Can you call someone an enemy if you haven’t seen them for the better part of a decade?Deacon Black is perfectly content with the status quo—work, sleep, repeat.Who cares if he’s rigid, structured, and set in his ways? It’s a job requirement that keeps his men safe and his company’s doors open.One phone call is all it takes to upend his life and land him right back into a past he has tried to … into a past he has tried to forget.
Revisiting old ghosts is the last thing he needs.
Especially when the forced trip down memory lane includes the only woman he never wanted to see again.
Annalise Grimaldi hit the jackpot with her life—from her trust fund to her best friend, she has it all.
But her world comes crashing to a halt when her best friend vanishes— leaving behind an apartment in tatters and more questions than answers.
There’s only one person she can think of that can help in a situation like this.
She hates to make the call, but there isn’t a thing she wouldn’t do to make sure her friend is found.
Even setting aside her hatred for Deacon Black.
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I’m looking forward to more of this series. I didn’t want to put it down.
On the day that his divorce became final, Deacon thought it was the last time he would see his ex Dani’s best friend Annalise (Anna). But eight years later he gets a panicked call from her. Seems she’s seen someone taken out of his ex’s apartment on a stretcher all bloody. Going into protective mode, he tells her to meet him at his office. Now he has to find out what’s going on with his ex, protect Anna and figure out why his heart goes crazy every time he’s near her.
Anna has always let Dani take the lead. Dani wants the spotlight, Anna just wants a friend. When she sees someone taken out of Dani’s apartment on a stretcher, she believes the worst. Her first instinct is to call Deacon even though she hasn’t seen or spoken to him in nearly a decade. She never expected him to have grown into the successful business man that he has or to be willing to protect her at all costs. And why does her heart pound whenever he’s near?
I am a sucker for an enemies to lovers book, but best friends ex-husband I wasn’t so sure about. This was a happy surprise and really worked for me.
Anna calls Deacon when her best friend, his ex-wife, goes missing after a shooting in her apartment. There is a lot of blood and Anna doesn’t know who else to call for help. Deacon doesn’t want anything to do with his ex-wife, and he wants even less to do with her snippy best friend who never thought he was good enough.
The fact that Anna and Deacon didn’t like each other just made the sparks fly even more. I liked the growth of each character in this book. Anna begins to see the real Deacon and Deacon begins to realize that Anna isn’t who he thought he was. They begin to realize that this is what real love looks like and anything in the past was just child’s play.
As the search for Dani intensifies, so does the threat on Anna’s life. Deacon realizes that he cares for Anna more than he thinks and will stop at nothing to protect her.
I did like the chemistry between these two, and I can’t wait to read more about the other guys in this security firm!
Good book, this book was a little slower for me, but overall it was a good read. It wasdifferent from the Cerberus series, but a great start to a new series by a great author.
Could not put this book down! Loved Deacon and Anna story and the plot line was so good. I definitely wanted to punch Dani in the face. I’m so excited to get this new series from Marie James. I can not wait so get more stories from the other men that were introduced in deacons story.
This is the 1st in a new series and what a brilliant masterpiece this story is! Deacon is the owner of Blackbridge Security, and Anna has no choice but to contact him for help when her best friend Dani goes missing. Deacon and Dani were married previously, and he and Anna hated each other at the time which makes him a total jerk to her now. I loved all the secondary character in this tory as well as the dirty talking parrot which was just hilarious. Will Deacon redeem himself? Will Anna finally see what a piece of work her friend is? This is a well written story which is intriguing, and filled with drama, danger, emotion, sizzling chemistry, and twists which all lead to an entertaining, humorous, and steamy read. I cannot wait to read more int his series and I highly recommend for all.
Hostile Territory by Marie James is the first book in the Blackbridge Security series. Deacon Black has known Annalise Grimaldi for years…considering she’s his ex-wife’s BFF. But, when Anna calls, scared to death, Deacon jumps into action. This is a fast paced, enemies to lovers romantic suspense with heat, danger, attitude, and a seriously hysterical, yet very inappropriate African parrot!
First book in a new series, and off to a great start.
There is action that keeps you on the edge of your seat and keeps you turning the pages.
When Deacon’s ex wife goes missing, her best friend Anna calls him for help. Despite the fact that they didn’t get along in the past, he agrees to help her. While tracking down Dani, Deacon and Anna learn a lot about each other and find they have both changed in the last eight years.
Can’t wait to hear more about the other guys on the Blackbridge Security team.
Just when I think Marie James can’t get any better, she comes up with this story. Enemies to lovers never felt so right and watching our hero Deacon, come to terms with that fact was a heck of a fun, beautiful, steamy ride. Hostile Territory is the first book in a new series shooting off from our favorite Cerberus series, with just a bit of cross over. Annalise has always hated Deacon. Why? Was he a bad guy? Was he just “not wealthy”? Or was it something more personal…like taking time away with her best friend. For whatever reason, her coming back into Deacon’s life is anything but calm and boring and both will need to learn compromise-something that neither is very good at. When push comes to shove, who will win the battle of wills. Who knew a flipping parrot would steal the show lol…but he did and I can’t wait for more stories from the Blackbridge boys.
I am so very excited about this new series. Marie always finds a way to fit comedy into our HEAs! Anxiously waiting to see what character she tackles next!
What a fantastic start to a new series by Marie James. I loved it but not gonna like I think my favorite was Puff Daddy. Wanna know you Puff Daddy is check out Hostile Territory. This book has an easy flow story was easy to follow. Characters had undeniably chemistry even though they tried to deny it.
A past they both had they felt neither had grown or change from when they were younger.
This book has it all suspense, heat, hilariousness, and most importantly love. So check out this new series.
4 1/2 stars.
This is the beginning of Blackbridge Security and all the hot men who work there…yum.
Deacon Black was married and burned by his ex years ago. His ex’s best friend, Annalise Grimaldi is collateral damage in that relationship. When Anna needs help the only person she thinks to call is Deacon, even though he isn’t exactly happy to see her name pop up on his phone.
They definitely had more of a hate-hate relationship through most of the book so a lot of their chemistry didn’t immediately pop off of the page, but when Anna was with Deacon’s staff she really made them shine and I am really looking forward to their stories because of those interludes.
While Deacon tried to track down the men and his ex-wife who were hunting her and Anna he was trying hard to not to fall for the woman whom he’d basically overlooked for most of his life. Anna was turning out to be someone he never expected and someone he desperately wanted.
Anna shouldn’t want her best friend’s ex-husband, but she was having a hard time convincing herself why not. He was everything she didn’t remember him being years ago and his helping her now meant the world.
This is just the beginning of some very hot security men and I’m excited to visit again.
(P.S. I really hope Wren is next, he’s so geeky sweet and his interactions with Anna are beyond priceless)
Deacon and Anna are brought together by the one person who they see completely different in their eyes, Dani. Dani, Anna’s best friend and Deacon’s soul sucking ex-wife. After a night of terror, Anna calls the only person who will be able to locate Dani, Deacon of course. The story starts off with a bang and I absolutely love it! Even better when the lines begin to blur between Anna and Deacon. Is it due to their current situation of life and death or is it true love even though the man is your best friend’s ex husband! Must read if you love action and you wouldnt want to miss out on the bird! Trust me on this one!
Hostile Territory is book 1 in the Blackbridge Security, a brand new series written by the amazing author Marie James. I received a free copy of this book to read and review from BookFunnel. I am hooked, fell hard for this alpha sexy military owner of his security company. Book 1 is the story of Deacon Black & Annalise Grimaldi, an enemies to lovers romance with an awesome group of sexy commandos plus a funny as hell, foul mouthed the African Grey parrot named Puff Daddy. Deacon and Anna hated it other guts in the past, but after almost a decade she needs him to find her best friend and his ex-wife, Dani. This book had everything; drama, suspense, danger, steam, romance and a HEA!! The story line will keep you hooked until the end and you seriously want more of them. I cannot wait for the rest of the Blackbridge Security boys to get their own books.
You’ve read the blurb, now read the book!
Talk about a s-l-o-w burn! Actions speak louder than words, but sometimes the actions give off the wrong meaning, leaving confusion and heart ache. This is one of those stories, that you have to know the past to understand the present. I was impressed with how this author handled sharing the past without the whiplash of “am I reading past or present” that can ruin a story. TWO THUMBS UP! I just really enjoyed the reuniting of Deacon and Anna, the circumstances, the level of trust amidst the hatred and animosity. And let it be said that I absolutely LOVED the ending page of Chapter 9! I was all team Deacon! Well handled! Deacon and Anna are amazing characters, along with the BBS team! Some really unique guys! But there’s a special character that is going to make you laugh and spit your drink out, every time this character speaks! Great story! One that puts life into perspective, not only for the characters, but the reader too!
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads, so here is my review.
Deacon Black is content with his life, but when someone from the past calls he has feels surface that he hasn’t felt in years.
Annalise doesn’t know what to do when her BFF goes missing. She does know who to call, but making the call is not easy. She has always hated Deacon, even when he was married to her best friend.
Deacon and his men will travel around the world to find Dani but who is after her and why is a better question. Will they get to her in time? Can they save her before it is too late? Will Deacon and Anna act on the feelings that they are feeling towards each other?
And let’s not forget the African Grey parrot that has a potty mouth that will have you laughing out loud.
I really liked the suspenseful aspect of this story and the romance between Deacon and Anna was steamy and hot. And Dani got what she deserved in the end.
This is a first for me from this author but I do have several on my TBR list and I can’t wait to read more from this series.
**Wicked Reads Review Team**
I already love Marie James books. This book is fantastic. I loved how Deacon gets a blast from the past when Anna calls him for help. The twists and turns keeps you turning the page. Puff daddy gives you humor. A really must read.
Been looking forward to this book since reading the blurb, and I’m extremely excited as it’s been a few years since I’ve read this authors work, but I already know how fantastic she is at describing things so I know she’ll do it justice. Bring on a new series full of strong characters with dark pasts.
Even from the first few chapters my statements are true. You’ll instantly be hooked and feel like you are right there beside the characters. Unfortunately I didn’t really connect with the main characters in this one, especially in first half of the book. Luckily the storyline and most of side characters saved the day, making it mostly enjoyable. Puff Daddy especially helps the book, making you smile with every encounter.
Still a solid four stars from me.
Hostile Territory is suspenseful, passionate, intense and on fire! I am so excited about this new series by Marie James. Deacon and Anna are such an entertaining couple. I love how strong and determined they are, but they both have this vulnerability that makes you fall in love with them. The push and pull as they try not to fall for each other will have you on the edge of your seat begging for it to happen. You need to read this book for the team, the bird, the ranch and the party alone! All I know is Hostile Territory had me totally entranced from the explosive start to the swoon worthy ending and I know I totally want Marie to give me a commando of my very own.
Tracey, Life Reads With Friends Blog
Hostile Territory is the first of a brand new series, and if book one is anything to go by this series is going to rock!! Starting with Deacon Black, the owner of Blackbridge security. He lives for structure and rules, his men’s lives as well as his own depends on everything being done just so. When he gets a call from Anna, a blast from the past, he can’t not help her. Even if helping her brings back memories from a past that is best forgotten.
Not having a clue what to do about what she just saw, Anna calls the one person that she just instinctively knows will know what to do. Seeing Deacon after all these years proves that he is still a jerk, but she is willing to do anything to find out what happened to her best friend. Will Deacon even be willing to help Anna?
This start was freaking fantastic! We get to “meet” the new characters and I am so ready to see where this series goes. Puff Daddy is probably my favorite character so far. Deacon and Anna’s story had danger, drama, some seriously funny laugh out loud moments, and some super hot bits. I give this 5 stars.
I was so excited to start the Blackbridge Security series from reading about them in the Cerberus series. This book didn’t disappoint! Deacon and Annalise had this series love hate thing going that was combustible!! I kind of wanted to not like Anna because she was a bit uppity for my liking but once I got to know her she redeemed herself. I loved the chemistry and secrecy in the book and Puff daddy was a riot!! Definitely looking forward to the other guys in Blackbridge Security to have their own story!! Marie sure knows how to write hot, steamy alpha male characters!! A must read !
Arc generously provided by author for an honest review