Sandy S.
4.25 stars--CROSS BREED is the twenty –third instalment in Lora Leigh’s contemporary, adult BREEDS erotic, paranormal romance series focusing on a government experiment that went horribly wrong. This is coyote/wolf/human hybrid Cassie Sinclair, and coyote hybrid / Council enforcer Dog’s story line. CROSS BREED can be read as a stand alone but for backstory and cohesion, I recommend reading the series in order as Cassie’s story began in book three Elizabeth’s Wolf wherein we were first introduced to the powers of a then eight year old child whose abilities were far more than anyone could have imagined. SOME BACKGOUND: Trying to create the ultimate warrior, genetic scientists combined animal DNA with human embryos resulting in a species that has been feared and tortured since their inception. With the increase in natural conception of cross-breed species, not only have the Breeds, but humans have become wary of the powerful results. Told from several third person perspectives including Dog and Cassie, CROSS BREED focuses on the relationship and mating between coyote/wolf/human hybrid Cassie Sinclair, and coyote hybrid / enforcer Dog-a mating and relationship that began years before. Six years earlier Dog knew, a then eighteen –year old, Cassie Sinclair to be his mate but the young woman wasn’t yet ready to be claimed, a claiming that would be troublesome and life-threatening for everyone involved. Cassie Sinclair is considered the ‘breed princess’, a protected cross-breed of unknown powers with the knowledge, comprehension and the ability to ‘know and see’ that which she should not, and could not have known. Early in their story, Cassie loses some of her strong personality traits but quickly recovers when their relationship is threatened by an outside source. Dog is considered a traitor to the Breeds, working with the Council to control his own kind, a position that has placed our hero in the direct line of fire. But Dog refuses to step away from the woman he loves until threats of a different nature advance on our story line couple. The relationship between Cassie and Dog is fated; a mating destined by hormones and animal attraction; a lifetime alliance dependant upon nature and DNA. For years Dog has known Cassie to be his mate but the Breeds view Dog as a threat to their existence contrary to what Cassie and others know to be true. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic, aggressive and intense. There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and familiar secondary and supporting characters as Cassie and Dog’s mating is called into question. From the first Leo, to the Breed primals or Prime Leaders, Dog and Cassie’s relationship will be tested and threatened in more ways than one. CROSS BREED is an erotic, sexy, heartbreaking and intimate tale of fate and love. The premise is revealing and dramatic; the characters are strong, capable and spirited; the romance is provocative and energetic. Dog is the perfect mate for our story line heroine- a mate that is willing to do anything to protect the woman he loves.
18 people found this review helpful
Eva Millien
Wow! What an exhilarating read! I have been impatiently awaiting Cassie’s book and wondering who her mate was ever since she was introduced as an eight-year-old little girl. This child captured my heart and remains there still and I have to tell you that her story rocked my world just as it rocked the Breeds. Without giving away just who her mate is, I will tell you that he is sexy and arrogant, frustrating and mysterious with lots of secrets and a whole lot of alpha attitude as while I wouldn’t have put them together before, I could feel the magnetic pull of these two together and now I can’t picture Cassie with anyone else. These two character are seriously strong, totally convincing and really steal the show with their romance that is filled with lots of twists, explosive chemistry and volcanic passion and then of course there is the all the emotional turmoil one would expect during a Breed mating but this story goes a bit beyond the normal due just who these characters are. Oh, and of course there tempers flying and frustrations rising and jerks getting knocked on their behinds. The adrenaline pumping thrills and excitement never stop in this fast paced novel that keeps readers turning the pages with obsessive fever. There was definitely no way I wanted to miss one glorious second of Cassie’s story which has secrets being revealed that blew me away, which of course means that readers will impatiently awaiting the next book to find out what happens next. Although, I don’t know if Cross Breed can be topped, but I have no doubts that this author could make me eat my words, because she brought new characters in and like most readers of this series, I can’t never get enough of the Breed world and all its fascinating characters.
30 people found this review helpful
Hlengiwe Cebekhulu
Seems like I've been waiting years for this book and I wasn't disappointed. Dog and Cassandra's story brought back all the emotion and suspense I felt since first reading 'Elizabeth's Wolf'. Answers who the Angel is that Cassie has being seeing since she was child. Bittersweet story at the heart of it for me. Just disappointed that the Senator didn't reveal anything useful