They say all good things must come to an end and with this book we say goodbye to all the characters we have grown to know and love in Ellsberg and Bijou Hunter finished this series just the way she started it and left me sad to see the end but also appreciative that she knew when to say goodbye and stay true to her series and characters instead of drawing it out and leaving after the clock stuck twelve.
Harlow dealt with her past differently than her sister, and she more than happy being alone for the rest of her life. Training and fighting is what she does hoping to feel safe and get back some of the power Playboy and his goons stole. One morning running she ran into a huge scary man and without thinking attacked...... or tried to attack. Scared Harlow runs to the club to tell Copper and Vaughn about the scary beautiful dark man in town, and finds him their already.
Saint is in town not only as protection but to see if Cooper is up to the job of president, when a beautiful girl attacks him he knows right away that she is different and knowing a little about her he knows their is much more behind her facade. Offering to help her train Saint jumps at the chance to get close to her even if he doesn't quiet understand it himself. Saint used to be a kind, giving, caring man. But that was before and now Saint is a killer, seeing Harlow Saint finds himself wanting more and helping Harlow face her fears while staying at his house seems like a great idea.
Neither can deny the attraction but they both can't deny the fear their growing love elicits. Both Harlow and Saint find themselves drawing closer to each other and find it harder to be apart as they grow more depend and in love on each other while also finding comfort in each other like they have never known. As Saints time in Ellsberg draws to an end neither can imagine saying goodbye but Saint isn't sure his dark past can make him the man Harlow deserves and Saint's plans don't include Ellsberg. With the promise of Saints return Harlow questions their future and the strength a love they could have build by two people with such broken pasts.
This is a bittersweet story for me. I couldn't wait for Harlow's story though I didn't know I could like Harlow as much as I did, but reading this book I knew I would be saying goodbye to all the characters I grew to love. And yes it sucks to say goodbye but Bijou Hunter gives us a brilliant goodbye deserving of the character I have grown to care so much about. This book brought us a new character that before this book we didn't know anything concrete about and sometimes in cases like this I have found it hard to connect with the character as much as characters I have met before.
I had no such problem with this book I LOVED Saint he is a different hero all on his own yes he is possessive like all of Ms. Hunter's men but Saint is so smart and he thinks things through and knows what to hide and how to open himself up to Harlow even when it's nothing he has ever done before. In all the previous books the heroines are damaged and some of the heroes but the extent of Saint's suffering made him a whole different breed of hero and it just made him a deeper more interesting awesome character.
Harlow is softer and stronger than I thought she would be and the growth she shows in this book is staggering and amazing and beautiful all at the same time. We again get to see all the characters we know and love and like all the other books in this series their is tragedy but there is also funny I have grown to expect from Bijou Hunter, and I found myself laughing out loud several tikes . I blew through this book quicker than I thought I would. And though I didn't want this book to end I didn't want to put this book down more.
Yes it is sad to see this series end but I'm going to think of all the great new books and series that Bijou Hunter will have time to write now including Sawyer and Jace's story (which I want even more now after reading this book). As with all of Bijou's books we get a great epilogue(well actually two) and I teared up reading the happy ending that two astoundingly strong characters so much deserved. I couldn't have been happier with this book. This is one of those series I will turn to again in the future when nothing else can seems to cut it, as I have already. Congratulation Bijou Hunter on an incredible series!
*This is a beta read, Thank you Bijou Hunter for this copy to read and review
This one still didn't have the action like the first couple, but I still lived it. I am so sad to see this series end! Thank god I've ordered signed copies from the author!!!
3.25 RATING+- This is a tough one for me to rate. I've been a fan of the Damaged series since book one and am a big fan of Bijou Hunter. That being said, Damaged and the Saint was bit of a miss for me. The witty banter and snarkiness were very evident throughout the book and there were a ton of great one liners, but overall, nothing quite came together for me the way Hunter's books usually do. At times, the story felt like it was secondary to the banter and one-liners. I also missed some of the sexy bits. There was sex in the book but the author made you wait for it. I understood the reasoning behind the wait but still was a bit frustrated by it. Damaged and the Saint is expected to be the last in the Damaged series. I was expecting some type of epic epilogue or send off to wrap the series up so was a bit let down with just the standard, run of the mill ending. Maybe my expectations were too high...Still, I was hoping for more.
This is part of a continuing series revolving around the family and friends of an MC. All the characters are intertwined through the series and their shared history is important to the storyline. Therefore, though you can read this book as a standalone, you will only get maximum enjoyment if you read the other books in the series first. There is no cliffhanger.
TRIGGER WARNING: If you are sensitive about books containing references to abuse and assault, you may want to avoid this book, and to be honest the entire series, if you haven’t read it yet. There are reasons for the ‘Damaged’ part of the book’s title.
Harlow is very damaged. Her life before being adopted by her new parents as a teenager was very hard, with a drug-addicted mother and an abusive stepfather who got her hooked on drugs to make her compliant, she still tried to look after her mother and siblings and be strong despite her own problems. After the death of her family, she still tried to be strong even whilst trying to heal. She is so sure she will never want to be involved with a man and she is still filled with rage about her past. She fights at the local underground fight club to earn money and to vent some of her rage. She invests her winnings in martial arts training to help her get stronger. When she runs into a stranger in the woods her first instinct is to attack. When the man easily defeats her she runs scared.
