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Ramsey Security #1
Thunderstruck
HEAT ღ HUMOR ღ HEA Escaping a madman... My name is Darla, but he calls me Rose. I thought running would keep me safe. Instead, the monster hunts me, certain I will be his again. Shattered and waiting for death... Nine months in hell has left my mind ruined. My heart claims I'm no more than a burden. My soul only wants to embrace the darkness. A retired assassin... Troy brings the security skills of a former killer. I am his first legit job. He has no reason to make this assignment personal, but our connection can't be denied. Thunderstruck... Troy awakens the part of me that still feels... hopes... loves. Trigger this book includes past sexual abuse. Thunderstruck also contains graphic sexual content, violent situations, and harsh language. The book is only appropriate for adult readers age 18+.
228 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 19, 2015
262 people are currently reading
542 people want to read
About the author
Bijou Hunter
84 books951 followersAuthor of Contemporary ~ New Adult ~ Romantic Suspense
The Damaged series reading order
~ Beast
~ Knight
~ Cobra
~ Outlaw
~ Dragon
~ Bulldog
~ Saint
Little Memphis MC series reading order
~ Little Memphis
~ Broken Memphis
Standalone Romances
Gator ~ a story between an assassin and the woman he claims.
Used ~ ex con biker finds love and redemption with a club girl.
I love interacting with readers. Contact me here:
Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorBijouHunter
Twitter: BijouBooks
Mailing List: bijouhunterbooks.com/mailing-list
Happy reading!!!
The Damaged series reading order
~ Beast
~ Knight
~ Cobra
~ Outlaw
~ Dragon
~ Bulldog
~ Saint
Little Memphis MC series reading order
~ Little Memphis
~ Broken Memphis
Standalone Romances
Gator ~ a story between an assassin and the woman he claims.
Used ~ ex con biker finds love and redemption with a club girl.
I love interacting with readers. Contact me here:
Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorBijouHunter
Twitter: BijouBooks
Mailing List: bijouhunterbooks.com/mailing-list
Happy reading!!!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
December 16, 2019
From the start, I realized that this story had the potential to be just a little bit different (and quite awesome). I've read from this author and was an instant fan so reading something else from her was no hardship. This type of storyline would usually draw my eye and my complete attention... Girl was kidnapped, held captive by a madman, finally escaped, and has hired a team to take down the bad guy and keep her safe. How can anyone resist that? So of course I dived right in. And then I quickly started drowning in the utter absurdity of the female protagonist.
At first, I thought it was just the author building the heroine as a person who had suffered and that her healing wasn't going to happen overnight. You know, something more realistic. But then the heroine didn't really change. She came off as childish and aggressively irritating and remained that way right until the end. Aside from her constant panic and terror, there was virtually no character development for her. Actually, I felt like all the characters came off as one-dimensional. And while I was more entertained and interested by everyone else BUT Darla, it wasn't enough for me to love this story. There were a lot of OTT moments, a heroine that couldn't get a grip and failed to garner much sympathy from me, and a hero who used to love strong and fierce warriors and who now seemed to find pathetic and extremely dependent women insanely attractive.
Will I read from this author again? Probably.
At first, I thought it was just the author building the heroine as a person who had suffered and that her healing wasn't going to happen overnight. You know, something more realistic. But then the heroine didn't really change. She came off as childish and aggressively irritating and remained that way right until the end. Aside from her constant panic and terror, there was virtually no character development for her. Actually, I felt like all the characters came off as one-dimensional. And while I was more entertained and interested by everyone else BUT Darla, it wasn't enough for me to love this story. There were a lot of OTT moments, a heroine that couldn't get a grip and failed to garner much sympathy from me, and a hero who used to love strong and fierce warriors and who now seemed to find pathetic and extremely dependent women insanely attractive.
Will I read from this author again? Probably.
February 27, 2016
RATING: 1.5-2 Unrealistic Romance Hearts. :/
July 13, 2016
**3.5 Stars because I teetered between 3 and 4**
I love Bijou Hunter. She is one of my favorite authors. I know I'm going to get faithful characters and sweet epilogues into the future. She also writes very damaged characters. This was one of those books where I wondered if the heroine was too damaged, would she ever be normal..
Darla is kidnapped by a madman who is trying to make her into someone else. Her treatment is horrendous and thankfully we don't get the full scope of that treatment. For 9 months, she is conditioned. One little thing gives her enough power to escape. Her brother-one-law hires a security firm to protect her until the bastard is caught.
Troy is immediately drawn to Darla who, naturally, is in a bad state. He is so good and patient with her. Most men would definitely have moved on because she was too messed up. He struggles with his desire for Darla but can't let her go.
This was not one of my favorite by this author. It was good but I do think Darla was just too messed up for me to really connect with her. Don't get me wrong, she is strong and works very hard to put herself back together. But, I just needed her to be well and to give back to Troy. It just seemed the relationship was one sided.
I'm REALLY interested in Rafael's and Harlow's story....
I love Bijou Hunter. She is one of my favorite authors. I know I'm going to get faithful characters and sweet epilogues into the future. She also writes very damaged characters. This was one of those books where I wondered if the heroine was too damaged, would she ever be normal..
Darla is kidnapped by a madman who is trying to make her into someone else. Her treatment is horrendous and thankfully we don't get the full scope of that treatment. For 9 months, she is conditioned. One little thing gives her enough power to escape. Her brother-one-law hires a security firm to protect her until the bastard is caught.
