chelseammg's review against another edition
5.0
First I want to say thank you to Ms. Kenner for not giving us the cliffhanger that would have been so very easy to give. I was literally holding my breath waiting for it and squealed when it wasn't there.
Moving on. The second book of the Start Trilogy starts with the agreement between Damien and Nikki coming to it's end. The painting is done and their time is up. Thankfully, neither of them are ready to let go of each other.
Umm, ok!
What we see most of in this book are Damien's secrets. And boy, are they doozies! He has secrets about secrets. Secrets unfolding out of every corner. Bottom line, Damien is one messed up boy. However, he is also loving, loyal, kind, and fiercely protective of our dear Nikki. He is alpha to the core, but not an asshole. Major difference. So many alpha/protective characters cross the line from protective to utterly controlling/asshole. It's a fine line and Damien doesn't cross it, which makes him so damn hot!
Now, Nikki. She is still finding her strength. She still needs the pain to deal with feeling out of control. She finds the pain in her games with Damien but there are times she finds herself needing more. It takes time for Nikki to realize how strong she really is. How much she has overcome and how much she can go through and come out fine. At the end of the book I was cheering for her incredible strength. She really pulled it out and put it on stage for everyone (and I mean everyone!) to see. It was so great to see!
Supporting characters are all still the same. Evelyn and Jamie are absolute dolls. I love them both. I am done with Ollie. He is being an ass of epic proportions. However, I still am holding out hope that he will redeem himself and be the friend that Nikki needs.
Of course you have the scorching hot sex to keep you entertained in this book too. Yes, it's hot. Majorly hot. Melt your panties hot. Just like you expect it to be.
There are still a lot of unanswered questions that need to be wrapped up in the final installment in this series. However, the questions aren't about whether Damien and Nikki are going to be together. In my heart, I believe that they have weathered the storm and now they are a force against everything else together. Now we just have to wrap it all up, find out who the assholes are and get them their happy ever after! Easy peasy!
ARC provided by Random House Publishing Group-Bantam Dell via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Moving on. The second book of the Start Trilogy starts with the agreement between Damien and Nikki coming to it's end. The painting is done and their time is up. Thankfully, neither of them are ready to let go of each other.
"No," he says. "I want to be clear. I don't want our arrangement to end. You're mine, and there are rules. And I want our game to continue."
Umm, ok!
What we see most of in this book are Damien's secrets. And boy, are they doozies! He has secrets about secrets. Secrets unfolding out of every corner. Bottom line, Damien is one messed up boy. However, he is also loving, loyal, kind, and fiercely protective of our dear Nikki. He is alpha to the core, but not an asshole. Major difference. So many alpha/protective characters cross the line from protective to utterly controlling/asshole. It's a fine line and Damien doesn't cross it, which makes him so damn hot!
Now, Nikki. She is still finding her strength. She still needs the pain to deal with feeling out of control. She finds the pain in her games with Damien but there are times she finds herself needing more. It takes time for Nikki to realize how strong she really is. How much she has overcome and how much she can go through and come out fine. At the end of the book I was cheering for her incredible strength. She really pulled it out and put it on stage for everyone (and I mean everyone!) to see. It was so great to see!
Supporting characters are all still the same. Evelyn and Jamie are absolute dolls. I love them both. I am done with Ollie. He is being an ass of epic proportions. However, I still am holding out hope that he will redeem himself and be the friend that Nikki needs.
Of course you have the scorching hot sex to keep you entertained in this book too. Yes, it's hot. Majorly hot. Melt your panties hot. Just like you expect it to be.
There are still a lot of unanswered questions that need to be wrapped up in the final installment in this series. However, the questions aren't about whether Damien and Nikki are going to be together. In my heart, I believe that they have weathered the storm and now they are a force against everything else together. Now we just have to wrap it all up, find out who the assholes are and get them their happy ever after! Easy peasy!
ARC provided by Random House Publishing Group-Bantam Dell via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
laprofedelengua's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
3.5
aboutthatstory's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent book! I was immediately pulled back into Nikki and Damien’s story. I love them as a couple! I couldn’t wait to find out all about Damien’s secrets. The author has a great attention to detail so I was captivated.
