Raven's Prey

by Stephanie James, Jayne Ann Krentz

When a shady business deal goes awry, Honor Knight is desperate to flee the U.S. with her life - even it is means taking refuge deep in rural Mexico. Her captor has other ideas. Judd Raven has been hired - by two men claiming to be her father and brother - to hunt Honor down.

Honor knows that delivery into their hands will mean certain death. Judd's been led to believe she's a compulsive liar. How can she prove to her kidnapper that these men are seasoned, murderous criminals? Judd's just a cold-blooded mercenary with money on his mind. Or could there still be a beating heart underneath that rugged exterior?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Mystery, M F Romance

251 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Jayne Ann Castle was born on 28 March 1948 in Borrego Springs, California. Her mother, Alberta Castle, raised her with her two brothers, Stephen and James. In 1970, she obtained a B.A in History at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and later she obtained a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University, where she met Frank Krentz, an engineer. After her graduation, they married and moved to the Virgin Islands. She worked in the Duke University library system, where she began to write her first romance novels. The marriage moved to Seattle, Washington, where they continue living.

Now, Jayne Ann Castle Krentz with her seven pennames is considered a pillar in the contemporary romance genre. For some years, she only uses three pennames for each of three different periods from time: "Jayne Ann Krentz" (her married name) from the present, "Jayne Castle" (her birth name) from the future and her most famous penname: "Amanda Quick" from the past. She is famous for her work ethic, beginning her writing by 7 am six days a week. Her heroins never are damsels in hardships, they are often heroes. Her novels also contain mystery or paranormal elements.

Enthusiastic of the romantic genre, she has always defended its importance. To help educate the public about the romantic genre she became the editor and a contributor to Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women: Romance Writers on the Appeal of the Romance, a non-fiction essay collection that won the prestigious Susan Koppelman Award for Feminist Studies. She established the Castle Humanities Fund at UCSC's University Library to allow the library to purchase additional books and has given money to 15 Seattle-area elementary schools to enhance their library budgets. She is also a member of the Advisory Board for the Writers Programs at the University of Washington extension program.

Psuedonyms:

Jayne Ann Krentz
Amanda Quick
Jayne Castle
Jayne Bentley
Jayne Taylor
Amanda Glass

Reviews

[Mara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am not a fan of JA Krentz's novels, but I read many of them, and even if far from great they usually are easy to read and pleasant.

This isn't a one star review for the forced seduction (there's not one, but the threat is), the very 80's feel, the thin, thin to the point of not being there, plot, the cardboard characters, the totally absurd setting (an arm dealer brings his PA around when making deals, and then doesn't take any precautions, the FBI gets your story on a most wanted and then simply let you go...) the extreme instalove. Nope sorry the 1 star was the incredibly bad writing, the "oh darling Judd" that had me snort, the ridiculous language that make this a parody of romance.

Your mileage may vary, I didn't hate this book, but it was a very bad read :)

[Kate McMurry · Rating 1 out of 5]

This 1983 captive/captor, semi-rape fantasy should have stayed out of print!

In the opening scene of this romance novel, 39-year-old, hardened loner, Judd Raven, kidnaps 29-year-old Honor Knight, in a rundown cantina in a backwater village in Mexico. Judd is a pilot who owns his own small Cessna. He is fluent in Spanish, and he makes a hard-scrabble living flying various missions throughout Central and South America, which before now have not skirted the law. This time is different. He is being paid a relatively minuscule fee of only $1000 to act as both a private eye (which he is not licensed or trained to do) and track down Honor, as well as, by force if necessary (it is), haul her back to her wealthy father in the USA. Unbeknownst to Judd, the guy who hired him isn’t actually Honor’s father, but rather a vicious criminal who plans to murder her. Judd is under the false impression that Honor is, at best, an immature, narcissistic socialite, who has never worked a day in her butt-lazy life and is beneath his contempt or, at worst, a depressed paranoid with a history of attention-seeking attempted suicide.

Soon after her kidnapping, TSTL Honor taunts Judd that he is an emotionless robot. She does her best to get him to express emotion, and thereby prove to her that he is human, by goading him to either beat her senseless or rape her. For tense moments, it looks as if he is going to choose rape, but he ultimately doesn’t go beyond a few “punishing” kisses. However, within 24 hours, Honor actually instigates intercourse with Judd, because she believes it will soften up her captor and cause him to take her side against the criminal who has hired him. (This plotting ploy is obviously supposed to be perceived by readers as sensually exciting, because Honor and Judd are extremely physically attracted to each other.) After this bizarre, captor/prisoner sexual encounter, Judd declares that Honor, whom he, from then on out, patronizingly refers to as, “Honey,” now “belongs” to him. This change in attitude encourages Honor to believe that she is now out of danger from the evil criminal. Until Judd declares that he is still going to transport her to her “father,” but he is going to confront the man with Honor’s accusations, and if the guy comes off as less believable than her, he will save her from the bad guy. Honor flies into a rage, because her seduction scheme has not won her the type of full-fledged trust and protection she was seeking. The most she can get Judd to agree to is to let her spend half a week more in the little Mexican village before they leave, in hopes that a few more days in the sack will further her chances of turning Judd aside from his mission.

Even by the much sleazier standards of 40 years ago in the romance industry, the dynamic between Honor and Judd in this story is downright creepy, and her attempt to push Judd to rape her, in particular, should merit a major trigger warning in the blurb of this novel. On multiple counts, these awful protagonists are completely irredeemable, individually and as a couple.

This is one of the earliest books that Krentz wrote, and it was marketed under a pseudonym. It would have been a far better idea to let it quietly disappear into obscurity and never admit she wrote it.

[boogenhagen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is soooo Eighties - but it is cute and stalkery- stalkerific for all that.

[*CJ* · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Raven’s Prey” is the story of Honor and Judd.

What a fun read.

Hero is a mercenary who is sent to retrieve the heroine by her “family”.
He travels to Mexico in his plane, only to encounter a wildcat. She claims the men who sent him are her enemies, and there is a threat to her life. Initially he refuses to believe her claims, until he listens to her.. which leads to interesting set of adventures.

Strong heroine, smitten confused hero, loads of adventures and humor, insanely witty banter and hot sex, a lot of airplane jokes. Throughly enjoyable the hero is very obsessive and possessive to a point he kidnaps our heroine.. more than once.

Safe
4.5/5

[Grimcats · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book by Jayne Ann Krentz under a pseudonym.

This is a good book and deserve four solid stars. You need to keep an open mind to enjoy this book, considering that this was written in the eighties.

After reading crappy books (how the hell did they even get on the best seller's list!) about strong modern heroines and modern alpha heroes, you just need a break. Seriously is it impossible for the new generation of authors to create a strong character without making them sound like a total asshole/bitch? ...Okay enough ranting.

The heroine (Honor Knight) is a romantic at heart. Under dire circumstances she runs for her life and the hero (Judd Raven) is sent by the bad guys to find her. The h is a working professional and the H is a pilot/mercenary. They meet and sparks fly - push pull and all that.

H rescues the h and in the meanwhile they start a physical relationship. Both H and h want more than just physical. She makes it clear in a lot of words that she wants more. The H is somewhat socially inept and his reply kind of hurts her. In reality he truly wants her and tries to show her that. But she doesn't understand because he doesn't say the words that she'd like to hear.

Eventually she leaves him fuming. He chases her and kidnaps her- oh yes.....he totally does! They spend time together where he tries to convince her that they belong together. The end was real cheesy but in good way and there was some groveling done by hero.

The best part about this book is that the author packed so much in this book that most can't seem to do it in a book twice the size of this one.

[Jane McFraser · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was published in 1983 and the story and characters failed to withstand the changes in time.
There is no hero or heroine in this story, just two ridiculous people with no likable qualities. Classifying this as a romance is a joke. I kept hoping there would be a redeeming moment but this book should just be taken out of circulation.

[Last Chance Saloon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was lots of fun! Heroine (29) has run across the border to hide from her bosses, because she uncovers something unsavoury about the workplace when in Hong Kong. The hero (late 30s) is a pilot and has been hired to bring her back (they want her dead, but he is told they are her relatives). The dynamic between the normal heroine and the somewhat emotionally stunted hero is fab. He stalks her, kidnaps her and when you get into his head as he is trying to understand her - it’s funny!
I really got their HEA. Nice chemistry, too.

[Jacqueline J · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty decent book about a man who didn't know how to have any type of a relationship. He accepted a job to find and bring a delusional woman back to her family. Of course it isn't really her family but a couple of guys she worked for until she caught them running drugs. She ran. Now they want her brought back so they can kill her. He eventually believes her and saves her. But then he won't let her go, insisting that since she slept with him she is now his. So he basically kidnaps her and takes her to his house. It seems sort of stalkerific except that you can tell he really loves her but can't quite figure out that she is only hearing his words not his intent. And since he's the hero it comes across mostly as awkward and sweet instead of crazy. Well written, fast moving, nice emotions and a pretty good scene where they find out they love each other with some sweet words.

[Kelley · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book crossed a boundary for me in terms of the unwillingness of the heroine. I just couldn't suspend disbelief enough to go along with the idea that a woman could fall in love with someone who threatened and started to rape her.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book JK wrote many yrs ago. It was short but a fun read

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little better than some of Jayne Ann Krentz's other early books, it gets off to a slow start, logic-wise, and then picks up speed. I enjoy re-reading it. Published in 1983, the main characters are Honor Knight and Judd Raven. It has an interesting and unusual plot, but one that makes me uneasy at times since it runs a fine line between stalker and acceptable behavior in a lover.

