WILD RIDE is the ninth installment in Julie Ann Walker’s contemporary adult BLACK KNIGHTS INC romantic suspense/military, action series focusing on an elite group of ex Navy SEALS, FBI, CIA and military heroes headquartered at a custom motorcycle shop known as Black Knights Inc. The men and women of Black Knights Inc are so far under the radar that they are blacker than Black Ops. This is underground operator /computer hacker Ethan ‘ Ozzie’ Sykes, and journalist Samantha Tate’s story line. WILD RIDE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Ozzie has been present throughout most of the series but falls into trouble during FULL THROTTLE (BKI #7) wherein our story line hero almost lost his life during a rescue mission that went to h*ll.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Ozzie and Samantha) WILD RIDE follows journalist Samantha Tate as she endeavors to uncover the truth behind the Black Knights Inc connection to a local MC involved in a series of crimes and unsolved murders including an informant who went missing and was found dead. As Samantha struggles to gather information about the men of BKI, our heroine finds herself targeted by the same MC she has been hoping to expose. Enter Ozzie Sykes, the man who calls to Samantha’s heart, and the man who risks his life for a woman out to destroy his family and friends. What ensues is the building relationship between Ozzie and Samantha, and Samantha’s battle between her heart and her head.

Ozzie is a man used to rejection and losing Samantha was something Ozzie never expected the day she walked away without a backwards glance. Struggling with his slow healing injuries, unable to go out into the field as before, Ozzie finds himself at odds about his future and the woman that calls to his heart. Samantha Tate is determined to get her story; to uncover the truth about the secrets hidden behind the walls of BKI but a truth that when revealed is a secret that she must take to the grave.

The relationship between Samantha and Ozzie begins six years earlier when our heroine first lands a story about BKI. Fast forward to present day, and Samantha’s fascination with Ozzie is fractured when she believes he may be responsible for the death of her friend. The $ex scenes are intimate and seductive without the use of sexually graphic language and text.

A small number of the previous story line characters play secondary and supporting roles as most of the members of BKI are on assignment over seas. We are reintroduced to Becky, Michelle and Delilah, as well as newcomers former British SAS agent Christian, and one time CIA operative Emily Scott, BKI’s new secretary and the woman who may or may not have more than a passing interest in the former British intelligence agent. There is plenty of sexual tension between Christian and Emily, something not missed by the members of BKI.

WILD RIDE is a story of family, friendship, heartbreak and love. The premise is riveting and intense; the characters are charismatic and colorful; the romance is provocative and emotional. WILD RIDE is awash in 80s pop culture from song lyrics to movie line quotes making for a ‘wild ride’ into the past as Ozzie and Samantha banter back and forth making for some humorous moments.

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Ethan “Ozzie” Sykes has long been the guy who kept everything light within BKI, as long as you were an 80’s music fan. Now he’s stuck behind while the rest of the crew runs missions, waiting for his injury to heal, and he’s not happy about it. He’s also been tasked with keeping an eye on reporter Samantha Tate.

Samantha has been trying to get the scoop on BKI for years. She’s sure there is more to the motorcycle shop than there appears. A new lead has her looking once more at the shop for nefarious acts, only this time she might be closer to danger than she anticipated.

Samantha is a good reporter, and this time her search for information has landed her in hot water. She has a hard time believing that the men she has spent so much time around are into the things she has heard, and for the first time she isn’t sure who to trust.

Ozzie’s interest in the pretty reporter has been sidelined, because having a reporter in the shop is a bad idea. But when she finds herself in real danger, he has little choice but to keep her close, but keep her distracted. Too bad that distraction is as much for him as it is for her.

These two were so much fun to read. Ozzie is not happy at being left back at headquarters. But watching him skate around Samantha and try to get her to trust him again was just so entertaining. He has a way about him that makes it difficult to take things too seriously, even when danger is high.

As the twists and turns in this story were revealed, I couldn’t help but be pulled back into the BKI world. I loved watching Ozzie and Christian try to figure out how to handle the threats while keeping Samantha in the dark, and loved Ozzie’s self-realization about the feelings he had for Samantha. There isn’t a lot of outside play from the other members of BKI, but the wives are present to watch (and razz) Ozzie as he tries to keep a lid on things around Samantha. Though the danger was high throughout, there was a lightness here that isn’t always in these books, and I think it is solely due to Ozzie’s normally light hearted self.

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wild Ride continues to be one of my favorite series. Julie Ann Walker has this great ability to create fun, exciting, and courageous characters. The members of Black Knights, Inc. are nothing like members of any other team. Nor should they be considering that they use a motorcycle shop as a cover for an elite covert unit that operates under the direction of the President of the United States. In this book, we focus on team member Ethan “Ozzie” Sykes who has been sidelined while recovering from a leg injury that occurred during a bombing. More importantly, over the past six years, Ozzie has been in charge of keeping a nosy investigative reporter named Samantha Tate from finding out what they really do at the motorcycle shop. Consequently, Ozzie has been feeding her false information and spending a lot of time with her to the extent that they have become good friends.

As is usually the case, Ozzie’s deception eventually comes back to bite him when Samantha mistakenly believes that Ozzie and the Black Knights have something to do with the death of her informant. Attempts on Samantha’s life force Ozzie into action to protect her while at the same time trying not to blow his own cover and that of his teammates. The close proximity makes it difficult for either of them to hide their sexual attraction to each other so they end up between the sheets and can’t get enough of each other. The only problem is that they both are interested in pursuing a relationship although neither of them believes the other is interested in anything long term. This allows for us to see the chinks in Ozzie’s armor and recognize that his prior history of losing people has made it hard for him to feel he is worthy of love. On the other hand, Samantha appears to have her blinders on when it comes to Ozzie so she reads him all wrong.

There is another factor in Wild Ride and series that I found to be the most appealing. It’s the members of the Black Knights and their significant others. They represent a really great team and are the epitome of a true family. They may take jabs at each other but they aren’t afraid to demonstrate how much they love each other and are loyal to a fault. The women are tough but still remain feminine. They are smart and unapologetic. There is something about them that makes you want to root for them and hold your breath when they end up in a life or death situation which happens a lot. I look forward to seeing what happens next.

Finally in "Wild Ride" we see Ozzie front and center. I have been a longtime fan of the BKI group and couldn't wait to see Ethan 'Ozzie' Skyes get his story. The geeky, always smiling, always funny, always flirting, sexy Ozzie. I enjoyed the depths we got to see in Ozzie's story and how his life has evolved. He meets his match in Samantha, the woman that works for the newspaper. The action was fast and furious, the intimate moments hot, and the background we see on Ozzie is just not what I expected. It was better. Although many of the BKI group were on a mission, we did get to see a lot of familiar people a part of this one. The women of BKI are just as much a part of it all as the men. Although a standalone, you will want to catch up to any ones you might have missed. I can't wait for the next one. I would like to thank NetGalley and Sourcebooks for gifting me "Wild Ride". My opinion is my own. This is mine 4.75 Stars!

Julie Ann Walker finally gives fans the book they have been waiting impatiently for featuring beloved hero Ethan “Ozzie” Sykes. Wild Ride is well, a Wild Ride from start to finish. Ozzie has always been the sarcastic, funny guy with a heart of gold. He has appealed to me and many others since the beginning of the Black Knight’s Inc. series. Wild Ride is book nine so it’s been a bit of a wait and well worth it. Reporter Samantha Tate is the perfect woman to wrangle Ozzie and steal his heart. I love books where the hero and heroine have chemistry in the bedroom and these two do but what I like more is their humorous yet serious banter.

Ozzie and Samantha are both dedicated to their jobs and unfortunately that puts them at odds since Ozzie is supposed to keep Samantha from discovering the real work Black Knight’s Inc. does. Thankfully, life sometimes forces people to confront their feelings and evaluate what is important in life.

Samantha is hysterically funny at the beginning when she…I don’t want to give anything away so I will just say she is electrifyingly determined to save her own butt. Ms. Walker knows how to throw her characters into a serious situation and make it funny without losing the intensity in Wild Ride.

The suspense plot in Wild Ride is great but the exploration of Ozzie and Samantha’s interpersonal relationship steals the show. Wild Ride has the right stuff! Wild Ride is a hold on to the seat of your pants and your heart read! Walker can always be counted on to keep you entertained throughout her books and keep you coming back for more. Nine books down in the Black Knight’s Inc. series and I for one am looking forward to more.

Wild Ride is my first Black Knights Inc. book (9th in the BKI series) but not knowing the past stories of this rugged, iconoclastic band of brothers and sisters was never a barrier. Julie Ann Walker weaves in just enough back-story to clarify why underground operator, former Navy SEAL, Ethan “Ozzie” Sykes is between a rock and a hard place in his relationship with passionate, persistent Chicago Tribune reporter Samantha Tate.

First things first—Ozzie is “both beautiful and masculine.” Samantha draws on her journalistic chops to paint a compelling word picture of her friend.

Combine his mug with his boyish, flyaway blond hair, his half grin, and the kind of loose-hipped swagger that could only be pulled off by the supremely fit, and what you ended up with was the whole package. We’re talking the kind of package seen on the silver screen. The kind of package that—Oh, no he didn’t. As if he’d read her mind, he reached down and adjusted his package as he strolled past a table full of coeds.

A little bit Charlie Hunnam, a little bit Ryan Gosling—Whoa Nelly! Samantha and Ozzie have been friends but not friends with benefit for years. Initially, when she came sniffing around “Black Knights Inc., the covert government defense firm disguised as a custom motorcycle shop,” Ozzie was tapped to deflect her from unmasking BKI’s secrets. Easier said than done, because even though Samantha knows that boys are a distraction—hey, she has scoops to uncover, Pulitzer winning stories to write—it gets harder as the years go by.

There’s a bump on the road when Samantha—for good reason—thinks Ozzie is playing for the bad guys. She seethes when she watches him flirt with a gal in a pool hall.

Even though he was a lying criminal asshole, Samantha felt jealousy bubble in her guts, all green and gross and altogether obnoxious. But it’s not for this Ozzie, she assured herself. It’s for the Ozzie I thought he was.

Fake Ozzie was wonderful. Fake Ozzie had walked around Lincoln Park Zoo with his face painted like a lion because they had passed the kiddie station and she had dared him to have it done. Fake Ozzie had hired a singing stripper telegram to stop by her apartment the morning of her birthday.

Life gets real, real fast, though, for the two friends: Samantha pulls a tazer on Ozzie, the vicious Basilisk motorcycle gang has Samantha in their ugly sights as she gets close to exposing their gun-running scheme, Samantha’s informant is shot—the merde definitely hits the fan. Ozzie and the police (who vouch for his good-guy status) convince Samantha that she’s at risk, and that she needs a bodyguard.

Samantha is behind the walls of BKI, at last. Staying alive is not her biggest problem though. Being with Ozzie 24/7 is not easy. Ozzie is one gorgeous geek, capable of riffing on Star Trek, Star Wars, and Doctor Who.

“Which Doctor? There have been twelve, you realize, with some others thrown in for fun and confusion.” He started talking faster. “For instance, I think David Tennant absolutely rocked the role. I mean, did you see the episode where he was inconsolable after the Master’s death? Just perfection. But ultimately, I think Matt Smith played the best Doctor because he was able to combine Who’s childlike energy with his darker side, and… Oh my God. I just revealed my über-geek status, didn’t I?”

Riffs like that don’t distract entirely from the danger that threatens Samantha, but isn’t it better to face evil while you’re “grinning like a goof?” And Ozzie distracts in another way too. Samantha finally, reluctantly, asks Ozzie why he never touches her. The answer: “Because if I started, I’d never want to stop,” has Samantha launching herself at him.

The minute Samantha’s mouth touched Ozzie’s, she was completely obliterated. His lips were hotter than dynamite, and the first slick glide of his tongue between her teeth was an atomic blast that sent wave after wave of molten fire through her body.

No time for hesitation or “tentative exploration.” Ozzie and Samantha are a hot, carnal couple who make up, very quickly, for a lot of lost time but they both have secrets, especially Ozzie. How Samantha follows her journalistic instincts, how Ozzie protects her and BKI, is a fast-paced, fascinating story. Samantha is never TSTL, Ozzie never turns Neanderthal: they’re a fabulous couple.

Best thing with a great series—who’s up next—like shaken-not-stirred Brit Christian Watson and Chicago home-girl/BKI boss Emily Scott. Can’t wait for their story in Hot Pursuit.

With the majority of the BKI crew out on missions, this one truly becomes Ozzie’s book – and well worth the wait for this handsome geek to get his story told. Samantha has been on the edge of the Black Knights for years. A determined reporter, she got the gut instinct that tells her that BKI is far more than everyone is letting on. So far her questions have gone unanswered, but now she’s hot on a story that puts a MC dealing guns to possible terrorists, and while she doesn’t want to believe BKI is involved – it’s still a story that she’s going to follow. Which puts her right in the cross-hairs of some very nasty people.

Ozzie may be sidelined, recovering from a serious injury from the previous mission, but that doesn’t mean he’s down and out. Sam has wound her way into his affections, heck maybe she’s even got a part of his heart already – but she’s at the least a friend, if a pesky, nosy one and no one messes with friends.

I believe everyone who’s followed the Black Knights, Inc series has been waiting for Ozzie’s story – and in Wild Ride, did we ever get the perfect story for him. There’s more to Ozzie than meets the eye or even more than we might have suspected over time. Emotions will run high, the tensions from inside and outside situations will finally bring Ozzie to his lady – even if she might just be the most dangerous (emotionally to him) person he’s ever dealt with. They both have issues, they certainly make mistakes and assumptions that make what they’re facing even more troublesome… but in the end their attraction for each other will finally take flight, and what a ride that will be.

I completely enjoyed Wild Ride. It’s fun and sexy, dangerous and full of tensions, as well as adding a few new faces around the shop. Although each story in this series could be read as a stand alone title, it’s far, far better as a series followed from start to… where we are now. I would not hesitate to recommend this story or the entire series to any reader who enjoys suspense, danger, sexual tensions, finding that perfect for you partner and the tight knit community that this series provides. It is indeed a wild ride, one you will not want to miss

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

FINALLY!!! We get Ozzie in all his sexy, geeky, nerdy glory and I absolutely LOVED IT!!! Wild Ride is full of action, drama, laughs, hot chemistry, 80’s hair band music and the BKI women we all love!

Samantha and Ozzie are perfect for each other, well except for the fact he is a member of a super, super, secret, secret agency and she is a nosey reporter looking for a story. Samantha suspects there is more to BKI than meets the eye and in the midst of snooping she uncovers something that puts her life in danger. Ozzie steps in to protect her and that is when the sizzling chemistry between them explodes.

The road to Ozzie and Samantha’s HEA is a long one full of mistrust, secrets, danger, passion and love. Along the road you will see some much loved characters from previous books who add laughter and help Ozzie and Samantha maneuver their slippery and bumpy trip. A trip you definitely want to travel if you love romantic suspense!

4.5 "as you wish" stars

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!

My 4.5 star review is up on Goodreads and will be posted on blog and social media upon release and links will be updated below at that time.

4.5 stars
It is finally Ozzie's book! He has been a stand out in many of the BKI books as the team computer hacker, and we have recently seen him get injured. He is still dealing with some of the after effects of that ill fated mission and his injury.

He was supposed to avoid Samantha Tate...they all were. She is a pesky reporter who has been after a story about the secrets of BKI for years. But while recuperating, Ozzie finds himself enjoying spending more time with her. She has the ability to make him laugh and stimulate him. They are friends, but he has so many secrets...not only about BKI, but also about how he feels about her.

But Samantha's search for information gets her into a big mess. One that makes her question Ozzie even more. But at the same time, he seems to be her self appointed protector. She finds herself staying at the BKI shop...close to Ozzie. During the building of their friendship neither ever mentioned trying for more, but in their minds they are stripping each other naked and having some fun. And being in close quarters will not help that situation.

Ozzie...he's built, hot, and charming, but he's also highly intelligent and a sci-fi geek. He's got a big heart, great sense of humor, and a strong protective streak. He is just irresistible and I adored him. But he's also been in a funk since his injury and feeling useless and restless. He would fall into periods of guilt, remorse, and self pity. But Samantha was starting to help him move on. Her sassy, stubborn, personality and intellectual stimulation hooked him and he was starting to have an inkling of hope. And her needing help and protection gave him new purpose.

I loved seeing Ozzie realize he actually liked her, cared for her, and wanted her. He was formerly known as a player, but due to recent circumstances, he does not feel like playing anymore. They have smoking hot chemistry, but Ozzie also has guilt since he has so many secrets. So it's a bad situation. Ozzie is too good of a guy to want to hurt her when he can't share his secret life and risk that the reporter in her won't be able to resist the big scoop of BKI's hidden agenda. But he is also scared of rejection. My heart just hurt for him when his vulnerability showed. Samantha has her own fears and they are not helped by his mixed signals. These two are not the best at communicating and tend to jump to conclusions and get their feelings hurt. Their only chance would require truth, trust, and a leap of faith.

