25K standalone novella; can be read as standalone or part of the Passion in Paradise series Fire Chief Aiden James often fell in lust, but not in love. Until the beautiful new librarian Carolina Mayfair showed up in his small town. The sparks flew and set them both aflame for one magical night, and the resulting inferno changed both of their lives forever. Instalove! Erotica, romantica, and all sorts of other stuff!
Excerpt: Aiden had known the second he laid his eyes on that spectacular hourglass figure of hers that he wanted her. Of course he had. A man would have to be dead not to want to spend time between those gorgeous thighs, worshiping at those fantastic breasts while he fucked into what he’d bet was the tightest pussy in creation. Yes, his cock had screamed ‘MINE!’ the moment his gaze settled on her fine little body. But the second she’d turned and he’d seen her exquisite face for the first time… yeah, he’d been done. He’d known that woman would hold him – heart, mind, body, and soul. There’d been no question at all. He was claiming sweet Carolina for his own.
Sarah O'Rourke is the alter ego of two best friends who have taken their passion for romantic fiction and erotica to the publishing world. Born and raised in the southern United States, one lives near Louisville, KY, while the other resides in Atlanta, Georgia. Neither is ever very far from a tall glass of sweet iced tea, their dog-eared copies of Gone With the Wind, or their Steel Magnolias DVDs!
Formerly an accountant and a chemist, they are now overworked, stay-at-home moms who adore their children, their husbands...and writing about love in every way possible!
Well,this book started good for me hero meets heroine. hero falls for heroine. hero becomes a caveman laying claim to the heroine to anyone who can see it and hear it. See where I'm going with this pretty good so far right? Annnd....
Hero thinks about his sexual past.
At 35 years old, Aiden was no chaste virgin. He’d played a lot over the years with all different kinds of women, sampling everything the feminine persuasion had to offer him. In the past few years, he’d settled down some, becoming more selective of the women he took to bed with him, but none of them had ever managed to touch his heart and they’d all –every single one of them-known he was an equal opportunity player.
Hero has sex with heroine without protection, heroine freaks out. Hero's past hook up calls him and leaves him a colorful voicemail.
“Well, hello there, lover,” the sensual voice greeted. “Long time no talk, big fella. As if you didn’t know, this is Lorna, honey, and I’m back in Paradise for the week dropping off pharmaceuticals with several of the docs in town. Listen, baby, my pussy has missed you something fierce these last several weeks. I can’t wait until I feel that nice, thick cock filling me up again. Let’s hook up. Say, tomorrow night? Seven o’clock at our regular room? I’ll bring the wine and you just bring that fantastic dick. As a token to show you just how much I’ve missed your special brand of TLC, I even remembered to pick you up another dreamcatcher during the Trail of Tears celebration when I was down in Kentucky last week. I know how much you loved the last one I brought you. You can thank me by using that wicked tongue somewhere other than my mouth this weekend. Anyway, call me as soon as you get this message. Goodnight, lover!”
He was with the ow 6 months before meeting the heroine.
Hell, his hookup with Lorna had been almost six months ago, but the Stage 5 clinger was still living in the land of delusion and hanging onto the fantasy that someday they’d be together. It was evident now that he was going to need to be a bit harsher with the bitch. Especially since he’d finally found the woman he was meant to spend the rest of his life with and she could potentially be carrying their child in her freshly fertilized womb.
Heroine leaves his ass frankly I would've have left his ass either way. No amount of hero saying that heroine is only his could've let me forget all of this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
2/5 Things I liked about this book - Insta Love -OTT alpha male - possessive and straight to the point
Things I didn't like about this book - the pushing away - the voice male from his past lover - the separation (even though I don't blame here) - I really don't like when guys are man whore in books..... Or have been around the block... it just sets me off Abbas mood.... maybe because most time it comes with OW Drama.
Over all I was disappointed in this read.... had a promising start but then just ..... ugh!!
Man, that was just... retarded. Stuck in a waiting room for an 45min, I mostly skimmed to 90% before DNFing. Caro the schizophrenic and Aiden the stalker. Not even going to bother rehashing the non-existant plot. words to describe; super cheese, corny, illogical, sleazy... Don't get me wrong. I often love a short insta lust/love, maybe more than I want to admit. His first line to her was like a cheap pickup from the 70's. And how about the 'baby bump' that's already there at 6 weeks, when the fetus would be smaller than a tictac. Basically the characters were cardboard cutouts living out a fantasy perpetrated by the author to sell what she thinks people want to read. And sometimes that is fine, IF, you don't see the strings on the puppets... oops I meant; characters, as clear as day.
2.0-2.5 RATING- I understand why some readers will like this, the whole OTT alpha and instant everything...I usually like that too in some of these shorter novella stories. But... this was just way to cheesy for me unfortunately.
The moment Fire Chief Aiden James came across Carolina Mayfair he knew she was his. Trying to convince her was another matter altogether, Carolina is the towns new librarian and she is not sure that Aiden is being sincere about his claim she is his.
Very fun read. Aiden goes a bit crazy because he knows Carolina is his soul mate. Carolina though is more stuck in her head and her experience from a bad relationship. Really enjoyed this one.
He’s already sworn off ever sitting on a hiring panel with Aunt Orla again. Did you know that she asked the male candidates to strip down to their skivvies? She says she wanted to make sure they were bringing the ‘right stuff’ to her beloved town!
Aunt Orla is beyond excited to have found some fresh blood to breathe life into our dusty old library. I think she’s got a list of books a mile long that she’d like you to look into ordering. Of course, most of them are X-rated, but at least she’s reading.
Baby, you’ve got curves that would make an artist weep and any priest re-think his life plan.
You’re still a good girl, Caro. You just got a little carried away with the hunky fireman stud and his super-sized hose.
My Review:
Claimed was a quick and steamy tale with an immediate attraction and fast paced storyline packed with playful and bawdy banter and humorous exchanges and observations. Carolina had moved across the country for a fresh start and a new job. She’d been in town less than an hour and an attractive, and smooth talking man she had just met coming into town was calling dibs on her to other men. Aiden made his moves at the speed of light, an obvious player and initially seemed a bit too glib and cocky to be trustworthy, but their chemistry was undeniably electrifying and high voltage at that, as were the sensual scenes – my kindle sizzled! I always enjoy my trips to Paradise, Tennessee and cherish any chance to catch up with or hear about my favorite resident - Aunty Orla.
Aiden was your typical alpha male and once he saw Carolina he stopped at nothing to claim her! Aiden is the local town Fire Chief. Carolina has just moved here as the librarian and looking for a fresh start. When her and Aiden first meet they have instant chemistry. I loved their banter with each other throughout the story. In this story things moved fast and then we have some drama which was to be expected given Aiden's past. I understood why Carolina was upset but she didn't even let the man explain. But I guess is better than be a doormat so I don't fault her for what she did.
“Baby, you’ve got curves that would make an artist weep and any priest re-think his life plan.”
"You just got a little carried away with the hunky fireman stud and his super-sized hose.”
“If you give me your heart, I’ll protect it until the last breath leaves my body,
This story has the perfect mix of funny, loving and sexy moments. The writing held my interest and I finished the book in under an hour. This sweet insta love story was just what I needed to knock me out of my horrible book funk!!
Okay firstly when I started this book, I thought this guys was a douche. Like really he sounded like a total player. But as I read further I think he grew on me. And then I just got annoyed at Caro because she blew the whole situation out of proportion. I mean everyone has a past.
So as we all know (if you read the Men of Honor series) Paradise is a town that the men are like total OTT alpha's. And when the new librarian Carolina Mayfair showed up and Fire Chief Aiden James saw her, he was hooked. But getting Caro on board wasn't that easy. Especially with old hookup's showing up and ruining any chance that you might have going for you. If only she would listen to your explanation??
Oh boy, did I love that quick visit with my friends in Paradise. Aiden James is the resident Fire Chief...and latest resident caveman. He Claimed the town's new sexy librarian, Carolina "Caro" Mayfair, on sight and wasted NO TIME in letting everyone know just that fact... Caro was just a little bit slower on the upswing-but after a night in Aiden's bed, she knew her heart would never let him go... she just needed to get her head and pride on board.
I loved this quick and dirty novella in the Paradise realm. LOVED both Aiden and Caro--their faults and all. And I loved the Easter Egg regarding a beloved McKinnon sister.
This was a pretty decent read. It was an Insta love story with some minor OW drama. I liked Aiden even though we was a slightly reformed manwhore. He had been celibate for six months. Carolina was alright, she was stubborn and refused to hear Aiden out for six weeks, major miscommunication. It was a quick entertaining story.
The one problem that I have with out of the way small town romances and manwhores is where do all of the women they sleep with come from? They must sleep with a lot of the local women and that is what I have an issue with. If it were me it would be awful to constantly running into their past conquests, practically on a daily basis. That would drive me insane, I don't know how any woman could deal with. This is just a pet peeve I have about books in small towns, sorry about my rant!
4.5 stars. I really loved this book. Carolina aka Caro aka Dimples is moving to start over in life. Her car has a few "issues" right before she gets into town. She's on the side of the road....basically talking to herself about where all the good guys are, when AIden answers her as he is walking up to help. “C’mon, universe! Tell me, where the heck have all the good guys gone? Where the flip is my happily ever after, dammit?” “It appears the universe might be a little too busy to answer your questions right now, but as a bona fide, card carrying member of the Paradise Good Guy Club, maybe I can help you with finding that happily-ever-after you seem to be missing, Pretty Lady. Especially if the view from the front of you is as dazzling as the one I’m getting of you from behind,” a deep, smooth voice drawled from behind Carolina." This was such a funny interaction between the two of them, but it gets better when they get to her destination.
Since she's the towns new librarian she is set to meet & eat with the town sheriff and his wife. Naturaly Aiden knows and is good friends with the couple, what he doesn't know is that they invited some other single men to meet the new librarian. This whole scene was hilarious, because according to Aiden "dimples" is already his......and he makes sure everyone knows....so damn funny. He pretty much does everything but throw her over his shoulder caveman style.... I found it highly entertaining...love the over the top insta-love books.
Fast forward a few hours and these 2 have a passionate time together. Carolina is about 10 years younger than Aiden, so she has only been with 1 other person, but obviously Aiden has been with more. Ok, so here's the reason I didn't give it 5 stars, after they have a great time together Carolina is freaking out because they forgot a condom (Aiden was clearly not freaking out, she's his) but during her freak out, one of his one night stands call and leaves a very detailed message on his answering machine about him, his body parts and her....uh, wtf. This was not cool and Carolina agreed, not Aiden's fault...but other women drama is annoying at best. Obviously, most people will be with other people....try not to pick the annoying crazy ones....just sayin, be selective. Anyway, since she just met him, she assumed she was in a long line of girfriends and so forth. It was obviously a miscommunication, because he is not with the other woman.....but Carolina was just too upset. It actually pissed me off too....way, way too much detail for me. Nobody wants to here that kind crap especially if they are already freaking out about doing something they never do, not using protection and not knowing the person. I could see why she was upset.
She doesn't talk to Aiden for about 6 weeks....a little bit long in my opinion, but I don't think she would have believed him anyway. Obviously, they end up working it out, because Aiden is crazy about her.
Really loved this book, could have done without the little bit of drama, but it was a misunderstanding.
I love Sarah O’Rourke and Paradise, Tennessee is one of my favorite fictional places to go! I adore the Passion in Paradise series, so when this novella about the fire chief, Aiden James, and the Paradise’s new librarian, Carolina Mayfair, was announced, I was happy to take a trip back to there. The storyline may have been as fast moving as a wildfire, but as it stayed focused heavily on these two characters, Claimed didn’t suffer from a lack of character or plot development.
