The Hacker

The Consultants #2

by Nancy Herkness

When a personal trainer and a computer genius are caught in the dark web, there’s a lot to fear and a love to fight for in a heart-racing novel by Nancy Herkness, award-winning author of The Money Man.

Dawn Galioto is an expert in self-defense and the most in-demand personal trainer at her Jersey gym—a perfect position for a woman fighting her way out of a troubled past and the anxieties that come with it. Then, after complaints about baffling Wi-Fi glitches at the gym, Dawn calls in disarmingly hot, high-powered computer consultant Leland Rockwell. If she can trust anyone to fix her on-the-job problems, it’s Leland. As for healing her off-hours fears, time will tell.

The cybersecurity genius of KRG, Leland sees a lot to admire in Dawn. She’s strong, quick-witted, and sexy. And something of a puzzle—one Leland wants very much to solve. If only she’d let him. Every new reveal brings him intimately closer to Dawn, but there’s another, more dangerous riddle to decipher. After going undercover to solve her Wi-Fi problem, Leland’s found a dark workplace secret. As Dawn’s past threatens a burgeoning romance, the deepening mystery they’re discovering threatens their lives.

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Suspense, New Adult

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 4, 2020

About the author

Nancy Herkness is the award-winning, best-selling author of contemporary romance for readers who love richly developed characters and an immersive reading experience. Meet the wealthy, powerful alpha heroes who need down-to-earth women to show them how to find soul-deep love and pulse-racing passion. Nancy’s vivid writing brings to life settings both elegant and homey, while making her flawed but fascinating characters leap off the page and into your heart. Savor the thrill of falling in love by diving into one of Nancy’s books.

Author of the Royal Caleva, Consultants, Wager of Hearts, and Whisper Horse series, as well as several other contemporary romance novels, Nancy has sold over a million books. She is also a two-time nominee for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA® award.

Nancy has received many honors for her work, including the Book Buyers Best Top Pick, the New England Readers’ Choice award, and the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award. She graduated from Princeton University with a degree in English literature and creative writing.

A native of West Virginia, Nancy now lives twelve miles west of the Lincoln Tunnel in suburban New Jersey with two tabby cats.

For more information about Nancy and her books, visit www.NancyHerkness.com. Sign up for her monthly newsletter—and get a free novella—at: http://www.nancyherkness.com/newsletter/

Social media links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nancyherkness
BookBub author: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/nancy...
Amazon author: https://amazon.com/stores/author/B001...

Reviews

[Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good romantic suspense!



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙❤️💜💚💖
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌏🌍
Character development: 😊😘😟🙃🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Solo Narration

The heroine: Nancy - she has been a personal trainer for six years. She is very good at her job and is in high demand at the gym where she works. She has a ton of baggage from an incident in her past, which prevents her from having many friends, but she does have a few really good friends like Alice and Ramon, the owner of the gym.

The Hero: Leland Rockwell - he is one of those few, rare sexy hot geeks. He is an expert in cybersecurity and one of the best in his field. He is one of the owners of KRG Consulting, along with Derek, the fiancé of Dawn’s friend Alice. He grew up with money and his intelligence intimidated Dawn the first few times they met at parties. He was focused on his work to keep his mind off the loss of his mother three months ago.

The Story: When the WiFi at the gym started having problems and none of the people, they had in to fix it were successful. Leland expected that it would only take him a few minutes to fix the WiFi problem, but he was interested in Dawn the few times he had met her, though she didn’t seem to return his interest. Though when they started trading emails, they both had some fun with it.

I liked the mystery in this story. Both main characters knew something shady was going on with the WiFi, especially after they figured out that the network at the gym was somehow stealing data usage from its members despite the fact that they were connected to the gym WiFi. The characters were interesting and engaging. The intimate scenes were nice and steamy.

This audiobook was done in Dawn’s point of view via solo narration. It was narrated by Maxine Mitchell who has a great voice and always does a terrific job. Her voice is clear, and she is really good at showing emotion through her voice, especially anxiety. I wish this was done via dual or duet narration with a male narrator also, but it was still good.

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[Syndi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmmm.... I remember I like the first book on this series. The Hacker fails me. I only find half of the beginning is interesting. Then everything went downhill.

Dawn is a type of heroine who wants to be tough and strong but fails. She came out as heroine who knows it all and annoying. Bossy dan demanding. The chemistry between the characters only sizzle at the beginning then it tirns cold.

Leland as a mysterious hero only in exists in the background.

Overall I only enjoy the first half of this book.

