Treasured 

Lexi Blake 

Masters and Mercenaries Series, Book 22.5 

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake comes a new story in her Masters and Mercenaries series…

David Hawthorne has a great life. His job as a professor at a prestigious Dallas college is everything he hoped for. Now that his brother is back from the Navy, life seems to be settling down. All he needs to do is finish the book he’s working on and his tenure will be assured. When he gets invited to interview a reclusive expert, he knows he’s gotten lucky. But being the stepson of Sean Taggart comes with its drawbacks, including an overprotective mom who sends a security detail to keep him safe. He doesn’t need a bodyguard, but when Tessa Santiago shows up on his doorstep, the idea of her giving him close cover doesn’t seem so bad.

Tessa has always excelled at most anything she tried, except romance. The whole relationship thing just didn’t work out for her. She’s not looking for love, and she’s certainly not looking for it with an academic who happens to be connected to her boss’s family. The last thing she wants is to escort an overly pampered pretentious man-child around South America to ensure he doesn’t get into trouble. Still, there’s something about David that calls to her. In addition to watching his back, she will have to avoid falling into the trap of soulful eyes and a deep voice that gets her heart racing.

But when the seemingly simple mission turns into a treacherous race for a hidden artifact, David and Tess know this assignment could cost them far more than their jobs. If they can overcome the odds, the lost treasure might not be their most valuable reward.

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

4 Stars

Lexi Blake does it once again. 

Treasured finds us with our sexy nerd alert radar going off at full force. David Hawthorne is a hot professor who has a bad ass for a step father and a few kinky secrets. And we also have Tessa Santiago. A woman who excels at her job at McKay-Taggart but her life is not so together having recently broken off an engagement. A chance meeting has sparks flying but as soon as Tessa realizes who this handsome hottie is she’s gone like the wind.  Fate steps in and gives these two a big push when Tessa is assigned to be David’s bodyguard for a trip to a private island.

Oh my God the chemistry between these two. Tessa has some alpha tendencies that I absolutely adored in her. I love how she got protective of her professor.  David’s laid-back way of being a Dom was quite a surprise. With a Mystery at hand and chemistry so hot it could set the world on fire. I love how they interact with each other and it was only a matter of time until fate would win and David and Tessa saw what they needed to in each other.

Lexi Blake never fails to give her readers a story they can get lost in and fall in love with the characters. For a long time reader she gives a few little treats of upcoming possibilities in future stories and there’s nothing like getting to spend time with McKay-Taggert crew.