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The Condemned #4
Tamed
“Talk or suffer the consequences.”
Ruthless warrior Grif McIntyre is known for his brutal interrogation techniques, a skill he learned much too young from a monster even more savage than him. Still, Grif’s skills with ropes, restraints, and unbearable pleasure are unrivaled. His methods merciless, but effective. Tasked with capturing and breaking a critical target in order to rescue a handful of missing females, he assumes the mission will be no different from the others that have come before.
But the female he captures is not what he expects.
Captured and chained by a beast more terrifying than any she has seen before, Nayla is certain her already difficult life has just gotten worse. The brute’s mannerisms and grunts are strange, his demands terrifying and against the traditions of her pack. Even worse is the way he handles her. As if he has the right. As if she is not tainted and unworthy. As if he believes what he is doing is punishment. In truth, the searing heat he brings to life with his rough touches, and the growing lust in his gaze, is all she has ever craved.
She would be content to suffer his torment forever, but he wants information she cannot afford to give.
Soon, it is only a question of who will break first.
TAMED, Book 4 in The Condemned Series, is an action-packed, smoking hot standalone SciFi romance about two people from different worlds who are more alike in their desires than they could ever imagine. While the hero and heroine deal with unequal power dynamics and rope play, pleasure is always the name of the game. This is a HOT read and a wild ride for those who like an edgier adventure.
Ruthless warrior Grif McIntyre is known for his brutal interrogation techniques, a skill he learned much too young from a monster even more savage than him. Still, Grif’s skills with ropes, restraints, and unbearable pleasure are unrivaled. His methods merciless, but effective. Tasked with capturing and breaking a critical target in order to rescue a handful of missing females, he assumes the mission will be no different from the others that have come before.
But the female he captures is not what he expects.
Captured and chained by a beast more terrifying than any she has seen before, Nayla is certain her already difficult life has just gotten worse. The brute’s mannerisms and grunts are strange, his demands terrifying and against the traditions of her pack. Even worse is the way he handles her. As if he has the right. As if she is not tainted and unworthy. As if he believes what he is doing is punishment. In truth, the searing heat he brings to life with his rough touches, and the growing lust in his gaze, is all she has ever craved.
She would be content to suffer his torment forever, but he wants information she cannot afford to give.
Soon, it is only a question of who will break first.
TAMED, Book 4 in The Condemned Series, is an action-packed, smoking hot standalone SciFi romance about two people from different worlds who are more alike in their desires than they could ever imagine. While the hero and heroine deal with unequal power dynamics and rope play, pleasure is always the name of the game. This is a HOT read and a wild ride for those who like an edgier adventure.
380 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2020
About the author
Alison Aimes
29 books832 followersAlison Aimes is a USA Today bestselling author of Sci-Fi, Fantasy, & Omegaverse Romance. Her books are on the steamy side and full of strong heroes, brave heroines, loads of action, and happy ever-afters. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two kids, her dog and a serious stash of chocolate.
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August 31, 2020
Tamed is book four in The Condemned Series by Alison Aimes. I have loved this series since the very first book. They are all dark, deeply sensual and suspenseful, each one gripping me from the beginning to the end. Including this book. Both of the main characters are so deeply scarred that both had given up any hope of either giving or receiving love. Both just wanted to survive. Until they came into each other’s lives. Then everything changed.
Grif McIntyre had a horrible childhood filled with pain and horror. As part of the resistance on New Earth, he eventually ended up being shipped to the prison planet, Dragath25. Now Grif is part of a settlement of people doing more than surviving on the planet. They are flourishing. Only some of their females have been taken, being held prisoner. Grif is trying to prove himself worthy of being promoted to the second in command position. To capture and interrogate the one who knows where the females are would be the perfect way to prove his worth.
Nayla has never belonged to her pack. She has always been an outcast, different than the others, abused and ostracized by the leader. She has been made to feel like a monster. She has always believed that if she could just prove her worth, try harder, work harder, that she might someday be accepted. But then she was captured by a huge man, an other. She thought her life was finally over. He wants information, wants to know where the females are. She can’t betray her pack. But his methods of torture aren’t what she expected. She thought it would be like the torture she has endured all her life. No, this is something else. This is pleasure torture. The most intense pleasure she has ever known, only to have it withdrawn, time and time again.
Grif is an interrogator. He has made the strongest of his captives break. But this tiny pixie of a woman is by far his strongest foe. He needs to find out where the women are. But every time he touches her, he can feel their bond strengthen. He’s not sure what it is between them, but he soon finds himself not wanting to torture her, but instead to protect her.
This book was amazing. I loved watching the impact these two had on each other. As Grif’s affection for Nayla grew, he became dedicated to showing her that she was worthy. That she meant everything to him. But at the same time, she affected him too. She began to thaw the icy fortress he had around his heart. He needed to protect Nayla, to shield her, but all she wanted was to be his partner, to stand by his side and to be part of a team.
You can definitely read this as a stand alone. But the entire series is so good. I highly recommend it. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, Tempted.
“You are my home and my heart. Once this is over, I want to give you everything.”
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
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September 16, 2020
This series just keeps on getting better.
Tamed actually blew me away and I devoured this one reading it in one sitting.
I thought the last book here was my favourite but this actually surpassed it quite a feat considering how much I loved that one also.
So we are still on the prison planet Dragath25 and this time its Grifs turn to be wrung inside out as he sets out to recover the location of the missing woman and capture and then exact his fury on the creature he holds responsible for there current plight.
Grif turned out to be so much more than I ever could have imagined.
Complex with a deep-seated need to protect and a compulsion to control and dominate.
These urges are what have kept his demons at bay his traumatic past playing a big part in who he is today.
His dominance is his way of stacking the deck in his favour almost controlling the outcome he was powerless to do as a young boy when he couldn’t protect his sister.
He is all black and white not always seeing the grey and he hides his darker nature behind a charming smile and a fixed persona.
That is until his newest catch and current assignment a tiny and elusive female.
There previous interactions putting her firmly in his crosshairs.
Nayla is the mixed offspring of the planets native inhabitants and a planet prisoner.
She’s also the grey that Grif wasn’t quite prepared for not fitting into any of his neat little boxes.
Doing the right thing this time will also hurt another innocent one who’s tiny but fierce with a difficult life and backstory.
An outcast from her pack she longs for acceptance.
She’s known no physical skin to skin touch bar her pack leaders vicious assaults and cruelties and is even without any actual given name up till now.
Initially enemies and a captive it’s not long before Grif realises she’s just as much a victim as the missing woman he is trying to rescue.
He also doesn’t expect to feel such a deep connection to his exotic prisoner.
She, in turn, sees beneath all the surface bull to the man hidden inside and Grif sees her right on back.
This one was also so Incredibly sensual and I adored all the rope play between Grif and Nayla it was so bloody hot.
This also did a great job of protecting all that heat but also all the underlying uncertainty and vulnerability from both sides.
I could feel the emerging connections and this felt intense and authentic in all its descriptions.
I believed the bond between Grif and Nayla was the real deal and I also loved the almost bridging of two separate cultures to find a common ground.
This one really was great and I inhaled it.
The series itself is fabulous with some amazing world-building and I can’t recommend it enough.
For maximum enjoyment, I do recommend reading in order especially book 2, 3 and 4 as these follow a recurring timeline with the same characters.
Each one does feature a separate couple but there’s an ongoing story arc throughout.
Book 1 did seem slightly separate even though it’s connected the couple here stand slightly apart and don’t actually appear in any later books that I can recall.
So yeh best one yet for me keep them coming and I’ll definitely keep on reading.
Also, don’t forget to get the bonus epilogue by signing up to the newsletter so worth it.
It really was fabulous and so cute leaving me with such a warm and fuzzy feeling inside.
This one gets a very easy thumbs up from me.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of Tamed (The Condemned series #4).
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
August 28, 2020
4 "wild thing & savage Other" stars
I've waited quite a while for the 4th book in this series. Griff has fascinated me from what I ve learned about him in previous book and we finally have his story.
Grif is the interrogator of the crew, the Boy Scout, always charming and a hero, but since his last mission , when he went down because of a female,and lost important people in the process, his mind has been set on only one thing: find his target and get the information he needs from her.
His expertise with ropes and restraining is put to use as soon as he finds Nayla, his captive, a woman like he's never encountered before. Lines are crossed,secrets shared and soon she becomes a much bigger complication than Griff needs, but can he resist it?
I really like how their trust in eachother grew with every sentence they spoke. How much lust and connection they had and of course the alpha-male, all growls , dominance and possessiveness was a huge turn on.
Nayla character has grown so much by the end of the book, from a shy, submissive, unworthy woman she became witty, stubborn and spoke her mind freely, all with Griff's trust and faith in her.
Ryker is still my favorite in this series so far, but lots of secondary characters are intriguing and deserve their HEA, like Malin and Lana. Oh! and stay tuned to author's newsletter to discover who the mysterious character(who's identity hasn't been relived) is, and also a huge plus, this book has 2 epilogues.
Overall, action-packed, steamy, raw and thrilling adventure on the planet Dragath25.
** ARC provided in exchange of a honest review**
I've waited quite a while for the 4th book in this series. Griff has fascinated me from what I ve learned about him in previous book and we finally have his story.
Grif is the interrogator of the crew, the Boy Scout, always charming and a hero, but since his last mission , when he went down because of a female,and lost important people in the process, his mind has been set on only one thing: find his target and get the information he needs from her.
His expertise with ropes and restraining is put to use as soon as he finds Nayla, his captive, a woman like he's never encountered before. Lines are crossed,secrets shared and soon she becomes a much bigger complication than Griff needs, but can he resist it?
I really like how their trust in eachother grew with every sentence they spoke. How much lust and connection they had and of course the alpha-male, all growls , dominance and possessiveness was a huge turn on.
Nayla character has grown so much by the end of the book, from a shy, submissive, unworthy woman she became witty, stubborn and spoke her mind freely, all with Griff's trust and faith in her.
Ryker is still my favorite in this series so far, but lots of secondary characters are intriguing and deserve their HEA, like Malin and Lana. Oh! and stay tuned to author's newsletter to discover who the mysterious character(who's identity hasn't been relived) is, and also a huge plus, this book has 2 epilogues.
Overall, action-packed, steamy, raw and thrilling adventure on the planet Dragath25.
** ARC provided in exchange of a honest review**
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January 29, 2022
⤅ One word for you here: WOW.
After a series that had its high and low points, we've reached an absolute high in the latest book. There's dubious consent, an absolutely besotted alpha hero, rope play, captor/captive dynamics and a heroine who tries to flee, a humanoid cat-shifter-esque heroine... Also, at about 100k, this is an awesomely thick book that lets you really sink into the heads of the characters and understand their motivations. Not a word is wasted.
Definitely Alison Aimes at her best.
After a series that had its high and low points, we've reached an absolute high in the latest book. There's dubious consent, an absolutely besotted alpha hero, rope play, captor/captive dynamics and a heroine who tries to flee, a humanoid cat-shifter-esque heroine... Also, at about 100k, this is an awesomely thick book that lets you really sink into the heads of the characters and understand their motivations. Not a word is wasted.
Definitely Alison Aimes at her best.
January 21, 2021
Not finished yet but WOW! This Book IS Amazing! Love Alison Aimes! I will write a review soon. I loved this book so much. I love this world and the people in it.
September 1, 2020
Another amazing book from Alison Aimes!! To say I loved this would be an understatement. I am pretty sure she has just made a spot for herself on my Rock Star Author list.