3 stars

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐
I like this author's writing quite a lot....I just found this particular book to be lacking a little... both in terms of romance and also suspense.

So for me ....an okay read with likable characters...mostly an enjoyable read but I wanted more!

It seemed to me that it needed more romance or more suspense....personally ....I would have taken either.

ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Radd Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Thoughts:
The following are my thoughts about this book:
General:
- Trigger warning-sexual abuse. h was attacked by 3 men when in college. No justice for the attack.
- Audio: I listened to some of it on audio and it was narrated only by a female voice. Still not my favorite when a female narrator tries to be a man’s voice in the story, so I wasn’t a fan of the audio.

Characters:
- Leland (late 20’s (I think) partner at KRG Consulting and a computer genius): I liked Leland as the Hero. He was a workaholic, hot, computer geek who had the stereotypical nerdy look 🤓. He was deeply impacted by the loss of his mother three months ago, so he had some grief that he hadn’t fully worked through. Raised by a single mother, not much $$ in his childhood. Seeing as his mother was gone, his constant need to prove himself to her felt a bit odd.

- Dawn (mid-twenties (I think), personal trainer): I liked Dawn, but she didn’t “wow” me. She was this strong woman who survived an attack, but sometimes she felt weak. Maybe it was a lack of confidence or unresolved anxiety from the attack, but whatever it was I felt there was a disconnect between words used to describe her and her actions.

- Together: Leland and Dawn worked well together. I thought they had chemistry and steam. I just wish they would have communicated rather than second guessed each other’s actions to try to understand how they felt about each other. Not much angst or drama with them.

The story:
- Overall, I thought the story started out intriguing but ended up underwhelming me. I was really hoping for an unusual twist but it was obvious from the beginning who the culprit was, so the big reveal that happened at the end of the book was no surprise.

Nitpicks:,
- Throughout the entire story Dawn was touted as this amazing self-defense expert. So I absolutely knew there was going to be a confrontation somewhere in the book where she was going to be able to show off her skills. However, when that point of the story came, she ran away and jumped in a pool. Wah wah 😏 I was really looking forward to her kicking some ass and showing off what she could do, so this aspect was a big disappointment.
- As I mentioned, there was no surprise as to who the guilty party was. Once again this was a bit of a letdown for me and I would’ve liked to have seen a big unexpected twist
- I didn’t like how Dawn saw Leland’s money as a potential obstacle. He’s rich, she wasn’t, so what.
- The insecurity about their relationships and the I love you’s so late in the book was not my favorite.

Summary:
- Do you need to read previous books in series?: no
- POV: mostly from Dawn’s POV, but you do get Leland’s here and there
- H likable? Yes
- h likable? Yes
- h virgin? no
- First time they kiss: 33%
- First time they sleep together: 35%
- First time they say I Love You 96%
- steamy? Yes
- OW/OM drama? no
- H/h cheat? no
- Did I skip pages? No
- Big secrets? yes. Something happened to Dawn. It wasn’t fully known to the reader (although I had a pretty good idea) until she revealed it to Leland at 59%
- Did I cry? no
- Did I laugh? no
- Cliffhanger? no
- HEA? yes
- Epilogue? 6 months later

Quotes
Mr. Southern Charm could probably talk a state trooper out of giving him a ticket after being clocked at a hundred miles per hour on the New Jersey Turnpike.

He was rich and famous for his tech genius on an international level; she worked as a personal trainer in a Jersey gym. He had the elegance of a southern aristocrat; she was pure peasant Italian.

[Mindy Lou's Book Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dawn is a fitness instructor in the local gym. She helped Alice in the first book to learn self defense that ultimitely saved her life when things got a little dicey for Alice and Derek. Leland is partnered with Derek and Tully in their Accounting firm, who also happens to be very talented with computers.

When the customers at the gym start complaining about the wifi service at the gym, Alice got Leland involved to help Dawn get the issue figured out. No one was expecting there to be a more sinister reason for the problem.

The Hacker is a bit on the mild side of a romantic suspense story. It's a continuing series with the same characters in the first book, except with the focus on Leland and Dawn. I liked it, I did enjoy these characters, and the writing but I will say it lacked an excitement that the first book in the series had. This is a great read for when you need a more laidback story.

[Inna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. The story wasn’t bad but there were a few questionable elements that I felt made the story seem less believable. For example, the hero is a tech nerd and pursues a criminal investigation all by himself because he doesn’t trust the FBI to do it right. He acted like the FBI had no one on staff who could do a better job than he could, which I just didn’t buy. There were also small details that just didn’t line up with reality. Plus, one of the bad guys gets off pretty easy, which I LOATHE. And on top of that, the middle of the story became somewhat boring.

