Rafa didn’t think much of the human female when his prince first claimed her for a mate, but her strength of character soon wins him over. He watches with jealous eyes as the love blossoms between them, especially when she begins to swell with the prince’s child. When Rafa’s shaprata begins to mature, and the time arrives for him to claim a mate, he decides to return to Earth to claim a human of … of his own.
Aaliyah was left devastated when her best friend went missing. Abby was last seen hiking with her faithful German shepherd near one of Oregon’s mountain lakes. Six months later, Aaliyah receives a phone call, the woman on the other end claiming to be Abby, and she wants Aaliyah to drive up to the same lake to meet her … alone.
Emotionally, Aaliyah isn’t as strong as Abby. She’s had a rough childhood and considers herself damaged goods. When the alien tries to claim her, she rejects their union, not sure she is capable of loving a man, even if it means Rafa might die.
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I thoroughly enjoyed Claimed By Rafa (Raiden Warriors Book 2). Definitely a standalone. I read this book without having read Book 1.
Another fantastic book by Denna Holm, whose writing is excellent, as is her world-building. Her characters are engaging and believable. I felt for Aaliyah, who has had a difficult life. Now, she has to make decisions for her future life.
It is also Rafa’s story. He must claim a mate. He’s travelled to Earth specially to find Aaliyah. If she rejects him, he will die, and not just from a broken heart.
Time is of the essence as they journey from Earth through space to new worlds.
I recommend this fast-paced book to those who love fantasy, sci-fi and a great love story.
A definite 5 Star read.
This book was full of warriors, other worlds and myths?…. And full of suspence….
A great book that kept my attention from the beginning! It had a nice length and did not feel like it ended to soon, like some books feel like….
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the second story in this stand-alone series. While there is an overall story-line across the series, each book seems able to be read individually. In this particular story, the female lead has been physically and emotionally abused (some of which is depicted in the story) and now has been abducted and claimed by an alien race. She and her abductor must come to terms with her past while fighting against a new enemy.
This book is well written. It is book two. Unfortunately if you have any triggers about abuse it might be rough for you. Rafa fell in love with Aaliyah. He stated the mating process without her permission. If she doesn’t complete the claiming of his mate he could die. She has been abused on so many levels she has rebellious behaviors from the abuse. Rafa takes her a healer to learn how to help her. In order Help her they are blue to have him relive her fear and abuse. Now with this reversal, she is free From the anguish but he is now. Can she convince him that she wants to be with him and he as a warrior learn to overcome her issues he’s aquired?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Out of this World
First I have to say, THIS book will definitely have an effect on you.
I had to really, REALLY tread softly but quickly through certain parts of this book.
Second, this is the first time I have ever read anything from this author, and this definitely not the last.
Every page of this book will have you begging, crying and shaking your fist for more. It will even have you feeling every pain and every pleasure.
Great thing about this book is you’ll definitely feel the chemistry.
Any opinions expressed within this review are solely and uniquely made by me and I am happily leaving this review. I voluntarily received an advanced copy of this book via Booksprout.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. Rafael wants a mate like his friends does. Rafael wants to go to Earth to find his mate. Aaliyah Walker did not like to go out in the public because of her friend Abby disappearing for one thing. Now would be the time to get the book. I will be getting more from this author.
Hated the beginning, loved it by the end
by coosh
This has *Spoilers* !
Long-term trauma, child abuse, rape, mental health, drugging, dishonesty, scars, and cultural differences play major roles in this story. Hated the alien’s mating process. There’s no consent, and the female is INJECTED WITH AN APHRODISIAC and this is just the only way the whole species mates! Of course, the unlucky woman in this scenario reacts badly to being abducted by aliens (surprise, aliens exist!), drugged, and forced to share room/bed/clothes with the large stranger that DRUGGED HER! Then, everyone hides the truth from her, including her so-called best friend. I couldn’t stand the first half of the story because of the noncon and lying. I was also frustrated by the female lead’s mulishness and… stupidity? Sure, her introduction to intergalactic civilizations and travel was badly presented, but OMG SPAAAACE!
However, the tables get turned big time. The problematic elements are recognized and handled. Remorse, honesty, empathy, and communication happen. Crazy adventures ensue! Eventually, things work out and… I would like to read more of this world. It ended TOO SOON!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
First book I’ve read from this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Abby calls her friend and tells her to go up the same mountain trail and she would meet her there. Rafa shows up and instead of giving Liyah a chance to make up her mind Rafa injects her and knocks her out. What the aliens don’t understand is how some of the human woman are abused by there men. Liyah was one of those women. What Liyah doesn’t understand is the rush to mate for Rafa before he dies. Woo, talk about pressure. Will Liyah mate with Rafa before his time expires? Read to find out. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Rafael Abeden watched his best friend and future king, Nicolai, as he happily spun his laughing mate in circles. He wished he had that kind of relationship. His kind were unable to mate with females of their own kind because their offspring were too weak. Soon Rafa would have to look for his own mate as the shaprata beneath his tongue was starting to swell. He had to find a mate or die. Nicolai had his ship prepared immediately for their trip to Earth to find Rafa’s mate. He only had about 3 months to make this happen.
