Struck by Thunder: HOT Historical Romantic Suspense,

The Grandmaster's Legacy #1

by Taylor Lee

5 out of 5 stars! “The fight scenes are authentic and gripping. The death match is worthy of a Bruce Lee take down. You could hear the whistle of the staff, the crunch of breaking bones, and smell the blood. Masterful.” David Adams, Author, Samsara “Prepare to be wowed! Can’t remember when I’ve read a more original premise. Add a hot romance and kick-ass action and you’ve got a 5 star winner!” sneaky romance reader “Love “to die for” alpha males, feisty heroines, electrifying battles-- not to mention, steamy sex? Taylor Lee captures the genre and ups the ante.” Fit to be Tied 1890: In a world marked by corruption, prejudice and hate, Lei Chang is determined to be the first woman kung fu master in the country. Little does she know that the grandmaster, everyone’s hero, is as accomplished a lover as he is a warrior. But be Struck by Thunder isn’t for the faint of heart. The language is rough, the sex explicit, and the fighting ferocious. For readers who want their romance as hot as the story is riveting, this book is a “don’t miss!” *More Praise* “Wyatt McManus is arrogant, dangerous, and rules his world. Fortunately, Lei Chang is indomitable and up to the challenge. Torn between two powerful, controlling men – her lover and her father, Lei proves she is a match for them both.” L. Takamiya “This is a story as rich and complex as the late 19th century American West it portrays. Chinese Tongs, a mixed race grandmaster, who is also a wealthy rancher and political kingmaker, plus a young Chinese woman fighting to become a kung fu master makes this book as unusual as it is engaging.” Erotica Rocs “If you are looking for non-stop action, warrior men and women kicking up a storm, with a great love story to boot, grab “Struck by Thunder” and prepare for a long night. Once you begin, you won’t be able to put it down. Guaranteed!” Action junkie Can’t get enough of Maya Banks, Lora Leigh, and Shannon McKenna’s sexy, heart-stopping adventures? “Struck by Thunder” will fire up your mind, your heart and your hormones!

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical Fiction, Westerns, Erotica, Historical, Adult

Audible Audio

First published November 8, 2011

About the author

Taylor Lee is a Best-Selling Author of sexy, romantic suspense stories.

From steamy to sizzling to scorching, Taylor's books introduce hot gals and even hotter guys taking on the evils of the world. As the dangers rage, their passions flare!

Reviews

[Cheesecake · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the look at the wild west from the perspective of those who were marginalized by European-Americans. That was great and more interesting than your usual western, but the Hero, Wyatt... Man what a complete and utter self absorbed immature cruel asshat. Sure he grovels at the end, but by then it was too little too late. not to mention he is still boinking the OW while trying to get back with Lei . I have to say his character went beyond the pale and ruined the story for me. Not going to read the next one. I didn't mind the rough sex or the violence as that is kinda what's par for the course in romance novels these days, but I did mind the over the top callousness of Wyatt's actions. It kinda harked back to the worse hero's from 70's and 80's romances. Ultimately there is very little romance in the story and I just feel kinda slimed after reading this one.

[Kace | The Booknerd · Rating 1 out of 5]

My goodness! What the hell did I just read? When I learned that there's a cheating hero involved, I almost.. almost put this book down, but then I read that the heroine got pregnant and hid it from the hero. I was like, yeah! I'm such a sucker for "secret-baby-trope." So I decided against my better judgment to continue with it, and boy, I was beyond disappointed. But for all it's worth, this book has a fascinating premise, and it was quite good. But the execution of the story/plot was a bit of a fail for me, and I wasn't feeling it. I won't go into details because I honestly don't know what to say, except I didn't like the hero Wyatt! Not at all.

I don't usually mind asshole heroes. In fact, I like them best. But Wyatt takes assholeness, selfishness, and jerkiness to a new level. Yes, I hate if the hero cheated, but I can accept if they did it only once and if he groveled nicely. But in this book, Wyatt cheated on Lei over and over and over again. He even did it without regard to her feelings. And when Lei finally grew a backbone and left him - he got angry with her. Like seriously?! There was not one thing in the book that justified why he was angry with her... not one! He was just an asshole incapable of recognizing his own faults and feelings. Even though he groveled at the end, it still didn't count for me. And I hated the fact that he continued to screw the other woman even after he admitted that he loves her and even after knowing that she's pregnant with his baby and trying to get her back. How sick was that? So, in the end, Wyatt didn't redeem himself in my eyes.

I liked Lei, though, and She's actually the reason why I decided to give this book a star. She's really cool, gave as good as she got, and although she let the hero walked all over her at first, I'm glad that she finally got the backbone and courage to leave that asshole. And I love that she didn't give in easily even though she loves him and she's carrying his baby. And yes, she had her moments like any other female heroines out there, but I ended up genuinely liking Lei and actually rooting for her.

