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To survive two strangers will have to rely on only each other.

Stephanie Fuller has had the year from hell and a vacation to Mexico was supposed to be a way to find her equilibrium again. Instead she's snatched off the streets and wakes up in a dark, dank underground prison. Nothing could prepare her for what's going to happen to her there, or the connection she builds with her fellow captive.

When Patrick "Trick" Kramer wakes up in a small cell and learns he's not alone he quickly puts together the pieces of who took him and why. Despite a rocky start in life he's a protector, and there is nothing worse for a man like him than having an innocent woman who needs his protection but being unable to save her from the hell that's coming.

There is no way Stephanie won't hate him for what he has to do.

236 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 9, 2024

557 people are currently reading
84 people want to read

About the author

Jane Blythe

118 books1,365 followers
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USA Today bestselling author Jane Blythe writes action-packed romantic suspense and military romance featuring protective heroes and heroines who are survivors. One of Jane's most popular series includes Prey Security, part of Susan Stoker's OPERATION ALPHA world! Writing in that world alongside authors such as Janie Crouch and Riley Edwards has been a blast, and she looks forward to bringing more books to this genre, both within and outside of Stoker's world. When Jane isn't binge-reading she's counting down to Christmas and adding to her 200+ teddy bear collection!

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5 stars
741 (67%)
4 stars
267 (24%)
3 stars
73 (6%)
2 stars
13 (1%)
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6 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
Profile Image for Sherry Fundin.
2,319 reviews166 followers
December 28, 2025
We are back with Prey Security: Bravo Team #4, Cruel Scars by Jane Blythe, a romantic suspense novel that is sure to be sizzling hot and filled with danger. But two strangers will meet and fall in love, getting their happy ever after. We just don’t know what torment and torture they will have to go through to find it.

Stephanie Fuller is on a vacation, but that was not to be. She was snatched off the street and whisked away. She wakes up naked and afraid, laying on the cold concrete. She wasn’t alone for long. A man is stripped of his clothing, chained to the wall, naked. Stephanie meet Patrick “Trick” Kramer. I don’t know how they will save themselves, but Patrick only needs one chance. Will they come close enough, thinking he is no threat? Of course.

I love when Patrick describes her as a superhero in training. Gotta have a little light to overcome the darkness.

I love this series and I love to see familiar faces. The team is family and when one is in danger, they all are. You need help and healing, this family will supply it. Sure, we have some cheesy moments, but that is a common theme with the genre. But, not everything is predictable. So brace yourself for a wild ride.

See more at https://www.fundinmental.com
Profile Image for Detra Newhouse.
70 reviews
April 3, 2024
Trick and Stephanie shares an experience that is not for the faint of heart! That's what these two strangers find themselves in and have to figure out a way to get out of the situation they're in. Each of them will have to come to terms with what they're going through and what they've gone through, individually as well as together. For Trick, who is a natural born protector, he has to deal with not being able to protect Stephanie from what she must go through and what he must allow to happen. He sees her struggle but what can he do? For our girl Steph (yeah, she's my friend in my head), she has already lived through some horrific things and must try to endure even more when she was just minding her business. At the end, if they survive how does Trick reconcile with Steph knowing that even though he may not have been physically protect her, maybe he could have said something to protect her. How would she ever want to talk to him, let alone form any kind of relationship with him. Stephanie must think about how could she ever trust anyone or be with anyone and not have them judge her for what was done TO her. Their story is pretty tragic, but shows a strength in both of them that neither knew they had. If you have triggers, there are some scenes that might be a little tough but if you can get past that bit then the rest, while still gritty, will be well worth the read. Jane Blythe continues to bring us a good story with imaginative plots and twists!
Profile Image for Ashleigh Christou.
223 reviews19 followers
April 8, 2024
I could not put this down! Read in one night! It’s a more dark and twisted, violent addition to the series. Continuing to add small crumbs of info about the whole story, Steph and Trick’s story is a difficult one, it’s not for the faint hearted! They survive something horrific and are bound together by trauma but still a lot more is left to be revealed in the series. Enjoyable and a massive page turner!
Profile Image for Leanne ~ Tales From The Heart.
2,477 reviews26 followers
March 28, 2024
Stephanie is on a much needed break in Mexico. Losing her family then the jerk she though was her future she needed a break. It didn't quite work out to plan when she was kidnapped. Was this trafficking or something else. She wakes up in a dark place naked and not alone. When 'Trick' learns who she is he knows she is going to be hurt so he will talk. These terrorists was answers and he'll die before talking. This torture of Stephanie is brutal so consider yourself warned.
I couldn't put the book down and needed to know how they could possibly get back to the world, let alone survive. The suspense carried through the entire story as pieces fell into place.
The connection between these characters was born in violence and will end in love.
Great story, I highly recommend this series.
217 reviews1 follower
March 15, 2024
Wow! This was another book from Prey Bravo tram that I could not put down!

