Corrupted (Alpha's Claim Book 5)

Putting out short stories that are average for a price that is way too high is just proof of this authors greed. If she isn’t re-releasing books with fresh covers , she’s bundling old books together all to make money and it’s taking advantage of the readers who are faithful to her.

I returned this book for a refund because for the price it simply wasn’t worth it. The story is short , it gives you very little and yet another cliff hanger of sorts to suck you into spending more money for a few more chapters of the story.

To those of you who worship this author , you really need to carefully consider if your hard earned money is worth handing over for a short story, there are plenty of other authors who care about the story & the readers more than the money.

Jules/Commodore are both bonded to Brenya after "Claimed 4". In this book, Jules takes control of Bernard Dome but doesn't sleep with Brenya. Meanwhile Shepherd wants to go to a movie night with his wife. That's the whole plot!
The story did not progress in any fashion. This is well written and fun to read, but it's a throw away book that you can skip from "Claimed 4". The fact that Shepherd and Claire's story was intertwined (while always a crowd favourite) did not contribute in any way. It just occurred to me what the problem is with every "Claimed" book (except the 1st/2nd). It's like eating a fast food meal. You have a great time while consuming the colorful, plasticy burger and fries but 5 minutes later you're still hungry, as if you never ate! It's a fun read for 2.5 hours, with no substance and no ending. That's why fans are so angry with this author. After, fast food and fast fashion, here's "fast romance" for your consumption and money.

So I went in with mixed expectations. This author is not my favorite in this genre but I deeply enjoy the characters she has introduced in this series. I loved Claire and Shepherd's story despite the lack of world building and I gave this new story the benefit of the doubt. That being said this book was BORING. The plot was not advanced at all, I skipped every smex scene because Jacques is BIG CREEPY. The major conflict was seamlessly resolved in 3 pages...
It wouldn't bother me so much if this nonsense didn't cost $6.99.
This author is money-grubbing and lazy. I have no interest in reading any more of her books. There are more and more authors writing omegaverse books where main characters are not abused or abusive. Some of these authors Cane has gone after for daring to tell a better story.
Anyways, don't waist your money or time.

Definitely agree with the other reviewers: not worth the wait, not worth the ridiculous cost; it's an overpriced half story; just another example of author's greed, and so on.

Unfortunately, the stories and writing seem to be going downhill, in direct contrast to the increasing costs.

I lost my enthusiasm for these stories the longer I had to wait, and then I lost all respect for the author when I found about about the lawsuits and her apparent greed. It's hard to respect an author who cares more for the money than she does her stories.

And now the writing can't even support it. I got bored not even 20% in and just stopped reading, without any fear that I'm missing out on anything worthwhile.

The only book I was waiting on was Wren's Song Book 5, but now after trying and unfinishing all these disappointing overpriced novellas, I'm not even excited for that anymore!

Also, I noticed after I left a 1star review on some repackaged bundle that she restricts such honest reviews - so beware all these misleading 5star reviews.

Definitely agree with the other reviewers: not worth the wait, not worth the ridiculous cost; it's an overpriced half story; just another example of author's greed, and so on.

Unfortunately, the stories and writing seem to be going downhill, in direct contrast to the increasing costs.

I lost my enthusiasm for these stories the longer I had to wait, and then I lost all respect for the author when I found about about the lawsuits and her apparent greed. It's hard to respect an author who cares more for the money than she does her stories.

And now the writing can't even support it. I got bored not even 20% in and just stopped reading, without any fear that I'm missing out on anything worthwhile.

The only book I was waiting on was Wren's Song Book 5, but now after trying and unfinishing all these disappointing overpriced novellas, I'm not even excited for that anymore!

Also, I noticed after I left a 1star review on some repackaged bundle that she restricts such honest reviews - so beware all these misleading 5star reviews.

Worth the wait!!

I've never loved Jules more than I have in this installment of Alpha's Claim! He's everything an omega could want.