Safe; no virgins, no om/ow drama or scenes, no cheating.

TW: The heroine is traumatized by an experience she went through in college that came very close to rape but was stopped just before it progressed that far.

[SimplyƝì₭ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the flow of the book. I thought the love unfolded in a very cute and believable way.

[Treena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting my request for an ARC of this book. The review below is entirely my own opinion.

I liked this book a whole lot more than the 1st one in the series. But it didn’t leave me all swoony and sappy. It was a pleasant enough read but missing something I can’t pinpoint.

I like sexy nerds and Leland is certainly that. I loved that he loved his mama and that he has demons to work through.

I also liked Dawn, the heroine. I liked that she’s a survivor. I liked that she has insecurities for it made her more relatable.

Not sure about the suspense part in all of this though. I don’t know enough about techie stuff to figure out if all that was described in the book is actually possible in real life. *shrugs* But this story needed this part for the action/thriller component.

Overall, I liked Leland and Dawn. I’m glad they have each other and got their HEA.

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

So much missed opportunity in this book. Scary smart computer whiz Leland is a great character and I’m pretty disappointed how his story turned out. His mad skills led to discovering the conflict of the story arc, but that was about it. Also, Dawn’s past trauma… Um, hello, scary computer guy right here to eff up some dirt bag lives? But nope, not even a thought here. Such a waste.

[Les Romantiques · Rating 5 out of 5]

Posted on Les Romantiques - Le forum du site
Reviewed by Fabiola
Review Copy from the Publisher
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The hacker is the second volume in The consultants series by Nancy Herkness. I reviewed the first one, The money man: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This book tells Leland Rockwell and Dawn Galiato ‘s story. Leland is the second KRG’s cofounder and Dawn is a personal trainer in a Jersey gym. She’s also one of Alice’s best friend who was the heroine in the first book.

I loved this novel. The characters are very nice and their love story evolves slowly both because of the heroine and the hero.
Dawn thinks she’s not good enough for our hero because she gave up College and she doesn’t have any degree. Plus, she suffered a trauma a few years ago and she’s not recovered yet. So she doesn’t trust men and doesn’t let people closer to her.
The hero lost his mother a few months ago and they had a relationship so exclusive that he’s not recovered yet and he’s afraid to build new lasting relations. He threw himself body and soul into his work and his friends are afraid for him.
When the story begins, our heroes already met and see each other from far away. As they are attracted to each other, Dawn enjoys the excuse of the Wi-fi problem to get in touch with Leland, and the latter makes the most of this situation to flirt with her.
At first, the relationship is slowly because they have to know the other better as well as their personality. For that purpose, at first, they talk to each other by emails and exchange subtle teasings. They first make love later in the book, that’s unusual with Nancy LOL but understandable.

On the suspense side, I found that the investigation was well lead. I had quickly a global idea of the puzzle’s resolution but I didn’t know all the ins and outs until the end of the book.

As for the secondary characters, we see the previous heroes, the third best friend (Natalie) and the last cofounder (Tully Gibson). In theory, Natalie and Tully should have their story together but for now, there isn’t any interaction between them so I don’t know. Stay tuned.
In any case, there are a lot of harmony and mutual assistance from all the characters and I loved this aspect of the book.

To conclude, I loved the book and its characters. Although it’s the second one in the series, we can read it as a standalone, but I recommend the first one too in order to have a better introduction to the characters. There is neither any common thread so each investigation ends at the end of the volume.

[Jeeves Reads Romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was more "like" than "love" for me with this one, unfortunately. The first book in this series was decent so I thought I'd give the second one a shot, and while there were definitely elements that I enjoyed, it left me with the same sort of feeling. The series is a strange combination of serious, steam, and suspense, which makes the romance feel a bit underwhelming. Our couple switches between being all business and all pleasure, with not much focus spent on the in-between. And the book? Still kinda boring. I really don't understand it myself, because with that much action (both in and out of the bedroom), the tone shouldn't be so sedate.

The story follows Dawn, a personal trainer who gets more than she bargained for when she tries to fix the wifi at her gym. Enlisting the help of a friend of a friend, IT guru Leland, Dawn seeks to get the business back up and running without inconveniencing the owners. But when Leland discovers that there might be more going on, the two find themselves investigating the issue. As they begin spending time together, sparks fly and it's not long before Dawn and Leland are giving in to the temptation to explore the chemistry between them.