Though I didn't really like Wyatt, I can still say that the chemistry between him and Lei was off the charts! It was hot and heavy. There's lots and lots and lots of sex here! And was kind of graphic and intense. But I hate that the author still gave us graphic details about Wyatt's sexcapades with other women. Another thing I like about this book is the camaraderie between the MCs and their friends. I loved how they supported each other and got each other's back no matter what.

All in all, Struck by Thunder can be an okay read minus the cheating and the hero. I liked it but not enough to recommend it, and I wasn't planning on re-reading this... But it has an interesting take on the Western Historical genre.

[K. L. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Historically questionable; consentually questionable. Story could have potential, but I felt dirty (as in sickened, not as in naughty) after many of the scenes--and I am usually lenient with this genre due to obvious flaws and problems the genre itself usually has with quality writing.
Also, historically the timeline of events as well as character's language use seemed off, inappropriate, or just inaccurate.
Author's use of adjectives and adverbs was repetitive. Although that is a common trait of this genre, words like "spicy" could use a rest. I don't think I will finish the series.

[Jean · Rating 1 out of 5]

Girl = TSTL Doormat.
Guy = Unrepentant cheater still screwing around up to the 90% mark.

HEA? Yeah. They deserve each other.

I think that sums it up.

As general fiction, I rated it 2 stars. As romance, 0 stars. That averages to 1 star.

P.S. If readers want to read an actual romance novel where the author skillfully deals with the sensitive issue of cheating because the guy has severe commitment/abandonment issues, try True Love Story by Willow Aster. There, you actually witness Ian's difficult journey after Sparrow leaves because of his affair, and you experience his regrets, his pain, and how he grows as a character before finally earning Sparrow's forgiveness. Their love never diminishes despite the separation and betrayal. Love isn't a switch you can turn on and off. But we all know that love was never the issue. It's trust. What is one without the other?
Quoting S.C. Stephens's Thoughtless (which deals heavily with cheating too): 'Love is easy, trust is hard.' In any romance novel, you have to rebuild both when you deal with cheating to convince the readers that they are "the one" for each other and love has indeed conquered all. Otherwise, you are just selling your HEA cheap, if it can even be called a HEA. The deeper you love someone, the harder the betrayal. Trust doesn't repair itself overnight.

Okay! Moving on.

[Yarm · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm going to pretend that his love for h at the end was real and that he is faithful to her from here on out. I can pretend this since I'm not going to read the next book in the series (in which the H DOES cheat on the h)

[Caroline · Rating 1 out of 5]

Started but not finished.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the blurb on this book about the Kung Fu fighting in the American West and a romance between a half-breed Kung Fu Master and a half-Chinese female student. It was quite an incredible story though not for the faint of heart.

Lei Chang is the daughter of the strongest Tong leader in America and she wants more than anything to become a Grand Master of Kung Fu. Her father, Wan, cannot deny her so she is sent to study at the prestigious dojo of Joey, who trained the current best Grand Master, Wyatt McManus a wealthy Wyoming rancher and businessman.
Wyatt and Lei do not hit it off well because he is arrogant and condescending and she has a temper. Lei loses that temper in a match with Wyatt and ends up showing disrespect by spitting at him. He then publicly humiliates her. But this is the moment he begins feeling attracted to the young fiery woman and she with him when later he forces a kiss that she eventually reciprocates.
Wyatt is a very hard, dangerous man both to men in his business dealings and with women when he 'loves them and leaves them' for the next one. Lei has been sheltered all her life and Wyatt's ways are an eye opener for her. But some things she is quite used to like being the target of half the students in the dojo who are from rival tongs. She walks a fine line to keep her father from pulling her away from her training and keeping him from interfering because of her growing (albeit mixed) feelings for Wyatt.
In the meantime, Martin and Jesse Kendrick leave the high society of Boston to travel back to his family home in Wyoming. Martin is running for governor. He uses the excuse of Jesse's horse having behavioral issues to approach Wyatt who has a knack with horses. Martin wants Wyatt's backing and his money, but makes the mistake first thing of unwittingly insulting Wyatt and his men by slinging racial and class slurs to what he thinks are just a group of cowboys. Jesse is embarrassed, but also intrigued when she meets the larger than life Wyatt who swats her swaggering husband down like he's a gnat.
So many brands are now in the fire of this story. It was one exciting ride to the very end.

The plot is one long twisted rush both due to the romantic entanglements of Wyatt with both Lei and Jesse and then the political storyline comes into the forefront and finally the Tong and Kung Fu element.

Truthfully, I'm giving this story one more star than I intended because I realize that it was my own preference and not the author's storytelling that is the issue.
My hang up is Wyatt. There are many aspects about his character that I liked, but there was one big glaring facet that angered me- his treatment of women. Both women told him 'no' or indicated discomfort with something he wanted them to do while having sex and he just pushed them until they agreed. It was like a Dom who disregarded the safe word. Even if they enjoyed it afterwards, 'no' should have been 'no'. To be fair, I get why he was rough since he was an angry hurting man over the death of his wife, but that does not mean it gave him the right to disrespect those who came to him willingly. He wanted the women to try things and he indicates that he would have stopped if at that point they did not want it.