Claim Me is book two in the Stark Trilogy and starts where book one left off. I like that throughout the book details from Release Me (book 1) were brought up as a reminder of what had happened, they were weaved in well.
I think Nikki is a strong character but with so much turmoil throughout this story she had a hard time coping but remained strong. I really felt for her but wished she would have been more open with Damien about her feelings. I think Damien was more open in this book but not as forthcoming with the information but he did finally get there. The details of his past do to come to light and it was heartbreaking but just as Nikki thought.
I like that they seem like a normal couple in an extremely hard situation. Damien is protective but not overly controlling and domineering though he does like to be in control. Nikki isn’t internally whiny, I think she has valid concerns. I also loved the fact that she doesn’t push and pester Damien to open up to her, she wants him to do it because he wants to. I thought they were more emotional and in tune with one another in this book and I loved that. It was so obvious how much they loved each other and even though there were intense moments, I thought it was all very romantic in a way too. I love them together!
This book had a good pace. I never felt it was slow, but steady with an even build. I was slightly anxious throughout wanting my questions from book one to be answered. I liked Damien and Nikki’s lighter moments, I thought they were fun and playful. There were LOTS of serious sex scenes… WOW! All my questions from book one were answered and some new ones were introduced as well but I’m sure they’ll be covered in book three. And the last chapter? It just about killed me! I thought it had a great ending and I’m ready for Complete Me (book 3).
Overall, I think this is a great, well written story. I love Nikki and Damien and can’t get enough!
Claim Me is book two in the Stark Trilogy and starts where book one left off. I like that throughout the book details from Release Me (book 1) were brought up as a reminder of what had happened, they were weaved in well.
I think Nikki is a strong character but with so much turmoil throughout this story she had a hard time coping but remained strong. I really felt for her but wished she would have been more open with Damien about her feelings. I think Damien was more open in this book but not as forthcoming with the information but he did finally get there. The details of his past do to come to light and it was heartbreaking but just as Nikki thought.
I like that they seem like a normal couple in an extremely hard situation. Damien is protective but not overly controlling and domineering though he does like to be in control. Nikki isn’t internally whiny, I think she has valid concerns. I also loved the fact that she doesn’t push and pester Damien to open up to her, she wants him to do it because he wants to. I thought they were more emotional and in tune with one another in this book and I loved that. It was so obvious how much they loved each other and even though there were intense moments, I thought it was all very romantic in a way too. I love them together!
This book had a good pace. I never felt it was slow, but steady with an even build. I was slightly anxious throughout wanting my questions from book one to be answered. I liked Damien and Nikki’s lighter moments, I thought they were fun and playful. There were LOTS of serious sex scenes… WOW! All my questions from book one were answered and some new ones were introduced as well but I’m sure they’ll be covered in book three. And the last chapter? It just about killed me! I thought it had a great ending and I’m ready for Complete Me (book 3).
Overall, I think this is a great, well written story. I love Nikki and Damien and can’t get enough!
leanna21's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
jbquinn's review against another edition
5.0
OMG, this story and the feels that I have! Have you ever loved a book (or book series) so much that you're at a complete loss of words? Well, that's what Claim Me (and the Stark series) does for me. I'm so emotionally invested in these characters and this book/series. I actually haven't been able to stop thinking about this book since I finished it a few days ago. You know it's a good book when it invades you mind like that for days.
Claim Me pick up where Release Me left off (so if you haven't read Release Me yet, you need to). This book has more passion and is more about trust, finding pleasure in pain, and dealing with one another's past. Although, in this book Nikki does worry a little that Damien doesn't need her as much as she needs him. We also find out what Damien's big secret is. If you want to find out what it is you'll just have to read it!
Nikki and Damien have such amazingly hot, chemistry that just comes naturally to them. It doesn't come off or read forced (like some other books) and what I really love about these 2 is that they don't use sex as a tool to either 'get back' at one another or as a way to distract one another from the issues that they are dealing with. In fact, they actually use sex to help deal with the issues and to help overcome their issues. Physically and emotionally.
We also see how amazingly strong Nikki is. She doesn't let one of her best friends bad opinions of Damien sway or cloud her judgement on him. She keeps incredibly loyal to him because she knows who the real Damien is. Even after what he tells her!
This book/series owns me. It is SO MUCH BETTER than Fifty Shades of Grey. J. Kenner really did an amazing job setting this book apart. Her writing is so thoughtful and beautifully done. Everyone NEEDS to read not only this book, but the series. It deserves to be just as popular if not more than FSoG.
Claim Me pick up where Release Me left off (so if you haven't read Release Me yet, you need to). This book has more passion and is more about trust, finding pleasure in pain, and dealing with one another's past. Although, in this book Nikki does worry a little that Damien doesn't need her as much as she needs him. We also find out what Damien's big secret is. If you want to find out what it is you'll just have to read it!
Nikki and Damien have such amazingly hot, chemistry that just comes naturally to them. It doesn't come off or read forced (like some other books) and what I really love about these 2 is that they don't use sex as a tool to either 'get back' at one another or as a way to distract one another from the issues that they are dealing with. In fact, they actually use sex to help deal with the issues and to help overcome their issues. Physically and emotionally.
We also see how amazingly strong Nikki is. She doesn't let one of her best friends bad opinions of Damien sway or cloud her judgement on him. She keeps incredibly loyal to him because she knows who the real Damien is. Even after what he tells her!
This book/series owns me. It is SO MUCH BETTER than Fifty Shades of Grey. J. Kenner really did an amazing job setting this book apart. Her writing is so thoughtful and beautifully done. Everyone NEEDS to read not only this book, but the series. It deserves to be just as popular if not more than FSoG.
tifftactoe01's review against another edition
2.0
Very much like 50 shades where he wants to hurt/sex women who look like his mom. But with both the characters want that. Well Damien wants to always stay in control & when he can’t he lashes out in the bedroom but not to the extent as Mr. Grey. Nikki in the other hand relishes in the pain because she craves it because it keeps her grounded when she’s mad, embarrassed, or reminded of her past.
Damien goes on trial for possible murder like whaaaaaaat?!
Damien goes on trial for possible murder like whaaaaaaat?!
stopdropalex's review against another edition
1.0
DNF probably halfway through. I was lukewarm on the first book and I hate the trend of only putting out half a story to get people to buy a sequel so I wasn't happy about starting #2. I couldn't bring myself to give any more fucks about the story line when I started this one.
hillz's review against another edition
4.0
I love this series! Emotionally broken gorgeous millionaire and an equally broken young beauty. This is the second book in the trilogy. It did start out a bit slow, but really picked up steam and the setting for the 3rd and final book has been set. The sex is still steamy and erotic.
Damien Stark loves Nikkie Fairchild beyond words or actions. They help each other through some heavy and dark issues. They are on a whole other awareness of each other.
I’m very excited to see where the final book takes this story.
Damien Stark loves Nikkie Fairchild beyond words or actions. They help each other through some heavy and dark issues. They are on a whole other awareness of each other.
I’m very excited to see where the final book takes this story.
booklovinmamas's review against another edition
4.0
Full Review posted on Book Lovin' Mamas
"Claim Me" is the second installment to J. Kenner's Stark Trilogy and it answered a few questions that I had from the first book. The second book picks up from where the first book left off at, so if you have not read the first book, I recommend it.
This book has a lot of angst, friendship blow ups, and lots, lots of HOT sexual scenes between Nikki and Damien. The purple scarf on the cover of the book plays a very significant role in the book. =)
I give this book 4.5 full moons and highly recommend it to contemporary romance and erotica readers out there. This book is intended for 18+ mature audience though to warn you.
There is anal play, mild BDSM, and a lot of sexual escapades in this book that will have you taking a cold shower afterward.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
"Claim Me" is the second installment to J. Kenner's Stark Trilogy and it answered a few questions that I had from the first book. The second book picks up from where the first book left off at, so if you have not read the first book, I recommend it.
This book has a lot of angst, friendship blow ups, and lots, lots of HOT sexual scenes between Nikki and Damien. The purple scarf on the cover of the book plays a very significant role in the book. =)
I give this book 4.5 full moons and highly recommend it to contemporary romance and erotica readers out there. This book is intended for 18+ mature audience though to warn you.
There is anal play, mild BDSM, and a lot of sexual escapades in this book that will have you taking a cold shower afterward.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.