Lora Leigh, Harmony's Way

Harmony's Way

Lora Leigh

Berkley, December 2006, $6.99

ISBN: 0425213056

In the near future, Harmony Lancaster was born in a genetics lab as a lion breed (mix of lion DNA into human DNA). She was bred and trained to kill. However, her pride in herself leads to her escaping from the breeder "prison"; she also took valuable information as a bargaining chip and to learn more about the experiments. This trained killer plans to kill members of the Genetics Council and the scientists who abet their efforts to use and abuse breeds of all ages.

Head of the Breed Council, her breed sibling Jonas worries about Harmony, as many of their supporters want her vigilante justice stopped, even if it means killing her to do so. He catches her, but she refuses to hand over the information she has on the First Leo. Jonas takes her to Broken Butte, New Mexico where he has friends he can trust, especially her biological mate Sheriff Lance Jacobs. Though irate and roaring like a lioness, Harmony is also attracted to the lawman who has vowed to keep his beloved safe, as several groups, including a fire and brimstone anti breed preacher converge on the small town to take away the information on the First Lion, dead or alive, preferably the former.

HARMONY'S WAY is a terrific heated romantic science fiction that makes readers believe in the genetic engineering as described by Lora Leigh in this tale and in MEGAN'S MARK. Harmony is a fabulous unique lead character, as she believes justice can only be served for her breed and the other breeds by first strike killing of those who treat them as abused animals or abominations. Fans will empathize with her, but question her vigilante tactics, as does the love of her life Lance. Readers will appreciate the diversity and fighting factions that make up the Leigh universe, as danger from multiple sides converge on this small New Mexico town.