The one word that went through my mind as I read this book was...huh? I was lost reading the first book and that trend continues in the second installment of the series. This book revolves around Ivan, Amara's (heroine from book one) father and her friend twenty-six year old Journey/Crimsyn. Ok - the book should have pointed out earlier that Ivan fathered Amara at 13. I pictured a 50-60 year old hero and thought it was ridiculous when they pointed out he had no gray hair and found it creepy he'd been attracted to her since she was 16.

As with book one - it jumps right into the action as if we should know who all these people are and how they all connect. I guess I needed a better map. I don't even understand whose side anyone is on and what organization they all are part of and who runs it. I found the entire storyline hard to comprehend. Why do people want to kill Journey - heck if I know. Even funnier, Ivan is apparently Superman...able to take bullets in the shoulder and require minimal medical attention despite great description of how he was bleeding out.

It appears the next book will be about Beau - but is he actually a good guy? That sure wasn't how he was portrayed in this book, but it felt like the author couldn't decide herself and tried to turn it around and imply he really is at the end.

Reading this, I feel like there is a great story hidden in there, but the author needs to take the time to lay it out in a more understandable way and take time away from sex scenes to explain the characters a little more.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley.

Another hit from one of my go to authors. I had read the first book to this series quite a while ago so did not remember exactly where that left off, but I wasn't too confused starting this one. (I am planning on re-reading it though)

I loved Journey/Syn in this book. Even with her horrible family life, I saw her as a brave and resilient young woman. And Ivan, he was a true alpha, protective and possessive. All Ivan wanted was to protect Syn and he was going to do whatever he can to make that happen. I loved how there was only the little bit of time where secrets were kept, but all was revealed quickly and the story was able to move on. I loved the love story between the two. All Syn wanted was to be loved, she wanted it so much she was willing to settle for the illusion of love. Ivan kept saying he didn't believe in love, but his actions told a different story. I love to see the ultimate alpha male fall so deeply. And the steamy scenes, wow! This is definitely a Lora Leigh book.

I received a complimentary copy of Dagger's Edge from Netgalley, all opinions are my own. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to review this book!

Dagger's Edge deserves a solid 3.5 stars. The book is a romantic suspense involving a bad boy falling in love with the enemy's daughter. Ivan wrestled control of his Russian crime family from his evil father and his cohorts. Syn a.k.a. Journey Taite is the daughter of an evil family who tortured Ivan's mother but hopelessly drawn to Ivan. On the run from her family and their enemies, Journey runs and hides under a new alias until Ivan's daughter Amara needs her. Spending time with her younger friend firmly puts Journey in Ivan's sights and soon her identity is revealed. The couple start a very sensuous and dangerous game in order to take down her family while falling in love. I found the characters memorable, Ivan as the dark and dangerous alpha male, and Journey as the heroine who grows and comes into her own strength. Ivan's appeal is apparent and Journey grows on you as she exposes a backbone of steel. I thought a lot of the plot becomes lost in the sex scenes, almost like the sex becomes a filler for the story. The story does contain plenty of action and the HEA is pretty sweet, definitely preferred for people who like really steamy reads. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

ARC received for this review

When I was looking at this book before I requested it, I saw it was an author I liked and the hero was a Russian, so of course I requested it. When I got it, I saw it was a second book. I had to go see if I had read the first....I had and oh no, I said I didn't want to read this one. I said I try it and if I have to DNF it I will. But I loved it.

The prologue messed me up. I'm like who are these people, but it all becomes clear. I was prepared to hate Ivan, but he was a yummy Russian teddy bear. Journey/Crimsyn is awesome and holds her own against his grumpiness. They were great together and smokin' hot even with him being much older. The bad guy totally took me by surprise.

I'm glad I gave this one a chance. Now the next book, I will give a chance since I'm pretty sure I figured out who it will be....

Lora Leigh’s Dagger’s Edge is the second book in the Brute Force series following the story of Amara with that of her father, Ivan. Ivan reconnects with Journey, whose father and grandfather have a long standing feud with Ivan and his family. Despite acrimonious family relationships the two quickly establish a relationship while trying to figure out who sent assassins after her – her family, her ex-fiancé? While this story has more of a plot line than its predecessor, a major focus of this book still seems to be building everything up around the sex scenes. I still like more of a story to my romances than that.

I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Oh WOW, I really loved this book. Now I see that I have to go back to read Elite Ops series in order to understand everything that happened. Although the story had me lost for a moment I had to go and do my research to see where all the characters had come in and noticed that I missed a series with these people.

I loved the alpha male in Ivan. This was a man who got what he wanted and had no fear of it being taken from him once he gets it. I also enjoyed Journey/Crimsyn (Syn) who was a little feisty, however I thought her character could have possibly been a bit stronger with Ivan’s. She grew up in a family surrounded by crime with her father and grandfather being monsters. Seems as if they were selling her into a marriage in which she was not willing to go into. She was not in love with the man her family wanted her to marry so she decided that she would leave and run from her family into hiding.

There was a time period while reading that Craig’s name was written as Greg. I hope the editing team to make the necessary corrections. I’ve read enough of LL books to really enjoy them and so far she has not let me down with this one.

Dagger's Edge is book 2 in the Brute Force series. I recommend reading book 1 "Collision Report" first, but this can be read as a standalone. To start, WOW that prologue, it hooks you big time and makes the book impossible to put down. I really enjoyed the cat & mouse chase in the beginning between Ivan and Journey aka Crimsyn as she goes by now, since she went into hiding. But Ivan is determined to keep her safe and will find her no matter what it takes. Ivan is Alpha sexy and a worthy hero. Their love story has all the feels. If you like romantic thrillers you will enjoy this book!

***************honest review in exchange for ARC from Publisher & Net Galley*************

I loved this book! It was fast paced, a little dark and oh so good! Ivan is alpha and dominant through and through. Journey is very innocent but tough as nails also. They are such a passionate couple. I received an advance review copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Full review to be published online in late August.

DAGGER’S EDGE is the second book in Lora Leigh’s “Brute Force” series, who’s is in itself rather a continuation of Leigh’s old “Elite Ops” series. There is really not much new here; and it read like Leigh was trying to cash in on the glory days of the original, more popular series.

DAGGER’S EDGE was a book I was eager to read as soon as I read the summary. It sounded like a book that was a little different for Leigh. I was led to expect a darker romance or RS, and it was not. It was pretty much standard Leigh fare. I felt cheated, as a few things were confusing; like they were written in...because it sounded good in a book you read so obviously it needed to be in your book. Also, some parts felt a little too coincidental and just down right unreal. This book had a lot of potential, but just did not deliver its promises. I may read the next one, not sure right this moment:

Now..now ..people...I see some of the reviews and you know I was like that with the first book in this series Collision Point. I had not known this was another side story from characters from her other series. I ended up re-reading collision point to refresh my memory. Journey is a strong female character. Her life was not easy and coming out strong after her life and being on the run is brave and hard considering the depravity of her family. Ivan is some what of a ladies man and doesn't like the women staying over or relationships and or love for that matter. A lot of the story comes together from the first book in this read. Ivan is sexy and alpha male. He is very protective of Journey and the scenes are hot🔥hot🔥hot🔥!! Well the ending is okay and there is an epilogue, but I was just wanting it a little further down the road. Not a bad read. I think this is a better read than the first book in this series. Now, what to read next??

I received this ARC from the publisher via Net Galley at my request for my honest review. Thank you Net Galley!

I was so excited to have been given the opportunity to read the second book in the series, but I'm sad to say that I didn't enjoy it as I was hoping too. It didn't even feel like a Lora Leigh book, it felt as some one else wrote this story and she just stamped her name on it. Over the many years I have been reading, I have read a lot of this authors work, and this just was not up to par.

The plot to this one was just off, I like the idea but it didn't do anything to make it stand out. The love story its self was okay, I found myself skimming at times.

Overall, I know Lora Leigh can do better then this, maybe its just me but I have to be in the minority here and just at nope not for me, and hope that with her New Breed book due to come out this year that it will be 50% better then this one!

2.5-3 stars.

It took me a second to get my bearings when I started this book. The prologue is actually from the last chapter of Live Wire (Jordan and Teyha’s story), except this time around it’s from Journey’s perspective instead of Teyha’s. Journey just learned how heinous her grandfather and father really are (like disgustingly so), doesn’t know what to make of the fiancée she was essentially sold to, and learned her boss was actually a cousin she thought missing/dead. Jump four years later and the story picks up from Collision Point where Journey-now known as Crimsyn-has helped save her friend Amara. Syn is hoping Amara’s dad Ivan, doesn’t recognize who she really is before she can escape and stay on the run from her seriously messed up family.

I was disappointed with the storyline. The potential for suspense and progression was there, but instead it was like Hey! Let’s just slap a sex scene here and here. Annoyingly, they didn’t even make sense! Let’s both get shot and then go hot and heavy with no mention of wounds even though she’s grabbing the should injury. Like, okay... These weren’t even sexy love scenes, but repetitive, same ole, same ole. Frankly, I got bored and started skimming. I also had issues with Ivan’s backstory, specifically how young he was when he became a parent to his daughter, Amara, and when he and Journey first noticed the other. That was on the ick side for me

The positives: I’m too perturbed about the negatives to find the positives.

I really wanted to give at least three stars but couldn’t because I’m so disappointed! With a convoluted plot, more sex than story, and an ending that answered many questions too little too late, maybe this series need to be retired. Rather than the second exciting book of the Brute Force spin off series, Dagger’s Edge felt like a filler book to appease longtime fans of the Elite Ops series and personally, I think it fell way short of that particular goal.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lora Leigh has done it again. I love the way she sucks you into her books and doesn't let go. The last page leaves you saying WTF I want more!!!! I greatly enjoyed Journey's story and the glimpse into a set of bad and worse options that leads to more than she ever expected. I read the last page ready to beg for more. I can't wait for my next dose of Lora Leigh.

I did not enjoy Dagger’s Edge. I tried to get into the story but couldn’t. It was a bit all over the place, one minute it was one characters story then the next someone else would be narrating. I didn’t feel any connection between the two main characters.
The story was predictable. I skipped a few chapters and I was able to figure out what was going on easily, since the story kept repeating itself. I wouldn’t recommend this book to others.

I am a huge Lora Leigh fan. Seriously. My first book was ‘Wild Card’ and I have been hooked every since. I thought that it would be sort of weird reading about Amara’s father but it wasn’t. Once I found out Ivan had her at thirteen all doubts disappeared. I loved seeing a softer side of Ivan and learning he was just as good a partner as father albeit a little over protective but that’s what we love in an alpha male right? Of course all of the sex scenes are scorching as it’s one of Loras strong suits along with crafting a suspenseful story. If you love a well written romantic suspense, pick this up!

Dagger’s Edge is the next book in Lora Leigh’s Brute Force series. This book definitely had some catnip for me. Older hero who is a crime boss with a protective streak. Check. Innocent heroine who is the best friend of the hero’s daughter. Check. Two families at war with each other. Check. I really liked the hero and the heroine. They had a great love story and smoking hot chemistry.

Unfortunately, the plot outside of the love story was really convoluted. I was pretty much confused from the prologue—probably because I didn’t read the previous books in this series closely. I couldn’t keep up with the people (who often had two names) and the details. It kind of bugged me that the hero called the heroine two different names—Journey and Syn.

I found myself skimming the book until I would get to scenes with the hero and the heroine (which I really enjoyed). So, this was a mixed bag for me but Lora Leigh is still one of my favorite authors of romantic suspense.

I have been waiting so long for this book, since the first one I was wondering about Ivan and Syn and I finally got my fill of them. I have to admit that a better editing is necessary but i still enjoyed the ride a lot because, you know....Lora Leigh....

Stavo aspettando questo libro da almeno un paio d'anni e finalmente ho avuto la mia dose di Ivan e Syn! C'è da dire che questo libro necessita un buon editing, ma comunque mi sono divertita a leggerlo perché stiamo sempre parlando di Lora Leigh....

THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!

I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review. OMG she’s back! For all those classic Lora Leigh fans this is a perfect book. Having read the first in this series (which I found disappointing) I was a little nervous about this book but was soon so caught up in the story I couldn’t put it down. The prologue shows reference to it’s Elite Ops series beginnings but even those who haven’t read any of the previous books will love the intrigue and steamy scenes. I loved how Ivan is a true alpha male with a tender heart that most don’t get to see. Syn, who’s real identity shocked me, had an unbelievably rough family life but was able to overcome that and become a strong woman in her own right. And the heat between those two, well let’s just say my kindle was on fire. I loved this book and highly recommend this book. Can’t wait for more (hopefully soon).

A fabulous read. A suspenseful, sexy story. Lora Leigh wrote an excellent story that keep me intrigued from the moment I opened the book. The two main characters, Ivan and Syn are great together. Ivan wants to keep Syn safe and keep her for himself. Syn is trying to escape her dangerous family. This book contain some steamy sexy scenes while keeping you guessing what is going to happen next. I would recommend this book.

I haven't been this disappointed in a LONG TIME.
I'm not sure what happened with this book. It definitely wasn't up to par with what I expected from this author. While the story idea was fantastic, the execution fell flat. Even though I know this is a work of fiction, I struggle with incorrect information being presented. I really hope that and editor does a little fact checking and combs through this with a fine toothed comb.