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Desert Island Duet #2
Hunted
She’s not alone anymore. But them knowing the secret she’s kept for fifteen years may be the one thing she can’t survive.
The men who found her have begun to quiet the darkness that once consumed her, slowly helping her piece herself back together. But Darla is still clutching one devastating secret—one she swore she’d never reveal. And the closer they get, the harder it becomes to keep it buried.
As old wounds resurface and deadly threats close in, it’s clear their pasts are far from finished with them. The truth behind the crashes that changed their lives is beginning to unravel, and someone will do anything to keep those secrets hidden.
Especially hers.
Because some history refuses to stay buried.
And Darla knows—if her truth comes out, it could destroy everything.
***HUNTED, is the second and final part of a duet and must be read after Stranded. It's a hurt/comfort, why choose, MFMM+, romance novel with dark themes. No mm/ff/cheating/owd. The FMC will not have to choose between her love interests. There are some heavy triggers in this one so if you have any, please read the full list at author's website.
The men who found her have begun to quiet the darkness that once consumed her, slowly helping her piece herself back together. But Darla is still clutching one devastating secret—one she swore she’d never reveal. And the closer they get, the harder it becomes to keep it buried.
As old wounds resurface and deadly threats close in, it’s clear their pasts are far from finished with them. The truth behind the crashes that changed their lives is beginning to unravel, and someone will do anything to keep those secrets hidden.
Especially hers.
Because some history refuses to stay buried.
And Darla knows—if her truth comes out, it could destroy everything.
***HUNTED, is the second and final part of a duet and must be read after Stranded. It's a hurt/comfort, why choose, MFMM+, romance novel with dark themes. No mm/ff/cheating/owd. The FMC will not have to choose between her love interests. There are some heavy triggers in this one so if you have any, please read the full list at author's website.
430 pages, Hardcover
Published August 8, 2025
1326 people are currently reading
841 people want to read
About the author
Shona Knight
21 books319 followersReverse Harem Author
If you love a reverse harem romance with heart, heat and happily ever after, then you've come to the right place! Shona writes full length MFMM+ why choose reverse harem stories that vary from fantasy to contemporary to paranormal. The FMC will always be the main focus of her men!
A lot of her stories focus on women that come from some sort of tortured background, but you will also find some lighthearted fun reads scattered in between!
If you love a reverse harem romance with heart, heat and happily ever after, then you've come to the right place! Shona writes full length MFMM+ why choose reverse harem stories that vary from fantasy to contemporary to paranormal. The FMC will always be the main focus of her men!
A lot of her stories focus on women that come from some sort of tortured background, but you will also find some lighthearted fun reads scattered in between!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 369 reviews
August 3, 2025
not bad but not great
I’m going to be blunt. We have an FMC who has been alone, independent, amazingly resilient, and Tarzan level capable for 15 years. Then the MMCs come onto the scene and care for her.
And how do they show it? By not letting her climb trees, swing on vines, or WALK. And in a true author expressing her biases, states the FMC is annoyed but in the end the men “save her from herself”. What. The. Heck. Did I just read? They say they respect her but leave her in a the car, make decisions for her, and tell her no constantly. My thought here is if a strong person who survived the ordeal she did was meant to reintegrate into “society” it would be done on her terms. Not the men. They would respect her choices (wait for her to return, no bar her from moving around her home. Or include her in their exploits, not sit her in a car. Or let her dictate her diet, or clothing, or rooms based on the fact she knows herself best, not them “knowing best” for her?) It felt very steam roller.
She even some how shaved her legs in the jungle in the first book? Why would a 28 year old woman who never shaved before (she was 13 when she went missing) care enough in the first scene of the “civilization” do that? Like really? Felt like the potential for deep respect, emotional connection, and a woman leading her journey was overshadowed by “men know best”, gendered norms, and adaptation to the male scenes. Not really very deep because it ascribed to shallow cultural tropes that jarred me out of the greater story. Could have been great but really was bleh in the end. Went too shallow where it could have gone deeper. Just short sighted writing here.
I’m going to be blunt. We have an FMC who has been alone, independent, amazingly resilient, and Tarzan level capable for 15 years. Then the MMCs come onto the scene and care for her.
And how do they show it? By not letting her climb trees, swing on vines, or WALK. And in a true author expressing her biases, states the FMC is annoyed but in the end the men “save her from herself”. What. The. Heck. Did I just read? They say they respect her but leave her in a the car, make decisions for her, and tell her no constantly. My thought here is if a strong person who survived the ordeal she did was meant to reintegrate into “society” it would be done on her terms. Not the men. They would respect her choices (wait for her to return, no bar her from moving around her home. Or include her in their exploits, not sit her in a car. Or let her dictate her diet, or clothing, or rooms based on the fact she knows herself best, not them “knowing best” for her?) It felt very steam roller.
She even some how shaved her legs in the jungle in the first book? Why would a 28 year old woman who never shaved before (she was 13 when she went missing) care enough in the first scene of the “civilization” do that? Like really? Felt like the potential for deep respect, emotional connection, and a woman leading her journey was overshadowed by “men know best”, gendered norms, and adaptation to the male scenes. Not really very deep because it ascribed to shallow cultural tropes that jarred me out of the greater story. Could have been great but really was bleh in the end. Went too shallow where it could have gone deeper. Just short sighted writing here.
August 11, 2025
1.5 dnf, should’ve been a standalone
August 10, 2025
2 stars ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ Hunted☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★
⁺₊★·.´🎧✩°｡ 0:56 ──♡───── 3:32 ⁺₊🎧★·.·´
🎶 I think he did it but I just can't prove it. I think he did it but I just can't prove it 🎶
The men who found her have begun to quiet the darkness that once consumed her, slowly helping her piece herself back together. But Darla is still clutching one devastating secret—one she swore she’d never reveal. And the closer they get, the harder it becomes to keep it buried.
As old wounds resurface and deadly threats close in, it’s clear their pasts are far from finished with them. The truth behind the crashes that changed their lives is beginning to unravel, and someone will do anything to keep those secrets hidden. Especially hers. Because some history refuses to stay buried.
— ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆• THOUGHTS⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ⋆—
Honestly, it got boring once the plot recycled itself - them being stranded again, but this time with Reece tied into the mix along with the rest of the guys on the island. It was so painfully obvious who was behind everything. There was no real plot twist. It was too predictable. The entire time you're reading, it's clear that it’s his father pulling the strings, and yet the characters - who are supposed to be this smart, elite group - can’t seem to put it together. It felt dense and frustrating.
The fact that her name was Darla, and they started referring to her as that but then kept switching back - like, make up your mind. What are we calling you? I liked Zee. It suited her. It felt more her. I wasn’t having fun reading this, especially with her assimilation back into the city. I lowkey liked her independent nature and survival instincts when she was on the island. She was so much more interesting then. I think this could’ve been better if it stayed in that setting and focused more on her being there with Mo-Mo. Her big secret was that she had a miscarriage, and now every time she got her period, she was retraumatized—thinking it was happening all over again. It was heartbreaking. She was so mentally fragile and naive in some ways, but at the same time, fiercely independent. That contrast made her character complex, but also left me feeling like there was so much more that needed to happen emotionally. Honestly, what she went through called for intense therapy sessions, real healing, and time. There was so much buried under the surface that never fully got unpacked, and it left me wanting more depth and care around her trauma.
I think my last straw was the MrBeast mention and the part where they seriously suggested she could get monetized on YouTube for making documentaries and wildlife survival videos. Please be serious. This took place in the same timeline as MrBeast? Be for real. I cannot believe that was actually written into the plot.
— ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ OVERALL⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆—
Bower, Reece, King, and Weston did care for her in the end. They gave her everything she wanted, and she never had to want for anything. So there’s that.
☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ Hunted☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★
⁺₊★·.´🎧✩°｡ 0:56 ──♡───── 3:32 ⁺₊🎧★·.·´
🎶 I think he did it but I just can't prove it. I think he did it but I just can't prove it 🎶
The men who found her have begun to quiet the darkness that once consumed her, slowly helping her piece herself back together. But Darla is still clutching one devastating secret—one she swore she’d never reveal. And the closer they get, the harder it becomes to keep it buried.
As old wounds resurface and deadly threats close in, it’s clear their pasts are far from finished with them. The truth behind the crashes that changed their lives is beginning to unravel, and someone will do anything to keep those secrets hidden. Especially hers. Because some history refuses to stay buried.
— ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆• THOUGHTS⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ⋆—
“Why do they keep calling you Zee?”.
“I think Tink suits you best. Now come here and give me a hug,” Bower says, pulling me to him and wrapping his arms around me..
Honestly, it got boring once the plot recycled itself - them being stranded again, but this time with Reece tied into the mix along with the rest of the guys on the island. It was so painfully obvious who was behind everything. There was no real plot twist. It was too predictable. The entire time you're reading, it's clear that it’s his father pulling the strings, and yet the characters - who are supposed to be this smart, elite group - can’t seem to put it together. It felt dense and frustrating.
The fact that her name was Darla, and they started referring to her as that but then kept switching back - like, make up your mind. What are we calling you? I liked Zee. It suited her. It felt more her. I wasn’t having fun reading this, especially with her assimilation back into the city. I lowkey liked her independent nature and survival instincts when she was on the island. She was so much more interesting then. I think this could’ve been better if it stayed in that setting and focused more on her being there with Mo-Mo. Her big secret was that she had a miscarriage, and now every time she got her period, she was retraumatized—thinking it was happening all over again. It was heartbreaking. She was so mentally fragile and naive in some ways, but at the same time, fiercely independent. That contrast made her character complex, but also left me feeling like there was so much more that needed to happen emotionally. Honestly, what she went through called for intense therapy sessions, real healing, and time. There was so much buried under the surface that never fully got unpacked, and it left me wanting more depth and care around her trauma.
I think my last straw was the MrBeast mention and the part where they seriously suggested she could get monetized on YouTube for making documentaries and wildlife survival videos. Please be serious. This took place in the same timeline as MrBeast? Be for real. I cannot believe that was actually written into the plot.
— ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ OVERALL⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆—
Bower, Reece, King, and Weston did care for her in the end. They gave her everything she wanted, and she never had to want for anything. So there’s that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2026
it was entertaining but somethings moved to fast and the mystery wasn’t really there anymore, by the start of the book i could’ve already predicted the end, still a fun read!
August 27, 2025
3.25⭐️
So this book picks up where book 1 left off, Reece made it to the island to rescue King, Bower and West and discovers Darla with them- his long lost childhood love. They have to get off the island, adjust to real life again, find out who’s trying to kill them (this was painfully obvious) and then they live happily ever after.
I liked book one better, it was just more interesting when they were stranded. Real life wasn’t as good lol and the spice was pretty repetitive.
But for my fellow safety girlies there is a PERFECT man in this book. He was her best friend and they were bf/gf when they were 13. She was missing and declared dead and 15 years later this man has never even held another woman’s hand, even if he thought she was dead he never wanted anyone else 🥹 he didn’t get anywhere near enough on page time with the fmc in my opinion.
Also the tiniest bit of OWD that tried to happen was shut down sooo fast. 3 of the mmcs have a tech company and there’s a receptionist batting her eyelashes at them, ignoring the fmc and then she tries to touch one of their arms and the fmc loses her shit and yells at her not to touch them and she gets fired so fast 🥰 they had no interest in her or history or anything but it’s nice to see the H’s have no tolerance for ow bullshit.
