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Thunder
Lars
I was handcuffed and thrown into the ocean to die. As a former Navy SEAL, that was child’s play. The anger building in me is not.
When strange things begin to happen, I know my captors have returned. They threaten my tenant who happens to be a sassy brunette I can’t get off my mind.
I’ll do anything to keep her safe. Then I’ll find them, and they’ll regret ever crossing my path.
Madison
When my publishing company goes bankrupt taking all my income with it, my friend offers me a place to stay. Unfortunately, it comes with his grumpy but sexy brother, Lars, who keeps popping by to fix something.
My real problem starts the night a strange man digs up the backyard. When he doesn’t find what he’s looking for, he stalks me, convinced I’ll lead him to it. When I don’t, he makes it clear he’ll do whatever it takes to get it back.
Lars promises to protect me. I’m drawn to him in a way I can’t explain, and I worry it may be my heart that needs protecting.
I was handcuffed and thrown into the ocean to die. As a former Navy SEAL, that was child’s play. The anger building in me is not.
When strange things begin to happen, I know my captors have returned. They threaten my tenant who happens to be a sassy brunette I can’t get off my mind.
I’ll do anything to keep her safe. Then I’ll find them, and they’ll regret ever crossing my path.
Madison
When my publishing company goes bankrupt taking all my income with it, my friend offers me a place to stay. Unfortunately, it comes with his grumpy but sexy brother, Lars, who keeps popping by to fix something.
My real problem starts the night a strange man digs up the backyard. When he doesn’t find what he’s looking for, he stalks me, convinced I’ll lead him to it. When I don’t, he makes it clear he’ll do whatever it takes to get it back.
Lars promises to protect me. I’m drawn to him in a way I can’t explain, and I worry it may be my heart that needs protecting.
358 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 15, 2022
1574 people are currently reading
683 people want to read
About the author
Danielle Pays
33 books297 followersDanielle Pays writes romantic suspense with twists and a hint of humor. When not trying to write her characters into some kind of trouble, she can be found chasing her dog or annoying her kids. Unless the sun is out. She lives in the Pacific Northwest and if the sun comes out, it is a requirement to go outside before it hides again.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
December 29, 2023
Good start, then fizzled out
This is one of those books that comes out the gate strong, and then gradually loses steam. Everything likable about it was likable at FIRST. Until it just wasn't. And then you're just waiting until it's over so you can move on to something else. Fortunately, it was an easy read (too easy, in fact), which was one of the few winning factors it managed to hold on to. Dialogue is what carried most of the load for this story, but that's not always a great thing. I happen to LOVE dialogue, but even I have to admit that dialogue can't be the sole provider of goodness to a story. Without a good plot to accompany it, witty and quippy dialogue loses its luster, starts to change into something painfully sophomoric when it was originally something catchy and entertaining. Sadly, the yawn-worthy plot did nothing for me, and so...the dialogue faltered.
The pacing fell away too. It was smooth at the start, piqued my curiosity almost instantly, particularly with character introductions. But then as it all went on, it got way too jumpy, like the author was too eager to get to the finish line of not just the book, but the chapters themselves. Transitional moments occurred frequently within one character's chapter, often from paragraph to paragraph, like they were being fast-forwarded. The characters I was trying to envision felt like I had to phase them from one moment to the next. They lacked structure in my head because of this.
And speaking of the characters, they too began to lose their appeal as the story went on. I'm a fan of enemies learning to love, so the squabbling was fun to read at first. I love complexity, love that DOESN'T sprout from looks or lust or because the author says so. But alas, that was wishing for too much here. Once these two would-be lovers became (inexplicably) official, it was all just generic blah, blah, blah from there. How they arrived there, I have ZERO clue. At the expense of their budding individualities, they became typical cardboard cutouts. So much extra in every way. Extra muscles. Extra perils. Extra lovey-doveyness (gag). Extra perfection. There came a point when I didn't buy anything, nor did I much care.
At any rate, this book treaded heavily on 3-star territory for most of the way. It did still manage to keep my attention and I finished it quickly. Some parts were fun, amusing, and great. I enjoyed much of the character interactions. But mostly things were just weak for me, especially the plot itself, which was uncompelling from all angles. Flimsy without much gusto to get too caught up in. It was just too meh. And because that mehness never faltered, this 3-star read became a 2-star one. I don't feel compelled to continue on at all.
This is one of those books that comes out the gate strong, and then gradually loses steam. Everything likable about it was likable at FIRST. Until it just wasn't. And then you're just waiting until it's over so you can move on to something else. Fortunately, it was an easy read (too easy, in fact), which was one of the few winning factors it managed to hold on to. Dialogue is what carried most of the load for this story, but that's not always a great thing. I happen to LOVE dialogue, but even I have to admit that dialogue can't be the sole provider of goodness to a story. Without a good plot to accompany it, witty and quippy dialogue loses its luster, starts to change into something painfully sophomoric when it was originally something catchy and entertaining. Sadly, the yawn-worthy plot did nothing for me, and so...the dialogue faltered.
The pacing fell away too. It was smooth at the start, piqued my curiosity almost instantly, particularly with character introductions. But then as it all went on, it got way too jumpy, like the author was too eager to get to the finish line of not just the book, but the chapters themselves. Transitional moments occurred frequently within one character's chapter, often from paragraph to paragraph, like they were being fast-forwarded. The characters I was trying to envision felt like I had to phase them from one moment to the next. They lacked structure in my head because of this.
And speaking of the characters, they too began to lose their appeal as the story went on. I'm a fan of enemies learning to love, so the squabbling was fun to read at first. I love complexity, love that DOESN'T sprout from looks or lust or because the author says so. But alas, that was wishing for too much here. Once these two would-be lovers became (inexplicably) official, it was all just generic blah, blah, blah from there. How they arrived there, I have ZERO clue. At the expense of their budding individualities, they became typical cardboard cutouts. So much extra in every way. Extra muscles. Extra perils. Extra lovey-doveyness (gag). Extra perfection. There came a point when I didn't buy anything, nor did I much care.
At any rate, this book treaded heavily on 3-star territory for most of the way. It did still manage to keep my attention and I finished it quickly. Some parts were fun, amusing, and great. I enjoyed much of the character interactions. But mostly things were just weak for me, especially the plot itself, which was uncompelling from all angles. Flimsy without much gusto to get too caught up in. It was just too meh. And because that mehness never faltered, this 3-star read became a 2-star one. I don't feel compelled to continue on at all.
January 19, 2026
I hate-read this so you don't have to.
(This rant-review will contain spoilers, you've been warned)
I enjoy a good ex-special forces guy works at a private security firm and ends up protecting the FMC from nefarious bad guys story every now and again. But, despite the description and the series title, that's not what this is.
I'm going to start this review by quoting the book's blurb to you. Please read it carefully. Because it's important that it's fresh in your mind.
Lars
I was handcuffed and thrown into the ocean to die. As a former Navy SEAL, that was child’s play. The anger building in me is not.
When strange things begin to happen, I know my captors have returned. They threaten my tenant who happens to be a sassy brunette I can’t get off my mind.
I’ll do anything to keep her safe. Then I’ll find them, and they’ll regret ever crossing my path.
Madison
When my publishing company goes bankrupt taking all my income with it, my friend offers me a place to stay. Unfortunately, it comes with his grumpy but sexy brother, Lars, who keeps popping by to fix something.
My real problem starts the night a strange man digs up the backyard. When he doesn’t find what he’s looking for, he stalks me, convinced I’ll lead him to it. When I don’t, he makes it clear he’ll do whatever it takes to get it back.
Lars promises to protect me. I’m drawn to him in a way I can’t explain, and I worry it may be my heart that needs protecting.
Now, please, somebody tell me. WHERE in there does it say ANYTHING about Lars spending over half of this book in another goddamned country tracking some asshole who did some stupid illegal thing that has nothing to do with the book's blurb?
Anyone?
