Black Jack

Elite Ops #4

by Lora Leigh

The Secret Service can't control him. The British government can't silence him. But renegade agent Travis Caine is one loose cannon you don't want to mess with, so his commanders cut him a break—and cut him loose. His new HQ is America's top intelligence force, Elite Ops. His new code name is "Black Jack." And his new assignment is to die for.

She's smart, sexy, scintillating—and one of Elite Ops' savviest agents. Lillian Belle's code name is "Night Hawk," and Travis certainly wouldn't mind flying a few midnight maneuvers with her. But when their mission turns into a red-hot game of danger, deceit, and double-crossed signals, Travis begins to wonder: Can he trust her? Can he resist her?

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Military Fiction, Erotica, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Suspense

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Lora Leigh is a New York Times bestselling author of erotic romance novels. Leigh started publishing with electronic publisher Ellora's Cave in 2003. Leigh's longest-running series is The Breeds. She won the 2009 RT Award for erotica. Leigh was born in Ohio and raised in Martin County, Kentucky, US.


https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6...

Reviews

[Jessica's Totally Over The Top Book Obsession · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Mommy Dearest Stars

Some Spoilers




“God help me, I missed you,” he groaned as his lips tore from hers and moved to her jaw, her neck. “Missed seeing you, touching you.”


So Black Jack is the 4th book in the Elite Ops series. This series started so strong. The last book was blah at best and this one was just a hair above blah. This book could have been so good, but instead it seemed kinda generic and repetitious. You can take the H/H names from the other books and swamp em and no one would probably notice. The sex scenes were kinda boring since they are almost the same scene over and over and over again. The plot was a very small little bit better than the last book , but not by much , because the plot wasn't really believable. Lilly was a Agent of the Elite ops that gets shot and has amnesia, so they sent her home to her old life with a cover story. Then watch her because if she remembers who she and they are they would have to take her out. Why? She was one of you if she remembers how is that a threat. You trusted her for 6 years. I didn't get that. Why not just say hey if you want to keep your life don't say anything or else. It just didn't seem real. They have been her friends and she was trusted and she covered their backs for 6 years and they are just gonna kill her if she remembers instead of when she woke up in the hospital after being shot and didn't remember just telling her hey this is what happened, and we are gonna send you home to try and draw out the killer P. S. don't tell no one or your dead. They all lied to her and turned their backs on her when she needed them. What a great team! It annoyed the crap out of me !

“Well, excuse me for not twiddling my thumbs while I wait on you to take care of poor little ole me.”





Travis really didn't stand out to me other than he is the so smooth hero that took the heroine virginity with almost no foreplay just a few kisses and some head for him then he just puts her up on a desk and goes for it. Other than that he was just kinda there just your everyday elite ops guy kinda cookie cutter.


“You were my first, weren’t you?” She knew it, sensed it. “I was your only,” he growled, possessiveness raging in his tone and fulfilling some need she hadn’t known existed within her.


“I’m Lord Xavier Travis Dermont,” he whispered. “I’ve danced with you and once watched your eyes fill with dreams, and in that second knew I had taken the wrong woman to wife. I knew, Lilly, because that was the moment I first fell in love with you.”



“You’re mine, damn you,” Travis said as he lifted her and placed her ass on the counter behind her. “You were always mine.”


Lilly was also pretty cookie cutter. Sassy, don't really know who the hero really is but she feels drawn to him and she's sexing him all the time even though she knows he is a lying sack and he is keeping things from her, she just trusts him!


“I might not remember jack shit but don’t think I don’t know what I’m doing. And don’t think I will ever tolerate you disappearing like that again without one word of warning. Not while you’re sleeping in my fucking bed.”



“So what is this relationship then? Or is it not even a relationship? Friends with benefits? Fuck buddies? What, Travis? Tell me the rules now so I at least know what to expect the next time you decide to disappear for however long.”


“I love you, Travis,” she whispered as she laid her head on his shoulder. “I love you.”





“And I’m a possessive bastard, Lilly. Did I ever mention that?” She shook her head. No, he hadn’t mentioned that at all. Perhaps he should have; she would have melted far sooner. “So that would make this relationship fairly exclusive, wouldn’t you say?” He jerked the hem of her robe to her thighs. “That makes you mine, baby. No friends with benefits. No fuck buddies. Simply fucking mine.”



This book was okay , the editing was better than the last book. Travis and lilly together where cute, Lilly's mother was a royal bitch . The ending felt super rushed and you don't really know what happens to them just that they stay together. Nothing about if she works for the team anymore or any real wrapping up of the story just a "Hey baby I'm staying with you " "Really baby you're staying Cool" The End. Not a bad read but it truly could have been so much better I am disappointed and a little scared to start the next one. Damn my OCD!! I will have to finish the series or it will drive me crazy , but I am not getting my hopes up that the next will be much better.

http://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessio...

[Shawna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ½ stars – Romantic Suspense

"Black Jack"? More liked "Bored Jack"!

Lillian Belle, code name Night Hawk, is an undercover agent for Elite Ops, but when a head wound from a near miss assassination attempt leaves her with amnesia, her past and the dangerous secrets she harbors become a threat. Lilly's former trainer, fellow Elite Ops agent, and lover Travis Caine, code name Black Jack, is assigned to keep tabs on her when she's returned to her family and former life and to uncover the conspiracy behind her near murder. But the passion between Lilly and Travis is as volatile as ever, and the past refuses to stay buried, endangering them both.

This was definitely my least favorite of the Elite Ops series and something about the fairly typical Leigh formula didn't quite work as well for me this time. There's a sexy, angtsy, badass hero, a virginal heroine who's tough, yet she still does an awful lot of whimpering and pouting, a rather convoluted, dull suspense plot, and of course, frequent, somewhat ridiculously ill-timed, scorching hot, borderline erotic, sex scenes that just didn't keep me nearly as engrossed as they should have. And Lilly's wealthy, elitist mother's whining and bickering over every little thing her daughter said, did, and wore got really tiresome and grated on my nerves.

There's an exciting, action-packed shootout and fight scene between several Elite Ops agents and some bad guys towards the latter part of the book that was really entertaining, but it came a little late for me. I was expecting a lot more suspense and action sequences and hoped for a thrilling conclusion, but unfortunately, the final showdown was very anticlimactic and the ending far too abrupt. I would have liked a more pronounced HEA for Travis and Lilly, but maybe (hopefully) we'll find out more about them in future Elite Ops books.

Overall, Black Jack is a pretty good romantic suspense read, but I just didn't love it or like it as much as the previous books in the series. And although the sex scenes are usual Leigh, burn your fingertips, smokin' hot and the action picks up towards the end, I still found myself a bit bored at times. On a positive note, the editing was much better in this than in Heat Seeker, which I enjoyed more but was loaded with errors. I'm hoping Nik's story, up next in Renegade, is an improvement and a whole lot more exciting and satisfying. 3 ½ stars.

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish · Rating 3 out of 5]

We got a glimpse of Night Hawk and Black Jack in a short story awhile back, and we knew there was some serious something between them, and finally we find out exactly what it is! There’s a sexual chemistry that can’t be denied, or ignored, and this book sizzles with passion as our hero and heroine burn up the pages.

In my opinion, Lora Leigh writes some of the best heroes out there, hands down; Whether wholly human or part human-part animal, they are hot, demanding, and in charge, and Travis Caine, AKA Black Jack, is no different. He’s tough, sexy, honorable, and damn good at what he does and right now, he’s doing everything he can to keep Lilly Belle alive.

Lilly Belle has a problem - There have been enough attempts on her life to leave no room for doubt - someone wants the ex-EliteOps agent dead. It’s up to Travis Caine and the rest of the EliteOps team to find out who that someone is and what it is that Lilly knows to make her too dangerous to live. And it would have been really helpful if she hadn’t lost her memory in the last attempt on her life, 6 months ago. Now, in addition to keeping her alive, and finding out who wants her dead, they have to make sure that whatever memories she does have won’t compromise the team.

Now, while there were fewer editing mistakes than the last book which made the story easier to follow, there was something that really bugged me and I’d never noticed it before in any of the other books. This is going to sound nit-picky, but please understand - I’m not just picking at the author’s writing and looking for mistakes, but I found this to be very distracting: The overuse of names and the repetition of words and phrases. Here’s what I mean – the hero and heroine would be alone in a room having a discussion and they would start or end, more often than not, their sentences using each other’s names. They knew who they were talking to so it seemed very… strained somehow… it really hampered the flow of their dialog. Also, for example, when during a conversation someone said something like “Am I losing my grip?” the answer wouldn’t just be “No, you’re not, you’re fine.” The answer would be “No, you’re not losing your grip.” Or, another example, not from the book, but I’m hoping to better explain what I’m trying to convey, Travis says to Jordan, “We need to get everything packed so we’re prepared to roll.” Then he turns to Nik who was standing right there and says, “Nik, you need to get everything packed so we’re prepared to roll.” Honest – I’m not trying to nit-pick, this was truly, truly distracting!!!