-Multi pov
-Why choose with no mm- also my favourite kind of why choose where it’s new to all of them, they’ve never shared before.
-1 h, 4 H’s
-no omd/ tiny owd
-no third act breakup
-HEA
-Epilogue 2 years later, they revisit the island and she visits her dad’s grave and sees her old Lemur friends again. They get engaged. Also she’s now apparently a famous tv survivalist, she got a Netflix deal after running a successful YouTube channel🙄
So this book picks up where book 1 left off, Reece made it to the island to rescue King, Bower and West and discovers Darla with them- his long lost childhood love. They have to get off the island, adjust to real life again, find out who’s trying to kill them (this was painfully obvious) and then they live happily ever after.
I liked book one better, it was just more interesting when they were stranded. Real life wasn’t as good lol and the spice was pretty repetitive.
But for my fellow safety girlies there is a PERFECT man in this book. He was her best friend and they were bf/gf when they were 13. She was missing and declared dead and 15 years later this man has never even held another woman’s hand, even if he thought she was dead he never wanted anyone else 🥹 he didn’t get anywhere near enough on page time with the fmc in my opinion.
Also the tiniest bit of OWD that tried to happen was shut down sooo fast. 3 of the mmcs have a tech company and there’s a receptionist batting her eyelashes at them, ignoring the fmc and then she tries to touch one of their arms and the fmc loses her shit and yells at her not to touch them and she gets fired so fast 🥰 they had no interest in her or history or anything but it’s nice to see the H’s have no tolerance for ow bullshit.
-Multi pov
-Why choose with no mm- also my favourite kind of why choose where it’s new to all of them, they’ve never shared before.
-1 h, 4 H’s
-no omd/ tiny owd
-no third act breakup
-HEA
-Epilogue 2 years later, they revisit the island and she visits her dad’s grave and sees her old Lemur friends again. They get engaged. Also she’s now apparently a famous tv survivalist, she got a Netflix deal after running a successful YouTube channel🙄
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2025
This book is the perfect example of why you don't trust a majority of Goodreads reviews. 😐
This wasn't bad it was just mid... Neither good nor bad 🤷🏾♀️. I quite enjoyed the ending seeing Darla happy with her men and seeing Momo one last time 😭.
That scene with them and momo's family made me shed a tear 🥲.
The plot twist wasn't twisting as it should have but apart from that the book was enjoyable 🙂✨
This wasn't bad it was just mid... Neither good nor bad 🤷🏾♀️. I quite enjoyed the ending seeing Darla happy with her men and seeing Momo one last time 😭.
That scene with them and momo's family made me shed a tear 🥲.
The plot twist wasn't twisting as it should have but apart from that the book was enjoyable 🙂✨
August 3, 2025
I never write reviews but this book made me do it. There will be spoilers ahead but honestly if you read the first book you probably know all of it and the rest is just filler.
There was barely any plot here (when you take into account the number of pages) and I started skiming pretty early on. I just couldn't read any more MMCs' monologues about how they admire her and how brave and strong she is and also how amazing and how they had never met anybody like her (it just went on for pages upon pages, the guys took turns) and in the next chapter they forbid her from moving around and call her naive and uncapable of caring for herself to the point of absurdity. It was infuriating. She spent 15 years alone and is highly capable of assessing the risks of tree climbing and survival. They call her reckless and a danger to herself and then proceed to stomp her down. And she let them never putting her foot down and became reduced to... something mushy and without wit. Such a shame.
Also most of their dialogue was about psychoanalysing her. That's quite common in RH but here it drove me nuts. Their POVs were exactly the same and I quickly found that it really doesn't matter that much who is narrating at the moment. The differences between the MMCs were minimal even though (I think) the author tried to give them some personality traits and inner conflicts. It's awesome that they weren't limited to "character tropes" but omg please give them SOMETHING. Something other than stupidity for using the pull out method on a deserted island. Who's naive now, huh. The FMC had to remind them, ugh.
Anyway. This book was quite disappointing to me. Barely any plot, waay to much of "you are incredible now don't make any decisions like a good girl" and plot holes. I do wish it was more solid because book 1 was a good setup in my opinion and this book could have had some valid and valuable conclusions.
There was barely any plot here (when you take into account the number of pages) and I started skiming pretty early on. I just couldn't read any more MMCs' monologues about how they admire her and how brave and strong she is and also how amazing and how they had never met anybody like her (it just went on for pages upon pages, the guys took turns) and in the next chapter they forbid her from moving around and call her naive and uncapable of caring for herself to the point of absurdity. It was infuriating. She spent 15 years alone and is highly capable of assessing the risks of tree climbing and survival. They call her reckless and a danger to herself and then proceed to stomp her down. And she let them never putting her foot down and became reduced to... something mushy and without wit. Such a shame.
Also most of their dialogue was about psychoanalysing her. That's quite common in RH but here it drove me nuts. Their POVs were exactly the same and I quickly found that it really doesn't matter that much who is narrating at the moment. The differences between the MMCs were minimal even though (I think) the author tried to give them some personality traits and inner conflicts. It's awesome that they weren't limited to "character tropes" but omg please give them SOMETHING. Something other than stupidity for using the pull out method on a deserted island. Who's naive now, huh. The FMC had to remind them, ugh.
Anyway. This book was quite disappointing to me. Barely any plot, waay to much of "you are incredible now don't make any decisions like a good girl" and plot holes. I do wish it was more solid because book 1 was a good setup in my opinion and this book could have had some valid and valuable conclusions.
August 3, 2025
2.5 stars rounded up to 3
The book had a refreshingly unique premise, but it became less interesting once the characters left the island. The villain, who is the primary reason for their being stranded there, was quite obvious from the first book due to the chapters from Reece's point of view. While the MMCs are still likable, Darla came across as rather silly. Her constant exclamations—such as “Sweet baby killer!” "Sweet baby crab!" and "Sweet baby houses!"—crossed the line from quirky to downright irritating. I appreciate the author's attempt to inject humour into tense moments, but it seems misguided to reduce the FMC to the role of a cartoonish figure.
Moreover, the plot device of assassinating the bad guys by hiring top-secret hitmen was poorly executed. The author clearly wasted about half the book and seemed unsure of how to resolve all the threats to the main characters that had been set up throughout the story. The conclusion came off as a convenient and unexpected shortcut rather than a satisfying resolution.
The book had a refreshingly unique premise, but it became less interesting once the characters left the island. The villain, who is the primary reason for their being stranded there, was quite obvious from the first book due to the chapters from Reece's point of view. While the MMCs are still likable, Darla came across as rather silly. Her constant exclamations—such as “Sweet baby killer!” "Sweet baby crab!" and "Sweet baby houses!"—crossed the line from quirky to downright irritating. I appreciate the author's attempt to inject humour into tense moments, but it seems misguided to reduce the FMC to the role of a cartoonish figure.
Moreover, the plot device of assassinating the bad guys by hiring top-secret hitmen was poorly executed. The author clearly wasted about half the book and seemed unsure of how to resolve all the threats to the main characters that had been set up throughout the story. The conclusion came off as a convenient and unexpected shortcut rather than a satisfying resolution.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2025
WOW JUST WOW!!!
The way this story was written had me on the edge of my seat the WHOLE TIME😅😆
The character growth the relationships that are developed UGH MY HEART CANT HANDLE 🥹💜
I love Zee(Darla) finding herself and how the guys are sooo supportive of her journey and not trying to change her one bit!!!
The excitement of the mystery 🫣😆 I couldn’t stop trying to piece it all together my self while reading
I’m sad to see this group of characters go but they will stay in my head rent free for the foreseeable future!!💜🌴🥥
The way this story was written had me on the edge of my seat the WHOLE TIME😅😆
The character growth the relationships that are developed UGH MY HEART CANT HANDLE 🥹💜
I love Zee(Darla) finding herself and how the guys are sooo supportive of her journey and not trying to change her one bit!!!
The excitement of the mystery 🫣😆 I couldn’t stop trying to piece it all together my self while reading
I’m sad to see this group of characters go but they will stay in my head rent free for the foreseeable future!!💜🌴🥥
December 28, 2025
3.5⭐️
Okay so the first book really carried for this series… This book was fine, but I just loved the setting and the characters so much more in book 1. Darla/Zee was just so much more interesting, she was running that jungle, but then in this book she’s just letting these men treat her like glass. Also when they FINALLY escape the island I thought we’d get to see more of Darla’s assimilation to the real world, but they kind of just stayed holed up in the house. I wanted to see her go to the mall, or the club or really anywhere! I just think that would have been a great storyline because after being away from civilization for 15 years I’d want to go eat a burger and fried somewhere😅 Also the whole “who done it?” aspect seemed kinda predictable to me, and honestly got wrapped up too fast for my liking. Like wdym I read like 350 pages of this book all for it to be wrapped up in like 5 pages. Anywho…I’d still recommend this series because the first book was so fun, maybe just go into this one like it’s a very drawn out extended epilogue🤷♀️
Okay so the first book really carried for this series… This book was fine, but I just loved the setting and the characters so much more in book 1. Darla/Zee was just so much more interesting, she was running that jungle, but then in this book she’s just letting these men treat her like glass. Also when they FINALLY escape the island I thought we’d get to see more of Darla’s assimilation to the real world, but they kind of just stayed holed up in the house. I wanted to see her go to the mall, or the club or really anywhere! I just think that would have been a great storyline because after being away from civilization for 15 years I’d want to go eat a burger and fried somewhere😅 Also the whole “who done it?” aspect seemed kinda predictable to me, and honestly got wrapped up too fast for my liking. Like wdym I read like 350 pages of this book all for it to be wrapped up in like 5 pages. Anywho…I’d still recommend this series because the first book was so fun, maybe just go into this one like it’s a very drawn out extended epilogue🤷♀️
October 31, 2025
4.5⭐️
This was so good😮💨
This was so good😮💨
December 1, 2025
Audio: isn’t out until January 2026
Book: 1.5 stars
Skimmed this book since book 1 ended on a cliffhanger and it wasn’t worth the eye reading I did! Hah
Book: 1.5 stars
Skimmed this book since book 1 ended on a cliffhanger and it wasn’t worth the eye reading I did! Hah
August 2, 2025
I absolutely loved the first book and couldn't wait for the conclusion. Unfortunately, I felt like some things were lacking. The enemy was pretty clear as day and it didn't get revealed until 80% or so and was over in one chapter. It literally took two days for it all to be over? Also the plot hole on how it connected to Reese just disappeared. I was a little disappointed in that. I feel bad for King because he wasn't really apart of the relationship much like the others. I really felt like Wes and Bower overtook the relationship. I like the cute ending and Zee/Darla trying to acclimate to life. A decent duology.
August 5, 2025
I really liked book 1, but I felt like it really didn’t need to be a duet 😬 it felt like for most of this book not much happened and could have been wrapped up quicker.
August 2, 2025
✨Arc review✨
What an incredible conclusion to the Desert Island duet!
I was so excited to dive into this after finishing Stranded and thank goodness it picks right up where we left off and continued with lots of twists and turns until the end.
Shona had me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was going to be thrown at us next, I had the best time!
I really enjoyed watching the character development throughout the story both individually and together, I loved watching their relationships grow deeper with Darla as it progressed.
I adored Darla so much, she was unique and quirky in her own ways all her funny little sayings had me giggling non stop. I really love that those little parts of her never changed as she acclimated to a new life after being stranded alone on the island so long. Watching her overcome her trauma from what she had endured was really beautiful and I loved how each of the guys gave her something different that she needed to help heal.
I had never read anything like this before and when I saw it was giving reverse Tarzan vibes I ran straight to download Stranded and I’m so grateful to have been able to archive read Hunted for Shona so Thankyou so much for letting me read this early.
💜Reverse Tarzan Vibes
🌴Forced Proximity
💜Hurt/Comfort
🌴Reverse Harem
💜Broken/Traumatised FMC
🌴Protective MMC’s
💜She’s Been Stranded
What an incredible conclusion to the Desert Island duet!
I was so excited to dive into this after finishing Stranded and thank goodness it picks right up where we left off and continued with lots of twists and turns until the end.
Shona had me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was going to be thrown at us next, I had the best time!
I really enjoyed watching the character development throughout the story both individually and together, I loved watching their relationships grow deeper with Darla as it progressed.
I adored Darla so much, she was unique and quirky in her own ways all her funny little sayings had me giggling non stop. I really love that those little parts of her never changed as she acclimated to a new life after being stranded alone on the island so long. Watching her overcome her trauma from what she had endured was really beautiful and I loved how each of the guys gave her something different that she needed to help heal.
I had never read anything like this before and when I saw it was giving reverse Tarzan vibes I ran straight to download Stranded and I’m so grateful to have been able to archive read Hunted for Shona so Thankyou so much for letting me read this early.
💜Reverse Tarzan Vibes
🌴Forced Proximity
💜Hurt/Comfort
🌴Reverse Harem
💜Broken/Traumatised FMC
🌴Protective MMC’s
💜She’s Been Stranded
August 4, 2025
Well, well, well… book two in the Desert Island Duet and wow – what a ride! 🚤 I truly didn’t think it could top the first, but here we are – my emotions were all over the place (in the best way!). I giggled like a loon at the end 🙊, wiped a few sneaky tears during the heavier moments, and generally had a daft grin plastered on my face the whole way through. Honestly, this duet is such a wild, fantastical, and gloriously impossible tale – in that way you’d read in the news and go, “Surely not?! But okay then 😅.” It’s a contemporary setting, but very much drenched in fantasy, which makes it so fun to escape into. And Darla? What a woman. Fierce, vulnerable, strong and soft – and her men… swoon. As always, Shona Knight delivers with the kind of supportive MMCs we all secretly (or not-so-secretly!) dream about 💭💖
What I Loved About This Book:
✨ The Adventure Factor
This one really leans into the action and chaos – in the best, most page-turning kind of way. You’re racing away from jungles, dodging drama, moving back to society and constantly wondering what could possibly happen next… (spoiler: it’s usually madness, and I loved it 😂).
💘 Darla & Her Men
Shona has this magical way of writing male characters who are just so present. Like emotionally available, always standing behind their FMC, but never overshadowing her. Darla’s healing journey, with all her vulnerability, is wrapped up in the safest of emotional hugs by these beautiful, soft-hearted hunks. They’re not perfect, but they’re perfect for her. 🥹💗
🪄 The Fantastical Twist
There’s this wonderfully whimsical “Tarzan & Jane, but make it reverse” feel to it – which gives the whole story such a breath of wild, fresh air. It’s not realistic, and it doesn’t need to be. It’s fun, it’s heart-racing, and it’s full of those “wait, WHAT just happened?!” moments that make it impossible to put down.
The Tropes:
• Reverse Harem
• Found Family
• Tarzan & Jane vibes (but make it modern!)
• Supportive MMCs
• Survivor/Recovery Journey
• All the Adventure 🌴
• Protective men who respect boundaries 😍
Hunted wraps up the Desert Island Duet with heart, heat, and heaps of adventure. 🏝️ I devoured it, felt everything, and came out the other end with a full heart and a happy sigh. If you’re after an escape with wild twists and tender moments, you have to read this duet. 💕
What I Loved About This Book:
✨ The Adventure Factor
This one really leans into the action and chaos – in the best, most page-turning kind of way. You’re racing away from jungles, dodging drama, moving back to society and constantly wondering what could possibly happen next… (spoiler: it’s usually madness, and I loved it 😂).
💘 Darla & Her Men
Shona has this magical way of writing male characters who are just so present. Like emotionally available, always standing behind their FMC, but never overshadowing her. Darla’s healing journey, with all her vulnerability, is wrapped up in the safest of emotional hugs by these beautiful, soft-hearted hunks. They’re not perfect, but they’re perfect for her. 🥹💗
🪄 The Fantastical Twist
There’s this wonderfully whimsical “Tarzan & Jane, but make it reverse” feel to it – which gives the whole story such a breath of wild, fresh air. It’s not realistic, and it doesn’t need to be. It’s fun, it’s heart-racing, and it’s full of those “wait, WHAT just happened?!” moments that make it impossible to put down.
The Tropes:
• Reverse Harem
• Found Family
• Tarzan & Jane vibes (but make it modern!)
• Supportive MMCs
• Survivor/Recovery Journey
• All the Adventure 🌴
• Protective men who respect boundaries 😍
Hunted wraps up the Desert Island Duet with heart, heat, and heaps of adventure. 🏝️ I devoured it, felt everything, and came out the other end with a full heart and a happy sigh. If you’re after an escape with wild twists and tender moments, you have to read this duet. 💕
July 24, 2025
What an epic conclusion to the duology. I loved that we got to see Zee's relationship develop with each MMC, and now that Reece is in the mix how the group adapted and protected Zee, allowing her to go at her own pace.
The hurt/ comfort was perfection, and Zee's revelations were completely tragic.
Loved that the mystery was revealed and exposed the dark schemes behind the mercenaries and place crashes. This has a lot of dark content, but Shona writes in such a way that you're drawn in and captivated, and the MMC's are always loyal, protective, sincere and devoted.
Highly recommend this RH Tarzan style romance duology.
The hurt/ comfort was perfection, and Zee's revelations were completely tragic.
Loved that the mystery was revealed and exposed the dark schemes behind the mercenaries and place crashes. This has a lot of dark content, but Shona writes in such a way that you're drawn in and captivated, and the MMC's are always loyal, protective, sincere and devoted.
Highly recommend this RH Tarzan style romance duology.
August 27, 2025
Hunted is the powerful conclusion to the Desert Island Duet, and it completely captivated me. After fifteen years of isolation, Darla’s life changes when three men crash-land on her island, forcing her to confront a devastating secret and the painful past she’s carried alone.
Shona weaves a story that is as heart-wrenching as it is hopeful. Darla’s growth is inspiring, the island setting is vivid and atmospheric, and the slow-burn romance simmers with tension and tenderness. Most of all, I loved how this book explores healing, trust, and the family we choose for ourselves.
A beautiful finale that lingers long after the last page. I couldn’t have asked for a better conclusion to this duet.
Shona weaves a story that is as heart-wrenching as it is hopeful. Darla’s growth is inspiring, the island setting is vivid and atmospheric, and the slow-burn romance simmers with tension and tenderness. Most of all, I loved how this book explores healing, trust, and the family we choose for ourselves.
A beautiful finale that lingers long after the last page. I couldn’t have asked for a better conclusion to this duet.
August 4, 2025
4⭐️ I actually really enjoyed this duet and I feel like this was such a good conclusion to their story! I was just such a stan of everyone.. like all Zee had been through, the way the guys locked in and continuously showed up for her, the way that we have the side of the plot where they’re stranded, but also all the danger and hits being put out?? Like I was SAT. I was clocking who was behind everything, but even still, the romance, the spice, the plot, the characters… I STAN 🙂↕️🤏🏽
October 26, 2025
3.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Well, well… we lost the plot here.
Book 1 was pure chef’s kiss, but this one? Full of disappointments. Gone was that brave, badass, independent, feisty woman—replaced by a needy, horny girl. King was cruelly pushed aside like he wasn’t even part of the harem, which was so sad😭😭😭😭
The so-called mysteries and plot twists were uncreative and mediocre at best—it would’ve been better if they weren’t even included. There was literally nothing interesting about this book.
And I agree with everyone saying it would’ve been way better as a standalone rather than a duet ☝️
Well, well… we lost the plot here.
Book 1 was pure chef’s kiss, but this one? Full of disappointments. Gone was that brave, badass, independent, feisty woman—replaced by a needy, horny girl. King was cruelly pushed aside like he wasn’t even part of the harem, which was so sad😭😭😭😭
The so-called mysteries and plot twists were uncreative and mediocre at best—it would’ve been better if they weren’t even included. There was literally nothing interesting about this book.
And I agree with everyone saying it would’ve been way better as a standalone rather than a duet ☝️
August 8, 2025
Okay, this was such a cute duet! I loved the survival aspect of the first book, but the second book is where the story really took off.
August 5, 2025
❂ ”I see a woman who’s been through something terrible, but has come out on the other side, stronger. And she’s f*cking breathtaking.” ❀
Darla’s strength, already evident in book one, became even more admirable in this installment as she struggled to readjust to normal society. Her resilience continued to shine, and watching her navigate the challenges of reintegration made me love her character even more.
❀ ”I see someone who’s incredibly brave and badass, who lights up any room she’s in, and is sexy and hell.” ❂
One of my favorite parts was watching the group dynamic evolve, especially with Reece being added to the mix. His presence threw the group into chaos in the best way possible and added so much tension and depth. Multi-POV worked beautifully here, it allowed each MMC’s perspective to shine as they dealt with their own struggles, and it really helped illuminate what Darla saw in each of them.
❂ ”And I see a sweet, kind, resilient woman who’s strong as steel and refuses to ever give up. She’s not just beautiful, she’s my everything.” ❀
The spice definitely picked up in this book, but what stood out was how each guy made sure Darla led the interactions and dictated the pace. It never felt rushed or performative, just deeply respectful and in tune with her needs. In addition, Kingsley and Reece’s emotional battles made them incredibly compelling. Kingsley’s insecurities gave him a raw vulnerability, while Reece’s attempt to reconcile the past with the present made his arc deeply personal and poignant.
❀ ”You’re…perfection. There is no word good enough to describe you.” ❂
By the end of book one, I had my suspicions about who was behind everything, and while I turned out to be right, I absolutely did not anticipate the full scope of the reasoning. That twist was wild and completely caught me off guard. And the ending? It was hilarious and oddly perfect. A great blend of humor and closure!
❂ ”Bower brings me light, Weston gives me strength, and Reece stands as my shield. But you…you’re my rock.” ❀
Stars: 4.5/5 (Rounded Up)
Spice: 3/5
Tropes:
❀ RH / Why Choose ❂
❂ Hurt / Comfort ❀
❀ Forced Proximity ❂
❂ Secrets ❀
❀ “I’m no longer just trying to survive - I’m living. And as long as I have my four men by my side, I know I can face any storm this world throws at me.” ❂
——ARC REVIEW——
Darla’s strength, already evident in book one, became even more admirable in this installment as she struggled to readjust to normal society. Her resilience continued to shine, and watching her navigate the challenges of reintegration made me love her character even more.
❀ ”I see someone who’s incredibly brave and badass, who lights up any room she’s in, and is sexy and hell.” ❂
One of my favorite parts was watching the group dynamic evolve, especially with Reece being added to the mix. His presence threw the group into chaos in the best way possible and added so much tension and depth. Multi-POV worked beautifully here, it allowed each MMC’s perspective to shine as they dealt with their own struggles, and it really helped illuminate what Darla saw in each of them.
❂ ”And I see a sweet, kind, resilient woman who’s strong as steel and refuses to ever give up. She’s not just beautiful, she’s my everything.” ❀
The spice definitely picked up in this book, but what stood out was how each guy made sure Darla led the interactions and dictated the pace. It never felt rushed or performative, just deeply respectful and in tune with her needs. In addition, Kingsley and Reece’s emotional battles made them incredibly compelling. Kingsley’s insecurities gave him a raw vulnerability, while Reece’s attempt to reconcile the past with the present made his arc deeply personal and poignant.
❀ ”You’re…perfection. There is no word good enough to describe you.” ❂
By the end of book one, I had my suspicions about who was behind everything, and while I turned out to be right, I absolutely did not anticipate the full scope of the reasoning. That twist was wild and completely caught me off guard. And the ending? It was hilarious and oddly perfect. A great blend of humor and closure!
❂ ”Bower brings me light, Weston gives me strength, and Reece stands as my shield. But you…you’re my rock.” ❀
❀ ”And what are you?” ❂
❂ ”She’s our heart.” ❀
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stars: 4.5/5 (Rounded Up)
Spice: 3/5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tropes:
❀ RH / Why Choose ❂
❂ Hurt / Comfort ❀
❀ Forced Proximity ❂
❂ Secrets ❀
❀ “I’m no longer just trying to survive - I’m living. And as long as I have my four men by my side, I know I can face any storm this world throws at me.” ❂
August 6, 2025
This was good, if not a little predictable. I enjoyed the characters and the story for the most part.
That said, there were some minor complaints. I still had the same conflict about Darla/Zee knowing modern lingo/slang while being away for fifteen years, and since she was a teen herself. Secondly, in the first book, I felt like Darla certainly gave more time and attention to West and Bower which felt awkward but understandable as not every relationship is going to develop at the same rate, but I felt like that gap became even more obvious in this book instead of less and then you had to throw in Reece who was her childhood sweetheart who they made start from scratch and months behind, and he seemed to be on the outside of the trio looking in with Kingsley. I don't know, it just made me feel sad for them and maybe like the author had favorites, which isn't something you ever really want to detect in harems. Lastly, the cloaked "bad guy" wasn't hard to spot at all, nor was her big secret, so those reveals both felt a little anticlimactic. I also felt like there were introductions (like West's brother with the son and family drama line and the OW drama with the secretary at the guys' office) of secondary plots that weren't necessary, only brought in for extra drama, but then were dropped and never saw to fruition, so I was just left wondering why they were brought into the books at all, really.
I know that paragraph above seems like a lot and may put some people off, but many others enjoyed this duet way more than I did, so I honestly feel like this might just be me being nitpicky or in a weird book funk. More so, I think I built this duet up in my head to be one thing, and while it was good enough, it didn't exceed those expectations, so I'm feeling a little underwhelmed by it. I just kept thinking how I wanted more from it because a lot of the feelings and interactions felt somewhat superficial.
So, yeah, a solidly good story, but not my favorite read of the year.
That said, there were some minor complaints. I still had the same conflict about Darla/Zee knowing modern lingo/slang while being away for fifteen years, and since she was a teen herself. Secondly, in the first book, I felt like Darla certainly gave more time and attention to West and Bower which felt awkward but understandable as not every relationship is going to develop at the same rate, but I felt like that gap became even more obvious in this book instead of less and then you had to throw in Reece who was her childhood sweetheart who they made start from scratch and months behind, and he seemed to be on the outside of the trio looking in with Kingsley. I don't know, it just made me feel sad for them and maybe like the author had favorites, which isn't something you ever really want to detect in harems. Lastly, the cloaked "bad guy" wasn't hard to spot at all, nor was her big secret, so those reveals both felt a little anticlimactic. I also felt like there were introductions (like West's brother with the son and family drama line and the OW drama with the secretary at the guys' office) of secondary plots that weren't necessary, only brought in for extra drama, but then were dropped and never saw to fruition, so I was just left wondering why they were brought into the books at all, really.
I know that paragraph above seems like a lot and may put some people off, but many others enjoyed this duet way more than I did, so I honestly feel like this might just be me being nitpicky or in a weird book funk. More so, I think I built this duet up in my head to be one thing, and while it was good enough, it didn't exceed those expectations, so I'm feeling a little underwhelmed by it. I just kept thinking how I wanted more from it because a lot of the feelings and interactions felt somewhat superficial.
So, yeah, a solidly good story, but not my favorite read of the year.
August 4, 2025
The conclusion to The Desert Island Duet is here!!! This picks up right where Stranded ends, so buckle up. This book is fast paced with twists and secrets and oh so many emotions!
I really liked the reverse Tarzan storyline with Darla (Zee) living on her own - I thought this was such a unique premise and really loved how it played out. I loved Darla - She was strong and funny and smart and survived something horrible. Her resilience and inner dialogue were everything. My heart broke for her and what she went through - she never lost her kind heart.
Weston, Bower, Kingsley and Reece were so supportive and protective. I really liked how each of them had their own individual personality and relationship with Darla. They were so swoon worthy!!
No spoilers, but I loved how this duet played and highly recommend giving this a read!
✨What To Expect:
❤️🔥Why Choose
🌿Reverse Tarzan Vibes
🥀Romantic Suspense
🏝️Forced Proximity
💞Hurt/Comfort
💋She’s Been Stranded
❤️🩹Traumatized FMC
🛡️Protective MMCs
🥥Found Family
🚁Secrets
I really liked the reverse Tarzan storyline with Darla (Zee) living on her own - I thought this was such a unique premise and really loved how it played out. I loved Darla - She was strong and funny and smart and survived something horrible. Her resilience and inner dialogue were everything. My heart broke for her and what she went through - she never lost her kind heart.
