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Innocent Girls
Honika Kondo is only 15 years of age when she is kidnapped on her way home from school. Sakura promises the girl’s parents that she will find their daughter and return her.
During her investigation she uncovers a vast global network of human trafficking, controlled by the ruthless Hidetada yakuza family.
She discovers that the captive girls have been made to suffer many atrocities. The deeper Sakura penetrates the organisation, the more dangerous it becomes for her, and eventually, they discover who she is. The hunter becomes the hunted.
Content Warning : Includes graphic scenes of death and violence, including sexual abuse and torture. It depicts issues that may be sensitive for some readers.
During her investigation she uncovers a vast global network of human trafficking, controlled by the ruthless Hidetada yakuza family.
She discovers that the captive girls have been made to suffer many atrocities. The deeper Sakura penetrates the organisation, the more dangerous it becomes for her, and eventually, they discover who she is. The hunter becomes the hunted.
Content Warning : Includes graphic scenes of death and violence, including sexual abuse and torture. It depicts issues that may be sensitive for some readers.
257 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 23, 2023
4 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Paul McDonald
4 books115 followersI retired from the workforce in 2019.
My wife and I bought a bushland property on the Burnett River near Bundaberg a vibrant town of 100,000 people in regional Queensland, Australia.
I had write a book on my bucket list and after 2 years of retirement, I decided if I was ever going to write a book I better start.
It was one of the most challenging activities I have ever undertaken, it is fair to say, writing did not come naturally to me.
Eventually I finished my first book “Innocent Assassin”.
I have enjoyed the creative process of writing as well as the personal growth from forcing myself out of my comfort zone.
I have since finished the Sakura Bianchi trilogy and commenced writing a horror trope.
I hope you enjoy my stories.
My wife and I bought a bushland property on the Burnett River near Bundaberg a vibrant town of 100,000 people in regional Queensland, Australia.
I had write a book on my bucket list and after 2 years of retirement, I decided if I was ever going to write a book I better start.
It was one of the most challenging activities I have ever undertaken, it is fair to say, writing did not come naturally to me.
Eventually I finished my first book “Innocent Assassin”.
I have enjoyed the creative process of writing as well as the personal growth from forcing myself out of my comfort zone.
I have since finished the Sakura Bianchi trilogy and commenced writing a horror trope.
I hope you enjoy my stories.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 17, 2024
Waterloo...
How Does It Feel? You Won the War...
INNOCENT GIRLS: Sakura Bianchi Book 2
by Paul McDonald
No spoilers. 3 1/2 stars. In this installment of Sakura Bianchi's story, she is back in Japan after avenging herself and her mother...
Now...
She is among other anti-heros who've formed a group of like-minded martial arts experts trying to save young girls from human traffickers...
They call themselves The Saviours...
They have been hired to locate and rescue a young girl named Honoka from a vile forced prostitution ring...
And bring her safely back home to her frantic parents...
The Saviours use the latest high-tech software in their quest as well as their well-rounded martial arts expertise...
Will they break down their enemy's fortresses and rescue Honoka and the others, who are also victims of the flesh trade?...
Or...
Have Sakura and the Saviours met their Waterloo? You'll have to read the second installment to find out...
First, let me say that I loved Book #1 in this series. The location (Australia) was easy to relate to, and the ease with which Sakura dispatched the bad guys made her seem like a superhero that readers could cheer on.
In this second book, Sakura was somewhat relegated to being a bit-part player, and she didn't fare as well in this next installment.
The location, moving to Japan, made it confusing for me personally because the names were so similar that I had to take copious notes to know whose side of the conflict they were on, and in my notes I had to spell their names correctly because some of the names differed by only one or two letters.
Finally, TMI permeated this story. Long elaborate descriptions were given for almost everything. I'm talking pages and pages of description. I found myself skimming through a vast portion of the book.
Recommendation: I believe that anyone into the martial arts will love this book. It was like watching a Bruce Lee movie. Those long descriptions I mentioned were mainly about the martial arts techniques and weapons used, so there are readers for Book 2... it just wasn't for me.
Warning to some readers: Child rape as well as murder and mayhem are a large part of the story.
How Does It Feel? You Won the War...
INNOCENT GIRLS: Sakura Bianchi Book 2
by Paul McDonald
No spoilers. 3 1/2 stars. In this installment of Sakura Bianchi's story, she is back in Japan after avenging herself and her mother...
Now...
She is among other anti-heros who've formed a group of like-minded martial arts experts trying to save young girls from human traffickers...
They call themselves The Saviours...
They have been hired to locate and rescue a young girl named Honoka from a vile forced prostitution ring...
And bring her safely back home to her frantic parents...
The Saviours use the latest high-tech software in their quest as well as their well-rounded martial arts expertise...
Will they break down their enemy's fortresses and rescue Honoka and the others, who are also victims of the flesh trade?...
Or...
Have Sakura and the Saviours met their Waterloo? You'll have to read the second installment to find out...
First, let me say that I loved Book #1 in this series. The location (Australia) was easy to relate to, and the ease with which Sakura dispatched the bad guys made her seem like a superhero that readers could cheer on.
In this second book, Sakura was somewhat relegated to being a bit-part player, and she didn't fare as well in this next installment.
The location, moving to Japan, made it confusing for me personally because the names were so similar that I had to take copious notes to know whose side of the conflict they were on, and in my notes I had to spell their names correctly because some of the names differed by only one or two letters.
Finally, TMI permeated this story. Long elaborate descriptions were given for almost everything. I'm talking pages and pages of description. I found myself skimming through a vast portion of the book.
Recommendation: I believe that anyone into the martial arts will love this book. It was like watching a Bruce Lee movie. Those long descriptions I mentioned were mainly about the martial arts techniques and weapons used, so there are readers for Book 2... it just wasn't for me.
Warning to some readers: Child rape as well as murder and mayhem are a large part of the story.
May 12, 2024
INNOCENT GIRLS [SAKURA BIANCHI-BOOK 2] (2023) By Paul McDonald
My Review 5.0 Stars
Frankly speaking, I enjoyed the debut novel featuring McDonald’s protagonist Sakura so much that I was dubious about a sequel measuring up to the original. My fears could not have been more unfounded. This second story featuring the courageous diminutive feminine block of dynamite was practically unputdownable. Before I forget it, the artwork for the Cover is stunning.
This storyline is set in Japan. It so happens that I have read a fair number of international thrillers, such as Jason Bourne novels, James Bond, Orphan X, and others. No author has made it more comfortable to read about action in a foreign land. McDonald’s prose simply puts you there with incredible ease, at least in part due to his exceptional descriptive prose of architecture and setting. Similarly, I have never felt more comfortable reading names of people and places, and titles which are foreign to me, and have the author subtly explain the meaning of the names, titles, and other pertinent language that may conceivably confuse a reader.
Readers of the first novel know that Sakura would be sensitive to the plight of a missing young girl. She and her grandfather, leader of the Hirutu yacuza, engage in a major operation to locate the kidnapped teenager. In this novel, we get to know several trusted men and one woman [Megumi] who is a genius in all aspects of technology and has been assisting Sakura's grandfather for years to legitimize his business holdings. Tatsuo Ishikawa (Tatsuo translates as Dragon Man in Japanese) and Takeo Kobayashi (Takeo means “Warrior” in Japanese) are two of Sakura’s grandfather’s most trusted men. Sakura meets Megumi for the first time and admires her beauty and grace, but is astonished by her knowledge of today’s technology and how it can work for them not only in business but in protection and offensive maneuvers.
In effect, Sakura’s grandfather was courageous enough to plan an offensive against the powerful Hidetada yacuza, the most prominent human trafficking syndicate in Japan. It is fascinating when her grandfather designates a codename for their team (“Saviors”) and the strategies for attack and attaining information are all mapped. The technology alone is fascinating. More characters were being introduced in this second book, and I worried momentarily whether Sakura would be overshadowed by the action or the other prominent characters. Again, I was really off the wall wrong. This second outing with Sakura fleshes out her character, her ethics, her personality, and her physical and mental strengths and abilities as a remarkable warrior and killing machine.
Coming up on the 25% mark in the book the narrative had started out exciting and strong. The author writes in a concise style which is both informative and in an interesting manner. I really enjoyed the narrative explaining the stages of the operation especially the high-tech nature of their dangerous mission. Sakura is an important part of the Savior Team but not a singular avenger as in the inaugural book. Her motivations are also different but also valid. It occurred to me that her mission to free the one girl they seek specifically leads to their championing kidnapped young teenage girls from all over country who have been ripped out of their lives to be drugged and prostituted. The goals seem to dovetail with Sakura’s prior trauma as a child. What I enjoyed the most in the first part of the book was Sakura’s ninja attacks of violence and the nature and physical effects on her targets. I also enjoyed reading about the two trusted men who accompanied Sakura on that first mission. I loved the interrogation techniques deployed and the explanation of exactly what torture technique was used and precisely what effects were elicited. This clinical prose was written matter of factly. McDonald writes with an economy of words which are concise and sleekly advance the storyline.