So while this is a pretty good romantic suspense read, I was a tad disappointed because the story moved so, so slowly. It wasn’t until the last 70 pages or so that there was really any action other than in the bedroom. Or in the garage. Or on the bike. Or… well, you get the idea. Anyway, this is not one of my favorites of the series so far. In fact, it’s my least favorite and I actually considered not finishing it. I wish that Lora Leigh could recapture the excitement and appeal of the earlier stories. I’ll read Renegade and Live Wire and keep my fingers crossed, hoping for better things.

[jenjn79 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second LL book in a row that I've read where the ending left me less than satisfied. I liked the book for the most part...it had its good point and bad points. But then the end just went and loused it up. It left the story feeling incomplete and that just annoys me. So instead of giving this a weak 4 stars, I'm giving it a weak 3 stars.

Series Note:
I'd recommend reading this series in order.

Summary:
Elite Ops agenst Black Jack (Travis Caine) and Night Hawk (Lilly Belle) have been setting sparks off each other for years. It isn't until recently that they give in to the passion between them and spend a hot night together. Both know it's all the can have...a night now and then...because they've pledged themselves and their false lives to the Elite Ops. Then Lilly is almost killed and ends up with amnesia. Elite Command decides to send her back to her family - the people who believed she was dead - and use her to help draw out a killer.

Travis hates the idea, but he'll be there to back Lilly in every way. Keeping her in the dark about the past six years of her life is harder than he thought it would be, but for her safety, he'll keep the secrets to himself. Lilly has no intention of giving up trying to figure out her life, though, and why someone keeps trying to kill her. And all the while, she must deal with the strong feelings she has for Travis.

(note: the back-cover summary of the book is really bad and not particularly accurate so don't depend on that to know what the book is about)

Review:
When I first started reading this book and realized it was an amnesia story, I thought, oh great, one of those. I'm not much of a fan of amnesia stories. I didn't hate this one, but I wish the plot had gone a way that didn't involve amnesia. Between that and the fact that everyone is lying to Lilly in this book, hiding stuff from her, I wasn't overly fond of the plot. I liked certain aspects of it, but all the subterfuge annoyed me. Not very good for building trust.

Plus, I really just did not understand why everyone was so afraid Lilly would remember her Elite Ops years. They were all freaked out about it, saying if she remembered she'd be terminated, etc. And I just didn't get it. It didn't make any sense to me why they all believed Lilly was such a threat. And since it didn't make sense to me, it made the plot a bit illogical.

I also didn't really understand the bad guys motivation when all was said and done in the end. Embezzling money, sure, but funding terrorists, that didn't really fit. I felt there needed to be more explanation as to why the bad guy did what they did.

But then, the ending was crappy on the whole. I finished the book feeling like I had no idea where the romance between Travis and Lilly was going to go, how it was going to work out. Travis is still in Elite Ops with cover as an unscrupulous guy. Lilly it seemed, was going to be remaining with her old family under her original identity. So how were they going to work out being together? The author gave no resolution on how this relationship planned to move ahead and I found that completely and utterly frustrating and annoying. Instead of feeling fluffy bunny happy at the HEA at the end, I was grumbling over the lackluster wrap-up.

I did like the romance between Travis and Lilly, though. I thought they were two characters who really seemed to fit together and who had a great chemistry. I wish Travis hadn't had to hide so much from her...not great trust-building act...but overall I enjoyed reading them. There were some sweet, tender moments that I enjoyed, and some super hot sex scenes as well. Though, for you Leigh fans, this book, in my opinion, isn't as sexual as her other books. It was more like a standard romantic suspense that had a few sex scenes that were (a lot) more explicit than typical.

Also if you're a Leigh fan, you might be wondering about the editing. Well, good news and bad news. Good news is that there weren't any super bad editing mistakes (like characters suddenly changing names). Bad news, there were still more than a few noticeable editing issues: wrong verb tense, misspellings, Noah being called Nathan once (his former name...which should never be used), things described in a way contrary to a story point, plus a really weird typo near the end. And though it's not really an editing issue (but something maybe and editor should have caught)...there are certain issues that are described over and over and over again. Really irritating. The mistakes were distracting, but definitely not anywhere near as bad as the name-change issue in a past book of hers.

I think it's a toss-up whether Leigh fans will like this book. I think some will love it, some will hate it, some will find it average. I think it could have been better (and I'll say again that I think the author is spreading herself too thin with her attention divided among so many series), but I liked the book enough. I think I would have giving it a 3.75 pre-ending, but then only a 3 once I finished.

WARNING, this book contains: explicit sex and language, oral sex, m/f sex, some ass play...and really, that's about it.

[Fanny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Black Jack es el cuarto libro de la serie Elite Ops de Lora Leigh y tiene como protagonistas a Lilly y Travis.
La historia tiene un ritmo lento, me costo bastante avanzar, sobre todo porque el inicio se me hizo muy aburrido, no es el tipo de historia que te engancha desde el primer capitulo.
No tenia ni idea de que esperar de el libro de Travis, especialmente porque era un personaje que apenas habia tenido escenas en los libros anteriores y sinceramnete su historia no me interesaba demasiado, me causaba mas curiosidad Nik que el.
Pense que no habria libro mas aburrido que Wild Card pero me equivoque, Black Jack es aun mas peor que la historia de Nathan, la trama me parecio la mas floja de toda la serie, ademas los protagonistas no consiguieron gustarme.
Espero que la historia de Nik no me decepcione, la he esperado desde hace mucho tiempo.

2 Estrellas!

[Astraycat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, very intense reading and no boring moment!

Lily was trained by Travis when she first joined Elite Ops. They saved each other during many missions during these six years. Although they were attracted to each other, their career and past made them resist the chemistry between them. After one night together, Lily was shot so she lost her memory of the six year in Elite Ops. Elite Ops let Lily returned to her family and old life. Travis was ordered not only to protect her from afar but also made sure she not reveal any information about Elite Ops.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm stuck between rating this book a 3 star or 4 stars so I'll give it 4 stars because the ending was well done.
I had some problems with this book. It seemed Lora Leigh discribed too many things over and over again. Also I wished the book would have had more action. As always Lora Leigh turns the heat up between the H&H. Would I say you should run out and buy this book? No, I would not but I'd say if your a LL fan as I am, give it a try.

[Zeek · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow- this is the first Lora Leigh book I couldn't work up the enthusiasm to finish. The hero and heroine were boring and lacking in chemistry- my usual "go to" to hold up a "same old, same old" plot she's trotted out too many times before... and vice versa for that matter.

Sorry to say,

DNF.

