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Brothers #2
The Hunted Rise
Drugs in a bag in a box. Hunters hunting. The hunted waiting.
Alina Popov remains under the prison of Aiden's protection. He keeps her safe though equally, keeps his distance. Alina doesn't trust him and will run if he cannot breach the distance between them. But where can she go with the Russian mafia so eager to find her? She is alone and her brothers are both gone, likely dead, but she will do whatever she has to to return to her normal life. Otherwise, she may as well have died with them.
He isn't dead but sometimes, he wishes he were. Holed up in a dilapidated building deep in cartel territory, Gavriil Popov has few alliances left in the Russian mob. His greatest resource may be a nosy true-crime author with wild hair and a body made for worshipping. He wonders if he'll be able to use her for information - and if she isn't using him for information. But when she's caught in the crossfire, he'll either have to leave her to be sold or step out of the shadows and take his rightful place as king of the Bratva.
With worlds shattering upon impact, the mafia continue their search for persons and things of value in the Brothers' possession. The only shot for the hunted to stay alive is to rise and when they do, to rise together.
*The Hunted Rise is an interracial romantic suspense featuring hunky alphas, tough as nails heroines, fast-paced action, steamy romance, and a diverse cast in a small town setting with a mafia twist. This book has multiple POVs and an HEA for two more brothers, but should be read following part one, The Hunting Town.
Alina Popov remains under the prison of Aiden's protection. He keeps her safe though equally, keeps his distance. Alina doesn't trust him and will run if he cannot breach the distance between them. But where can she go with the Russian mafia so eager to find her? She is alone and her brothers are both gone, likely dead, but she will do whatever she has to to return to her normal life. Otherwise, she may as well have died with them.
He isn't dead but sometimes, he wishes he were. Holed up in a dilapidated building deep in cartel territory, Gavriil Popov has few alliances left in the Russian mob. His greatest resource may be a nosy true-crime author with wild hair and a body made for worshipping. He wonders if he'll be able to use her for information - and if she isn't using him for information. But when she's caught in the crossfire, he'll either have to leave her to be sold or step out of the shadows and take his rightful place as king of the Bratva.
With worlds shattering upon impact, the mafia continue their search for persons and things of value in the Brothers' possession. The only shot for the hunted to stay alive is to rise and when they do, to rise together.
*The Hunted Rise is an interracial romantic suspense featuring hunky alphas, tough as nails heroines, fast-paced action, steamy romance, and a diverse cast in a small town setting with a mafia twist. This book has multiple POVs and an HEA for two more brothers, but should be read following part one, The Hunting Town.
- GenresRomance
454 pages, Paperback
First published July 31, 2019
About the author
Elizabeth Stephens
74 books1,537 followersTop 10 USA Today Bestselling author Elizabeth Stephens writes books where beastly men—or sometimes just beasts—always get the girl.
A full-time hybrid indie and traditionally published author, Elizabeth is best known for her Supers in the City series (Montlake) and her indie works like The Bone King and the Starling and Dark City Omega. In all of her books, readers can expect diverse casts, epic world-building, quests with unexpected twists, and women of color being celebrated loudly, Black and biracial women in particular.
When she isn’t writing, you might find Elizabeth enjoying the outdoors of the Pacific Northwest or traveling and making adventures of her own with her husband, tiny humans, and doggo, King Louis.
A full-time hybrid indie and traditionally published author, Elizabeth is best known for her Supers in the City series (Montlake) and her indie works like The Bone King and the Starling and Dark City Omega. In all of her books, readers can expect diverse casts, epic world-building, quests with unexpected twists, and women of color being celebrated loudly, Black and biracial women in particular.
When she isn’t writing, you might find Elizabeth enjoying the outdoors of the Pacific Northwest or traveling and making adventures of her own with her husband, tiny humans, and doggo, King Louis.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 26, 2020
Elizabeth Stephens is a master of literary foreplay. The Hunted Rise achieves a perfect balance between action, erotica, love and all the bits in between. The action scenes are grippingly intense. The violence is intense without being nightmare inducing. The love scenes! Oh the love scenes! They are graphically gorgeous. Every moment of passion is precisely calibrated to tug at your heartstrings along with your clothing. Other books might torture you with laughable descriptions of sex, or gloss over it and just skip over it entirely. The Hunted Rise dives in deep. Cheek blushing, heart achingly deep!
My only negative issue: the book ended.
Why did it have to end?
Why isn't this on the bestseller lists?
Why isn't there more by Elizabeth Stephens?
I read a lot. I rarely re-read books. This is one book that I know I will be reading again.
I highlighted 27 passages in this book. The best one, the one that continues to run through my head, weeks after I turned the final page is this one: 'There is only this. Me. You. Here. Now'. 8 words which gripped my heart and forced me to forget the world around me.
This is why I read.
My only negative issue: the book ended.
Why did it have to end?
Why isn't this on the bestseller lists?
Why isn't there more by Elizabeth Stephens?
I read a lot. I rarely re-read books. This is one book that I know I will be reading again.
