I honestly did not expect to love this book as much as I did. When I first read the synopsis, I wasn’t sure it would be my thing at all, this is way outside my usual romance comfort zone, but wow, am I glad I gave it a chance.

The chemistry between Claire and Shane was insanely hot. From the moment they step into the woods, the tension is absolutely electric and it never lets up. It’s raw, primal, and so addictive in the best way. I loved how the author leaned into the darker, edgier side of their dynamic while still giving us emotional moments that made me fully invested in their connection.

If you’re looking for something unique, intense, and seriously steamy, this one delivers. And now I’m counting down the days until the next book in the series because I am hooked.

This was a fun, very spicy romance. I finished it and immediately wanted more of it. This does have a pretty specific kink I haven't seen much in dark romance books.

Somehow both scorchingly sexy and achingly sweet, this story is a must-read for those who like well-rounded characters, a man head-over-heels obsessed, and a nice dollop of plot with their spice.

This book was expanded from a novella, and I'm glad it was - there was enough of a meaty plot to keep me interested, with not an overwhelming amount of sexy scenes that I got bored of them (I know that sounds dumb when I've picked up a romance like this but sometimes there is just so much sex in a book that it gets boring and repetitive!!! that was not the case here). I couldn't put it down!

Shane is kind of the sweetest, and Claire is going through it. Their interactions and unfolding friendship to relationship was so fun, as was Shane's adorable ineptitude. He's just sort of everything I love in a romance MMC.

Read this if you liked Lights Out, possessive and obsessive MMCs, and/or want to try exploring a new subgenre of dark(ish) romance.
Also I'm hoping that we get a Caine sequel. I, in fact, need it.

Give me primal play all day, this book has it all and does not dissapoint!
A fun way to explore something you might not have known you were into.

3.75 rating. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I was intrigued by this book. I felt like this entire read I kept questioning if this was my thing. The primal play/hunting kink was new for me!

Things I absolutely loved:
A socially awkward, rich, crazy intelligent yet traumatized MMC that has obsessive tendencies that blend into his personal life for one particular person - the FMC. Shane fit the description to a T. I loved how the author made us love him while also being empathetic to his awkwardness and insecurity. I loved how he was vulnerable with himself and the FMC. And the dirty mouth? 10/10.

Claire - the FMC was kind and honest and well in a transition. Her decision to be hunted in such a formal (contract binding) way was a little left field to me. It was hard to believe she was completely okay with the arrangement based on how rather emotional she is . But I was happy to see that their relationship evolved as they got closer and it became clear that they actually liked each other.

The plot itself wasn’t bad- it was definite wrapped around the spice and the sex tho excessive- was basically the point of the book. I loved the HEA!

This book? THIS book?? Oh my god 🥵
Holy Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the camel they rode in on.
I've died. Dead & buried.
I am absolutely OBSESSED with Shane and Claire!! This book so carefully tiptoes the line between spicy and sweet. It perfectly incapsulates Shane's introduction to kink and really well illustrates learning how to do things safe, sane and consensual. I adored everything about Shane, I am a sucker for a Man Who Yearns 🖐️
I think that one of my favorite things about this book is that even though the premise is a bit of a stretch, it still manages to be very grounded at times. Every time I've read a book with an IICYIFY type scene my brain is instantly thinking "BUT WHAT ABOUT TICKS??" And not only did Allie Oleander manage to work that little bit of realism into the story, it's such a pivotal moment in their relationship. That point in the story to me really marked the shift from their arrangement being about the money for Claire to being about spending time with each other.
I wish I could read this book for the first time again, it was THAT good.

Thank you to Berkeley and NetGalley for the ARC!

Oh man, this is a fun, fast-paced SPICY romp. It sort of has Lights Out vibes but I actually think I liked this one more? I found it a bit less cringy. I wasn’t sure how I felt about a whole novel centered around primal play but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this.

Main characters in their 30s/40s? Love to see it! Claire was such a strong, badass FMC (yet still flawed) and I loved her. Her inner monologue is hilarious. I also loved that they had a delightful little role reversal at the end.

I spent most of the book wishing there was a bit more actual plot but it managed to drum up a decent amount of conflict in the last quarter. And let’s be real…you’re not really reading this book for plot anyway. So that was an added bonus!

Caine was also a great side character. Can we get a book about him and Margot? Please!!

This book was a fascinating read. Beyond the intimate scenes, it carried an interesting and fleshed out plot that will make you want to continue reading.

I liked how the story gives the time to watch Shane and Claire learn to communicate and for Shane to learn how to better express himself and his emotions.

Meeting Caine, Shane’s brother, and Margot, Shane’s employee, (as well as Gretchen and Sydney) was also really enjoyable. The cast of characters in this book kept me engaged the entire time. And she epilogue with Shane and Claire left me feeling fully satisfied with their ending.

To the person at Berkley who decided to add Willing Prey to the lineup: I want to be your new best friend. You're a little freak, bestie.

It's important to realize before going in, this is really an erotica novel. A large majority of this story is sexy time scenes, and we love it for that. A lawyer hires his partners ex-wife, after overhearing his partner brag about how his ex likes to be hunted for sport and then a bit of light stalking, to be his live in prey for 30 days. These two REALLY like primal play, and if that's something you're into you're going to like this book. I read this in one sitting, and I was SAT. I loved watching these characters grow beyond their contract, and I'm very excited for the potential next story that was set up here. VERY fun, spicy time.

This book's description caught my eye so I decided to give it a try even though it isn't my usual sub genre of romance. It was well written and I found the premise to be interesting, but this is definitely not my new favorite. I found myself skipping some scenes that were too much for me. So if you're into the hunter and prey scene I'm sure you'll love this more than I did

No regrets because it is good to leave your comfort zone.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest review

I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK.

What I expected: a spicy, fun read with some kink.
What I got: a spicy, kinky, fun, emotional, and incredibly wholesome love story that had me kicking my feet and nearly crying from how sweet they were.

Claire and Shane are both real, messy characters and I love that about them. They both have flaws and know it. What made this story feel really special to me was the natural way their relationship develops and the way they work together to make their relationship what they need it to be.

All in all, I can't recommend this book highly enough. It brought me so much joy and I smile just thinking about it.

Willing Prey follows Claire, who signs a contract with her ex-husband’s boss to be his sexual prey for thirty days after her ex cheats on her and leaves her drowning in debt. I went into this book knowing nothing beyond that and it surprised me at every turn.

I adored the characters. I loved that both were in their 30s, confident in who they were, and walked into the agreement with eyes wide open. Claire wasn’t some naïve heroine saying yes to a random proposition out of desperation—she knew about primal play, had explored it before, and made a fully informed choice. Most books with this setup flip that dynamic, making the FMC innocent and the MMC experienced, so seeing it reversed was a refreshing twist.

And Shane? Awkward and adorable outside of the scenes, which made him even more endearing. This story nails the balance between dark kinks and a heartfelt romance plot. I wouldn’t call it a “dark romance” per se, there aren’t heavy, non-romance dark themes, unless you count the cheating, asshole ex-husband and how much I wanted to punch him in the face.

From the second it hit my Kindle, I couldn’t put it down. If this turns into a series, I will absolutely be first in line for books about Shane’s siblings.

Thank you to NetGalley and @BerkleyPub for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Whew. This book was filthy in the best possible way and I loved every second of it.

Willing Prey is primal kink fantasy turned all the way up and if you're into that, you will love this book. Claire, a newly divorced PE teacher drowning in debt, agrees to a very spicy arrangement: $30K for 30 days of being hunted through the woods by a rich, dangerously hot lawyer who wants to explore his darkest desires. No strings, just chase and catch with a safe word, of course.

