As the second book of the series, we get to see how Ivan is...and his own HEA...

To be frank, I am kind lost for words on how to describe this book. What I can tell you, is that I am looking forward to reading the 3rd book of this series. If there will be one.

This is the second book of a series, which I gather is a spin off of a prior series, neither of which have I read. Needless to say, I was confused a lot during my read of Dagger's Edge. Ms. Leigh used the technique of a flashback to launch the story, there were characters and situations mentioned that I had no background to comprehend. I do not think Dagger's Edge can stand alone. The pacing seemed a bit choppy as well, making the read less enjoyable. Don't get me wrong, the book was entertaining, the suspense adequate and the passion sky high, it just wasnt for me at this time.

There are problems here. One is the beginning. I know this is not the first book in the series, but a little explanation goes a long way. By the time I figured out what was going on (sort of), I hit the next issue: depressing story. It seems like many of the last Lora Leigh books revel in the gritty underbelly of life. I'm not talking about overcoming life, I'm talking about living in the dark, depressing part of society. It's not me. Sadly, this book isn't me, either. I couldn't relate to the characters. The relationship seemed flawed. Maybe others will like this type of thing and I'm just too much fluff to enjoy it.

I absolutely love this series!! I adored Collision Point, the first book in this series, but was so intrigued by Ivan and Jouney's story. You could tell from the first book that there was a story there between them and honestly it rocked my socks off!

Dagger's edge was everything I love in a romantic suspense story. It was sexy and intense with adrenaline pumping moments. I loved Ivan and Journey/Syn. Their connection was fiery and I could not stop reading. I was addicted to every word. I love how passionate this story was and how it immediately followed book one. Ivan was possessive and protective and so enamoured with Journey even if he didn't realize it himself at the time. This story was fantastic!

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review. Bravo! 4.5 Stars! ~Ratula

ARC received for this review.

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. I had to force myself to finish this book.

Ivan is a Russian crime boss who has left behind his roots and settled in the US working as a covert operative with the CIA. Collision Point the earlier book in the series features Ivan's daughter's story and serves to introduce Journey aka Crymsyn who fascinates Ivan despite being considerably younger than him and his daughter's friend to boot. Ivan had sworn off serious relationships given his past and Journey has her own reasons for constantly being on the run and off the grid. Is there a future for these two?
What Journey doesn't know is that Ivan has kept an eye on her since she was sixteen and first made eye contact with him. Then she disappeared off the grid but Ivan's men as well as her own family kept finding her until she surfaces along with Ivan's daughter in his home. Now not only is Journey the focus of Ivan's protection but also his inability to resist his attraction to her.
The author maintains a level of suspense about Journey's family her father and grandfather both controlling events from behind the prison cell where they are incarcerated. Most of the book though is erotic scenes between Ivan and Journey or her trying her disappearing act and him bringing her back. Unfortunately I lost interest and though I plowed my way to the finish I barely made it there.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

For some reason I did not connect with the characters in this book. I really thought I would since the synopsis seemed so interesting but I just could not get into it.

I have to be honest and say that I ended up jumping some sections just to get done with this story.

I will pick up the next in the series and hopefully it will be better.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Dagger’s Edge by Lora Leigh was very well written story, it was intriguing, it had danger and love.
The characters are well developed you could feel the chemistry and it had such passion. This was a story that catches hold of you and won’t let go till the very end. I recommend this book if you enjoy a bit of everything in your books.

This second book of the Brute Force Series is a sensual, romantic suspense with a complex plot and forbidden love.

Ivan is alleged to be a cruel war lord. He is loyal to his best friend and adores his daughter.

Crimsyn aka Syn comes from a "noble"family with a dark side. She has been brought up in isolation and a controlled environment.

Syn is being forced to marry someone of her father's choice and doesn't have any say in the matter. Her only way out is to escape. She receives help from her best friend and they are both abducted. She becomes aware that she has been betrayed in the worst possible way and that she is in a dangerous position. Whilst staying with her friend, Amara, she comes across Ivan, her teenage crush who is also her family's mortal enemy. Ivan has been admiring her from afar, but having suffered greatly at the hands of Syn's family from a young age, he seeks vengeance. Can he ignore the attraction between them and concentrate on his revenge or can he get the best of both worlds?

