NAUTI DREAMS

Author: Lori Leigh ISBN: 9780425219515 8/2008 CONTEMP/EROTIC Publisher: BERKLEY

Years ago, Natches Mackay separated himself from his family, except for the two cousins who gave him the only family base he’d ever known. Now, he’s being dragged back into his father’s life in a way that could destroy him and the only woman he's ever felt a spark for... Government Agent Chaya Dane has fought to put her past behind her—until a mission in Somerset, Kentucky, puts Natches back into her dreams. He makes her forget about a dark past that still haunts her. He makes her fell that she deserves something she has never known—happiness in the arms of a man who loves her. But Natches has his own dark shadows—those cast by his father, who has fallen under suspicion in the theft of government missiles—and they could cost Chaya more than she ever imagined.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Lora Leigh delivers with her signature erotic romance that will keep readers wanting more in the last of the Nauti trilogy, NAUTI DREAMS, featuring Natches Mackay and Chaya Dane.

The novel starts out five years before present time, in the desert, as government agent Chaya Dane is being tortured and about to be killed by her captors, one of which is a friend of her husband. Then, a lone marine sniper shows up and rescues her, and Chaya's life is never the same again. Her savior is Natches Mackay and after having a taste of Chaya, he only wants more, even though she runs as far and as fast away from him as she can. Four years later, the two briefly meet again as they are both working on a case involving one of Natches cousins, Dawg, and the woman he loves. But before the dust can even settle, Chaya is gone again and Natches doesn't see her until a year later.

Chaya is back on another investigation for Homeland Security of which the details of that investigation are not known to Natches. But he's willing to use every tool at his disposal, including his sexy body. Chaya is close to retiring but has been sent on this last mission. She doesn't want to pull Natches and his family into things, though they are somewhat involved. But soon enough, Natches is using everything he can to get the information out of Chay. And being weak to Natches and his kisses and touches, Chaya doesn't know how long she will be able to keep things a secret.

I really enjoyed NAUTI DREAMS. I had been waiting for the story of the last Mackay cousin, Natches. He is the one who is a little bit out of control, a little dangerous and on the edge. He has had a hard life, including a bad relationship with his father. There are very few people that matter to Natches and they are all his family. That is, until he meets Chaya. After pulling her out of that desert, his mind has been occupied by the blonde beauty. When he gets another chance to build a relationship with her, both emotionally and physically, he won't let that opportunity pass him by. Chaya has been through a lot, including the capture by the terrorists, their torture and abuse of her, and then a betrayal by the man she was married to. Natches is a different kind of evil that turns into a temptation too great to resist. Chaya doesn't want to get involved with this bad boy, but cannot help herself as the attraction is potent and hot. These two heat up the pages of NAUTI DREAMS from start to finish as well as all the places in between. This is definitely a read that should be done with the air conditioner turned on and something cold to drink within reach. Not only was the story hot, it was suspenseful in trying to figure out Chaya's motives. I was definitely kept guessing all along rather than having figured it all out early, which I enjoy.

Lucky for Lora Leigh's fans, this isn't the end of the line with the Mackay family. What was once a trilogy has become more with the announced release of NAUTI INTENTIONS in the winter of 2009. In the meantime, I have NAUTI DREAMS and its companion novels to keep me entertained during the wait.

Maame Kanbi