Black Heart

By: Ketley Allison

Narrated by: Hannah Chiclana, Wesley Mercer

I never meant to become the obsession of a killer.

Kaden Black was hired to kill me.

He's a scarred ex-soldier with a list of bodies behind him and a decade-old vow of revenge. I'm the key to drawing out the man who destroyed his life – and now I'm under Kaden's ruthless protection.

Every camera he installs strips away another layer of my privacy. Every order he barks reminds me I'm trapped. But when rival assassins break in, it's Kaden's brutal efficiency that keeps me breathing.

I tell myself I hate him. That his dangerous allure doesn't drown out my survival instinct. That I don't crave the possessive glint in his eyes when he looks at me.

I'm lying.

As he spirals deeper into obsession, I realize I have a choice to make. Help Kaden hunt down the monsters from his past, or break free and save myself.

But freedom comes at a price. And it might just cost me the one man I can't bear to lose.

Black Heart is a deliciously dark, obsessive romance with an over-the-top hero with questionable morals and a young woman at his mercy. Warning: mature themes and violence ahead.

©2024 Mitchell Tobias Publishing LLC (P)2024 Mitchell Tobias Publishing LLC

Love

Love this audiobook! The way this author knows how to write characters who feel so deeply and they all deserve love! Everyone must read this! The way this audio changes this book GAHHH SO FREAKING GOOD IM HOOKED FROM THE FIRST CHAPTER WESLEY MERCER AND HANNAH CHICLANA MAKES THESE CHARACTERS AMAZING!

Great Story

I love Ketleys writing and this book did not disappoint in that aspect. There is suspense, dark themes, a bit of gore, and some twists along the way. But what was surprising was the ending was a cliffhanger... it was not indicated anywhere that it would be a continued story. I don't mind that fact but I know a lot of people will. I'm looking forward to the next installment of the story. I have a feeling this will be 3 books long at least.

Hannah Chiclana and Wesley Mercer were the narrators for the audio book and they did a wonderful job. This is my first time listening to either of them and I was pretty impressed by their performance.

Top Read/Listen of the Year

I was not expecting the hold this book would have on me! It literally left me speechless!

This was my first book by Ketley Allison and I am desperate for more! The audio was phenomenal by Hannah Chiclana & Wesley Mercer. At times the Scythe's voice is disguised bringing a whole new element to listening.

If you like dark romance, a scarred hero, some stalking, and a badass heroine this is your book! A top read of the year!

An Intense Romantic Suspense

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️

This is my first book from Ketley Allison, and she had me hooked from the start. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book. This had so many of my favorite things, mostly a masked hero. I am a sucker for the morally grey or, in this case, assassin masked hero.

Kaden Black "Scythe" was hired to kill Layla when she overhears something she shouldn't have while at work. Her life is in danger for being in the wrong place, but the person who wants her dead happens to be the man Kaden has been searching for. He became an assassin in order to get vengeance on the man who brought tragedy into his life and he was ruthless in his pursuit of justice. He starts stalking and protecting Layla so he can finally get his revenge, but he soon becomes obsessed.

The obsession isn't one-sided, and they team up to stop his enemy. Layla was such a strong and intelligent heroine. She felt like the perfect match for Kaden's damage. The sexual tension and Kaden's dirty talk were so hot.

The 3rd act and the insane cliffhanger have me shook. I did not see the big reveal coming, and I had no idea this was not a standalone, so I am frustrated because I need the conclusion to their romance now! I can't wait for Red Dreams to come out on January 2025.

Side Note: I love his cat reaper and the kittens he took in.

🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧
This audiobook was narrated by Wesley Mercer and Hannah Chiclana with duet narration. They did an amazing job building the sexual tension and suspense. I think this was my first time listening to Wesley Mercer, and I am a fan! The distorted voice was so intense when The Scythe was threatening people or dirty talking in his mask. It was giving me major Kylo Ren vibes. Hannah Mercer brought so much depth to Layla's character and made her such a strong heroine.

Terrific Story & Narration🎧 Gripping & Intense!

“Black Heart” is an intense dark romance novel that hooks you in right from the start, grabbing your attention and holding it hostage the entire time. Former military Kaden Black left the military to start a career in cyber security and focus on his daughter Cassandra, who just finished middle school. All that changed for him when someone murders his daughter, and Kaden’s life goal switches to one of vengeance, to get the person responsible for his daughter’s death with a new career as a paid assassin going by the name Scythe. His latest assignment is unlike any he has had before, targets that are usually affiliated with the underworld, except this target is a young woman interning in a tech company. After finding out why she is a target, he not only vows to protect her, but plans on using her to get to the one he has been searching for ten years, Frank Morelli, the person who is unreachable and the one responsible for his daughter’s death. Layla Verona took this internship because it was going to be in into the tech world, and she liked her job despite working with a creep of a boss, Emmitt Dawson. Working late one night, she overhears a conversation between her boss and an unknown man, one that appears dangerous. She thought she escaped, but that was not the case, since someone put out a hit on her. Then she gets a guardian angel, or is he is the devil himself? There is never a dull moment in this book and there are a lot of layers to the story, a story that is cleverly plotted with drama, angst, thrilling suspense, heartfelt emotions, and a steamy romance. It was great these two navigate an odd relationship, and get to know each other. Kaden was possessive and overprotective, but Layla was no puppet and gave as good as she got. I admired her guts and bravery, she was fierce and that ending, wow, an ending that leaves you wanting, not make that needing more.

