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Hunted
Sins can be buried, but they’re never forgotten . . .
Morgan Gaelord has lived with the knowledge of her past and the fear of her secret for years. No one knows the truth behind her nightmares in the hellish Czech Republic underground, and they never will. She’s carved a life for herself, helping her brothers run the family antiquities business. Nothing and no one is taking this slice of contentment away from her.
Lincoln Blade III, owner of the premier Blade Jewelers, has put his past behind him. Retired from his days with InterPol and undercover operations, he’s enjoying the corporate side of life. He’s spent years in the cesspools of society, helping the lucky escape, and he has no intention of being dragged back.
But someone from both their pasts changes that. Women who escaped the world of sex slaves are being hunted and eliminated. When the victims are linked to Blade and his past, he’s forced back into a role he’d vowed to leave behind, and both he and Morgan must trust each other before the killer reaches his final target.
About the
Jaycee Clark is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the wildly successful Kinncaid Brothers series, including Deadly Shadows, Deadly Ties, Deadly Obsession, Deadly Games, Deadly Secrets, and Deadly Beginnings.
Morgan Gaelord has lived with the knowledge of her past and the fear of her secret for years. No one knows the truth behind her nightmares in the hellish Czech Republic underground, and they never will. She’s carved a life for herself, helping her brothers run the family antiquities business. Nothing and no one is taking this slice of contentment away from her.
Lincoln Blade III, owner of the premier Blade Jewelers, has put his past behind him. Retired from his days with InterPol and undercover operations, he’s enjoying the corporate side of life. He’s spent years in the cesspools of society, helping the lucky escape, and he has no intention of being dragged back.
But someone from both their pasts changes that. Women who escaped the world of sex slaves are being hunted and eliminated. When the victims are linked to Blade and his past, he’s forced back into a role he’d vowed to leave behind, and both he and Morgan must trust each other before the killer reaches his final target.
About the
Jaycee Clark is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the wildly successful Kinncaid Brothers series, including Deadly Shadows, Deadly Ties, Deadly Obsession, Deadly Games, Deadly Secrets, and Deadly Beginnings.
367 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 5, 2013
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436 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
April 5, 2016
Caution: this book is NOT a romantic suspense!
When I read romantic I expect to find some love oriented action between hero and heroine.
Here there’s emotion, there’s love, but it is not a romantic type of emotion and love!
The book is all about abuse, torture, killing, obsession.
The heroine, Morgan, is a survivor from a very, very awful sexual slavery. If you ever thought, imagined the worst things done to a person, she suffered it. Rape, physical and psychological torture, beatings, degradation, drugs… she was subjected to all. And it was described…
So, if you cannot stomach this, do not read this book!
But if you can, do read it!
Not because it was enjoyable, but because she did manage to overcome it! And this book describes how, what she suffered, how she manages her family, her fears, her life! It is all very realistic. I could understand the why of her actions.
The romantic part of the story is minimal. The hero, Linc, is great! He’s a covert operative who specializes in rescuing girls from sexual slavery. He rescues Morgan and she gets attached to him. First because he’s her saviour. After, but so very slowly that you almost missed it, her feeling changes into something more. His feeling are just the same: slowly growing. And this is why the story is so very realistic!
The villain of the story is seriously creepy!!! SERIOUSLY!!!
His obsession with Morgan/Dusk is so deeply wrong and sick!
I hated him with vengeance! I wanted to do to him everything he did to the girls and some more! I was gritting my teeth so strong was my desire to hurt him!
He’s a sorry excuse for a human being. He should have been eliminated at birth!
That such a monster walks this Earth and prosper is a frightening thought!
And, most frightening of all is the fact that I’m sure suchperson filth exists!
A very difficult book to read, but I’m happy I read it!
If you liked Christy Reece’s Last chance Rescue; Cynthia Eden’s Deadly, than I think you will enjoy this book, even if those two series do have romantic/sexual moments that here are missing. But be warned, the emotional part was much stronger here!
I'm adding some quotes, but please, do not open the spoiler, because they're very stong... *shudder*
When I read romantic I expect to find some love oriented action between hero and heroine.
Here there’s emotion, there’s love, but it is not a romantic type of emotion and love!
The book is all about abuse, torture, killing, obsession.
The heroine, Morgan, is a survivor from a very, very awful sexual slavery. If you ever thought, imagined the worst things done to a person, she suffered it. Rape, physical and psychological torture, beatings, degradation, drugs… she was subjected to all. And it was described…
So, if you cannot stomach this, do not read this book!
But if you can, do read it!
Not because it was enjoyable, but because she did manage to overcome it! And this book describes how, what she suffered, how she manages her family, her fears, her life! It is all very realistic. I could understand the why of her actions.
The romantic part of the story is minimal. The hero, Linc, is great! He’s a covert operative who specializes in rescuing girls from sexual slavery. He rescues Morgan and she gets attached to him. First because he’s her saviour. After, but so very slowly that you almost missed it, her feeling changes into something more. His feeling are just the same: slowly growing. And this is why the story is so very realistic!
The villain of the story is seriously creepy!!! SERIOUSLY!!!
His obsession with Morgan/Dusk is so deeply wrong and sick!
I hated him with vengeance! I wanted to do to him everything he did to the girls and some more! I was gritting my teeth so strong was my desire to hurt him!
He’s a sorry excuse for a human being. He should have been eliminated at birth!
That such a monster walks this Earth and prosper is a frightening thought!
And, most frightening of all is the fact that I’m sure such
A very difficult book to read, but I’m happy I read it!
If you liked Christy Reece’s Last chance Rescue; Cynthia Eden’s Deadly, than I think you will enjoy this book, even if those two series do have romantic/sexual moments that here are missing. But be warned, the emotional part was much stronger here!
I'm adding some quotes, but please, do not open the spoiler, because they're very stong... *shudder*
March 15, 2015
*** 5 amazing and suspenseful stars ***
"If she could build something out of the nightmare, let it be good, she prayed"
LOVED THIS BOOK! Like seriously, loved it.
Let's start off first with the two main characters- Lincoln and Morgan
John/Lincoln
LOVED HIM. John is Lincoln's alias when he resuces Morgan. He is a seriously sexy man and doesn't flaunt it. He saves Morgans life and he fits into the his sexy-hero mold SO WELL. The care he has for the well-being of the girls he saved is evident and just makes him that much sexier.
Dusk/Morgan
Dusk is Morgans name when she is in "hell"...held against her will as a sex slave by the deliciously evil Jezek. Oh man, he is evill. Anyways, Morgan's strength is something that made me love her from day one. Her body was broken, but her mind was still hers. Broken down and petrified due to Jezek's cruelty, she slowly gains her strength back throughout the novel with the help of sexy Lincoln and her amazing and lovable brothers.
what I loved:
-the characters in this book are simply amazing. Although Lincoln and Morgan are considered the "main" characters, the author delves deep into the other characters as well. Morgan's brothers, Jack and Gideon finally get thier sister back after months of her going missing and you feel the headache and confusion that they feel when she returns and she is not the sister they remembered her to be. Oh, and Jezek. Evil through and through and I love how the author paints him as a 'beautiful monster'...not monster in the sexy controlling alpha-male way...no, he was literally a monster. You hate him the entire book and I finished the book feeling completely satisfied that everyone ended up where they should.
-The third person omniscient POV takes a while to get used to (i'm used to alternative POV's) but it made the book that much more memorable. You don't have to wonder what each character is thinking and feeling and that is important in a dark read like this.
-The action and suspense in this book is INTENSE. Totally scary! Not scary in a sense that there were ghosts or anything, but scary in that I was gripping my kindle wondering what would happen to the characters i have grown to love!
Note: this is NOT a romance book. This is a story about survival and growth. Totally worth clicking that little 'one-click' button on amazon and spending the day reading...in fact, I did just that! I read the whole book in one sitting! Could NOT put it down!
"If she could build something out of the nightmare, let it be good, she prayed"
LOVED THIS BOOK! Like seriously, loved it.
Let's start off first with the two main characters- Lincoln and Morgan
John/Lincoln
LOVED HIM. John is Lincoln's alias when he resuces Morgan. He is a seriously sexy man and doesn't flaunt it. He saves Morgans life and he fits into the his sexy-hero mold SO WELL. The care he has for the well-being of the girls he saved is evident and just makes him that much sexier.
Dusk/Morgan
Dusk is Morgans name when she is in "hell"...held against her will as a sex slave by the deliciously evil Jezek. Oh man, he is evill. Anyways, Morgan's strength is something that made me love her from day one. Her body was broken, but her mind was still hers. Broken down and petrified due to Jezek's cruelty, she slowly gains her strength back throughout the novel with the help of sexy Lincoln and her amazing and lovable brothers.
what I loved:
-the characters in this book are simply amazing. Although Lincoln and Morgan are considered the "main" characters, the author delves deep into the other characters as well. Morgan's brothers, Jack and Gideon finally get thier sister back after months of her going missing and you feel the headache and confusion that they feel when she returns and she is not the sister they remembered her to be. Oh, and Jezek. Evil through and through and I love how the author paints him as a 'beautiful monster'...not monster in the sexy controlling alpha-male way...no, he was literally a monster. You hate him the entire book and I finished the book feeling completely satisfied that everyone ended up where they should.
-The third person omniscient POV takes a while to get used to (i'm used to alternative POV's) but it made the book that much more memorable. You don't have to wonder what each character is thinking and feeling and that is important in a dark read like this.
-The action and suspense in this book is INTENSE. Totally scary! Not scary in a sense that there were ghosts or anything, but scary in that I was gripping my kindle wondering what would happen to the characters i have grown to love!
Note: this is NOT a romance book. This is a story about survival and growth. Totally worth clicking that little 'one-click' button on amazon and spending the day reading...in fact, I did just that! I read the whole book in one sitting! Could NOT put it down!
March 22, 2013
Morgan Gaelord (Dusk) is kidnapped and forced into the sex slave world in the Czech Republic. She is finally rescued and slowly makes the journey back home to Texas where her family is.
The synopsis was a bit misleading in my opinion. Much of the story involves the escape and journey home. The story was very gritty, intense and suspenseful. The romance was slow to develop but with this sort of story the author really had no choice if she wanted to be convincing. The characters were well drawn. Morgan is a strong but vulnerable woman plagued by nightmares. John aka Lincoln Blade III is the stuff dreams are made of. He is a businessman, owner of Blade Jewelers, and also worked with Interpol to help save women who were reported missing. It may be a bit dark and intense for some people's taste but I loved it and it nearly ended up as a 5 star but I couldn't quite give it. Highly recommended to Romantic Suspense/Thriller fans!
The synopsis was a bit misleading in my opinion. Much of the story involves the escape and journey home. The story was very gritty, intense and suspenseful. The romance was slow to develop but with this sort of story the author really had no choice if she wanted to be convincing. The characters were well drawn. Morgan is a strong but vulnerable woman plagued by nightmares. John aka Lincoln Blade III is the stuff dreams are made of. He is a businessman, owner of Blade Jewelers, and also worked with Interpol to help save women who were reported missing. It may be a bit dark and intense for some people's taste but I loved it and it nearly ended up as a 5 star but I couldn't quite give it. Highly recommended to Romantic Suspense/Thriller fans!
May 18, 2014
Wow. That was so dark, so realistic, and so captivating from beginning to end.
The scenes are beautifully written - you can feel the emotions pouring out of her.
The romance wasn't a big aspect in this book, but this topic really doesn't need it. There are other things to worry about instead.
It was haunting from beginning to end. Loved the story.
The scenes are beautifully written - you can feel the emotions pouring out of her.
The romance wasn't a big aspect in this book, but this topic really doesn't need it. There are other things to worry about instead.
It was haunting from beginning to end. Loved the story.
November 16, 2013
4,5 stars
Excellent book! A haunting story of courage and survival. Well written, beleavable plot, thrilling...
Hope there will be a sequel...
Excellent book! A haunting story of courage and survival. Well written, beleavable plot, thrilling...
Hope there will be a sequel...
May 15, 2014
4.5 stars.
Damn good book.
Damn good book.
March 11, 2013
If you are into romance/ suspense/ thriller, this book is definitely for you. Pick it up and read, you'll know what I am taking about. This book has dark themes and the story revolves around abuse so some of you may find it disturbing.
The story is about Morgan and her struggles in overcoming her fear and her past. The past, no one and I mean no one wants to experience. The blurb pretty much tell us about her past. It starts with her in the brothel, her escape from the horrible place and how her past catches up in her present. But...that's not all... there's another story about Ebony. I am not gonna tell you what her story is all about, for that you need to read the book. But her story is connected with Morgan and plays an important part in the book.
It's one book you won't be able to put down till you are not finished. The character, Morgan, is one of the strongest characters I have read in recent times. The author did an excellent job. Her issues, her fears, her emotional turmoil and how she overcame all of it is written exceptionally well.
And there's Blade A.k.A the hero, he was always there for her when she needed him. He was there for her when she was going through her nightmares. He supported her and made her realize that she wasn't the victim but a survivor.
There are few secondary characters as well....Her family as well as Blade's team but they play a major part in the story. And...And...And...how can I forget about the bad guy here. He's the deadliest of the lot. And he's not at all ashamed in admitting her. His works speaks for itself. You'll see what I am talking about as you read the book.
One of the best novels I have come across in this genre.
Definitely worth 5 stars for me --->
*****
The story is about Morgan and her struggles in overcoming her fear and her past. The past, no one and I mean no one wants to experience. The blurb pretty much tell us about her past. It starts with her in the brothel, her escape from the horrible place and how her past catches up in her present. But...that's not all... there's another story about Ebony. I am not gonna tell you what her story is all about, for that you need to read the book. But her story is connected with Morgan and plays an important part in the book.
It's one book you won't be able to put down till you are not finished. The character, Morgan, is one of the strongest characters I have read in recent times. The author did an excellent job. Her issues, her fears, her emotional turmoil and how she overcame all of it is written exceptionally well.
And there's Blade A.k.A the hero, he was always there for her when she needed him. He was there for her when she was going through her nightmares. He supported her and made her realize that she wasn't the victim but a survivor.
There are few secondary characters as well....Her family as well as Blade's team but they play a major part in the story. And...And...And...how can I forget about the bad guy here. He's the deadliest of the lot. And he's not at all ashamed in admitting her. His works speaks for itself. You'll see what I am talking about as you read the book.
One of the best novels I have come across in this genre.
Definitely worth 5 stars for me --->
*****
March 19, 2013
If you have not read this book and love a suspense/thriller, pick it up. It was such an awesome read I had a hard time putting it down. I actually was a little peeved at my children for waking up from their naps early and interupting my reading time.
Dusk (Morgan) was kidnapped and forced into a brothel in Prague. She was rescused by an Interpol team includuing John, Shadow, George, and Becca. Jezek Mikhail is the enforcer of the brothels and mafia in Prague and is beyond mad that his favorite girl was stolen from him. The hunt to catch Morgan is on.
I loved how this book grabbed your from the start. It was heart breaking and heart warming at the same time. Clark created characters you personally wanted to fight for while vehemently wanting the bad guys to lose. I was enthralled from the get go. Clark did an amazing job, and I hope she writes another suspense/thriller soon.
Dusk (Morgan) was kidnapped and forced into a brothel in Prague. She was rescused by an Interpol team includuing John, Shadow, George, and Becca. Jezek Mikhail is the enforcer of the brothels and mafia in Prague and is beyond mad that his favorite girl was stolen from him. The hunt to catch Morgan is on.
I loved how this book grabbed your from the start. It was heart breaking and heart warming at the same time. Clark created characters you personally wanted to fight for while vehemently wanting the bad guys to lose. I was enthralled from the get go. Clark did an amazing job, and I hope she writes another suspense/thriller soon.
June 16, 2015
I devoured this book in one sitting. Morgan has practically been living as a slave, that being said she is strong even in the worst of situations. She's been threatened, beaten, raped, and watched as others have died. As her master, Mikhail's favorite she is forced to do things many of the others girls don't. One day when she is sent to entertain a renowned drug dealer, the proposed dealer turns out to be Interpol and helps her escape from the hell she's living in. A relationship is formed, but the constant threat of Mikhail is present, even from half way around the world. This brutal story will give you chills,make you cry and definitely leave you with a new insight to the world around us.
June 6, 2013
I really enjoyed this book! I love a good suspense novel and this one pulled me in from the first sentence. I enjoyed all the characters, yes even the crazy one! I loved Linc and all he stood for. Loved how he handled Morgan. The storyline was intense but so good! Can be a very difficult subject matter but Jaycee did well with it. Would love a second book or an epilogue of some sorts. We were kind of left hanging. All in all great read!
ARC provided by NetGalley
ARC provided by NetGalley
February 21, 2013
This book was very very good but very very heavy. The contents are what I can only describe as gut wrenching devestation. As you read this book, you will experience many different dark emotions that draw you into the book. I recommend this book; however if you cannot handle a book with horrific details, skip the book.
May 7, 2013
This was an awesome book, it made you feel all the emotions that the main character feels, it makes you hope for the best and makes you angry when it does not go her way. It makes you believe that heroes are still out there and ready to save you. I give this book five stars.
March 25, 2013
Wow. The best Jaycee Clark book I've read. Read it in one sitting. I loved the two main characters and how we were able to see their relationship evolve over time. Real and heartfelt!
May 20, 2014
Amazing.
Who could survive all of that? So sad to think that this actually happens in our world.
Lincoln is the best. Morgan is a survivor.
This story will linger with me for awhile.
Who could survive all of that? So sad to think that this actually happens in our world.
Lincoln is the best. Morgan is a survivor.
This story will linger with me for awhile.
April 27, 2019
She swallowed... licked her lips... and the muscle in his jaw clenched.
Morgan didn't have it easy. Abducted and abused in the worst ways imaginable, she finally gets a chance to leave the horror behind, with the help of a tall dark stranger named Blade. But her past comes back to haunt her, as she knew it would. She is stronger now, determined never to be a victim again, and this time Blade is by her side to protect her. But will it be enough? And will she find the strength to not only exist but to live life again?
"Hunted" starts out magnificently. Chilling atmosphere, fast-paced action and memorable characters set it out on a very promising route - but it quickly goes astray. Sadly, it does not live up to the expectations it builds.
And Morgan, bless her soul, had some serious saliva issues.
It may seem minor, but it really bugged me: Whenever Morgan feels uncomfortable while someone else speaks, she swallows. If she is uncomfortable while she speaks herself, she licks her lips. Over and over and over again. Around page 100 I had to check how many times it had happened. Well, in less than a hundred pages, Morgan swallowed 14 times and licked her lips 9 times. Many more occurrences followed. Blade, on his part, has a spasm in his jaw. Whenever he is pissed, which happens frequently, we are told about the muscle in his jaw being clenched or pulled. These repetitive physical reactions render the characters kind of robotic and end up making it difficult to feel for them as actual people. Which is the book's biggest flaw.
Both the hero and the villain are obsessed with Morgan, believing her to be the most special woman on earth. This humble reader, however, could not figure out why. Morgan was not likeable in any way. I understand that her ordeal left her emotionally scarred. Never expected her to be cheerful or chatty. The problem was not that she had PTSD, but that she *WAS* PTSD. She had barely any personality beyond her traumatic reactions. I never felt I got to know Morgan as a person, broken as she was, and understand what attracted others to her beyond her beauty. In this kind of story, which is basically Morgan's story of suffering and recovery, it was a huge drawback. I needed to care for her, to love her, to root for her. But I never had more sympathy for her than I would for any other victim of abuse. But she is the MC, she can't be just anyone, she has to be SOMEONE.
Other characters fared no better. Not much to like or feel connected with.
And the story... well, it got slow. And repetitive. I'm all for reading what a character thinks and feels - but not when I've already read it a few pages back. It gets tedious. When the story does move on, it is fairly interesting, although does not always make sense (Interpol squads don't just kill people on a whim do they?). Morgan's PTSD is realistically and sensitively written. It is really too bad there wasn't more character development instead of all the swallowing and licking. As it is, "Hunted" is not a bad book, but it could have been so much better.
Morgan didn't have it easy. Abducted and abused in the worst ways imaginable, she finally gets a chance to leave the horror behind, with the help of a tall dark stranger named Blade. But her past comes back to haunt her, as she knew it would. She is stronger now, determined never to be a victim again, and this time Blade is by her side to protect her. But will it be enough? And will she find the strength to not only exist but to live life again?
"Hunted" starts out magnificently. Chilling atmosphere, fast-paced action and memorable characters set it out on a very promising route - but it quickly goes astray. Sadly, it does not live up to the expectations it builds.
And Morgan, bless her soul, had some serious saliva issues.
It may seem minor, but it really bugged me: Whenever Morgan feels uncomfortable while someone else speaks, she swallows. If she is uncomfortable while she speaks herself, she licks her lips. Over and over and over again. Around page 100 I had to check how many times it had happened. Well, in less than a hundred pages, Morgan swallowed 14 times and licked her lips 9 times. Many more occurrences followed. Blade, on his part, has a spasm in his jaw. Whenever he is pissed, which happens frequently, we are told about the muscle in his jaw being clenched or pulled. These repetitive physical reactions render the characters kind of robotic and end up making it difficult to feel for them as actual people. Which is the book's biggest flaw.
Both the hero and the villain are obsessed with Morgan, believing her to be the most special woman on earth. This humble reader, however, could not figure out why. Morgan was not likeable in any way. I understand that her ordeal left her emotionally scarred. Never expected her to be cheerful or chatty. The problem was not that she had PTSD, but that she *WAS* PTSD. She had barely any personality beyond her traumatic reactions. I never felt I got to know Morgan as a person, broken as she was, and understand what attracted others to her beyond her beauty. In this kind of story, which is basically Morgan's story of suffering and recovery, it was a huge drawback. I needed to care for her, to love her, to root for her. But I never had more sympathy for her than I would for any other victim of abuse. But she is the MC, she can't be just anyone, she has to be SOMEONE.
Other characters fared no better. Not much to like or feel connected with.
And the story... well, it got slow. And repetitive. I'm all for reading what a character thinks and feels - but not when I've already read it a few pages back. It gets tedious. When the story does move on, it is fairly interesting, although does not always make sense (Interpol squads don't just kill people on a whim do they?). Morgan's PTSD is realistically and sensitively written. It is really too bad there wasn't more character development instead of all the swallowing and licking. As it is, "Hunted" is not a bad book, but it could have been so much better.
February 5, 2019
This was a great book
But it showed up under romantic suspense, and it was very suspenseful but NOT ROMANTIC AT ALL... Not even a kiss. I don't think it would have fit in with this story to be honest. There were NUMEROUS murder and brutal rape scenes, honestly I should have read the description better, I might have passed on this story, it was very dark and hard to get through. I did like the book, but no Ide never read it again.
But it showed up under romantic suspense, and it was very suspenseful but NOT ROMANTIC AT ALL... Not even a kiss. I don't think it would have fit in with this story to be honest. There were NUMEROUS murder and brutal rape scenes, honestly I should have read the description better, I might have passed on this story, it was very dark and hard to get through. I did like the book, but no Ide never read it again.