Saint is an assassin. He’s in town to help assess the new president of the MC, Cooper, along with other leadership potentials for the national president. He’s not part of the MC but a contractor for unusual and quiet jobs. When he’s attacked by a young woman in the woods he finds himself intrigued and decides to help train her to be stronger, both physically and mentally. Whilst he’s just looking for a diversion, something in him recognises a fellow damaged person and he finds himself reaching for the idea of having a ‘normal’ life with Harlow.
There isn’t much plot in this book beyond these two people trying to work their way through the minefields of their past to find happiness in the present. It’s a complex emotional journey but there’s not much action beyond paintballing. It’s an engaging story that draws you in.
I’ve really enjoyed this whole series with it’s quirky characters in their small Tennessee town. There is humour and kindness wrapped around the violence and pain. The friendship and love of family overrides the damage done to the characters in their troubled pasts. The books are not sweet but they are warming to the heart. I will continue to read this author because she has wormed her way into my favourite MCs list.
I am a faithful reader of this series and have read all the books so far. Unfortunately, I could not keep reading this one. Harlow has experienced sexual trauma in the past and this has colored her interactions with people. She meets a stranger in the woods and immediately attacks him and when she is unable to hurt him, she runs away. She meets the guy again a few hours later and he is amused by their earlier encounter. The guy is a famous killer that everyone fears. He offers to train her but she has to move in with him and she agrees. Wait, what?! This all happens within a day or two. The guy demands that she sleep in his bed even though he knows she is afraid of men due to her past. After the first night, he is all lovey-dovey telling Harlow that she is his dreamcatcher bc he can finally get a good night's sleep. I got the feeling that the author rushed this story and she really did a disservice to the characters. Similar to the past books, the h in this story has been raped in the past and this has scarred her emotionally. And like the previous books, therapy does not help but forcing yourself into a relationship with a guy is the cure. Most of the women in the stories by this author have expereinced extremely disturbing sexual abuse. It is a constant theme in Ms. Hunter's books. I have a background in psychology and am tempted to analyze this but I'll refrain since it would be inappropriate. Anyway, I don't think I will be reading anymore books by Ms. Hunter.
Out of all the books I've read by Bijou, this one was my absolute favorite. Harlow had a super troubled past. One that therapy and all the fighting in the world couldn't break through. Then, Saint comes to town. He challenges her. She challenges him. It makes for an EXCELLENT story.
I suggest you read all the Damaged books in order because while they are all great, when you get to this one in the series, you'll be wanting MORE MORE MORE!
There was basically no plot outside the romance, but I still loved it.
The large cast of characters (including the H and h) were hilarious as usual.
It's sad the series has ended, but probably good for the author to move onto new scenery and characters.
The epilogue was great and I liked that Saint and Harlow's life took a turn that the others' didn't.
The author did a great job as usual at fleshing out the characters' emotional problems (damage) and making their healing believable. Either the author is very insightful or she's studied psychology.
But is the series really over? I mean, Sawyer is going to grow up eventually....
This one wasn’t too bad, not my favorite of the series but it was alright. The main thing I’ve noticed with these books is they’re so repetitive with the storyline and they kind of feel like one big run on sentence. Meaning that you definitely need to read each book in order even though they’re all different couples because each one kind of flows right into the next one. Harlow and Saint were decent, I again wish we got more depth but if you’ve read the entire series I would recommend reading it anyways.
Damaged by the Saint was a good book, Saint and Harlow's story. It didn't have the same effect as the other 6 books in the series but it was still a fun read. Saint was an assassin while Harlow the broken girl he fell in love with. The usual suspects from the previous books made their appearance but this book lacked something the other didn't. However it was still had it's fun moments.
Two very broken angry at times and isolated people run smack into each other and their lives are never the same. The killer and the survivor make an interesting pairing as he teachers her to harness her last while simultaneously doing the same.
Bijou Hunter is a definite one click for me. It is rare that a book makes me actually laugh out loud but holy hell, she makes me cackle snort diet coke out of my nose. So so good.
Harlow needs help and the killer saint will give it to her. This book was sweet and funny saint and Harlow fit so well and he gave her everything she needed
This is the last book in the series and we say good bye to all our good “bad boys” and the women who love them. It was a great series.
This book is about Harlow and Saint. Harlow deals with her past demons and horrible life by being alone (without a relationship), training and fighting. It’s what gets her through. As Harlow decides to go for a run through the woods she encounters a hugh, scary and pretty good looking man. What does Harlow do … confronts her fear and attacks the man before he can attack her. Eventually because she isn’t much of a job against this muscle of a man she’s high tails it and runs. She goes to Cooper and tells him that “she” was attacked in the wood and starts to describe the man. Low and behold, laughter erupts and out comes the muscle of the man – Saint.
Saint is a killer and his reputation is pristine. He does the job like no other. He belongs to no-one – pretty much an independent contractor. Saint wasn’t always this man and you’ll learn his story of how he went from an exceptional human being to a killer. His story is very sad but the good part is that he has a wonderful relationship with his mother that is bathed in love. Being a killer didn’t change some things that he held dear. Saint doesn’t do relationship and keeps to himself. Saint is in town for protection and to observe to see if Cooper is able to take his father’s place. On the way to the club, Saint is attacked by a woman and he is surprised. Obviously she is no match for him but he sees something very different in her and he is drawn to her. When he finds her at the club telling Cooper that he attacked her he finds he has to get to know her more. So he offers to train her on her fighting skills while he is in town for a week.
After accepting Saints proposal they find themselves being attracted to each other but each of them fear love and this is a problem for them. In spite of their fears they grow much closer and form a friendship and connection and lets not forget that they are so much more now attracted to each other. Saints time is coming to an end and this makes Harlow scared because she doesn’t want him to leave. Saint doesn’t think he can be the man that Harlow deserves but he is having a problem leaving. Saint also isn’t a small town guy because he sticks out way too much and makes him a target to any enemies. Neither can say good-bye.
Saint does leave and promises to come back. Does he? Does Harlow wait? Her insecurities come into play a lot in this book and teaches her something about herself. Can they actually have a future together –IF- he returns?
Excellent book. Excellent Characters. A must read.
With the exception of 'Gator' I've read and absolutely loved everything Bijou has written, the 'Damaged' series has been one of favourite series this year, well last year if you think about it, actually I think I read 'Beast' back in 2013, the point is I've loved this series and looked forward to each new book coming out and while this is the last in the 'Damaged' series it's not the last we'll see of these characters. Sawyer and Jace have their own book coming out, skipping forward over a decade, I can't wait I simply love Sawyer, and with Saint spin-off we'll be kept in touch. This book was wonderful, Harlow needed a strong man and she found just what she needed in Saint and they were amazing together, I loved the dialogue between them, all the witty banter and one-liners. This book was different to the rest in a lot of ways I suppose this was mainly due to the fact that both Saint and Harlow were damaged to what seemed beyond repair at times. I'm now waiting for whatever Bijou writes next.
Just like th other stories in this series this Book is just as great as the rest... Saint... although a Killer, New Another damaged person when he meet one.. & Harlow got to know the many Faces of Saint... the good, bad, killer,angry & the all so Patiently Saint that took his time with not only learning all that is Harlow but also his limitations as well.... rediscovering himself as a person... & expanding Harlows limitations as a whole...having her back always ..... a very beautiful long book that I didn't want to end, even though this Is the final in the series .. I think..... I hope we can get novellas a I love this Series & don't want to let go... sorry I just don't.... An Awesome Book/Series.So Get One Clicking People... :-)
Since my TBR is already messed up I went ahead and read Damaged and the Saint by Bijou Hunter and I am so glad I did❤️ I fell hard for these two broken souls❤️ Saint-an independent hit man for hire who hasn't settled too long in one place for over a decade. Harlow-a spit fire, take-no-shit bad ass fighter, who has lived a rough life at such a young age, vowed never to want or need a man in her life. That all changes one night when she runs into Saint, literally, while jogging in the woods. These two must over come a 10yr age gap, an unthinkable past and an uncertain future to get to where they want to be: at peace and in love. If u haven't already one click this baby!
a surprisingly sweet and romantic book for sch damaged people
I thought Harlow was an unhappy and angry chick. Turns out she is funny, sweet and needy. Saint was not what I expected he is a brutal killer and at the same time a funny, sweet needy guy. This couple evolves and its interesting the direction that they take.
I love this series and this is another great book. I like all of the characters and as usual it has some sexy times. If you enjoy the series then this is another instalment worth reading.
this series stareded to go down the hill on the last book. this story line i guess i just lost intrest but i stuck it out. i the book was in the middle for me. i liked it but for the ending of the series i still think that it need more. but i was very shocked on what she wrote on how they left. i am glad that this series is over.
I love this whole series. Harlow is a great character, she is funny, complicated and completely adorable. Saint is complex yet believable in his emotions and actions. it was a great read and I was very happy when I realised she had released another in this series. Bijou writes amazing female leads and I am always happy when I read her stories.
Not as good as the previous ones. There is no more newness, but this story is good anyway. Harlow is a cute heroin, even if damaged, she try to fight for her peace of mind, and she find Saint that will help her ...
I think it's the last of the serie, and i hope i'll find another serie in the same style.
Another great read. This series isn't an exciting thriller type but really interesting stories of people's characters. I've enjoyed this book as it broke down the hang ups of the two main characters and then stitches them all back together to end up with a "happy ever after" a book to have when you want a good read without having to study in depth.
This series has been hit and miss for me. Some books I love love love and some books have just been okay and unfortunately Damaged and The Saint is the later. I liked it but nothing really stood out about this book. Although having said that I am still a huge fan of Bijou Hunter and look forward to what she writes next.
Okay I just devoured this series and I loved every single page of it that is a fantastic series I am just sad its over that sucks but I am looking forward to reading the rest of the books out by this author I am hooked !