Hunted

Highgate Preparatory Academy #0.5

by Rosa Lee

Pregnant.

Funny how one small word can change the course of your life so completely that it becomes unrecognisable.

In order to protect the life growing inside me, I must change who I am, escaping from the rich yet depraved mountains of Colorado to the hidden exclusivity of London.

Dancing becomes my freedom, giving me everything that I've missed from my privileged life so far. Friends, safety and a fresh start.

But, you can't outrun your past forever.

And it's only a matter of time before mine catches up with me…

*** For 18+ Hunted is a Highgate Preparatory Academy Prequel Novella and is told from the POV of Laura Darling, Lilly’s mother. There is no HEA for Laura. It contains mention and scenes of explicit sexual nature, violence and domestic abuse. If you find any of these things triggering probably best to leave now.

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark, Romance, Novella, Abuse, Why Choose, Audiobook

126 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 21, 2021

About the author

Rosa Lee lives in a sleepy Wiltshire village, surrounded by the beautiful English countryside and the sound of British Army tanks firing in the background (it’s worth the noise for the uniformed dads in the local supermarket and doing the school run!).

Rosa loves writing dark and delicious whychoose romance, and has so many ideas trying to burst out that she can often be found making a note of them as soon as one of her three womb monsters wakes her up. She believes in silver linings and fairytale endings...you know, where the villains claim the Princess for their own, tying her up and destroying the world for her.

If you’d like to know more, please check out Rosa’s socials or visit

www.rosaleeauthor.com

https://Linktr.ee/RosaLeeAuthor

Reviews

[Madeleine Rivas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I debated back and forth on reading this before book 1, one because I was dying to read all the spicy scenes in book 1 and two I wasn’t sure if there were any spoilers in it.
I am glad I read the whole series first because it did have spoilers in it that made the series more enticing and binge worthy. But I’m glad she added in this prequel because it filled in some gaps and I liked getting Violet’s back story. I wish she had a happier ending, I got super teary eyed that’s for sure!
This was a short and quick read but I still enjoyed it, it won’t be a reread but, I definitely recommend reading after the series! It is completely up to you if you would like to read it before or after the rest of the series!

[Mia S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh the story captures from page 1 to the very short end. I love that the FMC is able to find a community that welcomes her in and she’s able to stand up for herself, but the ending…. wow. Short, but a good backstory. Very little smut but really didn’t mind the story line was the hook.

[Ivelisse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just the beginning….

Of what’s to be read! A little insight as to Lilly and what happened 16 years prior to her mom Violet and dad Ace. Quick read with triggers

[Brittany selken · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I’m starting on this book series and I can’t wait to dive into this whole series because if anything like this book I can only imagine. The ending of the book is what is going to happen next because that left on a cliffhanger like what is going to happen now. I can only imagine.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting start to the series. Violet is stuck in an abusive marriage to a powerful connected man, Ace. When finding out she is pregnant she flees.

Luck is on her side when she reaches her destination & she quickly finds people who only want the best for her. Id love to see more from Grey, but given the series follows a later timeline, I dont know whether I will.

Violet, now Laura, gives birth to a baby girl - who we will know as Lilly. Years later, Lauras past catches up with her .. and so the series begins…

Im excited to read more of this. The side characters were great, I adored Grey & Ryan. Lexi was lovely too. I hope they make some kinda of appearance later on. This was a quick read & draws you in straight away.

[Gemma Fairway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having already previously read Rosa’s Highgate Preparatory series I already knew the fate of Laura Darling, but reading the reality of it I still wasn’t prepared enough. The true sense of family she found with Ryan, Lexi and Grey was so heartwarming to read about especially after the trauma she suffered at Ace‘s hands. It’s such a shame she had to meet her fate, but equally it’s a shame this was only a novella because the love and heat between Laura and Ryan I could read about until the cows come home. As soon as I got to the ‘16 years later’ part, I knew it was going to be less panty melting and more grab the tissues. Once again, even in under 20 chapters Rosa has managed to take the reader through the ringer.

[brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Deciding that I won’t be ashamed of what I’ve been through. Remembering that what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger as they say”

“We all deserve to be free, to fly like birds”

Violet/Laura’s story was beautiful and showed what an amazing woman she was and how proud of Lilly she truly would have been.

I could’ve read a whole series on her, Lexi, Ryan, and the club! 80 pages was not enough.

[Athena Que Será, Será · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tags: abuse, damaged-broken_heroine, heroine-dies, heroine-gets-another-love, heroine-leaves, heroine-loved-or-loves-om, heroine-waitress-bartender, om_drama, rape-survivor, read, secret-accidental-baby

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Im so glad I got some of Laura’s story. I really was hoping we’d get this back ground at some point. I was a tad scared that Lilly’s Dad was also one of the Knights Dad. But luckily thats not true.

[Charlotte Prodromou · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know its only a prequel... but id have been happier with a full book!

[Jeliza Torres · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short story of Lilly’s mom Violet before she was killed. I loved that she had so many good people with her during her pregnancy. So sad that she had to live in fear so long though 💔

[Stacee Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across Rosa Lee while scrolling through TikTok and to say I’ve become obsessed with her writing is an understatement. The first series I’ve had the pleasure of reading is the Highgate Preparatory Academy, where there are three main books within the series and a prequel involving Violet (aka Laura, Lilly Darling’s mum who’s the MFC within the main series). When it came to reading this series, I decided to read the prequel first which allowed me to have a brief insight of some characters which we will eventually meet in the main series, also giving you an explanation of the events leading up to what happens to violet and how Lilly’s life becomes what it is today. When it comes to comparing it to other authors, the main one that stuck out to me was Carnage by Shantel Tessier, in the hopes of a better life where Violet is free from the social standings in which she grew up in.

I absolutely loved this instalment up until the very end, not because of the overall writing and pace but because of the emotional outcome. Personally, I would read this first because I found it left my imagination run wild to all the possibilities to come involving both Violet’s and Lilly’s journey. The main aim of this book is to gain insight into Laura’s (Violet) background, with her overall need to escape Ash from the mental and physical abuse he’s inflects to protect both herself and her unborn child, but there’s always a constant fear of being caught. If you do however read the main series first, it’s a nice added bonus to see things unravel from Laura’s perspective and she 100% deserves to have story told.

I would 100% recommend this to anyone who loves a dark romance! Unlike the main series, personally I’d rate this book to be 16+ because its quite tame from things I’ve read previously, however; its target audience set by the author is 18+, I can understand why, after reading the main series you will notice a lot more graphic imagery and triggering aspects. If I had to describe this book in one sentence, it would be “A chance for freedom is finally within reach after years of abuse, but how long can you stay hidden and keep the freedom you’ve been chasing”.

[Mickayla Workman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay just wanna start out by saying I was 70 pages into book 1 and I decided to back track and read the prequel. I don’t think it matters which one you read first but I am glad I went back and read the prequel first. I will say that if you read book 1 first and then the prequel the things will come as more of a shock but I’m not sure of how you should read them. Anyway though this is a great series and it has gotten me back into reading. This book only has one spicy scene but I think it is a great backstory of what Lilly’s mom was like and what happened to her. Anyway, I don’t know what else to say since this book is only 100 pages but it is a great start to this series and I can’t wait to go back to book 1 now!

[Lolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is there such thing as too much spice in a spicy dark romance series? Maybe some of us just love it extra spicy.

I found this series via booktok and I’ve pretty much read each book in one night the past three days. Rosa Lee isn’t an author you usually see when people are raving about books and you know what, she deserves more credit where it’s due.

The sex scenes just helped my non existent love life and let me escape into the world of Lilly, this why choose series gives you four equally sexy male characters, your he-man/viking, Lucifer, the cheeky handsome and the geeky but very dominant nerd. The Knights, are best friends and heirs to their father’s companies, with deep dark secrets one day a ray of sunshine happens to move into their dorm, captivating all their hearts..

My favourite character in the books has to be Loki, if you’ve been keeping up with my recent reviews on Cora Reilly and enjoy The Camorra Chronicles, Loki gives Savio Falcone but just so much extra and better. I love him so much🥹🥹 from the second he’s introduced in the book I knew he’d be my favourite, but then my heart has a soft spot for the big hunk that is Jax.

This series has so many twists and turns I actually really enjoyed the story behind this series and the dark pasts of the men. it’s such a fast burn series which means you jump straight in and I just couldn’t put the damn books down. Which is how I’m reviewing as a series instead of solo, but I guess hats off to you @rosaleeauthor you are a queen for that.

[Steevi Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

What on earth is this authors fascination with chequered white and black marble flooring? Every place she describes seems to have this flooring in the Highgate series and this prequel.

