***I received an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review***
When Hunter's best friend and partner-in-crime, Dixon, finds the love of his life and gets engaged, Hunter finds himself without a wingman while he continues to play the field. He's a classic playboy, who womanizes his way through town. He's got a big mouth and an even bigger ego, and both of these seem to get him into trouble.
Mary, the best friend of Dixon's soon-to-be-wife, catches Hunter's eye. She's smoking hot and he loves her spunky attitude. And hey, Mary thinks Hunter is pretty easy on the eye too, but his personality is enough to send her running for the hills.
I enjoyed the elaborate game of cat and mouse that Hunter and Mary played throughout this book. The Hunt really is quite a fitting title for this story. Hunter is very much an alpha male, and once he sets his sights on Mary, he'll stop at nothing to get her.
I loved Mary's personality. She's sassy, doesn't take crap from Hunter (or any man, for that matter), and she's perfectly fine standing on her own without a man. She commands respect and she won't tolerate being treated any less than she deserves. It really felt to me like if Mary was going to get into a relationship, it would need to be with somebody who would bring something great to her life, who would make things better. It definitely wouldn't be out of convenience.
Hunter was truly what made this book a 4 versus 5 star read for me. The whole arrogant playboy thing in the beginning of the book was way too much. I think it got laid on a little thick with him, and though James did a good job of redeeming him as the story passed, I was honestly kinda grossed out by him for much of the first half of the book. It was nice to see that he did have a softer side hidden somewhere in him, and the feelings I had for him at the start of the book didn't make me dislike the book itself. It just made the first portion a bit harder for me to read.
There was insane chemistry between Hunter and Mary, and the author did an amazing job of playing off that. The first time the two were in a room together it was like fireworks started going off. Even more entertaining was the fact that everyone around them seemed to see the way these two felt. There was so much UST built up between the two that I thought one might explode at any minute. Which made me as a reader want to simultaneously slap the characters and explode myself.
The Hunt flows well, is wonderfully written, and has solid characters that I enjoyed. I found myself laughing a lot as I read, because the exchanges between Hunter and Mary were quite entertaining at times. I liked the plot that James crafted with this story, and I enjoyed that I really didn't know how things were going to end up.
I would recommend this title to anyone looking for a sexy, sassy, and funny romance.
Four stars to this novel!