Bengal's Heart (Breeds, #19)

by Lora Leigh

book data

401 ratings, 4.05 average rating, 55 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		36%
4		39%
3		18%
2		4%
1		1%

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published

August 4th 2009 by Berkley

details

Mass Market Paperback, 352 pages

url

http://www.loraleigh.com/index.php?optio...

characters

Cabal St. Laurents, Cassa Hawkins

setting

United States

isbn

0425229025 (isbn13: 9780425229026)

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 reas…more

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Aug 02, 2009

Aberforth rated it:

Read in August, 2009

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Aug 04, 2009

marlene rated it:

this chapter in the series showed us more of a look into the genetics council, and i have to say i wish it didn't. the books starts out with a truly horrific description of a lab. i got a little too strong of a visual from it. from that point on every time it was mentioned i saw it again. the stomach churning level didn't decrease as we learned more about the council's "deadly dozen" and their ideas of fun. i do love hearing the story of the Breeds in general and their integratio...more

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Aug 10, 2009

Cindy rated it:

Read in August, 2009

Lora Leigh delivers her signature mix of hot sex and page turning action. Cabal is the requisite hunky hero but you've got to wonder what gene controls stubborn pigheadedness. It's pretty obvious the Breeds all got a double-dose. Cabal has been avoiding completing the mating with Cassa for eleven years - while watching over her from afar. Now her time, and his, has come; if they can only live long enough to enjoy it.

The plot revolves around a series of murders which the Breeds ar...more

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Sep 15, 2009

Mandy rated it:

Read in August, 2009

Leigh's Breed series is a favorite of mine and I have been looking forward to reading Cabal's story. "Bengal's Heart" delivers the sweet and the steamy which is what I love about the Breed series.

Cabal and Cassa have that great blend of chemistry and angst that makes for a great romance couple. I think "Coyote's Mate" misses on this mark so I am glad to see Leigh back to form.

The action could be better paced. And as a long time fan of the series, it ...more

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Feb 12, 2010

Zeek rated it:

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 betra...more 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.(less)

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Sep 01, 2009

Kaleigha rated it:

This one was a one-sit reading. I have been looking forward to Cabal's story for quite a while, and I enjoyed it. As one of the deadliest of Jonas's soldiers, Cabal has always been unpredictable, and his unknown mating of Cassa over a decade before does little to change that. But as Cassa gets deeper into a deadly situation facing the breeds, Cabal can no longer deny his need for his mate.

One of the best things about this one was the development of some of the secondary characte...more

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Jul 29, 2009

Erika rated it:

Read in July, 2009

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was much, much better than Coyote's Mate, which I did not really like. We get to see a few characters make an appearance (Mercury, Brimstone, Jonas, Del-Ray, and a few others) Overall, I was pleased with this story.

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Sep 07, 2009

Lani rated it:

bookshelves: paranormal-romance

Read in September, 2009

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 05, 2009

Jimmy Hanson rated it:

bookshelves: discarded

Read in December, 2009

recommends it for: no one

I didn't finish this book ... might try again in a few months or so, if ever. I didn't much like how vicious the two were to each other the whole time, and how the 'mating hormone' basically FORCED them to screw. The bantering of "I hate you" is often very intriguing for pairs that you know are meant for each other; I just kept having a feeling that their relationship was just short of continual rape, where he hated it and she hated it but were FORCED to do as they did.

Just...more

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Dec 21, 2009

Gigi rated it:

bookshelves: erotic-romance, lora-leigh, series-romance

Well, I was disappointed. I loved loved Tanner's Scheme. Not sure what happened here. I actually put the book down out of boredom and picked it up a few month later- just skim the rest to read the ending. After reading a little bit of Cabal in Tanners Scheme, I expected much more from Cabal. Even though Cabal was supposed to be the fiercest of the both--Tanner came off as the fiercer of the two and Cabal just fell short to me. Oh and Cassa was just annoying. I love the breed series--but, ...more

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Aug 04, 2009

Darcy rated it:

Read in August, 2009

This book is a good one is the series. It picks up right where the last one left off with Cassa and Cabal. We learn how they first met and what a heartbreak that was. Seeing the years apart as they both fought the pull within them was interesting. Neither one wanted to be "stuck" with the other, but in the end they were what each other needed. We also learned more about the breeds in this book. A new sub-species, which will make things more interesting. I loved the end where Jon...more

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Jan 21, 2010

Kercelia rated it:

bookshelves: currently-reading

This story, the latest in the Breed series, features Cabal who is a Bengal Breed who has just witnessed the slaughter of his whole pride. Ironically, the reporter whose husband was responsible for this, Cassa, ends up being his love interest and future mate. Cabal just happens to be half-brother to Tanner, who was featured in an earlier book. I must say that I enjoyed Tanner's story more than this one, but I'm only half-way through reading this one. Cabal and Cassa have become involved in a ...more

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Aug 09, 2009

Shannon (Savhage Temptress) rated it:

bookshelves: keepers, prbc-selections

Read in August, 2009

"Bengal's Heart" by Lora Leigh was just a great story! Filled with adventure, mystery, intrigue, passion, humor, and powerful emotions, both good and bad, this next installment in the Breeds series tells the story of Cabal and Cassa's mating as well as diving deeper into the plan to take down the two pharmaceutical heads that tried to steal the secrets of the Breeds "mating frenzy" and slow aging phenomenon. The passion and interactions between Cabal and Cassa just kept me ...more

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Jun 26, 2009

Willow Brook rated it:

bookshelves: shape-shifters-breeds

Read in August, 2009

I'm a huge fan of Lora Leigh (other than her menage stories) so I did really like this book. But if it wasn't Lora Leigh and I hadn't read all but 2 Breeds books already, I don't know if I would have given this more than 3 stars. This wasn't the most tightly plotted of Leigh's books (the sex is also quite tame for her). Nonetheless, I love the series and always want to learn the latest that is going on with the Breeds. The Genetics Council and other enemies keep getting more threatening which ...more

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Nov 03, 2009

Lisa rated it:

bookshelves: 2009-books-read, erotica, nonfiction, paranormalromance

Read in December, 2009

I wish I could've given more stars to this book. I thought Cabal - even in his aloofness - was ridiculously hot. Especially when he went primal and the stripes came out. Something about that was very yummy. I think my reason for being just eh about this story was that I didn't really like Cassa. I know I'm supposed to be sympathetic that her irritating husband (whom she believes died at the hands of Cabal) tricked her into betraying the breeds that she was trying to help and save - but something...more

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Jul 29, 2009

Camille rated it:

Read in July, 2009

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Jul 02, 2009

Carla Victor-rawson rated it:

Read in August, 2009

I love a good Lora leigh, "Bengals heat" was just a fast read because it was sooo good :-)The story is about Cassa Hawkins a supporter of Breeds rights who is also a reporter & Cabal St. Laurents the epitome of a pure alpha Bengal male who usually gets what he wants, except for Cassa.It spans over 11 years, he wants her and believes she's not ready to be with him, however when he is close by Cassa feels him as well as some of the mating heat which she denies.Then all of a sudden muders...more

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Feb 04, 2009

Alathea rated it:

bookshelves: erotica, lora-leigh, own, paranormal-romance, part-of-a-series, series--breeds

Owns a copy — Read in August, 2009

I've been waiting for this book since the epilogue (and sneak peak) in Coyote's Mate. Unfortunately I was rather disappointed with how this one turned out...And, yet again unfortunately, I can't pinpoint the exact "location" of my unhappiness with it.

This was a typical Lora Leigh Breed book with an arrogant, stubborn, I'm-always-right-because-I'm-a-man Breed and an equally stubborn, determined heroine.
Pity, I didn't feel the connection I usually feel with other Breed ...more I've been waiting for this book since the epilogue (and sneak peak) in Coyote's Mate. Unfortunately I was rather disappointed with how this one turned out...And, yet again unfortunately, I can't pinpoint the exact "location" of my unhappiness with it.

This was a typical Lora Leigh Breed book with an arrogant, stubborn, I'm-always-right-because-I'm-a-man Breed and an equally stubborn, determined heroine.
Pity, I didn't feel the connection I usually feel with other Breed couples. And I also didn't feel the connection between Cabal and Cassa.

I actually understood (sort of) Cabal's justification for steering clear of her for the past eleven years - though he could've easily done it without the groupies. I actually quite like the Bengal...even more after he finally acknowledged what we all knew already and unleashed his "true self" on the world.

I had more problems with Cassa, connecting with her was impossible, understanding her even more so, because she didn't seem to understand herself, and her stubborn (almost suicidal streak) soon started grating on my nerves. For someone who's spent more than a decade in the company of Breeds she seemed particularly ignorant of what made them tick, especially when the mating heat was involved, and simply went on her merry way, not caring who she might hurt in the process - even if that individual happened to be her. I secretly even hoped something would befallen her just to shake the bi*** up and make her see reason.
And her constant "ping-ponging" with Cabal. God, it was so annoying. First she understood (or thought she did) why he'd kept his distance, thinking he hated her, because of course he hated her, he didn't have a choice, she destroyed his life, she betrayed him yadda-yadda-yadda. And in the same breath she raged at him because he found "solace" with others. Yeah, the last one bothered be as well, but constantly repeating the same old same old was just frustrating.
Haven't these people ever heard of communication?

I know all Breed books have some sort of misunderstanding in them, it helps create tension and conflict, but so far none of the previous couples needed an entire book length to sort their crap out.

This was a rather slow book, compared to the others in this series, mostly because of the pigheaded h/h. Luckily the finale was explosive as ever...And who can resist reading from the point when the Breed finally unleashes his animal on the cruel world who took his mate away?

Not the best, but still a solid addition to the series, giving us a precious little insight into what Jonas' book might bring.(less)

Like this review? yes (3 people liked it)

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Nov 25, 2008

MelissaB rated it:

bookshelves: 2009-reads, lora-leigh-breeds, paranormal-romance

Read in August, 2009

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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6 comments

Nov 19, 2008

Sherri rated it:

bookshelves: contemporary-romance, paranormal-romance

Read in September, 2009

I'm on the fence with this book. I really LIKED it but I'm not sure I LOVED it.

This is the story of Cassa Hawkins and Cabal St. Laurents, who is a Bengal breed. Two of my biggest dislikes are women reporters (Cassa is a reporter) and long separations. While technically they were never actually separated, there was an 11 year time span between when Cabal knew she was his mate and when he finally claimed her. Another thing that irked me was this: this is the 19th entry in the serie...more I'm on the fence with this book. I really LIKED it but I'm not sure I LOVED it.

This is the story of Cassa Hawkins and Cabal St. Laurents, who is a Bengal breed. Two of my biggest dislikes are women reporters (Cassa is a reporter) and long separations. While technically they were never actually separated, there was an 11 year time span between when Cabal knew she was his mate and when he finally claimed her. Another thing that irked me was this: this is the 19th entry in the series yet Leigh is still describing IN DEPTH the mate selection and breed heat. WE GET IT ALREADY!

Cassa's first husband was an evil man and it was because of him and others like him that Cabal and his pride were nearly slaughtered in a horrific laboratory. Cassa was there and witnessed the whole thing, not knowing the evil of her husband until it was too late. When Cabal escaped and killed her husband, she knew she was next. Instead he told her that he now owned her and she would pay for the sins of others. Truth be told, Cassa was Cabal's mate and he was so incensed to finally find her and find her in the way he did that he couldn't bring himself to mate her.

Cabal was a character I alternately liked and hated. The way he treated Cassa was horrible, for the first 11 years. He knew she was his mate yet he continued to sleep with other women in a misguided sense of "protecting" her from the mating heat, and really from him. He wasn't sure what he felt towards her. He did protect her, by keeping her at Sanctuary and watching over her as well has having others watch over her (unbeknownst to her) and he made sure she learned at least rudimentary self defense skills in the off chance she would be attacked. But he also knew her first husband wasn't actually her husband. The man had faked their marriage. He also never told Cassa that her husband was still alive, although paralyzed and in a prison overseas run by the Breed Council. To me the lies he told her, whether by omission or not, were a lot to overcome. When he did finally start to let his feelings out for Cassa, she didn't believe him. She felt like nothing more than a possession, and I can't blame her.

But Cabal has started to really lose his head over Cassa and he tries. Darn him! He's not always successful in the way he tries because she sees it as him smothering her, but to me I saw a man who wanted to keep his wife/mate safe at all costs. And this is a man who knew the real costs. When he and Cassa are leaving their station and a bomb goes off in the car and Cassa is taken - you will not find a more anguished man than Cabal. He literally goes to superhuman efforts to find her and bring her back, and finally admit to her his feelings. He is the epitome of a feline Alpha breed.

There is also some foreshadowing of an upcoming storyline which I so dearly hope is the next entry! THAT is one storyline I've been dying to read!

(less)

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