That being the said, I was impressed with Taylor Lee's ability to write complex characters. Wyatt was probably the most complex, but Lei and the others were layered and interesting to get to know. Wan was very formidable as a tong leader, but had a soft spot for his daughter. Martin was a true 'love to hate' guy. I loved the men who were Wyatt's friends. The camaraderie was great and one of the things I enjoy about the Western genre.

Just so the reader knows what they are getting themselves into this story offers violence, rough sex play and dirty sexual talk that might not be everyone's reading preference.

Overall well-written and an interesting take on Western historical fiction.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were things I liked about this book and things I didn't. It was a bit confusing at times because it seemed to be written in two different time frames. It was as if the author couldn't decide whether it was a historical or contempary book. There seemed to be things that were not within the context of the late 1800's when it was supposed to be based. At least that was what was alluded to at times but then something would be said or done that just didn't fit the time frame and there was no explanation as to why this was so. I have found other authors that would explain so that the reference to something that seemed ahead of it's time would make sense but not so here. The story for the most part was fairly good but I didn't care for the back and forth between two women that was portrayed here. The fact that Wyatt continued with the second after the first left when he was in love with the first made no sense to me. The ending was a bit lame since it takes place 2 years after the reconciling of the main characters. I think it would have been better to flesh out the time from the birth of the baby and not 2 years after the fact with a glossing of what happened from the birth. The action and suspense were good. The interaction between the characters were good but needed a bit more depth. There were times that Wyatt needed a better dialog but not a bad book. It had the potential to be much better.

[ᗰ.ᑕ. ♡ O͎L͎D͎E͎R͎ ͎&͎ ͎W͎I͎S͎E͎R͎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2021 = 2 stars / skim read
2024 = DNF / review written

Funnily enough, I originally read this b/c I was looking for books with cheating. I was looking for a good redemption story. This didn't have that. It's written well, which is the best thing I can say.

What made this a DNF:

🔻 The multiple POVs. The story is told by the MCs and side characters.

🔻 I didn't like any of the adult characters (the kids were cute).

🔻 I really didn't like Wyatt, the MMC.
He calls his horses and his women - honey. He says it 180 x's. 😬

🔻 There's a lot going on (several subplots). The story is too busy for me. My interest waned as it continued.

🔻 The romance is unsatisfactory. Wyatt & Lei's relationship isn't the primary focus. There's little tenderness between them.

🔻 I dislike politics (one of the subplots).

🔻 Wyatt goes back and forth between Lei (whom he falls in love with), and Jesse (a married woman). At 90%, Wyatt is done with Jesse.

I won't be reading book 2. From the sounds of it, Wyatt and Lei have a volatile relationship. I don't mind some problems, but the negativity far outweighs the positive. I'm looking for feel-good romance.

[Pam H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lei Chang has come to the ranch to train for reaching the pinnacle of martial arts - kung fu master. Fighting against men much larger than herself, she is fearless. She catches the eye of Grandmaster Wyatt McManus, a wealthy, business savvy half-breed, who appreciates her talent and wants her in his bed. He guards his heart because he thinks he can never love anyone like he loved his wife who died giving birth to their twins who are now 5 years old. Lei wants to be the one who captures his heart and gets him to stop his womanizing ways.

An different plot than most Hist-roms - easy to read - the first of 4 books in the series

[Beckie Treble · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have the Grandmaster Legacy box set on my kindle and I just picked it one day when I didn't know what to read, and this was book 1. I was really surprised. I didn't know what to expect, but it certainly wasn't what I read.

There was love, romance, sex. sex, sex. Did I mention sex? Chinese fighting, fighting to the deaths. More sex. You get the picture, but it was fabulous! I loved it.
Going to read the next book later, if its anything like this one, then I'm going to be in for a treat!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal preference I had to take several breaks in reading as this book is not a one setting read. The characters are great the interaction good. As stated not for the faint of heart. Could it have been written with less detail possibly but that was part a large part of the story. I will diffently check out the rest of the series.

[Incy Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

I persevered to the end because the writing was fluid and the premise intriguing, but I couldn't connect with the characters. Perversely this annoyed me so much, I'm determined to read more by Taylor Lee to divine why not. Go figure.

[Frances Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unusual themes for historical 'romance' . Very steamy . I've now read all three and enjoyed. Particularly enjoyed The character of Bai who predominates in the later stories .

[Polly · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG - HOT

[Verna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erotic...very erotic. Good read, interesting story with history.

[sraxe]

H continuously cheats on the h throughout the entire novel. He sleeps with others even after the h leaves him, only bothering to go after her when he finds out she's pregnant.

[Thuly Tran · Rating 2 out of 5]

The H is one of the biggest d*$& i've read in a book.