Troy is immediately drawn to Darla who, naturally, is in a bad state. He is so good and patient with her. Most men would definitely have moved on because she was too messed up. He struggles with his desire for Darla but can't let her go.
This was not one of my favorite by this author. It was good but I do think Darla was just too messed up for me to really connect with her. Don't get me wrong, she is strong and works very hard to put herself back together. But, I just needed her to be well and to give back to Troy. It just seemed the relationship was one sided.
I'm REALLY interested in Rafael's and Harlow's story....
September 22, 2015
Where do I start?
Whether it's the showcasing of the secret powers of Beyoncé's music, the promotion of dominant males pursuing traumatized women, or even the sheer weirdness of people shopping for new clothes whilst one of them is being stalked...Thunderstruck is a novel that unfortunately works in a lot of build up, only to be rather dissatisfying overall.
Let's start with Beyoncé.
I love me some Queen B, folks. But even I - a faithful member of the Beyhive - will admit that I think it highly unlikely that hearing a Beyoncé song will undo years of physical and mental trauma and allow a kidnapped woman to find the strength to run away from her captor.
However, I am willing to overlook this, seeing as everyone's brain is different and maybe Beyoncé works some mysterious magic with other people I know nothing of!
But my major issue with this book was the core relationship.
I know I'm probably going to sound like a lunatic, ranting on about something that is represented in a fictional context. And I'll also acknowledge beforehand that the book does deal with the weird nature of the core relationship - a psychologist/shrink/nasty little therapist lady is even brought in to see our traumatized female protagonist at one point.
But I'm still not ok with a dominating, brusque alpha male who is essentially an assassin trying to score with a woman who was kidnapped and held captive for years, brainwashed, and subjective to physical and mental humiliation and degradation.
I don't care if it's fictional. I really don't. Because that doesn't make it ok. All because she, the victim, feels like their relationship is good for her doesn't mean it is and that it's healthy. In fact, when the therapist suggests to the young woman that perhaps the two connected because he was tasked with watching over and guarding her, the young woman basically tells her to get lost.
I don't know how to word this properly...but I just wanted to say that the male character goes about this in the worst way possible. Let's cover how, shall we?
#1: You have feelings for your charge?
Ok. You can't control that, dude, I understand. But you don't have to blatantly come on to her as she's recovering. You do have a measure of self control, and if you don't, you've clearly been placed on the wrong job for you.
#2: You know she is scared, traumatized, etc. and doesn't like being around people?
Then respect that! I understand aiding people in getting out of their comfort zone, etc. but she's newly released after years of being a captive. She's hurting. Healing does not happen overnight. I hated the way he got impatient with her, forcing her to heal at a rate he deemed acceptable - the way he thought he was qualified to judge how much she could take, how far she could be pushed. He had no right. People heal at different paces. No human being should be forced to confront their deepest, darkest fears in such an abrupt, hard, and unforgiving manner.
#3: You want to sleep with her?
DON'T.
For the love of everything, why?! Why would you enter into such an intimate connection with someone you barely know and who is so broken? Why not offer her a shoulder to lean on, or cry on? Why not support her? Why not offer her love/intimacy in other, non-sexual ways? Start a relationship slowly, be her friend.
And then...when she's healed at her own pace, and feels like she's in a good place, why not make your intentions known and see if she reciprocates your feelings? Then you can start building a real relationship, and eventually get to the point where intimacy on a sexual level is healthy for both parties and doesn't come off as exploitative in nature.
For the record, I'm not saying that she's weak.
Or, that she doesn't know her own mind and body. What I'm saying is that she should be totally focused on her - her own healing process, finding who she is after years of being brainwashed to be someone else. She should be surrounded by a loving and supportive network of people, who want to help her. Who understand that all because you don't want to come across as suffocating, doesn't mean you should go to the other extreme of being rude, overbearing, and extreme alpha. To me, it was like she'd traded one ass of a captor for another ass of a rescuer.
The perfect ending? She should have ditched both men, gotten all her girlfriends together, and have gone and seen a Beyoncé concert...#girlpower ;)
Whether it's the showcasing of the secret powers of Beyoncé's music, the promotion of dominant males pursuing traumatized women, or even the sheer weirdness of people shopping for new clothes whilst one of them is being stalked...Thunderstruck is a novel that unfortunately works in a lot of build up, only to be rather dissatisfying overall.
Let's start with Beyoncé.
I love me some Queen B, folks. But even I - a faithful member of the Beyhive - will admit that I think it highly unlikely that hearing a Beyoncé song will undo years of physical and mental trauma and allow a kidnapped woman to find the strength to run away from her captor.
However, I am willing to overlook this, seeing as everyone's brain is different and maybe Beyoncé works some mysterious magic with other people I know nothing of!
But my major issue with this book was the core relationship.
I know I'm probably going to sound like a lunatic, ranting on about something that is represented in a fictional context. And I'll also acknowledge beforehand that the book does deal with the weird nature of the core relationship - a psychologist/shrink/nasty little therapist lady is even brought in to see our traumatized female protagonist at one point.
But I'm still not ok with a dominating, brusque alpha male who is essentially an assassin trying to score with a woman who was kidnapped and held captive for years, brainwashed, and subjective to physical and mental humiliation and degradation.
I don't care if it's fictional. I really don't. Because that doesn't make it ok. All because she, the victim, feels like their relationship is good for her doesn't mean it is and that it's healthy. In fact, when the therapist suggests to the young woman that perhaps the two connected because he was tasked with watching over and guarding her, the young woman basically tells her to get lost.
