Clay “The Beast” Bergstrom can’t touch Victoria Singleton, no matter how much he wants her. She’s too young, too innocent and way too high maintenance. She’s also his boss’s daughter.
Everything changes when they crash-land together in the middle of the frozen Alaskan wilderness.
The former Para-Jumper Rescuer knows the hardest part of surviving the wild isn’t being stranded in an abandoned cabin in the middle of nowhere. It won’t be the bears, the wolves or the snowstorms. It won’t even be watching over the two children who crash-landed with him.
It will be keeping his hands off Victoria’s sweet curves.
As danger closes in, and days turn to weeks, will he be able to resist his obsession?
Or will the beast finally claim what he knows is his…
With a name like Kept by the Beast, you probably get the impression that this is one of those short smutty reads without really any "story" to it. You'd be wrong. This book had depth, a complete storyline that had me sucked right in and characters that I loved!
Clay got his nickname, Beast while he was in the Air Force. He's intense and focused and does not take any crap from anyone. Retired from the Air Force, he's now an independent contractor at an Alaskan resort as a fishing guide.
Victoria, is an interior designer working for her mom. When her mom buys up these resorts, Victoria comes in and redecorates. From the moment she steps foot into the resort, she meets a man that intrigues her but also scares her.
The minute clay lays eyes on Victoria, he's done. He knows she the one. Now he just needs to convince her of it. When Victoria stands him up for a dinner date, she tells him she isn't girlfriend material and she's off to the next resort for her job. She'll soon learn that she can't get rid of Clay that easily.
The plan Clay has to court Victoria is incredibly sweet and not what you expect from a rugged outdoor man. Before he gets a chance to follow through, the plane taking him, Victoria and two young children to Anchorage crashes. This is when the story turned into so much more.
This turns from an Alpha chasing his woman, to a soldier protecting his woman and the two children from the Alaskan elements. To see the protector in Clay was a major turn on. He was in his element. All that intense focus and drive to keep everyone alive was riveting to read about.
Victoria surprised me. I thought she was going to be a bit annoying with her behavior towards him and all his dominance in the situation, but she was smart and stepped up to make things easier for Clay to protect them. Add in the two kids and this became so much more than "man chases woman". I loved it! ARC provided by Author.
Oh my gosh! How does Sasha Gold do it? With every book I think she won’t be able to top the one before and yet each time I am left spinning with sheer joy as I turn the last page. I must admit, I was highly skeptical that this book would even be believable, much less live up to all its predecessors. What a delight to have been proven wrong.
This is a survivalist story and a novella so I assumed it wouldn’t be completely flushed out. I mean stranded in Alaska’s wilderness with two children. Come on! No way can a novella convey what that entails. Not only does Kept by the Beast clearly show what that life would be like, it goes so much farther. We are given a very clear and precise picture of what surviving in frozen isolation feels like as well as the dynamics of four strangers adapting to the day to day challenges such a situation would demand.
Victoria is a sweet and innocent heroine who suffers from a childhood trauma. However, when things got rough she proved that sweet and innocent did not mean unable to get the job done. Clay is retired military and he set his sights on Victoria long before they ever stepped foot on that plane. He immediately takes control of the desperate situation they find themselves in, and makes sure they will all make it out alive. Ladies, he is THE definition of protective hero.
ARC provided by author
Dual POV Safe from ow/om drama No apparent triggers
**ARC RECEIVED IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
While this started off a little slow for me, it definitely turned into a story I ended up loving.
This is one of my favorite types of stories- the drama has nothing to do with ow/om. It's a story of survival and learning to depend on each other. All the while, we watch the main characters fall in love.
Clay was a great hero. Masculine, totally alpha and he was determined to get Victoria. He took charge while they were stranded. I'd want to be stranded with him any day!
Victoria, she took me a little longer to warm up to. I thought she was rude to Clay initially. She came across as snooty and pretentious. Once they are stranded, I did see her in a different light. I was afraid she was going to be a pain in the a$$ but she wasn't.
-no cheating -no ow/om drama whatsoever -some pushing away by heroine -some steamy parts but not until past the 50% mark - I was worried -no violence -ok epilogue that was 3 years out
I early skipped this assuming from the title that it was a short smut read. The reviews suggested otherwise so I decided to give this a try.
It turned out to be a nice sweet romantic read.
Clay knew the second he laid eyes on Victoria she was going to be his. They got off to a rough start when she stood him up. But when they crash land in the Alaskan wilderness they grow closer. As Clay steps up to protect Victoria and the two children stuck with them.
I'm not sure this book warrants three stars but it doesn't deserve two so... this book was billed as an alpha hero who would claim his mate and even started that way. I love me some OTT alphas. Unfortunately the focus immediately skipped to survival in wilds of Alaska. Oh my, that's another favorite troupe of mine. But it wasn't very well done. The chick became incredibly stupid- like four year old stupid. I shouldn't have been surprised as she was a successful "interior decorator" at like 20. Yeah, no. And just an FYI to any authors that like to write about professions they aren't going to research, interior decorators don't exist and haven't from 1985. It's interior designer if you have the BA or "interiors specialist" if you have no accreditation. Gah, it's so offensive and belittling. Why not call your flight attendant a stewardess while your at it. Anyway, the plot was boring and convenient. I may try another of this authors books as she is prolific but I'm not counting my chickens. Kindle UL
Victoria, an interior decorator, owes Clay an apology for standing him up the night before, but she had reasons. He's sexy, older than her, and works for her Mom, so she's trying to avoid him. Plus, he's big and intimidating, known for his rough ways in handling guests at her Mom's hotel that step out of line.
Clay, former Para-Rescue Jumper, knew Victoria was his since first seeing her two weeks ago, and all others ceased to exist. He doesn't like that she seems a little scared of him though. He's unsure of the reason, and knows he'd never hurt her, nor allow anyone else to. He knows she's leaving, off to handle the decor of her mother's latest business, but what Victoria doesn't know is that he plans to be in Napa as well.
Upon boarding the plane, Victoria is informed they're awaiting their fourth, and last, passenger...and his dog. Surprisingly, Victoria enjoys his company as the flights starts, and finds herself regretting more and more not showing for dinner.
Victoria isn't sure what to think after learning Clay will also be in Napa, after tending to some family business that is. However, her thoughts, as well as everyone else's, are quickly on more important matters, namely that of the plane having obvious issues, and Clay finding the pilot unresponsive. Thankfully, Clay is able to somewhat land the plane, but they need to leave it immediately, so Clay, his dog, Charlie, Victoria, and their fellow passengers, young siblings, Sydney and Ross begin searching for shelter as they await rescue.
As the weeks pass, the group not only adjusts to their situation, but they also form a bond with one another, and the cabin. No, it isn't ideal, and at times can be dangerous, but the peace and quiet is casting a spell over all of them. It's also bringing Clay and Victoria closer, causing them to realize their initial infatuation is in fact so much more. Clay was right...Victoria was meant to be his.
Will Clay, Victoria, Charlie, and the kids be rescued? What will they do when their situation grows even more dire? What happens when they return to the normal lives? Will Clay and Victoria get their HEA? Will the kids remain a part of their lives?
One-click now and follow along as the potential for tragedy turns into bonds so strong nothing can break them.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.**
-insta love -H not a man whore and hasn't been with anyone in a long time -Virgin h -great side characters -great chemistry between characters -no OW or OM Drama -h and her mom were mugged when she was 10, she wasn't hurt but her mom got knocked out. The attacker was a tall strong built man. H is also a tall strong built man so h does a little pushing away because she suffers from some anxiety because of it but H does not let that happen. -HEA with epilogue
Oh boy Sasha gave me goosebumps with this one. I loved everything about it. I didn't even get mad at the hero this time. He was just perfect. Clay and Victoria were like a steamy version of Laura and Charles in little house on the prairie.. Maybe because Sydney was reading that series.. Anyway so dang good.
I just want to say that I’d want to be “kept” by the beast too...just sayin...yes please. Dibs. This was a great book, I couldn’t put it down...and I really didn’t want to. Clay is retired from the armed forces and works in Alaska for Victoria’s moms resort. Clay knows right away that he wants Victoria, but she keeps brushing him off. She’s got some anxiety and fear that keeps her at a distance. These two end up on a small plane with two children. The pilot has a heart attack, so Clay has to try and keep the plane from crashing. They land in the middle of nowhere Alaska, without anyway of getting ahold of anyone to be saved. The four of them end up finding a stocked, but deserted cabin, where they live together for months waiting to be rescued.
I loved everything about this book, the storyline, the way they all had to work together to survive months in the Alaskan wilderness without anyway of contacting anyone for help. They all formed the most amazing bond with each other. It was just a great story and I truly loved every aspect of it. The kids really needed Victoria and Clay and I was so glad to see them really embrace it and everything around them. There is a life or death incident that forces Clay to seek out help hours away.
Clay and Victoria are such a great couple and reading about Victoria’s anxiety lessening with Clay was a nice slow burn, but when these two finally get together....whew, smoking hot. I just want to say that if I was stranded in Alaska, I’d want to be stranded with Clay too...just sayin, double dibs. This was a great safe read, no other men or women, a really great epilogue that warmed my heart and an hea. Absolutely wonderful book.
If I had gone solely on the title and book cover, I would never have purchased this book but I fortunately read the blurb and that caught my interest. I'm so glad I did as Kept by the Beast is a delightful love story and adventure resulting from a plane crash in the snowy wilderness of Alaska. Clay has to draw on his background and training to keep the small group together and at first his take-charge attitude is not at all well received by Victoria or the two children who were fellow passengers. Clay is a taciturn man at best and has little experience dealing with children but as one day merges into the next, he finds himself sorting out his past and coming to care for the other three members of his group in a surprising way. Victoria seems like an uptight society girl with a rule that she doesn't date tall men. With total dependence on Clay, her deep seated fear is dissipated. She allows herself to lose her rigidity and do her bit to survive the isolation and dangers of the wild. I thoroughly enjoyed this book despite the misleading title.
I received this book as an ARC that I voluntarily read. I love Sasha Gold books. So I jump at a chance for them. Victoria is an interior designer for her mom's hotels, and Clay is a fishing guide hired out of said hotel in Alaska. For Clay it is love at first sight, and for Victoria, as the book states. "It's love at second sight" I gave this book 4 instead of 5 stars only because I didn't sense the slow burn as intense as some of her other books. Had this been my first Sasha Gold book, it probably would've garnered 5 stars. I loved the storyline how they were forced to survive in the Alaskan Wilds with two children who'd been on the plan with them when it crashed. I read this book during one afternoon of indulgence floating around my parent's pool.
New lifetime goals: I want to be in a plane crash with Clay. I want to survive in a cabin in Alaska with Clay. I want to snuggle with Clay. I want to have birthday sex with Clay. Need I go on? I really liked Clay but Victoria was just okay for me ( alright I admit it I was jealous of her), but I felt she needed to be a little older which may have made her not so meek. The kids characters were perfect and bonus points for Charley the dog :). There were a couple of laugh out loud moments and a couple of editing/typos early on in the story, but they did not distract from a really strong male character.
Hero, Clay = 5/5 Heroine, Victoria = 5/5 Secondary Characters = 5/5 Chemistry = 4/5 Sex = 3/5 Plot = 4/5 Mystery = 1/5 Action = 2/5 Darkness = 1/5 Humor = 1/5 Stars = 4 ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Would I recommend this book = Yes Would I read future books by this author = Yes
Good little Alaskan wilderness romance. The characters are extremely likeable (even the 2 kids Ross & Sydney) and the plot was great. I was a little disappointed because with this being set in the Alaskan wilderness I expected more action & adventure. Other than that it was a good.
I usually love this authors stories although I do prefer her writings as Alix West. Her old west stories tick all the boxes for me. Right from the start of this it felt like I was missing the beginning of how these two met, then even as the story moved forward the characters were not as well rounded as they usually are, in particular the male lead. He was not the OTT alpha that I’ve come to expect from this author. In fact it didn’t feel like this authors writing at all. The story wasn’t the hot and sexy read as we usually get. Overall a bit disappointed.
Loved it! Totally wasn't expecting this book - surprised in a really good way!
This book was a great little gem, something a bit different if you have read Sasha Gold books before. I enjoyed it a lot and would definitely recommend. Not just the usual 'formula' romance - a bit of an adventure and a slow burn romance ending in a great HEA.
Totally safe read!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
The best Sasha Gold I've read so far. Like some other reviewer pointed out, you go in expecting a regular smutty read and find out that the story has so MUCH more substance to it that you wouldn't categorise it as pure smut. This book has been a pleasant surprise! I love how Sasha Gold very vividly paints a scenery with her words and adds so many new terms and phrases to my vocab with every one of her reads. :)
When Clay and Victoria's plane goes down in the Alaskan wilderness in winter they have to come together to survive and take care of the kids they were with and themselves. Fear, love and so many more emotions battle in them as they discover they work well together. As their love grows and her fears decrease as he shows her what love is don't miss their survival.
Wow! I just finished reading this and really liked it. Sasha Gold did a really great job. This story would have been completely different without the kids. Their addition added depth to the characters and storyline. Highly recommend this book and author (I've read all her books and liked them all).
Victoria has a phobia about tall men. She avoids Clay for that reason and because she doesn't think anyone would be interested in her long term. Then the plane she and Clay are on crashes and they must survive in a remote cabin with two children who were also on the plane. Separate bedrooms give them enough privacy to really get to know each other.
This book was a surprise to me, but most definitely a good surprise. How can you not want this man? He know's what's his, and instincts take over to care for, and protect what's important to him. This book just makes you feel warm and cared for. I really enjoyed it.
This book was a lot better than the title. It was a short, sweet story of survival & family. Sweet surprise for anyone in the mood for a quick read. Both leads were great, the kids were great & the story in general was new for me. Good little nugget.
I loved this! A crash landing in the wilderness, learning to live alongside each other, slightly slow burn...it all makes for a great romance and realistic expectation of a happy future.
I really enjoyed this story and the characters. Clay knew he wanted to marry Victoria the minute he saw her but it took being stranded in the wilderness of Alaska to bring them together.
This was a good book to read. I liked the characters and their chemistry. I liked the way he took care of her and the kids. I hope to read more from this author.