Hunted

PARANORMAL ROMANCE

Title: Hunted
Author: Keira Blackwood  
Publication date: 10/27/2017
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Cliffhanger: No

I’m a big fan of this author. I read and enjoyed the first book in this series, Pierced,  and thought highly enough of the author’s Riverwood series to include Keira Blackwood on our ultimate list of paranormal romance indie authors that everyone should be reading. (And I’m a particularly harsh critic where PNR is concerned, so that’s saying a lot!) I’m really happy to report that I enjoyed this book, too. (It would’ve been a real bummer to be let down after bragging on this author so much!)

Hunted is the story of Walter, the cranky old vampire assigned to train and protect Ashley, the new (and nearly completely unqualified) vampire queen, and Violet, a young, talented vampire hunter. I have a great affinity for cranky heroes (I know...I have a problem) and an even greater affinity for vampires (I blame Spike), so this one was right in my comfort zone. As a tale of two people who shouldn’t fall for each other but do anyway, Walter and Violet’s romance really worked.

I also enjoyed that Violet was a fairly kick-ass vampire hunter who didn’t ever really need Walter to rescue her. No damsels in distress here, folks. That was refreshing.

Ashley, as always, is hilarious. Her quick wit and one-liners are worth the price of the book alone. She reminds me a little bit of Mary Janice Davidson’s Queen Betsy. 

If I was to criticize (which, let’s face it, I pretty much always do), I’d say that the story was a little too short. Walter and Violet were great, interesting characters, but the length of the story made their courtship and falling in love super quick, giving it a sort of instalove-y feeling. Also because of the book’s compact length, Violet’s shift from vampire hunter who hates vampires to woman who loves a vampire and wants to become one a little too quick for my liking. 

But, that minor criticism wasn’t enough to dampen my enjoyment of the overall story. I would recommend this series to lovers of the paranormal romance category who enjoy a quick, easy, often hilarious read that is completely devoid of TSTL heroines.

Does this book contribute to or help crush the romance stigma?
Crushes it! This one is clean and sober. No rehab needed.

Other reading suggestions
Definitely check out the author’s backlist. And for more paranormal reads that blend sweet, sexy, and laugh-out-loud moments, try Isabel Jordan. Also consider Robyn Peterman’s Fashionably Dead. ​​​

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