Review: Nauti Angel
Nauti Angel by Lora LeighMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Say it ain't so! Is this the last in the Nauti Series? When Ms. Leigh expanded this series from Nauti boys to girls, I squeed in delight. The MacKay boys were steamy hawt men who suffered at the hands of those who should have loved and cared for them. Determined to shower the next generation with love and protection, the Nauti Girls were sheltered by their overprotective male relatives. There are hints this is the last in the series and that would be a sad day, even if I understand it. This latest one is pretty rough. Rough in the emotional trauma dealt to Angel.
Angel is a strong character because she's had to survive. Her life starting at the young age of three was to be killed or survive. After that, it was to kill or be killed. This story starts out with a devastating scene with the young Angel, in a war torn Afghanistan. As far as I'm concerned, any parent who decides to bring their young child into a war zone should not be a parent. They should be shot and the child removed from their neglectful care. Unfortunately for Angel, not only does her father betray her, but she is left unwanted by a mother she thought the sun rose and set by. Some argue that children at this tender age of three would have no members. Since I have memories starting around one and a half, I can completely believe Angel's memories and the intensity of her hurt.
Fast forward to twenty years later and Angel may still have the internal damage of being unwanted, but she is now much stronger. Her raison d'etre is to protect and rescue children in dire situations. Angel is more like a Battle Angel with a death wish. The number of times she's nearly died is quite impressive. This devil may care attitude is a trial for the man who loves her, Duke. In additional to frustrating Angel's adoptive brothers. The reason for Angel's disregard stems from her "mommy issues". Generally speaking, I scoff at Mommy and Daddy issues as #firstworldproblems. In this book, Ms. Leigh does a credible and painful illustration of what it means to have issues of abandonment. What is worse is when Angel is finally reunited with her mother, her mother not only doesn't recognize her, but treats her horribly.
This story broke my heart. In previous stories, I admired Angel's mother. In this one, not so much. I couldn't believe the callousness and cruelty doled out to a child who is just seeking for validation that her existence matters. Tears drip down my face as Angel experiences the loss and devastation all over again. This tale is not just a long sob story. The plot is regarding Angel's sister being targeted for unknown reasons. Angel is ideally suited to protecting her sister. This comes at a great cost as she can experience first hand the difference of her sterile upbringing in comparison to her treasured sister. The fact that Angel is not jealous is short of amazing. Whilst she's protecting her sister and trying to figure out how to connect with her mother, her lover is thrown into the mix. All these emotions and sensations Angel goes through would throw anyone off their game. Not for Angel. Her ability to compartmentalize is impressive.
This story is a rollercoaster ride. Between the love Duke forces upon her with and the tentative love her mother tries to shower her with, Angel is turned around. The struggle is real as Angel tries to reconcile her mother's side of the story with what Angel knew to be truth. Neither women are wrong, but the end result is still the same. Twenty years of emotional shrapnel slowly worming through their heart. This angst filled story made me feel intense and I loved it. Ms. Leigh delivers another emotionally wrenching erotica with a happily ever after. This erotica is recommended to romance readers who like strong heroines and alpha males.
*provided by NetGalley
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