Review: Dane's Mark by Lora Leigh

 

Dane's Mark (The Breeds #33) by Lora Leigh

Publication Date: February 6th 2024 by Berkley 

Pages: 288

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Katy’s heart was broken eight years ago when she overhears Dane Vanderale, the man she thought she had a connection with, say that Katy could never be part of his world. Katy had already had feelings of abandonment and not feeling good enough after being left by her mother and with the remaining family begrudgingly taking her in. Working in the local diner, she thought she struck up a friendship that felt like it could turn into more with Dane, but after hearing those words she’s crushed. Soon after Graeme Parker, a Bengal Breed, extends an offer of training and employment for Tech-Corp, and she leaves with him immediately.

Eight years later, Katy’s back in Broken Butte, New Mexico to oversee the Tech-Corp’s new facility there. She’s risen in the ranks and has grown in confidence. She now has friends and support, and Graeme is like the father she’s never had. But being back in Broken Butte brings back some of those bad memories and of course she’ll be running into Dane.

Much of the book is centered around the romance between Katy and Dane, why they have such a strong attraction if Katy doesn’t trigger the mating bond in Dane. This is a back and forth and Graeme knows the answer to this and for reasons I couldn’t understand doesn’t share it with Katy or Dane. I also didn’t understand why Katy didn’t question her origins when she’d have these episodes of adrenaline flooding her system and Graeme, a Breed, was the one to help her learn to control them. Also, I was irritated that Dane pulls a stunt that hurts Katy all over again and the thing is just swept under the rug without much of an apology. I get that a lot happened in the end, but come on. 

There were characters gunning for Katy, an attempt on her life but that was just kind of swept away, too. I feel like it would’ve been a more interesting thread to pursue and include than just having the story on this whole mating business.

I haven’t read the previous books and I do feel like I would’ve enjoyed the story more if I had some prior experience with the world and characters, but it can also be read as a standalone. I will say that even with these niggles the story was entertaining, and I did want to find out how it all turned out. 

3 Stars

Book Description:

A new kind of Breed is faced with what happens when destiny and desire collide in the latest novel in the highly charged series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh.
 
A decade ago Katy Chavos was a proud misfit who had her heart broken, crushed by a man who drew her close with one breath and pulled away the next. He left a mark she’s done everything in her power to erase. But when Katy’s job brings her back to the hometown she couldn’t wait to escape, seeing Dane again awakens something inside her that won’t be tamed....
 
Dane Vanderale isn’t like other Breeds. As a hybrid he’s stronger, more primal, and more determined to hide it. He’s also certain that Katy is not his mate—not that that stops him from wanting her with every part of his soul. He knows he hurt her deeply and he intends to make things right, but she is dead set on keeping him at arm’s length.
 
Despite their painful history, Katy can’t deny the intense attraction she still feels for Dane. And before long, it will be impossible for either to deny the truth that has been in front of them all along....

Review: In Isabeau's Eyes by Lora Leigh

In Isabeau's Eyes (Kentucky Nights #1) by Lora Leigh

Publication Date: March 21st 2023 by Berkley & Recorded Books

Pages: 288

Audiobook Length: 9hrs 24min

Narrator: Manxie Hardy

Source: Publisher & Purchased Audiobook

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Isabeau Boudreaux lost her sight at fifteen when her parents were killed in an apparent murder suicide and she was shot in the process. However, her eyesight and memories have slowly been coming back, and she’s beginning to think the story she was told may not be the truth.  Especially since there’s been several “accidents” where she narrowly escaped with her life over the years. 

In the latest attempt on her life, her friend Angel is almost killed as well, and Angel’s brother Tracker is furious. He’s sure all the past “accidents” are attempts on Isabeau’s life and he’s determined to find the person behind it all.

In Isabeau’s Eyes is a quick action-packed read, full of danger and passion! I really liked Isabeau, she was level headed, thought of others, and had some backbone. Tracker was fun too. Total alpha male sort of caveman. I did like that he did consider Isabeau’s feelings and choices even though he came off as bossy. There were a lot of sizzling encounters! Lots of hot stuff.

Even though this is the first in the Kentucky Nights series, there are a lot of characters I wasn’t familiar with that probably had their stories in previous books. I still enjoyed Isabeau and Tracker’s story, which wraps up. I’m thinking Tracker’s brother Chance will get his own story in the next book and I look forward to it.

I alternated between and e-copy and the audio version and recommend either version. Manxie Hardy is a new-to-me narrator. I really enjoyed her performance of all voices! She had a sultry, smooth voice and gave just a hint of a Southern accent that felt spot on for the characters. I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed.

4 Stars

Book Description:

The first novel in a new series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh—you've met the Mackays; now it's time to meet their friends.

Danger is stalking Isabeau Boudreaux. After the deaths of her parents ten years ago during a violent attack that left her blind, remnants of her vision are returning. But a series of accidents has convinced her friends the Mackays of Somerset, Kentucky, that someone wants her dead. When a roadside blowout proves to be almost fatal for Isabeau and her good friend Angel, Angel’s brother mercenary Tracker Calloway knows this was no accident.

After a particularly bloody job, the last thing Tracker wants to do is get involved. But whoever is after Isabeau almost hurt his sister, and Isabeau is the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. Tracker is determined to protect her but knows staying away from Isabeau is impossible. He begins a steady seduction to tempt the innocent woman into a world of hunger like she could have never imagined. And keeping her is the only option—if he can save her from an unknown enemy as her sight begins to slowly return.

Review & Giveaway: Collision Point by Lora Leigh

Collision Point (Brute Force #1) by Lora Leigh

Publication Date: February 27th 2018 by St. Martin's Press

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Macmillan | Books-a-Million | Indie Bound | Powells

About the book: 

From #1 bestselling author Lora Leigh comes Collision Point, part of the thrilling Brute Force series—packed with powerful men, steely women, and explosive passion.

SHE’S NOTHING BUT TROUBLE
Riordan Malone is more than a bodyguard. As an Elite Ops agent, he’s ripped, raged, and ready to rumble—a true warrior, inside and out. But no war zone can compare to the battle in Rory’s heart when he lays eyes on the only woman he’s ever loved—and thought he had lost forever. . .

HE’S EVERYTHING SHE NEEDS
As the daughter of a crime lord, Amara Resnova has endured the cruelty of her father’s enemies—and has tried to escape that world ever since. Now, she must reach out to the one man who saved her life, even if she’s never forgiven him for breaking her heart. But Amara is tougher today than she was then. She’s also more desirable to Rory—and dangerous to love. Can he protect her from her father’s enemies without surrendering to his own passions…or will love seal their fate for good?

My Thoughts:

Riordan Malone almost lost his life rescuing Amara Resnova, his lover and charge, from her father’s enemies and has spent the last six months getting back to 100% without a word from her.  Now she’s back at Riordan’s door, asking for help, because it appears someone is still after her.  Riordan’s more than a little upset that Amara turned away from him but won’t turn her away when she’s in need. 

Amara can’t remember the last year of her life, but she’s has vivid nightmares of death, and haunting erotic dreams of a man she discovers to be Riordan Malone, a man who was once her bodyguard.  Odd occurrences and accidents start happening, and Amara just knows she’s in danger all over again.  She has only shadowy memories of him, but her instincts tell her Riordan is the one to help her, a man she can trust to protect her.  What she doesn’t expect is the animosity rolling off him when they meet.

Collision Point was an entertaining read, one that held my attention until the end, but not without some issues for me.  The story was heavy on sexy times, which as a romance junkie I do appreciate, but it was to the point that it interrupted the pacing and urgency of the mystery.  Also, the writing was a bit distracting.  Long sentences had me reading and rereading to get the meaning. Some of the descriptions of the sex were too wordy and had me cringing, at times.  Even so, the book was still pretty darn hot, with a lot of sizzling sexual tension between Amara and Riordan!

Even with the above issues, I couldn’t put the story down.  I suspected the reasons Amara lost her memory, but I wanted to see how it all worked out.   Also, I wanted a happy ending for Amara and Riordan.

3/3.5 Suns

Author Bio:
#1 New York Times bestseller Lora Leigh is the author of the Navy SEALS, the Breeds, the Elite Ops, the Callahans, the Bound Hearts, and the Nauti series.

Connect with Lora Leigh:

Blog | Facebook | Twitter

The lovely people of St. Martin's Press have generously provided a Paperback Copy of Collision Point to one lucky reader! The giveaway is open to US Residents only. Fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win. Good luck!

Review: Bengal's Quest (Breeds #30) by Lora Leigh

Bengal's Quest (Breeds #30) by Lora Leigh
Published June 23rd 2015 by Berkley

New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh tells a story of two Breeds who are united by animal desires, only to find it’s vengeance that stirs the mating heat…


He was a shadow, ever shifting and insinuating, able to blend in everywhere and anywhere. The elusive ideal conceived and created by the Genetics Council, he went by just as many names as he had identities—the last one being Gideon.


Now calling himself Graeme, he hides in plain sight, terrifyingly close to his goal. A rogue Bengal Breed, he has loyalties to no one but himself. And he has a need for vengeance that surges hot and swift through his veins.

Graeme plans to exact an extreme and ruthless vendetta against those who wronged him—Breed and human alike. All will suffer his wrath: those who created him, those who pretended to love him, and those who betrayed him.

That includes the one at the center of it all: a seductive, enigmatic woman helpless against the man whose desire is just as desperate as his need to destroy.
And he’s on her scent…

My Thoughts

This is definitely NOT a stand-alone book. Nor is it a book you can dive into without reading the DOZENS of books that precede Bengal's Quest. Trust me, I made that mistake and was confused from beginning to end.

I've been eager to try a Lora Leigh book for quite some time and Bengal's Quest kept coming to my attention at the bookstore, on Goodreads and more recently on Overdrive. My intent was going into this book with no preconceived notion of what to expect. BIG MISTAKE! If I would have bothered to do a bit a research, I would have discovered that even longtime fans for the Breeds series were disappointed and confused with this installment that I had no clue was an installment. So imagine where that left me who had no prior background??? I was completely lost.

I had the hardest time figuring out the whole Graeme/Gideon and Cat/Claire/Catherine dynamic that I even surprised myself in completing the story... and these are the main characters! I could not figure that out...

Overall, I don't feel bad rating this story so low because I'm a firm believer that installments for every series should have an element that stands on its own... at minimum (1) explain how the Genetics Council and Breeds fit into the human world... (2) who the main characters are and (3) who/what your characters are up against. It was all so vaguely eluded to that I never really felt I had a good grasp of what was happening.

Lastly, if you can't impress me with substance, at minimum charm me with chemistry between the characters. I couldn't even give it points for that.

Not quite what I expected, but not entirely my own fault. One of my bigger misses for this year.

2 Suns