Review: Dawn’s Awakening by Lora Leigh

Posted February 19, 2008 by Casee in Reviews | 4 Comments

Review: Dawn’s Awakening by Lora LeighReviewer: Casee
Dawn's Awakening (Breeds, #11) by Lora Leigh
Series: Breeds #11
Also in this series: Megan's Mark (Breeds, #6), The Magical Christmas Cat , Mercury's War (Breeds, #12), Coyote's Mate (Breeds, #13), Bengal's Heart (Breeds, #14), Lion's Heat (Breeds, #15), Lion's Heat (Breeds, #15), Navarro's Promise (Breeds, #17), Cross Breed (Breeds, #23), Stygian's Honor

Publication Date: February 1, 2008
Point-of-View: Third
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 281
Add It: Goodreads
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three-half-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

An erotic thrill ride about genetically altered Breeds with feline DNA-and the humans who arouse their lust.

The runt of the lab she was created in, Dawn Daniels endured years of torture by her pride brother and the council soldiers. Finally freed from her torment, she's now a Breed Enforcer, in control of her own life. Until she's assigned to protect the one man destined to be her mate—and realizes it's far too easy to lose total control.

One of the Breeds' most important supporters, Seth Lawrence has spent years trying to forget Dawn, knowing that her lost innocence has made it impossible for her to get close to anyone. But suddenly neither of them can find the strength to fight the overwhelming passion between them.At least until the most brutal tormentor from Dawn's past reappears—and threatens to destroy their newfound love, along with their lives...

I’ve been a long time reader of Lora Leigh. From when the Breed series started at Elloras Cave and LL’s writing was reminiscent of a train wreck, I’ve read her. She has gotten so much better, all the way around. So in addition to saying I’m a long time reader of Lora Leigh, I’m also a long time fan.

We first met Dawn Daniels way back when Callan and Merinus first mated. On the Breed timeline, it’s been over 10 years. Dawn is an extremely tortured heroine. As the “runt”, the evil Genetics Council soldiers enjoyed torturing Dawn more than usual. When she was rescued, the torture continued albeit different than it was when she was in captivity. She knew when she met Seth Lawrence that he was destined to be her mate.

Ten years later, Dawn has done an admirable job of suppressing the urge to mate with Seth. When she learns that a hit has been put out on his life, she responds as any Cougar whose mate is threatened would. It’s only when Seth comes to Sanctuary that Dawn realizes that while Seth might be her mate, she is no longer Seth’s mate. After 10 years of knowing that Seth is the only one for her, she learns that Seth has somehow rid himself of the mating heat. Furious, Dawn decides that she won’t accept it. If she has to go through the mating heat, he will too.

And that, my dear readers, is more or less how the book continues.

Though I really admired Dawn in the previous Breed books, I found myself hard pressed to even like her in this one. I’d say 90% of any dialogue exchanged between her and Seth was either “growled”, “snarled”, or “bit out”. Don’t get me wrong, I completely understood her bitterness as well as her fear. I completely understood the attraction to Seth. What I didn’t understand was what Seth’s attraction to Dawn was. She was a total bitch. While I understand the why of it, even accepted it to a point, Dawn didn’t seem to realize what Seth sacraficed by staying away from her. Yeah, it might have been better had he not stayed away. Still. This is a guy that has stayed away because he thinks it’s the best thing he can do for the woman he loves. He has tried to move on because he knows that she’ll never be able to let him give her what she needs. He never made it about himself, it was always about what was best for Dawn. Then when she thinks he’s found happiness with someone besides her, she decides she’s waited long enough.

As for Seth, he was a likeable hero. I’m always curious to see how LL will pull off a human hero. Mating with a Breed, he’d have to be an extremely strong willed man. I think she does such a great job of creating alpha heroes that are human. You could stand Seth or Lance (Harmony’s Way) right next to any Breed male and they would not be found lacking.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I think that’s because of the secondary stories that were happening, though. If it was all Dawn and Seth all the time, I don’t think I would have enjoyed it as much. I’m especially curious to see where Lora Leigh is going to take Cassie. I just hope that her story doesn’t get dragged out for-evah.

3.75 out of 5

Breeds

three-half-stars


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4 responses to “Review: Dawn’s Awakening by Lora Leigh

  1. Chantal

    I agree, it was good, but not the best one. Not even the second or third best Breed book.
    I like the Ellora Cave Breed books way better.

    I was telling Ames that I love the bending over the bar sex scene. Oh baby.

    I’m not into Cassie, I think she is creepy. I do like that mystery Breed who seems to be her mate though.

    I want to know more about The Leo.

  2. A while back I re-read the series and I really think that it’s noticeable when she went mainstream. The new books just don’t have the same feel as the EC books.

    I’m intrigued by Cassie. I think I’ve read that she needs to grow up before getting her own book, but how much more grown up can you get? There’s a bounty on your head, you see ghosts, and you can see the future.

  3. Ohhh that makes sense. I didn’t realize this started out with Ellora’s Cave first and then switched to mainstream. I’m really curious to check out this series now. Thanks for the review Casee!

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