Second book in this series and I’m still on the three star train. Like I said about The Insiders, Tijan knows how to get me to keep reading. Her writing has such an addictive sway about it. I finished this in a day because I kept needing to know what the next thing would be.

Story wise, we really didn’t get much. Of course, we got a few twists and an ending that makes you want to read the next book. However, there wasn’t any character growth and nothing really happened for most of the book. Bailey and Kash have sex, Bailey goes to school, Kash has to go on a trip. REPEAT. I can say that I’m glad that this didn’t feel drawn out and was only 311 pages. Sometimes authors drag books that don’t need it.

While this hasn’t been my favorite series from Tijan, I am curious enough to see how this ends to pick up the last book in this trilogy.

If you haven't read the first book The Insiders then put this one down as that MUST be read first.

This one picks up straight where the first book left us and I was hooked from page 1! Bailey and Kash are together officially now and trying to adapt to their new normal. Tijan has done an amazing job with this one. She had me hooked from the beginning and completely held hostage. I was not putting it down until i had finished and now I am left wanting the next one NOW!!

Its no secret that I love Tijan and her books and the her Fallen Crest series is one of my favourites but The Insiders trilogy is getting close to run joint in my favourite.

The twists and suspense that is running along with regards to Kash's grandfather is simply brilliant and that ending..... well wow! never saw it coming.

Roll on the next one.

Fan des romances hors normes de Tijan, j’ai découvert la série The Insiders avec le 1er tome du même nom et j’avais été complètement séduite par l’univers et les personnages. L’attente a été longue, je trépignais d’impatience de découvrir la suite de cette trilogie, surtout avec une fin en cliffhanger.

Avec ce nouveau tome, l’histoire suis son cours et nous retrouvons Bailey et Kash mener de front leur relation amoureuse et leur combat comme les attaques et manipulations de Calhoun, le grand-père de Kash.

Tous les ingrédients du 1er tome y sont : suspense, tension, romance, passion. Bailey essaye de se reconstruire après les évènements traumatiques qu’elle a subi dans le tome précédent. Quant à Kash, il fait tout ce qui est en son pouvoir pour protéger Bailey et mettre hors d’état de nuire son grand-père.

Le rythme est soutenu, la relation de nos 2 héros reste au premier plan mais on peut également suivre la vie de Bailey avec sa famille et ses nouveaux amis. Tout va très vite et, en même temps, l’auteure nous immerge dans le suspense de découvrir ce qui se trame en arrière-plan.

Vous l’aurez compris, ce nouveau tome amène son lot d’action et de rebondissements, le lecteur est pris dans l’histoire et c’est difficile de poser ce livre avant de l’avoir terminé. Ce genre de romance suspense sur fond de mafia est vraiment la botte secrète de cette auteure qui maitrise parfaitement le genre.

Préparez-vous toutefois à mourir d’envie de lire le 3ème et dernier tome, la fin de celui-ci étant aussi frustrante et surprenante que celle du 1er.

En bref, une trilogie qui continue avec un tome faisant la part belle au suspense. Kash et Bailey vous embarquent dans leur aventure et accrochez-vous bien car le voyage sera chaotique et survolté. Si vous aimez les histoires de famille qui tournent mal, les personnages hors normes, les couples qui combattent coude à coude et l’univers mafia suspense, alors ne cherchez plus et donnez une chance à Kash et Bailey !

Oh Kash.. sweet sweet Kash. How could I have slightly forgotten about you? When I started this book I was in book heaven. It was everything I wanted it to be and more. Book 3 cannot come soon enough. I promise to never forget these characters again because in all honesty they are unforgettable and so real. Warning, once you start, good luck stopping. Unputdownable and magic on paper! Tijan is a goddess and I love her words. Read these books!

