Prey

By: Linda Howard

Narrated by: Abby Craden

Length: 11 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's Summary

In this captivating novel of romantic suspense, New York Times best-selling author Linda Howard brings us deep into the wild, where a smart and sexy outdoor guide and her ruggedly handsome competitor must join forces to survive - and avoid becoming what they never expected to be: Prey.

Thirty-two-year-old Angie Powell has always spoken her mind, but in the presence of Dare Callahan she nurses a simmering rage. After all, why give Dare the satisfaction of knowing he can push her buttons and push her to the edge?

Three years ago, Dare returned home to rural western Montana and opened a hunting business to rival Angie’s. Complicating matters is the fact that Dare has asked Angie out (not once but twice) and has given her a gift of butterflies in the process. Angie has no patience for butterflies. They only lead to foolish decisions. And now the infuriatingly handsome Iraq war vet has siphoned away Angie’s livelihood, forcing her to close up shop.

Before Angie is to leave town, she organizes one last trip into the wilderness with a client and his guest, who wants to bag a black bear. But the adrenaline-fueled adventure turns deadly when Angie witnesses a cold-blooded murder and finds herself on the wrong side of a loaded gun. Before the killer can tie up this attractive loose end, a bear comes crashing through the woods - changing the dark game completely.

Luckily, Dare is camping nearby and hears the shots. Forced together for their very survival, Angie and Dare must confront hard feelings, a blinding storm, and a growing attraction - while being stalked by a desperate killer and a ferocious 500-pound beast. And neither will stop until they reach their prey.

©2011 Linda Howard (P)2011 Random House Audio

Linda Howard....finally

Is this the best book Linda Howard has ever written? I don't know, I doubt it though. Her next book could the best one she's ever written who's to say. This one wasn't bad. It has a good story, different. My least favorite plot device is the giant misunderstanding, there is very little of it in this book (Linda's pretty good at avoiding that, which is why she is one of my favorites).

This story takes place in the mountains, but without snow (thank you very much, I really hated "Ice"). There's enough action to keep you interested, there's a man killing black bear and a human killer and of course they both, at some point try to kill the heroine, Angie. Dare (cute name, right) is the hero and in true Linda Howard style he's an alpha type male but not to the extreme, he respects and at the same time truly desires Angie, I much prefer that to a hero who spends a great deal of time resenting the object of his affection in an effort not to love her (more of that misunderstanding stuff, which is just boring), the romance is paced well and believable.

Both Dare and Angie own competing hunting guide services. Dare's is more successful and Angie's is going under, so the story begins. Angie is taking two men on a black bear hunt, which is probably going to be her last hunt, as she has put her business up for sale. The action begins there. I don't want to say more about the story because it makes the read more fun if you don't know. But in true Linda Howard style you get to see the story from all viewpoints, Angie, Dare, the killer and most interestingly the black bear, which was truly different.

In my opinion this is her best book since "Death Angel".

In short, if you like Linda Howard, you'll like this book.

21 people found this helpful

So Disappointed!

This is the second "so close to great" book from Linda Howard lately. Frustrating when you only get one book from her a year (or more) and then it doesn't live up to expectation.

This book was a bit tough for me and at the end...I was simply disappointed. I was highly anticipating this story...one because of course it's LH; two - book selection for me has been dwindling in the midst of vampires and werewolves, and three - the story line had me expecting this great dash through the woods.

While I like the characters of the book and the plot had promise it was a bit of a lull and then sudden event...and back to a lull. I mean c'mon. All of the action took place in a span of 2 hrs...once in the middle of the book...and at the end. That's all I get...really?? I wish there had been more interaction with the "man killer", that was a major miss for me.

Overall, this book is still enjoyable; but if you are expecting a mad dash (not to ICE's crazy standard) more like Up Close and Dangerous...you won't get. Are there still things about the book to make it worth the listen? Yes...

The suddenness of the events is more like Open Season without the funny. Great book by the way...an unabridged version would be welcome. (Hint, hint)

In the interest of fairness, several of LH's books has the sudden wrap up of the "suspense" factor - and she makes it work. The last two books for me though - have just left me with the impression that there was more that could have been pulled out of the characters/plot...and though enjoyable...not what I was expecting.

13 people found this helpful

Linda Howard - One of the best

What made the experience of listening to Prey the most enjoyable?

I enjoyed the narration and characters portrayed

What did you like best about this story?

The story was well written and executed as an audible book. The story itself brought me back to some older works of Linda Howard I maintain on my book and audible keeper shelves. Angie and Dare were a likeable couple and eventually brought out the best in each other. I particularly enjoyed how Dare trusted Angie; even in the most dangerous situations. An excellent story I have already listened to twice. Keep up the good work.

6 people found this helpful

it's okay, Linda Howard has done much better

Another survival in the wild story from Linda Howard. It's a good book, a good story, but not the calliber of her early works.

3 people found this helpful

Hmmmm...don't know quite what to say..

So, I've been reading Howard since the 80's. Definitely one of my favorites. This book was tough - I was totally grossed out by the bear - I had a hard time getting past the graphic descriptives from the bears point of view. In fact - never ever really got past it. I'm just going to say - the story had it's good points. But I never got past the bear. Overall, I wish I had saved my credit. Hmmmm....

9 people found this helpful

AWESEOME listen

If you could sum up Prey in three words, what would they be?

I loved this story, and loved both Dare and Angie

Any additional comments?

I've listened to almost all of Linda Howards books, and this is one of my favorites. I loved Dare. Abby Craden did an excellent job as narrator. I've listened to his book 4 or 5 times since the first listen. Just love it

2 people found this helpful

Another big hit for Linda Howard

I loved this story, at times I new I was making some horrible faces because of what was happing but I couldn't stop listing, this is one I will listen to again. Great Narrated.

5 people found this helpful

Lovers 1, Bear 0

If you could sum up Prey in three words, what would they be?

Story was somewhat predicable. I was expecting more twists and turn to the story but they never happened. Linda Howard has had some great stoies but this one didn't have the same punch.

What aspect of Abby Craden???s performance would you have changed?

Her vioce changes for each charater didn't alway work. I had to stop and listen to make sure I was understanding who was speaking.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No I didn't want to listen in one sitting. Most of the time I am multi-tasking by listening and doing other things. Driving, laundry, sewing.

1 person found this helpful

Pretty Good Listen

Would you listen to Prey again? Why?

yes. its interesting to hear the bear and his thoughts. kind of reminded me of Jaws the book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Angie.

What about Abby Craden’s performance did you like?

she has a really husky voice so it was not weird to hear her do the male voices. and she had a good pace.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

it made me feel really sorry for the bear because he was twisted by blood lust.

1 person found this helpful

Intense

Wow this book keep's ones heart in their throat. I for one will always remember how very dangerous all bears are.

1 person found this helpful

Linda Howard is back!!!

I am a big Linda Howard fan and was hoping for a really good book this time around (after not really enjoying her previous few releases). I loved this audiobook! It had me listening non stop over two days and staying up till 3am.... This story is a little gory in parts but definitely kept me on the edge of my seat, I was delighted that the romance between the two main characters was back to the same standard as some of her earlier titles and kept my attention to the end. The narrator was really good, smooth tone of voice and did the male voice very well, no complants from me 5/5 stars!

3 people found this helpful

Good premise, too many repetitions

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Mostly, cut out the repetitions, and the long-winded exposition. We don't need to hear umpteen times how Chad is underestimated by everyone, that Dare is grouchy or that Angie has low self-esteem in relationships. Linda Howard is normally good at 'show not tell' but she slipped up there. The middle part, though it did a decent job at exploring the developing relationship between the hero and heroine, went on too long for a suspense novel. The bear's point of view was odd - it didn't really fit the book. Enough could be learnt about it from exposition and his grisly actions (and remains of actions).

If you’ve listened to books by Linda Howard before, how does this one compare?

Not anywhere as good as Open Season or Mr Perfect, but a decent listen. The narrator made the most of the book.

Have you listened to any of Abby Craden’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I haven't, but I thought she did a good job.

Do you think Prey needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No, it's fine as a stand-alone.

Any additional comments?

I love books about the great outdoors, so that hit the spot, and unlike some reviewers, I was not put off by the realistic description of a man-eating bear. I could have wished for more suspense throughout the book, because suddenly, we're stuck in a two-day wash-out, and the action is suspended. Linda Howard's gift for dialogue comes to the rescue to give us some fine exchanges between hero and heroine, but not enough to keep the suspense afloat (despite all that water).

Don't. Just don't.

What was most disappointing about Linda Howard’s story?

The way she went on and on about unimportand details. It's like she had a thin story to start off with and then had to pad it out to reach a respectable amount of pages. She's usually quite good and quite funny, but the sense of humour was entirely lost in this book.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Overpronouncing the last sound in every word: womannn, passinggggg, etc. And she sounded so overly emotional ALL THE TIME. How can you sound heartbroken when talking about a stopsign? Seriously. The narrator can make or break a book and as this book wasn't great to start off with... well, she didn't exactly make it better.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Annoyance. With myself, mainly. I had read the reviews and I should have known better.

Any additional comments?

Just walk away. Don't click. Don't download. Just walk away.