[Romanticamente Fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doppia recensione
.
1"
Eccomi di nuovo qui con voi! Oggi voglio parlarvi del quarto libro della serie ‘Elite Ops’ della Leigh.
Partiamo dal presupposto che io adoro questa autrice, i primi romanzi erotici che ho letto sono stati i suoi, ed essendo abituata al suo modo di scrivere e di dirigere la trama, posso dirvi che questo libro non è diverso dai suoi precedenti.
Purtroppo, e credetemi, mi rammarica non poco ammetterlo, a differenza delle serie precedenti, questa mi ha un po’ deluso… Non so se sia la trama o i personaggi, ma sembra tutto troppo surreale e poco coinvolgente. Sicuramente se amate questa autrice, avrete letto la serie sui Navy Seals, e sinceramente, trattando di argomenti molto simili, pensavo di trovarmi davanti più o meno le stesse coinvolgenti caratteristiche… invece no!!!
I due protagonisti sono carinissimi, ma francamente non mi hanno rubato il cuore, tutto troppo portato alla fantascienza, quando invece, trattandosi di romanzi erotici, dovrebbero essere stati realistici. La storia non mi ha convinto, perdite e recupero di memoria, sesso ogni circa due pagine e l’amore che trionfa sempre e comunque, senza mai nemmeno un calo fisiologico.
Beh, mi dispiace, ma come espresso sopra, il romanzo non mi ha convinta come al solito.
Per chi volesse comunque leggerlo, siate pronti al suo modo di scrivere e al sesso bollente… inoltre essendo il quarto di una serie, dovreste prima leggere i precedenti, anche se in teoria non sarebbe obbligatorio in quanto si tratta di romanzi autoconclusivi, sebbene ovviamente conoscere il passato spiegherebbe la natura dei vari personaggi e la loro appartenenza all’interno dell’agenzia…
Detto questo posso tranquillamente trarre le mie conclusioni.
Carino, ma niente di più… Ben scritto sicuramente, perché il tocco della Leigh rimane comunque impresso.
.
Samanta - per RFS
.
2"
.
Stupendo!!! E’ un periodo che leggo un libro più bello dell’altro. Intrighi, spie, omicidi, sesso, amore, amicizia, crudeltà, tradimenti, famiglia: tutto questo in un romanzo che conquista fin dalle prime pagine (come tutti quelli di Mrs Leigh).
In questo libro conosciamo Travis Caine, ex Lord Xavier Travis Dormont, e Lilly Belle, ex lady Victoria Lillian Harrington, i quali sono entrati nelle forze speciali Elite “grazie” all’avidità di persone insospettabili.
Lilly viene “uccisa” con il padre a 20 anni da un misterioso killer, che dopo sei anni la rintraccia e ci riprova altre tre volte (fortunatamente senza riuscirci), anche se la seconda volta viene ferita in testa e purtroppo o per fortuna soffrirà di amnesia, quindi dimenticando cosa ha fatto nei precedenti sei anni potrebbe avere la chance di lasciare il gruppo, ma nel caso riprendesse la memoria… beh in quel caso la soluzione sarebbe definitiva per lei, nel senso che sarebbe uccisa dai suoi capi dell’organizzazione. In questo romanzo troviamo Jordan Malone, il capo dell’organizzazione Elite; con tutti i suoi agenti (già conosciuti nei romanzi già usciti) in più scopriamo che esiste un secondo Team formato solo da ragazze molto toste, che secondo me ci daranno delle soddisfazioni. La trama si svolge in un intreccio tra passione, intrighi, e bugie… tante bugie. Lilly non ricorda cosa ha fatto negli ultimi sei anni, ha dei flashback ogni tanto che, invece di chiarire, la confondono ancora di più. Trova una famiglia diversa, nel senso che suo fratello, che tanto amava, la disconosce dicendo che lei è una truffatrice perchè la sorella è morta, la madre si è risposata con il fratello del marito defunto ed è sempre più ossessiva, il patrigno/zio non si capisce se ci tiene alla nipote o potrebbe far parte dell’intrigo. Il tutto condito con il gruppo Elite che tiene sotto controllo Lilly per proteggerla dal killer e per scoprire se lei stessa diventerà una minaccia per il gruppo o meno. In tutto il libro senti l’angoscia di Lilly nel non sapere più chi è, del perchè vede nella sua mente certe immagini, e quando le verrà dato dallo zio un dossier su di lei, su cosa ha fatto nei sei anni che era sparita le notizie scritte getteranno altri dubbi, anche perchè lei per istinto sente di chi potersi fidare ma non è sicura. Travis vuole proteggerla a tutti i costi e non sa bene come muoversi per non danneggiare ulteriormente il caos che già esiste, ma anche tutti gli uomini e le donne del Gruppo Elite stanno lavorando per aiutarla il più possibile, e tutti sperano che lei non ritrovi più la memoria. Riusciranno a trovare il killer? Lilly ritroverà la memoria oppure no? Riusciranno a stare insieme i due agenti o saranno divisi? Tutte queste domande avranno risposta in questo stupendo romanzo. Ma non pensiate che Lilly, nonostante abbia perso la memoria, sia diventata un angioletto, la ragazza è tosta
Posso anche non ricordare un cazzo, Travis, ma so quello che faccio. Non tollero di vederti sparire così, non fino a quando dormirai nel mio letto!
— Accidenti! Dorme nel tuo letto? — Ferma a poca distanza, Raisa rise di gusto. — Mi dai i dettagli adesso o dopo?- Lilly la ignorò. — Trova un posto dove possiamo parlare in pace — ordinò a Travis con un’occhiataccia. — E subito. Abbiamo alcune cose da chiarire, tesoro, e voglio farlo adesso. Altrimenti ti farò pentire di avermi ritrovata, te lo giuro.
Detto questo si voltò e si allontanò da lui prima di arrivare a mettergli le mani addosso.
Dannato maschio dominante! L’avrebbe preso a schiaffi solo per questo. Per averla abbandonata, per non averle detto nulla… e soprattutto, per averle fatto temere di non vederlo più.
Per tutto il libro ho cercato di capire chi era il traditore, ma Mrs Leigh è riuscita a nasconderlo così bene che quando alla fine ho scoperto chi era… non me l’aspettavo! Se vi piacciono gli intrighi, mescolati a una buona dose amore e sesso questo è il libro che fa per voi, se non conoscete la serie… beh cosa aspettate correte a comprarla merita veramente. Buona lettura
.
Tayla - per RFS

[Cristina]

Not sure if it’s me (probably me) but I just couldn’t dive in. There was no connection. The H sounds like a robot lol I guess in a way he is. But still, no emotions. Anyway, the biggest plot is the h loses her memory but the government wants to use her for something. Didn’t continue reading as I lost interest.

