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Hunted
"Page-turning thrills!" #1 New York Times bestselling author KAREN ROBARDS
She's being pursued...
Lexi Stoltz's break from life is interrupted one snowy December night when her isolated Adirondack cabin is invaded by killers, one group who try to take her captive, and one lone wolf with storm cloud eyes who takes a bullet to liberate her from the thugs, then forces her to leave with him.
He claims to work for the government, says her father invented a biological weapon and he has to find it first.
It's a dirty lie, so she doesn't feel guilty leading him on a wild goose chase while awaiting a chance to escape.
But he wasn't lying when he said there would be others chasing them with deadly intent. And she soon learns that he has secret motives born of an unthinkable loss.
A gutsy, edge-of-the-seat romantic thriller that won't let you catch your breath until the soul-wrenching end!
Fans of Lisa Jackson, Karen Robards, and Lisa Gardner, buckle up! You’re in for a wild ride.
She's being pursued...
Lexi Stoltz's break from life is interrupted one snowy December night when her isolated Adirondack cabin is invaded by killers, one group who try to take her captive, and one lone wolf with storm cloud eyes who takes a bullet to liberate her from the thugs, then forces her to leave with him.
He claims to work for the government, says her father invented a biological weapon and he has to find it first.
It's a dirty lie, so she doesn't feel guilty leading him on a wild goose chase while awaiting a chance to escape.
But he wasn't lying when he said there would be others chasing them with deadly intent. And she soon learns that he has secret motives born of an unthinkable loss.
A gutsy, edge-of-the-seat romantic thriller that won't let you catch your breath until the soul-wrenching end!
Fans of Lisa Jackson, Karen Robards, and Lisa Gardner, buckle up! You’re in for a wild ride.
239 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 2, 2017
162 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Shayne
257 books2,574 followersI live in the teeny, tiny town of Taylor, NY, (Alliteration Alert!) though my mailing address is Cincinnatus, my telephone exchange is Truxton and I pay taxes and vote in Cuyler. All of these are at least in the same rural county in the southern hills of New York State; Cortland County. There are more cattle than people here. The nearest “big” cities are Syracuse and Binghamton and they are an hour away, in different directions, and not really all that big by most standards, though they both seem humongous to me. I look out my window to see rolling, green, thickly forested hills, wildflower laden meadows and wide open blue, blue skies. My road is barely paved. The nearest neighboring place is a 700 acre dairy farm.
My house is a big, century old farmhouse. I moved in here after my divorce in 2006. Just a little over a year later, the house, which I had named, SERENITY, burned. It was 99% gutted, and I lost my two dogs, Sally, an 11-year-old great Dane, and Wrinkles, my 14-year-old, blind bulldog. This was the culmination of my Dark Night of the soul, which had seemed to hit me all at once in 2006-2007. My mother died that year, after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 60. The youngest of my five daughters had left home that same year, and while that’s not a tragedy at all, it felt like one to me. Then came the divorce. And finally there was the fire--it seemed my darkest night wasn’t quite finished with me after all. I had lost almost everything before that point, and as I poked through the wet ashes and soot the next day, I realized that I had now been stripped all the way to the bone.
No better time to start over. (And no, I didn’t come to that realization that day--there were a few days of wallowing in pity first, particularly the day after the fire, when I hit a deer and smashed up my car, which I was practically living in!)
That’s when I started to laugh. Just sat on the side of the road as the deer bounded, uninjured and carefree, out of sight, and laughed. It was just too ridiculous at that point, to do anything else!
And from there, I picked myself up, and brushed myself off, and said, okay, there’s only one way to go from here. Forward. And that’s what I did. There I was at the age of harrurmphemmph, living in my one, mostly undamaged remaining room, with a dorm-sized mini-fridge, a futon, a TV, my cat (nine lives!) and a laptop. And not much else. (Though thank goodness the room that survived the fire, was a room that had its own attached bathroom!)
