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Gatekeepers of the Gods #3
Claimed
As Garronia’s chief diplomatic ambassador, there’s no challenge I won’t accept from the crown. No task too dirty, no op too dangerous.
Then they ask me to team up with a daredevil American too brash for her own good, serving as my cover in in a daring reconnaissance mission to find the long-lost royal prince. A mission so foolhardy…it might just work.
If the American doesn’t get herself killed, first.
Then they ask me to team up with a daredevil American too brash for her own good, serving as my cover in in a daring reconnaissance mission to find the long-lost royal prince. A mission so foolhardy…it might just work.
If the American doesn’t get herself killed, first.
299 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 21, 2016
140 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Chance
32 books484 followersJennifer Chance is the award-winning author of contemporary magical romance and romantic fantasy. Her series include the Boston Magic Academies (written as DD Chance), the Gatekeepers of the Gods series (an update of her Gowns & Crowns series) and the contemporary (non-magical) RuleBreakers Series. A lover of books, romance, and happily-ever-afters, she lives and writes in Ohio. You can find her online at www.JenniferChance.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authorJenniferChance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
June 9, 2024
I love how this one isn't about hiding the girl in the guy falling in love. No it's straight up starts off with already kissing because they have done it already. It has more action and more mission then the other two. I like it more because this one goes more in depth about Prince Ari And what happened to him while Nicki and Stefan are looking for clues. I think their story is actually really cute because they already like each other. It doesn't take long for all the action to happen. So I like that but I like how it's more in depth on trying to find the prince which I think is leading more into book four. There twist and action in this book! I would say give this series a read!!! I really loved this book!
June 25, 2017
Good
A nice read from Jennifer Chance.
Another whirlwind romance between a visiting American and a member of the royal family.
Some adventure, danger, passion and love.
A nice read from Jennifer Chance.
Another whirlwind romance between a visiting American and a member of the royal family.
Some adventure, danger, passion and love.
April 20, 2020
This is book 3 in the series and while technically you could start here you should really, really, really read the previous books first because they are epic!!
This is based on Stefan and Nicki and they are amazing together! The adventure, the banter, the fun...the reader is on the edge of their seat while waiting to see what is going to happen next! The author has the reader laughing out loud (even when in public).
We are on the hunt for Prince Ari - and they are both determined to find out anything that they can about him while in Turkey. Stefan doesn't want to love anyone - he is happy with who he is and where he is....but enter some American visitors and sparks fly...Nicki isn't looking for love - she has no idea if she will even live her entire life due to a medical condition, but they can't help the chemistry....will they have an HEA? Will it work for them? Read this one to find out!!
A must read series and a must read now series! My newest favorite series...
This is based on Stefan and Nicki and they are amazing together! The adventure, the banter, the fun...the reader is on the edge of their seat while waiting to see what is going to happen next! The author has the reader laughing out loud (even when in public).
We are on the hunt for Prince Ari - and they are both determined to find out anything that they can about him while in Turkey. Stefan doesn't want to love anyone - he is happy with who he is and where he is....but enter some American visitors and sparks fly...Nicki isn't looking for love - she has no idea if she will even live her entire life due to a medical condition, but they can't help the chemistry....will they have an HEA? Will it work for them? Read this one to find out!!
A must read series and a must read now series! My newest favorite series...
September 19, 2018
Plot: 4/5
Characterisation: 4.5/5
Prose: 3/5
How much I enjoyed it: 4/5
Characterisation: 4.5/5
Prose: 3/5
How much I enjoyed it: 4/5
October 11, 2016
More reviews available on my blog, Beauty and the Bookworm.
Claimed follows up on Captured, and is the third book in Jennifer Chance's Crowns & Gowns series. The main character int his one is Nicki Clark, the windsurfing, rock climbing, trouble making member of the quartet. And then there's her love interest, Stefan, who is repeatedly called an ambassador but evidently isn't, and is instead some random bureaucrat related to the royal family. He certainly never serves as an ambassador, and there's no mention of him doing so in the past or future, that's for sure. Stefan and Nicki are already attracted to each other at the beginning of the book, having been playing with each other for the few weeks that Nicki and her friends have been in Garronia already, but things get amped up when Nicki volunteers to serve as a cover story so Stefan and some other officials can go to Turkey, which is on bad terms with Garronia, and look for the Crown Prince, Ari, who disappeared in a plane crash a year ago. The area where they think Ari is happens to be hosting a windsurfing competition that Nicki covered before, so her presence there as a travel writer supposedly makes sense. I don't totally buy this thinking; involving not only a civilian, but a foreign civilian, and the best friend of the girl who's slated to marry the heir to the throne, doesn't really seem like a sound strategy, even if she does have a (tenuous) connection to the area you're going to.