[Farah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had an irresistible urge to beat Raven with a stick and then use Honor as a shield , they both gave me a headache especially Raven who was too arrogant and annoying but it was still very enjoyable.

[Eileen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I cannot figure out why people are giving this three- and four-star reviews. Maybe it gets better, but I just could not make it passed page 100. He's unbelievably stubborn and she's hotheaded and it wasn't getting any better.

[Penelope · Rating 3 out of 5]

MY RATING GUIDE: 3.5. I especially enjoyed the flying scenes, plus I recall first reading this “back in the day.” This was a revisit to Krentz’s earlier style of writing, some of my earliest adult fiction.

1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/cute; 3.5= I ENJOYED THIS (A nod to the past); 4= I liked it a lot; 5= I Loved it, it was great! (I seldom give 5 Stars).

A remote coastal village in Mexico and Albuquerque, NM ~
Honor Knight, 29, flees the US running to MX because she believes her life is in danger. She is hiding in a small coastal MX village when Raven locates her.

As a former foster child Judd Raven bounced around until he learned to fly at 16 and became a pilot for hire. Now, nearing 40, Raven is still a loner, owns his own aircraft and is self-employed as a cargo pilot flying shipments in and out of the US. Raven is currently working a job flying into and around Mexico searching for a “lost and confused” American woman. Two men, claiming to be Honor’s father and brother, have hired Raven to locate Honor in Mexico and safely return her to them in Arizona. But the thought of returning terrifies Honor. She believes the men who have hired Raven mean to kill her once she is returned to them.

Comments ~
1) RAVEN’S PREY is an Enemies-to-More (Krentz “earlier style”) standalone Contemporary Romance novel originally published in 1983. RAVEN’S PREY features a loner Alpha male main character and a woman-on-the-run pitted against each other because of the situation set before they meet.
2) I found myself understanding and appreciating Raven’s point of view (as a loner, alpha-type guy with his own Code of Honor). But I could see Honor’s perspective in the beginning, too, since she believed she was in mortal danger if she returned with Judd. The misunderstandings that continue into the later half of the story contain more angst and drama than I prefer in my fiction. (Later Krentz novels team up the FMC and MMC against a mutual danger/enemy which I prefer). I still enjoyed the action and suspense scenes, the underlying lightness and the ending. Krentz, Quick, Castle were among my earliest fiction “back in the day.” Sometimes I enjoy going back and appreciating the changes in Krentz’s writing style over time.
3) I listened to the audiobook available for free through my audio subscription service. It was performed by Amy McFadden who captured the voices and moods of the characters nicely (even when the emotion was over the top, IMO). :)
4) My husband is a pilot; I absolutely loved the flying scenes and grinned throughout.
5) Not recommended to readers who pride themselves in reading feministic, progressive roles in Contemporary Romance novels. This is a throw-back from the past (originally published under Stephanie James, a previous Krentz name) now republished under Jayne Ann Krentz.

READER CAUTION ~
PROFANITY - Yes. Strong language is used on occasion.
VIOLENCE - Yes. PG. This is a “Woman in Danger” novel but not particularly dark or graphic.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - Yes. Sexy times occur and begin just before the first half, 4dys after they meet. These can easily be skipped if desired.

[Neha · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is a POC. I hate calling any book a POC , it someone's hard work. But this book has so many issues . I don't understand where is the romance in the book.
There are so many problematic issue thrown casually in the book like it's no big deal. I could not get pass half way through the book.(soon after the rescue).

Things like rape, husband beating wife, stalking oh sorry hunter cos he is a hunter, you belong to me now and the general dismissive behavior calling it female hysterics.
Wrapping all this above behavior in a beautiful and handsome package does not make it ok. Abusive behaviors by a handsome manly man alpha guy(hero) is still as problematic as if perpetrated by a dastardly villain or creepy guy living in a basement. Being a hero does not give one a special license to be a AH.

I love Jayne Ann Krentz. Her Ghost Hunter and Arcane society books are fabulous. The world building in those book esp. Ghost Hunter is so rich and vibrant. You want to be transmitted to that world and experience the alien psy. The only problem I see in her writing is that to make her hero super smart super alpha super everything she dumbs down the female lead.
Questions like "But why world he do this? , "It does not make sense" when the answers are sooooooooo obvious.
it like the male leads brilliance and sparkle comes at the expense of female lead. I have not seen this in her recent books but definitely the older once

Not all female lead have to carry a sword to be a bad asses. Intelligent women can be bad asses too.

