Cat’s Lair (Leopard Series #7) by Christine Feehan-Dual Review and Giveaway

Cat’s Lair
The Leopard Series #7
by Christine Feehan
Release Date: May 5, 2015
Genre: adult,contemporary, paranormal, erotic romance

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 5, 2015

Cat Benoit has finally escaped the past—and the man who was the source of her nightmares. She’s off the grid, underground but watchful, and creating a new life for herself in Texas, far from the torrid dangers of her native New Orleans. She’s safe. He’ll never find her this time. Cat has to believe that. It’s the only thing keeping her sane.

Yet she can’t escape the attention of Ridley Cromer, the instructor at the martial arts dojo where Cat takes lessons. She arouses the animal in Ridley—and something feral comes to life when their body heat rises. Cat is in no position to let her guard down with anyone, especially someone who could be endangered by her past. But Ridley has secrets of his own—secrets only Cat would understand. If she dares to trust him.

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Sandy’s Review

NOTE: If you haven’t read CAT’S LAIR, there is a slight spoiler in my review as it pertains to the true identity of our leading hero.

REVIEW: CAT’S LAIR is the seventh installment in Christine Feehan’s adult, contemporary Leopard People paranormal romance series focusing on a species of Leopard shifters. This is leopard shifter/ DEA agent Eli Perez (aka Ridley Cromer) and female leopard shifter/barista Cat Benoit’s storyline. Cat’s Lair can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from previous storylines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives CAT’S LAIR follows the building relationship between two leopard shifters –Eli Lopez and Cat Benoit. Cat is a female leopard shifter who is just entering the Han Vol Dan (leopard females first ‘turn’ and sexual maturity) and a woman in hiding; she is on the run and her whereabouts have been discovered by not only law enforcement and the DEA, but by a man who is determined to claim Cat as his own. Enter Ridley Cromer/Eli Lopez, a man who has promised Cat his protection but it comes at a cost.

The relationship between Cat and Eli is one of instant attraction but Eli was reluctant to reveal his true identity in the early stages of their romance. Cat has a difficult time trusting anyone, especially men, and in this Eli has reinforced Cat’s belief that no man can be trusted. The sexual side of their relationship is aggressive. Eli is a man who demands submission both in and out of the bedroom; he is a controlling and domineering alpha male bordering on abusive; there is very little humanity remaining in Eli’s persona. All of the Leopard males are dominant, and their sexual needs are over the top but Eli’s actions screamed emotionally damaging and dangerous. A majority of the storyline focuses on the sexual aspect of their relationship-very erotic in nature but not necessarily provocative and alluring. The threat against Cat was introduced in the early stages of the storyline than never materialized until near the end-in this, the main focus followed Eli’s need to control; his obsession with and dominance of Cat; their sexual relationship; and waiting for Cat’s first shift. There is plenty of ‘Kitten’ calling throughout the entire story.

We are re-introduced to Jake and Emma Bannaconni, and their children Kyle and Andrya (Burning Wild #3) as well as Leopard shifters Elijah Lospostos, Joshua Tegre and Trey. Cat’s coworkers and self defense teacher play a small role in Cat’s life-one that does not go unnoticed by the man on the hunt for Cat.

Speaking of characters and names, Christine Feehan has a habit of duplicating names between series and sometimes within the same series. Our leading man is Eli Lopez and earlier in the series ( and in Cat’s Lair) the reader was introduced to Elijah Lospostos-two very similar names that can lead to confusion for some. When I first read a small bit about CAT’S LAIR I had hoped it was Elijah’s story but discovered that not to be the case. I am happy that we have finally left the Bayou and Christine has returned to some of the earlier characters and locations. Elijah and Joshua need their own happily ever afters. Elijah’s story will be told next in WILD CAT –Leopard People #8-November 2015

CAT’S LAIR is a sexually aggressive, paranormal storyline. The premise, action and adventure, and the search for Cat’s ‘stalker’ take a backseat to Cat and Eli’s sexual relationship. In recent books, Christine Feehan appears to be focusing on the erotic nature of the relationships more than the building of a story; the storyline is almost forced into the background and secondary to the $ex, dominance and need to control.

If you are a fan of Christine Feehan’s LEOPARD PEOPLE series, you will enjoy CAT’S LAIR-especially revisiting some of her earlier characters like Jake and Emma.

Copy supplied by the publisher.

Reviewed by Sandy

Barb’s Review:

Cat’s Lair by Christine Feehan is the 7^th book in her Leopard People series. We meet Cat Benoit our heroine, at the start. She is a loner, keeps few friends, and works as a barista to make ends meet. We know she is running from someone, as she is always on guard and ready to run at a moment’s notice. Cat lets her guard down a bit when she meets Ridley, an instructor in the martial arts dojo where she trains.  

In a short time, Cat feels betrayed, as Ridley is not who he says he was. He is an undercover agent looking for the man who she is running from. She runs away, fearing that Rafe, the villain, will now find her and kill anyone who helps her.   But it is Eli (formerly Ridley) who finds her and brings her to a safe place to hide. Cat finds it hard to trust anyone, especially Eli, whom she had let herself begin to fall for. We learn fast that Eli is a Leopard shifter, as is Rafe. Eli can tell that Cat is also a shifter, though she has not turned as of yet, but she is very close to her Han Van Dol (the time when her leopard comes out).

I have mixed feelings about this book. I love this series by Feehan, and this story started very well, catching my attention fast. I liked Cat, and her instincts for survival. At first, I did like Ridley and how he was sweet and nice to Cat.   But a third of the way into the book, it changed a lot for me. As the storyline of hiding from Rafe continued in the background, the romance between Eli and Cat escalated. I felt the middle of the book was majority sexual, which overtook the story. I also was not crazy about Eli, though he did seem to care strongly for Cat, he was way too demanding, arrogant and unbending towards Cat. Later in the book, you can tell how deeply in love he was with Cat, trying to fight off his need to rule. The race to the finish was exciting, when they come face to face with the enemy and the danger escalated. The middle part of the book reminded me so much of Dark Peril, from the Dark series, where the story became the background.

I thought this storyline started and ended well, but I do prefer my books to have more story, action, excitement, suspense, fun, and a nice romance with steamy sex. But I felt Cat’s Lair was more erotica then I liked. I also feel that Feehan for whatever reason creates some her of her more recent heroes, even if they are flawed, to be mean, domineering and unlikeable for much of the book, and treat their woman as sex slaves.Overall, I enjoyed the storyline, really liked the heroine,  and to see some of the characters from the past books.

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