3.5 stars

The Hunting Grounds is a suspenseful ride with a dash of second chance romance thrown in too.

When a dead body found in Glacier National Park seems to fit the pattern of a serial killer he has been tracking, FBI agent Vic Sutherland heads to Montana to investigate. The fact that his old partner turned park ranger just so happens to be attached to the case is an added bonus for him. 

Maggie loves the serenity the park brings her and she is torn over the case that is bringing Vic back into her life while shattering her peace on multiple levels. Her time with the FBI marked her and she is both terrified and thrilled at the thought of being pulled back into that mindset again. Vic is the one who got away for her, but their last encounter left her with lingering humiliation and self-doubt that persists 7 years later. 

While they try to get a handle on their personal lives again, they have a serial killer to track. The investigation is the primary focus of much of the story, and it was filled with heart-pounding and hair raising moments for sure. That left Vic and Maggie's relationship as more of a back burner and low heat simmer at best, and I had a bit of difficulty feeling their romance to be honest. The fun of trying to guess the killer's identity and motivation is what kept me flipping the pages. I did have one pet peeve type of issue with the book though: overuse of the word "unsub". I stopped counting at 200 times in a book that is slightly over 300 pages. Call it a quirk, but once I noticed it I couldn't stop focusing on it in a way that I truly annoy myself with at times.

In any case, The Hunting Grounds was a good story that was heavy in the suspense factor if a bit lighter in the romance area than I would have hoped.

This is the second book in the hidden sins series. It can be read as a standalone novel. This is a very suspenseful and thrilling book. Maggie and Vic have a history which gets addressed when they have to find a killer at the national glacier park where a Maggie's is now a park ranger. Her and Vic know each other from the FBI. Vic is the agent sent to help find this killer who is a predator and hunting those who are camping and hiking in the park. The relationship develops nicely between Vic and Maggie but the mystery of who is the killer is the main plot of the story. It's such s well written story with many twists and turns and a surprising ending. I hope this series continues. I voluntarily received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review By Stephanie
5 Stars
I would like to thank Katee Robert, Montlake and Netgalley for giving me this book for my honest review.
I am an HUGE Katee Robert fan and a bigger fan of her Hidden Sins novels! Katee does an amazing job to make sure her books are always full of perfection!! 
Maggie is a ranger at Glacier National Park, a peaceful alterative to her past life as a FBI agent. Well all was peaceful until a gruesome murdered body was found in the park. The murder brings FBI agent Vic Sutherland to the park....oh and he worked with Maggie when she was in the FBI and ohhh they shared a forbidden kiss before she left the FBI. Now Vic and Maggie are teaming up again to find the killer who is using the park as a personal hunting ground.
WOW what an amazing book! I could not put this book down! I wanted to know who was hunting the Glacier National Park hikers and WHY!!! I also needed to know if working together would bring Vic and Maggie together! If I wasn't reading this book I was listening to it...I could not put it down! Katee Robert is seriously one of my favorite writers and the Hidden Sin series is one of my favorites as well! I can not wait to read more!

The Hunting Grounds is the second book in Katee Robert's Hidden Sins series and if you've read the first book The Devil's Daughter, you'll see FBI agent Vic Sutherland take the lead this time around.

Vic has been on the trail of a serial killer. There's been a string of murders in various National Parks throughout the country, and now, the case has led him to Glacier National Park. Now, not only does Vic have to deal with the murders escalating, but he's brought face-to-face again with his former partner Maggie Gaines. Vic has thought a lot about Maggie over the years, especially about how they left things. Vic will have to decide if dealing with their past is more important than dealing with the killer present.

Maggie left the FBI, and her partner Vic, after a particularly awful case. Becoming a park ranger was one of the best decisions she's made since her original dream crashed and burned. But it seems like her past and present are on a collision course, and standing in the way is Vic Sutherland. Vic, who Maggie always had a secret crush on when they were partners, even though he was married at the time. All that will have to be put aside, however, as they try to work together to find the killer.

I have to say that The Hunting Ground was wonderfully paced and the twists and turns about who the killer was were spot on as well. There were a few times where I thought Katee Robert would give us an easy solve to the puzzle, but no, she kept twisting things around until the big reveal at the end, and I really liked that she did.

In this regard, I felt like the serial killer storyline took bigger precedence over the romantic story plot, which I was ok with. Don't worry. There was enough romance between Maggie and Vic, but it never overshadows the mystery which allowed Katee Robert to really do it justice as opposed to giving us that easy solve I mentioned above.

I liked the connection between Maggie and Vic pasts. This speaks to an overarching theme within the story itself: how the past doesn't always stay buried. One of my favorite tropes is the second-chance romance, and while Vic and Maggie's circumstances vary slightly from the commonality of that trope, I still love that there's already history between them. It amps up the undeniable tension between them as well, just makes for some great smoldering scenes.

Overall, with the serial killer plot line and the building romance, The Hunting Ground proved to be a book that I was driven to read whenever I got a chance. I think there were a few more hints this time around about what characters could potentially get their own books in the future, and so far, I'm intrigued by all of them. So far, I'm really loving this series.

4.5 Stars

Maggie’s memories always take her back to when she was a rookie in the FBI. This was the job she always wanted until her first case. She wanted to catch the killer so bad that she burnt herself out causing her to quit her job. She decide to try a new route and trained to be a park ranger. It was something she had to work very hard for, always taking criticism from her fellow rangers about handling her duties. She proved herself to everyone on her team including her boss. Maggie loved working in Glacier Park. Her job added peace to her life like nothing else had. That was until a body was found at one of the campsites in the park. The victim had been shot with a cross bow and dressed like you would a deer or bear. With many people touring the park the rangers were worried about everyone’s safety. When they find out that the same type of killings have been happening in other national parks the BAU is called into investigate. The investigator that they send is none other than Maggie’s ex partner Vic. He was always on Maggie’s mind but she had hope to never see him again after embarrassing herself when she tried to kiss him before she left the FBI.

Vic was just as nervous about seeing her. They worked the case together, Maggie leading Vic through the park and also helping with the investigation. When the evidence start pointing to a group of campers that Maggie welcomed into the park they start searching for them. When they come across their campsite and they are all missing they begin searching the entire park with the help of the SAR team. With more bodies showing up they decide that the unsub is hunting the victims down as if they were animals. Maggie and Vic are getting close by the day and are having problems hiding their feelings for each other. Can they stay on task and find the unsub or will their feelings become a distraction.

I have really enjoyed the books of this series and look forward to more.

Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

Atmospheric setting for an edge of your seat thriller!!! Glacier National Park is a stunning setting for the hunt of a serial killer!

Maggie Gaines is a former FBI agent and profiler but left under a bit of a cloud. Fast forward several years and she is settled in her new role as a Ranger in Glacier National park. But her former life is about to crash into her new one when a body is found and it is linked to a serial killer.

Vic Sutherland is a the agent detailed to attend. He is also Maggie's former partner and love interest. But when they were partner he was still married and Maggie is loathe to bring up their history and tried to maintain her distance from Vic. When a group of young hikers go missing Maggie and Vic are on the trail of this unsub and are determined to catch him.

Great story and engaging characters. I loved the intense sense of danger within the story arc and the setting is definitely atmospheric!!!

Putting this one on hold until I can go back and read the first in the series. Did not realize there was one before. Love her writing, and look forward to this new series!

After finishing The Devil’s Daughter I couldn't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series and when it was announced that Vic would be the male lead I was thrilled since I wanted to know more about what made the man tick. And while I enjoyed The Hunting Grounds I found it to be more murder mystery/suspense than romantic suspense. The romance between Vic and Maggie just wasn’t there for me, but considering how invested I was in finding out who the murderer was I found it balanced things out.

As much I liked Vic and Maggie, I just needed more from them when it came to them working towards being a couple. Both are hard working and quite good at their jobs. They had the whole mind meld/finish each other’s thoughts thing going on and despite their rocky reunion, worked well together. But the sexual tension that I wanted to feel when they were together wasn’t quite there for me. I really wanted to go down the rabbit hole with these two on the romance level, but it didn’t quite get there for me.

But while the romance didn’t grab me by the proverbial balls, I was totally invested in finding out who the serial killer was and the motivation behind the murders. I had that whole sitting at the edge of my seat thing going on as the bodies kept piling up and the suspect list was whittled down. I enjoyed the twists and turns throughout the story, I winced a few times at the descriptions of what befell the victims and totally agreed with Vic’s POV when it came to camping (I’m totally with Chunk from The Goonies “I love the dark, but I hate nature). The one, well two-ish things I would have liked a little more of was how those left behind were dealing with the aftermath of it all.

Though the romance fell short for me, I still enjoyed the book and how the hunt for the killer played out and will definitely be keeping an eye out for the next book in the series.

See my feedback in the reviewer opinions. I will be later to leave a review.

On my summer breaks from teaching, I usually find myself binge watching TV on netflix. No matter how many times I have seen every episode of Criminal Minds, I watch them again. What drew me to The Hunting Grounds was its similarity to an episode of Criminal Minds!

Maggie was a member of the BAU years ago. One case sent her over the edge and she left the FBI and became a park ranger. Things were great...until she finds a mutilated body in her park. Vic, her former partner at the BAU, has been tracking this killer and has to team up with Maggie again to solve this crime. Things are different now though...Vic is divorced, Maggie isn't an agent.

The story is similar to the episode of Criminal Minds where the 2 brothers were hunting humans in an Idaho forest. The victim Maggie found in the park had been field dressed, but what killed her was a shot from a compound bow. Since the story is told in 3rd person, you get glimpses into every aspect of the story, not just what Maggie and Vic experience. There is a group of young hikers who have entered the park and you just KNOW they are going to have some kind of run in with the killer. The tension created in the story is well written and engaging. Much like book 1 in the series, The Devil's Daughter, the romance does seem a bit secondary and less developed. However, the plot is intense and not having a well developed romance didn't make the story bad. And while these 2 books are 'connected', they are absolute stand alones.

Robert gives you a few red herrings to keep you guessing which will ultimately keep you reading. I was sure I knew who the killer was a few times, only to have Robert prove me wrong a chapter or 2 later. While Maggie and Vic weren't characters I fell in love with, I did enjoy the story and plot. If you are looking for romantic suspense, this might be a disappointment. Its more suspense with a touch of romance. Personally, I still enjoyed it, but I knew going in that romance wasn't the feature here.
(link live on 7/25/17)

Promotional links below as this was a DNF for me.

DNF review provided to publisher above:

Unfortunately, I have to DNF this book. I am very sorry. I attempted to read it a few times and put it down each time. I felt that the pacing was very slow and the chemistry between the hero and heroine was very dry and non-existent. I have loved ALL Katee Robert contemporary romance so I wanted to try her suspense series. Unfortunately, this is a DNF from.me but please note we have promo'd and will continue to promo this book on release day!! Thank you for the opportunity to read this and I hope I am fortunate enough to receive additional opportunities in the future. Best- Ratula Roy

This was a great, suspenseful thriller, and it was very exciting! 4.5 Stars!

Maggie Gaines used to be a FBI profiler. For a year, she was at the top of her game, working for the Behavioral Analysis Unit, and hunting down serial killers, until she flamed out. Her first case was a doozy, and it caused her to quit the FBI, and run away. From everything, and everyone, including the partner she had no business wanting. She ended up in Glacier National Park, as a park ranger. She loves the park, and mostly, she loves her job. But all the tourists, not so much. She spends most of her time in the back country, and she likes it that way. Until a mutilated murder victim shows up in her safe place, and she knows everything is about to change again.

Vic Sutherland is a well-trained FBI agent with the BAU. He's been tracking a serial killer who's been murdering their victims in different National Parks over the last many months. He gets the call about the body in Glacier, and he knows that he's going to see his old partner again. Maggie. The one that got away, both in work, and in life. He is anxious to see her again, but he doesn't think she'll be thrilled to see him. He is trying to remain professional, and put the case first, but he knows it will be difficult. He's been chasing this un-sub through 3 different National Parks, and he has a bad feeling the killer isn't done with Glacier just yet, so he has to be at the top of his game.

This was a very exciting thriller, and it was scary and suspenseful. It was all you'd want in a murder mystery. There were many suspects, and it was difficult to decide who I thought the killer was. As soon as I had a thought, I'd think I was wrong, and maybe it was someone else. I ended up being right, shortly before the reveal, but I still wasn't quite sure, and I loved that, and it kept it a surprise. Vic and Maggie worked great together, and their connection was obvious to everyone else too. While I loved their chemistry and banter, I will say this was along the lines of book 1, where it was 85% thriller, 15% romance, which is much less than I usually prefer.

The author deftly handled the switch from her prior contemporary romance, and romantic suspense, to a true murder thriller, with just a hint of romance. I will say I wish we'd had a little more closure on some of the characters' romantic relationships in the end, but that's the romance reader in me pouting a bit. I also wish we'd had a little more info about the killer, and their motives. It seemed there had to be a lot more going on below the surface, and I would have liked to delve into that a little more. That must be the cop show viewer in me pouting as well.

I don't want to say much more since this is a mystery thriller. I truly enjoyed this book, and I highly recommend it!

"Everything in the profile points in the direction of a thrill-seeking hunter who’s upped his game to the most dangerous prey."

Maggie Gaines was part of the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit. She lasted barely a year before a case involving children had her making a career change.

Now she's a U.S. Park Ranger at Glacier National Park in Montana and she loves the park, though dealing with people who visit the park - not so much.

A body is discovered in the park and Vic Sutherland, who has a past history with Maggie and still works for the FBI, comes to help investigate.

This book is MUCH better than the first one in this series THE DEVIL'S DAUGHTER. It has strong, well-developed characters and the National Park is beautifully described and plays a huge part in the story.

I would probably have rated it 3 1/2 stars if I could have because I felt there were a few loose ends at the finish of the story that didn't get quite tied up but I did go ahead and rate it 4 stars because I enjoyed the story, the characters, and the major improvement since the first book in the series.

I received this book from Montlake Romance through Net Galley in exchange for my unbiased review.

The Hunting Grounds was an edge of the seat read that not only kept my attention but also kept me guessing. I loved how it was crafted. My only complaint was I felt the romance aspect of it needed to be a bit more pronounced.

I definitely recommend this book to those who love Romantic Suspense.

I have to admit serial killer killing in national parks had me agreeing to the book before I even knew who the author was.
The Katee Roberts created two story lines for readers to follow a group a young hikers who can't seem to get past the past and second chance romance Maggie/Vic. The first few chapters the author caught readers up with everyone past but soon the past kept being brought up to the point readers will be pulled out of the story.
The story suspense would be well paced and than slow down only for the author to rush readers into scenes that had no building up. I even found myself finishing the book wondering if I had skipped a few pages. The best way I can put it is the author had a word count and she was running low.
I am interested in reading more by the author as she develops her voice in the Romantic suspense Gene.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

Amazing book! Could not put it down. Loved that I was familiar with setting. The plot was well laid out and keep you wanting to know what was next but well planned & orchestrated plot twists kept you guessing.

A wonderful twist on a serial killer! Vic, Eden's partner from Devil's Daughter, is pursuing a killer in Glacier State Park. His old partner, Maggie, is currently the park ranger assigned to assist him. Cue the sexual tension! The twists and turns along with Robert's detailed knowledge about hiking made this one of my new favorites. Exciting, captivating, thrilling and intelligent. Although we get Vic from the first book the stories are not connected and completely stand alone. I devoured my early copy in two nights and have written this review voluntarily.

A suspense filled book based in Glacier National Park. Having recently been to the park I was very impressed with the author's descriptions of the park and the rangers. The FBI is well represented and the plot is so twisted I did not figure out how the crimes were happening, or who the actual perpetrator was. I am definitely planning to pick up the first book in this series.