too long, too alpha male, too many perfect special forces guys. ( )

Nathan Malone was captured and tortured by the terrorist Sorell and the drug dealer Diego Fuentes in the Tempting SEALs series. He was rescued during Hidden Agendas, but his body, and a large part of his spirit, were shattered. (Part of his torture was to remain faithful to his wife while under the influence of Whore's Dust. He does, so he never actually 'breaks'.) After he starts recovering, he decides no one must tell his wife that he is actually alive. The Nathan she knew, the man capable of gentleness, is no more. He joins the Elite Ops to ensure Nathan Malone dies, and only Noah Blake remains. Six years later, Elite Ops must go to his home town, stop the Black Collar Militia, and protect his wife, Sabelle. ( )

I've come to expect basically one thing from Lora Leigh's books -- spicy hot relationships between characters. 'Wild Card' offers a bit more substance, though, in the form of one tortured ex-SEAL and his struggling yet determined would-be widow. Sabella is a terrific character and would carry the book on her own if need be. Thankfully, a little drama and a lot of passion fills things out nicely. ( )

It was supposed to be simple. All Navy SEAL Nathan Malone had to do was rescue three young girls from a Colombia drug cartel, then allow himself to be captured just long enough to draw out a government spy. That was before his mission went disastrously wrong.and before his wife, Bella, was told that Nathan was never coming home.

Bella's mourned her husband's death for three long years. But she has no idea he's still alive. Forced to assume a new identity, the man Nathan was is now dead. If he can get back to his wife, can he keep the secret of who he really is.even as desire threatens to consume them? And as danger threatens to tear Bella from Nathan's arms once more?

Readers are first introduced to Nathan in the 'Tempting Seals' series. ( )

I'm not sure what it was about Lora Leigh's latest, "Wild Card", but something just didn't hit all my pleasure buttons with it. Maybe it was the hero's stubbornness that lasted just too long for me not to get irritated with it. Or maybe it was his push/pull tactics that drove me nuts...Either way, I just wasn't as thrilled with this book as I usually am with most everything Leigh writes.

Bella lost her soulmate three years ago when her SEAL husband didn't return from his last mission. Since then, she's had horrible nightmares and has only recently returned to 'living'...only to battle to save what's left of their life together, their home and business. So why now, when she's finally trying to move on, does she meet another man who makes her blood sizzle and reminds her in so many ways of her dead love?

Nathan was held prisoner and pumped full of drugs for months on end. When he was finally rescued, he was more animal than man. Even though his dreams of his wife were all that kept him alive, he decides to remain 'dead'. Instead of returning to his 'other' life, he undergoes innumerable surgeries and comes out a new man with a new identity...and he refuses to 'taint' his wife with the dark creature he is now. But when his wife is unknowingly dragged into danger, he can't NOT help her. And once, he's near her, he can't NOT want her. But if he won't reveal his past, how can the two of them have anything?

As I said, this book is very intense. The connection between the hero and heroine is at times a bit mystical, and always red hot. The difference between their 'younger' lives and their current lives provides a harsh glimpse of the reality of some relationships. And it's not until each individual can reveal their true selves, and be accepted by the other, that a relationship can really become deep and solid. I appreciated this extra hint of realism on Leigh's part. But by golly, I spent an awful lot of this book wanting to kick Nate's ass! His actions and motives seem awfully selfish for a full 2/3 of the book and I hated that. Of course, I DID keep reading and I will continue to read Lora Leigh's stories. She manages to touch something in me and bring something to her tales that other author's can't quite touch. So, Alpha jerks or no, I'll keep looking for her titles... ( )