Hunted (Hostage Rescue Team Series Book 3)

I love Kayla Cross' books. Her stories are romantic and keep you on the edge of your seat. I was so glad Clay finally fell, thanks to Zoe being persistent and not letting him talk himself out of loving her.

Clay and zoe story was worth the wait. Both hurt by past relationships. Some ready to.move forward to something better. Clay afraid to trust himself after his failed marriage. Finally they get a taste of what it could be like then zoe is kidnapped. That is when clay realizes zoe is his happy ever after if he can save her. Gotta read this whole series all of the books were great. Hope there is more.

This story was one blast after the next. Loved the characters, loved the pace...loved it all. And for those doubters that fast love isn't real, my boyfriend told me he loved me after three weeks of dating, and we've been married 18 years! Like Clay, when you know, you know!

Things are getting intense in the Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) series by Kaylea Cross. In Hunted, Intense should really be Clay Bauer’s middle name. He is an intimidating HRT member and I think Zoe Renard is the only person on the planet that could get under that tough exterior. We meet both of these characters in earlier books. Bauer is teammate to Tuck and Zoe is Tuck’s cousin. She also happens to be Celida’s best friend. So, Bauer runs into her an awful lot. Cross set Bauer and Zoe up great in Targeted and I knew from the scene at the airport they were going to be a fun couple to watch.

Zoe is incredibly sure of herself which is a breath of fresh air in romance when most characters have so much baggage they can’t see past it. Zoe is not stranger to heartbreak or a past but she learns from it and knows what she wants and that she is worthy of someone who will love her for her true self. Bauer is extremely nervous around women after the way his ex wife treated him and how things ended. He doesn’t want to enter into a relationship again. Like ever. He just wants to keep that very thick wall up around his heart, do his job, maybe have some meaningless fun with a woman now and then but nothing more. Zoe has some plans for the big bad Bauer.

Cross writes an amazing story for these two characters. The plot was exciting and pretty much non-stop for me from the first page through to the end. I think she does a great job at coming up with ways to bring the HRT in to do their job while keeping it creative for the readers. No two operations are the same. In this book, just when you think things are looking up for the hostages, it goes wrong again. Luckily, we know it is a romance and therefore a happy ever after takes place. Whew!

The romance between was not super flashy because that is not them. The intimacy, however, was pretty darn incredible. Bauer has a little darker side he likes to share with his lovers and was extremely happy that Zoe let him be who he was and share that wild side. It made for some hot, hot scenes. While I loved Tuck and Celida, I think Bauer and Zoe are my second favorite couple. Zoe was so kickass and I enjoyed watching Bauer’s walls break down for Zoe.

The plot in this story was tough. Intense and had me anxious for the characters several times. Cross is able to nail the villain point of views enough to understand why he or she is doing what they are, but also giving you the chills at the same time. I was so glad to see the HRT swoop in and take care of business.

The characters in the series are all very well developed. Sometimes in a series, you can run into the same old things with characters, but Cross does a fantastic job of creating different, unique, layered characters in each of her books. The plots are original to each book as well, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The intimate scenes fit each of the characters perfectly and are well placed in the stories. Each one brings out the heat whether it is slow and sweet or hot and heavy. They are tailored so well to each story and plot that you never know what is going to happen or when. Each book is set up nicely to introduce the next one. I love it when we get a glimpse of what is to come from the characters.

Cross is a fabulous storyteller, too. She knows just how much detail to give you during each operation the team is tasked to keep you in the thick of the action but not so much that you get a little lost and drift away from the scene. It is a great balance. If you are fan of romantic suspense, I very highly recommend you give this series a try. You will be glad you did.

Tags: FBI, Heroine: 33/34, Hero: 35-39, Ex-Military, Hero is Divorced, Heroine is Divorced

This series just keeps getting better with each book. Clay wasn’t as outgoing or approachable as Jake and Tuck. He was jaded, had serious trust issues with women and thought most women were manipulative. A little background in the previous book revealed that Clay had once been married then divorced, but it had left scars. He was jaded and thought most women were manipulative. With good reason.

Zoe was…wow. I loved her. After her own failed divorce, she really took life by the horns and made it bend to her will. I couldn’t always picture the 30-something, former lawyer turned romantic horror author as a Goth girl, but her personality was just so positive all the time. She wasn’t one of those heroines who closed herself off from future relationships because of one disaster. I couldn’t help but be drawn in by her.

The romance was a notch above the first two books. Zoe was incredibly intuitive in regards to Clay. She was bold about what she wanted. I think her frankness stunned him a little, but it also made him feel more at ease and gave him the chance to realize she was nothing like his ex-wife. Her profession and preferred genre gave her a wicked hot sensuality that Clay could match. Their sex scenes were so hot! And I definitely shared her fantasy of “suit porn”.

The suspense was chilling. Zoe faced the situation with so much bravery; I don’t think I would have been able to muster the same testicular fortitude as she did. And considering Clay used to be a Navy SEAL, I LOVED that the water rescue scene. There’s nothing hotter than the image of a warrior in full gear rising silently out of the water to save his woman.

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I received a copy of this book to write an honest review for Netgalley and Cocktails and Books.

This action packed story kept me on the edge of my seat. Clay Bauer is an FBI agent attending a security convention in New Orleans when he sees Zoe again. He’s known Zoe for years and although he’s always been attracted to her, he keeps his distance because she’s his best friend’s cousin and he doesn’t want to hurt her. Unfortunately, Clay’s ex wife changed his outlook on all women, and since his disastrous marriage, he doesn’t have any interest in getting involved with anyone. I liked Clay. He’s a big, alpha male and very protective of Zoe, although he has a hard time letting anyone in.
Zoe is a former attorney, who now writes romance novels and also volunteers at a woman’s shelter. Zoe gets into trouble when she tries to help a woman break away from an abusive relationship and the woman’s boyfriend causes trouble. Zoe is a quirky, colorful character, who loves everything Goth and dresses the part. I admired her confidence, independent spirit and how she always says what’s on her mind.
Kaylea Cross knows how to write a story filled with suspense and passion. While Clay tries to protect Zoe from someone who is after her, he finds it difficult to resist her. Zoe can see beyond Clay’s rough edges and sees a tortured man who can also be caring, but is afraid to let his guard down. Clay’s a man who needs to be in control and although this is something new to Zoe, she discovers she likes it. This story kept my interest and I was never sure who the bad guys were until the end. This is the third book in The Hostage Rescue Team series and each one is a stand-alone.

Kaylea Cross is one of my auto-purchase authors and I love all of her hero’s/heroines.

Clay was blind-sided in the past by his ex-wife, so that has caused him to be weary of women and to write-off all women. Well, all women, except for the one that’s off limits to him because of who she is – his partners cousin Zoe. He wants her but knows that he is no good for her and thinks he will hurt her in the end.

Zoe doesn’t know much about what happened between Clay and his ex-wife, but she knows enough to know that it didn’t end well and that he was damaged because of it. Zoe is a writer and volunteers at a women’s shelter. She puts all of her desires about Clay into her books and sends them to him to read for her, which he does. The things that she wants to experience with Clay are in danger of not happening when her life is in danger because of her connections to a lady that she is helping at the shelter.

Clay thinks he has lost Zoe and Zoe thinks that she is going to die before experiencing her desires with Clay. Will they experience these desires together? You must read Hunted to see what happens, but just let me tell you that it will keep you hanging on to the edge of your seat for the entire ride.

I really love this series. Lots of drama with just enough romance (I guess more sex than romance, actually). If anything I would go with shorter sex scenes; it is always one chapter's worth around the middle of the book. I will say, however that it was nice to read Clay's description of Zoe as something other than the stereotypical 'perfect' woman. I feel that the author doesn't bore her readers with unnecessary details. There was just enough description of New Orleans, or any time the FBI, etc are mentioned to make the story enjoyable and to keep the reader interested.
Nice to read about characters who are not absolutely gorgeous, multimillionaires and boring. Also nice that the leading guy is not always necessarily the person doing all of the 'saving'. Strong heroines, as well.

Strong characters and a well written story are the hallmarks of a Kaylea Cross book, and Hunted is no exception. It stands alone, but the series is excellent. The heroine was my favorite kick as character this time, but the supporting cast is quirky and the hero is stellar as well. The pacing was fast, the dialogue well suited to the situations and the characters, and the suspense factor balanced well with the romance. The story itself is concise and easy to read, and I look forward to more in the series.
*I received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

Was a good book overall although felt it was lacking some depth and action... Great story for the series.. Just expected more from Zoe since the previous books she was all kick ass.. Clay was awesome with issues however just seemed a little weak to me... They are great as a couple just wished they had a better relationship more depth to it.. Still enjoyed the book

Cross is a great story-teller and she has created some really lovable characters. This book in particular has been my favorite so far, because I'm sweet on the male protagonist. She weaves a great story and I love how she ties the suspense and romance together. I will continue to read this series.

I really love this series. Lots of drama with just enough romance (I guess more sex than romance, actually). If anything I would go with shorter sex scenes; it is always one chapter's worth around the middle of the book. I will say, however that it was nice to read Clay's description of Zoe as something other than the stereotypical 'perfect' woman. I feel that the author doesn't bore her readers with unnecessary details. There was just enough description of New Orleans, or any time the FBI, etc are mentioned to make the story enjoyable and to keep the reader interested.
Nice to read about characters who are not absolutely gorgeous, multimillionaires and boring. Also nice that the leading guy is not always necessarily the person doing all of the 'saving'. Strong heroines, as well.

Strong characters and a well written story are the hallmarks of a Kaylea Cross book, and Hunted is no exception. It stands alone, but the series is excellent. The heroine was my favorite kick as character this time, but the supporting cast is quirky and the hero is stellar as well. The pacing was fast, the dialogue well suited to the situations and the characters, and the suspense factor balanced well with the romance. The story itself is concise and easy to read, and I look forward to more in the series.
*I received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

Was a good book overall although felt it was lacking some depth and action... Great story for the series.. Just expected more from Zoe since the previous books she was all kick ass.. Clay was awesome with issues however just seemed a little weak to me... They are great as a couple just wished they had a better relationship more depth to it.. Still enjoyed the book

Cross is a great story-teller and she has created some really lovable characters. This book in particular has been my favorite so far, because I'm sweet on the male protagonist. She weaves a great story and I love how she ties the suspense and romance together. I will continue to read this series.

A copy was provided by Netgalley for an honest review.

I started at the end of a series again. Hunted is my first Kaylea Cross novel and so will not be my last. I really enjoyed the characters in Hunted. I love all the little details about Zoe that really bring her to life. I am a fan of men who support their women in times of need and on the daily bases, Clay was a winner. Fun, sexy and exciting with some heavy topics (domestic violence) to balance it.

I have already purchased book one so I can catch up, I want all the details before Matt and B’s story comes out!

Received an ARC from NetGalley for review

Great book, heavy on the action and suspense with a perfect amount of romance. I love Zoe and her sass and knowing exactly what she wanted. I would have like to have seen more of Clay's dominate side, but what we did see was amazing. He was the perfect guy for Zoe. Now I have to wait till next year to read the next book, Matt and the mysterious B (if I tell you about her, I'd have to kill you).