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The Hunted #2

Addiction

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Temptation has quickly turned into addiction. Penny fell hard for her mysterious professor, but secrets have torn them apart. After all, scandalous affairs are meant to go down in flames.

Now that he's not speaking to her, she feels numb. And what hurts the most is that he appears to be completely fine. As she struggles to accept that their relationship is really over, her best friend's crude advice is in the back of her mind- the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else.

Will she be able to move on, or is her addiction to her alluring professor only just beginning?

479 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 9, 2015

15137 people are currently reading
7684 people want to read

About the author

Ivy Smoak

96 books8,167 followers
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:
Amazonhttp://bit.ly/IvySmoakAMZ
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Join Ivy Smoak's newsletter for a sexy FREE story and exclusive material: https://www.ivysmoak.com/newsletter

Empire High
Untouchable (Empire High, #1) by Ivy Smoak Elite (Empire High, #2) by Ivy Smoak Betrayal (Empire High, #3) by Ivy Smoak Matchmaker (Empire High, #4) by Ivy Smoak Runaway (Empire High, #5) by Ivy Smoak

The Hunted & Light to My Darkness
Temptation (The Hunted, #1) by Ivy Smoak Addiction (The Hunted, #2) by Ivy Smoak Eruption (The Hunted, #3) by Ivy Smoak Devotion (The Hunted, #4) by Ivy Smoak
The Light to My Darkness (The Light to My Darkness #1) by Ivy Smoak A Whirlwind of Color (The Light to My Darkness #2) by Ivy Smoak This Is Love (The Light to My Darkness #3) by Ivy Smoak

Made of Steel
Made of Steel (Made of Steel, #1) by Ivy Smoak Forged in Flames (Made of Steel #2) by Ivy Smoak Carved in Ice (Made of Steel #3) by Ivy Smoak

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5 stars
13,317 (47%)
4 stars
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3 stars
4,726 (16%)
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479 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,003 reviews
Profile Image for Alaina.
7,345 reviews203 followers
March 25, 2020
ugh, penny.

Addiction annoyed me. Mostly because of Penny but then James was also equally annoying during some chapters. It also didn't help that the whole push/pull or hot/cold moments between these two was completely frustrating. I felt for everyone involved - especially Tyler.

I get it, love is confusing. College is confusing. Penny is most definitely confusing. Then there's James and his ex, who were just exhausting. I couldn't handle anything anymore in this book and just needed it to be over.

In the end, I think I know that I'm 2 books away from completing this series.. but ugh, I don't know if I want to. Maybe it could get better but I'm doubting it right now.
Profile Image for Steffi De Ceuster  ♥.
1,389 reviews125 followers
March 18, 2018
Don't let my review stop you from reading this one! It can be that you'll enjoy it and love it!

So I have lots to ramble about.. But I'll put a lot in spoiler so I don't spoil anything for all the ones who want to read it!

But for me I found that Penny wasn't real mature.. Half of the book I wanted to punch her.. First I hated Tyler from his drunk scene, but then we got to know him. I still wasn't sure if the drunk him was the real him or not so that took a while. But then I also was mad ad Penny for her behavior towards Tyler the pulling and pushing. Dammit that boy has real feelings for Penny and she is playing with his feelings! Okay not intentionally but still who in their right mind wouldn't see that themselves. I hope Tyler meets his one and is happy! Also the constantly calling him professor Hunter worked on my nerve! I know that's his position but still it was too much!

I also must be honest I think it was from chapter 22 that I started to read without getting irritated or mad, it wasn't great but it was okay.



So It's safe to say I will not continue this series!

Profile Image for Emily.
72 reviews1 follower
February 11, 2020
If you read the first book and you are thinking “well maybe the second one is better” - stop thinking that, it’s not. I honestly couldn’t even get halfway through the second book. There are just too many plot issues.

I feel bad cause I know this author put a lot of work into her stories, but unfortunately I just can’t recommend this book to anyone.
Profile Image for Alicia.
844 reviews133 followers
August 1, 2020
Penny and Prof. James Hunter have only known each other for a month and what they have is called obsession, not love.

This book is fucking infuriating.

James ignored Penny and went back to sleep with his ex-wife, whom he claimed to hate. Penny thought they were broken up so she slept with Tyler at her birthday party. James shows up at that same party and gets in a fight with Tyler, where Penny tries to intervene and ends up getting punched in the stomach by mistake, falls down, and gets a concussion. After that, she’s back with James. Cue rolling my eyes so fucking hard.

I don’t know if I can read the next 2 books because I just keep getting more and more pissed off, yet I want to know how their train wreck of a relationship ends. Ugh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for TF.
626 reviews71 followers
September 22, 2016
Great follow-up to book 1 – Temptation.

The story continues with Professor Hunter being as mysterious and dominant and Penny as naïve and uncertain as ever.

These two are definitely addicted to each other. They come off more obsessed than in love. I laughed every time Penny screamed out “Professor Hunter” during sex. That’s just so wrong! But those sex scenes are hot – that pool scene in particular.

I’m enjoying this series and moving on to reading book 3.
Profile Image for Georgia.
47 reviews
July 3, 2017
Ok this book was actually terrible. Cheesy and predictable... will be stoping the series there for sure.
Profile Image for Michelle.
232 reviews1 follower
January 21, 2021
OMYW. Penny, a 20-year-old, red-headed, gorgeous, college student attracts the attention of multiple guys. You know the type of girl that is drop-dead beautiful but doesn't seem to know it. Although she has many choices, she hooks up with her hotter than hell professor. James Hunter, the professor, is also an alpha-male billionaire. The heat between them is off the charts. The awesome story-line got me through this book. I almost didn't finish because of Penny's character. I understand Penny is a young, naive college student. However, her inner dialogue was so extremely annoying-to me- that I almost didn't finish reading the book. It's questionable if I will continue the series. There are two more installments, but I don't know if I can handle any more Penny. If you love this genre, I do recommend it. I burned through the pages; I just had to stop and note every time Penny did or said something stupid.
Profile Image for Lisa Marie.
150 reviews11 followers
March 24, 2022
Ugh I was so hooked in the first book!! I’m so annoyed with mostly Penny. I found myself rushing just to say I was done. Won’t be continuing unfortunately. I’d rather remember James Hunter as the man in the first book.
Profile Image for Vicky Sp.
1,814 reviews130 followers
May 1, 2021
Penny era passata dal condurre una vita riservata all’interno del Campus nel quale studiava, a vivere una relazione scandalosa e proibita col suo professore Hunter.
Lui era più grande di lei ed il loro rapporto era alquanto impegnativo, soprattutto perché la studentessa era troppo giovane per gestire il passato di James, non svelato ancora del tutto.

Ma Penny era dolce ed ottimista per natura, e credeva di riuscire a superare le mille difficoltà che stavano incontrando con James, da quando avevano preso ad affrontare il mondo esterno ed uscire allo scoperto come coppia.

Il professore Hunter, con le sue parole ammalianti, era riuscito a demolire le inibizioni di Penny, portandola a desiderare cose che non credeva possibili. Lui la amava e la rispettava, e già solo per questo valeva la pena sopportare i problemi che puntualmente si presentavano ogni giorno.
Anche Penny lo amava e per lui avrebbe rinunciato a tutto.

La loro storia era peccaminosa, e lo sapevano.
Avrebbero dovuto lottare contro le regole imposte dall’università e contro i pregiudizi di chi non li conosceva, ma aveva preso a giudicarli.

Erano innamorati, e niente e nessuno li avrebbe divisi. Erano pronti insieme ad affrontare il resto del mondo.
Profile Image for D.L. Howe.
Author 25 books601 followers
July 30, 2020
In my opinion second books are typically the worst but this time that was not the case. I can't imagine any books that follow will be better. I hope I'm proven wrong.

He bought a country club and you think he's only worth 2.8 billion? Lol

Considering what a drunk mess he was in high school, James is pretty adorable after he's had few shots.

Oh Rob, he's too stinking cute. Does he get a book? (You know I looked that up and I'm happy to say he does.)

And Penny was much more likable this time around.

Quotes:

"Who uses a dare to make their girlfriend disclose their illicit affair to her parents? You're super lame. How about you dare me to give you head at that diner I told you about a minute ago? Or maybe we can join the mile high club on an airplane?"

"Apparently you get horny when you're drunk too?" "No, I just always want you."

"When I'm low I feel like I can't breathe. Even when I indulge in whatever it is I'm addicted to. It's just an escape. But with you, I feel like I can finally breathe for the first time. You're not an escape. You're a new way of living that I didn't even know was possible."

"Does he get mad at you a lot too?" Rob yelled over his shoulder. "I bet that makes things exciting in bed."

