Veena’s review of Cat’s Lair (Leopard Series, Book 7) by Christine Feehan
Paranormal Romance published by Jove 05 May 15
Ms. Feehan’s books have always been steamy, but this one takes the heat up even more than usual. Not only do we have frequent and inventive sexual encounters between the protagonists, we also have restraints and spanking a la Fifty Shades. Cat is a female leopard shifter in denial of her leopard, which is on the cusp of emerging for the first time. Between the demands of her new mate and the constant training to hone herself into a weapon capable of defending herself from the nasty who’s after her, Cat’s not sure she has the time to fall in love. The sexual interactions are just a biological imperative from the mating cycle or ???????
It’s clear that Cat is on the run and frightened of someone or something right from page one, though it takes a while for the entire backstory to come to light. The story escalates quickly when she’s exposed and the DEA picks her up and tries to get her to turn state’s evidence on the criminal kingpin who raised her. Before she can run and disappear off the grid again, the one man who’s managed to get through her guard scoops her up and takes her away to a remote location.
Turns out he’s a leopard shifter too, on the side of right and will protect her from her nemesis while training her to hold her own as well. He’s also her mate, both human and leopard, and will help her deal with her female beast. As they go through days of her sex, training and her cooking him meals or making him coffee, her heart begins to soften. Perhaps they can hold their own and win the day.
Eli describes himself as a tough guy who’s lead a rough life with no experience of the softer sides of home and family. Yet he quickly determines that Cat is his home and hearth and he wants to be her safe haven and given her everything she’s missed in life so far. I appreciate the insights that we got into Eli as he internalizes and rationalizes his actions.
This story is everything we’ve come to expect from this series. There are no surprises, but it is pleasant to visit with some of the characters that we’ve met in this series before. I will say that I envied every time the two drank superb coffee and ate homemade beignets.
Grade: B
Summary:
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Leopard’s Prey returns to the feral underworld of her astonishing Leopard novels in an arousing new romance of forbidden animal instincts…
Cat Benoit has finally escaped the past—and the man who was the source of her nightmares. She’s off the grid, underground but watchful, and creating a new life for herself in Texas, far from the torrid dangers of her native New Orleans. She’s safe. He’ll never find her this time. Cat has to believe that. It’s the only thing keeping her sane.
Yet she can’t escape the attention of Ridley Cromer, the instructor at the martial arts dojo where Cat takes lessons. She arouses the animal in Ridley—and something feral comes to life when their body heat rises. Cat is in no position to let her guard down with anyone, especially someone who could be endangered by her past. But Ridley has secrets of his own—secrets only Cat would understand. If she dares to trust him.
Other books in this series
