Styx's Storm (A Novel of the Breeds)

The description of what this book was supposed to be about did not match the book at all. This may be one of the reasons that I did not feel it was as good as so many of her other books are. There was also the repetition of so many people telling Storme to grow up. It started to get on my nerves. The story felt forced and probably would have been better as a novella, as it seemed to be about adding elements to the overall breed storyline. Maybe when I reread it again in a few months I will change my mind, but right now it's not one of my favorites.

When Dawg Mackay has his mind set on something, nothing can stand in his way. Right now, his mind is dead set on having Crista Jansen any way he wants her. Lucky Crista.

Dawg has wanted his friend's younger sister for years - years during which she has done nothing but run from him, much to his frustration. Now he has her right where he wants her and he isn't above blackmailing her into his life.

Crista has loved Dawg for years, but one mistake years ago stands between them. It was a night he doesn't remember, but one she can never forget...

Lora Leigh describes her hero in the second book of the Nauti Trilogy as `hard core' and Dawg Mackay has absolutely no trouble at all living up to that description - much to my utter delight! I have hungered for his story since I read the previous book in the series, Nauti Boy, and will say without reservation that Nauti Nights surpassed my expectations, which were pretty darn high to begin with.

Crista is the epitome of the Lora Leigh heroine - strong, soft, intrepid, caring, and with a bit of tragedy in her past that simultaneously makes her stronger and also serves as an obstacle to her relationship with the man she loves.

Dawg is just IT. So Alpha-male he will make your knees wobbly, he is not without a degree of sensitivity - well, in his own dominant way, of course! LOL There are times he does things that make you want to just throttle him, and you keep watching for Crista to do just that, but the omniscient view the reader enjoys makes his domineering manner a little easier to take, since we know all along that the man's heart is definitely in the right place.

As Nauti Nights ends, the author leaves us with a teaser guaranteed to leave fans panting for the next book in the Nauti Trilogy, but more than satisfied with the happy ending she crafts for Crista and Dawg. Carrying readers through a roller coaster of emotions - love, lust, sadness, happiness, and more, Nauti Nights is a perfect example of everything I love about Lora Leigh's work.

Series Order:
Nauti Boy (The Nauti Trilogy, Book 1)
Nauti Nights (The Nauti Trilogy, Book 2)

The publisher's synopsis is wrong. The story line goes like this: girl is mentally scarred, becomes a bigot, knows her attitude is wrong, continues to behave like a child, refuses to recognize that she was wrong, [insert any cliche story devices you want here], story line becomes "blah, blah, blah". I don't like any of the characters and I truly don't care about any of them.

I've read every Breed/Wolf/Coyote book, I've forgiven the mediocre ones with little plot and celebrated the ones where she really enjoyed the writing and the characters and gave her readers a gift. This book is so bad that I'm skipping entire paragraphs.

If she is bored with the story line, write Cassie's (write it well, please, this is one I think we're all waiting for) and find some way to tie it up into utopia or hades. But please, please, respect your readers enough not to call it in the way this book was called in.

I pre-ordered this. I will not make that mistake again.

I WAS FRANKLY ALMOST PUT OFF BUYING STYX BECAUSE OF THE REVIEWS.

I DID HOWEVER PURCHES IT AND FOUND I THOUGHT IT TO BE ANOTHER ENJOYABLE BREED BOOK. I LOVED THE CHARACTERS OF THIS BOOK AND LL CERTIANLY HAD THE EROTIC SCENES IN IT THAT I FOUND UP TO PAR WITH HER PREVIOUS BOOKS.
BY ALL MEANS IF YOU LIKE LL BREED SERIES I ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ STYX.

once again Lora Leigh has me continiously hooked on this series. I am just upset that another breed book is not in print as soon as I finish the last book. I enjoy reading and re-reading for the 4th time all the books I have.

I've finally given up on author Lora Leigh; after following her Breed series diligently it's become apparent to me that she has succumbed to the "Anita Blake" Syndrome. No, I'm not talking about the main character's deterioration into skanskanky-ness and ridiculousness, I'm speaking of the fact that the author of a once promising series has completely gone off the rails and:
a) either had no plotted timeline/story-line,
b) is churning out books just because she can, or
c) has lost all control and is just hanging on for the ride.

There was a time when I looked forward to the release of a LL Breed book with bated breath, however these days if I'm browsing in the book store and have a little while, I'll sit down with my coffee and read it right there.

Let me be clear that I've fallen off the LL bandwagon since the release of "Coyote's Mate" and admittedly, have not been as diligent in reading the books cover to cover, however when I sat down and read "SS" I was floored by how far Leigh had deviated from her original series. "SS" is a story about characters who loyal readers MIGHT recognize, but most new readers won't even care about once the book is done. The H is a man who, from what I read
a) loves chocolate,
b) talks with an exaggerated Scottish/Irish/I don't care b/c it's entirely unbelievable accent and,
c) has the patient of a saint in dealing with his idiotic choice of a mate.

And I use the word 'choice' here because he doesn't do the whole 'mate' thing until the last 15 pages of the novel.

The h, on the other hand, is by far the most selfish, childish and all around idiotic h I've read in some time...and considering how much I read, that speaks volumes. I'd go so far as to call her small-minded, ignorant, and racist. She spends the whole novel hating the Breeds over the fact that she thinks her father loved them more than her, and then proceeds to show her a** every time she come into contact with them.

I'm (almost) sure the plot developed somehow in the book but truthfully, I don't even care where they are going now with the council, the exposure of the 'mating heat' to the world, routing out the haters/spies from their established colonies, etc. Frankly, I'm having a harder time with the fact that Leigh can't seem to find a grammar coach, nor a proof reader. I'd also suggest to her that she sit down and map out a spreadsheet/timeline of her series so she can keep track of how old her characters are. I feel she constantly jumps around with ages which throws me out of my reading trance and is admittedly, a personal peeve, but that's just my two cents.