[SheLove2Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. Just wow. After reading LL's last book (Heat Seeker) I was afraid she had lost her touch, but this book proves me totally wrong.

If you have read the short story Night Hawk you will be familiar with the main characters. The story starts with Night Hawk meeting Black Jack (aka Lillie and Travis) to exchange a CD of information. The chemistry is hot and instantaneous. They share one night of forbidden passion before going back to their assignments. The next day, an assassination attempt is made on Lillie.

Flash forward several months. Travis is preparing for a new assignment he really doesn't like taking, because it will mean using Lillie in a way he's not on board with. Its not until he's about to depart that he learns Lillie was almost killed in the attempt on her life and has total amnesia. The woman who he has spent every waking moment and most of his dreams thinking about, won't remember him.

I'm a sucker for a good amnesia story and LL pulls this one off incredibly. Lillie has lost her memory but she's having flashes and episodes of a former life she can't reconcile herself with. Its really heartbreaking to see her feeling so lost and bereft, struggling to search for answers that are just out of reach. She knows she can trust Travis but she doesn't know why. She can shoot and fight and defend but she doesn't know how she knows that. Her family wants her back but not as the woman she is now. Her brother disowns her saying she isn't the sister he knew and loved. I have to say that Lillie is a fantastic heroine, one you can't help but root for from page 1.

The ending was my only gripe with the book. I liked the HEA but I felt it could have been longer and more involved. And the big secret when revealed was both shocking and almost unbelievable. But I'll leave you to decide for yourself.

A-

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the fourth installment in the Elite Ops series. Black Jack and Night Hawk were both introduced in Leigh's short story Night Hawk, which was released as a free download only. Honestly, I don't think that any of the previous books are necessary to get this story, but this series is best read in order to really understand all the characters and the ongoing story.

Lady Victoria Lillian Harrington just "returned" from the dead after 6 years. She has returned to her family, but as a very different woman. That is because she spent the last six years working for an elite team of operatives where she was known as Lilly Belle. Problem is, she doesn't remember any of it. Now she poses a risk to her former team and herself. Travis Caine, aka Black Jack, has been assigned to protect Lilly and assess what she knows. At the same time the team is searching for Lilly's would-be killer who is the same person who killed her father 6 years earlier on the night she supposedly died.

As I read this book, I really liked it. Looking back on it, I am a bit disappointed. This book is titled Black Jack, but it is more about Night Hawk than anyone else. It follows her and not him. I felt like I got to know Travis very little compared to Lilly. His past and his growth were not focused on very much at all. In fact, the main part of the book deals with Lilly's memories. In the end, there wasn't enough development in the whole story to give me a complete feeling.

The ending was very blah. I actually said out loud, "What? That's it?" Because I have read enough Lora Leigh books, I was able to figure out the bad guy, but why the bad guy was bad did not make enough sense. I was left with far too many questions.

Of course I will keep reading the series, but I am hoping that the next one finishes a little better and actually gives more character development.

[Willow Brook · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reluctant 4 stars or maybe 3 1/2 stars. Much more staight forward than the confusing Heat Seeker and much better editing. People keep trying to kill the heroine. Lilly is an amnesiatic Elite Ops agent who after being shot in the head, can't remember the previous 6 years. She returns to her life as the daughter of the aristocractic British family she left after the first time she was nearly killed.

Travis is the agent who trained Lilly and has been her lover. There is much ominous talk among the various leaders of Elite Ops that if Lilly remembers "too much" of her life as an agent, she'll be a liability and need to be "terminated." Unsure who to trust, but drawn to Travis, Lilly begins to remember bits and pieces of her life and other identity. She and Travis resume their affair, while he seeks to figure out who is trying to kill her and how much of her memory is she regaining. Meanwhile, Lily's control freak mother is insisting that her daughter become the perfect little aristocrat she had been before disappearing 6 years earlier.

Black Jack was fairly angsty. Not saying Lilly didn't have a lot to be confused and upset about, but it seemed like a fair amount of the book was Lilly anquishing over what she couldn't remember and what kind of person she had been. I'm low on tolerance for angst these days, so it slowed the book down a bit for me. The last 20% of the book moved quickly and suspensefully. I found the end a bit abrupt and even vague.

So pretty good, probably not 4 stars for me, but I have a hard time grading LL down. Now, if she doesn't do right by Jonas in Lion's Heat, hell will have no fury, LOL.

[marlene · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just finished this one and it was so bad I am speechless.

All of these books are just starting to be a more convoluted version of the one that came before. Cookie cutter stories that get more and more muddled as they go on. I do have to say that this one had some better editing than we have seen in awhile. Characters never before mentioned did not make any surprise appearances at the end.

When we got near the big reveal it was all explained out like some monologue from a scooby doo episode. You had the bad guy all but stand there and say “if it weren't for you pesky kids...”. Actually, the bad guy did use most of those words, but it was just more drawn out.

What on earth was that ending? I have no idea what just happened. Maybe some sort of epilogue would have helped. There was no wrap up with the Elite Ops teams, nor with their identities. You have zero idea where they are heading.

The sad thing is I have the next book in this series looking at me right now, and I know I am going to pick it up eventually. It's all kind of like a train wreck you cant stop looking at.

[Mitzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this story.

Lillian Belle ran away from her powerful influential family and joined the Elite Ops and is code named Night Hawk.

She's nearly killed and suffers amnesia and although she's been (missing) for years...is sent home to her family. Her mother is happy to have her back, but Lillian feels like she doesn't fit in with the aristrocracy and slowly her memory starts to return in bits and pieces....She knows there is danger, but she doesn't know who to trust.

Travis Caine (code name Black Jack) is assigned to keep watch on her. His orders are to get close to her and find out if she remembers anything about the Elite Ops and is so, she will be have to be exterminated....Only Travis is not exactly as he appears to be, has known her in the past and is still in love with her.

[Cindi · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the first time, I didn't truly enjoy one of LL's "Ops" books. I felt the book had too many repetitions of phrases (kinda like Ms. L thought we may not notice the explanation unless she said it twice in a row, once per each chapter), the characters were weak and Lilly was unbelievable in her amnesia. She was given plenty of information to allow her to understand what was happening to her but she didn't ever get it. There was nothing wrong with Travis, but nothing spectacular either. I think this book was written because a book was required. Period. I actually bypassed the sex scenes (after the 1st one) because they also did not grab my attention. I am eagerly awaiting the next Ops book to make sure this one was a one-off and not a continuing writing & editing style.

[Evelyn Bryant · Rating 2 out of 5]

Basically, I like Lora Leigh books well enough because there are different aspects such as the adventure and suspense. The team and the brotherhood or sisterhood as it were between the members of the teams are also good. The sexual tensions between the hero and the heroine are well enough although I do wonder about the author and some of her ideas about sexual gratification. The sex scenes are more graphic than romantic and I personally feel more romance would be helpful.I have read several of this author's books and feel that she is working on a "graphic formula" that could use some personalization between the main characters and a tad less explicitness.

[Nonieღserenity2bliss · Rating 2 out of 5]

If there's any description for me to summed up this book, it'd be over the top. The characterization, the drama, the conflicts, arguments, etc; everything is just too much. Hence, over the top. The series for me, has been lackluster since Heat Seeker . It just lost its appeal and the suspense that I had fallen in love with in Wild Card. And the ending, for me, was lazy. I just hope that Nik's story, which I hope will be the next one since he's my favorite agent, will be a much better improvement. Otherwise, this series is going further, further down the drain in my opinion.

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars which would have been more if the ending wasn't so rushed and conveniently tied up all n a pretty bow.

[Caro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting and and twisting story. I really enjoyed the characters and their personalities. I would most definitely like to read more in this series. There's plenty of suspense and action, emotions, strength and courage, intriguing situations, dicey scenes, lots of steaminess and a good HEA. I enjoyed reading this and it pulled me in. Some of the steaminess kinda got a little exasperating or...tiring, but I WAS reading this in one sitting, soooo... Great for the anytime read or for a true escape. Good luck.

[Jessica Morales · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars: The series is getting a bit repetitive for me. They know eachother from their past life and someone is trying to kill one of them on and on. Yes I will be reading the next book but I really hoping it gets better.

I do love how Lily didn't take any ones shit. She knew who she was eventhough she was fighting some amnesia.

[Angela · Rating 1 out of 5]

really really did not like this book. OK Lora did you have to explain 5 different times about the Psychiatric Hospital and why the upper levels of aristocracy used it to punish their children. and the sex was explicit and nastily written. I am sorry but also the plot was so contrived. Black ops would never be like this. So disappointed

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I deserve a medal just for finishing this book that went on and on about how the crazed mother was going to have the protagonist committed to a mental institution. I would not recommend it. I read the ebook. 2/5

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another of LL's racy novels. Though this did have a good story, the cliche phrases she used for description are getting old. I have read a few of her books, and I feel that she is in a rut. I like the characters that she creates, but she needs new material for describing things.

