Sevastyan Amurov was leopard. Not just any leopard but Amurov. Born and bred in a brutal lair known for such cruelty and savage practices that other lairs wanted nothing to do with them. Because of the way he was raised an anger grew in him that got harder and harder to control. Even watching his cousins find their mates gave him no hope that he would ever find his own.
Enter Flambe Carver, gardener extraordinaire. After cancelling two previous appointments Flambe finally shows for this one. This first meeting sets off a storyline that I found totally enthralling. The book starts with a bang and the momentum never lets up until the end.
Any reader of Christine Feehan’s Leopard series knows that none of the stories goes along without lots of ups and downs. Leopard’s Rage is no exception. Not only are storylines begun in previous books continued and we are introduced to a new leopard species, we get a possible new storyline to be continued. Characters from previous books make appearances and we have some unexpected revelations. I really hope we get more books so we can experience how things will eventually play out.
I’m going to end with if you have been reading this series, you will most definitely want to add Leopard’s Rage to your collection. Make sure you have a cold drink or two and lots of quiet time as once you start reading you won’t want to stop.

✦Review & Excerpt: LEOPARD’S RAGE by Christine Feehan https://wp.me/p3d0RZ-bCh
Publication Date: November 10, 2020
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated 4 Stars

Another super-sexy addition to the Leopard’s Series. I don’t normally warm up to uber-alpha males, but Sevastyan got to me. His desire for love and a mate shone through right away. I also liked how hard he worked on the relationship. Flambe’ however, just didn’t hit it for me. We don’t learn enough about her motivation until late in the book, so I didn’t trust her and couldn’t warm up to her. It seemed he had to do all the work tiptoeing through emotional landmines. It finally worked out and I ended up caring about her. There is a lot of explicit sex involving Shibari. I enjoyed how the author described the rope play so that I could almost picture it and understand the artistic aspect of it.

The background story to the romance carries on from previous books, adding in how Flambe’ got there with her own troubles. The two stories blended well together and brought it to a suspenseful ending. I enjoyed the story and am glad that Sevastyan found his love.

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.

Kindle https://amzn.to/3cFslq7

It’s incredible that this is the 12th book in the series and Leopard’s Rage continues the extraordinary saga in Christine Feehan’s Leopard series.

The couple in this story are Sevastyan Amurov, enforcer and bodyguard of newly re-formed Amurov lair. Sevastyan, like his make cousins, he is a powerful leopard shifter but unlike his cousins, Sevastyan harbors a deep-seared rage that is threatening to consume him.

The heroine is Flambé Carver, successful business owner, master landscaper, extremely rare strawberry leopard and a woman being stalked by a vicious, brutal man.

Something in her resignation spurred a tenderness in Sevastyan to work to connect to her not just in passion but as a partner to cherish.

I have to admit the art of Shibari sets off all my OCD anxiety alarm at the thought being bound up in rope. But it worked for this couple and Flambé, after a long road to learn to trust any male shifter, eventually found her way towards love.

I loved this story and hope that there will be many more books in the Leopard shifter world.

My review of Leopard's Rage:

Leopard's Rage is a very sexy read. Sevastyan, and Flambe set the pages on fire as they find their way to each other. But, they both have doubts as they experience their first lifecycle. Is she my mate? Is he my mate? Did I make a mistake in my choice of a mate? We get to experience the misunderstanding between our couple brought about by their mutual childhood abuse, as well as their personal feelings of inadequacy, that have closed them off to each other. Add in the doubts of being mates intensify it. Sevastyan's determine to have Flambe's love, while protecting his own vulnerability. Men! Flambe in turn doesn't trust male shifters, and wants to keep their relationship sexual. Mates! I enjoyed the introduction of Shibari that really helped this couple communicate honestly with each other, and the ropes actually helped Flambe with a severe medical problem that threatens the life of her, and her leopard.

Flambe's being stalked by another leopard shifter that hunts his own kind for sports. She also has info that her stalker wants, and he won't let Sevastyan stop him form getting it. Sevatyan's has to earn Flambe's trust to help her achieve her goal of rescuing abused shifter mates. But like many men, Sevastyan makes mistakes by his thoughtless actions, but he's up to the challenge to win his mate's trust, and love.

We get to see many old friends, and meet many new ones as they come together to aide Sevastyan, and Mitya Amurov. Rolan Amurov has arrived and wants them all dead.

Christine Feehan, give us a beautiful, romantic read, but also give us car chases, as well as two battles, as Sevastyan protects the ones he loves.

Sevastyan Amurov is taken completely by surprise by the stunning woman standing in his doorway. Maybe it’s because she has just been attacked in the most cowardly way possible or maybe it’s because his leopard instantly wants to possess her. All of her.

His mate is a fiery-haired beauty filled with passion and secrets. As her leopard starts to surface, she calls to his darkest desires. And Sevastyan is determined that they will explore each and every one – together.

“Sevastyan wanted her to belong to him with every breath he drew. His leopard leapt and raked, clawing for supremacy, demanding they claim her, but that wasn’t Sevastyan’s way. His woman was going to be his fully because she wanted him. Exclusively. Him. With every one of his flaws - and he had them in abundance.”

Flambé Carver knows what kind of a man Sevastyan is. She’s witnessed his raw sensual power and every night since, she’s yearned only for his touch.

Giving herself to him completely is something that she can’t afford to do. She refuses to become another abused mate like her mother. After her death, Flambé swore that would never happen to her.

But everything about Sevastyan Amurov is different. He’s considerate, giving and the chemistry between them sparks with heat. Can she trust what she feels for him or will he simply ruin her – body and soul.

“She’d always intended to seduce him. She’d wanted to have sex with him. That had been her intention from the first moment she saw him. But she realized the moment she saw him up close it would be impossible to seduce a man like Sevastyan. He seduced women. It wasn’t the other way around. Now, her leopard had taken charge in her weakened state and tied them to him.”

In Leopard’s Rage, Christine gives us one of her best heroes yet! Sevastyan is an unexpected dichotomy of extremes. He’s patient and protective. Savage and seductive. His willingness to give Flambé the space that she needed to come to terms with her overwhelming emotions brings a tenderness to their story that’s truly palpable.

There is still the all of the intrigue that readers have come to love about the series and there’s certainly no shortage of edge-of-your-seat action. It’s a reading experience unlike any other. And it may just have you swooning for days…

LEOPARD'S RAGE is the amazing and heart-wrenching 12th book in Christine Feehan's Leopard series.

LEOPARD'S RAGE is filled with action, danger, intrigue, leopards doing their thing as only dominant, often irritating shifters can, romance that is sweet and very, very steamy and as a fan, I hope it is not the last we read of this series.

Reviewed by Annetta Sweetko, for Fresh Fiction

https://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=72210

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

This is one of the most erotic stories I have read from Feehan I believe but it is very well written. Sevastyan needs to keep his anger at bay and going to erotica clubs helps that. Flambe is wanted by many but something about Sevastyan’s leopard and Flambe’s leopard connects and that is it. Flambe spends her time helping female leopards out of abusive relationships so how will she deal with the way Sevastyan deals. And then add a stalker to the mix and you have another great story from Feehan.

Feehan always writes strong independent females and diamond in the rough, alpha males and this is no different. I liked that Flambe was willing to try to understand what Sevastyan wants and needs.

Feehan has a way of writing that brings you right in and leaves you wanting more. Feehan is simply one of the queens of paranormal shifter romance.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Leopard shifter Sevastyan Amurov has an anger issue that tops all of the other men he is related to and works for which is saying something in this series. Each of their group were raised by evil brutal men so at a young age, they learned that harsh way of life. Sevastyan’s job as head of security for his cousin means he spends a lot of time taking out enemies. Sevastyan constantly struggles to keep his leopard at bay going to bondage clubs to fulfill his needs without harming women with his aggressive and brutal nature. When Sevastyan meets a rare strawberry leopard, Flambe Carver, his own leopard settles for the first time in his life.

Their immediate attraction and Sevastyan’s claiming of Flambe means she is now under his protection as there are others who desire to possess Flambe. She not only is a well-respected landscaper, but runs an underground operation to get female leopards out of abusive situations making her a target on more than one front. They may be attracted to one another especially since Flambe is going into a leopard heat for the first time, but there is no insta-love. Sevastyan has a lot to learn about having a relationship with a woman who knows her own mind and refuses to be subservient to a big, powerful male.

Sevastyan and Flambe’s relationship has as many missteps as it does strengths. Sevastyan’s family who have their own mates make it harder rather than help him with Flambe as she does not seem to have many fans among them. While trying to protect her from a stalker and furthering deepening their relationship, Sevastyan also has to keep on top of the family enemies especially his father who is bringing an army to take them all out. Both Sevastayan and Flambe have issues from their upbringings so they have much to overcome in order to a relationship.

This is book #12 in the Leopard People series. Like another of Ms. Feehan’s recent series, this one has some sexual kink, in this case, one known as Shibari: a Japanese style of bondage with ropes. I am not particularly a fan of this direction in her writing. Readers will have to decide for themselves whether or not that is a deal breaker to continue with the series.

By far, this was one of the most unique Christine Feehan novels I have read.

Sevastyan is an Amurov leopard, with a taste for violence and darkness. His father raised him to be a killer, and life has formed him into a fierce protector of one of the few people in this world he cares about, Mitaya. As a release for the darkness, Sevastyan engages in the art of Shibari, a form of Japanese bondage play in sexual acts. It gives him a sense of control, and protects those his leopard would lash out and harm.

Flambe Carver, (poor, unfortunate name!) has taken over her father's landscaping business. This business is also used as a way for leopard refugees to get to the US legally, and get on their feet to have a better life. When she starts work for a man named Cain, she never expects to watch the brutal Sevastyan from afar, and want the kind of rope play that he displayed in Cain's club.

Their paths cross when he hires her landscaping company to expand his lands to connect to Mitaya's so that he can have his own space, while also being there for Mitaya and his mate, Ania. What Flambe doesn't expect is to be chased by a one night stand and run off the road. Seeking refuge with Mitaya, Flambe's leopard recognizes the safety Sevastyan and his leopard can offer, and they choose each other as mates.

From there, we deal with insecurities from both of our main characters, as they learn to navigate an emotional relationship while also enjoying the bondage play in the bedroom. With Flambe's natural submissive nature, Sevastyan knows he has a perfect bedroom playmate. What he doesn't know is how to get Flambe to let him in so they can discuss things.

I love the open conversation that we have for a lot of this novel, and I love the use of the Shibari as a safe place to become vulnerable emotionally. That really worked for me, and I found this novel to be one that stands on in the Feehan catalog. It's steamy, just like her other novels, while also looking more deeply at the vulnerability of sharing a life with another person, or leopard for this instance.

I hope you will give this novel a try, as it is my favorite that I have read in the leopard series so far.

When it comes to alpha shifter romance, Ms. Feehan is a must read. In the latest installment in the Leopard People series, Sevastyan is up front and center. He has been a secondary character in several of the book in this series. To finally read about him and his past, it is a pleasure!

As with the other Amurov leopards, Sevastyan experienced a terrible and traumatic childhood. His father and uncles are complete a-holes. They are sadistic MOFO who need to be taken out for good. It is a good thing that is one of Sevastyan's goals. The confrontation comes to a head just as he finds his mate, Flambe.

I am a bit surprised by the kink from Ms. Feehan. Although, I've been noticing this trend in her more recent books in a couple of her series. Since I've lived the lifestyle, I am always a bit more critical of authors writing kink. Ms. Feehan does a lovely job of incorporating kink into this romance. She has done her research and the kink is what I classify as GlitterKink because of the high end exclusive BDSM club Sevastyan patrons. It is a lovely dream and how Ms. Feehan brings Flambe into the lifestyle through her work is impressive. It flows quite nicely.

The kink is more D/s and lovingly done. Sevastyan and Flambe's D/s relationship is easier to navigate than their shifter one. For Flambe, shifting into her leopard is fraught with emotional and psychological setbacks. Quite a bit of her dilemma ties to the male leopards seemingly very dysfunctional and abusive relationship with their females. When Flambe learns her father whom she loved and admired may not be quite a good guy as she remembered, it causes a disconnect between her and ability to want to shift.

The conflicts in this story are nicely balanced between the relationship and external forces trying to tear the two lovers apart. The suspense element with fighting in both leopard and human form is action packed. I especially enjoy the "thoughts" of the leopard self when they take down their enemies. Animal disgust is quite amusing and so appropriate.

This is another winner in this series. This paranormal romance is recommended to readers who enjoy a bit of spice to their romance, dominated by an alpha male and a female who may or may not submit.

The 12th book of this series features head of security, Sevastyan Amurov. He is angry and his leopard is always trying to break free. Then he meets Flambé Carver, who he immediately mates to save her. Both the hero and the heroine have issues from their past that brings angst to the story. While there is plenty of excitement and intrigue it takes a very long time to figure out what is going on with Flambé.

I enjoyed this story. The characters were dark and gritty. It was interesting to watch the story develop. Though I have to admit. I absolutely hated her name. I never quite got used to it. I know there was backstory, but it never really satisfied me. I would still recommend this book. Especially to people who enjoy Jennifer Ashley’s Shifters Unbound series or Lora Leigh’s Breeds series.

I was provided a copy of the book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Leopard People series is my favorite after Dark Guardian series :) The characters are fun and the bed scens are smocking hot. Leopard's Rage was a fun but strugling read. Feehan had Sevastyan dominace to the max. Excelent writing. I really enjoyed Sevastyan and Flambe journey. Although Flambe and Flamme (her leopard) are names I was struggling with while reading this book. It felt more balanced as Flambe was struggling with her emotions and vulnerability as much as Sevastyan.

It was fun to follow along and see both of them give and take. The romance was hot. A lot of bondage and rope play. I can't even remember there was a normal bed scene without the rope bondage. It was a little of a overkill. So much I even skipped women of the last bed scene because I already had read 5 times how he was dominating her with his ropes. I found my heart became incredibly lost within the pages of this book. I couldn't get over how stunning and extraordinary both the story and the characters are.

The character of flambe had a nice build-up although I don't know why she could never tell the male character why she is untrusting of male leopards. After she told him. The first thought I had was. 'That's it?' Why didn’t she just tell him? It wasn’t that she experienced most herself it was al about others and only then she found out about it later when she was older. It was somewhat strange for me. I missed a prologue. I loved to read more when they progressed further in their relation. It had at the end not really a stable feeling where I thought. Wow they are going to be together forever.

Still. Overall a real page turner. It kept me up till late just to finish it.

Loved It!

Full Disclosure, this is the 12th book in a series that I did try to get into, but lost interest in after the 2nd or 3rd book, so much of the back story in Leopard's Rage felt confusing; I'm assuming previous books in the series set up some of the plot for Leopard's Rage, specifically that of Sevastiyan's history.

Parts of Leopard's Rage pulled me in while other parts pushed me away. I found myself skipping many scenes either because they felt like just more graphic sex that didn't really support the plot OR contained leopard battle scenes that just didn't hold my interest (to be fair, I usually skip battle scenes in books as they're just not my thing). On the other hand I really felt for Flambe, the main leading lady leopard, despite her unfortunate name, and wanted to know that some of her issues were resolved by the end of the book. Not to be too spoiler-y but by the time her issues were resolved I really didn't care anymore.

This book had so much promise; Flambe's background as a leading landscape business owner and the descriptions that went with it as well as my initial interest in the main characters just couldn't overcome the parts that pushed me away.

I think if I had read the rest of the series I would have given Leopard's Rage a solid 4 stars but as it stands it's a 3 for me. Christine Feehan's writing style has much improved in her later books, which is possibly why I did actually enjoy this one more than the first few in the series which had a cheesy 90s-soap-opera-plus-shifter feel to them.

The best part of the book was the preview of Reckless Road, part of her Torpedo Ink series of which I'm a big fan.

This Sevastyans story, Yes its Flambes, but if you have read this series you know that Sevastyan is in charge of security for Mitya, His anger and hardness (no pun intended) seem to make him destined for loneliness, or self destruction. Flambe is a strawberry leopard, This is an erotica story with shifters This is a dominant and a submissive. There is bondage with a rope. A rope that van be used for beauty, not just the sexual side. Do I understand this? No, but I do get that there has to be trust, there has to be understanding and Feehan makes that apparent as well as showers the reader with emotions, feelings. You feel the depth of despair, the hope for more, the sense of family and always, always the inner strength of the female, the core strength and integrity of both. As usual I can do with less erotic, but this one truly showed how the ropes were used for so much more, giving me a little more understanding. Thank you Berkley, NetGalley and Christine Feehan for the arc. I freely share my thoughts and opinions. P.S. I love the cover!

I really wanted to like Leopard's Rage but it wasn't one I could get into. I really like sexy steamy romances but I was expecting a typical PNR book and this pushed the bounds of erotica for me with all of the emphasis on bondage. I've read and enjoyed erotica novels but that wasn't what I was looking for her and I think the erotica and bondage elements and all of the details and explanations about the ropes and textures and art of knots took away from the paranormal and shifter bits I was really after.

I did not finish this book. I made it about 1/2 way and because of that, I won't be leaving a public review of this book.

LOVED this book! Sevastyan and Flambe are both amazing for they have both survived horrible childhoods. Sevastyan as a result of his childhood must fight his savage nature every day until the day that he meets Flambe. Flambe has been betrayed, neglected, and unloved all her life and she has seen how terrible her kind can be, but Sevastyan will show her to love and trust and Flambe will bring him the love and joy which he has never known.

The Leopard series is not usually my favourite series as the heroes often come very close to alpha-holes and the heroines tend to be very gracious and forgiving, usually taking the lead in the emotional journey.
I really enjoyed Sevastyan and Flambe journey. It felt more balanced as Flambe was struggling with her emotions and vulnerability as much as Sevastyan. It was fun to follow along and see both of them give and take. Great action and hot chemistry made this an engaging and fun read. It's so satisfying when a couple can overcome their past and move forward as partners.

TW: Sevastyan has suffered abuse as have his "brothers", Flambe is assaulted and assault/violence against women is mentioned

Leopards's Rage is a fabulously gritty, marvelously raw, and so very real story that will make your heart hurt and soar. It will steal your attention and hold you captive as it seeps into your very soul. Nothing will tear you away from the provacative storyline as you lose yourself within its unforgettable and heart-wrenching soul filled with fierce love and heart pounding terror.

Sevastyan had survived a cruel and unforgiving upbringing to become an impossibly hard and demon driven man. He lives life the only way he can while looking out for his family. Most people steer clear of him, but one woman stumbles helplessly into his life. Flambe enjoys her small and comforting life. She has gained success and wants nothing more then to help others. When these two impossibly different people meet, a firestorm is created and threatens to end anyone that crosses its path.

My heart shattered for both Sevastyan and Flambe. Neither had a good life, but both are fierce fighters who refuse to give in. Although very different in every way, they both long for love more then they will ever admit. When convenience turns into feelings, nothing is easy or welcome. However, Sevastyan will not lost the best thing he has ever found in his life. He will fight to the death to keep his heart close for all time.

I found my heart became incredibly lost within the pages of this book. I couldn't get over how stunning and extraordinary both the story and the characters are. They kept me guessing and put my heart through a meat grinder. Nothing was easy, but that made it so worth wading through the pain to get to the light and love on the other side. Christine Feehan is a phenomenal author who demolished my heart and made my soul crave these beautiful chacters no matter how stubborn or unworldly they became. She showed me how love can sprout and bloom within even the most hostile of environments.

Sevastyan and Flambe are both highly sensuous Leopard People. Each has a unique ability and power that make them perfect mates for one another. This novel of Ms. Feehan's is another terrific story with strong characterization. I love how she makes the story come alive with power and grace. I highly recommend this novel.

Leopard’s Rage is the newest addition in the Leopard People series and we are now at book 12 and I can’t believe how this series has grown. I will be honest in that some of the books in this series aren’t my favorite but I have enjoyed it. But I have adapted to how this author has grown and written these books. They aren’t the easiest to read at times, they can be super hot and kinky in many ways. And boy has she rewrote “alpha male” in these books. You definitely need to be open minded in order to really enjoy them. But I found Leopard Rage to be such a fun one and so thrilled that this was Mitya’s cousin (Mitya -hero from the previous book ‘Leopard’s Wrath”) Sevastyan. This is a story that is full of kinky sex more specifically rope play so if that isn’t your thing…you are forwarned of it in advanced. But I found the way it was written to be sexy and erotic at times.

Leopard’s Rage is a story that begins with our hero, Sevastyan, who has hired a woman to landscape the grounds but when she misses two appointments ….he is losing his patience. On the third time, she comes but she has been abused and Sevastyan feels a rage he has never felt before. His leopard’s need to protect her at all cost is paramount to him. What shocks him on a deeper level is the peace he feels when he is around Flambe. Sevastyan was visciously abused as a child, witnessed his mother being murdered by his own father and grew up seeing only violence and it damaged his leopard, and he wondered if he would ever find a woman to love…until Flambe and he sees a mate that he could love and protect….but they are being hunted by his enemies and their relationship will have plenty of rocks in its way they will have to manuever before reaching their HEA.

Leopard’s Rage is a very unique tale and one in which I was quite fascinated in. I didn’t want to let go of this story or what this author brings to the table of this one. I knew with it being Sevastyan it wouldn’t be an easy romance for these two. Sevastyan likes to work with rope and being dominant in the bedroom, and its what he needs. Flambe is a strawberry leopard, very rare and unheard of and hunted because they are so rare and unique. Flambe struggles with certain ailments that she knows may kill her one day. But she uses her resources to save women from abusive leopard matings. She knows she will never be good enough for Sevastyan, and is satisfied with the sex but she soon learns that Sevastyan yearns for more than just some romps in the bedroom….he wants love and a family.

I really found this story quite interesting because Flambe was a unique heroine and even though I struggled with her resistance to Sevastyan so many times. I didn’t care for how she treated him at times, he was the one doing ALL of the work in the relationship it seemed like. He was always being the one to take a active role in the relationship, wanting more from her. And we really don’t understand her reasons until much later in the book so its frustrating as the reader not understanding her resistance to him. But I truly admired the hero so much. He is so patient and understanding and even though he has a raging leopard inside of him, he doesn’t let that deter him from what really matters to him. I really came to respect that so deeply. He was the fighter in the relationship, doing whatever it took to keep striving for a deep intimate connection with Fambe. I only wish she made a better effort, because he definitely deserved that. We see how much trauma he has gone through in his past, and deserved peace and love but in the end this story worked for me and I am ever intrigued by where this author is taking this series. It will definitely be a fun adventure for sure.

Overall I found Leopard’s Rage to be a romance that packs quite a punch with its combination thrilling suspense, some dangerous villains, and a rock filled relationship….their HEA will be a battle but one worth the fight!