Confession time dear friends, a book that I requested in Net Galley, purely for its cover image. Well, nothing new, anything like an eerie mansion, and I will surely be reeled in like a cat to fish. This is book #2 in the Bane Island Trilogy that I strongly recommend reading in order to understand the mysteries expertly interwoven thru the story.

Each book has a different couple in focus but the central mystery that haunts Bainesworth Manor is spread across the 3 books. I had no problems in following the story in this coz the author has mentioned the required details to understand the plot but as a trilogy, I think it is best read in order of the series.

The story begins with Sherriff Deacon Howell returning to the hall with a warrant to talk to its residents about their knowledge of a body discovered in the woods. His initial meeting with Olivia Smith sets the sparks as his daughter Holly inadvertently creates a misunderstanding between them. Deacon believes the manor house to be cursed and his wife’s death in the same place hasn’t helped matters with gossip abound of his hands in her death.

There are multiple plotlines running in the story, of course, the main mystery of the tragedy that has been forced upon the residents of the place when it was an asylum is kept hovering on the top but running in parallel to it is the murder attempts on Deacon, the stalker behind Olivia, the teenage angst of Holly who is hell-bent on being a spoilt brat and not listening to her father culminating in an action-packed climax with kidnapping added to the mix. The romance between Olivia and Deacon was exciting what with the bang-bang action happening around them adding to the thrill.

The brittle cold weather enhances the atmosphere with escape routes being cut off and the author clearly uses this to create a gripping and entertaining thriller with equal parts action and romance. There are enough twists in the story that keeps the reader engaged and the highlight of the novel for me would be the sisters Evelyn and Bonita who run the boarding house in town. I loved Evelyn’s banter with the reporter Edie and clearly indicates the thread of book #3 and I can’t wait to untangle the mystery hidden in the Bainesworth Manor.

Thoroughly engrossing, The Hunted would be perfect for fans of romantic suspense.

Many thanks to Net Galley, Kensington Books, Zebra and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.

This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India, Book Bub, Medium.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Hunted by LIsa Childs
I was not a fan of this novel, I could not get into the characters, even at a quarter way through the book it left me wondering why I was reading, I was not aware this was a 2nd in the series, that might have made a difference reading the first book, but according to other reviewers it can be read as a stand alone. I wanted more depth to the characters and much of the description of characters thoughts seemed repetitive and not true to how someone might think or act.
Unfortunately I did not enjoy this novel

I enjoyed the Hunted by Lisa Childs. It is a mystery and romance novel that kept my interest throughout the whole book. This is the second book in a series, but you can read it as a stand alone and be able to enjoy it. I liked the way the author writes and how she created this story. I felt involved in the characters lives and couldn’t wait to find out what happened.

The Hunted is the second book in Lisa Childs’ Bane Island Series. This book is a romantic suspense novel with a happily ever after. It was heavy on the suspense and light on the romance. It was written in third person from the point of view of many of the characters, and this allowed the reader to see all sides but also helped to build the drama and suspense. This book can be read as a stand alone, but reading it in order will give the reader a better appreciation for the characters and the series itself.

Pop star Olivia Smith, AKAN, came to Halcyon Hall to hide from a stalker and to relax from celebrity pressures. She meets Sheriff Deacon Howell, when he comes to investigate the body of a women found on the grounds of the exclusive spa. The attraction and chemistry between them is instant and intense but with increasing threats to Olivia’s life and the continuous attempts on Deacon’s, will they survive to let go of the past and build a future? Read it and find out!

This is the first book by Childs’ that I have read, but it won’t be my last. I look forward to reading the first book in this series and I can’t wait for the next to come out.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced readers copy received from Netgalley.

I really tried to understand this book but it just didn't work out for me. I wanted to be blown away, I wanted to feel the avidity and enthusiasm in every page but I didn't feel anything, I am a fan of Mystery, Crime and Thriller and I had hoped that it would be full of those, however, it became quite clear that this is more of a Romance book with a little bit of mystery and suspense thrown somewhere in there, I didn't like that.

Also, the characters didn't feel realistic, at all. I hated how they were written and I just didn't like them. Maybe it would do me good if I will read the book from the beginning so I can better understand the series.

Honestly, I am glad I finished this one. I didn't want to stop in the middle and not continue reading out of respect for the author.

Cheers to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the ARC. I appreciate it.

A little bit of mystery and a little bit of romance is what you will get reading The Hunted. Throw in some suspense and lots of drama to round the story out.
Lots of dead bodies being found around the asylum.
Lots of attempted murders.
You will be kept in suspense and guessing until the end.
It was a ok read for me….not great but ok.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

2.75 Hearts So the first book in the series was really dark. This one was a bit more of a romance but still had a bit of violence that was too much for me.

I am just not that thrilled with this trilogy but now that I have read the other two I will probably pick up number three from NetGalley.

I would suggest reading book one before reading book two. There is some background from book one that helps in book two. Yes, it does sum it up a bit but not as much as if you read book one.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Romance novels are not a favorite genre of mine, I did however appreciate the authors writing skills, attention to detail, and storyline.

I was hoping for something more thriller and mystery with a little romance. Instead it was a whole lot of romance with a little bit of mystery. The author doesn't do the best job blending the first book information into the second book instead she gives it to you all at once which can be distracting and take readers out of the story. The author created the series so that one book follows the next making sure readers need to read the last book to discover all the answers.

Confession I skipped all the love scenes to get to the meat of the story.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of Lisa Childs The Hunted.

Thank you to Zebra Books - Kensington Publishing Corp and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Bainesworth Manor Psychiatric Hospital stands on Bane Island deserted for many years. Dr. Elijah Cooke and his wealthy family have renovated the hospital to be a treatment center and spa for the ultra wealthy. Sinister things have been happening at this property for 25 years where a young boy found a dead body. That young boy, Deacon Howell, is now the sheriff of the town. The Cooke family have a love/hate relationship with the Howell family, but would that hate lead to murder? Mysterious things are happening again and Sheriff Howell is determined to solve the mystery. The book was a little slow in the beginning, but it slowly picked up steam. Once it picked up, I could not put it down. The complex character development will have you ripping through the pages! It is full of drama and mystery. The suspect pool is large. I would think my assumptions were correct, and then it would take me down a different path. For all you readers that are amateur sleuths, you will use your mystery solving mind until the end! I would highly recommend this book if you like a good mystery and thriller!

I liked this one better than the first. The characters are interesting. It's also very atmospheric. The mysteries are okay. They take a bit of a back seat to the romance though and I think there's a lot of lost potential there. I really want to know what else is hiding in the Cooke family. I will be reading the next just to get answers.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books/Zebra for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This is the 2nd book in a series, but I think they need to be read in order. I have not read the first and I was sort of lost. The plot seemed really convoluted-but I think if you read the first it would make more sense. This was just an ok read for me. I struggled to get through it. 3 stars It would probably be higher if I read the first one.

The Hunted is book two of three in the series. I think I would have enjoyed this more if I had read the first. I had a difficult time following the the story, just couldn't get into it at all. This was to be a mystery but felt more of a romance.

The Hunted by Lisa Childs is book two in a trilogy. At the time I requested the book I did not know this, so highly recommend that you read book one first so not left lost. I was expecting more of a thriller but this was more romantic suspense in nature.

YOU’RE GOING TO PAY

The pressures of fame and an obsessive stalker have driven pop star Olivia Smith to take shelter at Halcyon Hall, an exclusive spa on a remote island off the coast of Maine. Yet from the moment she arrives, there are rumors about women disappearing, and stories about the resort’s grisly past. Then a note arrives from her stalker, proving that nowhere is truly safe...

It’s been twenty-five years since Sheriff Deacon Howell discovered his first dead body on these grounds. Back then, Halcyon Hall was an asylum known as Bainesworth Manor. Others have perished here since, including Deacon’s wife. Many locals share his belief that her death wasn’t suicide. The difference is, they think Deacon killed her. But he has bigger problems than gossip, because another body has been found ...

As Deacon investigates the increasing threats to the singer’s life, the danger becomes undeniable. Something evil lurks here—not just in the asylum’s grim history, but in the present. And there will be no rest at Halcyon Hall until every sin has been avenged . . ....

The overall atmosphere and setting of the book was great being set on an island and old asylum…

I requested and received an Advanced Readers copy from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

I didn’t realize that this book was part of a series until after I gave up reading it. I was lost in the beginning and now I realize why. I think of you enjoyed the first one then you will also enjoy this one. I’m not big on the romance storyline and that coupled with my confusion I could not finish this book.

Olivia might have thought it was a good idea to hide out at the spa at Halycon Hall on an island off the coast of Maine. Turns out however, that this has been the site of multiple murders of women over many years, murders that Sheriff Deacon Howell has been unable to solve. His wife, the mother of his teenage daughter Holly, is among the dead. Now there's a another murder, Holly's worried. and, well romance ensures with Howell. I gotta admit that I liked the first book better (don't worry, this is fine as a standalone). This is heavy on the romance with leavening from Holly, who is a hoot in spots (largely without meaning to be.). Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. I'm curious what's going to happen in the next book.

Engaging, Haunting Suspense….
The second in the Bane Island series, an engaging and haunting romantic suspense with well crafted characters and an intriguing plotline. The author succeeds in creating a menacing atmosphere and a solid sense of place in this often dark and twisting tale.

Halcyon Hall is an exclusive spa, but it was once an insane asylum. The asylum had a very sketchy history. Has it carried over into the spa? Both were owned by the same family, a family that has a questionable reputation. Sheriff Deacon is bound and determined to discover the secrets that are hiding behind the walls. He also wants to find out what happened to his wife., she died of an apparent suicide while staying at the spa. Someone wants to stop Deacon at any cost. There is plenty of suspense in this book along with a romance. This is the second book in a series so some of the history is missing for new readers. The ending left a few more things unresolved than I like, I assume there is a 3rd book planned. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

I enjoyed the setting and characters in The Hunted by Lisa Childs. However, I had a hard time actually getting into the story. It felt slow at times. I will read more of Lisa Childs' books because I do like how she develops her characters.

#TheHunted #NetGalley

This is a haunting thriller. Halcyon Hall is an exclusive spa on Bane Island. It was once known as Bainsworth Manor, an asylum, a creepy one. I first encountered the chilling activities at Halcyon Hall in the first book in the series, The Runaway. I found this second book to be even more intense than the first. I liked the main characters. They are both likable and strong. This was a fascinating read.