Obsessed

Professor Hunter #1

by Ivy Smoak

I’m not a good man. And it turns out I’m an even worse professor.

I have sinful thoughts about one of my students. Every night. I picture her in my bed. In my shower. Underneath me. Right up against the chalkboard. I’m especially fond of that one.

In my defense, I know her thoughts are as sinful as mine. She’s begging me with her beautiful blue eyes. She’s daring me to cross the line.

No, I’m not a good man. And I’m done pretending to be. I know exactly what I’m going to do to her as soon as she walks into my office hours…

Genres: Romance, College, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Dark Romance, Erotica, Smut

376 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 11, 2021

About the author

Ivy Smoak is the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon #1 bestselling author of The Hunted Series. Her books have sold over 4 million copies worldwide.

When she's not writing, you can find Ivy binge watching too many TV shows, taking long walks, playing outside, and generally refusing to act like an adult. She lives with her husband in Delaware.

Learn more about Ivy on:
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Empire High


The Hunted & Light to My Darkness



Made of Steel

Reviews

[Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told entirely from Professor Hunter’s POV!



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💚🖤💜
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌎🌍🌏🌎
Character development: 😳🤬😏🤓

The heroine: Penny Taylor - a senior in college, Penny falls for her professor.

The Hero(es): Professor James Hunter - he loves being a professor but his life is empty. He once lived a billionaire lifestyle in New York, but now lives as a professor in Newark Delaware. When he accidentally bumps in to the girl of his dreams only to find out she is his student.

The Story: Penny and Professor Hunter are attracted to each other from the start. Penny is shy and James has a ton of secrets and a past. He is trying to start over and he knows that having an affair with a student is wrong, but he is drawn to Penny and can’t help himself. She is the first thing that has interested him in a long time.

This book is the first book of The Hunted series, told from James Hunter’s point of view. I hadn’t yet read that series, so for me it is all brand new. I love stories told from the man’s point of view. Though I doubt I would have picked this one if I didn’t get it as an ARC. I am not too fond of the Professor/student trope. But I do like it when you get to see into the mind of someone who is not always all there and James definitely has his demons.

The title of this one is on the mark from the very start of the book. James gets obsessed with Penny right off the bat and does things he knows he shouldn’t. He tries to keep his past in the past and talks and thinks about his past like he has done horrible things. I enjoyed the story but at times the relationship between these two seemed very immature. It ended in a cliffhanger of course since The Hunted series is 4 books and this was only one. I am assuming this isn’t an entire new series told from the Hero’s POV so to find out how the cliffhanger ends we can just read that series.

I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

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[Ivy Smoak]

Obsessed is LIVE!

It's finally here!! My steamy new romance OBSESSED is LIVE and FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Grab your copy now >
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3flIDXi
Amazon International: http://hyperurl.co/Obsessed1
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3nMD6wZ
Hardback: https://amzn.to/3GGAsBx

***
Obsessed is James Hunter's point-of-view of my bestselling novel Temptation. It's packed with tons of new scenes. And you are going to love getting inside my steamiest hero's head. If you thought Temptation was hot? You haven't seen anything yet!

And if you don't know who James Hunter is, you're about to be introduced to him in my spiciest book of the year:

Blurb:

I’m not a good man. And it turns out I’m an even worse professor.

I have sinful thoughts about one of my students. Every night. I picture her in my bed. In my shower. Underneath me. Right up against the chalkboard. I’m especially fond of that one.

In my defense, I know her thoughts are as sinful as mine. She’s begging me with her beautiful blue eyes. She’s daring me to cross the line.

No, I’m not a good man. And I’m done pretending to be. I know exactly what I’m going to do to her as soon as she walks into my office hours…

Read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited > https://amzn.to/3flIDXi

[Jessica Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy hell. This book hearing those scenes in James pov and other filthy thoughts in his mind🔥🔥🔥🔥 🔥pure fire. Full five star spice rating here 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶🥵🥵

When I thought I couldn’t love James more, Ivy was like game on and she brought it 100%!! The pure emotion and battle he deals with on the inside.

