Can a book make you feel like you're being held and wrecked at the same time? Because that's what happened to me listening to Claim Me while designing wedding invitations for a client. The irony was not lost on me—making pretty things about love while Nikki and Damien were absolutely destroying each other in the best and worst ways.
Look, I came into this book already invested. I'd listened to Release Me during a particularly brutal deadline week, and something about Damien Stark's damage just... got me. That first book wrecked me in ways I'm still cataloging in my spreadsheet. So when I hit play on book two, I was ready. What I wasn't ready for was how much deeper J. Kenner would dig into both of them.
The Voice That Got Under My Skin
Sofia Willingham. That's it. That's the whole section. Okay, fine, I'll elaborate—but honestly, her voice is velvet and honey and something slightly dangerous underneath. She sounds exactly how Nikki should sound: a woman who's been through things but hasn't let them make her hard. Just... careful. Guarded. Until she isn't.
The way she shifts into Damien is interesting. Some listeners apparently had issues with it—expected something deeper, more commanding, I guess? But here's the thing: we're hearing Damien through Nikki's ears. Through Nikki's heart. So yeah, his voice is filtered through her love for him, and Willingham captures that. It's not about making him sound like a CEO; it's about making him sound like the man Nikki is desperate to save.
I ugly-cried at chapter... honestly, I lost track. There's this moment where Damien's past comes crashing into their present, and Willingham's delivery just—ugh. She didn't oversell it. She let the silence do work. That's skill.
When the Narrative Shifts
Okay, so. The elephant in the room. This book is spicy. Like, spicy spicy. And I saw some reviews where people were genuinely shocked by the explicit content, calling it "soft porn" and whatnot. And look—I get it. If you're not expecting that level of heat, it can feel overwhelming.
But here's where I'll push back: the intimacy in this book isn't gratuitous. (Well, mostly.) It's how these two communicate. It's where they're honest. Damien is so locked down emotionally that physical connection is the only language he trusts. And Nikki meets him there because she loves him, but she's also pushing—always pushing—for more. For words. For truth.
The pacing does drag in spots. There are moments in the middle where I zoned out a little, where it felt like we were circling the same emotional beats. But then Kenner drops a revelation, and suddenly you're wide awake, heart pounding, wondering how you missed the signs.
Abuela would have clutched her rosary SO hard at this book. But she also would've been completely hooked. That woman loved a good telenovela, and this? This is telenovela energy with better production values.
The Chemistry Is Chef's Kiss
What makes Damien and Nikki work—really work—is that they're both broken in ways that somehow fit together. It's not a savior narrative. Nikki isn't fixing Damien. She's standing next to him while he figures out how to fix himself. That kind of mutual growth hit me the same way Neon Gods did—two damaged people choosing each other without pretending the damage doesn't exist. And he's doing the same for her.
Their power dynamic is complicated. There's control, there's surrender, there's trust that keeps getting tested. And Willingham navigates all of it with this... closeness. Like she's telling you a secret. The seductive tone never feels performative. It feels earned.
I listened to most of this at 1.0x because rushing through would've felt wrong. This is a rainy Sunday book. A candle-lit evening book. A "my cats are judging me but I don't care" book.
Would I Listen Again?
Yeah. Probably on a day when I need a good cry and some emotional catharsis. The vibes are immaculate if you're in the right headspace for it.
But I'll be honest: if you need a lot of plot to justify your listening time, this might frustrate you. The story is there—secrets, suspense, stakes—but it's secondary to the emotional journey. And if you're sensitive to explicit content, maybe read a sample first. Know what you're getting into. Skip this one if you want fast-paced thriller energy or if steamy scenes aren't your thing.
For everyone else? For my fellow romance readers who want to feel something? My heart. MY HEART. This book claimed it.
