Wilde Rain by Christine Feehan
Wild Rain (Leopard series, Book 2)
by Christine Feehan/ narrated by Renee Raudman
Amazon Book Blurb: What has she done? With a new identity, a staged death, and a chance to flee the treachery that stalks her, Rachael has escaped from a faceless assassin. Now, thousands of miles from home, under the lush canopy of the rain forest, she’s found sanctuary. Where can she hide? In this world teeming with unusual creatures walks the most exotic of them all. His name is Rio. A native of the forest imbued with a fierce prowess, he is something to be desired. Possessed of secrets of his own, he is something to be feared. Whom can she trust? But as Rachael’s past looms as oppressively as the heat of the forest, and as Rio unleashes the secret animal instincts that course through his blood, Rachael fears that her isolated haven has become an inescapable hell…
Though it says it is book two of the Leopard series, like most of Feehan’s series, you don’t necessarily have to read them in order. I have no clue, at this time, what the first book is, but I didn’t feel lost in any way shape or form. I have found, in reading her GhostWalker series…which I might add is AMAZING…that you may see some of the same character’s appeal and somethings may click, but in the overall plot, it will not make or break your understanding.
****SPOILERS****With that said, THIS WAS HOT! I like when back stories are woven seamlessly through out what is going on “present day”, a feat I struggle with greatly, and this does it with both Rio AND Rachael. I am an advocate for a strong, independent female, though as a wife and mother in my personal life, understand there are times when the dutiful, subservient (for lack of a better term) comes out. Rachel was that a few times, which made me roll my eyes, but she was also strong and determined. I liked her for the depth she presented. For me, the same opinion goes for men. I am not a “white knight fan”, so I like Rio more in the beginning then I did as he fell in love with Rachael. Their quips (that’s a good word) at each made it all realistic. The “cartel” as Rachael’s background was a good twist thought I think the “villain” dies a little too easy to be this big bad that shapeshifters ran from.
The Rain Forest setting with the use of the wild was in genius and made me want to go watch National Geographic. LOL I find I do these kinds of things for my own writing and understanding…I will keep my most recent venture viewing to myself and save you from looking at me like as someone into bestiality. Enough said! Feehan captured the way the animals moved and communicated without adding something mystical or supernatural element to them, which was cool and organic.
Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who takes pleasure in this genre. To date, from what I could fine, there are a total of 10 books in the series. I am off now to listen to Burning Wild, which is book 3, followed by Leopard’s Fury, which is book 9…I’ll let you know how those go.
Happy reading.