Lilly Belle is a Elite Ops agent that joined the teams six years before, when she was targeted for Murder, along with her Father. Her Father didn't survive, but after a long recovery period and plastic surgery, she left her old life as Lady Victoria Lillian Harrington and became Lilly Belle. When she is again targeted, and barely survives the attempted shooting, which leaves her with amnesia, the Elite Ops team is called in to see if she will remember her life as an agent, or be able to return to her life as Lady Harrington.

Travis Caine is the agent that trained Lilly to be an agent. He is also very attracted to her and knew her in their former lives. Now he must see what Lilly knows and try to protect her from whom ever is trying to kill her. But Travis can't seem to keep his hands off Lilly and she doesn't want him to. They find their attraction dangerous, yet cannot stay away from each other.

Together they try to figure out the mystery of not only who wants her dead but who killed her Father.

I give this one 3 out of 5 stars, because of the tired language and situations.

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did I read this book or did I not? The cover and name looked familiar and yet... no review and no date read. I looked at the book blurb and thought... maybe I haven't read it. It doesn't sound familiar. I borrowed it from the library, within minutes, I realized I was wrong. I have read it. I completely forgot about it but with just a couple of prompts, it all came rushing back. Breezing through this book, I remember why I enjoy this cotton candy book.

This is a book that has a mediocre plot with a few tie ins to other books in this series. Amnesia and receiving a new life is a plot device Ms. Leigh enjoys using. It works. This story plants a few red herrings and the little twists and turns are easy to identify and enjoy. It is an easy book to devour in a sitting. The romantic element is trademark Ms. Leigh with contrived constraints to keep the lovers apart. I liked both characters. Lillie Belle aka Night Hawk aka Lady Victoria is a kick butt secret agent. She and her band of women killers are cool. The men from Elite Ops are sexy and total alpha males. Eye candies well described and yummy. What's not to like? This is a delightfully written romantic suspense which can be read as a standalone.

[~V~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a while since i've read an Elite Ops book but part of the reason i had been holding off on continuing on was because there were a lot of not so great reviews and ratings for this book. Well i'm happy to say i didn't quite feel as negative about it as others have. Was it the best in the bunch?...definitely NOT...but the storyline was entertaining enough and i did really like Travis and Lily and for me....it was an improvement over the last one, Heat Seeker, which i felt was much slower and drawn out. Wild Card and Maverick are still my favorites but this was a just fine addition to a pretty good, overall, series. Now onto Renegade...another one that has had pretty mixed reviews but Nik has been a character that has intrigued me since book 1..here's hoping he won't disappoint! :)

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I debated between 3 and 4 stars for this book, but ultimately went with the 3 due to some issues that I had with the book. This series is great fun and for the most part this book was. I liked Lilly and Travis together but one thing that was hard to follow was all the politics with the different units. I really loved how even though her mind was gone Lilly recognized Travis and how her skills didn't leave her, just slowly started to trickle back into her mind. Usually I am able to guess the bad guy, but with this book I didn't figure it out until it was spelled out in the book. All in all the book was a fun ride.

[Celeste · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really, 3.5 stars. Which is such a disappointment because I was really looking forward to this book!

While I wouldn't say it was bad, it definitely fell a little short for me. I also thought the ending was a little abrupt. For some reason, I found myself disconnected from the characters - as I was reading it I never really felt "pulled" like I usually do with Lora Leigh's books. And I've loved all the other Elite Ops stories! Hopefully the next addition to this series will take me back to that happy place!

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I loved reading about Travis(Black Jack) & Lilly(Night Hawk) I felt cheated with this book. The story was very slow to start and you really didn't get much action throughout the book until the very end. Once things finally started picking up it felt rushed and, with the absence of an Epilogue, unfinished. I want to know how Travis & Lilly overcame her identity being revealed & still remaining part of the Elite Ops division, if that was even the case.

2.75 stars at best for this one!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm still not sure what I think of Lilly and Travis's story. On the one hand, I like that they are both characters who have survived "death," and on the other hand, I really hated that Lilly lost so much of what made her "Night Hawk." The bits and pieces she remembers were what I liked most, but I would have liked to see her more cynical self find happiness with Travis. Lilly might be one of my least favorite Leigh heroines. But the villain...that might be one of my favorites.