A fascinating new man named Kai is brought to the Saviors by Sakura’s grandfather, and the initiate fighting games to ensure that their skills remain sharp. This too was one of my favorite parts (I feel like I am saying that a lot!) because the narrative explained each of the fighting techniques and strikes, to include the physical effects on the recipient.
In subsequent pages we meet Hiroki who had been orphaned at the age of three and fostered by Yoritomo Ito, a Hidetada yakuza general, who had been nurtured and trained in the art of the samurai. This man was on the opposition team and he and his adoptive father were called to meet with Tokugawa. Hiroki is later welcomed into his operation as his assassin and enforcer. There is a lot of fascinating information on the topic of the Samurai code.
In the second half of the book, I loved the fighting between the Saviors to remain sharp and as noted I also liked the introduction of the Samurai from the opposition. There are more characters to follow, and the emphasis and sophistication of the security techniques deployed were state of the art. The author speaks with authority and in the areas of killing, torture, and martial arts fighting techniques his cool, detached explanations are clinical and matter of fact which render these topics even more riveting.
There are new characters, scenarios, and action occurring throughout which impact the storyline line. It is not my desire to write a synopsis or to disclose any plot twists. I must say that I am no stranger to espionage thrillers, and I have never encountered more exciting action scenes in a novel. The Saviors’ attack on the Compound was riveting and breathtakingly exciting. The blow-by-blow analyses of the stances, the specifics of the different modes of attack and the physical results and details about the effects on the attacker and the targets were riveting and exciting.
There is also romance in the air in the second book, and I will not disclose who is smitten by whom. I am leaving out hordes of facts and reems of action, not to mention many plot threads a reader needs to find themselves. This is well-plotted and if it were paced any faster, I would need Sakura’s fancy motorcycle. I had one criticism and that is the fact I dislike cliff-hangers. Always have and always will. However, that is not enough of a reason to even budge a solid Five Stars.
I am immensely impressed with McDonald’s writing, and I cannot recommend his works enough. I am anxiously awaiting where that cliffhanger is going to take me.
SAKURA IS A STAR AND TOUR DE FORCE FROM McDonald ON BOOK 2
My Review 5.0 Stars
Frankly speaking, I enjoyed the debut novel featuring McDonald’s protagonist Sakura so much that I was dubious about a sequel measuring up to the original. My fears could not have been more unfounded. This second story featuring the courageous diminutive feminine block of dynamite was practically unputdownable. Before I forget it, the artwork for the Cover is stunning.
This storyline is set in Japan. It so happens that I have read a fair number of international thrillers, such as Jason Bourne novels, James Bond, Orphan X, and others. No author has made it more comfortable to read about action in a foreign land. McDonald’s prose simply puts you there with incredible ease, at least in part due to his exceptional descriptive prose of architecture and setting. Similarly, I have never felt more comfortable reading names of people and places, and titles which are foreign to me, and have the author subtly explain the meaning of the names, titles, and other pertinent language that may conceivably confuse a reader.
Readers of the first novel know that Sakura would be sensitive to the plight of a missing young girl. She and her grandfather, leader of the Hirutu yacuza, engage in a major operation to locate the kidnapped teenager. In this novel, we get to know several trusted men and one woman [Megumi] who is a genius in all aspects of technology and has been assisting Sakura's grandfather for years to legitimize his business holdings. Tatsuo Ishikawa (Tatsuo translates as Dragon Man in Japanese) and Takeo Kobayashi (Takeo means “Warrior” in Japanese) are two of Sakura’s grandfather’s most trusted men. Sakura meets Megumi for the first time and admires her beauty and grace, but is astonished by her knowledge of today’s technology and how it can work for them not only in business but in protection and offensive maneuvers.
In effect, Sakura’s grandfather was courageous enough to plan an offensive against the powerful Hidetada yacuza, the most prominent human trafficking syndicate in Japan. It is fascinating when her grandfather designates a codename for their team (“Saviors”) and the strategies for attack and attaining information are all mapped. The technology alone is fascinating. More characters were being introduced in this second book, and I worried momentarily whether Sakura would be overshadowed by the action or the other prominent characters. Again, I was really off the wall wrong. This second outing with Sakura fleshes out her character, her ethics, her personality, and her physical and mental strengths and abilities as a remarkable warrior and killing machine.
