Maverick (Elite Ops, #2)

Mar 03, 2009 Auntee rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fans of the series; Fans of hot romantic suspense

Shelves: lora-leigh, romantic-suspense, 2009_reads

Whew! This was a very enjoyable, hot, easy to understand, passionate second installment of Lora Leigh's 'Elite Ops' series (which is really a continuation of her 'Tempting SEALs' series). I mention the 'Tempting SEALs' series because in order to enjoy this book fully, you MUST read that series first, or you will be hopelessly lost with all the characters and what happened in the past. The heroine in this book, Risa Clay, was first mentioned way back in the beginning of the 'Tempting SEALs' serie...more Whew! This was a very enjoyable, hot, easy to understand, passionate second installment of Lora Leigh's 'Elite Ops' series (which is really a continuation of her 'Tempting SEALs' series). I mention the 'Tempting SEALs' series because in order to enjoy this book fully, you MUST read that series first, or you will be hopelessly lost with all the characters and what happened in the past. The heroine in this book, Risa Clay, was first mentioned way back in the beginning of the 'Tempting SEALs' series (not sure which book, possibly "Dangerous Games"),(view spoiler) Now six years have passed, and brave Risa's ready to take control of her life again and stop hiding (although who could blame her). She decides it's time to start living again, come out behind her baggy clothes and mousy appearance, and in order to overcome (view spoiler) her sexual fears, she wants to take the bold step and be intimate with a man. Her friends want to introduce her to a guy they know and like, and Risa's decided that he will be the one. But Risa's unaware that this man has his own agenda for wanting to meet her.

Micah Sloane is a member of the Elite Ops, a black ops group so secret they're practically off the map. A former Israeli Mossad agent with his own haunted past, Micah is introduced to Risa by his SEAL friends and their wives with the intention of him becoming her bodyguard. It seems that the man who(view spoiler) is concerned that her memories of that time are returning, and that she may be able to identify him and bring him down. So he hires the known and feared assassin named 'Orion' to bring her down. Word gets out that Orion has been hired to take out Risa, and that's when the Elite Ops team steps in. Micah has his own past with the assassin named Orion, and he's out for revenge. But before he can take Orion out, he has to find out who hired him to kill Risa, or she may never be safe again.

Well, Risa and Micah are attracted to each other, Micah brings her to his hotel and makes his move, but all doesn't go as planned. Not being experienced and suffering from extreme low self-esteem, Risa misunderstands, and leaves humiliated and ashamed. But Micah doesn't give up easily, and after Risa learns that her life is in danger, she agrees to let Micah protect her until the team can flush out the assassin. Over the course of days (or weeks?) Risa and Micah get to know each other a little better, Micah's able to woo and seduce Risa, and they find a passion that neither expected or believed was possible. But Micah's life is not his own--he's basically a dead man walking, reborn as a member of the Elite Ops, and is allowed no weaknesses or romantic entanglements. When Orion is captured and his employer is identified, the mission will be over and Micah will have to leave. But will he be able to leave when his heart and soul belong to Risa?

This was one hot, straight-forward, easy to read book, with a pretty simple plot to follow. There wasn't a whole lot of characters to keep straight (besides the members of Micah's team and all their nicknames--"Heat Seeker", "Black Jack", "Live Wire", "Hell Raiser"--all future books, I imagine). Risa and Micah were characters you could like and admire, although I was getting tired of Risa's constant put-downs about her own appearance. So she wasn't a raving beauty--so what? But from the way she thought of herself, I was expecting a circus side-show performer. The way the author described her made her sound pretty attractive to me, and Micah certainly seemed to find her beautiful, so I didn't know why she had such a hang-up about her looks. I realize that her crazy father and his equally crazy associates did a number on her self esteem, but she really needed to get over it and trust her mirror. So that bugged me a little. And other than some typos and mistakes in editing (which is happening a lot in books these days), and by the way, Israel is next to the Mediterranean Sea, not the ocean, I really had no complaints with the book. The pace was pretty fast (not a whole lot of slow spots), I loved the H/H, there was lots of sexual tension leading up to the 'big moment', and the ensuing love scenes were pretty smokin' hot and romantic. I especially loved the whispered endearments in Hebrew from Micah to Risa. (Something about love words in another language always gets to me... "Ani ohev otach" *sigh*). Toss in a little suspense when the bad guys get theirs, and a big romantic reunion at the end (which had me tearing up a bit), and you have a very fine edition to the 'Elite Ops' series. Not quite as good as the previous book,
Wild Card, but darn close. 4 1/2 stars.(less)

23 likes · like · see review

Feb 28, 2009 Isis FG rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Isis FG by: continuation of a series

Shelves: author-lora-leigh, series-tempting-seals-elite-ops, 2009, info-full, reviewed, genre-romance-suspense, published-2009, stars-4

I enjoyed this book a lot, but it didn't quite make it into the "loved it" zone for me. There was just something about it that didn't entirely capture me. Which doesn't make it a bad book...it was quite good...but it just didn't make it to that next level.

In my opinion, this book should NOT be read as a stand-alone. There's just too much connected to past events. You might be able to read it and have it make enough sense, but to really get the full story, you should read the entire series in ord...more

13 likes · like · see review

Mar 06, 2009 Julie (jjmachshev) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009-reads

Ok yes...I'm a sucker for Lora Leigh's Alpha males and I also have a weakness for foreign Alphas so her latest, "Maverick" was like a double-dipped ice cream cone for me. "Maverick" continues her seriously sexy SEAL/Elite Ops series with the story of Micah, code-name...uh, hello? Have you not been paying attention? Maverick.

Micah doesn't really exist. That's just the name he took after his supposed death while trying to capture the man who killed his mother and (in his opinion) caused the death...more Ok yes...I'm a sucker for Lora Leigh's Alpha males and I also have a weakness for foreign Alphas so her latest, "Maverick" was like a double-dipped ice cream cone for me. "Maverick" continues her seriously sexy SEAL/Elite Ops series with the story of Micah, code-name...uh, hello? Have you not been paying attention? Maverick.

Micah doesn't really exist. That's just the name he took after his supposed death while trying to capture the man who killed his mother and (in his opinion) caused the death of his father. Since that day, he's lived and breathed for revenge against the killer and this is the closest he's gotten. That's good. The bad is...the killer's target this time is a woman Micah has been secretly admiring for several years. She's a survivor of the worst kind of betrayal and torture. Now, Micah's mission is to pose as her lover while protecting her and catching the killer when he tries to strike. Why is this bad? Well, Micah knows he won't be able to keep his hands off her, and pretty soon he's losing his heart to boot. But dead men don't have a future.

It's taken Risa eight long years to recover from the horrible trauma of being raped and then used as a drug guinea pig. She's finally psyched herself up to try having sex with a man and her friends have a perfect candidate. As soon as she sets eyes on Micah, she's caught...and a little frightened of the level of passion he arouses in her. But when she learns the whole 'date' is a set-up and a killer is after her, she feels betrayed and afraid once more. Yet somehow Micah makes her feel safe and wanted...at least until this Op is over and then he'll leave...taking her heart with him.

Micah is quite the scorcher. I'd sure as heck do him! His 'issues' were ones I could 'see' someone like him having and they were at least reasonable for this story. His devotion to duty and ability to see beyond the surface just added to his sexiness for me. Risa was a bit more complex and harder for me to understand. Her fractured psyche really was what one would expect from someone who had undergone the experiences she had. But her back and forth sometimes irked me...not bad enough to make me dislike her, but enough to make me want to give her a good talking to!

The setting was spot on, the action kept the plot moving, and I admit the foreign love words (with translations) were pretty hot too. I enjoyed the growing closeness and connection between the hero and heroine and the quick pace of the relationship was believable by virtue of the close quarters and heightened tensions of the situation. "Maverick" is another winner for me and I'll be pining for Lora Leigh's next book in this series until September 2009 when "Heat Seeker" is scheduled to release. Of course, I'll also buy "Real Men Last All Night" in June 2009 which has a short story related to this series to tide me over.(less)

9 likes · like · see review

Mar 08, 2009 Shawna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romantic-suspense, cop-bodyguard-govop-merc-military, favorites, yowza-hotness, i-read-own-faves-keepers, made-me-cry, lora-leigh, 2009-reads, hero-alpha‎, heroine-abused-traumatic-past-rape, im-a-cover-hottie-ho, favorite-romance-series, hero-abused-scarred-tortured-angst, heroine-naïve-virgin-like-a-virgin, series-tempting-seals-elite-ops, 5-stars, angsty-dark-heavy-lotsa-drama

5 stars - Romantic Suspense

WOW! After what seemed like a long wait for the second book in Leigh’s Elite Ops and the bar set high with Wild Card, Maverick did not disappoint and in fact to me is one of the best in the entire SEALs/Ops series so far. I recommend reading the previous Tempting SEALs and Elite Ops books (in order) before reading Maverick because there is an ongoing story arc and all the main characters carry over. The Elite Ops is a unit of deep undercover untouchable operatives/age...more 5 stars - Romantic Suspense

WOW! After what seemed like a long wait for the second book in Leigh’s Elite Ops and the bar set high with Wild Card, Maverick did not disappoint and in fact to me is one of the best in the entire SEALs/Ops series so far. I recommend reading the previous Tempting SEALs and Elite Ops books (in order) before reading Maverick because there is an ongoing story arc and all the main characters carry over. The Elite Ops is a unit of deep undercover untouchable operatives/agents (think uber black ops) who have signed their previous lives away and taken new identities for secret missions and/or personal vengeance. Micah, code name Maverick, is a former Mossad agent assigned to protect Risa from a notorious assassin while using her to uncover the identities of the assassin and his employer. Risa is about as tragic a heroine as you can get. Her own father orchestrated her kidnapping and rape and kept her institutionalized for two years to use her as a guinea pig for a hardcore rape drug; and as if that wasn’t enough (cue the violins), she also suffered years of brutal verbal abuse. Micah is a hard, stoic, sexy alpha, but he’s also sweet, giving, tender, and patient. He sees Risa as a survivor with astounding courage, deep strength, inner and outer beauty, and passion that draws him to her and melts his cold facade. Risa has spent eight years trying to recover from her traumatic past, and in helping to heal her and awaken her sexuality, Micah is also healed. Micah is definitely my favorite hero of the series so far. He’s so tough, yet tender, and when he says Hebrew phrases in bed…yowza! The plot is intriguing, the action is fast paced, and the relationship between Micah and Risa is beautiful, passionate, sweet, and erotic. Maverick is an emotional, gut-wrenching, heartbreaking, and touching story that had me in tears several times. It definitely deserves a 5 star rating. Leigh’s Tempting SEALs/Elite Ops series, with its hunky alpha males, is the best in military romantic suspense, and I can’t wait for Heat Seeker to come out in September! (less)

12 likes · like · see review

Mar 07, 2009 Kathrynn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: series-temptingseals_eliteops_leigh, 2009, own, romance-suspense, hot, theme-bodyguard, theme-former_military, theme-assassin, theme-abused_heroine, reviewed

Micah! What a wonderful character...How bout that sexy bookcover! This is a continuation in the Elite Ops saga; however, the series actually begins with the first Tempting SEALs book. Characters and backstories from the latter carry over into the Elite Ops. For instance, Risa's backstory is somewhere in the Tempting SEALs series.... I feel, to get the most from this series, a person should start with the Tempting SEALs books.

Maverick had two wonderful characters, Micah and Risa, a gripping story...more

8 likes · like · see review

Sep 05, 2010 Buggy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: shelf-09, rom-susp, extra-sexy-time, tortured-hero, men-in-uniform-af-spc-op

Book #2 in the elite-ops series is all about Micah Sloane AKA `Maverick' and he is awesome! Sexy, exotic, lethal and loving. Just the type of man we all dream about, what a welcome addition to this saga. Lora Leigh weaves yet another great tale of testosterone and steamy love here. Although on the darker side MAVERICK is still a beautiful love story about the strength to carry on in the face of adversity and the ability to heal with the right person.

Risa Clay has spent years trying to rebuild h...more Book #2 in the elite-ops series is all about Micah Sloane AKA `Maverick' and he is awesome! Sexy, exotic, lethal and loving. Just the type of man we all dream about, what a welcome addition to this saga. Lora Leigh weaves yet another great tale of testosterone and steamy love here. Although on the darker side MAVERICK is still a beautiful love story about the strength to carry on in the face of adversity and the ability to heal with the right person.

Risa Clay has spent years trying to rebuild her life. Trying to get over not only the betrayal by her father but a brutal rape and her subsequent time spent in a psychiatric hospital where the very man that raped her pumped her full of experimental drugs to keep her quiet. After being rescued by the elite-ops Risa became a virtual recluse. Shy, scared and with little self confidence remaining she is however determined to move forward. To help herself come to terms with her past Risa decides to take a lover. Enter Micah Sloane.

Micah, a former Moussad agent known as David Abijah signed his life away to join the elite-ops and for all intensive purposes is now a dead man. He played a role in Risa's rescue years before and has never forgotten her, always admiring her strength and courage to carry on. When he learned of the covert assignment involving Risa he volunteered to be her lover.

Risa initially has no idea that her friends have set her up with an agent or that she is in fact the next intended victim of the legendary assassin known as Orion. Now in order to save her life she'll have to cooperate with the elite-ops and allow Micah to pose as her live in lover (what a bummer) to draw out the killer. What the rest of the team doesn't realize is that Micah has reasons of his own for wanting Orion dead and that he will stop at nothing to kill the man responsible for his parents murders even if it means using Risa as the bait in this dangerous game.

This is a great story with loads of suspense and of course the smoking hot love scenes we've all come to expect from Lora Leigh. Although perhaps slightly toned down and with more tenderness then other books as Micah attempts to heal the fragile, broken Risa. Their love progresses beautifully as the story unfolds and eventually both must fight their growing affection knowing that once the mission is completed Micah must leave.

There's also a huge cast of secondary characters who have been interwoven nicely into this exciting story many of whom you will recognize from Wild Card or the TEMPTING SEALS series. (It's nice to hear about what they're been up to.) Micah ultimately brings Risa back to life, teaching her to love and even laugh again but he didn't plan on loosing his heart in the process. Will he be able to sacrifice her as the bait to the killer? And will either of them be able to let go once this assignment is over?

I can highly recommend MAVERICK but to get the full effect and back story of these fascinating men I would suggest reading WILDCARD or any of the TEMPTING SEALS series first. (less)

5 likes · like · see review

Mar 08, 2009 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romantic-suspense, romance-erotic, romance-contemporary, military-fbi-gov-spy, 2009

I've read all of Leigh's SEAL/Elite Ops series. Of all of them, this one is very near the top. So far, the Elite Ops books have been far better than any of the SEAL books for me--mostly because I had a hard time overcoming a number of the unrealistic points in the books.

Although this is labeled the third in the Elite Ops series, it really is the 2nd. Nighthawk is a 9-page introduction to Nighthawk and Black Jack and a teaser/setup for Maverick. It was a nice setup, but isn't necessary for the se...more

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 12, 2009 Celeste rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The newest installment of Lora Leigh's Elite Ops continues with Risa Clay, the young woman abducted by her own father and forced to endure some pretty awful experiences. Six years later, still dramatically traumatized, she decides she needs to start living again... Enter Micah Sloane. Who, I have to say, is mighty scrumptious! Micah and Risa have a fantastic chemistry going on.

I couldn't put the book down! Lora Leigh definitely does NOT disappoint, but, does she ever?? I think not! :)

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 15, 2009 Pamela(AllHoney) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: rs-mystery-thriller, the-habanero-shelf, military-or-ex-military, undercover-special-covert-ops, tormented-heroine, my-4-star-romances

I did enjoy this and would have given it a 5 but I wasn't that fond of Risa for some reason. I know she went through some horrific stuff but something just didn't click about her to me.

3 likes · like · see review

Mar 01, 2010 Zeek rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: rom-military, romance, rom-suspense, contemp-rom, alpha-hero

A few years back sicko Jansen Clay, engineered a kidnapping of his only daughter, Risa, to test a drug he and his people were attempting to replicate. Brutally held captive, attacked and raped, Risa is still dealing with the effects of not only the attack but the drug itself- a drug that makes the date rape drug seem like over the counter medicine.

Now a ruthless assassin has been sicced on her because she's starting to remember what she's previously blocked out about her time in captivity- and t...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 26, 2009 Sherri *The Lady Hillindale* rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: military-romance, lora-leigh

B- review at best.
The problem I have with Maverick is that they are portraying Risa (the heroine) as helpless. Yes I understand she went through a terrible ordeal...one I couldn't begin to imagine...but they treat her as if she's a child and in a way she lets them. I'm all for vulnerability - even like it to be present in a good storyline - but it seems in this book LL has made the heroine too wimpy and the hero too alpha, which in my opinion is not a good combo. I'm about 30 pages from being do...more

2 likes · like · see review

Oct 19, 2012 Alex Economides rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: authors-i-o, erotic-romance, romance, romance-reading-challenge-2012, series, adventure-mystery-crime-thriller

BOOK DESCRIPTION: Micah Sloane knows almost everything there is to know about Risa Clay, including the vicious betrayal she endured years ago and the distrust she’s harbored ever since. The only way for the Elite Ops agent to uncover an assassin—and banish the ghosts of his own dark past—is to use Risa as bait. But nothing has prepared him for her disarming blend of innocence and sensuality, or for his overwhelming need to protect her…
Risa has spent six years rebuilding her life. And now, to sav...more
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Micah Sloane knows almost everything there is to know about Risa Clay, including the vicious betrayal she endured years ago and the distrust she’s harbored ever since. The only way for the Elite Ops agent to uncover an assassin—and banish the ghosts of his own dark past—is to use Risa as bait. But nothing has prepared him for her disarming blend of innocence and sensuality, or for his overwhelming need to protect her…
Risa has spent six years rebuilding her life. And now, to save it, she must pose as Micah’s lover and draw a killer into the open. It’s a risky plan—especially with a man as powerfully seductive as Micah. But, as their charade becomes reality, Risa realizes the greatest danger may lie in losing her heart forever…

MY THOUGHTS

Allright….i am now totally into this series, after being, in the beginning, somewhat uncertain if I would enjoy this sub-genre…OTT domineering alpha males that just want the women they love to give in to all their demands – but I guess I must like it…because right now I have just finished an enjoyable read of Lora Leigh’s 2nd book in her Elite Ops Series.

Micah Sloane, known as Maverick is the kind of hero that grabs you from the first moment and you are unable to stop yourself from caring about him. A former Israeli Mossad agent, he’s passionate about his heritage – giving the reader a brief look into the culture of Israel that is part of what happened to his mother, he’s loyal and totally focused and dedicated to his job and mission and of course he’s so totally sexy and gorgeous.

Risa Clay has seen more violence and betrayal than most people have faced. She’s been tortured, used as an experiment by her father and still she has the strength to fight back. The horror of what was done to her such as the rape part….i thought it a bit harsh and cold when a tape of her being raped was shown to her as a means for her to agree to Micah’s plan. How anyone can ever overcome that is unimaginable!!

Both Micah & Risa are so emotionally broken, so damaged that in the beginning I was unsure if they could ever be together and if the love for each other would be enough to find true happiness together – Talk about mutual distrust when they first meet!!! - Micah asks Risa to pose as his lover, after discovering that the assassin, who killed his mother, is targeting Risa now and hopefully their “union” will draw the killer into the open.

The tension and chemistry between the two is undeniable and even though Micah tries to fight his attraction for her and Risa struggles with the feelings she has for him and afraid that he will not stay when they have completed the mission.

A thrilling, intriguing and suspense filled ride with some…okay a lot…but this is what one expects from this author…….steamy and sizzling, intense and so very hot sex between the two.

I am really getting quite attached to these characters and am off to look for the next book…………
(less)

like · see review

Jul 13, 2011 Angie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, nook, favorites, 5-suspense

Micah Sloane lives only for revenge. The revenge against the man who killed his family including him and is now threatening the life of the woman who has fascinated since he laid eyes on her the first time and is now quickly becoming more than a means to an end.
Risa Clay survived hell. Her father was a monster who submitted her to hell for two years. But she's remembering what she shouldn't and has become a target. After one night of trying to reclaim her life ending in disaster she's being forc...more

like · see review

Oct 20, 2010 Abby rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: erotic-romances

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like · see review

May 22, 2010 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed-books

One thing I'm really enjoying about this Elite Ops series is that the author is taking the chance to wrap up loose ends from other books. We first met Risa Clay in a whole different series, and when we last left off she'd been institutionalized after a brutal abduction and rape, but now she's out and the agents need her help to catch a vicious assassin who's apparently now after her.

This is a really useful book. If you need a good cry, just read a few chapters and BAM you're all set. Even if thi...more One thing I'm really enjoying about this Elite Ops series is that the author is taking the chance to wrap up loose ends from other books. We first met Risa Clay in a whole different series, and when we last left off she'd been institutionalized after a brutal abduction and rape, but now she's out and the agents need her help to catch a vicious assassin who's apparently now after her.

This is a really useful book. If you need a good cry, just read a few chapters and BAM you're all set. Even if this wasn't a Lora Leigh book (which means there are more sex scenes than you can shake a stick at, no pun intended) this title would be getting a Scandalous Books designation just because of the thematic content and the issues that Risa goes through with her abusive father. Some of this stuff, I think, could definitely be triggering for some people. It does add emotional depth to the story, but there were a few sections that were decidedly hard to read. Ye be warned.

As with a lot of romantic suspense novels, the suspense plot took a definite backseat to the romance plot. I don't take umbridge at this fact, I'm just pointing it out, because you have to wonder- how many players are in this weird spy/assassin/secret government agency game that all the characters in this series are involved with? Wouldn't people start to notice after awhile if the same people kept popping up over and over again at secret arms deals and nefarious goings-on? I mean, granted, it's a fictional story, but I feel like eventually, someone somewhere would have a serious case of deja-vu, which would be bad news for uber-secret government operatives.

Anyway, as I've said in other Lora Leigh book reviews, it's probably best to start any of her series from the beginning- Wild Card is the first book in this particular one. It gets hard after awhile to keep track of who's who and what they're doing in the book, but the romance and the happily ever after make up for it most of the time. And in this case, the happily ever after was certainly worth waiting for. Cheers to moving on and getting on with your life.

Overall Grade: B

Read more reviews at What Book is That?

(less)

like · see review

May 04, 2010 Georgina rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I couldn't even finish it.

A huge turn-around from my 4 star rating of Lora Leigh's first book of the series. (I purchased them both at the same time, based on the unbelievably high rating they've gotten at here at Goodreads - I guess I'm just in the minority).

I was really intrigued by the story in the first book, Wildcard but (as I mentioned in my review) had to skip a whole lot of gratuitous "lovin'" to get through it.

Maverick, however, just didn't even hold my interest plot-wise, and I didn't...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 22, 2012 Heather rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: alpha-a-hole, abusive-control-freak-characters, annoying-heroine, boring, depressing, erotica, mediocre, rape

Since I’ve been reading Lora Leigh’s Breed series, I thought I’d check out some of her other fare. I decided that Maverick sounded potentially interesting, and though I hadn’t read the first “Elite Ops” book, I figured I wouldn’t be missing out on too much back-story. I guess I’ll never find out because I don’t plan on reading another one. I did however feel that I have two things down pat regarding Lora Leigh:

1. She likes to write stories about badass men who operate in secret teams (e.g. “elit...more Since I’ve been reading Lora Leigh’s Breed series, I thought I’d check out some of her other fare. I decided that Maverick sounded potentially interesting, and though I hadn’t read the first “Elite Ops” book, I figured I wouldn’t be missing out on too much back-story. I guess I’ll never find out because I don’t plan on reading another one. I did however feel that I have two things down pat regarding Lora Leigh:

1. She likes to write stories about badass men who operate in secret teams (e.g. “elite ops” and “the ghost team” and pretty much the whole upper hierarchy of the breed community)
2. She likes to put her characters through bouts of uncontrollable arousal so intense it’s painful (eg: “Whore’s Dust” in Elite Ops, and the mating heat in the breed series)

The premise: At the tender age of 18,Risa Clay was kidnapped, drugged with Whore’s Dust (a synthetic drug created to cause intense sexual need, not sure of the back-story on that though) and raped by her father’s associate- while her father watched. She was rescued but then put in an asylum for 2 years, and tortured there. Now eight years later, the man who raped her has hired a man to kill her. That man, called Orion, also happens to be the killer of our Hero’s mother. Micah Sloan is an elite ops agent who is assigned to protect Risa, all the while tracking Orion and trying to bring her rapist to justice. Sounds straightforward enough, but the story was a huge miss for me in several ways.

Risa due to her past, has some major mental and emotional issues to overcome, understandably. But the constant references to her ugliness or plainness and how she wasn’t a beautiful woman, combined with her HORRIBLE self-esteem and personal anxiety made her very tiresome and unlikeable. Now if this were a book about surviving rape, I could like Risa. I could accept her for her weaknesses. But this is not a book about surviving rape. It’s Romantica, which is supposed to be enjoyable in a pretty straightforward way, or so I thought. And to add a whole lot of insult, on top of that, we’re also told that Risa is incredibly brave and courageous CONSTANTLY. The other characters describe her as such often, and yet for 95% of the story, Risa is either running away from a situation, or crying about it. To me, she came across as miserable and childish. If you’re going to make your heroine weak and pathetic, please don’t try shoving some bullsh*t lie down my throat about them being brave and courageous. The only truly brave thing Risa does is finally remember and identify her rapist at the very end of the story. She doesn’t even actually face off with him or anything, which was kind of disappointing.

I didn’t like Micah either. If he had been paired with another woman, I probably could have, but I felt he was way too heavy-handed in how he dealt with Risa and her situation. He reminded me a lot of Del-Ray in Coyote’s Heat, with his over the top arrogance and thinking that he was always right and always knew best no matter what or how anyone protested. What made this worse was that when we got his perspective, it was clear that he didn’t truly respect Risa or any other woman for that matter. I found the dynamic between the male and female characters to be very “traditional” aka sexist. I dislike stories where women are handled with kid gloves. It just felt like Micah overpowered Risa most of the time. She had little to no backbone when it came to him, which was a big turn off to me. I found Micah’s dialogue to be a little too flowery for my liking as well. His dirty talk often struck me as more awkward than sexy, and he used a lot of phrases that I couldn’t imagine a man saying without his partner busting up laughing. It was too over the top.

The relationship between Risa and Micah seemed forced and unbelievable to me. I’ve realized over time that LL is not the greatest at creating believable sexual tension between her characters. She simply informs the reader that they are head over heels in lust, unable to control their attraction. I found it kind of stretch to believe a man like Micah would fall for a woman like Risa. Nothing happened between them other than sex, that would lead me to believe that they had any real romantic feelings for each other. In fact, much of their time together is spent fighting when they weren’t boning like bunnies in heat. And because Risa constantly dragged her feet everywhere she went, I couldn’t believe that this couple could even have a good time together. And yet Micah “loses his soul” and can’t stop thinking about or wanting Risa. Suuuure. And suddenly one day, after realizing that Micah had been lying and manipulating her the whole time, she comes to the conclusion that she’s in love with him? UH, RIGHT. You lost me there, Lora Leigh. Please show me the pages where these people truly connect in any way that isn’t sexual. Show me where they laugh together, or have an introspective or philosophical conversation or talk about their dreams. There is nothing of the sort. It’s a joke to me.

The whore’s dust element seemed out of place here. It’s mentioned a few times, including the after effects which linger for years, but I think that aspect could have been left out. It was too reminiscent of the mating heat, and I felt it was unoriginal for LL to go that route again, with an entirely different series. Also, at the end, the heroine finds out she’s pregnant, due to her birthcontrol being too weak??? It was so stupid. That doesn’t even make sense. And on top of that, Micah, who left because he had another mission, starts stalking Risa because he can’t stop thinking about her, until their inevitable HEA, in which he finally gets the balls to “claim her” in spite of his dangerous life and occupation. If I hadn’t been in the homestretch, I would stopped right then. Overall, I was incredibly disappointed and sort of wished I hadn't wasted my time. I never thought I would say that about something LL had written. I expect better out of this author.
(less)

like · see review

Apr 14, 2011 Christi Snow rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My Review:
OMG, I loved this book! For me, the emotional connection between Micah & Risa was phenomenal. I cried several times throughout the final pages of their book- I was that emotionally involved with them and their gorgeous love story.

Micah is an ice-cold, hardened operative out for revenge against Orion who murdered his parents, both operatives in their own right. He signed his life away to Elite Ops after being wounded by Orion to gain that right. Revenge and the mission have been his...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 27, 2013 Taria Reed rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: black-ops-mercenary, romance, suspense

hmmm i'm not sure how i feel about this one. Resa was abused, tormented, scared, and hiding in herself. I loved that Micah helped her blossom and heal. I was totally annoyed with the constant "i'm ugly, I'm not good enough, blah blah blah" talk. And if one of my friends had the nerve to tell me that "I was no beauty queen but I'm not ugly" I'd haul off and bitch slap her....FO'REAL!! I honestly couldn't get a good image in my head of what these two looked like.

I found myself rolling my eyes ove...more

like · see review

Jan 08, 2011 Book rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ok, what can I say, I am not enjoying this as much as the first book of the series. I don't know what it is about rape victims that makes these authors want to write them into romance novels. I just don't think it's romantic at all and I am really turned off by it. Anyway, this main female character has the added pleasure of also being ugly. Apparently she really isn't all that ugly now that she has grown a little. I mean come on who wants to picture a semi ugly girl who is afraid of sex and hav...more

like · see review

Jan 14, 2013 Lara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013

I didn't think that I could like someone more than Nathan Malone/Noah Blake but I think that David Abijah/Micah Sloane certainly rivals that alpha male intensity. I enjoyed every page of this. Risa Clay is a woman surviving her past and looking to break free from the events that plague her. She's decided that she needs to step into the light and start living again. Accepting a blind introduction she meets Micah Sloane and things fizzle and pop with rapid electricity between them at first sight....more

like · see review

Jan 05, 2013 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Like all members of the Elite Ops unit, Micah Sloane is a dead man. That means he has no hopes, no dreams, and no future beyond the next mission. He pledged his life for the chance to exact vengeance against the man who killed his entire family, including him. Risa Clay knew her father despised her but she never would have thought he hated her until she suffered the ultimate betrayal at his urging.

The Elite Ops has the chance to take out Orion, an international assassin, but they need Risa’s co...more

like · see review

Jan 31, 2013 Jemma Gutierrez rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, best-great-erotica, best-book-ever, best-heroes, hot-sex, smoking-hot, swoon-and-sigh

tooo...hot...cannot....breath.....*GASPING FOR AIR!*

NICE! NICE! NICE!

This book got hot and hotter with ever page turned. The connection between the two main was undeniable; the sexual tension made my toes curl (in a good way) and my chest clenched (also in a good way).

“Ani ohev otach>, Risa,” he whispered on a nearly silent breath.

I love you, Risa.
He loved her.
She was his heart.

The hero was a hot, totally bad-ass guy with tortoured past. YUP! BAD-ASS but totally I MEAN TOTALLY! sweet a...more

like · see review

Mar 24, 2009 VampFanGirl rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: erotic-contemporary-romance, romantic-suspense

Risa Clay has survived hell. Abused terribly at the hands of a man that should have protected her life with his own, instead Risa's father, Jansen Clay, allows her young virginal body to be used as a facilitator for an experimental drug and weapon. Not only did he hold his own daughter down while another man raped her, but he also made sure Risa stayed quiet after her rescue by admitting her to a private psychiatric ward with strict instructions that she remain heavily sedated, all the while, in...more Risa Clay has survived hell. Abused terribly at the hands of a man that should have protected her life with his own, instead Risa's father, Jansen Clay, allows her young virginal body to be used as a facilitator for an experimental drug and weapon. Not only did he hold his own daughter down while another man raped her, but he also made sure Risa stayed quiet after her rescue by admitting her to a private psychiatric ward with strict instructions that she remain heavily sedated, all the while, injecting her with drug after drug.

Jansen Clay and his doctor associate have been perfecting the drug used on Risa known as Whore's Dust - a powerful aphrodisiac that virtually blinds the user to anything but debilitating lust. The drug attaches itself to pleasure receptors in the brain causing any type of arousal to border on pain until release is achieved. When climax is finally attained, the effects are so explosive and overwhelming that the user can become terrified of the uncontrollable sensations.

It's been eight years since Risa was rescued from her captives, and six years since the death of her father allowed her subsequent rescue from the psychiatric ward. Now, determined to move past her isolating fear that has virtually made her a prisoner in her own home, Risa is ready to take a lover. The aching lust writhing within her has moved beyond nuisance and straight into agony. Yet fear of a man's touch isn't the only thing that she's afraid of. Risa knows that she isn't beautiful. She's been told since as far back as she can remember by her father that she was ugly. Never has a man been interested in her. Even the man who raped couldn't stand the sight of her. But with the encouragement of her friends and some new found strength, Risa agrees to meet their friend Micah Sloane.

Micah Sloane is a man whose original identity of David Abijah, died. Now, a covert agent working with a group of "dead" men known as Elite Ops, Micah is determined to catch an assassin called Orion that not only murdered his parents, but nearly succeeded in murdering David as well. Now that very same killer is after Risa Clay, a woman stronger than anyone he's ever known to have laid eyes on.

A rare occurrence has happened with Risa. Whore's Dust is supposed to block any memory of the user while the drug is in effect, but Risa is starting to remember things about not only the night she was raped, but of the visitations her father made while in the hospital. Someone is worried that his identity is about to be revealed and he intends to put a stop to Risa's life before she can remember more.

With the hopes of capturing Orion and ascertaining the identity of his employer, Elite Ops and more specifically, Micah Sloane, will dangle Risa as bait while he poses as her new live-in lover. Risa agrees to the charade. She hasn't worked for the past six years to get her life back just to have it taken away again.

Despite the strong physical evidence where Micah's arousal is concerned, Risa's low self esteem with her image causes her to second guess and excuse Micah's behavior as nothing but the need to complete an op. In her mind he couldn't find her anywhere near attractive. But Micah has a plan, for Risa's excuses couldn't be farther from the truth. For the last six years Micah has caught glimpses of Risa coming and going from her friends' houses and every time he was struck but an inner glow of strength that radiated off her despite her baggy clothes and face obscuring hair. Micah has been fascinated with Risa since day one and he's developed an intricate plan of seduction with hopes of banishing Risa's self-loathing and revealing her true beauty.

Each day finds Risa falling more and more in love Micah but nothing can ever come of it. Micah is expected to walk away from Risa once the threat to her life has been removed. Yet it certainly isn't a crime to hope. With their lives put in danger time and again, Risa and Micah both are having trouble dealing with the fact that there can't be a future relationship for them. Micah is a "dead" man who has signed his life away to Elite Ops. The only way that Risa can truly be his is if he claims her now and forever and damn the consequences.

'Maverick' while a good read, wasn't my favorite by Lora Leigh. To be honest, I can't really pin point what was lacking or if the novel even lacked anything at all. I suppose it was just mundane in essence. Everything was there: Alpha hero, sexual tension, all the hot love scenes to melt a romance reader's heart. I think I just missed the emotional angst that I've come to love so much in a Leigh novel. This may have something to do with the fact that most of her novels portray the reunited love theme where the hero and heroine share a past which is generally tragic in some way or another. That vital angst was missing. I think it'll be a while yet for Leigh top 'Wild Card' which is the absolute best of her military novels, IMO.
(less)

like · see review

May 19, 2011 RomReader rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, romantic-suspense

I usually find Lora Leigh's books fast-paced & riveting reading. This book was a real drag because it was so repetitive & the romance was unconvincing. I get that the heroine was traumatized by the rape & her father's betrayal of her personhood. But her main concern seemed to be how ugly she was. Her repeated angst about the rape was that she was told she was so ugly so the rapist didn't want to see her face. This theme got repeated over & over & over again. She just seemed p...more

like · see review

Jul 11, 2010 Jessi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, suspense

This title has a much higher sexual ratio than I am used to reading. It surprised me and I wasn't sure I would like it since I generally read romance novels for, well, the romance. However, I think the author did an excellent job balancing all the hot sex with hot emotions. The story is about Micah Sloane, an undercover agent for Elite Ops who is bent on revenge against the assassin who killed his parents. The Elite Ops knows who this man's next hit will be - Risa Clay - a rape victim who is beg...more

like · see review

Feb 02, 2013 Megan rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I think this is another book that had the potential to be a really good story....and just kinda failed. One thing that really annoys me is when the dialogue is unrealistic. At times I just wanted to shout, "PEOPLE DON'T SPEAK LIKE THAT!" There is a lot of repetition, especially during sex. I found a couple sentences that weren't even complete and was just left wondering what the hell it meant.

I liked the overall story, it just didn't seem like it had been completely smoothed out. I'm one of tho...more

like · see review

Oct 06, 2012 ✿Piper✿ rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: lora-leigh, elite-ops, men-middle-eastern, romantic-suspense, men-armed-forces, men-american, women-tstl

This book was a near replica of Wild Card. (Read that review)

I did like Risa more than I did Bella. Risa had a reason to have a mental break down or two. Bella didn't.

Micah was okay. Just Okay. He still did the "I signed my life away and now I'm a dead man" routine. Which has really gotten on my nerves.

I still didn't feel like the main characters had a strong love connection.

Also, I was also really bothered that both Bella and Risa got pregnant at the end of their books. Really people. Really Bo...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 05, 2011 Kathy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance-mystery, sensuous, thriller

Micah and Risa...

Risa has had a tough life... (from a previous Lora Leigh book) her evil father the Senator along with his doctor/scientist friendhad kidnapped 18 year old, virgin Risa and two other women, had them injected with Whores dust and allowed the doctor/scientist to rape her in front of him, both furthering their abuse by telling her she was so ugly that her father could not sell her, and her rapist took her from behind so that he didn;t have to look at her face... she was freed fairly...more Micah and Risa...

Risa has had a tough life... (from a previous Lora Leigh book) her evil father the Senator along with his doctor/scientist friendhad kidnapped 18 year old, virgin Risa and two other women, had them injected with Whores dust and allowed the doctor/scientist to rape her in front of him, both furthering their abuse by telling her she was so ugly that her father could not sell her, and her rapist took her from behind so that he didn;t have to look at her face... she was freed fairly quickly, but put in a sanitarium by her father for 2 more years, wher the doctor/scientist experimented on her as he tried to reinvent the Whores dust (recipe /inventor lost when Risa rescued)... when the other woman victim 's story is told, they also come to realize that Risa's father was evil, and they rescue her from the sanitarium...

Micah, aka David, Mossad - father American CIA mother Israeli Mossad - wonderful, strong, gentle, loving, honorable people/parents... and when his mother is does not stop an investigation of human trafficking that is centered on the doctor/scientist, the doctor/scientist sends Orion to kill her... Orion is CIA and freelance assassin, who kills by tying his victims to a table, and slashing the wrists of the women and the throats of the men... and following Micah's mother's death, his father dies a few months later as he throws himself on a suicide bomber and dies... and a few years later Micah has tracked Orion onto a ship, but Orion is warned and shoots Micah, thinking he has killed him... he only grazed his temple, but Micah went overboard, and was rescued by Navy Seals... and he sold his soul to Jordan's Black Ops team for the opportunity to get revenge on Orion.

and six years after her release from the sanitarium, Risa has been working on getting her life back... she still fights the effects of the Whore's dust feeling intense sexual feelings and she has begun to remember some of the details of her rape... and the doctor/scientist is afraid she will remember him, so he contracts with Orion to kill her... somehow word of the contract gets out, and Jordan's black ops is on it... Micah (who has been aware of Risa the last few years as he has visited common NavySeal friends/wives) volunteers to be the point man as they make a plan to protect Risa/use Risa as bait to draw out Orion and to pose as Risa's lover... Risa is introduced to her Seal wife's friend's Micah at a night club... Risa, thinking this as just a blind date, had decided that she will have sex with the man they are setting her up with...

Tough Micah connects with her in the beginning using his eyes to reassure her... and when she has a nerve attack and rushes to the bathroom, he is waiting for her, and challenges her, and reacts to her attraction, and kisses her... and takes her back to his apartment, where they have sex - but as she reaches climax, her fear controls her and she doesn't allow herself ot feel it fully - and when he does not climax, and leaves for a minute, she rushes out of the apartment believing she is too not good that he couldn't even come with her - though he wanted a minute to regain control and then planned to continue...

the next day, the CIA and the special ops meet with herto tell her of the contract out on her life, and their plan... they also tell her of how the whore dust is still affecting her, and she reluctantly agrees to go along with thier plan...

So she and Micah are living together; he has a plan for seduction (the sensual parts of the book) - to help her overcome her fears and to enjoy the pleasure... he sleeps with her, getting used to his touch, and he bit by bit helps her to be comfortable with her body's reactions, and teaches her to pleasure him, buys her attractive, sexy clothes, pushes her limits, and to allow him greater liberties, until they make love... and he holds her when the nightmares come, and to him she is truly beautiful, and as her inner beauty grows others see the outer beauty more readily, and though he knows he will leave her, and she knows he will leave her, they come to love one another... though he only tells her is hebrew, trying to protect her feelings...

Pushed by the doctor/scientist, Orion tries to take her after 'fixing' the steering and brakes of his car on the freeway - and he almost succeeds, but Risa fights him and Micah, though concussed, shoots him in his foot...

Then Micah forces her to a party of doctors, of her father's friends, where she meets up with the doctor/scientist, who is her grandmother's escort - and she remembers that it was him... and they leave... but by the time the team gets to the doctor/scientist, Orion has killed him (he's tired of the blackmail and wants to retire), and then Orion goes for Risa... and for whatever reason, though he terrifies her and ties her to the table (after diasbling her guard), he does not kill her - believing that Micah will leave him in peace because of this offering...

and it takes 8 weeks for Micah & the team to locate and kill Orion (which they do with a minimum of fuss)... and Jordan does not release Micah, knowing that the only way for them to work is for him to take it... and with his own desperation, and Noah's (Jordan's nephew who in a previous story spent 18 months on whores dust, and had body reconstruction as part of the healing of his beaten, starved body, who returns to protect his wife, not letting her know who he is - and then she figures it out, and though he keeps his committment to Jordan's black ops, he just takes his wife back) encouragement, he simply tells Jordan the way it is, and returns to Risa - who is pregnant, and struggling to make a life alone and yet so lonely... until he returns and they finally fully stake their claims on one another...(less)

like · see review

title link	preview: Maverick
avg rating	preview: Maverick Goodreads rating: 4.20 (4533 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6660984-maverick?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328337006l/6660984.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6660984-maverick?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Maverick by Lora Leigh[/url]

Maverick (Elite Ops #2)

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (7)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Lora Leigh

Books by Lora Leigh

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Maverick

Quotes from Maverick