You had some of your favourite scenes and you had some new inside to what James was doing away from penny which was absolutely incredible to see especially his relationships with other characters.

This book draws you in and leaves you wanting more and more from James pov. He shows you exactly why we love the hunted/ light to my darkness series and keep coming back for more.

Jokes on anyone who thought just because we have read it all that the ending couldn’t be killer or leave you wanting more because you are mistaken. The ending blew my mind 🤯🤯 and I will be first in line to read James pov book two!! Hands down this is a must read book, to call it a masterpiece isn’t enough!!!

[Cayla · Rating 1 out of 5]

To start, I received this in a Goodreads giveaway I entered because it sounded moderately interesting. I guess I should have also questioned the fact that the amazon site literally only has five star reviews that are likely ARC reviews. The entire first half had me cringing over the Hallmark level cheesy lines and awkward encounters. The second half had me skimming over details that didn't need to be in the book at all.

The title is accurate, the Hero was obsessed with the heroine and probably should have been talking to his shrink about that rather than some of the other mundane things he was wasting his time talking about. However, that being said, the scenes that involved the Doctor, his body guard, and his maid were much more interesting to me than anything involving our heroine and the drivel that came through his head during those scenes.

I haven't read the original version of this book from the heroine's point of view, but I can't imagine that it was any better than this. It seemed drawn out for the sake of pages. I don't feel like it added anything to the book. All it did was make me more unclear about why the Hero and his siblings don't talk, and the ever present in these books "other woman" trope. Plus the miscommunication was painfully obnoxious.

Perhaps I'm just on a streak of books that didn't live up to my expectations, but hoo boy.

[Mindy Lou's Book Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really should have read this years ago, this was totally my jam back then. At this point, I've read so much that I feel like my taste in books have changed a bit. It still had a lot that I liked, the biggest being an obsessed hero. Penny was different for him and he acknowledged that fairly early. He's the kind of man who will go to great lengths for her. The downside is that he has a past that is torturing him. I only learned a small portion of it in this book, but that is the part I'm not as thrilled about anymore. I find I don't really enjoy this kind of drama like I used to. It was still well written and I admit I was sucked in enough that I do want to find out how this all goes down. I'm just curious enough that I would like to see them get to the HEA. Not a glowing review for this book, but only because my personal tastes have changed and not due to a bad book. I can definetly see this being a 5 star read for many who love this kind of drama and conflict in their books.

[DemetraP · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the romance between the professor and his student. I didn't like the cliffhanger ending and the obvious "stretching out" of the plot for the next book.

SPOIELR SPOILER SPOILER
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Hero is married but going through a divorce. His wife refuses to sign the papers. He only married her to make his parents happy.

He tells heroine he is married after she finds his ring.

Heroine then tells him she lied about her age. She is not a college senior and 21. She is 19 and a college sophomore.

And because heroine had his name in her phone as Professor, her guy friend who wants to date her knows they are dating.

Hero ignores her phone calls because next time he sees her he wants to tell her he is divorced. STUPID MOVE IGNORING YOUR GIRLFRIEND.

Hero makes a meeting with his wife's father hoping to pay him off to convince his daughter to divorce the hero. Instead his wife drugs him. That is the end of the book.

I enjoyed the hot intimate scenes but felt both hero and heroine made too many dumb decisions.

[K.J. Simmill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obsessed by Ivy Smoak is James' Point of view of Temptation, the first book in the Hunted Series. It's no secret that I adore this author's work but she has honestly never failed to capture my attention and draw me into her world and characters. Obsessed was everything it needed to be, intense, emotional, engaging, and hot as sin, and sin is exactly what's on James' mind as he pursues his student. There has always been so much passion and chemistry between James and Penny but reading this from his side, holy hell. I loved filling in the blanks. I've only ever read one other series which had an alternative view from the other main characters perspective, and I have to say, this surpassed it in every way imaginable. I love James' tortured soul, and can't wait for more answers as we fill in more of James' side. Ivy never fails to leave the readers on the edge of their seat, and while this book has only just been released, I'm already craving the next.

[Cynema · Rating 1 out of 5]

PROFESSOR PERV

Well, that was … underwhelming. Flat. Dull. Pedestrian writing. So what’s all the fuss? Taboo student-teacher romance is usually my jam, and reading this book exposed me to an author I’ve never read before, and I’ve read plenty. Guess it’ll be a one-off. This guy gave off major creep-fest vibes from the get-go. The narrative was boring and lacked any convincing chemistry for his first reaction to her. It felt weird. There’s a big difference between a guy who reels in the reader with sexy charm and chemistry and one that sets off stranger-danger alarms. I got the impression that he’s had a problem with this behavior in the past, and he reminded me of the kind of instantaneous obsession in YOU.

From what I read, I’m stunned by the number of reviews and high ratings for such bland writing. It was actually amateurish. Not even the first chapter, let alone the first page, captured interest. Their “oops I bumped into you and spilled coffee all over your blouse” fizzled as a meet-cute, not even for its unoriginality, but because it was so blah and tepid. He seemed pervy and odd from the jump. Immature in his thoughts and feelings. Maybe it all tracked better from her perspective in the original book which I haven’t read, but reviewers familiar with the series seemed to think his POV was better. Go figure.

I typically love the kismet electricity that zaps between characters in this situation when they first meet, and inner thoughts match the undercurrent of sexual tension that builds with a slow momentum, but she came off as boringly shy and he seemed smitten before he even saw her face. And then when he was already obsessed when she turns up in his classroom, fixated on thoughts of her, and jealous of a student talking to her, I was ready to throw in the towel. It’s less what happened, but how it was written that lost me.

Clearly, there are diehard fans of this author, but I was already skimming through the first chapters and totally lost interest.

[Alaina Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25⭐️ ARE YOU ACTUALLY FUCKING KIDDING ME? WHO TF WAS GONNA TELL ME IT ENDED ON A CLIFFHANGER LIKE WHAT. I’m so pissed right now like omfg

[Lizzie S · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I may need to stop reading Kindle Unlimited romance. This was...not good. I am giving it two stars because I did finish it and it was a pretty quick read. At times, I found the story entertaining.

BUT - there was so much I did not like. First of all, the MC (Professor Hunter) is the love interest's professor and this dynamic is not handled at ALL ethically (if such a thing is even possible). He makes her think that he's changed her grade from an A to a C in order to make her mad enough to come to office hours and have sex with him. Repeatedly, it is clear that their relationship has an effect on her grades, despite him saying that he would not treat her any differently. I also honestly have NO idea what he likes about Penny. Essentially, it seems like Professor Hunter thinks Penny is super hot, likes that she's innocent but bad ~only for him~, and can breathe when he's around her. Of course, he's a grumpy billionaire and she's a small-town college student who doesn't know how hot she is and isn't after his money 🙄

There is also a supervillain ex-wife, numerous invasions of privacy (he installs cameras to watch her????? and watches a video of her giving him a blowjob without her knowledge), and a bunch of enabling friends, family, and professionals, who seem completely unconcerned about him having sex with a student because it makes him ~happy~. Big oof.

I read this hoping it would fill the hole in my heart left by The Love Hypothesis, but this was a shallow, overly dramatic, unethical shadow of The Love Hypothesis. After looking at what's to come in the other four (!!!) books in the series, I can safely say that I will not be continuing.

[Sue Lish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot wait to read this book. The thought of reading The Hunted series from James's point of view, fills me with so much excitement. James's life has been full of trials and tribulations and despair, that the idea of reading about James's feelings and emotions, as he tries so hard to suppress his growing attraction to Penny, knowing that it's forbidden, has been, (and still is), a book worth waiting for.

Thank you Ivy for giving us 'Smoaksters', or 'groupies', (as I've decided that we are), the first of the books that we have been waiting for, The Hunted series from James's POV. WAITING PATIENTLY.


EDITED: I have just finished reading Obsessed, and my previous review was 100% correct. IT WAS DEFINITELY WORTH THE WAIT!!!!!

Thank you Ms Smoak, for another first class book. I think that like many, many of your Smoaksters, I just cannot get enough of James and Penny. If James is so obsessed with Penny, I'm so totally obsessed with them.

I really enjoyed reading James's POV, and I can't wait to read more. But, as I'm totally #teammattlyn I'm waiting patiently for their story's continuation too. But, now that I've read this book, I'm now unsure which one I want more. Just don't stop writing, and I'll just read them both.

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was kind of fun to revisit this series from James' POV. But one book is enough to remember the roller coaster.

Very sexy though. Haha!

4/5 stars

[Beeg Panda]

Freebie 8 November 2023

[Elizabeth Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading about James and Penny from James’ POV. IT gave a whole new insight to one of my favorite love stories. And in true Ivy fashion, when I thought I knew it all, she proved me wrong. I was hooked from the get go and couldn’t put it down.

[Micky Cox · Rating 2 out of 5]

The dialogue is stilted and choppy, the plot is overwrought with vague drama that goes nowhere. The bedroom aerobics that take place in the office, car and everywhere else are definitely steamy and can get the heat factor up. It's quite surprising that an author that can write those scenes can't seem to write anything else. It almost seems as if the author watched skin flicks and then tried to emulate that type of plot writing which we all know means that there is little to no plot. I have no problem with the bedroom aerobics that take place as I like some good steam as much as anyone, but I do need a bit of plot to sink my teeth into or it's just boring. The stars in this rating are purely for the aerobics written as without that part I would definitely give one or no stars at all.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's so awesome going back to the beginning with Penny and James. And I feel like if you haven't read their series before you could start with this and not be lost.

Man, you really get to see how intense he is when it comes to Penny. And how little he thinks of himself. Poor guy. These two are so hot for one another, so fun to read. It was interesting to see the other side of some situations, but now I'm just dying for more because there are so many moments I need more info on in the coming books! And the ending in this one is a doozy for sure!

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with James & Penny all over again. I'm ready for more!!!

[Bookstagram3172 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book and this is my own and honest review,

You know when you’re so excited for a book and hope it lives up to the to expectation? Well this book delivered it all!

James Hunters POV is so good, I loved his dirty mind but also his vulnerability. The scenes in Temptation which made us all hot under the collar (and if you’ve read it then you’ll definitely know which ones I mean) certainly did too in Obsessed 🥵🥵🥵 I also loved all the new scenes too which added so much more to this book.

Getting to know James more was amazing, we all know from Empire High and The Hunted series he had tough teenage years and this brings us more of an insight to that. Sometimes it physically hurt to read as he is so broken and I just wanted to hug him, yeah I know he’s not real! I really loved reading the scenes when he was away from Penny and what he was up to and his thoughts, and wow, those thoughts, dirty James 🤣

I loved how Ivy brought in characters to this book which I had no idea would have been in Delaware apart from Rob. Clever writing!

I’m excited for this book to be out in the world so everyone can get to read how naughty and dirty Professor Hunter is 😉

[Patricia Charlton · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG I just love James and Penny so much their story has been a favourite for many years.
I have loved seeing James’ POV but he made me so sad when he talks about how broken he is, no James you’re not at all what you think in your head… you are perfect and perfect for Penny.
I could picture what Penny was saying and thinking when reading this because this story is ingrained in my mind but it seemed so much more from James’ POV and I think it’s because we know he thought he wasn’t good enough for her but hearing his internal struggle just broke my heart for what his life had been like prior to meeting Penny.
I’m not going to lie the sex scenes from his perspective were hot hot hot they were on 🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 together.
However Ivy I was waiting to find out how he did what he did before her costume party as I could never understand him doing that and now I know what’s going to happen.
You just confirmed why I hate Isabella so much with that ending because I knew James wouldn’t willingly do what he did but I didn’t want it to end, I can’t wait for the next book from James… we’ll done I loved it.

[Pamela Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obsessed completely Obsessed

If you loved Temptation, you will be blown away with Obsessed. It is from Professor Hunter's POV and is so hot and heartbreaking. You want to hug him and tell him he is a good man. And then the ending..... WOW. I love James even more he has heart.

[Raye Lynn Dowling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seeing the epic and steamy romance from Professor Hunter’s view explained his obsession with Penny. If you haven’t read The Hunted series, you have to read at least book one before reading this. Not that you will be lost if you haven’t, but it will help you understand James’s desperation and turmoil. You’ll be even more emotionally invested. Ivy doesn’t disappoint with sex scenes so hot your Kindle may combust. She draws the reader in with her captivating characters makes you fall in love with each.

[Raymonda McGlasson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just as wonderfully written as ever. She makes her main characters as sexy, loving, and desirable for each other as ever. She never makes the reader feel left out of the story and you feel that you became the characters. IT IS A 100% IF ONLY COULD GI E IT THAT. RAYMONDA
McGLASSON

[alli☀️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25 also this book leaves off on a cliffhanger

[Lynda Mooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unbelievably obsessed with James’ POV of temptation. Reading scenes in James pov and other filthy thoughts in his mind holy hell 🔥🔥🔥🔥 🔥
This is a retelling of the popular Temptation in the Hunted Series through James’ however there’s more spice, emotion. I didn’t think it was possible to love a character more but this insight of James’ battles, his relationships with other characters and self loathing is everything. This book draws you in and leaves you wanting more and more from James pov. And those scenes you thought were hot in Temptation..you are not ready for the spice 🔥🔥
Even though we know the story, you are not ready for the twists and turns. Warning ⚠️ even though we know the story it ends on a killer cliffhanger ⚠️I can’t wait for the rest of the series to come out in James POV. Ivy you killed it 🔥

[K. Short · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow. I love James version. I really enjoyed getting to see his side and thoughts. Cannot wait for the next one’s

[reading with rylanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Professor James Hunter is MY FAVORITE, and I loved getting to see inside his head for this book. Some of his thoughts had me smiling so hard, and I LOVED his relationship with Penny. Obsessed was such a fun read, and I'm so glad to have been able to get back into their world!

[Deborah Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW.

Great seeing it from James' point of view. It explains what he was going through. Can hardly wait for the next book.

[Samantha Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait to read From James's point of view. Love all of Ivy's books, but James and Penny are My Favourite. Its going to be good.

[Tamee Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I waited for over 5yrs wanting to read James' POV. It was so worth the wait!!! This was EVERYTHING!!!!

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

"She was the light to my darkness. And when you lived a life in the dark, it was really fucking easy to fall in love with the light"

I have been so excited to get inside of James' head since I read Temptation last year. WE have learned from not only the James/Penny books but also from the Empire High books how hard of a life James has had. He is so self deprecating and hard on himself. He truly does not believe that he deserves happiness. A lot of my reasons for being frustrated when I first read Temptation was cleared up by reading Obsessed. On the surface - their age issue never seemed like a big deal to me. I could never understand why he got so mad. This really helped me to understand the underlying layer of trust and the fact he did not feel worthy. Poor James. By the end of this book, I just wanted to wrap him in my arms and give him a big hug. I loved the therapist scenes!! I loved the ending, especially after reading the Empire High books on knowing those characters. I like that it was still a cliffhanger leaving us wanting more. I like that even those of us who have inhaled ALL books in this universe - we still don't know everything and can still be surprised and intrigued! This book is a win!!

Oh and the spice level was TOP TIER! James is such a dirty boy. This is the level of spice I expect from an Icy Smoak book.