I highlighted 27 passages in this book. The best one, the one that continues to run through my head, weeks after I turned the final page is this one: 'There is only this. Me. You. Here. Now'. 8 words which gripped my heart and forced me to forget the world around me.
This is why I read.
July 31, 2019
I waited 2 years for this sequel and it was worth the wait!
I read the first book, The Hunting Town, back in 2017 and no joke, I was stalking the author’s page, newsletter, social media in anticipation for the sequel’s release. When I learned that we were finally getting it in a few weeks, I was super excited.
I’ll admit that because of the wait, my expectations were high, but I had no reason to worry because this series is so addicting and riveting and I loved everything about it. It is full of suspense, twists and turns you don’t see coming and new characters POVs that had me sucked in from start to finish.
I loved reuniting with Dixon and Sara, Mer and Knox and the rest of the brothers. In this sequel, we get two new couples - Aiden and Alina and Gavriil and Ify - that had me rooting so bad for them. These damaged men love their women so fiercely and unconditionally.
We also get an additional POV from other characters that has me thinking and hoping there will be a third book as I need to know more about Charlie, Anatoly and Molly.
I’m super excited for whatever this author has in store for us. Seriously, she is a hidden gem that everyone needs to read!
#TopFavoritesOf2019
I read the first book, The Hunting Town, back in 2017 and no joke, I was stalking the author’s page, newsletter, social media in anticipation for the sequel’s release. When I learned that we were finally getting it in a few weeks, I was super excited.
I’ll admit that because of the wait, my expectations were high, but I had no reason to worry because this series is so addicting and riveting and I loved everything about it. It is full of suspense, twists and turns you don’t see coming and new characters POVs that had me sucked in from start to finish.
I loved reuniting with Dixon and Sara, Mer and Knox and the rest of the brothers. In this sequel, we get two new couples - Aiden and Alina and Gavriil and Ify - that had me rooting so bad for them. These damaged men love their women so fiercely and unconditionally.
We also get an additional POV from other characters that has me thinking and hoping there will be a third book as I need to know more about Charlie, Anatoly and Molly.
I’m super excited for whatever this author has in store for us. Seriously, she is a hidden gem that everyone needs to read!
#TopFavoritesOf2019
July 29, 2019
Gavriil and Ify .. . Aiden and Alina both males alpha and there women strong and determined and I love both couples fiercely. This book is intense! Many new characters and each one grew on me and I want to know each of everyone’s story! You definitely have to read the first book to understand what’s going on in this one. I’m hoping this isn’t the end I want more. Out of both books this one was my favorite. The heat and intense keeps you wanting to turn the pages. 5/5 stars
July 29, 2019
They went into hiding. He got her to someone that would keep her safe and hid away biding their time. She was out for a story, her newest book, when she found him. The chemistry was immediate. She kept coming back for more, until. . . Now he has to fight. He doesn’t know just how serious it is. This will be a battle for their lives. They don’t know how strong these women are until they are tested. This author takes us through the plans and when things go south she gives us even more from this group who even though they don’t think they have a chance they know they have no choice. A book filled with the passion of new found love not yet defined, action, complete and total chaos, jealousy, betrayal. There is a shi$$torm and this book explodes with it all and it’s topped with women who will battle for their men and family that won’t stand on the sidelines. It’s ride or die time. They have no idea who they can trust. They have no idea if or who will survive. They were the hunted, now they are the hunters. They are out of options, now they rise.
August 3, 2019
Although this one isn't the balanced bloody ballet of the first book it is good in its own right. The focus has shifted from just the brothers to the additions of their family. The internal war of the Russian mob has forced its way into their lives and now they have a bag of drugs they don't want and no easy way to get rid of it. The new local mob leader doesn't believe they don't want the drugs and is trying to figure out how to get the drug money back. Yep it's a brutal, bloody battle to see who will run the mob, and what they are willing to do to get the control. Lies, murder, and everything in between is on the table. Family secrets coming out of the closets can derail everything the brothers are fighting for as Alina is forced to make desperate choices. I do recommend reading the first book as this one picks up where that one left off and though you won't be lost there is a lot more impact if you have the whole story. There is explicit adult content, and violence.
July 30, 2019
Elizabeth Stephens once again blew my mind away with this story. It picks up from the first in the series and it was perfectly done. She tells us the story of Alina and Aiden as well as Ify and Gavriil. Both couples are what I would call beautiful disasters, they are each messed up in their own way, however have beautiful souls underneath all their darkness. Each character I fell in love with while reading the book. The suspense with the underlying romance of them was so well done I kept wanting more. This book is also told from several different points of view, however it was so well written I did not have any trouble keeping up with it.
I loved the ending and can't wait for more in this series.
I did get this book as an ARC.
I loved the ending and can't wait for more in this series.
I did get this book as an ARC.
August 4, 2019
Great sequel
Great sequel to an already fabulous book
Like the first book, this has it all...
Romance, hot sex, violence all packed into a mob thriller. Dont be fooled though, the author doesn't hold back and have the mob plot in the background to make it a bit more interesting, its bloody and deals with real life issues and hurt and pain on the main characters just like it would in real life.
I admit I did stumble through the first chapter as I oriented myself with the names of the mob characters but after that it was a quick read through a long book that I couldnt out down.