June 1, 2020
1.5 stars
Not a bad book overall, just too dark & twisted for me – ironic considering all the serial killer type of books I read, but large sections of detailed writing about forced sex slaves who are regularly tortured & raped is not for me. I get that it was a survivor story, but it wasn't an enjoyable read.
Not a bad book overall, just too dark & twisted for me – ironic considering all the serial killer type of books I read, but large sections of detailed writing about forced sex slaves who are regularly tortured & raped is not for me. I get that it was a survivor story, but it wasn't an enjoyable read.
October 7, 2021
Not much romance but really good suspence
November 30, 2014
Caught up by human traffickers, Morgan — or Dusk as she's now called — never expects to know freedom or happiness again. And after the horrors she's witnessed and endured, she's not even sure getting away would save her. But a door opens when she least expects it, and against all odds and loss of hope, she's saved from the brutal life that was forced on her. Only her captor wants her back, and he'll stop at nothing to find her and punish her for her betrayal.
But...This is not a negative at all as far as I'm concerned, but I figure I'll throw it out there for those of you who like darker romances. This is not going to be your typical dark love story. The subject matter is certainly heavy and gritty and downright terrifying if you stop to realize that it's probably the true story of someone right this moment. But while the details are disturbing, they're not relayed in disturbing detail, if that makes any sense. And the hero who saves our poor girl doesn't within a few short weeks heal her emotional wounds and show her what a healthy relationship can be. In fact, the only time he spends in her bed is holding her after she wakes from nightmares. So if you're looking for that rather unrealistic mess that some sell as dark romance, keep looking. This book is much sweeter, even while the heroine's past is a nightmare in itself.
Judging Covers: The cover's what caught my attention, and as I was collecting my weekly list of books on sale for our Sunday Steals feature, I kept stopping to look at it. The synopsis initially made me think I'd never read it, but then it didn't really seem to be selling the human trafficking thing the way other so-called romance novels do — badly, I might add. So I stopped to read the first few pages available online. And then I couldn't stop thinking about it, so I bought it and read it and really loved it. All because a haunting cover caught my eye.
The Verdict: Wow. This book is so far out of my comfort zone that it's not even funny, but it's so damned good I couldn't help myself. There are so many romance novels out there that use the subject of human trafficking as a badly-executed excuse for some over-the-top agent to swoop in and save the damsel in distress. But while that subject is definitely present here, and one hell of an agent did ride in to save the day, somehow this story is different, not so much exploitative but rather of finding some kind of hope.
Morgan's clearly been through hell, and while there is a gritty realness and certainly violence in the experiences and memories, they don't seem to be done gratuitously as so many other stories do. They're part of what she endured, certainly, but it's about coping and moving past them, and then when the action really kicks up, it's about surviving and finding final closure.
Lincoln is strangely taken with Morgan, and nearly from the first moment he comes into contact with her, he knows she is different than the other girls he has helped free. He's more invested in her, in her survival and hope for happiness, and while he doesn't necessarily put a label on it, it's clear that he loves her. He would do anything to keep her safe, even when that means staying away, so she can put the past behind her.
While most sites list Hunted as a romance, I'm not so sure that it is. There's certainly love there, but it's subtle and not really spoken of, and the main characters don't share so much as a kiss. Perhaps that's the romantic aspect of it, that they do develop feelings for each other that aren't really played out during the telling of the story. And honestly, with so much going on, from Morgan's attempt to regain some of her independence to the chilling fear and mad scrambling when Jezek's relentless pursuit of her puts her right back in danger, anything more than the rather chaste relationship Morgan and Lincoln develop would have been terribly out of place.
But while I may not know exactly how I would classify the story, I can still say it was a fascinating read, and once I'd started, I couldn't put it down. It held up to all the documentaries and new articles I've seen about human trafficking, delivering a dark side of the world in all its evil, just as it happens every day to so many women and children. It speaks of the hopelessness, the fear, the complete defeat that victims suffer, and then it slowly walks one victim back out into the sunlight before taking us all on a terrifying and suspenseful journey to closure. That Lincoln and Morgan were able to find what seems to be the beginning of a fresh relationship only made it that much better, a sweet promise of a happy ending just past the last words of the book.
May 9, 2013
Review by Reading Books Brings Serenity
Reviewer: Phoenix
Premise:
Morgan Gaelord had thought she would never be free again. Somehow, Lincoln Blade (man of many names) snatched her out of Mikhail Jezek’s world of sex slaves and drugs, and returned her to the place she thought she would never see again: home.
Of course, Mikhail has a reputation to uphold. No one escapes for long. Especially not the one woman he hasn’t quite broken yet, the one woman who somehow, through everything, never gave in completely. He will find her, and he will prove that she will never be free of him. His very life depends on it.
My Review:
The Good:
From the very first page, this novel grabs onto you and refuses to let go. You want to keep reading, just to find out what happens next. And, horrifying as they are, the descriptions of violent sexual abuse only heighten the suspense, and emphasize how real the danger is.
The antagonist, Mikhail Jezek, was probably the best character in the entire novel. He is important enough to get anything he wants with a single order, and inventive enough to keep the slaves terrified that he will notice them, and perhaps decide to reinforce that abject fear.
The Bad:
The novel is labeled as a romance thriller, but unless you are into BDSM so violent there’s the potential someone dies, there isn’t any romance to be found.
The end was unexpectedly sudden. I clicked the “next page” button on my kindle, thinking there were still pages to read, and found an excerpt for another novel instead. The epilogue, which I consider the end, detracted from the novel. The last chapter would have been a far better ending.
The most annoying thing about the novel is repetition. The first chapter is repeated almost word-for-word three times, and rewritten a few more times. After the second repetition, I found myself skimming to see if there were any new details, then hopping back into the story after the flashback was over. I also found the scattered grammatical errors confusing, because most were homonyms (bare/bear, etc.).