Lightening struck the moment Aiden saw the town’s new librarian, Carolina, on the side of the road on her way into town. Aiden moved fast, and Carolina was barely in her new hometown of Paradise for a few hours before she found herself claimed by him, in more ways than one. In the aftermath of a magical night together, however, overwhelming emotion, a fair bit of panic and a misunderstanding of epic proportions collide with a poorly timed fire call out to douse the flames of this budding relationship. When the dust settles, Aiden has to work overtime the reignite that fire and fan the flames to reclaim his woman.
A Sarah O’Rourke novel is always well written, very sexy and chock full of their brand of sassy southern humor. While short in length, Claimed still packed a full punch of everything I’ve come to love and expect from their work. I loved it! Five smooches from me!
The story has laughs, suspense, love, and heartbreak.
If you have not read the below I would recommend reading those books(s) first Wed by Wednesday (Passion in Paradise, #0.5, #1) Cain's Salvation (Passion in Paradise: The Men of the McKinnon Sisters, #1) Hard as Stone (Passion in Paradise: The Men of the McKinnon Sisters, #2) Ready, Willing and Abel (Passion in Paradise: The Men of the McKinnon Sisters, #3) The Homespun Holiday (Passion in Paradise) Tangled Hearts (Passion in Paradise, #3.5) Man of Honor (Passion in Paradise #4)
This is Carolina and Aiden’s story. One night that exploded into full out claiming. Aiden’s body and mind had to come to grips with this. He is used to lust but love was new. He wanted to claim her heart body and soul. Now just to get her on board. She is not used to men like Aiden but don’t worry she will get on board. It was great to come back to paradise. The alpha’s in this town know just how to get all growly over there woman.
I loved these characters and the side characters. I felt I could connect with the characters and the story was a great read.
I highly recommend this book this series and these authors.
Ah, what a nice mini-vacation! For those familiar with their Passion in Paradise series, you get to go back to Tennesee! and you know... once you are there, that there are hot alphas! ;) Yes, this book has insta~love, but then, he has to fight for her. Everything that you could hope for in a short story. A good, solid four stars for Ms. O'Rourke and a recommendation for anyone who likes some heat in their read. I'll definitely be reading more from these Authors.
I don't know why Carolina even tried to fight Aiden. Chief was a tornado and she was in his path regardless of where she tried to run. His HOT words were just sexy but the way he should her love through words and stalking.... Yes that was epic. I enjoyed this visit to Paradise very much.
When new librarian Carolina Mayfair arrives into town, she stirs a lot of interest especially with the Fire Chief Aidan James. Love at first sight has never been a thing that Aidan believed until he laid eyes on Carolina. But in this small town you have to stake your claim and Aidan just claimed Carolina.
I love the Passion in Paradise series and this was a short novella that can be read as a standalone or part of the series.
Claimed by Sarah O'Rourke is an instant love novella that is a quick and sexy read. The dirty talking fire chief was making fires not putting them out! Carolina was a feisty woman that couldn't keep her head around this alpha man. Aidan knew what he wanted and didn't hesitate to take it.
But as much as I loved Claimed I wanted Aunt Orla and Uncle Jethro. These are a couple of my favorite characters. You don't have to read the Passion in Paradise series to enjoy this book but you would be crazy not to.
Sarah O'Rourke is taking us back to paradise with a quick, intense, and sexy little story that is going to heat up your kindle and have you squirming in your seat. Packed full of steam, heart, and passion... we jump into one romance where our alpha will do what he has to, to claim him woman... forever.
Claimed is a standalone novella in the Passion in Paradise series and man does it feel good to be back among friends. In this book, we are introduced to Carolina and Aiden... one sweet librarian and one smoking hot fire chief.
Get ready for fire, sparks and all the good stuff.
If you like instant love stories this one you will enjoy. It's definitely a fast paced story, but highly enjoyable. Aiden, the fire chief, is just yummy. How can Caro say no to him is mind boggling, but of course her heart tells her what she truly wants. Caro is just getting out of a bad relationship and looking for a new start is Paradise. She never even imagined running into someone like Aiden. I really liked getting to see how the previous characters in the Passion in Paradise series are doing. I love looking into glimpses of their HEAs. Though like I said this is an instant love you can definitely feel the connection between the two. This book has passion, heat, and humor. A great combination!
If you enjoy short, sweet, a little dirty an instalove your in the right place. Welcome to Paradise, Tennessee home to some of the sexiest Alpha males you'll meet. Fire Chief Aiden James happens to be the first man to lay eyes and claim to the new librarian Carolina Mayfair. While she may be slower to jump on that train. Yes Aiden is sexy as hell, great in bed and a catch for any woman, the whole your mine claiming thing has her a bit off kilter. This is not what she's used to and certainly not in a matter of days, no matter how much she wants him. A cute and sexy novella that will make you want to believe in instalove!
"He'd known that woman would hold him - heart, mind, body and soul. There'd been no question at all. He was claiming sweet Caroline for his own."
And boy did he claim her! I love this series. Loved being back in Paradise with my favorite characters. Felt like coming back home. This is Aiden, Fire Chief of Paradise and Caroline the new librarian. It's an instant attraction between them two. Are they willing to risk it?
It's a quick and sexy read that had me from the get go. I enjoyed their banter and their chemistry was hot! Just gave me all the feels. I'm a big fan for this crazy duo and I can't wait for more!
Oh my goodness, someone pass me some ice water! I'm in need of a massive cool down because Aiden sure knows how to turn up the heat!
I've been dying to read something by the duo that is Sarah O'Rourke, so when the opportunity to read Claimed arose, I jumped at it. And boy was I not disappointed except for the fact that this was short read.
Aiden has never been one to settle down, but lately he's been feeling like he's missing something. But all that changed when he spotted Carolina on the side of the road. Now he'll do anything and everything to make her see that's she been claimed.
Carolina is looking for a fresh start after her lasted breakup. This move she hopes will be the start of something great, plus she gets to be around books all day. The last thing she expected was to be 'claimed' on her first day in town, and although she thinks he's sexy, so can't believe any thing he's saying. Or can she?
Claimed is a fun, sultry, fun read that will have you swooning for Aiden with his sexy smile. I loved how passionate he got for Carolina right from the start and never gave up on her even while she tried to push him away. He was always there and would always be there, and some of his actions to make sure she was safe and protected were quite hilarious.
I really enjoyed getting to know Aiden and Carolina and can't wait to go back and read the rest of this series. And I can't wait to see what Sarah O'Rourke will bring us in the future.
I Loved this novella. The author has written another wonderful storyline involving the small town of Paradise, Tenn. In Claimed we meet Carolina. She lives in California but jumped at the chance to make a fresh start of life when she was offered the Head Librarian job in Paradise. Leaving behind her current way of life and a douche of an ex-boyfriend.
Upon reaching the outskirts of Paradise, Carolina has a flat tire. She has just finished putting the spare on her car when she is startled by the town's gorgeous and sexy fire chief, Aiden. Aiden takes one look at Carolina and declares her his! But Carolina is having no part of that claim no matter how sexy Aiden is. Men are no longer going to run her life. This is a delightfully funny and sexy story of two stubborn people who are determined to have things their way. Even when fate and the best sex ever fight against you. I highly recommend curling up and enjoying the sparks fly as Aiden and Carolina’s story unfolds. 2 Thumbs Up for an awesome Must Read!
This was a short but sweet insta-love read. It was a crazy how Aidan claimed Caro as quickly as he did to everyone else before they had any kind of physical or emotional connection. But seeing as this is a love at first sight story it worked and was actually pretty amusing how caveman he was in front of everyone right away. He just knew she was the one. She didn't know what hit her. I don't think she had a chance of saying no to this sexy, charming, sweet but dirty talking fire chief. Unfortunately something ruins their night together and she doesn't speak to him for a few weeks. But something happened that night that will change them forever. Lucky for Aidan, despite how fast everything happened, she actually felt what he felt that night and she loves him as he loves her and everything will work out fine. This was my first Sarah O'Rourke book and I will definitely pick up the rest of the Paradise series as there are some pretty quirky but lovable characters there.
Carolina & Aiden ..this is truly an instalove novella. The moment that Aiden lays eyes on the beautiful sassy Carolina on the side of the road ...he knows immediately that he is done for! Carolina is the new Liberian in the small Tennessee town of Paradise. She gets more than she bargained for when the suave sexy fire chief stops to assist her. Aiden is intense and she soon realizes that this sleepy little town is much different than she is used too. Cara is an independent woman and she may nee a bit more convincing and wooing than they are used to before she is so called Claimed ! Let the courtship begin! Gifted a copy for an honest review. ~~Michele McMullen ~~
Hooray, it's one of my absolute favorite times of the week, month, year- well, what have you!! Why, you ask? Well, I get to return to one of my all-time favorite fictional towns- Paradise, Tennessee!!! If y'all have ever read any of my other reviews for Sarah's O'Rourke's other Paradise books, you know that I ADORE, repeat that- ADORE, them!! Like, some of my ALL-TIME, TOP favorite books--- EVER. So much so, that I reached out to them, and begged them to let me read and review them back when I first discovered them- that's how hard and fast and deep I fell for these characters, y'all. I am not even joking. Now, Aidan and Carolina aren't our normal Passion crew, but that doesn't mean that they are in any way less fabulous at all! Because I promise you- Aidan James is just about a carbon copy of Zeke!! And I freaking loved it!! Maybe it's the fact that they're such close buddies, but whatever the reason- it was like Zeke 2.0, but with his own amazing quirks and personality traits that I couldn't help but to fall in love with. And Carolina, well, that girl might as well have been born a McKinnon for all the fire and vinegar that she had running through her veins. She gave as good as she got, and it made me proud to see her hold her own with Aidan! Even if she was the town librarian, she was not a quiet little church mouse, by any means! Now, being back in Paradise means that we do get in a good shot of some of our favorite characters every now and then, which adds a good dose of hilarity that we've come to expect from the O'Rourke ladies, but this one is well and truly about Aidan and Carolina. Their love and story is front and center, and the ladies have done an amazing job of telling it. Such an amazing job, that I am already drooling for my next trip to Paradise, and hoping that the girls won't make me wait to long for my next fix!! ;) As always with Sarah O'Rourke's books, this one gets a blazing 5 stars!!
Claimed is a Novella about Carolina aka Caro moving to Paradise to become their librarian. She is looking for love and to find her soulmate like her friend found in Arizona. When she gets a flat tire, she meets her dream man on the side of the road. Aiden James is the fire chief of Paradise but one look at Carolina and he knows she is His. Aiden will claim her in front of the entire town but it will take weeks before Caro considers being Claimed. Of course they will be humor, alpha man tactics , sexy time between the sheets and maybe a little surprise along the way. This can be read as a stand alone. Happy Reading!!!
Short and Sweet. That is the perfect description of this book. Insta-love between the new small town librarian and the super HOTT fire chief. Told from the duel perspective, my favourite. Carolina’s insecurities keep holding her back, but there is just something about Aiden that she finds impossible to resist and Carolina finds herself throwing caution to the wind, just this once. A misunderstanding, a mega freak out and surprise along the way, you will love it!!
I voluntarily reviewed this book. I love Carolina and Aidan. They're hot,sweet and just yummy. Maiden is a man that knows what he wants and it's Carolina. Carolina plans everything down to minute detail. But she didn't count on Aiden. Will Aiden conviction certainly the beautiful Caro she's for him,forever. Read this hot novella. It doesn't disappoint. Loved it.
Becky's 4 Star Review The characters in the quirky little town are full of spunk and kept me turning pages to see what they'd say next. Not just Aiden and Carolina, but the whole dang town! Claimed was a quick read and it is instalove, but I just couldn't help but root for these two to get together. This lighthearted read is the perfect thing for curling up and whiling away a couple of hours.
Very enjoyable read with quirky, funny dialogue and two very different people who recognise on a very basic level that they are soulmates. However there’s a spanner thrown in the works with an old hook up and things fall apart. I really liked the whole she’s mine from our fire chief who is ver alpha and the response from his friends. Good humour and romance.