Lora Leigh, Megan’s Mark

Megan's Mark

Lora Leigh

Berkley, May 2006, $6.99

ISBN: 0425209644

In 2023 New Mexico, Sheriff's Deputy Megan Fields patrols a lonely part of the desert. She likes this area because she is unable to control her empathic skills, and she rarely runs into anyone in this remote area. She senses trouble and soon finds a vehicle with two people dead inside. Someone starts shooting at her. Lion breed (mix of lion DNA into human DNA) Braden Arness helps expedite Megan from the mess, though she does not trust a breed, especially one who just bit her.

The next day inside Sheriff Lance's office, Braden sees Megan and becomes instantly hard and jealous when he senses her arousal, though he is not sure who the male is. Braden insists that the Coyotes who killed the two breeds wanted Megan dead as she was the target. He will stay by her side to protect her, though she tells him to get lost as she fears her attraction to Braden, as she gave up on sex years ago; it is hard to enjoy anything when you hear the inner thoughts and fantasies of ones partner. As they fall in love, and as he already marked her with his bite as his, a powerful deadly enemy wants her dead.

This entertaining romantic science fiction suspense will remind the audience of KITTY AND THE MIDNIGHT HOUR by Carrie Vaughn and MaryJanice Davidson's DERIK'S BANE, as this futuristic world filled with "Breeds" seems "normal". The paranormal elements blend smoothly into the exciting storyline, and the lead couple make a fine pairing, though society forbids a relationship between a half breed and a purebred. Though some readers will be turned off by too much profanity, and that the lead female denies she is in love too often, sub-genre readers will appreciate this delightful thriller.