After a final bad mission, Summer has left her job and heading back home, where she’s only known as a Southern socialite. Unfortunately, the two men she left with her former life are determined she’s in danger and are following her home.
As with all of this author’s books, there was plenty of steam within the pages of this book. There’s also plenty of story to keep you reading. I love all of her series’ and this one was no exception. I highly recommend if you like this genre.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

Sandy M’s review of Intense Pleasure (Bound Hearts, Book 14) by Lora Leigh
Contemporary Erotic Romance published by St. Martin’s Griffin 3 Jan 17

I put off reading this book for quite some time. Mostly because the last few Lora Leigh books have not worked for me. That’s a bit baffling, because she used to be a favorite of mine. The last two books I read, one in 2018 and then back in 2016, I graded a C and B, respectively. This book didn’t fare nearly as well.


The biggest issue in this story is the repetitiveness. Too much is said over and over again in hopes of either filling space or trying to keep the reader updated on info the author seems to think can’t be remembered. Either way, it’s a huge problem for me. This has happened to several long-time favorites of mine over the last few years, almost like ideas for story lines are getting really scarce after so many books have been written by them.

Another thing that rubbed me the wrong way is the overdramatization of the three main characters. Summer constantly has to remind her two lovers she’s not the same dangerous woman they worked with now that she’s home with her family, tired of living life on the edge. Falcon and Raeg, whom she’s known since childhood as well as lived that risky edge with, are constantly in a state of smirking and calming the choppy waters (Falcon) or continually pissed off because he can’t have what he wants because of his past (Raeg). The sex scenes in between, or even sometimes during one of three tirades from these people, doesn’t make any of it better.

The only thing that does work for me is the mystery of the assassin who is after Summer, though that was brought down rather quickly when things finally came to a head, the mystery of Summer and her father’s past, which was strung out a bit too long, and lastly the turnaround when it comes to the men’s parents. Other than that? This book just doesn’t have much going for it.

Grade: D

Let’s just put this on the top of my re-read shelf…

I love this author’s books! From shifters to ménage, Lora Leigh knows how to write a compelling, emotional, sizzling read and the Bound Hearts series is a testament to all those good things. In the latest instalment, Summer, Falcone and Raeg are at odds even as they love each other fiercely…

“She was the light to their dark…”

The life of espionage means secrets, lies and intrigue are par for the course. What happens though when you can’t take it anymore? When you realize there is more to life? Summer is at a crossroads and is re-evaluating everything she knows, or believes she knows. What she is certain of? She wants a future with the men she has loved for so long.

“They were already a part of her.”

Oh my southern stars! I can almost hear the lilting drawls even as they drip in sarcasm. Summer was a strong lady – whether in high heels or sporting a Glock – and she held her own whether it came to her alpha male lovers or the family that adored her (and drove her crazy). And to say her family was interesting is a huge understatement as they provided just as much entertainment as the main characters.

There is friction between almost everyone and the conversations are as heated as the encounters between the lovers themselves. I reveled in each and every encounter as there were surprises all the way along… This is the fourteenth book in this series that just gets better and better. There are hints to what has happened before and, even though this is standalone, you don’t want to miss a page in this series!

“I want you to be happy, even if you can’t be happy with me.”

Sigh….

*Five HAPPY HAPPY stars*

. If you want a well-written story with intrigue, suspense, more alpha males than you can handle and steamy sex this is the book for you.

You know, I've read all but two of the books in this series and those were two of the very early books that are out of print. This is after all one of my favorite menage series, but these last two books just haven't sat right with me. Intense Pleasure had all of the key elements I've come to expect from Leigh's writing, but the suspense was so lacking and the heroine was just...blah. I didn't like her and I didn't like the heroes either for that matter. And for three people who have spent their careers in danger working covertly, they were all so easily fooled by the bad guys it was almost to a comedic level. The pacing was sluggish and the plot was weak, but I will admit that the sex was pretty darn hot so it at least had that going for it. I just wished that the suspense elements were just as engaging as I've come to expect from Leigh's writing in the past. I think if you are just looking for a hot read, you may enjoy this. Unfortunately for me, I was expecting a bit more from this one and I just didn't get what I was looking for.

This is a sexy read and features M/F/M relationship/sex.

A CIA agent wants out but someone from her past is after her. Luckily for her 2 sexy men are happy be there to protect her, if she needs there help!

The characthers are good but I do feel I would have connected more if I'd read a couple of the previous books.

This book is a good read and the sex scenes are extremely hot and show Intense Pleasure!

3.5 stars

Summer has left her job and the men she been attracted to for years. She going home to re-establish herself and settle down. Summer may be finished with the job but the job is not finished with her.

*ARC provided from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange if an honest review*

I love this series and highly recommend it, this book is well written and keeps you wondering what is going to happen next, very steamy

This book is seriously hot. I don't usually go for ménage books, but I really enjoyed this one. Lora Leigh writes really well, her characters are well developed, and there is plenty of story surrounding the raunchy scenes. Definitely worth a read.

Love Lora Leigh and Love this story! So good! Can't wait to see what comes next in this series!

Loved this book! All of the Bound Hearts books are on my must buy list. The books are HOT with lots of sexual tension. Of course there is suspense in there too which makes it a plus for me. The characters are will develop. You also see people from her other books in the series. Can’t wait for the next one.

I should’ve known better than to pick up this book for review. But I love Lora Leigh and this series holds fun memories for me. I used to love it! Sadly the book before this one was a DNF and I wish I would’ve listened to my gut feeling and not started this one. INTENSE PLEASURE does feature what Lora Leigh does best, two brothers sharing and loving the same woman and wanting to keep her for their own forever. Mixed in with that is a level of danger as there is something lurking in the backdrop that threatens the heroine and the big alpha man are meant to protect her.

There were things about this story I liked. Like I said above, Lora Leigh is good at making me feel on board with the brothers permanent menage trope. All without feeling icky. But then there is some over the top family drama that for me in this book may have gotten a bit too close to Jerry Springer-esque. Our heroine lets her family walk a bit over her and disrespect her and I found that out of character because she’s supposed to be part of this group of badasses, so I couldn’t quite connect the two aspects of her persona.

When it comes to the erotic part, yes, this is very hot. That is not an area where Ms. Leigh has ever had problems. But I feel at times, even that can start to feel like it follows a certain formula. The men being completely dominating and at times overbearing. Yes, they are alpha and they want things their way. And the woman ends up being a bit mousy and submissive. I have wanted to see more from this series for a while, and I’m not sure I’m going to get that.

When it came to the danger and the development of the story, this was also a bit of a let down. The ending was nicely and easily tied up with a bow.

So while INTENSE PLEASURE was sexually charged, it lacked depth and connection and it ultimately let me down. It made me wish for the days when I was reading about the hot twins in WICKED PLEASURE and hope that the story would grasp my attention like then.

I used to be a huge fan of Lora Leigh. I was disappointed that this latest books was not up to her usual page turner. Maybe the story has been told too ofter or maybe I wasn't in the mood, but this book didn't hold my interest as her previous books have. Every thing was predictable from the characters to the story line. I will continue to check out her books because i have been a long time fan. But it future stories are the same as this one, then that will be the end for me.

Loved this book. The story was well written and the characters were great.

I was very much looking forward to reading this latest novel in the Bound Hearts series, as I've so enjoyed the other titles in the series, but I'm hard-pressed to give this one a 2-star rating.

First, if the thought of a menage offends you, or if this is your first novel by Lora Leigh, skip it. Additionally, almost every character in this novel is a current or retired agent of some sort, CIA, FBI, Black Ops, etc. Most, if not all of these characters have appeared in the 13 previous novels in this series, so, again, the opening of this novel will confuse you, but read on, at least some of the relationships will eventually begin to make sense to you.

This is the story of Summer Calhoun (and her pseudonyms), and Falcon and Raeg (is that even a name?). Summer is being threatened by a Russian crime boss, Dragovich, and she's heading home to the family estate in Louisiana swamp country after her last mission. Falcon and Raeg, half-brothers who always share their women with each other and who have hungered for her and denied that hunger are coming along to protect her, and are stunned when this strong, beautiful, willful and competent agent, suddenly turns into a simpering Southern belle (think Melanie Wilkes in Gone with the Wind), especially around her father, a manipulative tyrant who orders everyone around, and who doesn't think Falcon and Raeg are suitable mates for his daughter, a grown and accomplished woman who, when her father says "jump," she doesn't even bother to ask, "how high?"

Prepare yourselves, because there is more sturm und drang and angst in this novel than in any previous novel I've read by this author, and I've read almost all of them. Summer knows that Falcon loves her, and she loves and wants both men, but Raeg was betrayed by a former lover years ago and no longer feels capable of that emotion but he doesn't seem to have the self-awareness to realize that he loves Summer. He blames his and Falcon's father, Robert Falcone, for much of his angst and neither he nor Falcon have seen their family for years.

As I've mentioned, everyone is ready to defend Summer against the dreaded Dragovich, but where is he? After one failed attempt to kidnap Summer, that part of the story recedes and what follows is a lot of arguing, crying, and planning for a series of parties to take place over a three-week period to introduce Summer to the eligible men in the area who would make suitable husbands for Summer, at least they are suitable in her father's opinion. Falcon and Raeg consider these parties too risky and hard to control in view of the danger such exposure might pose to Summer, and, oh by the way, parties to which they've been kept in the dark and aren't invited to attend--Summer's doing, since she fears they'll be upset. Upset? Raeg has threatened to kill any man there who touches her. Meanwhile, at odd moments, the three characters engage is come seriously hot sex, separately and together, a Lora Leigh trademark, and about the only part of this book that bears any resemblance to Ms. Leigh's signature style.

From the very beginning to the (not much of a) surprise ending, these are characters in search of emotional maturity and depth, and this is a novel in search of a plot and forward momentum, which, it pains me to say, is virtually non-existent. As far as romances go, this one is a miss. For all the tears and recriminations where was the romance? Why does Summer know she can't keep these men and why does she try so hard (and fail) to protect her heart? Why do Raeg and Falcon plan to walk away from a woman they both want and love? Finally, where is the Lora Leigh whose characters mature and grow and who can develop those characters within a gripping, exciting plot? There's very little evidence of that in this novel, and it left this reader wanting.

Easily one of my favorite Lora Leigh books to date! Sexy, sassy, and satisfying I couldn't put it down.

Summer has hidden behind her daddy's girl persona for many years when secretly she is a kicka** agent taking down some of the worst people in the world. When tragedy strikes and shakes up her world she is ready to step away from her life of espionage and step into the next part of her life...marriage. Should be easy right?...Wrong, nothing is easy when it involves Falcone and Raeg.

Falcone and Raeg do everything together...and I do mean everything! After years of wanting Summer they were happy to be around her anyway that they could. When Summer decides that she is done with saving the world they have a hard time accepting that yeah she's leaving the job but she's also leaving them and the safety they can provide her.

And so the story begins...Summer wants out, but a bad man is trying to take her life...Falcone and Raeg not only want Summer safe but they want her in their lives even if only for a short time because although they may want to play for keeps their past makes it impossible.

The real question is can Summer convince Falcone and Raeg to take a chance on the happily ever after love that they can share or will their resistance risk not only her life but her heart? Read and find out!

I voluntarily reviewed this advanced review copy of the book provided by Netgalley

Overall this book was great. I have been waiting for this book and I must say that it was sexy...funny...suspenseful...surprising and explosive.

I was introduced to these characters in the previous books in this series but there were times that I was confused by some of the love hate signals that were coming from the main characters. Once I got passed that, I quickly fell in love with Summer's family as well as Summer, Falcone and Raeg.

There was one part in this book that I was very shocked and another moment that I was upset with both Falcone and Raeg. But overall I enjoyed every second. Great job Lora Leigh, I simply can not wait for what comes next!

Welcome back, Ms. Leigh, oh how I have missed your delicious ménage with strong women and stubborn men. I loved this book. This book brings back fond memories of the first few books in this Bound Hearts series. This is the kind of book which pulled me into the erotic world of threesomes. Ms. Leigh knocks this one out of the park with the sexual tension, pulling of heart strings and erotic burning up sheets.

The characters in this book are awesome. I have liked Summer as she dips in and out of other books. This book featuring her is fabulous. Summer is tired of working as an agent and she is going home to find her home with a white picket fence. The Southern girl that she is, she is having a huge ball with gentlemen callers to see if they are a match for her. Because she knows the two men she wants, she can never have - Falcone and Raeg.

Falcone and Raeg have worked with Summer for years. They are brothers who enjoy sharing their a woman between them. They are exquisite lovers who do not keep a woman for long. They long to call Summer their own yet they hesitate due to their past. They do however succumb to temptation and finally devour Summer up. There are some very hot Summer nights between these three. Ms. Leigh certain delivers up blazing hot sex in this book.

The conflict of this story is heartbreaking in many senses. The plot device Ms. Leigh uses is a familiar one. It leaves a reader with dread in the pit of their stomach. The anticipation of a train wreck keeps this story on a constant edge. Whilst the love triangle is forming, work history is coming to bite all three of them on the proverbial butt. Between protecting Summer, learning a different perspective to their history and finding out that Summer is willing to move on without them, Falcone and Raeg are run ragged. What impacted me most is the intense emotions pulled from me as I experience Summer's sorrow and witnessing Falcone and Raeg's despair. Learning about the truth behind the partial facts of Summer's violation as a teen and her father's negligence is yet another tear jerker.

This story is not just one kleenex after another. It does contain humour as the dynamic between Summer and her father have her two lovers completely mystified. I have to admit, I too am a little puzzled yet more bemused. Summer's insistence on no sexual discussion around or about her father is a constant source of amusement. I love how Ms. Leigh injects humour at the right moments. This erotic suspense is highly recommended to romance lovers who enjoy ménage between three strong willed characters.

While I did enjoy this book, you definitely need to the read the previous book in the series to at least, understand the beginning.

Wow... I did enjoy this book ...even if I wanted to smack all three of them a few times for not talking things through....Raeg, Falcon and Summer are all strong and hard headed... I did really enjoy the book and would recommend it . Lara Leigh keeps you involved in the story so you hat to put it down...it took a while but there is a HEA in this story.