10 Fun Facts About The Blackthorn Security Series

ByGemma Ford
  1. A Hero’s Tragic End: Pat Burke’s son, Joe (call sign Spade), was a Green Beret who served under Blade’s command. He was tragically killed ten months before the series begins when his unit was betrayed by a local guide and led into a deadly mountain pass ambush in Helmand Province. Joe died in the arms of his best friend, Blade, after taking rounds to the thigh and chest, using his final breaths to leave a message of love for his high school sweetheart, Lily.
  2. A Shared Military Bond: Most of the series’ heroes were teammates long before joining Blackthorn, having served together as Navy SEALs, Green Berets, or in MARSOC. This history creates a “found family” dynamic, as they often risk their lives to rescue one another across different continents.
  3. The Photographic Memory: In Sweet Betrayal, heroine Hannah Evans possesses a photographic memory so precise that she can scan documents and later recite the contents word-for-word in multiple languages. This ability allows her to memorize high-level military strategy documents, making her a vital asset for the U.S. government while on the run.
  4. From Geek to War Hero: Damian Clayton (Forbidden Access) might be a billionaire “computer geek,” but he spent a year fighting on the front lines against ISIS in Syria. Despite having no formal military training, he learned to handle a Kalashnikov to survive and continues to support his friends still building a democracy there.
  5. A Scientist in the Jungle: Lexi Prescott from Heat Force is a dedicated veterinarian working in an African gorilla sanctuary who must flee into the jungle when rebels attack her base. She survives a grueling trek through the mountains while protecting an orphaned child, eventually rescued by a man who thrived in the SEALs, Hawk.
  6. Code Names are Mandatory: Almost all the male leads are known by their military call signs rather than their real names: Blade (Book 1), Phoenix (Book 2), Viper (Book 3), and Ghost (Book 5). These names are so integral to their identities that their own teammates rarely use their given names.
  7. The Fake Marriage Trope: In Forbidden Access, operative Rose Wilde (nicknamed “Thorn”) has to pose as Damian Clayton’s wife to provide constant close protection. The cover story includes staying in the same home and even attending public events as a couple to reduce his exposure to assassins.
  8. Falling for the “Enemy”: In Rebel Protector, Becca Lyndall is the daughter of the series’ major recurring villain, Aleksandar Markov. She unwittingly falls for Ghost, a deep-undercover agent who was recruited to infiltrate her father’s illegal arms-dealing operation.
  9. Healing through Love: Several heroes, such as Tom Wilde (Sweet Betrayal) and Stitch (Steel Vengeance), struggle with survivor’s guilt and PTSD from their military service. Their romantic journeys are often centered on finding a way to process their past traumas while learning to trust and love again.
  10. The Boss Finds Love: After years of being the leader who assigns his men to dangerous protection details, Pat Burke finally gets his own journey in Zero Hour. He falls for Jasmine, a psychologist who helps him face his own history of loss while they work together to stop a terrorist attack.

Explore the series on Amazon, in Kindle Unlimited, or shop for paperbacks and special editions on Gemma’s webstore.