I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Tempting the Beast
by
Lora Leigh
erotica, paranormal romance in Paperback edition that was published by Ellora's Cave on November 24, 2003 and has 284 pages.
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Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Styx's Storm, Moving Violations, Cops and Cowboys, B.O.B.'s Fall, Manaconda, A Wish a Kiss a Dream, "Dragon Prime", Primal, Live Wire, Navarro's Promise, Forbidden Pleasure, Beyond the Dark, Black Jack, Dangerous Pleasure, Maverick, Man Within, Midnight Sins, Wild Card, Tied with a Bow, Lawe's Justice, Legally Hot, Deadly Sins, Stygian's Honor, Surrender to Fire, Nauti Temptress, Submission & Seduction, Wicked Sacrifice, Secret Sins, Nautier and Wilder, Shameless Embraces, Wicked Pleasure, Only Pleasure, Guilty Pleasure, Wicked Lies, Twin Passions, Nauti Enchantress, Shattered Legacy, Intense Pleasure, Knight Stalker, Enthralled, Secret Pleasure, Rule Breaker, "The One", Nauti Angel, Nauti Seductress, Wake a Sleeping Tiger, Collision Point, Cross Breed, One Tough Cowboy, Hot for the Holidays, Dawn's Awakening, "Night Hawk"
First in the erotic Breeds (and Feline Breeds) paranormal-romance series set in an alternate America.
My Take
Great action story both in the sex and the battles. Leigh has created an amazing backstory reminiscent of Hitler’s medical experiments with all the charm and decency of his concentration camps. This is not to put down what happened in the Holocaust but to point out that evil exists within humanity in any time, any race where greed and power coexist. It’s disgusting that it does. And I love the battle that the Breeds and other compassionate people take against it.
I do like her persistence in forcing Callan to release his “inner beast”. Acceptance for all of Callan and the love Merinus has for her father and brothers. The longing in his heart to experience even a small part of that faith.
We learn what the Breeds have always known of betrayal, running, hiding, protecting each other, their mates. Even as we learn that some decency exists, that compassion can rise up and do battle against hatred, racism, and intolerance.
Don’t expect a shapeshifters’ tale because the Breeds do not shift their shape. They have simply been genetically modified to incorporate traits from each breed of animal that was incorporated into them.
The Story
Merinus insists on doing the fieldwork and making Callan Lyons the offer to bring him in and expose the Council’s perfidy through her father’s paper and her uncle’s power as a senator. There is something about the man that draws Merrie, and she will meet him.
And so it begins, the irresistible passion, the intense need that grows between them, the mating heat that only slowly do their doctors and scientists begin to understand.
The Characters
Merinus Tyler is a stubborn idjit who wants her cake and then complains when she gets a tummy ache. Kane Tyler is the oldest of Merinus’ seven brothers. Ex-Special Forces, he is driven to expose the horrors of the labs in which the Breeds were bred and trained. Driven by a love he lost. Her father runs a newspaper; her uncle is a senator.
Callan Lyons is a lionshifter who escaped the labs and protecting his pride: Taber, Dawn, Sherra, Tanner, and Dayan.
The Cover and Title
The cover is rather over the top, although they both appear to be dressed. The long mane of hair sported by Callan with the partial face of a lion looking out at us is quite leonine.
The title is truly accurate as Merinus is Tempting the Beast.