This book had me hooked from start to finish. I was a bit bored at the beginning but once it picked up, it was hard to stop reading! Tijan writes such complex stories and characters. With how The Insiders ended, I was waiting to see how Tijan would incorporate Bailey’s trauma into the story and her mental health. Tijan writes it so realistically and is one of the best at writing it!
Cannot wait for The Revenge

We pick up where we left off from book 1 with Bailey starting grad school and Kash still prepping for a showdown with his grandfather.
The relationship between Bailey and Kash takes center stage in book 2 and the spice factor was turned up. Where book 1 was the setup book 2 is more like the TIjan we all know and love.
This story ends in a cliffhanger and who knows where TIjan will take us next. I am anxious and excited to see how this wraps up and if it goes the way I think it may be heading.
Great read!

OMG, I can’t believe I now have to wait for the next book in this trilogy! Just like book one, you are hooked from the start, devouring the book, and then left with the ‘OMG where is book three?!? Give it to me now!’ Bailey has her family and figuring out her school/family life balance, but also dealing with the threats and dangers we have in book one. Bailey and Kash have the unspoken bond that you want in your own life and keeps you hooked on them! As Bailey and Kash try to figure out a way to escape the dangers that keep popping up and then add in all the drama around Bailey and the family, you will be hooked and on the edge of your seat seeing what happens with everything. But as life is, as the danger edges closer, drama hits the fan, and Bailey and Kash face some bumps in the road, we are left waiting for the final book to see how their journey concludes! I cannot wait for it to come out! I need to know what happens!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Tijan and was so excited to receive book 2 in the Insiders Trilogy! Now I can't wait for the 3rd and last book to come out.

If you're into mafia billionaires then this series is a great one to pick up. It is pretty intense, lots of sexy scenes and steam, full of suspense and drama, and everything you would expect if you are a Tijan fan.

This is a continuation from book 1 so it's not one you can read out of order. Kash is just as steamy, protective and secretive as in the first book. Bailey is growing more with her new family, settling into school and finding her own strength and who she is. One of my favorite parts is when she took a part out the Chrissy (her mom) playbook and stood up to the villains in the story.

This book took a new turn with having Kash's grandfather show more of a presence in the book and Quinn making bail to terrorize the family again. The end left me so heart broken and on a major cliff hanger so if cliff hangers bother you it is a pretty big one.

Well done Tijan!!

If you love drama, suspense, and thrillers; READ THIS BOOK!

This series starts with The Insider, it ends on a cliffhanger and is picked up with The Damaged. Tijan helped by giving us some reminders of what happened during The Insiders.

Bailey and Kash are seriously such a sound couple. I am obsessed with their relationship and how they handle everything that is thrown their way.

There was SO many twists and turns in this book. It kept me soo intrigued the whole time. I LOVED that we also got Kash's POV. I'm SOOO here for dual POV!!! I loved the super protective side of Kash we got to see.

HOWEVERR, warning you now... this has a HUGE cliffhanger that is going to make u SOO impatient for the last installment in this trilogy.

The Damaged is an emotion-filled, action packed thriller that hits the ground running three weeks after the end of The Insiders. Kash has been well and truly outed and is playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse with his sadistic grandfather who is determined to drag Bailey into the middle of his machinations – something Kash has no intention of allowing. It was great to see their relationship develop throughout this book. Both characters are so strong-willed and independent types although Bailey does seem slightly more vulnerable this time around and is showing symptoms of PTSD from the traumatic events in the first book. The plot is so complex and detailed with twists and turns galore and the tension builds up throughout until finally reaching a shocking climax that I personally didn’t see coming but one which will have a long lasting effect on many of the characters. it’s difficult to even hazard a guess as to what will happen next but I have a feeling Matt just might end up surprising us all.

I loved the first book in the Insiders series but I was wary about reading this book as usually with trilogies I find the second book to be nothing more than filler. I shouldn’t have worried - Tijan has the ability to create characters that you can’t help but care about. Yes the story is completely OTT but everyone needs a little escapism in their lives and if I wanted reality then I’d read a newspaper. All I know for sure is after that ending, the next book in this series, The Rising, is one of my most anticipated reads of 2022.

