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3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Death of parent
Minor: Animal death, Rape, Sexual content, Blood, Alcohol
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2.5 stars
Turns out this isn't my kind of book. I'm glad I read it so at least I know. This isn't my genre or my book and I'm okay with that. There was just too much sex and not enough story. What story there was I liked it but much like I complain when romance takes over a really important story in books, the sex took over a vaguely interesting story in this one.
Turns out this isn't my kind of book. I'm glad I read it so at least I know. This isn't my genre or my book and I'm okay with that. There was just too much sex and not enough story. What story there was I liked it but much like I complain when romance takes over a really important story in books, the sex took over a vaguely interesting story in this one.
Hot dystopian erotic romance. I wish Hudson had been a bit more honest from the outset but other than that, it was a solid book.
adventurous
dark
emotional
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Ok so I am ALL for sexy times in books. Especially in dystopian ones because, I mean come on! Who doesn't need some release after the end of the world? That said the sex in Claimed wasn't what made me quit. Not really. I mean it was a bit detailed very early on, but nothing I can't handle. I quit Claimed because there was no plot. One was hinted at. And there was one mentioned in the blurb. But in the 100 something odd pages I made it through I never really saw it. I can forgive a book for A LOT of things. Crappy characters. Poor editing. Inner monologuing. Childish and unnecessary behavior. Plot holes. You get my point. But I just can't read around a lack of plot. Could the plot have been staring me in the face the whole time just waiting to jump out and go "see I was coming! I was going somewhere with all of this!"? Sure. Was I willing to read through another hundred or so pages to see if that was going to happen? No.
One day I may pick this up, and it may prove me wrong, and I may wind up really liking it. Or I may walk away and forget about it. Eh. Really a 50/50 shot at this point.
One day I may pick this up, and it may prove me wrong, and I may wind up really liking it. Or I may walk away and forget about it. Eh. Really a 50/50 shot at this point.
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
4.5 stars
HOLY CRAP YOU GUYS…
So the lovely Jess sent me this and she was all “you’re going to love this… it’s amazing.” And I was all… “uh huh.. okay. I’ll check it out.”
I opened it up to read just a chapter and see what it was all about and I DIDN’T PUT IT DOWN until I turned the last page.
Let me just say that the erotica genre has been lacking in the well-written, sexy, hot, steamy reads lately. I think Elle Kennedy is exactly what it needed.
Claimed is what I guess you might call a dystopian erotica. Set in a time where Utah is considered the coast and there is no government, only bandits, outlaws, enforcers or city people, life is hard and violence and sex is a way of life. People outside the city take what they want because you never know what tomorrow will bring.
Hudson Lane has escaped the city and a life she doesn’t want. But the enforcers are after her and her only hope to avoid them is connecting herself to Connor Mackenzie and his group of rough and tumble men.
It takes some convincing but they agree to take her in… and Hudson slowly learns how to let go and take the things she wants, including Connor. But no matter how much she wants him she knows it’s a tenuous connection that could break at any time, especially when he finds out the extent of the secrets she’s kept from him.
Connor has secrets too… ones he hasn’t even shared with the men who trust him and follow his lead. These secrets are what drive him and he isn’t sure he’ll ever be able to move past them.
If you’ve read anything by Kennedy, you know that she writes a pretty amazing story. While this falls into the erotica category, there’s more to it than just steamy sex. I really love the way she’s started this series and laid the foundation for the rest of the books. The world she’s created is intriguing and oh so naughty… and I loooooved it.
Hudson came from the city, and while she’s definitely shy and on the inexperienced side, I loved her desire to learn and let go and just experience everything. I loved that she voiced what she wanted and wasn’t shy or embarrassed by it. It was refreshing and boy did she get what she asked for.
Connor and his guys of course are damn sexy and as the unofficial leader of the group what he says goes… and he staked his claim on Hudson the moment they saw her… and even if he wasn’t going to take advantage of what she was so clearly wanting, no one else was going to be allowed to.
But of course Connor can only hold back so long… and I’m so incredibly thankful he finally caves.
”Please. Take me,” she begged.
Connor latched his mouth on her neck in an open-mouthed kiss. Her skin was on fire, burning his lips, fogging his mind more than any amount of whiskey ever could. “I’m not taking anything from you,” he corrected. “You’re giving it to me.” He dragged his tongue along the delicate tendon in her throat. “And I’m giving you something in return.”
I just have to mention one more character who I’m totally drooling over… Rylan. Good lord you guys. When you read this, you’re going to realize why I have a thing for him. Like… I’m dying for his book because of reasons and you all will be too!
So obviously I loved this… like loved, loved it and I’m dying for more in this series. If you’re a fan of well-written erotica, sexy men & strong women who take what they want and a setting that will have you interested in more than just the sex that’s happening, you’re definitely going to want to pick this series up.
Thank you to Berkley (JESS!) for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. Feel free to send book 2 asap!
HOLY CRAP YOU GUYS…
So the lovely Jess sent me this and she was all “you’re going to love this… it’s amazing.” And I was all… “uh huh.. okay. I’ll check it out.”
I opened it up to read just a chapter and see what it was all about and I DIDN’T PUT IT DOWN until I turned the last page.
Let me just say that the erotica genre has been lacking in the well-written, sexy, hot, steamy reads lately. I think Elle Kennedy is exactly what it needed.
Claimed is what I guess you might call a dystopian erotica. Set in a time where Utah is considered the coast and there is no government, only bandits, outlaws, enforcers or city people, life is hard and violence and sex is a way of life. People outside the city take what they want because you never know what tomorrow will bring.
Hudson Lane has escaped the city and a life she doesn’t want. But the enforcers are after her and her only hope to avoid them is connecting herself to Connor Mackenzie and his group of rough and tumble men.
It takes some convincing but they agree to take her in… and Hudson slowly learns how to let go and take the things she wants, including Connor. But no matter how much she wants him she knows it’s a tenuous connection that could break at any time, especially when he finds out the extent of the secrets she’s kept from him.
Connor has secrets too… ones he hasn’t even shared with the men who trust him and follow his lead. These secrets are what drive him and he isn’t sure he’ll ever be able to move past them.
If you’ve read anything by Kennedy, you know that she writes a pretty amazing story. While this falls into the erotica category, there’s more to it than just steamy sex. I really love the way she’s started this series and laid the foundation for the rest of the books. The world she’s created is intriguing and oh so naughty… and I loooooved it.
Hudson came from the city, and while she’s definitely shy and on the inexperienced side, I loved her desire to learn and let go and just experience everything. I loved that she voiced what she wanted and wasn’t shy or embarrassed by it. It was refreshing and boy did she get what she asked for.
Connor and his guys of course are damn sexy and as the unofficial leader of the group what he says goes… and he staked his claim on Hudson the moment they saw her… and even if he wasn’t going to take advantage of what she was so clearly wanting, no one else was going to be allowed to.
But of course Connor can only hold back so long… and I’m so incredibly thankful he finally caves.
”Please. Take me,” she begged.
Connor latched his mouth on her neck in an open-mouthed kiss. Her skin was on fire, burning his lips, fogging his mind more than any amount of whiskey ever could. “I’m not taking anything from you,” he corrected. “You’re giving it to me.” He dragged his tongue along the delicate tendon in her throat. “And I’m giving you something in return.”
I just have to mention one more character who I’m totally drooling over… Rylan. Good lord you guys. When you read this, you’re going to realize why I have a thing for him. Like… I’m dying for his book because of reasons and you all will be too!
So obviously I loved this… like loved, loved it and I’m dying for more in this series. If you’re a fan of well-written erotica, sexy men & strong women who take what they want and a setting that will have you interested in more than just the sex that’s happening, you’re definitely going to want to pick this series up.
Thank you to Berkley (JESS!) for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. Feel free to send book 2 asap!