Customer Reviews

Dawn's Awakening

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Tortured mercilessly in the Breed labs, Dawn's nightmare should have ended when her Pride escaped the evil Council and left the labs behind. But her torment continued afterwards, at the hands of a Pride brother she should have been able to trust, a Breed who would betray his entire Pride.

Years have passed since their escape from the labs and the discovery of the traitorous Breed. Dawn has grown strong, into a Breed Enforcer to be reckoned with, but is not without enduring pain. The torture she experienced has kept her from the Mate she found ten years earlier. But the Mating Heat grows unbearable for Dawn, and she is determined to do whatever it takes to claim Seth Lawrence as her Mate once and for all.

Seth has suffered too, although hormonally the Mating Heat is not as difficult for males as for females. But it is more than the Mating Heat that causes Seth's pain - his heart is breaking without the woman he loves, although he would do anything to prevent Dawn's pain - even if that means he must deny himself to prevent her nightmares from returning.

Nothing can prevent those nightmares from returning, both in Dawn's dreams and in the waking world. She'll need Seth more than ever to handle the horror she is about to face.

Just how many favorite books can I have in one series? If you had asked me before I read Dawn's Awakening which of Lora Leigh's Breeds books was my favorite, I would have debated between Tanner's Scheme and Elizabeth's Wolf, finally settling on a tie. With this new edition in her gripping saga of genetically manipulated people whose DNA is spliced with animal DNA, Dawn's Awakening has unexpectedly earned its place in my top three favorite Breeds stories.

When we first met Seth Lawrence in The Man Within, he was kind and noble. In Dawn's Awakening, he is still both, but we finally see the man underneath, as Ms. Leigh delivers a human hero to rival any Breed male we have yet seen in terms of sex appeal and sheer Alpha dominance. Make no mistake, this ex-military man turned head of international conglomerate Lawrence Industries is no pushover, despite his devotion to Dawn and the sacrifices he has made in regards to her well-being. Now that he sees her again, he understands what she needs more than anything is not the distance he has given her for so many years, but to be pushed to her limits, to face her pain and take control of it. And he is the man who will be there with her every step of the way.

Dawn's pain is so strong you can feel it emanating from the very pages of this book. How a person, even a Breed, could survive the traumas she has sustained and remain as sane as Dawn has is amazing. But that sanity is near its breaking point as both the Mating Heat and the nightmares from her past bubble to the surface, threatening to consume her once and for all. Digging deep for the strength she has within, Dawn finally finds it within her to reach for the things she wants most, and what she wants most is Seth. Seeing her allow him inside her considerable defenses without losing that inner strength she has built so meticulously over the years is heartwarming and heartrending all at once.

You will want to have a big box of tissue handy when you sit down to read Dawn's Awakening. I highly recommend Puff's Plus, as the lotion prevents skin chafing from the numerous times you will be wiping the tears from your eyes and face. But this isn't just a tearjerker of a romance, it is also a riveting suspense-filled story as Seth and Dawn work together to ferret out the person or persons threatening their lives.

Of course, through it all, our couple find time for some searing sex scenes guaranteed to leave readers hot and bothered during and after reading Dawn's Awakening! I have said it before and I will say it again - no one knows how to turn me on like Lora Leigh! With her books, of course... LOL

Series Order (NY books only):
Megan's Mark (The Breeds, Book 1) (Berkley Sensation)
Harmony's Way (The Breeds, Book 2)
Tanner's Scheme (The Breeds, Book 3)
Dawn's Awakening (The Breeds, Book 4)

Connected Books:
Hot Spell (The Guardians, Book 1) (The Breed Next Door) (The Countess's Pleasure) (The Blood Kiss)(Falling For Anthony)
Beyond the Dark
Shifter (Berkley Sensation)

Dawn Daniels is a cougar breed. Small and wiry, she was the runt of the lab and so therefore bore the brunt of the council soldiers' cruelty. Betrayed by a littermate, she doesn't trust easily, experiences nightmares and has tried to spend the last ten years healing from the horror of the labs in which she was born. Through it all, one thing in Dawn's life has been constant - the thought of her mate, Seth Lawrence.

Ten years after the breeds first introduced themselves to the world, Seth finds himself in limbo. While his desire for Dawn is all-consuming, he worries that her horrific past will prevent them from coming together. Seth knows that his physical needs are great - but hurting Dawn is not an option. He doesn't count on her tenacity as a mated female nor her newfound stubbornness.

Dawn and Seth cautiously explore their world together after years apart. Circling each other warily, they both maintain their secrets - secrets that become inconsequential when a real danger emerges threatening their tentative relationship. Surrounded by enforcers and searching for elusive answers, the lovers realize the unidentified danger is intent on destroying them - as well as destroying the dream they both just realized they had - of being together as only breed mates can be.

I first read Ms. Leigh's TEMPTING THE BEAST three years ago. She introduced her world of breeds and I was instantly hooked. I was also intrigued by the shy and timid runt, Dawn Daniels. Her sadness was evident and almost more than I could stand but I couldn't stop thinking about her. I wanted her healed, I wanted her unbroken, and I wanted her with Seth Lawrence. In true Lora Leigh erotic style, I got my wish. Dawn Daniels of DAWN'S AWAKENING has grown up and she is decidedly stronger, hauntingly beautiful, and completely captivating. Her stand-your-ground personality touched a cord within me that made me grin, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching her give Seth a run for his money. Seth made the mistake of thinking that Dawn was too fragile to handle his needs as a mate. Once again, womanhood prevailed. Not only did Dawn take every bit of Seth, ultimately she irrevocably tied his heart to hers as only true breed mates can do.

The wait for DAWN'S AWAKENING was worth every minute. The seductive words on each page were purely majestic. I was introduced to new breeds and reintroduced to past favorites. The storyline flowed and I even found myself shedding tears more than once. DAWN'S AWAKENING held me captivated and continues to do so a month after having read it. I am totally bewitched by Ms. Leigh's breed world and continue to pine away for each new release. DAWN'S AWAKENING is set to hit bookstores today, February 5, 2008.

What is a woman to do when her mate is trying to move on? Dawn Daniels discovers that to have Seth there is much she will have to face and resolve. By putting everything that happened in the labs deep in her memory, Dawn has grown into a controlled and respected member of the pride. However years ago Dawn discovered her mate only to have him leave her. Now years later he is in trouble, probably for helping the breeds, and Dawn is going to Seth on a three- fold mission. To protect him, find out who's trying to kill him and to claim him.

Seth Lawrence has wanted Dawn since the first time he saw her, but when faced with her past Seth left her, thinking it was for the best. He has tried to move on with his life, but when circumstances make it so he has to have a breed security team at his island that is no longer an option. Seth just wonders if he can handle having Dawn so close without touching her. Danger, death and Dawn's determination take the decision out of Seth's hands in one way and yet it gives him the strength he needs to help Dawn became the mate he wants and needs - even if he has to overrule her family and hurt Dawn emotionally to do so.

Out of all the original feline's breeds - Dawn is the last to have her story. I have been waiting for her ever since I met her the first time. Dawn's Awakening was everything and much more than I could have wished for. I knew, as did many of us that Seth and Dawn were supposed to be mates. I was unprepared for what had all happened in the years between the last time we saw Dawn and Seth. Ms. Leigh had me on the ropes in several places. I had tears in my eyes in at least two specific places. The deep love - not only between Dawn and Seth, but also that of the breed family - I found to be the underlying emotion throughout Dawn's Awakening even when I was really mad at something a much loved character had done. The roller coaster ride of danger, betrayal, love, hate, and new mysteries were to be expected and yet I can't tell you any more about it without spilling the beans altogether. What I can and will tell you is that Dawn's Awakening is one of a couple special breed books in my opinion and one that will be re-read by me many times. It is also a Joyfully Recommended Read from me for all of those reasons I mentioned.

Jo
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Lora Leigh is one author I always buy, she writes hot romances, but they also have great stories. The Breeds are one of my faves. With this novel she has revisited some of her characters from a while ago. There are several Breed books only in print from Elora's Cave. TEMPTING THE BEAST, THE MAN WITHIN, and KISS OF HEAT are the three books that begin the Feline breed novels. The story of Taber and Roni is the 2nd book and the story of Dash and Elizabeth is called ELIZABETH'S WOLF. All are available from Amazon.

Dawn was brutalized as a young child in the labs. She knows she has a mate but he has not persued her and she has fought the battle with the mating heat by herself. Now she finds out he has managed to overcome the heat and plans to wed another. At this point Dawn finds she is not willing to stand aside, Seth is her mate and she will have him.

Seth Lawrence is the CEO of Lawrence Ind. his father had supported the labs and only when his half-sister Roni became the focus of hatred for becoming Taber's mate did his father change his ways. Seth has always tried to help the breeds, but Callan showed him a video of what had happened to Dawn and Seth loves her enough to let her go. Now he finds that Dawn is determinded to have him and he must find a way to face her pain and disgust if she is unable to be his mate fully.

The tensions and dangers that surround them, even old enemies, try to tear the mates apart. One person knows what will happen, that is Cassie, and she has forseen her death if Dawn is unable to accept what was done to her. Cassie is the daughter of Elizabeth and Dash Sinclair. She has psychic powers and the council will do anything to capture her.

The gathering of people who own companies associated with Lawrence Ind. happens once a year. This year it is on the island owned by Seth. There are many dangers and many surprises revealed. Dawn and her team are sent to protect the island and Seth.

This is good reading and leaves us hungry for the next installment.

I am an avid fan of Lora Leigh, and especially the Breeds series, but this one was amazing. While full of steamy sensuality, and beyond erotic conversation between Seth and Dawn, this book is also rife with poignant and even heartbreaking moments. Very reminiscent of Elizabeth's Wolf. The content between Cassie and Dash was definitely tear worthy.Wolf Breeds: Elizabeth's Wolf (Book 4) (Ellora's Cave) Plus for all of the fans of the series you get a ten year jump into the future, to see what is going on with some of my/your favorite characters from previous books. So prepare yourself. Dawn's Awakening will cause you to require a cold shower, and a tissue. Lora Leigh has definitely taken her writing and this series to a whole new level. Congratulations, I look forward to the next book with bated breath.

I may get a lot of angry comments to this review, but I did not like this book. I cried many times reading it. That, in itself, isn't a bad thing. But for Dawn to mate with Seth, then have him leave her for ten years......that was more than I could accept. If you love someone you don't go off and sleep with other women, not in the Breed world Lora Leigh has made. Doing that is worse than cheating! You KNOW your true mate, soul mate, and you go out and sleep with other women? That's cruel and it doesn't matter that Seth loved her from afar. Ten years? Really? That's BS. I feel the same way about Bengal's Heart. I can't stand it when she does this to her characters. I love a happy ending, and she delivers that with every book, but I cannot understand why she makes some of her stories so miserable and upsetting.

With Mercury's War, I cried during certain parts, but it was a good sort of cry. With this book, it was a miserable and angry cry, and I don't spend $7.99 to read a book that is upsetting in this manner.

I'm still a fan, despite Dawn's Awakening and Bengal's Heart. Maybe Styx's Storm will deliver more than these last couple books have.

In the near future, there is a species that lives alongside humans. They were created by evil scientists from a combination of human and animal DNA. They were trained to be weapons. They were tortured, they were raped, and they were stripped of their humanity. And from the horror of those labs came men and women with strength, intelligence, and compassion the world could never have imagined. Scarred to the depths of their souls by the past, but full of hope and determination for a better future, the trials they go through will break your heart while the love they find will bring you joy. They are the Breeds, and they will knock your socks off.

Lora Leigh Dawn's Awakening is the story of Dawn Daniels and Seth Lawrence. Dawn is a Cougar Breed, one who had been raped and tortured repeatedly as a child. Now she's stronger, a Breed Enforcer, but still plagued constantly by memories of what had been done to her. For ten years she and Seth have known they were mates, but the nightmare that was her past and misunderstandings on both sides have kept them from one another until the mating heat, the driving biological reaction between mates, has almost completely faded from Seth. But then Seth's life is at risk, and Dawn will do anything to protect and claim the man that is her mate.

Dawn's Awakening shows Leigh's writing at its best. The story is both heartbreaking and achingly romantic. Dawn's past haunts her, but she has not only survived, she has come through with strength and dignity that is awe-inspiring. With Seth's love and help, Dawn continues to grow and cope more fully with what was done to her.

Seth has become my absolute favorite of Leigh's heroes. He's an alpha to the core, but the tenderness he shows with his mate and the love he has for her makes for some truly beautiful scenes best left for a reader to discover on their own.

There's also a mystery to be solved regarding the enemy out to destroy Dawn and Seth, secrets that will be revealed, and an enigmatic character who will undoubtedly play a role in future books. Fans of the Breed series will meet some of their favorite characters again, such as Callan Lyons, Dash, Elizabeth, and Cassie Sinclair, Dane Vanderale, and the sexy, calculating Jonas Wyatt (who I am firmly convinced needs to catch a break from someone). There are also new Breeds to meet and ones to get to know better.

Leigh wrote Dawn's Awakening as a stand-alone book, and first-time readers won't miss out on any vital information. However, for a richer read, I recommend reading the first four Breed books (Tempting the Beast, The Man Within, Elizabeth's Wolf, and Kiss of Heat). You will get to know Dawn and Seth from the beginning and read some of the events that are talked about in Dawn's Awakening. I'm sure after Dawn's Awakening you will want to rush out and read the rest of these addictive stories.

I highly recommend Dawn's Awakening. It's a compelling read that will break your heart and make you sigh over the hero's romantic actions. Dawn and Seth have been long overdue for their happily ever after, but their story was well worth the wait.

Lora Leigh creates a stunning world where mother nature has ensured the continuation of a race of shape shifters that man actually created and now attempts to destroy. But mother nature has different plans for these species that should never have come to be and that comes in the form of their mates. Each book in the breed series is the story of mates coming together and the overall story line focuses on the story of how the breeds came to be and the challenges they face trying to integrate into mainstream society all while the organization that created them tries to destroy them. This series is phenomenol. Lora Leigh has created a captivating story line that is riddled with some seriously spicy romance.

I have waited for this story for so many years and it exceeded my expectations. Lora Leigh has delivered an exceptional story. I couldn't put the book down until the last page was read and then I went back and re-read certain sections it was so good. Dawn has been a character throughout almost all of the Breed books and has been through so much. Thank you Lora for handling her story so well and giving us readers so much with your storytelling.

If you have read the other Breed books then you MUST read this one. This book is a can't miss story and one you will find you read again. 5+ STARS

This book had me sitting on the edge of my seat. It was a nonstop action packed, love riddled, heart pounding read. I will warn you that this book isn't for the faint of heart. It touches on some issues that leave you feeling raw and stripped of emotion. Dawn's Awakening has just became one of the best book in this series.