Provocative, rousing, and edgy!

The Damaged is a dramatic, seductive tale that picks up right where The Insiders left off, taking us back into the lives of Bailey and Kash as their relationship strengthens and grows and their need to support, protect, and love each other becomes even more important when danger and ruthless enemies swirl all around them.

The prose is tight and steamy. The characters, including a great cast of supporting characters, are impulsive, multilayered, and consumed. And the plot is a deliciously tortuous tale filled with temptation, desire, deception, mystique, familial drama, palpable attraction, and malicious intentions.

Overall, The Damaged is a sultry, intriguing, suspenseful tale by Tijan that kept me invested, engaged, and on the edge of my seat from the very first page, and with its shocking teaser of an ending undoubtedly left me counting down the days until the third and final novel in this trilogy becomes available, and the battle between good and evil finally comes to a head.

A high-speed adventure with club hopping, dangerous hackers, high-profile villains, and lots of sexy time. Leave it to Tijan to bring us, yet again, another wildly energetic romance with passion and angst. This is a fast-paced read that can only be described as a mob boss soap opera with a romance subplot. I loved every second of this entertaining and drama-filled series!

𝙱𝚕𝚞𝚛𝚋: The story picks up where “The Insiders” left off with Quinn in jail, Bailey dealing with the fallout of her kidnapping, and the Francis family trying to regroup after the attack.

Tijan has this easy, frenetic way of writing that’s captivating and decisive. I slide through her words quickly and with so much ease. I feel like there’s never a drag in her plots and there is a constant flow from one event to the next as Bailey falls more in love with Kash and she picks up the pieces of her broken family while going to college. Most importantly, prepare yourself for the ending….there is a giant cliffhanger that left me reeling. I’m going to be hanging on to the edge of my seat waiting for the next book to come out!

Series: The Damaged - Part 2 of 3
Genre: Romance, Suspense
Main Characters: Bailey & Kash
Rating: 3.5 - 4 Stars

The Damaged is the second book in the Insiders series and the first book (The Insiders) must be read first to fully appreciate and understand this second novel. The story continues Bailey and Kash's journey from the first book. They are together and are both starting new paths with Bailey starting her graduate program and still trying to find her place in her newfound family and Kash by stepping into his identity and starting to take his Grandfather on.

This was a great addition to the series and it was definitely the middle book. The first book always introduces the story and characters and the second book always builds to a confrontation or event that will happen in the final book and this one definitely did that. There is a MONSTER cliffhanger to this story and typically I don't enjoy cliffhangers but this one just left me excited for the next story. I don't want to give spoilers but this story was a lot of fun to read and I recommend giving it a try!

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I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Tijan never disappoints in her ability to provide a quick paced, sexy story. The Damaged is the second in The Insiders Trilogy. It picks up with the main character, Bailey struggling to recover from the events that happened in The Insiders. In addition, her boyfriend Cash is left feeling over-protective and concerned for her.

Bailey is a likable character. She comes from humble beginnings but has been thrust into the spotlight due to the other people in her life. Those looking on might think it's the ideal life, but Bailey is under a great deal of stress. As she tries to maneuver her way through a new graduate program and brand new friendships, she is also left wading through Cash's friend group and some remaining hostility from the girls in that circle. Meanwhile, Cash is has just been exposed as one of the world's wealthiest men. While all he really wants to do is spend time with Bailey, he is forced to take on the business dealings of his position and protect himself and those he loves from his brutal and heartless grandfather.

The story focuses on twenty somethings living an excessive lifestyle so the storyline may seem over the top at times. However, it's quite entertaining and kept me hooked until the cliffhanger ending. Now I'm eagerly awaiting book three....

