Changes

The company is an international security firm: many of its employees are former military.  It requires that its employees undergo extensive background checks, and further requires its managers and key employees to be armed at all times and be proficient in self-defense techniques.  The name comes from its two founders: Marcus Black and Alex Thorpe (originally they had two other partners, who left due to differences in how the company should be run).

The company is an international security firm: many of its employees are former military.  It requires that its employees undergo extensive background checks, and further requires its managers and key employees to be armed at all times and be proficient in self-defense techniques.  The name comes from its two founders: Marcus Black and Alex Thorpe (originally they had two other partners, who left due to differences in how the company should be run).

The two series revolves around the professional and personal lives of BlackThorpe employees and their immediate families.  Notably, four main families are featured: in addition to the McKinleys, the other families are the '''Hamiltons''' (a wealthy family which has had multiple dealings with the firm), the '''Thorpes''' (Alex and his two sisters, who also work in the firm), and the '''Black/Morrell''' clan (Marcus Black and Justin Morrell, a key employee, are cousins).  In addition, two key employees (who later become romantically involved with members of the families listed) are featured: computer hacker/whiz Trent Hause and personal security leader, language expert (and resident "serial dater") Nathaniel "Than" Miller.  Notably, beginning with the last of the McKinley books and throughout the entire BlackThorpe series, the company is the target of attacks (both physical and cyber) by a competitor firm, which plays a key role in events along the way.

The two series revolves around the professional and personal lives of BlackThorpe employees and their immediate families.  Notably, four main families are featured: in addition to the McKinleys, the other families are the '''Hamiltons''' (a wealthy family which has had multiple dealings with the firm), the '''Thorpes''' (Alex and his two sisters, who also work in the firm), and the '''Black/Morrell''' clan (Marcus Black and Justin Morrell, a key employee, are cousins).  In addition, two key employees (who later become romantically involved with members of the families listed) are featured: computer hacker/whiz Trent Hause and personal security leader, language expert (and resident "serial dater") Nathaniel "Than" Miller.  Notably, throughout both the McKinley and BlackThorpe series, the company is the target of attacks (both physical and cyber) by a competitor firm, which plays a key role in events along the way.

==The McKinleys==

==The McKinleys==