Maverick (Elite Ops, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author) "Tonight Risa Clay was going to take a lover..." (more)
Key Phrases: lora leigh, heat seeker, ohev otach, Whore's Dust, Jansen Clay, Micah Sloane (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Sex and violence power the satisfying second installment of Leigh's Elite Ops series (after 2008's Wild Card). Risa Clay's malicious father, Jansen, arranged for her to be kidnapped, drugged and raped. Eight years later, Elite Ops agent Micah Sloane triggers both her distrust of men and the lingering, arousing effects of the drugs. Legendary assassin Orion, who killed Micah's family, is targeting Risa, so Micah asks her to pose as his lover to lure Orion into the open. Micah struggles to shield emotionally fragile Risa from his sexual hunger; Risa fights her growing affection for Micah because she knows he will leave her when the mission is over. The passion and the danger move swiftly, and alpha male Micah makes an excellent foil for Risa's innocence and fierce determination to free herself from her emotional hell. (Mar.)
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Review

"A phenomenal read." --Romance Junkies on Maverick

"Scorching-hot sex, deadly secrets and a determined assasin add up to another addicting Leigh thriller. Leigh's ability to credibly build damaged characters who are both intriguing and intense gives her stories that extra punch."--Romantic Times BOOKreviews on Maverick

“Leigh’s books can scorch the ink off the page.”—Romantic Times BOOKreviews

 “Highly emotional and addicting…an intoxicating first installment of a brand new series.”
—Romance Junkies on Wild Card

“Ferocious passion!” —Romantic Times BOOKreviews

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks; 1 edition (March 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312945809
• ISBN-13: 978-0312945800
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #10,220 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Blue Ribbons from Romance Junkies!, January 18, 2009

By	Natalie S "ns65" (Nashville) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Micah Sloane is a man resurrected. In Lora Leigh's second installment of her Elite Ops series, readers will see the man behind the mask and the woman that completes him.

Former Moussad agent Micah Sloane left behind his secret life years before and is believed dead. As a member of the top secret Elite Ops, he and his fellow warriors are all dead men - on paper. In leaving his past life behind and allowing himself to remain dead, Micah is able to formulate a plan to strike at the man that tore his world apart, a man name Orion. When Micah is given the job of protecting Risa Clay, he knows he must be on his guard. Risa arouses every protective instinct he has but his mission will not allow for personal feelings. With Risa as bait, Micah can almost taste his revenge on the man that destroyed his life years ago. Time and again he has to remind himself that the feelings he feels for Ms. Clay are superficial. The way she moves and smells should not claim his mind but they do. The longer they spend time together the more Micah wants her. And that is where his mission has to end because if one thing is certain, it is the fact that Risa Clay is not for him.

Risa Clay has spent the last eight years since her horrific kidnapping and subsequent assault trying to get her life back on track. Having distanced herself from the society in which she grew up, Risa is now ready to face the world. Or so she thinks. A simple introduction to Micah Sloane turns into so much more but Risa doesn't know how to trust. Her innocence long gone, she is not prepared for the explosive feelings and wants that Micah invokes. Finding out that she is his `mission' and that they must pretend to be lovers to draw out Orion nearly brings her to her knees in agony but if she has learned anything in the last eight years it is how to protect her heart. Or so she thinks. Micah Sloane has invaded her heart and her soul and when the mission is over, how will she ever be able to let him go?

Vengeance and passion are the name of the game in which Micah and Risa play. With MAVERICK Lora Leigh has penned a remarkable look at how the human psyche can heal - with the right person. Micah and his striking dark eyes drew me in to his soul and behind the pain of his past life and the need for retribution I could see this man's desire for Risa. Men like Micah are never given a second chance at life, much less love, and Micah knew it. Vowing to take what Risa offers without falling in love, Micah's plan falls by the wayside as the woman that Risa Clay has become insinuates herself into his soul. Knowing that he will never love another woman, Micah's treatment of Risa was tender but scorching hot and achingly moving. Micah promises that she will know only pleasure at his hands and he keeps that promise - over and over.

MAVERICK is phenomenal. Upping the ante on hotness for this second Elite Ops installment, Lora Leigh has raised the bar on seduction. MAVERICK and the feelings it invokes kept me captivated long after I finished this remarkable story. I felt the character's love and emotional intensity with each and every scene.

MAVERICK, the second Elite Ops installment, will release March 3, 2009. As it is a series, I highly recommend reading the first installment, Wild Card, to get the full effect and back story of these highly exciting and fascinating men that make up the Elite Ops.

Natalie S.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The worst one yet, May 27, 2009

By	Maryadine Washington "Maryadine" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is not what I would call a love story. I finished the book and I was really upset by the time I finished it. I've read almost all of Lora Leigh's books. Once I start a series I have to read them through, but of all of her books this one was next to the most offensive. I really wanted a happy ending for Risa and I feel that she was robbed. Everyone in her life lies to her and then gives her platitudes about why they are betraying her trust. I feel people coldly used a person who they knew was very traumatized by the events in her life.

I didn't really feel the connection between Risa and Micah. I don't know how you love someone you can't even trust. I really didn't like the unnecessary torture of his cousin to get information they basically already knew. However, if you are a liar I suspect you would think everyone is lying to you.

The worse scene was taking away the only friendship she remembers from her child hood by forcing him to see pictures of her rape. I thought it was tacky. You can't help but feel bad for Risa, but never once do you feel she is finding true love and joy. She is surrounded by people who betray her constantly and wouldn't hesitate to do so again. I'm not sure if I'm being coherent but if you read this book I warn you it's not joyful and it will leave you feeling depressed. I feel like her soul was constantly being stripped for no other reason than to further the goals of other people. In addition she doesn't really have a set of friends to help her and ends up around her so called "friends" always looking at her with pity no real friendship. Not a good book.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars intense., March 14, 2009

By	she reads (USA) - See all my reviews

Intense is how I describe this book, starting with page 1. There is a lot of pain, death, drama, and even rape in this book. It's got a lot more darkness than light and I think it's only fair to know that going in. The views of the killer, hero, heroine, and one or two random elite ops guys are all given. Yet Lora Leigh does an excellent job in not confusing me with who's speaking and why. I am a big fan of military romantic suspense, and this one had me flipping pages as fast as possible.

I had read some of Risa's backstory (Hidden Agendas- a tempting SEALs book) and that knowledge of her father's betrayal made me even more invested in this story. The character Micah was truly inspired, and I couldn't help but fall in love with and feel broken hearted for both him and Risa. So much pain and sadness in both their lives, yet they have the chance for love with each other.

This book could have been 5 star for me, except that several scenes really irritated me, I felt like there were too many characters running in and out, and the sex scenes got a bit boring for me after a while. Ah but don't misunderstand me- this was a great read (if a bit darker than my usual tastes) and I am glad I bought it.