The Hunter

Always have to love a forbidden, angst ridden romance! This was steamy and entertaining and made for a great romance to read! The tension between these characters was something else and kept me so invested! This was my first LJ Shen book and I can’t wait to continue to read more from this author!

*Thank you to Netgalley for gifting me an arc in exchange for an honest review.*

So good and spicy!!

I really enjoyed this one!! It's all I want in a steamy romance book and I enjoyed every single second if it! Hunter's character is just the most dramatic and over the top and he was written to perfection. I'm so so interested to read the rest of this series! Especially Cillian's story because man, I need to see who gets to that heart of stone.

Highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley for the earc in return for an honest review.

OKAY - NOOOTTT what I was expecting but I love LJ Shen and the Boston Belles series. In all honesty, I wanted to punch Hunter in the face multiple times throughout this book and every series he pops into. We've seen Hunter Fitzpatrick in multiple series written by LJ Shen and I have to say that he is the most annoying character I've read about.

OH - You thought this was a negative review. Naw. This story is raunchy as hell and kept me entertained with each passing page. I love dark romance and the raunchier the better. By only real complaint is that Hunter is a character that always gets what he wants. He doesn't care at what cost; as long as he gets it. I conclude he is a complete mess and that's the most relatable thing about him. All of his decision is driven by his d*ck, which makes you question his intelligence and life choices. At the same time - He is an attractive character that keeps your attention with each page and it's become your guilty pleasure to know what he does next.

The story itself was a fun read - I loved seeing what kind of chaos Hunter was going to get himself into next. He's definitely not my favorite character written by LJ Shen, but I truly love how each of her characters brings something different to the table for the reader.

Finished in two days and can't wait for more from the Boston Belles!!! Some of the story is a bit far-fetched, and more like a movie than real life, but isn't that what fictional books are for? Escaping? This one was great at sucking me in and keeping me entertained, I devoured it.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book.

Fair warning, if you have triggers of language or sex scenes, this book is not for you.

Hunter has made some extremely questionable life choices and now has to have a live-in babysitter to help keep him in line in the form of Sailor, the daughter of Sparrow and Troy Brennan, from the author's book Sparrow. He also has to work at his family business while attanding college and remain sober and celibate and out of trouble if he wants to receive his inheritance. Sailor is an archer, training to go to the Olympics, and Hunter's family is helping her with exposure if she goes along with the deal to help Hunter for six months.

Hunter's character in the beginning of the book was extremely unlikeable and off-putting. There was very little redeeming about his character at all, but I think his character showed tremendous growth throughout the course of the book and I very much appreciated that. He worked very hard to help his family's business and protect it from harm, and he clearly cared for Sailor over time.

I liked how well Sailor and Hunter worked togther, almost like a team and partners. They saw and appreciated each other for what really mattered. I think the book was well written, and while I definitely didn't like Hunter's character in the beginning, I can understand how the author maybe chose to write his character the way she did in order to ultimately show growth and change, at least I am choosing to think that way.

This book, true to the author's style, goes to the extremes. Take a bunch of unlikable characters and double down on just how horrid they can be. The characters, the situations, every is taken as far as it can possibly be taken. So, it stands to reason that it will provoke similar reactions in the reader, you will probably either love it or hate it, but it's definitely not a lukewarm feelings kind of book. I find it entertaining to read, to see where it will go. I want to see where train wreck of Hunter's relationship with Sailor will lead, even if I'm not emotionally invested in them. The author has a very defined style and you can count on that style to be alive and well in each of her books. I would, however, love to see what she could do if she ever decides to branch out from what she is known for.

I received and ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book I read from this author. The first one was the Villain and I really enjoyed her style.
Hunter is a playboy. A sexy, beautiful, dangerous, young playboy who was the star of an involuntary sex tape. Now his family is demanding him to behave or he is going to be disinherited.
Sailor is a professional archer and she wants to go to the Olympics. Hunter’s father promised her sponsorship in exchange for her to be his son’s nanny for six months. No girls, no alcohol, no sex.
Even though, sex is the only thing she is capable of thinking around him. Who’s going to be the prey and who’s going to be the hunter?
I really enjoyed these two. They are great, deep characters. Sailor was really interesting: she could be fragile and insecure in one moment and super hard in the next one, and Hunter was so much more than a pretty face. The chemistry between them is off the chart, but the relationship is also emotional and meaningful. That bond! Their friendship! And the sex! SIGH.
The book is well written and engaging. Maybe a bit too long because at some point it felt a bit reiterative. But I enjoyed it a lot.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Hunter is a roommates, forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers romance told in dual, alternating first-person POV. It is the first installment in the Boston Belles series of interconnected standalones. Though they can be read out of order, I recommend reading The Hunter first, because some of the plot related to the Fitzpatrick family company would be spoiled by reading The Villain or The Monster previously. It is also connected to the author’s All Saints High series, where Hunter is a close friend of the main characters, and Sparrow, the story of Sailor’s parents – none of which need to be read in order to follow this story but may be enjoyed either before or after reading The Hunter.

Reformed playboys are not typically my favorite heroes, but I really loved Hunter. This story did an excellent job of painting Hunter’s past in a way that made it easy to forgive much of his wild behavior, and I found myself sympathizing with him often and saddened to see the lack of confidence he had in his true self because of his upbringing. Sailor was a heroine I liked from the very start, and I loved her even more as I saw her grow from having a hostile, gritty assertiveness to a more poised, fearless self-assurance throughout the story. My favorite part of this book was seeing each main character’s personal growth and how the other encouraged and supported them; it felt like such an honest, strong bond that blossomed between them and made me swoon big-time!

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a spicy but still heartfelt and emotional story with some laughs and mystery sprinkled throughout.

I love L.J. Shen's books as the characters are always good. In the Hunter, I absolutely hated Hunter for he was an absolutely jerk and the things he said and did, what a horrible human. HOWEVER, this is what makes a great character. Everyone wants to have someone they hate but can learn to love in the end. Sailor was another great character as she seemed weak but became stronger. Absolutely love this story! Lots of twists and turns. I love the character development and relationships! I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from this series.

Great book! An unlikely couple, Hunter and Sailor find themselves matched together. The characters are so different, but both captivating. This story has all the elements - a love story, a mystery, lots of humor, and nonstop action. I couldn't put the book down. Highly recommend!

In the grand scheme of life, what can happen in 6 months? This is the thought that strengthens Sailor’s resolver to take on Hunter and make a splash on the society pages. But as we know, life is totally fickle and definitely doesn’t go the way we plan it. Get ready for angst and passion mixed in with sexy steamy scenes. Loved this book and highly recommend it!!

Nobody writes alpha men the way LJ Does, this was no different than her previous protagonists: hot, possessive, head over heels with their girls, even if they don't care to admit it too soon..

This book is one of my absolute favourites as well as this author! LJ Shen has the ability to really draw you in with her characters and description which make you feel like you are actually there! I love the chemistry between Hunter and Sailor and cannot wait for LJ's other work! I definitely recommend without a single doubt!!!

Hunter
I didn’t mean to star in a sex tape, okay?
It was just one of those unexplainable things.
Like Stonehenge, Police Academy 2, and morning glory clouds.
It just happened.
Now, my ball-busting father is sentencing me to six months of celibacy, sobriety, and morbid boredom under the roof of Boston’s nerdiest girl alive, Sailor Brennan.
The virginal archer is supposed to babysit my ass while I learn to take my place in Royal Pipelines, my family’s oil company.
Little does she know, that’s not the only pipe I’ll be laying…

This is not the best LJ Shen book that I have read but still a really, really good book. The devil wears black is still my favorite.... ) But I did finish The Hunter in a day because it was so funny. The hero is kind of a mess at the beginning but he grows and changes. The heroine is terrific. Lots of fun banter and a love/hate relationship.

The Hunter is an angsty enemies to lovers story that made me laugh and cry and had me thoroughly engaged.

As Hunter Fitzpatrick is hauled from California back to Boston after unwittingly starring in a sex video and forcing his dad to pay out over six million dollars to keep Hunter out of trouble. And for nineteen year old Hunter out of trouble means six months under his parents thumb working for the family business, college at night, staying sober and celibate, and being babysat by Sailor Brennan a feisty red headed archer who wants to make it to the Olympics and needs the Fitzpatrick money to help her achieve her dream.

But spending time with the gorgeous self-absorbed Hunter is not her idea of fun, especially as he sees her as his nanny, a killjoy and a very unattractive female with orange hair and no dress sense, or so she thinks. Yet, the more time they spend together the more Hunter realises Sailor isn't what she seems and he can't help get a boner every time he looks at her, and Sailor well she knows Hunter is drop dread gorgeous and can have anyone he wants so why would he want her?

And with plenty of banter, a cocky hero and lots of chemistry not to mention flawed characters, tension, and drama this was an enjoyable read and one I'd happily recommend to others.

Firstly I admit I loved L. J. Shen’s unique formula to make us tolerate with the arrogant heroes who push our endurance of douchebag characters threshold harder than we may manage! At first we deeply hate the heroes she created and we think million ways to assassinate them! But as soon as we pass the first half of her books ( I know some of the readers chose dnf option and they never see what comes next: their loss) we realize we actually start understanding the reasoning behind their behaviors and we finally start rooting for them as we reach the final chapters.

You can easily give one star to her books and write reviews by quoting the lines of heroes by discussing the high profanity level and the humiliation of poor heroines but I have to say if you don’t enjoy reading erotic romances and the basic formula of character development, the execution of stories, the extremity of triggering subjects including graphic details about abuse, rape, mental illness, terminal disease etc. these books are not great choices for you!

In my opinion to write an objective review for the series, you should dig a little deeper and go backwards to the beginning by starting to read the series created by L. J. Shen.

For having an objective opinion about this book: you have to know the backgrounds of the characters. If you want to get used to the universe Ms. Shen created ,firstly you should read Sinners of Saint series ( even though I hated Ruckus and Bane but I highly recommend you to read Vicious pushes you to take cold showers during your read! ) and All Saints High series ( we’re introduced our hero Hunter on Broken Night book as Vaughn and Knight’s sidekick, Pretty Reckless is my favorite book of the series)

For giving a better look to this book, reading Sparrow is necessary because Hunter’s innocent, quirky, lovely heroine Sailor Brennan is product of Sparrow’s MCs : Troy Brennan: one of the most hatable, punchable heroes in LJ Shen universe and her mother Sparrow: the one of most innocent, sweetest heroines. When you look at Sailor’s father, you may easily understand the similarities between him and Hunter. So you can understand why an innocent, smart girl like her fall this a**holish douchebag so easily.

And Hunter Fitzpatrick gives us enough bad boy vibes at the beginning: I wish Sailor didn’t accept babysitting duty of a man whore who caught online with his special orgy video ( yes, the book started way too much entertaining and created so many question marks how an intelligent, resilient woman like Sloan endure the unfair and unacceptable treatment Hunter gives.)

But after passing the first half Hunter’s character started to grow hell up just like the other LJ Shen characters did and showed his true colors which helped us to connect with him.

The book was steamy. The chemistry is palpable. Just like the other author books hyperventilating levels and needing to get cold shower necessities went over the top.

Enemies to lovers troupe was so well executed and wrapping up of the story was satisfying.
Just like any other books of the author, it put a wide smile on my face at the end.

Thankfully there are two more books to dive into!

Overall: without overthinking the relationship dynamics, profanity levels or heroes’ douchebag inner monologues, just relax, dive into this book, enjoy the smart banters, fiery chemistry and steamy scenes and don’t care about the rest! Enjoy the full ride!

Another masterpiece by the amazing and talented L.J. Shen. I was hooked from the very beginning, and I couldn’t put the book down. And after it was done, Hunter and Sailor became one of my favorite characters.

If you look up the definition of the word manwhore, there are 99,99% chances you’l find Hunter Fitzpatrick name and picture. He is young, wealthy, strong and hot A.F, and he knows it and owns it.
After one of his sexcapade became viral, his father has enough of Hunter’s behavior and decides to teach him a lesson. He has to restrain himself, became celibate and sober for six months, or he loses his inheritance. Easy said then done.

All her life, Sailor had one dream: to participate at the Olympics aș an archer. She is driven, strong and extremely talented, but doesn’t know how to sell herself to the public. So, when Hunter came crash-landing in her life with an opportunity to good to refused: his father will offer her a full ride to the Olympics (PR team, national coverage, spotlight), she had a hard time saying no. All she had to do was make sure he stays out of trouble, sober and celibate for six months. Piece of cake, right?

I think it is impossible to not love Hunter, I mean the man describes himself as Bambi “cute AF but super stupid and in total need of supervision.” He is loyal to a fault, smart and so funny, with his charm and potty mouth.
He acts like a clown, pretends everything is a joke to him, but in realty all of that is just an act. He spent all his life thinking he isn’t good enough for love, that he does not deserve it. He is so used to people not taking him seriously and leaving him, that he builds walls and walls around him. Walls that made it difficult to get through him, because in his experience people weren’t there to stay, and so he decided to protect himself. See who cares enough to fight and break down those walls. Because that is all he wants, someone to fight for him, to love and care for him, and to show him that he is worthy.

I knew I was gonna love Sailor moments after I started the book. She is so down to earth, simple, hardworking and determined, all qualities I admire at her. She is strong and independent, and doesn’t need a man in her life to feel complete.
She was so unfazed by Hunter’s smooth talk and charms in the beginning, and I knew that both of them were in for a hell of a ride.
Piece by piece, she tore down Hunter’s walls, and slowly making room in his heart.

The two act like cat and mouse, trying to post-pone the inevitable: they are the perfect mold, they are made for each other.

I've read alot of L.J. Shen's books and I've yet to like any of the male leads. They are always written like anti-heroes. I love it. They take the 'bad boy' to the absolute borderline and extreme.

Hunter was a proper arse to start, but he has been the lead with the most development. By the end of the book I was properly rooting for him, and for him and Sailor as a pairing.

The writing is beyond crude. It is explicit. Full of cursing. Lots of graphic and often rough sex. Endless spirited characters.

I can't get enough.

Oh, this book.
I am wholly in love with it.
Not only are the series crossovers had me over the moon, but the whole rhythm, feel and soul of this book had me hooked.
It shows that you don't have to completely wallow in darkness in order to see the light.
I loved it.
I can only hope that the rest of the series follows suit, with my own sneaky suspicion of what's to come.

5 stars and a dala horse