In Rides Trouble

Starred review from June 18, 2012
In the superlative second installment of the Black Knights Inc. romantic suspense series (after Hell on Wheels), Walker brings together Becky Reichert, “a tattooed, sharp-tongued, Harley-riding motorcycle designer,” and alpha male and former SEAL Frank Knight, who now runs a covert military contracting operation disguised as a motorcycle shop. Becky’s ready to jump into romance, but Frank has a litany of excuses: she’s a co-worker, his buddy’s sister, and 13 years his junior (reminding Frank uncomfortably of his philandering father’s taste for teenagers). Becky heads to the Seychelles with a friend, but their boat is commandeered by pirates. Frank organizes a rescue and Becky knifes one of the pirates in the process, leaving him determined to get revenge. Throw in the mysterious woman Frank keeps visiting in Chicago, and happily-ever-after is a giant question mark. Walker’s deft characterization, skillful pacing, touches of humor, and red-hot love scenes rev up this highly recommended roller-coaster. Agent: Nicole Resciniti, the Seymour Agency.

August 1, 2016

Sweeping contemporary romance has been the motorcycle club craze, which has its outposts in military romance. What would be more natural than for a group of men who served together to continue to work as a team, using a motorcycle shop as a cover for elite special ops? In the eight books in the "Black Knights, Inc." series (two more titles are projected for 2017), Frank Knight and his band of mercenaries still do the kind of work they were trained for--this time only occasionally under the auspices of U.S. authorities. And while they fend off bad guys and seek out international trouble spots, they find women who see through their masks of impassive badassery to the strength and protectiveness underneath.

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2012
The second title in Walker's Black Knights Inc. series features the relationship between Frank Boss Knight, a 39-year-old ex-SEAL, and Rebecca Reichart, whose custom motorcycle business is the front for their clandestine activities. Frank and Becky argue with each other all the time, not so subtly masking their mutual attraction from the rest of the group. When Becky is abducted by Somali pirates, however, Frank helps rescue her. Later, a pirate comes after her in Chicago to enact revenge, then leaves a hospital bed to do it again. In between these two events, Frank comes to terms with the fact that he loves her. But Becky thinks he's married, and it takes the second rescue attempt to straighten things out. Then someone named Snake appears, no doubt portending another installment in the series. One wonders how, with all the relentless sexual tension, any of Walker's characters get any work done. This tale is less tormented but no less engrossing than Hell on Wheels (2012). Rev It Up is next in line.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)