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HAUNTED BY THE PAST

No way is Blade ever going back to Afghanistan—not after what happened. The memories are too raw, the pain too deep. Except now, his dead buddy’s girlfriend has gone missing—kidnapped by the Taliban—and thanks to the volatile situation in the country, no one’s going to get her out. That leaves him.

A DARING ABDUCTION

One minute she’s at work, the next all hell breaks loose. While racing to the airport, trying to get on a plane home, Lily is abducted by the new regime—and they mean business. Rough hands grab her, dragging her into a waiting van. This is no accident. They want the military codes that she's got locked away in her head, and they won't rest until they get them.

THE LAST MAN SHE WANTS TO SEE

Starving, dehydrated, and freezing cold, Lily didn’t think things could get any worse. Then, in storms special ops soldier "Blade" Wilson, all guns and glory, to rescue her. Blade, her late boyfriend's best friend, and the man responsible for his death. With his brooding eyes and that impossible jawline, he's the last person she wants to see, but he's also her only ticket out. She has no choice but to trust him with her life.

A LOVE WORTH FIGHTING FOR

As they race to escape, the simmering attraction between them threatens to ignite, but in a war-torn world where trust is scarce, their feelings may be the one thing that could destroy them both.

* This is an enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity romance with some steamy scenes.

246 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 21, 2024

1450 people are currently reading
312 people want to read

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Gemma Ford

33 books21 followers

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5 stars
552 (54%)
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285 (28%)
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136 (13%)
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27 (2%)
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10 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
Profile Image for Daisy.
7 reviews3 followers
June 28, 2025
What a fantastic book in the first of a new series!!!!!! Blade was a Special Forces operator who gave everything up after his team was ambushed and he was the only survivor. He also lost his best friend in the ambush. After a time feeling guilty, lost and alone, not knowing what to do next, he is approached by his former Commander, asking him to go back to Afghanistan to rescue a CIA operator. She also happens to be his best friend's girlfriend. After he rescues her, they have to make their way together through enemy territory, with the enemy bearing down on them at every turn. Only having each other to rely on, they develop feelings for each other, but is it because of the tense situation or could it be more? This is an action packed story that keeps you drawn in to the end. They encounter enemies and friends along the way. I can't wait for the next book in the series. I received an ARC copy of the book free for my review.
Profile Image for Marisela M. Chavez.
1,399 reviews8 followers
July 9, 2025
Blade and Lily story was absolutely beautiful. The suspense, the chemistry and everything in between was incredible. I just found a new author and can’t wait to read more of this series.
Profile Image for Suzana.
691 reviews26 followers
May 15, 2024
*ARC kindly provided by the author and I’m leaving an honest review*

🫧Contemporary
🫧Romantic suspense
🫧Military
🫧Enemies to lovers
🫧Forced proximity
🫧Forbidden
🫧Broody, grumpy, jaded hero, a former Green Beret
🫧CIA operator heroine, jaded and strong
🫧Enough emotional baggage to fill a room + emotional roller-coaster
🫧Fun cast of supporting characters
🫧Engaging / riveting / gripping / gritty / addictive storyline
🫧Page turner / suspenseful / fast paced
🫧Jaw-Dropping Twists

Duty Bound is the first book in Blackthorn Security series. Gemma Ford has woven a unique, intricate story with epic twists and turns, mystery, danger and a great backstory to it which will have a reader's heart rapidly beating with the turn of each page. What a ride this was. Dark, drama-laden, twisty, enemies to lovers, forced proximity story that had me in suspense from start till the last page. Did not disappoint with the story, characters, dangerous intrigue and charm. So easy to read and impossible to put down. Duty Bound is a well-written story with a lot of suspense and life threatening moments and heartwarming and compelling story.

Blade is a former Green Beret and team leader who never wanted to return to Afghanistan, especially after what happened. The memories are too raw, the pain too deep. However, due to the volatile situation in the country, he is the only one who can save his deceased buddy's girlfriend, Lily, who has gone missing. Lily is a CIA operator who has been working in Kabul and is invaluable. In her attempt to leave the country amidst the chaos, Lily is abducted. Neither of them thought things could get any worse. Blade is the last person Lily wants to see, but he is also her only ticket out. She has no choice but to trust him with her life. After he rescues her, they must make their way together through enemy territory, relying only on each other, trusting each other, and having each other's backs while danger, bullets, and enemies bear down on them at every turn. Blade and Lily's story is the perfect blend of drama, action, intrigue, suspense, adventure and steam. Slow-building tension, angst and enemies vibe are so skillfully interwoven and told. These two are absolutely perfect together. Blade and Lily have great chemistry and dynamic. Seeing them thriving and finding a way to their HEA is beautiful despite obstacles thrown in their way.

