A Hero’s ScarsFormer Navy SEAL, Quentin Zane, was battle-scarred long before he joined the military. As a child, his father put him through hell. One terrible night, he lost everything. Since then, the only bright spot in his life has been Ellie King. And he’ll stop at nothing to protect her, even if it means unleashing the blackness within.Broken but determinedAfter many false starts, Ellie … many false starts, Ellie finally left her abusive boyfriend and fled to her brother’s place. But her ex is hatching a plan to kill innocent people, and she has to stop him.
With Zane’s help, she’ll put him behind bars. Ellie’s known her big brother’s best friend for years, but she’s never truly seen Zane before. Will they stop a madman from killing? And will they heal each other’s wounds?
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Forgiving yourself and starting over seems difficult… with friends and love on your side it’s possible.
You know you need help. You know that help is just a moment away, yet seems out of reach. Sometimes it’s not until you’ve been pushed to the edge, that you question the wrong, after nearly loosing yourself in an abusive cycle, that you dig deep to ask for that help. Knowing all to well that there is serious danger lurking and resignation to right a wrong.
IN THE BLACK… Oh WOW!!
Cynthia has pulled no punches with this book. Really the entire BLACK STAR SECURITY series is a beautiful blend of what some experience daily. It’s not easy and it’s all too real. Hurting, sadness, anger, despair and not knowing who to trust or turn to when you need help. There were moments and words uttered from both Ellie and Zane that made me cry. You felt their pain and sorrow. Both hold such strength and determination but also stubbornness to let the other in and admit they feel more for each other because they are carrying scars from the past. Amongst the sad there is banter and humourous moments to lighten this story.
It also carries the drama and suspense as life and a serious threat to a country’s safety unfolds. Again… some little teasing hints for future stories ahead…
A beautifully, well written story, I highly recommend for those that love anything military/security with real life situations, emotions and drama mixed in with their romance. It’s always good to catch up with past characters… this is a close knit team that protect each other and family.
If you haven’t already started this series… while each story could be read as a stand alone book… there are little snippets of previous characters throughout. Really you will want to go back to the beginning and immerse yourself in Black Star Security.
I am loving the Black Star Security series and In The Black just uped the ante. I’m halfway through the series and I need more. Quentin Zane and Ellie King have known one another but when he has to protect her, things between them become more personal. Lots of action and suspense with the required HEA. I can’t wait to see what comes next.
This book was edgy, suspenseful and passionate. I love the fact Cynthia Rayne pours so much into each character and most of all the relationship building.
The character development in this book is flawless. Most of all, the author is able to build a realistic relationship and create an emotional journey for the reader. Cynthia Rayne also pays attention to continuing to build secondary characters. The world building is fantastic making it a captivating book, one I couldn’t put down.
The storyline itself was everything I could want. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I cried at times, I definitely cringed and yet the author knew exactly when to drop in some humor. There is plenty of sexiness; the entire series is filled with strong, sexy alpha men. From beginning to end, this book delivers.
5 stars for an edgy, captivating and sexy book! Highly recommend!
I received a complimentary copy of this book and loved it so much, I purchased a copy.
This was a wonderful addition to this fantastic series. I just loved Ellie’s and Quentin’s story. The dual POVs was very helpful to me to understand Quentin’s actions. I have adored all of this series. Reading about these perfectly wonderful heroes and their scared emotional side and how they over come to find their “happily ever after” is heart-wrenching. I can’t wait for the rest of the series!!!
Ahhh, Zane. Sexy, delicious Zane. He’s intrigued me since the first book and his story did not disappoint. Prepare yourself for a wild and emotional ride as Zane meets his match. A great, fast-paced action/romance that is well-written and loads of fun!
Zane was a character I was not quite sure about when this series started. This book definitely changed my mind. Zane was a much more complex hero than expected and it was a great experience to read about him. Ellie was so wonderfully flawed and together they made for great character interactions. I was glad it focused on them as individuals and together, both physically and emotionally, while still having a great action packed storyline.
I loved the glimpses we caught of Nox and Storm. The whole series so far has been spectacular!
“I’ve been waitin’ years for you. So, I’m takin’ my sweet time.”
Oh Lordy!! If Black Star Security was real, and these men were on the job, I think I’d get myself in a heap of trouble, just so I could call them for help! They’re all so hot, and alpha, but sweet and vulnerable all at the same time. Delicious!!
Ellie King is in trouble. Her boyfriend, Dave, and his radical buddies are up to something bad, and they’ve dragged her in to it. Whatever it is, it involves a secret government biological project she’s been working on, that if unleashed, would be deadly. After Dave beats her senseless when she confronts him, she has one place to turn – her brother Tommy. Seeking his help, and that of Black Star Security, she finds herself face to face with the man who’s had her heart for years – Zane. She’s always wanted him but he left her without a reason, feeling hurt and confused. Now, he’s sending mixed signals. Could she dare to think they have a chance? What if they can’t stop Dave’s plans? What if she goes to prison? She’s lost him once before. She’s not sure if she can survive losing him again.