But Shane? In the woods?? Absolutely feral. Think sleek, controlled alpha in the streets, unhinged beast in the forest. I was not ready. And Claire holds her own so well. She’s smart, confident, funny, and fully down for the ride.

This book doesn’t just deliver on the steam (though holy hell, it delivers). There’s a really nice slow burn of emotional tension underneath all the biting, chasing, tying up, and panting against trees. I kept thinking I was here for the heat and I was but then suddenly I cared, deeply about these two messy, horny people finding something real in the middle of their summer long kinkfest.

Loved the pacing, loved the consent and communication through the chaos, and loved how the forest felt like its own character, wild and intimate.

My only tiny critique is that I wish we’d gotten a little more insight into Shane’s emotional walls and how/why they cracked. He’s intense as hell (which I’m not mad about), but a few more vulnerable moments would’ve taken it to a full 5 stars for me.

So if you're in the mood for kinky outdoor sex, a woman who knows exactly what she wants, a man who wants to ruin her (in a good way), and a romance that gets dirty before it gets soft, this is the book for you.

4.5 Stars!!!

#NetGalley, #WillingPrey, #AllieOleander, #BerkleyPub, #SmuttyBooks, #SpicyBooks

I had a blast with this book! I read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. Claire is a badass who is determined to get what she wants (30K to pay off her student loan debts). She gets so much more than she bargained for in this kinky and surprisingly sweet erotic romance. It was so fun to see her competitive side come out in their scenes as she didn't want to make it easy for him to win. I totally got why Shane fell so hard for her because she captivated me from the beginning as well. If you're looking for a steamy book with primal play with a down bad morally gray hero this is the book for you!

ARC review

If you’re looking for a spice driven plot 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ with a fun and kinky premise then look no further. The action starts immediately and doesn’t stop. I couldn’t put it down, hooked, and invested in the evolution from contractual sex to something more. Don’t go into this expecting a deep plot but if you love an occasional (or frequent!) mindless love story, here you go!

Once again I'm blown away by this book. Having read the original novella, I was so happy that Willing Prey got picked up and expanded upon. I'm in love with these characters and coming back to this series was just a perfect pick me up. Reading more about Claire and Shane's struggle with their "emotional constipation" really hits hard with someone who also struggles with speaking my emotions when needed. This book definitely needs more hype and I can't wait for the next book with you know who 👀

I just binged Willing Prey and regret NOTHING. I was super intrigued when I first heard about this book, and Allie did NOT disappoint. This high-heat novel packed such a punch and managed to have amazing spice along with sweet moments full of yearning. I fell in love with this story, especially with Shane! We follow Allie post-divorce get propositioned by Shane with an offer she can't turn down and things unfold from there. I don't want to get too into it because going in not knowing too much made it even more fun! This was such a fun read and even though this was very spice-heavy, Allie made you believe in the love between Claire and Shane. Now I just need Caine and Margot's story!!!! <3 Again, thank you so much for allowing me to read this book early!

Claire and Shane's story captivated me from the beginning! Primal Play is facinating to me and I have read a few romance books on this troupe, but Willing Prey stands out from those for a number of reasons I won't get into so I don't spoil the book. This book gets a bit gritty and I was there for every word of it and very unwilling to put this book down. And I am silently praying that there will be more books from this author!

I devoured this book. Holy cow! I honest to god loved it. The plot was driven with a hint of complexity with the whole contract binding and the character chemistry was crazy good. I saw hints of there being a spin off with Caine / Margot (maybe?). I also saw further character lore (evil father) that could maybe be developed more.
Overall, 4/5 stars. The smut was smutting. The obsession / possessive talk was swoon worthy. Such a good read!

This is more erotica than romance, which is fine, I just think it should be marketed as such. That said, I wasn't invested until about a third of the way into the story because, until we get Shane's POV, the main characters don't seem to have any chemistry. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it, but with the caveat that it starts a little rushed.