HUNTER by Jacquelyn Frank

Hunter by Jacquelyn Frank
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

NetGalley free read

There was something I like about this book that I can't put my finger on. It was a basic story, but well told and with some funny and exciting moments.

Tatyana Petrova is a young woman living and working in New York. The youngest of thirteen children, where her brother Dimietre is number seven when she decides on New Years Eve to go see her brother, who has been living in the Catskills for the last two months and a little more distant than he's been in the past. They've always been close and now he's barely communicating with her, and when he does, only by phone.

Tatyana's car breaks down, which requires her to walk to the estate, literally falling into the arms of Hunter Finn, Sentinel to the Willow Clan of witches. Hunter has just returned himself after a self imposed exile of almost eleven years. He's called back by the High Priest of the clan, Ryce Champion. Rice and everyone in the Willow Clan are White Witches. Ryce has called Hunter back because they are being attacked by a coven of Warlocks, which it turns out are headed by Hunter's brother Braen, High Cleric of the Belladonna Coven. Hunter comes from a long line or dark witches, but was never really took to the ways and was turned to the ways of the White witch at the age of ten due to his friendship with Ryce.

Hunter is immediately attracted to Tatyana. When the coven is attacked, just after her arrival, Hunter takes it upon himself to bind her to him. He realizes in mear moments that she's a dormant witch. He explains to her later that if she went unclaimed she would fall subject to a dark witch taking her against her will as a familiar. Dark witches tend to use their familiar in terrible ways, most notably as sex slaves, which is really rape, since they don't know what they are doing. They are also subject to being beaten. This happened to Annali Templeton when over eleven years ago, at which time she was rescued by Hunter and Ryce, and is now the lover and teacher to Tatyana's brother Dimitre.

Early on after their blood exchange, their impulse controls are lessened and they can't seem to keep their hands off of each other. At the same time Tatyiana's abilities are manifesting and growing. It turns out she's a Mentalist, which is one of the most powerful type of witch. She starts doing spells without even trying.

After Braen get's into the estate using Asher's body and tries to attack Tatyana, her abilities grow exponentially. She knows that Asher's body was being used by Braen, she knows people's emotions and can hear their thoughts. She also can make people see her as anyone she wants them to.

The Willow Coven uses Tatyana's ability to get into Braen's home and take him out, which she does because Hunter is unable to kill his brother. Annali can't go because she's pregnant, which she didn't know.

After they take out Baen, Tatyana helps Hunter heal from his past and they tell each other they love one another.

Like I said, it's was interesting. I just felt like it was just fell short of being amazing. I didn't like that there were changes from one moment to another or character location without any notice. Therefore, there were times when the story would jump to something else and it would take me a moment to figure out I was reading about a different person, location etc.

I liked the connection between Hunter and Tatyana. I didn't like how she reported in to her other siblings early in the story then they were completely forgotten, along with her job and apartment. As far as I can tell she never even called anyone to let them know she wouldn't be available for a while. She's just as guilty of dropping off the grid as Dimitre.

I like how Ryce and Hunter are there as big brothers to Annali. She's funny and spirited. Gracelynn barely had a story or anything to do with anything. Maybe if there's a sequel, something can happen for this character. Otherwise, she just a nothing to the story.

I thought the descriptions of the fighting was cool. I liked that a lot. I've read books before when the characters are supposed to be warriors and they never fight throughout the entire book. That didn't happen here. There was plenty of fighting and witchcraft.

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