For much of the book it focussed on events with Patrick ‘Trick’ Kramer and Stephanie ‘Steph’ Fuller. After a traumatic year, Stephanie goes on a sunny vacation to Mexico, but she is abducted and finds herself in a cell with Trick, and as they try to figure out what happened they soon discover that they had both been targeted. What happens in the following days is traumatic, for them both but Trick finds a means for their escape, and they go on the run.

This is an emotional, adrenaline filled with intense adventure. Trick feels guilt, Steph doesn’t want to be a burden, but through it all they come together in a trauma fuelled insta love.

When the help of Prey Bravo team Steph and Trick make it back home but both have doubts but the guys from Bravo and their women are there to help them get their heads straight.

This book has a gamut of emotion, fear, anger, trust, friendship, and love. There is the usual loyalty and support form the Prey crew and this brings everything to a satisfying HEA. Steph was strong and loyal; Trick was a protective warrior. Together they were unstoppable!

Yet another rollicking ride form Jane Blythe. I loved it!
2,104 reviews32 followers
April 2, 2024
Truly loved Trick and Stephanie’s story and how these two are tied together without even knowing how or why until the fateful day Stephanie is snatched up while vacationing in Mexico. Trick trying to be the gallant man he sees and hears something and jumps into action without thinking and winds up captive with Stephane. Neither know each other and when they finally realize they aren’t alone and begin talking it’s then Trick figures everything out, the connection is her brother Chris and he’s the reason they are in this mess. The only thing he can think of is how he is getting these two out of here alive. The trust they build together is amazing and Stephanie needs that in her life. Trick has some insecurities in his life and has recently been thinking that something is missing in his life and the more time that they spend together shows him how strong, beautiful, and smart she is and needs reassurance for her own insecurities. Love how everyone on the team is intertwined with these two. I can't wait for what’s to come next.
Profile Image for Marie.
5,248 reviews54 followers
April 9, 2024
Trust is his kryptonite....

But the trust Steph so willingly hands over to him brings him to his knees. They are in the worst possible place, being tortured and violated...yet the trust she shows as she holds his eye...Gah! It is very humbling and heartbreaking.
He calls her his Little Superhero in Training, but she proves time and again she is as much of a Superhero as he is, she is a warrior every day of the week....and twice on escape day!
I love the Bravo Team, they may be very dinted and dented, but they pull together as a family and help each other through, when one hurts, they all hurt and when one celebrates, they all celebrate!
This is a hideous, horrific and torturous book- but it is also so good. I read this in one sitting, only stopping to dry my eyes when the tears made reading too difficult, it leaves you emotionally drained but you can't, not read it! And once you start, you have to finish. I read this on Kindle Unlimited.
Profile Image for Meghan.
3,427 reviews8 followers
May 8, 2024
A rough journey

