ARC Review: Black Mail (Black's Bandits #6)

Black Mail (Black's Bandits #6)

by Lynn Raye Harris

Blurb:

Shy Cassie Dixon was never the girl most likely to succeed. Then she moved to the big city, landed a job she’s good at, and started her own YouTube channel for plus-sized girls like her.

When her channel attracts unwanted attention, the threats quickly turn personal—and vicious. But nobody takes the danger seriously. Not even the police.

BDI operative Tyler Scott agrees to check on Cassie when his favorite cousin insists her bestie’s in danger.

The decorated former Marine doesn’t remember Cassie from high school, but one look into her pretty green eyes and he’s got a feeling he’s hooked.

Before he can fight for her heart, he’ll have to fight for her life—and his.

Because someone wants Cassie dead. And they’ve got a foolproof plan to make it happen.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating:  4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

There is always a point in a series where an author decides that they need to introduce a new heroine that has a body type that most would not consider ideal, most commonly being a “big girl”, and I have to tell you that is usually when I begin to lose interest in a series.  Being a bigger girl myself currently, but one that has gotten considerably smaller, I have to tell you it bothers me a lot when authors decide to try to “Tackle body image” because most of them do not do it well especially if they don’t live that issue themselves every day.  I am thrilled and proud to say that this did NOT happen with Lynn’s newest story when she decided her awesome female lead was going to be a curvy girl, one with body image issues herself, but that is working hard to make other ladies learn to accept themselves for the beautiful women we are no matter what we look like.  I have loved all of the stories in this spin-off series and this newest story was no exception for sure.  Tyler and Cassie were sensual, sweet and inspiring as they found a way through all their issues and into a future together.  Tyler had his work cut out for him to sure, breaking down Cassie’s walls, but he is the perfect man for the task and succeeded beautifully. I cannot wait for more from this series and with the hints we got it sounds like the next story might be even hotter, which might not seem possible, but each time I think that I am pleasantly surprised.

Cassie Dixon is on a mission to prove that even a curvy girl can be beautiful and find a way to enhance the gifts she has, but that mission seems to have put her in the crosshairs off a stalker.  Tyler Scott, a serious badass and cousin to Cassie’s best friend, barely remembers the young woman from his childhood and what he remembers is just a quiet and shy shadow, but when his cousin calls in a favor he is bound to look into Cassie’s issue.  When he sets eyes on her again for the first time as an adult, Ty is blown away and finds himself instantly drawn to and attracted by the sexy curvy woman that Cassie has become.  Cassie doesn’t think this is that big of a deal, but when Ty forces his way into her life it’s not worth fighting to push the deliciously sexy male that she loved from afar as a child away.  Soon Ty and Cassie as getting closer and closer as the danger to Cassie becomes more deadly and when they begin to explore the passion between them it becomes apparent there is more to them than just two old friends forced together.  Will they admit to their true feelings for one another before a madman makes his move or will they be forever left wondering what could have been?

Cassie was a great character to get to know, beautifully written and more complex than even a lot of my favorite heroines She was such a dichotomy of confidence and vulnerability that you never knew what she might project in any given situation, but the best part was as she grew and spent more time with Ty she accepted more and assimilated the two sides of herself into one complex picture instead.  She was raised in an environment that left her reaching to better herself and get away from her past, with only a few people kept close to her heart, but she stayed a down-to-earth and sweet woman even as she embraced the truth that even as a curvy girl she was beautiful and could present herself well.  Being a bigger girl myself, one that also didn’t get a lot of support in the confidence department growing up, I could really appreciate that she was working to uplift other women and show them the support she lacked.  Once Ty showed her that he truly found her sexy and was attracted to her body, mind, and soul, I think she become even more confidently sensual and there was just no way that he was going to resist losing his heart and soul to her.  Ty was the typical guy, one we have gotten to know well enough in previous stories, that we knew he wouldn’t be mean to Cassie in the beginning but it was obvious from the start that he saw more in her that just her surface layers of “big girl” and into her sweet and stunning soul. He is the quintessential sweet, alpha badass, but his patience, subtlety and willingness to give Cassie all the time she needed to accept the changes in their friendship were a bit surprising to be honest.  The heat he generated any time he thought about or clapped eyes on Cassie were undeniable, and I give him mucho brownie points for being gentle with her and giving her what she needed to blossom and find her footing in their love lives.  I have to say I loved Ty almost as much (though not quite) as I did Ian and I can’t wait to see more of him in future stories as he and Cassie continue their love story far into the future.

Black Mail is one of the best stories I have read in ages, filling me with a true level of contentment in the loving HEA while still giving me a suspenseful story with action and sensuality.  Ty is a man that is after my own heart for sure, giving his all for the woman that has captured not only his interest but his heart in her gentle hands and he refuses to allow her to push him away no matter how hard she resists. Cassie is pretty much 90% me and I loved seeing her bloom in her assurance and strength, giving me hope that maybe someday with the right supportive mate I might be able to do the same.  She was sweet, passionate, loving, and determined to never let another person bring her down which made me love her.  The heat between Cassie and Ty was an undercurrent from the very beginning, with both of them denying and/or fighting the pull, until the explosion was inevitable then there was no denying they both reveled in the change in their relationship.  I am dying for the next story that Lynn is going to give us, especially if it is what was hinted at because I expect the usual heat, humor, sweetness and love that makes Ms. Harris one of my favorite authors and definitely one that I never miss a release from.  If you are looking for a sensual read to while away a hot spring day, I highly recommend Black Mail, along with a full pitcher of ice cold water!

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.