I don't know how to word this properly...but I just wanted to say that the male character goes about this in the worst way possible. Let's cover how, shall we?
#1: You have feelings for your charge?
Ok. You can't control that, dude, I understand. But you don't have to blatantly come on to her as she's recovering. You do have a measure of self control, and if you don't, you've clearly been placed on the wrong job for you.
#2: You know she is scared, traumatized, etc. and doesn't like being around people?
Then respect that! I understand aiding people in getting out of their comfort zone, etc. but she's newly released after years of being a captive. She's hurting. Healing does not happen overnight. I hated the way he got impatient with her, forcing her to heal at a rate he deemed acceptable - the way he thought he was qualified to judge how much she could take, how far she could be pushed. He had no right. People heal at different paces. No human being should be forced to confront their deepest, darkest fears in such an abrupt, hard, and unforgiving manner.
#3: You want to sleep with her?
DON'T.
For the love of everything, why?! Why would you enter into such an intimate connection with someone you barely know and who is so broken? Why not offer her a shoulder to lean on, or cry on? Why not support her? Why not offer her love/intimacy in other, non-sexual ways? Start a relationship slowly, be her friend.
And then...when she's healed at her own pace, and feels like she's in a good place, why not make your intentions known and see if she reciprocates your feelings? Then you can start building a real relationship, and eventually get to the point where intimacy on a sexual level is healthy for both parties and doesn't come off as exploitative in nature.
For the record, I'm not saying that she's weak.
Or, that she doesn't know her own mind and body. What I'm saying is that she should be totally focused on her - her own healing process, finding who she is after years of being brainwashed to be someone else. She should be surrounded by a loving and supportive network of people, who want to help her. Who understand that all because you don't want to come across as suffocating, doesn't mean you should go to the other extreme of being rude, overbearing, and extreme alpha. To me, it was like she'd traded one ass of a captor for another ass of a rescuer.
The perfect ending? She should have ditched both men, gotten all her girlfriends together, and have gone and seen a Beyoncé concert...#girlpower ;)
June 29, 2016
I haven't read a Bijou Hunter book that I haven't liked. This story is about Darla who is kidnapped and held by a madman for 9 months until she finally breaks free. The story starts at her escape. We don't get graphic details of what was done to her and honestly this was o.k. with me. This book is about her meeting Troy who works for the company hired to protect her. It is about them falling in love and Darla finding her strength again and a new normal. Honestly she was so strong to have survived what she did but Troy definitely makes her feel stronger. His love is unwavering. All of Bijou's heroes that I've read are that way. They love their women and never stray or falter. Troy's partner and best friend is his ex. This never bothered me. They were never in love with each other and made better friends. We also always get a full epilogue years into their life which always makes me happy. I will definitely be reading the rest of this series. Bijou Hunter is definitely becoming an auto buy author for me.
February 26, 2016
Another good book by Bijou Hunter. The heroine is a very damaged character and the hero is definitely a anti-hero so this is NOT a feel good romance. Recommend if you are fan of Bijou Hunter's previous books.
HEA
Cheating/OW/OM
Any couple separation
Angst Level: Low
Heat Level: Medium
Triggers
HEA
Cheating/OW/OM
Any couple separation
Angst Level: Low
Heat Level: Medium
Triggers
August 17, 2015
Sometimes there are authors that just seems to hit the right mark for you as a reader on all the right levels you are looking for. They know what type of storyline is just right for you, they know what type of voice you like, how you like your leads, and they give you the ending just how you would write it. We all, if we are long time avid readers have hopefully come across one or maybe two or three authors like this. It's like they know you, and what you like and what you want and how to get in your head.
Bijou Hunter is one of those authors for me. I have a very short list of authors that if they write it I will read it, and then their is this minuscule list of authors who just hit it right every time and it's like they are writing just for your enjoyment. I know I will like whatever Bijou Hunter writes. Her writing style, her heroes and heroines and definitely her epilogues are just what I want and would write, and this book is just another book to help prove that fact.
While on vacation Darla was taken by a mad man wanting his Rose(who was long gone) back he did everything to make Darla his new Rose. When Darla is finally able to escape the prison she has lived in she has a new world to get used to, one that was once easy is anything but. When it becomes clear that Locke, Darla's capture isn't done with her Darla's sister and brother in law hire a company to protect her that doesn't follow the rules or the law. When Darla and Troy see each other both feel the attraction but Darla isn't ready to face most things in a day and she's sure that Locke won't let her go.
Troy never planned for a girl like Darla but once he see's her he can't forget her even when she try's to hide from everyone around her, and the more time he spends with her while protecting her the more he is drawn to her. As the time goes by Troy can see Darla opening up to him and growing stronger and he begins to fall even more in love with her and Troy wants more and more for Darla to become stronger for herself and for their future.
As Darla becomes stronger there are sets backs but Darla is determined and the people who love her stand by her as she grows, but Locke is never far from her mind, and as Locke keeps attempting to to get his Rose back it becomes more and more obvious that he won't let her go. But Troy has plans of his own and being a trained killer Troy will do anything to keep the woman he loves safe so that Darla can finally be free.
I loved this book, I was hooked from page one and I didn't want to put this book down, I loved this storyline and think it's something many authors won't or can't(properly) tackle. Bijou Hunter has an amazing gift with writing about horrible situation and the triumph of overcoming, she also does a great job writing the difficult and doing it really well. Troy was a great hero Darla was it for him and all he wanted was for her to get stronger. Troy was willing to wait for her and to do anything for Darla, as well as kill to make sure she would finally be free from her tormentor.
Darla suffered something no one should ever go through and yes she suffers from that but Darla is amazingly strong and even though she is scared (and I can't blame her) she pulls herself through the horrible situation and finds her happiness and learns to trust and love. Though this storyline is not walking through a daisy field Bijou Hunter does a really good job of not making this book explicit and though we know many horrible things happen to Darla we don't see it or get many details making this book pretty much safe for many people with triggers.
I can't wait to read the other two books that will be coming out about the woman that are Troy's work colleges in this book. Once again I have come to realize by reading her books that Bijou Hunter is a great author I can come to again and again.
*Thank you Bijou Hunter for this ARC copy
Bijou Hunter is one of those authors for me. I have a very short list of authors that if they write it I will read it, and then their is this minuscule list of authors who just hit it right every time and it's like they are writing just for your enjoyment. I know I will like whatever Bijou Hunter writes. Her writing style, her heroes and heroines and definitely her epilogues are just what I want and would write, and this book is just another book to help prove that fact.
While on vacation Darla was taken by a mad man wanting his Rose(who was long gone) back he did everything to make Darla his new Rose. When Darla is finally able to escape the prison she has lived in she has a new world to get used to, one that was once easy is anything but. When it becomes clear that Locke, Darla's capture isn't done with her Darla's sister and brother in law hire a company to protect her that doesn't follow the rules or the law. When Darla and Troy see each other both feel the attraction but Darla isn't ready to face most things in a day and she's sure that Locke won't let her go.
Troy never planned for a girl like Darla but once he see's her he can't forget her even when she try's to hide from everyone around her, and the more time he spends with her while protecting her the more he is drawn to her. As the time goes by Troy can see Darla opening up to him and growing stronger and he begins to fall even more in love with her and Troy wants more and more for Darla to become stronger for herself and for their future.
As Darla becomes stronger there are sets backs but Darla is determined and the people who love her stand by her as she grows, but Locke is never far from her mind, and as Locke keeps attempting to to get his Rose back it becomes more and more obvious that he won't let her go. But Troy has plans of his own and being a trained killer Troy will do anything to keep the woman he loves safe so that Darla can finally be free.
I loved this book, I was hooked from page one and I didn't want to put this book down, I loved this storyline and think it's something many authors won't or can't(properly) tackle. Bijou Hunter has an amazing gift with writing about horrible situation and the triumph of overcoming, she also does a great job writing the difficult and doing it really well. Troy was a great hero Darla was it for him and all he wanted was for her to get stronger. Troy was willing to wait for her and to do anything for Darla, as well as kill to make sure she would finally be free from her tormentor.
Darla suffered something no one should ever go through and yes she suffers from that but Darla is amazingly strong and even though she is scared (and I can't blame her) she pulls herself through the horrible situation and finds her happiness and learns to trust and love. Though this storyline is not walking through a daisy field Bijou Hunter does a really good job of not making this book explicit and though we know many horrible things happen to Darla we don't see it or get many details making this book pretty much safe for many people with triggers.
I can't wait to read the other two books that will be coming out about the woman that are Troy's work colleges in this book. Once again I have come to realize by reading her books that Bijou Hunter is a great author I can come to again and again.
*Thank you Bijou Hunter for this ARC copy
January 12, 2016
So much potential.....
I'm a huge fan of Bijou's work and with the exception of 'Gator' which was a DNF for me I've loved everything else I've read.
Darla has been drugged and kidnapped and through the constant mental and physical abuse she's losing herself, she's slowly becoming the Rose her captor wants her to be. After nine months Darla is barely present anymore the darkness takes over and brings her peace but then unexpectedly an opportunity for escape appears and she takes it.
She may have escaped but she's not free she's suffering and is now a mere shadow of the woman she once was, can she fight the darkness and bring Darla back?
Her captor Locke isn't going to just let her go and she knows this, it's only a matter of time before he comes for her and he does, luckily her brother-in-law Vern is rich and can afford to hire the best and that is Ramsey Security a group of retired assassins run by Rafael as in Rafael and Harlow from 'Damaged and the Saint' plus a whole collection of interesting, intriguing and slightly scary characters. Troy is hot, sarcastic and funny, Minka is an amazing female character and Saskia is well, she's the scary one and I can't wait to read her book.
It started so well and I was so excited I'd forgotten just how much I love Bijou's characters and the humour that runs through her books but then it kinda fell a bit flat and I can't believe I'm saying this but I was a bit bored in places and it just didn't really work for me it didn't grab me like her previous books have.
Having said that the next book is Saskia's and since her character was so interesting I'm going to give it a shot because I love the idea of Ramsey Security and the characters we met were intriguing enough to make me want to continue.
September 2, 2015
3.25 RATING- I'm a big Bijou Hunter fan and thought this book started out fabulous. I loved the first chapter. Unfortunately, things fell flat quickly and I just didn't like the rest of the story as much as I was expecting to. There was the same banter throughout the story that I associate with this author's writing, but it just felt like the rhythm was a bit off throughout. Total bummer, I was excited about this one.
September 16, 2015
Bijou Hunter is one of my favorite authors. It’s why I read all of her books as soon as I realize a new one has been published.
This new series, Ramsey Security, is a distant spinoff of her Damaged series. While Damaged was a New Adult Contemporary Romance series, Ramsey Security is a little more grown up with being Adult Contemporary Romance.
