissive relationship, bloody conflicts, camaraderie, mystery, intrigue, steamy chemistry and a perfect HEA. ❤

I will strongly encourage everyone to read the books in the correct reading order. Doing so will ensure a satisfying experience and continuity in the storyline. Ideally, you should already be aware and versed in both the Uncompromising and the Alpha Bodyguard series. Knowing those connections and character backgrounds will enhance this one.

I cannot praise this author's creativity and craftsmanship enough. Her works and writing are always easy to read and enjoy. She continues to be one of my no questions asked, pre-order, one-click, "have to have the new release" authors.
Zulu is addictive and I am sad to be at the end of this read. I look forward to reading the next one in this series.

[Cathy Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow these stories are exciting. Even though they are about Mercenaries that either were Seals or Marines and are now apart of the Alpha Elite Security Company, CEO is one of his best friends Adam Trefor and his wife Malia. Malia runs the Miami office. Malia, Adam, Zane and her now deceased brother were part of the same Seals Team. Now they are still brothers but are working as independent contractors doing what they do best in their individual fields. Zane Silas aka Zulu is a pilot. His father was a pilot and as the story goes he has been flying since he was 5 or 6 years old. How Zane and Parisa aka "Kitten" meets is because AES was assigned to her husbands funeral as security and she had a plan to escape this family of Greek shipping magnates the Konstantinos Taralas. Her husband had three sons Kostas and his two other brothers Kairos and Giorgios they were not good men. Kostas was the oldest and had a different mother, she was actually of Italian heritage, mafia connection again. Parisa had planned her getaway she had agreed to Konstantinos only if she kept her trust fund and she could have a boat commissioned, hence the Solace, her yacht. This story is exciting, it is about so much betrayal, lies and secrets but in the end these two get their happily ever after. I always enjoy having the other member of the AES in the story because I know they are still around and I got to meet someone who is a friend but not part of the team Neil Christensen, who is rich land developer in the Miami region. Loved this story hope you will get it and enjoy it as much as I did.

[RomanceBookLoverinSeattle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zulu grabbed me from the opening page. This is a long book, but I didn't want to put this down once I started and when I was forced to for work, I still found myself thinking about Zane, Parisa and the mystery and intrigue they are caught up in. Sybil Bartel is a master at writing intrigue, action and steam. She builds the tension up to such a degree that you are on the edge waiting for the explosive next thing and she never disappoints. This is very slow burn, but you feel the chemistry and tension from the very beginning. She always writes possessive, jealous and dominant alphas like no one else can and I just love that! The only issue I had, and it doesn't impact my overall rating, is that I had confusion over hints dropped about something that might happen involving one of the characters and their intentions, but it was confusing. I was unclear on this and felt like I had missed something somewhere at some point along the way.

If you are a fan of suspense, action and possessive alphas, then definitely read this. In fact, read ANY of Sybil Bartel's books. You can't go wrong with one of hers.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zane "Zulu" Silas just got read his story ....

Zulu by Sybil Bartel is the 4th book in the The Alpha Elite Series.

Our hero Zane "Zulu" Silas tall, dark, handsome and those damn hazel eyes!
Parisa Bahar is a woman with dark hair and exotic beauty that catches the attention of Zulu. Their story begins when the beautiful widow asked Zulu for an exfil from her husband’s wake, and everything went FUBAR.

"No easy day....."

I love to savor Sybil's books..however when I starting reading Zulu; I was addicted and didn't want to put it down.  Sybil is amazing at her craft of creating a story; she captures you're attention through angst and suspense, then takes your for a ride of your life!
Just like her books in the series it is action packed, hasvexplosive chemistry and the feeling the characters are going through, you feel them as your own. I felt the happiness, sadness, grief, angst and more.... highly recommend this series, heck all of Sybil Bartel's books are phenomenal.

“Sweetheart,” Zane’s voice filled the line. “How are you?”

This story has an abundance of emotions from high to low.  The storyline is fantastic and it is well written, the secondary characters we meet are a developed just enough to know them and get to know their personality... let me say I can't wait for more of this series.

~But fudge, I wanted to see this woman unravel. I wanted to watch every reserved, gorgeous inch of her come apart while she was under me.~

[Cheryl O'Harney · Rating 5 out of 5]

The intrigue and mystery of the unknown had me well and truly gripped from the start with this the fourth book in The Alpha Elite Series, when you add in the sexual tension as well as the camaraderie we’ve come to know and love when it comes to this bunch of alphas, you just know you’re in one hell of a ride, or in this case you could say sail even flight.

The story begins when Zane “Zulu” Silas is approached by Parisa Bahar, a beautiful widow who asks for his help when it comes to escaping her deceased husband’s wake. The last thing Zulu expected whilst doing his job at a wake of all places was an exfiltration where everything goes FUBAR, changing the course of his life in the long run, but that’s exactly what happens. The storyline flows along effortlessly with the chemistry and suspense gradually heightening to the point where tensions build to a combustible degree, honestly I was on the edge of my chair, waiting to see what was coming next. Suspense, action, banter and chemistry, this book has it all, it’s a long jam packed read with a slow burn, and boy does it burn. Zulu can be read as a stand-alone, however I highly recommend you read the other books in the series, you won’t be disappointed.

𝔸𝕟 𝕒𝕣𝕔 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕚𝕤 𝕞𝕪 𝕙𝕠𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨.