Surrendering to Hunt

Wyoming Wilde #2

by Jennifer Ryan

They're tough, tenacious, and sometimes tormented; they're the Wildes of Wyoming, three brothers whose family ties are as strong as their wills.

The last thing lawman Hunt Wilde ever dreamed he’d do was fall hard for a purple-haired troublemaker like Cyn Wilson. While Hunt believes in law and order, Cyn lives life fast and loose—with fast cars and wild nights. But when Cyn’s sister disappears, she surprisingly turns to him for help. Never let it be said that a Wilde man turned down a woman in distress—and on a mission.

It takes a lot for Cyn to swallow her pride and ask Hunt for anything. The man never gives her a break and is always staring at her with those perceptive eyes. But beneath Cyn’s tough exterior beats a heart as wide and beautiful as Wyoming itself—and soon she finds herself surrendering to the overpowering attraction simmering between them and partnering with him in the search for her missing sister.

She won’t rest until she learns the truth, even if that means putting herself in harm’s way. And when Hunt discovers how much danger Cyn is in because of him, he’s even more determined to take down the man who would take her out of Hunt’s life—forever.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, Suspense, Westerns, Audiobook

379 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 23, 2022

About the author

Jennifer Ryan, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Hunted and McBrides Series, writes romantic suspense and contemporary small-town romances.

Jennifer lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and three children. When she isn’t writing a book, she’s reading one. Her obsession with both is often revealed in the state of her home, and how late dinner is to the table. When she finally leaves those fictional worlds, you’ll find her in the garden, playing in the dirt and daydreaming about people who live only in her head, until she puts them on paper.

Please visit her website at www.jennifer-ryan.com for information about upcoming releases.

Reviews

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Cowboy Romantic Suspense, and this is the second book in the Wyoming Wilde series. I have read and reviewed the first book in this series, but I do think this book can be read as a standalone even though I really enjoyed the first book in this book series. This book covers a hard to read topic (abusive boyfriend and how much the cops can really do to help), and I think parts/all of this book maybe hard to read if you are trigger by reading things like that. I do feel that this book does a great job covering this topic without going too dark. I really love the characters in this book, and I love how the two main characters fit together so well. There are some funny, cute, steamy and hard to read times in this book. I felt this book shows an abusive boyfriend/relationship real and does not sugar coat it. Great Read. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Avon Books) or author (Jennifer Ryan) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

[Lover of Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

First Impressions
Surrendering To Hunt is the second installment in the “Wyoming Wilde” series and this is the second of the three Wilde brothers set in Wyoming. I was so happy that Avon was willing to send me a copy of the ARC for review. Jennifer Ryan is such a favorite author of mine and I have had so much fun reading her books and Surrendering to Hunt was no different for me. There is such a charm about picking up a Jennifer Ryan and relaxing into one of her stories. I knew from the cover that this one would be a wild one and it definitely was. It had such a fun dynamic that I fell so hard for. This is a definite opposite attract, you know the good boy with the bad girl type of blend and it worked out so well. I have found this type of dynamic is best in small-town romances and Jennifer Ryan really made this book shine with this trope and how these two are set up and of course she brings it town with deep leveled emotion and action-packed plot build-up just to add character to the story.

Summary
Our story begins with Lawman Hunt Wilde comes to a domestic altercation and he runs into sexy Cyn Wilson. Cyn’s sister is caught in an abusive situation with her boyfriend, and the abuser happens to be Hunt’s childhood friend. Cyn doesn’t have the best liking for Hunt due to his connections, but when she sees his integrity and his fierce protective nature, she is drawn to him in a way that she can’t explain or fight. But when her sister and baby nephew goes missing, she is determined to find them and Hunt and Cyn join forces and not just in the search for her sister but also in exploring their newfound relationship. Even though their relationship is fresh, there is a level of deep emotional intimacy that is quickly built and as the chemistry builds between them, Cyn and Hunt will find a stunning love along the way to finding redemption on the journey to finding her sister.

What I Loved
I will say that this story was such a fun one and I had so many barrels of laughs in exploring this one here. I just couldn’t get enough of this book or what Jennifer Ryan is able to craft in this book. I absolutely love how well Cyn and Hunt do together. From the beginning of the story, they have definite sparks and the “opposites attract” really works so well in this one. Hunt is an honest lawman, he lives up to the “serve and protect” and its a code of honor for him. We see throughout the book what a man of integrity Hunt is. Then we have the wilde Cyn. She likes to have crazy summer nights and drive fast cars and tends to live on the boundaries of the law at times. But there is a definite chemistry and even though at the beginning they fight off their feelings, they both quickly give into the desire they feel for each other. I enjoyed the moments in which they explore each other, the author definitely knows how to write her steam, there is such a sexy feel to these intimate moments between Hunt and Cyn. Then we have the mystery and suspense plot. And this is where Jennifer Ryan is truly talented. I love how well she blends this in with the romance and its done in a way that just works so well for the romance. There is also some intense emotion that really brings the story to its conclusion in such a bright and brilliant way that will deliver in a satisfying delivery.

What I Struggled With
I am not sure if there is anything that I really struggled with, it’s not exactly a five star but there isn’t anything super specific on why it didn’t quite make it, just didn’t quite reach the five star feeling but such a solid read and I absolutely had a blast with this one.

Overall View
Surrendering To Hunt was a satisfying rollercoaster of a read, its a story that takes the reader on a journey of entertaining angst, edgy thrills to curl your toes and a love tale to capture the essence of the heart and soul of love! DEEPLY PROVACATIVE!

Trigger Warnings:
Domestic Abuse, Violence, Death

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The series shares the stories of the Wilde siblings, three brothers whose family ties are as strong as their wills. This story belongs to lawman Hunt Wilde. As an officer, he takes his job seriously and he’ll be tested in Surrendering to Hunt. First by a man he once called his friend and the second in the form of a spunky, speed breaking purple haired hottie who makes him crazy.

People talk about Cyn Wilson from her fast cars to wild nights, but not all the rumors are true and there is more to this little troublemaker. Right now, her biggest concern is her sister. She has fallen for the wrong man. Fights lead to bruises and despite all of her efforts, she can’t get her sister to leave. Confrontations and Hunt showing up on the scene may get the guy arrested, but soon he is right back. When things take a dark turn, Cyn and Hunt work together. Along the way, they see through each other’s exterior to what lies below.

Ryan delivered all the elements I love in a romance. I found myself reading into the wee hours, not just because of the suspenseful thread, but also because I wanted. No, I needed these two to have a happily ever after. Tears, cheers and holding my breath occurred before Ryan delivered. These two balance each other out. He needs to loosen up a little, and she needs someone who really sees her.

Fans of small-town romances, suspense, flawed characters and swoons will want to devour Surrendering to Hunt. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[Grisette · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

I enjoyed this a lot more than I would have thought. The book was long but the writing and plot flowed nicely along and so made for a comfortable read. In a way, this was not a typical romance for me. I never expected to read a sweet country romance laced tightly with a saddening domestic abuse crime. But the author did it all with grace and heart. Sure, sceptic me at one point raised an eyebrow at the probability of being able to fall deep in love while bearing the angst of having the wheareabouts of your sister and her baby unknown under the most worrying circumstances (and most probably murdered). But let's say that the gentle writing helped me a lot to suspend any disbelief.

The romance between Hunt and Cyn fell so naturally in place. The crime circumstances beside, they came together with no conflict at all, always so understanding of each other, and with communications always flowing free between them. Again, this could have raised my eyebrow high, but I just allowed my cynicism to wash away. Hunt was the perfect man: supportive, solid, caring, loving, without ever being patronising and smothering. I liked Cyn too: she was the epitome of the self-confident, independent and courageous girl who loved with all her heart. At times, a tad too sweet, but the angst-free romance felt good for the soul.

The one part of the book that annoyed me a bit was the way all convos in the book were extended. Most of the time, a comment would get repeated, in different words, making all discussions seem long and never ending. It does reflect real life convos I guess, e.g. when you spend 15 mins saying goodbye to your bff on the phone. But in a book, when this keeps happening for every convo, it gets a little bit tedious. At least from my perspective.

Verdict: To read for some kind-hearted romance, oozing with cozy and feel good sweetness.

-----

Random thoughts and unanswered questions:

🦋 Loved the thematic first names of Hunt and his siblings, and his cousins. All possibly a bit too fairy tale perfect, like the romance and the whole book, but the cuteness was also refreshing in a way.

🦋 How did Angela die? The question was asked in-book but never answered on-page.

🦋 How come Cyn and Shelby are bff, but Cyn never met Chase?

🦋 This book would make a lovely movie, Lifetime-style!

[Ann Lorz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always so happy to read a book of Jennifer Ryan's. I always love her characters. She's got some of the greatest heroes. When we met Hunt in Chase's book he didn't seem to be very good hero material. To be honest, I didn't like him that much. But I knew Ryan has a wonderful way of giving us heroes that are more than what they seem.

When you think of Hunt you think that the woman who'd be with him would be some mild-mannered lady. He seems like the kind of guy that didn't want anyone too wild. This is why Cyn is perfect for him. She's everything he doesn't realize he needs.

I really loved Cyn. She's the best. You think she'd be really wild and crazy with the way she looks but, to be honest, she's a very caring down to earth person. She works so hard trying to get her sister a better life but when it all seems to blow up and she's trying not to fall apart she has Hunt there to stand with her.

There are times when you wonder if these two can work past all that happens but you notice right away that Cyn thinks like a grown-up. She doesn't blame others for what is happening only the people that caused the bad things to happen.

Hunt hurts for Cyn and all she is going through, he stands by her even when she does things that scare him to death. Instead of trying to change her to fit more into his life, he embraces her instead. You'll love Hunt and Cyn and spend most of their story both happy and sad. I spent much of it an emotional mess. Ryan does that to me all the time.

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[Christi (christireadsalot) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars/rounded up. Surrendering to Hunt is a western, contemporary romantic suspense. Hunt is a by-the-book local lawman (aka policeman) and Cyn is the purple-haired troublemaker who lives life fast and loose. This is the second book in a series but I felt like the book worked as a standalone. I received a review copy from TLC Book Tours and Avon Books. All thoughts in this review are my own.

The story jumps right into it with Cyn worrying about her sister, who is in an abusive relationship. When her sister disappears and Cyn fears the worst, she turns to Hunt for his help. Never one to turn down a woman in distress and on a mission, Hunt joins up with Cyn to find her missing sister and newborn baby.

This was pretty heavy on the abusive relationship that Cyn’s sister was in and her disappearance because of said relationship. While there is steam in this book, I just wanted more of a focus on the couple and the buildup of their relationship for me to believe in their romance. It’s pretty fast-paced but I just wanted more from the story overall. I thought this was okay, I did like how much the hero wants a family (he even has a kids room/nursery built and ready in his house).

CW: domestic violence, abusive relationship, murder, kidnapping

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m surprised how much I enjoyed this cowboy/cop romance. I liked the premise. Hunt Wilde is a good guy, buff, cowboy and town cop trying to do his job. Cyn Wilson is the purple haired, free spirit, owns and runs a beauty shop. (And half the men in town say they’ve been with her.) Cyn’s sister is being abused by her husband who is a childhood friend of Hunt. Cyn continues to try and get her sister to leave her abuser when the sister and her six week old baby go missing. The book realistically shows how police hands are tied trying to gather evidence. Searching for her sister gives Hunt and Cyn brief but intense time together. I went along with their instant attraction as they have a background of provoking each other. And while I always enjoy hot and steamy moments I found the timing kind of icky. Being together just out of the hospital, or after traumatic discoveries may have had me hit a pause button.

I’m not sure that the free spirited Cyn would appreciate how possesive of her Hunt becomes. The girls who doesn’t wait five minutes for him as she runs headlong into danger doesn’t seem to be the type to sit at home with his brothers watching over her. I did like the communication between the two and they discuss a lot of things including the shortness of the time they’ve been together and how fast they are moving. Trigger warnings for abuse. I thought the sisters note was plausible but the added paperwork stretched the imagination. I also liked that the case is resolved at about the 80 percent point and gives plenty of time for resolution, decision making and closure. This is probably the exact opposite of a rushed ending and it was nice to experience.

This is the second a series that follows the Wilde brothers. I read as a stand alone but the couple from the first book is part of this story. The love interest for brother Max is introduced near the ending giving anticipation for the next book in the series. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. (4.5 stars)

[Ashlyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why I Decided to Read This:
I read the first one and liked Hunt, so I was excited that he got his own book. When I saw this on NetGalley, I immediately requested it.

Plot:
Hunt is a police officer who is looking into some burglaries. Cyn has a sister who is in an abusive relationship, and when she disappears, Hunt and Cyn work together to try to find her. The plot of this book was actually what made it good. It had everything there, from fast paced scenes to romance between Hunt and Cyn, but I just felt like it could have been better executed.

Brief Thoughts:
I honestly thought I would like this book, and there were moments when I did, but it was the moments without the romance. I liked Cyn and Hunt trying to find Cyn's sister, and there were definitely some OMG moments throughout. But I honestly could not stand Hunt and Cyn's relationship.

Characters:
First, you have Hunt. He seems like a decent guy. He's a police officer who cares about other's well-being. And I did like him... until it came to Cyn, where he just seemed more possessive which didn't really fit his character. Then you have Cyn, who is a wild and free business owner that takes no BS; however, she has a soft and sweet side to her too. I did like her character. She seemed herself the entire time, especially when she would just jump into a situation without even thinking.

Writing Style:
This book was written in third person and switched between following Hunt and Cyn's characters. At times, I thought the book was faced paced. Other times, I just wanted to throw my kindle and be done with the book.

Likes:
- The Mystery: I did like the mystery of this book. Trying to figure out what happened to Cyn's sister and going to look for her. It was actually the most interesting part of the book.
- Cyn: I liked how much Cyn cared about others. Even if a situation put her in danger, she still went out and did what she needed to do to take care of the people she loved.

Dislikes:
- The Relationship: This was my main issue with this book. It went from "hey, let's be friends" to "we should go on a date" to "we are boyfriend girlfriend and just going to live together" all in the span of about 24 to 48 hours without even going on a date.
- Hunt: Continuing with what I was saying above. Hunt just became so possessive over Cyn in the relationship, and it was just too much. Like he says she is a free spirit, but then demands that she does things and has her watched by his brothers. It just does not add up.

Recommendation:
Maybe if you really loved the first book in this series, you will like this one too. I honestly just thought the first one was better, and wish the relationship in this was was either non-existent or just different.

What’s in This Book & Trigger Warnings:
I'm going to try to remember all the trigger warnings for this book; however, there are a lot, so don't take this as an all-inclusive list.
- Open Door Romance
- Kidnapping
- Burglary
- Fire
- Shooting/Guns
- Death
- Money Problems
- Adoption
- Physical Abuse

[Denise Schenk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cyn Wilson is known as the wild woman in town. She is the local hair salon owner and keeps her hair and clothes a little on the wild side. Hunt Wilde is the local cop and has stopped her numerous times for speeding. Cyn sister is in an abusive relationship that Cyn has tried to get her out of. Hunt takes a call to for abuse arrives to find Cyn going at it with Angela's boyfriend. Hunt arrest Rad due to seeing him hit Cyn. Things seem to call down on the abuse calls to the home. Hunt is working a B&E case and goes to check out the local garage and runs into Rad which was his former best friend. Cyn later contacts Hunt saying her sister is missing. As the police hunt for the missing sister Cyn and Hunt come to realize they really have feelings for each other. This is a good story on learning to trust and accept help when you need it. I have read to first book in this series and it nice to see more on the Wilde men. This book can be hard to read because of the abuse, but overall, it was a great read. Can't wait to read more on the Wilde family.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hunt has his hands full with Cyn! Great character dialogue and interaction. There are some very heartbreaking moments in this story. Lots of action and suspense with some twists! It’s a great journey to their HEA.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book should come with a tissue warning. My emotions were all over the place reading this one. It had its funny moments, but there was also a lot of heartbreak and sadness and I just wasn't prepared for that level of emotion going into this. I didn't see a trigger warning, but this one should 100% come with one for domestic abuse.

My biggest problem with the book is how quickly Cyn & Hunt go from enemies to living together and saying 'I love you.' I completely understand wanting to not waste a moment in life because it's not a given that you'll have the next. But this didn't seem natural and instead seemed like the situation and adrenaline was making the decision for them. That situational love makes it seem less authentic. By the end, I could see how much they really did love each other and it was believable. But for most of the book, it just seemed premature.

I was definitely drawn into the story and didn't want to put the book down. The author does not hold back any punches and tells a story that will keep you on edge. I would have liked for some of the bad parts to not have happened, but understand the author needed to tell the story that way for things to work out how they did in the end. This book was definitely better than Chase's story, even if the plot didn't go the way I had hoped.

As I always seem to note with Ms. Ryan's books, they're VERY long and some parts do seem to be unnecessary and cause the book to drag. This book followed the same pattern, so I kept checking to see just how many chapters were left before I could reach the end. 41 chapters seems a bit overzealous when the chapters are long.

[Donna Repsher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surrendering to Hunt is the second novel in Jennifer Ryan's Wyoming Wilde series, and the Wilde brother in this novel is Hunt Wilde, a police officer in Willow Fork. I found that I liked this novel just a tad less than the first book in the series, and for several reasons I'm giving it a 4.5-star rating.

First, the triggers, and there a quite a few of them, the main one being domestic violence. Cyn, the heroine in this novel has a sister, Angela, who believes herself in love with and lives with her physically, verbally, and emotionally abusive boyfriend, Rad. When we first meet her, she's on Rad's front lawn, having called the police in an attempt to get her sister to leave, and Hunt is the officer who shows up. As is common in domestic abuse situations, Angela refuses to leave, believing herself in love with her abuser. If domestic violence, graphic violence, kidnapping and murder are triggers for you, this is definitely not the book you should be reading.

Cyn and Hunt have had several run-ins in the past, due to the fact that he's caught her speeding on numerous occasions. Cyn, who owns the local beauty salon, has purple hair and lots of tattoos, is a wild child, with quite a reputation in town--a lot of it from men saying they slept with her, whether they did or not. That was a trigger issue for this reader, but, thankfully, it wasn't overdone. Hunt is attracted to the beautiful and fiery Cyn, and a large part of this novel is about their growing relationship after Rad hits Cyn in front of Hunt, is arrested, and swears vengeance. When he gets out of jail, Cyn's sister and her sister's newborn, Lana, suddenly go missing, the day before Angela and finallly planned to take her baby and leave Rad for good. As if that wasn't enough, there's also been a series of local burglaries, some violent, and one ending in murder, and Hunt believes that Rad is behind them, but finding him is a major problem--and will they ever manage to find Angela and baby Lana, unharmed? As always, you'll just have to read this novel to find out.

Although this was a very good romantic suspense read, there was certainly no mystery about who the perpetrator was, and for some reason I just didn't feel as emotionally connected to these characters as I did with the characters in the first novel, which was Hunt's brother, Chase's story. Nevertheless, this was as well-written as have been all of the Jennifer Ryan novels I've read thus far, and if you can get past the trigger issues, I'm happy to recommend it.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions stated are my own.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars

This book should come with a warning - - romance with a side of heartbreak. As scrumptious as Cyn and Hunt's blossoming romance is, it's overshadowed at times by the heartbreaking events surrounding her sister, Angela and her cruel and ruthless boyfriend.

It's difficult to resist a romance between a straight-laced. no-nonsense police officer and the free spirited woman with purple hair. I couldn't help but pull for their relationship from the beginning. Then when you see the soft side behind each of them, it makes it all the better.

The author did a really nice job developing a romance in the midst of full on chaos. There was a lot going on and at times you felt distracted by it, but that's how life goes. It doesn't stand still - - it keeps moving on.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

[Lisa Malmquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hunt Wilde has stopped the wild purple haired girl speeding several times. He never thought he would fall for her.
Cyn Wilson seems to live up to her name. But she really is not what she seems.
She has a problem with her sister's boyfriend, who is abusive.
She asks Hunt for help because Cyn and her sister Angela are over their heads.
Cyn had planned to get Angela away from her psycho boyfriend but she goes missing instead.
Hunt and Cyn are in a race to fins Angela.
A real life situation with a nice romance as well.

[Brenna Sullivan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The characters' interactions felt so unnatural that it was hard to read. Ryan's books seem to be hits or misses for me.

Plus, Cynthia is described as stubborn and a take charge kind of woman, but what you see after getting together with Hunt is her being rescued by Hunt.

Also, she "surrenders" to Hunt pretty easily; falling in love with him. After all the explaining about how independent she is, it was really hard to believe.

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wilde men of Wyoming are willing, wanting, and wanton. Hunt has been watching Cyn from afar for awhile. She irks him but also intrigues him. She is a hotbed of trouble for sure who needs the steady reliableness of Hunt, who is a tall glass of sexy law enforcement.
There is a ton packed in the story. Lots of violence, headlong impetuousness by Cyn, and a swift relationship.
I love the close community, the way it all wraps up measly, but there is still Max Wilde to find a match for….
Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for the early read.

[Michelle the Romance Witch · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMFG so many tears and so much craziness. I loved every second and I cannot wait for Max's sotey. Full review coming soon to the blog.

[Serenechaosnyc · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fast paced romantic suspense novel following Hunt, one of the Wilde brothers, and Cyn, the town "bad girl". While I didn't read the prior book in the series, I didn't have trouble following along, although there was mention of the situation that was resolved in the prior book of the series (Chase's book). I really liked the premise, which was that Cyn's sister was being abused and through a series of events, disappeared and Cyn needed Hunt, a policeman, to help her. Cyn was a strong character who did some really unintelligent things which annoyed me- she was always postured as a bit hot headed though so the author set the stage well. Hunt was strong and sweet and I liked his character a lot. A lot happened in this book and I really liked the pacing of the suspenseful part of the book, where they were hunting (hehe) down the bad guy. The romance part felt a little too quick- they went from hating each other to almost immediately a couple. I wish it took a little longer and felt a little more real. That said, a great intro for me to this author and a fun, well rounded story. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an early read!

[Holly Doyal · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading book 1 and not really feeling the connection between the characters, I decided to give this second book in the series a shot. And boy, am I glad I did because this was a good book. It had all the feels to it - enemies to lovers, sweetness overload and a little mystery on the side.

Cyn has a reputation in town of living life to the fullest - Hunt can attest to that after the gazillion speeding tickets he has written her. When Cyn needs someone in law enforcement to help her get her sister out of a bad relationship, her first thought is to call Hunt. Once these two start talking, they quickly realize how much they need each other.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated above are mine without biases.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Cyn and Hunt as they travelled their way to a happy ever after. Their road was filled with heartache and grief but they made it. I loved every minute of their story and didn't want it to end.

[Margaret Yelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surrending to Hunt is the second book in the Wyoming Wilde series. I really enjoyed this book, and I fell in love with Cyn, she is a spitfire and doesn't care what anyone thinks about her. Hunt is a law officer who continues to be a thorn in Cyn's side. Cyn's sister is in a abusive relationship, which could be triggering for some reading this book. After her sister disappears with her new baby, what follows is a life and death search for them. I most certainly would recommend this book to everyone.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Avon the publisher, I am under no obligation to leave a favorable review the opinion expressed here are my own.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the story and the people but got a bit drawn out for me.

[MammaDi3Gatti · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This novel has a lot of the elements I like in a romantic suspense--a strong heroine, a hunky hero, action, a fast read--but it didn't fully hit the mark for me. Second in a series, it was my first. Though it reads fine as a standalone, I do wonder if getting to know Cyn and Hunt as secondary characters in the first novel would have changed my impression in any way. (See the very end for trigger warnings.)

Basically, this is an enemies-to-lovers romantic suspense novel, but both tropes are a little unpolished. Cyn and Hunt are first presented as the wild child and the straight-laced cop respectively. While Hunt clearly has befuddled lust for Cyn, she writes him off as the annoying officer who keeps giving her speeding tickets. However, practically overnight, the two are living together (to be fair, somewhat out of necessity) and professing their love. Not long after that, the wild-child, rule-breaking parts of Cyn seem to disappear and she becomes just your average strong but rule-following heroine. Hunt, for all that he stays cop-ish, doesn't seem to be very strict with the rules; he's far too okay with Cyn knowing elements of some investigations and even going with him to crime scenes. It's just a little weird, kind of like two stories knitted together.

The suspense part is also not fully baked. We know who the bad guy is and what he likely did, and the fact that we're repeatedly told that Cyn knows in her heart that XYZ happened (I'm trying to be vague to avoid spoilers) makes it clear not to expect the unexpected at the end. Also, there are two mysteries--Cyn's sister's disappearance and a string of home invasions--that Hunt suspects are linked, but I'm not entirely sure that the second one ever satisfactorily resolved for me. I don't think it was necessary to the plot, actually, except to make the bad guy "badder," (which in turn made him melodramatically bad).

All of this aside, it's a decent book. Yes, I may have skimmed parts (especially at the end, which goes on far too long after the suspense part ends), but I was still interested in the story.

I received an ARC of this book for free from the publisher and Netgalley. This review is given voluntarily and reflects my honest opinion. Thanks!

Trigger warnings (may be spoilers): Domestic abuse, violence, death

[Heather M Jones-Lancto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hunt is a local police officer for the town of Willow Fork; he plays everything by the book. Cyn lives her life to the fullest, as if everyday could be her last. Too many times Hunt has pulled Cyn over for speeding and issued her a ticket. The two couldn't be any different than night and day. At some point in their interactions Cyn has gotten under Hunts skin, in a good way.

Cyn has begged her sister Angela to leave her abusive boyfriend Rad so many times. Where others would have eventually given up, Cyn refuses to lose hope that she can save her sister. Hunt and Rad were the best of friends growing up but over the years Hunt has seen a change in Rad. When Rad takes Cyn hostage Hunt is called out to diffuse the tense situation. Rad finds himself arrested and sees this as betrayal from his long time friend. A few weeks later, Ang and her new born daughter Lana come up missing. Cyn and Hunt work together to discover what has happened to them. During the investigation, Cyn and Hunt cannot deny the attraction between the two of them. Can Cyn help Hunt to loosen up and learn to live life a little? Can Hunt tame Cyn? The real question is, does he really want to?

Jennifer Ryan tackles some tough social issues in her stories and always manages to do so in a manner that is realistic, sensitive, and educational. Domestic abuse is an unfortunate reality for many men and women. In Surrendering to Hunt, Ryan manages to give a true and honest perspective of what the family of an abused individual experiences when a loved one refuses to leave the relationship. I loved the strength and independence of Cyn. Ryan's writing made me feel the struggle such a strong woman endures when she is unable to save someone she loves. Hunt is our sexy hero who understands that no matter how much he wants to he can never hold Cyn back, he must allow her to be who she is, it's his responsibility to be her just be her partner.

I am really excited to see what story Ryan develops in the next chapter of the Wilde men for brother Max.

[Tonya Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cyn is known for the loud, but fun woman always has a smile on her face well except when a certain hot Wilde man that goes by the name of Hunt. When Hunt witnessed cyn's sister's bf hit cyn his blood was boiling. One day cyn and her sister had a plan but she disappeared with infant daughter. Both cyn and hunt had some rough patches but they knew what they wanted.

This review was written because I was granted an arc from netgalley

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received for review

Hunt was an absolute butt in the first book, and doesn't start out much better in this one. Cyn is fiery and determined to save her sister and niece. Along the way they fall out of dislike and into love. Now, I want to know more about the biker gang and the sisters that help them out.

[Charley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author never lets a reader down. She had me from five pages in. This was a wonderful amazing book. I cried was an amazing ending. Can not wait for Hunts stories

[Lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh! Way too much sweetness that came too fast and was just too overloaded. And the characters were just way too blasé in their reactions to incredibly major events.

I thought I would really like this when I first started, but the way this book was written just made me feel at odds. I couldn’t properly feel sad about the death, couldn’t properly feel happy about their relationship, it was just a mess of forced emotion on the reader. Oh so scared and angry. Oh so in love and lust. Oh love love love. Oh scary, almost died because I need to know. Oh love lust love. It just felt like instead of letting us experience the story, the author was trying to force us to feel what she wanted to convey and it just did NOT work for me.

1) Hunt is supposed to be an amazing cop. Yeah, he was on a 26- hour shift, but he was aware enough to notice the car, and Rad’s nervous/guilty reactions, but he didn’t think, hey this abuser might just go home after being fired and abuse his girlfriend, BULLSHIT! What cop who is supposedly such a good guy wouldn’t think that first!? That is the very first thing I thought when Rad was fired. His whole I was tired and not thinking thing is completely out of character and took him down a bunch in my mind, also making me disbelieve what came next (as was expected)
2) Cyn goes to find her sister and upon Rad saying she’s not there immediately is convinced she’s dead. Like wow! You don’t even hold out hope? And Hunt says there’s nothing they can arrest him for, but is able to open a missing persons case in less than 24 hours (which I thought was standard) and they suspect Rad so couldn’t they still take him in for questioning (I get that another officer does that after) but it didn’t seem like normal protocol, which Hunt seems to want to go by so much.
3) Cyn HAVING to jump into a freezing lake to check the submerged car. Stupid!! There is no way you would allow a civilian to do that. This is an investigation. This also was dangerous. She claimed she had to know, which is so stupid considering police divers were on their way, what’s 10 more minutes, if Angela had been in the car there is no way 10 minutes would’ve been the difference between life and death after hours of being submerged. Nor would “knowing” she’s dead have made it any better. At that point, Cyn “dying” was something I rolled my eyes at because it was just so stupid. AND after drowning, needing CPR to be resuscitated, hypothermia, lacerations, and a concussion, I don’t think the ideal sexy time is as soon as you’re released from the hospital. But they do it. Then the next day, she’s having side effects like temporarily blindness, deafness, dizziness, but hey, we can still have sex. Uh what!!!!!?????
4) Hunt and Cyn falling into a relationship so fast. I didn’t mind the initial stuff leading up to him spending the night at her house, but after that it went way too fast. I thought I missed a chapter or two in their relationship development, but nope, they go from thinking the other is kind and hot to I’m in love forever and ever.
5) Cyn hearing about Rad’s grandfather’s woodsy shed thing and deciding to go check it out on her own. At this point, you already believe he murdered your sister, you also know he’s threatened you, but you’re not going to involve your cop boyfriend but instead go alone. Right….smart….🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄 It was so annoying that Cyn once again thought she could be a hero, instead she almost gets killed (again) only this time I kind of hoped she would’ve been hurt for her stupidity just to make the story feel real. But nope, Hunt makes it to her in time (🙄 of course) and they find Angela’s body, and Rad got away. If Cyn had just told Hunt, they could have gone in and probably captured Rad ending it all sooner, but she thought she was some hero. So so stupid.
6) Cyn’s grief and her and Hunt’s ability to tune out everything going on to flirt and have sex. I get finding comfort in intimacy but their relationship developed so fast and just made the murder/missing baby fears seem like nbd. Again making me feel like I missed a lot in their relationship development. This needed to be said again because in the midst of all the crazy crap they act like nothing’s wrong.
7) The convenient diaper bag letter with all the adoption papers and Hunt’s name written in when Cyn and Hunt weren’t even flirting/dating yet. 🙄

By the end of this book there was just WAY too much sap and it was just way too easy for them to fall into their roles as parents and what not for me to feel like I read a romance story. I liked the separate characters, and the idea of them together. But the way this story was told did NOT work.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 I loved Cyn and Hunt’s story in Surrendering to Hunt by Jennifer Ryan, book two in her Wyoming Wilde series, an enemies-to-lovers story with a bit of suspense. Beware trigger warning: a difficult topic is approached throughout this story, abusive relationships and the restrictions placed on the police who really want to help. Hunt Wilde is a local police officer for the town of Willow Fork; he plays everything by the book. Cyn Wilson is the purple haired, free spirit, owns and runs a beauty shop and lives her life to the fullest; as if everyday could be her last. Hunt has pulled Cyn over for speeding and issued her a ticket more times than she likes; wondering if he is trying to reform her. The two couldn't be any different than night and day. At some point in their interactions Cyn has gotten under Hunts skin, in a good way.

Cyn’s sister, Angela, is abused by her boyfriend, Rad, who happens to be a childhood friend of Hunt. Cyn continues to try and convince her sister to leave her abusive situation; especially once Angela’s baby girl, Lana, was born. When Angela and her six week old baby daughter are missing, Cyn knows that Rad was involved with their disappearance. Cyn and Hunt work together trying to figure out what has happened to them and where they might be. Working together during the investigation, Cyn and Hunt are unable to deny the attraction and sizzling chemistry between them as sparks do fly. Hunt was a bit possessive of Cyn, but it appeared to be more because he cared and worried about her rather than trying to control her. There was a definite push and pull relationship between Cyn and Hunt; angering the other in one minute, while wanting to kiss them the next. Cyn also pushed Rad’s buttons which made him vengeful; going after Cyn and trying to hurt her.

Ms. Ryan wrote a wonderful, heartwarming story with some twists and turns that should definitely not to be missed. Readers are taken on a rollercoaster ride, chasing after clues to locate Angela and Lana. Meeting Hunt’s cousins and the biker gang really added an interesting twist; one I hope is pursuing and exploring them in future stories. She provided a tale rich with sizzling chemistry, clever banter, and endearing characters giving Hunt, Cyn and baby Lana a chance for a loving future together. I highly recommend Chase Wilde Comes Home to other readers and can’t wait for the next book in the series, that of third brother, Max.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hunt Wilde loves being a cop, love working with his family on their ranch and would love to find one woman to love forever. Cyn loves to drive pedal to the metal, wants to protect her sister no matter the cost and would love to finally settle down with Mr. Right. Hunt is drawn to Cyn because she's fierce and unique. Cyn is drawn to Hunt because he is an obviously good guy. It turns out that they are already heading the same direction but just on slightly different tracks. Can they figure out a way to make a future together?

This story has a LOT that happens in it. I don't know if I consider it a strength or a weakness in the story. I mean, at some point, people would just get exhausted having to live through this much stuff. I will give the author credit that she made all of the crazy make sense when you look at from the perspective of the bad guy. I also like that Cyn is aware that she often acts without thinking first so when she gets into trouble she takes credit for putting herself there. Cyn is multifaceted and that made her a really interesting lead character. Yup, this might be a Wyoming Wilde novel but it is not about Hunt Wilde. He's the hero of the story but the story is about Cyn and her becoming a part of Hunt's life. By the end of the book, Hunt is still a cop and still wants to work on his family ranch. The only thing that has changed is that he now has Cyn in his life.

The people in town are cruel to judge Cyn the way they do but it is an excellent story element. The way the author used it as an opportunity to give the readers bits and pieces of information about Cyn was really nice. Cyn is truly a "don't judge a book by its cover" type of character. I am always concerned about an author choosing to have a couple "fall in love" while they are in the middle of the hurricane of events in the story. The good news in this book is that they were already dancing around each other before the events of the story so they already have a bit of a headstart on developing feelings for one another.

Hunt's house was a tad creepy in my opinion. It's weird for a man to remodel a house to the point that it was ready for a wife and kids to move in. I will admit that one of my complaints about the story is the fact that there is everything thrown at the characters. Yes, I want some excitement but Cyn even develops a scary medical condition during the story! I mean, jeez! It was just a lot.

This is a contemporary romance that takes place in Wyoming. You do not have to read book 1 in order to read this book. I will definitely read the next book in the series.

Trigger warning: there is domestic abuse and physical violence as major factors in this story