CLAIMED (Club Sin #1)
by Stacey Kennedy
Before I get into my review of Claimed, it may be important to know that I read the second book in this series first. I received an ARC for Bared and wrote up a review you can find in this blog or on my Goodreads page. So, obviously I liked "Bared" enough to go back and purchase this first in the series, which should accurately show how much I am enjoying reading the Club Sin Books.
BOOK BLURB:
Presley Flynn is ripe to experience her secret fantasies . . . and Dmitri Pratt wants nothing more than to fulfill them. Once inside the elite Club Sin in Las Vegas, Presley is nervous but excited—and determined to surrender to her every desire. Dmitri is her Master, and his touch is like fire. With each careful, calculated caress, he unleashes her wildest inhibitions, giving her unimagined pleasure.
Presley is different than the other submissives Dmitri has mastered. The BDSM lifestyle is new to her, and so are the games they play at Club Sin. From the start, Presley stirs emotions in him far beyond the raw purity between a dom and the perfect sub. For the ecstasy they share goes beyond the dungeon igniting a passion that claims the very depths of the heart.
On paper, Presley and Dmitri could not be any more different from one another. Dmitri is the 33 year old president of a large casino in Las Vegas and the owner of Club Sin, a private BDSM club where he also serves as a Master and Dominant. He's experienced and confident. He commands respect from everyone he encounters; a Dom. Presley is a young and slightly naive 20 something year old dental assistant who moved to Las Vegas to be with her boyfriend, only to suffer heartbreak when he confessed to infidelity. She is sexually frustrated and has self esteem issues. She's timid and has a habit of trying to please everyone around her; a submissive. Though they have differences, it is these precise differences which seem to make Presley and Dmitri perfect for each other.
I loved the buildup of their relationship. I felt their connection almost instantly. It helps that Stacey Kennedy wrote 2 very likable and interesting characters. Presley's first encounter with Dmitri at Club Sin was quite entertaining to read. Wide-eyed and jaw slacking, she was unable to hide her innocence and inexperience. To Dmitri's shock, this didn't put him off in the slightest- her sweetness was actually a major turn-on for him and he was completely enamored with her. The quote below is one of my favorite scenes and still makes me smile when I think about it.
With Dmitri's natural dominance being displayed with every word he spoke and every step he took- Presley couldn't help but feel a strong pull to him. As Dmitri introduced her into the the "lifestyle," their need to be near each other grew more and more intense. Quickly, Dmitri realized several things about Presley- she is a natural submissive; she loves to be on display; and if she feels anxious or threatened- Dmitri's touch or presence is the only thing that will calm her. She is simply and truly his.
I cannot express how much I grew to love this couple. They both had caring and nurturing personalities which they showered on the people around them often and in abundance. Presley was pretty adorable. Her sweetness, shyness and sassiness added so much charm to the story. Combined with Dmitri's protectiveness, strength and overall hotness- Stacey Kennedy successfully created a magnetic and captivating couple.
I appreciated how Dmitri and Presley weren't portrayed as broken and emotionally stunted people. Yes, they both had their issues but it wasn't overly complicated and dark. I've noticed a lot of books with similar themes are littered with shattered and broken characters; their darkness only tamed and calmed by bondage and pain. I wasn't overwhelmed with the need to throw myself into a lake in order to cope with the "will they" or "why didn't they just send a text to avoid that crazy-ass misunderstanding that led to their breakup and misery for seven years only to be reunited after some catastrophic event" type of anxiety I often experience while reading.
The sex or sometimes non-sexing between Dmitri and Presley was sizzling hot! I read and reread certain juicy parts several times. I only stopped cause truthfully- it got uncomfortable after a while.
"Remove your panties...Crawl over and bring them to me...NoAnnaPresley, with your teeth."
When he was in Master Dmitri mode, good lawwwddyy!!! It wasn't in a mean and condescending tone either, it was just really, really bossy. It was H-O-T!
My wrap-up: Four and a half stars. I don't give a lot of ratings above a 4 but the combination of the main characters; the secondary players; the simple, yet engaging storyline; the kink (not as much as others but enough for this repressed church lady) and the pace and flow of the book (description and dialogue) presented me with a wonderful way to unwind and decompress after a long and stressful week. Adding Book 3 to my TBR.
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