Aaliyah Walker (“Liyah”) had only had one friend, Abby, and she lost her when Abby had gone to the mountains to pick mushrooms and never came back. She had just received a phone call from Abby to meet her at the lake without telling anyone. Abby told her about her own alien capture but Liyah obviously didn’t believe her. When the men suddenly appeared, she freaked out and Rafa gave her an injection to knock her out. Abby was furious at him. With Liyah’s horrible abusive history, she would be terrified. She had forced into things all her life. She would not react well to this. But she agreed that if Rafa would be patient, not put any pressure at all on her, she would go along with them on taking her back to the ship. But Rafa didn’t have much time. He would never hurt his mate, but his patience would be stretched to the limit as his own death got closer. How would he win her over in such a short time? Liyah had experienced a very difficult life. Could she learn to trust Rafa and be able to make some difficult decisions for her future with him?
The author is amazing at building a world around the reader to make the story come alive. The characters were very well portrayed and realistic. It seemed difficult for Abby to convey to Nicolai and Rafa how an abused female needed patience and gentleness to build the trust before a relationship could be accepted. And they did not adequately convey the repercussions to their kind if Rafa did not mate quickly. The suspense, of course, adds to the excitement of the story line. Grab your copy and cheer for Liyah as she finds the strength she needs to overcome her horrible past and reach out for a better life with someone who will treasure her.
This is an amazing sci-fi romance! I loved it! It is sweet and steamy, written with emotion and filled with lots of adventure!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I love this genre and this author. I volunteered to read an advance copy for an honest review.
Having read Claimed by Nicolai, the first book, I moved straight on to Claimed by Rafa. Nicolai had taken Abby, and she talked about her best friend Aaliyah, so I suspected Aaliyah maybe the the mate Rafa claims.
It was, and I was excited to visit the world Denna Holm had created, once more. Every aspect of it was described and I loved it. I felt I was there too.
Now the shock of the claiming was known, I wondered how it would go this time. Would the story be as interesting? How would Aaliyah feel or more importantly, how would she react?
I wasn’t disappointed. The story continued to hold my interest, in fact, I devoured the book. In the last one we met some interesting aliens, in this one there were the fish women. What they did to the Raiden Warriors was pretty shocking, so shocking, I was rivetted! Role reversal was not what I expected. Men being men, and these men being warriors, dealt with rape in a different way. I just couldn’t stop reading, I didn’t want it to end and was thrilled to know book three was on its way. I will be first in the queue!
The writing and editing of this novel was clean, with few if any typos that I caught in the ARC version of the manuscript. The world building was excellent, with me the reader getting a vibrant look at this intergalactic society and many different alien species. The characterization was excellent, with both hero and heroine being vibrant, sympathetic individuals. The development of the romantic relationship was natural and organic, and sensitively done considering the trauma in the heroine’s past. the plot and pacing was exciting, with me turning pages rapidly to find out what was going to happen next. This novel contains medium angst and high stakes, which is one of my preferred narrative structures for a romance novel. This novel used the Mars Needs Women trope, the Abused Heroine trope, and the Mating Bond trope. I really enjoyed the longer length of this sci-fi romance. Many are too short, in my opinion. The world building, plot, and pacing were four stars in this novel. The characterization and the development of the romantic relationship were also four stars. The combined score of this novel was therefore four stars. This novel ends on a Happy Ever After ending instead of a cliffhanger, so that is a big plus to this novel. I recommend this novel to fans of sci-fi romances that use the Mars Needs Women tope and read a bit like an adventure novel or travelogue. I plan to buy myself a keeper copy of this novel.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A brilliant book. After reading the first book in the series I was excited to read this one.
SPOILER/TRIGGER WARNING there are parts where rape and child abuse come up more than once, if this is a trigger for you then I wouldn’t advise reading it.
Other than that it was a great read, the main characters have a lot to work through and traitors to find. They do though and they have a happily ever after. If you haven’t read the first book then do, it would be very difficult to follow the characters and storyline otherwise. It was very well written, the plot following on nicely from the first. I look forward to reading the next book 8n the series when it comes out.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.