Coming up on the 25% mark in the book the narrative had started out exciting and strong. The author writes in a concise style which is both informative and in an interesting manner. I really enjoyed the narrative explaining the stages of the operation especially the high-tech nature of their dangerous mission. Sakura is an important part of the Savior Team but not a singular avenger as in the inaugural book. Her motivations are also different but also valid. It occurred to me that her mission to free the one girl they seek specifically leads to their championing kidnapped young teenage girls from all over country who have been ripped out of their lives to be drugged and prostituted. The goals seem to dovetail with Sakura’s prior trauma as a child. What I enjoyed the most in the first part of the book was Sakura’s ninja attacks of violence and the nature and physical effects on her targets. I also enjoyed reading about the two trusted men who accompanied Sakura on that first mission. I loved the interrogation techniques deployed and the explanation of exactly what torture technique was used and precisely what effects were elicited. This clinical prose was written matter of factly. McDonald writes with an economy of words which are concise and sleekly advance the storyline.
A fascinating new man named Kai is brought to the Saviors by Sakura’s grandfather, and the initiate fighting games to ensure that their skills remain sharp. This too was one of my favorite parts (I feel like I am saying that a lot!) because the narrative explained each of the fighting techniques and strikes, to include the physical effects on the recipient.
In subsequent pages we meet Hiroki who had been orphaned at the age of three and fostered by Yoritomo Ito, a Hidetada yakuza general, who had been nurtured and trained in the art of the samurai. This man was on the opposition team and he and his adoptive father were called to meet with Tokugawa. Hiroki is later welcomed into his operation as his assassin and enforcer. There is a lot of fascinating information on the topic of the Samurai code.
In the second half of the book, I loved the fighting between the Saviors to remain sharp and as noted I also liked the introduction of the Samurai from the opposition. There are more characters to follow, and the emphasis and sophistication of the security techniques deployed were state of the art. The author speaks with authority and in the areas of killing, torture, and martial arts fighting techniques his cool, detached explanations are clinical and matter of fact which render these topics even more riveting.
There are new characters, scenarios, and action occurring throughout which impact the storyline line. It is not my desire to write a synopsis or to disclose any plot twists. I must say that I am no stranger to espionage thrillers, and I have never encountered more exciting action scenes in a novel. The Saviors’ attack on the Compound was riveting and breathtakingly exciting. The blow-by-blow analyses of the stances, the specifics of the different modes of attack and the physical results and details about the effects on the attacker and the targets were riveting and exciting.
There is also romance in the air in the second book, and I will not disclose who is smitten by whom. I am leaving out hordes of facts and reems of action, not to mention many plot threads a reader needs to find themselves. This is well-plotted and if it were paced any faster, I would need Sakura’s fancy motorcycle. I had one criticism and that is the fact I dislike cliff-hangers. Always have and always will. However, that is not enough of a reason to even budge a solid Five Stars.
I am immensely impressed with McDonald’s writing, and I cannot recommend his works enough. I am anxiously awaiting where that cliffhanger is going to take me.
SAKURA IS A STAR AND TOUR DE FORCE FROM McDonald ON BOOK 2
April 4, 2024
A great plot. The kind of book you want to read when lonely.
April 11, 2024
Left needing more!!
First let me just say HOLY CLIFFHANGER! I don't know how I will survive until the next book comes out!! I really enjoyed this, I was worried the first one was so good that I wouldn't like this as much but it is just as good! A lot more action, and definitely ALOT more emotions. Can't wait to see what happens next in Sakura's adventure.
First let me just say HOLY CLIFFHANGER! I don't know how I will survive until the next book comes out!! I really enjoyed this, I was worried the first one was so good that I wouldn't like this as much but it is just as good! A lot more action, and definitely ALOT more emotions. Can't wait to see what happens next in Sakura's adventure.
March 7, 2024
Better than the first. I like the twists and turns as to the characters backgrounds. Cannot wait for the next one.
January 4, 2025
Book 2 Innocent Girls is a fast paced story that kept me on edge, wanting to know how Sakura was going to find and locate the kidnapped Honika.
I enjoyed the transformation and growth of all the characters, and with the interwoven nature of some of the characters really enjoyed how this was done. Was a great read.
I enjoyed the transformation and growth of all the characters, and with the interwoven nature of some of the characters really enjoyed how this was done. Was a great read.
March 8, 2024
A great read
Compared to book 1, Innocent Girls is okay. Great story line adding more characters. Did not expect that ending in a good way
Compared to book 1, Innocent Girls is okay. Great story line adding more characters. Did not expect that ending in a good way
August 28, 2024
Unusual and unpredictable.
I am not sure I have ever really read anything like this. Sometimes the writing is precise and clipped, the amount of detail is impressive and unnerving, and the storyline continually moving in directions you don't expect, keeping you on edge. If you blink or lose your concentration you will miss something. For each question answered, five are left unanswered. And just as you start sensing emotion and wonder....you are thrown into a tail spin going the other direction. All I can say is hang on and enjoy the ride. But know it ends in a cliffhanger.
