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Relentless (Federation Chronicles #2)

by Lauren Dane

4.10 · rating details · 359 ratings · 40 reviews

In the erotic universe created by hot new talent Lauren Dane, passion knows no rank...

Fifteen Families rule the Federated Universes-and Abbie Haws has spent her life battling the system. She's always been too driven to pay much attention to love. But when she meets Roman Lyons, Head of House Lyons, who stands for everything she hates, Abbie's attraction catches her off-gu...more

Paperback, 339 pages

Published May 5th 2009 by Berkley Trade

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Apr 20, 2009

Julie (jjmachshev) rated it

Shelves: 2009-reads, erotica, requested-review

I'm a fan of paranormal romance, erotica, science fiction, fantasy, and mystery. So once I jumped into "Relentless" by Lauren Dane, I simply could not stop reading. The plot and characters of her latest Berkley release combine bits of each of these genres into something totally different and definitely entertaining.

In some ways this is almost a Romeo and Juliet kind of story starring Roman and Abigail--two people who shouldn't be together, yet can't stay apart. The story...moreI'm a fan of paranormal romance, erotica, science fiction, fantasy, and mystery. So once I jumped into "Relentless" by Lauren Dane, I simply could not stop reading. The plot and characters of her latest Berkley release combine bits of each of these genres into something totally different and definitely entertaining.

In some ways this is almost a Romeo and Juliet kind of story starring Roman and Abigail--two people who shouldn't be together, yet can't stay apart. The story is set in an interesting melange of the future yet socially structured much like the dynastic, medieval past. The 'haves' are those WITH paranormal abilities, the 'have-nots'...well, haven't; and never the twain shall meet! Or at least they may meet, but certainly not mingle bloodlines! Into this mix, stir in a 'have-not' female lawyer who is agitating for more rights for all have-nots and the head of the whole 'haves' ruling conglomerate. Now, just how more 'wrong' could this relationship be? Except for the fact that they are perfect for each other, bring out the best in each other, have sizzling sexual attraction, and want nothing more than to BE with each other.

Added to their quandary is the assumed requirement that he marry and breed the next generation of strong talents, a possible mutiny among some families in the conglomerate's ruling council, a violent 'history' between the heroine and one of the ruling council families, equal rights, and public scrutiny. Do you see how hard it is to try to get a handle on the scope of the plot without giving anything away?

There's even appearances and plot devices involving characters and situations from "Undercover" although it's not necessary to have read it first...it just made the whole all the more enticing to me! I loved "Relentless". If paranormal, romantic, fantastic, erotic stories with a hint of mystery set against a science fiction backdrop sounds interesting to you...pick up a copy of "Relentless" by Lauren Dane, coming out in May09. I won't even laugh when you run out to buy "Undercover" when you're done!(less)

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Jul 18, 2010

Blodeuedd Finland rated it

Shelves: sci-fi, hot

Lauren Dane is an excellent writer, I liked how her words just flowed and the story moved on so easily. It's a story set in a far away future where the space have been settled. It takes place in the city of Ravena, where a barrister named Abby is fighting for what she believes in. Then she meet Roman Lyons, the most powerful man in her 'verse. There is passion at once, passion that can not be.

I was not a fan of the feudal society they lived in, the families ruled everything and the p...moreLauren Dane is an excellent writer, I liked how her words just flowed and the story moved on so easily. It's a story set in a far away future where the space have been settled. It takes place in the city of Ravena, where a barrister named Abby is fighting for what she believes in. Then she meet Roman Lyons, the most powerful man in her 'verse. There is passion at once, passion that can not be.

I was not a fan of the feudal society they lived in, the families ruled everything and the people had no say in anything. Not to mention Roman was ranked, Abby was not, and because of that they could not be together. He was someone she was not, they did seem to live in the dark ages, and here I thought the future would know better. It seems not, rank still rule.

I liked the story, I have always been a sucker for future worlds. This society is then ruled by a lot of powerful families. They have the power, they have the say, and no one can question their will. They say it's democracy, but it is not. They also have the attitude that they are better and ranked are not allowed to marry unranked. But there are voices that wants to be heard, and they want change. A book sure needs a bit of that too, civil unrest, even if it doesn't amount to that here.

There was one thing that sadly killed my mood, I was not a fan of the sex, all the dirty talk, well I could not feel the love between them, just the sex, which is a shame. It was just too much for me, and yes I guess I am a romantic. I need to some love. Sure I was hoping they would end up together, but that was mostly because I knew it, I didn't feel it.

Still Abby was a good strong character who had gone through horrible thing, but she did not late them hold her down, and Roman, oh it was the power that did it for me. He was just so raw and powerful.

But it's a great story, with exceptions then for me, it flows, the story holds my attention and it's a great world she had created. She is a wonderful writer and the book is read with ease.(less)

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Jul 16, 2011

Leslie rated it

Shelves: arc, erotic, fantasy, own, scifi

This is only the second book by Ms. Dane that I have read. The first one was Undercover which I completely enjoyed (sorry, no review). Both books take place in the same futuristic world and while there are characters from Undercover that make appearances in Relentless they are each complete stories within themselves. The world building begins in Undercover but Ms. Dane does an excellent job of filling in any previous events. So while I would recommend reading Undercover prior to reading Relentle...moreThis is only the second book by Ms. Dane that I have read. The first one was Undercover which I completely enjoyed (sorry, no review). Both books take place in the same futuristic world and while there are characters from Undercover that make appearances in Relentless they are each complete stories within themselves. The world building begins in Undercover but Ms. Dane does an excellent job of filling in any previous events. So while I would recommend reading Undercover prior to reading Relentless, it isn't absolutely necessary. Relentless works as a stand-alone.

So, having got that info out of the way ~ WOW, what a wonderful book! The hero and heroine, Roman and Abbie, were so well developed. Not only in the relationship between the two of them but in their lives with regards to their families, friendships and business associates. This was such a full, well rounded story from beginning to end.

Abbie is a barrister and the founder of the Movement for Representative Democracy (MRD). She works hard representing her clients and trying to change how the unranked are governed. She is smart, tenacious, sexy and has a real strong sense of who she is. I loved the way she was around Roman. She didn't back down from her political views regardless of how he made her feel. She has a strong attraction for him but doesn't let that stop her from moving forward in her quest for democracy for the 'Verses. She never wimps out or becomes less than she was before she met him. To me that is so important to her character.

Roman became the head of House Lyons at a very young age. He also wed and became a father to his two sons while still in his teens. He's now 40 and has grown accustomed to the responsibilities that come with being House Lyons. Roman also had to deal with his younger brother and the strain of their difficult relationship. Through trial and error Roman has become a great leader and guide for Ravena and the 'Verses. While he's been widowed for some time he has never felt for a woman anything close to what he feels for Abbie. He knows their relationship can never be permanent. He can't marry an unranked and Abbie would never agree to be his mistress. Knowing that their relationship needs to end and he needs to make a political marriage leaves Roman in utter despair.

The Ranked, with Roman as their leader, are at the center, the core. They have the best of everything and are well taken care of in every manner. The farther you get from the Ranked or center, less privileges and conveniences you find. And the less power. Abbie wants to change that but she must convince not only Roman but the Council that what she proposes is for the good of all.

Abbie and Roman may seem like they don't have much in common but when we see them interact with their family members you see how important family is to both of them. How the importance of their family is at the core of who they are. They each grew up in such different circumstances and yet have very similar values when it comes down to the basics of family, honesty and integrity. They are able to learn from each other about the differences and similarities of the Ranked and unranked. And the learning doesn't stop there but continues into the bedroom.

This is an erotic romance and the sex scenes are certainly erotic in nature. No alluding to body parts, it's all spelled out but it's more than just sex. The scenes with Roman and Abbie are extremely hot but they don't just have sex, they're communicating more than just their physical needs. At times when they were having sex it's as if this whole other dialogue is going on. And they each gradually allowed themselves to be vulnerable to the other which given their backgrounds was very important. I found it interesting that Abbie was the one who was the more open about sex. It wasn't that Roman didn't want her desperately but he could be almost a bit shy in saying what he wanted. Abbie pulled him out of his shell. She had no problem letting Roman know what she liked and how much she enjoyed his body. It was very refreshing to have the female character be the aggressor at times and make no apologizes for being so.

There is so much going on in this book and yet the main plot and the subplots never get away from Dane. She handles them well, switching between Abbie and Roman's story and Abbie and her family dynamics, Roman and his relationships with his sons, both Abbie and Roman's careers. Lots of stuff going on but I never felt overwhelmed or like I had to backtrack to figure out what had just happened. Dane held the various plots together and still kept a brisk pace. Towards the end of the book I found myself cheering for Abbie and Roman and wanting these two to be together. They belonged together and after everything they went through deserved their HEA.

There are certainly secondary characters that have potential for their own stories. I'm personally hoping that Abbie's brother Daniel and Roman's brother Alexander each get their own books. So overall a very enjoyable, well written story. I would certainly recommend Relentless as well as the previous book, Undercover.(less)

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Dec 29, 2010

Kerry rated it

Shelves: erotic, sci-fi

I was a little worried when I started this because it is book 2 in the series and I haven't read book 1. I hate not reading in order, but my library only had book 2 and other reviewers said that they didn't need to be read in order to understand them. I agree. The futuristic world Ms. Dane has created is not complicated. And, for those readers who don't like sci-fi/futuristic books, this is hardly that. If you have read any of J.D. Robb's "In Death" series...well, this is less futurist...more

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Jul 31, 2010

MichelleKCanada rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 5 hearts out of 5

The last book I reviewed was “Undercover” by Lauren Dane. “Relentless” is a continuation of the world where “Undercover” takes place, but the characters from “Undercover” only mildly appear in “Relentless”. In other words you could pick up “Relentless” and not be confused if you did not read the first book.

This book is outstanding. I think I liked “Undercover” more but it is hard to say because this is a different type of story with completely different ...more5 hearts out of 5

The last book I reviewed was “Undercover” by Lauren Dane. “Relentless” is a continuation of the world where “Undercover” takes place, but the characters from “Undercover” only mildly appear in “Relentless”. In other words you could pick up “Relentless” and not be confused if you did not read the first book.

This book is outstanding. I think I liked “Undercover” more but it is hard to say because this is a different type of story with completely different characters. The foundation is still there as the story take place in the ‘verse and the same ruling families exist. The main female character is Abbie Haws and once again Lauren Dane created a female heroine that is smart, intelligent and a stable woman that despite a tragic episode that did occur in her past, she learns to deal with it and becomes a leader to the people.

The families in this society are “Ranked”. It is very similar to 1st class and 2nd class citizens. It is also very familiar with our own history where each society class is expected to marry within each class. The ruling families are also in charge of running the entire ‘verse and there is not an organized voting system where leaders are chosen by the people.

The main male character is widower named Roman Lyons. Roman is the most powerful leader of the Ranked families and he does a really good job of running the ‘verse. Roman was bred to lead the people since birth and he now training his own son to perform the duty. Many of the other Ranked families do not have the care or concern for people as Roman and his son does. The lower class of citizens are starting to rally together and change hundreds of years of politics. Abbie Haws is a solicitor and she is a non Ranked citizen who is earning the respect and trust of the people to take them to the next level to have a voted member assist in ruling the ‘verse. Eventually Abbie and Roman meet and work together as they negotiate through the turbulent and changing times. Many Ranked people are strongly opposed and are afraid of change.

Almost immediately there is a strong attraction between Abbie and Roman and neither can deny the chemistry. Their attraction to each other catches them both off guard. Abbie takes Roman (in disguise) to places he usually could never go or visit before. Normal places like a coffee shop or dance club. People never suspect that the most powerful man in the Known Universe are among them and he gets to really experience for the first time what it is like to be a non ranked citizen. Their love grows deep and intimate as they start to fall hard for each other. They must hide their attraction and love from everyone as they battle years of age old tradition and the trust of the non ranked people. There are so many heartbreaking moments where they can’t be together and it is so frustrating the way the politics won’t allow them to be together. I was rooting for this couple so badly. Their romance is hot and steamy full of passion and love. The story is heartbreakingly emotional and I could not put the book down. The only thing I did not like about the book is the C word is used frequently. I hate the C word but otherwise, this story is beautifully written. I also liked that the characters were more my age.

Warning: hot sex but full of passion and love
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Jan 21, 2010

Tina rated it

Shelves: 2010-reads, sff-science-fiction, romance, erotica

Oh my. This was such a good book! I have read several other Lauren Dane books. One I just really didn't like, and two others that I thought were pretty good. This one, though, was the best of hers I've read yet.

The book takes place on a planet far from Earth in a far distant future. The first settlers on the planet Ravena who came from Earth are now known as members of the First Families. Within these families lie all the power of the known universes. They are the wealthiest, ...moreOh my. This was such a good book! I have read several other Lauren Dane books. One I just really didn't like, and two others that I thought were pretty good. This one, though, was the best of hers I've read yet.

The book takes place on a planet far from Earth in a far distant future. The first settlers on the planet Ravena who came from Earth are now known as members of the First Families. Within these families lie all the power of the known universes. They are the wealthiest, they make all the laws and are the only ones who have any voice in the governance of the day to day lives of all people. They are known as the Ranked.

The common folk are known as the Unranked. Their life and the conditions in which they live are largely at the whim of the Ranked families. While many unranked are able to work and rise to a comfortable middle or upper middle tier of life, not all are so fortunate. And even those who do well are still at the mercy of the whims of a ranked family member.

The two strata are largely separate and very unequal.

Such is the world where Abbie Hawes, an unranked barrister and Roman Lyons, the head of the Highest of all the ranked families, live. In a previous book Undercover, it was discovered that members of two high ranking families were involved in treasonous activities that led to the death of thousands of citizens.

The fallout and suspicion that the traitors will be shielded by their rank has resulted in an unprecedented amount of unranked unrest. The unranked are chafing under the yolk of their inequities and are beginning to demand equal treatment under the law.

Abby has her own personal reasons for feeling that the Families have had too much power for too long and she has formed a protest group to fight the injustices. Her involvement leads her right into Roman Lyons' sphere as she seeks to get unranked representation on the Council.

The two of them are immediately attracted to one another and begin a passionate but doomed affair. Laws prohibit ranked men of Romans' stature from marrying an unranked woman. And Abbie refuses to be his mistress. And someone wants Abbie's protest group stopped at all costs before they can make any real change.

At it's heart this is a great love story. I get a charge out of star crossed lovers. People who are so desperately in love but can't be together for real concrete reasons, not just convenient made up ones. In the context of their world, Abbie and Roman were separated across a great divide. And Ms. Dane did a wonderful job of expressing their heartbreak and angst and coping mechanisms at the situation. At first they try to shrug it off as no big thing because they know thay can't be together. But it gets harder and harder to pretend. They briefly believe they can make it, but something else rears up that put them into doubt. Oh, these two go through whole range of emotions!

But this is also erotica. Now I have only really been reading erotica within the past three years, but really most of the books are strung together sex scenes. The better ones do have a nice love story or mystery plot to add to the mix. This one goes beyond that. Now, don't get me wrong, the sex in this book is smokin! Ms. Dane writes some really erotic love scenes that can get raunchy without being distastefully graphic. And it is great sex between two people who are madly in love and in lust with each other. But, like I said it goes a bit beyond. The world building is really very good. The futuristic setting and the nice little snippets put in here and there of how Ravena works add so many great little details to the story.

However what puts it over the top is the socio-political context that serves as the both the major conflict of the love story, but also the bigger plot of the story. It was such a welcome part of reading this that sometimes I really forgot I was reading erotica (until next smokin sex scene of course).

I highly recommend(less)

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Jul 21, 2009

Rachel Bussel marked it as to-read

I’m not usually a fan of futuristic books of any genre, but Lauren Dane has won me over with her sexy love story. I was willing to enter her ‘Verse because she sucked me in right away, with the feisty lawyer Abbie Haws going up against the mega-powerful Roman Lyons. He seems arrogant and entitled, but underneath lurks a man looking for love, and when they finally get together, sparks fly. They have to keep their relationship a secret because he is not only Ranked, but ultra-powerful, while she i...more

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Jan 04, 2012

Shari rated it

The Federated Universe is run by the Founding Families, 15 in all. For those lucky to be born into these families, life is good as a Ranked citizen. Unlucky, well then you are unranked and not represented in this universe. Abby Haws is fighting to change this having grown up as an unranked citizen. She has done well for herself after tragic events could have ended her life. By day she works as a barrister and at night she devotes herself to the cause of getting representation for the unranked ci...moreThe Federated Universe is run by the Founding Families, 15 in all. For those lucky to be born into these families, life is good as a Ranked citizen. Unlucky, well then you are unranked and not represented in this universe. Abby Haws is fighting to change this having grown up as an unranked citizen. She has done well for herself after tragic events could have ended her life. By day she works as a barrister and at night she devotes herself to the cause of getting representation for the unranked citizens.

Roman Lyons is he head of the Lyons family, the first Founding Family. Running the Federated Universe is a full time job that no one appreciates, but he isn’t complaining. He is everything Abby dislikes, but both are caught off guard by the instant attraction they feel for each other. Vowing to stay apart, they keep getting thrown together, igniting the passion over and over.

When media decides Abby is using sex to get Lyons to agree to representation for the unranked, the two must split up and go their own ways. But love once tasted is hard to deny.

I love Lauren Dane’s writing style. Everything just comes alive and you feel the emotion pouring from her characters. This series has been tough for me to read but at the same time easy to read. Ugh?

The tough part I am dealing about is the setting of this series. It is sometime in the future and the Federated Universe is ruled by the founding families that came through some portal from Earth. The 15 families rule the universe. They have rank while anyone else born outside of these families are unranked. This doesn’t mean they can’t intermarry, or there might be some family trees that go quite vertical. But the decision on marriage is made by the head of the family. The women of the family seem to be little more than arm candy for the men. None of them have any brains that we can see. Maybe that will change in future books. The men are allowed to take on mistresses and concubines whenever and wherever they wish. Mistresses have less power than a bride but more power than a concubine. Mistresses actually sign paperwork and any children resulting from this union are legal. Now the heroines so far I have read about in the two books I have read in this series want nothing to do with being a mistress or a concubine. They have some standards that I feel are right on! I am not a fan of stories where men don’t do the right thing and marry the women or at least have them be equal to their own status. Maybe I am a feminist but that is just it. I don’t like women being placed below men in status.

So that is my pet peeve of the books, so I decided to just look beyond it and the story between the two people. But this does play a role. Abby and Roman cannot be together because he is from a the first Founding Family and she is from an unranked family. This is where my heart gets ripped out and I want to stomp on all the men. I suspect this is what Lauren Dane wants you to feel. I cried when Roman left Abby. I cried every time she had to see him afterwards. It just broke my heart that society thought she wasn’t good enough for him.

Abby…LOVED HER! She is a strong, capable person who loves her family and has a rising career. She wants equality. She owns her sexuality. She has every right to be happy. Roman was her perfect match and I disliked him a little because he wouldn’t stand up to the system and declare his love for her to anyone but her.

It all works out in the end. There is a lot of steamy sex…a lot! There is so much emotion in it as well. These two deserve each other and work together so beautifully. I can’t wait to read more about them in future books…at least hoping I see them some in them.(less)

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May 14, 2009

Katie(babs) rated it

Lauren Dane is making quite a name for herself in the sci-fi romance world. Her first release, Undercover is an enjoyable and inventive space tale dealing with a nice, steamy ménage a trio. Now with Relentless, Lauren has gone back to the basics of romance with a love story between a man and woman who are on opposite sides due to their social standing and life goals that have been set for them.

Relentless is about the Federated Universe where the fifteen founding families rule. (This ...moreLauren Dane is making quite a name for herself in the sci-fi romance world. Her first release, Undercover is an enjoyable and inventive space tale dealing with a nice, steamy ménage a trio. Now with Relentless, Lauren has gone back to the basics of romance with a love story between a man and woman who are on opposite sides due to their social standing and life goals that have been set for them.

Relentless is about the Federated Universe where the fifteen founding families rule. (This setting is also an important part in Undercover) These families rule with an iron fist and are meant to be obeyed. Lately the less privileged people, the society that is ruled over by these important families, have become restless and want equal rights and their own democracy. This is where Abigail Haws enters the picture. Abby is a barrister and spokesperson for the Movement for Representive Democracy.

The ranked families find Abby to be an annoyance, a rebel rouser. Abby has some personal issues with a certain ranked family because when she was young girl a member of one of these families brutally raped her and left her for dead. She refuses to be ignored and will fight for the rights of those who are downtrodden just because they weren’t born into privilege.

Roman Lyons, holder of House Lyons and Chair of the Governing Council of the Federation Universes comes from one of the most powerful families in the universe. Roman decides to meet with Abby so he can hear the Movement’s grievances and try to appease everyone. Roman wants this issue to go away also. He knows Abby by reputation and believes he will have quite the handful when it comes to her. The thing he doesn’t know is that when they finally meet face to face, he will ache to put his hands all over Abby’s body. Roman and Abby’s first meeting is electric. They are overcome with an amazing attraction to one another. Abby can’t help but think that Roman is ten kinds of delicious, from his looks to the power that rolls off of him.

Roman decides he will work with Abby in order to come to an agreeable conclusion. They also come to a very pleasing solution in regards to their attraction to one another. These two are like wild cats and can’t keep their hands off of one another, even though it is so very dangerous to even act upon their feelings. It has been a very long time since Abby has had sex and Roman hasn’t had much of a sexual relationship with any woman since his wife has died. With two grown children and a great deal of responsibility on his shoulder, as well as acting a certain way in the eyes of society, Roman must be very careful. Abby and Roman decide to have an affair but will keep it behind closed doors. Even if Roman wanted to have an open relationship with Abby, he can’t. Her reputation would be in tatters and ruin all that she has worked for. Roman is expected to marry a woman from a ranked family. Their love affair is doomed from the start.

As Abby and Roman quench their desire for one another, they both learn about each other in other ways. Roman comes to respect what Abby does and becomes more knowledgeable about the unranked society. Abby finds Roman to be a kind and wonderful man who cares for his family and those who work for him. He is not some spoiled aristocrat who is just given such advantages because he was born into it. Roman has much of the same beliefs Abby has. Perhaps if they work together, they can change the rules to benefit both sides. And if they can accomplish this, they may have a future together.

Relentless is a nice love story with an intriguing storyline and many wonderful characters. Lauren’s world building is spectacular and she explains everything so perfectly so you will not be confused in the least. This is an intergalactic court trial tale that deals with such issues as the rights of man and democracy.

The romance between Roman and Abby is steamy, erotic, and emotional. Not only are these two great in bed together but they respect and care for one another deeply. Even though Lauren shows how much Abby really cares for Roman, it is Roman who adores Abby deeply and irrevocably. Roman aches for Abby because he knows he will eventually have to give her up for the good of his name. Each day they are together is one step closer to their end. Because they must live in the moment and take each day as it comes, the love and sex they share is very consuming.

I also loved how Abby was able to face the horrors of her rape and how she and Roman talked about it. It is not just some clever plot device but very important to everything that is going on and how it has shaped Abby. She takes on her attackers face on and doesn’t hide from the shame. Abby became an inspiration and perhaps is one of the strongest heroines I have read this year, thus far.

Lauren Dane has automatically been placed on my must read list now and will anxiously await for all her future releases. Relentless is one recommended read. (less)

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Apr 27, 2010

sMichelle rated it

This was the first book I've read by Lauren Dane as is the first futuristic romance I've read, and I have to say I was NOT disappointed! I absolutely adored Abbie's fiery nature, respected her stance & how she loved fearlessly. Roman Lyons was a lion in my opinion! Their scenes together were dynamite, and the story well developed. I loved reading about the alternate universe and getting down the lingo, it was cool. I've got to backtrack and read the first book, Undercover and I have already pre-...more

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Dec 25, 2011

Darcy rated it

Shelves: 2011, erotica, futuristic, space-drama

I really liked this book and a big part of it is due to Abbie. I liked that she was a spit fire, that she bucked the system, but did it in the appropriate way. You couldn't help but to root for her. I also liked how up front and honest both her and Roman were about their relationship. They went into things with their eyes wide open, knowing that they were from 2 different classes and could never be together in a way that they wanted to, that both of them thought that "for now" woul...more

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Jul 06, 2010

Pearl rated it

Abigail "Abbie" Haws is the spokesperson for the Movement for Representative Democracy (MRD). She’s a crusader against the injustice of a class-ruled society/world and works as a senior barrister for the Society for the Defense of the Accused (SDA). In her pursuit of justice she’s fierce and ruthless. Abbie is vivid, tenacious, resilient and smart. Her back-story is a hard and emotional one that made me admire her even more for her resilience and strength.

Roman Lyons is the...moreAbigail "Abbie" Haws is the spokesperson for the Movement for Representative Democracy (MRD). She’s a crusader against the injustice of a class-ruled society/world and works as a senior barrister for the Society for the Defense of the Accused (SDA). In her pursuit of justice she’s fierce and ruthless. Abbie is vivid, tenacious, resilient and smart. Her back-story is a hard and emotional one that made me admire her even more for her resilience and strength.

Roman Lyons is the widowed head of the Family Governance Council. He’s restrained by what is socially accepted but he’s also an honorable, passionate and dutiful man. He’s torn between duty and his growing feelings for Abbie whom he can't be with openly without causing trouble for them both in their respective layers of society.

There’s a magnetic pull between Roman and Abbie they both can't seem to avoid or ignore but the class society they live causes a lot of different complications for them. Their relationship seems impossible and unattainable and I wondered how it was going to work out for them. Their separation broke my heart. Their reunion glued it back together.

The supporting cast of characters was a true addition to the story, both romantically and in the political plot. The bond, support and easy camaraderie between the Haws siblings were great to read. I loved it! And Daniel (Abbie's oldest brother)? I can't wait to read his story. He is Abbie's fierce protector and loyal brother and has a life no one knows about. Abbie knows a little but that doesn't even scratch the surface. There is much to tell there and I am sure Lauren Dane will deliver it with INSATIABLE.

Lauren Dane's writing has a way of pulling me in from the start. Even with the sometimes complicated and intricate world building of the ways of the Families and the legal stuff, undoubtedly her dialogues, characterization and sexual chemistry between the characters stand firmly in the foreground, enthralling and captivating. I loved Abbie and Roman and their story, which was filled with political intrigue, social pressure and definitely let’s not forget a dirty talking Roman who stole my heart.

RELENTLESS is fast-paced, not overly filled with world building, which allowed the story to move along at a swift pace. It’s also hot, very hot but that is old news for readers of Lauren Dane's book because when it comes to hot and sexy writing she dominates the genre effortlessly.

Quotes:
Oh dear gods, she loved dirty talk. Real dirty talk done by someone who felt it. Logan sounded ridiculous when he tried it, but deep inside, Roman Lyons was a very dirty man, and because he owned the words, they worked. Straight down to her toes.

Roman: “I carry this thing between us, like a weight. A good weight, in my pocket. I reach out and hold it from time to time like a wonderful secret. I will always have that. I will never feel this way about another woman, ever. My heart will be yours forever, no matter who shares my bed, no matter whose children you bear, I’m here.” He tapped her chest. “And you’re here.” He tapped his own.

Abbie: “ By the way, welcome to the family, Marcus. I’m sorry you thought we were normal. Nyna will make you fat, I’ll weep on you and Daniel will frown you to death.”

8.3 out of 10
(less)

· see review

Jan 04, 2010

Kristiej rated it

Hmmm - while this one didn't cause the 'blush' factor that Undercover did, it's still up there as one of the steamier reads I've ever read! But as I read along, I almost tried detaching the steam from the storyline and the story works very well just on it's own. I think the author deserves kudos for not sacrificing one for the other.

Abbie Haws is an amazing heroine. She is everything a reader wants in her heroine. Abbie is smart, she knows what she wants and goes after it. There isn'...moreHmmm - while this one didn't cause the 'blush' factor that Undercover did, it's still up there as one of the steamier reads I've ever read! But as I read along, I almost tried detaching the steam from the storyline and the story works very well just on it's own. I think the author deserves kudos for not sacrificing one for the other.

Abbie Haws is an amazing heroine. She is everything a reader wants in her heroine. Abbie is smart, she knows what she wants and goes after it. There isn't a single TSTL bone in her body. As her position as a barrister in the world of Ravena, she is also the voice for a group of unranked citizens who feel that the unranked should have a say in the governing of the 'Verse, rather than have all the power in the hands of the Ranked. She's not out to overthrow the government; what she is after is reasonable. She goes about this in a non-violent way, even coming into friction with her father who is much more of a rabble rouser. Abbie understands the issues involved from both sides. In her efforts to effect change, she runs into the hero, Roman Lyons.

Roman is also an incredible hero. He is pretty much the leader of Ravena and he takes his leadership seriously. He truly cares about the people even though he is far removed from the issues of the Unranked. There is an immediate and strong attraction between he and Abbie, even though both know it can't go anywhere. As the head of a Ranked house, he can only marry someone from a Ranked family. A widower with two grown sons, he really isn't looking to marry anytime soon.

As hard as they both try though, neither Abbie or Roman can't deny their passion. And this is where the steam level rises way above boiling temperature!! And WOWZERS does it ever rise!! Both are very sensual people and the love scenes between them are Hawt. But as I was reading them, I was very impressed that the author didn't neglect the storyline at all. One of the few complaints I had about Undercover was the world building left a bit to be desired, but not so in Relentless. Ms. Dane did an excellent job in explaining this world. And another thing she did that impressed me was to keep the characters true all through the book. It came through loud and clear how much Roman respected Abbie and what she was after. A secondary plot had her using her skills as a barrister in defending the son of Roman's top aid. It was Roman who trusted her to successfully defend the young man.

Because of who they are, Roman and Abbie must keep their relationship a secret from those who are opposed to both Roman and Abbie. They both face those trying to defeat them. This is the conflict of the book and it was a very believable conflict. There were no big misunderstandings. There were some who commented after I blogged about Undercover that Relentless was even better and I agree with them.
I was very impressed overall with this book and eagerly look forward to Insatiable the next book in this series, coming out in July.(less)

· see review

May 04, 2009

Kris rated it

I loved Undercover so was very excited to read this. I was not disappointed.
The backcover for this book had a good summary so I do not have anything to add to it. Abbie and Roman fall in love but are separated by class, how will they span the gap to be together.
Very hot scenes and very poignant scenes in a tough situation, I cried at one point. Great storyline and great characters.
Abbie is a strong heroine who knows what she wants in her personal and professional life. She want...more

· see review

Oct 24, 2011

Cindy rated it

I liked this one better than the first book, it has a little more story and a little less angst. Still relationship driven plot. There's very little overlap between the two books so order doesn't particularly matter here...

Federation Chronicles
1. Undercover
2. Relentless

Phantom Corps
3. Insatiable
4. Mesmerized
5. Captivated

· see review

Jul 16, 2010

Styles rated it

I presume you know what the book is about I'm letting you know what I like or dislike about it.

This was a good book, 2nd in a series with the third one just released. YAY! Great writing style, strong sexy characters, good storyline. A very easy book to read and enjoy!

I'm looking forward to Insatiable and how nummie is the cover?!!!

I recommend the book and the series. Enjoy.

· see review

Jul 05, 2010

The Listmaker rated it

Shelves: erotic-romance

I would have given this book a higher rating except for the redundancy of the sex scenes. Each sex scene was basically the same as the one before it which was the same as the one before it... so yes, redundant.

· see review

Nov 19, 2010

Caila rated it

Lauren Dane created a strong, believeable world and gave us a character that fights for what she wants - no matter the cost. Add that to those delicious erotic scenes and that makes this an excellent read!

· see review

Sep 02, 2010

Karmen rated it

Shelves: erotica

Much preferred the first.

The story is well articulated and follows the Federation well. This book was more about the move from a "monarchy" to a democray.

· see review

Jul 24, 2010

Korri rated it

The story was okay but the love scenes (which were pretty frequent) were VERY crude. I ended up skipping most of the book to find the story in it.

· see review

Sep 06, 2010

Carolyn F. rated it

Shelves: library-book

Set the blankety blank future on other worlds as earth is almost uninhabitable Abbie is an attorney/activist and Roman is the leader of all off world planets. They meet to discuss her grievances, he accidentally triggers a flash back and they end up getting to know each other and falling in love. The problem is, he's almost like royalty and cannot marry the lower classes which is Abbie as it's against current law. Very good book. I enjoyed it and recommended it.

· see review

May 09, 2009

Holly rated it

Shelves: z-may-2009, z-read-in-2009

This turned out to be pretty good. I had some issues with the hero and the rules of the world in general (as I think the author intended) but I was won over in the end.

· see review

May 15, 2009

Mickey rated it

While I did enjoy this book, and would certainly recommend it, I did not find it as appealing as Undercover.

· see review

Mar 08, 2011

Tiffany rated it

Hot, Hot, Hot. Keep me very entertained.

· see review

Oct 14, 2010

Deanne rated it

Holy Hot Sex!!!!! there is nothing left to say. LOL

· see review

Jun 12, 2011

Jan rated it

I really liked this book and I am always a sucker for the love that one can't have kind of stuff.

· see review

Apr 25, 2010

Jess rated it

Shelves: erotic-romance

Again. Kinky and hot. This one wasn't as kinky as the first one and it was more emotional, but really good.

· see review

Jun 22, 2009

Jacqueline Coleman rated it

Shelves: 2009-books

This book kept me enthralled from beginning to end.

· see review

Oct 01, 2010

Crazy4more rated it

Shelves: did-not-finish

Sorry, i might get back later but I didn't find anything new, interesting or captivating in the beginning of the book to keep me finishing it.

· see review

Jul 06, 2011

Sylvia Ryan rated it

Normally I would gave given this book a three stars, but it almost brought me to tears in some places, so I had to give if four. If the writing is good enough for me to care so much about the characters, it has to be better than a three star.

· see review

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About Lauren Dane

Lauren Dane has been writing stories since she was able to use a pencil, and before that she used to tell them to people. Of course, she still talks nonstop, and through wonderful fate and good fortune, she’s now able to share what she writes with others. It’s a wonderful life!

The basics: Lauren is a mom, a partner, a best friend and a daughter. Living in the rainy but beautiful Pacif...more

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Quotes from Relentless

“I carry this thing between us, like a weight. A good weight, in my pocket. I reach out and hold it from time to time like a wonderful secret. I will always have that. I will never feel this way about another woman, ever. My heart will be yours forever, no matter who shares your bed, no matter whose children you bear. I’m here.” He tapped her chest. “And you’re here.” He tapped his own.” — 14 people liked it

“You’re a pain in my ass.”

“I was a pain in the ass long before I met you, Roman. Don’t take it personally.” — 6 people liked it

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Relentless (Federation Chronicles #2)

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