Quentin Zane has held a torch for Ellie for a long time. But she’s off-limits. Not only is she the sister of his friend and fellow Black Star Security team member, but she deserves better than him. After what he did, everyone does. Now, she’s here and in trouble. Can he keep it professional while they try to stop Dave and his buddies from unleashing holy hell on the public? If he told her the truth, she’d walk away forever, but he’s done fighting it. He knows one thing – he’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe and alive, even if it means giving up everything. Even his life.
This is such a great story. Suspense, action, danger, sweetness and steam all rolled into one. I can’t wait for Nox’s story next. I have a feeling that one’s gonna be EPIC!
Former Navy Seal, Quentin Zane, is now working for Black Star Security. He seems to have found his place in the world with this special team. As a child, his father put him through hell and because of that he doesn’t feel worthy of the only woman he’s ever loved, Ellie King.
After Ellie’s boyfriend beat her up she goes to her brother, Thomas, who also works for Black Star Security and is a friend of Zane’s, for help. Ellie finds herself in trouble because her boyfriend and some of his buddies are planning to hurt a lot of people. Zane and the team step up to help her and stop Dave from doing this evil. While in the middle of this mess Zane and Ellie struggle with their feelings for each other and what to do about them.
This is the third book in this series and I love it as much as Book 1 and 2. I couldn’t put it down so I read it in one sitting. This story has a nail biting plot, lots of bad guys, heat between Zane and Ellie, fast pace action, some humor which makes things fun, sweet moments for the H&H, and everything tied together nicely in the end. I love this story and can’t wait for the next one.
I really enjoyed reading this book.
It is an emotional, & suspenseful story. Zane, a former Navy Seal, fought his own battle, before going into the service, & still carries the wounds.
Ellie’s been unhappy for along time,
with her live-in boyfriend. When Ellie’s
missing key card for work, reappears,
she confronts Dave.Their conversation went for bad to worse. Hurt, Ellie went
to the best place she knew to go,
Black Star Security.
Her brother King, is part of the team.
King is recovering from an injury.
Zane cared for Ellie. He would always protect her. Zane askes Ellie to trust
him, & let him help her. Her now ex,
& his “friends” had broken in, & taken an experiment the government has working on. Zane, King, & the Black Star team, work together to stop what Dave & his “friends”, the sovereign group, have planned.
Zane & Ellie have always been attracted to each other. They’ve had a few starts, & stops along the way. Ellie wants to know what their feelings mean. But, Zane’s emotional baggage, keeps his heart closed off.
Will Zane & Ellie finally admit what they feel, & find their way to one another? Or will life have other plans?
A MUST READ FOR EVERYONE!!!
What a heart stopping and emotional ride. Two people who have so much guilt and baggage are just trying to make it through the day.
Zane and Ellie have known each other for years. She is Zane’s friend and coworkers younger sister. Both of them are very interested in each other but Zane keeps running hot and cold towards Ellie. We as the reader find out his backstory before her does it helps you understand why he is running scared with his feelings.
I liked the character of Ellie. She was both strong but vulnerable. She was in this really awful spot and she wants to do whatever was right but also she didn’t want anyone to get hurt. My only complaint was while it added suspense, one thing kept bringing me out of the story. These highly training people were bringing her with to all of these awful situations where I think even though she felt guilty she seemed more like a burden than an asset.
I can’t wait for more in this series.
King is still suffering from the injuries he sustained saving Savvy when his sister, Ellie, turns up at HQ, beaten by her scum sucking boyfriend. He and the crew mete out a little retribution with their fists and ensure Ellie’s safety as she heals. But Ellie isn’t only worried about her boyfriends fists, she is also worried about the friends that he has been keeping and what they might have planned. She is also pretty sure that he has used her access card to get his hands on some very nasty chemicals.
Zane has spent most of is adult life fighting back the “blackness”, the rage that can build up inside of him, a result of an abusive childhood. He and Ellie had an “almost” moment years ago and he felt awful breaking the heart of the woman he loves, but he doesn’t think he deserves a happy ever after and doesn’t want to Drag Ellie down with him. But when her life implodes with the mess her boyfriend has made, he and the crew will do what they can to save her from prison!
Domestic terrorism, biological weapons, abusive boyfriends, child physical and emotional abuse all coalesce into a fantastic story. The passion comes late in this book but that just keeps the sexual tension cranked high throughout the book. I love Savvy’s way of breaking up a fight LOL. Nox is as enigmatic as ever and Stormy, well he is just as Californian as ever! The offence he takes when he slips in a little Southern into his speech LOL. Some very delicate situations are handled with care and love and the black humour is thick. The BSS crew are a very dysfunctional but lovable all the same family and I can’t wait to see who falls into their HEA next!
I’m loving this series. This book is another well written who shows the hard, tough alpha makes falling for a soft, but tough woman. The adventure they get into keeps you reading until the end.