Ecstasy Claimed

Guardians of the Realms #2

by Setta Jay

As a powerful Guardian, Gregoire has spent centuries fighting for the safety and security of all the Realms. His existence was one long bloody battle until his mate was born. For over two decades since her birth, he’s watched over her, protecting his innocent mate from the dangers of his world. Ensuring she has time to grow before he claims her.

Alyssa has done everything her family has expected of her, until the day she learns she has a mate. A mate who kept their bond a secret. Having always been treated as weak and inferior by her own kind, she feels the full brunt of his rejection. Angry and hurt at being left in the dark, innocent and unclaimed, she decides it’s time to assert her independence.
​
Can Alyssa maintain her sense of self while surrendering to his savage passion? Or will Gregoire’s enemies intervene and destroy their chance at an eternal bond?

Warning: Dirty talking, possessive alpha male; scenes of sexual exhibition; an instance of f/f; spankings and more.

Genres: Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Erotica, Romance, Mythology, Erotic Romance

ebook

First published March 23, 2014

About the author

Setta Jay is the author of the popular Guardians of the Realms series. She's garnered attention and rave reviews in the paranormal romance world for creating stories that incorporate a strong plot with a heavy dose of heat.

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Reviews

[✰ Liz ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Fantastic STARS

"Mates~Each Immortal has a rare and destined mate, their powers meld and they become stronger pairs that are able to procreate, usually after a decade."

After reading Ecstasy Claimed, it appears that I have discovered another PRN Series that I am dying to swallow up. The characters are magically enhanced with super powers, they are passionate about their mates, they are loyal to their friends, and they have one goal and that is to protect themselves and the human realm from evil.



Alyssa is a sheltered Immortal who has been kept hidden and safely secured from the world by her doting parents. She has one best friend who keeps her grounded and entertained. When Alyssa discovers that she has a mate who has not claimed her, she is devastated.

"Was she an embarrassment to him? He had to have some basis not to come for her. He didn't want her. Screw that."-Alyssa

Instead of wallowing in a hole, she decides that she needs to venture out into the world in order to "sew her wild oats". She and her best friend Rain take off for a magical island where "anything" goes!



Meanwhile her mate Gregoire (remember him from the first book?) has finally decided it's time to collect his innocent mate and take her home with him. When he goes to collect her, he discovers where she is and immediately unearths the fury of hell to find her and take what is "his".

"What was his little mate doing at an island known for sexual excess? Gregoire could barely contain the roiling possessiveness inside. It was new and uncomfortable. No one touches her."-Gregoire

Although their initial meeting was met with passion and uncontrollable drive (which is the standard protocol when mates are together for the first time), these two have quite a journey ahead when it comes to their emotional connection. While Alyssa and Gregoire try to overcome hurt and miscommunication, the evils of the realms are battling to take over. The new threat causes Alyssa's best friend Rain to move in with the Guardians (cue the next story line). Although the overall focus of this read remains on Alyssa and Gregoire, we have the bonus romance addition of Sam and Erik. (Those two made my heart melt with every moment they spend together).



The plot line in this book is well executed through the colorful writing and carefully constructed characterization. The romance element between all of the different couples is intense and once again, I found myself blushing through several of the more erotic scenes. After the first book, I was unsure how I would feel about this element continuing throughout. Well, I can say with complete certainty that I feel great! Ms. Jay is excellent at articulating the reasoning of her character's choices through their actions. In fact, the reasons that these characters are so happy to explore, experiment, watch, and simply enjoy themselves is because it is a vital part of their culture and well being. Because I had become so immersed in the story, it felt natural and I felt everything but uncomfortable. Simply stated: THIS BOOK IS HOT!



As far as the action in this book, I found it to be even more intense and engaging than the first book in this series. Now that I have a better understanding of the characters and their origins, I was able to sit back and enjoy the read. Mild warning- at times it can be a bit overwhelming trying to sort out all of the details. My advice with this read is to just go with it. As soon as I let loose and just absorb the story things began to click into place.

Overall, Ecstasy Claimed was an amazing read. Setta Jay is a master with the dialogue, character development, plot twists, steam, and the tender romances that she has created. I am beyond thrilled that I have discovered her writing and I look forward to reading more. Now, on to the next one! Rain and Dorian are waiting!



***Guardians of the Realms Series***


~ARC graciously provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.~

For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** SO EXCITED!! Just received a signed copy of Ecstasy Claimed in the mail. Love Setta Jay for sending me this particular story. I really enjoyed Gregoire and Alyssa's story and I got excited when they popped up in subsequent stories. Gregoire is possessive and extremely territorial...just the way I like them :-) ♥




Paranormal Smut at it’s finest…

Reading Ecstasy Claimed was like coming home for me. When I started reading smut it was in the little bracket of time between reading the Twilight series and Fifty Shades of Grey. Twilight started me reading romance again and Fifty Shades introduced me to The Dark Side. That little bracket in between was where I tried to get a mix of the vampire devotion of Twilight with a bit more “action” in it. Let’s just say…I got an education…a really, really good education. I met my first Alpha Male in this time. They are a wonderful breed of man (sort of) that think they know what’s best, act before they think, say the first thing that pops into their heads and normally have an uncontrolled need to – (please use your David Attenborough voice here)

Once scenting their mate, they jump them, kiss them till their lips tingle, rub their enormous member against them and mark them by either biting, licking or sticking their enormous member into as many spots it will fit and filling it with his seed. The mate must then accept without question that they are there for his satisfactions and pleasures alone.

Now who’s not going to like a bit of that. So paranormal smut filled me with expectations of what the smut world could provide me. The problem with Contemporary Smut and Historical Smut…it’s just missing that animal factor. Who doesn’t want to see the uncontrollable lust unleashed whenever his female walks into a room? Reading it, you think it’s OK for the hero to growl, stake a claim and be bossy…in real life, not so much.

Ecstasy Claimed is the perfect example of Paranormal Smut. We have a big growling Enforcer Gregoire, who wants to claim his mate but held off until she was old enough to handle him and his desires. Unfortunately, Alyssa his mate, doesn’t get the memo and has lived a very sheltered life, where her parents kept her in the dark about having a mate already, while also keeping the men around her away. When Alyssa finds out the truth, she doesn’t handle it well and decides to take control of her life. First step…get rid of this pesky virginity. What follows, is Alyssa getting an education on pleasure…but luckily for the teachers, not a full education. If those teachers (2 males and 1 female, and the two seconds of F/F did not squick me out too much) had finished the lessons, I’m pretty sure Gregoire wouldn’t have left their heads attached to their bodies.

Ecstasy Claimed was full of action, adventure, goodies, baddies and screaming "O's". A LOT of screaming, growling and shouting "O's". There were some misunderstandings and decisions that Gregoire made that left me wanting to smack him, but once they started communicating and sharing their feelings, it was all good. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future.

I received a complimentary copy Ecstasy Claimed via Netgalley for an honest review.

To buy Ecstasy Claimed from Amazon - http://amzn.to/1VxQ669

I’m an Aussie chick who loves to read and review romance, drink coffee, be a Style Setter and stalk David Gandy. To see more of my reviews, fashion, food and pervathons -

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 possessive stars

I felt peace for the first time. From you. You, love.

Alyssa has had enough of letting her parents, her responsibilities and her insecurities get in her way. Deciding for once in her life to take matters into her own hands, she takes a much needed trip away with her best friend and give away the one thing she despises; her virginity. She is a mate of a Guardian, a man who decided she was too weak to claim and not worthy of her place by his side.... or at least that is what she made herself believe.

"Help me to not hate you for this.”

Gregoire has waited long enough, if it wasn't for the respect he had for his mate's father, it would not have taken him five years to claim what it his. Yes, he found her too young, but never did he think of her as weak or lacking. So when he hears of hew plan to give away what should be his alone, all hell breaks loose and he sets off to throw her over his shoulder and show her who she belongs too.

Those lips were his. That fucking tongue was his. If another male had slid inside her pussy, taken her innocence, he would find and kill him. Her pleasure belonged to him.

Finding a mate is rare, some go a lifetime without ever finding their one, so for Alyssa his rejection just added to her already present insecurities that eat at her each day. For once she was hoping that her mate would be the first to want her above all else; size and power be dammed. While he may have her body he can never have her heart; it wouldn't be able to handle if he finds her lacking without lust filled eyes. To deny her body the relief only he can provide will cause more harm, after all "this was nothing more than scratching a biological itch."

The duty of a Guardian is a never ending job, and as he is fixing the cluster fuck he has created by waiting so long to claim his mate, his brethren continue to battle the evil forces. His possessive display has them wondering as to who Gregoire's new distraction is and how they can use her to their advantage. But now that Gregoire finally pulled his head out of his ass he will stop at nothing to protect her.

Ecstasy Claimed has what a great erotic paranormal read should always have; lustful primal sex. What I love about this genre are there are no rules, no boundaries of what is considered right or wrong or over the top. Gregoire is a dirty talking possessive savage beast, and to see him struggle with how to make things right was just icing on the cake. Alyssa had her insecurities to work through, but with the help of Gregoire and seeing herself through his eyes she realizes that she may be small but she is fierce.

Although I didn't read the first book in the series, I was able to catch on and pick right up with the overall backdrop plot. Although this is the second book in the series it can be read as a standalone, with the multiple point of view it is easy to follow without getting lost in the details. It was a book that is a perfect length, not to short and not to long, enough for me to feel sated while looking forward for the other Guardian's stories. I'd recommend this for sure to all my erotic paranormal lover friends.

ARC kindly provided by the author, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

***Quotes above are taken from the ARC version of the book and may differ upon publication.

[Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Holy Mother of Dirty Talk stars

It was your beautiful green eyes I saw every fucking time in the last five years. You were a hunger that ate at my gut every fucking day. Now that I have you, it's even more intense. It's not enough to have you. My beast wants the world to know you're mine. It's making me obsessed with showing the world you're mine.

Do you like crazy hot PNR books. I'm talking CRAZY HOT. Several panty changes during the book hot. Leave you screaming
Hot?
Well, my friends, then you need to introduce yourselves to the deliciously kinky world of The Guadians of The Realms.

Setta Jay does a great job with retelling details from the past book without sounding redundant, so you can easily read this as a standalone. However, I would highly recommend reading the series in order since many characters are introduced early on and it helps you develop a better understanding of them.

In Ecstasy Claimed we get the story of Gregoire, Uri's manwhorish friend that we first meet in Ecstasy Unbound.

Only problem with his manwhoring ways? Turns out he's had a mate for 25 years that he was waiting to claim once she's reached her maturity. But hey, a manwhore has has needs :)

Alyssa has always been the good daughter and the good girl. But when she comes to terms with the fact that her destined mate doesn't seem to want her, she decides to really start living her life. First thing on the menu? Relieve herself of her pesky virginity.


I really enjoy Setta's unique world building in this series. She definitely writes some sadistic asshole villains, so be prepared for that.

As for the story, I enjoyed this one even more than the first book. I was happy to see Sam and Erik get their HEA. My heart broke for everything that Sam went through in the previous book, and I loved how gentle and caring Erik was with her.

To say that it was scorching hot would be an understatement. At times I even found myself asking if there was almost too much sex.

(pause for dramatic gasps)

Yes, this does happen to me some times believe it or not. But the story drew me in enough that I was able to overlook this.

My few minor quibbles keeping this from a 5 star?

There's a scene around the 20% mark that I'm not quite sure how I feel about. Warning, there's a MFFM scene here.
Alyssa goes from a good girl virgin, to getting one hell of a lesson in oral pleasure. Now given the context of the book, this wasn't THAT far out of the realm of belief. BUT, and this is a big but, I couldn't match the girl that was portrayed to this wanton one that was jumping into an experience like this. Not to say that scene wasn't hot as fuck, but it just didn't fit the story for me.

I was hoping for a little bit more characterization on Gregoire. There were bits and pieces given during their bonding scene, but I would have loved a little more. He was such a enigma to me in book 1 and I wanted to know more about his past.

All that aside, I really enjoyed the second installment and I've definitely become a fan of this series. I love how even though you have the "mate" element, there is no insta-love present. I also really like Setta's writing and world building. I seem to get more and more sold on this series with each new book and I cannot wait until book 3 and the big bad Dorian to get his story. I've been curious about him from the beginning and from the sounds of it his mate will be giving him a run for his money.



************
Me before starting
Gregoire, I already know all about your


But now I hear you're a dirty talker too. So why don't you just


And let's do this thing!


***ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review***

[Penelope ✘ that awkward girl that doesn't go here ✘ · Rating 4 out of 5]

FOUR AND A HALF STARS!



Here's a question that all future readers should ask themselves before starting this book:

Q: Is my body ready for this?
Correct answer:


Penny's answer:


So you think I would have been smart enough to prepare myself after reading the first installment. Clearly, I am not smart enough for this. And I completely underestimated Setta Jay's sex writing powahs. Ooh, that lady is sliiick. Not to mention, I'm hella convinced that she wrote this book for me since it had all the ingredients of win for me.

✔Possessive Alpha that gets owned by his goody two shoes mate
✔Good girl gone wild
✔Two mcs that talk things out (well, when their bodies aren't doing the talking *wink wink*)
✔Feelings of rejection or inadequacy (my runner up fav to unrequited love and loneliness)
✔Beast Alpha and Petite Belle
✔Dirty talk and kinks
✔Female mc who doesn't let herself become a doormat to her domineering mate

Win win bloody win yo. This book had me all

So, why not five stars?
There was just one tiny scene that I wasn't a fan of. I mean, it shouldn't have been a big deal considering how much of a man whore Gregoire is and that it was pretty much Alyssa getting her own, but my silly self wasn't really into it. Just a personal preference, though it was funny to see Gregoire get all jealous about it.

Overall, awesome read. Definitely recommend this series! Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to try and awaken my ovaries from its self-induced coma.

[Natalie ~ The Biblioholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Find the full review HERE

After witnessing his brother, Uri, find his mate, Gregoire is tired of waiting for his own. See, he already had a mate. He's known of her since she was born twenty-five years ago. But after hearing her father's concerns and seeing how very young she seemed, he gave her time to really come into womanhood. Unfortunately for him, she accidentally found out about their mating and that he hasn't come for her, despite the fact that she's five years past her time for claiming. After a life of feeling inferior and unwanted by the opposite sex, Alyssa decides to take her own life in her hands. If her mate doesn't want her, she'll find someone who does. She's ready to take a stand for her independence... on a sex island!

After her first lesson (which was incredibly sensual and showcased one hot menage scene) and amidst Cyril's various attempts to cause destruction and mayhem, Gregoire comes to collect his mate. Aside from having to battle Alyssa's insecurities and what she perceived as his rejection (a bit too much time was spent on this part - girl was petty ), their coupling was pure magic. People are disappearing to be experimented on, new matches are sure to be made, and all I could think about was Sam and Erik. These two were so beautiful together and I can't get enough of them. I hope to see more of them in the books to come.

I'm still very much in love with this series and this book has only cemented my decision to continue with it!

[Setta Jay]

Amazon Worldwide: my link text

[edge of bubble · Rating 1 out of 5]

Spoiler alert. This review is a big pile of spoilers!

I have so many problems with the main couple here, I don't know where to start. Our main humping-joe ,Gregoire, is the forerunner of abusive jerks. He has known that Alyssa ,main kiddo, is his mate since she was a baby. He waits till she grows up and then gives her an extra 5 years after her coming of age. Do they tell her that her mate is known but he wishes her to experience life before the mating? Of course they don't. Instead they make her go to the gatherings to find mates every year and make sure that she lives a secluded life and stay pure.

Meanwhile humping-joe is having fuckfests. Even a menage a trois with his closest brother and his mate in their mating ceremony which is known by everyone to the maids, knowing that he'll claim the kiddo soon and she'll have to see the woman he's been with while she was waiting for him. What a big happy family!

So kiddo learns that she has a mate by eavesdropping and naturally decides this means she is weak, unwanted. Logical reaction to feeling rejected being going to an island of sexcapades and getting rid of her virginity by having sex courses which is basically an orgie. Yeah that makes sense to me too. Because fuck self-respect, I'll have to punish my mate by getting the feeling of rejection pounded out of myself first!



HJ finds about this mastermind plan and goes ballistic naturally. Because she is HIS while he is free to spread the love around. He is all about marking his territory.


He is so possessive, he doesn't want kiddo to pet a dog! A dog?!


They go at it like rabbits, Kiddo throws tantrums, HJ acts like douche. Then Kiddo learns about him being the third wheel in the mating ceremony fuckery last week and gets hurt. His explanation is "we are immortals, we have needs so these stuff is normal and it was an honour to be invited, couldn't say no". Does that sound familiar? "I am a man, I have needs. They meant nothing to me, you are the one I want." His "explanation" doesn't soothe the hurt so he decides to do his begging with his actions. Aaand he let's Kiddo call the shots for a minute in bed in front of his brothers. Kiddo, of course gets teary eyed by this huge concession of regret and forgives him.



I'm so disappointed with this book. But first one was quite good so I'll try the next in the series. If I get another justification for being a cheating asshole, I'm done with this author for good.

[★Tinja★✮ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aw man, I'm a bit disappointed with this one. I fell in love with Gregoire in the first book, I thought he would be really cool and fun and all but then he got all overly possessive with his chick. He didn't like her even hugging her friend. It got annoying and old real fast. * Sigh*But I have high hopes for the second one, I love Rain.

[J. Kahele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alyssa is tired of living under the hard hand of her parents and their overprotective ways. Also, being a mate to a man who hasn’t claimed her as really killed her self-esteem. She needs to reenergize, to take her life into her own hands, so she plans a trip with her friend Rain, to a place where she plans to lose her virginity.
Gregoire has waited many years to claim is mate. It’s not because he hasn’t craved her or wanted to take her, it’s because of his respect for his old friend, her father. But when his father calls for him, because Alyssa is missing, he comes to the rescue. He’s pissed off to learn that she has taken a vacation with her friend, to an island known for sexual romps and he realizes that the time has come for him to claim her.
Erik is having a difficult time dealing with the rape of his mate Sam. Sam is told by Sirena that in order for Erik to get over the hurt and pain, they have to mate. But Erik is afraid that he will be too much for his mortal mate, they he may lose control, so he chooses to leave Sam, to go to a place where he can wallow in his depression alone. But Sam won’t let him go, she knows what he needs and she intends on giving it to him.
I loved this story. Gregoire is a sexy man beast and I like how dominant, yet compassionate he is with Alyssa. I felt so bad for Erik and I couldn’t imagine, how difficult it was for him to know that the woman he cares for was taken against his will. Now I’m off to part three!!!!

[Tanja ~ KT Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gregoire and Alyssa. He is a dirty talking Guardian who has been lucky enough to find his mate early on. He has kept her sheltered and safe, hidden away until she becomes of age. She has just discovered that she has a mate - only he has been busy guarding the Realms and doing whoever he pleases as she has been kept in the dark. An impulsive visit to the island of pleasure should help her get what she wants. Oh, it most definitely will guys! Funny and sexy with a side of comeuppance! Loved it!

Click here for Series Review books 1-5


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[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

After really enjoying Hidden Ecstasy and Ecstasy Unbound I was excited to read Gregoire's story and had high hopes for this book. Unfortunately I didn't love it as much as I expected to, this series is all about the sexy alpha heroes which is normally a huge bonus for me but there is a BIG difference between a sexy alpha guy and an alpha asshat and I'm afraid Gregoire swung too far into the second territory for me to ever fall for him. He has known Alyssa is his mate since he first saw her as a baby (he's friends with her father) which is I have to admit is not something that I'm a particular fan of but I can deal with it because he waits until she is 25 years old before making a move on her because he wants to allow her to mature as a woman without his influence in her life. I still felt the age gap between them was just too huge though, we see huge gaps in paranormal romance all the time but Alyssa is just very young, naive and innocent compared to Gregoire and I found it difficult to believe that they would ever be on the same page emotionally.

I was never completely sold on them as a couple and there were moments I really wanted to slap Gregoire. What is it with guys who are happy to sleep around with thousands of women while they wait for their mate to come along but if she has even looked at another guy before they met they'll threaten to murder him? Seriously, that's just asshat behaviour and it's NOT sexy. It's also not sexy when a guy starts badmouthing the women he's slept with in the past, so it's okay for him to sleep around but the women he went to bed with were just trashy? Look in the mirror Gregoire, look in the mirror. I think you'll find there is only one asshat in that equation and let me give you a hint, it isn't a woman!! Want to know something else that isn't sexy? When a guy is so ridiculously possessive that he gets jealous when his girl talks to other women or even pets the dog (or in this case Hellhound!). FFS what is wrong with him? Yes, I get it's the whole "mating bond" turning him crazy but I don't care - I DON'T LIKE IT.

As much as I didn't love the main couple I could have dealt with their "romance" a little better if it hadn't been for the side story going on between Sam and Eric. Both of those characters were introduced in the previous book so I don't consider it a spoiler to mention the way we watched Sam get raped and tortured by multiple guys before the others were able to rescue her. Now I have to admit I mentioned in my review of Ecstasy Unbound that I was incredibly nervous about how their relationship would be handled, especially since Eric's mating bond had been triggered when he met her but Sam is trying to deal with the aftermath of such a horrific experience. I was hoping that Setta Jay would be able to handle things with sensitivity but no, this book actually had some of the most rage inducing scenes I've EVER had the displeasure of reading.

This time it isn't the hero that annoyed me, in fact Eric was incredibly caring and protective towards Sam and he went to great lengths to ensure he didn't frighten her or cause her any more trauma. What made me want to throw my kindle across the room was the way his family and the other guardians spoke to her. Sam was freed less than a week ago and after everything she has been through she would still be recovering physically let alone mentally, those kinds of memories aren't going to be cured overnight for sure. Yet people are constantly putting pressure on her to complete the bond with Eric because the "mating frenzy" is causing him pain and distress. Let's just get facts straight, whatever Eric is going through is NOTHING compared to what Sam has already suffered and he has no interest in completing the bond with her while she's still emotionally fragile. So much so that they have to sneak up on him and chain him to the bed to get him to go through with it! But poor Sam has people nagging at her constantly until she gives in and agrees to sleep with him, then we're inside her head listening to how dirty she feels and watching her cry while she does it and I'm supposed to find that sexy? Honestly those scenes made me want to vomit and I've never suffered a sexual trauma but I dread to think what this would be like for anyone who has been through anything similar to Sam.

I could rant on for hours about how much I hated that scene and the fact the way Sam and Eric's relationship was handled, especially since they're both such nice characters. Their relationship had so much potential to be a wonderful thing and I feel cheated that the author rushed their storyline and tried to brush all of Sam's trauma under the carpet. If their relationship had developed slowly over several books (or even a full book of their own) I could honestly have totally fallen in love with this couple but all that happened is I ended up hating most of the other characters for the way they treated the pair of them. The way this was handled, coupled with Gregoire's asshat behaviour, has just ruined the series for me and I'm not sure I'll ever want to continue reading it. I normally reserve my 1 star ratings for books that are so bad I couldn't even finish reading them but this one made me rage so much that I can't even bring myself to even give it 2 stars. It's such an incredible disappointment for a series that has so much potential to be destroyed so utterly by such careless handling of a rape victim.

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Tara♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

IT'S A GODDAMN MATING FRENZY UP IN HERE!!!



So much sex. So, so much!!



But you know what else is going on here? Actual plot! And I'm kind of engaged in the story and enjoying it. I'm not really sure when that happened or how to be honest but I'm happy to keep reading. Not sure if I'll be able for all 10 in a row as I think that might be too much smexy time even for me, but we shall see.

I'm not sure Gregoire's brand of sexy talk was for me but he had some interesting voyeurism kinks that were interesting...



And Alyssa had a little meltdown that was kind of annoying but I did like her overall and she didn't hold a grudge for too long. It was a bit ridiculous though.

What I absolutely loved were Sam and Erik's story conclusion. They are super adorable.

So onward to Rain who I already love because she is not going to be a doormat for no man, I can just tell!!

[Lindy at BookBlinders]

I'm reading the arc of this right now and HOLY HELL is it HOT!!!!!!
Seriously freaking hot!
I really liked the first book but it doesn't even come close to the level of this one...
Gregoire is one dirty talking, possessive, alpha of a man.
Whew!

[Cristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars
I didn't care much for the heroine. The hero isn't any better. He knows she's his mate but he'd rather make her wait so he can sleep around some more.
Not my cup of tea.

[Aisling Zena · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Mindy Lou's Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a unique read. I love the whole guardians aspect and the way they mate with one person. The powers they have and share with their mates. This book was very much erotica and done in such a way that will make you blush, but even if you took that out of the book, the storyline was so good and interesting that it could easily stand on it's own.

I was able to listen to the audiobook and this is the first time I have heard an audiobook done where the male and female narrators did all the male and female parts no matter who's POV it was. I loved that because then you don't have a woman trying to sound like a man and vice versa.

This was a fantastic listen and I look forward to the rest of the series!

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this super sexy, hot ride. Sometimes it's hard to keep all the characters and species straight, but I'll confess, this was mostly about the sexy times for me. I did like Gregoire and Alyssa a lot. Also, Sam and Erik have a lot of page time and I like them a lot too. I'm happy they're mated. I hope Cyril is really dead. He's extremely annoying and over the top evil. I wanted to just skip all the parts he was in. On to the next hot ride, Denying Ecstasy. Happy reading!

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the wonderful ride I was given with book one, Ecstasy Unbound, I was looking forward to Ecstasy Claimed and finding out what Gregoire had in store for me, and he did not disappoint.

Unbeknownst to his fellow guardians, Gregoire found his mate when she was a tiny little infant. Because she was the daughter of a good friend who was concerned about Gregoire’s dominant tendencies and personality, he allowed himself to be talked into waiting to claim Alyssa even after she reached maturity. This was a mistake.

I felt for Gregoire. Finding your mate is rare and should be a beautiful moment but for him, it was almost like a punishment. His kind must have sex to survive and 25 years of sex with women who weren’t his mate was pure torture.

When Alyssa finds out her true mate knew who and where she was and hasn’t shown to claim her for over five years, she’s deservedly pissed. A decision is made to take certain matters into her own hands (and no, it was not hunting down her dumbass mate). Her reaction was a bit knee-jerk and a more than a little immature, but I understood. Even with her completely righteous anger, when the shit hit the fan she didn’t blink at doing what was needed and her strength and loyalty were what shone through.

Alyssa had some growing up to do while Gregoire had some making up to do, and I gotta tell you, I enjoyed my ringside seats to some of their bouts. Being true mates the sexual vibes are thick and the mating frenzy means it’s pretty much hubba hubba time all the time. To spice things up, these two don’t mind an audience, just as long as no one touches.

No worries that the sexual shenanigans are the only action happening on the pages, there’s a war going on and Cyril has upped the ante. The danger for Mageia women is increasing as even more are kidnapped. He has also stepped up his attacks by going after the towns and anything he thinks will hurt the Guardians, including trying to nab Alyssa. It doesn’t happen often, but I was completely surprised by the outcome of the last battle and now am wondering what’s going to happen from here.

Sam and Erik’s story continued in this book almost like a romance within a romance. I wish these two had gotten their own book as I think their strength and willingness to sacrifice for each other is deserving of their own story. I’m also growing quite fond of the rest of the Guardians and am looking forward to seeing what comes next.

4.5 Size Matters Not Stars

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Beebs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 2 in the Guardians of the Realms series and I dived straight in after finishing book 1. In this book we get the story of Gregoire and his fated mate Alyssa. Gregoire has known for years that Alyssa was to be his but nobody had told her, when she finds out she is angry that she didn't know and assumes that Gregoire didn't want her since he hasn't claimed her. So she takes herself off to a paradise island to enjoy the things she has been missing in her sheltered life. Gregoire doesn't like that naturally and hies off to get her back before another man can claim what is his, gotta love these alpha males :) :) I liked the way their story played out and I love that this author does not make her heroines doormats, Gregoire had good reasons for waiting to claim Alyssa but she still made him grovel a bit. Meanwhile, Erik and Sam work through everything that happened to her and get their HEA too.

This book also sees the culmination of events that took place in the first book, Cyril is gone and the women he kidnapped and experimented on have been saved. I am dying to know what the after effects of this are going to be. Needless to say, I am hooked and I can't wait to see what happens next, off to read book 3 immediately.


*Received this book free from Netgalley

[Liz F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley.

Ecstasy Claimed is Book 2 in Setta Jay's Guardians of the Realm series. I recently finished Book 1 and this one was just as good! Actually, Ecstasy Claimed may have been better since there was no big information dump and because I was already familiar with some of the players.

I liked Alyssa. She's a standard, regular Immortal. She can shift into a war horse, which was cool, but since she's so small in stature, her horse is more of a war pony... poor Alyssa! Although her trouble with her animal was not a lot of fun Alyssa, I thought it was a little funny. On the other hand, I could totally understand her feelings and reactions to events during her mating with the hero. She'd been looked at like she was weak or fragile her whole life and she hated it. She was treated that way NOT because she was actually weak or fragile but more because her parents, especially her father, were super overprotective. I was glad that she was mad at her father and that she let him know, but also that she loved him and knew that he thought he was doing what was best for her. It really showed Alyssa's maturity but even more, it showed her kind and giving nature.

Gregoire was a beast, literally! Since he's pretty humongous in his dude-form, he's even bigger in his war horse form and I really loved it, even if I didn't see him as a horse very much. The animal forms are more of an after thought, really. It was a teensy bit disappointing but it in no way affected my enjoyment of the story. The thing I loved the most about Gregoire was that he had put so much thought into Alyssa's comfort and happiness...before he even knew her. I don't want to go into details because I liked being surprised right along with Alyssa. But he's this big, huge warrior dude who has, in a way, made decisions for Alyssa for 25 years who also thought to build his home with his mate's needs in mind. Is there anything more swoon-worthy than that?!

The Sexy Time was hot, plentiful, and intense! Since Gregoire seemed to be more into a BDSM lifestyle than anyone else so far, I worried that he might be too much for innocent Alyssa. But there was no need for concern - Gregoire was kind and gentle and there was very little BDSM. Although Gregoire did seem to be a bit insatiable but I'd chalk that up in the win column, right ladies?? LOL! Anyway, I liked that Alyssa was able to be honest and forthcoming with Gregoire about what was going on in her mind and I loved that she didn't shy away from her feelings.

This was another great book in the Guardians of the Realm series. I wish I could say that it would be fine as a stand-alone novel but I feel like there's just too much going on to start the series here. There are several stories happening in this book, not just Alyssa and Gregoire's romance. I think that reading these in order would be best but I'm sure that anything is possible. Ecstasy Claimed has laughs and plenty of action! I'm definitely loving this series and can't wait to start the next one!

[Marta Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This the second book in The Guardians of the Realms series is most certainly not for those seeking a sweet romance because this is without doubt what my mother would describe as a dirty book! Numerous erotic scenes that are mind blowing and I'm guessing pretty unobtainable for mere mortals such as I. Yes this author sure does turn up the heat but is there an interesting story here? Happily yes as what began in Ecstasy Unbound is expanded here and as I now know the players and the worlds the author has created I could settle in and enjoy ( whilst sitting next to a cooling fan!) this fantastic ride.
When the Gods roamed the Earth they were cruel and abused mankind. Humanity bled, suffered and died just to entertain them but the Creators took action and banished the Gods leaving Immortal Guardians behind to safeguard the Realms and protect mankind.
Gregoire is a fierce dominating Guardian with a secret. He has known for twenty five years that his Mate has been born and lives in the Teteros Realm but as her father is his friend has never claimed her. Alyssa over hears a conversation and realises that Gregoire not only knows about her but has never bothered to claim her and hurt sets off with her friend to enjoy one last hurrah! No longer will she be shy and downtrodden , no Alyssa is determined to finally embrace all that life offers.
Gregoire has patiently waited for Alyssa to grow up and never wanted to cause her pain but recent events force him to admit to himself that he can wait no longer but when he discovers where she has gone and just what sort of place it is there is nothing and no one who will stop him taking what belongs only to him! Oh yes stand by for fireworks and maybe with a fire extinguisher because two forces are about to collide!
So yes I mention the beginning of the romance that leads this book but I'm hesitant to say too much about the actual plot as it's all interwoven magnificently. Yes the Gods are imprisoned but that does not mean that peace reigns because there are some pretty nasty characters at work throughout this story and their goal is anything but peace and harmony. This series seems to be chock full of alpha type males but I'm enjoying the females who give as good as they get. As the plot unfolds there are other relationships being both forged and also unfortunately tested in this rich fantastical world the author has created. I won't lie this is a very erotic book that might be too much for some but there is so much happening around that it's proving to be highly entertaining and gripping. Was there anything I didn't like? Well frankly I think too many scenes of passion might put some readers off but for this reader it's Gregoires sexual history that left a bad taste. Yes I know he's a highly sexual guy, as are all the Guardians but he had found his Mate and something he did with his friend Urian felt very wrong to me but hey readers can judge for themselves.
Highly creative, erotic, full of larger than life characters who are stubborn with a capital S ! Oh and don't forget trouble with the in laws! So much going on my head is reeling .
Four and a half from me
I was gifted a copy of this in exchange for an honest review

[Marianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read more reviews at A Lust for Reading. I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Gregoire has known about his mate for 25 years. Yet even though he could have claimed her five years ago, he waited, knowing she was still too young to handle him. That hasn't stopped him from wanting her though. Desperately. But he has had to settle for watching her from a far; needing to keep his distance to avoid setting off their mating frenzy.

Alyssa has just learned that her parents have been keeping a huge secret from her; she has a mate. And not just any mate, a damn Guardian. Now she is pissed. Pissed at them for not telling her and pissed at Gregoire for not claiming her. That rejection stings more than she cares to admit and only adds to her many insecurities. She is small for er race and everyone makes sure she knows it. Well, she is done living her life by everyone else's will.

After watching his closest Guardian brother Uri in his mating ceremony to Alex, Gregoire knows the time has come to claim Alyssa. But Alyssa has many insecurities to overcome and only a few days to process she has a mate... will she be able to find happiness with him? They definitely have some obstacles to overcome while also dealing with the turmoil within the Realms.

I cannot emphasize enough how much I am loving this series. I love being taken away into this fantasy world and losing myself in the Realms and characters and chaos. Setta Jay has a wonderful way of not only writing delicious alpha males but also strong yet vulnerable leafing ladies that you can't help but love. Alyssa has self confidence and self image issues just like the rest of us women. Despite that however, she is also strong in many other areas, she just doesn't realize it. Her Immortal abilities with wind and air are impressive and she definitely know how to speak her mind. Once again I connected with Setta's heroine because she made her personality so real.

There there is Gregoire, another dirty talking alpha. You can never have enough of those now can you? (The correct answer is no. No you can't.) Yes he is dominant but there is also tender sweetness inside of him. His actions show the utmost consideration for Alyssa's feelings and well being. Now I'm not going to lie, I absolutely loved these two together in bed as well. His need to claim her in every sense of the word was mind blowing.

In addition to the erotic love story (and trust me, it is hot) there is also so much going on around them. There is the continuing story of Erik and Sam plus the unrest in the Teteros Realm: evil Immortals, young Mageias women gone missing and hell beasts attacking everywhere. There is plenty to keep you on your toes. This book was non-stop action and passion and I loved it.

[Lindy at BookBlinders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, first up... Probably more of a 4 1/2*

We met dominating, alpha Gregoire in the first book and ever since I have been dying to get my eyes on him. He certainly wasn't a let down. We are talking some pure, Grade A, bonfire of the panties, Alpha-ness.
We find out that the insatiable, king of dirty talking has actually had a 'mate' that he's known about for the last 25 years and left unclaimed while he made his way through an all you can eat buffet of bimbos.
What?! you say?... how can this be? This is a romance novel... isn't that cheating?
The only thing I can say is that Setta Jay manages to acknowledge and make her way through this and give decent reasonings behind his actions. And they work.

Enter the mate... Alyssa. A young woman who has been held back by her overprotective parents for far too long. They have kept secret the fact that she has a mate and when she finds out all hell breaks loose. Immediate rebellion occurs, a Vegas like trip where she can be free and experience everything that has been denied her. A giant nose thumbing and "F You" to her parents and her 'mate' and nothing is going to hold her back from living the life...

Nothing except the arrival of said mate, dealing with overwhelming mating frenzy, some seriously psycho bad guys, kidnappings, and battles to ensure the protection of all the Realms.

This book manages to blend a ton of action between the sheets with just as much action outside them.
The sex was scorching hot... and I mean scorching. I had serious concerns about my ereader melting.
I really appreciated that Alyssa didn't just roll over and become a 'yes bot' to Gregoire. She had to deal with some serious lust during mating but she managed to retain her own sense of self and hold her own against him; in bed and out. No small feat considering what a dominant piece of man candy he is.

I was left feeling a little bit like I wish the book were longer. But I think that is just because I wanted to spend more time with G and Alyssa... not in any way because there was a lack of story.
I also wish that a certain scene with the Psycho Bad Guy at the end of the book was longer but I also ended up enjoying how that played out and was explained.

We also get to revisit characters from the first book and a welcome resolution to an ongoing storyline there with another couple.

The world building is fresh. The characters are well done. The plot is intriguing and at the end of each book I've been left with a distinct anticipation for where the next could possibly take me.

[Traceys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you looking for a book that sucks you in, makes you hot and pulls at your heart, look no further pick up setta jays new series.

This is book 2 and I would recommend reading and even the prequel . It just means when starting Gregoire's story you know the backstory and have already got to know the guardians.

Gregoire has known he has a mate for 25 years, but he has had to wait for the right time to claim her. Alyssa has felt rejected by the men in her community, so decides to go on holiday to a sex island! Gregoire is a very dominant man and just because he hasn't claimed her doesn't mean he hasnt watched her, so when he finds out his pushed to take action and their story really takes flight.

This is Gregoire's book but we get to follow Sam and Eric too! along with a good dose of Uri and Alex.

Sex, yes this is erotic PNR and there is lots of hot, passionate, panty-drenching sex. I felt the sex scenes were very hot and slotted in the story appropriately. The story is not sacrificed for sex, the storyline is very strong and flows easily..

Check out this teaser pic https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...

When reading this series I'm sure you will get a great deal of pleasure and just like wards BDB you will be left waiting for the next brother/guardians book.

A strong 5 star read

* I received a complimentary copy for an honest review *

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Igniting the pages with erotic romance, Ecstasty Claimed is a vividly descriptive jaunt into the supernatural world of the “Guardians of the Realm”.

Greogoire has guarded the human realm from evil for centuries knowing his mate existed. When he receives a call from his mates family, he rushes only to discover that his mate has run away.

Alyssa has always held the fairy tale dream of having a true mate. When she discovers that her family has misled her and her mate hasn’t claimed her, Alyssa feels betrayed and rejected. Instead of taking the blow to her ego, Alyssa decides to find the best happiness she can and runs to a hedonistic paradise to discover the pleasures of life.

The evil battle between the gods threatens Greogorie’s chances to claim his long waited for mate in this extremely sensual charged storytelling.

Ecstasy Claimed contains a great balance of story to steam. The core is erotic in nature but Setta Jay has paired this tale with an action intense plot that pulls the reader into this battle of good and evil.

Holy hotness guardian, this series covers are as flammable as the storyline.

I received this copy of Ecstasy Claimed from Setta Jay, LLC in exchange for a honest review.

[Jeanny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This eARC was kindly provided by the publisher via Netgalley. All comments, reviews, & ratings are my own.

This book was the better of the two I've read. i've been reading them in order but they seem to be OK as stand alones thus far.
I really like the love story between the guardian & his mate. I'm very interested & look forward to Dorian & Rain's story. This was a strong 3 stars rating & I look forward to reading the rest of this series.
Pet-Peeve It seems this author could use some editing. I am tired of reading come when they mean cum. Hopefully this was corrected in the published versions.

[⚜️Charlotte⚜️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars! ;)
(*.*) That was one HOT
Read!

[Steph (Teacups & Tropes) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly didn't think I was going to like Gregoire as much because I fell in love with Uri but I was so wrong. The minute the book started I was hooked and I realized that his surly attitude in Ecstasy Unbound was because he already knew about his mate and wasn't claiming her yet.

Jay's world building is almost as good as her sex scenes. I'm so intrigued by the realms and what happens in the different cities, so it was great getting to go to several different areas in Tetartos. Not to mention, each of the Guardians has different powers, so getting to know their abilities is one of the most interesting parts of this whole series for me.

Back to the characters: Alyssa was amazing! She was a strong female and I love how the ladies in this series don't take crap from anyone; man or woman! Despite being smaller, she has some crazy powers and she definitely wasn't afraid to use them. And her friendship with Rain reminded me of some of my own friendships. I was all over this book. I can't wait to sit down and get through the third one!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hot sizzlin paranormal read! Absolutely loved! A must read;) Setta Jay is a amazing author!! ♡♡♡ loved book 2 in this amazing series! !!