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"It doesn't matter how far she runs.
This is my forest, and I always catch my prey."
As a Loxley, I know the rules, I just never took them seriously.
I only knew when I finally brought a girl here it would be special.
She would be special.
And Harper is... perfect.
Now we're out here, alone, and something's gone terribly wrong.
I broke the rules, I'm losing myself,
and I'm afraid she's going to pay the price.
I need to fight this. I need to protect Harper.
We're meant to be, and I know she feels the same.
I don't want to hurt her but... I have to claim her.
I have to make her mine.
Before I do something I can't take back.
This is my forest, and I always catch my prey."
As a Loxley, I know the rules, I just never took them seriously.
I only knew when I finally brought a girl here it would be special.
She would be special.
And Harper is... perfect.
Now we're out here, alone, and something's gone terribly wrong.
I broke the rules, I'm losing myself,
and I'm afraid she's going to pay the price.
I need to fight this. I need to protect Harper.
We're meant to be, and I know she feels the same.
I don't want to hurt her but... I have to claim her.
I have to make her mine.
Before I do something I can't take back.
179 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 6, 2020
70 people are currently reading
1327 people want to read
About the author
Cassandra Faye
12 books104 followersCassandra Faye lives in Texas where she's done nothing but fantasize about other worlds her entire life. Constantly daydreaming about ancient powers, faerie realms, old gods, and how seriously dangerous unicorns would be if they existed, Cassandra writes the stories she's always craved. Taking paranormal and fantasy worlds, mixing them in with modern day, and adding a dash of darkness.
So, if you enjoy those fairy tales that were a little more grimm, or if you ever wondered just how bad the villains could be as you held on for that happily-ever-after, then you might be just the person she's writing for.
* * *
Cassandra also writes dark contemporary romance as Jennifer Bene. You can find her online throughout social media with username @jbeneauthor and on her website: www.jenniferbene.com
So, if you enjoy those fairy tales that were a little more grimm, or if you ever wondered just how bad the villains could be as you held on for that happily-ever-after, then you might be just the person she's writing for.
* * *
Cassandra also writes dark contemporary romance as Jennifer Bene. You can find her online throughout social media with username @jbeneauthor and on her website: www.jenniferbene.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
August 25, 2020
I found this one really intriguing and unusual and I definitely enjoyed it a lot.
This is part of the dirty hero’s collection and they are all standalone reads with a loosely connected theme.
This is the second book I’ve tried from this series and my first experience with this particular author.
This is unusual in the fact that we are dealing with an already established couple so essentially not a typical romance but more of a suspenseful edge of your seat journey.
This has Jared and Harper heading to his family cabin for a romantic weekend.
The cabin and the surrounding land it stands on has been in Jared’s family for years and there are certain family rules that Jared is now breaking to bring Harper here.
It’s not long after there arrival that things start to go downhill and basically spiral culminating in some seriously shocking events.
This one does need to just be experienced raw to get the full effect so no spoilers from me but do be aware that It did have some dark aspects and situations so be mindful if you do have triggers.
It’s told in dual POV but I did find it easier to connect to Harper than Jared I think mostly because for the majority of this we are dealing with his alter-ego.
This drew me in easily and then kept me on my last nerve throughout it was also well written and a page-turner, I enjoyed it a lot.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
December 19, 2020
Book: Hunted
Author: Cassandra Faye
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person - Dual
Genre: Dark Romance
Rating: 4 Stars!
Age: Harper - 21; Jared - 21.
Triggers: Rape.
Hunted by Cassandra Faye truly exceeded my expectations. It was gripping from the very first page, the quality of writing was superb and the imagery vivid. I really enjoyed the fantasy element of the story and the plot. The world Cassandra created was fantastical and eerie and felt like a dark fairy tale, a delicious taste of dark, sexy and wicked. It was also full of surprises that I didn't see coming. This book is a part of Dirty Heroes Collection and after reading it, I'm eager to check out other books now. It was also my first book from Cassandra Faye and her world-building was fantastic. Harper Bainbridge and Jared Loxley were stupidly in love with each other. It was the kind of love that makes you wanna vomit cause it was so sweet and adorable. They were both so complex and lovable.
Plot: Jared Loxley had planned a romantic getaway to his family's secluded cabin in the woods. He was planning on proposing to his girlfriend, Harper Bainbridge but things didn't exactly go according to the plan. While Jared was hunting for dinner, he saw a weird silvery haze like someone had drugged him. He then hallucinates he killed Harper instead of the buck. From then on, the pace of the book changed entirely. Instead of sweet, puppy love, it was now dark and twisted and sinister. Jared's personality slowly changed, he experienced odd headaches and he started started hearing a voice in his head telling him to either make Harper his or kill her. We learn through Jared's father's journal that the land has rules and they have broken them. But is their love enough to survive what's ahead? Or will it wither and die, along with Harper?
I loved the suspense and the dark foreshadowing that followed. I had no idea where the story would lead next. One of my favorite things is a dark book, the darker the better. And this was pushing the limits of dark so much that I wasn't sure if I was comfortable with it or not. Cassandra Faye manages to throw a little bit of paranormal in there, which is why I wanted to read it in the first place. Writing style is one of my biggest turn-ons as a reader, I am a huge word nerd. The words that make up Hunted flowed across the page, leading me from one scene to the next, it felt real and it felt raw. Definitely an author to look out for.
Safety:
I really recommend this book, it's gripping, all-consuming and exceptionally written. It's a perfect and short read for dark romance lovers.
Author: Cassandra Faye
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person - Dual
Genre: Dark Romance
Rating: 4 Stars!
Age: Harper - 21; Jared - 21.
Triggers: Rape.
Once upon a time, a scorned Queen opened a box, unleashing horrible evil on the world’s heroes. Instead of gallantry and chivalry, they now possessed much more perverse traits. They’ve fallen victim to their darkest and most deviant desires. This is one of their stories...
Hunted by Cassandra Faye truly exceeded my expectations. It was gripping from the very first page, the quality of writing was superb and the imagery vivid. I really enjoyed the fantasy element of the story and the plot. The world Cassandra created was fantastical and eerie and felt like a dark fairy tale, a delicious taste of dark, sexy and wicked. It was also full of surprises that I didn't see coming. This book is a part of Dirty Heroes Collection and after reading it, I'm eager to check out other books now. It was also my first book from Cassandra Faye and her world-building was fantastic. Harper Bainbridge and Jared Loxley were stupidly in love with each other. It was the kind of love that makes you wanna vomit cause it was so sweet and adorable. They were both so complex and lovable.
"We're forever."
"Screw that," Harper says, and I can hear the laugh in her voice as she wraps an arm around my waist.
"We're happily ever after."
Plot: Jared Loxley had planned a romantic getaway to his family's secluded cabin in the woods. He was planning on proposing to his girlfriend, Harper Bainbridge but things didn't exactly go according to the plan. While Jared was hunting for dinner, he saw a weird silvery haze like someone had drugged him. He then hallucinates he killed Harper instead of the buck. From then on, the pace of the book changed entirely. Instead of sweet, puppy love, it was now dark and twisted and sinister. Jared's personality slowly changed, he experienced odd headaches and he started started hearing a voice in his head telling him to either make Harper his or kill her. We learn through Jared's father's journal that the land has rules and they have broken them. But is their love enough to survive what's ahead? Or will it wither and die, along with Harper?
I loved the suspense and the dark foreshadowing that followed. I had no idea where the story would lead next. One of my favorite things is a dark book, the darker the better. And this was pushing the limits of dark so much that I wasn't sure if I was comfortable with it or not. Cassandra Faye manages to throw a little bit of paranormal in there, which is why I wanted to read it in the first place. Writing style is one of my biggest turn-ons as a reader, I am a huge word nerd. The words that make up Hunted flowed across the page, leading me from one scene to the next, it felt real and it felt raw. Definitely an author to look out for.
She’ll leave you if you let her. You have to make her yours. Claim her as yours before she chooses another.
Safety:
I really recommend this book, it's gripping, all-consuming and exceptionally written. It's a perfect and short read for dark romance lovers.
April 11, 2024
When we first meet Jared (and Harper) he is a really sweet, fun and caring guy, so his later transformation was really something else. His alter-ego is definitely sinister and poor Harper most certainly comes off worse when he's around. Jared's slow descent into "madness" was very finely crafted, and so terrifyingly believable.
I found it easier to connect with Harper, though that isn't surprising since Jared wasn't always quite himself. This meant I didn't connect with the story with as much emotional depth as I prefer, but I still really enjoyed it very much. With both characters being so adorable and cute at first, I was rather puzzled as to just where the story was heading, though it quickly becomes clear that not all is well. The plot then rattles along at a rapid pace, with lots of darkness, lots of twists and lots of a very bad man.
Harper remains strong throughout, and I loved her resilience during her trial in the woodland. I did wish nasty things to befall not-Jared, and I had absolutely no idea how the situation would be resolved. Needless to say it was resolved in a very satisfactory way. Hunted is a great addition to the Dirty Heroes collection and shouldn't be missed.
I found it easier to connect with Harper, though that isn't surprising since Jared wasn't always quite himself. This meant I didn't connect with the story with as much emotional depth as I prefer, but I still really enjoyed it very much. With both characters being so adorable and cute at first, I was rather puzzled as to just where the story was heading, though it quickly becomes clear that not all is well. The plot then rattles along at a rapid pace, with lots of darkness, lots of twists and lots of a very bad man.
Harper remains strong throughout, and I loved her resilience during her trial in the woodland. I did wish nasty things to befall not-Jared, and I had absolutely no idea how the situation would be resolved. Needless to say it was resolved in a very satisfactory way. Hunted is a great addition to the Dirty Heroes collection and shouldn't be missed.
