Hot Pursuit (Black Knights Inc., #11)

by Julie Ann Walker

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

Hot Pursuit by Julie Ann Walker is the eleventh book in the Black Knights Incorporated series. It provided a humorous, fast-paced and gritty story with a blend of passion and romance. This is Christian Watson’s story.

What the story is about.

Christian Watson is a former SAS officer and a current member of the Black Knights Incorporated. He left England, his homeland after a horrific turn of events had him questioning his loyalty to his country. He had no plans to return the country that betrayed him, but his current mission set him on a path, which required him to return to the place he once called home. His return however did not go unnoticed, which led to unknown enemies’ hell bent on revenge surfacing. Fighting for his life is nothing new to Christian, but when it involves protecting Emily Scott, it is a different ball game.

Emily is a former CIA operative. She is the office manager for the Black Knights. Burnt by love she vowed never to fall in love especially when it involved a co-worker. Her number one rule, men are good only for recreational purposes. However, when she is forced to spend time with Christian in closed quarters, while being chased by his enemies, she began questioning her pre-conceived ideas about love.


The Story
Hot Pursuit picked up from where the previous book ended. I liked the story, but it did not wow me as I hoped it would. The highlight of the story was Christian escaping the enemies from his past and his relationship with Emily. The thread involving the villain, whom the team was pursuing from the previous installments and the reason they were in England was not addressed. Mention was made of the fact he maybe behind the team’s current troubles but that was where his involvement ended. For me this was a huge disappointment. In spite of this, it had some redeeming qualities. There was intrigue and action with a side of humour and passion.

The Characters
Christian is a fascinating character. He is the epitome of an alpha male. He is hot, confident, protective and willing to fight for what he wants and he wants Emily. Emily on the other hand was a disappointment. She may be tough when it comes to dealing with her colleagues, but in matters of the heart, she was a wimp. Using her past to avoid romantic entanglements was not only weak but also annoying.

The Supporting Characters.
I enjoyed the camaraderie between the members of the Black Knights. They made a great team not only in the field but also on a personal level.
Regarding the villains, I found them irritating. Revenge drove their actions, but they were reckless and clueless, which made them dangerous.
Angel, a member of the Black Knights peaked my curiosity. Mystery surrounds him and I would love to know his story, which luckily will be revealed in the next installment.

The Romance
I had a difficult time connecting with the romance between Christian and Emily. Emily’s actions grated on my nerves. Everyone around them is aware of how they both feel about each other, but she kept denying her feelings. She kept making up excuses as to why they could not get involved with each other. I did not like that, she was happy with sharing her body, but not willing to share her heart. Christian was forced to fight to save what he believed was the best thing to have happened to him.

I did enjoy the banter between them. They had silent way of communicating with each other, which was a testament to the depth of their connection. If only Emily would acknowledge her feelings and stop hiding behind her past.

In addition to the romance between Christian and Emily there was another one developing on the sidelines between Ace and Rusty. I found this developing relationship more interesting than the main romance, even though it is not one that I would read.

Conclusion/Recommendation
Despite not caring much for the heroine, I enjoyed Hot Pursuit and cannot wait to read Angel’s story. I recommend this for fans of romantic suspense.