Series: Chicago Syndicate

Black Hat Hacker by Soraya Naomi @Soraya_Naomi @QuirkyBlindDate

Posted on November 7, 2017 by Nadene @ Totally Addicted to Reading in 2017 new release challenge, Chicago Syndicate, Mafia, Quirky Blind Date, Soraya Naomi / 0 Comments

The Story

I enjoyed the pacing and loved the way the story flowed from start to finish. The narration of the story in alternate first person POVs was a plus for me. It allowed me to get into the heads of the main characters, causing me to relate to thoughts, actions and emotions. I did not agree with their actions at times, but I understood their reasons.  The twists the author strategically placed throughout the story enhanced my enjoyment. The writing style is good, and I found myself immersed in the story. The scenes, which were funny, emotional, suspenseful, intense and dramatic, were well developed.

Characters

I had mixed feelings in relation to the characters. They are interesting, but I thought they needed a little more development. Initially, Mary grated on my nerves. She acted immature, made dumb choices, which placed her and others in harm’s way.  However, as I went deeper into the story, I watched her evolved and I appreciated her. I like her passion for life and her need to offer help where needed. However, it would have been nice to have insight about her life, prior to discovering that her brother were the syndicate.

I enjoyed getting to know Henry. Who knew computer nerds could be so hot. He is a complicated character.  I understood why women flocked him. He has experienced a lot for his 24 years; his experiences scarred him emotionally. As a result, he had issues with trusting others and he shied away from committed relationships.   His feelings for Mary shocked him to his core, and he struggled through most of the story.  He desired to spend time with her, but his trust issues and his inability to connect on an emotional level proved a hindrance.

I disliked some of his actions. I did not appreciate how he felt the need to keep secrets about his past from Mary. Secrets, which has the power to wreck his relationship Mary and his employers. Nor did I like his reaction when everything blew up in his face. He lied to everyone about his past. I knew why he did it, and I empathise with what happened to him, but he did not have to lie.  His past collided with his present and his lies came to light and he found himself coming under pressure.

The Romance

I had a hard time connecting with Mary and Henry as a couple. I enjoyed their banter but their conversations and interaction lacked the depth that one would expect from a couple in love. For most of the story, the focus was on the physical aspects of their relationship. Although the sex scenes were well written, I had hoped for an in depth interaction.  I was not convinced about Henry’s feelings for Mary until the moment they shared a near death experience. From that moment, I became invested in their relationship and hoped they would get their happy ending.

Conclusion/Recommendation

In spite of the flaws, the story proved to be an enjoyable read. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

Nadene @ Totally Addicted to Reading

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