Dawn's Awakening

This is the fourth title in the series of breed books written by Lora Leigh.  The only other book I read in the series was Tanner's Scheme.  Dawn's awakening gives a much better background regarding the breeds.

The breeds were created by an evil council with a combination of DNA from both humans and animals (namely the cat breeds; wolf, cougar, and lion).  The breeds were created to be slaves and malicious soldiers controlled by the council. The breed training was brutal, relentless, and savage; ensuring only the strongest breeds were able to survive.  But, when the world found out about the breeds existence the survivors were freed and placed in a sanctuary to protect them from further exploitation.  This however, does not stop the evil council from trying to recapture or kill the breeds, and the humans who want to protect them! 

The breeds have the ability through their mating heat to tell who their life mate is.  After, a brief kiss ten years ago, Dawn knew immediately Seth Lawrence was her life mate.  Still tortured by nightmares of the brutal gang rapes and savagery she suffered at the hands of the council in the breed labs makes Dawn run from her mate. 

Seth Lawrence has been in love with Dawn for ten years.  When Dawn's well meaning family shows Seth a video of the torture Dawn experienced at the hands of the council; his great love for her convinces him Dawn will not be mentally or physically able to handle a relationship with him.  However, ten years later, when Seth's life is threatened by the evil council, Dawn cannot deny her need to protect and claim her mate at all cost. 

***This book is an excellent gripping story.  Dawn's pain was so vivid and real it will cause you to have nightmares and cry too!  You also can't help but fall in love with Seth.  There is such a wealth of depth and emotion to this book that I had to reread it right after I finished it.  It was also quite different from the other book by Lora; because it was taken from the perspective of a female breed instead of a male breed.  The book leaves you with a cliff hanger.  I can't wait for the next book in the series.