A Hunted Man by Jaime Reese ~ Release Day Review, Guest Post and Giveaway

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

A Hunted Man by Jaime Reese ~ Release Day Review, Guest Post and Giveaway

The Men of Halfway House get their first guests. Two guys from very different backgrounds get to fight for their love. Jaime is with us today on her release day.

Macky and Mark just LOVED this book. They have been waiting a long time for it and the wait was oh so worth it. Read their joint review.

A Word from The Author

Hi, everyone! I want to start by thanking Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews for inviting me to guest post on my release day. THANK YOU!

Today is the official release of A Hunted Man, the second book in The Men of Halfway House series. This book tells the story of Cameron Pierce, the first guest in the halfway house initially introduced in book one, A Better Man.

A Hunted Man is a romantic suspense/mystery novel. Although characters reappear from book one (Matt, Julian and Sam), this story can be read as a stand-alone.

The story begins with Cam's release after an almost ten year prison term. He wants nothing more than a chance to live life again…even if for a little while. He learned several lessons while in prison—stay on guard, be wary of people, and don't bother hoping for things that just aren't going to happen. He struggles to adjust to his new life—wanting to enjoy even the smallest of details while trying to guard himself against the danger of hoping for more. He's a complex character. He's vulnerable, yet strong and resilient. Quiet and guarded, yet forward.

His story is about second chances, trust, healing, and never giving up hope. Cam is gifted with a chance to love and be loved by Hunter who is patient, understanding, and a solid rock of support. He's also stubborn as hell and refuses to give up on Cameron. Their story isn't an easy one. Cam has a past that haunts him and resurfaces to threaten his new start in life.

The significance of the title is two-fold. In addition to the romance in the story, there's a secondary storyline of mystery/suspense. The title is also a play on words…hunted…Hunter. Cam becomes Hunter's prey…and he's totally okay with that ;)

I can't say much more without potentially ruining the mystery element of the story, and I would love for readers to be able to experience the story as they turn each page. I hope you'll join these men in their quest for their happily ever after.

Title: A Hunted Man

Author: Jaime Reese

Publisher: Romandeavor

Released: 29th April 2014

Genre: M/M (suspense / mystery)

Rating: 5 Stars

Synopsis

After surviving ten years in prison, Cameron Pierce is attempting to put the past behind him. He tries to adjust to his newfound freedom with a place at the halfway house and a job. But one lesson he learned in prison keeps him guarded: hope is a dangerous thing.

Hunter Donovan, Assistant State Attorney, is a man of justice who loves a challenge. After a lifetime of putting his career first, a milestone brings him to a harsh realization—he's lonely.

Hunter's world changes when he meets Cam. The wary young man intrigues him and awakens a desire unlike anything he's ever experienced. When Cam's past resurfaces and threatens to rip them apart, their budding relationship is challenged and Cam's hope for a future begins to dim.

These outside forces hunting Cam will stop at nothing to send him back to prison. But they'll have to get past Hunter first.

Macky’s and Mark’s Review

Mark: So Macky what do you reckon? This book was just so…..just so…...awesome? Sexy? Gripping? Words fail me, you need to help out here.

Macky: Oh Mark, I loved it! Like you say it had everything you need to make a really exciting but still, OH SO romantic story. I'm in love with the whole package. What about Hunter? ** sigh** I fell hard for him. *sigh*

Mark: I just fell in love with everything about it. Hunter was such a sweetheart, caring but also protective of his Cam. The man would do anything for him. But oh boy did I fall for Cam. The guy had ten years of his life robbed by being in prison and when he gets out, his new found freedom just made me weep at how he finds the greatest joy in some of the simplest things in life. Also his fear and the panic attacks he gets about the thought of going back inside as he is just so afraid it’ll all be taken away from him again. It was just gut wrenching.

Macky: Aww, yeah.. Poor Cam. I loved him too. He's such a lost soul really when we first meet him. Of course at that point there are only hints as to why he's been in prison, so you don't really know what has happened to him in his past and of course we can't let too much slip to these guys can we? Lol.

Mark: lol…...you’re absolutely right. The whole plot I thought was complete genius. Well paced, building up the suspense until you get to the point where revelations start to happen and you you’re completely drawn in. I couldn’t put the book down. Not only did we have a super hot romance, but a thriller plot fit for a film.

Macky: Well I have to say that normally I'm pretty good at figuring stuff out but Jaime had me in knots with this at times. It was really well thought out and plotted. What I loved was that it didn't feel rushed or quickly thrown together, there was thought put into it and it showed. But OMG!! The chemistry between Cam and Hunter was off the charts.. The sexual tension between them was just ...deliciously tingly!

Mark: oh yeah baby! Those two were smokin’ and what about that very first kiss scene? That was off the hotness scale for me. If Jaime can write a kiss scene that is so damn hot you almost don’t need the rest - lol!