Weston, Bower, Kingsley and Reece were so supportive and protective. I really liked how each of them had their own individual personality and relationship with Darla. They were so swoon worthy!!
No spoilers, but I loved how this duet played and highly recommend giving this a read!
✨What To Expect:
❤️🔥Why Choose
🌿Reverse Tarzan Vibes
🥀Romantic Suspense
🏝️Forced Proximity
💞Hurt/Comfort
💋She’s Been Stranded
❤️🩹Traumatized FMC
🛡️Protective MMCs
🥥Found Family
🚁Secrets
August 18, 2025
So after really enjoying the first one, I thought this would be the same. But as soon as they leave the island, my interest dropped off. I LOVED that this started with a focus on surviving on the island and getting to know each other, and as soon as they go back to civilisation the uniqueness of this disappeared for me.
The relationships were okay, the MMCS spent a lot of time psychoanalysing her or just commenting on how brave/amazing etc. she is but then coddling her and making decisions for her. It was odd that both King and the FMC comment on there being a distance in their relationship...but not much is done to fix it.
It just ended up being...okay. Nothing really interesting or memorable to make it stand out, and I am thinking that maybe it didn't need to be a duet and just have focus on life on the island.
The relationships were okay, the MMCS spent a lot of time psychoanalysing her or just commenting on how brave/amazing etc. she is but then coddling her and making decisions for her. It was odd that both King and the FMC comment on there being a distance in their relationship...but not much is done to fix it.
It just ended up being...okay. Nothing really interesting or memorable to make it stand out, and I am thinking that maybe it didn't need to be a duet and just have focus on life on the island.
July 31, 2025
what a great conclusion to this duet 🥥🌴🪨🚁
this book picks up right where the last left off and is action packed just like the first. you learn how Reece fits into Darla/Zee’s past but also see how he fits into the current situation with them all. and while action packed, you get more development into each of their relationships as well the issues of having more than one partner and now to maintain the balance with each. you get twists and turns and betrayals, so carve out time to read this book in one sitting because you won’t want to put it down.
thank you Shona Knight for an e-ARC of this book 💜
this book picks up right where the last left off and is action packed just like the first. you learn how Reece fits into Darla/Zee’s past but also see how he fits into the current situation with them all. and while action packed, you get more development into each of their relationships as well the issues of having more than one partner and now to maintain the balance with each. you get twists and turns and betrayals, so carve out time to read this book in one sitting because you won’t want to put it down.
thank you Shona Knight for an e-ARC of this book 💜
August 3, 2025
Plot: 4/5 • Smut: 3.5/5 ————> The second half of this duet doesn’t let you down. There isn’t much to do with the island after being rescued. (Thanks, Arnold!) The characters continue to build after returning back home. Reece and Darla finally come together. Darla is adapting well. The climax of this was one I didn’t see coming. Glad Darla has her men by her side.
The smut is okay. There’s less in this one that in the first part of the duet. We do get a group scene. The only thing i’m disappointed in we don’t ever get a true Reece and darla moment. There’s so much build up to it, but I feel like we just don’t get one.
The smut is okay. There’s less in this one that in the first part of the duet. We do get a group scene. The only thing i’m disappointed in we don’t ever get a true Reece and darla moment. There’s so much build up to it, but I feel like we just don’t get one.
August 19, 2025
Eh, this one lost me. They got back to the U.S. and had a lot of boring sex where it was basically the same scene every time. The end.
I pretty much only stuck around because I the author hinted at who the mystery bad guy was in the last book, and I wanted it to be confirmed...but they didn't follow through until 80% through the book and then wrapped it up in like 5 pages with a 3rd party doing the work so we didn't even get to ride along.
This was the book version of "this meeting could've been an email."
And it still irks me that the author forgot their own bad guys were Somali pirates and called them Samoan a couple of times. Edit your damned books, people!
I pretty much only stuck around because I the author hinted at who the mystery bad guy was in the last book, and I wanted it to be confirmed...but they didn't follow through until 80% through the book and then wrapped it up in like 5 pages with a 3rd party doing the work so we didn't even get to ride along.
This was the book version of "this meeting could've been an email."
And it still irks me that the author forgot their own bad guys were Somali pirates and called them Samoan a couple of times. Edit your damned books, people!
July 24, 2025
What a wild ride! SO sad this journey has come to an end. I wish it could have gone on forever. it was so good! This picks up right where book one left off and this book has quite a few surprises for you that you won't be expecting. Definitely took me by surprise and some tears were shed. But this book also had me laughing out loud and whereas I love all the men, I think I might be a Bower-stan haha Shona packed so much emotion into this book and you can really FEEL it. Trust me, this is one ride worth experiencing!
August 2, 2025
This conclusion to Shonas Desert Island Duet was absolutely perfect!
It was fun, funny, deep, and SPICY! 🥵 Each MMC in this why-choose gender bending Tarzan story brings so much love and depth to the story.
Going on the journey of discovering the why with the crew and seeing all of the new experiences for all of them was so much fun!
I’ll definitely be checking out more by Shona and already can’t wait to reread this story!
Please check your triggers before reading!!
Favorite Quote:
“There is only one asshole in this world who would shit on my head at the worst possible moment.”
It was fun, funny, deep, and SPICY! 🥵 Each MMC in this why-choose gender bending Tarzan story brings so much love and depth to the story.
Going on the journey of discovering the why with the crew and seeing all of the new experiences for all of them was so much fun!
I’ll definitely be checking out more by Shona and already can’t wait to reread this story!
Please check your triggers before reading!!
Favorite Quote:
“There is only one asshole in this world who would shit on my head at the worst possible moment.”
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