This book is part of a series. Do readers need to read the first book No. But I would recommend it. I was lost at first and I had even read the first book. The characters are interesting enough to keep readers engaged but honestly there is so much sex it feels as if the author didn't know what to do with them when Ivan was protecting her they had sex. While others were trying to track down the bad guys. They had sex. When she looked at him they had sex. If they were not having sex they were thinking about sex.

The story is interesting enough so I flipped though the sex scenes to get to the guts of the story but I found I had finished the story in an afternoon.

I am interested enough in the series to keep reading but if the next one is once again 85% sex I think that will be the end of the series for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the advance Copy of Lora Leigh Dagger's Edge

Journey seems to go straight from the fire into the frying pan. She has a hard time figuring out who can be trusted. I really felt bad for her and was also rooting for her at the same time. By the way, Ivan is so very HOT. At first I was put off by the age gap, but I think that Journey needs a more sophisticated man.

I loved this book so much. I can't wait for next book. I highly recommend this book. ☆☆☆☆☆

I received an arc from Netgalley. While I love this author I am not so sure I am in love with this particular book. I am not sure if it was the age difference or something from the beginning just three me off and I found myself skimming and skipping around.

Still love this author and will continue reading.

I wasn’t sure how I was going to like this book. I’ve read almost all of Lora Leigh’s books, some I liked but a lot of the newer ones, not so much. Some of her previous works were disjointed and not a lot of continuity. The characters always alluding to hazards unknown to the readers. The writing in this book was similar to her Seal, Elite Ops, Nauti, and Breed series. Most especially the earlier books. So, I was pleasantly surprised that the story between Ivan and Journey/Crimsyn was better than I had expected. There’s a fine line between a good guy masquerading as a bad guy or vice versa. That’s what Ivan appeared to be. (The same with Beau, good or bad guy?). Journey has been fascinated with Ivan since she was a teenager. And he was fascinated with her as she becomes a young woman, even though he has vowed to never love any woman other than his daughter. Even though Journey has become stronger and more defiant due to her dysfunctional and despicable family, she doesn’t make rash, stupid decisions that make it more difficult to keep her safe. It was also nice that it didn’t take forever for Ivan to realize the depth of his feelings for her.

I have been a Lora Leigh fan for years. I have always loved her books. With that said, I found this one hard to finish. The story and characters just didn't keep my interest. The story was slow and I didn't feel that the characters had a real, believable connection. I hope this is an anomaly and her next book is back to un-put-downable like in the past.

Amazingly written romantic suspense that leaves you on the edge of your seat wanting more.

I highly recommend this book.

I am voluntarily reviewing this book via Netgalley.

In a world of secrets, vengeance and lies, Lora Leigh wrote a surprising and addictive story, with enough passion and eroticism to melt your eReader.

Our lead character, Ivan Resnova, is known as a brutal and powerful crime boss, but when it comes to what he love the most he can also be terrifyingly passionate. Who says the villain can't also be a knight in shining armor? Because that's exactly what he becomes to Crimsyn "Syn" Delaney when danger knocks to her door; and despite her efforts to fight her feelings for him and to keep her secrets safe, she will have to trust in the only man who can also destroy her.

I loved Ivan alpha male's ways. He's nobody's hero, he's just a man who get what he wants and has no fear of it being taken from him once he gets it. Ivan is the kind of man who will fight until the end for what he consider his, and he stated his claim over Crimsym, or I must say Journey, when he took he in his bed. He's not a bad guy turned good, and sure as hell he wasn't pretending being a bad guy. He was what he was, a man following his own rules and doing what's necessary to keep himself, and his family, alive in the world he had to live in.

I also enjoyed Journey/Crimsyn (Syn). She was in certain way innocent, but with a deep strength; she's being through hell but she keeps fighting. She grew up among monsters and was sold into a marriage she wasn't willing to go into, so when she had the chance she ran, and never stop running or hiding. She's Tenhya's cousin (Live Wire), and became friends with Amara (Collision Point), but she guarded fiercely every secret she had, even her attraction to Ivan since she was 16 years old. But the danger has a way to catch up with you in the most unexpected ways.

Lora Leigh’s DAGGER’S EDGE is an erotic and suspenseful love story, with an incredible narrative rhythm and enough action to keep you biting your nails until the last page. After reading this book I felt like rereading Elite Ops series along with Collision Point. Can't wait for the next book in this series to come out.

Fantastice action. Ivan and "Cyn" have their story,. I always look forward to reading any of Lora Lieghs books, she never diappoints her readers. Ivan's daughter is now safe with her future husband... and Ivan can now pursue Cyn, his daughter's friend and the daughter of one of his worst enimies. Ivan knows that Cyn is really the daughter / woman he and his friends saved from being sold into marriage - so that they could contol her and the roayal family's money. Pleanty of action between the sheets. This bool is a must read for anyone who loves action and adventure.

*I received this book from Netgalley for free for my honest opinion*

There was a lot going on in this story. It was an interesting premise. However, I felt no connection between the two main characters. There was a lot going on but still had time to insert 5 sex scenes in one chapter (may be exaggerating a bit).

It was confusing in certain parts where I had to go back and re-read. I noticed others that reviewed this book mentioned that as well.

If you are a fan of Russian crime world - you’ll enjoy it.

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year and I'm so glad I got to read it. Oh my gosh this was good. I do wish that the mix of personal relationship building and the mystery of who and why they wanted to go after Journey was more equal, this focused more on Journey's relationship with Ivan and how that threw a wrench in other people's plans. I wanted a bit more about the family that surrounded her and how they got the way they did.



Having read the first book in the Brute force series I was ready for this, Dagger's edge picks up after the events of Collision Point, which focused on Ivan's daughter and her second chance at a life with her man. In Dagger's Edge we learn that Ivan's daughter was a setup for his father who is a brutal monster to control him, and when he couldn't he tried to betray his son in the worst way possible which forced Ivan into becoming an even bigger monster to protect his daughter and the innocents around him. Journey's father is one of the men who have it out for Ivan, because they can't control him they too strike out at him, using Journey and Amara as pawns in their brutal game.



Realizing she will never be protected by those she calls family Journey runs away and tried to make it on her own. There are forces bent on making sure she never gets away however and as she runs they hunt her as fiercely as Ivan's men are trying to protect her. Even though Journey knows Ivan would be the best one to protect her she's afraid of him realizing who she is and so she runs from him too.



I loved the back and forth between them, with Journey learning to stand up to him and yet defer when it comes to a life or death situation. While she's crafty and street smart enough to stay one step ahead she isn't ruthless enough to confront the men playing with her life and for this she needs Ivan. Ivan has spent his whole life fighting and other than his daughter Amara no one has ever been solely in his corner because they needed him alone. Journey is becoming a weakness and yet also his reason to try for more for himself as well.



I absolutely enjoyed their intimate scene because my gawds did they burn up the sheets. I loved their interplay when talking and how Ivan tried to win arguments. Journey was learning so much about who she wanted to be and what she wanted from life even if she didn't think she would survive the coming battles, she wanted a small slice of happiness while she was here. I loved his relationship with his friends and advisors and even with his daughter Amara.



The action when there was some was fast paced and hooked you, it was like a well-played chess game, moves were being made that clearly lined events up and setup moves and people far beyond the small scene we were seeing. Getting snippets from the other players in the game certainly made you more invested in knowing what was happening because while it was happening off screen you knew it was going to impact Journey and Ivan as well. I liked that Ivan was aware that his traditions were a throwback, but understood why they were the way they were. I wanted for him to have the dream so bad and the two of them didn't hold back at all and reading that was awesome.



The unraveling of empires, the moves Ivan and Journey made that put so many out of the game made me enjoy this one immensely. I can't wait to see who it is that brings down her former fiance. I want to see more about the crime families and how they could allow what was happening to their children to continue. I need to read the Elite Ops books that launched this and really get to know all the characters we're being introduced to because I'm sure it would make the stories even richer.



As an aside I liked that Ivan clarified why his daughter and Journey are so close in age. I also liked that he was aware that the age difference does impact them somewhat. He knew her when she was a teen and wanted to help her find her way, not sexually (which I'm glad he stated) but he found her fascinating because she so clearly didn't want to be there (at whichever event her father forced her to attend) that he wanted to help make it less awkward for her. Him doing something so nice when he didn't have to led to her idolizing him, which I can totally understand. This was the beginning of them, and even though reality shattered several of her dreams about Ivan, Ivan himself lived up to more than she expected. As for Ivan realizing this young woman had bloomed into a fun, smart, loving woman despite her family's attempt to destroy her, made him wish for more and become determined to fight for it.

★★★★☆

RECOMMENDATIONS

Ghostwalker Series by Christine Feehan
I flew through this my loves, and had to read it

This is my first book from thus author and I just couldn’t get into it . The writing style thru me off , i would have finished it but the story didn’t grab me either .

Didn't read the first book, this is the second, but overall didn't feel lost. Story starts with Journey finding out how evil her father and grandfather were. After they were sent to prison, she goes on the run from her family and the man she was sold to for marriage. After being rescued by Ivan, the Russian mobster, she jumps into his bed and life. Had my head swirling a bit on how fast things went. Also, considering she was a virgin, and he was quite a bit older than her, thought it was too fast, but the details were more than needed. Book started slow for me, but started to pick up when the other characters started to emerge around the plot. Would recommend, but not my favorite.

Deflate 4.5. A great hit! Loved, love this series and the interactions with the previous. Makes me want to go back and star at the beginning. It has been a while since reading one of these and diving into the characters brought a lot of good stories and characters together. The story is suspenseful with twists and turns throughout with great descriptions and story links. Love of course the steamy scenes which are always great. Only thing I thought could use a little more detail was the initial link between the 2 characters. I felt I missed a link between the two in the beginning that caused a little difficulty connecting in the beginning. Fabulous and can’t wait for the next hopefully not too long.

Lora Leigh has done it again! This book is wonderful overall! Journey is a strong young woman with a family that is completely psycho! Ivan is a hard man who didn’t have the best of families either. He has many reasons to hate Journeys family and no one can blame him. I very much enjoyed the storyline!

I would recommend this book highly! It’s very much worth the read!

This was so ridicu-bonkers that it was actually entertaining in the most baffling way. Almost every page had a WTF moment. Actually, Journey and Ivan's romance was just one big WTF moment, with them being attracted to each other since she was 16, her being friends with Ivan's daughter whom he fathered at age 13, he being the sworn enemy of her father and grandfather who happen to be incarcerated human traffickers, and oh, the fact that Journey is the favorite cousin of the Queen of England. The craziness is that everything that happened to put Journey on the run, her father and grandfather in prison, and Ivan at war - all happened in the past and is barely explained. I felt like I was dropped in the middle of an incoherent foreign soap opera with no subtitles.

WTF 1: Lora Leigh's characters always belong to the sickest, most psychopathic families. Journey's father and grandfather are human traffickers who are hunting for her. She's estranged from her cold mother and uncaring siblings who also want her forced into marriage with another man. Meanwhile, Ivan's father pushed him into having sex at age 13 so he would have a baby that the father could control him by.

WTF 2: Ivan is only 13 years older than his daughter Amara (from Collision Point) and Journey is two years younger than Amara. Journey, in hiding, becomes friends with Amara but Ivan doesn't recognize her because her looks have changed so much in four years. Ivan is so determined not to let the Resnova line continue so he had a vasectomy...guess what happens?

WTF 3: Journey has sex with Ivan while incognito or so she thinks. He slips up and calls her "Journey" and not "Crimsyn" during sex and Journey is simply aghast that Ivan actually recognized her. Mind you, she had no disguise and was simply four years older.

WTF 4: Journey worked for her cousin Tehya but Tehya never told her who she was. Tehya is from Lora Leigh's Live Wire which I read in 2011 but couldn't remember anything other than Tehya is with Jordan Malone who is cousins with Rory Malone from Collision Point. Still not helping fill in the history blanks here.

WTF 5: Journey's father Craig almost had Amara kidnapped as a child and given to a white slaver named Sorrel. This is mentioned in the most offhand way and never fully explained. But once Ivan finds Journey, he decides the best way to get his vengeance is to make a fake engagement between him and Journey to force her father and grandfather to act against him. This of course breaks Journey's heart because she wants Ivan's love so Ivan agrees to give her the "illusion of love". I have no idea what the heck he means by that.

WTF 6: Ivan wears his grandmother's ring on a chain. Apparently, everyone in the underworld knows that his grandmother made him swear to only put the ring on the finger of the woman he loved and would marry. So everyone understands Ivan's claiming of Journey with the ring except, of course, Journey herself who is too busy whining and pouting about wanting Ivan's love.

WTF 7: Ivan and Journey are both shot but then have sex right after with no mention of blood or pain. To quote Monty Python, it's just a flesh wound!

WTF 8 - 100: You get the picture.

Weirdness and unexplained/unexplored plot points aside, Journey and Ivan are super hot together. I think Lora Leigh just expects her fans to remember old stories (Jordan and Tehya) or to just sheepishly follow along with the crazy drama (which I did).

This is a very erotic romance! Journey and Ivan go through many trials to be together but always seem to be able to overcome any obstacles. I had a little trouble figuring out who was who and what side they were on. Lora Leigh sure does know how to describe a love scene!

`If a dream has always been unreachable and the reality of it suddenly becomes real with the help of an illusion, then a chance can arise that one has never dared to hope for.` - That Journey and Ivan took this opportunity I liked a lot. Also that both (in their own way) were very selfish in this regard.

Lora Leigh is a guarantor for hot sex scenes and Ivan was insatiable (LOL. A true dominant alpha male).
But they were never overdrawn and had just the right amount of fire. The story itself was fast-paced and full of action. Journey and Ivan complemented each other well and were well-crafted characters.



I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

So if you like a suspens romance with a hot couple. Then this book is for you, I love this book. The scenes are so hot and I couldn’t put the book down, I read it on one sitting. I can’t wait for the next one.

I was given this book to give a honest review.

Well, THAT sent my Kindle into meltdown! Who says your knight in shining armor can’t be a brutal and powerful crime boss? I mean, come on, is anyone perfect?

Lora Leigh’s DAGGER’S EDGE is an erotic love story, so leave your blush at the door and grab the fan as one crime boss’ daughter goes on the run to avoid becoming the “grand prize bride” and falls into the arms and bed of her father’s greatest enemy, the older man she secretly fell for years ago. Toss in some suspense, a mob shoot out or two and one certainly can’t blame Journey for running from an arranged marriage, but apparently she didn’t get the family gene for covering her trail and Ivan may be the only person who has the connections to save her.

The street action is secondary to the bedroom action, but Lora Leigh is known for her intense sizzle and burn between the sheets! Not sure I bought Journey's character 100%, but Ivan made up for it with his anti-hero, alpha ways. High energy reading, and two lovers who finally find happiness in spite of the dangerous world around them.

I received a complimentary ARC edition from St. Martin's Press!

Series: Brute Force - Book 2
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (August 28, 2018)
Publication Date: August 28, 2018
Genre: Erotic Suspense
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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