The Pawn (The Hunter Trilogy 2) by TK Leigh-review

The Pawn (The Hunter Trilogy 2) by TK Leigh-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 15, 2026

He thought I was just another pawn in his game. But pawns can become queens.

He kidnapped me.
Lied to me.
Betrayed me.

Now Henry Fontaine swears he’s the only man who can keep me alive Maybe he’s right. But survival always comes with a sacrifice.

And trusting the man who once held me captive feels like stepping back into a cage I vowed I’d never return to. I should walk away. I should run.

Yet every time I try, something drags me back to him… The monster in the shadows with a touch that feels like damnation and eyes that promise salvation. He says he wants to protect me. That he’ll burn down the world before he lets anyone hurt me.

But men like Henry always have another lie. Another secret. Another move on the board.

Can I trust him enough to believe he’s finally telling me the truth? Or am I still nothing more than a pawn in his game of revenge?

••••••

REVIEW:THE PAWN is the second instalment in TK Leigh’s contemporary, adult HUNTER dark erotic, trilogy focusing on former Navy SEAL and billionaire cyber security expert Henry Fontaine and socialite Ariana Kane. The HUNTER series is a spin off, set in the author SAINT trilogy world. THE PAWN should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up after the events and cliff hanger of book one THE HUNTER.

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 PAWN focuses on the rescue of our story line heroine in the wake of a misunderstanding and perceived betrayal by the man with whom she will fall in love. Henry is determined to protect Ariana, not only from her abusive husband and hotelier Victor Kane, but the heroine herself. Ariana struggles to trust, and would prefer to take off for places unknown, refuses to believe there is a target on her back but as Henry and his right hand man Blake begin to dig deeper into Victor Kane’s business, a more questionable connection to organized crime begins to surface, connecting them all.

The world building continues to focus on the unwanted protection of our story line heroine, a woman who is defiant in the face of real time threats but Ariana’s arrival in Henry’s life is not without some questionable circumstances, and in this, Ariana struggles to accept Henry’s new direction in life.

The relationship between Ariana and Henry is no longer jailer and captive but one of security and guardian for a woman who is still hunted by the man who calls himself husband. Ariana and Henry will soon discover the depth of betrayal from Victor Kane, a betrayal that kept Ariana under Victor’s control. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

Once again, the secondary and supporting characters include Ariana’s hotelier husband Victor Kane, her mother Daphne, as well as Henry’s right hand man Blake, Dr. Wilson Schaffer, and Henry’s best friend Gideon Saint and his wife Imogene (Saint Trilogy).

THE PAWN is another story of betrayal and vengeance, secrets and lies, power and control, family and relationships, forgiveness and love. The character driven premise is edgy, haunting and twisted; the romance is provocative and seductive; the characters are flawed, tragic and determined. THE PAWN ends on a cliff hanger -you have been warned.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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THE PAWN (War of Hearts 2) by Natasha Knight-review tour

THE PAWN (War of Hearts 2) by Natasha Knight-review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 29, 2025

I rule a kingdom built on blood.
Brutality is my legacy.
The moment I saw Allegra Moretti, I knew I had to have her.
The night I planned to make her my wife, my enemies attacked.
They took her from me.
They did not know the monster they unleashed.
I burned the world down to bring her home.
Now, I’ll go to war for her.
I will tear our families apart and I will deliver her enemies to her in pieces.
Allegra is my queen and I will destroy any man who dares hurt her.

••••••

REVIEW: THE PAWN is the second instalment in Natasha Knight’s contemporary, adult WAR OF HEARTS dark, erotic, Mafia romance duet focusing on twenty year old, Mafia princess Allegra Moretti, and thirty year old Cassian Trevino. THE PAWN should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up immediately after the events of book one THE VILLAIN. If you have not read THE VILLAIN, there may be spoilers in my review.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there WILL BE numerous TRIGGERS for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Cassian and Allegra) THE PAWN focuses on the search and rescue of our story line heroine who found herself at the mercy of someone she once trusted. A pawn and a prisoner, Allegra discovers the truth about her past, her family and the possible future for a woman who is now caught between family and love. Cassian Trevino is determined to protect the woman with whom he is falling in love but at every turn betrayal, treason and a fight for power become the precipitating factors in a war for control.

The world building continues to follow the tempestuous and caustic relationship between our story line couple as Cassian fights for control of his future. Betrayal from all sides including the people he trusts, pushes Cassian to become guardian and protector wherein he struggles to keep his promise.

The relationship between Cassian and Allegra caustic and hostile. Cassian is keeping secrets that affect our story line heroine, and Allegra struggles to trust a man who is battling not only his own demons but the demons from our heroine’s past. The $ex scenes are aggressive and provocative with some scenes of voyeurism and exhibition.

Similarly to THE VILLAIN, the cast of secondary and supporting characters is questionable, untrustworthy and problematic. We are reintroduced to Allegra’s troublesome brother Michael, her late father’s power hungry consigliere Malek Lombardi and his daughter Amal, as well as Cassian’s step brothers Severin and Jet Blackstone; Cassian’s right hand man and cousin Enzo, uncle Angelo, and several members of both the Moretti and Trevino crime families. The requisite evil has many faces. I am hoping the author has plans for Cassian’s step brothers.

THE PAWN is a fast paced, character driven story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, greed and double cross, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The premise is dark, dramatic, gritty and edgy; the romance is fiery and heated; the characters are desperate, determined, violent and over the top.

HEED the trigger warnings-there are many and graphic.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one THE VILLAIN

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance, Natasha Knight specializes in dark, tortured heroes. Happily-Ever-Afters are guaranteed, but she likes to put her characters through hell to get them there. She’s evil like that.

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