My Final Thoughts:
I enjoyed the novel while I was reading it, in spite of the repetition, but I am not sure I would want to read it again. The main plotline, although gripping, isn’t nearly as interesting as one of the plot threads introduced about halfway through: A major mob boss searching for his missing daughter suspects she may have been kidnapped and turned into a sex slave. In my opinion, if this plotline was moved center stage, the novel could be turned into a mystery thriller and be much better for the change.
Read it, but don’t expect pleasant dreams.
Reviewer: Phoenix
Premise:
Morgan Gaelord had thought she would never be free again. Somehow, Lincoln Blade (man of many names) snatched her out of Mikhail Jezek’s world of sex slaves and drugs, and returned her to the place she thought she would never see again: home.
Of course, Mikhail has a reputation to uphold. No one escapes for long. Especially not the one woman he hasn’t quite broken yet, the one woman who somehow, through everything, never gave in completely. He will find her, and he will prove that she will never be free of him. His very life depends on it.
My Review:
The Good:
From the very first page, this novel grabs onto you and refuses to let go. You want to keep reading, just to find out what happens next. And, horrifying as they are, the descriptions of violent sexual abuse only heighten the suspense, and emphasize how real the danger is.
The antagonist, Mikhail Jezek, was probably the best character in the entire novel. He is important enough to get anything he wants with a single order, and inventive enough to keep the slaves terrified that he will notice them, and perhaps decide to reinforce that abject fear.
The Bad:
The novel is labeled as a romance thriller, but unless you are into BDSM so violent there’s the potential someone dies, there isn’t any romance to be found.
The end was unexpectedly sudden. I clicked the “next page” button on my kindle, thinking there were still pages to read, and found an excerpt for another novel instead. The epilogue, which I consider the end, detracted from the novel. The last chapter would have been a far better ending.
The most annoying thing about the novel is repetition. The first chapter is repeated almost word-for-word three times, and rewritten a few more times. After the second repetition, I found myself skimming to see if there were any new details, then hopping back into the story after the flashback was over. I also found the scattered grammatical errors confusing, because most were homonyms (bare/bear, etc.).
My Final Thoughts:
I enjoyed the novel while I was reading it, in spite of the repetition, but I am not sure I would want to read it again. The main plotline, although gripping, isn’t nearly as interesting as one of the plot threads introduced about halfway through: A major mob boss searching for his missing daughter suspects she may have been kidnapped and turned into a sex slave. In my opinion, if this plotline was moved center stage, the novel could be turned into a mystery thriller and be much better for the change.
Read it, but don’t expect pleasant dreams.
February 22, 2014
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
I tried to read this once before and gave up as I wasn't in the right frame of mind but I am glad I gave it another try. I was drawn in from the very beginning, it's quite a shocking opener. Although this has a romance tag on it, there isn't really a romance as such, not the typical girl meets boy and falls in love, it's more a case of boy rescues girl, helps her with her recovery and they gradually fall into a great friendship that has the makings of being a great romance.
This is a book about abuse, kidnapping, prostitution and human trafficking. It's also about one woman's rescue and subsequent recovery from a vicious man who wants to own her outright. He thinks that if he can break her spirit she will finally succumb to his demands and be his wife. She suffers from rape, abuse, forced drug use and beatings. She is also forced to watch another girl being murdered.
When Morgan is finally rescued by a joint taskforce, she is scared and terrified that Jezek will find her and kill her. With the help of John she finally gets home but it takes her a long time to get to a point where she isn't constantly looking over her shoulder. Although she hasn't told her brothers exactly what she has been through, they help her with her recovery too.
When someone on the taskforce turns informant and lets Jezek know where all the girls from his brothels have been whisked away to, he starts to kill them off. When John finds out what is happening he returns to keep Morgan safe.
Jezek is slowly picking off the girls that got away but he also has to be very careful as the girl he murdered in front of Morgan was the daughter of an Italian Mob boss. When the Don finds out what really happened to his daughter he is ruthless in his punishment.
The author has handled a very difficult topic with care and attention, although she hasn't glossed over any of the horrors of what it must be like to be caught up in that lifestyle.
I would definitely recommend this book to any one who likes a good thriller with a romantic undertone.
I tried to read this once before and gave up as I wasn't in the right frame of mind but I am glad I gave it another try. I was drawn in from the very beginning, it's quite a shocking opener. Although this has a romance tag on it, there isn't really a romance as such, not the typical girl meets boy and falls in love, it's more a case of boy rescues girl, helps her with her recovery and they gradually fall into a great friendship that has the makings of being a great romance.
This is a book about abuse, kidnapping, prostitution and human trafficking. It's also about one woman's rescue and subsequent recovery from a vicious man who wants to own her outright. He thinks that if he can break her spirit she will finally succumb to his demands and be his wife. She suffers from rape, abuse, forced drug use and beatings. She is also forced to watch another girl being murdered.
When Morgan is finally rescued by a joint taskforce, she is scared and terrified that Jezek will find her and kill her. With the help of John she finally gets home but it takes her a long time to get to a point where she isn't constantly looking over her shoulder. Although she hasn't told her brothers exactly what she has been through, they help her with her recovery too.
When someone on the taskforce turns informant and lets Jezek know where all the girls from his brothels have been whisked away to, he starts to kill them off. When John finds out what is happening he returns to keep Morgan safe.
Jezek is slowly picking off the girls that got away but he also has to be very careful as the girl he murdered in front of Morgan was the daughter of an Italian Mob boss. When the Don finds out what really happened to his daughter he is ruthless in his punishment.
The author has handled a very difficult topic with care and attention, although she hasn't glossed over any of the horrors of what it must be like to be caught up in that lifestyle.
I would definitely recommend this book to any one who likes a good thriller with a romantic undertone.
July 22, 2014
Blood and nationality were stripped away and status and wealth meant nothing here…..
Taken away by force and an obsession that surpasses all reasonability, Morgan Gaelord becomes Dusk, and ends up in the hellish undergrounds of the Czech Republic. Even as she endures the brutality and torture, she hangs on to a ray of hope to escape the cruelty and evil. And that ray of hope gives her a new life, yet she cannot escape the nightmares of her past. Even as she forges ahead with a new lease of life, looking over her shoulder has become a habit. Lots of embers for her here…..
Lincoln Blade is her savior working undercover for Interpol, but saving innocent and brutalized girls does not seem to give him any peace. Giving these girls an opportunity to start a new life with a new face and a name does not ease the guilt he carries of the justice that never saw the light of dawn. Now with Morgan in his life, together they need to survive the new threat that comes their way as the girls from Blade’s past end up dying and its their turn to bring an evil to justice.
Sins can be buried, but never forgotten and Mikhail Jezek is one badass of a villain, who pays for his sins and it was poetic justice! Loved the details that Jaycee Clark gave this character and reading about him gave me the jitters and I was literally consumed with so much hatred for him.
If the story is about Morgan moving on with her life, I loved Jaycee for bringing into focus Morgan’s family and their feelings. It is not easy dealing with the aftermath of terror and lots of times we forget how much the family suffers along with the victim. It was painful and yet very proud to see the whole Gaelord family handle the sensitive situation with courage.
“Hunted” by Jaycee Clark leaves an indelible footprint. With layers of emotion and pain coating her words, Jaycee gives us an amazing story that leaves us haunted with a taste for an evil that can go beyond boundaries and a battle that two brave souls confront for a future filled with faith and love.
http://alimalivzletlivz.wordpress.com
Taken away by force and an obsession that surpasses all reasonability, Morgan Gaelord becomes Dusk, and ends up in the hellish undergrounds of the Czech Republic. Even as she endures the brutality and torture, she hangs on to a ray of hope to escape the cruelty and evil. And that ray of hope gives her a new life, yet she cannot escape the nightmares of her past. Even as she forges ahead with a new lease of life, looking over her shoulder has become a habit. Lots of embers for her here…..
Lincoln Blade is her savior working undercover for Interpol, but saving innocent and brutalized girls does not seem to give him any peace. Giving these girls an opportunity to start a new life with a new face and a name does not ease the guilt he carries of the justice that never saw the light of dawn. Now with Morgan in his life, together they need to survive the new threat that comes their way as the girls from Blade’s past end up dying and its their turn to bring an evil to justice.
Sins can be buried, but never forgotten and Mikhail Jezek is one badass of a villain, who pays for his sins and it was poetic justice! Loved the details that Jaycee Clark gave this character and reading about him gave me the jitters and I was literally consumed with so much hatred for him.
If the story is about Morgan moving on with her life, I loved Jaycee for bringing into focus Morgan’s family and their feelings. It is not easy dealing with the aftermath of terror and lots of times we forget how much the family suffers along with the victim. It was painful and yet very proud to see the whole Gaelord family handle the sensitive situation with courage.
“Hunted” by Jaycee Clark leaves an indelible footprint. With layers of emotion and pain coating her words, Jaycee gives us an amazing story that leaves us haunted with a taste for an evil that can go beyond boundaries and a battle that two brave souls confront for a future filled with faith and love.
http://alimalivzletlivz.wordpress.com
February 9, 2015
Hunted.
This is a dark book and deals with some serious issues.
If you people are going into this thinking you'll get a good, tensed, danger-filled romance?
Then do not touch this book for you will be disappointed.
The plot goes over some serious torture and mental pain.
This book deals with losing yourself almost to the point of breaking, then getting saved, lots of ups and downs, the threat of the past forever looming over you...
This book has some issues that will screw with your brain, disgust you, enrage you to the point of you wanting to seek revenge for those who suffered yourself.
To a great extent, the author has done justice to the topic she chose to write about.
Even though the book is fairly predictable, it still gets to you and will surely disturb you.
The characters are good and well build up. The author justifies in her work of making you feel what they go through and exactly how painful it can be.
The only part which I had problem with was the utter and serious lack of romance. There was so much potential between Morgan and Linc and the author did nothing with it. Not even a kiss! How disappointing is that?
She just gives some hope of future towards the ending. That's it. There isn't a sequel so I would have seriously liked some concrete ending.
But then that's about it.
This is a dark book and deals with some serious issues.
If you people are going into this thinking you'll get a good, tensed, danger-filled romance?
Then do not touch this book for you will be disappointed.
The plot goes over some serious torture and mental pain.
This book deals with losing yourself almost to the point of breaking, then getting saved, lots of ups and downs, the threat of the past forever looming over you...
This book has some issues that will screw with your brain, disgust you, enrage you to the point of you wanting to seek revenge for those who suffered yourself.
To a great extent, the author has done justice to the topic she chose to write about.
Even though the book is fairly predictable, it still gets to you and will surely disturb you.
The characters are good and well build up. The author justifies in her work of making you feel what they go through and exactly how painful it can be.
The only part which I had problem with was the utter and serious lack of romance. There was so much potential between Morgan and Linc and the author did nothing with it. Not even a kiss! How disappointing is that?
She just gives some hope of future towards the ending. That's it. There isn't a sequel so I would have seriously liked some concrete ending.
But then that's about it.
January 18, 2015
I was pleasantly surprised by HUNTED. Morgan Gaelord is a survivor. She's seen - and experienced - things she wouldn't wish on even her worst enemy.Europe will never be the same for her. Looking past all the beauty of the attractions, she sees the world of slavery. A world that at one point had her thinking she didn't care whether she lived or died. The horrors of the world are true. She's lived them.
And now they might be coming for her again.
I'm not entirely sure I would call this a romantic suspense - the romance isn't a strong aspect of the book. HUNTED is primarily about Morgan - and the evil men still chasing her.
The blurb is also a little misleading - the story begins long before Morgan makes her escape. We see a large part of the horror she experiences.
It's a thrilling read, but not for the faint of heart. The book begins in the middle of the horrors of sexual slavery, and there are many trigger warnings here. Despite the dark content, everything is handled as tastefully as I think it could be.
Overall, this is an exciting read. It is heavy - but if you can stomach it, well worth the time.
And now they might be coming for her again.
I'm not entirely sure I would call this a romantic suspense - the romance isn't a strong aspect of the book. HUNTED is primarily about Morgan - and the evil men still chasing her.
The blurb is also a little misleading - the story begins long before Morgan makes her escape. We see a large part of the horror she experiences.
It's a thrilling read, but not for the faint of heart. The book begins in the middle of the horrors of sexual slavery, and there are many trigger warnings here. Despite the dark content, everything is handled as tastefully as I think it could be.
Overall, this is an exciting read. It is heavy - but if you can stomach it, well worth the time.
August 12, 2015
Another superb thriller
Jaycee Clark created another nail-biting thriller in Hunted.
Using skillful prose, credible, albeit it horrific plot, and strong characters, the story paced brilliantly, kept me anxiously turning each page, providing an engrossing read.
Lincoln Blade was a hero unlike many. He was the British, skilled protector, and unsung hero, one I could not help but adore.
Morgan Gaelord was a heroine you simply couldn't avoid admiring. Her strength and fortitude amidst horrendous acts of violence were incredible.
Hunted was not a romance between these characters, but rather the journey of an unflinching bond, one of pain, endurance and rescue, and in that was the beauty and plausibility of the story arc.
This was one of those stories whose characters and action will be difficult to forget. Well penned, believable characters, captivating read, and a book I highly recommend. I hope there will be more to this story.
Jaycee Clark created another nail-biting thriller in Hunted.
Using skillful prose, credible, albeit it horrific plot, and strong characters, the story paced brilliantly, kept me anxiously turning each page, providing an engrossing read.
Lincoln Blade was a hero unlike many. He was the British, skilled protector, and unsung hero, one I could not help but adore.
Morgan Gaelord was a heroine you simply couldn't avoid admiring. Her strength and fortitude amidst horrendous acts of violence were incredible.
Hunted was not a romance between these characters, but rather the journey of an unflinching bond, one of pain, endurance and rescue, and in that was the beauty and plausibility of the story arc.
This was one of those stories whose characters and action will be difficult to forget. Well penned, believable characters, captivating read, and a book I highly recommend. I hope there will be more to this story.
April 13, 2016
Interesting, prior to having an e-reader, I had so many books that I had purchased and no longer have my physical library. This one sounded familiar as I started it, but because I read so many, I couldn't recall the details.
This is a great story. The fear, the ashamed inner thoughts of what people think even though you do what you can to survive. I thought this was a great thought out, and driven story about someone who is forced into the unthinkinkable world of human trafficing, and the tale of escape and living post the escape.
When you feel for someone you want to know they are ok, whether that crosses some invisible line or not. The conflicts between the two are great. It is amazing how an author can have a hero, a villian (many of them), a victim, family and yet be able to keep these individuals seperate from characteristics.
Great writing and character development - it was the characters that made this story.
This is a great story. The fear, the ashamed inner thoughts of what people think even though you do what you can to survive. I thought this was a great thought out, and driven story about someone who is forced into the unthinkinkable world of human trafficing, and the tale of escape and living post the escape.
When you feel for someone you want to know they are ok, whether that crosses some invisible line or not. The conflicts between the two are great. It is amazing how an author can have a hero, a villian (many of them), a victim, family and yet be able to keep these individuals seperate from characteristics.
Great writing and character development - it was the characters that made this story.
October 6, 2013
Hunted by Jaycee Clark was an intense, gripping, emotional novel about human trafficking. This was fast paced and action packed from the very first page. It was very hard to put down.
Human trafficking is such a hard subject to write and Jaycee Clark did a superb job in writing this. All though this was a fictional book, the subject matter is very real and is happening in reality.
I’ve already read Ms. Clark’s Kinncaid series, which I loved, but this one by far is one of my favorites. Even though this considered a romantic suspense, the main focus was on the emotional struggles of escaping the sex slave trade.
So much emotion in this book, I can’t even tell you how much I cried through this. Well written and very enjoyable. A definitely recommended read.
Human trafficking is such a hard subject to write and Jaycee Clark did a superb job in writing this. All though this was a fictional book, the subject matter is very real and is happening in reality.
I’ve already read Ms. Clark’s Kinncaid series, which I loved, but this one by far is one of my favorites. Even though this considered a romantic suspense, the main focus was on the emotional struggles of escaping the sex slave trade.
So much emotion in this book, I can’t even tell you how much I cried through this. Well written and very enjoyable. A definitely recommended read.
July 14, 2014
This book was a story of survival and recovery. I had a hard time putting it down and wanted to know what was going to happen next. I did have a problem with how her brothers treated her when she came home. They knew something bad had happened and could see by how she looked and acted that she was not well yet they treated and spoke to her like she was the same spoiled little sister that she was when she left? I wanted to smack them upside the head! Thank God for Linc, at least someone knew how to treat her, what she needed emotionally and made sure that she sought professional help. Morgan is the real hero in this story as she had to survive the Hell she went through and then figure out how she was going to fit back into the world... And she did!
July 15, 2014
Good and intense I was tapping my kindle so fast. Morgan/Dusk is finally free from her horrible ordeal at the hands of Mikili thanks to Linc. But Mikili has never lost a girl before and he will get her back. You go with Morgan trying to get her life back and she knows he will be back for her. A couple years later heees back and coming for her and Linc has to protect her. It is a dark romance but the things she goes thru are not graphic they are being told so it's not so bad. Good read if you like them a little dark:)
January 15, 2015
I have read most of Jaycee Clark's books (really enjoyed the Kinncaid Brothers Series) and have found that this one is no exception to the rest in how drawn into the characters and the story I became. The storyline was darker than most and very graphic in places which helped to associate with the pain and torment the lead character, Morgan, suffered. There was not much emphasis on the love interest between the 2 lead characters, although there was an underlying chemistry between them and if I had one criticism it was that that part of the story didn't seem to come to a conclusion.
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