Master No (Masters and Mercenaries Book 9)

This author is a prolific writer and it continues to boggle the mind at the sheer volume of words she writes. Add in the fact that the quality of her writing is consistently excellent, her story lines are always stimulating and the characters never fail to engage the imagination. Tennessee Smith is a man who, by his own admission, has spent his life waiting for someone to care enough about him to choose him, to make him their priority. He started out in a dumpster, spent his early years working to please those in the foster homes where he landed in the hope that they would want him. His adoption by a high ranking CIA official set him on the road to a career dealing with the underbelly of human society in many of its expressions. The cynicism which was the glue which held him together made it impossible for Ten to really "see" Faith MacDonald apart from her corrupt and amoral father, a U. S. senator whose only loves were money and power and who had been responsible for killing Ten's brother Jamie. This is another complex novel with witty dialogue and gut wrenching emotion, real people of diverse backgrounds and nationalities, coming together under the McKay-Taggert umbrella to form a very strange but vibrant family. Ten finds himself on a journey of discovery about himself as he faces the holes in his life and in his heart. Faith is on her own discovery quest, wanting the life she has to be enough but fearful it isn't. She knows Ten is a charmer but fears, too, that he will charm her right into a broken heart. Keeping up with the ongoing stories of the panoply of characters is part of the charm of this series. This novel pulls back the curtain just a bit more as readers learn more of the connection between Ten and Ian. There is a series of nail biting scenes which can easily scare the #@$? out of anyone. Some real surprises await as the story develops and all is wrapped around the budding love between Ten and Faith. A terrific novel that will be read by me several times in the future. I am always sad when I come to the end of one of Lexi's books.

I really enjoyed the book. I laughed and even cried a little bit. I would definitely recommend this book. It can be read alone, but if you want to know about the other characters you should read their story to.

Lexi's books NEVER disappoint...well except for the fact that they end.... then I have to wait for the next release date to see what the M-T crew is up to next!!
I was a little bummed about lost team members in the big shootout but I suspected some foulplay too! Can't wait for the next one!!!

Has some angst and drama. Lots of sharp turns and sudden action. There was a lot of plot twists that I did not expect and were way out there (though it fit very well in the story). I really enjoyed this.

I would read these in order, the characters develop through each book. This series is full of adrenaline pumping heart stopping adventures. I am hooked on the people and places these books take you to as well as the big bad doms and their brat counter parts.

Oh this is delicious. I actually shed a few tears at one point. Really loved the plot and all the characters. Finally we get to know Ten. Waiting for Kai.... and no spoilers but another one has crept into my favorites...

Love this. lots of twists and enjoyable plotlines. Adore Ms Blake's books and can't wait for the next books in this series. Mr Taggart and his merry band of men are fab. Long may this storyline continue to produce quality fiction. Congratulations Ms Blake.

what to say....what to say....there is something missing in this book. it took me a while to get through it (like days and days) and afterwards, I could only say..."What was that?" I came to realize that the H/h don't connect for me in this story. I could not connect with Faith at all. Even though she had a great career and knew what she wanted (sort of) and made no apologies for it, she was lacking something. It threw off Ten's character and made him appear "disconnected". Their whole relationship was disjointed throughout. I think its called "chemistry" There wasn't any with these two. I know, I know, they had sex but i can tell you that if Faith had died in this story I would not have been broken up. Not like I was with Theo. Charlotte and Ian had chemistry; Serena, Jake, and Miles had chemistry, Liam and Avery had chemistry (for real). Ten and Faith...none.

Loved the book. Good character development or redevelopment as the case may be. Satisfactory ending. Can't wait for the next installment in this series. This book makes one think about the evil in the world and the consequences.

I really enjoy Lexi Blake's books. typically she writes strong characters with interesting back stories. Master No was a little disappointing. The characters weren't that dynamic and the story line was not as well developed as I'd hoped it would be.

It is surprising how this author can use the same basic plot of guy meeting girl with the ensuing romance and make it interesting and fresh everytime. She introduces characters from her previous books so that when it comes time for their turn to be the main character you are already invested and know them so you want to read what happens to them. I enjoy the comaraderie, sense of family and sense of humor which I find rare in a series that has firearms, killings, all around bad guys that the security firm of McKay-Taggart deal with besides the romance. "Master No" involves Ten who previously has been the last person I would have pegged to fall in love, but Faith manages to circumvent the walls Ten has built around his heart, just as Ten does the same with Faith. This is despite the fact that Ten was using Faith in the beginning just to get to her father who he blames for the death of his brother and ruining his reputation. It is darker than previous books in that seemly several people get killed and there is torture inflicted on others. It leaves an unresolved ending that will hopefully be resolved in the next book, " From Sanctum with Love". This book is interesting, fast paced, suspenseful and leaves you looking forward to the next book. I did skip most of the later sex scenes because I was more interested in the action that was occurring outside the bedroom. So far every time I read a new Master and Mercenaries book, it reminds me of why I so like this series.

I recommend reading the novella 'Sweet child o' mine' first to have an introduction of the book.
I enjoyed reading it but the plot and outcome were very predictable. There is a surprise plot twist and I can't wait to read Kai's book next year!

I have read the entire series of Masters and Mercenaries. I enjoyed the change of pace of having the dominant character being a woman. Of course her submissive occasionally "tops from the bottom", but that's part of the charm of Ben. In his everyday life he is a strong male who recognizes he needs something different in his love life. Great easy read!

If you are into a mystery thriller that has romance with a kink to it. This is the book for you. But, you must start at the beginning of Lexi Blake's Masters and Mercenaries series with A Dom Is Forever. These stories will pull every emotion you have from you. Master No had me sitting on the edge of my seat and bitting my nails. Just when I thought all was going to be well there would be another cruel twist th the story. I laughed while reading this story, but I also cried real tears. Even though it is heart wrenching it is also heart warming. I took Lexi's advise and read the book until the very end. No peaking or you will spoil all the fun. Enjoy following Ten's and Faith's story of a disavowed CIA agent and a doctor who works in Africa during an EBola out break. I had a hard time putting this book down. Gladly gave up sleep time to read it. An another amazing book by Lex Blake.

Masterfully written. I was really pulled into the plot and found myself getting emotional with the characters. Lexi Blake does such a fantastic job developing her characters throughout the series that I feel like I know them personally. I can't wait for the next installment. Please don't make us wait too long.