Damaged and the Saint by Bijou HunterMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Two Damaged Souls
This is part of a continuing series revolving around the family and friends of an MC. All the characters are intertwined through the series and their shared history is important to the storyline. Therefore, though you can read this book as a standalone, you will only get maximum enjoyment if you read the other books in the series first. There is no cliffhanger.
TRIGGER WARNING: If you are sensitive about books containing references to abuse and assault, you may want to avoid this book, and to be honest the entire series, if you haven’t read it yet. There are reasons for the ‘Damaged’ part of the book’s title.
Harlow is very damaged. Her life before being adopted by her new parents as a teenager was very hard, with a drug-addicted mother and an abusive stepfather who got her hooked on drugs to make her compliant, she still tried to look after her mother and siblings and be strong despite her own problems. After the death of her family, she still tried to be strong even whilst trying to heal. She is so sure she will never want to be involved with a man and she is still filled with rage about her past. She fights at the local underground fight club to earn money and to vent some of her rage. She invests her winnings in martial arts training to help her get stronger. When she runs into a stranger in the woods her first instinct is to attack. When the man easily defeats her she runs scared.
Saint is an assassin. He’s in town to help assess the new president of the MC, Cooper, along with other leadership potentials for the national president. He’s not part of the MC but a contractor for unusual and quiet jobs. When he’s attacked by a young woman in the woods he finds himself intrigued and decides to help train her to be stronger, both physically and mentally. Whilst he’s just looking for a diversion, something in him recognises a fellow damaged person and he finds himself reaching for the idea of having a ‘normal’ life with Harlow.
There isn’t much plot in this book beyond these two people trying to work their way through the minefields of their past to find happiness in the present. It’s a complex emotional journey but there’s not much action beyond paintballing. It’s an engaging story that draws you in.
I’ve really enjoyed this whole series with it’s quirky characters in their small Tennessee town. There is humour and kindness wrapped around the violence and pain. The friendship and love of family overrides the damage done to the characters in their troubled pasts. The books are not sweet but they are warming to the heart. I will continue to read this author because she has wormed her way into my favourite MCs list.
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