Claimed (Outlaws, #1)

by Elle Kennedy

[Rowena]

In the last year or so, I’ve become a huge Elle Kennedy fan. I’m at the point in my fangirlishness over her work that I’ll read anything she puts out. I’m not a big reader of dystopian stories but when I found out that Elle Kennedy was writing one, I wanted to read it and knew that I was going to enjoy it.

So in this Outlaws world, it’s after the big war that destroyed well…everything. The world as we know it now, is completely gone in this world. California, Colorado, New York City, it’s all a part of the past and the people are now under the control of the government. Those that will not bend to the government’s rule, are living as outlaws in the wilderness – hunted by the government.

Connor MacKenzie has been living as an outlaw for a while now and along the way, the loner has attracted some friends who just stuck around. After his wife and people were killed by Dominick Lane, leader of the Enforcers, Connor has dreamed of avenging his wife. Dominick has been on his kill list for a long time and Connor knew that one day, he was going to kill him. He just had to be patient. His band of followers keeps getting bigger and bigger and that was something Connor was not counting on. He didn’t want to become a leader but that’s what happened anyway.

When the beautiful Hudson comes across Connor and his men, she wants their protection and at first, Connor was like, “Hell no” but the guilt trips from his men had him turning around and taking Hudson under his protection. His life was never the same again.

Hudson is running from the enforcers because her father has promised her hand in marriage to a monster that scares the daylights out of Hudson and she would rather live as an outlaw than to live as his wife. So of course at the first chance she gets, Hudson flees the safety of her home to the wild lands of the outlaws. When she comes across Connor and his men, she knows that she’ll be safe from Knox with them so she practically begs to be a part of their group.

Watching Connor and Hudson battle their personal issues along with their growing feelings for each other was a treat to read because I was all up in their business. There were times when I wanted to throttle Connor for being so hard on Hudson but as the story progressed, I switched gears and wanted to choke Hudson out for waiting so long to come clean with not just Connor but the other guys as well. I understood why she didn’t tell them at first but she knew that Connor was falling in love with her and she was falling for him and she still kept her secret and for a little bit, that didn’t sit right with me.

Kennedy continues to hit every single one of my happy buttons and this book wasn’t an exception. I enjoyed the cast of characters and am looking forward to see who is getting their book next. I’m pretty anxious for books for everyone but Dominick and Rylan just a tad bit more. I’m kind of wondering who Rylan will end up with…Reese or Jamie?

Overall, this book was entertaining and everything that I’ve come to expect from Elle Kennedy. She writes the kind of books that readers want to read. I’m definitely on board for more.

Grade: 4 out of 5