Reviewer: Tracy Bengal's Heart (Breeds, #14) by Lora Leigh
Series: Breeds #14
Also in this series: Megan's Mark (Breeds, #6), Dawn's Awakening (Breeds, #11), The Magical Christmas Cat , Mercury's War (Breeds, #12), Coyote's Mate (Breeds, #13), Lion's Heat (Breeds, #15), Lion's Heat (Breeds, #15), Navarro's Promise (Breeds, #17), Cross Breed (Breeds, #23), Stygian's Honor
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: August 4, 2009
Format: Print ARC
Point-of-View: Third
Genres: Paranormal Romance
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Series Rating:
It’s been 11 years since Cassa had an unwitting hand in the destruction of a Breed lab that Cabal St. Laurents was held. Cabal was the only survivor and let Cassa know in no uncertain terms that he “owned” her. Now Cassa is receiving pictures and letters via email of the deaths of the group of men who were known to hunt and kill Breeds. Cassa is determined to get the real story here, but she’s also determined to do so in a way that doesn’t make the Breeds get any bad PR – not an easy thing to do.
Cabal is in the small town to find the killer as well, but not for any television story. But Cabal’s not all that excited about seeing Cassa there as he wants her gone. Cabal knows that Cassa is his mate and has since the first moment he saw her, but he’s unwilling to claim her as he doesn’t want her put into any type of danger. Eventually that thinking falls to the wayside and Cabal claims his mate. Now he’s just gotta keep her out of danger.
So Cassa and Cabal are mates. Cabal’s known from day 1 and Cassa, due to a strange action when she first saw Cabal, knows it as well. Cassa wants to be claimed but Cabal but she fears her independence will be taken away from her if she gives in. This led to some interesting interaction between the two.
I can’t say it’s un-typical of the Breed books to have the h/h fighting/arguing one minute and then doing the horizontal mambo the next but it just seemed to be that there was an overload in this book. Cabal and Cassa are both so damned independent and stubborn! But, as in all the books they learn to deal with each other and it was done in such a way that it was believable for me, which is always nice.
The suspense side of the story was good as well and we find out some info about a few unique Breeds and Cabal that were heretofore unmentioned – that made for an interesting read.
I have to say I was a little disappointed when Jonas’s mate was revealed and it was kind of done nonchalantly. I guess I’ve been waiting to find out who was going to be able to handle that man for so long that I was underwhelmed when it was told in such a ho-hum manner. Hopefully Jonas’s book, which is up next, will be better than the reveal.
Rating 4 out of 5
Breeds
Hi 🙂
Thanks for a great review.
All the best,
twitter.com/RKCharron
🙂
Great review, Tracy. I agree that this book was over the top. I didn’t like it as much as I was expecting to, especially since it was Cabal’s book.
I enjoyed Mercury and Del-Rey’s stories more than Cabal’s and I didn’t even look forward to their stories as I did for Cabal’s. I expected more for Cabal’s story and there was just something lacking for me.
One thing that bothers me is that Cabal knows that Cassa is his mate since day 1 yet he still slept with countless other women. Also, while Cabal didn’t have intentions to claim Cassa he indicated that if she had slept around he would’ve gone for the other guys’ heads. Jerk. Ha, okay I like the possessiveness. I guess you can’t expect the guy to stay celibate since he wasn’t going to claim her as his mate but I thought that defeats the whole concept of mates.
I thought Jonas’ mate would be another person. And was very disappointed that there was no excerpt of his book.
Does anyone know when Jonas’ book is out?
RK – You’re welcome!
Casee – As much as I was looking forward to this book I was hoping it would be a 4.5 or 5 star read. It was still pretty good though.
Tabitha – I loved Mercury’s book but Del-Rey’s not so much. I had definite issue with that one in that his actions didn’t fit with who he was. Hopefully Jonas will be as good as MC. It’s called Lion’s Heat and as far as I know it will be out in April 2010.
Great review, Tracy!
This is a series I’ve been wanting to check out for ages. As you know, I love the shifter stories, and it’s always nice when there’s a long backlist to work through. Is this the kind of series I need to start at book 1?
Hi Tracy, thanks for the review! Was wondering how much I should be stalking the bookstore/library for this book 🙂 …. and I hope it’s not a spoiler to ask if we’ve already met Jonas’ mate in a previous story (I believe….) and I do hope his story is worth him – wonder if Lora Leigh feels the pressure (like the anticipation there was for Kenyon’s Acheron’s book…)
Thanks, Tracy, for the update on Jonas’ book. April ’10 is soooooo far away!
Allison(‘s)Reads: I believe Jonas’ mate was mentioned in a previous story but a very brief mention (I don’t know which story, someone told me this). Hint: she is not the obvious person I thought she was in the more recent release (hehe, didn’t want to give out spoiler). Don’t know if that helps,
Renee – If it were me starting the Breed series then yes, I’d go for the gusto and read from the beginning (the ebooks). I think you just get a better background on who the Breed’s are and what they’ve lived through.
Allison – Good question about the pressure! I would think she couldn’t help but be, but then again you never know.
And yes, we’ve already met Jonas’s mate – but not in depth.
Tabitha – April 2010 seems like a lifetime when you’re waiting for a release, doesn’t it? lol I know it does for me.
Hi Tracy. Great review. The last book I read in this series was Mercury’s War and I liked it, but for some reason I didn’t run out to get the last one… this one on the other hand I want to read because it’s Cabal, lol!
I’m glad to see it made it to a 4/5 for you… can’t wait to read Jonas’ book. 🙂
I could not agree with you more on the h/h fighting/arguing, I’m kind of sick of it. I had to write out a b*tch list on my blog, on this book. My major pet peeve is Cabal was uh like into major kinky things in Tanner’s Scheme. I felt like he was a totally different character, what the heck was up w/ that?
Great review!