Dawn's Awakening (The Breeds, Book 4)
Berkley - Berkley
Release date: 2008-02-05
Paperback
Author: Lora Leigh
Novels, other prose & writers, Romance, American Light Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction And Fantasy, Fiction, Fiction - Romance, Fiction / Romance / Paranormal, Romance - Paranormal, Romance & Sagas
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Dawn's Awakening (The Breeds, Book 4)
Date undefinedI don't even know where to begin. This was one of the most powerful love stories I've read from Lora Leigh. And all her books are pretty powerful. I will say that it was pure and total AGONY waiting almost half the book for Seth and Dawn to come together. I cried multiple times from sadness and frustration alone!!! She was hurting and suffering for most of the book too. The overwhelming emotions felt by all the characters in this story were palpable at all times.
Another incredible job well done LL. However, as usual I will need a few days to recover from it!
Dawn's Awakening (The Breeds, Book 4)
Date undefinedThe female Breeds suffered the most cruelty at the hands of the Council, and Dawn Daniels was no exception. The tiny Cougar Breed was raped, beaten, and starved repeatedly by her captors. Reduced to a snarling animal, Dawn vowed to kill the man behind the black mask that took such pleasure in abusing her small body.
Now, years later, despite the freedom she acquired, Dawn is still held captive, but this time it's from repressed memories that surface in the dark of night. Sanctuary, the Feline Breed compound, has been awoken to the broken sounds of a female Breed in absolute terror. Callan Lyons, Pride Leader and Dawn's brother, tries desperately to give Dawn the love and support she needs, but the dreams continue to plague the little Cougar. But although Callan only wants what's best for Dawn, his protection may prove to be her ultimate destruction.
Seth Lawrence, head of Lawrence Industries and major financial backer of Sanctuary, has loved Dawn from the moment he first laid eyes on her. Her haunted eyes and wounded spirit called out to him. All he wanted was to make her smile and all it took was one innocent touch for the mating heat to ignite between their two souls. But Callan, fearing Dawn's sanity, puts a stop to the relationship in the only way he knows how and that's by showing Seth video evidence of Dawn's Council Lab upbringing. He makes the argument that Dawn is not ready to endure a man's lust, especially a man responding to the wild call of the mating heat. The need for Dawn's submission would put terror in her eyes and Seth knows in his soul that it would destroy him if it was he that put it there. For this, Seth walks away from Dawn with hope that one day would awaken.
Ten years later and Dawn is pissed. The mating heat has disappeared in Seth, something heretofore unheard of, while her body is still raging in need. But it's the fact that her mate is prepared to propose to another woman that has Dawn really enraged.
Seth is receiving very creditable death threats that may become a reality at his two week Lawrence Industries Board of Directs sojourn on his private island. Accepting the position of Commander by Callan, Dawn is flying to Seth's island with the order of protection along with the help of her Breed Enforcers. Armed with not only the intention of keeping her mate safe, Dawn also has plans to overthrow the Seth's Fiancé and keep what is rightfully hers. But Seth isn't so happy with the plan. Finally able to touch the opposite sex without pain, Seth is intent on heirs. The woman providing them is of little consequence for his heart still belongs to the Cougar who stole it. But his heart has also accepted what his soul has not and that's the fact that Dawn can never be his. Fearful of adding more to Dawn's pain, he demands that she be taken off protection detail and returned to Sanctuary, but Seth underestimates the incredible will that Dawn has awakened in herself.
As the two collide, sparks fly, and not only in lust. When Dawn discovers that Seth had seen the videos of her past, she feels betrayed by Callan, her brother and savior. Enraged that Callan would keep her from her mate, she says to hell with both of them, Callan for his betrayal and Seth for his cowardliness. Yet when an assassination attempt hits too close to home, Seth goes to Dawn and embarks on the seduction of a lifetime.
Wooing her with custom made soaps, each of which Seth has had personally made. Wherever and whenever he caught a scent or saw a place he thought Dawn would like, he had a soap maker re-create that moment and memory. The love of Paris, the beauty of a sunrise, all is captured in luxurious scents. He bathes Dawn in his thoughts of her and when asked how many soaps he had, he replies with ten years worth. Seth's seduction of Dawn is sweet and passionate and as Dawn falls in love their lives soon also fall into peril.
The man in the black mask of her past has returned with the intent of returning what he feels is his-the body of a little Cougar. And as the danger heats up, Seth and Dawn work together to bring down the man that caused her and him so much pain.
I really enjoyed this addition to the Breeds series. I especially liked Dawn's backbone. Her anger at Callan's betrayal and Seth's cowardliness was completely justified. I reveled in every verbal barb she threw their way. For someone who was thought of a so fragile, I think Dawn shocked the hell out of them. Oh, and Dawn's cat fight with Seth's human girlfriend is awesome. Dawn certainly isn't lacking in the claws department and I liked that she had no qualms about pulling them out when dealing with that conniving woman. Dawn's possessiveness where Seth was concerned was certainly entertaining. I also loved Seth's seduction of Dawn. The soaps were so romantic and Dawn was completely helpless to them.
Although in the end I still thought that Seth had a lot to make up for. Walking away from Dawn, especially when she was so vulnerable and in desperate need of a loving and protective mate, was a serious offense regardless of what he saw in terms of Dawn's past. I thought this showed a serious weakness in his character. He should have fought for her then, and when he saw how hard she was fighting for him later, he should have given into her sooner. His fear of her fear was unreasonable. Yet, then again without it, there wouldn't have been any conflict. But still, this cowardliness on Seth's part kept me from giving the book five stars.
Otherwise, I am very curious to see who is watching Cassandra Sinclair (introduced in 'Elizabeth's Wolf'). I was hoping 'Coyote's Mate' would be her story but alas we are to continue in suspense. Instead 'Coyote's Mate' will feature Del-Ray and Anya from 'Aiden's Charity'. But the few glimpses we received of Cassie's future in 'Dawn's Awakening' look seriously interesting.
Dawn's Awakening (The Breeds, Book 4)
Date undefinedDawn has dealt with years of torture, not just by the genetics council, but also by her pride brother. Now she has become a breed enforcer, dealing justice. When her pride leader orders her to protect the man who is her mate she realizes she could lose the control she has struggled to keep in the years he has been gone. Seth has been a huge supporter of the breeds and has spent years getting over Dawn, realizing that her traumatized past has made it near impossible to get close to anyone, especially a man. When they meet again after all this time Dawn comes to realize that Seth no longer suffers from the mating heat, and it bothers her more than she can comprehend. Determined to keep whats hers she kisses him and the mating heat begins again. Can Dawn overcome her past and give Seth the chance he deserves? Or will an enemy from Dawn's past rip them apart?
***Although this book was not as enticing as Lora Leigh's other books it is still a great story and I highly recommend it...I tend to like the male breed books better. Despite this fact Seth is still an alpha male to make your mouth water. Lora Leigh's world of breeds is captivating and I am looking forward to her next book.