This book is, again, much plot-heavier than the first in the series. It's also not as well-edited as its predecessors. There's the issue of Stefan being called an ambassador when he's not; that Nicki thinks Lauren has told Em and Fran about Nicki's heart condition, when it was stated in the second book that Em already knew because she and Nicki had been college roommates; that Henry Smithson was Lauren's ex, when they were never actually together... You get the idea. Chance started contradicting numerous things that she had already established, and it started grating on me. They were all small things, but they all added up and basically told me that she wasn't keeping track of what she was actually writing down. And then there are numerous editorial errors, too--typos, missing punctuation marks (particularly quotation marks), and mis-used words. It's rather disappointing, because the first two books were well-edited and I don't see why that should have suddenly changed here.
The plot is fun, with Nicki trying to be all "secret agent" while basically having a fling with Stefan, but again, I couldn't really take it too seriously and it made the whole thing a little hard to refrain from rolling my eyes at. There were a few things that seemed like they would develop into something, but didn't--when Nicki's windsurfing board malfunctions, for example, I was all primed to find out it was an act of sabotage from someone who'd guessed what she and Stefan were up to, but it never amounted to anything and just faded into the background. And the ease with which Nicki and Stefan ultimately accomplished their mission was somewhat of a joke, too, and only served for the "big reveal" about Nicki's condition, which she stupidly kept secret the entire time because hey, you're so gung-ho about this mission, why not risk jeopardizing it? (And seriously, what's the deal with all this fainting and near-fainting and heart-racing business if it's ultimately nothing? It seems like, even if Nicki never actually got checked out, she'd be aware of her body's needs with hydration, etc. to keep it somewhat under control after hiding it for so long.)
Stefan and Nicki's relationship was lighthearted and serious at the same time, but the plot in this was so unbalanced. They were essentially already together, so it couldn't really count as a full-blown romance, and yet the spy/rescue mission plot wasn't really well-developed enough for it to serve as a novel in that genre, either. Overall, it felt a bit uneven and not sure of what it wanted to be. I'm still looking forward to Fran's book, but this one was disappointing in relation to the great improvement that occurred in Captured.
3 stars out of 5.
Claimed follows up on Captured, and is the third book in Jennifer Chance's Crowns & Gowns series. The main character int his one is Nicki Clark, the windsurfing, rock climbing, trouble making member of the quartet. And then there's her love interest, Stefan, who is repeatedly called an ambassador but evidently isn't, and is instead some random bureaucrat related to the royal family. He certainly never serves as an ambassador, and there's no mention of him doing so in the past or future, that's for sure. Stefan and Nicki are already attracted to each other at the beginning of the book, having been playing with each other for the few weeks that Nicki and her friends have been in Garronia already, but things get amped up when Nicki volunteers to serve as a cover story so Stefan and some other officials can go to Turkey, which is on bad terms with Garronia, and look for the Crown Prince, Ari, who disappeared in a plane crash a year ago. The area where they think Ari is happens to be hosting a windsurfing competition that Nicki covered before, so her presence there as a travel writer supposedly makes sense. I don't totally buy this thinking; involving not only a civilian, but a foreign civilian, and the best friend of the girl who's slated to marry the heir to the throne, doesn't really seem like a sound strategy, even if she does have a (tenuous) connection to the area you're going to.
This book is, again, much plot-heavier than the first in the series. It's also not as well-edited as its predecessors. There's the issue of Stefan being called an ambassador when he's not; that Nicki thinks Lauren has told Em and Fran about Nicki's heart condition, when it was stated in the second book that Em already knew because she and Nicki had been college roommates; that Henry Smithson was Lauren's ex, when they were never actually together... You get the idea. Chance started contradicting numerous things that she had already established, and it started grating on me. They were all small things, but they all added up and basically told me that she wasn't keeping track of what she was actually writing down. And then there are numerous editorial errors, too--typos, missing punctuation marks (particularly quotation marks), and mis-used words. It's rather disappointing, because the first two books were well-edited and I don't see why that should have suddenly changed here.
The plot is fun, with Nicki trying to be all "secret agent" while basically having a fling with Stefan, but again, I couldn't really take it too seriously and it made the whole thing a little hard to refrain from rolling my eyes at. There were a few things that seemed like they would develop into something, but didn't--when Nicki's windsurfing board malfunctions, for example, I was all primed to find out it was an act of sabotage from someone who'd guessed what she and Stefan were up to, but it never amounted to anything and just faded into the background. And the ease with which Nicki and Stefan ultimately accomplished their mission was somewhat of a joke, too, and only served for the "big reveal" about Nicki's condition, which she stupidly kept secret the entire time because hey, you're so gung-ho about this mission, why not risk jeopardizing it? (And seriously, what's the deal with all this fainting and near-fainting and heart-racing business if it's ultimately nothing? It seems like, even if Nicki never actually got checked out, she'd be aware of her body's needs with hydration, etc. to keep it somewhat under control after hiding it for so long.)
Stefan and Nicki's relationship was lighthearted and serious at the same time, but the plot in this was so unbalanced. They were essentially already together, so it couldn't really count as a full-blown romance, and yet the spy/rescue mission plot wasn't really well-developed enough for it to serve as a novel in that genre, either. Overall, it felt a bit uneven and not sure of what it wanted to be. I'm still looking forward to Fran's book, but this one was disappointing in relation to the great improvement that occurred in Captured.
3 stars out of 5.
July 9, 2016
Can't wait for the next book.
Great read. Good action. Great love scenes. Love the heroes,sexy men, smart women. Good story. Engrossing, couldn't put it down.
Great read. Good action. Great love scenes. Love the heroes,sexy men, smart women. Good story. Engrossing, couldn't put it down.
February 28, 2020
This was my favorite of the series so far. It was a good story with romance, intrigue, adventure and good characters. Stefan and Nicki had a believable connection and I loved them together.
Stefan works for the royal family. He is sent on a seek and find mission for the the missing prince, Ari. He is hoping to find out any information about his disappearance, but needs a cover story to get into the neighboring country to do so.
Nicki Clark is one of the Americans visiting Garronia who has been invited to stay with the royals since her friend Emmaline is engaged to Kristos, the crowned prince. Ari is the older brother of Kristos and the family is desperate to get any information about his disappearance. Nicki is a headstrong adventure seeker and knows she can be an asset to Stefan on this mission. Only one problem, she has been hiding a possible health issue, but is determined to continue to live her life to the fullest. Now she just needs to convince Stefan she can help him.
I loved everything about these two and the secondary characters are great too! I can’t wait to read about Fran next! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Stefan works for the royal family. He is sent on a seek and find mission for the the missing prince, Ari. He is hoping to find out any information about his disappearance, but needs a cover story to get into the neighboring country to do so.
Nicki Clark is one of the Americans visiting Garronia who has been invited to stay with the royals since her friend Emmaline is engaged to Kristos, the crowned prince. Ari is the older brother of Kristos and the family is desperate to get any information about his disappearance. Nicki is a headstrong adventure seeker and knows she can be an asset to Stefan on this mission. Only one problem, she has been hiding a possible health issue, but is determined to continue to live her life to the fullest. Now she just needs to convince Stefan she can help him.
I loved everything about these two and the secondary characters are great too! I can’t wait to read about Fran next! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 12, 2024
This story is about another member of the group of four Americans finding love while visiting Ouros. Nicki Clark has hidden her health issues from everyone, but her friends recently found out and are rightfully worried about her, especially with all the risks she takes while is . She, however, is more than willing to go on a mission to Turkey on the trail of Prince Ari. Stefan, another demigod, has his reservations but he feels this strong attraction and connection to her. After the Queen insists, he relents and takes her with him. She proves to be a wonderful asset and he really finds himself really caring for her. Their story of falling for each other is really sweet and I'm happy they could get their HEA with so many obstacles in the way.
This book is another one full of adventure while trying to find Ari. An appearance or two from the gods adds some mystical flavour to the story. This series is an nice escapist read and I'm looking forward to the next one featuring Fran.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book is another one full of adventure while trying to find Ari. An appearance or two from the gods adds some mystical flavour to the story. This series is an nice escapist read and I'm looking forward to the next one featuring Fran.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 9, 2024
Claimed is the third book in the Gatekeepers of the Gods series and it continues soon after the prior book. They’ve identified a possible location for Ari, but since it’s in a neighboring country they can’t just send in a team to find him. Instead, Nicki is able to use her ties to the windsurfing community as cover for her and Stefan, the Ouros ambassador, to search for clues to Ari’s disappearance. What follows is a lot of action in their search for Ari.
I really liked Nicki and Stefan, they made a great couple. I liked how Nicki’s adventurous attitude conflicted with Stefan’s more uptight, polished nature. I really liked that even though she was just there as cover for the op, she instrumental to the mission and really was Stefan’s equal. Throughout this series I’ve enjoyed the mystery of what happened to Ari and what they found in this book is quite shocking. The events in this book set up the next book nicely and I cannot wait to see what happens next!
I really liked Nicki and Stefan, they made a great couple. I liked how Nicki’s adventurous attitude conflicted with Stefan’s more uptight, polished nature. I really liked that even though she was just there as cover for the op, she instrumental to the mission and really was Stefan’s equal. Throughout this series I’ve enjoyed the mystery of what happened to Ari and what they found in this book is quite shocking. The events in this book set up the next book nicely and I cannot wait to see what happens next!
July 7, 2024
The 3rd book of the beautiful and richly written series set in Ouros, where demi-gods live amongst humans and are gatekeepers to the Gods in Olympus.
The story continues the search for the missing Prince Ari, and centres on Stefan and Nicki.
I loved the story and spent reading the whole book in a state of heightened anxiety waiting for the axe to fall, metaphorically speaking.
Unfortunately the romance between Stefan and Nicki didn't stir me as the others have. I felt the romance was second to the action.
However, I am fully enjoying the saga, and as with anything written by Jenn, you are completely immersed as though you are there.
Roll on Crowned!!
I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story continues the search for the missing Prince Ari, and centres on Stefan and Nicki.
I loved the story and spent reading the whole book in a state of heightened anxiety waiting for the axe to fall, metaphorically speaking.
Unfortunately the romance between Stefan and Nicki didn't stir me as the others have. I felt the romance was second to the action.
However, I am fully enjoying the saga, and as with anything written by Jenn, you are completely immersed as though you are there.
Roll on Crowned!!
I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 14, 2024
I really enjoy the Gatekeepers of the Gods books, they are fun, well-written romances with adventure and the overarching mystery of Prince Ari's disappearance and presumed death encompassing all 4 books. The addition of the Greek gods give an added twist to the stories.
Book 3, Claimed, is Nicki and Stefan's story and is an entertaining ride as Stefan learns to see beyond Nicki's mask to who she really is. It is a heartwarming story and the interplay between the two is humerous, with Nicki's brashness making Stefan learn not to take himself so seriously. The action has ramped up in this book and Nicki playing a strong part in the investigation. I highly recommend this series, which is best read in order.
Book 3, Claimed, is Nicki and Stefan's story and is an entertaining ride as Stefan learns to see beyond Nicki's mask to who she really is. It is a heartwarming story and the interplay between the two is humerous, with Nicki's brashness making Stefan learn not to take himself so seriously. The action has ramped up in this book and Nicki playing a strong part in the investigation. I highly recommend this series, which is best read in order.
June 12, 2024
Absolutely enjoyed this book. It’s the 3rd in series, and even though I haven’t read the first two, it was easy enough to follow the important points of the world. I’ve always enjoyed romance stories that are set in the world of mythology and was expecting a lot of content surrounding that concept. This book incorporated it so well without being straight in your face. Also, it started off exciting and didn’t drag out. The characters were fantastic. I would love to read the first two and can’t wait to read the next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 17, 2024
Romance, Fantasy, and Adventure
Nicki and Stefan are off to find Ari, a member of the royal family. Their journey will be dangerous. They will encounter monsters, of the human and the paranormal variety. Sparks sizzle between them. Will they have time for romance in the middle of the danger? Love finds a way. Do they find Ari? Beware of Greek gods. You might not think they have much power, but you will be surprised. I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to those who like fantasy, romance, adventure, and suspense.
Nicki and Stefan are off to find Ari, a member of the royal family. Their journey will be dangerous. They will encounter monsters, of the human and the paranormal variety. Sparks sizzle between them. Will they have time for romance in the middle of the danger? Love finds a way. Do they find Ari? Beware of Greek gods. You might not think they have much power, but you will be surprised. I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to those who like fantasy, romance, adventure, and suspense.
October 23, 2019
4 stars
Book 3 in the gowns and crowns series. I’ve read all three now, in order and have enjoyed all of them. It’s nice to continue the story from each of the characters viewpoint and read about their romance. The series has had a mystery of the missing (presumed dead) eldest prince. It is in this book that we discover if ari (eldest prince) is dead or alive... while investigating this, nicki and Stefan find their HEA.
Book 3 in the gowns and crowns series. I’ve read all three now, in order and have enjoyed all of them. It’s nice to continue the story from each of the characters viewpoint and read about their romance. The series has had a mystery of the missing (presumed dead) eldest prince. It is in this book that we discover if ari (eldest prince) is dead or alive... while investigating this, nicki and Stefan find their HEA.
July 7, 2024
I have to say, I may be a softy but I love these books and this author. She has kept me endlessly entertained since she burst onto the scene some years ago. 'Claimed' is the third book in this series and charts the mad exploits of Nicki Clark as she and a demigod diplomat, Stefan, try to track down the missing prince Ari. Funny, sexy, dramatic and best of all, original, Greek god based fantasy. I highly recommend this series!
June 8, 2025
This one was better
But oh my goodness. The Hades thing was so incredibly bad and so full of complete and utter cringe I could not read it all. Mostly skimming that section.
Still cringy dialogue. Seems to be common for her. Needs editing.
The whole happily ever after deep soul love again felt forced. Perhaps not quite as bad as the first two but certainly not natural or believable.
It was ok though.
But oh my goodness. The Hades thing was so incredibly bad and so full of complete and utter cringe I could not read it all. Mostly skimming that section.
Still cringy dialogue. Seems to be common for her. Needs editing.
The whole happily ever after deep soul love again felt forced. Perhaps not quite as bad as the first two but certainly not natural or believable.
It was ok though.
June 11, 2024
Very action packed and exciting continuation of the series. So much happens right from the start it fooled me into thinking I was farther into the story than I was. I liked all the detail on the search for Ari, leads nicely into another story. Really enjoying the series so far.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 4, 2024
This book was a great continuation of the Gatekeepers of the Gods series. I liked how action packed this book was compared to the previous two books. Plus the chemistry between Nicki and Stefan started earlier in the book and continues throughout. Overall a great read and recommended series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 11, 2017
2.5 stars
This book had less of a storyline than the first two. I'm was mostly interested in the Ari storyline which this book provides insights into but it seemed disjointed with the all the sex between Nicki and Stefan.
This book had less of a storyline than the first two. I'm was mostly interested in the Ari storyline which this book provides insights into but it seemed disjointed with the all the sex between Nicki and Stefan.
April 2, 2018
(1.5)
I just really didn't care about this one at all. It bored me, and also, weirdly, the writing seemed worse than the last two books?? Like, they were decently written and this had some amateur mistakes??
I just really didn't care about this one at all. It bored me, and also, weirdly, the writing seemed worse than the last two books?? Like, they were decently written and this had some amateur mistakes??
January 3, 2020
Adventures
This one is about Nikki and Stefan. Nikki is an adventurous woman with a potential deadly heart problem. Stefan is the stoic Ambassador. The two butt heads constantly and makes fireworks fly
This one is about Nikki and Stefan. Nikki is an adventurous woman with a potential deadly heart problem. Stefan is the stoic Ambassador. The two butt heads constantly and makes fireworks fly
February 18, 2020
A royal winner...again!
Another great addition to the Gowns and Crowns Series. I am excited for the next book, as I was hoping Fran was next, and she is!! I am very thoroughly enjoying this Series.
Another great addition to the Gowns and Crowns Series. I am excited for the next book, as I was hoping Fran was next, and she is!! I am very thoroughly enjoying this Series.
March 18, 2020
Ambassador meets adventurer
Such a win win as a romance between an Ambassador and a lady who takes lots of risks. Then she risks her heart. I highly recommend this book to all,who love a good romance and a page turner as I could not put this book down. Happy reading!
Such a win win as a romance between an Ambassador and a lady who takes lots of risks. Then she risks her heart. I highly recommend this book to all,who love a good romance and a page turner as I could not put this book down. Happy reading!
June 13, 2024
As this series continues to progress, I am loving to see the characters evolve and find happiness in their adventures! Can’t wait for the next book!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 15, 2024
I loved how this book showcased the strengths and perseverance of Nicki. She faced challenges but never gave up and it inspired Stefan to live life instead of coasting through it. It ties well into the other stories and j can’t wait to see how it wraps up in the last book.
August 17, 2017
Royally Engaging
This is a great series. I love Gowns n Crowns. The characters are all unique and enthralling. Nice summer read.
This is a great series. I love Gowns n Crowns. The characters are all unique and enthralling. Nice summer read.
March 22, 2020
Adventuring
Stefan and Nicki were an adorable couple. What a adventure these two had. While falling in 💘 love as well. Well written. 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗
Stefan and Nicki were an adorable couple. What a adventure these two had. While falling in 💘 love as well. Well written. 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗
February 2, 2021
GREAT SERIES!
February 27, 2021
Still finishing this series for the second time. These are good stories and have enjoyed them the second time around.
June 12, 2024
This was another dreamy romance by Jennifer Chance that was an epically good read. I've really enjoyed all the books in this series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews