Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Hagen #2

Raven on the Wing

Rate this book
New York Times bestselling author Kay Hooper brings together romance and suspense in this classic love story of a woman who must lie to keep a safe distance from the man she loves—because telling him the truth is too dangerous for them both.
 
From the moment Raven Anderson literally knocks Josh Long off his feet, he’s determined to keep this elusive beauty in his tight embrace. While Raven denies their electrifying attraction and fends off his advances, Josh uses the resources of his business empire to crack the mystery surrounding Raven’s true identity. But Josh can’t bring himself to believe what the background check confirms—that Raven is an international criminal wanted for her connections to worldwide terrorism.

Raven has discouraged Josh’s help and his love, but she’s going to need both. For she is playing a part in a deadly game against an adversary who never loses, who takes no prisoners, and who threatens her very life.
 
 

183 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 1987

70 people are currently reading
380 people want to read

About the author

Kay Hooper

108 books2,456 followers
Kay Hooper (aka Kay Robbins) was born in California, in an air force base hospital since her father was stationed there at the time. The family moved back to North Carolina shortly afterward, so she was raised and went to school there.

The oldest of three children, Kay has a brother two years younger and a sister seven years younger. Her father and brother are builders who own a highly respected construction company, and her mother worked for many years in personnel management before becoming Kay's personal assistant, a position she held until her untimely death in March 2002. Kay's sister Linda works as her Business Manager, Events Coordinator, and is playing a major role in the creation and operation of The Kay Hooper Foundation.

Kay graduated from East Rutherford High School and attended Isothermal Community College — where she quickly discovered that business classes did not in any way enthrall her. Switching to more involving courses such as history and literature, she also began to concentrate on writing, which had been a longtime interest. Very quickly hooked, she asked for a Christmas typewriter and began seriously working on her first novel. That book, a Regency romance titled Lady Thief, sold to Dell Publishing in 1980. She has since published more than 60 novels and four novellas.

Kay is single and lives in a very small town in North Carolina, not far from her father and siblings. Deigning to live with her are a flock of cats — Bonnie, Ginger, Oscar, Tuffy, Felix, Renny, and Isabel — of various personalities who all like sleeping on manuscripts and whatever research happens to be spread across Kay's desk. And living amongst the many felines are two cheerfully tolerant dogs, a shelter rescue, Bandit, who looks rather like a small sheepdog, and a Sheltie named Lizzie.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
301 (33%)
4 stars
284 (31%)
3 stars
226 (25%)
2 stars
59 (6%)
1 star
18 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
Profile Image for *CJ*.
5,145 reviews636 followers
June 7, 2018
"Raven on the Wing" is the story of Raven and Josh.
Josh has spent his life running from commitments and brunettes, but restlessness has now plagued him. Things change when a gorgeous brunette unknowingly tackles him down, and he knows she is the one from him.
From stalking her, to professing love and marriage on the first meeting, Josh knows Raven is it for him. But Raven continues to push him away, and a little investigation reveals she might not be what she claims to be. But can Josh really let her go?
A love story filled with an interesting thriller plot and a couple who cant let go of each other, this one had all sweet elements of a Kay Hooper book- including an obsessed hero, a strong heroine and intense lust and love. Enjoyed this read!
Safe
3/5
Profile Image for Lisa.
1,179 reviews21 followers
February 11, 2026
2.5 stars

cheesy 80's thriller
Profile Image for Jena .
2,313 reviews2 followers
February 28, 2021
Romantic suspense. (5 Stars for the couple -2 stars for the espionage plot.)

I absolutely loved the love at first sight trope! He bumps into her- the world freezes- and he knows instantly that he has met "the one" and so the story starts with him trying to convince her to marry him. It was a cute little love story mixed in with some suspense.

I spent the beginning of the book with a huge smile on my face! H was just adorable!

“ "Why won't you marry me?" he demanded fiercely. "I'm perfectly all right, and I have pots of money."

"Just like a leprechaun," she murmured.

"That's pots of gold." he corrected her. "I have cold hard cash. And businesses and things. Hotels. Property. Marry me.”

“Clearly, she was intrigued; he could tell from the way she looked at him.

"Listen, do the authorities know you've escaped? I mean, normally I'd be too polite to ask, but if there's a reward or something, I wouldn't mind collecting it."

"I'm not crazy," he assured her. but silently amended the thought. He didn't think he was crazy.

Profile Image for Maggie.
35 reviews1 follower
January 18, 2018
Duhovita, razigrana, dinamična, pročitajte.
Profile Image for Bridget.
574 reviews141 followers
June 4, 2010
Have you ever fallen for a man that you can't let yourself have because if you did the consequences would be dire? That's what is going on in Raven's life. She isn't exactly who she says she is. When she meets Josh the sparks fly immediately. Trying to keep Josh safe, Raven denies her attraction to him. But Josh has friends in high places and finds out who she really is. Will he embrace the person she truly is and offer is help or will he decide to live the rest of his life without the woman he's in love with?

This is the first Kay Hooper book I have read and now I am a die-hard-fan! Absolutely intriguing!
Profile Image for Aarann.
1,011 reviews85 followers
March 10, 2015
Sorry, this was another Kay Hooper that just wasn't for me. (When she does it right, she really gets it right, but when she gets it wrong... meh.) Josh falls into insta-love with Raven, who very nearly returns the favor, falling in love with him right back after just two or three scenes together. The spy plot was really unbelievable (a bad guy who trafficks women, but supposedly loves women so much that he trusts them implicitly unless given a reason to do otherwise? Rurrrrly?) and since the romance was pretty much settled in the first 30% there wasn't much to hold my interest. DNF at 55%.
Profile Image for Ty.
100 reviews
September 18, 2010
My book has a different cover!
Again another book brought back to life.
I really liked the pace and style of this book
It had a great plot but I have to laugh
to think in the first chapter her asks
her to marry him. And they just met.
Hilarious!
Profile Image for 🐥Erica 🐥.
309 reviews1 follower
December 19, 2023
It is a little difficult to rate a romance written almost 25 years ago. I read plenty of this type of book during the time it was written, however ,so I think my three star rating is fair. Even then, though, I would’ve had a problem with the terminology of thrusting breasts and throbbing nipples. Overall, it was rather good. I didn’t let it hurt my rating, but I listened to this on audiobook, and I don’t think the voice actor was well cast. She was brusque/short and frequently overdramatic.
4,575 reviews29 followers
November 5, 2018
It's not as good as I remember it being when I first read it about 30 years ago now. I guess my tastes have changed. I still like the characters, but I have developed a distaste for undercover/espionage stories since then.
Profile Image for Kathryn A. Sievers.
157 reviews1 follower
March 24, 2021
Interesting group

The connections between Serena's Web and Raven's story make for entertaining reading. This looks to be a good ongoing story line. Good quick reads and interesting characters
194 reviews
August 11, 2023
I read this many many years ago, and I still love it today. The female heroine is strong and fierce and the male hero is just delicious and gorgeous and vulnerable.

A really cute fun sexy series from the 80s and 90s.
Profile Image for Keli.
43 reviews
August 14, 2019
Too much of a 'love' story.....like her more supernatural stuff
107 reviews
April 27, 2025
I am not a romance reader but Kay Hooper has a way of mixing danger and love.
Profile Image for Raven Lynne.
Author 1 book7 followers
May 23, 2025
Loved this book, and not just because the main character had the same name as me.
Profile Image for Sheila Melo.
1,873 reviews52 followers
September 6, 2015
I Love This Book

"Oh hell," he muttered despairingly. "I knew it. I knew you were out there somewhere. And I was so careful."

FINAL DECISION: I have loved this book since it first came out. It is simple, but the characters are fun and I loved how the story made me laugh. These are not complex situations or characters but they are enjoyable. I can read this book quickly and I never fail to enjoy the story.

THE STORY: Josh Long has spent a lifetime avoiding brunettes because he knew that there was one out there that would challenge everything that he had decided about his own life. When he runs into -- literally -- into Raven Anderson, his life is turned upside down. A man who needs control, Raven shakes the foundations of his life. Raven is a woman with dark secrets and Josh fears that he is falling in love with a woman who appears to be all that he could ever want but perhaps is only a mirage.

OPINION: Love, love, love this book. It is silly and sweet and has a simple plot but I have always loved the characters. Truly, these characters are too simple for some. Josh is incredibly rich, smart and talented. He is so squeaky clean and noble. Raven appears to be sweet and innocent but might be hiding some very bad things about herself.

The story is quick, but the romance is allowed to develop well. This book isn't for those looking for deep dark complex romances. (I like those too, but this one is like eating candy -- sweet). I also like the sense of fun in this book. Although it deals with dark subjects, it never delves deep into those stories and thus the book always stays light and fun.

I have enjoyed this book for years and read it multiple times. I love the characters and their romance is so incredibly satisfying that I never fail to enjoy the short ride.

WORTH MENTIONING: This book was originally published as a category romance which means that it had a specified length and limits on its content. The story is short and the characters not complex but I like the simplicity of the story and the clear good/evil lines that are drawn.

CONNECTED BOOKS: RAVEN ON THE WING is the first real book in the Hagen series. It is sometimes listed as book two although this book is the first one that starts the overarching story concerning Hagen and his machinations against Long and his friends. The book before this SERENA'S WEB is a prequel in that Josh Long is in the book but readers can start here.

STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars.
Profile Image for Kari.
4,040 reviews96 followers
September 25, 2012
I'm never one to give up on a series if the first book is so-so. So I did end up reading Raven on the Wing (First published in 1987 by Loveswept), which is Josh's story. This one was much better than the first in the series. I loved Josh and Raven. Josh is literally knocked over by pretty brunette, Raven and it is love at first sight. He will do everything he can to win her heart and make her his. The problem is that Raven seems to be living a double life.

There is pretty good suspense plot woven into this romance. I loved the twist at the end! The reader is also introduced to Josh's friends/employees who look to be the subjects of the later books. I knew all I had to do was trust in the author and the books would get better. I'm looking forward to catching up with the rest of the series.
Profile Image for Alan.
325 reviews
June 30, 2015
If you ignore the insta-love, the second book in the Hagen series by Hooper is a little better. One thing that appeals to me in romance series (and series in general, I guess) is the use of the supporting cast. This time we had an abundance of them on both sides of the story with Kelsey, Zach, Lucas, and Rafferty. Some good banter among the boys, and of course, we know they all get their own stories.

The story of the undercover operation was a little unbelievable to me. In another format besides Loveswept, I think this story could have been developed a little bit more. There just was not any tension about the situation or concern for any of the characters. This a major flaw in a romantic suspense thriller.

Profile Image for Anna McFadden.
1,016 reviews8 followers
August 11, 2016
Josh Long falls in love at first sight when the dark hair beauty Ravens Anderson literally knocks him off his feet when the ran into each other in front of the elevator of the hotel where the party he was leaving and she was going to was he'll act. Raven is trying unsuccessfully to persuade Josh to forget her and leave her alone. Josh believes something is off about the way she is acting on the second tome seeing each other. Josh uses all his contacts and millions to look into Ravens past. her dossier states so much illegal crimes from drugs and illegal arms to the white slave trade. he doesn't believe any of it. as Raven do her best in trying to keep her distance from Josh but as she falls in love with him she worries bout the dangers and the furture
Profile Image for Blossom.
62 reviews14 followers
Did not finish
October 18, 2012
This is a DNF for me. I just lost all interest in the way the series started to go. The funny quirky characters from book one is what got me interested. This book has none of it after the first few chapters. I really liked Josh in his sister's book but I got to 74% and now I'm stuck. I have no desire to read on. There are too many books out there to read to waste more time on a series I'm no longer interested in.
Profile Image for Jane Doe.
377 reviews37 followers
November 11, 2013
This could have been much better. The heroine starts out rocking a great kick ass career and then "Josh" finds her and messes it up. He had some no con going on wanting more than she was willing to give, but it worked out because she knew what he needed and decided to give it to him otherwise she wouldn't have been able to stay with himm. grrrrr He seemed like a little boy wanting everything at once. Interesting side characters.
Profile Image for The Book Junkie Reads . . ..
5,064 reviews154 followers
November 9, 2013
Josh Long knew deep in his heart that he would lose all control to a dark hair lady. Knowing and accepting sent his world into a tailspin. Raven is a lot more than meets the eye. Josh has a time uncovering all of her.
Profile Image for Staci.
99 reviews
July 15, 2011
I know this series has been out for a while, but couldn't they have done better covers?
Profile Image for Randy.
925 reviews5 followers
November 3, 2016
great kay hooper book! couldn't put it down! Great start to a series, can't wait to keep reading.
Profile Image for Patricia.
222 reviews3 followers
April 28, 2012
First book in a series of three. I love the fast pace in the story. Keeps the readers interest. Very enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.