Not really my type of story, got through about half of it then gave up.

I couldnt connect with the characters or the storyline

So, I dont think this book was for me. I just couldn't get into it for a very long time going back and fourth with picking this book up. Then I decided to let my kindle read it to me because sometimes that helps me out when I read and not really into it and I will say that if it wasn't for that feature then I would've never picked up this book or finished it. From the description I thought I would like it sounded like a book I'd be into and it just wasn't for me. One of the things I really disliked about this book was the amount of times people were mentioned to be raped or threatened to be raped. I pretty much cringed every time. The amount of time I've heard it was over the top. This book kinda rubbed me the wrong way and I didn't end up liking the book like I thought I would.

It’s hard to escape your past when it keeps returning like a bad penny. Ivan was someone you wouldn’t cross and expect to live. He protects those he cares about fiercely. A man not to be crossed he invites Syn into his home to be a companion to his daughter. Syn has escaped a past that was was filled with lies and betrayal. Encountering Ivan again was a treasure but he could never find out who she truly was since it would ultimately put her life at risk. Absolutely loved the chemistry between both characters and how they completed one another. They were both willing to protect each other and the life they had begun.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Unfortunately, this was one I chose not to finish. My apologies for the late notice. As I don't want my low rating to appear on the site and potentially impact the choices of other readers, I wait until after a title has been published/no longer able to be downloaded.

Inadvertently, I waited much longer than intended to give feedback for this title.

I look forward to the next title through your company!

Thanks,
Laura

Ivan has been in love with Journey for years. Even though she is 8 years younger than him and this started from when she was about 12 ish. The beginning of the book was extremely confusing and I don't know if that was because this is the 2nd book of the series or if that was planned. It was a hard book to get into but it wasn't horribly written. It just was weird. Ivan is a, for a lack of a better term, a Russian mob boss that has been in his family for generations. Journey is also a member of another mob family but they hate her for some reason. It was a good but weird book, can't really put my finger on it.

Dagger's Edge by Lora Leigh was an edge of your seat action-packed novel that left me breathless. The story of about a daughter of a corrupt businessman who craves power. Her only hope of getting out of this mess is by a ruthless man who seeks her pleasure. A man from her past..... A man who wants to own her.

Dagger's Edge has the perfect amount of steam and action.

Ivan and Syn's story is a great addition to Lora Leigh's Brute Force series. Full of action and romance, Dagger's Edge will keep you glued to the page.

I absolutely love Lora's work. It is always so well written and flows so well. The book had some real nail biting scenes and some big twists. The descriptive naughty scenes are so steamy it's like sitting in the bathroom with a hot shower on. The book just pleads with you to read it. I am all about a good dominance who is also crazy protective. But this book as much as I love the author and as amazing as it was and hit on some of my favorite things it just wasn't my absolute favorite book. I definitely suggest checking it out it is a great read I love the author she writes some real steamy romances but I don't know if I'd suggest this be your first book from her. I don't know if I can really pin point what made it not amazing for me. But some of the great things other than what I listed above is how it is very dynamic. It gives a good back story for the characters and shows how much they've grown. It has very relatable family drama. I like that it is based on a Russian and someone who is French but the whole story is based in the United States. When deciding on my star rating I was kind of iffy between a 3.5 and a 4. I went with the 4 because she is a great writer and it was a good book, it didn't seem fair to half point it off because something felt off for me. I have another book to read by her that's coming out in January, I can't wait to read it!

Well, I only have myself to blame for requesting to read an advance reader copy of this novel, and what caused me to request it was the author, Lora Leigh, an author whose books I've enjoyed for years, but what I failed to recognize was that this was the second book in her Brute Force series, so, no sooner did I start reading when once again, I fell down the rabbit hole and had no clue who these characters were or what they were about--so I went back to take a look at the first Brute Force novel and realized that a) I'd read it almost a year ago, b) I was just as lost then as I was now, and c) what was I thinking?

Certain characters appeared in both novels, Ivan, a Russian whose family goes back centuries, most of them involved in criminal enterprises; Amara, Ivan's daughter, who was the heroine in the first novel; Amara's friend, Journey, aka Crimsyn Delaney, the 26-year-old daughter of Ivan's arch enemies (Journey's father and grandfather who were involved in selling young girls into sex slavery), Journey's somewhat removed but frequently mentioned relative, the Queen of England, Ilya, Ivan's right-hand man and henchman, Beaureguard (Beau) Grant, Journey's fiance in an arranged marriage orchestrated by her father and grandfather, who will inherit and run their shady business operations once the marriage is consummated--a marriage that Journey doesn't want and has been running from since the last novel; as well a large number of supporting characters who were almost instantly forgettable.

We soon learn that Ivan has been attracted to Journey since he first met her when she was 16 years old, which is sort of creepy until we learn that he fathered his daughter, Amara, when he was a mere 13 years of age, and that there's only 10 years separating him from the now 26-year-old Journey. Journey has been equally fixated on Ivan since they met, but due to the nature of her family's shady business interests and Ivan's equally shady ones, she never hoped for more than a dance with Ivan, eventually agreeing to marry Beau to seal a business deal orchestrated by her father and grandfather. Please realize that all of this information was gathered after reading both novels, and that instead of jumping right into the middle of the action in the prologue, what this novel really needed was a cast of characters page explaining who everyone was and their complicated interrelationships, and complicated is putting it mildly.

Much of the novel, and Journey's years of exploits on the run, as she takes menial job after menial job until she earns just enough money to run again from her family, and whoever else she thinks is after her is beyond confusing, especially since we're given no background information on all the possible characters and their motives, some of whom are enemies of her family, some of whom are working for her family, some of whom might be Ivan's employees or his enemies, some of whom were characters from her Elite Ops series, and who knows who else might be trying to find her and for what purpose was unclear. What also confused this reader was that each time Journey ran, she changed her name and ID, and when Ivan finally catches up with her while she's using her Crimsyn Delaney alias, he doesn't appear to recognize her, which was reminiscent of Superman, who, when he was wearing a business suit and donned a pair of glasses, becoming Clark Kent, none of his friends and associates recognized him. Utterly ridiculous!

Much of the latter part of this novel involves Journey and Ivan and a pretend engagement and her pregnancy by Ivan, who admittedly had a vasectomy years before to assure that he'd never father a son and heir, and that his evil family wouldn't immediately try to capture the infant and/or kill him. Apparently his daughter, Amara, only escaped death by virtue of being born female. So, half of the evildoers in this twisted tale of family affiliations want Journey to have a child, the other half do not, but the point of view and the scene switch so often, sometimes in mid-paragraph, that I was never sure which side wanted what, or even where or who they were. In fact, the only part of this story that worked for me at all was the sexual relationship between Ivan and Journey, and if there's one thing that Lora Leigh does exceedingly well, it's write one heck of an erotic sex scene, and she does so repeatedly in this novel, starting in the very first chapter, which certainly shocked me, since it's quite clear that while these two man characters had lusted after one another for years, neither felt they could trust the other, so it was just too much and too soon.

I think that given some major copy editing, rewriting and backstories on the principle characters, there might have been some hope for this confusing tale of lust, love, friendship, dysfunctional family dynamics, lies and betrayal, but as it was, I can only call this novel one hot mess.

As stated, I voluntarily requested an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

I enjoy Lora's books but this book was lacking. The characters did not connect emotionally. Ivan had a personality change as soon as they hit the sheets....it was out of character and so odd.

Another installment in the action series by LL. This isn't my favorite series of hers but I don't think she could write a truly bad story... This one has lots of action and drama but is a bit light on the relationship part of the story (for me) which is what I think she really excels at writing and what I miss the most. I keep looking though! Still an entertaining read which had me turning the pages until the end. *3.5 stars* - just because I miss the other element in this series.

Another great Lora Leigh. She has danger, suspense and hot, hot romance down pat. These characters come to life and make me wish I lived in the book

This is an intense and emotional story.
Journey’s life has never been easy but it’s aboit to get more difficult.
Ivan has secretly wanted Journey for years. When he finally catches up with her, he has no intention of letting her go.
There are surprises around every corner for this couple. 5 stars!!

This is the second book in this series by this author. Amazing well written characters you just fall in love with as you read. This book is packed full with action, suspense and passion. This is a classic love story with added extras such as betrayal and feud. I can't wait to read more from this amazing author.



Highly recommended

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book

I've loved this author in the past, but this one left me feeling a little lost. I think there is a great story hidden in there, but I think that the author could have taken the time to lay it out in a more understandable way and explain the characters a little more. It jumps right into the action, but if you're not familiar with book one you'll be lost.

I voluntarily read an advanced review copy of this book

I was waiting and waiting for this book and I was not disappointed. This book was packed with action, heat and suspense. I can say hands down this was my favorite book in the series. Ivan and Crimsyn “Syn” Delaney were a great team and when push came to shove they were selfless and giving people.

Overall probably was the best books I have read over the summer!

I have read a great many Lora Leigh books, and for the most part enjoyed them all, but this one was just so confusing and weird. I went into it thinking I would like it and wound up spending way too much time trying to figure out the characters rather than enjoying the plot.

I try my hardest to finish every book I get on netgalley but this one was a complete bust for me. I tried several times to read this book and I just couldn’t make it past chapter 3. I was lost, confused and then I just didn’t care any more. While reading the prologue I was confused as to what was going on and it was just so scary of a situation to open a book with. I could not form a connection with these characters and then I just gave up. Sorry, this one is a bust for me.

Dagger’s Edge is the edge of your seat book that makes you wonder what is going to happen next. Journey has never felt love from anyone not her parents, sister or brother and when he father and grandfather kidnap her and her friend she realizes that if she escapes she will have to run. Journey has been on the run now for four years but Ivan Resnova has been watching her in fact he has been watching her for years but now he has a chance to to have Journey and his enemies. Journey has been in love with Ivan since she met him but Ivan doesn’t do love, protection, honor but never love so when they agree to fake it a lot of feelings come into play but a lot of people are trying to kill them so they can’t really explore them. I loved how easygoing Journey was having lived her life as she has. Romance and danger perfect combination.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars
M/F Romance
Triggers: Stalking, Murder,

This is Ivan and Syn's story. Again, the writing style just isn't quite for me, but it was an interesting read.

Syn is not who she appears to be and despite her best efforts, she cannot hide from the one person she has wanted for almost her entire life. Ivan is a force and he has always wanted Syn.

This is more about figuring out what makes you happy, holding on to it, and not letting anyone come and destroy it.

Syn and Ivan have a long road ahead of them. There are plots within plots that threaten their very lives. People are clamoring to figure out who is in charge, who will stay in charge, and who will perish.

This wasn't as good as the first book, at least for me. I wanted more on the plots and less on the romance. However, it was comprehensive and did answer a few questions. I know more are still present and hopefully will be answered soon.


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars

I liked this book, the premise was good and the romance was solid. What I found distracting was the multiple storylines stacked on top of each other. At times, I thought I was going to need a diagram to keep all the subplots straight.

Syn's fascination with Ivan started a long time ago and she's confident that he doesn't know her true identity, otherwise he'd never allow her in house much less his bed. Ivan, however, knows exactly who she is and what keeping her around means both him and her family.

I'm interested to see where the story takes us next.