I had the opportunity to read an ARC of this book without having read the first three. Since I’ve heard this entire series is amazing, I wanted to get a little taste of the world before I dove into the fourth book of a series. Let me just say, I devoured book one (Trapped). And I soooooo wanted to read books 2 and 3 before I started this one, but unfortunately, I was running out of time before the release date. Begrudgingly, when I was at 55% of book 2 (Taken), I had to stop and start this one to ensure I’d be done in time. (I WILL be diving back into book 2 asap!)
Now… onto my review of Tamed, with the ever-so-freakin'-lovable characters, Grif & Nayla, aka “wild thing”. I couldn’t have loved these two more if I tried.
Super protective.
Savagely fierce.
A little bit broken.
Resilient.
Strong, yet vulnerable.
Needing acceptance.
You’re probably wondering if I’m describing the Hero or the heroine.
These words happen to describe both. I just wanted to hug and squeeze them both and assure them everything would be okay. They both own a big piece of my heart.
Watching Nayla grow stronger every day was a beautiful thing.
Seeing Grif’s black & white become a little bit gray was so heart-warming.
Such a powerful couple, feeding off each other, needing each other…SO GOOD for each other.
He empowered her. She grounded him.
I could taste their passion.
I could FEEL their love.
Intoxicating deliciousness swirled through the pages when these two were together, making me crave every word.
Intense feels made me grip my kindle a little bit tighter. Was it from the sizzling sexual tension? The action-packed scenes? Or from the anticipation of what was going to happen next?
---> ALL OF THE ABOVE.
There was never a dull moment in this well-written story. So vividly penned, I saw this play out like a movie in front of me. This world is such an amazing place to experience. From otherworldly creatures, to the glowing spears, to the streams of pink water, to the cute little pointed ears…I couldn’t get enough. This story is the perfect recipe for an enjoyable and delicious sci-fi romance.
All I know is, Grif can tie me up,
interrogate me,
tease me & torture me,
and tame me ANY. DAY.
Each book in this series are stand-alones, and the first 3 books do not have to be read in order to enjoy this story. But, I will say, if you have the chance to read the first three books, do it!
And I need to mention real quick…I am SO EXCITED for Ghost’s book!!!!!
I need this story like yesterday, Ms. Alison. Mkay?
I had the opportunity to read an ARC of this book without having read the first three. Since I’ve heard this entire series is amazing, I wanted to get a little taste of the world before I dove into the fourth book of a series. Let me just say, I devoured book one (Trapped). And I soooooo wanted to read books 2 and 3 before I started this one, but unfortunately, I was running out of time before the release date. Begrudgingly, when I was at 55% of book 2 (Taken), I had to stop and start this one to ensure I’d be done in time. (I WILL be diving back into book 2 asap!)
Now… onto my review of Tamed, with the ever-so-freakin'-lovable characters, Grif & Nayla, aka “wild thing”. I couldn’t have loved these two more if I tried.
Super protective.
Savagely fierce.
A little bit broken.
Resilient.
Strong, yet vulnerable.
Needing acceptance.
You’re probably wondering if I’m describing the Hero or the heroine.
These words happen to describe both. I just wanted to hug and squeeze them both and assure them everything would be okay. They both own a big piece of my heart.
Watching Nayla grow stronger every day was a beautiful thing.
Seeing Grif’s black & white become a little bit gray was so heart-warming.
Such a powerful couple, feeding off each other, needing each other…SO GOOD for each other.
He empowered her. She grounded him.
I could taste their passion.
I could FEEL their love.
Intoxicating deliciousness swirled through the pages when these two were together, making me crave every word.
Intense feels made me grip my kindle a little bit tighter. Was it from the sizzling sexual tension? The action-packed scenes? Or from the anticipation of what was going to happen next?
---> ALL OF THE ABOVE.
There was never a dull moment in this well-written story. So vividly penned, I saw this play out like a movie in front of me. This world is such an amazing place to experience. From otherworldly creatures, to the glowing spears, to the streams of pink water, to the cute little pointed ears…I couldn’t get enough. This story is the perfect recipe for an enjoyable and delicious sci-fi romance.
All I know is, Grif can tie me up,
interrogate me,
tease me & torture me,
and tame me ANY. DAY.
Each book in this series are stand-alones, and the first 3 books do not have to be read in order to enjoy this story. But, I will say, if you have the chance to read the first three books, do it!
And I need to mention real quick…I am SO EXCITED for Ghost’s book!!!!!
I need this story like yesterday, Ms. Alison. Mkay?
September 6, 2020
There are not enough stars in the sky for this book.
I think I say this about each of the books in this series as they come out - this is my favorite book in the series, but this one REALLY is. There is so much here: meditations on how we are all both part of a tribe and separate from one, what it means to be human, how two broken souls can find and heal each other, how power can be quiet and contained and still be incredibly powerful. There are also wonderfully steamy scenes and moments that jerked many tears out of me.
I loved Grif from the start - how could you not? He tries so hard and is so fallible. Love for Nayla grew on me slowly as I saw the same things in her that Grif saw. By the end, I was hopelessly in love with this couple and intend to read their love story many, many times, every time the world disappoints me, because Grif and Nayla don't!
This whole series is one of my favorites and this book really is my favorite of the whole series! Highly recommended and I can't wait to find out who ghost is and read their story!!
I think I say this about each of the books in this series as they come out - this is my favorite book in the series, but this one REALLY is. There is so much here: meditations on how we are all both part of a tribe and separate from one, what it means to be human, how two broken souls can find and heal each other, how power can be quiet and contained and still be incredibly powerful. There are also wonderfully steamy scenes and moments that jerked many tears out of me.