A fabulous start to this series. Can't wait for more.
3,559 reviews40 followers
May 9, 2024
This is an action packed romance that had this reader on the edge of her seat from the first page to the last , all while traveling through the dangerous country of Afghanistan.
Lily Devereau has been working in Kabul since the death of her fiance Joe, a Green Beret. She is invaluable as she is the one of very few that had top secret codes . Codes that could dismantle the country’s system.
In her attempt to leave the country in the midst of the chaos, Lily is abducted by the Taliban.
Blade, a former Green Beret, and team leader of the team who lost in an attack not only Joe, but others, is still living the nightmare of that night.
When Pat, Joe’s father and a former Navy SEAL, asks for his help to rescue Lily, Blade does what he never wanted to do, return to Afghanistan.
From the moment he rescues Lily, the tension and the danger is non-stop. Mix in feelings that are developing , and the readers are taken on a rollercoaster ride of intrigue, danger and survival.
Will Blade be able to rescue and keep Lily safe?
This was a book worth your time.
It’s also a reminder of the sacrifices the brave military men and women as well their families make in order for us to be free.
I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions are solely my own.
Profile Image for Elise Larson.
Author 8 books54 followers
February 26, 2025
Duty Bound is the first book in the Blackthorn Security Series and my first book by this author. It won't be my last, because this exciting story grabbed me on page one and never let go.

It begins as an enemies-to-lovers romance. A year ago, Lily's boyfriend (Joe) and two other team members died during a Taliban ambush of a mission led by our hero (Blade) in Afghanistan. Lily blames Blade for convincing Joe to sign up for the Green Berets in the first place (which wasn't true). When Blade returns to Afghanistan to rescue Lily from Taliban kidnappers, forced proximity soon turns our "enemies" into lovers, leading to some steamy romantic scenes. But Blade can't relinquish his guilt over Joe's death.

Dangers abound as Blade and Lily trek through rugged Taliban territory on foot at night, hoping to reach safety in Kabul. Exhausted and half-starved, they find refuge in a village where one of Blade's former teammates (Stitch) has gone AWOL. With help from Stitch, Blade plans an escape to Kabul, where he intends to put Lily on a plane to America. But things go horribly wrong, which kept me glued to my Kindle from this point on. If Blade survives, will he ever see Lily again? Read this gripping tale of romance, suspense and danger to find out!
2,297 reviews18 followers
May 23, 2024
When Lily is kidnapped in Afghanistan, her dead fiancée’s father turns to Blade to go and rescue her. Blade was the leader on Joe’s team right up until he died and he can’t turn down the plea of his friend’s father, Pat, to go rescue her. He finds her and the two take off roaming the country side to find a way home for Lily. Their journey is tough, the Taliban wanting a piece of them, while trekking the unforgiving landscape encountering many obstacles along the way. But during their trek, Lily learns that she has misjudged Blade for a very long time and discovers that her fiancée may have been hiding a part of himself from her. Now with the two of them getting closer, Lily has to let the past go and Blade has to fight past the guilt of wanting his best friend’s girl.
A great read with steam, suspense, some action and two people finding each other who need to let the past go to move forward. These two were amazing, I LOVED the little to no drama between them and the fast pace of the book that had me glued to the pages. The story flowed beautifully with descriptions that were spot on and I loved the characters.
*I voluntarily read an advanced copy and expressed my honest opinion*
Profile Image for PepperP0t .
5,108 reviews86 followers
January 31, 2025
Blade Wilson went home, he was one of two in his unit to survive an ambush, he was trying hard to leave the hell he’d experienced in A-stan far behind and adjust to civilian life. His friend Joe’s dad, Pat, retired military laid out Joe’s woman, software engineer, Lillian ‘Lily’ Devereux had been captured by the Taliban and there was no official mission to rescue. Lily had codes to her creation designed to track military or enemy forces among other things.

Blade had to search for Lily, since she’d been separated from the other hostages so they’d missed their transport out. Working another option, Lily used the opportunity to tell Blade she didn’t blame him for Joe’s death in the ambush, she did blame him for Joe becoming a Green Beret! Lily’s anger wrestled with her deliberate lack of appreciation for choosing a military career, preconceived dislike of Blade, his attractiveness and resenting her respect for Blade’s soldiering skill making for a sexual tension filled trek while being hunted by the enemy, mainly since respect for Joe made Blade hold back his feelings for her.
Rating: 4stars
3,129 reviews
August 24, 2024
Lily is working for the CIA in Afghanistan. She has helped develop a program that will help keep an eye on enemies. While waiting at the airport she is kidnapped by the new regime. They want the program. She is kept in a cave freezing, hungry and thirsty when she hears gunfire. In walks the last man she wants to see..Spade. Spade is former Special Forces and has is own demons. His best friend was killed in Afghanistan and there was nothing he could do to save him. He was also Lily’s boyfriend for ten years. Spade is going to try and get her to Kabul but they run into several obstacles. Lily realizes it wasn’t Blade’s fault and Blade realizes Lily is not a stuck up woman. Will they put the past behind and look to the future, if they make it out alive?