The revelations about Ivan's traumas and Syn's upbringing are soul destroying. They have both suffered at the hands of sick and depraved individuals. Their pasts dictate that a relationship between them would only create more chaos, but their hearts and souls won't be denied.

Ivan is a force to be reckoned with and when those he loves are in trouble, he would put his life on the line for them. He is charismatic and has a wicked sense of humour. I like the way Syn tackles her issues and adapts to her situations. This story shows that nothing is impossible and dreams do come true. A forbidden love turns into a beautiful fairy tale.

I am intrigued by Beau and hope that he tells his own story.

I was kindly issued with an eARC and the views expressed are my personal opinion.

I enjoyed this book much more than others that I have read from Lora Leigh recently. The plot was more coherent and the motivations of all the characters were clear. I read somewhere recently that Leigh was the master of the crazy plot twist which I def agree with the crazy part. It seems like she toned that down a little for this book which I certainly appreciated.

Ivan Resnova wants nothing more than to escape his hard, brutal past. Starting over is not so easy once you’ve been a powerful crime boss but now, instead of being punished for his alleged crimes, Ivan fears that the one woman he can’t forget is in danger of paying the price.
The story before this was Ivan’s daughter and, while I didn’t remember getting much of a description (or age) of him, I remembered the hint of boiling heat between Ivan and Syn. So, starting this one off, my visual of him before the author did a great job of revealing him probably wasn’t the most attractive. However, as with all of Lora Leigh’s stories, she did their story justice. I really enjoyed it and read it pretty quickly. There were plenty of hot scenes to go along with the drama. I highly recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

Dagger’s Edge was an okay read. Just felt the story was a bit all over the place and kind of fell flat to me. I expected more from this series.

I almost DNFed and gave this one star!

Keep reading, and trust in Lora Leigh to deliver a great story. The first 14-20% is confusing and appears to be instalove, which I loathe. I almost had given up, but I am glad I stuck it out. By 80% it picks up and flies you so close to the end that you are sad it’s almost over.

I’ve attempted to also post the following review to Amazon, but am not sure if they are accepting NetGalley reviews. I am back after a long illness, and happy to be reviewing with NetGalley again!

I adore our heroine, Journey, with her red hair and firey personality to go with it. She’s a lonely runner who has never known real love, not from her parents or anyone. She trusts no one except the one dangerous man she’s kept an eye on since she was an innocent 16-year-old girl.

Our hero can be a bit of a villain, but is definitely the hero to those he loves the most, like his daughter, Amara. Ivan, Ivan, Ivan. I don’t trust him either through much of the book, which makes him easy for Journey to run from.

I think I will want to read this book again when I get the chance to read the first book of the series. It seems there is a lot of history behind this couple that is only hinted at in this book, but there are more details in the first book that we don’t know about if reading this one as a stand-alone title. I’ll definitely recommend this book, but advise reading this series in order for more enjoyment.

There is a teaser for what might be coming in the next book of the series, and I must say I’m keeping an eye out for that next book on NetGalley. I received a galley copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Galley copies aren’t always fully edited, so are at times harder to read because some of the editing is incomplete. Frankly, this galley copy is better than some books I’ve read (and rarely review because of this) that were entirely unreadable and begging for an editor. Bravo, Lora Leigh, on yet another steamy, lively success.

I tried and tried again, but I could not get into this book. Probably more of an "It's me, not you" thing than anything else. Even though I'd read the first in the series a while back, I was completely lost, and didn't connect with the characters at all. As much as I like Lora Leigh books, I think this series as a whole, just isn't for me.

A story of Ivan continues in a new book. This time he is protecting the women that have been in his mindes since she was an innocent teenager. But lust, the attraction between Ivan and his Syn is strong and escalates in wild lovemaking. But to escape her family they make a compromise and fake soon become very real. Both Ivan and Syn are likable characters they made a really great readable story.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgelly

Another great story by a wonderful author, this story hooked me from the very beginning and I just couldn’t put it down

This is Book 2 in the Brute Force series. Journey is on the run from her family, who are very high up in the British Empire. During the danger of her running from them, she gets caught up in the danger involving Ivan. There’s a lot of action and hot, hot chemistry between Journey and Ivan. You are held on the seat of your pants keeping up with everything that’s happening. I was so excited to read enough because I really enjoy Lora Leigh’s books. This was just another good book by her. She always keeps you on the edge as you read. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book that I received from Netgalley.

Dagger's Edge
A Brute Force novel book #2
Release Date: August 28, 2018
Review copy provided by the publisher

I struggled a bit with this one. I absolutely love Lora Leigh's romantic suspense books, but there was something about the hero and heroines relationship that didn't quite pull at me like her other characters in the past. I think it was because it felt somewhat forced. There's tons of lust and sex, but the emotion wasn't quite there.

I liked Journey. She had been handed a crap deal in life. She's never really known love. Her family has always treated her horribly. In spite of that, she's really strong. She's soft where she needed to be; vulnerable when appropriate. I liked the many facets of her personality.

Ivan is your typical over the top alpha male. Lora Leigh's books are always full of those! And I love them! He's a bit of an anti hero. He kinda toes the line between an honest life and organized crime.

I liked these two characters separately, but I couldn't connect to them as a couple, at least not easily.

It wouldn't be a Lora Leigh book if it didn't have off the charts smouldering hot sex scenes. I do so look forward to those!

Overall, the plot was great. I didn't have a clue who the bad guy was. I like being surprised, because it means the author did a great job weaving the mystery storyline.

I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series. I never miss a book by this amazing author!

Smoldering chemistry between a secretive femme fatale and a dangerous crime boss will pull a reader into this erotic tale. Ivan Resnova who first showed up in the Collision Point as the overbearing and protective father is now focused on the girl who is now a woman. Crimsyn "Syn" has been on the run from her family. She is at the wrong place at the wrong time when she is exposed to the true colours of the men in her life - fiance, father and grandfather. When she escapes them and goes on the run, the last thing she ever thought would happen, is to see her childhood crush, Ivan.

When these two cross paths again, their reaction is explosive. Ms. Leigh creates two strong characters with brutal pasts. I felt sorry for both Syn and Ivan. They survived their dysfunctional and abusive families. This survival instinct is fun to watch as they are drawn together and believe they are bad for each other. The sexual attraction between the two is well written and believable. The unresolved past conflict and childhood crush adds an erotic tension between older man and younger woman. Whilst the age difference is not a large gap, their experiences at the hands of terrible fathers makes all the difference in the world.

This spin off series can be read as a standalone. This second book in the series can also be read by itself. For those who have read the original series as well as the previous book, there world building will feel more complete. Ms. Leigh does a nice job of referencing and giving a bit of a backstory on characters from previous books. Still, for those who want a more layered experience and enjoy making all the connections, it is better to read the Elite Ops series and Collision Point first.

The conflict in this story is puzzling for me because it made no sense at first. Since the story is written in alternating 3rd person perspective, we see a little bit more than Syn. Still, it is not from an omnipresence point of view which is key, because it allows the reader to follow along with Syn and Ivan to figure out why Syn is being hunted. The loose threads all come together into a neat packaged bow by the end. The reveal whilst emotionally painful, is a surprisingly win-win scenario. I liked it.

The sex in this book is sensual and sweet. There is a hint of spice which kicks it into the erotic category for me. As a jaded erotic reader, the sex scenes were a bit too tame for me. Each reader's mileage may vary. This romantic suspense is recommended to readers who like childhood crush blooming into full on love themes.

The next addition in this series was just as good as book 1, Lora Leigh throws some twists I didn't see coming. And her bedroom scenes are always super hot, and this time we get an older man and a young woman who's 15 years his junior. He knows exactly what he wants, and he's been looking for Syn for years. Lora explains their history in great detail so you aren't lost, and then once Ivan and Syn finally become a couple, they are perfect. Throw in the Russian mafia, former soldiers, and government agents all trying to undermine this romance, and you have one interesting suspense story with hot sex on the side.