Claimed: An Outlaws Novel by Elle Kennedy (Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads)Also by this author: Midnight Rescue, Ruled, Midnight Target
Published by SIGNET on October 6th 2015
Genres: Action & Adventure, Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic, Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Suspense
Pages: 368
Format: ARC
The bestselling author of the Killer Instincts novels “knows how to write scorching sexual tension”*. Now she really sets it on fire in a new series about men and women living on the edge of violence, sex, and life and death. After a devastating war decimated most of the world, Hudson Lane has only known the oppressive life under her own father’s tyranny. She finally escapes, branding herself an outlaw and hunted by the Enforcers. Her best chance at survival is Connor Mackenzie, an aggressively sensual fugitive who opens her eyes to the wicked possibilities of a world without rules. As the leader of a band of outlaw fighters, Connor can’t resist the beautiful stranger who asks for his protection. Despite his reservations, he agrees to introduce her to a whole new way of life. But when Connor discovers Hudson’s connection to the enemies of liberty, he wonders how far he can trust the woman who has abandoned all inhibitions to challenge every forbidden desire. *USA Today
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!
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