BOOK REVIEW - BLACK JACK by LORA LEIGH - ELITE OPS # 4 - ST. MARTIN'S PRESS - ADULT SUSPENSE ROMANCE

By: Lora Leigh
Published By : St. Martin's Press
Released : Available Now
Details: Paperback from Library, 356 Pages

RATING: 3.5 TRAVIS STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

The Secret Service can’t control him. The British government can’t silence him. But renegade agent Travis Caine is one loose cannon you don’t want to mess with, so his commanders cut him a break—and cut him loose. His new HQ is America’s top intelligence force, Elite Ops. His new code name is “Black Jack.” And his new assignment is to die for.

She’s smart, sexy, scintillating—and one of Elite Ops’ savviest agents. Lillian Belle’s code name is “Night Hawk,” and Travis certainly wouldn’t mind flying a few midnight maneuvers with her. But when their mission turns into a red-hot game of danger, deceit, and double-crossed signals, Travis begins to wonder: Can he trust her? Can he resist her?


BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:

I am a fan of Lora Leigh, she writes awesome male leads and gives me an entertaining escapism from the safety of my home. She brings danger and Alpha men and kickass ladies and shows us a broken side to her characters too.

I really am enjoying her Elite Ops series. Maverick aka Micha, is my fave character and book so far.

I am going to be honest and say that I didn’t really connect very well with Travis and Lilly. I didn’t feel like this story line grabbed me. I felt like there were a lot of flaws in the story line that I questioned and felt could have been done better with the other lads being close by and why on earth did Travis go and leave the book near the end. Any of the other lads could have done what he went to do.

I felt like it was more constructed or forced to enable the baddies to get to Lilly who is an agent through and through even if she has no memory and is relying on instinct.


“What would you have me do?”

“A hell of a lot different than this,” Travis growled back.


I didn’t really believe the whole predicament Lilly found herself in. I mean the woman is twenty six years old and could have left at anytime and got herself an apartment or hotel room. I mean, who would stay at home with a dragon of a mum like that when you were twenty six years old? I am sure she had a pay check and bank account from her agency days, plus didn’t she get her trust fund when she turned twenty six. Wasn’t she twenty six in this book? I may have my wires crossed?

What I did like was it is the first book in the series I haven't worked out the killer. Yeah, I know! The obvious, was well actually the obvious. LOL! So, boooyahh!

For me personally, I was still entertained, there was a bit of repetitive in the smexi department with description and frequency. I did enjoy the book , but I felt it wasn’t Lora’s best book.

My one opinion only.

Travis and Lilly had their moments where I believed them and was hoping for more.

What the hell was he doing? No doubt thinking with his dick rather than his brain. But at the moment , his dick was holding sway and there wasn’t a damned thing Travis could do about it.


“You were my first, weren’t you?” She knew it, sensed it.

“I was your only,” he growled, possessiveness raging in his tone and fulfilling some need she hadn’t known existed within her.



She was as wild as the wind, the sexy, sensual creature he had known existed inside her.

I shall keep on reading Lora’s works as I do enjoy the escapism they give me. Others of course will undoubtedly love this installment. It is just a personal opinion of mine. I definitely think # 2 and # 1 are the best for me so far.

Next I shall reserve Renegade # 4 from my local library and check out Nik’s book.

Michelle

BOOK REVIEW - HEAT SEEKER by LORA LEIGH - ELITE OPS # 3 - ST. MARTIN'S PRESS - ADULT ROMANCE SUSPENSE

By: Lora Leigh
Published By: St. Martin's Press
Released : Available now
Details : Paperback from library, 334 pages

RATING : 4.25 AUSSIE AUSSIE OI OI STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

John Vincent has always led a life of danger, and now he has every reason to want to remain as dead as the obituary in the Australian papers had proclaimed him to be. He’d left nothing behind in the life he had once led—except for one woman, and one night of unforgettable passion. Now, both will return to haunt him…

Bailey Serborne is still tormented by a past she can’t change and a man she hasn’t been able to forget. A man who was supposed to be dead. But now, a stroke of fate has revealed that sometimes, a woman is given a second chance to heal her heart—and exact the sweetest revenge.

BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:

I am rather addicted to the Elite Ops series and already have Black Jack lined up at the library.

Wow, these lads all have like three names. Their dead name, the acquired name and the code name. But then I had a WT moment. Now I am obviously not the first person to notice this, but I did laugh and then think maybe I had had my morning Weeties spiked when Mary’s name became, Jules, close to the end of the book.

WT!

Did I miss something?

I went back and read over those parts and I am still a bit like, who spiked my Weeties? Maybe it was an editing issue. Maybe Mary really wanted to be Jules... ha!

Anyhoo, these books are just a whole pile of magnificent Alpha lads gluttony for me. Throw in the smexi and I am having a good time.

It isn’t my fave so far in the series, but in saying that I thought Lora stuck more to the whole mystery of who Warbuck’s was and the unfolding of all that and Bailey really earned her stripes with me.

I did kinda pick the villain two thirds in, because I have this recipe I have learnt from some authors, if you want to fool me, throw this person about a lot more. I thought I was on the wrong sniffer trail for a bit, but then I was like, nah, I got you.

I have probably by now heard enough rehashing of dead man walking and yadda yadda ya about the lad not being able to have the girl ...of course Lora will let you have the girl. We get reminded how these dead men can’t get the gal until their years of contract are up, but...pleeeaaassseee. Seriously.

“Who the fuck says I have to walk away again? No one makes that decision this time but me.”

“What the fuck do the lot of you think this unit is?” Jordan broke in furiously as he came in behind Noah. “A damned matchmaking opportunity? I don’t send you on these missions to lose your damned hearts and create more risks than we need at this point. We have a job to do, Heat Seeker, try to remember that.”

“Fuck you!” John snarled. “You don’t own my fucking soul, you just bought it for a while.”

“And you damned well better remember that your time isn’t up yet.” Jordan flattened his hands against the table as he glared back at John. “Seven more years, that’s what you owe this unit and the men who gave you a fucking life back. Getting married and living happily-fucking-ever-after wasn’t part of the deal.”

Now Trent aka John Vincent, aka Heat Seeker, is the Aussie Alpha who has Bailey on his mind. I really like Bailey as she is a tough, chick. She knows the game, she is on her own mission and she isn’t afraid to put the years of work in to getting the result she craves.

She has lost too much.

She also isn’t a dope. She can see through these dead men walking and not much gets past her.

Even, Trent aka John.

“Don’t you think you can dominate me, Bailey,” he warned her carefully. “Don’t think you can dress me, or tell me how to conduct my part of this little operation. I’ve been handling my own tailors as well as my own jewelers for years.” His head lowered as he spoke until his lips were only a breath from hers.

Damn her. She was strong, resilient, but she hadn’t yet learned that he was stronger and a hell of a sight more stubborn.

When it came to the ultimate villain of this story, although I picked the villain, I didn’t pick something associated with the villain. I like it very much when I can still be surprised.

I did think Lora kept tossing about the usual suspects in front of our eyes to get us questioning who Warbucks was. But again, I have found the recipe that a lot of authors stick to and it makes me steer away from everybody being shuffled about in front of my face, because it is often the decoy. I look to see who has more or less for no real particular reason been brought into the story line and I go....hmmm, I see you! Also there was a lot of talk about Warbucks and the tests this person / people liked to do to see who is loyal and trustworthy.

All in all, I do enjoy this series and who cares if Mary is Jules and if I get a further reminder in Black Jack that these dead men walking can’t have the gal, even though they will get the gal in the end. This is just a wonderful smexi escapism for me with some kickass fighting and team work along the way. A dangerous escapism in the safety of my home.

Bring. on. Travis’s story next J

Michelle

BOOK REVIEW - MAVERICK by LORA LEIGH - ELITE OPS # 2 - ST. MARTIN'S GRIFFIN - ADULT ROMANCE SUSPENSE - 5 SWOON FOR MICAH STARS!

By: Lora Leigh
Published By: St. Martin's Griffin
Released: Available Now
Details: Paperback from library, 354 Pages

RATING: 5 SWOON FOR MICAH STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

Micah Sloane knows almost everything there is to know about Risa Clay, including the vicious betrayal she endured years ago and the distrust she’s harbored ever since. The only way for the Elite Ops agent to uncover an assassin—and banish the ghosts of his own dark past—is to use Risa as bait. But nothing has prepared him for her disarming blend of innocence and sensuality, or for his overwhelming need to protect her…

Risa has spent six years rebuilding her life. And now, to save it, she must pose as Micah’s lover and draw a killer into the open. It’s a risky plan—especially with a man as powerfully seductive as Micah. But, as their charade becomes reality, Risa realizes the greatest danger may lie in losing her heart forever…


BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:

Lora Leigh sure knows how to put the sizzle into her Alpha male leads.

Whahhh!!

Micah Sloane has just become my fave Elite Ops lad.

Talk about smoking hot! Now I know there is more to Lora’s writing than smokin’ hot lads. They all have dangerous jobs rescuing those that have been wronged by the evil in the world. But dang, if she doesn’t plant the most smexi visual in your mind as you are reading about these lads.

Yowzer!

Get the ice bucket ready and the bib.

Throw the ceiling fan on.

Hell grab a stand alone fan and put it on high, right in your face.

Micah Sloane is a guy that has lost a lot in his life. He is one hard unit... all puns intended. He just has the IT factor in a leading guy. He is confident in what he knows best, killing and rescuing.

He walks the walk and he talks the talk.

And he has the moves.

* fans oneself*

The lad is foreign melted chocolate. The heat and the naughty talk get turned up and the foreign words will leak out in whispers of swoon worthy dialogue.

* swoon*

Risa has been betrayed, raped, drugged and mentally screwed with ,and the one person in her life she should have been able to rely on and trust and love her, watched on and issued the orders and allowed it to happen.

Risa is a survivor and she knows what Dominic has been through. She knows what Whore’s Dust feels like and even worse drugs have been injected into her. She has been used as a human guinea pig while her father smiled on. She came out the other end, but now she is on the hit list of the person who doesn’t want to be remembered. Risa’s memories hold some answers that could be used to capture this person and his minions.

There is always a puppet master and the puppets that will do the bidding at a price.

Orion is a puppet you don’t want to get onto his hit list. He is lethal and he never fails.

Micah is out to prove this time, Orion will fail.

Micah has a personal interest in killing Orion. Now, Risa just added to that personal list.

The smexi is toe curling, the team are all hard body able men who know how to pull together and get the mission completed.

But what happens when you have signed your life away to the Elite Ops and love gets in the way?

It’s a no brainer that these lads will always get their woman in the end. Lora just gives me an excuse to curl up and spend a few hours in a world where her men are beyond expectation and when all said and done, I had a great time reading about them.

We can see another coupling in the future. Of course it will be a tough one for the male to admit to, but , again it will be a no brainer that it will work out by the last page. But it will be entertaining watching it eventuate.

Lora Leigh’s Elite Ops series for me, is pure gluttonous, male, smexi entertainment. She writes well, she lets these lads love hard and she always gives us a villain worthy of a good fight.

The titles are all the code name of each guy in the Elite Ops.Wild Card is Nathan aka Noah's story, Maverick was obviously Micah's.  Heat Seeker is next up for me and that is Aussie John's book followed by Black Jack, which is Travis's book. Renegade is Nikolai's book and Live Wire is Jordan's book .

Giddy Up!

Some of Micah's yummy quotes:

"Risa." His head lowered, his lips feathered over her brow. "You're pushing a damned hungry man here, love."

"Beautiful," Micah announced as she re-entered the living room, his black eyes frankly admiring as they went over her. "Risa, my love, I'm doomed to walk around in a haze of arousal whenever you're near."

"If you take the kid gloves off and decide to tempt the tiger, baby, then expect to have a bite taken out of that lovely hide of yours."

"Risa, baby." Micah's hand stroked down her back. "I have you, love. Right here against my heart. I have you, Risa."

Michelle

BOOK REVIEW - WILD CARD by LORA LEIGH - ELITE OPS # 1 - ST. MARTIN'S GRIFFIN

By: Lora Leigh
Published By : St. Martin's Griffin
Released: Available Now
Details: Paperback, 418 Pages

RATING: 4.5 ALPHA MALE STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

It was supposed to be simple. All Navy SEAL Nathan Malone had to do was rescue three young girls from a Colombia drug cartel, then allow himself to be captured just long enough to draw out a government spy. That was before his mission went disastrously wrong…and before his wife, Bella, was told that Nathan was never coming home.

Bella’s mourned her husband’s death for three long years. But she has no idea he’s still alive. Forced to assume a new identity, the man Nathan wasis now dead. If he can get back to his wife, can he keep the secret of who he really is…even as desire threatens to consume them? And as danger threatens to tear Bella from Nathan’s arms once more?

BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:

I have been getting into a few Military/Special Ops/SEAL reads. I originally won this book from a blogger in early 2012. Maya Banks and Joan Swan are a couple of the authors I love to read with the buff lads on the covers and the private sector Ops thing they have going on in them. What can I say, a buff lad on a cover , catches my attention. Hehe!

Wild Card I thought was the first book in this series, well, technically it is, but on further investigation , and my library doesn't hold this series, Tempting SEALS is the series, maybe? I should have started with . I notice Ian has a crossover from Tempting SEALS to Elite Ops. 

Wild Card was a very very HOT read when it comes to ALPHA male lead, Nathan Malone aka Noah Blake. 

OMG!! This boy knows how to talk D.I.R.T.Y! Well, the Noah side of him does.

Sabella aka Belles aka Bella has been widowed, she believes, but it is far from the truth.

One too many missions removed Nathan from Bella's life. 

Nathan has been through hell and back. Too much hell, he now answers to a new identity and from the permanent trauma to his body, a physical transformation.

Meet Noah Blake. Harley riding, dirty talking, ALPHA male who is on a mission which involves the safety of his widow. But with him comes a whole lot of emotional baggage. This is still a mission to him that he must walk away from when completed.

But can he?

Where Noah had felt next to nothing emotionally , for years, he now felt flooded with emotions. Emotions that tore at his control, that made a mockery of the years behind him.

Noah is a very growl worthy character. He will light a candle without the use of a match. He is all male and he can’t help but take the lead and try to pick up from where he left off without being discovered.

He wants his wifey and he wants her in all kinds of bad, smokin' ways. 

* time to put the fan on * 

"That's what you want," he accused as his head jerked back, lust flaming in his eyes and burning in their veins. "You want it, Sabella. Just as hot and just as wild as I do. Be careful, sweetheart, very damned careful, or you just might get it before you are ready for it."

“You can get wild with me, baby.” He jerked her harder against him, let her feel the erection pounding beneath his jeans. “Come on, I dare you. I’m a stranger, Sabella. Nothing to you. Nothing to that paragon of a husband you knew. Get wild with me. And I’ll show you how I can get wild right back.”

"You're very hard-core, aren't you, Noah?"

He grunted at that. "You call that hard-core?  Baby, that was just a little snack. Playtime."

His brother Rory is the only one taken into his confidence. 

6 yrs, Nathan has been dead for. 6 years Bella has kept herself going. She scraped herself up and took over Nathan's garage and Rory is her partner.

Bella must work through her emotions. There is a new guy that has steamrolled his way into her life and she is having trouble emotionally letting Noah persue her when Nathan won't let go of her heart. She doesn't want to let go of him. 

"You're messing up my life," she told him quietly. "And I don't like it."

I really liked all the characters in this book, including the sub characters. The only reason this book isn't getting a 5 star from me is because I thought there was a lot of rehashing of emotion with Noah. It got a bit repetitive. 

The villains are really good villains. I did see through the 'mole', so to speak, I just picked up on things while reading , but when the mole is let loose, not needing to hide their true feelings anymore....well...whahhhhh. That is one mixed up psycho.

I would have liked personally, where the story was repetitive on Noah's emotions, to have traveled more into his back story and more deeper into what he had gone through when captured and the why of it.

There is a lot of sex in this book , Noah is making up for lost time. It is a very sizzling hot read, no doubt about it.

I think I am still puzzled about why Nathan had by appearances been set up as there is a connection there, without spoiling anything. I don't believe I got that answered, I may have missed something?

I did get a nice twist with a family member, which I loved and it tugged at my heart.

This is a very hot read. 

Lora Leigh is on my fave authors list already for Military/SEAL/Ops reads. She knows how to paint an uber uber smexi scene in my head as I am reading.

Don't forget a fan when reading this book!

Michelle