July 19, 2020
3.5 stars
The Dirty Heroes Collection is wayyy more darker and twisted than the Sinister Fairytales Collection IMO. this book is a retelling of Robin Hood that is more towards the paranormal side. i guess i'm in the minority since i didn't really enjoy it. there's a HEA but the ending was abrupt. 😕
trigger:
The Dirty Heroes Collection is wayyy more darker and twisted than the Sinister Fairytales Collection IMO. this book is a retelling of Robin Hood that is more towards the paranormal side. i guess i'm in the minority since i didn't really enjoy it. there's a HEA but the ending was abrupt. 😕
trigger:
October 25, 2020
This is the thirteenth book in the Dirty Heroes Collection, a multi-book, multi-author series of fairytale/mythology based storylines. (very loosely) Basically, a wicked queen opened a box that unleashed evil on 14 “heroes” making them dark. I love a re-telling like nobody’s business, so I was pumped to start this one, but quickly figured out they are NOT really re-tellings. Some are closer connected, but others really only have a name or phrase that connects it to the tale.
I’m assuming Hunted was inspired by Robin Hood, because the H is named Jared Loxley, and he’s an outdoorsman, but that’s about it. College students Jared and Harper have been dating a few years when Jared brings her to his family’s woods for a romantic weekend…. which is against the rules... for a reason. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll just say the woods are more than they appear, and Jared goes through an almost possession. There’re a couple dub/no-con situations; Harper isn’t really upset by it, and it helps that the real Jared is such a nice guy, but FYI in case that's a hard limit.
Bottom Line- This is a dark, quick read. I thought it was pretty good, but I didn’t LOVE it like many other readers... BUT... it’s free on KU, so give it a shot. This is the 3rd or 4th one from the series I’ve read, and I’ve rated them all 3***’s… so, this is probably going to be my last one. **I’m going to tag as a re-telling for tracking purposes even though I didn’t really think it was. **
I’m assuming Hunted was inspired by Robin Hood, because the H is named Jared Loxley, and he’s an outdoorsman, but that’s about it. College students Jared and Harper have been dating a few years when Jared brings her to his family’s woods for a romantic weekend…. which is against the rules... for a reason. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll just say the woods are more than they appear, and Jared goes through an almost possession. There’re a couple dub/no-con situations; Harper isn’t really upset by it, and it helps that the real Jared is such a nice guy, but FYI in case that's a hard limit.
Bottom Line- This is a dark, quick read. I thought it was pretty good, but I didn’t LOVE it like many other readers... BUT... it’s free on KU, so give it a shot. This is the 3rd or 4th one from the series I’ve read, and I’ve rated them all 3***’s… so, this is probably going to be my last one. **I’m going to tag as a re-telling for tracking purposes even though I didn’t really think it was. **
July 5, 2020
ALL MY REVIEWS CAN BE FOUND ON MY BLOG: ABSTRACT BOOKS
"It doesn't matter how far you run.
This is my forest , and I always catch my prey. "
Hunted was a standalone novel in the DIRTY HEROES COLLECTION by Cassandra Faye. Told in dual perspectives , this novel was one thrilling ride .
This is the first book I have read of this collection and let's just say , I will be reading all of them now!! This book was one of the most thrilling books I have ever read. It started in a contemporary romance way , but as it progresses the stuff got pretty dark.
Here we meet Jared and Harper. They both have been together for a few years and absolutely love each other. Jared plans to propose Harper and for that he has bought her to his family Cabin. However , his father has always been against bringing any women to the cabin , because something dark lurks in the forest outside.
Jared ignored his warning and Takes Harper to the cabin. Their starting days are pretty content and full of passion and love. After a few days Jared starts hearing voices and starts getting angry all of a sudden. It's the curse controlling him. The curse forces him to take Harper outside and Make her run throughout the forest and Claim her in the end.
That was some brutal scene!! The hunt was both hot and dirty. Jared is no longer himself and Harper is pretty scared from him. I had only one word for that poor girl at that time, RUN!!!!! From there began a game of chasing and hunting .
This book is recommended to all the dark Romance lovers , who love a healthy hunt and chase before the final claiming!
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July 7, 2020
My ambivalence about the material makes this difficult to review. In addition, it's hard to give trigger warnings without some spoilers so, if this bothers you, you may not want to read further.
Before I go into more depth, let me advise potential readers of three things. First, I want to provide triggers warnings for rape, attempted murder, and kidnapping (and, yes, these are all perpetrated by the H). Second, although all the books are loosely connected by a curse, they are stand-alones. Finally, because these stories are written by different authors, the curse is never spelt out explicitly, so, while there's no cliff-hanger, much remains a mystery.
Jared and Harper are the ideal couple; indeed, Jared comes across as the perfect boyfriend: patient, kind, trustworthy, funny, and capable. Wanting to propose to his girlfriend in a romantic setting, he takes her to his family's secluded cabin in the mountains. Unbeknownst to them both, there's a curse on that land, one that has devastating effect on Jared Loxley, who is every bit as good with a bow as his forefather, Robin. Unfortunately, in this case, it isn't deer or evil tax-collectors he decides to hunt...
