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Blackwood Security #1
Pitch Black
Diamond’s on the trail of her husband’s killer when a phone call orders her to stop looking or people will die—her friends, her colleagues, anyone close to her. Unable to think straight, she decides to disappear, protecting her team as well as her sanity while she tries to heal.
With her expert training in security and special ops, Diamond soon loses herself in the English countryside, tending horses and biding her time. As Ashlyn Hale, she meets Luke, a handsome local who makes her realise just how lonely she is.
Yet, even in England, the dark side of life dogs Diamond’s trail when the unthinkable strikes. Forced out of hiding, she races against time to save those she cares about. But is it too little, too late?
**WARNING**
If you want sweetness and light and all things bright,
Diamond’s not the girl for you.
She’s got sass, she’s got snark, and she’s bitchy and dark,
As she does what a girl’s got to do.
With her expert training in security and special ops, Diamond soon loses herself in the English countryside, tending horses and biding her time. As Ashlyn Hale, she meets Luke, a handsome local who makes her realise just how lonely she is.
Yet, even in England, the dark side of life dogs Diamond’s trail when the unthinkable strikes. Forced out of hiding, she races against time to save those she cares about. But is it too little, too late?
**WARNING**
If you want sweetness and light and all things bright,
Diamond’s not the girl for you.
She’s got sass, she’s got snark, and she’s bitchy and dark,
As she does what a girl’s got to do.
382 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2015
About the author
Elise Noble
86 books683 followersElise is an English rose with a few thorns who loves chocolate, sleep, and well-defined abs. Not hers, unfortunately.
She lives near London with a sexy chef, a horse who eats all her money, and a dog who eats her car keys. Always a reader, she took up writing after inspiration struck in an old manor house, and still pinches herself at the fact that people read her books. She spends her days working in an office and her nights dreaming up new characters for you to fall in love with.
Elise currently writes the Blackwood series of romantic thrillers, the Electi series of paranormal romantic suspense novels, and the Trouble series of romantic comedies.
You can get find her current freebies HERE.
She lives near London with a sexy chef, a horse who eats all her money, and a dog who eats her car keys. Always a reader, she took up writing after inspiration struck in an old manor house, and still pinches herself at the fact that people read her books. She spends her days working in an office and her nights dreaming up new characters for you to fall in love with.
Elise currently writes the Blackwood series of romantic thrillers, the Electi series of paranormal romantic suspense novels, and the Trouble series of romantic comedies.
You can get find her current freebies HERE.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 298 reviews
February 7, 2017
4 stars
This was recommended by J.D.Nixon fans as a good read to help with Heller withdrawals. Though it has no Heller in it. Nevertheless, a worthwhile book and an excellent start to the series. Loved the Britishness and the heroine.
Free at the time of posting.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pitch-Black-...
P.S. Still can't type too much, sorry for the short review.
This was recommended by J.D.Nixon fans as a good read to help with Heller withdrawals. Though it has no Heller in it. Nevertheless, a worthwhile book and an excellent start to the series. Loved the Britishness and the heroine.
Free at the time of posting.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pitch-Black-...
P.S. Still can't type too much, sorry for the short review.
February 5, 2021
Wow!
I received this book from the author through Facebook and so glad I did. I breezed through this action packed detective book. Diamond (Ash) was awesome with her abilities to solve this crime and her physical abilities. I have to read the next book in this series to see where her and Luke go in their relationship Will she find the man behind her husband's murder.I can't recommend this book highly enough.
I received this book from the author through Facebook and so glad I did. I breezed through this action packed detective book. Diamond (Ash) was awesome with her abilities to solve this crime and her physical abilities. I have to read the next book in this series to see where her and Luke go in their relationship Will she find the man behind her husband's murder.I can't recommend this book highly enough.
Want to read
June 20, 2023FREE on Amazon today (10/10/2017)!
January 4, 2016
Wow. I loved this book! A little darker than the other books I've read by the same author, but still with a dry wit running through it.
The heroine in Pitch Black is a little different from the usual romantic lead - a washed-up security operative on the run after her husband gets killed - and the book follows her as she escapes to England and starts a new life. But of course, that doesn't go smoothly, resulting in broken hearts and broken bones.
I'd definitely recommend this book if you're looking for something more than your average romance - it doesn't disappoint. I can't wait to read the next in the series.
The heroine in Pitch Black is a little different from the usual romantic lead - a washed-up security operative on the run after her husband gets killed - and the book follows her as she escapes to England and starts a new life. But of course, that doesn't go smoothly, resulting in broken hearts and broken bones.
I'd definitely recommend this book if you're looking for something more than your average romance - it doesn't disappoint. I can't wait to read the next in the series.
January 2, 2019
Diamond was shattered, out of control and she ran after the loss of her husband. She left behind a successful security company and the only life she was comfortable with, one that never let anyone too close. Broken, lost and at odds with life, she re-invents herself, form her name to her personality and learns to reach out for human closeness, to soften her edges and to let love in. but nothing last forever and her enemies have found her, threatening all that she has learned to hold dear. Will she run again or is it time to end the monsters that haunt her from the shadows? What of the love she has found in the sleepy town in England? How will Luke feel when he finds he has fallen for a lie?
PITCH BLACK by Elise Noble is gritty, edgy and filled with suspense as one woman, used to being a rock-hard island, a highly trained security operative discovers her softer side only to have her new life tainted by unfinished business in her old life, the life she is hiding from.
Elise Noble has done a remarkable job of creating a world filled with shadows and the monsters that lie within, both imagined and real. Diamond/Ashlyn is like a phoenix, burned to cinders and struggling to rise from the ashes. Her mental dialogue, the tension that runs through her is palpable and raw, just as the new her is finding joy in the simple things life has to offer.
A brilliantly executed tale, with an ending that leaves promise for the future books in the series! Books you can bet I am going to read!
Note: There are two versions-one raw and edgy...the other a "cleaned up" version!
Series: Blackwood Security - Book 1
Publisher: Undercover Publishing Limited; 1 edition (December 1, 2015)
Publication Date: December 1, 2015
Genre: Romantic Thriller
Print Length: 416 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
PITCH BLACK by Elise Noble is gritty, edgy and filled with suspense as one woman, used to being a rock-hard island, a highly trained security operative discovers her softer side only to have her new life tainted by unfinished business in her old life, the life she is hiding from.
Elise Noble has done a remarkable job of creating a world filled with shadows and the monsters that lie within, both imagined and real. Diamond/Ashlyn is like a phoenix, burned to cinders and struggling to rise from the ashes. Her mental dialogue, the tension that runs through her is palpable and raw, just as the new her is finding joy in the simple things life has to offer.
A brilliantly executed tale, with an ending that leaves promise for the future books in the series! Books you can bet I am going to read!
Note: There are two versions-one raw and edgy...the other a "cleaned up" version!
Series: Blackwood Security - Book 1
Publisher: Undercover Publishing Limited; 1 edition (December 1, 2015)
Publication Date: December 1, 2015
Genre: Romantic Thriller
Print Length: 416 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
February 20, 2017
A pissed off 4.7 FREE on Amazon
I just wrote an extensive review which has now been lost through the stupid and pathetic page for review which is offered on this site.
So let me just say that the protagonist had a personality transplant and became an arsehole. Exit me.
I just wrote an extensive review which has now been lost through the stupid and pathetic page for review which is offered on this site.
So let me just say that the protagonist had a personality transplant and became an arsehole. Exit me.
June 26, 2019
There was something about this book that I did not like. I don't know what it was but I Know I did not enjoy this book.
March 11, 2018
I wouldn't call this a bad book, but it's not a good book, either. It's perfectly readable but a bit bland and inconsistent. The main character, Diamond in the synopsis and practically nowhere else, Ash is riddled with erratic behavior just there to hide the big gaping plot hole that it also created. With black ops style training and many kills as an assassin under her belt, she tucks tail and runs after a phone call telling her to not look into her husband's death. Half way through the book (I got to 60% before giving up out of boredom) and she hadn't even looked at the files on the death that she had downloaded before deleting from the office computers, let alone started up any kind of investigation. For as much as she talks about how strong she is, both physically and mentally, I'm let wondering, really?
It almost feels at this point like the author is intentionally holding off the investigation to make a sequel, but all it ends up doing is making a character that is unbelievably erratic and acts out of character whenever the word count needs to be fluffed up.
Also, Ash never refers to her husband by name aloud or in her head, it is mentioned once at the beginning of the book at his funeral by a coworker and I don't remember it, but she always thinks of him as "my husband," which I find odd--I think most women's inner monologue for their spouse/significant other would be the name or nickname that they call them most often. This is just some weird quirk that grates on me and I can't quite place why; it's just so bizarre.
Then there's this whole amazon description telling of a clean version without the sex and swearing and I'm like wow, because, sure there's some swearing, but not terribly much--they just like to throw an f-bomb out once in a while to prove how tough and edgy the character is. And then the detail in the sex is pretty scarce, like so scarce, I would call this a clean romance--in that you know sex is happening, but they cut from the kissing/groping phase and go directly to the afterward, snuggling "I can't believe we just screwed on a pool table," moment--dammit, I wanted detail on pool table sex.
So, if it's a free read and you have time to kill and no book back log, go a head, read the book, but my book back log is too extensive to waste too much time on a book that lacks any kind of luster.
It almost feels at this point like the author is intentionally holding off the investigation to make a sequel, but all it ends up doing is making a character that is unbelievably erratic and acts out of character whenever the word count needs to be fluffed up.
Also, Ash never refers to her husband by name aloud or in her head, it is mentioned once at the beginning of the book at his funeral by a coworker and I don't remember it, but she always thinks of him as "my husband," which I find odd--I think most women's inner monologue for their spouse/significant other would be the name or nickname that they call them most often. This is just some weird quirk that grates on me and I can't quite place why; it's just so bizarre.
Then there's this whole amazon description telling of a clean version without the sex and swearing and I'm like wow, because, sure there's some swearing, but not terribly much--they just like to throw an f-bomb out once in a while to prove how tough and edgy the character is. And then the detail in the sex is pretty scarce, like so scarce, I would call this a clean romance--in that you know sex is happening, but they cut from the kissing/groping phase and go directly to the afterward, snuggling "I can't believe we just screwed on a pool table," moment--dammit, I wanted detail on pool table sex.
So, if it's a free read and you have time to kill and no book back log, go a head, read the book, but my book back log is too extensive to waste too much time on a book that lacks any kind of luster.
September 22, 2016
WARNING: Do not read this book immediately following J.D. Robb's In Death series.
This book had pretty good reviews and I was completely disappointed. It's billed as a thriller but it was really short on substance and action. It starts out as a mystery but Diamond (one of many names the main character uses) backs off from solving her husband's murder due to a threat. Really? I thought she was supposed to be some kind of bad-ass. As Ash, it becomes a romance. Then it's back to being a thriller as she solves a kidnapping. It was just a confusing hot mess. There are two more books in this series, but I won't waste my time.
BTW What was the husband's name? She only refers to him as "my husband". At the funeral, his aunt refers to him as Charles; however, he supposedly didn't like that name. So really, what was the husband's name?
This book had pretty good reviews and I was completely disappointed. It's billed as a thriller but it was really short on substance and action. It starts out as a mystery but Diamond (one of many names the main character uses) backs off from solving her husband's murder due to a threat. Really? I thought she was supposed to be some kind of bad-ass. As Ash, it becomes a romance. Then it's back to being a thriller as she solves a kidnapping. It was just a confusing hot mess. There are two more books in this series, but I won't waste my time.
BTW What was the husband's name? She only refers to him as "my husband". At the funeral, his aunt refers to him as Charles; however, he supposedly didn't like that name. So really, what was the husband's name?
July 19, 2019
Not bad, but I'd only go to the next if it's free or on sale.
I did like her team but I'm not sure if I'm up to the mess of her emotional life. *shrug*
I did like her team but I'm not sure if I'm up to the mess of her emotional life. *shrug*
May 1, 2017
Sometimes I'm amazed that a book has such a high rating... This one starts in a confused muddle that is a mystery of a murdered man that just gets referred to as my husband.... We hear things about how much she loved him, how important he was to her and how violent his death is by a mysterious bad guy. Then we hear how awesome her skills are as a spy? Assasin? Merc? One of those... That though gets tossed out the window with one creepy phone call telling her to drop the investigation into her husband's murder... At that point, she runs and hides in another country, takes on a new identity and makes up a backstory; maybe not a tough merc after all... Even though she loved her husband who was her soul mate and she'll never be ok again a week later we start a bland romance with a hot rich guy, this after some chapters of really bland descriptions of basic going ons in an English village.
I can not go on anymore, I'm DNFing this. I hear that after this middle romance portion of the book it takes another turn and you start a suspense portion but I'm not going to make that far....
I can not go on anymore, I'm DNFing this. I hear that after this middle romance portion of the book it takes another turn and you start a suspense portion but I'm not going to make that far....
Read
January 22, 2023The story sounds intriguing, but I’m not a fan of single perspectives and I could feel myself getting bored with just the one voice.
January 13, 2023
A real bad ass read! What more can you ask for a book? Mystery, thriller, romance, suspense, a dash of humor is all in Pitch Black. Once you read it, you can never stop.
Your world might stop while reading this and might as well fall in love with the characters.
A highly recommended book for those looking for a real bad ass read.
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Your world might stop while reading this and might as well fall in love with the characters.
A highly recommended book for those looking for a real bad ass read.
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 22, 2015
Elise Noble takes mystery thriller to a whole new level. One of the best written and most exciting series of novels for both young and old readers. This book is not only based on mystery thriller alone, it also encompases romance, humor and suspense. Pitch Black is a winner. Everything readers want in a book and more.Her works brims with wit, warmth, sensuality and intelligence. ENJOY!
I was given a free copy for an honest review.
I was given a free copy for an honest review.
September 8, 2020
Suspense
Good suspense story with some romance in the mix.
I wasn’t expecting the ending and it did leave me somewhat unsatisfied.
Being mainly a romance reader (Although I venture into other genres as well), I’m used to HEA or HFN and this book was neither.
Good suspense story with some romance in the mix.
I wasn’t expecting the ending and it did leave me somewhat unsatisfied.
Being mainly a romance reader (Although I venture into other genres as well), I’m used to HEA or HFN and this book was neither.
October 2, 2022
I need to read the next book in this series. Very enjoyable
October 15, 2016
I began the book hesitant but was pleasantly surprised by the character development and the plot by a third of the way through the book. I will definitely be reading more in the series and recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a good plot and entertaining characters.
January 26, 2016
Awesome read! Suspense, action, humor, romance all in one! What of the best books I've read!!
January 12, 2016
Loved it.
January 18, 2017
Loved this book. It draws you in and keeps you interested. Can't wait to read more. Diamond has lots of sense and here dark humor is hilarious.
February 20, 2021
3.5. The female main character calls herself a badass but i barely saw it. She does have potencial though.
Let's see what awaits us in the next book.
Let's see what awaits us in the next book.
December 12, 2023
Book: Pitch Black
Read By: Ebook
Author: Elise Noble
Genre: Mystery Romance
Recommend: Yes
< b>Age recommendation: 18-30+ Years
My feelings:
As I opened the book, I was hesitant, unsure of what to expect. But as I delved deeper into the story, I became pleasantly surprised by the rich character development and enthralling plotline that unfolded before me. By the time I had reached a third of the way through, I was completely hooked. It was clear that this was just the beginning of an epic series, one that I would definitely continue reading. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a captivating plot and dynamic characters that will keep you entertained until the very end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2018
2.5 Stars
The opening line hooked me in and I really wanted to find out what happened and how it all turns out, but it faded fast. Hardly any action and I couldn't connect with the characters or the story. Diamond's backstory had me hoping and holding out for a very interesting and complex character but sadly she came out flat. I will say it started out really good and kept me turning, but around 10% it lost steam and it never really picked back up. For a thriller I was really hoping for some action and suspense.
The opening line hooked me in and I really wanted to find out what happened and how it all turns out, but it faded fast. Hardly any action and I couldn't connect with the characters or the story. Diamond's backstory had me hoping and holding out for a very interesting and complex character but sadly she came out flat. I will say it started out really good and kept me turning, but around 10% it lost steam and it never really picked back up. For a thriller I was really hoping for some action and suspense.
January 4, 2020
Exceptional
Elise Noble is now on my "Must "Read" list. Smart, excellent writing, well developed characters and world building. Diamond is so real, I could almost touch her. She is my all time heroine!!! You must read this book if you want intelligence in writing, incredible plotting, and well rounded characters who will break your heart and lift you up in turn.. while being incredibly badass! A 100 star read.
Elise Noble is now on my "Must "Read" list. Smart, excellent writing, well developed characters and world building. Diamond is so real, I could almost touch her. She is my all time heroine!!! You must read this book if you want intelligence in writing, incredible plotting, and well rounded characters who will break your heart and lift you up in turn.. while being incredibly badass! A 100 star read.
March 29, 2023
Her new name is Ash. She is on the run after her husband has been killed. She makes a new life for herself over seas. She ends up finding her feelings mixed with another guy who brings the love out in her. Her work she left behind has now come out of hiding. She has to help find her new beau’s sister that has been kidnapped. Getting back in the game has brought her back to life and loving what she does. Keeps you on your toes.
July 21, 2019
A friend said she loved this series, and this book was free, but it was just ok to me!
August 8, 2022
Even if it was a slow burn at first, the action-packed ending was worthy! Subtle humor and a badass heroine will always make up for an enjoyable book-time!
:༻🦋༺: Definitely a must read! :༻🦋༺:
:༻🦋༺: Definitely a must read! :༻🦋༺:
February 26, 2024
Interesting
Not a 'couldn't put down' book for me but definitely one I wanted to keep reading. Great characters and a decent storyline
Not a 'couldn't put down' book for me but definitely one I wanted to keep reading. Great characters and a decent storyline
July 15, 2018
Excellent writer. Plot, pacing, syntax, dialogue/narration balance; all superior.
October 21, 2023
The story gets started, and you may spend the first while with a LOT of questions. Which aren't being answered. And then you may wonder how this is any sort of thriller cause it sure doesn't seem like it.
It gets there. Don't worry.
Although not on all the answers part. Guess it's on to #2 for hopefully more details.
It gets there. Don't worry.
Although not on all the answers part. Guess it's on to #2 for hopefully more details.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 298 reviews