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

I liked how the book started out. Why? Because it's been awhile since I read a previous book and this was a good, quick refresher. It also made for what I thought was a good introduction for a new reader. Even though there was a fair number of people to begin with.
I forgot how much I liked Bailey before but it was pretty easy to get on her team again quickly. This woman has quite the big brilliant brain but she also has a giant heart to go with it. And Bailey and Kash together? Awesome!
Kash has quite a few plates that he is trying to balance. His major focus is to keep Bailey safe and happy as he battles his evil grandfather, Calhoun Bastian. That man truly has no limits when it comes to winning. If you look in the dictionary under evil, you'd find his name. And he's like a chess player when it comes to making his moves.
The story is intense, and emotional with well drawn people of depth. Easy to be drawn into their parts of the story.
The story comes to a jaw-dropping ending for now. My jaw did actually drop, I so was NOT expecting that. The door is left open for another story to be told to complete some things. More adventures ahead. I have to say I want to keep reading this adventure.

I received an advanced reader copy from Netgalley and this is my honest opinions about it.

As a huge fan of this author's work, I was frantically turning the pages of this book as it continues with the aftermath of what happened to Bailey. Not wanting to deal with her feelings and emotions, she immerses herself with her new school and even made some friends. Kash is still the overprotective boyfriend who won't tell her everything, making Bailey frustrated as she wants to share his burdens and troubles. Bailey doesn't know who she can trust and tries to stay one step ahead. I love how we see both POV's of Kash and Bailey as their love for each other grows stronger each day. With another explosive ending, I will be anxiously waiting for the next book!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book.

I love this book/series. Bailey and Kash are an amazing couple. They communicate with one another and very protective of each other. I love the protectiveness. I love Kash in general. He is protective and knows how to get his point across to people. It doesn't take any bullcrap from anyone. His grandfather is a little scary but have to read and find out about that. Some drama at the school with Bailey and the IT guys that protect her to keep her away from the fakes was pretty awesome. It shows that they have support her and won't let anything happen to her. Another great read Tijan. I can't wait for the next book. Highly recommend.

I have no words. None. I absolutely loved The Damaged by Tijan. I could not stop reading all while I wanted it to never end. Kash and Bailey’s journey was steamy, captivating, and full of suspense. We pick up soon after the events of the last book, The Insiders, and Kash is ready for war and will do whatever it takes to protect those that matter most. And no one matters more than Bailey. All Bailey wants is to be normal, but those days are gone. Together they need to find a new normal. Their normal. All the while things are happening around them they cannot control.

For so long it was just Bailey and her mom and suddenly she is surrounded by a family she loves and a man she adores. But how does she move forward from here? She was strong and determined, but in so many ways, still vulnerable. Kash is a wall against anything that stands in his way. He loves Bailey so much but puts her in danger every day. Every time they seem to take a step forward, they end up taking steps back. And that ending. My heart stopped. So, for now, don’t mind me just sitting here waiting for the final book.

Loved it! Happy reading!

🌼 Review 🌼

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Damaged was absolutely amazing! I am still in shock by what happened at the end, but the journey was so worth it. Great job, Tijan!!!

Kash and Bailey are such beautiful characters. I really enjoy them individually, but when they're together; it's explosive. Everything that happened in this book was wild, and I thrived on it. Kash and Bailey have both been damaged. Maybe one even worse, but will they survive the hurt, sadness, and anger? Is their love strong enough? I don't know, but I cannot wait to find out in the next book.

Everything Tijan writes is gold!

The Damaged is intense, steamy and definitely packs a punch. That ending completely gutted me. I can't wait for the next book!! Kash and Bailey are great together. Kash is amazing. I love how he is with Bailey and the rest of their family. It was nice to see him relax a little with Matthew and show their brotherly connection. Bailey has already been through so much, it will be interesting to see how she deals with the aftermath of this devastating ending. This storyline was captivating and suspenseful. This was an amazing sequel to the first book.