This is very much a cabin romance (or cabin-in-the-woods horror) as Jared and Harper are the only two we see for most of the book. Until the middle -- when the action really kicks in -- the plot was slow-going and the prose very repetitious (many of Jared's inner monologues and the hot-and-cold exchanges with Harper could have been cut; and I don't think I want to hear the word "babe" ever again). While I understand that Ms. Faye was developing the tension along with Jared's personality changes, I still felt far too often that I was re-reading the exact same scene. Once the hunt starts, the pace picks up and the rest of the book is filled with tension. While its unraveling isn't completely unsurprising, it does make for compelling reading.
I did, however, have a huge problem with the ending. Although I admired Harper's strength and courage, and although I understand that Jared really was .
3 stars. I would have rated it more highly if it weren't for the ending and if it didn't give new meaning to "betraying body syndrome" (kudos to whoever came up with that phrase). Also, given the economic crisis we're currently in, I'd have loved to have seen Jared hunt those tax-collectors...
In general, I've dipped in and out of this series, and have found that the "darkness" varies; so, depending upon how you feel about "dark," if you want to read other books, you may want to read the reviews carefully. Side Note: I confess that I get this series and the "Sinister Fairy Tales Collection" mixed-up as both feature anti-heroes modeled on extant fantasy literature.
Finally, I want to say a word about reviews. I read many before I started writing my own and one reason I did so is because I noticed that many were hopelessly partisan. If you leave a positive one, you are in effect encouraging people to spend their hard-earned money on that book. Thus, you have a duty to disclose to potential readers any conflicts of interest: An ARC or beta reader, a friend or relative of the author, a fellow author who has hosted the writer on your website (or vice-a-versa), and/or a co-author on another project. Yes, I get that you're a fan; yes, you have a right to be. But when money is at stake, buyers also have rights, and one is that they be fully cognizant of any potential biases that may inflate a product's rating; otherwise, they cannot make an informed purchase. Not disclosing vested interests is unethical. This is my long way of saying that this review -- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... -- was written by a man who co-authored Jasmine with Jennifer Bene (Ms. Faye's alter ego). So, if you want to read this book based on his War and Peace-worthy praise of it, just be aware of the source.
Before I go into more depth, let me advise potential readers of three things. First, I want to provide triggers warnings for rape, attempted murder, and kidnapping (and, yes, these are all perpetrated by the H). Second, although all the books are loosely connected by a curse, they are stand-alones. Finally, because these stories are written by different authors, the curse is never spelt out explicitly, so, while there's no cliff-hanger, much remains a mystery.
Jared and Harper are the ideal couple; indeed, Jared comes across as the perfect boyfriend: patient, kind, trustworthy, funny, and capable. Wanting to propose to his girlfriend in a romantic setting, he takes her to his family's secluded cabin in the mountains. Unbeknownst to them both, there's a curse on that land, one that has devastating effect on Jared Loxley, who is every bit as good with a bow as his forefather, Robin. Unfortunately, in this case, it isn't deer or evil tax-collectors he decides to hunt...
This is very much a cabin romance (or cabin-in-the-woods horror) as Jared and Harper are the only two we see for most of the book. Until the middle -- when the action really kicks in -- the plot was slow-going and the prose very repetitious (many of Jared's inner monologues and the hot-and-cold exchanges with Harper could have been cut; and I don't think I want to hear the word "babe" ever again). While I understand that Ms. Faye was developing the tension along with Jared's personality changes, I still felt far too often that I was re-reading the exact same scene. Once the hunt starts, the pace picks up and the rest of the book is filled with tension. While its unraveling isn't completely unsurprising, it does make for compelling reading.
I did, however, have a huge problem with the ending. Although I admired Harper's strength and courage, and although I understand that Jared really was .
3 stars. I would have rated it more highly if it weren't for the ending and if it didn't give new meaning to "betraying body syndrome" (kudos to whoever came up with that phrase). Also, given the economic crisis we're currently in, I'd have loved to have seen Jared hunt those tax-collectors...
In general, I've dipped in and out of this series, and have found that the "darkness" varies; so, depending upon how you feel about "dark," if you want to read other books, you may want to read the reviews carefully. Side Note: I confess that I get this series and the "Sinister Fairy Tales Collection" mixed-up as both feature anti-heroes modeled on extant fantasy literature.
Finally, I want to say a word about reviews. I read many before I started writing my own and one reason I did so is because I noticed that many were hopelessly partisan. If you leave a positive one, you are in effect encouraging people to spend their hard-earned money on that book. Thus, you have a duty to disclose to potential readers any conflicts of interest: An ARC or beta reader, a friend or relative of the author, a fellow author who has hosted the writer on your website (or vice-a-versa), and/or a co-author on another project. Yes, I get that you're a fan; yes, you have a right to be. But when money is at stake, buyers also have rights, and one is that they be fully cognizant of any potential biases that may inflate a product's rating; otherwise, they cannot make an informed purchase. Not disclosing vested interests is unethical. This is my long way of saying that this review -- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... -- was written by a man who co-authored Jasmine with Jennifer Bene (Ms. Faye's alter ego). So, if you want to read this book based on his War and Peace-worthy praise of it, just be aware of the source.
July 1, 2020
I do love a fairytale with a modern, dark twist and Hunted absolutely delivered!
What starts out as a seemingly sweet story when Jared takes his girlfriend to his family's remote mountain cabin for a romantic weekend, takes a very sinister, evil turn as he unwittingly activates an ancient curse.
I was absolutely glued to the pages, I loved this book. It seamlessly moved from hot and sweet to dark, sinister and deviant, a total contrast to the beginning few chapters. It was fast paced and I had no idea how or even if Jared and Harper would recover from the trauma of the woods. Do they? Mwahaha you'll have to read it to find.
Part of the Dirty Heroes Collection, I loved the supernatural/paranormal elements to the story, Loxley being the name of one of my all time favourite magical legends. There are parts definitely not for the faint hearted, you need to like the dark side. If you do, come on in because this was absolutely worth the ride. I'm looking forward to reading more of these very dirty, nefarious, fallen "heroes"
4.5 dark, dangerous stars
What starts out as a seemingly sweet story when Jared takes his girlfriend to his family's remote mountain cabin for a romantic weekend, takes a very sinister, evil turn as he unwittingly activates an ancient curse.
I was absolutely glued to the pages, I loved this book. It seamlessly moved from hot and sweet to dark, sinister and deviant, a total contrast to the beginning few chapters. It was fast paced and I had no idea how or even if Jared and Harper would recover from the trauma of the woods. Do they? Mwahaha you'll have to read it to find.
Part of the Dirty Heroes Collection, I loved the supernatural/paranormal elements to the story, Loxley being the name of one of my all time favourite magical legends. There are parts definitely not for the faint hearted, you need to like the dark side. If you do, come on in because this was absolutely worth the ride. I'm looking forward to reading more of these very dirty, nefarious, fallen "heroes"
4.5 dark, dangerous stars
June 27, 2020
This book started off resembling a sweet love story. A drive to the family cabin with a hope of a romantic setting and then BAM!! Where did this twist come from? I was blindsided with a humongous twist and turn that I did not see coming.
This story was awesome and kept me guessing throughout. Cassandra writes remarkable and in depth characters that the reader can connect with. The storyline was so unique and different from anything I have read before! Loved it!!
This story was awesome and kept me guessing throughout. Cassandra writes remarkable and in depth characters that the reader can connect with. The storyline was so unique and different from anything I have read before! Loved it!!
June 30, 2020
Sometimes you come across a book that once you start reading it you are maybe a chapter or two in and you suddenly realize how seamlessly the story is flowing off the page and into your head. The beats are perfect, the timing spot on, the flow of the narrative so engaging and flawless you stop for a moment, taking note of it if for no other reason than it stands out.
Hunted is one of those stories.
This story covers a broad spectrum of what you might expect in a romance / dark romance story. I use both terms because when you first begin reading this story it seems you are getting one, but perhaps not the other? Of course that’s not the case, but part of what really makes this book a stand-out is that the flow of the story from (dare I say it) sweet romance into the dark makes sense in a way that does not seem contrived or forced in the slightest. All of which goes back to what I said at the beginning of the review: the transition happens in such a pitch perfect manner (the timing, the narrative beats, etc, as previously mentioned) that when the shift takes place at first you aren’t aware of it because it just seems to be further continuation of the overall story arc. It’s only when you stop for a moment that you suddenly realize “Oh, wow! This has really taken a dark turn…”
And for those that love dark, don’t fret: this story does go down a dark and twisted path soon enough.
One of the things I love about this author is that, by and large, even though she excels at capture fantasy romance (which in a roundabout way is exactly what this story becomes), she rarely makes her heroines weak or submissively compliant as sometimes seems all too much the norm. The heroines are feisty, strong, willful, always intelligent. And even when they do find themselves overtaken, they never wilt or collapse passively into their captor’s arms. There is always fight within them , even if they are taken, nonetheless.
Our heroine in this story—Harper—exemplifies all these attributes a hundredfold. And damn if it doesn’t make her incredibly sexy in the process. Jared is himself a strong hero, and things seem great between the two at first.
But… all is not what it seems.
The strength in this book lies in how that ‘all is not what it seems’ plays out. It would have been all too easy for the main plot arc of this story to have been contrived, but that simply does not happen. In fact, even as you as the reader discover and learn what is taking place, at no point does the author bludgeoned you with the information. It happens naturally, organically, in some cases so subtly that there are some serious “oh shit!” moments that just pull you even further into the story.
Much like the main narrative arc, the sex scenes in the story at no point feel forced. In fact, absolutely the opposite: they are an integral part of the evolution of what takes place. They build connection between Harper and Jared in the beginning, and then become important plot markers in showing how things slowly begin to shift and change. I really enjoyed that none of the sex scenes were placed simply to provide titillation factor, or fill a requisite checkbox ‘number of sex scenes required’ (which is something every reader has run across at one time or another). Each one in Hunted is a necessary and needed part of the story, as each pushes the narrative forward and are becomes key into letting us see how things are slowly unravelling for our two.
