THE HUNTER (Hunter Trilogy 1) by TK Leigh-review

THE HUNTER (Hunter Trilogy 1) by TK Leigh-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 7, 2025

To take down a monster, you have to become one.

Victor Kane thought he was untouchable… Until he took something that didn’t belong to him.
Now I’ll burn his empire to the ground, starting with the one thing he holds dearest.

His wife.

But Ariana Kane is no fragile flower.
She’s colder than winter, sharper than any thorn, and hiding secrets darker than my own.
I took her as a pawn in this ruthless game of revenge.
I didn’t expect to keep her. And I sure as hell didn’t expect to crave her with every beat of my dead, cold heart.

She was supposed to be a means to an end.
But the deeper I drag her into my world, the more I realize some queens aren’t made for the light. And some gods fall hardest for the goddess they were never meant to touch.

••••••

REVIEW: THE HUNTER is the first instalment in TK Leigh’s contemporary, adult HUNTER dark erotic, trilogy focusing on former Navy SEAL and businessman Henry Fontaine and socialite Ariana Kane. The HUNTER series is a spin off, set in the author SAINT trilogy world.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers .

Told from dual first person perspectives (Henry and Ariana) THE HUNTER focuses on Henry Fontaine’s need for revenge. The apparent suicide of someone he love sent Henry Fontaine into ‘hunter’ mode when the death didn’t make sense in the grand scheme of things. Determined to get his revenge on the person he believes was responsible, Henry targets Ariana Kane, the wife of hotelier Victor Kane, and a woman whose own life has spiralled out of control. As Henry’s captive, Ariana has more freedom than she could have ever imagined but someone else is targeting our story line heroine, and a case of misunderstanding finds our heroine on the run, into more danger than the life she left behind.

The world building focuses on revealing the truth. Henry needs vengeance and closure, and believe abducting Ariana will solve most of his problems but Ariana is a victim, and Henry battles between head and heart, falling for a woman who belongs to someone else.

The relationship between Henry and Ariana is one of jailer and captive but Ariana discovers that life with Henry is safer than the life she left behind but as Henry and Ariana grow closer, secrets are about to push Ariana out, leaving a distraught Henry behind. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The limited secondary and supporting characters are interesting and mostly off screen. We are introduced to Ariana’s billionaire husband Victor Kane; her mother Daphne, as well as Henry’s right hand man Blake, and his best friend Gideon Saint (Saint Trilogy).

THE HUNTER is a story of betrayal and vengeance, murder and obsession, power, abuse and control, acceptance and friendships. The character driven premise is dramatic, dark and edgy; the romance is seductive; the characters are desperate, charismatic and determined. THE HUNTER ends on a cliff hanger -you have been warned.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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THE HUNTER (Venice Mafia 5) by Tara Crescent-review

THE HUNTER (Venice Mafia 5) by Tara Crescent-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 30, 2025

Eight years ago, my wife died in a house fire.
Or so I thought.

Stefania Freitas isn’t just alive—she’s become an assassin.

And her hit list includes my boss.

Now, I’m torn between loyalty to the Venice Mafia and the woman who still owns my heart.

Stefi was my light in the darkness, my reason to fight.
But she faked her death, leaving me shattered.

Seeing her again? It’s like looking at a ghost.
A ghost with green eyes and hair the color of fire.

She’s colder now. Ruthless. But the moment our eyes lock, the heat is undeniable.

She runs. I chase.

My little fox can try to hide, but I’m The Hunter.
And this time, I’m not letting her go.

 

••••

REVIEW: THE HUNTER is the fifth instalment in Tara Crescent’s contemporary,adult VENICE MAFIA dark, erotic, Mafia romance series. This is assassins Stefania ‘Stefi’ Freitas, and Joao Carvalho’s story line. THE HUNTER can be read as a stand alone but for back story and cohesion, I recommend reading the series in order.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Joao and Stefi) THE HUNTER follows the rekindling romance and relationship between assassins Stefania ‘Stefi’ Freitas, and Joao Carvalho. As children Stefi and Joao were kidnapped by Austrian businessman Henrik Bach, and trained in the art of assassination. Married to one another at nineteen, weeks into their marriage, Stefi supposedly died in a fire, and eighteen months later, Joao drowned off the coast of Marseilles. Fast forward to present day, Stefi will come face to face with the man she once loved, a man she betrayed when ‘died’ eight years earlier, a man who is determined to rekindle what was lost but all is not as it appears to be, Stefania Freitas is on the hunt, taking down the people who destroyed their lives, and there are only two people left to die.

The world building focuses on the darkness that has surrounded our couple all of their lives. Trained to be assassins, both Joao and Stefi are mercenaries for hire but there is a mole in one of their organizations, and Stefi is struggling to trust the man whom she still loves.

The relationship between Stefi and Joao is one of second chances; a rekindling romance in which our couple must come to terms with the losses in their lives, and the potential for a new future going forward but Stefi is determined to finish her quest, one more name and she can move on with her life. The $ex scenes are intimate and impassioned without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and powerful secondary and supporting characters including Venice Mafia leader Antonio and Lucia (The Thief 1), second in command Dante Colonna( The Broker 2),and Tomas and Alina (The Fighter 4), as well as Stefi’s ward Charlotte aka Charlie. The requisite evil has many faces.

THE HUNTER is a story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, murder and mayhem, love and loss, obsession, forgiveness and relationships. The premise is dark,dramatic and intense; the romance is seductive; the characters are broken but determined and desperate.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Tara Crescent writes steamy contemporary romances for readers who like hot, dominant heroes and strong, sassy heroines.

When she’s not writing, she can be found curled up on a couch with a good book, often with a cat on her lap.

She lives in Toronto.

Find her on FacebookInstagram, Goodreads

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