Since then I have rebuilt my beloved home, which really has become my haven, my “Serenity.” I share it now with my fiancé, Lance, and we have accumulated quite the little family together. “Little” being a relative term. We have a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer and Daisy, who weigh 203 pounds and 208 pounds respectively, and a little pudgy English Bulldog named Niblet, who is bigger than both of them, inside her mind. We also have the aforementioned cat, Glorificus (“Glory” for short,) who adores her canine pups and keeps them firmly in line. And we've acquired a pair of stray cats as well, a mother and son, Luna (Lulu for short) and Butters aka Buddy. Lulu showed up pregnant during a lunar eclipse, had a litter, and vanished again. We found homes for all the kittens except one. Butters. We got him fixed and kept him. A few months later, Lulu returned, again expecting. This litter was born on the "Monster Moon." Again, all the kittens were spayed and neutered and placed in homes, and this time we got Lulu to the vet in time to spay her before the cycle could repeat.
Glory is not amused.
She has a story of her own, my old Glory cat, having been with me before the Dark Times descended, she went through it all with me, moved with me, survived the fire, and remains with me still. She's tolerating the newcomers. Barely.
My partner is an artist, a mechanic, a welder and an inventor, and the rumors are true, he is much younger than I
My house is a big, century old farmhouse. I moved in here after my divorce in 2006. Just a little over a year later, the house, which I had named, SERENITY, burned. It was 99% gutted, and I lost my two dogs, Sally, an 11-year-old great Dane, and Wrinkles, my 14-year-old, blind bulldog. This was the culmination of my Dark Night of the soul, which had seemed to hit me all at once in 2006-2007. My mother died that year, after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 60. The youngest of my five daughters had left home that same year, and while that’s not a tragedy at all, it felt like one to me. Then came the divorce. And finally there was the fire--it seemed my darkest night wasn’t quite finished with me after all. I had lost almost everything before that point, and as I poked through the wet ashes and soot the next day, I realized that I had now been stripped all the way to the bone.
No better time to start over. (And no, I didn’t come to that realization that day--there were a few days of wallowing in pity first, particularly the day after the fire, when I hit a deer and smashed up my car, which I was practically living in!)
That’s when I started to laugh. Just sat on the side of the road as the deer bounded, uninjured and carefree, out of sight, and laughed. It was just too ridiculous at that point, to do anything else!
And from there, I picked myself up, and brushed myself off, and said, okay, there’s only one way to go from here. Forward. And that’s what I did. There I was at the age of harrurmphemmph, living in my one, mostly undamaged remaining room, with a dorm-sized mini-fridge, a futon, a TV, my cat (nine lives!) and a laptop. And not much else. (Though thank goodness the room that survived the fire, was a room that had its own attached bathroom!)
Since then I have rebuilt my beloved home, which really has become my haven, my “Serenity.” I share it now with my fiancé, Lance, and we have accumulated quite the little family together. “Little” being a relative term. We have a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer and Daisy, who weigh 203 pounds and 208 pounds respectively, and a little pudgy English Bulldog named Niblet, who is bigger than both of them, inside her mind. We also have the aforementioned cat, Glorificus (“Glory” for short,) who adores her canine pups and keeps them firmly in line. And we've acquired a pair of stray cats as well, a mother and son, Luna (Lulu for short) and Butters aka Buddy. Lulu showed up pregnant during a lunar eclipse, had a litter, and vanished again. We found homes for all the kittens except one. Butters. We got him fixed and kept him. A few months later, Lulu returned, again expecting. This litter was born on the "Monster Moon." Again, all the kittens were spayed and neutered and placed in homes, and this time we got Lulu to the vet in time to spay her before the cycle could repeat.
Glory is not amused.
She has a story of her own, my old Glory cat, having been with me before the Dark Times descended, she went through it all with me, moved with me, survived the fire, and remains with me still. She's tolerating the newcomers. Barely.
My partner is an artist, a mechanic, a welder and an inventor, and the rumors are true, he is much younger than I
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 22, 2017
Story begins where a triumphant CIA agent Connor 'Molotov' Romano is returning home after foiling Mr. White's arms deal.... and sees wife opening the front door as he turns corner - and KaBoom!... three days later he wakes up in hospital, and is told wife and children are dead...
he is suspected of having a part (his wife loved another agent, and they married because she was pregnant after a drunk, unplanned hookup) but they were making the marriage work... and they are keeping him away from Mr. White... so he quits...
and 18 months later, his ex-boss (the one his wife loved) sends him to a small town to track a professor who has developed a bio-weapon and is about to sell it to Mr. White.
and he tracks him (and his daughter) to the Aidronicks...
Lexi Stoltz - physician; father a brilliant scientist who has developed many vaccines, etc and heads a lab that attracts money; mother died when she was young, but mother told her that her cold father was a brilliant man, and she needs to take care of him - which she did/does;
When he becomes paranoid and forgetful, she decides he's entered dementia... and when he insists they leave, she goes with him - to a cabin in the mountains, in her mother's name but she inherited , and 2 months later, he dies and 4 months later she's still there...
until men break in... and one kidnaps her, convincing her that he will protect her...
She does not want to believe her father would have developed a bio weapon, but comes to believe it... after hit and misses with the bad guy (his Mr. White) they find his diary... and she learns he was not her biological father... and that he did develop the weapon, but at the last minute decided it was wrong... so he destroyed all computer records and his notes and ran... he had tested it on himself, hence his death...
and her kidnapper becomes her protector and her lover and the filler of her heart...
and when he wakes up in the hospital again (protecting her)... his ex-partner tells him that his two sons are alive - he had taken them into protective custody because he was afraid he was involved with Mr. White (in fact it was his ex-boss who was in cahoots)...
and she meets her sisters...
he is suspected of having a part (his wife loved another agent, and they married because she was pregnant after a drunk, unplanned hookup) but they were making the marriage work... and they are keeping him away from Mr. White... so he quits...
and 18 months later, his ex-boss (the one his wife loved) sends him to a small town to track a professor who has developed a bio-weapon and is about to sell it to Mr. White.
and he tracks him (and his daughter) to the Aidronicks...
Lexi Stoltz - physician; father a brilliant scientist who has developed many vaccines, etc and heads a lab that attracts money; mother died when she was young, but mother told her that her cold father was a brilliant man, and she needs to take care of him - which she did/does;
When he becomes paranoid and forgetful, she decides he's entered dementia... and when he insists they leave, she goes with him - to a cabin in the mountains, in her mother's name but she inherited , and 2 months later, he dies and 4 months later she's still there...
until men break in... and one kidnaps her, convincing her that he will protect her...
She does not want to believe her father would have developed a bio weapon, but comes to believe it... after hit and misses with the bad guy (his Mr. White) they find his diary... and she learns he was not her biological father... and that he did develop the weapon, but at the last minute decided it was wrong... so he destroyed all computer records and his notes and ran... he had tested it on himself, hence his death...
and her kidnapper becomes her protector and her lover and the filler of her heart...
and when he wakes up in the hospital again (protecting her)... his ex-partner tells him that his two sons are alive - he had taken them into protective custody because he was afraid he was involved with Mr. White (in fact it was his ex-boss who was in cahoots)...
and she meets her sisters...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2025
Reading this book took me back to the other shattered sister books that I read many years ago. As I remember, this book too started with a roller coaster ride. Lexi and Romana had quite the meet but I almost felt like despite him kidnapping her to help with his vengeance she could see his heart from the beginning. I say that because he kidnapped her and she soon found herself at gunpoint multiple times but she still trusted him a bit. She schemed to escape even if it was dangerous to her heart but she would not abandon him to his death even early. Over the course of the story, Lexi and Romano both learned a valuable lesson about letting go of the past and finding a way to live again, to be their best selves again. This lesson was set against the backdrop of a race to escape from a cruel and dangerous madman.
What I loved the best (at least until the ending) was the sisters came into play early and knew they were looking for one of their own and they were doing it as sisters. Despite one of the sisters being pregnant, it was all sister hands on deck to save one of their own.
I mentioned the ending and I won't spoil things but if you can read it with a dry eye, I would be surprised. Lexi had a new family capable of loving her because she was one of the sisters and they stood together bound my more than a shared biological father. The ending with Romano and Lexi was beautiful and truly made me glad this story was added to the Shattered Sister series. Now, it is time to go back because this book made me want to reread the earlier books and remind myself how the others came together. This may be the last sister, at least for now, but you simply can't go wrong with Maggie Shayne. Read and enjoy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What I loved the best (at least until the ending) was the sisters came into play early and knew they were looking for one of their own and they were doing it as sisters. Despite one of the sisters being pregnant, it was all sister hands on deck to save one of their own.
I mentioned the ending and I won't spoil things but if you can read it with a dry eye, I would be surprised. Lexi had a new family capable of loving her because she was one of the sisters and they stood together bound my more than a shared biological father. The ending with Romano and Lexi was beautiful and truly made me glad this story was added to the Shattered Sister series. Now, it is time to go back because this book made me want to reread the earlier books and remind myself how the others came together. This may be the last sister, at least for now, but you simply can't go wrong with Maggie Shayne. Read and enjoy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 19, 2025
#372 " Pain helped him remember. It was his pain, his private pain. She had no
business poking around in it. He didn’t want or need to share his grief or his
guilt. Especially not with her. She'd invaded his most private place when she'd
reached into that pain to put her hand on his shoulder.
An offer of comfort, sure, but he didn't want her damned comfort. When
she'd almost touched the photo of Wendy and the boys….
It was wrong to let anyone touch it. Especially the first woman to stir a
healthy lust in him since he’d lost them. And that was wrong, too. He had to
keep her away from that sacred memory, that sacred pain."
BOOK: Hunted
SERIES: #ShatteredSisters , the 5th and final book of the series
AUTHOR:#MaggieShayne
GENRE : #thriller #romance #fiction
RATING: 5.0 ✨
This is the last and final book from the Shattered Sisters Series so far . Here, the central characters are Lexia and Connor. Lexia is a doctor and Connor a former FBI agent. Before her father died , who kept her at arms length for reasons she didn't know; he had created a formula (some sort of a virus) that would destroy the world. international Terrorists were behind this formula , and she didn't know this until connor showed up in her life. This whole book is a chase between the terrorist group vs Connor and Lexi. So many beautiful moments inbetween the run, a slow bond forming between the two . This story deserves a 5.0 rating I felt. #suggested
#finalbook
#hunted
#fiction
#romancefiction
#chase
#runningfromenemies
#happyending
#goons
#fbi
#connorandlexi
#sisters
#halfsisters
#cabin
#secrets
#secretformula
#virus
#terrorists
#reader
#reading
#review
#reviewer
#bookstagram
#septemberreading
#funread
#lovestory
#painfulpast
business poking around in it. He didn’t want or need to share his grief or his
guilt. Especially not with her. She'd invaded his most private place when she'd
reached into that pain to put her hand on his shoulder.
An offer of comfort, sure, but he didn't want her damned comfort. When
she'd almost touched the photo of Wendy and the boys….
It was wrong to let anyone touch it. Especially the first woman to stir a
healthy lust in him since he’d lost them. And that was wrong, too. He had to
keep her away from that sacred memory, that sacred pain."
BOOK: Hunted
SERIES: #ShatteredSisters , the 5th and final book of the series
AUTHOR:#MaggieShayne
GENRE : #thriller #romance #fiction
RATING: 5.0 ✨
This is the last and final book from the Shattered Sisters Series so far . Here, the central characters are Lexia and Connor. Lexia is a doctor and Connor a former FBI agent. Before her father died , who kept her at arms length for reasons she didn't know; he had created a formula (some sort of a virus) that would destroy the world. international Terrorists were behind this formula , and she didn't know this until connor showed up in her life. This whole book is a chase between the terrorist group vs Connor and Lexi. So many beautiful moments inbetween the run, a slow bond forming between the two . This story deserves a 5.0 rating I felt. #suggested
#finalbook
#hunted
#fiction
#romancefiction
#chase
#runningfromenemies
#happyending
#goons
#fbi
#connorandlexi
#sisters
#halfsisters
#cabin
#secrets
#secretformula
#virus
#terrorists
#reader
#reading
#review
#reviewer
#bookstagram
#septemberreading
#funread
#lovestory
#painfulpast
October 31, 2021
This romance / action novel is good but not great. It’s quite a quick read and those familiar with the series will enjoy it a bit more than first time readers, even though it works as a stand alone story.
Ultimately this is another of those books that is nice enough in the moment but is almost instantly forgotten.
It’s a solid three stars as the plot is very simple and the Science behind creating biological weapons is glossed over (which is quite annoying). It’s clear when authors have done some research and attempted to make their work authentic. It’s a pity that did not happen in this case.
Ultimately this is another of those books that is nice enough in the moment but is almost instantly forgotten.
It’s a solid three stars as the plot is very simple and the Science behind creating biological weapons is glossed over (which is quite annoying). It’s clear when authors have done some research and attempted to make their work authentic. It’s a pity that did not happen in this case.
July 7, 2025
"Hunted" by Maggie Shayne is a gripping romantic suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The fast-paced plot is expertly woven with twists and turns that maintain suspense without overwhelming the central romance.
