Master No: Masters and Mercenaries, Volume 9

I've been averaging about a book a day for most of this year and I can honestly say this is the best book I have read in all that time. I was fortunate enough to find this series when it was on it's 7th book which gave me a real chance to get to know and get to really care about these characters. Not really being "in the lifestyle" it was more of a curiosity thing for me when I picked the first one up and it was the characters that really kept me going. I'm not a sappy girl. I don't cry over sad movies or get all hot and bothered over a steamy sex scene. Truth is a lot of times I skim over the sex scenes in most books because honestly if I read the word bulbous or plumb shaped one more time I may gouge my eyes out. I like stories. And not just the boy meets girl, conflict, boy get girl that's expected. I need more going on and this series has always had enough if that to keep me going. But this book got me. I was completely immersed in this story from beginning to end. It had it all. It had the love story, it had some hot sexy steamy mind twisting sex it had heart, heartbreak, intrigue, love from every possible angle and perspective and so much action I was drained by the time it was all over and Ian Taggart and his wonderful horrible but perfectly placed humor at the best, most perfectly placed moments.Tennessee Smith has always intrigued me and I have been counting down to this book release since I heard it was coming. To the point where I was almost afraid to read it because the expectations were so high. But it was so much better than I imagined. I loved this book. It was dark and there was a lot more to this story than I had ever expected. Ten had damage and it went deep although he wasn't as hard to crack as I expected him to be which bothered me for a bit but there was so much going on you just get it, I won't say much about the story because I wouldn't want to rob anyone of any moment of the experience that was this book. The emotional ups and downs, the twists, the absolute heartbreak of some of the moments of this book just should not be missed. Even those moments you expect, that you can see coming from a mile away still somehow manage to know you on your butt and make your head spin. It was a good story but the real beauty of it was how magnificently it was told. The end felt a little bit rushed but really after everything that led to it a nice easy coast to the end was good. And I could have done without the absolute final part of the book. After the "Scooby and the gang will return' part. I already knew that was the case but the little teeny bit of doubt would have been good to carry until the next book comes.

I make no secret of the fact that I adore this series. I think that Ms. Blake has created a world where the readers feel as if they have found friends in the characters on the pages. If I could pick myself up and move into the M&M world, I would do so in a heartbeat. And this book only made me want to run into the world even faster than normal.I read this book on release day ...in one sitting. Couldn't put it down. Right from the prologue I wanted to do nothing more than hug Tennessee. He viewed himself as so alone in the world. Even those he considered friends, like Big Tag, where still people that he expected to leave him at any moment. He didn’t see in himself the ability, or even the worth, to make those lasting connections. In Faith, he found someone who in many ways was alone in life too. But she was someone that although may not have had many strong connections, was able to see the worth and importance.Ms. Blake’s talent for creating characters that fit and work together is amazing. Even though this was a mission for Ten, right from the beginning he knew there was something different. For someone whose whole life was dedicated to completing the mission, he was finding it difficult to be ONLY about the mission. And let’s not forget the sex! You may never look at a desk and binder clips in the same way again. As usual, the sex scenes are scorching …hot and yet always with the underlying tender emotions between the characters.There is a difference between this Masters and Mercenaries book and the rest of the series. It is very much darker than the others in the series. The humor that is trademark in this series is present, but it’s not as abundant as in other books. But this makes sense to me. Ten is a darker character …he’s a man who started life in a trashcan and has lived his entire life in the dark. It only makes sense that his story is dark, leading him into lightness. Adding to the darkness is the moment that all fans of the series have been nervously awaiting since Adored. I won’t spoil, but it’s a moment that utterly broke my heart …a “put the book down and just cry” moment. But I trust Ms. Blake that it will all work out and I have no doubt that the happy tears will eventually outnumber the sad tears.Every new book in this series I say is the best …and it’s no different this time. Master No is a whirlwind ride of friendship, family, love, despair, hate, heartbreak and happiness. Ultimately, I think the book and Ms. Blake show a lot about life in general …not every person’s story is always happy and funny, sometimes it’s sad and dark …but it’s their story and hopefully, like Ten and Faith, they can find the love in the end.

No plot spoilers.I have been half in lust for Ten Smith ever since his first appearance and every time he pops up in the various books to date I have wanted to know more about him.OMFG! For the mission he becomes the hottest Dom you could ever read.Faith is the link he needs to take his investigation to the next level.This is the book that pulls all of the threads together from previous books and sets the next book up expertly.The level of intrigue continues unabated supported by the cast of MT. We are treated to seeing once again just how committed to each other they all are and it was so nice to see Brody again.Future books will undoubtedly take on the Collective, but you can safely bet that the books will be continuing the development of characters already met and introducing new characters we will both love and love to hate.The sex is D/s themed and is all consensual. There are no potential triggers.The storyline is well written by a talented and emotive author.

Ok so first off I'll admit I'm a big time Lexi fan. Having said that, I think all of the books from Masters and Mercenaries have got better with each release and Lexi's storycraft seems to gets better and better! I would recommend reading the books in order as there's a number of story arcs and reveals that make you not only understand the characters, but really root for them.This storyline is about a CIA Agent who has had some significant betrayals in his life and career, who is just starting to understand how choosing a different goal can change the outcome of his life. I thought it was a fabulous combo of the erotic, the thriller and the downright, "I'm so agitated that my family are hurting, I'm going to throw down with them!!!"I'm trying not to let spoilers out of the bag but I've got to go "Noooooooo". This is in relation to someone who's just come onto the scene in these books, and it's a testament to Lexi's writing that I'm wailing and gnashing teeth that things didn't turn out as this operative expected. I'm looking at you Lexi that there will be a swooping in of McKay-Taggart at some point!! I cannot wait for the next instalment.

Lexi's done it again. I swore I wasn't going to start this one the second it dropped onto my kindle... That lasted all of two minutes. 4 hours and 31 minutes later and I'm still wiping my eyes and blowing my nose and muttering about frickin' authors and their happy ever after with a cliffhanger twist endings.Needless to say, it's a good one. Almost as good as Charlie and Big Tag's book. Lots of hot sex along with action, character development, continuation of various storylines and a liberal smattering of humour. And just to spice things up a bit, this time round Ms Blake has thrown in a generous helping of tears. You've been warned.In short, an excellent offering from a fabulous author, and I'm already counting down for the next one.

I have to admit that I had not read any of Lexi's books until I started reading the Masters and Mercenaries books. These books have had me captivated from the first book to the latest and they just keep getting better and better. I feel like I know all of these characters so well and shared in the pain that all of the brothers have felt, especially in this book. I have cried and cursed throughout this book and I can't wait for the next book to come out. If you want a good read with plenty of testosterone and some red hot scenes these books are a must. Lexi Blake, what can I say......you are absolutely brilliant!

Oh my god. This was the best book ever. The twists and turns, surprises,and all sorts of emotions being thrown at you.I have read all the m and m books and they really are getting even better.I cannot wait for the next one, which will I hope clear up something from this book.I love Ten and Faith and it was nice for Ten to get a story.Just buy this book, you will not be disappointed, and you will cry at some point, as well as being very angry with some things.Keep writing Ms Blake and I'll keep buying.