Brenya has grown as a character so much, don't get me wrong there's still a ton that she needs to take on and overcome but she made major headway in this book.

Jacques... Don't get me going about this guy...I can't even say what I want because it will spoil the book.

Book 5 has lived up to the hype.. actually exceeded all expectations! This series is a must read!

I was so happy to see Brenya and Jules get a continuation. I am always here for more Shepard and Claire. Its apparent to me this story will continue. I would love to see way more dialogue from both couples. But we see a little but more insight into Shepard's rules. I can honestly say I'd rather pay the 3$ for the books to come out more quickly then wait a whole year. Next book is due March 2022 and 2020 was like 5 years long. I'm sad the book is short. Yes its only about 200 pages but with popularity comes price. Cain's writing is addicting for those waiting on Jaques/Ancil to get what's coming to him you won't be disappointed. I hope she has another release this year. Please keep us updated on Shepard and Claire!!!

I have been waiting for this book forever but it was totally worth the wait. Released at midnight and stayed up to finish it in one sitting. Definitely took some twists and turns that I wasn't expecting. I won't spoil it for anyone but I'm hoping the next book brings me the ending I'm hoping for. Can't wait!!

Without giving away too may spoilers, suffice to say that, if you read closely, you will see that Jacques is a sympathetic character with a backstory crafted by Cain that is as compelling as Shepherd’s or Jules’. Jacques’ youth is nightmarish. His initial sexual experiences are traumatizing. He’s exploited by an older woman. He’s witnessed too much bloodshed. He hates the “red” parts of the palace because he essentially has PTSD, and he puts his beloved Brenya in white because to him she is separate from all that —pure, brutally honest, and unable to fake something for Jacques that she doesn’t feel. Jacques does not know how to love and unlike Shepherd, he doesn’t have a Jules to teach him friendship. He has an awful Ancil instead. Annette was his only friend, and Jacques, in patriarchal society where he is trained to not really see women at all, doesn’t value Annette as he should. He’s too caught up in power and honoring contracts to save his friend. He is incapable of loving Brenya in the way that she needs—and as a result, he can’t get the love from her that he so desperately needs either. It’s all pretty tragic. He’s too hungry. Jacques’ hunger for a true connection with her is all consuming. She hurts him over and over. And his lack of control hurts her over and over.

Jules is the opposite. He’s too controlled. Too plotting. He, more than Jacques, treats Brenya as a pawn. He controls each interaction with her. Each of his moves—from a stolen caress to a brushed kiss on her head—is contrived. He acts always with cunning. He’s hungry to strike back at the elites who stole his wife and sons from him. Over and over, he can reject advances from Brenya because he wants to follow some plan if his. Can’t feel anything but vengeance. He claims he rejects her sexual advances because he wants her to act from want/desire, but that’s only partially true. Her passionless gestures—the moves she makes out of pure programming—mirror his own soulless life. He’s loyal to Shepherd; Brenya is loyal to her dome and country. Their joint love of the color red signifies their identical, individual programmed drives: to be the best Betas they can be in a world run by Alphas. Brenya, at heart, is a beta who loves her gruel and misses a life when she knew what her role was. She doesn’t fit her Omega identify. Jules doesn’t fit his Commodore role as a Beta with Alpha tendencies. Unlike Claire and Shepherd who passionately fit in an unrehearsed, natural way, the attraction between Jules and Brenya is orchestrated by Jules. He plays her—in a removed way that hurts her feelings.

Both she and Jules are tragic because they yearn for their past lives, even though each was powerless then. And Jacques acquired power, thinking he’d broken free of his past life, but the same skills that made him successful against his brother hamper his ability to relate to Brenya now.

It’s a wonderful read. Far more layered than it appears. She’s a skilled writer. I can’t wait for the next one in the series.

Ok less than 200 pages and still reviews are unhappy I’m at a loss. At some point readers have to come into this and plenty of other omega writers can claim they’ve e given more. What gives!