I'd like for the author to take a few months away from the computer and focus on what made her initial stories so great in this series. A couple you actually liked, a plot you wanted to follow as much as the romance, and perhaps she can obtain a thesaurus as well-I'm tired of hearing the characters screaming, murmuring and yelling at each other, let's use some of our other words, shall we?

Final note: I wonder how embarrassing it was for the author and/or publisher to realize that the blurb posted on the store isn't even close to what the book entailed. I'm not sure whose fault that was, but wow, when I fished the book the day it was released it floored me that the description was so far off.

Storme Montague has been on the run from both the Council and the Breeds since she was a teenager. Storme watched as both her father and brother were killed when their lab was taken over. Before her father made her leave the lab, he entrusted her with something that would be asked for. Years down the road, both the Council and the Breeds want what she has but Storme fears both parties and just wants to get away from them, and maybe have a normal life for once. Nice thought until she meets him in a bar.

Styx MacKenzie is a wolf breed with a passion for women and chocolate, preferably together. He has been one of the main breeds hunting down Storme for the last couple of years and has never gotten close enough. However, that all changes the night he and others take a break and Styx saves a woman from a coyote kidnapping. Styx has known that Storme is his mate but keeps quite until the night he gets her into bed.

A passionate encounter causes feelings in Storme that she never expected to feel for Styx. However, that quickly fades when she is taken by force into Haven and then learns she is Styx's mate. With her past, Storme will never mate with a Breed of all things, not even when she begins to feel more than just passion for Styx. Under orders to keep Storme in Haven and get the information she holds, Styx finds himself at odds between his orders and his heart. Storme may have been running most of her life but was she running for her life or toward her future?

What can the future hold when your mate hates everything about you? Styx has to find this answer in Styx's Storm. I had been waiting for Styx's story ever since Ms. Leigh started teasing us with him. I knew his mate would not be happy about who her mate is, but I was surprised at just how much hatred Storme felt against the Breeds and their mates. My heart had gone out to Storme at first when I realized how long she had been on the run and why. However, I thought she acted like a selfish, spoiled brat by refusing to question her beliefs and explore her feelings. I truly believed that Styx deserve a medal and combat pay while proving to his pack and Storme he belonged to both. I was extremely happy when Storme finally realized that she was causing her own unhappiness and jeopardizing her future. That final battle and struggle for survival proved to me that Storme finally realized who the good guys were. By the time I turned the last page, I could truly believe that Styx and Storme would have a long and great life together with their pack. Styx's Storm shows an unhappy woman how to have the life she always dreamed of - one filled with passion, laughter and happiness. Oh, and with one sexy, chocolate loving wolf.

Jo
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Storme has been running for 10 years with a computer chip her father and brother gave her of all files out of their lab where they had wolf and coyote breeds. Jonas has been protecting her since she was 18 but he always hoped that Storme will turn herself in and give up the chip. Well now she is 24 and she is still running from the Council coyotes (with the exception of Dog) but now she is in the small town not far the Haven where she meets up with Farce and Dog but she never expected to have a red hair chocolate loving Styx coming to her rescue but she thinks since she is undercover that the Scots wolf will not recognize her. Styx has been shadowing Storme for 2 years and now he knows that she is his mate so he will finally get her but he never thought his Storme would be so hard to get her fears and trusts to drop to allow him into her heart as she was in his.

Overall a pretty steamy read, despite some overkill and weak parts of the story.
This is the second book to the series, although it doesn't say so on the cover. I hadn't realized it was a series, so I read the book out of sequence.
Apparently each book features a different cousin, or member of the small town, who ends up getting together, however reluctantly, with their love interest. It makes for a lot of tension and smokin' sex.
This book followed Crista and Dawg, two characters who hadn't interacted with each other in years, after Crista fled the town.
I liked Crista's character, and I thought Dawg was okay. There were things I liked about him, and things I didn't. I hated his name and felt that Crista should have called him by another name. The sex was pretty darn steamy, as was the tension. Though I am finding all the "forbidden entrance" references a tad overkill.
However, the black mailing, I felt was a weak part of the story. I understand the reason, to get Crista to do something. But it just felt there was a better, stronger, way to demonstrate that. I also thought Dawg's past military experience was another weak part of the story. I would love to read a story where the main character, was not an ex military trained killer. That character is SO over played in stories. And Crista's former roommate's, is a former Army Special Forces? Gimme a break.
If you're looking for a hot novel to read, and aren't so concerned about the draw backs, this would be a pretty good choice. Otherwise, I think 'Warprize' is a stronger book (though the sex was weak), and also the book 'Against the Wall' (with great sex scenes).

I was beginning to get frustrated with this story because the length it took for that dang gland knot to get working. I thought I was going to begin reading where Styx was going to suffer near death. Then Storme was still a bit immature to quite understand that cause in her actions for the breed. As I was reading she seem to have sympathy for Jonas & Rachel's baby, but she also harden her heart. Another great read overall

Lora Leigh writes dark, hard characters. The males are pure grade CAPITAL A alphas. The females are smart and complicated. Her stories are full of action and suspense, and hot HOT slightly dark erotic love scenes. Expect this going in to a Leigh book. I would give it 3.5 overall. It was better than just ok.

SYNOPSIS:
ATF Agent "Dawg" the dark hero, rescues heroine Christa in a sting operation that went bad. She was being set up to take a fall for a group of missile-stealing, murdering, terrorists. Dawg had a serious thing for Christa for years, and they had a history together, so he blackmailed her to `be his girlfriend' for the summer. She grudgingly played along. They end up in love, and solve the mystery of who was behind the evil conspiracy.

COMPLAINT:
Unless I missed it, they never completed the scenario where Dawg connected that the rose that Christa felt so strongly about was the very one Dawg gave her years ago as a teenager. I thought it was an incomplete string of events/info.

COMPLIMENT:
The cover! Ahah! Fans self!

Contrary to most reviewers, I see the Breeds as the villains of this book. All of them.

The leading lady, S--, saw her father and brother murdered by Breeds when she was 14. Dad gives her a datachip along with rediculously ambiguous instructions on how to recognize this person. That person never shows up, or perhaps simply never gives her the (never clearly defined) signal. S-- has lived on the run ever since.

The "nasty" Breeds from the Council have been hounding S--, attacking her, demand the datachip, attempting to kidnap her, and generally making her life miserable ever since. The "heroic" Breeds from other books knew what happened, and knew where S-- was fairly quickly. They never lift a finger to help her. They never once do ANYTHING positive for her. Instead, they chase S--, hound her, make her life miserable, attack her, demand the datachip, attempt to kidnap her, and generally make her life miserable.

So basically, the "good" Breeds act exactly like the Council Breeds!

Near the opening of the book, the "heroic" Breeds kidnap S-- and hold her prisoner for the rest of the book. They accuse HER of being a bigot, which is quite unreasonable. Why should she trust them? What proof has she ever had -- ever! -- that the Breeds are anything other than violent and selfish? None. Zip, zero, zilch. They make nasty threats toward S-- with high regularity. Her captors inundate her with their own tales of woe, belittling S--'s problems, self justifying their own crimes, and never lifting a finger to help anyone outside of their own community.

The captors brain wash her to convince S-- that she is the unreasonable one, and they are all perfect goody-two-shoes. By the end of the book, S-- has no will left of her own, and agrees that she was wrong all along.

Yick!

Dawg gets everything that he wants and he absolutely wants Crista, but for years she ran away from him. Dawg can't remember that years ago they spent a night together. They are thrown together again when Crista lands in the middle of Dawg's investigation and her life is endangered by what she saw and she's suddenly a suspect. Will this second chance from destiny bring them back together and lead them to a happy end?

No one can create better and hotter alpha males than Ms. Leigh and Dawg MacKay is no exception. He is a to-die-for alpha male, but sometimes you want to shake him when he is too dense to see what is in front of him. Fortunately Crista will make him see reason and stands up against him. One never knows who will win the battle of wills between them. That really makes the book very interesting.

NAUTI NIGHTS is everything that the title promises and even more. The book is so steaming hot that you will need oven mitts to read it and don't forget a bucket of ice cubes.

NAUTI NIGHTS is the second book in Ms. Leigh's Nauti trilogy and also can be read as a stand-alone, this reviewer recommends reading Nauti Boy, so that you get the whole background of this three very naughty men.

If you are looking for a book will keep you up all night, you really should pick up a copy of NAUTI NIGHTS. Keep your eyes open for Nauti Dreams, which will be released in August.

Courtesy of Loveromances and more

I initially enjoyed the Breed books, but the recent one are just quite frankly stupid. This one Styx & Storme is an example. Storme has been on the run for 10 years. She has a secret 'chip' in a ring. She is finally captured by the Wolf Breed Styx. The Breeds want the secret from her. As soon as they capture her, they antagonize her, though she owes them nothing given that she thinks they have been chasing her relentlessly for 10 years.

Strangely, one of the guys who has been looking for her is the one guy who was supposed to find her and keep her safe. Why he didn't shows up is explained at the end of the book . . . he was injured. I cannot see how it took him 10 years to heal. No explanation for that. Nothing! Moreover, once Storme is captured, in all his interactions with her, he never mentioned he was the one who was supposed to find her. Nor does he apologize for never showing up. He is just weirdly antagonistic.

Every other Breed you like and know antagonize this woman and then? SHE FALLS IN LOVE and wants to help them. Why? No clear reasoning or explanation.

Even worse, they do not take off the fracking ring and search it? That makes no sense!

Same woman needs a rescue ending. I was frustrated by the inanity. Waste of money, really. I just read on the front that this book carries a GUARANTEED READ guarantee. Mine says, if you did not enjoy the book, return it to the publisher with your receipt and an explanation. I'm returning mine tomorrow. This was a true waste of money.

Very disappointing and just sad. The earlier books are some of my favorites. I have read many multiple times. This wasn't worth one read.

They bring in some of the old characters but they have no real role. They are just THERE!. Ugh!

WOW! Storme was one of the most hateful & childish characters that I have read in a long time. Styx and his chocolate loving Scot self, deserved so much better out of a mate. The evil villains were slightly predictable. I am truly loving the young woman that Cassie Sinclair is turning into. She did the most wonderful thing to Storme in an attempt to make her open her eyes to see the wonderful MAN that she had in her life. She really put Storme in her place too. Storme watched her father & brother die at the teeth of a breed male. After running for 10 years she trusts no one. She swears she hates all breeds and council members. She may hate them believing that it is preserving her life, she fiends disgust of them, yet she keeps falling into bed with Styx.

The following review is my opinion and not a paid review

Review courtesy of Sizzling Hot Books

Styx's Storm might be book 22 in the Breeds series but it is still going strong. Styx's Storm is full of both heat and drama, that will have you clinging to the pages.

For the most part I enjoyed Storme Montague's character, there were times that I wanted to grow up a little and accept the hand she was dealt. But overall I understood why she didn't trust people. It would be hard to trust people with the life she had. She survived all those years on the run by being smart and cautious, and not making bad choices.

I loved the reaction Storme had to Styx's from the very moment they met. She was exhausted and had no place left to run, when she accepts his help because she doesn't believe the he knows who she is. I could understand how Storme felt when it turned out Styx did know who she was and slept with her trying to mate her and gain her trust. I am glad that it didn't hurt the relationship they had by the end of Styx's Storm .

I loved Styx's but I didn't agree with some of the things he did. The struggle that Styx went through to gain Storme's trust was great. I loved the drama of it, and her fighting him but wanting him all at the same time. Styx's is patient as much as he can be, but knowing that Storme is his mate and Jonas wants to put her under Breeds Law doesn't give him much time to get Storme to come around. Poor Styx was stuck in the middle between his mate, and the duty he had to the Breeds.

Like all of the Breed novels, Styx's Storm is a strong story with wonderful characters and scorching sex. I loved how far Storme came in Styx's Storm . She went from lumping all Breeds together as violent beast, to accepting them and calling them friends and family.

There is a basic storyline in all the stories. Girl meets boy and phenomenal sex happens which, through trials and lots of fighting people who want to kill either or both, they escape somehow and things end happily with a new weirdness happening at the end, which makes me want to read the next story in the series. This is book 22 and I have read about four of them and am looking for more. Man I wish I could have found a man that is as a lover as her heroes.

Lora Leigh brings the heat with Nauti Nights. This was a salacious read.
Dawg McCay doesn't remember the night he finally had Crista Jansen a woman he has wanted for a long time.
In the morning her brother picks her up and she gets ready to pack up leave the town and the man she loves.
After 8 years apart a dangerous night brings them together and their journey is a scorcher.

After a night of drunken passion that Crista can't forget and Dawg only remembers in bits and pieces (assuming it's a fantasy), Crista flees his bed when he mentions that she'll be great in the foursome with his cousins. After discovering that she's pregnant, then miscarries, she decides to leave town for 8 years with a friend. But when Crista returns home and manages to get mixed up in an ATF sting operation, Dawg gives her a choice; be his sex slave or go to jail. Knowing she's innocent doesn't seem to matter since Dawg has been infatuated with her for years. As he and his cousins investigate why she's been targeted, she complies with his every whim (of course putting up a little fight). When a bomb makes mincemeat out of her car, she decides that maybe fighting Dawg is foolish, considering she's also infatuated with him. But will that be enough to keep them together, and keep the rest of his family out of their bedroom?

Hay carumba! I got a lot of grief for reading this from my friends just from the title and cover art. After reading such fantastic reviews, I was sure that it would be a stellar read. It wasn't really - at least not if you are looking for a plot to go with the numerous sexual passages which gets very redundant after awhile. It's hot, but where's the plot? Crista's doormat personality and Dawg's caveman possessiveness gets pretty annoying also, and the mystery is pretty non-existent - I guessed the baddie from the start since the author didn't really provide any other possible suspects or red herrings. The only characters that stood out for me were Alex, who barely made an appearance yet still was an interesting character, and Natches, the unattached cousin who'll no doubt star in the next novel. He added a lot of humor to a story that elicited many other laughs that probably weren't intentional. I'll probably check Natches story out just to give Leigh the benefit of doubt, but this book will be featured in my next garage sale.

© Tracy Vest, September 2008

I HATED the heroine, Storme. She's rude, disrespectful and needs to get over the hatred of the breeds if she's going to continue sleeping with one! Half of the time I wanted to close the book in shame for her rudeness. If she loved her father so much, maybe she should take the time to find out why he was so enthralled with them. The whole arguing between the two main characters was ongoing and very disappointing. I thought Storme should have gotten over it and realized he's her mate way before the halfway point of the story (which she didn't), at which point I stopped reading it. I love Lora Leigh's books and I will continue reading them. This one was just a dud.

Lora Leigh knows how to write hot, sexy alpha males and Dawg is a perfect specimen -er example of that. She also knows how to create females tough enough to tangle with those Alpha males and get you to like them, as I did Crista. To top it off, she adds plenty of wild, erotic sex. Talk about the perfect triumvirate!

There actually was a good storyline worth reading that moved along at a nice clip. I found I enjoyed it more and more the further along I got in the book. There is mystery, suspense and actual romance and love,not just sex. Of course, in real life, Dawg would make me crazy but in the book, I was crazy for him. I would totally read this again...with a cold shower nearby.;)

There is a basic storyline in all the stories. Girl meets boy and phenomenal sex happens which, through trials and lots of fighting people who want to kill either or both, they escape somehow and things end happily with a new weirdness happening at the end, which makes me want to read the next story in the series. This is book 22 and I have read about four of them and am looking for more. Man I wish I could have found a man that is as a lover as her heroes.

Lora Leigh brings the heat with Nauti Nights. This was a salacious read.
Dawg McCay doesn't remember the night he finally had Crista Jansen a woman he has wanted for a long time.
In the morning her brother picks her up and she gets ready to pack up leave the town and the man she loves.
After 8 years apart a dangerous night brings them together and their journey is a scorcher.

After a night of drunken passion that Crista can't forget and Dawg only remembers in bits and pieces (assuming it's a fantasy), Crista flees his bed when he mentions that she'll be great in the foursome with his cousins. After discovering that she's pregnant, then miscarries, she decides to leave town for 8 years with a friend. But when Crista returns home and manages to get mixed up in an ATF sting operation, Dawg gives her a choice; be his sex slave or go to jail. Knowing she's innocent doesn't seem to matter since Dawg has been infatuated with her for years. As he and his cousins investigate why she's been targeted, she complies with his every whim (of course putting up a little fight). When a bomb makes mincemeat out of her car, she decides that maybe fighting Dawg is foolish, considering she's also infatuated with him. But will that be enough to keep them together, and keep the rest of his family out of their bedroom?

Hay carumba! I got a lot of grief for reading this from my friends just from the title and cover art. After reading such fantastic reviews, I was sure that it would be a stellar read. It wasn't really - at least not if you are looking for a plot to go with the numerous sexual passages which gets very redundant after awhile. It's hot, but where's the plot? Crista's doormat personality and Dawg's caveman possessiveness gets pretty annoying also, and the mystery is pretty non-existent - I guessed the baddie from the start since the author didn't really provide any other possible suspects or red herrings. The only characters that stood out for me were Alex, who barely made an appearance yet still was an interesting character, and Natches, the unattached cousin who'll no doubt star in the next novel. He added a lot of humor to a story that elicited many other laughs that probably weren't intentional. I'll probably check Natches story out just to give Leigh the benefit of doubt, but this book will be featured in my next garage sale.

© Tracy Vest, September 2008

I HATED the heroine, Storme. She's rude, disrespectful and needs to get over the hatred of the breeds if she's going to continue sleeping with one! Half of the time I wanted to close the book in shame for her rudeness. If she loved her father so much, maybe she should take the time to find out why he was so enthralled with them. The whole arguing between the two main characters was ongoing and very disappointing. I thought Storme should have gotten over it and realized he's her mate way before the halfway point of the story (which she didn't), at which point I stopped reading it. I love Lora Leigh's books and I will continue reading them. This one was just a dud.

Lora Leigh knows how to write hot, sexy alpha males and Dawg is a perfect specimen -er example of that. She also knows how to create females tough enough to tangle with those Alpha males and get you to like them, as I did Crista. To top it off, she adds plenty of wild, erotic sex. Talk about the perfect triumvirate!

There actually was a good storyline worth reading that moved along at a nice clip. I found I enjoyed it more and more the further along I got in the book. There is mystery, suspense and actual romance and love,not just sex. Of course, in real life, Dawg would make me crazy but in the book, I was crazy for him. I would totally read this again...with a cold shower nearby.;)

I was eagerly awaiting this book as many others, but actually held off buying the book after seeing so many mediocre to negative reviews on the store. I ended up borrowing the book instead and am glad I did not waste my money on this book.

Styx and Storme are completely forgettable additions to the breed story and world as it has so far been revealed. The heroine has sensitive research information that could alter everyone's understanding of breeds....yet by the end of the book, you don't know what or why this research is so important. I'm sure its importance will be revealed to us in later books, but if LLeigh intended for this to whet our appetite then it failed miserably as there have been too many unanswered questions about breed genetics introduced to readers that it's gotten to the point where I don't really care anymore. You can only read so many times about all the bodily fluids being taken for testing before it becomes clear that obviously there lacks an Einstein on either side of the "battle" whether they be breeds or Council.

As for the hero/heroine specific story, I completely agree with other readers that there lacked an emotional attraction between Styx and Storme. This isn't the first book where LLeigh has man and woman dancing in the sheets before you've passed page 1, but it's definitely one in a long time where the reader couldn't also feel that there was something more to the attraction other than the physical. Yes, the heroine spends a majority of the book struggling to overcome her hatred of breeds, but that's understandable considering her back story. I would have been more disappointed of LLeigh had not delved into this aspect of the character. However, the book literally went from "I hate breeds", a few sex scenes, "I hate breeds", a few sex scenes, "I love you". There was no development of the relationship; the story felt drawn out and would have been much better suited as a short story submission.

Overall this book was an ok read, but does not linger in your thoughts. There are few breed books I haven't added to my collection, but I definitely will not be rereading this one. I hope Navarro's Promise is much better....and hopefully LLeigh isn't going the way of Christine Feehan (repetitive and predictable - stopped reading any of her books a long time ago).

I understand how people thought this was a bit repetitive, however, Ms. Leigh made you really feel how emotionally and psychologically damaged Storme was by the events past in her early years as a teenager. Watching her father and brother murdered at the hands of a Coyote Breed as she was peeking through a crack in a door, was a traumatic event in her life. Storme spent 10 years after on the run, from the Breed council and scientists that wanted something her father gave her to hold safe until the person he sent came to help her and collect the information he needed to help the breeds.Not being able to trust anyone, but herself.Until she met Styx ( or several weeks after in captivity )....:-)Being exhausted,in one moment of weakness, after being so careful for so long...he catches her...while in bed, after a night of passion. Any book to me, repetitive or not, that keeps me turning the page without wanted to put it down, is a 5 star read to me.What I don't understand is all the 1 & 2 stars complaining about how she goes on and on about her distrust and her feelings about the breeds...she was traumatized , and Ms. Leigh portrays this beautifully...because this has been her life for the past 10 years. You just can'r turn this around a a couple of chapters. Then some readers say there was too much sex...oh, come on, we read her books because she writes these scenes better then most writers...this author is a master /mistress of the most amazing sex scenes. So I gave this 5 stars ! I also hope she write Narvarro's story...this one I will be looking forward too.

This story line could have been so much better. The ending was a joke. It was like LL's deadline came up and she gave whatever she had to the publisher. The whole story line was based a much needed data chip, and you don't find out what happens to it until the epilogue! Storme was emotionally traumatized as a child because she saw her father and brother (Counsel scientists) murdered by a Coyote Breed. In turn, she was on the run from age 14. Due to her fear of the Breeds she doesn't trust them, and she definitely doesn't trust the Council. Before being murdered, her father gives her a data chip that could destroy the Breeds if it falls into the hands of the Council. Okay, I get that Storme was traumatized, I get that she can't trust the Breeds due to her experiences with them growing up and seeing the murders; however, what I don't get is how she falls in love with Styx. All they really do is have sex. LL could have had Styx bring Storme to various Breed outings (not have her sit on sidelines), meet children, see humanitarian things the Breeds do to help her build trust in the Breeds, NOT have Jonas threatening her at every turn. To build Storme's trust, LL could have written something like showing security surveillance of the night her father and brother dies, so that she can see Jonas tried to save them but was too late. If Jonas is that upset about his adopted daughter being truly sick, he would try to win her trust not threaten her; he is supposedly so good at manipulating people...where was that angle? Lion's Heat (previous book in series) was a little of a let down too with such a build up of EVERY previous book's couples anticipating his mating and how it would go. It's like LL has grown bored with her series and is just writing books to fulfill her obligations to the publisher. It's too bad because I loved this series! I even had to go to the internet to get the first few books because I couldn't find them in stores. I will wait until I see reviews of the next book "Navarro's Promise" before I buy the book. I would rather get it free from the library than pay to read something that was written like it was finished prematurely or that the author doesn't care about her series anymore.

The relationship in this one made me cringe -- there was no foundation, no real reason why the characters liked each other. Storme was beyond frustrating with her stubbornness and that's legitimately all I can write because it was so. darn. frustrating.

The passion grips you all the way through. Dawg is so Alpha with a capital A, that you can imagine that what he has within his pants he could uproot trees with. This is a great book, even my husband liked it. The characters are so real and meaty, I can't praise it enough. I also liked the first book of the series and also Lora's Forbidden Pleasure. I need a shower now to cool off. I have to admit that I am a relative newcomer to Lora's work, but I can see that her output is prolific and will keep me entertained for some time to come. On another tack, if you like steamy sex and passion in a short story format, check out Suzie Van Aartman's 100 Percent Erotica what it lacks in literary gloss, it more than makes up for raw eroticism.

at this point of the breeds books, the mating heat has developed into an excuse for the author to not develop a proper relationship buildup between the two main characters. so that is why i loved storm, she was attracted to styx without the mating drug and she told off a few of the irritating main characters. they had a period where their relationship grew independant of mating heat. then of course when the mating does occur, thankfully at the end of the book, she becomes a wimp! but i enjoyed her fire and her anger. i also loved styx.

Basically that's how the entire book goes. On Styx's side it's all 'she's my mate she must want me to mark her, she's my mate she won't be so scared of breeds if I make her mine, perhaps one more go around (or a bazzilion) in the sack will make her less afraid and angry'. Oh and let's not forget Storme's side of everything 'waaaa my daddy didn't love me enough, waaaa I hate all breeds but being a racist is wrong, waaaaa I hate your kind, but I'm going to sleep with you because I want to, waaaaa why are breeds so mean to me'. I honestly could not figure out what Lora Leigh was trying to do in this book. Was she going for a crazy protagonist couple? I mean honestly to me neither one was attractive. I can't stand the 'me mark you and maybe love you' way of thinking that some of her heroes have... which is probably why I adore Tanner so much. On the other hand while I hate weak willed heroines Storme's butt kicking running for ten years then throwing herself in Styx's bed then hating breeds is too far gone for my taste either.

The entire plot is them sleeping together to change Storme's mind so she'll give them the secret info... oh and Styx's wolf wants his mate. I just want to punch someone. I loved all of the breeds books when they were from her first publisher, I really really loved Elizabeth's wolf, that was fantastic, Tanner's Scheme was just as good as was Mercury's War, what happened? Jonas's book was much better than the previous one's but in this books Jonas is completely made of stone, I thought he had softened up, apparently only when it suites LL. On top of that the blurb had nothing to do with what actually happened. I mean not at all! Sometimes the blurb is misleading on the back of books, but I've never seen it so wrong. It seriously was like reading a Harriet Klausner review that's how off it was.

I don't know if I'll read the next one, thank god these books are only in paperback, otherwise like LKH I would no longer pay for the experience of cringing.

It was an excellent book and well written.

However, I had a few problems with the storyline.
I am use to the good breeds not harming or threatening innocents.

Therefore, I was not to impressed with their treatment of Storme. She was a witness to her father and brother brutal murder and entrusted with a vital data chip. She was told someone they trusted would come to retrieve the chip, but no one came. Ten years she has been chased by the breeds and council.

Then Styx came and under false pertinences' captured her.
Styx has been tested and found to be a potential mate.

With all this intrigue and danger will Storme learn to trust and let go of her fears?

After being off put by the initial breeds callous treatment of Storme, I began to enjoy the story.

I contribute this change of heart to Styx's treatment of his potential mate.

**Contains MAJOR SPOILERS**

I hated the way Storme was treated by the Breeds, including Styx. A Breed murdered Storme father and brother because Jonas was, allegedly, unable to save them. However, other Breeds were escaping the compound during the murders. Storme watched the murders when she was only 14. None of the Breeds, specifically Jonas, actually reached out to her when she was a child; they hesitated to contact her because they didn't need the information. For the next 10 years, Storme was hunted by Breeds and council scientists for the data chip.

Flash forward to the present: Storme obviously hates Breeds because of her past experiences. Styx sleeps with Storme to capture her, and Styx never really listens or understands the horrors that Storme went through. Whenever a turning point or a break through in the conversation should come, Styx kiss/sleeps with Storme.

In addition, Jonas--and all of the other Breeds--call her a bigot/racist/childish. But, Storme is no more a bigot than the Breeds are. Storme suffered extreme abuse from the Breeds, as the Breeds suffered from council scientists. And, the Breeds keep council scientists locked up as prisoners as the scientists kept them. The Breeds even threaten to imprison Storme! Would anyone in their right mind start loving the Breeds after these threats? Not unless the Breeds' behavior toward Storme improved, or Storme had Stockholm syndrome.

Overall, Lora Leigh could have written an amazing story, but she didn't. She didn't give enough glimpses of the horrors Storme suffered. She didn't explain why Storme should treat Del as a senator, when Storme was a prisoner! I was sympathetic to Storme and felt that the entire story was a letdown.

Storme has been on the run for ten years, following the death of her dad and brother at the hands of the Council's assissins. Both the Council and the Breeds want her father's research, which he left with her on a small data chip. She is captured by the Breeds, namely by Styx who seduces her. (That part I found completely unbelieveable, given her hatred of Breeds.) Most of the book she is his captive, and there's a small part at the end where a little action plays out. It'd be a spoiler to share, so I won't. But it was a shame how predictable the storyline was. This book did not have a well developed plot with surprise twists & turns that I have come to expect from some of the other Berkley published Breeds books.

I liked many of the earlier books in the Breeds series and I wanted to like this one. I am so disappointed. The book was skimpy in length and it was obvious key things were missing that could have made the story better. I wonder if the author was rushed due to tight deadlines? The characters were poorly developed and I didn't connect with them. I would have liked more details on Styx's background, his current life, etc. OK, I get that he loves chocolate. Maybe stop mentioning that time and time again and give us some real character development! Storme was not an appealing character and she had very few redeeming qualities. Her constant whining and bigoted behavior got on my last nerve, and I couldn't wait for her story to end. Maybe if we had been given more of her background--what she went through for the past ten years--I would have connected with her better.

Also the way the ancillary characters were portrayed didn't seem to fit with how they were presented in earlier books. Take Cassie for example--I just don't see Dash letting her run around in tight fitting, skimpy outfits and act so flirty/snotty. Even if she is nineteen, he still has say in that. And so many of the characters were ugly to Storme. I get why--she was prejudiced against them and they were reacting--but given the situation that they wanted her to trust the Breeds so she would give them the chip, it didn't make sense. Hope for example I thought was over the top in her reaction to some smart comments from Storme. Her reaction didn't seem in character for her. Jonah I also didn't get. He used to be a great character, but now he's become a cardboard cuttout of what he used to be.

Given this is supposed to be a romance, I kept thinking, 'Where is the relationship development?' This book lacked the emotional depth/connection of some of the better Breeds books. We only saw Styx and Storme come together with sex, and then they were back to arguing again. It became a repetitive, boring cycle. I didn't buy Styx's feelings for her, given that he knows she is a bigot and she thinks Breeds are monsters. Styx's change of heart towards the end came too late, and it wasn't explained well why it happened. The pacing was off also--the story dragged along for most of the book and then there was finally a little action towards the end. However, what happens was too predictable--what I suspected would happen is exactly what played out. And then after all the build up about the data chip, it only rated a brief mention at the end??? It was a let down.

I will not make the mistake of preordering a Lora Leigh book again. Her Breeds series is no longer an autobuy for me--I'll wait and read reviews before buying. If you haven't tried this series, don't start with this book. Some of my favorites include Mercury's War, Megan's Mark, Dawn's Awakening, and Elizabeth's Wolf. I started with Mercury's War (Breeds, Book 16) and that's the one that hooked me on the series. It gives a good synopsis of all the political/background stuff, so it reads fine as a standalone.

I have read every Lora Leigh book and started reading her since she first started at Ellora's Cave. I feel that her earlier books at least to me are much better since they are shorter novels or novella's. I think this is where she does her best writing and some of the wham jump into bed is more acceptable in the story. I do like this story though. I loved Styx and while I didn't love Storme I didn't think she comes off as a child to me. She lived through some tough things and Styx seemed to be the only one that remembered that. I do think these books are mostly at first about the sex due to the mating heat but after that the relationship does start to form. Also they have been playing cat and mouse for 1-2 years with Styx chasing her so while there is no real contact he at least does know something about Storme. You kind of have to fill in the blanks about how he felt when he finally met her. It also mentioned that she followed Styx on a web site. But again you fill in the blanks about why she knows so much about Styx and his women. I know that these may not be the most wonderfully written stories but they touch the heart and to me at least they are a fantasy with an alpha male. I am eagerly waiting for more breeds!

Crista Jansen is having a really bad day. She goes to pickup her stuff and ends up in gun battle. James "Drawg" McKay has been in love with Crista for the last eight years and now see the perfect chance to have Crista for himself. But there is danger around the couple and time is running out.
"Nauti Nights" the second book in The Nauti Trilogy by Lora Leigh and this book is a sexy read from a really great writer. Ms. Leigh as always gives the reader great characters and storylines. Can't wait for Natches story.

I absolutely love the character of Styxx but his mate Storm is a bit of a high maintenance pain in the rear. I would have given this book five stars if Storm hadn't been so hateful and difficult. Still love the book though. Styxx is an awesome character with his accent and highlander ancestry :) Despite the female lead this is an excellent book

I have been completely engrossed in this series! I mean who doesn't like sexy, strong, protective men LOL There is drama, growth, self discovery and love throughout all of them. Imagine nature creating your perfect mate; created to be your other half. One who would give his own life for yours, who would never cheat, never hurt and leave your body soaring on clouds of ecstasy?????

Hi, several people have gone into detail about the book so I won't add more. I wasn't as disappointed as some but it wasn't a strong book. I thought of this book more as a bridge book. It gave more details about Amber and what happened to her. It didn't stand well as a full length book. Lora has done short stories in anthologies well. A short story would have forced the writing to be tighter and the characters more developed. At the end, I didn't feel like the book advanced the overall story of the breeds or added anything new to the character development. I hope Navarro's story will be better. I will still continue with the series, but this book wasn't a keeper.

***Spoilers**
I have to admit before I bought this book I went on to the the store.com site to read the reviews as Lora`s books always come out at least 2 months earlier in the US than they do here in the UK.
I did wonder though if I was actually reading the same book as everyone else as it had such a `panning` by some readers. Not all breed books are going to have the same impact and I think the way they are written should be different and used to build up to the next book, but not to the dettriment to the story.

After reading some of the low star ratings I was in two minds as to whether to buy it. But I have to say I am glad I did, I really enjoyed the story it was nice to hear more about Haven the Wolf and Coyote compound this time. It was fast paced and sympathetically written. Storme did became a little irritating near the end before the last scenes but she redeemed herself and came out by the end of the story a much more rounded enlightened individual it was nice to have a human mate with issues rather than the breed, and it showed how Stormes prejudice had coloured her young life and how strong she was by the end to rise above it all and realise her errors, the last chapters were particularly good.
It would have been nice to be given a little more information regarding the chip Storme had and how it affects the breeds and their future, but hopefully that will be revealed in the next book.

Having said all that I have to admit some of the comments in the review were justified not the harsher ones but the parts of the books which left the reader with a mountain of questions that they hoped would be answered in the next book and were not, so below I have put them in question form and included a few of my own in case this gets back to the powers that be that dictate to a certain extent book content and how they are cut down and arranged.

1. Firstly the synopsis written in the store and other sites has absolutely nothing to do with the contents of the book as Storme is not kidnapped by Firestorm - breed slavers - had to admit that was really off putting as it sounded good. It was as if Miss Leigh had penned the idea then changed her mind!
2. Styx and the next book Navarro are new additions to the story and a lot of readers were unhappy about this as there are other characters in the Breed series that could have had their story written first, Miss Leigh said she wanted the readers to be introduced to more of Cassies life but could she not have done that by using the other characters she had already mentioned and written in to the other stories?
3. There are now SO many story arcs that Miss Leigh can now use it seemed wrong to add more - she has written on her site that she has at least 15 more stories (I am assuming the last book will probably be about David) and although I love the series feel she needs to condense some areas and answer questions about the arcs so far rather than thinking up more, this will probably pacify a lot of readers that are now waiting for these answers including me.

Arcs which have been hinted at but then disappear from the next books are:-
a) The 10 year old breed children the labs still have including Rick`s son, at one point a child was mentioned that a lab technician rescued and disappeared with, is this another arc?
b) Shouldn`t Rick have had a story and is he still going after council collaborators? - he disappeared after Cabal's story now 4 books away)I thought this book especially was a great build up to a more dark approach to some of the stories and so many arcs that could have been used, including, The Village where Breeds settled I think many readers thought this would be included as well as Haven and Sanctuary.
d) It was hinted in the last book that there was something going on between Mordacai and Diane now I find out it is Lawe and Diane!
e) It is widely thought by friends who also read the books that Dog is Cassies mate as he pops up in the background so much (but then we may be proved wrong)
f) John Bolen who is working undercover as head of a council cell has disappeared too after Scheme and Tanners story (great piece of writing when we are first introduced to Dog- although I was put off him a bit in Cabals story when he slapped his mate!)
g) We never have any hint about what happens to the Breeders of the children bought up in the labs, are some of them mates to the breeds that are at Sanctuary and Haven? - This area especially seems to leaves a gap in the story as in Wolfs novella it states that breeders and breeds escaped with their children.
h) Some previous characters never appear or get mentioned again in the books, including Taber and his mate and the human scientist that was originally with the group in the first books he disappeared too!
I) The breed children at Sanctuary and Haven don`t have names apart from David and Hunter although we know they exist as they are mentioned. This can be a bit off putting as this helps the story for me. e.g. Tanner & Scheme`s twins are they male or female, Callens new born is it a boy or a girl?
j) Cassie - we are constantly reading that she is still very young and her book is a while away but Miss Leigh has jumped forward before (approx. eight years once, to age David) so Cassie could age quicker couldn't she?
k) Is the Sherriff in Buffalo Gap near sanctuary a breed? I think yes - more to him than meets the eye eh.
l) Ghost team - more breeds suddenly appearing on the horizon last count 18!!! More characters who could have stories
m) Bengal Tiger Breeds that Cabel mentioned near the end of his book - where did they go? The first book stated that there were only two Bengal breeds Cabel and Tanner! - now the books are in main stream rather than ebook it seems harder to accept constant changes to the story line.
n) Brandenburg`s side kick has disappeared what's he up to? Also the `baddie` Councillors seem to appear then disappear so we are never sure if they are still part of the overall story or not.
o) There has only ever been one lab rescue written maybe there need to be another - to bring things back into perspective with the stories?

Need I go on readers, there are probably some that I have missed.
Having said all that Lora Leigh is a great story teller and has created THE most amazing world and I have loved all the books and can`t wait for the next instalment -but maybe it's time to either wrap some areas up so new stories will not be over shadowed by these other arcs/questions in previous books or maybe used to help explain areas that have been left hanging and caused such an outcry by some quarters!.

James "Dawg" Mackay is so very naughty - he makes good girls go bad! The sizzling tale is extremely hot and action packed. Dawg uses every trick in the book to get his woman, but man once he gets her this story explodes with tension, edge of your seat action, good sex and a climax that leaves you breathless. Lora Leigh knows action/erotica! Nobody write erotic dialogue better than this author. Hands down, Lora Leigh rules!!!