There really is a lot that I like about the author's work, which is why I returned after a middling first book in the series. I like suspense, I like steam, and I love a sexy, kind nerd paired with a strong, resilient woman, so this should've been right up my alley. But there's something about the writing style that just... bores me a little. I think I need to be more emotionally invested in the love story to care about the suspense, and for that to happen they need to spend less time in the bedroom or working on the investigation. That's where this one falters. Because I did like both of the characters as individuals, and I did love the potential in their backstories (definitely some triggering content there). So this one had me interested enough to keep reading, but not enough to feel fully invested. I received an ARC via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review of this suspenseful romance.

[Amarilli 73 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 - Con il secondo volume della serie The Consultants ritroviamo i tre soci milionari della KRG, la società di consulenza che ha deciso di offrire servizi gratuiti a piccole imprese che necessitano di una spinta.

Dawn è una delle amiche di Alice (già accoppiata a Derek nel primo libro); è una personal trainer tosta e capace, e, di fronte a un problema informatico della rete wi-fi della palestra in cui lavora, coinvolge i ragazzi della KRG.
Certo, non poteva aspettarsi che in suo soccorso arrivasse addirittura un socio, quel Leland che abbiamo già conosciuto (distinto, parlantina fluida, aria da sexy nerd).
Per risolvere il mistero, lui non esita a presentarsi sotto copertura, nel ruolo di un cliente desideroso di migliorare il fisico.
Esercizio dopo esercizio, sudata dopo sudata (e nuotata dopo nuotata), Dawn aiuterà il genio informatico a rinforzare i muscoli (non che ne avesse un gran bisogno), mentre entrambi avranno modo di entrare in confidenza e mostrare un po' di più della loro personalità.

Secondo volume più godibile del primo: soprattutto la parte di indagine risulta articolata e credibile. Anche i due non sono male, senza dubbio più simpatici della coppia precedente.
Il livello della narrazione è forse abbassato variazione di location delle scene passionali. C'è una nutrita serie di amplessi e fin lì nulla da eccepire, trattandosi di una serie dichiaratamente hot; lascia un po' a desiderare la scelta dei posti, un po' stereotipati e stravisti (dalla limousine al camerino-bugigattolo alla piscina), con contorsioni varie a livello fisico che, a volte, mi hanno fatto più sorridere che sospirare.
Nel complesso, lettura leggera e di svago.

[Coco.V]

💝 ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 💝

[Poppy Minnix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read with likable characters.

There needed to be a better delivery of bad guy info. They were both like: "It was me! Here's why!" The reasons were superficial and I can't imagine any bad guy confessing everything to both Dawn and the police. And how did bad dude get the heavy military weapons? Maybe it's a lead in to the next in line.

It was a heavy relationship/sex focus with an okay plot that was there to give the characters a slight challenge while they worked out their togetherness. I did enjoy that part of it. The dialogue was outstanding, and the characters were both likable and sweet together. I would like to have had a twist or smarter antagonists.

Overall, I enjoyed it, but I wouldn't grab it again for a reread to pick up more details or see how the road lead me where it did. It was an obvious path.

You'll enjoy it if you like miscommunication of feelings between romantic interests, billionaire contemporary romance, southern gentlemen, overcoming trauma, and habanero-level sexiness in your romance.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good romantic story with a twist of suspense. I wish Leland had been given more of a voice. How does a desk jockey get as fit as he was if his workouts are limited to swimming. The steamy scenes were hot. I think if that sexual tension had been incorporated into the rest of the book, it would have made for a four star read.

[Kim Reads (Read Your Writes Book Reviews) · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 60%

NEEDS A TRIGGER WARNING!!!!!

Every 73 seconds, an American is Sexually Assaulted.
Sexual violence affects hundreds of thousands of Americans each year. While we’re making progress — the number of assaults has fallen by more than half since 1993 — even today, only 5 out of every 1,000 rapists will end up in prison.

https://www.rainn.org/about-sexual-as...

I generally don’t review books that are DNF’s for me. However, my reason for not finishing Nancy Herkness’s The Hacker was because I felt blindsided by what was in the book, and left shaken. I wanted to warn others, so they wouldn’t feel the way I did.

The Hacker is one of those books that NEEDS to come with a trigger warning. Nowhere does Nancy or Montlake mention that there is at least one scene in the book that could be a trigger for someone. Not on a page at the front of the book, not on Nancy’s website, or any of her social media accounts. The blurb only mentions the heroine, Dawn, has a troubled past.

Dawn and Leland know each other because their best friends from The Money Man are now engaged to be married. The two have spent time together as part of the group, but have never really been one on one with each other. When some of Dawn’s clients at the gym she works for start complaining about wi-fi not working and attempts by management to fix the problem seem to fail, Dawn turns to Leland for help. What he uncovers is more than he expected and becomes a problem he can’t turn his back on. During this time, the two act on their mutual attraction. Leland knows that Dawn is holding herself back, but he doesn’t know why.

60% into the book, Dawn relives what happened to her at the age of 19/20 years old when she was seconds away from being sexually assaulted by three guys. I think Nancy is a wonderful author. She writes scenes that really put the reader into them. Dawn reliving the most tragic day of her life was no different. As I said, there was no warning this scene was going to be in the book. Dawn and Leland went from having a really good time in the pool, to her remembering what the day was like and what she was doing. Now, for some people, this might not be a big deal. But for others, this is real. The scene Nancy described has happened to someone. In fact, I will say it has happened hundreds of times to multiple someones. I feel it is callous to put the scene into the book and just be like oh well. It’s as if the thought is that someone who has been assaulted wouldn’t read a romance book. The romance genre is all about overcoming your past to find love.

Reading is escapism for people. Reading romance allows you to fall in love over and over again. People need to know that they are worthy and deserving of love. People need to know that their past doesn't dictate their future. Men and women need to know that there are good, decent, understanding people in the world, just waiting to meet them and fall in love with them. People who won't treat them poorly. Authors and publishers are in a fantastic position. They have the power to let readers know that through the books they produce that all of this is true. They just need to remember there's a fine line between fiction and reality. Things authors and editors think up can, will, and do happen. Give readers a heads up. Let them decide if they are in a place where they won’t be traumatized.

While I stopped reading The Hacker at 60% of the way through, I can say the true suspense part is extremely slow going. Outside of knowing something really bad is happening at the gym, the suspense is non-existent. I have no doubt that there will be a scene or chapter that will ramp things up and have you on the edge of your seat, as Nancy did in The Money Man.

**Received an ARC from the author and reviewed voluntarily.**

Rating: 1 Star DNF at 60%

[Elodie’s Reading Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Hacker
The Consultants Series #2
Nancy Herkness
https://www.facebook.com/nancyherknes...
Release date 08/04/2020
Publisher Montlake

Blurb :

When a personal trainer and a computer genius are caught in the dark web, there’s a lot to fear and a love to fight for in a heart-racing novel by Nancy Herkness, award-winning author of The Money Man.
Dawn Galioto is an expert in self-defense and the most in-demand personal trainer at her Jersey gym—a perfect position for a woman fighting her way out of a troubled past and the anxieties that come with it. Then, after complaints about baffling Wi-Fi glitches at the gym, Dawn calls in disarmingly hot, high-powered computer consultant Leland Rockwell. If she can trust anyone to fix her on-the-job problems, it’s Leland. As for healing her off-hours fears, time will tell.
The cybersecurity genius of KRG, Leland sees a lot to admire in Dawn. She’s strong, quick-witted, and sexy. And something of a puzzle—one Leland wants very much to solve. If only she’d let him. Every new reveal brings him intimately closer to Dawn, but there’s another, more dangerous riddle to decipher. After going undercover to solve her Wi-Fi problem, Leland’s found a dark workplace secret. As Dawn’s past threatens a burgeoning romance, the deepening mystery they’re discovering threatens their lives.

My review :

When a series of mishaps bring them together, will it be enough to keep them united...

Once again Mrs Herkness does not disappoint, I wondered what a computer genius and a personal trainer would have in common outside so lustful thoughts, and she made it work.
When Leland was an only child with a single parent, Dawn has many siblings and happily married parents. She dropped college when he went to the bests. Yet they both hide their scars under driven personality, mostly focused on their job. How they get involved together.
Leland as a tribute to his late mother is unable to say no and refuse a job, so he must juggle his many assignments, his attraction to Dawn, his lack of sleep and so on. He copes from his loss by burying himself under a stack of work until one becomes more.
Dawn recovered from her ordeal with her boss support, why she is so devoted to him and her job. So when little events occur, she just wants to help improve her friend’s business.
Did she know she would step in a web of rats.
Leland and Dawn were cute to observe navigating toward the other, their chemistry is high but they held back, not certain to be ready for more than a fling and a bit afraid to be left hurt.
It was fun to see them fumble around the other, getting close then stepping back to finally find a common ground, enough to share their past issues and the changes it brought for them.
4.25 stars

Now, what await Tully and Natalie.

I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Montlake, Here is my true and unbiased opinion.

https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...

[Alaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Hacker is the second installment in The Consultants series. In this, you will watch Dawn and Leland fall in love. If you've read the first book you would have met them then. They were best friends or co-workers with the two main characters in that. So, it was interesting to watch them dance around one another in this one. Mostly because I never got the vibe that they liked one another but maybe that's due to them not really interacting with each other until now.

Eh, details.

The romance was equally interesting and entertaining. In the beginning, things were too hot to handle for them. Then they settled down a bit and the romance came to a halt. Of course, this was due to the ongoing drama but also the need to be vulnerable around one another. Dawn is definitely a strong, independent lady but she has a past. One that isn't quite easy to overcome but it's easier to handle if Leland is around.

Towards the end, I just wanted these two to be happy and living their best life. With each twist and turn, I couldn't wait for the big reveal and the knight coming in for the overall save. It was definitely entertaining but I think I liked the first one a bit more.

[Anja H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 HACKER STARS*

This was an okay read, however I thought the story was focused too much on the romance and not enough on the suspense aspect. The ending was a bit of a letdown for me as I feel like the situation was resolved way too easily.

I loved the connection between Dawn and Leland though. They were perfect together!

Received a free copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Beth C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Darlin', I know how strong you are but I just found you. If I lose you, who will I wake up when I can't sleep?"

Another swoonworthy billionaire from Nancy Herkness! The Hacker was a fab addition to The Consultants series. I found myself quickly invested in Dawn and Leland's foray into suspense and mystery and, of course, happily ever after. So much so that I neglected some of my other duties to keep reading through to the end—something I did with a smile on my face.

I do so love the way Ms. Herkness writes her heroes—arrogant, quirky, and sexy as can be—and her heroines—strong, smart, and brave even when scared. It just makes for easy-to-read-and-enjoy romance. And that's definitely what this one is. A quick, fun, and heart-racing read, with a touch of relatableness in Dawn, and a dash of fantasy in Leland. And okay, a little eyebrow-raising at the scope of the suspense side, but sue me. I'm a sucker for anything that gets my whole body involved in reading: blood pumping, leaning forward, lip biting, heart thumping. An altogether jittery feeling but in a good way, you know?

Add to that the fact that I loved seeing Alice and Derek again, and am absolutely salivating over Tully, the cowboy/former FBI agent/billionaire, and yep, you have a winner in The Hacker. Definitely worth neglecting a few chores (and more) for!

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dawn Galiato is a trainer at the Work It Out gym, a safe place for her after she suffered from a horrifying experience in college. She is triggered by noises, feeling closed in, not being in control of her situation and so much more. The gym owner, Ramon Vazquez, recognized her vulnerability and offered her a job. He took it a step farther and helped her to get into self-defense training.  Being a personal trainer is what makes her happy and gives her a sense of fulfillment. She pushes her clients hard and they all appreciate her for making them work. When the clients start to complain that they are having trouble streaming TV or movies on the treadmills, she asks Ramon's wife, Vicky, for help in getting to the bottom of the problem. Overhearing the discussion, Dawn's best friend, Alice, suggests that she contact Leland Rockwell, the computer genius at KRG Consulting and business partner of her fiance, Derek, to help get to the source of the problem. Dawn can't help but smile, thinking about the swoon-worthy man with the deliciously honeyed drawl that she met at Alice and Derek's party. She will have to wait to see if Vicky's IT people come to fix the problem before she contacts Leland. But Alice gets to him first and, the next thing she knows, an email comes through from Leland himself. After some flirtatious messages, Dawn realizes she's enjoying the back and forth way too much. Fortunately for the clients of Work It Out, the tech team is able to fix the Wi-Fi problem but, unfortunately, Leland notices that there is an inordinately large amount of wi-fi traffic passing through the gym and that indicates another problem, entirely. Leland intends to keep an eye on the building because he's not convinced that everything going on there is legitimate. As a cover story, he joins the gym under the name Lee Wellmont, and hires Dawn as his trainer. Working with Dawn in close quarters means that it's going to become very obvious just how much she affects him. It doesn't take long before they become involved, but Dawn occasionally sees Leland staring off with sad eyes and she doesn't understand what's happening. What she doesn't know is that he recently lost his mother and he doesn't quite know how to handle it. Dawn's own troubled past haunts her when anyone tries to get too close, too fast. She has a troubled reaction to a simple hug one night, causing Leland to worry and wonder. They have a lot to learn about one another and it's particularly well-written with a light hand and just the right depth of feeling. The mystery is a sound one that proceeds at an ideal pace throughout the book. It's complex enough that there are multiple layers to the plot and all of the players involved get exactly what they deserve! This is a smart story with exceptional characters, whose personalities are so well-detailed and constructed that they come to life. Nancy Herkness never disappoints! 

[Pavitra (For The Love of Fictional Worlds) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: An eARC was provided via Netgalley, The Publisher and the Author in exchanage for an honest review. The Thoughts, opinions & feelings expressed in the review are therefore, my own.

This is the second book in the Consultants Series – but my first foray into anything by this author! I honestly requested this book to review; mostly because I was really intrigued by the blurb of the book!

In Hacker; we have Leland; one of the partners in the KRG Consultants and the resident workaholic and cyber security expert who is roped in to help out one of his partner’s fiancé’s best friend with a problem at the gym she works at.

Dawn, a personal trainer and a self – defence expert is hearing complaints about the Wi-Fi being down and excessive data usage by her clients in the gym she works at – and at the advice of one of her best friend’s advice and contacts Leland to help her out with the problem.

Dawn and Leland have been intrigued by each other ever since they had met each other – but with Dawn’s iron clad walls as well as her anxiety when in contact with the opposite sex and Leland’s recent loss, it somehow didn’t go anywhere.

But attraction never can be ignored, now can it?

I enjoyed this romantic suspense novel; the mystery of what exactly was creating the data usage problems in the gym was intriguing and interesting – but it was the relationship between Leland and Dawn that was; not quite up to what I had expected – the intense attraction that had felt at the start of the book; could have been better handled, if it had been more of a slow burn romance rather than them jumping the course by getting in the bed right at the start – but then again, it’s just the kind of romances I am liking recently!

Give this one a try, if you are interested in lazing about with a book to occupy your time! <3




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[Vikki Vaught · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks go to the author, publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary copy of The Hacker by Nancy Herkness for the purpose of reading and reviewing, prior to its release. My opinions are my own and no one influenced them.

The Hacker is the second book in Ms. Herkness’s series, The Consultants. As with Ms. Herkness’s novels, The Hacker is a well-written novel with characters that pull you into the story and having you routing for them to succeed.

Dawn Galioto’s character has a troubled past that led her to her career as a sought-after self-defense and fitness trainer with the NJ gym she works at. That past has her questioning her ability to have a meaningful relationship with a man, though. I could understand her concerns. Trauma always has a lasting effect on an individual. When she reaches out to the hero, known for his hacker skills, she’s immediately attracted to him. Her confused emotions toward Leland tugged at my heart.

Leland Rockwell is a great hero. He’s a computer nerd and yet not your typical computer geek. For one thing, he has muscles from years of swimming. He has a great many facets to his character. Raised by a single mom, and with no contact or support from his wealthy father, he’s plagued by guilt when his mother dies unexpectedly. He’s determined to excel in her memory. His mother worked three jobs to see he received the best education in his younger years. As a member of KRG Consulting, the company he and his two friends founded, he has proven his success as their cybersecurity expert.

The story line is one that has plenty of suspense and the climax is exciting. I will admit though, it was easy to figure out the culprit behind the issue with the wi-fi at Dawn’s gym. The mystery is whether it involves her mentor, something that would break her heart. I felt her anguish at the thought of his involvement.

The romance between Dawn and Leland is combustible at the beginning and burns hot throughout the book. Although I would have liked a bit more emphasis on the emotions behind the physical attraction, nonetheless, I enjoyed their love story and wanted them to find their happy ending.

If you enjoy contemporary romance with a hot billionaire, then you will like The Hacker. The Money Man is the first book and is my favorite of the two so far. I look forward to Tully’s romance. It’s sure to be full of suspense since he’s ex-FBI. Happy reading!

[Pj Ausdenmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying this new series from Herkness that marries sensual contemporary romance with tightly-woven suspense. Dawn and Leland have smoking sexual chemistry, and I thoroughly enjoyed that part of their relationship, but I was even more invested in their emotional connection. Both bring some emotional baggage with them; Leland is still grieving the recent death of his mother and Dawn struggles with a traumatic event from her college days. I like how their deepening relationship gives each of them the courage to share their stories with one another. Dawn, especially, begins to finally heal and allow herself to be vulnerable. I was glad to watch that process take place slowly and not be an "insta-fix." By the end of their journey, I was fully confident in their ability to have a strong, trusting, happy life together.

The suspense portion of the book slowly builds until hitting a crescendo near the final chapters. While the bad guys are pretty obvious throughout much of the book, it's still fun to watch how everything plays out.

Another facet of this book - and the entire series, really - that I especially enjoy is the tight bond of friendship among business partners Derek (The Money Man), Leland (The Hacker), and Tully as well as the close female friendship among Alice (The Money Man), Dawn (The Hacker), and Natalie. Herkness brings them all to life on the page, so much so that reading The Hacker was like a visit with old friends that has me already eagerly anticipating the next book in the series.

*ARC received via NetGalley for a fair and unbiased review

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ok read for me. I didn’t love it and I didn’t hate it. I really enjoyed the first book so I thought I would give this one a try. It just wasn’t as good. The series tries to be serious, steamy and bit of mystery to it but because of all the elements it leaves the love story part underwhelming and kind of meh. The couple quickly switches from all business and all sex with not a lot of buildup of the relationship between them. The book was very one note for me. There were not any grand moments, don’t get me wrong there was lots of action just the tone of the story was flat.
Dawn, a personal trainer who falls into big problems when she tries to fix the wifi at her gym. She engages the help of a friend of a friend, IT guru Leland. Dawn seeks to get the business back up and running without inconveniencing the owners. But when Leland discovers things aren’t as they seems and together, they decide to dig into it. Proximity and lots of time together leads to sparks flying and chemistry in buckets.

There was no emotional connection for me in this story. It was either the investigation or the bedroom. It just needed more. I did connect to both characters as individuals, and I did love the potential in their backstories. It just never came together for me.

This is a 3/5 read for me. It really just left me wanting more.

[Ruthie Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~

This is the second book in the series. The Money Man introduced us to the trio of talented men who set up a consultancy, and do pro bono work for small businesses. I really enjoyed the financial issues which were dealt with in that storyline, and having met Derek's partners, was confident that this would be a good read. I would recommend that you read them in order, but this is a good stand alone story too.

Leland is the computer genius of the partnership. He is currently working ever hour he possibly can, to keep the sadness and memories at bay. His mother died suddenly and alone, and he cannot get over the guilt. So when Alice's self-defence teacher, Dawn, mentions a wifi problem at the gym, she persuades Leland to take a look. And then the mystery and the danger follow, along with a very healthy dose of chemistry. I won't say anymore, but you may start to pay more attention to the usage of your data allowance after reading this!

As Dawn and Leland work together, it is difficult for them not to recognise how they both are benefitting from their time together. Now the challenge is for them to trust that they deserve happiness.

Another winning story for me from the talented Harkness - I am very much looking forward to Tully getting his chance in the spotlight!

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

This is the second book in The Consultants series by Nancy Herkness.

I am really digging these three part series by Herkness. I think they are some of my favorites in the romantic suspense genre.

In this second book we get to see more of Leland, the computer nerd for KRG. Dawn, a friend of Alice from book one, seeks out Leland’s help for some wifi issues at the gym she works for. Turns out this internet connection issue is much bigger than anyone realized. Dawn and Leland team up to uncover what is really going on and then put themselves both in danger.

I totally resonated with Leland. He had recently lost his mother three months earlier and it is the same with me. I could just feel his pain and knew how much he suffered because I had already been there too.

Loved this book and totally recommend it! Looking forward to book three.

If you like romantic suspense books, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

[Kari Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dawn enjoys her career as a personal trainer as the classes she teaches gives her a feeling of power over the past. When the gym where she works encounters internet issues and there are no answers to be found she is referred to Leland by their mutual best friends.

Leland has not only overcome his modest beginnings of being raised by a single loving mother, but he is also still trying to heal from a tragic loss. He is a partner in a security company and his IT skills are second to none.

There is no denying the chemistry between them but both guard their emotions very closely for very different reasons. The author manages to balance both the romance and suspense of the story and has you invested not only in their happy ever after but uncovering the truth of what is going on. It is also a bonus to catch up with Alice and Derek as well.

[Susan in Perthshire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received as an ARC from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

This is a perfectly good read with nice characters who deserve their HEA. The attempt to move into the Romantic Thriller market - doesn't quite make it in my opinion. This is no JJ Robb series and I'm afraid the h/H are no Eva and Roarke.

Perhaps the Coronavirus lockdown and thus the amount I am reading just now - is making me hypercritical but I just found this an OK read but nothing special.

[Fos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook - good Narrator but pronounced lounge like long.

Leland and Dawn

Plus: Leland, the Hacker, wears glasses. 😉

I'm definitely enjoying the routing hacker aspect, so interesting!

Nerd kink? 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

I thought he'd WhatsAp her or some other type of face time.

This is a nice story well balanced and steady paced. The relationship is well balanced too.