I have found a new author that I love! I had never read anything by Gemma Ford but it won’t be the last. This book has action. Forced proximity. My favorite enemies to lovers. Military men. Sex.
Profile Image for Heather.
594 reviews11 followers
May 18, 2024
I really enjoyed this book! There is a brief introduction to the two main characters and then you’re dropped into the action. The adventure is intense and doesn’t let up, going from one breathless moment to the next. Blade and Lily share an intense relationship. They knew one another only tangentially and both were forced to confront their preconceptions of one another, and to realize they were wrong in their beliefs. They have to learn to trust one another and survive in a tense, life or death situation. And the characters aren’t the only ones who make the book interesting. The author set most of the book in Afghanistan and the place really comes alive, all the beauty and danger. I couldn’t put this book down, and I’m really happy to know it’s only the first book in a series. I can’t wait to read what the author has written next! I absolutely recommend this one.
2,698 reviews33 followers
May 19, 2024
Oh my my my, such a brilliant book. My first from Gemma Ford but oh wow, so good.

This was about Lily a computer tech with codes that everyone wants and ex special forces operator Blade who goes in and rescues her.

Blade and Lily really were an amazing couple. Both knew of each other but a misconception after their first meeting, put them on a road to animosity. Both also had issues to deal with that were deep but over time, became unimportant.

Gemma Ford writes so well, giving us a book that well I for one couldn't put down. Brilliant plotting and such likable characters with hearts so big, and protective instincts so strong. The action non stop and so involving.

A perfect book and one I can stand behind to recommend. So good!!
Profile Image for Vickie Chaisson.
1,189 reviews11 followers
May 26, 2024
On the run from the Taliban!

This book is a rollercoaster ride of kidnapping,terrorists, escape, survival and twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The storyline is intense and succinct. Character development is on point especially between the H/h. Lily gets taken at the airport trying to leave the country before the Taliban regime is entrenched. She has a secret that they really want. After Blade a Green Beret rescues her they have to make their way through enemy country to the extraction point. This author has a really good grasp of what a war zone does to a country and its people. The paranoia of looking over your shoulder as you run is very graphically represented. This story keeps your interest and you will find it enjoyable.
Profile Image for Brad.
705 reviews3 followers
December 6, 2024
Great Blend of Action and Romance

Lily and Blade start this adventure with strongly different feelings and perspectives. Blade is rescuing Lily as a duty to his team mate, Joe, who died in his arms and was Lily’s husband. Lily blames Blade for his death. The story effortlessly moves between the intense story of the rescue mission and their evolving relationship. Character development is excellent. The world view is based in our recent history with a lot of color added as we see Afghanistan from the view of a seasoned Special Forces soldier. Never a dull moment in the rescue or the growing attraction.
588 reviews
October 16, 2025
I started enjoying this book more once they both got past their previous hang ups about each other. Lily being CIA didn’t really jive at all with her character and her 10 year happy relationship felt questionable on what info we had to go by. But ignoring that, I thought the booked flowed and kept me engaged. I liked how Blade was so protective of her. I was happy he didn’t get stuck in the “we can’t do this because of loyalty” too long - though it went on longer than I liked. Also would have liked to see more once they got state side as all I could think about throughout the book was how dirty and stinky they must have been. Overall, enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Dewey.
2,078 reviews1 follower
June 3, 2024
This is a very good story with wonderful characters, a heartfelt story, adventure as they try to get out of Afghanistan, and a love story that develops as they question what they thought they knew about one another and their past. Surprised how naive Lily was about special forces, especially since she was married to one for 10 years. She was almost clueless about the danger they are in from the Taliban who were hunting them. She stops him from killing a goat herder who might have seen them, then says "Violence isn't always the answer." Loved it, happy to order her next book.
129 reviews1 follower
January 20, 2025
I loved this story. Lily, a CIA operative who held very important information, was captured by taliban operatives in Afghanistan. Blade is the operative sent to rescue her. Blade was good friends with her boyfriend who was killed in action.

Blade and Lily go through a lot of stressful situations to get her to safety, during this time they realize things about each other and in the end we get our HEA.