It’s the unravelling that gives creates the building tension and conflict, and not to give too much in the way of spoilers, it also leads to one of the hottest sex scenes I have read in a good while. If you want to know more, don’t look here: go and get Hunted to discover for yourself.
And, trust me, you ARE going to want to read it.
Pitch-perfect storytelling, strong, compelling characters, some AMAZING sex, and even an HEA (yes!): Hunted is without doubt one of the top five stories I have read from Jennifer Bene. It is a must-read, even if you’ve never read anything else from her before.
Hunted is one of those stories.
This story covers a broad spectrum of what you might expect in a romance / dark romance story. I use both terms because when you first begin reading this story it seems you are getting one, but perhaps not the other? Of course that’s not the case, but part of what really makes this book a stand-out is that the flow of the story from (dare I say it) sweet romance into the dark makes sense in a way that does not seem contrived or forced in the slightest. All of which goes back to what I said at the beginning of the review: the transition happens in such a pitch perfect manner (the timing, the narrative beats, etc, as previously mentioned) that when the shift takes place at first you aren’t aware of it because it just seems to be further continuation of the overall story arc. It’s only when you stop for a moment that you suddenly realize “Oh, wow! This has really taken a dark turn…”
And for those that love dark, don’t fret: this story does go down a dark and twisted path soon enough.
One of the things I love about this author is that, by and large, even though she excels at capture fantasy romance (which in a roundabout way is exactly what this story becomes), she rarely makes her heroines weak or submissively compliant as sometimes seems all too much the norm. The heroines are feisty, strong, willful, always intelligent. And even when they do find themselves overtaken, they never wilt or collapse passively into their captor’s arms. There is always fight within them , even if they are taken, nonetheless.
Our heroine in this story—Harper—exemplifies all these attributes a hundredfold. And damn if it doesn’t make her incredibly sexy in the process. Jared is himself a strong hero, and things seem great between the two at first.
But… all is not what it seems.
The strength in this book lies in how that ‘all is not what it seems’ plays out. It would have been all too easy for the main plot arc of this story to have been contrived, but that simply does not happen. In fact, even as you as the reader discover and learn what is taking place, at no point does the author bludgeoned you with the information. It happens naturally, organically, in some cases so subtly that there are some serious “oh shit!” moments that just pull you even further into the story.
Much like the main narrative arc, the sex scenes in the story at no point feel forced. In fact, absolutely the opposite: they are an integral part of the evolution of what takes place. They build connection between Harper and Jared in the beginning, and then become important plot markers in showing how things slowly begin to shift and change. I really enjoyed that none of the sex scenes were placed simply to provide titillation factor, or fill a requisite checkbox ‘number of sex scenes required’ (which is something every reader has run across at one time or another). Each one in Hunted is a necessary and needed part of the story, as each pushes the narrative forward and are becomes key into letting us see how things are slowly unravelling for our two.
It’s the unravelling that gives creates the building tension and conflict, and not to give too much in the way of spoilers, it also leads to one of the hottest sex scenes I have read in a good while. If you want to know more, don’t look here: go and get Hunted to discover for yourself.
And, trust me, you ARE going to want to read it.
Pitch-perfect storytelling, strong, compelling characters, some AMAZING sex, and even an HEA (yes!): Hunted is without doubt one of the top five stories I have read from Jennifer Bene. It is a must-read, even if you’ve never read anything else from her before.
July 6, 2020
I have read quite a few of this series so I couldn’t wait to read this story. Well this was fantastic. I inhaled it in one sitting. My son walked in while I was reading. I asked him was it an emergency. He said no so I said go until I’ve finished this story and I’ll find you. When I did go to his room the first thing he asked was the book good lol
This author sure knows how to write a gripping story. This isn’t a story for everyone. However I absolutely loved every word of it.
Hunted is a brilliant addition to this collection
This author sure knows how to write a gripping story. This isn’t a story for everyone. However I absolutely loved every word of it.
Hunted is a brilliant addition to this collection
July 7, 2020
It was good until
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2020
This was my first read by this author and I was pleasantly surprised! This a slightly eerie, mysterious romance story with hints of darkness, however it isn't as dark as it could've been, which in my opinion is probably a good thing since it just adds to the mystery of everything surrounding the story. I think if it was darker with regards to certain situations or scenes, it would've needed more explanation, which probably would have taken away from its unique and mysterious atmosphere. I really enjoyed this story, it was a quick read...and it kept me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was going to happen next.
It sort of reminded me of the films, Cabin in the Woods, The Shining, and Evil Dead, but without the crazy gore, heavy satanic stuff and typical monsters. The story had a desolate, sort of secluded feel to it, because the setting is at a cabin that's on a very large piece of property, which is owned by the Hero's family, it's located far away from any people, surrounded by rolling hills, mountains, endless trees, nature and wildlife. The Hero, Jared- takes his girlfriend, Harper- to the cabin with plans for a special weekend and things definitely don't go according to plan....