I am not sure I have ever really read anything like this. Sometimes the writing is precise and clipped, the amount of detail is impressive and unnerving, and the storyline continually moving in directions you don't expect, keeping you on edge. If you blink or lose your concentration you will miss something. For each question answered, five are left unanswered. And just as you start sensing emotion and wonder....you are thrown into a tail spin going the other direction. All I can say is hang on and enjoy the ride. But know it ends in a cliffhanger.
March 4, 2024
Duly Recommended
Just like part 1, I was in awe with the details and knowledge of Japanese traditions. Loved, loved,loved this book. Thank you again sir Paul for this well written book.
Just like part 1, I was in awe with the details and knowledge of Japanese traditions. Loved, loved,loved this book. Thank you again sir Paul for this well written book.
December 26, 2024
A great follow-up to the 1st book - full of non-stop action.
August 3, 2024
wow
I love these stories. The detail and depth is amazing but to follow Sakura’s journey is incredible. She has overcome trauma and accomplished so much although she feels she fails she still continues on her path. My hope is there are more to follow.
I love these stories. The detail and depth is amazing but to follow Sakura’s journey is incredible. She has overcome trauma and accomplished so much although she feels she fails she still continues on her path. My hope is there are more to follow.
March 23, 2024
I love the characters in these books. Both books were so awesome!
January 12, 2024
The second book in the series, this one was even better than the first. Exciting action and a plot that keeps the reader wondering what would happen next. I stayed up late a couple of nights because I just couldn't stop reading. I gave it 4 starts because the ending was not an ending; the book finished in the middle of an attack and the reader has no idea what happened in the end.
May 27, 2024
Another good one! Definitely not as heavy or hard hitting as the first (Innocent Assassin) but an awesome follow up 👏🏼👏🏼
March 23, 2025
innocent Girls
Read the first book and now this and loved it.
Had a few concerns thinking the family was morally corrupts as was the Heroine but was proved happily wrong.
Read the first book and now this and loved it.
Had a few concerns thinking the family was morally corrupts as was the Heroine but was proved happily wrong.
May 17, 2024
Another excellent read. Fully recommend. Nice one Paul looking forward to number 3.
July 19, 2023
A spectacular second instalment to Innocent Assassin
Highly recommend! This 2nd book continues the journey of Sakura Bianchi. The characters are colourful, the plot highly engaging with lots of twists that will keep you wanting to read more.
Highly recommend! This 2nd book continues the journey of Sakura Bianchi. The characters are colourful, the plot highly engaging with lots of twists that will keep you wanting to read more.
March 7, 2024
I didn't finish this book at 31%. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book and this one started off well. However, it quickly devolved into pretty juvenile writing.
For example: "She knew this was the most brutal strike she had ever incurred in training, and this thought angered her." There is no reason for the *she knew*. Of course she knew. It's her POV. *this thought* - does that need to be said? The book is full of instances like this one.
There are too many descriptions. I am all for detail if it flows. The descriptions here didn't flow at all. I had to keep putting the book down and picking it back up. But then I just gave up.
I didn't plan to DNF. I was going to push through. I came to reviews to see whether anyone else was having the same issues. And then I see that this book ends on a cliffhanger. I do not read cliffhangers. If a book needs to be 500+ pages in order for there to be no cliffhanger, I prefer that.
I didn't see in the blurb that this ended in a cliffhanger, and that needs to be shown at the outset.
For example: "She knew this was the most brutal strike she had ever incurred in training, and this thought angered her." There is no reason for the *she knew*. Of course she knew. It's her POV. *this thought* - does that need to be said? The book is full of instances like this one.
There are too many descriptions. I am all for detail if it flows. The descriptions here didn't flow at all. I had to keep putting the book down and picking it back up. But then I just gave up.
I didn't plan to DNF. I was going to push through. I came to reviews to see whether anyone else was having the same issues. And then I see that this book ends on a cliffhanger. I do not read cliffhangers. If a book needs to be 500+ pages in order for there to be no cliffhanger, I prefer that.
I didn't see in the blurb that this ended in a cliffhanger, and that needs to be shown at the outset.
February 24, 2024
When Sakura learns that a 15 year old girl has been kidnapped, she promises her parents to bring her back. What follows is an actionpacked, brutal hunt for the sex trafficking ring that took the girl and Sakura's try to take them down. A very good story again by Paul McDonald. Can't wait for the follow up (there's a cliffhanger at the end...).
Read
August 16, 2025Not as good as the first volume for me.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews