Format: Paperback
Release Date: October 6, 2015
Publisher: Signet
Source: Publisher
Recommended By: Jessica Haluska
Genre: Romantica | MC | Post-Apocalyptic
The bestselling author of the Killer Instincts novels “knows how to write scorching sexual tension” (USA Today). 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.

I've had CLAIMED for a while now but haven't really had the guts to read it til Jessica Haluska reviewed the darn book over at Rabid Reads. She caught me in the right mood because I wanted to try something different and though Outlaws reminds me so much of Kit Rocha's Beyond series, Jessica said that CLAIMED has more substance so I finally broke my copy's spine and read on.
5-Star Romantica
See the cover art? See how hot, bare and arid it is? That is exactly how I would describe Hudson Lane and Connor Mackenzie's blazing, lust-filled-driven romance. It's forbidden, misleading, desperate, unapologetic, and all consuming. Not surprising since the world is in shambles and carpe diem is everyone's motto. It makes sense to LIVE as much as you can and Connor's crew is as hedonistic as you can imagine them to be. Orgies, threesomes, this MC are unabashed as far as their bodies and desires are concerned. CLAIMED is smutty for lack of a better word.
3-Star Plot
Let me explain this a bit. It's not that CLAIMED is lacking in it, the plot is as developed as it can get at this point. The world building is established early on in so few words so we have a good grasp of what happened and why there are Outlaws. My complaint is the lack of balance. There's too much sex and all the feels got dumped on us in the last quarter of the book.
I'm a little disappointed because Connor and Hudson's personal stories and the politics in Outlaws are so good! Why didn't I get more of that?! I'd rather read less about their private parts and more about what makes them and their world tick. Hudson's relationship with her brother, Dominick, in particular, is very moving, and I have high hopes that he gets his own book and redemption.
Despite my very biased opinion about CLAIMED, it's smut with substance and it's moving in more ways than one *wink wink*. The emotions displayed here is very intense, there's no in-between be it loyalty, love, friendship, or lust. There's a constant sense of desperation, distrust and feeling of doom which enhanced Hudson and Connor's romance and their efforts to survive and thrive. The characters are all engaging, EKennedy introduced and wrote them well that I look forward to reading more of them. Even the wolf pup, Hope, has my attention! Outlaws may require a specific mood for me to enjoy, but I did love my foray into this world nonetheless.


lol. Love the sly comments. Sounds like it's a good mix here. :) Glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteSometimes recommendations from other bloggers are the best kind of recommendations. Glad this one paid off for you.
ReplyDeleteDystopia and smut? Why the hell not!!
ReplyDeletePlus I've recently discovered Elle Kennedy as an author and she's fabulous :D
Ooh, ouch at the 3-star plot. :\ But YAAS to the 5-star romantic! Okay, since I've really enjoyed Kennedy's NA works, I really must check this one out. Awesome review!
ReplyDelete- Aila @ Happy Indulgence
"Smut with substance" - sounds right up my alley and I do like Elle Kennedy's writing style.
ReplyDeleteWonderful review
Lauren's Reading Obsession
oh this sounds pretty fantastic!! I have been feeling a bit reluctant about this one, but you definitely are tempting me to buy it NOW!!
ReplyDeleteI so want to try this one! Sounds like I would not want to live there ;)
ReplyDeleteIf I'm not mistaken I saw a book in French by her but haven't read any yet. One day I should
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you ended up picking this one up after putting it off and enjoying it Braine! Smut with substance is always a good thing because I always get frustrated when it's sex scene after sex scene. Lovely review!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you decided to crack the spine on this one and it wasn't a total loss. :) I've been wanting to read it since having read Jessica's review as well, and I still want to after reading yours. I'll get to it someday.
ReplyDeleteI saw this one, but it didn't grab my interest at the time. I can see why you had to be in the right mood for it. Sometimes, raw 'no holds barred' is just the thing.
ReplyDeleteI have this one on audio. I am going to have to bump it up (said in my best Arnold voice).
ReplyDeleteGood to hear the hot dial was turned up but sad the plot couldnt be up there a bit more as well
ReplyDeleteBraine, great review and I am so stealing "smut with substance" :)
ReplyDeleteIt always makes me laugh a little bit when one of us says something about there being too much sex in a story, Braine! It's too bad the story could have been better if there had been a bit less sex, especially if you could really see the potential! I'll probably still leave Claimed, because it does sound like my kind of story - and now, my expectations have been properly lowered.
ReplyDeleteLexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews
I Loved The Deal by Elle so I may have to check this Dystopian out by her. Hopefully the next books will balance out the romance and plot because it seems like it has lots of potential.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Braine!! :)
I've enjoyed her contemporaries - not sure this one is for me. I can handle a lot of sex/smut but not orgies/threesomes lol I get jealous on behalf of everyone ;-)
ReplyDeleteKaren @For What It's Worth
Another cover where half the face is just lopped off, making me think of the headless horseman or Highlander where there can be only one and so off with their head! Not sure this is the right book for me but it sounds interesting. But these types of covers turn me off.
ReplyDeleteI could use some smutty dystopia right now. I may look this one up. Great review!
ReplyDeleteI can deal with a 3 star plot. I hate it when it has no plot at all. Sometimes smutty is so fun though. LOL I haven't read one that is also a dystopian as well. Hm...
ReplyDeleteI think I'd probably like this one. And YAY MIP!!!
ReplyDeleteI want to read this series so bad!
ReplyDeleteDespite the storylines not being balanced this sounds like a pretty good read. I appreciate the breakdown Braine :)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a good book, but like it lacks some balance. A bit too little plot and too much sex. Probably the right kind of read when you're in the mood for that and I do have to admit it sounds unique. Maybe there will be more focus on the world and everyone's personal stories in the next book?
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I don't mind a lot of sex in a book, but there needs to be a good plot too. I love the Beyond series by Kit Rocha, which has a ton of sex in it, but the characters are great and the plot is wonderful. I'll wait to see what you think of book two before I try this. Thanks for the honest review.
ReplyDeleteMelanie @ Hot Listens & Rabid Reads
*sigh* I passed on this one for review because I was so behind at the time. Totally kicking myself. Love her books. Hope the plot in the next is a wee bit more for ya.
ReplyDeleteI get what you mean, I prefer a little more substance at times too. There comes a point when you are over the sex scenes!
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