I liked how both Lily and Blade were written both strong characters who had their own skills. I have a feeling we will be seeing both of them in future books.
Profile Image for Katie Johnson.
76 reviews
April 18, 2025
I really, really, really wanted to like this book. But for some reason, I just had to push through reading it. I didn't feel connected to either MC and I didn't feel like they came alive and made me become invested into their story. The MCs felt very flat and I didn't feel any of the angst or pain or mental anguish. I will give the second book a try because the story was pretty good. A bit rushed in areas with little to no expansion in areas that could use expansion leaving me wanting more investment and not getting it. I would rate this book 3 stars. Just wasn't my cup of tea.
Profile Image for Angie.
772 reviews2 followers
February 10, 2025
Series Starter

Fast paced, lots of action, interesting story.
But Lily is poorly written, so much doesn’t make sense. She appears to be okay with boyfriend being in the military, but not SF. They were high school sweethearts, together for 10 yrs, but weren’t married or even engaged. She spent 10 yrs refusing to interact with military community, but she’s CIA. Terrible situation awareness, just didn’t get her
Profile Image for Linda Elliott.
1,590 reviews9 followers
May 23, 2024
This book had emotions written throughout it And it was a good story

I fell in love with the characters They're uncertainties, they're questions about their life, And the love that some of them found. . It was a 2 night read So not So not so long so long as it becomes A drag but Author told the story Every aspect every feeling And yet I enjoyed every minute of it.
Profile Image for Anne (Izzie).
381 reviews1 follower
May 26, 2024
This is a great read, it starts as the USA leaves Afghanistan and with Lily attempting to get to the airport and being kidnapped by the Taliban. Blade is former Special Forces living with nightmares, but is persuaded to go and try to get her back. Their story is engrossing and so well written, as Lily and Blade get to know each other as they flee from their pursuers. I thoroughly recommend this book, and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
851 reviews2 followers
November 11, 2024
A terrific book

This book was well written with exciting, unpredictable storylines. It didn’t take long to get caught up in the plot and the characters were believable. I didn’t think that the entire story would take place in Afghanistan, but the ending does give the reader closure. There’s nothing I love more than a happily ever after!
247 reviews
October 6, 2025
Duty Bound

Fantastic read, well done Gemma Ford. Captured the do or die character of Blade the ultimate protector hero and Lily the gorgeous but geeky computer whiz captured by the Tallyban. Their tortuous escape sees them lose their misconceptions and draw close together. Looking forward to next in series
Profile Image for Sue.
4,358 reviews5 followers
May 7, 2024
New author to me and this is the start of a great series. It starts after the US left Afghanistan and we had Americans left behind, in this case it was Lily, she got snatched by the Taliban. Blade was asked to get an unsanctioned team to get her back. Danger, suspense and a HEA.
682 reviews
June 30, 2024
Nice

I loved this book. There was always something going on and it kept you on edge the entire time. The romance wasn’t too bad either! I was really pulling for them to get their act together. I highly recommend this series. I can’t wait to start the next book in this series.
Profile Image for Toria.
152 reviews1 follower
July 28, 2024
Had potential

Great story, but way too much repetitive "stuck in their head inner monolog". Ended up skimming through a lot of the book. Plus Lily was annoying and TSTL on multiple occasions.
Profile Image for Will Decker.
Author 23 books17 followers
August 29, 2024
Wow! Great storytelling by this author. She obviously knows her material or has done some thorough research. Both the characters and the story feel all too real. This author takes you right into the action. Both the physical and the emotional. Best book I've read in a while. Ford is the real deal.
500 reviews4 followers
August 29, 2024
Great story

This story has suspence, danger around every corner, kidnapping, and keeping you turning the pages to read what happens next until the very end, looking forward to reading more books from this author
Profile Image for Lem Em.
16 reviews
October 17, 2024
With such a high rating, I thought this one would be a page turner. Instead, I found myself a bit bored from time to time. On a positive side note, it did help me get to sleep!

The characters weren't too bad, but I felt like the story was a bit stretched out. Overall, it wasn't a bad read.
222 reviews1 follower
January 2, 2025
Exciting

A riveting romance of escape,evasion, through Afghanistan after the fall oh Kabul. A perfect blend of action, remorse, fear and romantic suspense. Gemma writes a realistic plot interwoven with high tension.
81 reviews
August 11, 2025
Wonderful

This was a wonderful read. Military romance books are fantastic. This one did not disappoint. The main characters were amazing and the story well written. A hard to put down read. Would recommend to any one interested in this type of story. Even to those who may not be.
531 reviews
July 25, 2024
Loved it can't wait for the next one to come out.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews

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