Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F BDSM – Romance
Triggers: Edge play - BDSM, cheating, rape fantasy.

This is the second book in this series and I would recommend that you read the first book, as there are a lot of the nuances between these two characters that start in book one.

Cassie is a take-no-prisoners attorney. She has worked her butt off in order to make partner. But when her chances at making partner are threatened, she buckles down and tries even harder. She seems to have a chip on her shoulder from the beginning, but it's only to hide what she desires most – to be taken, challenged, and shown that she's worth the fight.

Patrick is a tough nut. He seems confident, cocky, and just an all-around player – but it's more to hide the hatred he has for his father and the mistrust he has in women from a past relationship. He's a complicated guy who, when he sees Cassie, knows that he'll love the chase, challenge, and when he eventually gets the girl.

These two have a chemistry that borders on hatred. It was sometimes hard to differentiate between them hating each other and having such strong chemistry that they can't help but tear each other's clothes off.

Their relationship is more edge play than anything, but the scenes are hot and help show the reader exactly where it's okay and where they need to learn to trust each other. Without the trust, neither of them would make it very far in their relationship.

This had some great chemistry and the complexity of each character was enhanced by their intertwined automatic mistrust of people. When you drilled down into who each character was as an individual, you could see where the angst and unhappiness might spring from. But it was also where these two meshed the most – in their pasts – and that helped guide them to their future.

It was a great story where you got to see an almost enemy-to-friendship-to-lovers relationship develop, but without a lot of angst woven in. It was more about the chemistry and shared fantasy.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series. I would say that you will understand more of the background if you read them in order, but this definitely stands strong as a book in its own right too. They are both very good stories, so why miss out!

Cassie is a fabulous character – she is a wonderful mix of confident and vulnerable. She has made a life for herself away from her loud American-Cuban family in Florida and works all hours in her ambition to make partner in a law firm in Boston. She is good friends with Lilly, who is the lead in the first book in the series. Nearing forty, her mother is keen for her to settle down and have a family, but she is really uncertain about that being the future she wants, or if she can find someone she would even want to do that with...

Patrick is friends with Jack, Lilly's boyfriend, so when the group socialise, he gets to know Cassie. Or not know her, as he is too busy being a playboy. We do find out why he behaves this way, and why the sparks fly between the two of them whenever they are together.

I love the setup and watching the two of them finally get with the programme. They are completely in sync and though her fantasies are not mine, they clearly work for Patrick too. I felt that the issues were addressed with care, and certainly enhanced their closeness, and demonstrated Patrick's care for her.

A good mix of hot, passionate action, developing feelings, and real-life twists and turns – thank you, Ms. Allen.

A great introduction to this author. I fell in love with the characters in this book. An adorable story line.

The forbidden is often what we desire most! With the second book in the Legally Bound series, we get drawn into the story of the BFF’s of the couple from the first book in the series, Jack and Lilly. While I found it impossible to love Cassie and Patrick more than I did Jack and Lilly, I did enjoy their story a lot and loved getting to see the old gang back together again throughout their book. This book contains some very taboo sexual fantasies, so only read if you can handle that. Overall, it’s a long book so there are parts that are slower than others, but overall a really enjoyable read. The characters are easy to like, we find ourselves wanting them to get together and to last, and the secondary characters are mostly ones we are already familiar with, so it was a nice cast to get to know even deeper than the last book. Looking forward to more … hopefully Brady & Samantha next?!

Cassie Allbright has a reputation that she takes pride in. She might be a fiery half Cuban, hard-as-nails Boston attorney, but she doesn’t apologize for getting the job done time and time again. She secretly fantasizes about losing some of that iron-clad control in the bedroom, in some really hard-core ways, but she hasn’t found the guts to go after what she wants yet.

Playboy Patrick Dunham happens to run in the same circles with her now that her best friend is with his best friend, but that doesn’t mean she has to like him. He’s egotistical, too hot for his own good and a downright player … she absolutely hates him! And the feeling is quite mutual … so why does it feel like their tempers and ire are just heating things up when the other is near? When one thing leads to another and they decide to act on their undeniable attraction, Patrick promises to fulfill her every desire … but their hearts are off limits!

OMG I loved this book!!! Rebecca Grace Allen is a new to me author but boy did she blow me away. I absolutely loved this book. I love Cassie and Patrick and thought they were PERFECT for each other. This novel was SO GODDAMN SEXY it was insane!! It had dark-ish elements (that were Hot AF) but more so they had a connection that could not be denied. I LOVED their fiery and spirited banter and how Cassie's sassy spitfire personality was what eternal bachelor Patrick needed!! Gah!! I could not get enough!!

Her claim is the second book in the Legally Bound series and follows Jack and Lilly from the first book, His Contract, but can be read as a standalone. OMG people!! You need to read this book!! The minute I finished it I scooped up book one and jumped right in. This story follows the spirited push and pull and back and forth between Cassie Allbright and Patrick Dunham. Respective bestfriends of Jack and Lilly, they have always had an acrimonious relationship - Cassie sick and disgusted of Patrick's rich playboy lifestyle and his voracious "one and done" sexual appetite. But where there's smoke there is ALWAYS fire and their fiery chemistry could not be denied. The result: A sexual and emotionless agreement to fulfill Cassie's fantasies. But GOOD LORD get ready and HOLD THE EFF ON!!

I truly loved this book. Besides being sexy and erotic it was also very emotional and exceptionally written. Allen was able to make us feel Cassie's ambivalence about the next steps in her future and her hidden shame and embarrassment about her hidden fantasies. I love that Patrick taught her to embrace her dark needs and wants. Likewise she was the catalyst to help him come to terms with what he spent over two decades running from and his need to keep his emotions and passions locked down.

This novel was truly brilliant and I seriously can not wait for more from this author in the future. Bravo! 5 stars! ~Ratula

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review!

I received an arc from Netgalley. This was a steamy read but definitely not for the faint of heart. There are some major rough fantasy life issues but I love a good book with a HEA ending.

Three stars just because not all content was for me but I would read more by this author.

***5 ‘Pushing Boundaries’ Stars***

His Contract, the first book in the Legally Bound series, was one of those books that surprised me with how much I ended up loving it, so when Her Claim was announced I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it and O.M.G was it soo good! It’s titillating, sexy, fascinating and a lot of fun to read as two sworn “enemies/frenemies” find that they are actually perfect for each other in more ways than either could imagine.

I loved Cassie. She is a force to be reckoned with in almost every aspect of her life. She’s determined, stubborn and doesn’t know the meaning of backing down, which makes for some interesting times. Her strength was the draw, but watching her wrestle with her needs and desires as well as her ethnicity and how that played a role in how she saw herself and how it motivated her was what had me connecting with her.

I ended up loving Patrick. In the beginning there were a few times where I wanted to Gibbs smack him, but it was hard not to like the guy. He’s charming, funny and has a huge heart ~ even if he tries to hide it. But was the story progressed and his truths were exposed, he became more and ended up being absolutely fascinating.

Cassie and Patrick’s journey was definitely not conventional. They go from enemies to fuck buddies (for lack of a better term) to friends and then more, but it was absolutely fascinating to experience. While their agreement started out as only sex and only to explore Cassie’s dark fantasies, it quickly turned into more and I loved watching how it not only brought them out of the enemy zone and had them becoming friends and more, but was also the catalyst that sparked changes in their lives as a whole. With two such dominant personalities, the journey wasn’t an easy one and the big pothole in it was one where I actually didn’t pick a side because they were both right and wrong at the same time. But I loved how things worked out with them in the end.

I’ve written this word numerous times, but once more won’t kill anyone right? But I found this book to be absolutely fascinating. I loved going on the journey with Cassie and Patrick as they delved into their dark sides, but not everyone will. This isn’t about having an open mind, at least not entirely, it’s more of a you’ll either be into it or you won’t. What goes on between Cassie and Patrick is dark and lines are crossed, but it is all absolutely consensual. I loved catching up with Lilly and Jack from His Contract, and Gabe and Nick, and I’m quite curious to see what the future holds for Sam and Brady.

Loved his book. It was a n easy read. The power struggle between to people who knew their worth yet doubted themselves kept me captivated

If you want to read a book full of sexual angst that pulls you in and won't let go, Her Claim: Legally Bound Book 2 by Rebecca Grace Allen is an absolute must read. Cassie and Patrick are very flawed people that despise each other yet are strongly attracted to each other. Their hate filled banter is hilarious and their sexual chemistry is smoking hot. One night, after yet another nasty argument, hate turns to passion and the result is angry, erotic sex.
The next day, still hate each other, but maybe not so much as before. That's where the fun begins...........

Sexy, dark, enemies to lovers romance

I am enjoying Rebecca Grace Allen's Legally Bound series very much. Cassie and Patrick met in the first book His Contract where sparks briefly flew between them. However while I encourage the reader to read book one as its a great story this book works well as a stand alone read.
I initially found Casdie and Patrick's characters in Her Claim a little hard to take because of the animosity that seem to drive every conversation but as their back stories and true selves emerged and their interactions mellowed I grew to like them and root for them to the point I was eagerly turning the pages to see what was going to come next. There is less BDSM in this story however what there is, is somewhat darker and includes some "Edge play" and consenual non-consent so readers with possible triggers are advised to tred carefully. That being said I thought those portions of the book were handled very well. I think the author created not only a beautiful love story but a story which did an excellent job of showing the importance of self awareness and acceptance of oneself in and out of the bedroom.
I received an advance reader copy from Netgalley.

Cassie Allbright takes no prisoners. A half Cuban ball-busting attorney, she’s too tough to admit what she wants in bed. But tough is the only way to cut it in her high-powered firm, and Cassie doesn’t need a knight in shining armor. And she definitely doesn’t need Patrick Dunham—an arrogant, chauvinistic man-whore with a knack for pissing her off.When I started reading I couldn't put it down I read the book in one day.Rebecca is magnifysent writer.I cannot wait to read more of her books.Keep up the great work.You should definitely read this book.

Wow..this one blew me out of the water. I love a strong heroine and a hero who understands her for what she is and can still appreciate her for being an individual. I love that the heroine remains strong throughout and that the hero is just as resolute. It must be said the sexual chemistry was super jot...enjoyed every minute spent reading this one

This is the first book by this author I have had the privilege of reading and enjoyed it immensely. It was refreshing to read a book that was not new adult. Cassie and Patrick, enemies at first finding they not only had the same interests but wonder if they are actually falling in love. It was intriguing to read a BDSM story that was new to both characters. Their story held passion and believability. A great series that you won’t want to miss.

An emotional, different love story,I really liked cassie who was a strong minded woman but with vulnerability too.Patrick and her was a fiery and compelling couple.I enjoy their romance and this book.

A beautifully written romantic, emotional love story. I loved it.