Sexy-as-sin bounty hunter Hunter Jones lives, eats, and breathes his next case. He's always been content to live his life on the road with no attachments and no one to answer to. Love is for other people. But when he stops in a small town for a little R&R and meets up with a fellow bounty hunter to review a case, he runs into the man of his wet dreams. Hunter isn't ready for love, but Van turns his head and heart upside down.
Donovan "Van" Madsen has it all: a lucrative business, a close-knit family, and a best friend. But something is missing. Van always dreamed of finding the "one," but never thought it would happen ... until Hunter.
The mutual attraction is instant and intense between the two men. Neither can say goodbye.
When trouble brews and Van is kidnapped, Hunter realizes life is too short to not take what he wants. In this action-packed romance, both men's lives are on the line and their love might not be enough to save them.
3.5 Sappy, cheesy, loving goodness with some action thrown in stars. I believe this is a debut novel and this author shows some real promise. I loved that there was no relationship angst. Any drama brought them closer together. This is definitely instalove so if you don't like that then it's not the book for you.
Clearly I live in an alternate reality to others that have read this book. It was all over the place.
The MCs exchanged love declarations within hours of meeting each other....or maybe it was days/weeks....I don't know because the book jumped so much! It felt like the author tried to shove in as much action as she possibly could, added what felt like a hundred million other characters whose names I will never remember and half way through changed the plot completely. Not for me at all.
I wanted to love this book, I really did. It just didn't work for me though.I think this author has great potential thoughwasn't especially if a really good editor is involved. Some may think punctuation isn't important, but it is. I find it very distracting if too many !!! are used. Either they're angry, or over-enthused all.the.time. It's very distracting and interrupts the flow of the book.
It started off pretty good, I was with them, but then things hit the fan and all of a sudden there's a few more characters involved and they're on the run declaring their love. Granted it's a short story, it just didn't feel very organic. I'm not opposed to insta-love, if it's done right. There was a lot of lust to be had, sure. Physically Hunter was what Van sought in a man, but there didn't seem to be any intellectual connection to insight that kind of deep rooted feeling for someone in such a short amount of time. Regardless of that, I was completely lost. Jasper and some other "busty" lady got tossed in there and the FBI and I'm like "whaaaaaa?"
Needless to say, I can't finish this story, but I will say that I would give this author another shot, because it's all there, it just needs to be put in better order.
Perfect book for a snowy afternoon. I really enjoyed the story. I am a sucker for hea. I only have two pet peeves. The word puff being used in a hot love scene and I thought the author went a little crazy with the exclamation points. I would buy her again and this is my first bounty hunter/motorcycle read. Thanks Carey for the recommendation.
55% Instant insta-love, within hours. Sex at ridiculous points in the story. Overwrought prose and illogical plot development. Could have been a decent story with a great deal of restructuring and editing.
Such a fantastic debut story from this new author! I loved the MCs (and Matty too) and got pulled into the storyline right away. I never lost interest from start to finish, can't wait to see what this author has in store for us next.
This one didn't work for me. Aside from the extraordinarily literal instalove, there were quite a few inconsistencies throughout that kept pulling me from the story as well. It had potential but sorely needed another round of edits or beta reads. :(
Two guys meet and feel an instant connection. Love at first meeting. Impossible . Only happening in romance stories you say. Usually you would be right, but my Dad met my Mom one night and knew she was the one for him so I know it can happen. A little more dramatic and a lot hotter in this story than in real life. That helped make this a compelling story.
I loved Hunter and Can together. The story was fast paced. Was the interaction between the bounty Hunter and the GNU realistic? I don't care what the answer is, I just enjoyed this book.
One of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to reading is the insta-love scenarios, whether it be F/M, F/F, M/M or even M/F/M and F/M/F. That just doesn't feel like something real, it feels fast, pushed and quite frankly tiring.
This had the potential to be a great read, but its so fast paced, I felt like the entire story was super rushed and as a consequence parts of the story seem incomplete and missing. I loved the chemistry between Van and Hunter, they made a great couple but it just seemed so farfetched the whole 'I love you' hours after meeting each other.
On the other hand many others would think its unrealistic that a whole family would accept a gay family member, but I don't agree as I know plenty of gay people whose friends and family have accepted their lifestyle and still love them wholeheartedly and unconditionally, so not to farfetched.
I think the author needs a little more character development and try less to squeeze so much into one book, as a result the story moved so fast and left me unsatisfied. I wouldn't mind picking up another book by this author provided it doesn't move as fast as this one or that it doesn't have another insta-love couple, HEAs are awesome but let's try to keep things a little more realistic.
Overall, it was a pretty enjoyable read, with plenty of action and a fabulous M/M couple that showed more than once you don't have to be a wimp to show your emotions because even big tough alpha types can cry too...
Hunter Jones didn’t expect that this one stop to review a case with a fellow bounty hunter would change his life this way. One look across the street and he’s drawn to Van like he’s never been to anyone before. Talking to the man only makes it more clear for Hunter that he’s found the man of his dreams. Their connection is swift and intense and neither is ready or willing to say goodbye, but trouble is brewing and they’ll find themselves running for their lives.
This is one of the books that I have no clue how to rate, although since I can't deny I was very entertained with it, I'll go with 4 Stars. It was action-packed, fast-paced, fairly well-written and had a very interesting array of characters. For a debut novella, it was pretty good, although there were a few parts in which I had to suspend my disbelief and some continuity/editing issues that while not overly glaring made me go back and re-read some portions.
The chemistry between Hunter and Van was undeniable and the sex scenes were hot and plentiful. Perhaps it was a little too instalove but considering the circumstances, it worked.
While this is Dakota Storm’s first book, I think her writing shows a lot of promise and I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more of her books in the future.
Recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Twenty-five-year-old Donovan ‘Van’ Madsen shares a construction business with his best friend and roommate, Matty. The business has really grown since opening right after high school and Van getting his architect degree. When Friday night rolls around everyone needs a break, so Van and Matty head to the local watering hole, Bare Knuckles.
Hunter Jones is a motorcycle riding bounty hunter who’s finally getting a break. As much as he likes to ride, it’s even better getting off the bike. Growing up in a farming family in Clutterfarms, Georgia, was ideal, but still, Hunter has always needed to be moving—no one to answer to or nag him. Nearing thirty has changed his views some, though, and he’s starting to think he would like someone to come home to.
As Van is heading across the street, he spies Hunter changing his shirt and is almost run over. He locks eyes with Hunter and there’s a definite spark. When Rowdy Kingston rolls up, pleasure turns to business for Hunter, and he and Rowdy head for the bar. But a couple of beers lead to a motorcycle ride for Van and Hunter. They have dinner together and share information with each other before things get too hot and heavy. Hunter gets a call from Rowdy, and Hunter asks Van to join him to conclude some business. Van has every right to be worried when they pull up in front of a group of guys, and when Hunter gets made, all hell breaks loose. What has Hunter done, dragging Van into this dangerous mess?
Dakota Storm’s Hunter is a fast paced and action-packed novella. I liked Hunter’s and Van’s characters; there’s a gradual learning about each other and lots of Hunter growling. Hunter’s family was also a good addition to this story. This is a first time read for me from this author, and it was fun and entertaining. This book may not be for everyone, but if you like lots of action, drug trafficking, and bounty hunters, give it a try.
This was my first book by Dakota Storm and it definitely won't be my last. I absolutely loved Van and Hunter and I didn't want their story to end. Loved it!
I liked the premise of the story but it was too rushed.
I'm not a fan of instalove stories. If this was set over a longer period months even if it was a couple I would have rated it higher. I just see how an Alpha male would be declaring his love after a couple of days and thinking about relocating his whole life.
Hunter and van didn't spend enough time getting to know each other. They just had sex at every possible moment.
Hunter, by Dakota Storm, is a good solid, erotic romance. The romance is sweet, and the sex is off the scale, hot! I wasn't sure if this was an Alpha/Omega story, it’s alluded to, and the characters fit the trope, but it’s never explicitly said...either way, it's a great read.
Van didn't follow his father and brother into Law, he needed to be independent. No nine to five job for him. He has a successful construction company with his best friend and roommate, Matty, and he's studying architecture in his spare time. His family and friends totally accept his preference for men. Van's also fed up with empty hook-ups and one night stands, he really wants more than that. Then one evening he spots a hot, bad boy, biker with a Harley! Just his type!
Hunter is...well, a bounty hunter and a bit of a nomad, going wherever life leads. When he meets Van in a bar the electricity and attraction between them is instantaneous, obviously mutual, and it scares both of them. I loved both these guys and how easily they came to accept their feelings despite initial misgivings. Both Hunter and Van are extremely sympathetically written, and the rest of the supporting characters come across equally well.
When they take a ride...on the Harley...the heat between them ratchets up! Both are feeling inexplicably possessive, and things between them are moving very fast when Hunter's job interferes. He’s in town to meet a colleague who wants help, but it just doesn’t seem right to him. Does the FBI really want Hunters' help? The two men get down and dirty at Vans' place while trying to figure it out and all the while the heat grows between them. Both become closer than either of them would like. The sex in this book is HOT, and there's lots of it too. There’s also plenty of emotion on both sides which gives it a warm, fuzzy feeling, which may put some people off, but the sweet relationship growing between Van and Hunter is a great counterpoint to the fast-paced action of shootouts, car chases, and hostages. Hunter doesn’t want to get Van involved, but of course, he is. Will they be able to stop the drug and people trafficking bad guys? Will they get their HEA? This is essentially a romance, but the supporting story works well too. I loved the way the author ties everything up at the end, it left me feeling very satisfied.
****I would like to thank the author for the privilege and opportunity of reading this ARC. My review is an honest opinion of the book**** www.optimummblog.wordpress.com
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review An Alisa Review:
Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5
Eh, this was an okay story. Van has been hoping he would find the one and when he connects with Hunter he thinks he may have. Hunter has always been a loner but knows there is something different about Van than anyone he has been with before.
We see both of the characters’ thoughts and actions. The characters’ actions and thoughts really reminded me of shifter mate stories, which is all well and good, but didn’t really fit for me. I understand instant attraction but their reactions to each other seemed completely extreme and I just couldn’t understand what was going through their heads and it just didn’t really work for me.
The cover art by Written Ink Designs is great and catches your eye.
I wanted to love this book but it was just too much in such a short book. The action would have been better if it was built up. I'm not a fan of insta love either. 2 hours in is not " I love you" time.
This was a very fast paced and exciting story. It was so much happening and only wished some of those plans and conspiracies were more detailed with background story. But overall it was quick enjoyable read.