This is a DNF for me. The book was well-written, but I couldn't connect with any of the characters and I didn't particularly care for me.

when ryder meets jane he is enchanted from the get-go. but then she disappears after a night of hot sex and he suspects that she stole his code. after all, she works for the enemy. when they meet again at his brother's wedding to her biological mother, he learns two things. one, she's not the villainess he's been painting her as in his thoughts. and two, she's had his baby in the year since he last saw her.

his to claim doesn't waste time getting ryder and jane back together. it's the realization that everything they've been working so hard on in their careers can put everything they hold dear in danger that has them floundering. but even as they are figuring things out they have crazy hot sex all over the place. it's super impressive especially given the fact that she has a three-month-old.

but hey, these books are all about the fantasy.

**his to claim will publish on april 10, 2018. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/grand central publishing (forever) in exchange for my honest review.

It’s been a long time since I read a book like His to Claim by Shelly Bell. It’s a sexy, super hot, insta-love, secret baby trope with a dash of BDSM and some suspense that will keep you turning the page because you want to know what happens next.

Personally, I stay away from secret baby stories but I will admit that it worked out well for this book. Perhaps I was in the right mood when I decided to give this one a read.

Fresh out of college, Jane interns for Keane McKay, who assigns her to attend some sort of technology convention. There, she stumbles upon Ryder, who can’t seem to take his eyes off of her. After a flirtatious conversation, she finds herself in bed with a man she knows would easily break her heart if she happens to fall in love with him.

Fast-forward one year, and Ryder keeps wondering where his “Jane” disappeared to. He actually thinks that “Jane” isn’t her real name and he’s ready to move on with his life, except destiny plays him a card he wasn’t expecting. As it happens, the woman he’s been dreaming about for the past year turns out to be a bridesmaid in his stepbrother’s wedding.

Sparks fly when he confronts her and it doesn’t take them long to rekindle things between them. Besides enjoying her company, Ryder has an ulterior motive and is determined to make her admit to stealing the one thing he never wanted his dad to have. Things aren’t what they seem and it’s up to both of them to prove they mean well and that it’s others they need to protect themselves from.

Overall, this was a fast, entertaining read. There are a couple of things some readers may find as taboo, but I thought the author did a nice job of explaining them out through each of the character’s monologue. There are some things that didn’t feel believable but not overly so to make me not like the book. Jane is an okay character though some of her actions toward the end seemed lame and almost childish for someone who’s lived so much at such a young age. Ryder is a strong character and naughty as heck! Can you tell I liked him?

Finding romantic suspense in erotica is delicious and rare, and this has taut, well crafted writing as an added bonus. Shelly Bell created a pair with lots of chemistry and tension in Jane and Ryder. They had a hot night together once then couldn't find each other again, until Ryder realizes his brother is marrying Jane's mother.

Jane and Ryder have a child that he has yet to meet. Ryder thinks Jane stole company secrets from him. Plenty of conflict here, and their heat and relationship keep the pages turning as they sort out the crimes happening around them.

Two of Jane's coworkers die, and a mysterious virus wipes their computers. Jane's roommate suffers terribly at the hands of the villains after the secrets stored on Jane's computer. The ending pulled no punches, and held several surprises after many effective red herrings!

Readers will be looking forward to the next book in the series.

Well my fellow readers, Shelly Bell has done it once again! I refuse to give anything away about the story because I don’t want to spoil a single thing, but I will say that it’s absolutely a must-read book and I was completely blown away! To say that His to Claim (the second installment of the Forbidden Lovers series) was totally freaking amazing would be a major understatement. Ms. Bell seriously killed it with this intriguing and intense story and I loved every moment I spent with Ryder and Jane. Filled with mystery, suspense and a whole lot of deliciously hot and sexy erotic romance, His to Claim was captivating from beginning to end.

Shelly Bell is a refreshing voice in the literary world. She has an amazing talent of telling a story that sucks you in completely and keeps you engaged throughout. This book was perfectly written and was everything I could have hoped for! I am truly sad that I must wait for the next installment of this fantastic series….I must have it NOW! A complete stand alone, His to Claim can be read without reading At His Mercy, but I would highly recommend doing so because it’s just as insanely good.

If you love erotic romance that includes some light BDSM, a gripping, suspenseful plot and a happy ending that will leave you extremely satisfied, then pick up His to Claim.

5 well deserving stars

Jane was left with an aunt and uncle when she was little, her mother wanted nothing to do with her. She graduates from college and gets an internship with McKay, set up by her mother. She moves up the ladder to VP of innovations. She is at a conference when she meets Ryder. They have wild sex and she sneaks out next morning. Now months later they meet again at her mother’s wedding. She is marrying Ryder’s brother Finn.
Ryder has been estranged from his family for years but comes to his brother’s wedding. He has been looking for Jane everywhere because he thinks she stole a code from his computer. He develops automaton kitchens for bakery’s and restaurants. He believes his father set her up to do it because he just happened to start with automaton kitchens and she’s head of it. But when she drops a bomb on him, nothing else matters but her.
People are being killed and Jane was run off the road after she found a SD disk left for her by one of the victims. Then her best friend and roommate is almost beaten to death and Ryder has her move in with him until they figure out what’s going on. The more time spent together, the harder they fall for each other but neither is used to having someone care for them.
Excellent story. Very hot sex. Surprises. Suspense. It will keep you reading late into the night. Be prepared for a cold shower and a cigarette. I cannot wait for the next book.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for Netgalley *

Great romance with a story full of suspense. I liked the main characters.

Rated 4.5 Stars

His To Claim sucked me in from page one and kept my attention throughout. It was a great melding of bdsm, suspense and hot sex sprinkled with a bit of taboo. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and going on this journey with these characters and cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

Oh my goodness! What can I say about this book other than it was amazing! It has a little bit of everything, love, suspense, smoking hot sex, well developed characters, emotions . . . and did I mention smoking hot sex? Shelly Bell outdid herself on this one and caught me off-guard with the final twists and turns of the story. I loved every page of it! Five huge stars!

Noteworthy experiences while reading this book: OMG!!!!!!

Check out author's other books? Yes
Recommend this book? Yes

Notes and Opinions: I did not NOT know what I was getting into when I decided to pick this one up but man I was not disappointed at all! I have not read anything by this author but I know I will be in the future! This one was well paced not to fast and not to slow. It was very on point. I loved Ryder and Jane and their passion. It was heat all the way with this one! So please Adults only!! I loved how their passion turned into more and just how their lives intertwined with the story. I do wish this one would have been longer as I feel that it could have been. (grin) This is a book of mind games and not knowing what is going on and who to trust and I loved every second of it. I can't wait until April when this one comes out! This one will keep you on your toes while you read and you won't be able to put it down. I know I couldn't.

Go Into This One Knowing: Erotic, Edge of your seat, READ IT NOW!

Shelly Bell has done it again!!!!!! This book is insanely erotic but so ingeniously plotted that it was like reading a fabulous edge-of-your-seat thriller with steamy deliciousness as a bonus. I love all her books, but this one might be her best yet!!!! A must read!!!!

Shelly Bell has created something remarkable and different than I expected. In this book, I got so much more than I bargained for and all of it an amazing way. The writing is smooth and thoughtful at a steady pace. This author is one of the most talented I have read and deserves to be at the very top.

Ryder is such a strong and powerful character, who knows what he wants and how to get it. So when innocent and sweet Jane comes into his life like a hurricane he has no idea just how much of an impact and meaning she will have to him. What was meant to be one night of passion turned into something so much more than either of them could have imagined, so once their paths cross again it gets so much more intense and complicated.

Honestly, I have a hard time writing this review because I feel no words will be enough to explain how wonderful, intense, mysterious, emotional and simple ALL THAT this book was for me. I LOVED each word, page, and chapter of His to Claim and it’s safe to say that this book sure did claim everything within me and will be one of my favorite books.

My mind was working overtime with trying to figure out what was going on and who was who and what their true intentions were. It was a true mind game, and as we move on further into the book and all the tension and emotions gets more intensified and before you know it, there is something that you could never have guessed and people you had opinions about at the beginning changes.

If I go on I will just sound like a broken record that keeps repeating itself over and over. I recommend this book with all the stars in heaven and truly hope you enjoy it as much as I did. This book will keep you on your toes all the time and you will love every moment of it.

I for one can’t wait to read more from Shelly Bell and the wait might just kill me but it will all be worth it just like this book was.

This one had a few too many dropped plot points for me, although overall the story was good, and the sex was scorching. It appears to fit in to a loosely linked series, as there were allusions to other stories, but it does stand alone. Ryder and Jane have gotten off to a rocky start in their relationship, and although they both want to move forward, there are a lot of secrets that keep pushing them apart. Can they work through their issues to find a family at the end?

The moment Ryder McKay's eye land on Jane he knows he has to have her, there is a pull between them that can't be ignored, and he wants to explore whatever it is that is swirling around in the air between them. But she seems to be a little reluctant at first, but with a little talking, and a little bravery on her part, they soon find themselves exploring every inch of one another behind closed doors. Then just as quickly as she breezed into his life, she breezes out in the middle of the night, without so much as a phone number or a goodbye. And everyday since he has been searching for her in the face of every women he comes across, it's almost as if he dreamed the whole thing up... then she unexpectedly appears at his brother's wedding and things take an unexpected turn!

The magical night Jane Cooper spent with Ryder has been on repeat in her mind for the last year, every movement, every caress, and every heated glance is etched in her mind. She would love nothing more than to relive that moment with him, but she doesn't know his last name, where he lives, or how to find him. Then out of the blue, at her mother's wedding, he waltzes through the door, and turns her world upside down all over again with just one look...

His To Claim is a cleverly crafted tale that will have you smitten from the first page, and falling madly in love with every page that comes after. With each page you turn you will feel the emotion, the passion brewing between the characters, and the suspense that is constantly hanging in the air... and at times it is so powerful that it will leave you overwhelmed. This newest offering to the Forbidden Desires series packs a serious punch on all fronts, it has the erotic allure I've come to expect from this author, the suspenseful nature that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and the emotional depth that will inspire a serious case of the feels... it was downright amazing!! I highly recommend you get your hands on this one, the moment you crack the cover you will be hooked!!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title.