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blooms_in_books 's review for:
Claimed
by Elle Kennedy
This review was originally posted on The Book Hookup here.
*Disclaimer: A paperback copy of this title was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. However, that did not influence this review in any way. All thoughts, quotes, and opinions will be of this version and not of the published edition.
♥ Quick Thoughts and Rating: 4.5 stars! I've been in a book funk for more than a month now, and I think Claimed will be solely responsible for shoving me out of it. You can always count on Elle Kennedy's books to get you a lot hot and more-than-a-little bothered, and this novel was no exception to that rule.
Fast-paced, smoking hot, and laced with a poisonous cocktail of angst and sexual tension strong enough to put you under, there's no possible way you could go wrong with this first installment of her Outlaws series.
♥ Review: I'm going to be relatively blunt in this review, so fair warning...
I usually tend to read YA which also usually tends to have limited sexual content simply for the fact that I'm pretty picky about my written sexytimes. I have a few authors that I trust when I'm in the mood for that type of book, and Elle Kennedy definitely makes that very short list. And there's a damn good reason for it, she writes damn good sexual tension and chemistry, as well as all the goodness that leads up to sex, and then good sex on top of that. It just something that I've come to expect when I'm taking on one of her books, and this book was no different. The chemistry between Connor and Hudson, as well as anyone else they allowed to participate (GULP!) was beyond. . .just beyond, okay? I'll leave it at that and save all the graphic details for the book, but UNG! and all those other unintelligible sounds that wouldn't make a lick of sense in this review.
Another thing you can expect from Elle Kennedy is damn good characterizations and this book didn't disappoint in that department either. All of the outlaws, especially Connor's crew, were so fleshed out and stood apart from the page so vividly, it was effortless to image their voices or see their personalities shining through so easily. I can't wait to get to learn more about each of them as Kennedy explores their individual stories. I think they all bring a certain dynamic to the table, and each character has me downright giddy to learn more about them, especially Rylan, Pike, Kade, and Xander (which is basically everyone, huh?)!
I will say that as far as plot and world-building go, there could have been more, obviously, but now there's also more room for her to fill in on future installments. There was enough foundation there to carry my interest and keep me curious about what's more to come. However, if I'm being perfectly honest, I'd say these books are more about the smut, and I'm pretty freaking content with how she's managed to fill the pages. Carry on, Ms. Kennedy.
Another note worth quickly adding is that although this is only the first book in a series, it definitely can be read as a stand-alone. I was satisfied with how this novel wrapped up, though I'm definitely excited to find out what's to come in the sequel.
♥ Teaser Quote: There are so many naughty things I want to quote here, but I'll save those for you to devour in your own private time.
♥ Rec It? Hell yes I am! With a full cast of memorable characters and hot sexytimes that had me in search of a fan to sit near, I read this all within a few short hours and I'm ready to dive into the next installment just as soon as I can wrap this review draft up. If you're in the mood for something deliciously dirty and quick to read, definitely give this one a go!
♥ A very special thanks to Signet and Penguin rep, Jess, for providing me with a copy of this title.
*Disclaimer: A paperback copy of this title was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. However, that did not influence this review in any way. All thoughts, quotes, and opinions will be of this version and not of the published edition.
♥ Quick Thoughts and Rating: 4.5 stars! I've been in a book funk for more than a month now, and I think Claimed will be solely responsible for shoving me out of it. You can always count on Elle Kennedy's books to get you a lot hot and more-than-a-little bothered, and this novel was no exception to that rule.
Fast-paced, smoking hot, and laced with a poisonous cocktail of angst and sexual tension strong enough to put you under, there's no possible way you could go wrong with this first installment of her Outlaws series.
♥ Review: I'm going to be relatively blunt in this review, so fair warning...
I usually tend to read YA which also usually tends to have limited sexual content simply for the fact that I'm pretty picky about my written sexytimes. I have a few authors that I trust when I'm in the mood for that type of book, and Elle Kennedy definitely makes that very short list. And there's a damn good reason for it, she writes damn good sexual tension and chemistry, as well as all the goodness that leads up to sex, and then good sex on top of that. It just something that I've come to expect when I'm taking on one of her books, and this book was no different. The chemistry between Connor and Hudson, as well as anyone else they allowed to participate (GULP!) was beyond. . .just beyond, okay? I'll leave it at that and save all the graphic details for the book, but UNG! and all those other unintelligible sounds that wouldn't make a lick of sense in this review.
Another thing you can expect from Elle Kennedy is damn good characterizations and this book didn't disappoint in that department either. All of the outlaws, especially Connor's crew, were so fleshed out and stood apart from the page so vividly, it was effortless to image their voices or see their personalities shining through so easily. I can't wait to get to learn more about each of them as Kennedy explores their individual stories. I think they all bring a certain dynamic to the table, and each character has me downright giddy to learn more about them, especially Rylan, Pike, Kade, and Xander (which is basically everyone, huh?)!
I will say that as far as plot and world-building go, there could have been more, obviously, but now there's also more room for her to fill in on future installments. There was enough foundation there to carry my interest and keep me curious about what's more to come. However, if I'm being perfectly honest, I'd say these books are more about the smut, and I'm pretty freaking content with how she's managed to fill the pages. Carry on, Ms. Kennedy.
Another note worth quickly adding is that although this is only the first book in a series, it definitely can be read as a stand-alone. I was satisfied with how this novel wrapped up, though I'm definitely excited to find out what's to come in the sequel.
♥ Teaser Quote: There are so many naughty things I want to quote here, but I'll save those for you to devour in your own private time.
She watched him the entire time, her gaze reserved for him and him alone, and that was more thrilling than anything else they'd done tonight. Rylan was right—they were hot together. They burned so bright hat the rest of the world faded away, and all he could see were her big gray eyes and the raw hunger that made him go up in flames every time she looked at him. That kind of fire could be dangerous. Addictive.
But right now, as he tugged her up and kissed the taste of him off her lips, he was alarmingly happy to let himself burn.
– quote taken from the paperpack copy of Claimed, pg. 201
♥ Rec It? Hell yes I am! With a full cast of memorable characters and hot sexytimes that had me in search of a fan to sit near, I read this all within a few short hours and I'm ready to dive into the next installment just as soon as I can wrap this review draft up. If you're in the mood for something deliciously dirty and quick to read, definitely give this one a go!
♥ A very special thanks to Signet and Penguin rep, Jess, for providing me with a copy of this title.