Show No Mercy (Black Ops, #1)

by Cindy Gerard

book data

99 ratings, 4.07 average rating, 27 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		34%
4		44%
3		16%
2		1%
1		3%

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published

September 23rd 2008 by Pocket

binding

Mass Market Paperback, 359 pages

characters

Gabriel Jones, Jenna McMillan

setting

Argentina

isbn

1416566724 (isbn13: 9781416566724)

description

The sexy heroes of Black Ops, Inc., a covert private security team, sizzle in New York Times bestselling author Cindy Gerard's electrifying new roman...more

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02/18/08

Auntee rated it:

bookshelves: gerard-black-ops, romantic-suspense

Read in September, 2008

recommends it for: Romantic Suspense fans

Hmmnn...how to begin? How about "I loved it!" This was a taut, action-packed read, with a hero and heroine I really liked.

We first met the H/H in a previous book called "Into The Dark". Although this book is technically the start of a new series (Black Ops series), do yourself a favor and make sure you read "Into the Dark" first, you'll understand the characters a whole lot more. I had read "Into the Dark", but it's been about a year, and I...more Hmmnn...how to begin? How about "I loved it!" This was a taut, action-packed read, with a hero and heroine I really liked.

We first met the H/H in a previous book called "Into The Dark". Although this book is technically the start of a new series (Black Ops series), do yourself a favor and make sure you read "Into the Dark" first, you'll understand the characters a whole lot more. I had read "Into the Dark", but it's been about a year, and I've read a lot of books since, so my memories were a little hazy. But the author does a pretty good job with getting you up to speed with the characters' backstory, so I suppose this could be read as a stand alone if you'd like.

I won't get into the plot--the book synopsis does a pretty good job of spelling it out. But I will say that Gabe Jones (the hero) is one sexy uber-alpha male! This guy will just break your heart! Wow, he carries around a load of hurt and guilt. He had to do something in his past that would just destroy a lesser man--you'll just want to grab him and hold him and make it all better! And feisty, stubborn Jenna is just the woman to take him on. Loved these two and the chemistry they had--they did the old love/hate thing very well. They have some scenes...whew! They even made a scene where Jenna shaves Gabe scorchingly hot!

I will say the ending surprised me a little. Something happens to Gabe that I didn't think would happen, and I loved how the author had the characters handle this little turn of events.

Since this is a new series, the author spends some time setting up future stories by introducing a bunch of interesting characters, some who have also made appearances in "Into The Dark". There is a romance that develops between two '40-something' characters that was left open-ended. I hope to read more about this couple.

If you like hot alpha men, strong heroines, and enjoy romantic suspense by authors like Cherry Adair, Suzanne Brockmann, or Marliss Melton, I'm sure you'll enjoy this exciting entry by the talented Cindy Gerard--4 1/2 stars!(less)

Like this review? yes (13 people liked it)

7 comments

02/02/08

Kathrynn rated it:

bookshelves: 2008, own, reviewed, romance-suspense, series-black_ops_gerard, theme-former_military

Read in October, 2008

recommends it for: People that have read the Bodyguard Series by this author

Thought this took awhile to get going, but once it did it became fast paced and hard to put down. I enjoyed reading about the secondary relationship that developed and would liked to have read more of their story than was in this book. Maybe they will still get their own story...

I think it needs to be said: This is a spin off from this author's Bodyguard Series AND the plot of this one is directly from the last book in that series. But, in order to understand that last book you ne...more

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11/17/08

Gina rated it:

bookshelves: action, adventure, military-journalism, military-romance, military-suspense, mystery, own, romantic-suspense, suspense

Read in February, 2009

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Incredible military-style action with mystery and a touch of romance… what more can a girl ask for?

The prologue opens with rundown of a military operation that happened in the past. You get an idea of what the group is about, what the characters are like, especially Gabe. As a soldier, you do what needs to be done, but you very rarely hear them when they grieve. And in that prologue, you feel Gabe’s pain.

Journalist Jenna McMillan is on her parents ranch, recouperating...more Incredible military-style action with mystery and a touch of romance… what more can a girl ask for?

The prologue opens with rundown of a military operation that happened in the past. You get an idea of what the group is about, what the characters are like, especially Gabe. As a soldier, you do what needs to be done, but you very rarely hear them when they grieve. And in that prologue, you feel Gabe’s pain.

Journalist Jenna McMillan is on her parents ranch, recouperating after an ordeal nine months earlier while on assignment in Buenos Aires. She had been taken, tortured… She hasn’t told anyone, not her parents, not her colleagues, not her parents, of what happened then, and she’s having a hard time dealing with it as it is. But while she’s trying to put it behind her, the memory of her rescuer, Gabriel Jones, keeps everything fresh, for even though they met briefly, they’d shared such a passionate kiss, that his memory won’t leave her alone. Her parents are worried about her; her boss wants her on another assignment - back in Buenos Aires. Can she do it? Can she find the courage she believes she lost nine months before? She can, she will, to prove that she can, and to see Gabe one more time.

Gabe couldn’t understand why billionaire Emilio Maxim hired “Black Ops, Inc.” when he had his own security detail. But they’d be requested, and why turned down the money. What he wasn’t counting on was seeing Jenna back in Buenos Aires, on the steps of the National Congress. The car that crashed into the building is wired to blow, and his only thought was getting to Jenna. Seems Jenna had managed, in that brief contact, to get under his skin. Trouble was, he didn’t want her there. His heart died when the woman he loved had been murdered a few years before by Erich Adler, right in front of him. He doesn’t deserve Jenna, and she can do better than him. He can’t give her what he wants, even if he aches to.

But there’s something going on. “BOI” had been requested specifically for this detail, specifically asked that Gabe be there. Jenna had been specifically requested to do this interview with Maxim, at the National Congress. The question is, why? And who? Maxim was being blackmailed and had no choice, but will they believe him when he tells them who it really is that wants them?

**Damn near UNPUTDOWNABLE! Military-style action from start to finish: everywhere you turn, someone or something is being shot at or blown up, and Gabe and Jenna are constanly running. And all while they’re trying to get to the bottom of what’s going on, Jenna is falling more in love with a man determined to send her packing once again. Gabe is feeling emotions he doesn’t want to be feeling, emotions he thought he killed and buried when Angelina died a few years before, and it’s scaring the daylights out of him.

I really liked Gabe. His inner battles, his struggles with himself, showed the kind of man he really was, even when most didn’t see below the surface.

Jenna … no matter how scared she was, she fought back. Watching her trying to figure out how to get under Gabe’s skin and stay there was a joy, even when he still turned her away.

I loved watching them argue and push each other. I have to admit, constant “lovey-dovey, so terribly sweet on each other” characters, make me sick. This, the banter, the pushing, pitting hero and heroine face-to-face… oh, I like that! LOL! I do have to admit, though, for all the tension and static between them, I found that the love scenes could have been hotter, maybe a little more intense and erotic. Don’t get me wrong, they were good, but they could have been HOT.

Some of the cute parts in the book made me sigh and tear up. In the middle of a gun fight and bombs, Gabe still manages to save Nugget, Jenna’s stuffed puppy. And just when she thought she’d lost Nugget for good, Gabe returns him. I thought it was the cutest thing. Another point I liked… usually, an ending for a book like this stops when the guy returns or chases the girl, confesses he loves her, proposes, yadda, yadda, yadda, happily-ever-after. This one, the ending went further, showing snippets of their life together. Now that… That is what I call a perfect ending. Do I recommend the book? You bet I do!(less)

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10/30/08

Holly rated it:

bookshelves: cindy-gerard

After a horrifying experience in Argentina, Jenna McMillan is determined to get right back into that saddle. She's been hiding out at her parent's home trying to recover and after a few days of soul searching, accepts a job to return to Argentina, face her fears and hopefully run into Gabe Jones. He helped save her from the hellhole she was in and before he sent her on her way home, he left her with the memory of the most fantastic kiss of her life. She's about to meet her contact in Buenos Aire...more After a horrifying experience in Argentina, Jenna McMillan is determined to get right back into that saddle. She's been hiding out at her parent's home trying to recover and after a few days of soul searching, accepts a job to return to Argentina, face her fears and hopefully run into Gabe Jones. He helped save her from the hellhole she was in and before he sent her on her way home, he left her with the memory of the most fantastic kiss of her life. She's about to meet her contact in Buenos Aires when an explosion goes off a split second after a reeking bum launched himself at her. That reeking bum turned out to be Gabriel and when he regains consciousness, he's less than pleased to see her again. It's one explosion or gunfight after another and Gabriel is determined to see her fine tail back on an airplane headed straight back for the States, until the men of Black Ops, Inc. realize that the target of that explosion was Jenna. Now he refuses to let her out of his sight as they both struggle to find the one known only as "El Diablo". When the psychotic killer targets both him and Jenna, Gabe literally fights his way to her while half dead. The killer is reenacting a past scenario, but this time Gabe is determined to change the past even if he has to sacrifice himself to do it.

I liked it. I have't read any of the other Bodyguard series books, most notably the last one, so I lost a bit in the reading of this book. Show No Mercy follows pretty closely on the heels of Into The Dark but it was okay. I might have been confused a moment or two, but I was able to follow along. There's a lot of players running around this book and not all of them are involved with the actual plot, which looks pretty intricate at first, but it quickly turns into a straight revenge tale. Alot of time is spent in the beginning half of the book setting up the new world of the Black Ops, Inc and the current mission. I'll admit it was a little boring at first (maybe because I hadn't read Into The Dark) but it picks up in the second half.

Gabe is alpha to the max but he seems to fly under the radar. He's not so much in-your-face, but more tired and weary as he heads up yet another mission that will save the world. He's getting more and more lost yet he refuses to see the beacon of light Jenna represents almost until it's too late. He's got that twisted logic that everything good around him dies so he tries to send Jenna away from him for her own good. Jenna was sweet and had a sarcastic wit that I liked. She was pretty pragmatic, too. She wants Gabe, wants to save him, but if it didn't work out, I didn't think she would have been too devastated. She fought for him as much as she could, but in her eyes there was only so much she could take before his stubborness was too much for her.

There was definitely more suspense and action than lovey dovey romance but it was fun and exciting and I enjoyed it. The second half of the book ran along almost non stop and it doesn't slow down until the end. Cindy Gerard already has some sequels planned out and she teases us with the possible beginnings of a few romances in this book. This was a great start to a new series and I can't wait for the next offering in the Black Ops books.(less)

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01/17/09

Sioux-Zann rated it:

It's been a long time since I've read a romance that was worth 5 stars. There are so many things I liked about this book, I hardly know where to begin.
#1 The heroine was not a wussy little nit-wit, nor was she Ms. Kick-Ass who is determined to compete with the guys and win. She was intelligent, feminine, well respected in her career field, brave and determined, and knew when to let the guy take the lead and when to put in her 2 cents.
#2 The hero was 100% alpha male, plus everything...more

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12/15/08

Wendy rated it:

bookshelves: modern-romance, para-military-romance

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in September, 2008

recommends it for: romance and adventure inthusiests

Loved this Book. Gabriel is so hot and Jenna is definatly his challenge. You will love his whole team and the way they treat Jenna. Check this one out.

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11/19/08

Laura rated it:

bookshelves: -ebook-, 2009, author-cindy-gerard, pbs-sent, romantic-suspense

Read in February, 2009

Cindy Gerard just proved again why she is on my "must get" list. I loved all the the Bodyguards books and this first book in the Black Ops series makes me think I am going to love them, too.
The first couple of chapters are a basic setup to the hero and heroine. A little background on Black Ops, Inc. and Gabe and background on who Jenna is. Once you get past this, the book speeds along! (I read this in a day--in amongst doing lots of other things, so it was a very fast read.) ...more

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10/08/08

Bookaholics rated it:

recommends it for: romantic suspense, military romance

Show No Mercy by Cindy Gerard

Mass paperback release date September 23, 2008
4 ½ stars

Non-stop action and fantastic characters kick start this new series into an explosive way.

Jenna McMillan is an ace-reporter suffering from a traumatizing rescue in Argentina. She is haunted by her abduction and disturbed by the memory of a sizzling kiss with her rescuer, Gabriel Jones. Feeling lost, she escapes to her family's ranch until she is convinced to return t...more

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05/23/09

Barbara rated it:

bookshelves: 2009, romance-marines-seals-cia

Read in June, 2009

Black Ops operative Gabe Jones is on an undercover assignment in Argentina searching for Erich Adler the mastermind behind child porn ring among other nasty things. Journalist Jenna McMillan is lured to Argentina to get an interview with bad guy Emilio Maxim. Gabe and Jenna join forces along with 6 other Black Ops guys to uncover the link between Adler and Maxim. Then the fun really starts.

The battle of wills between Gabe and Jenna is outrageous, hilarious and at last completely r...more

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03/22/09

Dina added it

bookshelves: romantic-suspense, wish-list

From Holly R:
'If you decide to read the first book in the BlackOps series, you should read Into the Dark, book six of CG's Bodyguards series first. The H/H meet in Into the Dark. The other couple from Into the Dark meet in To the Brink, book 3 of the Bodyguard series.
I read Show No Mercy first, because I thought it would be nice to start a new author who was creating a new series. Ha. I spent the first thirty minutes of SnM wondering what the heck was going on.'

**********...more

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01/05/09

SherryD rated it:

Read in January, 2009

recommends it for: romantic thriller/suspense

I would really like to give this book a 3 1/2 stars, although it didn't miss the fourth star by much. The characters were multi-dimensional and more important; the characters were written in such a way that you want to read more about this group of ex-OP guys and how their storys turn out. To a series addict like myself, that is an essential element.

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08/05/08

Anne rated it:

Read in October, 2008

I decided to start in the middle of the series with this one just to see if it was truly something that order didn't matter. Yes and No. The filling-in of the storyline was a bit annoying. It would have been more fun to start at the beginning of the series. Still, it was ok to start in the middle.

This book is Violent. I would not recommend it for the squeamish. It does serve as a decent platter from which to serve the story and character development. The character development ...more

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06/26/09

Selwick rated it:

I thought it ok. It just didn't do it for me, not like Cindy Gerard's Bodyguard series. There was some intriguing quality about that series that had me in awe. This was ok, but I'm sure any other Gerard fan will love it. 2/5 stars.

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01/11/09

Celeste rated it:

I'm really glad I decided to ry this author out. I loved Show No Mercy by Cindy Gerard. I read the entire thing in one night, I couldn't put it down. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of her books now!

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04/06/09

Stephanie Tyler rated it:

Read in April, 2009

I absolutely LOVED this book - I'm on deadline and still couldn't put it down. So much alpha male...so much angst...this one's a definite keeper for me.

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02/26/09

Rueyn rated it:

bookshelves: gamma-males, military-romance

Read in January, 2009

The action aspect of this series is what attracted me to it in the first place, and Gerard doesn’t disappoint! She is even better at this kind of writing as Christine Feehan, which is really saying something. I finished the first book of the series, Show No Mercy, and today I ordered the other books from the series. It looks like the series was almost a continuation from Gerard’s earlier books about E.D.E.N., Inc., so I will probably have a huge backlog to go through once I’ve exhausted my...more

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03/11/09

Regan rated it:

Read in March, 2009

With a great tie in to the E.D.E.N. series this has the looks of a graet series. I was thrilled to see Gabe's story after meeting him in Dallas and Amy's.

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05/17/09

Gail Fiorini rated it: