I forced myself to read the entire book because I so wanted to like it.

I just didn't like the story and actually was bored.

Absolutely one of the best Lora Leigh's I've read in a while. I was hooked from page one and couldn't stop reading. The plot was exciting and quite interesting. ENJOYED!

Sorry but I'm tappin' out at 20%. I don't think I have ever DNFed a Netgalley book, but I honestly can't take anymore of this. I wanted to quit as soon as I got 3 pages into the prologue because I had no clue what was going on. I held out and read 3 more chapters. When I got to chapter 4 and I was still bored, and uninterested I knew it was time to give it up.
The fact of the matter is this book confused and bored me to death. The whole prologue I was thinking what the hell is going on. Who are these people, and why should I care? The start was like being thrown into a wreck. Chaos everywhere. Then chapter one started and I was still trying to figure out what was going on. It was so frustrating. I had no back story for the main characters. No connection to them. It was a hot mess.
Then when I finally did get my bearings of who these people were, I didn't care because there was no depth to them. No back story, nothing to connect me to them. I seen some names from another series by Lora Leigh that I read a few years back. The Elite ops series, but that just confused me again. How the hell do they tie into this series. The plot had no depth either. Ivan and Syn jump into bed in chapter 1. I felt no chemistry between them at all. Therefore the sex felt like flat words. Still I forced myself to keep going. I never got into it. I was bored and didn't care what happened to the main couple. On top of that I don't feel this book can be a stand alone read. It was evident that I was missing things that were either touched on in book one or maybe even The Elite Ops series. Either way it felt like I was punishing myself by reading this book. So I quit. Sorry there are Lora Leigh books that I own and love but this one isn't gonna work for me. Maybe if I didn't spend so much time confused, I would have connected but either way I'm out. DNF @20% chapter 4!

Thanks to the publisher for a copy to read and give my honest opinion.


This is a second book in a series and you really need to read the first book for this to make the most sense. With that being said....I did not read book one but Ivan and Journeys story was still amazing. I'm a BIG fan of this author and her books never disappoint me. The beginning of the book was kind of rocky since I wasn't familiar with the story or the characters but once I had my bearings I could not put this book down. Insta-love for Ivan as his alpha maleness was so sexy as he just took Journey's innocence.

What did I like? The author does a supreme job of the innocence of Journey, a peculiar name but he uses her nickname Syn... which is an alias as well. The chemistry is super nuclear but the passion between the two is just swoon worthy! I wished I had read book one though since the book tells that they have quite the history together. Journeys father actually burned her with a cigarette for just talking to Ivan at a dance.

Would I buy this book? There isn't a book by this author that I would not buy....love them all.

Thoughts for the author? Love the alpha males in your series, nothing better. Keep on writing. :)

Great addition to this series. Dagger's edge was a hot, steamy and a fast paced story. Can't wait for more in this series

3.5 stars--DAGGER’S EDGE is the second instalment in Lora Leigh’s contemporary, adult BRUTE FORCE erotic, romantic suspense series – a spin off from the author’s Elite Ops series. This is thirty-nine year old, Russian businessman and mob boss Ivan Resnova, and twenty-six year old Crimsyn ‘Syn’ Delaney aka Journey Taite’s story line. DAGGER’S EDGE can be read as a stand alone but some of the backstory was previously revealed in the Elite Ops series. I also recommend reading Collision Point (Brute Force #1) as it concerns Ivan’s relationship with his daughter Amara-a relationship that directly affects his relationship with Journey.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Ivan and Journey) DAGGER’S EDGE follows the forbidden relationship between thirty-nine year old, Russian businessman and mob boss Ivan Resnova, and twenty-six year old Crimsyn ‘Syn’ Delaney aka Journey Taite. Four years earlier, Journey Taite, along with her cousin Tehya, was imprisoned and held hostage by someone close to our story line heroine. Rescued by the group calling themselves Elite Ops, but now on the run, Journey finds herself a virtual prisoner of Russian mob boss Ivan Resnova, a man who has starred in her fantasies and dreams for close to a decade. What ensues is the building relationship and love between Ivan and Journey, and the potential fall-out as the people from her past, are determined to finish the job started years before.

Ivan Resnova knows betrayal and disappointment including the betrayal by the people who should have loved him the most but growing up as part of the Russian crime world Ivan forged ahead into a powerful, alpha male willing to do anything to protect the woman he loves. Crimsyn ‘Syn’ Delaney aka Journey Taite never felt more hurt than to discover the truth about the depth of betrayal perpetrated by her own family. Trusting her father’s number one enemy meant placing her heart and her life into the hands of a man who could easily kill Journey without a second thought. With most of the men who instigated her abduction in prison for trafficking a child sex ring, Journey intends to set out on her own but someone is desperate to end our heroine’s life.

The relationship between Ivan and Journey is one of forbidden love between warring factions of the US, British and Russian mobs. Journey’s attraction to Ivan began years before when a then sixteen year old Journey felt the palpable sexual need of a young woman just blossoming into her own but a woman ‘sold’ to one of her father’s business partners in return for fealty and power. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and passionate, as per Lora Leigh’s usual style of romance writing.

The colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters include Ivan’s right-hand man Ilya; Jordan and Tehya Malone (Live Wire / Elite Ops 6.5); as well as Journey’s former fiancé Beauregard Grant, a man with secrets of his own. The requisite evil has many faces but read like caricatures of cartoon villains.

DAGGER’S EDGE is an entertaining and intriguing story line but there are some questionable and cringe-worthy bits of information and plot points that seem almost incomprehensible –cue the eye rolling. The premise is engaging but primarily focuses on the sexual nature of Ivan and Journey’s relationship; the romance is steamy and hot. I will admit, I have not read the Elite Ops series, and thusly some confusion as to the history was not unexpected.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

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First, let me say that I feel you need to read Book 1 in the series in order to understand the characters & the background without being lost. With that being said, this was a very complex plot with violence & erotic undertones. The characters are intense & complicated. Their chemistry & affection are over the top. They have both escaped from horrible situations & thought the worst was behind them. Unfortunately their past comes calling again. Can they survive?

Hot, steamy, fast paced...and maybe a little confusing at times. I enjoyed it overall. I do think you should read the first book in the series before reading this one.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias.

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❤~🌟~❤ 4.5 RAVISHING STARS!❤~🌟~❤

“To kill a monster, you need a monster.”

I became entranced by Lora Leigh’s writing after reading COLLISION POINT, the first installment of her heart-palpitating Brute Force series. And when I discovered that ruthless crime boss Ivan Resnova would be paired up with Crimsyn “Syn” Delaney in book two, DAGGER'S EDGE, I was GIDDY with excitement!!!

THE STORY:
For new readers to the series, Ivan is the fiercely overprotective “poppa” of Amara, the heroine of book one, and there’s a forbidden twist here because Crimsyn is not only his daughter’s friend but also has blood ties to his most vile enemies!!!

The prologue opens with Journey Taite in dire straits. Refusing to honor the engagement to Beauregard Grant, the distant cousin her father has sold her to, she is fleeing for her life when she finds herself kidnapped and in grave peril. When all seems lost, Russian kingpin Ivan Resnova —her family’s fiercest foe and the man she secretly worships—swoops to the rescue like a dark avenging angel. She spends the next four years running from her past but Ivan never forgot the flame haired beauty and has been scouring the earth trying to track her down.

Fast forward to the present day where fate reunites then in the most unlikely of ways. Journey, who now goes under the alias Crimsyn Delaney, has been living at Ivan’s Colorado estate with her bff Amara—Ivan’s daughter--for the past six months. But due to her new name and radically changed appearance, he has no reason to suspect her true identity.

Crimsyn is no longer a scared, naive 22 years old girl who he rescued four years prior, but a 26 year old woman with ACHING DESIRES, and after a recent bloodbath involving Crimysn and Amara, which they'd both thankfully survived, she knows she can’t be his responsibility anymore. And besides, there’s no doubt the cold-hearted crime lord will throw her to the wolves once he discovers he’s been offering sanctuary to his enemy's duplicitous daughter. .

But, alas, there’s a twist …

Ivan has no clue what to do about his forbidden desires for the flame haired spitfire who is still in grave danger and hiding things that he may or may not be privy to. One thing is for certain though--blood WILL be shed if the bad guys catch up with her. After a night of passion that rocks both their worlds, she runs off, but when her fit to be tied protector finally catches up with her and whisks her away for safekeeping, and all their closely guarded secrets are finally laid bare, who will shield the innocent beauty from the primal beast that lurks within her dark, SAVAGE protector?

MY MUSINGS:
I devoured this titillating second book in the Brute Force series, which revolves around a top secret Elite Operations unit that has tentacles in the some of the darkest corners of the world. This erotically charged romance has the perfect blend of steam and spine-tingling action/suspense to keep the reader glued to the page, with our hearts in our throats and our girly bits THROBBING!

Lora Leigh’s atmospheric, vibrant prose is absolutely RESPLENDENT, and I was captivated from start to finish! I truly felt very single shivery sensation down to my morrow as torrid passion and heart-palpitating peril become delectably intertwined when the heroine finds herself caught in the bloodthirsty family feud and must seek shelter in the arms of her father’s fiercest enemy.

Sighhhh…Ivan is an all-powerful, potently seductive anti-hero YOU CAN’T HELP BUT LOVE! Every glorious inch of this tall, dark and predatory Russian emanates danger and delicious dark dominance. And he is NOT a man to be crossed!

“Ivan wasn’t known for playing with his enemies. He was known for striking hard, fast, and with utter mercilessness.”

And Crimsyn, the much younger, but unflinchingly brave “little wildcat” who breaches his iron defenses, also proves to be a TRUE WARRIOR with an aura of fragility that just touches you to the core! She is wracked with guilt over her tainted bloodlines that brought so much despair on Ivan’s family and does not want to be a burden. Of course, her ferocious protector has something else to say on the matter!

But is the man she's loved since she was 16 simply using her as a pawn to exact vengeance, or is his fierce carnal possession born of raw, unbridled devotion? For as much as Crimsyn yearns for Ivan with EVERY FIBER OF HER BEING, surrendering her heart and soul to this cold, merciless man, who rescues her over and over again and makes her quiver and quake every time his ravenous gaze meets hers, is as treacherous as the dark danger closing in.

I RELISHED the combustible discord that crackles in the air as these two are swept up in the throes of red-hot carnal passion, while also keeping toxic secrets from each other. Their scenes are fueled with torrid desire, roiling emotion, and high voltage sparks…and each and every time these two hit the sheets—which is often!—you WILL feel the sizzle and burn!

At its core, DAGGER’S EDGE is a darkly sensual tale of love and vengeance, where only the strong survive in the ultimate power struggle that no one will emerge from unscathed! This tautly woven plot has many fascinating layers that are slowly but surely peeled away, and as the lines become blurred between illusion and reality for Crimsyn and her tall, dark and deliciously sinister savior, I fell HOPELESSLY under their spell!!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND

I'm always drawn to Russian mafia guys with a soft heart, so I was intrigued by Leigh's most recent installation. I was thrown off by the prologue, with so many characters (it was distracting), but once the story got underway it was good. Pacing was a bit laggy at times (but I think it was because there are so many people and so many things going on), and I kept getting stuck on Crimsyn ("Syn")/Journey's name, which made me roll my eyes. It's a very 80s-tv kind of name.

Suspense and intrigue follow as some tries to kill Syn so she turns to the only person she trusts, Ivan.
Hard to put down, the pages just keep turning

I received a copy from Netgalley and I am voluntarily leaving my own honest opinion

Dagger's Edge by Lora Leigh is book Two in the Brute Force series. This is the story of Journey “Syn” Delaney and Ivan Resnova. I have read the previous book but feel you can make this a standalone book if you wish to do so.
Ivan worked his way out of his criminal past but then he meet up with Syn again. Syn is on the run to save her life after being betrayed. Along the way she runs into Ivan her friend Amara's father Ivan. Syn has always had a slight crush on Ivan. Now, with danger closing in on her moves to isolate herself from him and others to keep them safe. But Ivan moves forward to help her and their feelings grow. This was a page turner for me and couldn't put it down.

Great addition to this series. Fast-paced with plenty of drama and suspense and steamy chemistry. I was hooked from beginning to end. Looking forward to more in the series.

Ivan can’t forget the one woman he can’t forget is in danger of paying the price for his alleged crimes and Crimsyn “Syn” Delaney needs Ivan to keep her safe even if she is danger of falling deeply and dangerously in love.

Ivan and Syn are two strong and persuasive characters that really attract readers to them with their charismatic appeal and the electrical chemistry that flares between them. The relationship is full of ups and downs, emotional issues and secrets that not only threaten the relationship but also threatens their very lives, there also is some miscommunication or maybe misdirection is the better word which adds to the intense situation that revolves around this romance.

Readers can’t help but become caught up in all the intense thrills, intrigue and passion of this fast paced and smooth flowing plot as danger stalks Ivan and Syn with some surprising twist that readers won’t see coming. This story also tugs at heartstrings as family can be quite deadly in this story which adds to the powerful emotional turmoil that is felt by the characters during all of the forceful and conniving events that take place in order to keep Syn safe, so this romance takes readers on quite a thrilling and potent ride from the very beginning.

The readers are entertained with lots of characters as well in this well developed world full of alpha military men that have commanding presence and demand attention, and in Dagger’s Edge the heroine demands her own share of the attention with her never give up and courageous attitude.

Revenge, steamy scenes and a well plotted mystery is how Lora Leigh makes her mark. This is one of those sizzling stories that will be keeping readers warm all through the fall!

Dagger's Edge is book two in the Brute Force series, which follows the Elite Ops series.
You know sometimes when you pick up a book and you don't want to put it down? This is one of those. Everything was fast paced and twisty you didn't really know what was going to happen next. And Ivan and Journey, they are combustible. It shouldn't work, but oh how well it does!

Crimsyn was raised in a life of crime and violence and she knows that she is nothing but a bargaining chip for her family to serve their greater good regardless of what she wants. She finds herself staying with Ivan, her best friend’s father, however with his criminal ties she is not certain if he can be trusted to keep her safe from whoever is after her.

When Ivan first allowed her to stay he too was looking at her as little more than a bargaining chip just like everyone else in her life. As he got to know who she was he realized that she was an innocent and the rules have changed. The only person he has loved is his daughter but he and Crimsyn have a connection and chemistry between them. Will they be willing to open up their hearts and trust each other?

Their adventure leads them down a trail filled with suspense, twists and betrayal as they try to uncover the truth while protecting each other. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

Non-stop action from beginning to end. It isn’t always clear if Ivan is a criminal or not. All indications are that he is, but it sounded like he was working to make things more legitimate. Journey at times seems like she isn’t very strong, but the progression of the story shows that impression to be incorrect. The scenes between them are pretty hot. Only real criticism is that after they are both shot, there seems to be no mention of it.

I really enjoy romantic suspense stories and this is the second installment in this series,it had a really good if sometimes a complex plot with interesting characters.The story was fast paced and well written.The main characters Syn and Ivan seemed like an unlikely couple with alot of secrets from their pasts but the chemistry was there and the story was full of twists.Looking foward to reading more by this author .I read this book as an arc and this is my honest opinion.

With Dagger’s Edge, Lora Leigh keeps this Brute Force Novel as sensual as dangerous as the first. One thing is for sure her strong men never lose their edge. Until they meet a woman that pushes them over it. I read this first and then wanted to read the first one. So you don't have to read the first one to follow this one. She gives enough character development for you to understand the players and their history. This is an action-packed whos who right up till the end. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.