Books & Spoons review: TOO HARD TO HANDLE by Julie Ann Walker

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julie Ann Walker continues her red-hot Black Knights Inc. series in rough-and-tumble Peru

"The Man" is back
Dan "The Man" Currington is back in fighting form with a mission that takes him four thousand miles south of BKI headquarters, high in the Andes Mountains of Peru. He's hot on the trail of a rogue CIA agent selling classified government secrets to the highest bidder, when Penni DePaul arrives on the scene. Suddenly the stakes are higher, and keeping Penni safe becomes Dan's number one priority.

And this time she's ready
A lot has changed since former Secret Service Agent Penni DePaul last saw Dan. Now a civilian, she's excited about what the future might hold. But before she can grab onto that future with both hands, she has to tie up some loose ends-namely, Dan Currington, the man she just can't forget. And a secret that's going to change both their lives-if they can stay alive, that is.

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As a Black Knights Inc. fan, I was so excited to see that Dan is finally on his feet again, and getting his own story. He truly deserves all the happiness, with the great loss he suffered two years prior, when his wife was shot. The sorrow, pain and mourning that nearly destroyed Dan after the loss, was heartbreaking. And when he met Penni in a previous book in the series, I got so excited, and have been waiting for this story. And it didn't disappoint me!
The connection between Penni and Dan is so natural, sizzling, genuine and real. What they share is unique, and it all happens so fast, they only realize later on that there were some details about them and their lives, they might have wanted to share with each other early on. Everything is going so smoothly, they are so open and honest with each other, that when the conflict comes, it tore me apart as well. The issue between them is as real as their connection, and it was easy to understand both of their side's of the conflict, making it even more raw. But they do the work, and make the effort, with time, to find their own HEA.
The suspense in the story was intense at times. The action is close combat, bloody and scary, where no one is safe, and the outcome is uncertain.
Like always, the Black Knights Inc family loves to argue, spar, and bicker like no one else. It is fun, and brings light to the often dark side of their job. And Ozzie, oh, can't help but love him, and I can't wait until some woman makes him fall on his knees! Like typical with the series, there's already the next storyline stewing in the background, and it really puts a hook into the reader's mind. No, there's no cliffhanger ending, but through the story, there's little hints of what's to come in the future with the Knights.
A story filled with fast action, true heroes saving the day, and criminals ready to do anything to benefit their purpose, mixed with achingly beautiful, hot, second chance in life romance, a group of people who have created a family of heart, makes a tale that I didn't want to put down, and wasn't ready for it to end...
~ Five Spoons!