Book Review: The Claimed by Caridad Pineiro

This is an exciting story and strong romance.

The Claimed (Sin Hunters)  
by Caridad Piñeiro

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Forever; Original edition (May 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446584606
• ISBN-13: 978-0446584609

Genre: Paranormal Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2012 | Series: Sin Hunters (Book 2)

THE CLAIMED

Victoria Johnson loves her life. She's her own boss in a quaint beachside town, and has great friends who keep her grounded. If only they knew who she really is: an heiress to an ancient race who possesses astonishing superhuman powers. It's Victoria's duty to restore her clan of Light Hunters to their former glory by choosing the perfect mate. In Christopher Sombrosa, she just may have found him. Strong, smart, and successful, Christopher exudes a powerful energy. Their connection is sensual, irresistible-and forbidden.

A member of the Shadow Hunter clan, Christopher has defied his own father to lead his people away from affliction and violence. Yet he cannot ignore his duty to carry on his ancient bloodline. Stunningly beautiful and brimming with an erotic life force, Victoria is everything Christopher ever hoped for in a mate . . . but as a Light Hunter, she's his mortal enemy. Together, they could unite their warring tribes. But murderous factions on both sides don't want peace-and they'll stop at nothing to keep light and darkness apart forever . . .

Review:

Victoria is a lovely character. She is strong and caring. She has to balance her personal life with her duties as a business owner but most importantly as a future leader of her Light Hunter clan.  Victoria will soon be coming into Equinox, the biological time during which she must mate or her powers will be weakened and her whole clan will be diminished. On the other hand she needs to be careful who she selects as a mate. Her parents have been forced to acknowledge that the mate promised to her as a child is no longer available. Now she must get them to agree to allow her to make her own choice.

Christopher is an equally wonderful character of strength, fairness and goodness. He is he son of the Anaru, Alexander, the leader of the Shadow Hunter clan. The Shadow Hunter clan has been deceased and weakened with the deadly pox because they have denigrated to feeding off other Hunters or humans. Unlike his father though, Christopher and a small following of their clan have been purifying their bodies by returning to the ancient ways of feeding only from natural elements. While Alexander looks for a powerful Light Hunter as a feeding energy source Christopher thinks perhaps he could become allies with the Light Hunters. He is convinced that they can survive and thrive if they purge the sickness and the bad feeding practices, even if it means he will have to fight his own father.

Victoria and Christopher have a glimpse sighting of each other that sparks interest but they don’t pursue a connection until a second encounter. Then the sparks begin to really ignite even as they realize that they are from enemy clans. The forbidden friendship--or more--is difficult enough but there are jealousies and traitors who will fight the possibility of a merger of Light Hunter with Shadow Hunter. Can they learn to trust each other? Will they survive to protect each other?

Ms. Pineiro has developed a fascinating world of superpowers and internal conflicts. I was immediately engaged by the characters and the plot. There are some likeable secondary characters as well as some really unpleasant wimps, traitors and nasty characters.  There are conflicts, obstacles and plenty of action to give this a good pace for entertaining reading.

I was a little wary of the level of sexual heat from this author.  I am pleased to say that the encounters between Victoria and Christopher are highly sensual and, although pretty detailed, they are loving and in no way lewd. There is one female enemy who is close to a succubus and I found her actions rather offensive but suitable to her character.

If you like your stories hot and intense with lots of conflict, excitement and heavy romance, this author and book fit the bill!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Isn't this what every romantic female looks for? 

Even though her biological clock was ticking, Victoria would not let that alone determine her fate. She wanted a partner for the future. Someone who would share her joys and her sorrows and help to lead her people. But more important, someone she could love. Page 39.

Thank you to Caridad Piñeiro and Pump Up Your Book tours for this book to review. Please see the Author Q&A post for a chance to win this exciting book.

This is set in Avon-by-the-Sea, New Jersey, for my Where are You Reading Challenge. I will also add it to my ARC challenge list.