Where anything goes in the wood, just remember your safe word.

A super sexy primal play romance. This book took me on a wild ride! I was hooked from page one and read it in less than 24 hours.

Claire has just been through a messy divorce, and to make matters worse, she's buried in student loan debt. When an acquaintance offers a way of earning $30,000, she eagerly accepts. All she has to do is give Shane the hunt of his life.

Claire is pretty enthusiastic about having a summer of kinky sex but when Shane enters the woods, he becomes something different entirely. Brutal, Feral, wild. Can Claire last the full 30 days of the hunt, and will she be easy prey?

I loved this book so much! It's so fast-paced and unhinged in the sexiest way, but I also loved watching Shane and Claire's connection develop on an emotional level, too. The actual chase is so entertaining to read and provides the perfect amount of tension. The mouth on that man!! He is pure filth! Please, as always, check trigger warnings and be aware that this falls into the Dark Romance genre.

Now why in the hell was this so cute?

The first page had my hackles raising in distress because Shane sounded like such a creep 😭

Would I allow a socially awkward workaholic to hunt me down in the woods for 30k because he’s discovering kinks for the first time?

Not my kind of thing.

BUT would I allow him to stalk me, record my favourite show, intimidate my ex and basically just fawn all over me?

Absolutely yes.

I was not paying attention when I opened this book to read. I thought ooh okay creepy cover something about playing but I was blindsided by how funny it was.

Shane is so sweet and so oblivious to his own feelings. Love an emotionally stunted man who tries his best to feel. Claire was great, loved how she was so strong against that stupid Keith - was hoping someone would punch him.

I am fully onboard the Caine and Margot ship 🫶🏼 I see the vision and it’s wonderful!

Willing Prey by Allie Oleander was not what I expected, but it was definitely a fun ride. Going in, I thought this would lean more toward dark romance and stalker themes, but instead it delivered something much lighter, funny, and playful. The spice level is very high—nearly every chapter brings heat—and it’s paired with a tone that feels more lighthearted than sinister.

While the story wasn’t exactly what I anticipated, I enjoyed the humor and the exploration of kink dynamics. If you’re looking for a fun, playful, and steamy read that doesn’t take itself too seriously, this one might be for you. For me, it’s a solid 3 stars for keeping me laughing while also keeping things HOT.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I could not put this book down!! It is fast-paced, full of spice, and gets you hooked! The spice is HOT 🔥

Some tropes include:

✨️Forced Proximity
✨️He Falls First
✨️Ex Husbands Boss
✨️MCs Over 30
✨️Primal Chase

The story starts with Claire. She is a recently divorced teacher who is drowning in student debt. She if given an offer she can't refuse from Shane.

Shane is a lawyer and partner at her ex husbands work, and Claire agrees to be his "prey" for thirty days. Basically, he will chase her through the woods and if he catches her? Well, use your imagination 😘
In exchange, she will get $30,000.

Feelings begin to change but will either be brave enough to tell the other?

I love Shane so much. He is so adorably awkward when it comes to talking feelings, but he sure does have a dirty mouth 🥵

This was such a great story, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a lighthearted but darker, spicy romance 🙌

Thank you for the arc of this 🫶

Wow. This was dirty yet it worked. Did I ever think being chased, having sex with a stranger in the woods would turn into a HEA? No, never.

There was a lot more to the story than just the chasing and s*x. Claire is struggling with her divorce, her husband having an affair behind her back and his bills to pay. She takes this deal to last a month being at some guys beck and call. He calls for her, she runs and he chases her… if she’s caught then he gets his way with her.

Of course she takes it because the money he offers will pay off all her debt her ex-husband caused. No-brainer right?

More to it than that? Yep!

I loved Shane, there was so much more to him than first meets the eye. Claire and Shane have a deal that ends in 30-days but as that deadline is nearing, they are realising they don’t want to part. Is Shane’s ‘little dear’ becoming more to him? Has Claire found a way to Shane’s heart? Has she opened hers to love again?

It took me completely by surprise. It was a fun, sexy, smutty read and it was W I L D.

The side characters were great, I loved Shane’s brother, Caine. I feel he needs his own book with Shanes assistant, Margot. It’s a definitely required storyline!

Defintely a kinky book. Thank you to netgalley, publishers and author for allowing me access to this arc.

oh boyyyyyy. this was delightfully spicy. i love a man that falls first. shane tickled me in the feels. this was wild in the best ways, and i fear the book was a wolf and i was a deer when reading it. there was more spice than plot, but i loved the plot that was there. REALLY hoping we're getting a book for Caine and Margot!!

3.5 stars

If you looking for a good time book, this will be your perfect read.

Don't go into this expecting for there to be a while ton of plot, because quite frankly there isn't. This is very much about the characters.


I wish we could have develop the story a bit more and fleshed it, really got to know the characters behind the story, rather then the tidbits we got

Despite all this, the book provided me what I wanted in the moment,

I was super excited for this book based on early reviews I saw on Instagram and oh boy it did deliver, it delivered so hard!

Thank you prhukexport for the NetGalley 🩷

Well written, couldn’t put it down, 24h read!
I was super excited but a bit scared which way the story will go, based on the blurb and trigger warnings.
I was positively surprised with some parts of the plot and the characterization!
I don’t wanna give any spoilers, so you just have to trust me when I say it’s GOOD.

I would call it dark-ish romance, not dark-dark. It was spicy, as expected, a bit brutal (hello, primal play) but not in a red-flag way!
But also, it was cute and with bratty/bantery moments.
There were moments when I was smiling to words on paper. This is my tell that a book is more than 5 stars!

Both characters are well written and strong ones. There is depth to both of them, and their growth, especially Shane’s but Claire’s as well was palpable.

Can’t wait for paperback to be out, I need it on my trophy shelf!

5 ⭐️♾️

Thank you to Random House UK, Cornerstone for the review copy of Willing Prey, all thoughts in this review are my own.

what an absolute bangerr this was, 10/10 no notes needed!!

I absolutely LOVEDDD this, are you kidding me. This had such a great plot, I loved the contractual relationship dynamic that this had between Claire and Shane, and they were so much fun together, and the spice, omg, some of the best spice/primal play I have read; I did not want to out this down!! Claire and Shane were such loveable, funny characters that were so well suited for each other, and don’t even get me started on Margot and Caine, they better be getting their own, I NEED IT NOWWW!!

I loved how quietly obsessed Shane was with Claire, how nervous he was when it came to her, ugh, I just loved him, and how he was able to be himself around her, too.

Tropes

He falls first
Primal play
Switch awakening
Contract relationship
CNC (consensual non-consent)

I reaaally enjoyed this book! The cover pulled me in instantly and from the first page, it was a lot of fun and I was intrigued with every page turned. I loved the chemistry between our FMC Claire and MMC Shane, the dual POV helping with that a lot (my favourite!!), giving us an in-depth look into each of them. Shane’s utter filth and a knight in shining armour at the same time - the absolute BEST kinda character!!

This book is full of fun, hella sexy and so easy to read, I couldn’t put it down and think I finished it in one sitting!

Willing Prey is a gripping read with just the right mix of suspense, atmosphere, and character depth. Oleander’s writing is confident and immersive, pulling you in from the first chapter and keeping the tension simmering throughout. The characters feel authentic, their flaws making them all the more compelling, and the pacing keeps the story moving without losing its emotional weight. A strong, engaging read that lingers after you’ve finished.

Willing Prey by Allie Oleander is a fast-paced, super spicy read that delivers more than just heat. The story follows Claire, a confident woman who agrees to a high-stakes, primal chase with Shane—a deal that quickly turns into something deeper. While the spice is off the charts (and very kink-forward), the emotional connection between the characters is just as strong. It's fun, wild, and unexpectedly heartfelt. Perfect for fans of bold romance with serious chemistry.


Thankyou to NetGalley, Berkley Pub, and the author, Allie Oleander for the ARC

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was such a fun read!

I went in blind for this one and loved every minute, I haven’t read a book that fast in what feels like ages!

I loved the main characters, the author did a really good job at making them all likeable (except Keith of course, she did a great job at making me hate him!)

As well as being SEXY, the book also made me laugh… a lot! I’ve ended up with multiple highlights on my kindle just for “lol moments”

It’s fast paced without it being insta-love, our main characters are 35-40, and contains no pregnancy which is definitely refreshing in this particular genre! There IS miscommunication, usually a trope that isn’t a favourite of mine but it wasn’t excruciating which I was grateful for so I’ll let it slide! 😂

Overall, it was an easy 5* for me and will absolutely be keeping an eye out for more from this author ☺️

Thank you NetGalley and Evermore for the ARC!

The story:
I thought I was going into a dark, stalkery kind of book when I picked up Willing Prey, and while there is some light stalking and this book is definitely not safe for work, it was light-hearted and a fun read.

This book is exactly what it says on the cover: a kinky romance where the main characters fool around and fall in love, which was all it needed to be. I could sit back and enjoy the show and get a little giddy when Claire and Shane started to fall for each other, which is all I wanted.

The vibe:
Lawyer x School Teacher
Stalking
🌳Sexy Forest Excursions
Kink Exploration
Dual POV
💕He Falls First
Transactional Contract
Sweet & Steamy

Omg I absolutely enjoyed this so much!!!
It was giving lights out vibes and I am here for it! Soucebooks never disappoint! It’s cute but spicy too. Characters are chefs kiss even the side characters!

Don’t sleep on this one! Out in Oct

✨3 stars✨

I can hand on heart say that I haven’t read a book like this before so it was an interesting one for me!!

I flew through the first half on the book, however I found that the second half dragged for me. I mean respectfully there are only so many time I can read about this man chasing our FMC around the woods😂. Also I didn’t really feel any connection to the characters and it felt like we were told that their “relationship” was different (as Shane couldn’t imagine chasing anyone but Claire, for example) but it wasn’t really shown why on the page.

Overall, this was an okay book and I think other people will definitely enjoy this book more than me so if the premise sound interesting or like something you’d like then I’d say give it a go! The one thing that did gross me out was the ticks 🤮

I received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Book review 📖 📚

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Willing Prey by Allie Oleander is everything I want in a dark, high-heat romance and more. From the very first page, the tension is electric—equal parts erotic and dangerous—pulling you deep into the forest alongside Claire and Shane.

Claire is a heroine you can’t help but root for: smart, self-aware, and unafraid to explore her desires. Shane is the kind of anti-hero who makes your pulse race—magnetic, intense, and just unpredictable enough to keep you on edge. Together, they ignite scenes so charged you can feel the heat radiating off the page.

But what really sets this apart is how the primal chase becomes more than just a game. The author weaves vulnerability, trust, and emotional depth into the raw physicality, giving the story a heart to match its heat. The pacing is razor-sharp, the forest setting is immersive, and the chemistry is simply explosive.

If you love romance that’s daring, boundary-pushing, and impossible to put down, Willing Prey delivers on every level.

This is not just a hunt—it’s a full surrender, and I loved every second of it.

Thank you so much to @evermorebooksuk for the opportunity to read this book

This was a fast paced, addictive fun and delicious read. Claire is one of the best main female characters I have read and Allie has managed to capture that self-discovery and self empowerment following the end of a relationship. This has to be the next big thing!

Completely devourable, kinky, and hot. A well rounded story with emotion and good character growth. If primal kink is your thing, you'll be salivating. If you're not sure, this book might awaken something you didn't know you were into. I read this in a sitting and couldn't stop until it was finished.

Thanks to Evermore via Netgalley for the arc.

“mundanities become memories when someone you love writes them down.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

book: willing prey
author: allie oleander

going in, i wasn’t sure what i would think about this book, but i have seen this cover ALL OVER my timeline recently and was super intrigued because it’s beautiful, and honestly this was SUCH a fun read.

i loved claire and shane, watching their relationship develop throughout the book was surprisingly beautiful to witness and i was completely invested in them both. the hunting aspect was something that i have personally never seen in dark romance, and it had me on edge at times but it also had me hooked, feeling like a romance/thriller combo.

i would suggest checking trigger warnings before just diving into this one 🫶🏻

read if you enjoy:
🧡 character driven romance
🧡 yearning
🧡 dual pov
🧡 tension
🧡 kink exploration
🧡 spice
🧡 great side characters

(thank you so much @evermore and @netgalley for the EARC! 🫶🏻)

📚🧡🦋🌼