Willing Prey by Allie Oleander is a dark, addictive romance that blends raw heat with unexpected tenderness. The premise is both daring and deliciously wicked: the FMC, desperate to pay off her crushing student loans, agrees to a 30-day sexual contract with the MMC—a dangerous game where she will be “hunted” in exchange for a life-changing payout.

What begins as a calculated transaction quickly turns into something far more complicated. As their chase unfolds, so do their walls, revealing vulnerabilities, hidden desires, and unexpected depth in both characters. The chemistry is explosive—full of heat, passion, and downright scorching spice—yet Oleander skillfully balances it with moments of quiet intimacy and genuine emotional connection.

The result is a story that’s as thrilling as it is heartfelt, perfect for readers who love their romance a little dangerous, their spice level off the charts, and their characters willing to risk more than they ever intended.

I do love a good chilling YA story and this was a really fun one. Eerie and chilling and just had me hooked

Okay…wow. When I tell you I could not put this book down. Despite touching on some rather dark, emotional topics, it was a genuinely fun read. Obviously you’d need to read trigger warnings - don’t just dive into this one! I love an unhinged romance and this ticked all my boxes, honestly. It was so character driven, and contains a dual pov which I love. The vivid descriptions really brought the spicy scenes to life and I was fully immersed from start to finish.

Readers who enjoy dark & steamy romances, this one is perfect for you. If I could describe it in one sentence, I’d say this is similar to 50 shades but on crack. This makes 50 shades look tame in all honesty 😆

Thank you NetGalley and Evermore for the arc.

ARC Review:
Claire Collins is dealing with heartbreak—the kind that leaves you rethinking every life choice. Her husband cheats. Her debt piles up. And just when things couldn’t get worse, along comes Shane—her ex-husband’s boss—offering her a deal that’s... unconventional, to say the least.

This was my first time diving into something this primal (pun intended), and let me just say—this book is spicy with a side of edgy. But what I loved was the chemistry between Claire and Shane—it wasn't just physical, it had that electric push-and-pull energy. And Claire really owns her desires in this one.

The hunt itself was surprisingly short and sweet. The author clearly knew what she wanted to focus on—steam and chemistry—and she nailed it. It’s a novella, so I finished it in a day, and I appreciated how direct it was.

There's no big plot twist or deep backstory—this is for the girlies who are here for vibes, spice. If you're into primal play, power dynamics, or just looking for a fast, steamy escape, Willing Prey could be your next guilty pleasure.

When Claire’s husband has an affair and they divorce she is left with no money and $30,000 of debt. Corporate lawyer Shane who works with Claire’s ex makes her an offer, stay with him for 30days and allow him to hunt for her on his property then have sex when caught. Claire agrees to the offer feeling excited to participate.
Although Claire is the prey she is excited by the chase as Shane is feral and dominating and the sex is erotic and exciting which brings them closer together
Both are great characters and the depth of their desires is well described. This is an exciting and entertaining read which was well written and enjoyable.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honest

Wow!
This is a ride! Claire agrees to be 'prey' for Shane to hunt whenever he chooses, for one month. It must be a real chase, she needs to be aiming to elude him, not aiming to be caught. If it's too easy, it's no fun.....but is it fun when a bear starts sniffing around when you're in post coital snooze mode?

The spice is great, well written and believable. The storyline also exists and is also well written and mostly believable. Win-win, here's to Oleander's next offering.

This was unlike any other book I’d read before. When I read the blurb, I was so intrigued! It definitely did not disappoint. I loved it! The chase really kept me hooked and I loved seeing Shane and Claire’s relationship develop and become more meaningful. This book was so spicy and the tension between the two main characters was electric. Can’t wait to see more from this author!

Willing Prey was absolutely filthy, super addictive and a lot of fun. It's fast paced, although a touch repetitive at times. The sex scenes (which are plentiful and primal) are incredibly well written. They are often brutal, but always consensual and hot as hell. Although the initial lack of aftercare made me a little uncomfortable in the beginning.

I appreciated how both characters were in their thirties, flawed and strangely relatable. Claire isn't your typical virginal FMC who naively serves herself up to a brooding monster; she's comfortable in her sexuality, ensures that there are clear boundaries and is not ashamed of a little kink exploration. I loved how it transpired that Shane wasn't your typical rich playboy either. This book was dark, sexy and surprisingly pretty funny.

Just so you know: English is not my first language, so sorry if it's chaotic :p
Where do I start?
Hot !
A must-read.I cannot wait to read other books from this author. The main characters are sooooo well written. I love the dynamic and the growing relationship between those two. You'll be on the edge of your seat the whole time.
I'm even eager to see if there will be another volume with the secondary characters; there's so much potential!
I loved this book and didn't think it would be this deep on certain topics. It's good to see well-written material between consenting adults! They're adults and act like it.

I gave this 3.5 Stars and it was such a fun, quick and spicy read!

The thrill of the reading the chase scenes in this book had me heavy breathing! I haven't read a set up like this with these specific 'primal kinks' but I need more in my life. I never wanted those 30 days to be up! I loved the MMC so much and the progression of him exploring his kink and the emotional side of relationships had me kicking my feet!

Cannot wait to read more from Allie Oleander.

Thank you to NetGalley, Allie Oleander and Evermore for the arc of this book!

Now, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this one but damn did it blow me out of the water!! What a brilliant & gripping read. The perfect balance of spice, comedy & romance! I loved this book and I encourage anyone reading this review - be sure to get your hands on it and give it a read when it comes out!!

Dark, twisted, and shockingly seductive — I devoured this.

So let’s just say this: Willing Prey is not your average monster romance. It’s darker, smarter, and way more intense than I expected — in the best way. Allie Oleander pulls you in with velvet claws and does not let go.

This story is sharp-edged, erotic, and haunting, but there’s a deep emotional undercurrent that caught me off guard. The dynamic between predator and prey is so well crafted, full of tension, danger, and an intimacy that’s both unsettling and addictive. It’s not just about heat (though yes — there’s plenty of that); it’s about trust, consent, survival, and letting yourself be undone by something wild and beautiful and terrifying.

The world-building has this uncanny quality — you never feel fully safe or sure, and that works so well for this story. It’s horror, romance, and something in-between that doesn’t care about labels. I loved that.

This is one of those books that lingers after you finish it — in your chest, in your gut, in that place where thrill and fear live side by side. If you like your romance dark, your monsters hungry, and your stories emotionally feral, don’t skip this one.

Holy mama! Claire and Shane are so damn hot together.
While this may have a lot of primal play, but there is a sweet and loving relationship beneath it and it was so damn beautiful.

Oh lord, I don’t think I have devoured a book this quickly in such a long time 😮‍💨

This book had me hooked from the first couple of pages and I needed to keep reading on like my life depended on it. I’ve never read a book like this before so this is my first time diving into this trope and I definitely picked the best book for it!

There was a lot I loved about this book but I’ll try to not waffle on too much 🤣

Firstly, SHANE 😮‍💨😮‍💨
There was so much I loved about this man. A fine specimen if you will. Not only did he wait for Claire to become single but also give her time to be single and figure herself out. He learnt how to be the best freak between the sheets 🤪. I also really really loved his vulnerability and struggle to admit his feelings, I think that’s what made his character 1000x better. I could also relate to his character a bit. In the sense that sometimes I struggle to get the right words out. It takes me a few attempts to say what I want to say correctly and without it sounding off. So it was really nice to read about a character that struggles with this.

Now for Claire 🤭
She was a strong ass woman who knew what she wanted and loved and she was not ashamed of it. I loved how she took everything in her stride and owned it. Especially the problems with her ex husband she was so no nonsense about it and it was really nice to read that for a change because I do find in some books you get characters being very to and fro and it can be a little bit frustrating but I found that I didn’t get frustrated at Claire at all.

I’m really hoping that there will be a second book about two very fun and interesting characters that have a real love/ hate relationship. I won’t be naming anything because I don’t want to give spoilers but if they have a book, I know it’s going to be soo good 🤭

Thank you to Evermore for an E-ARC

What’s not to love about a recently divorced woman entering into a sex contract with her ex husband’s boss? I love the pure spite of it, really, Claire, go for it girl. The book starts off immediately without any sort of introduction, so it was a bit unsettling, but it fits the situation quite well and we slowly learn more about Claire and Shane.

The duality of their primal hunts and the more intimate moments, both making them slowly fall for each other was really nice. It’s obviously a very spicy book, but there was enough character development and back story for it to be really interesting and there are plenty of funny moments.

I went into Willing Prey not really knowing what to expect other than it was going to be a slightly unhinged kinda read I wasn’t wrong! - It was unhinged in the best way possible! I was HOOKED after one page!

Claire has recently divorced her husband and has been absolutely done over in the divorce. Having been cheated on and absolutely rinsed financially, she enters into a kinky business deal with Shane (her ex husband’s business partner). Claire is determined, fiesta and does not back down easily.

Shane is a lawyer and works best with contracts, plans and knowing what to expect. He is an over thinker and a perfectionist. I loved Shane’s character as he explored changes in his own wants and needs as he began to develop feelings for Claire.

I can’t wait to see what comes next - I am hopeful we will get a series as I need to know what happens next with Margot and Caine!

If I knew the outdoors could be this sexy, maybe I'd spend more time in it 🤭

Did I request this immediately after reading the premise? Yes. Did it deliver exactly what I was hunting for? Absolutely. Oleander does an amazing job at the blend between high romantic tension (the scenes between the main leads... 🥵) and soft tender moments that I really enjoyed seeing glimpses of in the story.

It was so easy to jump straight into the story and just devour it in one sitting. The characters were so good and enjoyable, I loved the interactions between the main leads and watching the developments in their relationship as the story continued was perfect. Their dialogue and humour together made the story flow so well. And yes, if you are coming for the dark romantic leads, you will not be disappointed. Also, the side characters = I need more of them please!

I really don't want to speak too much about the story as I really want anyone who loves a darker romance and wants mature characters, to immediately go and hunt this down in October! 😉

4.5 stars! Thank you to Evermore and Netgalley for this eARC, I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Fun, sexy and thrilling - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Truthfully, I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this read, but I’m SO delighted to have picked it up. Willing Prey is a fun, sexy and thrilling read that is told through dual POVs of our FMC and MMC.

The dual povs were a fantastic choice as they added some real depth to Claire and Shane’s relationship, as well as helping to keep the hunt scenes fresh and exciting. I also really enjoyed the backdrop that these scenes were set against. Claire is dealing with a cheating ex-husband who won’t get out of the picture, and this makes for some interesting moments that helped to break up the romance / spice side of the book, while also driving the story (and their relationship) forward.

Claire and Shane’s relationship development was paced well, given that they kind of jump in at the deep end and then have to muddle their way through their feelings for each other. This is ‘He Falls First’ dialled up to the max, so if that’s a favourite trope of yours, you’re in for a treat.

The side characters were also great additions and dare I say felt quite ‘found family’ vibes in how they each rallied for Claire (I’m crossing my fingers for a sequel that follows their relationship as well, please!)

All in all, if you’re looking for a fast-paced, super spicy romance featuring characters that have great chemistry - you’ll love Willing Prey!

Thank you to Evermore & NetGalley for this e-arc, I had a lot of fun reading this one 🩷

Hot, hot, hot!! So hot I have melted.

Willing Prey has been a fiery novel to really stick your teeth into. The spice scenes are 10/10, and the characters have enough depth to really keep me invested in their storylines as the book, and relationships, developed.

My only note is that the end felt a little out of place and "stuck on", and I wish it contained as much hunting as earlier in the book.

Absolutely addictive, I devoured this. 4.75 stars rounded up to 5.

Lustfully delicious and packed with primal, stimulating romance, this is one of the wildest stories I’ve ever read.

From start to finish, it will leave you viciously excited. 
The hunt was wild and thrilling. I loved how the relationship between Claire and Shane began, It was raw, intense, and electric. The humor? Adorably well-written. And the spice? Oh, it’s burning from page to page. 🔥 
Just a little heads-up: definitely not for public reading. LOL.

Read this if you're looking for an exciting, sexy, and kinky romance that will chase you through the woods and leave you breathless.

Thank you Evermore, Cornerstone and Netgalley for this e-arc, all opinions are my own.