Born to be Broken (Alpha's Claim Book 2)

The saga continues with book two. Claire will do her best to help the Omegas, and she is resilient in freeing them, but even freedom has a price and is it actually freedom they have if they must stay in hiding. How far will Claire go with her act of martyrdom? She is willing to give up her freedom and continue living underground with Shepherd for the lives of forty-three others. No matter what she gathered from reading The Art of War by Sun Tzu, it is something that Shepherd will always best her in. In this post-apocalyptic world, there are three classes of people, Alphas, Betas, and Omegas. What will it take for Shepherd to get Claire to see she can’t save them all, that the people are responsible for the destruction and deaths they bring about, and that he really has saved her? Oh just as we get to the end of book two, major trouble is in the works.

The plot is extremely unique as are the characters. They mating, bonding and rituals are a cross between human and animal. Shepherd is trying to bring joy to Claire, and slowly she may be coming around. I look forward to book three, Reborn. The series will need to be read in order to fully grasp everything that has happened. . If you are looking for a sweet, happy romance, this is not the book series for you. It is graphic in both violence and sex scenes.

Sometimes I'm not happy when a story continues into another book. Not so in this case...Claire and Shepherd will never be over...I hope. There's so much...I won't give spoilers, but honestly...part of the time I hate Shepherd for his brutality, his demands of submission and his blind eye to Svana. Claire is on a dangerous journey and submission is not in her vocabulary. Somebody is on a fast track to death...but, how and when?.....We're closer in this book to understanding what drives these characters...but not yet. Take a chance...There's so much more and never for one moment will you read a redundant, watered down storyline that sadly happens sometimes, when an author tries to continue a story. Not Addison Cain....you'll see!

This book is full of action, angst, and psychological warfare. This is a part 2 of 3, so read Born to be Bound first. But this book was worth every minute it too for me to read it. I am about to go read it again.

On the other hand, this book may not be for everyone. There is sex in this book. If sex is not for you, this book is not for you. Also could be a trigger for people with depression ir suicidal thoughts.

There is a dominant hero, sort of hero, a bratty woman who wants her own way, and a heroine who has tons of guts and heart. Click it. You want to.

This book has been the hidden gem I've discovered in 2016. A perfect combination of dystopian fantasy and sci-fi erotica, it pushed all the right buttons for me. I've always hated that sci-fi romance/erotica books lack substances other than sex, and that most urban fantasy lack sexual tension and hot sex. This book satisfies both, and more. The world isn't built around the characters to justify their constant romping—it gives them life and purpose. All the main characters in this book have unique strengths and weaknesses, and both the heroine and hero are strong characters. In this first installment, Shepherd's character feels somewhat flat and stereotypical, but that actually makes the slow reveal of his personality throughout the second and third installment all the more surprising. The plot is simple and universal, but the best stories are often the simplest and this book is a testament to that.

~ Characters ~

Claire & Shepherd are seriously one messed up couple. Damaged and complicated doesn't even begin to cover it.

I love how vehemently and passionately Claire fights for what she believes in. I also hate her, just a little, for plans she made with Corday (side character). Something about it just feels worse than anything Shepherd has done. Although, it is unknown at this time if those plans will come to fruition.

Shepherd is still the same sexy growling possessive alpha male from book one. Also, the same a-hole villain that makes very bad choices. However, there is something vulnerable about him that's very endearing.

Claire is the one portrayed as the victim (which she has been at times), but I think Shepherd has been one all his life and just doesn't know it. That is just my perception though, others may view him differently.

~ Overall ~

A fantastic series that I have been blown away by. I know I'll be rereading this series again from start to finish in the future.

(Copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review. Review is on ARC version.)

I really love Shepherd. I really hate Claire. I cannot stand a character who does nothing but be a bitch, but think they have the moral high ground. An Idealist, they are the most aggravating characters to try and sympathize with. Her constant bemoaning made it a struggle to finish this book, and I probably won't read the 3rd one for a while ....

The best part of the book was when Maryanne got in her face and told her how much of an ungrateful bitch she was acting. I was like "finally, someone gets in her face and tells it like it is!" No life isn't fair, and people are just plain nasty. So I'm sorry she was dealt the hand of cards she was, but it wasn't that bad. She repeatedly flung Shepherd's attempt at righting his wrongs in his face. I honestly don't know how he could stand her ....

Addison Cain has an eloquently addictive writing style that draws you in and envelopes you in a captivating fantasy world of romance and chicanery. Her characters are unique, well developed, and the world she has created for them is fascinating to navigate through.

Born to be Broken is the second installment of a three-part series. It continues the gripping tale of Claire, an Omega who was forcibly pair-bonded to the very Alpha responsible for throwing her city into chaos. She escapes and goes on the run, throwing up dirt in her wake. She has an agenda---to dismantle Shepherd's growing empire of destruction, even if she has to do it alone. But Claire is dying, the pair-bond damaged by betrayal, and she is racing against the clock to save all that she can.

Ms. Cain's stories are not for the fainthearted. They are not your typical hearts-and-flowers romance. They have teeth. They have claws. They will tear you apart and make you bleed, and you will love every second of it.

Another A+ novel!

I really love Shepherd. I really hate Claire. I cannot stand a character who does nothing but be a bitch, but think they have the moral high ground. An Idealist, they are the most aggravating characters to try and sympathize with. Her constant bemoaning made it a struggle to finish this book, and I probably won't read the 3rd one for a while ....

The best part of the book was when Maryanne got in her face and told her how much of an ungrateful bitch she was acting. I was like "finally, someone gets in her face and tells it like it is!" No life isn't fair, and people are just plain nasty. So I'm sorry she was dealt the hand of cards she was, but it wasn't that bad. She repeatedly flung Shepherd's attempt at righting his wrongs in his face. I honestly don't know how he could stand her ....

Addison Cain has an eloquently addictive writing style that draws you in and envelopes you in a captivating fantasy world of romance and chicanery. Her characters are unique, well developed, and the world she has created for them is fascinating to navigate through.

Born to be Broken is the second installment of a three-part series. It continues the gripping tale of Claire, an Omega who was forcibly pair-bonded to the very Alpha responsible for throwing her city into chaos. She escapes and goes on the run, throwing up dirt in her wake. She has an agenda---to dismantle Shepherd's growing empire of destruction, even if she has to do it alone. But Claire is dying, the pair-bond damaged by betrayal, and she is racing against the clock to save all that she can.

Ms. Cain's stories are not for the fainthearted. They are not your typical hearts-and-flowers romance. They have teeth. They have claws. They will tear you apart and make you bleed, and you will love every second of it.

Another A+ novel!

Born to be broken certainly didn't disappoint.
I started this book so epically angry at shepherds previous actions: in a word the idiotic gullible fool obviously doesn't realise when he's being played.
Just shows how absorbing and expertly written this book is that I could continue reading and still rate it so high as I did when this sort of behaviour is usually a complete no-no for me.
I like my anti-hero's to be loyal to a fault: even when they're at there most wicked.
So this book mainly deals with the consequences of shepherds actions and his attempts to woo Claire back to him.
We also see shepherd try to open up and be more transparent even slightly mellowing.
That's All I'm going to say on this other than do yourself a favour and pick this series up like yesterday.
This series is up there with my all-time favourites and considering how much I read that is a feat all in itself: cannot praise this author enough she just does it for me every single time.
All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

I really enjoyed this book. You see a different side of Shepherd. I read a negative review of the book that had a spoiler in it and I'm not so sure that if the person finished reading the book because I totally disagree. Shepherd is coming around, in my opinion, in a more realistic way. Not your typical 1 min I'm all bad and in a instant I do a 180 and become all good like in a fairy tale. I was taken by surprise by some things. I can't wait to read the next one!

The second installment had me on edge! There were more character developments and it blew my mind!!! I have so many questions about Svana, Corday and JULES!!!! But i know i shouldn't spoil it for other people...so I will just wait for the third book. :) I absolutely adore the times when Shepherd was not so "Shepherd-ish"...i wonder...is there a chance "that he could change?".

Keep up the good work Addison Cain!! :)

*-MaRi-*

Omg... I am so in love with these characters!!! I had to read and re-read the book... they are just so amazing... And Shepherd... gods i know he is a bastard but mamma mia... even i would fall for him!!!

Can barely wait to see what happens next!!!

I loved the character development in this book. There was as much action but the story was driven forward by critical information revealed and I am more invested in the characters after completing this book. Cain's writing has a way of drawing you into the world shes created.

Wow. This really is the most complicated couple, but I still can't wait to find out what happens! Who all will get their comeuppance? Is Claire going to survive in the end? Will anybody?! I cannot wait!
E.W.

Addison is on Fire!! Her talented writing and skill for suspense makes her an amazing artist! Book One & Two do not fall short of suspense and drama! I give Addison 10 Stars!! BTBB is the most addicting series I've ever read. Cannot wait for Book 3!