Macky: Holy smackeroo's!! Those kiss scenes have to be some of the best I've ever read. You see that's what I love. For me sexual tension when its done well can be better than any overly graphic sex scene, not that I'm saying I don't love a nice bit of ' how's your father... ' **winks** but when you can feel it jumping off the page at you and it really makes you get that funny little belly flip, that's when you know the author has got the connection and chemistry just right between her guys. I got LOTS of belly flips with these two.

Mark: That makes two of us. Couldn’t agree with you more. The tension was great and I just loved the way that Cam couldn’t accept his luck as everything until now had gone wrong for him. This I could understand though, made him cagey and protected. But Hunter what a dear. He never once gave up on Cam, remained patient and would do anything for him. Also believing in Cam’s good after he finds out that he was in prison. I thought here Jaime got the balance oh so right. Ex-con meets lawyer, that means we have some pretty good hurdles for the both of them to get over. But what about the other characters?

Macky: It was great to see Matt and Julian again. I loved them both in A Better Man, that was one of my fave reads too, got 5 stars from me. I thought they had some really good airtime in this but just enough to enhance the story, and then of course we get to meet up again with lovely Sam. He is such a great supporting character, his support for all the guys is just awesome. Such a nice guy! Who did you like Mark?

Mark: oh Macky please don’t put me on the spot - lol! I loved all of them, even the perpetrators until we find out what dirty scumbags they were. That’s why the thriller part had me guessing too. I suppose if forced I LOVED Hunter’s dad. You could just feel the love that man has for his son radiating from the page. When Cam gets to meet Hunter’s dad for the first time and they have a heart-to-heart talk I think I nearly cried when Hunter’s dad says,

“The advantage of having a gay son is you get to inherit a second.”

Considering Cam’s real dad wasn’t worth shit, I was so happy that Cam could find the love in a father through Hunter’s dad.

Macky: Hahahaha! I am so horrible to you, but I know you love me! Lol. Ahhh! Thomas. Yeah, he is a sweetie! One of my favourite scenes actually, was when Hunter goes to see him just after he meets Cam and they talk about Hunters love life, it's a scene that not only made me laugh but it also tugged at my heartstrings when it lead to a lovely memory of Thomas' about Hunters mum, that tied in with his growing feelings for Cam. Thomas is such a sweet man but he's also very funny too. I love how he teases Hunter about Cam. If only all gay sons could have a parent like that in their lives! Then I also really loved Bill and Lucy. They're another couple who you can't help taking to because considering his past history, they're so wonderful with Cam.

Mark: Yes, Bill and Lucy. The couple who owns the diner where Cam gets his first job. I liked them too, having no children themselves they almost adopted Cam in their own way as well. Just loved their match making tactics, that was so sweet. I’m sure the backroom in their diner hadn’t seen so much action for a long time - lol! I guess the reason we fell in love with all these characters is really down to Jaime’s writing. She really does lift the characters off the page with her writing and I felt they also become for me almost real, breathing, people. Quite a talent if you ask me.

Macky: Absolutely! No cardboard characters in this story. Every single member of the cast added to the richness of the story. That's what you want from a supporting character, you don't want them taking over the story but you also don't want them just hanging about in the background looking pretty but doing nothing. Everyone in this was memorable and felt essential to the plot, even the baddies! And yes they did feel real to me too. Clever Jaime!

Mark: Couldn’t agree more Macky. I just loved this book from beginning to end. I couldn’t put it down, it had me sneaking out of the office from my day job to take quick breaks to read a chapter or two. As you said at the beginning the whole package with this book was from front cover to back absolutely breath-taking. I didn’t want the book to be over. I guess we are going to have to be patient now to see what Jaime has next in store. But if it’s as good as this then I’ll be swooping on it like a bird of prey.

Macky: Actually we've forgotten a couple of characters who just might feature in the next one... Or then again, they might not, who knows, but did you not get a vibe about Jessie, Hunters assistant... or possibly Aidan, Hunters cop friend...or Cole, the cocky car thief ...oh and not forgetting Luke, the other guy who comes to transition at the Halfway House...ooh the list grows lol! Or will it be someone completely different? OMG! I can't wait because this is turning out to be a real gem of a series. I just had the best time reading it and I'll be on pins now, waiting for book three. So there you go.. two very happy readers . I'm guessing there'll be a lot more soon what do you reckon Marky?

Mark: I soooo hope so. My money is going on either Cole or Luke in the next book to be in keeping with the theme of the series. But I guess the only one that can really answer that is Jaime and until we find out I guess we’ll just have to be patient. This was so much fun Macky, it’s great reading a book that you can then later talk about and share with a friend. Looking forward to the next time.

Macky: Me too, all that was missing was a bowl of nibbles and a bottle or two of wine... Mind you if we did have those, perhaps we'd never have finished this review! Hic! .. Lol! Its been fabulous. We HAVE to do this again.. Next please Jaime!

About the Author

Jaime Reese is the alter ego of an artist who loves the creative process of writing, just not about herself. Fiction is far more interesting. She has a weakness for broken, misunderstood heroes and feels everyone deserves a chance at love and life. An avid fan of a happy ending, she believes those endings acquired with a little difficulty are more cherished.