Because that's exactly what happens. The book begins interesting enough - Lars is attacked, handcuffed and thrown off a pier. But after that - we barely hear ANYTHING about these suspicious dangerous potential drug-making jackoffs who did this to him and who maybe begin stalking Madison because she moves into the rental property where all of this took place.
Oh, don't get me wrong, occasionally, Pays will remember the book she's SUPPOSED to be writing and we'll get a paragraph about some suspicious man in Madison's backyard digging up her tomato plants or something. But the actual story about Madison being in imminent danger and these men being after her?
Yeah, it's not even in the friggin' building with us.
And I'm about to add insult to injury. Ready?
I'm not 100% sure what exactly Lars/"Thunder" does on these assignments he goes on. Because 20% into the book he's in Mexico sharing a king-sized bed with his buddy, and trying to hunt down these other people who fled to Mexico after doing something shady with US military weapons. It's not very clear and I'll be honest, I didn't care enough to try and figure out why it was so important.
Regardless, that doesn't sound like "security". That sounds more like... I dunno. Bounty hunting? CIA stuff? Why are we sending Ex-Navy SEALs on a trip where they just ask the locals a bunch of questions? Schmoozing's not really in a Navy SEAL's repertoire of talents. If they were under cover in full fatigues trudging through the swamp or diving off a boat in the middle of the ocean or some shit - fine. But they're not. They're at a fucking furry convention. I wish I was kidding.
And here I feel compelled to mention that no matter the mission they're sent on, these men require a SUPRISING lack of technology. No coms, no guns, no high-tech surveillance stuff, nothing. They're just big muscley dudes wandering around whatever city looking for someone completely untethered either to each other or to their boss and with nary a weapon to speak of. Now, I know supposedly a Navy SEAL's hands are certified weapons - but fat lot of good they're gonna do you if you're facing down an AK-47 or some shit.
And because they're never armed? BOTH Thunder and his partner Lightning get drugged by their mark halfway through this story. Because these highly-trained, super focused, definitely alert men allowed some panicky sniveling idiot to drug them BOTH. AT THE SAME TIME. These men are TERRIBLE special-forces operatives.
Now let's remember - the BLURB says that he's protecting Madison from these shady dudes who tried to kill him in Chapter 1 - even though they ALSO got the jump on him just by sneaking up behind him in broad daylight in the middle of the street😒🙄.
While he's out talking to Chester the Squirrel or whoever, he doesn't even have access to the cameras he's placed outside her house - again, there's a SHOCKING lack of technology in this book. So he asks hisfrat boy alcoholic cross dressing karaoke singing lawyer brother to check them every now and again, and he might as well have tried asking HRH Queen Elizabeth II for all the good that did. Because broham forgets almost IMMEDIATELY.
So, needless to say, about 45% of the way through the book, I gave up on this book being ANYTHING about the blurb.
I just gave in to the fact that Lars spends more time with some woman he works with named Cara than he does with the FMC.
But it's even stupider than that.
This man gets called out on assignment AGAIN 40% of the way through the story, forcing him to end a date with Madison early, and then, when they're ALREADY on their way to the location, someone finally thinks to ask "hey, you almost died [at the beginning of the book] are you sure you're ready to go on this kind of assignment?"
Y'all I almost rage quit right then.
What do you mean we're only just asking this question NOW?! You already sent him on one mission and didn't bother asking after his mental health THEN. So why now? Why, when he's already on the plane over the Atlantic do we bother?????
Also, you mean to tell me that a company that frequently sends its employees into dangerous situations doesn't have any kind of protocol to assess said employees for PTSD or trauma??????
I'm going to move on from this for a minute before I hurt myself.
Let's talk about the characters and the relationship for a second.
Let's start with the immediate possessiveness and jealousy flying from both Lars and Madison, even when they're claiming to hate each other. To be honest they both act and sound like insecure teenagers. BOTH of them are well into their 30s. It's not attractive.
It's not just when they're together, either. The BOYS in this story (because they act like goddamned children) are so annoying when they're together. These are supposedly well-trained, highly dangerous ex-special forces men, mind you, and they spend an inordinate amount of time playing childish pranks on one another and arguing over stupid shit like who used whose mustard. No, I am not joking.
The campy, jokey, immaturity on every single page made it VERY difficult to take what was supposed to be a v srs plot seriously.
Now the relationship:
The spice comes out of nowhere and I felt nothing about it. Madison and Lars go from antagonizing the shit out of each other to phone sex at mach speed. All while he's "on assignment" in another country, mind you. So much for staying focused like the hyper-trained ex-Navy SEAL you're supposed to be, huh, Thunder?
There are also entirely too many jump scares in this book - what I mean is, Lars and/or Madison will be dirty talking each other to orgasm, and suddenly Lars' partner will walk in on him jacking off.
This kind of thing happens like 47 times. I am NOT kidding. The second-hand embarrassment about KILLED me. It's of course meant to be funny-haha, but it misses the mark. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
Now we finally come to the back half of the book.
It legitimately takes us 55% of the story to even really begin seeing any progress with the plot described in the book's blurb. If you're thinking YAY! FINALLY! The REAL PLOT!
Keep your pants on.
Because while yes, there IS an up-tick in the creepy stalker plant-digger-upper story, a large part of the back half of this story is filled with the most ludicrous bullshit you ever did see.
We're still dealing with Lars' work situation. That never goes away and I'm guessing it's designed to be the through-line for the books that follow this one. if it hadn't taken over legitimately 60% of this story, it might have been interesting.
What wasn't interesting is that Madison is the one who gives Lars a break on some of the suspicions he has regarding the mysterious death of one of the heads of the company he works for. Because she *gasp* watched the news and saw that Hawthorne's (the dead guy) wife was set to go on the Real Housewives....
Somebody PLEASE tell me how this firm who operated under this man's name DIDN'T know any of that?????? These highly-trained men are SECURITY and SURVEILLANCE. And they don't know about a breaking story that some nobody author knew just from watching the news?????
I wouldn't hire these idiots to guard a dead goldfish.
It's not just the men who are idiots, though. 70% of the way through this story, Madison does the dumbest shit all stupid FMCs do and goes wandering off on her own even though she's FULLY AWARE she's being tracked by a man who thinks she's got his money and gets herself kidnapped.
Do you wanna guess where Lars is?
Not fucking there, I'll tell you that. He's once again on assignment in another country pretending to be Cara's boyfriend while they talk to some woman about something I didn't care about.
Lars tried to protect Madison, kind of, I guess. He set up his fellow security bros on rotation to watch her. But once again, they prove to be the shittiest security people in the history of ever because she gives them the slip and ends up gone. FOR DAYS.
At NO point in this story does Lars actual do any protecting of this woman. He pawns it off on his brother, and again on his security bros (why none of these other assholes could go on assignment in Lars' place, I'll never understand. It always had to be him, to the point I had to wonder if Cara wasn't doing it on purpose because she liked the guy or something).
He does manage to get back home after learning she's been taken. But does he find her? Does he swoop in like an action hero and save her from the evil bastards who hurt her?
Ahahahahaha.
You wish.
Madison ends up in the hospital - purely because ONE of the bad guys has a conscience. She's been drugged and can't really remember anything - and then the bad guys show up IN HER HOSPITAL ROOM and one tries to kill her by injecting something in her IV.
She manages to yank the IV out of her arm in time and Lars and Deck show up in the room - and instead of PUNCHING THE FUCKING ASSHOLE IN THE FACE, Lars gets tased again and the idiot gets away. Again. Because Deck's too afraid to stop him because the bad guy is supposedly "an officer of the law".
I feel the need to remind y'all, AGAIN, that Lars, at least, is an EX NAVY SEAL. You know - a HIGHLY TRAINED SPECIAL FORCES OPERATIVE?????
To this point in the story - and we are 75% of the way through when the hospital incident happens - he's been COMPLETELY USELESS.
