Wild Ride: Black Knights Inc., Book 9

With his quick wit, easygoing smile, good looks and easy charm, Ozzie has always been the life of the party and a ladies man. That smile hides a lifetime of pain though, and since his injury on an op in Malaysia, he has had a hard time maintaining the facade. When he is left behind in Chicago with Christian, a fellow BKI operative who is also recovering from an injury, while the rest of the team is out in the field, his unhappiness and frustration hit a new high particularly when he has to continue the dance of distraction with tenacious investigative reporter Samantha Tate.For 6 years, Samantha has been trying to dig up dirt on BKI, and Ozzie was assigned as the best man to throw her off the scent of any juicy details. As he has interacted with her recently, that assignment has turned into a bit more for him as he finds he genuinely likes the woman. She is spirited with a sense of humor that matches his own and she actually gets all of his music and movie references. He knows falling for her would be the worst thing that could happen to him but his heart may just betray him...Samantha could easily fall the for outrageously handsome techie-geek but the sense that he is hiding something from her holds her back. When a source provides her with a huge tip just hours before he is killed, she jumps to the conclusion that Ozzie and the BKI team is behind it based on a shaky connection at best. Years ago, she made a vow to expose corruption and criminals at all costs, and fueled by a sense of betrayal, she strikes out at Ozzie just before the real killer tries to take her out as well. Mayhem ensues until the misunderstanding is (mostly) cleared up, and Ozzie comes up with a plan to keep her safe that could result in the loss of his sanity and his manhood when the BKI ladies get their hands on him: stashing Samantha at the warehouse until the threat to her life is eliminated. The wives and girlfriends of the other operatives are under enough stress while their men are on dangerous missions halfway around the world, and adding the need to constantly monitor every word coming out of their mouths around Samantha is a new level of stress they don't need. But they take care of their own, and when it becomes apparent that Ozzie likes this woman more than any other they have seen him with, they suck it up for his sake against their better judgment especially since she is bringing the old Ozzie back to them.Ozzie has always been one of my favorite people in the BKI world, and learning about his past melted me so hard! His laid back demeanor hides the killer instinct, honor and alpha protector mode that is his default that was honed by his years as a SEAL. She catches glimpses of that man even as the old happy go luck Ozzie starts to re-emerge from the haze of self-pity and pain, but he cannot risk revealing the truth to Samantha no matter how much he starts to hate lying to her. If he makes the wrong choice in trusting her, it would put the whole BKI team at risk if she is unable to resist the urge to break such a huge story that would make her career- and so he finds himself stuck between the proverbial rock and a hard place. His whole life has been one big blur of people finding it too easy to just walk away from him and it looks like Samantha will be no different... except this time it hurts more than usual.Wild Ride is filled with plenty of the action that I have come to expect from the Black Knights Inc series as Ozzie and Samantha struggle to unravel the mystery of who wants her dead, but there is an excellent balance of that action with the fun loving and humorous moments that are just as big a part of Ms. Walker's stories too. Ozzie and Samantha's banter as well as her inner monologues had me wildly giggling, and when that man turns up the hot factor- well to quote a song in Ozzie style- it's getting hot in here!! I actually enjoyed the fact that most of the team was otherwise occupied for this story, so it left a smaller cast of characters as the integral parts of this book. It was great to see Becky, Michelle and Delilah in the forefront, and after seeing Christian and the new office manager Emily interact, I cannot wait for their story!! The former SAS operative and the sassy former CIA team member seem to mix like oil and water, but all that sniping and arguing is just foreplay to what I am sure will be an explosive moment when they finally give into the raging UST between them.Ozzie's story was all I could have wanted and more, and Wild Ride is one of my new favorites in the BKI series!

Can I have an Ozzie please?? pretty please??I had a large gap between the last book and this one, but it took me no time at all to get my bearings back. I felt like I was welcomed back with open arms in the Black Knights shop. Just enough of past info was given to keep you informed and be able to move on with the new info.Samantha and Ozzie were no strangers to each other, but they also didn't really know who each other was since Ozzie had to keep some pretty important information about himself secret from Samantha and Samantha kept digging into the Black Knights as she knew they were more than they seemed and she was a reporter and all.I LOVED all the 80's and 90's references to movies and music. Princess Bride is one of my favorite movies just like Samantha so I was smiling at all the references. And when Samantha quoted Top Gun to Ozzie and he "geeked" out a bit, that just had my heart melting for them both.Seeing Ozzie as vulnerable as he was in this book was refreshing for a Motorcycle riding Special OPs guy. It made you route for him from the start (well, from the first time we met him many books ago!) Getting more of his backstory was just adding fuel to the love I had for him. So happy to have the Black Knights gang looking out for him and making sure he gets the girl who completes him. For Becky and the crew to have Samantha come to the shop when Ozzie wasn't there to convince her that Ozzie really does love her and they can make a go of this relationship, was pretty special.I did find it a bit frustrating to have Ozzie and Samantha keeping each other in the dark on how they really feel for each for most of the book though. They shared little bits but they kept each other at arms length on the important thing, the fact that they both loved the other one. They just needed a little help from the BKI crew.So glad I purchased this one so I can read it as often as I want. Now on to the next installment....... Dagan and Chelsea.

It's here finally, the man of the hour Ozzie! It has been a long wait to get this man's story but well worth it. All his quirks and secrets are revealed:) Samantha is a reporter and has been trying to uncover the BKI secrets for roughly six years, and recently has befriended Ozzie. But over time the two have fallen for each other, but due to some misunderstandings and their own self reflections, they realise they can't be anything more than friends, until his family and colleagues get involved and help them in the right direction:) Can't wait for more!!! Loved catching up with old characters and new!

OMG I knew Ozzies book would be good but wow Julie Ann Walker outdid herself. The Black Knights just get better and better.The characters are seriously HOT, alpha guys, full of testosterone, Ozzie though comes with a real softness that's adorable, along with a dash of flash, a pinch of ego and a deep loyalty to his friends, brothers in arms and the family that comes with BKI. Samantha turns his world upside down in more ways than one, and she falls for him hard......Will they make it, will the lies be too much, will the reporter in her spill all the beans? Got to read it. Cannot wait for the soon to follow next edition, or Christians story......

Wow once again Ms Walker delivers us an Unbelievable story in our favourite series. Ozzy has been a longtime favourite of mine from the beginning. Waiting for his book was a special kind of torture. He's the fun loving guy they all love until his accident then Ozzy's doubts about his value to the team surface. Never believing he's worth everything to his team. Whilst the guys are away it falls to Ozzy to protect the infamous reporter who pushes Ozzy's buttons. This book is full of drama and intrigue but also some real honest to goodness love. Love this series. Highly recommend.

Wow and wow again another excellent read. Well this was a great adventure which has it all these books are beyond excellent I love them all, the characters are ace every single one. I once again recommend these fabulous books to everyone to get into this series. Wow Thanks again.

Julie Ann Walker is one of my favourite authors and every book is on pre-order the minute I know about them. Wild Ride did not disappoint and it was so good that I had to go back and read the whole series from the start again. Don't hesitate to buy the whole series you will not be disappointed