"I think it's probably best if I stay away from college parties for awhile," James said. "Oh, because of the whole rapey thing?"
Profile Image for KAITLYN.
51 reviews1 follower
February 3, 2021
I only got through about 62% of the second book in this series and decided that I can’t and don’t even want to finish it.
Penny is so annoying and James, the only person I could rationalize with was Tyler.
How could you be so in love with a man you’ve known for 2 months that constantly lies to you, has so many secrets and has a very clear toxic obsession with you? It’s not even the type of possessiveness that makes most women swoon it was the creepy kind.
and for James, how can you love a 19 year old that you BARELY know? All she does is nag and question him. Honestly it was exhausting. I’m glad to be done with it even though I didn’t finish it all the way.
I just know the rest of the series would be comical and so unrealistic. Blah. Do yourself a favor and just don’t!
Profile Image for Elle G. Reads.
1,887 reviews1,019 followers
August 28, 2023
Addiction is book 2 in the Hunted series by Ivy Smoak. This is NOT a standalone- the series follows Penny and James throughout, so make sure to read TEMPTATION first! All in all, I can easily say I’m addicted to this series much like Penny and James are addicted to each other. I love their relationship even though it comes with its ups and downs, and I love how the story flows throughout the series. Sure, it’s hard to put down and once you start you are more than likely going to binge read them all like I am, but they are EASY reads and its not hard to finish each book in under a day. I recommend it to fans of forbidden romances!

𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙
❥ College Romances
❥ Forbidden (Student/Teacher Romance)
❥ Age Gap
❥ Series

𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗧: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥
Profile Image for Cherry Pie.
930 reviews21 followers
April 23, 2021
description

Continua la romantica e travagliata storia d’amore tra Penny e il suo bel professor Hunter che si amano anche se nessuno li vuole insieme e ogni pianeta si allinei per contrastarli.

Il professore è sempre più preso dalla candida e bellissima studentessa mentre lei sta iniziando a maturare consapevolezza e puntare i piedi per affermare se stessa, le proprie convinzioni e i propri sentimenti. Che era anche ora, vista la poca sicurezza di sé e l’incredulità circa l’amore che il professore nutre per lei. Eppure Penny ha oggettivamente aspetti caratteriali che fanno presa: ingenuità, positività, altruismo, ottimismo.

«Sai, tu guardi il mondo in modo molto ingenuo. E, a prescindere dalle volte in cui qualcosa va storto, vedi sempre il meglio nelle persone.»


La ragazza affronta tutto con un sorriso e con la convinzione che si possa risolvere ogni problema, e che domani andrà certamente meglio di oggi. Ovvio che il bel tenebroso professore, un’anima cupa che nasconde più di un segreto, ne sia attratto. Il gioco è sempre il solito: poli opposti che si attirano in maniera inevitabile.

«L’amore è amore. Sono le circostanze a essere sfortunate.»


Sembra la scoperta dell’acqua calda per quanto suona ovvia quest’affermazione, eppure è una verità inconfutabile ma troppo spesso contrastata. In un mondo fatto di regole e di classificazioni, tutto deve essere ricondotto alla scelta bianco/nero, giusto/sbagliato. Ma Penny e il suo professore sono prima di tutto due ragazzi che s’innamorano, e l’amore è una storia semplice che non ha regole né perché.

Ma.

Come sempre ci sono dei ma, e aggiungo per fortuna, perché sono i ma che stuzzicano la voglia di andare avanti quando sembra che tutto sia già definito e concluso. I ma di questa storia sono i segreti del professore, che sembrano davvero molti, e un paio di personaggi a dir poco conturbanti: Brendan, amico di Penny che spunta ovunque in maniera inquietante, e Rob, fratello del professore, sbarazzino e tanto sopra le righe… Mi sento di prevedere che si creeranno nuovi equivoci e nuovi ostacoli per la nostra coppia quasi felice… E saranno nuovi stimoli per una lettura che man mano si fa sempre più affascinante.

Navillus.
https://www.thedirtyclubofbooks.it/no...
Profile Image for Joy.
220 reviews
May 2, 2025
each book gets more spicy lol
Profile Image for Krys.
1,350 reviews31 followers
July 11, 2020
I remember the first book in this series, and how much I hated it, but it's been awhile so when I saw this on KU I decided I would take a chance and see if the writing/plot had improved.

And no. It had not.

Once again despite being a college student (Penny turns 20 in this book) and a college Professor (James is 27) these two are so unbelievably immature that I wanted to scream. The book starts with Penny being depressed because it's been two weeks since James aka Professor Hunter has had anything to do with her. Not a text, not a phone call, not even so much as a look. In case you didn't read the first book - he got mad at her for "lying" to him by not disclosing the fact that she was 19 and a college sophomore when he thought she was older. Never mind the fact that they had only been dating for a MONTH and he was pressuring her to move in with him, oh and never mind the fact that he was still legally married at the time. Anyway - deciding to take the advice of her equally immature roommate Melissa, Penny decides to have sex with Tyler at her birthday party, before telling him that she's totally over Professor Hunter and wants to be in a relationship with him. Poor Tyler who really did genuinely like her, she toys with his emotions over and over. Of course just when she's starting to have a good time Professor Hunter crashes a college party to

1. Accuse her of being drunk
2. Demand she leave with him so they could "talk".

Sorry Professor, but you never had the right to be so high-handed with her, and you gave up the right to demand anything when you ignored her for two weeks. Of course Tyler when he steps in to stand up for her ends up in a physical fight with James and somehow Penny ends up getting punched in the stomach, slips on alcohol and hits her head. And Tyler, stunned into disbelief by what has happened simply stands back and allows James to pick her up and abscond with her back to his apartment. Where he has sex with her the next morning.

Speaking of sex - if I had to read one more badly written sex scene between these two I might have screamed. I don't know where this author got her information, but when a man orgasms inside a woman it DOES NOT FLOOD HER STOMACH. And don't get me started on how many times James "lowered his eyebrows slightly" throughout this story. Good Lord.

Oh and one other glaring thing for me was the fact that over and over James tells her that he is an addict. And how he used to constantly indulge in whatever it was he was addicted to - and yet aside from not being able to leave Penny alone and not being a hot then cold jerk towards her, we never see him as having an addiction to anything. He doesn't do drugs, he only drinks on occasion. The whole idea of him being an addict was preposterous and frankly insulting to anyone who has known or loved an addict in real life.

However, I am a total glutton for punishment and the next book has me intrigued. After all the secrets he has kept and the lies of omission, I can't imagine what else the author could dream up to throw at us (or how Penny is going to rationalize staying with him once she learns the truth).
602 reviews8 followers
September 6, 2019
I can’t stand penny!

I seriously couldn’t read anymore. She is so immature & selfish & so un divisive it drives me crazy!
**spoiler alert**
Do we start this book w/James being mad a penny & pretty much ignoring her calls/txt/emails for over 2 wks. Penny’s Birthday comes along & she sleeps w/Tyler (which I learned to really like his character) he is sweet & really cares for him. Once she has sex w/Tyler & promises him that she is over James & that she wants to start a relationship w/him. She sees James at the party he wants to take her home to “talk” she says no & Tyler & James gets into a fight & some how penny ends up slipping & falling hitting her head on the concrete floor.
She wakes up in James apartment . She wants to leave once things leads to another & she sleeps w/the profesor. That’s when I called it quits. She is so unreliable & selfish all she is thinking is herself. Whoever she is with at that moment she makes false promises & the nxt min says the same thing to the other person!
No more of this book... couldn’t take it anymore!
Profile Image for Heather  Mood Reads.
824 reviews29 followers
April 27, 2020
I am going to give this book a 3.5 and round it up to a 4.

I was annoyed with Penny up until the last half of the book. Then I started to actually care for her character as a whole. I remembered how irritating I was when I was 20 and started to feel for her.

Being so unsure of the situation and only wanting to think the best of someone reminded me of myself back in the day (although, married men were always a complete no go!). She only wants to think the best of him, even though she knows something is not right.

This is the reason I rounded up my review to a 4 instead of keeping it at a 3.

As infuriating both Penny and James are, I'm intrigued and just downloaded the third book. Sooo, we will see how this goes! 🙃
Profile Image for Tracy D..
364 reviews54 followers
March 14, 2022
Forbidden Romance

Penny and James deal with the fallout of their relationship being vindictivly outed.

I loved how Professor Hunter's vulnerable side gets shown in this, but doesn't make him less.

Penny's experiences were rough, but I loved how she handled everything, mostly.

HEA for now in this book, but I'm nervous about what's to come.
Profile Image for Amanda Schneider.
438 reviews9 followers
December 3, 2022
OH MY GOD. THE ENDING. I really thought I was going to be so mad at the ending but WOW I’m not mad. So much happened in this book, and dammit I’m going to have to keep reading
Profile Image for Liberi  Leggendo.
876 reviews24 followers
April 28, 2021
Dopo aver lasciato Penny innamorata del professor Hunter, una relazione impossibile alla luce del giorno e finita lasciandoci sulle spine, oggi finalmente posso raccontarvi come continua questa storia complicata.

A causa di una bugia da parte di Penny, il professor Hunter non la calcola più, e assistere alle sue lezioni è diventata una vera e propria tortura. Lui nemmeno la guarda, è come se fosse diventata trasparente, ogni lezione è una sofferenza. Non mangia, non dorme, Penny è ridotta proprio male. Ad aiutarla è la sua amica che le consiglia di buttarsi tra le braccia di un altro, per dimenticare.

Ma cosa prova il professor Hunter? In questo nuovo capitolo scopriremo chi è realmente James, i suoi problemi, le sue fragilità. Mentre nel primo la figura del professore era tenuta sul vago, adesso molti aspetti ci saranno chiari, permettendoci di capire determinate situazioni e scelte.

Sono state pagine di puro tormento, tra problemi e romanticismo, mi sono sentita molto coinvolta nella storia, l'autrice è riuscita a catturarmi sin da subito. Le scene di sesso sono molto hot, le ritroviamo spesso, ma non risultano pesanti nè tantomeno volgari. Ritroviamo personaggi quali Melissa, Tyler, Rob e anche la famiglia di Penny.

I nostri protagonisti dovranno affrontare molti problemi, situazioni che per l'età di Penny forse sono troppo grandi ma che grazie alla sua spensieratezza riuscirà a stare accanto a James, ad aiutarlo. Non vi dirò altro per non rovinare la lettura. Leggetelo, le emozioni sono assicurate.
Profile Image for C.P. Mandara.
Author 35 books538 followers
October 6, 2020
And... the games continue. The first half of this book felt quite fast-paced, the self half slowed down for me. It was lovely to see the relationship progressing, finally on more even ground. I did wonder what was going to happen after the were 'outed.' Would they or wouldn't they? This relationship seems to have so many obstacles to overcome, at times it seems almost impossible.

Definitely loving the kinky shenanigans around the pool table, though!!

8/10 for me :)
Profile Image for vivareads .
318 reviews49 followers
May 11, 2023
Just meh. I thought it might get better, but it remained on the same pace as the last one so.
Honestly quite repetitive. And just stupid. It wasn’t that bad but just what for do they need 2 more books, I don’t have the energy nor interest to find out hence dropping the series here.
Profile Image for kasane moore.
104 reviews2 followers
June 30, 2025
this series is so cringe but i’m intrigued with the plot and how there story is gonna go lmaoooo
Profile Image for Ali.
459 reviews40 followers
October 1, 2025
I do this to myself.
113 reviews
December 25, 2021
Ashamed to say I liked it.
Insta love 🤨
Literally no plot just a journey.
Penny really went on an experience with all the guys in this book
Profile Image for Brittany.
762 reviews3 followers
August 4, 2020
I'll admit that I would not have picked this one up had it not been for Kindle Unlimited. I enjoyed the first installment of the series but not enough to continue the entire series. Luckily, Kindle Unlimited had Addiction, so I gave it a try.

I did not like this one as much as I did Temptation. There was a lot going on . . . we didn't just have the conflict with Professor [James] Hunter and Penny. There was James' brother who really got under my skin with his immaturity. The ex wife. There was the brief "relationship" — let's just say hook up — between Penny and Tyler.

Tyler. Poor, poor Tyler. He was just put in the middle of everything and I really felt sorry for him. The fact that he was okay with everything, even after hooking up with Penny and her going back to Professor Hunter . . . he was perfectly okay with her leading him on, and just being friends. He was way too understanding.

The conflict between James and Penny got old after awhile. Then there's his ex wife coming along stirring things. Always drama with James when all he has to do is be honest and open. From my understanding, the next book will be full of more of the same stuff. James holding on to secrets, Penny being immature about it all, and drama with the ex wife.

I know this is a lot of people's thing . . . the push/pull of relationships. I read Fifty Shades of Grey and even the After series, so I totally get it. However, this series just isn't it for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,003 reviews

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