I don't want to give too much away, because I read this story blind, but if you like possessive heroes, noncon/dubcon, and the idea of a slightly suspensy-horror-ish romance that takes its sweet Hero and totally makes him well....something else entirely, and you like some mystery with your romance, I would say to definitely read this :) It's also a standalone, so you don't need to read anything prior to this and the story is told in Dual-POV. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop...just don't expect to have 100% of your questions answered because this is one of those stories where less is more, although if there was an extended version of this story released in the future, I'd totally read it! :)
4-tbr-next
December 14, 2020Cassandra Faye = Jennifer Bene! 😉
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOnLk...
The DIRTY HEROES COLLECTION (https://www.goodreads.com/series/288664)
Fourteen standalone novels which each follow a well-known hero from favorite Disney classics.
01. The Black Fox
02. Finding His Strength
03. While She Sleeps
04. Bound in Sacrifice
05. Never Lost
06. Curse Behind The Mask
07. Clockwork Stalker
08. Kiss and Tell
09. Skeleton King
10. Make Me Real
11. Cruel Water
12. The Masked Prince
13. Hunted
14. The Lady
▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOnLk...The DIRTY HEROES COLLECTION (https://www.goodreads.com/series/288664)
Fourteen standalone novels which each follow a well-known hero from favorite Disney classics.
01. The Black Fox
02. Finding His Strength
03. While She Sleeps
04. Bound in Sacrifice
05. Never Lost
06. Curse Behind The Mask
07. Clockwork Stalker
08. Kiss and Tell
09. Skeleton King
10. Make Me Real
11. Cruel Water
12. The Masked Prince
13. Hunted
14. The Lady
June 29, 2020
So I’m relaxing on the couch enjoying Jared and Harper a sweet couple and their adorable banter and the reminiscing of how they met.
Minding my own business while reading the sexiness going on.
When bang Ms. Faye had me jumping off the couch.
Thinking how the hell did she just turn this tale in the blink of an eye!
Needless to say the rest of the book had me on edge and my heart thumping fast.
There is no way to write about the plot without inadvertently giving something away so I will stay away from doing that.
But I will say,for me,it was original and unique.
I loved both of the characters Harper and Jared.
They are fun and loving.
Both are committed to one another and want forever.
But with the chaos and scariness going on.
Their relationship is about to be brought to it’s knees.
Minding my own business while reading the sexiness going on.
When bang Ms. Faye had me jumping off the couch.
Thinking how the hell did she just turn this tale in the blink of an eye!
Needless to say the rest of the book had me on edge and my heart thumping fast.
There is no way to write about the plot without inadvertently giving something away so I will stay away from doing that.
But I will say,for me,it was original and unique.
I loved both of the characters Harper and Jared.
They are fun and loving.
Both are committed to one another and want forever.
But with the chaos and scariness going on.
Their relationship is about to be brought to it’s knees.
July 5, 2020
OH MY HELL! Hunted started out sweet for about 5 seconds when BAM! Insane twists that were all kinds of turned out came to play, and I never caught my breath until long after I finished. There's so much going on here that I'm not even trying to get into details since those twists were coming in so hot and all over the place, making for some very loud f-bomb dropping on my part throughout. I absolutely LOVED this story HARD since I zigged while Ms. Fate zagged which kept me on the edge of my seat cover to cover! Harper was a fantastic heroine who was strong, and would never fall apart when things got dark & twisty, nope she was a fighter. Jared is our hero, however, nothing is as it seems so yeah, buckle up & one click on Hunter! HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
July 8, 2020
I totally dig all these Dirty Hero books. It's a fun way to get a new look at some of our favorite heroes. Well, fun, dirty, and kinky. So yay.
I love that Jared really wanted to make everything super special for Harper, no matter what, even if he wasn't quite following the rules. Of course, I don't think that he completely understands the rules, so there's that.
Harper really truly loves Jared, and it's obvious through the whole book. I think that she shows a lot of fortitude and strength throughout the book, and I think that Jared should've listened to her more. Of course, I don't know if anything would've changed if he had.
I loved this book, and I want to know all the rules for being a Loxley.
I love that Jared really wanted to make everything super special for Harper, no matter what, even if he wasn't quite following the rules. Of course, I don't think that he completely understands the rules, so there's that.
Harper really truly loves Jared, and it's obvious through the whole book. I think that she shows a lot of fortitude and strength throughout the book, and I think that Jared should've listened to her more. Of course, I don't know if anything would've changed if he had.
I loved this book, and I want to know all the rules for being a Loxley.
June 27, 2020
I won't lie. I have to say that I was a little confused at the beginning. Especially, thinking that this was supposed to be someone cursed with urges that bordered on decadent and depraved. SO, I wasn't understanding how this sweet almost swoon-worthy beginning would turn into that EVEN more so, knowing who the author was. If she isn't writing kink, she is writing some pretty twisted stuff that takes her audience out of their comfort zone.
I needed not have worried for long because once it happened. OH YEAH, this author brought out her darker grittier side. Her mind is a little scary. AND, I like it. A LOT. I won't give details so as not to spoil the story but prepare yourself for a delicious treat from this author who created amazing characters, an interesting plotline, and some serious suspense. Highly recommend.
I needed not have worried for long because once it happened. OH YEAH, this author brought out her darker grittier side. Her mind is a little scary. AND, I like it. A LOT. I won't give details so as not to spoil the story but prepare yourself for a delicious treat from this author who created amazing characters, an interesting plotline, and some serious suspense. Highly recommend.
June 28, 2020
This story shook me to my soul. I've come to expect the unexpected from Cassandra Faye but this was brilliant. It starts as a cute love story between Jared and Harper but as you read, you know something is going to happen...........and man does it. I can't really say much because it would give the twist in the story away but just be prepared. Only Cassandra could take a perfectly sweet fairy tale and twist it into something that I would love. And there are only a handful of authors that can take my mind to that dark place that I normally don't venture into. Just get this book!!! It's freaking awesome!!!
July 5, 2020
Hunted was a dark, intriguing tale of a curse gone bad. Jared was sexy and sweet, and so perfect for Harper. Until a weekend at the cabin transforms this sweet hot man into a sinister something else! Can Harper fix what's wrong with her man before the unthinkable happens? What a wicked turn for these two! I was on edge the whole time, hoping that they would both be saved! Riveting till the very end!
July 6, 2020
Wow!! Just wow! Honestly, I’m finding it hard to write my review. I’m finding it hard to put into work what I feel after reading this book. Like every book there were ups and downs. Things I liked and didn’t like. The things I didn’t really like seems to outweigh the things I do.
The chemistry between the characters was very well written. You could feel it. I felt the characters were somewhat well written. But what threw me off was the story line. I felt confused. I had so many questions left unanswered. What were we dealing with? What brought this on? Why now?
It’s hard to write this review without giving away the whole story. So I will leave it as is. I’ve never read this author’s work before. But this won’t stop me from reading another one of their books.
The chemistry between the characters was very well written. You could feel it. I felt the characters were somewhat well written. But what threw me off was the story line. I felt confused. I had so many questions left unanswered. What were we dealing with? What brought this on? Why now?
It’s hard to write this review without giving away the whole story. So I will leave it as is. I’ve never read this author’s work before. But this won’t stop me from reading another one of their books.
July 5, 2020
This was brilliantly written. It is intense, mysterious, scary as all get out and deeply disturbing. I am finally able to release a breath. So many twists and turns and never knowing what will happen next? Awesome. I rarely come across a story so gripping and maniacally terrifying.
I read and reviewed a copy of this book.
I read and reviewed a copy of this book.
July 13, 2020
3.5/4 ☆ - ‘Hunted’ gave off major ‘The Shining’ vibes and I was here for every second of it! Although, the romance aspect got a little blurred from time to time (due to circumstances). I would definitely recommend this enthralling read. I loved EVERY second of the action. I finished the book in one sitting because I just needed to know what happened next!
☆ ☆ ☆
TW: Rape
☆ ☆ ☆
TW: Rape
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2020
Staring this book I thought, is going good everything is sweet and sexy, boy oh boy was I wrong! It takes a twisted dark turn somewhere down the line and I was hooked.
Great read, highly recommend it. This author never disappoints.
4 dark starts.
Great read, highly recommend it. This author never disappoints.
4 dark starts.
June 27, 2020
OMG I adored this book, I just couldn't put it down! This was some seriously compelling writting. I lulls you into a false sense of secirity, then BAM!!! You end up in the twilight zone!
The best book I've read in a while!
Whole heartedly recommended
The best book I've read in a while!
Whole heartedly recommended
June 26, 2020
At first I was not getting so much in to the story. It just started out like a sweet old romance but then oh wow it definitely turn to something that was way beyond sweet. Harper she definitely love Jared to go through all that and still come out stronger. So I would say that I enjoy read their story.
July 2, 2020
I loved Jared and Harper's story. You start off thinking this is going to be another beautiful love story then before you know it, everything you thought you knew was not. How could a romantic cabin trip go wrong? This book well blew your mind.
July 6, 2020
When I first started this book it was a wonderful love story with Harper and Jared totally in love with each other, but I know how Cassandra Faye writes and I was waiting for the bomb to explode and it sure did. The hell that they went through was more than anyone should go through., but Harper’s love for Jared is what saved them. Now you will have to read the wonderful book and see what hell they went through. Enjoy
July 14, 2020
Cursed blessings
Jared and Harper will have to go thru their own form of hell, a curse, forgiveness, temptation, danger and more to find their ultimate love.
Jared and Harper will have to go thru their own form of hell, a curse, forgiveness, temptation, danger and more to find their ultimate love.
August 22, 2020
I was really surprised by how much I liked this, especially the end result. Reminded me of the movie READY OR NOT in a way but yet original for a HEA romance novel.
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