85 of 86 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Best of the Breeds!!", September 30, 2007
This review is from: Soul Deep (Coyote Breeds, Book 1) (Paperback)
Coyote Breeds are thought to be the lowest of the Breeds, the genetically altered humans with the DNA of animals. Coyotes were bred to be unfeeling hunters and soldiers; merciless, with no souls or loyalties.
Kiowa, a Coyote Breed, had a horrific upbringing. He was abandoned by his young Native American mother who was kidnapped off the streets and forcibly inseminated with the coyote DNA. Raised by a grandfather who hated him and forced to live in a hidden mountain cabin in isolation, Kiowa led a bleak existence. He was constantly reminded of how he came to exist and was told often by his grandfather that he had "no soul" and that his mother didn't want him. His grandfather barely kept him alive, providing only the bare necessities of food and few creature comforts (books and TV, which he used to educate himself) and showing him absolutely no love.
By the time he was 14 he was totally on his own, forced to hide his true identity from the world and seek out a meager existence. But when Dash Sinclair (Elizabeth's Wolf) found him, his life changed drastically.
Amanda Marion was the daughter of the US President, a school teacher living on her own and loving her new found independence, and inexperienced in love (except for her extensive reading about it). When armed intruders attempted to kidnap her on Halloween night, it was Kiowa that came to her rescue. And when Kiowa kissed her (to shut her up, of course) uh-oh...there would be no turning back!
A very important law enabling the Breeds to enact a form of self-government is coming up for a vote in Congress, and it is very important to the survival of the Breeds that this law is passed. But anti-breed blood supremicists don't want this law passed; they want the Breeds extinct, so they hope to kidnap the President's daughter and use her to sway a "no" vote from the President. The Breeds now need to ensure that no harm comes to Amanda, and they have only a week to protect her from kidnappers before the law is voted on. But what happens in that week's time, and the feelings that develop between Kiowa and Amanda, is the basis for this story.
Kiowa, unloved for so long, told he had no soul and feeling undeserving of love, has never felt for anyone what he feels for Amanda. He can't explain it--he would protect her with his very life!
Amanda, stubborn and refusing to believe that what she feels for Kiowa is anything more than hormonal lust, at first tries to fight her attraction. True, they have scorching sexual chemistry, but is that all there is?
When Kiowa has a pivotal conversation with young Cassie, daughter of Dash and Elizabeth Sinclair, he learns that perhaps he is worthy of love, and maybe he can give Amanda what she needs.
I loved this Breeds story more than any of the others, and I've read most of them. This one was hot, hot, hot, and packs such an emotional punch, and that's what I found missing in some of the others. I really cared about Amanda and Kiowa (especially Kiowa) and I felt that he desperately deserved some happiness in his life. Although at first Kiowa and Amanda have trouble communicating beyound their "mating", once that is resolved they find out that they do have some common ground and want the same things out of life. This was a very satisfying read, and one that I could easily recommend--5 stars!
And check out that cover!!
P.S. Althogh this book can certainly stand on it's own, for you own reading enjoyment, I would suggest reading the 4 books that chronologically come before it: "Tempting the Beast", "The Man Within", "Elizabeth's Wolf", and "Kiss of Heat".
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Same formula, but good depth of character, July 19, 2008
This review is from: Soul Deep (Coyote Breeds, Book 1) (Paperback)
Soul Deep is nothing new. It has the same basic formula as all the breed books, but this coyote breed had more depth of character than some of the wolf breeds that I wasn't very fond of.
It does have one of the hottest first lovescenes that I have ever read, though. My goodness!!! This book is definitely worth reading, if you like Lora Leigh, but just be warned that it is a very short book.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Just so so, March 28, 2009
This review is from: Soul Deep (Coyote Breeds, Book 1) (Paperback)
I expected a bit more from this one after reading all the hype in the reviews. Ms Leigh's more mainstream offers have touched on some serious emotional issues, esp. Dawn's awakening. So when I read comments that this one was a bit more touching than other offerings in the series I expected something more. I was disappointed. This was just so so. It was no more emotionally engaging than any of her other Ellora's Cave pre-mainstream stories, in fact I think she did a bit less character building.
Kiowa had the potential but it seems that there was no connection between his neglected childhood and the adult person that he became beyond the superficial. His authoritarian (bind em and spank em) dominant sexual nature fit with the assumptions of the coyote breeds' nature in general but there was no confirmation of that in the story or any indication of how his personal development would lead him to those types of sexual needs. Amanda's character was no different. There were so many unanswered questions and holes in her character that it left me flat. The simple fact of her being the president's daughter should have provided lots of opportunity for charactr development.
On the other hand, this story does provide some insight on how Breed law got passed and how the felines were able to find out so much about the mating process, etc.
As for the sexuality, it's Lora Leigh - nuff said. I do like a good "romantica" read so I tend to prefer steamier material. My only complaint is the amount of anal activity in some authors' works (LL usually has at least one such scene in her Ellora's Cave stories.) I find that disturbing/disgusting but otherwise...
All-in-all it was an OK read. I gave it 3 stars instead of 2 because I didn't dislike it - I just didn't like it. I can't say I'd recommend you spend your money on it; but if you like to know all of the details and behind-the-scenes facts about a series then you may want to check it out.
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