I wanted to read a nice romance book, as a palate cleanser, after reading some intense books. This book was thrid in a row of disappointing PNR book having same issue. I should be working now i have a deadline to meet but hear I am writing a review, and I not enjoy writing. It is not something I am good at

[Janet Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Honor had never seen such a total lack of emotion in another human being in her entire life."
Protagonist Honor Knight's observation chilled her to the bone as she looked across a Mexican cantina and saw her fate in the guise of Judd Raven. She soon came to the conclusion that he was aptly named.
His eyes contained "no friendliness, no resentment, no humor, nothing [but the] gleam of a beast of prey." Thus begins a romantic suspense novel that takes Honor from one dangerous situation into another.
Very well written, this book gives us two very well portrayed characters who spar from their first encounter. Hope is fighting for her life. Judd, however, was given a different story, one of a spoiled brat hiding from a loving and wealthy father.
After many false starts, will love follow? Read this book and find out.

[Andrew · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at chapter 4. It was so rape-y and abusive. The entire thing hinged on threats of rape or beating as she paid him to leave her alive for a few more days. After I quit I realized that this was one of the JAK books originally published as Stephanie James. If I had known that going in, I would not have picked it up. All of the Stephanie James books are misogynistic and abusive with a pathetically thin and contrived plot. When JAK left her rape and coercion phase, her writing improved a great deal.

[Heather Grove · Rating 3 out of 5]

After starting this book it felt a little off to me so I looked to see when it was published. 1983 or 1986 if I remember correctly. I couldn’t figure out if it felt too rape-y or not because I couldn’t tell if the MMC was being genuine in what he was saying or teasing her. But I’m leaning on it feeling icky if the MFC would have said no more strongly…I get what the author was trying to do by painting the MMC as possessive and “primal” but without more character development it didn’t get there for me. Wasn’t terrible but didn’t hit the mark for me.

[jane Robinson · Rating 1 out of 5]

First time I have writen a review. I found this book so offensive. I realise it was written a while ago but at no time was rape , stalking and violence encouraged or accepted. A hero whose mission is to collect a run away ( as in a bonds man) who then tries to rape his capture and then takes possesion of her and stalks her , gives young women a bad idea of love and respect a man should have for the women he professes to love. It also gives the profession of Bond's men a really bad reputation.

[Mafe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fue mágico para mi leerlo, disfrute cada aventura, romance y misterio que tenia esta historia.

Ame la relación que tenían Judd y Honor, aunque eran un poco bipolares y cambiantes al principio.

Ese primer encuentro Dios mio fue intenso. Me fascinaron las bromas constantes que le hacía la protagonista al héroe del avión 😂 fue muy gracioso.

El final fue muy tierno...la verdad nunca había leído un harlequin que terminará así. ✨️❤️‍🔥🤩

Calificación Final: 5 estrellas 🌟

[Leyns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting hero.

At the beginning of the book, when the hero appears to be seriously contemplating raping the heroine (not even kidding), I’m like ‘what the heck is this? Am I reading a romance or what?’ Thankfully the story gets much, much better. I came to understand the hero - how he thinks and why, and I grew to really like him. Shocking, considering the intro to his character! But yeah, I enjoyed it. Definitely a re-read.

[Lucy Eleazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been long since a book has managed to keep me that much hooked on. I really loved the development of the relationship between the characters, the compromises that had to make between one another and also with their own selves. Intriguing, charging, urging you to keep reading forwards. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Anne Blyth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually enjoy books by Jayne Ann Krentz but for some reason I could not connect with the hero and heroine and a few areas that didn't make sense to me. There is a basis for a good story but the suspense parts seemed short and far apart. This is purely my opinion and I'm sure some readers will enjoy it.

[Aleksandra · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was disappointing. I know it's written in the times when there was a different outlook on what's romantic, but I read romance from the mid-'70s, even Krentz's books from the early '80s and I loved them. There is no redeeming points (with Krentz is banter and humour, but here not even that!). Sorry.

[Annette McIntyre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honor Knight is on the run and she is being hunted by a man who has been told she has mental problems so to not believe anything she tells him that is counter to what the men who say they are her concerned relatives.

[Janice Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Good Read!

I love this author! Her ability to create a strong storyline has never fail to peek my interest in the story and her books! I did not like this book as much as her other books but I just couldn't put the book down! 😀😀

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is definitely in the 80's Old School Romance genre but I still like this book a lot.

[Ronda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Op

[Bea · Rating 1 out of 5]

Truly terrible man love interest. I think maybe the books written with Stephanie James are bad.

[Lizzie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Male protagonist was too harsh and dominant, like primal claiming the female protagonist. Story development was 3 pages. Not her best work.