In the story and building romance between the hero and heroine, you have lots of Bijou Hunter’s witty humor (mostly on the hero’s part) and a damaged heroine.
Even though Ramsey Security is headed by the hero from the Damaged and the Saint, who married Harlow from that series, this new series features former assassins instead of bikers/college students.
In Thunderstruck, the heroine has had a couple months of freedom since being kidnapped and held captive for nine months by a total psycho. She’s afraid of almost everything and is sort of detached from other people. The hero’s badass security company filled with former assassins is brought in to not only protect her, but to eliminate the threat permanently.
It’s sort of insta-love for both the hero and heroine, but the hero has to slowly earn the heroine’s trust before he can move their relationship from business/friendship to lovers.
For a former assassin, the guy is really sweet and funny. He has a few deadly moments, but his main goal is to keep the heroine safe and make her happy. He also wants to help her adjust to a new life of safety.
There are some actions scenes, but mostly the story is the budding romance between Troy and Darla.
I liked the start to this series and will definitely read the next book featuring Saskia (a female former assassin and now professional bodyguard).
This new series, Ramsey Security, is a distant spinoff of her Damaged series. While Damaged was a New Adult Contemporary Romance series, Ramsey Security is a little more grown up with being Adult Contemporary Romance.
In the story and building romance between the hero and heroine, you have lots of Bijou Hunter’s witty humor (mostly on the hero’s part) and a damaged heroine.
Even though Ramsey Security is headed by the hero from the Damaged and the Saint, who married Harlow from that series, this new series features former assassins instead of bikers/college students.
In Thunderstruck, the heroine has had a couple months of freedom since being kidnapped and held captive for nine months by a total psycho. She’s afraid of almost everything and is sort of detached from other people. The hero’s badass security company filled with former assassins is brought in to not only protect her, but to eliminate the threat permanently.
It’s sort of insta-love for both the hero and heroine, but the hero has to slowly earn the heroine’s trust before he can move their relationship from business/friendship to lovers.
For a former assassin, the guy is really sweet and funny. He has a few deadly moments, but his main goal is to keep the heroine safe and make her happy. He also wants to help her adjust to a new life of safety.
There are some actions scenes, but mostly the story is the budding romance between Troy and Darla.
I liked the start to this series and will definitely read the next book featuring Saskia (a female former assassin and now professional bodyguard).
January 15, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. Unfortunately it took me until the end of the book to figure out who Rafael was! Once I saw Harlow's name it slammed home...Saint!! Then I just felt dumb!! Great book with great characters, both old and new!
December 8, 2018
The short chapters. The constant repeating of the same thing over and over and over again. Yeah, Troy is hot...but it did not take him a minute to fall in love with this damaged person who dwells on the same thing over and over again. We never really get to know what actually happened...we just are told it was bad.
This was bad.
And yet...I cannot find it in my heart to give less than 3 stars.
My dear author...a good editor would do wonders for you.
February 2, 2016
Thunderstuck was really good and emotional...I love that Raphael's business and Harlow were in this.
absolutely love Troy and Darla
absolutely love Troy and Darla
Want to read
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August 27, 2015
One of the many things I continue to admire about Bijou Hunter is her innate desire and sterling ability to champion the underdogs of society in her writing; those strange, oddball, misfit, quirky but utterly likeable characters that have the best one-liner insults or puns, and in Thunderstruck that is what we get in damaged damsel-in-hiding Darla and her protector, the witty but wicked Troy.
'Studying her relaxed expression, I need to make things right for Darla. Kill whoever needs killing. Burn the world down to give her a rebirth. She can't understand why I'd want her while I don't understand why I shouldn't.'
Although there is a fantastic dark, depraved and sadistic storyline running through Thunderstruck, detailing why Darla is in so much emotional upheaval and why she is so confused about her life and future, the main focus is the fragile seed of hope and friendship that Troy offers her, that through their darkly comedic interactions with one another and Troy's bull-headedness cause a fun but complicated, sensual but sweet love story to unfurl. Bijou is a craftswoman at characterisation so although there is a great plot happening in the peripheral your main focus is on the array of players that make up her expressive and diverse family members that aren't necessarily blood related. Troy is often funny and goofy which is ironic in such a bada** ex-assassin turned security detail and what made him an even better hero for me was the fact that he didn't necessarily hog the hero limelight, he guided and offered Darla someone to lean on when needed and cajoled her and pushed her gently when he thought she needed it so in turn we were given a hero and heroine on equal footing-Darla because she was learning to overcome so much and Troy because he was her strength and support.
Darla though is the star of this piece, going through so many different hurdles and life altering experiences; traversing through what was and trying to get to a happy 'what could be' with Troy's persistence and the help of The Ramsey Security team. She may have started out as meek, unsure and alone, trapped in her tragic past but she climbed her way out, she fought and clawed and progressed to become a survivor and a warrior.
'"I know you have a life outside of this apartment and this job. I know, but..."
"You don't know Darla. The minute I leave here, I disappear from your life like when a parent leaves a child at daycare." Frowning Darla tries to pull her hand away. I refuse to let her hand go. "If you knew me, you'd know I spend every damn minute after I walk out that door wanting to get back here to see you. You's know I hate leaving you. So don't apologise for wanting me to stay."'
'Studying her relaxed expression, I need to make things right for Darla. Kill whoever needs killing. Burn the world down to give her a rebirth. She can't understand why I'd want her while I don't understand why I shouldn't.'
Although there is a fantastic dark, depraved and sadistic storyline running through Thunderstruck, detailing why Darla is in so much emotional upheaval and why she is so confused about her life and future, the main focus is the fragile seed of hope and friendship that Troy offers her, that through their darkly comedic interactions with one another and Troy's bull-headedness cause a fun but complicated, sensual but sweet love story to unfurl. Bijou is a craftswoman at characterisation so although there is a great plot happening in the peripheral your main focus is on the array of players that make up her expressive and diverse family members that aren't necessarily blood related. Troy is often funny and goofy which is ironic in such a bada** ex-assassin turned security detail and what made him an even better hero for me was the fact that he didn't necessarily hog the hero limelight, he guided and offered Darla someone to lean on when needed and cajoled her and pushed her gently when he thought she needed it so in turn we were given a hero and heroine on equal footing-Darla because she was learning to overcome so much and Troy because he was her strength and support.
Darla though is the star of this piece, going through so many different hurdles and life altering experiences; traversing through what was and trying to get to a happy 'what could be' with Troy's persistence and the help of The Ramsey Security team. She may have started out as meek, unsure and alone, trapped in her tragic past but she climbed her way out, she fought and clawed and progressed to become a survivor and a warrior.
'"I know you have a life outside of this apartment and this job. I know, but..."
"You don't know Darla. The minute I leave here, I disappear from your life like when a parent leaves a child at daycare." Frowning Darla tries to pull her hand away. I refuse to let her hand go. "If you knew me, you'd know I spend every damn minute after I walk out that door wanting to get back here to see you. You's know I hate leaving you. So don't apologise for wanting me to stay."'
June 9, 2016
Her name is Darla, but for 9 months she was Rose. Now Darla is lost, trying to figure out who she is while fearing that the man who took her wont relent until he gets her back. When an attempt is made, Darla finds herself under the protective custody of Ramsey Security.
Ramsey Security is made up of former assassins who have no problem crossing the line when it comes to protecting their client. Troy finds himself wanting Darla, she is fearful but he sees a strong woman who got away. Trying to find the line that wont push Darla too much, Troy makes his interest clear, he is patient, and knows one thing once the job is over he has no plans to go anywhere.
I don't want to say I liked this one because it has a haunting quality where Darla is concerned. It was a very good read, I was torn up with Darla, she feels so feeble but when you read her story you know she is not. Always a fan of Bijou Hunter books.
Ramsey Security is made up of former assassins who have no problem crossing the line when it comes to protecting their client. Troy finds himself wanting Darla, she is fearful but he sees a strong woman who got away. Trying to find the line that wont push Darla too much, Troy makes his interest clear, he is patient, and knows one thing once the job is over he has no plans to go anywhere.
I don't want to say I liked this one because it has a haunting quality where Darla is concerned. It was a very good read, I was torn up with Darla, she feels so feeble but when you read her story you know she is not. Always a fan of Bijou Hunter books.
August 26, 2015
I liked this story. Kept me interested the entire way. A woman who was abducted by a psychopath escapes months later. The psycho is still after her so her family hires a private security firm to guard her.
The woman is psychologically a disaster but is fighting to regain her life and finds help and solace in one of her new guards. Seems he has quite a backstory also, but the details are just hinted at and never really explored. I wish they had been.
Except for the rather quick love/lust that developed between the two, the story was fast paced, suspenseful and entertaining.
The woman is psychologically a disaster but is fighting to regain her life and finds help and solace in one of her new guards. Seems he has quite a backstory also, but the details are just hinted at and never really explored. I wish they had been.
Except for the rather quick love/lust that developed between the two, the story was fast paced, suspenseful and entertaining.
February 15, 2016
This one started out really strong and suspenseful, but was a bit boring in the middle. There are a lot of secondary characters that were interesting, I may read one more in the series before giving up.
3+ Stars
Trigger -
3+ Stars
Trigger -
August 24, 2015
A very interesting premise with an abducted girl for 9 mos escapes her captor and goes into hiding until they find the guy who kidnapped her. Meanwhile she falls for one of the bodyguards hired to protect her from her captors efforts to bring her back. It is enjoyable "enough" but feel it is lacking something that I can't quite put my finger on. Bummer b/c it had so much potential. 3 stars
September 28, 2016
3.5 stars
H's ex being present for the entire book, their extremely close friendship/relationship, lots and lots of mentions of their past together was just too much for me! Some of their banter seemed way too flirtatious and then hearing it was the ex that ended things with the H, nope didn't like it.
H's ex being present for the entire book, their extremely close friendship/relationship, lots and lots of mentions of their past together was just too much for me! Some of their banter seemed way too flirtatious and then hearing it was the ex that ended things with the H, nope didn't like it.
February 14, 2022
After Escape
This is the first book in a spin-off from the Damaged Series by the same author. Raphael Ramsey had a book in that series where he met his wife. The former assassin has now set up a security business in Houston with some of his former colleagues to provide a more ‘complete’ service security business to protect from all kinds of dangers. This book is a standalone but there are other books in the same series relating to different people. There is no cliffhanger.
Darla was kidnapped from a cruise she was taking with her sister’s family. A gorgeous swimsuit model, like her sister before her, she was taken for her looks. Held for 9 months by a man who programmed her through both physical and psychological torture to become his dead love, she finally escaped when she finally broke free of her programming and took a split second decision to run.
Now staying with her sister, Darla is trying to find herself again and two months of therapy, drugs and pretending to feel better than she is, whilst hiding herself away through fear, hasn’t really made much impact on how she is feeing. Darla’s wealthy brother-in-law hires Ramsey Security when his first security hires get killed in another kidnap attempt to get Darla back.
Troy is a recently ‘retired’ assassin. He started his career in the Navy and realised that becoming a SEAL like his father and brother before him, wasn’t his own ambition but theirs. When his partner decided she wanted to retire from the business to have a chance at a family one day, he agreed to go with her and joined Ramsey Security.
Looking after Darla is the first big job Ramsey Security is hired for and Troy is smitten with her straight away. She is drawn to him but knows she is in no shape to be in a relationship. He knows it too, but can’t help himself.
I really enjoyed this book. Both Darla and Troy fumbled their way to a possible relationship. They didn’t know what they were doing or whether it would work, but they followed their instincts. Both characters are really interesting with lots of skeletons to deal with. Troy is definitely not a ‘good’ man but Darla finds that reassuring. They are both very self aware and I liked their honesty with themselves and each other. Watching Darla find her way slowly through the darkness is really satisfying as she finds her strength and becomes a different person from the one she was before she was taken and who she was when she was rescued.
The set-up of former assassins working together is quite fun as they are quite dark people, but they also are looking for something else. They also have great banter which I always enjoy. The security side of the plot was almost a background to the psychological and emotional journey the characters made, but it was still interesting and provided a nice change of pace throughout the story.
I’m really looking forward to reading the other books in the series and getting know the characters we are introduced to in this book.
This is the first book in a spin-off from the Damaged Series by the same author. Raphael Ramsey had a book in that series where he met his wife. The former assassin has now set up a security business in Houston with some of his former colleagues to provide a more ‘complete’ service security business to protect from all kinds of dangers. This book is a standalone but there are other books in the same series relating to different people. There is no cliffhanger.
Darla was kidnapped from a cruise she was taking with her sister’s family. A gorgeous swimsuit model, like her sister before her, she was taken for her looks. Held for 9 months by a man who programmed her through both physical and psychological torture to become his dead love, she finally escaped when she finally broke free of her programming and took a split second decision to run.
Now staying with her sister, Darla is trying to find herself again and two months of therapy, drugs and pretending to feel better than she is, whilst hiding herself away through fear, hasn’t really made much impact on how she is feeing. Darla’s wealthy brother-in-law hires Ramsey Security when his first security hires get killed in another kidnap attempt to get Darla back.
Troy is a recently ‘retired’ assassin. He started his career in the Navy and realised that becoming a SEAL like his father and brother before him, wasn’t his own ambition but theirs. When his partner decided she wanted to retire from the business to have a chance at a family one day, he agreed to go with her and joined Ramsey Security.
Looking after Darla is the first big job Ramsey Security is hired for and Troy is smitten with her straight away. She is drawn to him but knows she is in no shape to be in a relationship. He knows it too, but can’t help himself.
I really enjoyed this book. Both Darla and Troy fumbled their way to a possible relationship. They didn’t know what they were doing or whether it would work, but they followed their instincts. Both characters are really interesting with lots of skeletons to deal with. Troy is definitely not a ‘good’ man but Darla finds that reassuring. They are both very self aware and I liked their honesty with themselves and each other. Watching Darla find her way slowly through the darkness is really satisfying as she finds her strength and becomes a different person from the one she was before she was taken and who she was when she was rescued.
The set-up of former assassins working together is quite fun as they are quite dark people, but they also are looking for something else. They also have great banter which I always enjoy. The security side of the plot was almost a background to the psychological and emotional journey the characters made, but it was still interesting and provided a nice change of pace throughout the story.
I’m really looking forward to reading the other books in the series and getting know the characters we are introduced to in this book.
nope
October 1, 2019Damaged World Reading Order From Author - - -
I'm often asked about the best reading order for my books related to the Damaged series. My website has the series order. Of course, I attempt to write each book to stand on its own. So if a reader skips a book or a series, they shouldn't be lost. However, below is the chronological order each book connected to the Damaged series takes place.
****
Sunday Morning (Damaged, Bk#9)
Damaged and the Beast (Damaged, Bk#1)
Damaged and the Knight (Damaged, Bk#2)
Damaged and the Cobra (Damaged, Bk#3)
Damaged and the Outlaw (Damaged, Bk#4)
Damaged and the Dragon (Damaged, Bk#5)
Damaged and the Bulldog (Damaged, Bk#6)
Damaged and the Saint (Damaged, Bk#7)
Thunderstruck (Ramsey Security, Bk#1)
Live Wire (Ramsey Security, Bk#2)
High Voltage (Ramsey Security, Bk#3)
Junkyard Dog (White Horse, Bk#1)
(Rawkfist MC and Serrated Brotherhood MC occur simultaneously)
Bourbon Blues (Serrated Brotherhood MC, Bk#1)
Whiskey Blues (Serrated Brotherhood MC, Bk#2)
Tequila Blues (Serrated Brotherhood MC, Bk#3)
Black Sheep (Rawkfist MC, Bk#1)
Snake Charmer (Rawkfist MC, Bk#2)
Train Wreck (Rawkfist MC, Bk#3)
In the Wind (Damaged, Bk#8)
Bitch Slap (White Horse, Bk#2)
Booze O’clock (White Horse, Bk#3)
Right Amount of Wrong (Damaged standalone bk)
Brick Shithouse (White Horse, Bk#4)
Down to My Bones (Reapers MC: Ellsberg Chapter, Bk#1)
My Perfect Drug (Reapers MC: Ellsberg Chapter, Bk#2)
Don’t Do Me Wrong (Reapers MC: Conroe Chapter, Bk#1)
Fast As You (Reapers MC: Conroe Chapter, Bk#2)
Promise Me Heaven (Reapers MC: Ellsberg Chapter, Bk#3)
Heart Like Mine (Reapers MC: Conroe Chapter, Bk#3)
***The Little Memphis MC and Rawlings Heretics MC series along with my standalones romances are unconnected to the Damaged world.
I'm often asked about the best reading order for my books related to the Damaged series. My website has the series order. Of course, I attempt to write each book to stand on its own. So if a reader skips a book or a series, they shouldn't be lost. However, below is the chronological order each book connected to the Damaged series takes place.
****
Sunday Morning (Damaged, Bk#9)
Damaged and the Beast (Damaged, Bk#1)
Damaged and the Knight (Damaged, Bk#2)
Damaged and the Cobra (Damaged, Bk#3)
Damaged and the Outlaw (Damaged, Bk#4)
Damaged and the Dragon (Damaged, Bk#5)
Damaged and the Bulldog (Damaged, Bk#6)
Damaged and the Saint (Damaged, Bk#7)
Thunderstruck (Ramsey Security, Bk#1)
Live Wire (Ramsey Security, Bk#2)
High Voltage (Ramsey Security, Bk#3)
Junkyard Dog (White Horse, Bk#1)
(Rawkfist MC and Serrated Brotherhood MC occur simultaneously)
Bourbon Blues (Serrated Brotherhood MC, Bk#1)
Whiskey Blues (Serrated Brotherhood MC, Bk#2)
Tequila Blues (Serrated Brotherhood MC, Bk#3)
Black Sheep (Rawkfist MC, Bk#1)
Snake Charmer (Rawkfist MC, Bk#2)
Train Wreck (Rawkfist MC, Bk#3)
In the Wind (Damaged, Bk#8)
Bitch Slap (White Horse, Bk#2)
Booze O’clock (White Horse, Bk#3)
Right Amount of Wrong (Damaged standalone bk)
Brick Shithouse (White Horse, Bk#4)
Down to My Bones (Reapers MC: Ellsberg Chapter, Bk#1)
My Perfect Drug (Reapers MC: Ellsberg Chapter, Bk#2)
Don’t Do Me Wrong (Reapers MC: Conroe Chapter, Bk#1)
Fast As You (Reapers MC: Conroe Chapter, Bk#2)
Promise Me Heaven (Reapers MC: Ellsberg Chapter, Bk#3)
Heart Like Mine (Reapers MC: Conroe Chapter, Bk#3)
***The Little Memphis MC and Rawlings Heretics MC series along with my standalones romances are unconnected to the Damaged world.
May 8, 2017
Holy bat sh!tballs, Batman, why did i wait so long???
I'm an idiot. There I said it. Read this book and get your IQ in the normal range too.
Fantastic book about a woman who gets caught in a situation that could happen to anyone. Meets a guy who is hired to protect her and learns the new V2 of her is better. But getting from point A to B is Bijou Hunter's time to shine.
Get readin'!
I'm an idiot. There I said it. Read this book and get your IQ in the normal range too.
Fantastic book about a woman who gets caught in a situation that could happen to anyone. Meets a guy who is hired to protect her and learns the new V2 of her is better. But getting from point A to B is Bijou Hunter's time to shine.
Get readin'!
June 13, 2025
Excellent story.
This was a fairly believable story. The characters were well written and the story never lost my interest. I especially enjoyed the epilogue. I find myself really disappointed when authors solve the initial dilemma and I am left wondering about the characters lives long term. I enjoyed the author's this is me, it's who I am, deal with it attitude when writing the characters in the story.
This was a fairly believable story. The characters were well written and the story never lost my interest. I especially enjoyed the epilogue. I find myself really disappointed when authors solve the initial dilemma and I am left wondering about the characters lives long term. I enjoyed the author's this is me, it's who I am, deal with it attitude when writing the characters in the story.
September 13, 2019
So well written
Great story about two messed up people. I highly recommend this book and this author! ! The ending to the story seemed a little rushed, but the epilogue were good.
Great story about two messed up people. I highly recommend this book and this author! ! The ending to the story seemed a little rushed, but the epilogue were good.
March 9, 2020
This is one of Bijou Hunter's calmer books.
This is one of Bijou Hunter's calmer books. I don't know where she gets her story lines, or inspirations, but Bijou scares me. Love her.
This is one of Bijou Hunter's calmer books. I don't know where she gets her story lines, or inspirations, but Bijou scares me. Love her.
Read
December 22, 2021Not her norm
While I usually love Ms. Hunter's books. This one was a struggle. Not sure that I want to read the rest in this group of books. Will need to seriously evaluate Book 2 and how I want to spend my Kindle budget.
While I usually love Ms. Hunter's books. This one was a struggle. Not sure that I want to read the rest in this group of books. Will need to seriously evaluate Book 2 and how I want to spend my Kindle budget.
January 18, 2022
I love that her trauma wasn’t magically fixed, or that she was „strong“ and didn’t need therapy and help, made everything that followed feel real and honest. I love that Troy wasn’t perfect either, he’s pushy and brash but so so perfect for Her.
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