Veena’s review of Born Wild (Black Knights) by Julie Ann Walker
Contemporary Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 05 Nov 13

This happens to be my first book in a series that is already five deep about a custom motorcycle shop that acts as a cover for a special ops team. Since the motorcycle shop is originally run by Eve’s best friend Becky, she’s privy to the truth and reaches out to them for help in finding a killer who’s targeting her. Of course, the fact that her ex-boyfriend Billy is a member of the team is a plus because this experience might help them bridge the misunderstandings that keeps them apart.

I enjoyed the fact that Eve seems to definitely have more lives than the proverbial cat, frustrating the killer who’s targeting her, even though I feel the whole mob connection is a bit of a cliché. The author does an excellent job with the whodunit, providing clues and suspects along the way to engage the reader’s brain and problem-solving skills.

The tension and chemistry between Kate and Billy is intense from the get-go. Clearly they share a past and it’s not a happy one. As the story evolves, slowly this past is revealed, as is the role that different people played in keeping them apart. I think the relationship building between them as they both forgive each other and most importantly themselves is an important component of the story.

Eve is wonderful mix of innocence and vulnerability and kick-ass strength. She’s a trust-fund baby, born with a silver spoon in her mouth but totally controlled by her father. She’s determined to get rid of the shackles that have held her back from having a meaningful relationship with the only man she’s loved, so she’s moved on and reinvented herself into a strong and sure person. I find that so admirable and I really like how she pulls herself from sliding into old bad habits, especially when faced with her father.

This is, as I said, my first book in the series and I don’t know the rest of the series, but I feel that the romance takes a back seat to the mystery. There are some very interesting supporting characters and the next book is set up quite well, but personally I didn’t get swept in and vested into the characters such that I want to go back and read the backlist and/or mark my calendar for future releases.

Grade: C+

Summary:

TICK… TICK…
“Wild” Bill Reichert knows a thing or two about explosives.  The ex-Navy SEAL can practically rig a bomb blindfolded.  But there’s no way to diffuse the inevitable fireworks the day Eve Edens walks back into his life, asking for help…

BOOM!
Eve doesn’t know what to do when the Chicago police won’t believe someone is out to hurt her.  The only place to turn is Black Knights Inc. – after all, no one is better at protection than the covert special-ops team.  Yet there’s also no one better at getting her all turned on than Billy Reichert.  She has a feeling this is one blast from the past that could backfire big time…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series: