Title: Too Hard to Handle
Author: Julie Ann Walker
Series: Black Knights Inc #8
Pages: 416
It’s been three months since former Secret Service Agent Penni DePaul last saw Dan “The Man” Currington. A lot has changed for Penni since she last saw Dan but her feelings for him were not one of them, which is how she finds herself in Peru barging into Dan’s mission to see if he feels the same.
“He was taking his first step out of the darkness and into the light. And he was doing it with a wonderful, kind, intelligent woman.”
After reading the first book and seeing Dan’s heartbreak at the loss of his wife, I have been waiting to see him return to the series. In the last book, Full Throttle, we finally get to see him return to the BKI teams and start working on missions again. So I was extremely excited when we got a whole book dedicated to him and Penni. Dan is just such a strong man who is fighting his demons (alcohol) and the trauma of losing his first wife so violently. While Dan is still struggling with putting himself back out there, I do love that he recognizes the rarity of finding a second love and is also unwilling to let it go. Dan was just a character that I loved instantly and was so happy to see him find a second chance at happiness.
“When I’m with you, there’s nowhere else I wanna be. And when I’m not with you, all I can think about is being with you.”
Penni was a strong and capable woman who was also a fierce protector. She is also struggling with the PTSD from the previous mission and it has led her to leave the Secret Service. I liked how Penni would do what was necessary to help fulfill their mission in Peru, even though she was terrified. Dan and Penni’s relationship is very emotional and filled with danger. These two did have a third act breakup for a little bit, but I still enjoyed their emotional relationship.
Overall, this was another action packed mission with an intense romance. I really love Walker’s books because she does such a great job at meshing suspense and romance. Also she writes great female characters who I always love and are perfect for their men.
CW: death of spouse from gun violence; alcoholism; PTSD; gun violence and wounds; hostage situation;
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Previous books and reviews for the series:
Red-Haired Ash Reads 