I've been hankering for Cabal's story ever since Tanner's Scheme. Larger than life, he became one of those characters everyone waits anxiously for- which can be a boon for an author...or set them up for failure.

Unfortunately, this one falls in the latter category for Lora Leigh.

Bengal's Heart by Lora Leigh

Years ago Cassa Hawkins played an integral part of the rescue of Cabal St. Laurent from the compound he was being held captive in. Because of a heinous betrayal by the man she thought was her husband- no other Breed survived the bloody rescue and Cabal can never forgive her for it.

Years later, Cassa has become a famous investigative reporter fighting for Breed rights- still trying to make up for her husband's betrayal. When she receives a tip about some killings apparently done by a rogue breed she rushes in to get to the bottom of the story, only to be headed off by the one Breed who holds her heart.

Cabal knows Cassa is his mate- has known it for some time- but he's run from that fact ever since her husband's evil deeds led to the bloody massacre of his family back in the genetic's council compound he was created in. A rare breed, created by splicing the genes of humans with a Bengal tiger his skills as a covert Breed spy has kept him on the path of danger since his rescue. When Cassa begins meddling in his latest mission, he knows it's time to face the one woman he's fated to be with forever. But can he trust her with his love when she was at the center of so much of heartache in the past?

A bit of a disappointment, as she's done with some of her other series, Lora Leigh once again "phones it in" with Bengal's Heart- at least in the way of character development. Usual fare for Leigh's Breed series- too much fighting what they both know to be "fated"- however the side issues brought the book up from being something I would have felt otherwise "blah" about.

Leigh reveals more about the Breed world and gave us some answers involving some of the most intriguing characters in the series, leaving us with a tantalizing teaser for the Jonas Wyatt's story- the next full length novel up in the series. Jonas has become the "Acheron" (See Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter Series) for many of those following this series so it's going to be a biggie- however, as many of us who have been around the genre for awhile have seen- a much anticipated story like Jonas's can only lead to disappoint I'm afraid- especially considering the quality of Bengal's Heart.

Still, with it's development of the Breed world and the rogue breed plot, I raced through this book quicker than a recent popular paranormal romance I read. ( )

Author: Lora Leigh
Series Connection: Breeds
ISBN: 0425229025
Genre: Paranormal

4 Hearts

This is the 19th book in Lora Leigh's Breed/Coyote/Feline/Wolf series. The general premise behind the stories is that in an effort to make a stronger fighting machine many years ago a group began experiments in mixing human DNA with animal DNA. The result were a new race of man. Hidden away, tortured and trained to be the ultimate killers, these hybrids finally escaped their prison and are now living freely among the humans.

Bengal's Heart tells the story of Cabal St. Laurents, Tanner's brother from "Tanner's Scheme". Cabal is one of the few breeds that are a mix of human and Bengal tiger. The story begins when he is still in the labs 11 years earlier as he watches his entire family killed and he first encounters reporter Cassa Hawkins, his true mate. Since this time, Cabal has become one of the elite enforces under Jonas Wyatt.

Cassa Hawkins has always been a protector of the breeds. As a reporter she has worked to make sure that the breeds are always treated fairly. When she begins to receive a set of mysterious e-mails which depict one the breeds going rogue and killing humans she knows she has to investigate. When she arrives at the scene of one of the killings she runs right into Cabal. Both Cassa and Cabal know that they are true mates, but neither has acted on it in 11 years. In one spark of intense passion that all changes and now the two are thrown into mating heat.

The timing isn't the best for handling all that mating heat entails, because both Cassa and Cabal need to be on their toes or wind up losing each other forever.

While this books wouldn't be high on the list of my favorites in the series, it didn't really have any fatal flaws. The general problem was a few obvious inconsistencies and rough chapters in the middle of the book. There was a lot of detail going on throughout the story and it was a little difficult at times to keep track of all the players. Those who have read the series shouldn't have a problem following along.

I liked both Cabal and Cassa's characters, although I do believe I would have made Cabal suffer for all his "tomcatting" ways if I were Cassa, but then again that is difficult when going through the mating heat.

The word is that Jonas is the next full story in the series and really I can't wait. I'm sure that Lora can have a lot of fun with his character and really Jonas has what ever she dishes out coming. Before then check out Hot for the Holidays, due out Sept. 29 featuring another Breed novella. (ISBN: 978-0515147001)

Description:
Reporter Cassa Hawkins has always supported Breed rights, believing they should be allowed to live free of fear and prejudice among the humans. A reasonable woman couldn’t think otherwise, especially in the presence of Cabal St. Lawrence (Laurents), a spectacularly muscled specimen of the Bengal breed. The epitome of the male animal, his sensuous growl can fire up Cassa’s vulnerable body faster than a flame. Yet neither can ignore the nightmare unfolding around them…

The Breeds have been incriminated in a series of violent murder, and accused of hiding a vicious serial killer. It’s left to Cassa and Cabal to discover the truth. But as hunter becomes prey, are trust and passion enough to keep them alive through the night? ( )