“Hunted” by Kat Kinney

I am not a paranormal romance fan. I never cared about vampires – or werewolves, for that matter. I don’t think I’ve even seen the iconic “Interview with the Vampire”. I did have a connection of sorts with the Twilight books – stop throwing those tomatoes at me; I admit the weakness when I have one – despite realising all the faults in the plotline and the characters. I guess the thing that spoke to me in Bella and Edward’s (both absolutely unbearable) is the “until death shall us part” bit. I believe in all-life-long commitment and love that can’t be explained, so the story of two people who have grown into each other and stayed faithful to their love no matter what touched some hidden strings in my soul. I also loved the Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Garriger. I bought the first book by accident, not looking for a vampiric-themed read, but immediately fell in love with gloriously magnificent Alexa and read all five books. Apart from that, paranormal stories seldom stirred my bookish soul.

Until I read “Dark”, the first book of the Blood Moon, Texas Shifters series by Kat Kinney.

The Caldwells have irrevocably stolen my heart. And I anticipate with dread the moment when all seven brothers’ stories will be written, and I’ll be left with nothing to wait for.

“The Caldwells argued, even brawled in the backyard, but when it counted, they were there for each other without question”. That’s what I like about them, the loud, gifted, stand-from-the-crowd family of shapeshifters from Blood Moon, Texas. They remind me of my parental family, our jolly gatherings in my aunt’s summer house with outrageous amounts of delicious food and yes, an occasional argument or misunderstanding. Still, as long as they lived, they were always there to support each other, and not in just “do you want to talk about it” capacity.

“Hunted” is the fifth book of the series, and it tells the story of the most complicated relationship any of the Caldwell brothers had – and each of them had to go through a number of seemingly unsurmountable difficulties to be with their fated mates.

River and Ellie are also the most unlikely people to become romantically involved with each other. He erased her memories, making her life, already marred by anxiety born from earlier trauma, even more complicated. “Memory was a fragile thing, spun of twisted threads of hopes and dreams. It was the scent of the air just before a thunderstorm. The taste of a first kiss.” With this fragility crushed and distorted, Ellie isn’t sure what’s real and what’s not anymore. But she has to be strong. Not only for her own and her sister Hayden’s sake – who is River’s brother’s wife and hates River with all her ferocious soul – but for the whole paranormal world to have a chance to lead a happier life.

Ellie is a scientist, and, in her hands, is the future of vampires and werewolves. Will she be able to find a cure for the disease that destroys the chances of vampires from the lower castes to have normal lives? She knows that too much is at stake. If she fails, so many will have to continue to die young, leaving their loved ones behind.

“The world can still hold joy, even in the face of great loss”. The Caldwells prove this simple truth again and again. Every one of them had to face their demons at some point. Every one of them had to go through something they would be glad not to experience. People they trusted betrayed them. Unexpected news all the time threatens to knock them off their feet. And still, they don’t plan to give up anytime soon.

Packed with political intrigues of the paranormal world, family secrets, heart-warming moments, and steamy scenes – yes, be prepared that River and Ellie are very VERY hot in all possible senses – “Hunted” is a treat for the reader who wants to get immersed in the story completely.

P.S. Yes, and Matteo Rossi is a perfect villain – the one you have no sympathy for whatsoever.