Veena’s review of Rule Breaker (Breeds, Book 29) by Lora Leigh
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 04 Feb 14
This story picks up from where the last one left off. The breeds are still in Wild Rock, Arizona, where Jonas is temporarily headquartered as he searches for a cure for his daughter Amber. I like how the author kicks off the story by starting with a past that was ten years ago when a young girl was saved from being raped by council enforcers in the desert. There is an instant spark of connection between Rule and Gypsy, and yet neither one realizes what it means. Rule steadfastly maintains that he will never mate, yet he visits Wild Rock every year to check up on the young girl who has left an indelible impression on his soul. Fast forward to today and they’re both adults now. All Rule wants is to scratch an itch that’s been bugging him for a long time. It’s definitely not the mating bond, because there are no symptoms. Poor Rule!!! So determined to never mate and be vulnerable. I admire the author for continually finding new and interesting ways to engineering the mating bond. This is a pivotal book in which many truths are revealed and the story takes an interesting turn.
The relationship between mates is a biological imperative. Yet the author paints in the tenderness and emotion that marks each couple’s journey. Gypsy was devastated when her brother was tortured and killed. She held herself responsible, because if it hadn’t been for her sneaking out of her house to attend a party, he would have been safely at home. Tortured by a guilt that is further compounded by her parents withholding love and tenderness to punish her for their own loss, she has honed herself into a weapon, gathering information to find the people behind the event that changed her life forever. Yet something about Rule tugs at her heart strings, but her course is set and there’s no room for Rule or tenderness in it.
Poor Gypsy, it seems that everywhere she goes she finds Rule in her path. His expert seduction calls to her, but she’s determined to keep herself pure and on task. Rule is slated to be the deputy director of the new offices that are being set up on the Navaho lands and she’s privy to many secrets that behoove her to keep her distance. Rule, on the other hand, has tested his fascination for Gypsy against all the known symptoms of mating heat. Happily proven that there is not even a trace, he’s ready to get down, dirty and physical. But Rule is not as much in control as he believes. His animal is craftier than the man and has kept his head and emotions low until the man is well and truly snared. Oh boy! Just wait until all is revealed to the man. It’s definitely not pretty.
In the background the search for the four breeds who escaped from a council lab with the secrets of the cure that can help Amber continues. Many of the characters from previous books come and go on the stage and we get brief glimpses into their loves and lives. We also see many new characters stepping on the stage and moving into focus. Two that I am anticipating getting their own stories are the Leo’s son and heir and Cassie, who is a long-term favorite.
I enjoyed the suspense, the savagery lends a very realistic light on these engineered men and women who carry both human and animal DNA. I was starting to lose interest in the series because it is inevitable that there is some repetition, but I believe that the next few books in this evolving series will be pivotal and engaging. Can’t wait.
Grade: B
Summary:
Rule Breaker
Lion Breed, Rule Breaker had just a few rules he didn’t break. Not for anything. Not for anyone.
#1. Never have sex with a woman outside his own subspecies, especially a human woman.
#2. Never, at any time, accept a mission concerning a female when Jonas Wyatt stinks of a lie.
#3. Run don’t walk, skip or stumble. Run, hell for leather away from any female, human or breed, when his desire for her appears, in any way, to have so much as a single sign of Mating Heat.
Now, the woman believes he’s mated, is too helpless, to fun loving and too full of life to ever be able to protect herself, let alone aide him in protecting her.
If the damned animal inside him insisted on a mate, then why pick the woman it did? One that could be struck out at, at any time?
But, what he suspected was a mating, may not be. No swollen glands? No heat? Just his animal instincts rioting, pacing, irritated whenever he’s away from her.
Okay, he could handle that.
What ensues is a fiery affair that breaks all the rules of mating heat and will eventually endanger his mate with the very rules designed to protect the breeds when Jonas learns she’s possibly been working against them.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