The characters are genuinely the highlight of the novel. Maggie Shayne crafts protagonists that are not only relatable but also layered with depth, making their journey both emotional and engaging. Their chemistry feels authentic, adding richness to the suspenseful narrative.
Overall, "Hunted" is a fantastic read for fans of romantic suspense—thrilling, emotionally satisfying, and filled with memorable characters.
April 22, 2022
Lexi comes across as a malleable wimp in the first part of the book. To make matters worse, she is one of those heroines who ignores the facts and figures things will turn out for the best. Connor, on the other hand, is a little too hard and rough for her, so it makes no sense that she should fall for him. It also doesn't make sense that she always comes through when he's in a tight spot. So, I guess what I'm saying is that the book's logic just isn't my type of logic. It may work for others.
August 10, 2022
A woman finds the meaning of self worth in the middle of her greatest danger!
Losing the love of her mother at the age of five and given the task of caring for her cold father has shaped the latest Shattered Sister into a shadow of who she is! Coming to terms with the reality of her father's short comings will be the catalyst that drives her to become the woman she was meant to be! Danger abounds in this latest addition to this series, as an evil from the past seeks to harm a new sister!
Losing the love of her mother at the age of five and given the task of caring for her cold father has shaped the latest Shattered Sister into a shadow of who she is! Coming to terms with the reality of her father's short comings will be the catalyst that drives her to become the woman she was meant to be! Danger abounds in this latest addition to this series, as an evil from the past seeks to harm a new sister!
May 4, 2017
Wow did the book give me what I was waiting for. I just thought it would of had a bit more in the end like a reunion. It was a wild car ride literary. The was suspense and some attractions. This book has two people who are broken but only one who still weeps for another's pain. I enjoyed this journey with Lexi and Romano.
July 11, 2025
Connor lost his wife and children when his house was bombed. Lexi has strived for her father's love all her life, but he hated her. Connor rescued her when she was targeted. Overcoming their emotional blocks while trying to find her father's journal leads to strengths and new life they didn't know they could have. An amazing journey they both had to travel.
May 17, 2017
I would have given this book more stars but the abrupt ending was a big disappointment. I wish Maggie had done a final epilogue further uniting all the sisters and their families. I felt cheated of a happy ending including all of the book's characters.
November 18, 2020
3 3/4 Stars
This book that was the ending of this series was a little disappointing. It had adventure, mystery and some romance but all was mildly done. However I did enjoyed this series.
This book that was the ending of this series was a little disappointing. It had adventure, mystery and some romance but all was mildly done. However I did enjoyed this series.
May 25, 2022
Awesome read
This series by Maggie are just as good as the others I have read! Great story lines and characters. They had me rooting for the good guys and the girls. I hope there will be more.
This series by Maggie are just as good as the others I have read! Great story lines and characters. They had me rooting for the good guys and the girls. I hope there will be more.
July 8, 2025
A quick, action packed read. Great cast of characters. I adored Lexi and Romano. There's plenty of suspense. There's also the bonus of seeing characters from previous books. I loved the ending!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 10, 2017
Another great Maggie Shayne series. Highly recommend!
July 15, 2018
Will there be another book?
While I very much enjoyed all of the books in the series it does not feel completed. I am left wanting more.
While I very much enjoyed all of the books in the series it does not feel completed. I am left wanting more.
March 21, 2019
Shattered sisters
I am totally addicted to this series. Going to hunt for the rest in the series and read them too
I am totally addicted to this series. Going to hunt for the rest in the series and read them too
June 24, 2020
All the sisters
The previous book didn't have the sisters. This one does, in a wonderful way. 6 more words required. Now 2
The previous book didn't have the sisters. This one does, in a wonderful way. 6 more words required. Now 2
July 28, 2021
Loved this series
I loved this series and every single book in it! Lots of intrigue and enjoyed all the characters and storylines.
I loved this series and every single book in it! Lots of intrigue and enjoyed all the characters and storylines.
December 4, 2021
Great Story
I love all Maggie Shayne stories, this one was extremely good and the ending was wonderful, I can’t wait to read more of her books.
I love all Maggie Shayne stories, this one was extremely good and the ending was wonderful, I can’t wait to read more of her books.
January 10, 2026
Great story, plenty of suspense and a surprise ending.
April 23, 2018
read this series
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews