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Deadly Intent #5
Chosen Prey
Lyra Collins has made a life for herself in a sleepy artists' community in Arizona. Having escaped from a cult five years ago, she keeps a low profile, making a living as an artist. But when a mysterious man with a dark, dangerous look appears on her doorstep, she knows it's time to run again.
Former cop Dare Lancaster didn't mean to lead a bunch of fanatical cult members straight to Lyra's door. But now that he's gotten her into this mess, he's determined to get her out. The frantic heat their bodies generate whenever they're together makes him want to save her…
Neal Barker's grandfather was the first Prophet Jericho, and Neal now rules the Temple of Light commune unchecked. According to his visions, he and Lyra are destined to produce the new Messiah, so he will stop at nothing to make her his own. But soon Dare will discover just how far he'll go to protect Lyra--and never let her go.
Former cop Dare Lancaster didn't mean to lead a bunch of fanatical cult members straight to Lyra's door. But now that he's gotten her into this mess, he's determined to get her out. The frantic heat their bodies generate whenever they're together makes him want to save her…
Neal Barker's grandfather was the first Prophet Jericho, and Neal now rules the Temple of Light commune unchecked. According to his visions, he and Lyra are destined to produce the new Messiah, so he will stop at nothing to make her his own. But soon Dare will discover just how far he'll go to protect Lyra--and never let her go.
ebook
First published March 6, 2007
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501 people want to read
About the author
Cheyenne McCray
162 books1,761 followersCheyenne McCray fell in love with reading and writing early, deciding in kindergarten that one day she would become an author. Today, she is an award-winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling fiction author who’s sold millions of books worldwide. Having published more than 100 novels and novellas in contemporary and paranormal romance, urban fantasy and romantic suspense, she is now also writing cozy mysteries as Deb Ries.
Chey grew up on a ranch in southeastern Arizona and delights in creating stories of suspense, love, and redemption with characters and worlds her readers can get lost in. Chey and her equally geeky husband live with their two dogs, six ducks (the neighborhood celebrities), and a small flock of chickens in a small Arizona town where she enjoys gardening, crazy quilting and, of course, writing.
Find out more about Chey, how to contact her, and her books at https://cheyennemccray.com.
Chey grew up on a ranch in southeastern Arizona and delights in creating stories of suspense, love, and redemption with characters and worlds her readers can get lost in. Chey and her equally geeky husband live with their two dogs, six ducks (the neighborhood celebrities), and a small flock of chickens in a small Arizona town where she enjoys gardening, crazy quilting and, of course, writing.
Find out more about Chey, how to contact her, and her books at https://cheyennemccray.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
November 12, 2008
DNF. This book did have a pretty good base action story and likable H/h, but I couldn't get past two things: 1) the dialog was cheesy, and 2) the pacing was just off, especially as it related to the sex. At about page 150 I called it quits. I don't like stories where the sex scenes feels more like an intermission from the story, it was just poor timing and didn't feel romantic or sexy. And since the conversations these two were having wasn't adding up to much, I just didn't get it. I do like this author and have enjoyed other books by her, but this one didn't work for me.
January 18, 2021
Lyra has been running for five years, always looking over her shoulder. When private investigator Dare Lancaster shows up at her door, she panics. She didn't know this guy and he was tall and powerfully built. She thinks she's been found and needs to run again.
She opens the door and shoots a face full of mace at him. He's incredulous and she's scared.
She thinks he's from the Temple of Light cult that held her and her mother hostage for years before she finally escaped, having to leave her mother behind. The fanatical leader of the cult was waiting for her to turn 18 so she could make her one of his wives and bear the next leader.
When several cult members do show up, Dare is determined to help her with or without her permission.
As with previous books of this author, it is well written with plenty of action from start to finish. Lyra and Dare are terrific characters, interacting with each other with humor, and plenty of steamy heat. The secondary characters are intriguing .. the older woman who lives next door with her cat, Dare's partner, Nick, who Lyra categorizes on their first meeting, and then realizes how wrong she is, and Lyra's mother who she blames for having to live with the cult. The suspense starts on the first page and increases until the surprising, unexpected conclusion.
WARNING: Plenty of hot steamy interaction done in great detail. Also rape and physical abuse.
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this Romantic Suspense. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
She opens the door and shoots a face full of mace at him. He's incredulous and she's scared.
She thinks he's from the Temple of Light cult that held her and her mother hostage for years before she finally escaped, having to leave her mother behind. The fanatical leader of the cult was waiting for her to turn 18 so she could make her one of his wives and bear the next leader.
When several cult members do show up, Dare is determined to help her with or without her permission.
As with previous books of this author, it is well written with plenty of action from start to finish. Lyra and Dare are terrific characters, interacting with each other with humor, and plenty of steamy heat. The secondary characters are intriguing .. the older woman who lives next door with her cat, Dare's partner, Nick, who Lyra categorizes on their first meeting, and then realizes how wrong she is, and Lyra's mother who she blames for having to live with the cult. The suspense starts on the first page and increases until the surprising, unexpected conclusion.
WARNING: Plenty of hot steamy interaction done in great detail. Also rape and physical abuse.
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this Romantic Suspense. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
July 8, 2008
Chosen Prey was annoying and unbelievable. Though the captured-by-evil-cult plot has been done to death, I didn't mind trying one more. What made me roll my eyes, though, was that the protagonists are running for their lives, the evil cult members are a hair's breath away, Dare, the hero, is all battered and the heroine is supposedly terrified yet they can stop to kiss in their getaway car? Dare couldn't even wait till he got her to his ranch? Lyra has been hiding for 5 years, terrified of being found by the cult. When her worst nightmare does happen, she could stop and enjoy a kiss when the baddies are at their backs? Where are your brains, people? At least get to the ranch!
Then there's Dare's feelings for Lyra. Protective is one thing but this man hasn't got much sense of proportion nor priorities. While I don't disagree with his feeling obligated to help Lyra since he led the bad guys to her unwittingly, Dare came across as a man who lives on his feelings and impulses. Unh uh. My heroes have to be cool and in control and hard to break. But when the heroine finally brings him down, it's gotta be worth the wait. Dare is not this type of hero.
As for Lyra, she's been distrustful since she was fifteen, escaped before she could be married off to the cult leader (read deflowered) at eighteen then managed to stay undiscovered for 5 years by being careful. You'd think someone like her would take awhile to give herself, lock stock and barrel to the man who brought the bad guys over but no...Lyra is equally TSTL as Dare is.
Chosen Prey still reads like a short erotic romance ebook where the author needs to get the sex going fast and furious and never mind the character and plot development. If Dare had stuck to protecting Lyra, if I'd been given better insight into Dare's character so that I'd know where he was coming from and how he ended up feeling responsible for a girl he'd only just met, if Lyra had held on to her caution and been given time to trust Dare...if they had just reached that darn ranch before kissing, I might have given Chosen Prey 2 stars.
I hope I like Moving Target.
Then there's Dare's feelings for Lyra. Protective is one thing but this man hasn't got much sense of proportion nor priorities. While I don't disagree with his feeling obligated to help Lyra since he led the bad guys to her unwittingly, Dare came across as a man who lives on his feelings and impulses. Unh uh. My heroes have to be cool and in control and hard to break. But when the heroine finally brings him down, it's gotta be worth the wait. Dare is not this type of hero.
As for Lyra, she's been distrustful since she was fifteen, escaped before she could be married off to the cult leader (read deflowered) at eighteen then managed to stay undiscovered for 5 years by being careful. You'd think someone like her would take awhile to give herself, lock stock and barrel to the man who brought the bad guys over but no...Lyra is equally TSTL as Dare is.
Chosen Prey still reads like a short erotic romance ebook where the author needs to get the sex going fast and furious and never mind the character and plot development. If Dare had stuck to protecting Lyra, if I'd been given better insight into Dare's character so that I'd know where he was coming from and how he ended up feeling responsible for a girl he'd only just met, if Lyra had held on to her caution and been given time to trust Dare...if they had just reached that darn ranch before kissing, I might have given Chosen Prey 2 stars.
I hope I like Moving Target.
January 19, 2021
Lyra Collins disappeared five years ago, but her past is about to catch up with her.
Chosen Prey is a compelling romantic suspense. Lyra and Jake ‘Dare’ Lancaster are engaging characters and are well supported with the evil of Neil Barker, Mark and Adam. A well delivered and dynamic story line made this an enjoyable read and one I would definitely recommend.
Chosen Prey is a compelling romantic suspense. Lyra and Jake ‘Dare’ Lancaster are engaging characters and are well supported with the evil of Neil Barker, Mark and Adam. A well delivered and dynamic story line made this an enjoyable read and one I would definitely recommend.
Want to read
January 18, 2023🎁 FREE on Amazon & on Apple iBooks today (1/6/2023)! 🎁
November 12, 2008
Romantic Suspense Stand-Alone
Very exciting! An evil cult leader sends his bad guys out to stalk and kidnap Lyra, a woman who has escaped from the cult, as her "wedding day" to the evil leader approaches.
Former cop turned PI Dare Lancaster pledges to help and protect Lyra after he inadvertently leads the bad guys to her front door.
"Steamy", with a little sex, nothing too erotic.
Looks like this book & 2008's "Moving Target" are unrelated, tho they're both Romantic Suspense.
Author's website shows a new RS series "Armed and Dangerous" kicking off with a Fall '08 release titled "Zack".
www.cheyennemccray.com
Very exciting! An evil cult leader sends his bad guys out to stalk and kidnap Lyra, a woman who has escaped from the cult, as her "wedding day" to the evil leader approaches.
Former cop turned PI Dare Lancaster pledges to help and protect Lyra after he inadvertently leads the bad guys to her front door.
"Steamy", with a little sex, nothing too erotic.
Looks like this book & 2008's "Moving Target" are unrelated, tho they're both Romantic Suspense.
Author's website shows a new RS series "Armed and Dangerous" kicking off with a Fall '08 release titled "Zack".
www.cheyennemccray.com
June 30, 2010
All I can say is I absolutely loved this book! It had a great storyline, wonderful characters, and I just didn't want to put the book down. I recommend this for anyone wanting to try out Cheyenne McCray!
January 19, 2023
I really wanted to like this book, and when I first started it, I thought I was in for a really great ride. Unfortunately, about half a chapter in, I wasn't sure if I'd even be able to finish it. I pushed through, skimming over some of the more ridiculous or not well written parts, and was able to get it done.
I'm not entirely sure what went wrong, and it's possible that there were books earlier in the series that would have helped had I read them. That said, I had a really hard time understanding Lyra and the role she played in the community she'd been living in. It follows, then, that I had an equally hard time understanding Dare and his role. He seems to live in the area and they seem to know the same people, but they had never seen each other before he knocked on her door that fateful morning?
The villains, the cultists, are melodramatically evil. And that's okay with me for the most part, in general anyway. However, it was never clear to me if Neal really believed the crap he spouted or if he knew he was manipulating people and didn't care because it gave him the power and riches he desired. It seems to float both directions as if the author wasn't entirely sure which way to go. He's a bad dude, but to me, if he believes all that stuff, it points to some kind of psychological disorder. But he clearly is going above and beyond the shell of the cult, and that makes him more dangerous. That said, the line between his beliefs and his actions blurs and is somewhat hard to follow.
Lyra and Dare experience instalove, which I never like, though the author tries to make it okay by writing a few passages that suggest they talk long into the night sharing their likes and dislikes. That said, given how much Lyra distrusts men, and for good reason, she lets Dare into her life a little bit too easily.
In short (ha, too late), the book reads a little bit too much like a first draft. I think the general storyline is good, but it needs to be much better researched and executed. I did receive a free copy of this book. I'm writing this review voluntarily, and it reflects my honest opinion.
I'm not entirely sure what went wrong, and it's possible that there were books earlier in the series that would have helped had I read them. That said, I had a really hard time understanding Lyra and the role she played in the community she'd been living in. It follows, then, that I had an equally hard time understanding Dare and his role. He seems to live in the area and they seem to know the same people, but they had never seen each other before he knocked on her door that fateful morning?
The villains, the cultists, are melodramatically evil. And that's okay with me for the most part, in general anyway. However, it was never clear to me if Neal really believed the crap he spouted or if he knew he was manipulating people and didn't care because it gave him the power and riches he desired. It seems to float both directions as if the author wasn't entirely sure which way to go. He's a bad dude, but to me, if he believes all that stuff, it points to some kind of psychological disorder. But he clearly is going above and beyond the shell of the cult, and that makes him more dangerous. That said, the line between his beliefs and his actions blurs and is somewhat hard to follow.
Lyra and Dare experience instalove, which I never like, though the author tries to make it okay by writing a few passages that suggest they talk long into the night sharing their likes and dislikes. That said, given how much Lyra distrusts men, and for good reason, she lets Dare into her life a little bit too easily.
In short (ha, too late), the book reads a little bit too much like a first draft. I think the general storyline is good, but it needs to be much better researched and executed. I did receive a free copy of this book. I'm writing this review voluntarily, and it reflects my honest opinion.
January 19, 2021
Chosen Prey by Cheyenne McCray is a compelling, edge of your seat read that highlights the power of people with delusions of grandeur that are unfortunately far to real and frighteningly dangerous. As this was an early work of Ms McCray’s, I reviewed it based on the fact that her writing has definitely grown and evolved over the years and become smoother and flowing as time has progressed. That said, this story still held my attention and I was eager to discover the final outcome of a young woman terrorised and pursued to distraction. It was interesting to read other reviews stating the story was unbelievable when Cults and their influential leaders have been illustrated in the media for many years, but everyone is entitled to their opinion.
For me the story had depth and intrigue, along with danger, tragedy and romantic suspense to sustain the plot. There were a few instances where I felt that moment like in a movie where you go “Don’t open the door, you idiot”, but overall the storyline held up and the characterisations were strong and believable. The relationship between Dare and Lyra developed at a genuine pace and the support cast were equal parts corrupt and evil (those who pursued Lyra), and brave and vigilant in their quest to help Dare protect and defend Lyra as she attempted her mother’s rescue and freedom from Neil Barker and the Temple of Light. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and hope others will too.
For me the story had depth and intrigue, along with danger, tragedy and romantic suspense to sustain the plot. There were a few instances where I felt that moment like in a movie where you go “Don’t open the door, you idiot”, but overall the storyline held up and the characterisations were strong and believable. The relationship between Dare and Lyra developed at a genuine pace and the support cast were equal parts corrupt and evil (those who pursued Lyra), and brave and vigilant in their quest to help Dare protect and defend Lyra as she attempted her mother’s rescue and freedom from Neil Barker and the Temple of Light. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and hope others will too.
August 6, 2023
This whole book can be summed up as ‘well that escalated quickly’ whiplash. That was not a bad thing, but it was a fairly amusing road to travel on.
It was a quick, interesting read that had enough thrill to make it engaging. Characters all cliche stereotypes ramped up to 100. The sex scenes though? They were written in such a cheesy way I kept snorting. 10/10
So many small things pulled me out of the story because some of it was so obvious- smart enough to run away, survive on the street, and make a life for herself without the cult finding her for five years…but not smart enough to realize the bad guys would be scoping out bus stations? But you know what, that was part of the charm. I love a story that makes me have to go ‘you know what, sure?’ and move on.
The climax was thrilling and had me on the edge of my seat. The ending was a bit of a let down though- it’s nice the characters are happy, but after that climax, I really want to see what’s happening outside them. That said, it was a fun book to read and I recommend as the perfect beach/plane read.
It was a quick, interesting read that had enough thrill to make it engaging. Characters all cliche stereotypes ramped up to 100. The sex scenes though? They were written in such a cheesy way I kept snorting. 10/10
So many small things pulled me out of the story because some of it was so obvious- smart enough to run away, survive on the street, and make a life for herself without the cult finding her for five years…but not smart enough to realize the bad guys would be scoping out bus stations? But you know what, that was part of the charm. I love a story that makes me have to go ‘you know what, sure?’ and move on.
The climax was thrilling and had me on the edge of my seat. The ending was a bit of a let down though- it’s nice the characters are happy, but after that climax, I really want to see what’s happening outside them. That said, it was a fun book to read and I recommend as the perfect beach/plane read.
June 28, 2024
The couple: Dare and Lyra
Romance trope: romantic suspense
Series: Deadly Intent
Length: 292 pages
Plot: Lyra has done everything possible to get away from a cult that expects her to birth the next chosen one, but they're still coming after her. Dare feels guilty because in his role as a private investigator, he might have accidentally led them straight to her. While trying to keep her safe, he may find that she means way more to him than just another client.
Commentary: I do wish that Lyra had been a little less resistant to Dare, but I guess it made sense given what she had been through. I really wanted to see her "friend" get some sort of comeuppance though, after ratting her out to the cult. However, it was a good story, and I especially liked the way they rescued her at the end.
Previous book in the series: Point Blank
Romance trope: romantic suspense
Series: Deadly Intent
Length: 292 pages
Plot: Lyra has done everything possible to get away from a cult that expects her to birth the next chosen one, but they're still coming after her. Dare feels guilty because in his role as a private investigator, he might have accidentally led them straight to her. While trying to keep her safe, he may find that she means way more to him than just another client.
Commentary: I do wish that Lyra had been a little less resistant to Dare, but I guess it made sense given what she had been through. I really wanted to see her "friend" get some sort of comeuppance though, after ratting her out to the cult. However, it was a good story, and I especially liked the way they rescued her at the end.
Previous book in the series: Point Blank
January 20, 2023
So very good
Five years ago, Lyra escaped from the cult her mother joined. The " Prophet " saw in a vision that Lyra would bring in the new messiah. She has been living in a little art community but still looks over her shoulder. Dare was a cop until his partner was killed now he is a private investigator. He is hired to find Lyra and ends up leading The People straight to her. When they try to take her, Dare comes back and saves her. He takes her to his partners cabin to hide her out while they try to figure out how to keep them from getting her again. Lyra is taken and Dare is knocked out. Will Dare get to her before the " prophet marries her and has sex with her?
Action from the very first page. Sex. A cult. Lyra doesn't trust men but she needs to trust Dare. Dare believes he let his partner down but doesn't plan on letting Lyra down. Loved it.
Five years ago, Lyra escaped from the cult her mother joined. The " Prophet " saw in a vision that Lyra would bring in the new messiah. She has been living in a little art community but still looks over her shoulder. Dare was a cop until his partner was killed now he is a private investigator. He is hired to find Lyra and ends up leading The People straight to her. When they try to take her, Dare comes back and saves her. He takes her to his partners cabin to hide her out while they try to figure out how to keep them from getting her again. Lyra is taken and Dare is knocked out. Will Dare get to her before the " prophet marries her and has sex with her?
Action from the very first page. Sex. A cult. Lyra doesn't trust men but she needs to trust Dare. Dare believes he let his partner down but doesn't plan on letting Lyra down. Loved it.
January 10, 2021
One of the things that makes this such a great book is that it doesn't start slow but grabs your attention within minutes from the beginning. I really enjoyed all the suspense and the parts that make you laugh out loud. You can't help but to love Dare, Lyra, Nick, and Mrs. Y and it was so wonderful how Lyra and Dare helped to heal each other. Cheyenne McCray is one of my go to authors whenever I need a good book to help me escape life's troubles and this one worked it's magic just like all her others!
January 21, 2023
Fantastic book.
Wow, I absolutely loved this book and was hooked from page one. I loved staying on edge. Lyra ran away from a cult and has been in hiding. Dare accidentally brings the attention of a few cult members to her. Loved how protective he becomes towards her and will do anything to keep her safe. Loved how hard they fall for each other. I felt for her and all that she had experienced with the cult leader who is obsessed with her. Thankfully there’s a very happy ever after. This book is worth re reading. I highly recommend this book.
Wow, I absolutely loved this book and was hooked from page one. I loved staying on edge. Lyra ran away from a cult and has been in hiding. Dare accidentally brings the attention of a few cult members to her. Loved how protective he becomes towards her and will do anything to keep her safe. Loved how hard they fall for each other. I felt for her and all that she had experienced with the cult leader who is obsessed with her. Thankfully there’s a very happy ever after. This book is worth re reading. I highly recommend this book.
March 18, 2023
'Chosen Prey' was thrilling. Its pulsating page-turning plot was filled with suspense, tension, secrets, betrayal, action, and love. Oh my goodness! Moreover, Dare and Lyra, the protagonists, were made for each other and gushed with chemistry. I liked the author's writing style: wonderfully written characters, vivid descriptions, and an enthralling storyline which kept this reader on a roller-coaster ride of emotions. Overall, I enjoyed reading the compelling narrative.
February 15, 2023
Excellent Book
This is my first read by Cheyenne McCray, but it certainly won’t be my last. It caught me from the very beginning and I practically read this book straight through. I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. The story had me that much on edge waiting for the villains next move.
This is my first read by Cheyenne McCray, but it certainly won’t be my last. It caught me from the very beginning and I practically read this book straight through. I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. The story had me that much on edge waiting for the villains next move.
January 17, 2021
This is a good book. I’m dragged at times but it’s worth I to keep reading.
A woman on the run and a man who’s vowed to protect her.
The romance is a slow burn and the suspense is nail biting on the edge of your seat.
A woman on the run and a man who’s vowed to protect her.
The romance is a slow burn and the suspense is nail biting on the edge of your seat.
January 24, 2023
Stop the crazy.
This was an exciting and scary suspense story. She escaped the cult 5 years ago and was still on the run. But they found her again. A PI thought he was helping but led them right to het. Now he had to help. Great read!
This was an exciting and scary suspense story. She escaped the cult 5 years ago and was still on the run. But they found her again. A PI thought he was helping but led them right to het. Now he had to help. Great read!
January 24, 2023
3-1/2 stars
As much as I like Cheyenne’s storytelling this one just didn’t resonate with me. I felt for Lyra in her plight to be rid of Neal and the cult and love Dare’s protective alpha nature. Maybe others will love this tale.
As much as I like Cheyenne’s storytelling this one just didn’t resonate with me. I felt for Lyra in her plight to be rid of Neal and the cult and love Dare’s protective alpha nature. Maybe others will love this tale.
September 2, 2023
This is a well written story with great characters. This is one you will need to take your time with, or you will miss something. There is a cult in this one with a whole lot of crazy. I would encourage everyone to go get this one it is worth your time. Enjoy!!!!
April 28, 2021
Such evil in this world
January 24, 2023
DNF.
Rape. Sexual assault of a minor. Drugs. Murder. Cult. Religious abuse. Violence. That's only 30% into book.
Until this book, the author was a favorite of mine.
Done.
Rape. Sexual assault of a minor. Drugs. Murder. Cult. Religious abuse. Violence. That's only 30% into book.
Until this book, the author was a favorite of mine.
Done.
January 26, 2023
Good read
Full of drama, suspense, and blazing action with lots of added spice. Main characters were well written. Liked the mom/daughter reunion and forgiveness.
Full of drama, suspense, and blazing action with lots of added spice. Main characters were well written. Liked the mom/daughter reunion and forgiveness.
Want to read
February 15, 2023Jan. 6, 2023 Amazon purch
May 7, 2024
Great read
This book is a romantic suspense novel about Jake "Dare" Lancaster and Lyra Collins getting together with each other. This book is a great story. HEA
This book is a romantic suspense novel about Jake "Dare" Lancaster and Lyra Collins getting together with each other. This book is a great story. HEA
September 28, 2010
Good romantic suspense, but I wasn’t thrilled with a couple of events.
Lyra was successfully on the run and in hiding from the bad guys for five years. She impressed me by supporting herself making art pieces. Because a bad guy recognizes her style of art, she is found. She escapes them but they get her cell phone number. All of a sudden it becomes hopeless because they can leave messages on her cell phone that if she doesn't come back they will kill people she loves. First they kidnap Mrs. Yosko, her friend. Then, they use Lyra's mother as a hostage. I love suspense with hunters and prey, great skills, great plans, one group outsmarting the other. This book had a good plot, but for some reason I didn't feel the exhilaration I expected. I felt too much hopelessness and frustration because Lyra became the loser and was willing to do whatever they said, simply because of the hostage threats. It kept me within the terrible question of what to do in hostage situations. Although I enjoyed much of the story, it was a little more frustrating than escaping for me, so I didn't rate it higher.
STORY BRIEF:
Neal Barker is the leader of a religious cult. He rapes and abuses women in his cult. He brings Lyra and her mother into his group when Lyra was 15. His followers are prisoners in a compound surrounded by barbed wire and armed guards. Neal plans to marry Lyra when she turns 18, with their child being the next Messiah. Lyra escapes at age 18. She is homeless but survives on the run for five years. A private detective Dare is hired to find her. Neal's men follow Dare. They try to grab her, but Dare helps her get away. She and Dare are on the run together.
DATA:
Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: nine. Setting: current day Arizona and Oregon. Copyright: 2007. Genre: romantic suspense.
OTHER BOOKS:
To date, I've read one other story by Cheyenne McCray. I gave 4.5 stars to "Wolf's Law," copyright 2004, which appears I the anthology "Ellora's Cavemen Tales From The Temple III." My 4 star review for the anthology was posted on 12/13/08.
CAUTION SPOILER:
I did not care for one scene that showed Dare and Lyra making a dumb decision. They had been smart up until this point. After Dare rescued Mrs. Yosko, Lyra insisted upon getting Mrs. Yosko's medicine. Lyra calls her friend Becca, asking Becca to pick up the medicine and meet Lyra in a school parking lot. The bad guys bribe Becca to set a trap for Lyra. Lyra and Dare walk into it. They should have been suspicious that the bad guys would at least have followed Becca. The bad guys then shot Lyra and Dare with tranquilizer darts. It was a stupid way to get caught.
Lyra was successfully on the run and in hiding from the bad guys for five years. She impressed me by supporting herself making art pieces. Because a bad guy recognizes her style of art, she is found. She escapes them but they get her cell phone number. All of a sudden it becomes hopeless because they can leave messages on her cell phone that if she doesn't come back they will kill people she loves. First they kidnap Mrs. Yosko, her friend. Then, they use Lyra's mother as a hostage. I love suspense with hunters and prey, great skills, great plans, one group outsmarting the other. This book had a good plot, but for some reason I didn't feel the exhilaration I expected. I felt too much hopelessness and frustration because Lyra became the loser and was willing to do whatever they said, simply because of the hostage threats. It kept me within the terrible question of what to do in hostage situations. Although I enjoyed much of the story, it was a little more frustrating than escaping for me, so I didn't rate it higher.
STORY BRIEF:
Neal Barker is the leader of a religious cult. He rapes and abuses women in his cult. He brings Lyra and her mother into his group when Lyra was 15. His followers are prisoners in a compound surrounded by barbed wire and armed guards. Neal plans to marry Lyra when she turns 18, with their child being the next Messiah. Lyra escapes at age 18. She is homeless but survives on the run for five years. A private detective Dare is hired to find her. Neal's men follow Dare. They try to grab her, but Dare helps her get away. She and Dare are on the run together.
DATA:
Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: nine. Setting: current day Arizona and Oregon. Copyright: 2007. Genre: romantic suspense.
OTHER BOOKS:
To date, I've read one other story by Cheyenne McCray. I gave 4.5 stars to "Wolf's Law," copyright 2004, which appears I the anthology "Ellora's Cavemen Tales From The Temple III." My 4 star review for the anthology was posted on 12/13/08.
CAUTION SPOILER:
I did not care for one scene that showed Dare and Lyra making a dumb decision. They had been smart up until this point. After Dare rescued Mrs. Yosko, Lyra insisted upon getting Mrs. Yosko's medicine. Lyra calls her friend Becca, asking Becca to pick up the medicine and meet Lyra in a school parking lot. The bad guys bribe Becca to set a trap for Lyra. Lyra and Dare walk into it. They should have been suspicious that the bad guys would at least have followed Becca. The bad guys then shot Lyra and Dare with tranquilizer darts. It was a stupid way to get caught.
July 11, 2012
Rating: 2.5/5
I've definitely read better books by Cheyenne McCray, but this book wasn't terribly, just rather average.
Series Note:
No series connections, that I know of, but the way some characters are written leads me to believe the author had planned to write books for them but wasn't given the opportunity.
Summary:
Lyra Collins escaped from a twisted cult several years ago and has been on the run since. The leader of the cult believes Lyra is to be his wife and they will produce a new Messiah. Lyra wants no part of it all and is determined to stay hidden. Unfortunately, local P.I. Dare Lancaster leads the cult right to her front door.
When Dare realizes what he has unwittingly done, he'll do anything to keep Lyra safe. Soon, the two are running for their lives and the more they get to know each other, the more the attraction grows. But the cult leader will stop at nothing to get to Lyra and it will be up to Dare to keep her safe.
Review:
I love romantic suspense books and whenever I read one I always hope it'll be great, but this one fell a bit short of the mark. I've read quite a few books by Cheyenne McCray so I had high hopes this would be good. It wasn't her best work, though. Not terrible, just not that great either.
Everything about the book is fairly average. The characters, the romance, the writing...they didn't suck but they didn't really stand out in any way. Something about the way the romance developed over the course of the two running for their lives felt off. I can't really say why just that it didn't particularly come across the right way. I didn't mind the characters but they seemed a bit underdeveloped to me. And honestly, the most interesting character in the book was Dare's partner, Nick. I was really hoping there was a book for him but I haven't found one.
By far, the thing that dragged this book down the most, though, was that the story lacked originality. It's a type of story that's been done before, many times, in romance. The entire time I was reading it I kept feeling like I'd read the story before. Not this exact book, but one very very similar. It really took my interest away from reading the story because nothing came off as new and made me want to keep reading. There just wasn't anything to make this book stand out from other books dealing with cults in the romance genre. A book has to bring something new to the table, or be really good in some other way, to keep me reading.
So while this book wasn't awful it could have been a lot better, too. It's not a book I'd say you need to run right out and buy, but I wouldn't tell you not to read it either, if you came across is somewhere.
I've definitely read better books by Cheyenne McCray, but this book wasn't terribly, just rather average.
Series Note:
No series connections, that I know of, but the way some characters are written leads me to believe the author had planned to write books for them but wasn't given the opportunity.
Summary:
Lyra Collins escaped from a twisted cult several years ago and has been on the run since. The leader of the cult believes Lyra is to be his wife and they will produce a new Messiah. Lyra wants no part of it all and is determined to stay hidden. Unfortunately, local P.I. Dare Lancaster leads the cult right to her front door.
When Dare realizes what he has unwittingly done, he'll do anything to keep Lyra safe. Soon, the two are running for their lives and the more they get to know each other, the more the attraction grows. But the cult leader will stop at nothing to get to Lyra and it will be up to Dare to keep her safe.
Review:
I love romantic suspense books and whenever I read one I always hope it'll be great, but this one fell a bit short of the mark. I've read quite a few books by Cheyenne McCray so I had high hopes this would be good. It wasn't her best work, though. Not terrible, just not that great either.
Everything about the book is fairly average. The characters, the romance, the writing...they didn't suck but they didn't really stand out in any way. Something about the way the romance developed over the course of the two running for their lives felt off. I can't really say why just that it didn't particularly come across the right way. I didn't mind the characters but they seemed a bit underdeveloped to me. And honestly, the most interesting character in the book was Dare's partner, Nick. I was really hoping there was a book for him but I haven't found one.
By far, the thing that dragged this book down the most, though, was that the story lacked originality. It's a type of story that's been done before, many times, in romance. The entire time I was reading it I kept feeling like I'd read the story before. Not this exact book, but one very very similar. It really took my interest away from reading the story because nothing came off as new and made me want to keep reading. There just wasn't anything to make this book stand out from other books dealing with cults in the romance genre. A book has to bring something new to the table, or be really good in some other way, to keep me reading.
So while this book wasn't awful it could have been a lot better, too. It's not a book I'd say you need to run right out and buy, but I wouldn't tell you not to read it either, if you came across is somewhere.
August 19, 2011
Chosen Prey
4 Stars
Synopsis:
When former cop turned private investigator, Dare Lancaster accidentally leads a fanatical cult straight to Lyra Collins, he realizes that he has placed her in danger and is determined to save her at all costs. An escapee from a cult, Lyra finds it difficult to trust anyone but will have to work with Dare in order to thwart the plans of a fanatical cult leader convinced that Lyra is the foretold mother of the new Messiah.
Review:
A well-written, suspenseful and engrossing plot with just the right mix of action and romance.
The love scenes are steamy but not overly explicit, and the main characters are engaging. Dare is a strong, honorable and surprisingly forgiving hero – I’m not sure I would be as accepting of someone who sprayed pepper spray in my face. Lyra is independent, intelligent and courageous, and is able to get out of some seriously sticky situations using her wits alone. One problematic issue with their relationship is that, given Lyra’s past, it progresses for too quickly to be completely believable but it is enjoyable nonetheless.
The secondary characters are also well-developed, especially Dare’s partner (hopefully he will get his own book) and the cult leader, whose disgusting depravity is enough to make your skin crawl.
The writing is well-paced and the dialogue flows. There are one or two incidents that had me shaking my head in disbelief but these do not ruin the overall reading experience.
McCray is another first time author for me and I will definitely be reading more of her books.
4 Stars
Synopsis:
When former cop turned private investigator, Dare Lancaster accidentally leads a fanatical cult straight to Lyra Collins, he realizes that he has placed her in danger and is determined to save her at all costs. An escapee from a cult, Lyra finds it difficult to trust anyone but will have to work with Dare in order to thwart the plans of a fanatical cult leader convinced that Lyra is the foretold mother of the new Messiah.
Review:
A well-written, suspenseful and engrossing plot with just the right mix of action and romance.
The love scenes are steamy but not overly explicit, and the main characters are engaging. Dare is a strong, honorable and surprisingly forgiving hero – I’m not sure I would be as accepting of someone who sprayed pepper spray in my face. Lyra is independent, intelligent and courageous, and is able to get out of some seriously sticky situations using her wits alone. One problematic issue with their relationship is that, given Lyra’s past, it progresses for too quickly to be completely believable but it is enjoyable nonetheless.
The secondary characters are also well-developed, especially Dare’s partner (hopefully he will get his own book) and the cult leader, whose disgusting depravity is enough to make your skin crawl.
The writing is well-paced and the dialogue flows. There are one or two incidents that had me shaking my head in disbelief but these do not ruin the overall reading experience.
McCray is another first time author for me and I will definitely be reading more of her books.
January 10, 2016
This book did not work for me at all. I made it to Chapter 8, page 107ish before I decided to move on to something else. First, something was "off" in the dialogue. It felt wrong and there was way too much filler between the characters responding to each other over a simple conversation. Also, Dare seemed like an idiot when he spoke. Then, the show don't tell writing style was not there. I dislike being told what happened, rather than being there while it happens. The author spent entirely too much time detailing the mundane. If it doesn't help the story move along, it shouldn't be in the book. I don't need to know she sat in the car, buckled her seat belt, closed the door, he walked around to the driver's side, removed his cowboy hat, slid inside, placed his hat on something in the back seat, put the key in the ignition...how bout they drove away and move the story along. Way too much narration. But the clencher for me was all of a sudden the H/h are kissing like long lost lovers while they are trying to escape and then the lust factor kicked in and they are doing all kinds of things when there was no build up. How did they go from 0 to 60 in a few pages?
The plot seemed really silly and the more that was revealed the sillier it seemed to become.
The plot seemed really silly and the more that was revealed the sillier it seemed to become.
January 23, 2016
Lyra Collins has made a life for herself in a sleepy artists 19 community in Arizona. Having escaped from a cult five years ago, she keeps a low profile, making a living as an artist. But when a mysterious man with a dark, dangerous look appears on her doorstep, she knows it 19s time to run again.[br/] [br/]Former cop Dare Lancaster didn 19t mean to lead a bunch of fanatical cult members straight to Lyra 19s door. But now that he 19s gotten her into this mess, he 19s determined to get her out. The frantic heat their bodies generate whenever they 19re together makes him want to save her 26[br/] [br/]Neal Barker 19s grandfather was the first Prophet Jericho, and Neal now rules the Temple of Light commune unchecked. According to his visions, he and Lyra are destined to produce the new Messiah, so he will stop at nothing to make her his own. But soon Dare will discover just how far he 19ll go to protect Lyra 14and never let her go.[br/][br/]I loved this book. Come to think of it everyone of her books,I like alot..
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