We get to spend more time with a couple of newer BKI members. Christian is a fashionable, sarcastic, ex-member of SAS, Brit who drives a sports car instead of a motorcycle. And Emily is the new secretary who used to work for the CIA. She is snarky and feisty and loves to ruffle Christian's feathers. There is so much sexual tension underlying their sparring that they were scene stealers. Other BKI family featured in this one were Delilah, Becky, and Michelle. Most of the guys were away on missions, but I liked having Ozzie, Christian, and the women dealing with the situations in this one.

This is more about a dangerous problem closer to home as Samantha has ticked off the wrong people and stirred up trouble. Ozzie and Christian have to work with the police to help keep her safe and try to delve into the layers of dirty dealings. It was funny, sexy, suspenseful, and fast-paced. I think this might be my fave BKI book yet, and I am sure that Ozzie is my favorite hero.

I'm late to the game on this series... not because I was not interested but because I haven't had time to add the 8 previous books to my reading calendar. I finally decided to jump in with the current release and read the stories out of order (even though that drives my reading OCD a little bonkers). So while I don't have the backstory of Black Knights Inc. (BKI), I managed to get through Wild Ride without feeling too lost or uninformed. If you have not read the earlier books and want to jump in and test the waters with this book, I think you will be fine.

From what I understand, BKI is a group of covert operatives working as a strike force directly for the White House and Joint Chiefs of Staff. Based in Chicago, the group runs a custom motorcycle shop as a cover for their clandestine government activity. In this installment, most of the team is away overseas on a mission, so I only "met" two team members and some of their wives.

Our hero is Ethan "Ozzie" Sykes, a charming ladies man and tech genius. I really liked this hero. He was fun and flirty, but with a good dose of vulnerability that made me want to hug him and pet him and squeeze him... and love him forever. I don't know how much of Ozzie's backstory was given in the earlier books, but I do believe his injury by IED was a major event. Now Ozzie is scarred and in pain, and feeling down in the dumps with the state of his personal and professional life. But no matter his inner turmoil, Ozzie learned from a young age to be outwardly charming, particularly to women. My heart ached for Ethan, the child, and I understood how his early life has had lasting affects for Ozzie, the man.

Samantha Tate is an investigative reporter always looking for the truth and the next big story. I admit that I groaned when I realized our heroine was a reporter... I don't typically enjoy reading reporter heroines as they always seem more concerned with their story than the people, and jump to the wrong conclusion way too often. So I had some bias against our heroine, and her actions early in Wild Ride did not endear her to me. Luckily, she had her come-to-Jesus moment early on and her characters smoothed out a bit after that. I won't say that I ever fully liked her, but she was tolerable after we got past her first mistake.

I can't say that the relationship between these two was instalove, because they have been hanging out as friends for a few months. All of that activity pre-dates this story, so I am not sure how much of it appeared in earlier books. So this is somewhat of a friends-to-lovers romance, but I would be hesitant to call Samantha a "friend" of Ozzie when she suspected him of being a criminal for the duration of their friendship. I did enjoy the banter between the couple, and the suspense plot. The humor and banter contrasted to the suspense to give this book a lighter feel than I was expecting from a romantic suspense story. The danger was not overblown or extreme, as the focus was more on building the relationship than a sense of impending doom.

Overall, I enjoyed this story and the concept of the series. I am definitely interested enough to go back and read the earlier books (as soon as I can fit them in). I recommend this to readers who enjoy a lighter romantic suspense, or fun and flirty heroes. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca.

***4.5 ‘Team Ozzie’ Stars***

Yes. I am one of those that has been DYING for Ozzie’s book.. DYING. He’s been my absolute favorite BKI operative since the first book and to be absolutely honest, the entire reason I’ve kept up with the series and I wasn’t disappointed. Wild Ride was fun, fast paced read with a good dose of smexyness, humor and heart.

As you can see I’ve adored Ozzie from the beginning. He’s that rare mix of goofy, geeky goodness and intense, smexy, protective alpha male that have seriously had my ovaries bursting to procreate with the man. And in this book we still get all of that, but there is a thread of self doubt that has him questioning his future and has the ghosts of his past haunting him. And though I wanted to shake some sense into him, I also wanted to hug him and tell him everything would be okay in the end.

It was hard not to like Samantha. The woman is tenacious and you have to respect her pitbull nature, which does serve her well as a reporter. But though the woman can be a tad bit irritating with her determination she has a code of honor and a compassionate heart. It took me a bit to truly warm up to Samantha, but once she got a few things straightened out she really started to grow on me. I loved her quick wit and humor and how her quest for the truth didn’t override the well being of others.

Ozzie and Samantha’s journey to their HEA was a long time in the making and was easy to see why they were so good together. Their bantering was fun and witty and I loved how they respected and enjoyed each other’s quirks and the sexual chemistry between them was intense. Their assumptions about what the other wanted drove me batshit crazy, though it was understandable considering what Ozzie couldn’t tell her about himself. Thankfully some of the BKI peeps step in and help get them sorted and I loved how they finally came together.

This was a fun read, quick read. The suspense part of the story was well done and I liked how it brought Ozzie and Samantha closer together. What I’ve always enjoyed about the BKI series is the family feel of it and though most of the guys are not apart of the main story, the ones who were kicked ass and I loved catching up with them and the roles they played in the story. I also liked getting to spend more time with Christian and cannot wait for his book to come out, though I can’t say I’m disappointed in anyway that Dagan’s book is up next!

**4.5 Stars**

I’ve been out of the BKI gang since the second book and jumping in to Wild Ride reminded me of how much I love Walker’s writing and it made me regret having not kept up with this series. This book had a great suspenseful element that married perfectly with a budding, sexy romance. I couldn’t have asked for a more fun or sexy novel than I got with this one.

Ozzie and Samantha were so very fun to read. They had such animosity between one another in the beginning due to career choice and circumstance that it became the seed that blossomed into this powerfully strong romance. I think what I enjoyed the most was Samantha, though. She was so hungry for success, but inherently blind to truth. As a journalist one could see where that would hurt her, but it just went to show how driven she was to become something. And when she was wrong, she wasn’t afraid to be graceful in her way to fix the mistakes she made and admit to it. It was impossible not to become enamored by her strong character, and how that made her so endearing to Ozzie. As a man so used to his life, taken down by injury and struggling to overcome both the physical and emotional aspects, I adored how raw he was. Walker blended masculinity and vulnerability so well with him and I fell for him in every way. They had fantastic banter and humor that came across so easily on the pages and that created a great romantic connection on its own.

Walker’s writing and perspective are refreshing and enjoyable to read. I read this book with such ease and speed because I couldn’t–didn’t want to–put it down. If you’ve never read this series before, you can start here, but be prepared to need to read the rest of the series because you’ll want to know every BKI guy. Wild Ride was just that: a wild ride. It wove a sexy love story with suspense and sprinkled in great wit and playfulness in order to make an amazingly well-rounded novel. I can’t wait to go back to read the ones I haven’t read and read the new ones as they come out.

Readers of this series have been waiting for this book for a while. Julie Ann Walker has kept us guessing about who Ethan "Ozzie" Sykes really is. Turns out there is much i didn't know about Ozzie. To start with how he got the knickname "Ozzie". He's always been just Ozzie. Didn't think about how he got to be Ozzie. He seems like such a easy going fun loving guy. Since his leg was seriously injured in a previous mission he's not sure if he can do the job he's always done for the BKI team anymore. Questioning his worth it's hard to keep up that fun loving front. Samantha Tate is the feisty and curious reporter for the Chicago Tribune that has appeared in previous books. Ozzie has always been tasked with distracting her when needed from what the real mission of the BKI team does. There is a lot going on in this story. Samantha has badies gunning for her and this kicks Ozzie into gear. Ozzie and Samantha sizzle together but there are so many conflicts for poor Ozzie. Doubts and misunderstandings between the two don't help. They trust each other with everything but their hearts. It was awesome to learn how badass Ozzie is. How serious he can be when his heart is involved and how vulnerable he is after everything he's been through. Both Ozzie and Samantha do whatever is needed for each other and still can't see that they love each other. Beautiful, exciting and heartbreaking at times Julie Ann Walker makes Ozzie live up to the hype. The only thing i was hoping to see and didn't was the other BKI guys. I had hoped some would show up in the end. It was great seeing some of the BKI ladies and of course Christian and the chemistry between him and Emily was fun. I think a little of my heart belongs to Ozzie. Hope Samantha will share.

Find out more about this series and Julie Ann Walker here www.julieannwalker.com

'Wild Ride' by Julie Ann Walker is book Nine in the "Black Knights Inc." series. This is the story of Ethan "Ozzie" Sykes and Samantha Tate. I have not yet read the other books in this series so for me this was a standalone book.
The Black Knights are a team of people actually working for the Government but only a few Government people know about them. Ozzie is one of the members and he knows that things have to be kept secret. But when Sam starts to looking around for information it ends up putting her in danger and that doesn't leave Ozzie many options.
This was an exciting, drama filled romance that was hard to put down!
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Black Knights, Inc is a custom motorcycle shop that is also a cover for undercover ops. They have created their own family within this group.

Ethan “Ozzie” Sykes is the IT genius/hacker extraordinaire of the group. On his last mission, an IED exploded and took parts of his leg with it. He’s still recovering. Ozzie’s mom committed suicide from post partum depression when he was 4. Growing up, there were lots of “moms” in and out of his life, but none stayed. Once he was an adult, many women came and went, but again, none stayed. Because of this, Ozzie has a sense of abandonment and unworthiness. Now he’s also worried about his place on the team because he will no longer be able to do field work. He struggles with self-esteem and poor pitiful me issues.

Samantha Tate is a reporter for the Chicago Tribune. She just knows there is more to the custom motorcycle shop than meets the eye and has been trying to get an interview and into the shop for years. Ozzie has struck up a friendship with her to keep her distracted. Or as he says, “I treat her like a mushroom. I keep her in the dark and feed her shit.“ Samantha’s dad’s murder is unsolved. She became a reporter to expose crime and bring justice.

When Samantha’s life is threatened, Ozzie steps up to protect her. Since most of their team is off on an op, he takes her back to the shop. Much to the chagrin of the wives and girlfriends there.

The true MC gang characters were evil, creepy and made my skin crawl. I could smell the foul breath the author described.

There are LOTS of LOL moments. A couple of my favorites:
“But you can’t put flowers in an asshole and call it a vase.”
“You, sir, are the reason the gene pool needs a lifeguard.”

I loved Christian and Emily. Especially Christian’s cockney. I really want to read their story.

SPOILER:
I had a couple problems with the story.
First, I find it unrealistic that the President would take time out of his busy day to video chat to explain the covert operations going on in the shop, let alone take a gigantic chance a reporter may expose them.
Second, the President tears open a bag of gummy bears with his teeth and shakes a few into his mouth during this chat? Seriously? I’m sure this was supposed to be funny, but it fell flat.

The author has a penchant for hyphenated phrases and run together words that is distracting and at times grating. This is not the best book in the series but a pleasant enough way to pass a few hours.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley.

I liked the premise of the book and the characters.
I think the reader would get more enjoyment if they read the others in the series.
Ozzie and Samantha's relationship started slow but quickly built to another level.
Overall I enjoyed the book but wished I would have read the others in the series

I feel like I have been waiting forever for Ozzie's book. Ozzie is the hot guy with the panty melting smile. When he was injured in the last book, I was wondering if we would forever find a changed Ozzie. The new Ozzie is definitely a little darker, but still the same loveable guy underneath it all and the person who brings the old Ozzie back is Samantha. The reporter that Ozzie has been friends with for a while. When Samantha finds herself in trouble, Ozzie will stop at nothing to protect her.

I loved this book because Ozzie is a guy who we have seen with a smile and a quick joke all of the time. Now we learn why he is that way. The loss that Ozzie has had in his life and what he is truly searching for. I loved seeing all of these layers to Ozzie and knowing that he's still our loveable goofball with a lot of vulnerability and such a good guy. I loved watching Samantha realize her love for Ozzie. She is a kick butt heroine and perfectly suited for Ozzie. Loved these two together. Another great Black Knights book!

While I love this series, this one wasn't my favorite. I didn't feel as invested in the characters as I have in the past so there was a lack of connection to the story for me.

I loved visiting with characters from previous books and am really looking forward to the next one.