Literally. He has done absolutely NOTHING except get tased, handcuffed and tossed in the ocean. Then drugged in another country, then tased again.
My dead grandmother would be more useful than this MMC.
And if that's not bad enough - the doctor treating Madison (who thinks she's a drug addict because of the needle tracks in her arms) calls security on Lars and Deck and they get taken into custody because apparently they think THEY'RE the bad guys. Even though SOMEBODY had to have tased Lars and nobody with a taser is even there anymore.
Also - Madison gets released the morning after all of this happens, despite the doctor thinking she nearly overdosed or is an addict of some kind. She's also still got a massive head injury. I'm not sure a hospital would let a person go with this list of things happening. But whatever, plot over logic, right?
The ending of this story is just as much a shitshow as the rest of the book in all honestly. Lars continues to be useless. Brian (the bad guy) continues to get away for stupid reasons - even from 2 very highly trained special-forces security people.
The legal stuff requires SO much "just go with it" I gave up trying to make sense of it. They've got blood at the scene, the IV with drugs in it (supposing some ahole didn't actually get rid of that evidence) MULTIPLE eye-witnesses, testimony from MULTIPLE victims, DNA evidence...and STILL they struggle to pin Bad Guy with ANY of the crimes he committed at the end of the book.
Oh, and this is the best part! The cop's suggestion on how to handle Bad Guy? "Just let nature take it's course." See. Internal review will PROBABLY get Bad Guy fired form the police force. And "without his badge to hide behind" PROBABLY one of the people he's pissed off will come for him and deal with him.
And of course, we learn that that's exactly what happened. In about 13 lines we find out some drug dealer killed Bad Guy. 😮💨 So Lars is still useless as hell.
A real Navy SEAL would have ended Bad Guy in chapter 1. That's all I'm saying.
Anyway. I had intentions of reading the rest of this series. Clearly that's not happening - I value my sanity a little too much to subject myself to anymore of this.
Here I was hoping for a quick little security team romantic suspense a la Brynne Asher.
What I got was a headache and a desperate need for adrink nap.
(This rant-review will contain spoilers, you've been warned)
I enjoy a good ex-special forces guy works at a private security firm and ends up protecting the FMC from nefarious bad guys story every now and again. But, despite the description and the series title, that's not what this is.
I'm going to start this review by quoting the book's blurb to you. Please read it carefully. Because it's important that it's fresh in your mind.
Lars
I was handcuffed and thrown into the ocean to die. As a former Navy SEAL, that was child’s play. The anger building in me is not.
When strange things begin to happen, I know my captors have returned. They threaten my tenant who happens to be a sassy brunette I can’t get off my mind.
I’ll do anything to keep her safe. Then I’ll find them, and they’ll regret ever crossing my path.
Madison
When my publishing company goes bankrupt taking all my income with it, my friend offers me a place to stay. Unfortunately, it comes with his grumpy but sexy brother, Lars, who keeps popping by to fix something.
My real problem starts the night a strange man digs up the backyard. When he doesn’t find what he’s looking for, he stalks me, convinced I’ll lead him to it. When I don’t, he makes it clear he’ll do whatever it takes to get it back.
Lars promises to protect me. I’m drawn to him in a way I can’t explain, and I worry it may be my heart that needs protecting.
Now, please, somebody tell me. WHERE in there does it say ANYTHING about Lars spending over half of this book in another goddamned country tracking some asshole who did some stupid illegal thing that has nothing to do with the book's blurb?
Anyone?
Because that's exactly what happens. The book begins interesting enough - Lars is attacked, handcuffed and thrown off a pier. But after that - we barely hear ANYTHING about these suspicious dangerous potential drug-making jackoffs who did this to him and who maybe begin stalking Madison because she moves into the rental property where all of this took place.
Oh, don't get me wrong, occasionally, Pays will remember the book she's SUPPOSED to be writing and we'll get a paragraph about some suspicious man in Madison's backyard digging up her tomato plants or something. But the actual story about Madison being in imminent danger and these men being after her?
Yeah, it's not even in the friggin' building with us.
And I'm about to add insult to injury. Ready?
I'm not 100% sure what exactly Lars/"Thunder" does on these assignments he goes on. Because 20% into the book he's in Mexico sharing a king-sized bed with his buddy, and trying to hunt down these other people who fled to Mexico after doing something shady with US military weapons. It's not very clear and I'll be honest, I didn't care enough to try and figure out why it was so important.
Regardless, that doesn't sound like "security". That sounds more like... I dunno. Bounty hunting? CIA stuff? Why are we sending Ex-Navy SEALs on a trip where they just ask the locals a bunch of questions? Schmoozing's not really in a Navy SEAL's repertoire of talents. If they were under cover in full fatigues trudging through the swamp or diving off a boat in the middle of the ocean or some shit - fine. But they're not. They're at a fucking furry convention. I wish I was kidding.
And here I feel compelled to mention that no matter the mission they're sent on, these men require a SUPRISING lack of technology. No coms, no guns, no high-tech surveillance stuff, nothing. They're just big muscley dudes wandering around whatever city looking for someone completely untethered either to each other or to their boss and with nary a weapon to speak of. Now, I know supposedly a Navy SEAL's hands are certified weapons - but fat lot of good they're gonna do you if you're facing down an AK-47 or some shit.
And because they're never armed? BOTH Thunder and his partner Lightning get drugged by their mark halfway through this story. Because these highly-trained, super focused, definitely alert men allowed some panicky sniveling idiot to drug them BOTH. AT THE SAME TIME. These men are TERRIBLE special-forces operatives.
Now let's remember - the BLURB says that he's protecting Madison from these shady dudes who tried to kill him in Chapter 1 - even though they ALSO got the jump on him just by sneaking up behind him in broad daylight in the middle of the street😒🙄.
While he's out talking to Chester the Squirrel or whoever, he doesn't even have access to the cameras he's placed outside her house - again, there's a SHOCKING lack of technology in this book. So he asks his
So, needless to say, about 45% of the way through the book, I gave up on this book being ANYTHING about the blurb.
I just gave in to the fact that Lars spends more time with some woman he works with named Cara than he does with the FMC.
But it's even stupider than that.
This man gets called out on assignment AGAIN 40% of the way through the story, forcing him to end a date with Madison early, and then, when they're ALREADY on their way to the location, someone finally thinks to ask "hey, you almost died [at the beginning of the book] are you sure you're ready to go on this kind of assignment?"
Y'all I almost rage quit right then.
What do you mean we're only just asking this question NOW?! You already sent him on one mission and didn't bother asking after his mental health THEN. So why now? Why, when he's already on the plane over the Atlantic do we bother?????
Also, you mean to tell me that a company that frequently sends its employees into dangerous situations doesn't have any kind of protocol to assess said employees for PTSD or trauma??????
I'm going to move on from this for a minute before I hurt myself.
Let's talk about the characters and the relationship for a second.
Let's start with the immediate possessiveness and jealousy flying from both Lars and Madison, even when they're claiming to hate each other. To be honest they both act and sound like insecure teenagers. BOTH of them are well into their 30s. It's not attractive.
It's not just when they're together, either. The BOYS in this story (because they act like goddamned children) are so annoying when they're together. These are supposedly well-trained, highly dangerous ex-special forces men, mind you, and they spend an inordinate amount of time playing childish pranks on one another and arguing over stupid shit like who used whose mustard. No, I am not joking.
The campy, jokey, immaturity on every single page made it VERY difficult to take what was supposed to be a v srs plot seriously.
Now the relationship:
The spice comes out of nowhere and I felt nothing about it. Madison and Lars go from antagonizing the shit out of each other to phone sex at mach speed. All while he's "on assignment" in another country, mind you. So much for staying focused like the hyper-trained ex-Navy SEAL you're supposed to be, huh, Thunder?
There are also entirely too many jump scares in this book - what I mean is, Lars and/or Madison will be dirty talking each other to orgasm, and suddenly Lars' partner will walk in on him jacking off.
This kind of thing happens like 47 times. I am NOT kidding. The second-hand embarrassment about KILLED me. It's of course meant to be funny-haha, but it misses the mark. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
Now we finally come to the back half of the book.
It legitimately takes us 55% of the story to even really begin seeing any progress with the plot described in the book's blurb. If you're thinking YAY! FINALLY! The REAL PLOT!
Keep your pants on.
Because while yes, there IS an up-tick in the creepy stalker plant-digger-upper story, a large part of the back half of this story is filled with the most ludicrous bullshit you ever did see.
We're still dealing with Lars' work situation. That never goes away and I'm guessing it's designed to be the through-line for the books that follow this one. if it hadn't taken over legitimately 60% of this story, it might have been interesting.
What wasn't interesting is that Madison is the one who gives Lars a break on some of the suspicions he has regarding the mysterious death of one of the heads of the company he works for. Because she *gasp* watched the news and saw that Hawthorne's (the dead guy) wife was set to go on the Real Housewives....
Somebody PLEASE tell me how this firm who operated under this man's name DIDN'T know any of that?????? These highly-trained men are SECURITY and SURVEILLANCE. And they don't know about a breaking story that some nobody author knew just from watching the news?????
I wouldn't hire these idiots to guard a dead goldfish.
It's not just the men who are idiots, though. 70% of the way through this story, Madison does the dumbest shit all stupid FMCs do and goes wandering off on her own even though she's FULLY AWARE she's being tracked by a man who thinks she's got his money and gets herself kidnapped.
Do you wanna guess where Lars is?
Not fucking there, I'll tell you that. He's once again on assignment in another country pretending to be Cara's boyfriend while they talk to some woman about something I didn't care about.
Lars tried to protect Madison, kind of, I guess. He set up his fellow security bros on rotation to watch her. But once again, they prove to be the shittiest security people in the history of ever because she gives them the slip and ends up gone. FOR DAYS.
At NO point in this story does Lars actual do any protecting of this woman. He pawns it off on his brother, and again on his security bros (why none of these other assholes could go on assignment in Lars' place, I'll never understand. It always had to be him, to the point I had to wonder if Cara wasn't doing it on purpose because she liked the guy or something).
He does manage to get back home after learning she's been taken. But does he find her? Does he swoop in like an action hero and save her from the evil bastards who hurt her?
Ahahahahaha.
You wish.
Madison ends up in the hospital - purely because ONE of the bad guys has a conscience. She's been drugged and can't really remember anything - and then the bad guys show up IN HER HOSPITAL ROOM and one tries to kill her by injecting something in her IV.
She manages to yank the IV out of her arm in time and Lars and Deck show up in the room - and instead of PUNCHING THE FUCKING ASSHOLE IN THE FACE, Lars gets tased again and the idiot gets away. Again. Because Deck's too afraid to stop him because the bad guy is supposedly "an officer of the law".
I feel the need to remind y'all, AGAIN, that Lars, at least, is an EX NAVY SEAL. You know - a HIGHLY TRAINED SPECIAL FORCES OPERATIVE?????
To this point in the story - and we are 75% of the way through when the hospital incident happens - he's been COMPLETELY USELESS.
Literally. He has done absolutely NOTHING except get tased, handcuffed and tossed in the ocean. Then drugged in another country, then tased again.
My dead grandmother would be more useful than this MMC.
And if that's not bad enough - the doctor treating Madison (who thinks she's a drug addict because of the needle tracks in her arms) calls security on Lars and Deck and they get taken into custody because apparently they think THEY'RE the bad guys. Even though SOMEBODY had to have tased Lars and nobody with a taser is even there anymore.
Also - Madison gets released the morning after all of this happens, despite the doctor thinking she nearly overdosed or is an addict of some kind. She's also still got a massive head injury. I'm not sure a hospital would let a person go with this list of things happening. But whatever, plot over logic, right?
The ending of this story is just as much a shitshow as the rest of the book in all honestly. Lars continues to be useless. Brian (the bad guy) continues to get away for stupid reasons - even from 2 very highly trained special-forces security people.
The legal stuff requires SO much "just go with it" I gave up trying to make sense of it. They've got blood at the scene, the IV with drugs in it (supposing some ahole didn't actually get rid of that evidence) MULTIPLE eye-witnesses, testimony from MULTIPLE victims, DNA evidence...and STILL they struggle to pin Bad Guy with ANY of the crimes he committed at the end of the book.
Oh, and this is the best part! The cop's suggestion on how to handle Bad Guy? "Just let nature take it's course." See. Internal review will PROBABLY get Bad Guy fired form the police force. And "without his badge to hide behind" PROBABLY one of the people he's pissed off will come for him and deal with him.
And of course, we learn that that's exactly what happened. In about 13 lines we find out some drug dealer killed Bad Guy. 😮💨 So Lars is still useless as hell.
A real Navy SEAL would have ended Bad Guy in chapter 1. That's all I'm saying.
Anyway. I had intentions of reading the rest of this series. Clearly that's not happening - I value my sanity a little too much to subject myself to anymore of this.
Here I was hoping for a quick little security team romantic suspense a la Brynne Asher.
What I got was a headache and a desperate need for a
June 8, 2022
I voluntarily read an arc of this book and am leaving an honest review. I really loved this romance. Lars aka Thunder works for a security company. He’s used to protecting people, being on covert missions and danger. Imagine his surprise when he’s pepper sprayed after someone gets the jump on him and nearly winds up dead. He vows then and there this won’t happen again and he’ll find the men who did this and bring them to justice. Madison is a romance author who’s kind of in a bind. She has nowhere to go until her bff offers to let her stay in his rental which he just happens to own with his brother, Lars. When these two meet it is not good but it is hilarious! The dynamic between these two was so entertaining! I couldn’t wait for more from them, their actions and the situations they keep getting into were so much fun to read. When things around the rental start to scare Madison, it’s Thunder to the rescue. There’s just something so compelling to him about Madison and despite herself, she feels the same for him. However, danger is stalking Madison and Lars can’t seem to get the advantage. He’s distracted by his developing feelings for Madison. Will they find out who is hunting them before it’s too late? There were a lot of surprises and some hints of upcoming stories. This is truly worth the read, the chemistry was so good and Lars was a sweetheart.
March 12, 2024
I almost DNF'd this book multiple times. There was so much plot action that would suddenly just end with a flimsy "the bad guy is now dead" or "we've been pulled from the case" and all the build up was for nothing. Additionally, there was no development of the characters and barely any insight into their thoughts/feelings/backgrounds, so it felt like I didn't really get to know them at all. This meant that when they suddenly switched from enemies to lovers, it felt super contrived because there was no emotional growth that lead to the change, "you're hot so now I'm in love with you".
*spoilers*
The whole CIA case for the first 50% of the book turned out to be nothing and didn't connect to the story at all. The bad guys for the main plot arc just died in the end with no resolution at all. The meth trailer was only in 1 chapter, they alluded to the boss being murdered but never did anything with it, the mother has depression and the brother committed suicide but those stories were basically just there as "hero has a tragic backstory" filler and weren't developed in any meaningful way. Lars and Cara are supposed to be like siblings but act like strained work colleagues with poor communication skills. Madison's entire personality is that she is a writer.
Lots of wasted opportunities. Too many ideas with too little development.
*spoilers*
The whole CIA case for the first 50% of the book turned out to be nothing and didn't connect to the story at all. The bad guys for the main plot arc just died in the end with no resolution at all. The meth trailer was only in 1 chapter, they alluded to the boss being murdered but never did anything with it, the mother has depression and the brother committed suicide but those stories were basically just there as "hero has a tragic backstory" filler and weren't developed in any meaningful way. Lars and Cara are supposed to be like siblings but act like strained work colleagues with poor communication skills. Madison's entire personality is that she is a writer.
Lots of wasted opportunities. Too many ideas with too little development.
March 8, 2024
Thriller Romance
Lars, AKA Thunder, works for an exclusive security company. He is almost killed when he stumbles across a meth lab at a property he owns.
Madison is an author who is short of money; when she finds herself homeless, her friend loans her his brother's empty house.
The scene is set for a traditional romance, but this is so much more. Thunder is working with the authorities to track down a criminal, and Madison is being tracked by the men who almost killed him. Two thrillers run seamlessly alongside their budding relationship.
Great characters, passion aplenty, and a tale to keep you on the edge of your seat. Excellent.
Lars, AKA Thunder, works for an exclusive security company. He is almost killed when he stumbles across a meth lab at a property he owns.
Madison is an author who is short of money; when she finds herself homeless, her friend loans her his brother's empty house.
The scene is set for a traditional romance, but this is so much more. Thunder is working with the authorities to track down a criminal, and Madison is being tracked by the men who almost killed him. Two thrillers run seamlessly alongside their budding relationship.
Great characters, passion aplenty, and a tale to keep you on the edge of your seat. Excellent.
June 6, 2022
Loved the book. Took me awhile to get into it but the action really picks up as you turn the pages. There’s betrayal, plot twists and humor. Found myself giggling throughout… It’s a mixture of who done it action alongside friends having each other’s backs and laughter. Putting them all together makes for a good mix.
Poor Lars…. When it comes to Madison he can’t seem to win for losing. He takes one step forward and two seps backward. Madison may be down on her luck and living in Lars’ rental property for free, but she’s certainly no pushover. She’s a feisty young author who needs a little help getting back on her feet. Deck, Lars’ brother and Madison’s friend, talks her into moving to that rental until she can get things squared away. Of course Lars knows nothing about that arrangement when he walks in on her unannounced one day. Lars thinks she’s a scantily dressed crazy woman, Madison thinks Lars is arrogant, invasive and annoying. Let the fun begin!
Ahhh but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. See, that free rental isn’t so free after all. There’s a price to pay. There’s a backstory to that rental, a really bad backstory. The previous renter disappeared, mysteriously… and bad boys, really, really bad boys moved in. Poor guys…. didn’t know who they were messin’ with. You see, Lars isn’t just ‘Lars’. Nope he’s Thunder and, well, you’ll see he’s well trained to intercept bad boys. Only problem is: are the bad boys really the good boys... and the so-called good boys, actually the bad boys? Have fun trying to figure it out 😱
👁⌃👁 OBSERVATIONS:
✒︎ I realize books like this will have a certain degree of foul language, but don’t like profanity and cursing. There’s not a lot of it but why not a simple cuss word instead of profaning G_d’s name?
✒︎ Okay, I know it’s cheesy, but I’d love for Madison’s ex to find out just how NOT boring she is….hmmm wonder why I liked Erin’s solution to the ex? (Chap 14)
✒︎ if you read ‘ Shielding Connie’ in the Morgan Thompson Security series, you met Thunder. He was ‘on loan’ to Morgan Thompson. His partner is Lightning, both ex Navy Seals and still working dangerous missions for Reed Hawthorne private security … and there seems to be a story to tell there too. Was it an accident or murder? The next book is ‘Lightning’ so I’m thinking we’ll soon find out just how innocent Stacy is. Ahhhhh… Stacy, Stacy, Stacy. Looks like you’re next! Hope to ‘see’ you in Lightning’s book.
🤔Things I Ponder🧐
✒︎ What actually happened to Doug? Dead or alive? Assumptions don’t make a reality? Wonder if we’ll see him in ‘Lightning’?
✒︎ Hmmmm, if Thunder is trained to deal with guys like Brian, he sure missed a couple good opportunities by not noticing things before getting into trouble. His entry into his rental was too spontaneous, not well planned for a main of his expertise.
Also, too bad he didn’t jab Brian with that syringe. There might have been a little of that drug still there since Madison was so quick to pull the IV out.
And to let Doug get in position to jab he and Lightning,,,,tsk tsk on both men.
✒︎ DNA evidence on the syringe vial at the hospital (fingerprints)????? Pictures and videos? Brian stalking her… why else would he be at Deck’s condo? Rental property behind Lars’ rental (which also would provide DNA)? Separate they might mean little but put them all together and there is enough evidence for reasonable suspicion.
✒︎ Madison…. She’s a national champ in training … why not use some of that expertise when Brian approached her? (She was a finalist in the Greater New York NPC Championships three years in a row.)
✒︎ I kept wondering what happened to the previous renter. He just disappeared and never shows up again… a real mystery man.
✒︎ Do we know who the traitor is in the alphabet agency that begins with a C, ends in an A and has and I in the middle?
I was given an advance copy of this book and am leaving my personal thoughts and opinions.
April 30, 2025
A pretty good book, but a very abrupt ending
This book grabbed my attention almost from the start. It was funny, there was action, some mystery, eventually some romance... "Thunder" had a pretty good flow going for it.
Then suddenly... it's over? I won't give spoilers, but I actually had a bit of a neck jerk reaction and flipped back a page to be sure I didn't miss a chapter.
If you like a protector MC in your romances, you'll likely enjoy this. It is a good book with a good story. I like the humour scattered in. I just wish it concluded better, though the VERY end was enjoyable!
This book grabbed my attention almost from the start. It was funny, there was action, some mystery, eventually some romance... "Thunder" had a pretty good flow going for it.
Then suddenly... it's over? I won't give spoilers, but I actually had a bit of a neck jerk reaction and flipped back a page to be sure I didn't miss a chapter.
If you like a protector MC in your romances, you'll likely enjoy this. It is a good book with a good story. I like the humour scattered in. I just wish it concluded better, though the VERY end was enjoyable!
June 15, 2022
This started out slow but picks up and once it does I was hooked. Lars and Madison had me swooning, especially when they first meet. Then it just gets even better with some twists and turns, action, danger, and steam.
August 13, 2023
This is the first book in the Reed Hawthorne Security series. It is a spinoff from the Morgan Thompson Security series. You don't have to read the other series to enjoy this book, although I do recommend them since they were wonderful books. I've been not so patiently waiting for Lars "Thunder" story since he was introduced in Shielding Connie. Lars and Madison's first meeting was a bit bumpy to say the least. Boy do they rub each other the wrong way but you know what they say about that thin line between love and hate. Lars goes to one of his rental properties to check on some suspicious activity and is attacked by two guys but he doesn’t get a good look at them thanks to a face full of pepper spray. Madison is best friends with Lars brother Deck. When she needs a place to stay Deck offers up the rental property where Lars was attacked which ends up drawing her into the drama. This book is steamy, fast paced with plenty of suspense and action, well written and funny. You'll get an intro to some of the other guys that work at Reed Hawthorne. They are a solid team of ex Navy SEALs, alphas to the core, always have their teammates back, and enjoy pranking each other. Can't wait for Lightning's story next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 29, 2023
Horrible. The storyline is ok though everything is tied up easily and too quickly. The sex scenes are horrible though. Like just make it closed door instead. It's start, come and done all in less than a page. Almost DNF.
August 9, 2025
DNF. The plot jumps all over, it just gets exciting and then it’s a few weeks later! The mc’s just seemed like cardboard cut outs with no personality. Weird.
What a letdown. The book starts off really well and it’s exciting as Lars is taken captive by meth suppliers that are renting his house, and thrown in the sea, then it’s a few weeks later! 😡😡 Lars apparently rescued himself while handcuffed. Err okay. Lars is an ex navy seal who now works for a security company, and has a brother and….??? I don’t know anything else about him and he seemed really cold. One of his brothers killed himself years ago and the way it was written about felt really cold. Like the author just stuck it in there to gain sympathy for him. He’s supposedly really close to his dead brothers girlfriend yet they act like business associates not like brother and sister.
Then there’s Madison ( I can’t remember her name.) she’s an author and….??? She writes romance with horrible stilted sex scenes, and she just seems really angry at the world. Lars brother is doing her a massive favour as her publisher went bankrupt owing her all her money, so she’s homeless, so he pays for her to rent Lars’s house. Yet she doesn’t seem particularly grateful to him. Constantly ringing him to complain about Lars doing really awful things like mending the cameras outside that SHE broke! Then she accuses him of being a pervert!! Wow what a horrid person! Her friend offers her a job at her gym and gives her a settee as she’s broke, yet all she does is complain about her. 😡😡😡
So when Lars and whatever her name is get together it felt really forced, like they had to get together but didn’t want to. Meanwhile there’s yet another plot about a man they’re investigating and there’s a lot about that and I wasn’t interested to be honest. I wanted more about the meth dealers.
Not good.
What a letdown. The book starts off really well and it’s exciting as Lars is taken captive by meth suppliers that are renting his house, and thrown in the sea, then it’s a few weeks later! 😡😡 Lars apparently rescued himself while handcuffed. Err okay. Lars is an ex navy seal who now works for a security company, and has a brother and….??? I don’t know anything else about him and he seemed really cold. One of his brothers killed himself years ago and the way it was written about felt really cold. Like the author just stuck it in there to gain sympathy for him. He’s supposedly really close to his dead brothers girlfriend yet they act like business associates not like brother and sister.
Then there’s Madison ( I can’t remember her name.) she’s an author and….??? She writes romance with horrible stilted sex scenes, and she just seems really angry at the world. Lars brother is doing her a massive favour as her publisher went bankrupt owing her all her money, so she’s homeless, so he pays for her to rent Lars’s house. Yet she doesn’t seem particularly grateful to him. Constantly ringing him to complain about Lars doing really awful things like mending the cameras outside that SHE broke! Then she accuses him of being a pervert!! Wow what a horrid person! Her friend offers her a job at her gym and gives her a settee as she’s broke, yet all she does is complain about her. 😡😡😡
So when Lars and whatever her name is get together it felt really forced, like they had to get together but didn’t want to. Meanwhile there’s yet another plot about a man they’re investigating and there’s a lot about that and I wasn’t interested to be honest. I wanted more about the meth dealers.
Not good.
December 9, 2024
Lars
I was handcuffed and thrown into the ocean to die. As a former Navy SEAL, that was child’s play. The anger building in me is not.
When strange things begin to happen, I know my captors have returned. They threaten my tenant who happens to be a sassy brunette I can’t get off my mind.
I’ll do anything to keep her safe. Then I’ll find them, and they’ll regret ever crossing my path.
Madison
When my publishing company goes bankrupt taking all my income with it, my friend offers me a place to stay. Unfortunately, it comes with his grumpy but sexy brother, Lars, who keeps popping by to fix something.
My real problem starts the night a strange man digs up the backyard. When he doesn’t find what he’s looking for, he stalks me, convinced I’ll lead him to it. When I don’t, he makes it clear he’ll do whatever it takes to get it back.
Lars promises to protect me. I’m drawn to him in a way I can’t explain, and I worry it may be my heart that needs protecting.
Heather's Notes
I was a bit disappointed with this story. I expected a bit more action. The story wasn't bad, but the plot lacked. Also there were several holes, like why they let Madison go, or even how Coffee didn't hear them struggling. Also, the whole thing about not being able to prosecute the police officer without more evidence? You had 3 people saying he broke in, tried to kidnap Madison again and shot a civilian. A good lawyer is not going to be able to turn that around. Especially, since one is a federal office and another is former military. I don't know if I will read another or not. I do like the characters so.....maybe.
I was handcuffed and thrown into the ocean to die. As a former Navy SEAL, that was child’s play. The anger building in me is not.
When strange things begin to happen, I know my captors have returned. They threaten my tenant who happens to be a sassy brunette I can’t get off my mind.
I’ll do anything to keep her safe. Then I’ll find them, and they’ll regret ever crossing my path.
Madison
When my publishing company goes bankrupt taking all my income with it, my friend offers me a place to stay. Unfortunately, it comes with his grumpy but sexy brother, Lars, who keeps popping by to fix something.
My real problem starts the night a strange man digs up the backyard. When he doesn’t find what he’s looking for, he stalks me, convinced I’ll lead him to it. When I don’t, he makes it clear he’ll do whatever it takes to get it back.
Lars promises to protect me. I’m drawn to him in a way I can’t explain, and I worry it may be my heart that needs protecting.
Heather's Notes
I was a bit disappointed with this story. I expected a bit more action. The story wasn't bad, but the plot lacked. Also there were several holes, like why they let Madison go, or even how Coffee didn't hear them struggling. Also, the whole thing about not being able to prosecute the police officer without more evidence? You had 3 people saying he broke in, tried to kidnap Madison again and shot a civilian. A good lawyer is not going to be able to turn that around. Especially, since one is a federal office and another is former military. I don't know if I will read another or not. I do like the characters so.....maybe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2022
This is my first time reading anything from Danielle Pays, and it won't be my last.
This read contains full and well rounded characters. Starting with Lars "Thunder" who's an ex-seal, and currently working with Reed Hawthorne Security. A serious man (when the job calls for it) who needs to leave on assignments at the drop of a hat. His brother Decker known as the nice guy. He tries to help out Madison his best friend who's having some life issues, who btw is an author. When antics start and ensue. Strong personalities and each loving to push the others buttons. Thunders partner "Lightning" will have you laughing whenever he appears. Proving men will always be boys.
The story starts with death of RHS founder. It quickly moves to an op that assists Cara a CIA agent who happens to be the ex-gf of Caleb (Lars and Decks brother).
I don't want to give away the story but it consists of possible traitors, dirty cops, drug dealers, murder, murder attempts and new relationships. Along with ex-seals turned security agents turned family who will live and die for each other. There are subs stories woven into a larger picture with some loose ends to look forward too.
Happy reading📖🌻.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This read contains full and well rounded characters. Starting with Lars "Thunder" who's an ex-seal, and currently working with Reed Hawthorne Security. A serious man (when the job calls for it) who needs to leave on assignments at the drop of a hat. His brother Decker known as the nice guy. He tries to help out Madison his best friend who's having some life issues, who btw is an author. When antics start and ensue. Strong personalities and each loving to push the others buttons. Thunders partner "Lightning" will have you laughing whenever he appears. Proving men will always be boys.
The story starts with death of RHS founder. It quickly moves to an op that assists Cara a CIA agent who happens to be the ex-gf of Caleb (Lars and Decks brother).
I don't want to give away the story but it consists of possible traitors, dirty cops, drug dealers, murder, murder attempts and new relationships. Along with ex-seals turned security agents turned family who will live and die for each other. There are subs stories woven into a larger picture with some loose ends to look forward too.
Happy reading📖🌻.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 16, 2023
Four plots. One gets settled.
I get that this is the beginning of a series, so a cast of characters needs to be established and certain themes established, but this novel is a bit of a mess. Only the main romance is settled by the end; a bunch of crimes remain partially solved at best, with people missing and kingpins unidentified and uncaught. Some explanations are bizarre. And evidently attempted kidnapping is perfectly legal if a drugdealing cop does it. Twice. We're also supposed to believe that a WRITER who is being protected from a stalker who thinks she dug up his money would sit outside without telling her guard, then run off outside the gated courtyard to break up a catfight, thus becoming the famous trope Too Stupid To Live. There are other holes in the plot (like the complete disappearance of some evidence that would have ended the book much earlier), but smart women being stupid to move the plot just annoy me. The blurb from the next book features a CIA agent working alone in Chile spying on a trafficker and being captured and, of course, being prepped to be trafficked. Sigh...
I get that this is the beginning of a series, so a cast of characters needs to be established and certain themes established, but this novel is a bit of a mess. Only the main romance is settled by the end; a bunch of crimes remain partially solved at best, with people missing and kingpins unidentified and uncaught. Some explanations are bizarre. And evidently attempted kidnapping is perfectly legal if a drugdealing cop does it. Twice. We're also supposed to believe that a WRITER who is being protected from a stalker who thinks she dug up his money would sit outside without telling her guard, then run off outside the gated courtyard to break up a catfight, thus becoming the famous trope Too Stupid To Live. There are other holes in the plot (like the complete disappearance of some evidence that would have ended the book much earlier), but smart women being stupid to move the plot just annoy me. The blurb from the next book features a CIA agent working alone in Chile spying on a trafficker and being captured and, of course, being prepped to be trafficked. Sigh...
March 6, 2025
I really enjoyed the build up to the relationship and the tension, but found the actual sex scenes lacking. They were extremely low detail and short, and I found myself disappointed with the climax of the sex build up so to speak. However, now I know what the authors spice style is like for future reads!
That said I did enjoy Lars and Madison's interactions. As well as the brotherly best friend bond between Thunder and Lightning.
I will admit I felt the urge to skim during several of the long chapters that focused only on Thunder and Lightnings assignment, so if you're looking for something that is primarily focused on the relationship and not big on super detailed side plots, this isn't for you. But kudos to the author for that side plots it was well written .
Over all it's a solid read. The last 5-6 chapters are the most exciting.
I am VERY excited to read about Cara. The epilogue featuring a teaser of Rescuing Cara totally got me hooked and I am pumped.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
That said I did enjoy Lars and Madison's interactions. As well as the brotherly best friend bond between Thunder and Lightning.
I will admit I felt the urge to skim during several of the long chapters that focused only on Thunder and Lightnings assignment, so if you're looking for something that is primarily focused on the relationship and not big on super detailed side plots, this isn't for you. But kudos to the author for that side plots it was well written .
Over all it's a solid read. The last 5-6 chapters are the most exciting.
I am VERY excited to read about Cara. The epilogue featuring a teaser of Rescuing Cara totally got me hooked and I am pumped.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 2, 2022
Lars and Madison are instant sparks and fireworks. Their sparring leads to a relationship neither of them was planning on or expecting. Down on her luck, Madison is staying in her friend, Deck's, rental when a sexy, tall drink of water appears in her kitchen. Lars (aka Thunder) is not expecting anyone to be in the rental, least of all the beauty in her bra and lounge pants yelling at him to get out of her house. Working a special case takes Lars away from Madison, but one sassy text and a few shirtless pictures lead to some spicy phone time. When they finally come together Lars is unprepared for the feelings he's having, but he's ready for the long haul with Madison, she just needs to accept it. This is another great addition to the security series that Danielle Pays writes, the first in the Reed Hawthrone sector, but the men are all ex-military and heroes, ready to find the woman that completes them. Action, intrigue, several story lines, returning characters and sexy times are all a part of this story.
January 30, 2025
Esta es una de esas historias que aparecen por casualidad y te conquistan desde el principio. No leí ni la sinopsis, solo vi que trataba de un cuerpo de seguridad de antiguos SEAL y ya me tuvo en el bote, así que iba a ciegas.
Lo que me he encontrado dentro me ha encantado. Una trama llena de acción, secretos, incertidumbre y mucha tensión que te mantiene pegada a sus páginas. He sentido que era un poco como una montaña rusa, no sabía por dónde iba a salir todo. Hay como dos pequeñas tramas, una investigación por parte del equipo, la cual me tiene en vilo y quiero seguir leyendo a ver qué pasa. Y otra en relación al protagonista, que me ha tenido en constante tensión intentando averiguar qué pasaba. No me lo esperaba, la verdad.
Los personajes me han gustado mucho, tanto los principales como los secundarios. Quizás lo que menos me ha gustado y no he disfrutado mucho, ha sido el romance entre ambos protagonistas. Me ha parecido precipitado y con poco sentido, pero lo cierto es que esta parte queda un poco relegada con todo lo demás.
Deseando seguir con Lightning.
Lo que me he encontrado dentro me ha encantado. Una trama llena de acción, secretos, incertidumbre y mucha tensión que te mantiene pegada a sus páginas. He sentido que era un poco como una montaña rusa, no sabía por dónde iba a salir todo. Hay como dos pequeñas tramas, una investigación por parte del equipo, la cual me tiene en vilo y quiero seguir leyendo a ver qué pasa. Y otra en relación al protagonista, que me ha tenido en constante tensión intentando averiguar qué pasaba. No me lo esperaba, la verdad.
Los personajes me han gustado mucho, tanto los principales como los secundarios. Quizás lo que menos me ha gustado y no he disfrutado mucho, ha sido el romance entre ambos protagonistas. Me ha parecido precipitado y con poco sentido, pero lo cierto es que esta parte queda un poco relegada con todo lo demás.
Deseando seguir con Lightning.
June 1, 2022
An exciting read:
I really enjoyed this book! It captured my attention and had me eager to find out how things were going to turn out, not just with the investigation but with their relationship too.
Lars "Thunder" and Madison initially clashed but soon the chemistry sizzled between them and I thought they made a great couple.
I liked that this book contained multiple mysteries which kept things interesting but without it becoming too convoluted. There was some cross-over with one of her other series (Morgan Thompson Security) however this could be enjoyed as a standalone. I haven’t read any books in that series and was still able to follow along without any difficulty. There were a few side threads that look like they will be carried on into the next book and I look forward to discovering more about this close and slightly wacky group of friends.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really enjoyed this book! It captured my attention and had me eager to find out how things were going to turn out, not just with the investigation but with their relationship too.
Lars "Thunder" and Madison initially clashed but soon the chemistry sizzled between them and I thought they made a great couple.
I liked that this book contained multiple mysteries which kept things interesting but without it becoming too convoluted. There was some cross-over with one of her other series (Morgan Thompson Security) however this could be enjoyed as a standalone. I haven’t read any books in that series and was still able to follow along without any difficulty. There were a few side threads that look like they will be carried on into the next book and I look forward to discovering more about this close and slightly wacky group of friends.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 15, 2022
Lars and Madison . . .
Lars “Thunder” Guthrie went to an empty rental properly to check on a trailer parked in front. He was attacked with a Taser and pepper spray, then handcuffed and thrown in the trunk of a car. Dumped into the ocean to drown, his Navy SEAL training kicked in and he would find out what those guys were up to.
Madison is struggling after her publishing company goes bankrupt, leaving her with no income. Lars’ brother knows he has an empty rental property and lets her stay there rent-free. But he didn’t tell Lars.
When the bad guys come back, Lars has to protect Madison as well as get even with them for the earlier situation. Will he find out what they were up to? Will he make sure they get what they deserve?
This was a fast-paced, well-written story line that engaged the reader’s attention right from the start. There was enough suspense mixed with humor to thoroughly entertain.
Lars “Thunder” Guthrie went to an empty rental properly to check on a trailer parked in front. He was attacked with a Taser and pepper spray, then handcuffed and thrown in the trunk of a car. Dumped into the ocean to drown, his Navy SEAL training kicked in and he would find out what those guys were up to.
Madison is struggling after her publishing company goes bankrupt, leaving her with no income. Lars’ brother knows he has an empty rental property and lets her stay there rent-free. But he didn’t tell Lars.
When the bad guys come back, Lars has to protect Madison as well as get even with them for the earlier situation. Will he find out what they were up to? Will he make sure they get what they deserve?
This was a fast-paced, well-written story line that engaged the reader’s attention right from the start. There was enough suspense mixed with humor to thoroughly entertain.
May 30, 2022
Madison is a writer down on her luck and needed a place to stay, so her friend Deck said she could stay at his brother, Lars' place. But little did she know there were issues with that.
I loved the different layers of the story line with this book. First there was the relationship between Madison and Lars. Then the case Lars was assigned with Cara from the CIA. And there was the issue and dangers around the house.
So well written, I really enjoyed the book. The characters of not just Madison and Lars, but also Deck and Erin and his team mates. Plus let's not forget the bad guys.
I really liked the chemistry between the two, initially frosty but warned up quickly. It was such a great story that was the start of a spin off series. Can't wait for much much more!!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved the different layers of the story line with this book. First there was the relationship between Madison and Lars. Then the case Lars was assigned with Cara from the CIA. And there was the issue and dangers around the house.
So well written, I really enjoyed the book. The characters of not just Madison and Lars, but also Deck and Erin and his team mates. Plus let's not forget the bad guys.
I really liked the chemistry between the two, initially frosty but warned up quickly. It was such a great story that was the start of a spin off series. Can't wait for much much more!!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 16, 2022
A great well written story that kept me reading till the end. This book starts a new series for Danielle. There are lots of twists and turns, action, suspense, mystery, and humor. I chuckled along with the characters. I loved how Lars, Thunder, was dumped into the ocean to drown but those guys didn't know that he was a Navy SEAL. Madison has some bad luck of her own when she loses her company and income. Lars' brother, Deck, lets Madison stay in some rental property that he owns rent free. I love how Madison and Lars become attracted to each other. There were some bad guys living in the rental before Madison and they are back but Lars and his group are there to protect her. Love the story and look forward to the next book, Lightning.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 16, 2022
Drama, drama, drama. And it is excellent. Lars and Madison didn’t get off to the best start. Lars shows up at his rental house to make some repairs and that’s when he finds out that Deck, his brother, is letting his best friend stay there. Needless to say they don’t get along even though Deck was planning on asking Lars to take Madison out for a date. No chance. The first meeting went horribly and she says there is no way. But things have a way of changing when circumstances change. Lars knows that she’s “the one“, he just has to let her figure it out too. So much drama with killers, drug dealers, and stalkers. It’s an excellent, excellent book. So much to the story as new plots trickle in making it a blockbuster of a book. I loved it.
June 17, 2022
Thunder meets his lightning
THUNDER is the first book in the new Reed Hawthorne Security series. This is an action filled and suspenseful thrill ride of a romance about Lars "Thunder" Guthrie and Madison Wilkes. I really got into this story as it is well written, has a fast-paced but not rushed story-line and great characters. Sure I wanted to smuck Thunder a couple of times but when he wasn't peeving me off I loved him. Then add Madison in, who I felt sorry for at the beginning because she found herself in a situation that she had no control over and it was not her fault. But she is also strong, resilient, intelligent, witty and a whole lot of fun, plus at the beginning trying not to throw herself a pity party but still slipping a bit is totally realistic.
THUNDER is the first book in the new Reed Hawthorne Security series. This is an action filled and suspenseful thrill ride of a romance about Lars "Thunder" Guthrie and Madison Wilkes. I really got into this story as it is well written, has a fast-paced but not rushed story-line and great characters. Sure I wanted to smuck Thunder a couple of times but when he wasn't peeving me off I loved him. Then add Madison in, who I felt sorry for at the beginning because she found herself in a situation that she had no control over and it was not her fault. But she is also strong, resilient, intelligent, witty and a whole lot of fun, plus at the beginning trying not to throw herself a pity party but still slipping a bit is totally realistic.
November 8, 2022
Our heroine needs a place to stay while she is between jobs, so her friend offers a place. Turns out the place comes with two problems: drug dealers and our hero. Perhaps one can deal with the other?
This is book one of the series, so a fine place to start.
This is a romantic suspense story, one of my favorite genres. I love the mixture of action and romance and that is what we get here. The story is easy to read and engaging with a well developed cast of characters. I felt there was just the right might of action and intrigue with side order of romance. The result was a nice introduction to the series and a fun read.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
This is book one of the series, so a fine place to start.
This is a romantic suspense story, one of my favorite genres. I love the mixture of action and romance and that is what we get here. The story is easy to read and engaging with a well developed cast of characters. I felt there was just the right might of action and intrigue with side order of romance. The result was a nice introduction to the series and a fun read.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
October 29, 2023
Reviews
Lars was a former Navy Seal that got handcuff and thrown in the ocean to die. With all seal training he got himself out of the ocean and determined to get the men that did it. Madison is a writer and is friends with late brother. Her publishing company goes bankrupt. Lars brother moves her into a house. She starts having trouble when people start digging up her back yard. Lars finds out his brother offered Madison a free place till she can get her finances straightened out. Lars brothers had been trying to set him up with different women. He working on the house and she finds him and they argue but they have instant chemistry. They fight it but it is too strong and she ends up getting kidnapped
Lars was a former Navy Seal that got handcuff and thrown in the ocean to die. With all seal training he got himself out of the ocean and determined to get the men that did it. Madison is a writer and is friends with late brother. Her publishing company goes bankrupt. Lars brother moves her into a house. She starts having trouble when people start digging up her back yard. Lars finds out his brother offered Madison a free place till she can get her finances straightened out. Lars brothers had been trying to set him up with different women. He working on the house and she finds him and they argue but they have instant chemistry. They fight it but it is too strong and she ends up getting kidnapped
September 24, 2024
3.5⭐️ A suspense romance that was full of chemistry, character, action, and spice.
Lars and Madison had great chemistry from the start which quickly developed into feelings for each other. Their relationship felt a bit rushed and it was very insta love, but it was still sweet.
The story got bogged down in the middle and it was difficult to keep track of the different assignments going on, especially since they didn’t really relate to each other. And some of the spicy scenes felt like they were thrown in just to have the spice. I’m never a fan of over the phone stuff.
The relationship between the bros on the team was fun and kept me laughing.
It was a quick read and makes me want to read the next in the series.
Lars and Madison had great chemistry from the start which quickly developed into feelings for each other. Their relationship felt a bit rushed and it was very insta love, but it was still sweet.
The story got bogged down in the middle and it was difficult to keep track of the different assignments going on, especially since they didn’t really relate to each other. And some of the spicy scenes felt like they were thrown in just to have the spice. I’m never a fan of over the phone stuff.
The relationship between the bros on the team was fun and kept me laughing.
It was a quick read and makes me want to read the next in the series.
October 23, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ It is difficult for me to find a good “security troupe” book/series that I love. This is my first for this series and author and unfortunately it fell short. The story especially at the beginning felt very choppy. Not much relationship building. Then they go from annoying each other to phone s3x. How did they get from A-to-B-to-S so fast without any relationship building. For being a “security firm” they just didn’t appear strong. How did the bad guy get away literally slipped through their hands so many times? Too many tiny side stories that just did not add to the main story. Then the big bad guy and that story wrapped up off page with a character not even in the story. Underwhelming.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2022
Thunder is the first book in the new Reed Hawthorne Security series but it connects to other series by this author. There are a lot of characters introduced and a lot more mentioned in passing, so it takes a while to really get into the suspense and mystery. Humour and witty dialogue keep things entertaining and there is a great feeling of friendship and family, as well. The happy ending is well-deserved for the couple, but there are quite a few questions left unanswered with regards to the mystery. I hope we'll get the answers when the series continues.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 11, 2022
My first Danielle Pays book and will definitely be checking out more of her works. Suspense is one of my favorite sub-genres and my favorite contemporary sub-genre. There were a lot of stories going on in this story so you have to pay attention. It is not a problem, I loved it. The characters are well written, the plot keeps you invested and the camaraderie between the guys is amazing. I laughed a lot during this book. only issue I had was the stories were wrapped up a little too smoothly. I wanted a little more but I will definitely be reading more of Danielle’s books.
I received a complimentary copy from Booksprout.
I received a complimentary copy from Booksprout.
June 14, 2022
Thunder aka Lars has a lot going on so Madison was a distraction he wasn't expecting and can't shake and she is just as frustrated how he keeps turning up like a bad penny. I loved how this series is linked to the MTS books and we get to see some familiar faces from those books too as well as meet new ones. The mystery of Lar's ex tenant and his attack along side the attraction growing growing between Lars and Madison and everything else going on makes for a fantastic read with plenty of laughter, intrigue, danger and entertainment.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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