I loved Grif from the start - how could you not? He tries so hard and is so fallible. Love for Nayla grew on me slowly as I saw the same things in her that Grif saw. By the end, I was hopelessly in love with this couple and intend to read their love story many, many times, every time the world disappoints me, because Grif and Nayla don't!
This whole series is one of my favorites and this book really is my favorite of the whole series! Highly recommended and I can't wait to find out who ghost is and read their story!!
August 31, 2020
I started this book expecting more of the same ol', same ol'.
But what I got was a well told story about a culture clash and how to find a solution other than just killing off the "Others"!
And to top it all off a HEA!
But what I got was a well told story about a culture clash and how to find a solution other than just killing off the "Others"!
And to top it all off a HEA!
October 4, 2020
Grif is the best at interrogating people to get the information he needs for his purposes. He is tasked with finding some missing females. He didn't expect the female he captures to be so tempting. Nayla is an outcast in her life. She finds Grif frightening and unlike her people. She also has a secret about the missing women that she can't afford to reveal no matter how she might want Grif. An interesting read with BDSM elements that fit the couple.
I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am leaving a review.
I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am leaving a review.
August 26, 2020
This broken man must hide his dark monster from others. He is the protector, the White Knight, the Boy Scout; but deep down pain and horrors of his past have twisted him into the person you go when you want to answers from those that don't want to give them. He is a nightmare to them, the interrogator. The wild thing that caused him more pain than he has known in years, she will soon know what true pain means when he gets his hands on her. He will do whatever it takes to get the information he needs out of her.
No name, no touch, no one. That is all she knows. She is nothing, less than nothing; she is cursed. She knew she was in trouble when she saw the big man. His fierceness scared her, but she would do anything if it meant she would finally be excepted by the pack. Now she is trapped and at his mercy and for the first time feeling. She may not survive.
These two beautifully broken people find that though they come from different worlds, their stories are both tragic and full of pain. Together they can fill each other's broken pieces and make each other whole if they can convince both of their peoples to work together and not make war. If just flashbacks of rape and incest upset you, be warned. There on scenes of dubcon in which pleasure is used as a form of interrogation and torture. Overall, steamy scenes are two scarred souls revealing all the uglies and laying it bare and other person seeing the real them. There is definitely a HEA so have no fear
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
No name, no touch, no one. That is all she knows. She is nothing, less than nothing; she is cursed. She knew she was in trouble when she saw the big man. His fierceness scared her, but she would do anything if it meant she would finally be excepted by the pack. Now she is trapped and at his mercy and for the first time feeling. She may not survive.
These two beautifully broken people find that though they come from different worlds, their stories are both tragic and full of pain. Together they can fill each other's broken pieces and make each other whole if they can convince both of their peoples to work together and not make war. If just flashbacks of rape and incest upset you, be warned. There on scenes of dubcon in which pleasure is used as a form of interrogation and torture. Overall, steamy scenes are two scarred souls revealing all the uglies and laying it bare and other person seeing the real them. There is definitely a HEA so have no fear
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 28, 2020
The writing and editing of the ARC version of the manuscript was clean, with no typos that I found. The world building was vivid, with the underground waterways coming to life. The characterization was quite good, with both the hero and heroine being complex individuals with strengths and weaknesses. The development of the romantic relationship was dark, sweet, and hot at the same time. The plot and pacing was tight and quick, so I read this novel quickly. There was a medium amount of well justified angst and very high stakes in this novel, so I enjoyed it quite a bit. This novel used the Kidnapping trope, the Prison Planet trope, and the Enemies to Lovers trope. The world building, plot, and pacing were all four stars. The characterization and development of the romantic relationship were also four stars. The combined rating of this novel is therefore four stars. The novel ends on a Happy Ever After ending instead of a cliffhanger, so that is a plus. I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy the Prison Planet trope in sci-fi romance. I would like to read the next novel in this series when it releases. I may buy myself a keeper copy of this novel.
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.
March 21, 2021
This is the fourth in Ms. Aimes' series centering on a band of Resistance fighters, their attempts to survive the prison planet they're unfairly exiled to, and the women they grow to love. While each entry is a standalone in terms of the couple, certain lines of action begin in previous books; if you haven't read Tormented, you will be lost.
All the books blend dystopian sci-fic, romance, and erotica. Each features a different relationship dynamic, conflict, objective, and socio-economic theme - this last is always relevant to our own contemporary world. The first book, for example, dealt with climate change; this addresses post-colonialism and the concept of "othering." Until now, the humans sent to this planet have always fought each other; here, however, they realize that they aren't alone and that the indigenous "people" have no love for the violent humans encroaching on their land.
Because this is primarily a romance, the dangers of "othering" are depicted via the enemies-to-lovers story of the human Grif and the part-human, part-pack Nayla. She has stolen some human females; he's determined to "torture" her to get them back (via shibari, natch). During their time together, however, each realizes that they've unfairly judged the other based on cultural differences and prejudices.
Of all four books, this is my favorite and I recommend it highly. The author makes excellent points about how distrusting, marginalizing, and dehumanizing those we consider not like us can, well, tear a planet in two. This proves quite the wake-up call for Grif and his gang. Until now, they've believed that they're the good guys and the other men they're fighting against the bad; imagine his surprise when he realizes that Nayla considers all humans "bad" because they've taken her people's food. You will also root for the MC here: both victims of child abuse (trigger warning for some uncomfortable flashbacks), each soon learns that despite their differences and initial distrust, they are stronger and happier when relating to each other as individuals and working together. That Ms. Aimes achieves this without arguing for cultural and ethnic hegemony is very much to her credit. Finally, as always, I appreciate the strong heroines and that the heroes appreciate them. While the dynamic here is similar to that of the previous books -- lusty male teaches repressed female to enjoy those smexy times -- Nayla is distinct enough for this not to read like a retread.
Although the plot was gripping (with a twist I didn't see coming) and the stakes high (will Nayla's people let the kidnapped women go or will the two groups go to war?), the narrative was much too repetitious. We saw versions of the same scene replayed so often that I began to skim whole sections (Nayla and Grif fight; they make up; they fight again). This is the major complaint I've had with the entire series and I urge Ms. Aimes to use an editor. This would easily have been a five-star read if some of those scenes had been cut. In fact, I would have traded one of the umpteen "I have to protect you at all costs" exchanges for more time with Nayla's pack.
4 1/2 stars. There is one line of action left open at the end and I note that Ms. Aimes mentions that they'll be a fifth book. I don't know when, but I'll certainly read it.
All the books blend dystopian sci-fic, romance, and erotica. Each features a different relationship dynamic, conflict, objective, and socio-economic theme - this last is always relevant to our own contemporary world. The first book, for example, dealt with climate change; this addresses post-colonialism and the concept of "othering." Until now, the humans sent to this planet have always fought each other; here, however, they realize that they aren't alone and that the indigenous "people" have no love for the violent humans encroaching on their land.
Because this is primarily a romance, the dangers of "othering" are depicted via the enemies-to-lovers story of the human Grif and the part-human, part-pack Nayla. She has stolen some human females; he's determined to "torture" her to get them back (via shibari, natch). During their time together, however, each realizes that they've unfairly judged the other based on cultural differences and prejudices.
Of all four books, this is my favorite and I recommend it highly. The author makes excellent points about how distrusting, marginalizing, and dehumanizing those we consider not like us can, well, tear a planet in two. This proves quite the wake-up call for Grif and his gang. Until now, they've believed that they're the good guys and the other men they're fighting against the bad; imagine his surprise when he realizes that Nayla considers all humans "bad" because they've taken her people's food. You will also root for the MC here: both victims of child abuse (trigger warning for some uncomfortable flashbacks), each soon learns that despite their differences and initial distrust, they are stronger and happier when relating to each other as individuals and working together. That Ms. Aimes achieves this without arguing for cultural and ethnic hegemony is very much to her credit. Finally, as always, I appreciate the strong heroines and that the heroes appreciate them. While the dynamic here is similar to that of the previous books -- lusty male teaches repressed female to enjoy those smexy times -- Nayla is distinct enough for this not to read like a retread.
Although the plot was gripping (with a twist I didn't see coming) and the stakes high (will Nayla's people let the kidnapped women go or will the two groups go to war?), the narrative was much too repetitious. We saw versions of the same scene replayed so often that I began to skim whole sections (Nayla and Grif fight; they make up; they fight again). This is the major complaint I've had with the entire series and I urge Ms. Aimes to use an editor. This would easily have been a five-star read if some of those scenes had been cut. In fact, I would have traded one of the umpteen "I have to protect you at all costs" exchanges for more time with Nayla's pack.
4 1/2 stars. There is one line of action left open at the end and I note that Ms. Aimes mentions that they'll be a fifth book. I don't know when, but I'll certainly read it.
August 31, 2020
This is a great Scifi romance Grif and Nayla chemistry together is everything. hot wild and there interaction with each other kept my attention and I couldn't put the book down Great story plot Tamed will leave you wanting more. I freely voluntarily review this book for my honest opinion
September 17, 2020
Following soon
August 21, 2020
The Condemned Series...
Grif and his sister Raina were abused as children. Now as an adult, living on the brutal prison planet Dragath25, Grif is overcompensating by trying to save everyone. When he first encountered Nayla, he ended up in shackles when she betrayed him. Things aren’t always what they seem...
I received a free copy of this book. This review was posted voluntarily
Grif and his sister Raina were abused as children. Now as an adult, living on the brutal prison planet Dragath25, Grif is overcompensating by trying to save everyone. When he first encountered Nayla, he ended up in shackles when she betrayed him. Things aren’t always what they seem...
I received a free copy of this book. This review was posted voluntarily
August 30, 2020
Tamed: A Prison Planet Romance (The Condemned Series Book 4) This book was awesome and well written I wasn’t bored by the story in fact the story plot alone will intrigued to read this book. I love the MC and how they were introduced in the story. Overall This Book is amazing I loved the series. And I feel if u give this book a chance u will like it too I voluntarily read an advanced copy and this is my review.
August 28, 2020
This book was so good!! I truly enjoyed Grif and Nayla's story. These two snuck right into my heart. These are complex and complicated characters and I felt so much for each of them. I felt the dynamic between these two broken individuals was compelling. There are so many layer to these two and some of them are really surprising. It just goes to show that the surface is just that; the surface. There is so much more than you can get with that initial look. This book offers up an enticing tale that is filled with drama, tension, emotion, heat and intensity. I'm electing to post a forthright review.
June 25, 2021
And the mighty Grif has finally met his match.
Rating: 4 stars
Steam: 3 flames
Genre: Sci-fi romance / Captor & Captive / Enemies to lovers
*****
Grif, so brave, so strong, determined to save everyone, and oh so broken. Grif endured a terrible upbringing, one that was riddled with misery and suffering. Grif was unable to save his sister from either herself or their violent father, but he is determined not to let another woman down.
In Ryker’s book, several women were taken by a small woman with a glowing stick. He is determined to save them from whatever took them.
Nayala, alone, untouchable, outcast, has been trying to fit into her pack from birth but the horrible Talg, leader of the pack see’s her as the lowest of low and he makes sure that the pack see’s her the same way. Nayala has been taught that she is untouchable, undeserving, and inferior due to her part "Other" ancestry. She tries everything she can to aid her pack and establish her value. Even if that means bartering for girls with the Others.
Grif will not abandon the women that have been abducted, and now he must capture the small "furball" and get her to tell him what he needs to know. Grif's favorite technique of extracting information? Pleasure...through ropes and knots. Aye yai yi....is it starting to get warm in here? It feels warmer. I think I would like to be interrogated next please.
Tamed is another page-turner that will have you guessing until the very end. There is betrayal, suffering, forgiveness, and discovery. Nayala finding her strength was incredible. Grif navigating his emotions and learning he can’t do it all by himself was heartwarming. I have truly enjoyed the Condemned series and will miss these guys and their adventures on Dragath25.
Do I recommend this book? Yes, I recommend the whole darn series! I do hope there are more books to come and if there are, I will keep reading!
Rating: 4 stars
Steam: 3 flames
Genre: Sci-fi romance / Captor & Captive / Enemies to lovers
*****
Grif, so brave, so strong, determined to save everyone, and oh so broken. Grif endured a terrible upbringing, one that was riddled with misery and suffering. Grif was unable to save his sister from either herself or their violent father, but he is determined not to let another woman down.
In Ryker’s book, several women were taken by a small woman with a glowing stick. He is determined to save them from whatever took them.
Nayala, alone, untouchable, outcast, has been trying to fit into her pack from birth but the horrible Talg, leader of the pack see’s her as the lowest of low and he makes sure that the pack see’s her the same way. Nayala has been taught that she is untouchable, undeserving, and inferior due to her part "Other" ancestry. She tries everything she can to aid her pack and establish her value. Even if that means bartering for girls with the Others.
Grif will not abandon the women that have been abducted, and now he must capture the small "furball" and get her to tell him what he needs to know. Grif's favorite technique of extracting information? Pleasure...through ropes and knots. Aye yai yi....is it starting to get warm in here? It feels warmer. I think I would like to be interrogated next please.
Tamed is another page-turner that will have you guessing until the very end. There is betrayal, suffering, forgiveness, and discovery. Nayala finding her strength was incredible. Grif navigating his emotions and learning he can’t do it all by himself was heartwarming. I have truly enjoyed the Condemned series and will miss these guys and their adventures on Dragath25.
Do I recommend this book? Yes, I recommend the whole darn series! I do hope there are more books to come and if there are, I will keep reading!
September 1, 2020
After escaping, the prison on Dragoth25, Grif is one of previous prisoners who now have settled on the planet, but still having to fight the prison gang called 225 who also escaped...but Grif is a muscled survivor who beat the horrors of his childhood and the prison to meet up with a gang who was trading with a humanoid pack...they had a weapon which stuns whoever it is used against...so after escaping 225's slave camp, where women he wanted to protect were traded to pack...he tracks the one who did the trade. All he could see was something in a fur covering who took the slaves in trade and a beast with six legs, feathers and a beak...so he meets up with a pixie-like creature, with human roots way in her past after he digs pits to trap her...but she is hybrid who was half human or Other as the pack calls the humans...after using his interrogation techniques and ropes to gain information from Nayla, he found himself drawn to his prisoner...but you will need to read this intriguing story to see what happens...I voluntarily read this book through an Advanced Reader Copy.
August 30, 2020
★ My fave of this sexy sci-fi series thus far ★
—>>> Both characters have had difficult backgrounds which still haunt their actions and purpose daily. It was something about their chemistry, how Grif proved he could keep his promises and that he was not a violent savage, and how Nayla finally was valued, protected and cherished for all she had to offer by Grif. The dynamics of their romance developed and then deepened even though their cultures were at odds right off; mutual attraction was clear at the onset. Next, throw in greed, desperation for both basic and valued resources, and a leader with no integrity. It took a man who didn’t believe in the gray areas at all to to fully see that there was so much more to the female he had captured to interrogate, if he could just open up his heart and mind to see the whole truth. The storyline includes a fair bit of contributing events not mentioned here, but they serve to round out the story wonderfully. A lovely bonus epilogue to Grif and Nayla’s story was available by clicking the link at the end of the book.
—>>> Both characters have had difficult backgrounds which still haunt their actions and purpose daily. It was something about their chemistry, how Grif proved he could keep his promises and that he was not a violent savage, and how Nayla finally was valued, protected and cherished for all she had to offer by Grif. The dynamics of their romance developed and then deepened even though their cultures were at odds right off; mutual attraction was clear at the onset. Next, throw in greed, desperation for both basic and valued resources, and a leader with no integrity. It took a man who didn’t believe in the gray areas at all to to fully see that there was so much more to the female he had captured to interrogate, if he could just open up his heart and mind to see the whole truth. The storyline includes a fair bit of contributing events not mentioned here, but they serve to round out the story wonderfully. A lovely bonus epilogue to Grif and Nayla’s story was available by clicking the link at the end of the book.
November 11, 2020
A Knotty Naughty Problem💃💋💘
ADULT Alpha Male🐺💪👊🔫🔪 Sci-fi Romance💕 and Adventure.
They're From Two Different Worlds🌍
Grif and his sister were abandoned as children to a horribly abusive father by their mother. He grows up an abuser and binder who spends two rotations in the mines of the prison planet Dragath25 honing his skills as an interrogator and killer!
Now he and Ryker have escaped the mines and are building a walled settlement on the desert surface of the prison planet.
He captures an alien female who was part of a gang that was taking and selling other females into slavery. The binder in him comes out!
ARC Provided by Hidden 💎Gems.
This Ebook was $4.99 on Amazon at the time of this review.
Opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
ADULT Alpha Male🐺💪👊🔫🔪 Sci-fi Romance💕 and Adventure.
They're From Two Different Worlds🌍
Grif and his sister were abandoned as children to a horribly abusive father by their mother. He grows up an abuser and binder who spends two rotations in the mines of the prison planet Dragath25 honing his skills as an interrogator and killer!
Now he and Ryker have escaped the mines and are building a walled settlement on the desert surface of the prison planet.
He captures an alien female who was part of a gang that was taking and selling other females into slavery. The binder in him comes out!
ARC Provided by Hidden 💎Gems.
This Ebook was $4.99 on Amazon at the time of this review.
Opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
August 31, 2020
This was a bingeworthy adventure full of twists and turns and some yummy anticipation and steam. It had a bit of angst, but not the annoying, wishy-washy kind. My only complaint would be that Nayla's English varied from learning to amazing and back to still learning, but that was a very minor blip in an otherwise terrific story. Trauma, trust, acceptance, self-forgiveness, teamwork, group dynamics, cultural differences, survival, determination, courage, honor, sacrifice, hope, and love were some of the undercurrents in this thrilling tale.
I received a free copy of Tamed, but that did not affect my review.
I received a free copy of Tamed, but that did not affect my review.
August 31, 2020
I simply loved Grif and Nayla’s story! Grif was abused as a child and ended up being shipped to the prison planet, Dragath25. Now he’s an interrogator, and wants to prove himself to be second in command. When some of the females are captured and taken his mission is to capture and interrogate the one who knows where the females are and prove himself. Nyla has been abused by her pack and never felt as if she belonged. When she is captured by Grif and interrogated, she’s more pleasured than tortured. Grif feels himself drawn to Nyla and wanting to protect her. I loved Grif and Nyla’s characters and their character development was amazing.
August 31, 2020
This story was interesting and a little dark. From the story line, I gather there are prior books but you can still read this one without having read the others. The H captures the h and sexually tortures her for the information on the where about of their other people. These two both have issues and baggage. He has a deep seated need to help and save women. While she is trying to make up and atone for a mistake that is not her fault. I really liked the H. He knew exactly what he wanted and did whatever it took to get it, namely her.
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.
August 31, 2020
Griff is famous for his brutal interrogation skills and is tasked with capturing a target and getting information. Nayla is isn’t what he expected and the punishments aren’t really that for Nayla, what will happen when sparks begin to fly between them? Fast-paced sci-fi read with loads of drama, suspense and steam. Great world building, amazing characters with loads of twists and turns, and plenty of drama. I liked it.
August 29, 2020
This amazingly well-written book 4 in the Condemned Series is an intriguing story as it had some very well-thought out scenes and story plots. These characters have very strong wills and personalities and their interactions are believable.This wonderful story has the following: intrigue, twists & turns, adventure, action, variety of races, humans, danger, love, steam and a HEA. It's a fast-paced and continuation from the previous book that will keep you engaged from start to finish. I will be on the lookout for books by this author.
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.
August 31, 2020
He is an interrogation expert and he is cruel with it just like the one who taught him. Now he has another victim to break and he is shocked to see a human female. Something about her make him think about it all. Will she break? Can she afford to be broken? What else would happen between them? See what will happen 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.
September 6, 2020
A SOLID 3.5 STARS!
THE SIZZLING SEXUAL CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THE CHARACTERS RIGHT FROM THE START WAS THE ONE THAT WON ME OVER. ALISON AIMES ALWAYS DID MUCH BETTER WITH THE WHOLE CAPTOR/CAPTIVE ROLES, I WON'T EVER PASS UP ON A CHANCE TO READ IT.
GRIF we may have met in the previous stories....since I haven't caught up with Ryker and Jade's story, I might have missed something. But anyway, he's the master interrogator and nothing fazes him, well until now. When he catches the female responsible for 'trading' the human women in the prison camp, he's determined to wring out every detail and truth from her. Only, he never expected her to be dazzling and alluringly exotic for a mixed breed, and the fact that she's never been touched or touched or shown any form of affection has Grif totally fucked up. He doesn't do the in-between or the gray lines. He's all in for the black and white. Nayla's presence in his life only presents him with the gray area and for the first time, he's conflicted between protecting her and doing his duty. Grif was a great character, something you can expect from Alison Aimes, I loved how protective he is, and how he tried his best to reason with Nayla, building her self confidence and telling her that she's worthy of love.
NAYLA is a mixed breed of something Other and human. She reminds me of a golden skin fae, except maybe culturally exotic. I liked Nayla. She's the kind of proud but meek yet very resilient character that stirs one's compassion and makes me want to protect her too, though I also found myself rooting for her to become better, to stand up for herself. Nayla isn't revered in her clan, more like an outsider due to her genetics so she does everything to prove her worth, leading her to Grif's territory where one day he eventually captures her and they have it out. I'm quite sure Nayla's leader raped her without giving pleasure, and she's never known a softer touch or love. Meeting Grif will awaken her senses and make her question her self worth & existence. She's also loyal, cute and undeniably worth every bit of love doled out on her.
OVERALL this was a fluffy yet intensely passionate prison romance, and while I still love the first book of this series, this was enjoyable in its own way. Can't wait to know if Lana and Max will be having their own story!
THE SIZZLING SEXUAL CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THE CHARACTERS RIGHT FROM THE START WAS THE ONE THAT WON ME OVER. ALISON AIMES ALWAYS DID MUCH BETTER WITH THE WHOLE CAPTOR/CAPTIVE ROLES, I WON'T EVER PASS UP ON A CHANCE TO READ IT.
GRIF we may have met in the previous stories....since I haven't caught up with Ryker and Jade's story, I might have missed something. But anyway, he's the master interrogator and nothing fazes him, well until now. When he catches the female responsible for 'trading' the human women in the prison camp, he's determined to wring out every detail and truth from her. Only, he never expected her to be dazzling and alluringly exotic for a mixed breed, and the fact that she's never been touched or touched or shown any form of affection has Grif totally fucked up. He doesn't do the in-between or the gray lines. He's all in for the black and white. Nayla's presence in his life only presents him with the gray area and for the first time, he's conflicted between protecting her and doing his duty. Grif was a great character, something you can expect from Alison Aimes, I loved how protective he is, and how he tried his best to reason with Nayla, building her self confidence and telling her that she's worthy of love.
NAYLA is a mixed breed of something Other and human. She reminds me of a golden skin fae, except maybe culturally exotic. I liked Nayla. She's the kind of proud but meek yet very resilient character that stirs one's compassion and makes me want to protect her too, though I also found myself rooting for her to become better, to stand up for herself. Nayla isn't revered in her clan, more like an outsider due to her genetics so she does everything to prove her worth, leading her to Grif's territory where one day he eventually captures her and they have it out. I'm quite sure Nayla's leader raped her without giving pleasure, and she's never known a softer touch or love. Meeting Grif will awaken her senses and make her question her self worth & existence. She's also loyal, cute and undeniably worth every bit of love doled out on her.
OVERALL this was a fluffy yet intensely passionate prison romance, and while I still love the first book of this series, this was enjoyable in its own way. Can't wait to know if Lana and Max will be having their own story!
December 1, 2020
Fantasy, BDSM-erotica, escapism and some kind of otherworldly blended together, Alison Aimes's 'Tamed' has come some way from the original book in the series which I loved. It's certainly not a read for everyone who's the strict syfy/fantasy fan: there's the bit of world-building, some ancient lore and some alien-humanoid creatures, but it's contained within the prison planet Dragrath-25 and not expansive if you're looking for high-fantasy with elaborately-drawn maps at the preface of the book.
Instead, Aimes focuses on characters, the breakdown of boundaries...with a tad-bit of Stockholm Syndrome as captor and captive start to fall for each other through erotic foreplay, bindings and a little bit of talk. The pairing is also an unusual one: human and humanoid, the former having Irish roots while the latter is almost part-feline who has been repressed and called the lowest of the caste in her pack.
In short, the story's a growly, sweary one with loads of heaving, panting and straining against bonds, veering towards the dramatic especially towards the end without really ever letting go of the lusty undertone that rides Nayla/Grif's relationship the whole way. I was intrigued by the start, hooked by the middle, but sort of starting squinting with a little skepticism when the emotion felt overplayed by the end. Still, it was mostly an engaging read and something of a refreshing change from the type of stories I normally go for.
Instead, Aimes focuses on characters, the breakdown of boundaries...with a tad-bit of Stockholm Syndrome as captor and captive start to fall for each other through erotic foreplay, bindings and a little bit of talk. The pairing is also an unusual one: human and humanoid, the former having Irish roots while the latter is almost part-feline who has been repressed and called the lowest of the caste in her pack.
In short, the story's a growly, sweary one with loads of heaving, panting and straining against bonds, veering towards the dramatic especially towards the end without really ever letting go of the lusty undertone that rides Nayla/Grif's relationship the whole way. I was intrigued by the start, hooked by the middle, but sort of starting squinting with a little skepticism when the emotion felt overplayed by the end. Still, it was mostly an engaging read and something of a refreshing change from the type of stories I normally go for.
September 1, 2020
TW: Contains flashbacks of physical/sexual assault and incest.
Tamed is the first Alison Aimes book that I've read and my goodness, it is steamy! Right from the beginning when the hero and heroine meet, there is sexual tension practically leaping from the pages. Be warned this is one HOT book with lots of sexy, sensual moments between the H/h.
While Tamed is the first book by Aimes that I've read, it's actually the fourth installment in The Condemned series. Since I haven't read the previous books, I did find it a bit harder to follow along in the beginning. I wasn't quite sure who the characters were, what Dragath25 was, or why the characters were in their current situation. So while I would definitely recommend starting this series from the beginning, that isn't to say I didn't enjoy this one because I absolutely did!
Aimes wove a fantastic story that left me hooked and wanting to know more. I sympathized and fell for the hero, Grif, and while it took me a little longer to understand the heroine, Nayla, I found that by the end I was definitely wanting Nayla and Grif to get their happily ever after. I should mention that I think the reason it may have taken me longer to understand Nayla was because I didn't have any background knowledge of this series beforehand. I'm definitely eager to go back and read the books from the beginning to see if that changes my view of Nayla's introduction! There is also a lot happening in the background of the story but Tamed focuses heavily on the relationship between Grif and Nayla which I loved. Watching each of their characters expose their scars and learn to grow together was amazing.
Overall, I think if you like dark and steamy reads with a twist, you should pick up this series! It's action-packed, full of intrigue and will leave you consumed by the craziness that is happening off-planet on Dragath25!
Disclaimer: Thank you to the author for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Tamed is the first Alison Aimes book that I've read and my goodness, it is steamy! Right from the beginning when the hero and heroine meet, there is sexual tension practically leaping from the pages. Be warned this is one HOT book with lots of sexy, sensual moments between the H/h.
While Tamed is the first book by Aimes that I've read, it's actually the fourth installment in The Condemned series. Since I haven't read the previous books, I did find it a bit harder to follow along in the beginning. I wasn't quite sure who the characters were, what Dragath25 was, or why the characters were in their current situation. So while I would definitely recommend starting this series from the beginning, that isn't to say I didn't enjoy this one because I absolutely did!
Aimes wove a fantastic story that left me hooked and wanting to know more. I sympathized and fell for the hero, Grif, and while it took me a little longer to understand the heroine, Nayla, I found that by the end I was definitely wanting Nayla and Grif to get their happily ever after. I should mention that I think the reason it may have taken me longer to understand Nayla was because I didn't have any background knowledge of this series beforehand. I'm definitely eager to go back and read the books from the beginning to see if that changes my view of Nayla's introduction! There is also a lot happening in the background of the story but Tamed focuses heavily on the relationship between Grif and Nayla which I loved. Watching each of their characters expose their scars and learn to grow together was amazing.
Overall, I think if you like dark and steamy reads with a twist, you should pick up this series! It's action-packed, full of intrigue and will leave you consumed by the craziness that is happening off-planet on Dragath25!
Disclaimer: Thank you to the author for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
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