Rosa never states what years these books take place in and never eludes to dates of birth I believe (just ages) but it annoys me that whilst Laura/Violet is in the early stages of her pregnancy, they listen to Sex on fire by Kings of Leon which was released September 2008. I think Lilly is 17 at the start of the Highgate series which means it has to be at least 2025 and Captured wasn't released until 2021. Although there's 'no reason' this book can't be a few years ahead of when it was written it just seems like the choice of songs in this prequel was maybe overlooked.

As a book on it's own merit, I think it wasn't too bad. Wish there was a bit more story told between the birth of Lilly and death of Laura/Violet, like her relationship with Ryan but I did like how it ended.

[Kali Dempsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ⭐
2/5 🌶️

This is my first book by Rosa Lee and I was so pleasantly surprised. This novella was captivating and had me hooked from the start. She gives us a warning about how it ends, but I was still absolutely thrown by it.

I really loved Violet/Laura. She was this battered and broken woman who found out she was pregnant and did everything she could to escape her situation. She was able to get far away and was still on her toes about her surroundings and her anonymity. I loved Lexi and Ryan to pieces and even Grey, they were really great side characters and I really enjoyed their part in this story. I hope we get to see them in Lilly's books too.

That ending was something else. I don't think I've lived that through the eyes of the narrator, but it was really beautiful and heartbreaking. I am so excited to pick up Captured and to see how Lilly's story goes.

[Disney & Fantasy Book Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hunted by Rosa Lee

📚: Prequel to Highgate Preparatory Academy Series
📚: Audiobook. It is also available on Ku as an individual book ~ or you can listen to or read it in the Conquered collection of books
📚: Dark Academia
📚: Tropes ~ ✨Emotional Damage✨😉😭😂

⭐: 4
🌶️: 2

~ Thoughts ~
~Please check trigger warnings before reading ~

Grey is such a sweetheart 🥺🥹

I initially read this book series in 2023 and did not read Hunted. But when I got the special edition at the end of last year I had the urge to re-read the series and I wanted to include Hunted in my re-read.

Audible had a sale for it’s members, so I purchased the Conquered audiobook (includes the whole series) and the narrators did a gorgeous job of narrating Hunted.

I love hearing about the characters who we meet and get to love in the main series (Grey, Lexi, Ryan and more 😉).

📚: Dates Read: 10th of April

[Samanthasue218 · Rating 5 out of 5]

No spoilers --read on Kindle through Kindle Unlimited.

WOW! This book had me hooked right away, and I cannot wait to continue on this series. This book is a prequel to the series. I am sad that this prequel is the past, and the series starts from a different character in this book as this book had me feeling all the emotions! The ending I wanted to cry and scream and fight for the FMC and continue her story. Am I mad at Rosa Lee for this? A little, because I am HURT at that ending, but I am so excited to read this series! So I will forgive her. LOL. I am glad I started with the prequel to get this background story though! DO NOT skip the Note to the Readers and the Author Note on this one.

Would I recommend? Heck yes, as long as the person is okay with the trigger warning.

[Bailey Wiggins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this would give more insight to Ace and Violet’s relationship before she ran, but it really started with her running. Granted, we know it was an arranged marriage, and we know he abused her. So I guess that’s enough of the story there.

Poor Tom. Never got to love her fully. And poor Ryan! Ryan loved her, too!

I am glad we got to see her relationship with Lexi and Ryan develop over her first year as Laura Darling.

I will say, I’m a bit confused by how Tom was Ace’s driver, but he became the driver for the boys later on? Maybe because he was specifically a driver for Black Knight, not just Ace. And Ace was no longer with Black Knight. Also a little confused on how homegirl could steal his shares in the company out of the safe lol but hey, I’ll go with it.

[Jessica Joppich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, Dark, Sweet, Heartbreaking, Violet truly could have had her own series. I know its just a prequel novella but I would have loved to become even more invested in her story.

Personally I say read this after the first book. Get a feel for the characters in the first book, love them, have a thousand questions, and then read this one. It answers questions and spoils some more but I feel like to truly love Violet/Laura you have to first love Lilly and have the same questions about her mom that she does.

------

The only thing I really have highlighted from this book is the Author's parting note, "Laura’s/Violet’s story needed to be told, and sometimes it hurts…" and its accurate through and through.

[FloofyMooseReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hunted is a prequel novella to the Highgate Preparatory Academy series and tells the story of the mother of that series’ FMC, Lilly, This is designed to be read after the main three books in the series as to not spoil certain reveals.

Tropes and themes include:
✨Found family
✨No HEA
✨Freedom
✨Prior abuse
✨Workplace romance
✨Starting over
✨Gentlemens’ club

Rating: 4/5 Stars 2/5 Flames

This quick read gives us insight into the story of Lilly’s mother. We see her after escaping an abusive situation and finding a beautiful found family in London I also enjoyed where she found employment and acceptance. Please note this does not end on a HEA for Lilly’s mom, which, of course, was rather sad.

[Ashley Durden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking, Haunting, and Completely Addictive!

This was my very first Rosa Lee book, and wow—I’m absolutely hooked! I went in blind since this is a prequel, and I figured that was the best way to dive into this world. From page one, I was pulled in by the raw emotion and intensity of the story.

I’m heartbroken for Laura/Violet and for Lilly… but most of all for Ryan. Even knowing it wasn’t going to be a happily ever after didn’t prepare me for just how much this one would hurt. Rosa Lee has a way of making you feel every ounce of pain, love, and loss.

If you’re new to her writing, like I was, start here—you’ll understand why this story needed to be told. I can’t wait to continue the rest of the series and see how everything connects. Absolutely recommend!

[sycokittykat - Stefanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

DO NOT READ THIS BOOK 1ST UNLESS YOU WANT TO SPOIL THE SERIES. I didn't even realize it existed until after I read the other 3 and was very glad I didn't have the books spoiled.

Find out what happened before Lilly arrived at Highgate Prep.

Watch as Violet becomes Laura Darling. See how she came to work at Greys and how she met Ryan and Lexi. See just how much she loved Lilly Darling and everything she did to give her a chance at safety.

I loved learning about everything that went down up to where Captured started. It fills in all the tiny missing details that you really wanted the answers to but figured you would never actually find answers to.

[Danielle Nielson, Book Therapist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Broken Book Therapist Reviews

So that author's note on the last page... yep, went in blind to this series (I read Soliders vs Tailors a while back and been meaning to get lost in this whole universe)... and decided to start with the prequel... that packed a lot of emotion and trauma into a few pages. Content warning from here: I worked in domestic violence for a while, and often have therapy clients that have been through it, and the difficulty trusting that gets brought up is so real. My heart hurt for her and Ryan and everything that this represented in life after escape.

[Becky Skylar_Hui · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this afterwards I've finished book 1 and 2 of this series, also I've read this very long ago, can't remember much but I would give it a 5 star because the series in my memory is just that good. Definitely recommend those who have read book 1 to go read this 0.5 prequel first before going on to book 2 and 3, unlike me so you'll understand more of the history behind the characters and have a more full concept idea of the story as you read along but for those who read this after book 1, 2 and 3 is also perfectly fine.

[Tanya Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing prequel Novella

Ok, I knew how this was going to end going into this book but I wasn't ready! I want more of Ryan and Lexi and everybody. I am not happy with Rosa Lee right now! Right in the feels!

This was a beautifully written novella to give background information for the new series but I'm telling you I could have quite happily had a series based on these characters. Grey, Mr Black I need more...I am grieving the loss, there are no more pages. I need more.

[Odette Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it!

Get ready for a wild ride with this book! It's a real page-turner that hooks you in from the very beginning and keeps you fully invested in Laura's story. Your emotions will run high as you follow her journey, but trust me, it's all worth it. The author warned us that some intense moments were coming, and boy, did they deliver! You won't be able to put this book down until you reach the very last page. Get ready for a thrilling adventure with Laura!

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but emotional

Since this is a prequel to the series I had a feeling it would be a lot of emotions. I didn’t realize how many emotions. This is short but very effective at pulling on your heartstrings. We get a glimpse of, I’m assuming the main character in the series, with a bit of backstory. This really set the scene and made me excited for the series.

[S.A. Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew how the ending was going to go, because I know the next book is her daughters story. That doesn’t change the fact that the ending broke my heart. Violet aka Laura ran to protect her unborn baby, and she found safety, friendship, and love. Lexi is a great friend, and I loved all the supporting characters. Great prequel.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I knew where this would end I’m still left open mouthed with so many questions - holes I didn’t realise were even holes have been filled and now I want to know how it’s all going to come together in the end. How will the big reveal work? What are the boys going to say when learn about Enzo’s involvement …. I need more.!!!