Willing Prey
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4.2 • 13 Ratings
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
An exhilarating, primal summer fling in the woods leads to an intensely sexy, edgy romance, where anything goes—just remember your safe word.
Divorced and buried in student loan debt, Claire Collins eagerly enters a spicy business agreement with an acquaintance who wants to explore his primal desires. The deal is simple: thirty days as his sexual prey, $30,000 in her bank account. All she has to do is give Shane Underwood the hunt of his life.
Claire’s a physical education teacher and perfectly happy to spend her summer having wild, kinky sex instead of working her usual serving job. But once they cross the tree line, she realizes how little she knows about the corporate lawyer paying her to be his prey.
Shane is different in the woods. Brutal. Devastating. Feral.
That’s okay with Claire—she is, too. And she’s sinking her teeth a little deeper into Shane’s heart every time he catches her.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Oleander's wildly kinky debut opens with teacher Claire Collins arriving at the Maine mansion belonging to lawyer Shane Underwood, her ex-husband's boss, where, in exchange for $30,000, she will spend the next 30 days allowing him to hunt her for sexual sport. She's desperate for the money after her ex, Keith, left her in dire financial straits, and she genuinely enjoys this kind of "primal play." Meanwhile, Shane has been lusting after Claire since hearing Keith talk about their erotic hunting trips at a company holiday party two years prior. Bad with emotions and anxious to maintain boundaries, Shane draws up a contract to govern their "high-stakes game of hide-and-seek"—but as blazing-hot sex in the woods behind his house gives way to cuddles and conversations, the line between business and pleasure blurs. Oleander balances the danger-tinged sexual encounters with some genuine laughs ("How do I claim this on my taxes?" Claire wonders) and places refreshing emphasis on kink negotiation and consent. The sex- and action-heavy opening gives way to a plottier back half, including a handful of rote third-act conflicts that are dispatched almost as quickly as they arise. More successful is the undeniable chemistry between Claire and Shane, who come off as well-rounded characters despite sketchily filled-in backstories. Readers seeking erotic romance that's as playful as it is filthy will want to check this out.
Customer Reviews
Bravo! 👏
I highly recommend Willing Prey. The story line is unusual and keeps the reader engaged throughout. This is not a formulaic novel. Yes, it is hot with several over the top erotic scenes. But more important it is character driven. The two leads, Shane and Claire, engage us from the very beginning. The reader is taken on an emotional journey with these two. I found myself rooting for them all the way. BTW Keith, Claire’s ex, is as slimy of an antagonist as you could ever imagine. I enjoyed the push and pull between the three of them.
The novel did drag a bit in the middle section but overall – bravo to this new author.
I read a lot of both contemporary romance and erotic romance. I almost bypassed Willing Prey do to the higher-than-normal price point. I am glad I didn’t.
The author is a new refreshing voice in the romance category and I am looking forward to her future works.