Lair of the Lion (original 2002; edition 2002)

I love Feehan and I really enjoyed this book. This was one of the few that didn't follow her typical formula. Since I love her formula, it bummed me out a bit. I still enjoyed it though. I really liked Isabella since she was such a strong person. I don't usually care to hear the story through only one POV, but it worked in this story. I enjoyed their romance but I didn't like that he was so wishy washy. ( )

I love Feehan and I really enjoyed this book. This was one of the few that didn't follow her typical formula. Since I love her formula, it bummed me out a bit. I still enjoyed it though. I really liked Isabella since she was such a strong person. I don't usually care to hear the story through only one POV, but it worked in this story. I enjoyed their romance but I didn't like that he was so wishy washy. ( )

Isabella is in desperate need to save her brother who has been captured and tortured, and goes to the only Don she knows that is powerful enough to help her. Full of courage and strength she heads up to his valley, rumored to be ridden with lions, she knows she could very well perish, but desperation and fear for her brother keeps her going forward until she makes it to his home...his lair. After meeting the rumored beast, Don Nicolaie DeMarco, she makes a pact with him, his help in rescuing her brother in exchange to marriage with Nicolae. Isabella knowing that she doesn't have much choice, other than letting her brother die, she agrees and with that agreement a desire is awakened in them both. Although Nicolae is lethal, Isabella, even though she fears him at times, starts to see the good parts of him, and slowly starts to fall in love with him, and put all her trust in him despite the danger that he poses to her....in her mind Love is powerful enough to conquer any curse that could destroy them....Lair Of The Lion is a single title by Christine Feehan, and as this is probably my favorite paranormal author, I couldn't resist reading it, even though its not a part of any of her wonderful series, this still had the same ring of sensuality, danger and intriguing plot....and having just finished it, was a bit disappointed to see it end. I could hardly keep myself away from this one and read it in only a few hours. Lair of the Lion is a story that takes place in the Italian Alps, and is mixed with folklore and definitely goes under the category of "Beauty and the Beast" where two people are consumed by a inflaming passion that turns into a powerful love...such a remarkable read and I am so glad that I was able to read this one. Definitely gets a score of 5 for me...there was nothing about this story that I didn't like....Feehan definitely held me captivated from beginning to end!!! ( )

This a beauty and the beast story without much plot or action and absolutely no characterization. On the other hand, once the sex scenes start, they're lusty and frequent, but unforunately not very original.
Probably the most irritating aspect of the book is Feehan's use of italicized Italian words. signora, famiglia, palazzo, aristocratizla, cara....If we are to assume that the characters are speaking Italian, why then would some of their words be in Italian and most in English? Endearments would be one thing, but if I have to read the words 'mio fratelleo' one more time I am going to growl.

I gave it one star because I had to force myself to finish it. And had it been a library book, I would have just taken it back.
I enjoy fantasy plots, but the requisite word here is PLOT, something LAIR OF THE LION lacks.

I used to look forward to Christine Feehan's books. But this is my last one. ( )

Can she see him as a man or as a lion?
A good read on historical paranormal romance. Feehan has such a vivid imagination and she has told it in such a captivating way. ( )