This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
About The Book
New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Ryan returns to the Wyoming Wilde series as a by-the-book lawman tangles with a stubborn young woman. Perfect for fans of authors like Maisey Yates, Joanne Kennedy and Carolyn Brown as well as Diana Palmer, Linda Lael Miller, and BJ Daniels.
They’re tough, tenacious, and sometimes tormented; they’re the Wildes of Wyoming, three brothers whose family ties are as strong as their wills.
The last thing lawman Hunt Wilde ever dreamed he’d do was fall hard for a purple-haired troublemaker like Cyn Wilson. While Hunt believes in law and order, Cyn lives life fast and loose–with fast cars and wild nights. But when Cyn’s sister disappears, she surprisingly turns to him for help. Never let it be said that a Wilde man turned down a woman in distress–and on a mission.
It takes a lot for Cyn to swallow her pride and ask Hunt for anything. The man never gives her a break and is always staring at her with those perceptive eyes. But beneath Cyn’s tough exterior beats a heart as wide and beautiful as Wyoming itself–and soon she finds herself surrendering to the overpowering attraction simmering between them and partnering with him in the search for her missing sister.
She won’t rest until she learns the truth, even if that means putting herself in harm’s way. And when Hunt discovers how much danger Cyn is in because of him, he’s even more determined to take down the man who would take her out of Hunt’s life–forever.
My Review
First Impressions
Surrendering To Hunt is the second installment in the “Wyoming Wilde” series and this is the second of the three Wilde brothers set in Wyoming. I was so happy that Avon was willing to send me a copy of the ARC for review. Jennifer Ryan is such a favorite author of mine and I have had so much fun reading her books and Surrendering to Hunt was no different for me. There is such a charm about picking up a Jennifer Ryan and relaxing into one of her stories. I knew from the cover that this one would be a wild one and it definitely was. It had such a fun dynamic that I fell so hard for. This is a definite opposite attract, you know the good boy with the bad girl type of blend and it worked out so well. I have found this type of dynamic is best in small-town romances and Jennifer Ryan really made this book shine with this trope and how these two are set up and of course she brings it town with deep leveled emotion and action-packed plot build-up just to add character to the story.
Summary
Our story begins with Lawman Hunt Wilde comes to a domestic altercation and he runs into sexy Cyn Wilson. Cyn’s sister is caught in an abusive situation with her boyfriend, and the abuser happens to be Hunt’s childhood friend. Cyn doesn’t have the best liking for Hunt due to his connections, but when she sees his integrity and his fierce protective nature, she is drawn to him in a way that she can’t explain or fight. But when her sister and baby nephew goes missing, she is determined to find them and Hunt and Cyn join forces and not just in the search for her sister but also in exploring their newfound relationship. Even though their relationship is fresh, there is a level of deep emotional intimacy that is quickly built and as the chemistry builds between them, Cyn and Hunt will find a stunning love along the way to finding redemption on the journey to finding her sister.
What I Loved
I will say that this story was such a fun one and I had so many barrels of laughs in exploring this one here. I just couldn’t get enough of this book or what Jennifer Ryan is able to craft in this book. I absolutely love how well Cyn and Hunt do together. From the beginning of the story, they have definite sparks and the “opposites attract” really works so well in this one. Hunt is an honest lawman, he lives up to the “serve and protect” and its a code of honor for him. We see throughout the book what a man of integrity Hunt is. Then we have the wilde Cyn. She likes to have crazy summer nights and drive fast cars and tends to live on the boundaries of the law at times. But there is a definite chemistry and even though at the beginning they fight off their feelings, they both quickly give into the desire they feel for each other. I enjoyed the moments in which they explore each other, the author definitely knows how to write her steam, there is such a sexy feel to these intimate moments between Hunt and Cyn. Then we have the mystery and suspense plot. And this is where Jennifer Ryan is truly talented. I love how well she blends this in with the romance and its done in a way that just works so well for the romance. There is also some intense emotion that really brings the story to its conclusion in such a bright and brilliant way that will deliver in a satisfying delivery.
What I Struggled With
I am not sure if there is anything that I really struggled with, it’s not exactly a five star but there isn’t anything super specific on why it didn’t quite make it, just didn’t quite reach the five star feeling but such a solid read and I absolutely had a blast with this one.
Overall View
Surrendering To Hunt was a satisfying rollercoaster of a read, its a story that takes the reader on a journey of entertaining angst, edgy thrills to curl your toes and a love tale to capture the essence of the heart and soul of love! DEEPLY PROVACATIVE!
Title: Surrendering To Hunt
Author: Jennifer Ryan
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense
Format: eARC
Source: Avon Books
Length: 384 Pages
Book Links
Amazon| Barnes and Noble| Kobo| Goodreads| StoryGraph| Literal Club
Book Evaluation
Storytelling Quality: 4.5
Story Itself: 4.25
Character Development: 5
Writing Style: 4
World Building 4.5
Feels + The Romantic Heart 4
Pacing 4
Plot 4.5
Cover Art 5
Ending 4
Book Ratings
Overall Rating of the Book
Steam Level
Simmering—soft warm touches and light intimacy
Warm- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
Steamin’ up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.
Trigger Warning
Domestic Abuse, Violence, Death
Series Order
Wyoming Wilde
Chase Wilde Comes Home-Pub 2021 #1 in the Series
Surrendering To Hunt-Pub 2022 #2 in the Series
About The Author
Jennifer Ryan, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Hunted and McBrides Series, writes romantic suspense and contemporary small-town romances.
Jennifer lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and three children. When she isn’t writing a book, she’s reading one. Her obsession with both is often revealed in the state of her home, and how late dinner is to the table. When she finally leaves those fictional worlds, you’ll find her in the garden, playing in the dirt and daydreaming about people who live only in her head, until she puts them on paper.
After reading this review, I think I need to try Jennifer Ryan’s books! I have seen them around but haven’t picked one up yet. This one sounds really good.
Oh wow, that sounds really good.
I’ve never read anything by Jennifer Ryan, but I do enjoy romantic suspense. I’m glad you liked it!
I enjoyed this author and have read some of this series. I need to pick this up. Lovely review, so glad you enjoyed it.
I have never read this author before, but it seems I need to add her to my list of authors to try.
I’ve never read Jennifer Ryan before but I really like the sound of this one! I like the added element of mystery and suspense.
She is one of my favorite contemporary authors to be honest, her books are fantastic. Lots of suspense but also she deals with issues of emotional trauma as well and she tackles it so well.
Love romances with a bit of mystery and suspense. I’ve enjoyed Ryan in the past. I’ll have to put this one on the list. Glad it was a hit!
You may not know why it wasn’t 5-star worthy, but you still published one heck of a raving review for it! xo