ShannonC looks for Recs: Lora Leigh
May 5, 2008
Sandy M.'s latest review got me thinking about Lora Leigh. She is one of those authors that everyone seems to adore, particularly my fellow duckies . But the two short stories I tried by her, one in the Hot Spell anthology and the other in the A Wish, A Kiss, A Dream anthology didn't work for me at all. And then there are the incest books, which people either love or they hate.
But despite all that, Lora Leigh sells like hot cakes and I keep thinking maybe I should try one of her full-length novels before I give her up completely.
But she has a huge, scary backlist, and I don't know what to read. So I turn to the collective wisdom of the Pond.
Recommend me your favorite Lora Leigh book in comments and tell me why I should read it. The person whose comment actually manages to convince me to try one of her books will receive some sort of prize book donated and signed from Lora Leigh. Don't ask me what prize--I am not the contest duckie nor do I play her on TV. [ed note: tis ok I answered for you cuz I can do that go team me!] Extra points will be awarded for creativity and/or attempts to make me snork a beverage out my nose.
I like her Men of August series :). And I liked her Nauti Boys *g*. WOOT!
uh sorry not helpful huh
have you tried her SEALs? I loooovvvvvvvveeeeeeesssssssss them
I have kind of decided I might just be her bitch. But she has written books I am eh about. I suck like that it keeps me from ever being able to really be able to cross over to that TRUE RABID fangrrl madness. Oh and I don't give a shit if other people don't like books. And to be rabid you have to... uh rabidly CARE people dislike shit.
You may just not be that into her. ::there there hon, it would be ok:: honest, we won't take away your duckie card or anything... uh if there is ever such a thing as a duckie card
KIDDING GWEN we do NOT need a duckie card, for serious.
Prize taken care of... par-tay on
I LOVE Leigh's Breeds series. Men of August, not so much - just a little too over the top for me. And they're not incest so much as brothers sharing women at the same time - which is creepy enough, I suppose.
But the Breeds - oh baby! Loved Dawn's Awakening and another one I can't remember the title to. It will come to me...
Okay, Lora Leigh, a favorite of mine. Yeah I'm one of 'those'. Which one to read? It really depends on your tastes but an overall winner is Taming the Beast, book 1 in her breed series. This is really where you get the low down on the breed's struggle, you get the backdrop of the series. The universe continues to build with each story published but this one is the starting ground. The scenes are hot hot hot but there is more to just the sex. There is a community of breeds that are hiding from their captors, trying to discover what the breeding program have made them evolve into. They are trying to deal with the doctors/administrators from the lab hunting them down. Lora published Meagan's Mark as her first mainstream paperback breed book, but that story follows another storyline and as a fan of the breed series I like the original storyline. I compare it to Ward's Black Daggger brotherhood series, not the weight of the story itself, but the way the books carry the story of the Omega and lessers forward in every new book released. The Breeds series is like that. It's not dark like the brotherhood, it's much more on the erotica side but the series moves forward in a similar manner.
Best place to start is with the first, Taming the Beast.
BtW: I've read August Men series and, although good, nothing as good as the Breeds. Also read the Seals and just got the Nauti books. Still stand by The Breeds rec.
Enjoy!
Shannon, I am really curious if you find a book you will finally like by this author. LL is a big nono for me, which means, don't count me in on the contest :), please.
I don't want a signed book from Lora Leigh and I'm not interested in extra points, but I do want to recommend Elizabeth's Wolf. It is part of her Breed series but stands well on its own. I don't usually reread books, but this one I have. It is on my keeper shelf.
I'm not a huge LL fan, but I have read most of her books. They can be addictive
Maybe I need to read more of the MoA - but I didn't think it was incest. At least the first. I mean - she just... grew up with them. What squicks me out is when people marry cousins. And step/half sibings. [Was Marly one? Maybe I need to re-read it...]
I like her Nauti books, and her SEALs and Breeds. Though, I wasn't wowed by the last breed book - or the newest one in the anthology [did not like!] - I seem to generally like the male breed books more than the female breeds. I'll have to figure out why.
Also I'm pissy and want to kill about 5 people outside my office/study room who sound like 50.
I've read a lot of good books by Lora Leigh. No matter which book you pick, you will love it. She is on my autobuy list and on my keeper shelf. Right now, I am reading Killer Secrets by Lora and it is awesome!
Incest books?? LOL, what books were you reading, Shannon? No incest in my interpretation of those books! They may be over the top, as some say, but they were also so emotional, brothers trying to live with what had been done to them, what they had been forced to do, as best they knew how without going whacko. Loved those books. And I love her Breeds books. Still have some of those to read, as well as her SEALs books. I'm looking forward to every one of them. I'm definitely a fangirl!
I'm not big on her "incest" books but I do enjoy her breed books. I would say Tempting the Beast but it's already been said so I will say Dangerous Games. I like that series as well.
Shannon,
I am long time fan of Lora's books and matter which book you choose you can't do anything wrong. I just hope you like strong Alpha heroes *grins*
Although it is hard to choose here are my favorites:
Wolf & Feline Breeds, SEALS, Trojans (Bound Hearts series /Menage), Nauti Boys.
Lora was my 2nd e-book purchased. I think part of her appeal for me as a very strong willed woman who is in charge almost always, I like the IDEA of a guy who can toss you over his sholder, smack you on the (butt) and state you are going to do things his way (his way always involving a really good time for all involved). If you are not into "creative" lifestyles..the Breads are always a great way to get into LL. Elizabeth's Wolf is my favorite but you might start with the new ones published by a mainstream publisher. The first one is Megan's Mark. That might be the best way to go. I hope you can see a spark of what makes Lora a "Must Buy the first day out" author.
Best Wishes
Heather
My favs are the Tempting Seals titles, especially the latest one Killer Secrets. I liked how Ian and Kira's story was set up in Hidden Agendas - that always makes me look forward to the couple's own story all the more. Plus the first in the related series Elite Ops is also coming soon. I also enjoy the Breeds titles. There's other stuff going on but they're all still heavy on the sexiness and couple interaction which I really like.
I just finished reading Lora Leigh's breed series from the beginning. My personal favorites are Tanner's Scheme and Kiss of Heat...Tanner's Scheme because honestly how can you not love Tanner?? A sexy Bengal breed who plays the laid back, playful feline breed in the public eye but is much more intense than he appears. He kidnaps the heroine thinking she is the enemy when just the opposite is true. I love seeing him fight his attraction to her.
Kiss of Heat is I think the second or third breeds book and I just loved both the hero and heroine. Sherra and Kane were together years ago but Kane thought Sherra had died in an explosion. Sherra thought Kane abandoned her. Even when she finds out that Kane didn't leave her willingly she thinks it is too late and she is too damaged by the things that happened to her in the labs. Kane has to work hard to get her to see they belong together. I think I read this book twice in one week, I just couldn't put it down.
How do I tempt thee, Shannon? How about a Godiva dessert or triple scoops of Ben & Jerry ice-cream with macademia? On second thoughts, how about a piping hot serving of a Feline Breed whose eyes flared whenever he looked at his mate and who can smell your every emotion? Her Breeds series can really stir the blood and my favorites are Soul Deep and Tanner's Scheme.
uhm...I didn't like her EC books. But then I'm not into that genre.
How about? Somebody saw something in her that was so good that they moved her into mass market paperback status. And instead of continuing her paranormals and erotica, she went with SEALS. That made her break out big-time. Which brought people into her backlist and got new readers, so if anything--read her SEALS books to see what all the hype is about. Maybe she just needed a change of sub-genre. And besides, the covers are hot. Who doesn't like hot guys on their cover?
i have raed her seals and they are very hot and the hero is very strong and sensitve
My Lora Leigh series is Bound Hearts. I've read bits and pieces of others(Breed(Wolf, Feline), Men of August, Nauti, anthologies, etc..). They were good bait. But I always keep my eye out for a new one in the Bound Hearts series. BTW, I just happened to buy the 8th one first (Forbidden Pleasure). That one reeled me in to the 'Lora Leigh fan club'. Good read: you have to love the menage element though. My favorite part about this series is it's all about the woman's pleasure. Yes, the man(men) do come along for a good time, but first and foremost, the women get to enjoy their ultimate fantasy and have the happily ever after to boot.
Some authors leave me with a feeling that the woman is just a receptacle. I definitely don't get that feeling with Lora Leigh even when there are more than 2 involved in the relationship.
Happy Reading!
Pat
Shannon C is hard to please eh?
If someone tempts her, I have a signed copy Elizabeth's Wolf for the reader
...
I've read her Men of August and from the comments here definitely looking forward to reading her BREED series!
Think what really grabs my attention is her way of presenting scenes, plots and feelings, sexually and otherwise!
hehe, hope that helps!
Don't enter me in the contest... *G* I've got Lora Leigh books that won't be out until '09 (Heh, sorry, had to tease).
But I'd second the mention for Elizabeth's Wolf. If you like paranormal or science fiction type romance, and you don't mind the heat, that's where I'd recommend.
The Breed books were okay - I thought they were okay. I like the SEAL books. I read Dangerous Games and WOW.... you definitely got to read that if you like bsdm stuff.
Tempting the Beast-hands down.
It has the most interesting introduction to the hero...ever. I blushed so hard when I read it that my friend thought I was choking! :))
Elizabeth's Wolf
This was a great list of comments to read, because I had a mini-version of Shannon's reaction - I picked up 'Hot Spell' on a whim, with four all new to me authors, and was very impressed with Meljean Brook but somehow indifferent to LL - yet, there are many posters in blogland who love this author. There must be a reason. I will try again.
my all time favorite is The Chronicles of Brydon ~ Broken Wings (book 1 & the only one released). This is a fantasy story about a Winged Race and their struggles with Rogue Winged People and the normal humans. I loved the story and the characters made me want to read the next book now Now NOW!!!!.
I hope she has plans to return to this series soon. I have read almost all of her other books but this is the one I return to most.
Tanner's Scheme, because it is astronomically good and was my first Lora book.
Whatever, Lora's one of my all-time favorite authors, my favorite Lora book is ANY Lora book!