🎧📚🎧Ketley Allison chose the perfect cast to bring her characters to life, Hannah Chiclana and Wesley Mercer fantastic voice artists and they did an amazing job humanizing and voicing the characters. I loved how they took their roles and made them their own, sounding believable and just as I imagined the characters to sound. Chiclana showcased every aspect of Layla’s personality, from her fierceness to her strength and determination, and Mercer did the same as Kaden, from the possessive, over protective alpha and switching it up as the killer Scythe. Both were just as great performing the roles of the secondary characters too. Their pacing and tone were on par with the story and they captured all the characters’ emotions and had you feeling them all. These two made a great team, with voices and talent that complement one another and a performance that elevates the story to another level. They are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to.

Dark, passionate, and grippingly intense

I like Ketley Allison's writing. Kaden and Layla's story is dark, passionate, and grippingly intense. Kaden is enigmatic and determined. Layla is beautiful, strong, and smart. They are opposites attract. The storyline is enthralling. The story ends with a big cliffhanger, and I am looking forward to listening to Red Dreams, the next book in the series, to know what happens next. Hannah Chiclana and Wesler Mercer did an excellent job bringing this story to life. I enjoyed it. #ValentinePRLM

What a thrilling, twisty and turning ride that left me hanging!!

Black Heart by Ketley Allison was so good!! I If you like forced proximity, revenge, stalking, dual POV, obsessed MMC, touch her and die, gothic, and mafia romance then you will love this book!

Ketley did an amazing job with the storyline and plot. Layla’s is fighting to stay alive after over hearing something she shouldn’t have and then finding out she’s had a hit put on her. Kaden lost his daughter and has since been out to find everyone who was involved. He is possessive and protective of Layla and will do anything to her keep her alive. The cliffhanger left me in shock and my mouth open going…what just happened. The story is a perfect mix of slow-burn romance, drama, angst, spice, suspense, emotions, twists and turns, that will keep you hooked from the very first page. Hannah Chiclana as Layla and Wesley Mercer as Kaden did an amazing job with narration. They did an amazing job be becoming these characters. You HAVE to listen to this audiobook and I can’t wait to find out what happens in the next book.

Masked Assassin & Dark Web Coder

Audiobooks can add a whole new dimension to a story, and Black Heart by Ketley Allison is no exception. This one features duet-style narration, with Hannah Chiclana and Wesley Mercer bringing Layla and Kaden’s perspectives to life in a dynamic and engaging way. The story focuses on plot development, with only a mild open-door romance factor.

Black Heart follows Layla and Kaden, two people from vastly different worlds, whose lives become entangled in a web of vengeance, deception, and corruption. The story took unexpected turns, adding layers I didn’t anticipate. With a cliffhanger ending, I’m already looking forward to the next book!

Holy heck that was amazing

Plot: 5📍
Spice: 3❤️‍🔥
Overall: 5🌟
Narration: 5🎧

I haven't binged a book like this one in a loooong time!

Narrated by: @hannahchiclana @awordwithwes

The narration was absolutely superb! Our FMC narrator had this beautiful , slightly raspy voice that emoted SO well! Her sass, fear, affection, was perfection! And I just loved the extra our MMC threw in that really heightened the experience! I don't want to give it away, but you'll hear it very early on and it's 😙👌!

Omigosh! Twists, turns, a true anti-hero MMC you root for with depth, who evolves, and complex. A fantastic FMC, sharp, imperfect, but tenacious, and with just the biggest heart.

And a plot that would completely stand on its own minus the deliciously spicy bits! And boy and those yummy, spicy scenes! This book was a new-to-me authors and I'm officially a fan! I cannot wait for part 2, "re

I did NOT see that plot twist coming!!!

Kaden and Layla...

3.5 Stars...
Black Heart is a dark, mafia, ex-military romance that is a roller coaster ride of emotions. It's full of suspense, passion and an assassin. There is banter, a slow burn and good chemistry between them. Kaden and Layla's story is full of twists and turns and ends on a cliffy. I really can't wait to see what happens next.

Hannah Chiclana and Wesley Mercer did a good job portraying these characters.