The Forbidden Claim by Kelly Gendron (+ Giveaway!)

I don’t mind a good Romantic Suspense, so I put my hand up to review this title, little did I know I was going to find a seriously sexy title landing in my inbox!

US Marshall Jinx Collins is an outspoken, free-spirited, and fearless woman. It’s that same fearlessness, however, that tends to get her into trouble. Jinx has lots of questions about her life including the man who could be her the key to her past. 

Jed Kane has worked undercover in the human trafficking ring for years. When Jed accepts a job to disguise himself as one of his worst enemies and take a ride from the correctional facility to a secured location, he certainly had not planned on being abducted by Jinx Collins.

There was nothing about the relationship that did not immediately explode into life.  From the first encounter of Jinx and Jed we were left in no doubt that this couple would be ending up together by the end of the book.  The interludes are regular and very very hot.  So make sure you wear oven mits when reading the intimate scenes!

There was a range of themes contained throughout the story, including assumed identities, abducted children, reunited sibling, well you get the idea, anyway.  I did think the suspense came very secondary to the character/couple development throughout the book, which is a shame, because I do think it would have strengthened the tale a little and by the end I was a little let down that it really felt almost unfinished.  I ended up asking myself if there will be a follow on book?

Verdict:  At the end of the day, it is an erotic tale that should leave you warmed on the inside.  I would suggest it for those looking for a weekend or holiday read with the added benefit of a little naughty pleasure.

4 stars

BLURB

US Marshall Jinx Collins is an outspoken, free-spirited, and fearless woman. It's that same fearlessness, however, that tends to get her into trouble. Jinx questions her life prior to being adopted. When those questions lead her to a murderer who's about to be transported into the witness protection program, Jinx decides to kidnap him to see if she can uncover the truth.

Jed Kane has worked undercover in the human trafficking ring for years. When Jed accepts a job to disguise himself as one of his worst enemies and to take a ride from the correctional facility to a secured location, he certainly had not planned on being abducted by Jinx Collins. Jed's uncertain as to how he feels about her touchy-feely hands and loose lips-unsure if they irritate him or if they are awakening his badly behaving desires. Jed knows he must first find out what the fanatical little lady wants with a murderer before he can act on whatever he's feeling.

Straight away Jinx is attracted to the resilient and enticing Jed Kane-the only man who hasn't backed down from her candor. While Jinx discovers that the questionable criminal may be able to assist her in finding out the truth about her past, Jed vows to save Jinx from her daring self. Once Jinx starts to understand what Jed feels for her-he wants to own her-she demands that he succumb to the raging frenzy. Jed allows himself to seduce her body, submitting himself to that dominant need. But haunted by a world of unlawful ownership, Jed forbids his cold heart to stake its dangerous claim on Jinx Collins.

Locked away in a dark basement, a little boy is waiting to be rescued-and Jinx's past holds the key to his prison. If Jinx can finally find the truth which holds her fears, and if Jed can forgive himself for his past, then not only might they be able to save the boy, but they might also discover that their carnal desires really derive from their own prison... an inescapable prison of love.

EXCERPT 

Instinct told him to remove his hands from her hot little body. But Jed stood motionless. He needed to let go-and should have-but as her smile dissolved, he became lost to the kittenish gleam in her canted eyes. She feathered her fingertips lightly over his chest and Jed stiffened.

"Well," she lifted a hand and slipped it around to the back of his neck, "I'm patiently waiting for that other shock... the one you personally were going to give to me if I tried to escape." She scrapped her nails along his neck. A rush of goose-bumps rippled right down to Jed's toes.

He glared at her. Anger surged through him from her foolish but bold act, and from his reaction to it. He wanted to grab her and shake her. Although he may not be Aztec, Jed certainly was a killer, and this Jinx was too daring for her own damn good. He wanted to teach her a lesson and give her another well-deserved scare. He snatched her hands and slammed her into the wall. "Don't try to seduce me. There's no way I'm letting you go," he warned.

"Seduce you?" She tossed back her head and giggled as if it was the most ridiculous thing she'd ever heard. "Jed," she sobered, but the fearless minx didn't shrink back from him, instead, she pressed her body up against his, "don't mistake my curiosity for seduction."

Jed pinned her hands to the wall. If closeness was what she wanted, then he'd give it to her. He thrust his body forward, hitting his pelvis, hips, and his growing erection into her soft form. She tensed beneath his firm hold, and his action was rewarded by the flicker of fear he caught in her eyes.

"Don't' mistake this GQ guy," he pushed her hands harder to the wall, "for a man who wouldn't hurt you to get what he wants."

Trepidation slipped from her. "And what exactly is it that you want, Jed?" She glimpsed down at their molded bodies, drawing attention to his hard male heat, and then glanced back up at him.

Fuck! Jed could feel his self-control slipping. He needed to back away. Discerning his insubordinate rod was almost ready to surrender to her sexual advances, ready to take what she was offering in return for her freedom.

"Right now, what I want," his mouth was so close, nearly brushing hers, "you couldn't handle it."

"Try me," she purred, her warm breath feathering upon his lips.

Damn! She made him hard. He inched closer to her tempt. Her small firm breasts pressed into his chest and her breaths quickened as he rounded to her ear. "I think I'll wait until you tell me just who you are," he lowered his already rasping voice, "before I satisfy your curiosity and play with you, little lady." He drew back, determining if he didn't retreat, the disloyal throbbing hardness between his legs would stop at nothing to get what it wanted- her. And with that knowledge, Jed did what he should've done when she fell into his body- he let her go. Seeing the flash of relief in her eyes reassured Jed that he'd made the right decision. It appeared, for all the purring the kitty was doing, her nails weren't actually ready to give him a scratch, yet.

Jed went over to the window to close it. While latching the window, he caught her reflection in the mirror. She was going after his gun. "Don't even try it," he advised the little lady, who apparently hadn't learned not to touch something when it was hot.

She grimaced. Her head turned, and she met his reflection. "Wouldn't think of it," she smirked and crossed her arms over her heaving breasts...

BUY LINKS

Amazon  Red Sage Publishing

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelly has been faithfully writing for three years but did write her first book ten years ago. She put it down to raise her son as a single mom and then picked it back up when she and her son finally grew up. That's when she settled into her adult life and started to seriously write again. She's dabbled with paranormal stories, but recently she's been on a Romantic Suspense kick. The recipe for the men in her stories: dark and mysterious, strong and confident and, of course, besides magnificent bodies, and shameless aptitudes, they must have a heart you want to rip out of the pages (or your e-Reader) and take to bed with you at night.

Website   Blog   Facebook

VBT Schedule:

May 14: Imogene Nix (Giveaway/Review)
May 15: Delighted Reader (Book Feature)
May 16: Black Hippie Chick's Take on Books & the World (Interview)
May 17: Harlie's Books (Interview)
May 18: She Who Blogs Behind the Rows (Interview)
May 19: Bookin' It Reviews (Giveaway)
May 20: Full Moon Bites (Interview)
May 21: Avril's Blog (Book Feature)
May 22: The Romance Writer's Reads (Interview)
May 23: Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess (Giveaway)
May 24: Simply Ali (Interview)
May 25: Storm Goddess Book Reviews & More (Giveaway/Review)
May 26: Intoxicated by Books (Book Feature)
May 27: Turning The Pages (Review)
May 28: ReadingDiva's Blog (Review)

To Win!

Simply tell us why you would love to win this title in 25 words or less!  Don't forget to add your email address (with spaces) so I can email the PDF to the winning writer!

Good luck - the winner will be drawn Close of Business Friday 18th May Queensland Time.