ARC provided by the Publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn't able to read this book in time to give a proper review.

From the first page I knew who Angel was. I remember how sad I was for Chaya and Natches all those years ago when I read their book, so reading Nauti Angel was just the story I was hoping to read. Maybe because I didn't read the blurb before, maybe because I had no idea the heroine would turn out to be Chaya's daughter, I can't explain it, but the moment I realized who Angel was my expectations went sky high. It's not that I didn't like the book, because I did, but I think it's been so many years since I've read these books that I forgot how fast paced they were, and I wanted a slower pace. I wanted less drama, which unfortunately Reece and Angel had a ton of.

I am however planning on rereading this series, if only because I love the worlds that Lora Leigh creates.

The Nauti series was one of the first ones that I started wayyy back when. It is still up there in my top 10. Lora Leigh is a fantastic writer and she never fails to deliver!

Angel/Beth has had her share of life changing incidents beginning at age 3. She was in Iraq with her dad and sister when their hotel exploded. She was found wandering the streets looking for her mom and was then rescued by an American soldier. However, when she was rescued it wasn't all butterflies and daisies. She has an intense job and had cheated death more than once. She's tough and can be mean with the best of men out there. All that she has left of her childhood is a knife her mother gave her and so many questions. What kind of mother lets her child go to a war country and leaves her?

She's been protected and worked with Duke for years. But, there's more to their relationship that she's not willing to admit...just yet.

This story had it's hot moments as well as intense, jaw dropping, make you want to cry moments. I have to admit this is the first book I've read in this series and at the beginning I was totally confused since there was so much information given to me and I had to reread. For me, the book didn't get interesting until about the 70% mark but I've read books by this author before so I kept with it. Overall, I'd give it a 3.8.

Five plus star read!

Angel and Duke’s story has been percolating for a while and I couldn’t wait to see how their relationship unfolded! This author knows how to convey emotion, to bring the reader right into the hearts and minds of her characters, and I knew these two had a lot to say, and feel….

Ironically, Angel was determined to protect her family, despite not feeling like she had one herself. She was doggedly single-minded, relentless in that goal and nothing was going to get in her way. Somehow, she trusted Duke, when she didn’t trust many. When emotions and circumstances came to a dramatic head, he was on her side and wouldn’t leave it – making for schmexy scenes that sizzled and burned with not only desire but love…

The characters in this series are bold, funny, loyal and capable of deep emotions. Hardened military men and women, definitely, but still with the ability to care and love each other, to protect at all costs. This story overflowed with all the good things that are typical of a good military romance – suspense, danger and heartfelt emotion. Betrayal, loss and grief are balanced out by the love that binds all the characters together and I felt that in every page. Another fabulous read in a series that just gets better and better!

4.5 stars!!

Full Review on my Blog

Summery:

This story had me in its grip from moment one. The emotion was so clear and intense, my interest was instantly peaked and I wanted to know more. The characters were so developed and down to earth that it made things much more enjoyable. The drama was so complex and raw and non predictable. I was really on edge to see how thing would all play out. I really liked the fact that it wasn’t so clear cut how things would go and if the main characters would find their HEA which brought up the anticipation.

Then there was the high action that went well with the story. The writing was smooth and easy, allowing me to easily get into the story. Now there was a sizzling romance that developed during all of the drama but I felt it took a bit of a back seat to all the family drama going down. I felt it wasn’t as intense as it could have been. Since the couple knew each other before I felt somethings were left out. The couple had worked together before even though they weren’t a couple back then it sill felt like a second chance romance to me which is not my fave cause I miss too much. Their meet-cute, initial feelings est. but it was still enjoyable. Overall I really enjoyed reading Nauti Angel by Lora Leigh and I look forward to reading more in the series.

Title: Nauti Angel
Series: Nauti Series Book #9
Stand Alone Title: yes, but recommended in order
Author: Lora Leigh
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Blurb: #1 New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh unleashes a fiery new Nauti novel, in which a dangerous woman finds herself a target in more ways than one...

Angel Calloway isn't the girl next door. Known for being rude and cursing like a sailor on a bender, she's meaner than the two mercenaries she's followed since she was young. Needing anyone is not what she's about. Or so she thought--until she found the mother she was taken from so long ago, Chaya Mackay, wife to the notorious Natches Mackay.

One night with Angel and devilishly sexy Marine Reece Duquaine was hooked. She nearly blew his head off, and moments later, she blew his mind. He's been after her ever since, wrestling with a desire that fights to consume him. But now he has her in his sights--and is ready to take his shot.
Unless someone else moves in for the kill first...
Favorite quote(s): “Once a Mackay puts claim to you, baby, you’re marked.”
Thoughts: Surprisingly, this is the first book I have read in the Nauti series, but I was immediately pulled into the emotions of the characters. It was obvious from the beginning that I was missing a lot, and at times the various characters were confusing – but I was so sucked into the story that I just couldn’t put it down. Not even to go back and start from the beginning (though a did make a side note to read all the previous books!). That’s just how entrancing these characters were. Something about Angel just compelled me, and I had to know her story. Not to mention the whole family dynamics, and the relationship between Angel and her biological mother, Chaya. The book is filled with so much emotion that once started just has to be finished. And I loved it! This is one of the few books that has managed to bring me to tears.
If you’re looking for an emotion-filled, gut-wrenching book, then look no further. This one is simply perfect.
Rating: A+
Other books in this series: Nauti Boy (Book one), Nauti Nights (Book two), Nauti Dreams (Book three), Nauti Intentions (Book four), Nauti Deceptions (Book five), Nauti Temptress (Book six), Nauti Siren (Book 6.5 novella), Nauti Enchantress (Book seven), and Nauti Seductress (Book eight).

Nauti Angel is another super sexy book by Lora Leigh!

It's been quite a while since I've read one of Lora Leigh's books, and I've missed several of the titles preceding this one, which is perhaps why I was very grateful for the prologue, but when I got to Chapter One I was totally lost. I remembered some of the names of the men in the author's Nauti Boys (McKays) series, which I read years ago, but not their spouses, children, parents, siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews, or any of the dozens of names that are mentioned, introduced or alluded to in a deluge of characters in the opening chapters of this book. I also was lost plot-wise, since clearly there has been a lot going on with and among this vast throng of characters, but there was no way to catch up and make sense of it this many titles into this series. For that reason, I cannot give this novel more than a 2.5-star rating.

The two main characters in this novel are Angel and Duke, with the focus primarily on Angel, who was found injured and abandoned wandering the streets of Iraq as a 3-year-old, looking for her mother after having her younger sister die in her arms in the wreckage of a bombed out hotel at which they were staying. She was taken in, nurtured and trained in warfare tactics by the mercenary couple who found her, but she didn't remember much of anything after that until she was 15 years old. By the time she turned 18, she had a good part of her memory back and went in search of the mother she believed abandoned her. She then discovered that she now had a teenage sister, Bliss, and that Bliss, of whom she's now very protective, was nearly abducted for reasons not mentioned until nearly the final chapters of this novel.

Duke, one of the MacKays, has been working with Angel in war zone after war zone for the past 5 years, and he cares deeply for her, but Angel is so absorbed in her own anger and resentment toward her mother that it isn't until this novel that she finally has to deal with her past. There's certainly no small amount of self-blame and angst to go around in this novel, but again, my unfamiliarity with what's been happening in this series left me without much to focus on except the relationship between Duke and Angel, and Angel's issues with her biological mother Chaya.

As for the relationship between Duke and Angel, who generate enough heat to power a small city, the Lora Leigh who I started reading years ago can and does write incendiary sex scenes, and there are plenty of them in this novel. However, those sex scenes seemed incredibly repetitious and overwrought. Duke's obsession with Angel's body parts was overdone to the point where I felt it was ridiculous. I don't mind sexy talk in a novel, but this was, in my opinion, way over the top. After Angel, at age 23, loses her virginity to Duke, who at least uses protection, it's the only time he does so in the many sexual encounters between these two characters. In this day and age, I felt the author was remiss in failing to mention it again. If Duke is so protective of Angel, the fact that he did nothing to protect her from pregnancy seemed totally out of character.

There's also quite a bit of action toward the end of this novel, but again, since we're really given no understandable reason for it, it meant very little to this reader--a case of too little, too late. Ms. Leigh is a far better writer than is exhibited in this choppy, disconnected, and confusing novel. I highly recommend reading this series in the order in which it was written. The prologue drew me in immediately but then left me hanging because of the 20 year time span between the prologue and where the story picks up again in Chapter One. I'm seeing a number of 5-star ratings for this book, and can only assume those reviews were written by readers who've been following this series all along. I regret that I haven't been among them.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

This book was guest reviewed by Marie at Ever After Book Reviews:

I have to be honest… this book was just okay for me. I’m usually a fan of Lora Leigh and her books, but this one didn’t really do it for me. There honestly wasn’t much that I liked. There was too much angst, the sex scenes were randomly dropped in to the story and there were waaaaaaaaaaaay too many references to threesomes. I also disliked Duke. He was not the kind of hero I enjoy, and was way too smug. I did not enjoy the interaction between him and Angel.

I don’t want to be completely harsh, because I do still enjoy Lora Leigh’s writing. She does know how to tell a story, and her ability to create a world of escape is still present in Nauti Angel. I just wish the delivery of the story between Angel and Duke had been done better.

If you’re in to a predictable storyline and a lot of sex, then this book is right up your alley. I was just hoping for a little more… substance.

An enjoyable addition to the Nauti series, which began a number of years ago with the Nauti Boys who are know the parents to teenagers. It was great re-visiting these characters and seeing them as parents!

Nauti Angel was a very good story and continue the nauti book series it was suspenseful and the romance was very hot. I enjoyed the book and could not stop recommending it.

NAUTI ANGEL is the amazing finale to author Lora Leigh's Nauti series. The mystery, intrigue, action, tension, and family dynamics are all here for the taking and all I can say is: wow! I have followed this series from the beginning and often wondered how each book was better than the last. Then after the "boys" were married and settled, she brought in the sisters and the fun started all over again.

I loved the back and forth between Angel and Duke as they first fought then loved each other. Their love was a slow burn that spanned multiple books. They had worked together in previously and it was challenging to watch for the signs that they would be a couple in a future book. I had hoped that she would get a story especially after reading the ending to the previous book. A lot of twists, including Russians, are added to the plot as we watch the family band together to protect one of their own.

If you are looking for steamy, sweet, sexy, and intense with just the right amount of gun play action and intrigue then NAUTI ANGEL is your next read.

~Annetta Sweetko, reviewer for Fresh Fiction

The complete review may be found at: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=64132

As a longtime fan of the Nauti series, I was very excited when I heard about this book because I loved Chaya and Natches story. The heroine in this one, Angel, is Chaya’s long lost daughter. While it’s been a while since I’ve read the older Nauti books, it didn’t take long for memories to come back to me. What I struggled with following the story in this one was because I’ve skipped reading some of the spin off series and I missed some of the backstory for the romance setup between the hero and heroine of this story.

Now that being said… I didn’t miss a beat jumping right in. Duke McKay (a young cousin of Natches, and no Natches isn’t Angel’s father) has been chasing Angel for a while. They run in some of the same circles and now that she’s ready to come closer to her mother and sister and reveal who she really is, Duke sees the perfect opportunity for his in with her.

Lately, Lora Leigh’s books can be hit or miss for me. This one had everything that I loved about the original Nauti series. The plot is fast paced and action packed while still managing to be quite erotic in content. The balance was spot on and kept me interested throughout because I was just as interested in what was going on between Angel and her mother, and what danger was lurking around them, as I was with the romance. My only complaint is that I wanted the danger part to be incorporated a bit more. It felt like there was a lot of waiting around and then all that got resolved in one big push at the end.

On to Angel and Duke. I like kickass heroines and I thought Angel was a great one. She can definitely hang with all these bad boys and is so much like her mother. I really liked that. Also the tentative re-connection was done very well I think. Duke was more bland in my eyes. I didn’t dislike him at all. I liked him. But he didn’t stand out as an amazing alpha hero, if that makes sense? Even though he’s alpha and can definitely handle Angel.

This was a nice addition to the series nonetheless and I’m excited to read more from this world!

There are four series of books by Lora Leigh that I have read over and over again, because one time just wasn't enough. Those series are: the Breeds series, Men of August series, Nauti Boys series and the series that Nauti Angel is a part of: Nauti Girls, a spin-off of the Nauti Boys series.
The first time that I read the Nauti Boys series, I remember after finishing the book, whilst suffering from a severe book hangover, that I wish there were more books in the series and so I was thrilled when I learned that Lora Leigh would be writing about the Nauti Girls.
Nauti Angel, the fifth book in the Nauti Girls series, whilst able to be read on its own, would be much more enjoyable and enriching if read with the rest of the books in both the Nauti Boys and Nauti Girls series, especially Nauti Dreams, the third book in the Nauti Boys series.
While I have enjoyed every book in the Nauti Boys and Nauti Girls series I absolutely adored this book and the thrilling adventure that it took me on as everything came full circle.
Angst, passion, mystery, suspense and love, so much powerful, infinite love.
This book which tells the story of Angel Calloway, a girl next door with a mouth like a sailor and meaner than a cornered rattlesnake and Reese 'Duke' Duquaine, the sexy and alpha Marine who had one taste of Angel and was immediately hooked on her, completely captured my attention and kept me vastly entertained from the first page until the last.
While I still yearn for more books of the Nauti Boys and Nauti Girls, I also feel somewhat sated after having read this book.
Nauti Angel is a book that I would gladly recommend. I loved it!

Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group (via Netgalley) for generously providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

If you haven't yet read the Nauti series you might not understand why I love them so much. But once you give them a try you'll get it. Yes they have all the heat that Leigh is known for, but we all know that sex isn't the only thing to a good story.

In fact, for me it rates pretty low on the list. I enjoy it, I just don't need it to get into a story. I'll give you a heads up right now, this series and her Nauti Girls series both have a ton of explicit sex. These books aren't for those who go mild on the sex.

What I love about these series are the people. They are never perfect, but they are always funny, loving and caring for those they feel need them. I just love the way they think. Out of all Leigh's series this one is my favorite other then her Breeds. I just love this family and never want them to end.

I don't think the author has anymore Nauti books coming out but I do know other characters from the series should be getting stories in other series.

This story has been a long time in the making. It started with Nauti Dreams and ended in Nauti Angel. You really have to read the whole series to understand totally what I mean. This is a series I'd read in order for a fuller feel of each book.

From the moment you figured out who Angel was you wanted her story. You wanted, no...needed to know how it was going to all play out. Because so many of us really couldn't wait for this story I was a little worried that it wouldn't meet my expectations.

I am so glad to be able to tell you it did!

I really loved this story and didn't want it to end. I feel like I'm beating a dead horse here but that's how I felt. I sat down and started it and didn't want to stop until it was totally done.

The chemistry between Angel and Reece was apparent right away. The pages almost started smoking in your hands. Not only did they want each other, you could tell they needed each other. Love has been between them for a long time. They just didn't know it.

Some of you know this story wasn't just about Angel and Reece, it was also about her mother and stepfather. Leigh did a wonderful job of explaining the past without making it sound made up. They didn't right away get over old hurts, they had to work on it some. Much of this plays out before the book for Angel but it was really her pain that needed to be dealt with them most.

Nauti Angel is a very busy story that really has two plots going on with it. Because it's done well you don't feel like you missed something so that's a huge plus. I know that I didn't get more into the story with you but believe when I say this, the series speaks for itself and shouldn't be ruined by giving out to many facts.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
I fell in love with Rowdy, Dawg, and Natches many years ago and am still in love with the Mackay clan today. Lora Leigh's ability to write complex and complicated storylines over multiple generations is astounding.

Their family has overcome a lot over the years, but the most heartbreaking was Chaya's loss of her 3-year-old daughter many years ago. Putting on a happy face for so many years was hard, but she and Natches built a life, a good life, only marred by Beth's death.

Chaya has taken a dislike to the mercenary Angel Calloway from the first moment they met. There's something about the way she's taken an interest in Bliss that makes her nervous. She doesn't think Angel is a good influence and doesn't want her anywhere around her or any of the Mackay family.

When Chaya confronts Angel and the truth comes out, neither woman handles it well. Chaya is in denial and Angel is devastated. Duke, another Mackay cousin that has had his sights on Angel for a long time, steps in to comfort Angel. Angel's pride pushes him away, but Duke will only go so far before he pushes back.

Angel does her best to hide her feelings for Duke, knowing that getting closer to any of the Mackays is only going to lead her toward more heartache and she doesn't know if she will survive being left again.

I was a big fan of the early Nauti books, but it has been a long time since I read them. I thought I would try to jump back into the series with the latest installment, Nauti Angel, and I ended up having a hard time with it. I couldn't remember quite what happened in those earlier books, and I have obviously missed what has been happening with the Mackays over the last few books of this spinoff series.

Our heroine is a rough and tumble kickass mercenary chick, at only 23 years old. She has been taught to fight and survive since she was 3 years old, and she can allegedly remember everything back to her first birthday and first steps. While I like a good kickass heroine, that memory thing was a bit of a stretch for me. Nevertheless, Angel (f/k/a Beth) was a good heroine. She was tough, but caring. Capable and sure of her self, but that surety often came across in humorous ways. She also had a lot of vulnerability from her past that she tried to hide and stuff down so no one would see it. So overall I found her to be relatable and engaging, and I was glad our hero was around to break down her walls.

The hero of this installment is Duke Mackay, a younger cousin of my favorite Mackay trouble makers, Natches, Rowdy and Dog. Duke has been on Angel's tail for a long time, at least five years. Unfortunately, this is part of the back story that I think I missed from skipping a few books in this spinoff series. But Duke knows all of Angel's secrets and fears, and I really liked that he did not exploit them or break her trust. He was good at annoying her, but that came from a place of love rather than as someone trying to manage her against her will. He was really good at getting under her skin and breaking down those barriers to reach Angel's emotional side that she tries to hide beneath some very tough skin. And being a Mackay, Duke obviously had mad skills beneath the sheets, and he definitely used those to his advantage when needed.

While this book is predominately erotic romance, there is also a subplot of suspense as well. Chaya's younger daughter, Bliss, and consequently, Angel, were being targeted by unknown assailants. I found myself more interested in the suspense plot, and I wished there was more of it. Much of the action was either over quickly, or happened off page, which left me feeling unsatisfied. So while I like sexytime as much as the next dirty bird, I was really starved for more plot and action in this story.

I recommend this book to fans of Lora Leigh and erotic romance, or for anyone who is just looking to steam up their kindle screen. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Berkley.

When Bliss MacKay is almost kidnapped mercenary Angel Calloway makes it her mission to protect her. Chaya MacKay, Bliss’ mother, is none too happy with Angel. Chaya knows Angel is hiding something from her and cannot trust her with her daughter until she knows the truth.

Reece “Duke” Duquaine is a former Army Investigator charged with keeping an eye on Angel and discovering her secrets. The longer he’s around Angel the harder it is to deny the attraction between them. But will Duke be able to protect Angel from herself?

The final book in the Nauti Girls series blows Author Lora Leigh’s Nauti World to pieces and then put’s it back together in true Lora Leigh fashion.

Within minutes of starting Nauti Angel I knew I was going to need some Kleenex. I found myself mesmerized by Angel and her relationships with Chaya, Bliss and Duke. I could not get enough and finished in one sitting. Nauti Angel combines the perfect amount of emotion, action and hot sex. I shed many tears and I’m sad to hear this is the final Nauti Girls book. Angel and Duke have a rough start. After all, women don’t usually appreciate a man trying to dig up her secrets. However, he redeems himself when he stands by her after her secrets come to life.

The connection between Angel and Duke is passionate and exciting. They are forced into some tough situations but always seem to make it through mostly unscathed. Angel is a complex character and I enjoyed her journey throughout the book. The action is intense and thrilling. I loved the fact that we were able to spend a lot of time with all the Nauti Boys and Girls. For me it was like a reunion. I enjoyed finding out what they are up to now. And the secret that Angel’s carrying around…well that’s a whopper!

Prepare yourself for another sexy hot ride from Author Lora Leigh in Nauti Angel. The suspense, drama and sexual tension make Nauti Angel a keeper. Author Lora Leigh outdid herself! Nauti Angel is the perfect way to end the fantastic Nauti Girls series.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

Angel has been living as a member of the mercenary Calloway family since they found her wondering Iraq, broken body and all, when she was three years old. The memories of her life before that didn’t come back to her until several years later and she could never get past the fact that her mother abandoned her and her sister, Jenny, that she didn’t even want them. Jenny ended up dying in Angel’s arms when her mother never came for them. Now she’s an adult and she knows exactly who her mother is, even though her mother doesn’t know that she’s her daughter. Her mother is married and has a daughter she loves. It’s that daughter that brings Angel to them. Someone tried to abduct Bliss and Angel can’t lose another sister. However, when Angel goes to offer her help, she is met with resistance and hatred from her mother. She ends up confessing that she’s Chaya’s daughter, but Chaya doesn’t believe her. Chaya has hated Angel from the time she came to town and wants her nowhere near her impressionable daughter. Angel knows where she isn’t wanted and rides off with her foster brothers completely devastated.

However, once the Mackay family realizes Angel was telling the truth they hire her to keep Bliss safe. They do it in a way that Angel can’t refuse knowing there will be blow-back on her brother’s business if she doesn’t take the job. Duke Mackay goes with her refusing to let her deal with his family and her emotions on her own. Duke has been in love with Angel for years and it’s about time that he proves that to her.

The Mackays and Calloways must work together to find out who is after Bliss and Angel and eliminate the threat for good. But Chaya and Angel must also figure out how to heal their hearts and find a way to become a family once and for all.

I’ll be honest, I really struggled with this book, in the beginning. I have not read the entire series, but I have read the two or three before this book, but as I was reading I felt like I was really missing something. I don’t think it was anything from the previous books though, but there was a lot going on in the start of this novel. I kept going back to the beginning trying to figure out what I was missing. The Calloways taking Angel in while in Iraq to how she ended up in Kentucky with the MacKays with Chaya being her mom, and Duke’s full name in the synopsis, but going by Duke in the book was pretty confusing at first, but I did eventually get it all straightened out. And, after the romance kicked in the book flew by!

I enjoyed Angel, her toughness is unmatched, and you can’t help, but feel for the life she’s lead. And, honestly I’d have been fine if she’d never tried to mend things with Chaya after she was so hateful to Angel. I do think Angel was injured a bit too much in this book though.

Then there is Duke who I also really enjoyed. Cocky and sure of himself, but also protective and caring to Angel. I’m really not sure how Natches goes from punching Duke to acceptance so quickly though.

Speaking of Natches I really enjoyed him as well. I love how quickly he accepted Angel and became the father that she never had.

This was an enjoyable read, but I have to admit I liked the others I’ve read in the series better, but it’s still a fun way to spend a couple of days though!

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*