Patrick/Trick and Stephanie. The quest to solve what happened to Beth is still going strong, but in the meantime Trick is kidnapped and wakes up to find another person who also was kidnapped. The story quickly shares she has something in common with Trick and Bravo team. The trigger warnings needed for this next part and well most of the rest of the book cover torture, rape, assault, etc. as the terrorists try to find answers to their questions that only these two can provide. IMO all the women have suffered greatly to get their HEA, but Stephanie’s seemed more extreme than the rest and on par with Pipers. Eventually the whole team is back together and we see the brotherhood and protective nature of each man, especially Ace as they all help protect Stephanie and back up Trick. The ending for Trick and Stephanie ends on a good note, but the team also shared the mystery around Beth just got even more confusing with results from their last find.
Profile Image for Carmela Dimattia.
1,932 reviews22 followers
April 6, 2024
Only Jane Blythe can deliver a book about security, protection and love. Cruel Scars is book four in the Bravo Team series and in this book we finally get to read Trick’s story. It appears Trick is in the wrong place, or maybe right place, at the right time because he is kidnapped along with Stephanie Fuller when a militia believes they might know the whereabouts of some diamonds. Their journey to freedom is not easy and we are often left to wonder how they will overcome everything that happens to them but Jane Blythe has a way with words and all the danger and suspense only adds to the anticipation in this book. I loved this book as I have loved this entire series and as always I am hungry for the next instalment, which promises to be as exciting as Cruel Scars. Bravo Jane Blythe for another amazing book that will leave you on the edge of your seat and with your heart pounding.
2,734 reviews33 followers
March 27, 2024
What s harrowing story about strength and survival.

When on vacation, Stephanie is kidnapped and tortured along with Trick, for secrets he held.

This story really hit hard. So emotional and heart breaking in the aftermath of what had happened to both Trick and Stephanie. The danger and suspense never lets up, and made for a rather in your face story.

Very well done. I loved the giving and communication between Trick and Stephanie. They both go through so much but always there and Trick being the ultimate Protector won't let himself not be there.

Their connection definitely can't be unrivalled. Such a great story, heart breaking, eye opening and harrowing but so worth it. I could not put it down.

Extremely well done! So good!!
2,304 reviews91 followers
May 14, 2024
In this fourth book in the Bravo Team series, Patrick Kramer, aka Trick, meets Stephanie Fuller in less than stellar circumstances. Both are thrown into a traumatic situation, which is the stuff nightmares are made of.

Stephanie is so strong, her determination is fantastic, and I have a bit of heroine worship going on. What a woman! Trick is the joker on the team, always ready to try to make people laugh. He is, without a doubt, a honey who deserves to find love but doesn’t think he is. 😢

The action and drama, mainly in Liberia, are intense and sometimes nail-biting. This story has so much: kidnapping and forced proximity, near-death experiences, instalove(sort of, very fast anyway), and supportive, loyal teamwork.

Another terrific story by this talented author.
Profile Image for Vickie Chaisson.
1,196 reviews10 followers
July 14, 2024
This book is an emotionally intense graphic story of trust, abuse, kidnapping, suspense, torture and ultimately about the love and support of a found family. The storyline is succinct and horrific and has many triggers. The characters strength and perseverance to survive will tear your heart out. I cried and laughed and was amazed by the author's ability to tell this story with gusto and not back down from the subject matter. This book is part of an amazing series and you could read it as a standalone but you will miss so much if you do not read in order. This author has a great grasp of human nature and her characters are better for it. The Prey series is beautifully written and I do recommend this book.
442 reviews7 followers
March 13, 2024
Well what a book! What a mistake I made starting to read this at bedtime! I simply couldn't put this book down. Panther and Stephanie literally drag you on their adrenaline fuelled journey towards their HEA. I finally had to give up reading at 1:30 and woke up this morning to complete it. This book has it all, friendship, loyalty, bravery, romance, thrills. This book could be enjoyed as a standalone, however, there are threads running through the series. Am I glad I read this book? Absolutely not - because now it is over and I have to wait for the next one. Do I recommend this book? Absolutely (and 5 stars do it no justice). Just please keep writing Jane Blythe!
Profile Image for Jenn O'Leary.
1,036 reviews22 followers
March 13, 2024
Wow. Cruel Scars is an intense, emotional, and action packed read!
Once I started reading, I did NOT want to put it down.
Stephanie has had a terrible year, and decides to go on vacation to Mexico. But things don't go as planned, and she is snatched off the streets and wakes up in a dark basement.
It turns out she is not alone.
Patrick aka "Trick" wakes up in the same basement, and slowly realizes, he is not alone.
He is a member of Prey Security's Bravo Team and is a protector through and through.
When figures out who took him and why, can he survive the hell he & Stephanie must live through?
I did not want this book to end! And I am excited for the rest of the series.
Profile Image for Dawn Cruikshank.
1,135 reviews8 followers
May 1, 2024
Cruel Scars

OMG! This story was definitely cruel right from the first sentence! It was about Patrick (Trick) and Stephanie. Most of the story was just about Trick and Stephanie after they were kidnapped. Their survival depended on each other. You will definitely get a few tears and your heart will be in your throat throughout this story. Stephanie was definitely a superhero in this story. Glad she got her revenge on the one who tortured her the most. I am glad Trick got his act together to make things better for Stephanie. FANTASTIC job Jane! I would recommend this book!
228 reviews
May 17, 2024
Amazing and Intense!

Oh wow! I absolutely love Patrick and Stephanie. Both have been captured and are tortured for a mission Patrick and Stephanie's brother had been on. The strength Stephanie had as well as the vulnerability Patrick didn't know he had was extremely well written.

This story is full of page turning action and suspense! Can Patrick and Stephanie escape? Can both get through the torture they both went through.

This is an amazing book, with a plot twist at the end (I did not see that coming!). I highly recommend!
Profile Image for PepperP0t .
5,140 reviews87 followers
November 24, 2024
With her mother and brother dying within months of each other and her fiancé showing his true colors, Stephanie Fuller decided she should start the new chapter of her life with a vacation. But on her way to the hotel, she’s kidnapped, stripped and put in a dark basement in another country along with co-prisoner, Patrick "Trick" Kramer. According to Trick, he’s aware of who the kidnappers are and the lengths they’ll go to in torturing their prisoners and he can accept her hating him for what he has to do to her.
Rating: 4.25stars
765 reviews1 follower
May 2, 2025
Disappointing

This author wrote one of my favorite books in the original Prey series — Hawk. Not sure how this writing has gone where it has.

First — the violence and sadistic things in this book are very hard to read and stomach. But the internal dialogue about she can’t possibly want to be with me and he’s too good for her because she feels damaged take up a solid 1/3 of the story.

And for as much as Patrick cared for Stephanie, it was shocking how he walked away after her rescue. Leaving her alone, knowing she was terrified and severely injured made no sense.
Profile Image for Pam.
857 reviews
November 4, 2025
This is a harrowing story of terror, trauma, torture and brutality. Only Jane Blythe can deliver a story like this that sends chills down your spine while reading it. There are so many reasons why I love this story, the bravery of Stephanie while she handles all the brutality she had to endure, the trust she placed in Trick to find a way to get them free, how trick was able to comfort her after each session was over. This story was heart wrenching and had me in tears but it is an amazing original story.
Profile Image for Carina Hales.
480 reviews11 followers
March 21, 2024
This was such a great story, full of danger and suspense. Trick and Stephanie went through such an ordeal they bonded amazingly. They were equal hero’s in my eyes! This was a bit of an insta love, but with what they endured together who can blame them.

I love how the team came through for them and all of Bravo and their girls were there for them both.

As always the ending leaves us desperate for more and I can’t wait for the next instalment.
1,250 reviews18 followers
March 21, 2024
I absolutely loved this story. This series keeps getting better and better. I loved Patrick aka Trick and Stephanie's story. If you like suspense, high intensity action, dreamy hero with a hea then this book is for you. These two went through unimaginable h*ll together and came out the other side. This author loves to pull out all the emotions she can and she is awesome at it. Once again I can't say enough about this story it is fantastic. I highly recommend this book and this series.
Profile Image for Michelle M.
703 reviews5 followers
April 13, 2024
Strong hero and his heroine

This story like the others has two strong main characters. But I feel that the female main character Stephanie is one of the star so far. Sure the other women of Prey have had trauma and survived but for Stephanie and Trick their trauma was face to face with each other. Taken but knew they needed each other to survive. When Trick finally realizes his life means nothing without her he goes to find his HEA.
Profile Image for Melanie.
4,239 reviews34 followers
April 21, 2024
Cruel Scars is extraordinarily intense start to finish. It's brutal, breathtaking in the depth of its emotions and heartwarming in its celebration of the resilience of the human spirit. I cringed and gasped a lot as this story unfolded. Stephanie and Patrick's journey is not for the faint of heart but i guarantee you will cheer them on from the first page to last. It was a one sitting read for me.
Profile Image for Libby Wadum.
94 reviews2 followers
June 7, 2024
Stephanie and Trick

While this was a fast read I couldn’t put down it is a dark story. Stephanie and Trick are captured together and she gets cut on her face, a fifth finger cut and raped in front of chained Trick. Feeling so helpless to help her . Find out how this love story evolves from a guy who doesn’t do commitments. Jane Blythe Thanks for a good read. Can’t wait to read your next book.
46 reviews
March 15, 2024
Wow! I couldn't put it down. This book hit all the feels, heartbreak, trust, friendship... To escape the hell Trick and Stephanie were in, they had to trust each other. It wasn't a slow build trust, it was, "we need to trust NOW". There were lots of twists and turns, which is normal for a Jane Blythe book, but that's truly the best kind of book.
Profile Image for Ela La1978.
598 reviews14 followers
March 22, 2024
If you read the previous three books you know what Jane Blythe will throw at you. A good book about the worst of humanity, a hero who tries to shelter and spare the strong female. A female whose strong beyond her beliefs. An excellent, exciting story, with lots of twists and turns. A book you want to read in one go and lots and lots of heartfelt moments.
Profile Image for Kelly McGrath.
32 reviews
April 1, 2024
Wow!! Another amazing read by Jane!
I could not put this book down and read it in one sitting.

Trick and Stephanie had me from the beginning. The amount of courage, trust, instant faith in each other and strength was amazing.
The bond these two created from a shared horrific experience was captivating to read.
Once again the Prey family steps up and does not disappoint!!
Profile Image for Monique Westwood.
520 reviews4 followers
April 2, 2024
Patrick and Stephanie meet in a horrible way. They connect almost instantly. They are both strong characters with past (& new) trauma that makes them so human. Patrick might be my favourite hero. This is part of a series but can be read as a stand-alone. I am looking forward to reading more.
219 reviews4 followers
April 2, 2024
Will a meeting in a high stress situation lead a HEA? Its time for another member of the team to fall in love but with all of Jane's books its never an easy road. Stephanie and Trick are trapped in a cycle that will either bring them together or cause them to regret meeting. Follow this couple as they try to navigate trying to get away. Will they escape??? A great journey.
Profile Image for BecReadReview.
1,933 reviews35 followers
April 26, 2024
Jane has written Trick & Stephanie with so much strength that gives us a kickass women & a man willing to do anything. You cringe at the pain & torture they go through yet are in awe at the resilience at surviving it. I kept waiting in anticipation for the team to rescue them & enjoyed the bond that shines through the men & women. A hard but good book to read. Honest review.
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