With the introduction of new characters and relationships, the fascination and appeal remained as it did in book one.
Will be keeping an eye out for any follow up books!
Great sequel to an already fabulous book
Like the first book, this has it all...
Romance, hot sex, violence all packed into a mob thriller. Dont be fooled though, the author doesn't hold back and have the mob plot in the background to make it a bit more interesting, its bloody and deals with real life issues and hurt and pain on the main characters just like it would in real life.
I admit I did stumble through the first chapter as I oriented myself with the names of the mob characters but after that it was a quick read through a long book that I couldnt out down.
With the introduction of new characters and relationships, the fascination and appeal remained as it did in book one.
Will be keeping an eye out for any follow up books!
July 29, 2019
Could not put it down...
Gavrill and Aiden 2 of the most complexly damaged men in more ways than one. As we left the first book I was hanging on for dear life and thought no way could Elizabeth take me on another rollercoaster like that again. It may have been 2 years in the making but oh boy was it totally worth the wait.
Twists and turns in every corner, betrayal and lies for more lies and danger. The bag of drugs the brothers hold the key to are meant to be the key to freedom but who’s does it buy???
Well worth reading and after how this one finished I’m really hoping for a third book as there is so much more that can be played out.
Gavrill and Aiden 2 of the most complexly damaged men in more ways than one. As we left the first book I was hanging on for dear life and thought no way could Elizabeth take me on another rollercoaster like that again. It may have been 2 years in the making but oh boy was it totally worth the wait.
Twists and turns in every corner, betrayal and lies for more lies and danger. The bag of drugs the brothers hold the key to are meant to be the key to freedom but who’s does it buy???
Well worth reading and after how this one finished I’m really hoping for a third book as there is so much more that can be played out.
July 21, 2019
I have been ruined! Ruined from reading any other books. How is it possible for this book to be even better than the 1st one? I need another star because this is a 6 star book. The two alpha men, Gavriil and Aiden are so different from each other but I loved them both and the strong women who turn their worlds upside down. The story line, character detail and world building was fantastically done. I am a bit upset at how much sleep I lost reading this book because I could not put it down. I can’t wait for the next one and this is not even my go to genre. Loved it and highly recommend it.
July 20, 2019
Hoo Boy. Panties. Melted.
I received an ARC of this book because after reading the first one I begged. There might have also been some pleading. I'm not ashamed.
This book is hot. So layered and so deep in places it's dark but never too dark, sometimes hilarious. Always well written and engaging. I LOVE these Alpha males and the females they find are no shrinking flowers and will not back down. GREAT character development. Love the HEA. This series will stay on my 'follow' list.
I received an ARC of this book because after reading the first one I begged. There might have also been some pleading. I'm not ashamed.
This book is hot. So layered and so deep in places it's dark but never too dark, sometimes hilarious. Always well written and engaging. I LOVE these Alpha males and the females they find are no shrinking flowers and will not back down. GREAT character development. Love the HEA. This series will stay on my 'follow' list.
March 10, 2020
Don’t get any ideas
So pretty much this story was good until you started making Ify do dumb sh*t and it just made me want to keep snatching stars. If she knew enough to pop Gavriil’s hand away from her hair she dang sure knows she’s not a vigilante running all over town. I enjoyed reading Aiden’s character every word about him had me tighten up just to keep reading about what he would do next. More books in the series?? Who is this other big person in the background running women?
So pretty much this story was good until you started making Ify do dumb sh*t and it just made me want to keep snatching stars. If she knew enough to pop Gavriil’s hand away from her hair she dang sure knows she’s not a vigilante running all over town. I enjoyed reading Aiden’s character every word about him had me tighten up just to keep reading about what he would do next. More books in the series?? Who is this other big person in the background running women?
May 25, 2021
Wow. I thought the first book had lots of shock and terror, but this one stepped it up. We again saw multiple narratives all leading to the final showdown. Human trafficking played a big part. We found out that not all the Russians were bad, and many characters experienced growth. I think these two main couples resonated better than the two in the first book. Less insta-love, more challenges experienced before leading to the end.
October 18, 2021
I do not get why this author isn’t more read. She writes diverse likable characters, interesting plots, great banter, and page turners. I loved everyone in this series. I’m actually sad it’s over and that I don’t get to read the remaining brothers stories. I’ll be even more sad when I’ve blown through all her works and will actually have to wait for her to write more.
December 16, 2021
Still want more
Great ending for the most part but it left me wanting more. I want Charlie and Clifton’s stories now. They need an HEA just like their brothers.
Great ending for the most part but it left me wanting more. I want Charlie and Clifton’s stories now. They need an HEA just like their brothers.
March 2, 2026
Epic conclusion
August 11, 2019
The Hunted Rise
Wonderful characters and a truly heart-stopping edge of the seat story, it drags you right into the middle of all the action, twists, turns and intrigue right up until the end
Wonderful characters and a truly heart-stopping edge of the seat story, it drags you right into the middle of all the action, twists, turns and intrigue right up until the end
September 5, 2019
Great character development. A story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Lots of twists and turns until the end.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews