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Breeds #12.5, 13.5, 16.5

Too Hot to Touch

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The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Rule Breaker, Stygian’s Honor, and Lawe’s Justice presents three novellas from the “no-holds-barred”* world of the Breeds—collected here for the first time.

A Christmas Kiss
Jessica Raines would never willingly betray the people she believes in. But she did expose Breed secrets, and now someone wants her dead. Her protection is Wolf Breed Hawke Esteban—and he’s got the mating urge for a woman on the run.

Christmas Heat
Jaguar Breed Noble Chavin’s new role: bodyguard to Haley McQuire, a woman at risk after discovering a conspiracy against the Breed community. For Noble, being this close to Haley has brought out the mating heat, and she’s more than willing to stoke it.

Primal Kiss
Betrayed Kita Engalls, drawn into shady activities involving the Breeds, can trust only Lion Breed Creed Raines to help. But their mating passion reveals Kita’s fear that Creed may be guilty of the greatest betrayal of all.

*Errant Dreams

273 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 7, 2008

159 people are currently reading
656 people want to read

About the author

Lora Leigh

192 books10.1k followers
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Lora Leigh is a New York Times bestselling author of erotic romance novels. Leigh started publishing with electronic publisher Ellora's Cave in 2003. Leigh's longest-running series is The Breeds. She won the 2009 RT Award for erotica. Leigh was born in Ohio and raised in Martin County, Kentucky, US.


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5 stars
539 (49%)
4 stars
307 (28%)
3 stars
198 (18%)
2 stars
27 (2%)
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9 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
Profile Image for Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️.
3,005 reviews2,690 followers
August 21, 2020
A must read for “Breeds” lovers!

This book has 3 stories that can be found in other anthologies, but those are more expensive and not contain non-breeds stories also. This book is just these 3 breeds stories and all have information to further important plot lines that go throughout the series.

A Christmas Kiss (Breeds, #12.5)



Jessica Raines was drugged with the same mind controlling drug that Brandenmore and Engalls created and tested on Dr Ely. When she was on the drug, which her father put in her food, she was forced to betray the breeds she was working for at the time. Esteban fought for a year to prove her innocence.

Christmas Heat (Breeds, #13.5)



Haley who is a shy librarian hiding in the library at the mansion during a holiday party, overhears Phillip Brandenmore, Horace Engalls and someone else talking about some evil scheme they have planned. This puts her life in danger and Jaguar breed Noble Chavin is assigned to protect her.

Primal Kiss (Breeds, #16.5)



Lion breed Creed Raines is undercover as security at the Engalls estate, and Kita Engalls, the daughter of Horace Engalls likes to look at and flirt with the hot guard. Neither her nor her father has any idea that he is a breed. After a fight with her father, Kita takes off to a remote cabin and Creed is sent to find her before the breeds or the council does. Little does anyone know, the breeds already have.

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Profile Image for Angela (Angel's Book Nook).
1,685 reviews975 followers
October 16, 2024
I enjoyed these three very hot and steamy Breed Novellas. I previously read them, but it was a long time ago. It was nice to re-read the novellas and experience the Breed magic again. I will say if you have not read the series you may not understand or find these novellas entertaining. Fan’s will enjoy. The series is very juicy, steamy, and sensual, so be prepared for hot sex.


Christmas Heat - Rated: 4 Stars

Originally featured in 'The Magical Christmas Cat' anthology.

This one takes place near Sanctuary.

We have Haley a human librarian and Noble a breed. They have been friends, but both feel more for the other, yet they don’t show it. When Haley’s life is endangered Noble is going to protect her and confront his feelings.

It was a sweet, sexy, hot and entertaining Christmas Novella. I enjoyed watching these two finally come together after denying their feelings for eachother.


A Christmas Kiss - Rated: 4 Stars

Originally featured in 'Hot for the Holidays' anthology.

This one takes place at Haven.

We have Jessica a human who betrayed the breeds, but not because she wanted too. Her father concocted a drug that forced her to do this and she didn’t know. She has lost so much.

Hawke a Breed and Jessica’s mate. He’s known for almost 2 years that he’s her mate, but he had to stay way to prove her innocence and to protect her from the mating heat. He knows if he can’t tell her soon that he will lose her for good.

This one was heartbreaking. I felt for Jessica and her loneliness and everything she lost. She’s drifting. Besides these two working out their issues, we have someone on the inside trying to destroy the Breeds.

It was sexy and hot. I enjoyed seeing this couple celebrate their first Christmas together and with the other Breeds at Haven.


Primal Kiss - Rated: 3.5 Stars

Originally featured in 'Primal' anthology.

This one takes place at Sanctuary.

We have Kita a human and air to a pharmaceutical company that use to help the Council that hurt Breeds. Then we have Creed a wolf Breed who does covert undercover work. He’s been hired by Mr. Engall’s, Kita’s father, to protect his daughter.

Everyone wants Kita: the Breeds, the Council, and the Human groups all because they think they can get her father to give them information on the Breeds that has been hidden away. This story gives you information pertaining to the Phylip Brandenmore storyline. There's much more going on then Kita or Creed know about.

It was a hot and sexy novella. Very quick and good to have a storyline wrapped up.

angelsgp-seethisreview-blure
Profile Image for BookAddict  ✒ La Crimson Femme.
6,943 reviews1,439 followers
February 24, 2016
The three novellas are okay. This is a 2.5 star for me. A Christmas Kiss - Jessica the librarian finally gets her breed. The story moves fast and it is the typical sweet. Christmas Heat - Haley being guarded was similar to Jessica's store. Primal Kiss was the most forgettable one. I was hoping for a bit more, but it seems these are kind of fillers until the end game. Not sure when the end game will happen.
Profile Image for Sydney M Neblett.
2,663 reviews27 followers
October 2, 2022
Joy in a snow storm
I absolutely love this author’s novellas in this series, and these are some of my favorites.

Christmas Heat
Finished with waiting
I think this is one of my favorite couples to find love in the Breeds series. I love her sweet innocence! You can feel it in her joy of a snow storm, the loss of her friends, the joy of holiday giving, and the love of her man. And what a man he is. So long in denial, but when it matters most he will never let go. I love watching these two find their HEA, and I especially enjoyed watching the traitor meet their fate. This is a fantastic holiday story and I can’t wait to read it again next year.
5 stars

A Christmas Kiss
Christmas is a time for miracles
This is one of those stories that just moves you. The Breeds series is known for having that effect on readers, but this book just hit me right in the heart. I love the characters, and the way they both are working so hard to do what’s best for the other. The author kept the intensity high throughout with the emotion of the love story and the pain of the ultimate betrayal. I enjoyed how she was able to develop such a full story in so few pages. This book is a must read for everyone, and I can’t wait to see what happens next with these fantastic people struggling for love and acceptance.
5 stars

Primal Kiss
Seeing stars
This novella is the perfect ending of this book. I love how Kita and Creed shared so much in just a short period of time, but it was as intense as a full length novel. We finally got to see one branch of the danger come to an end, but knowing there is an even bigger bad guy out there gives hope for many more stories on the horizon. I enjoyed the way the author added a trace of humor and sass to such an intense story and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
5 stars
Profile Image for Michele bookloverforever.
8,336 reviews39 followers
May 14, 2024
3 very hot novellas set in the seductive "breeds" world of Lora Leigh. for me they are seriously addictive and always leave me wanting one more story! Hope Ms Leigh has more breeds to mate. Re-read Oct, 2017. Still great stories, absorbing characters and lots of sensual sex.Reread May 2024. I love,this author.!
Profile Image for Mskychick.
2,401 reviews
December 23, 2015
Christmas Heat - 3 stars
Originally in 'Magical Christmas Cat' anthology. Read in May 2011 originally.
A Christmas Kiss - 2-1/2 stars
Originally in 'Hot For the Holidays' anthology. Read in June 2011 originally .
Primal Kiss - 3 stars
Originally in anthology 'Primal.' Read in July 2011 originally
Profile Image for Amanda.
691 reviews
December 1, 2018
I actually only liked two out of the three stories in this anthology. An overall note I have about this series is that it is important to read the stories in order or you'll be pretty confused about the new developments and how they came about.

The first story "Christmas Heat" I would give a rating of 1 star to due to the male lead (who's a Breed) knowingly cheating on his mate for over a year. His explanation for his cheating in the story is that he wants to be a free man and doesn't want his mate to tie him down. So he makes sure that she thinks they will be in a relationship and isn't dating anyone while he is off sleeping with different women all the time. Cheating in a story is one of the few things that I can never get over and can't like or support a character once they've committed that act and aren't sorry for it in the least. The female lead was pretty insipid too. She was constantly whining about her life being hard which was extremely annoying. I honestly had a very hard time getting through this story and almost quit even though it's only a hundred pages long.

The other two stories "A Christmas Kiss" and "Primal Kiss" I rate as 5 star reads. These stories featured awesome male Breed lead characters who were always devoted to their mates even if they hadn't claimed them yet. Each of these stories had their own unique story lines that involved danger and mystery. Both stories were also very steamy, and I kept wishing the story was longer once I got to the end.
527 reviews3 followers
May 7, 2018
Three different stories:
Christmas Heat
The story of Noble Chavin (Jaguar abreed Enforcer) and Haley McQuire (A Librarian).

A Christmas Kiss
The story of Jessica Raines, imprisoned 1yr for betrayal, and her mating to Hawke Esteban (Wolf Breed).

Lastly we have Primal Kiss
The story of Callan Lyons, the Alpha Lion Breed Enforcer (as well as the brother to Jonas) and Kita, daughter of Horace Engalls and niece of Phillip Brandenmore who is dying from the same drug he gave to Jonas Wyatt's daughter, and Callan's niece Amber.
Profile Image for Kathaleen Field.
13 reviews
September 13, 2018
Once again ...

Lora Leigh has written my fantasies ... I read her in any form she writes and have never been disappointed. All of her Alphas are just that and her feminine women are strong, determined and brave. If you have not read her yet, then I invite you to pick a book, any of her books. I guarantee you will be pulled into the worlds of her imagination and leave craving more every time! Brava Lora, brava!
Profile Image for Jessica Mitchell.
2,051 reviews20 followers
October 21, 2019
Wow, 3 sexy too hot to handle novels. 3 separate matings verses the society that are against them. It's hard enough going through the mating heat. Each woman is experiencing a slightly different heat and different trials. But all under the same drive to have their mate take them and breed them. Only that's not all. Their mates will have to fight tooth and nail to make sure their mates are safe, even from those that are supposedly their best friends....
Profile Image for Alice.
174 reviews4 followers
March 22, 2019
Fantastic adventure

I love Lora Leighs breed series. In this book we.were treated to 3 short stories. Arch enemy of the breeds is finally captured and is dying from his own serum , trying the fountain of youth. Each story features a different couple who fall in love and enjoy the mating heat . A bit erotic with lots of heart. Love those breeds .. Alice
Profile Image for Shyla.
717 reviews3 followers
October 16, 2019
3 stories in one book

Each book was amazing and inspiring in a different way. So many things happen to each Breed pairing and yet the love just shines through each of them. The experience that they go through with the heat is somewhat the same yet different too and surprises do happen. Must read!!!

I recommend this book and the series.
1,749 reviews
July 19, 2020
Haley & Noble, Jessica & Hawke, Kita & Creed

Thoroughly enjoyed reading their stories very much. I love reading happy ever after stories they make my day. Thank you for writing these stories.
Profile Image for Megan Thomas.
1,041 reviews14 followers
December 27, 2023
I didn't realize this was an anthology before I made my purchase. lol
The 3 stories here were fine - short and sweet. I just felt like I didn't have time to develop close enough ties to each of our main characters before the short story had ended.
8 reviews
March 22, 2024
OMG I love Lora Leigh's books but the breeds are my absolute favorites 😍

I love the story behind the breeds a
nd how she brings everything to life. I must have te read them like 5 times. I'm so excited to read her new book, Dane's
9 reviews
July 26, 2017
Great Read

I really enjoy all the Author's. They really bring an emotional element to the story. Looking forward to reading more.
Profile Image for Michelle Weitzmann.
127 reviews1 follower
July 14, 2018
I love this book, it is just as much fun as all the others, If youhaven't read this series you are truly missing out
Profile Image for Risfor Rogue.
53 reviews15 followers
July 3, 2019
I liked reading about the minor characters and how they found their mates. Hot and steamy, I hope I'll find my own mate soon.
Profile Image for Tina.
622 reviews13 followers
March 18, 2021
This book was given to me; not my usual genre. Created breeds of people with powers of lions, wolfs, etc. They also have the mating patterns of these animals as well - three sexy stories in one book.
Profile Image for Tracy Hall.
806 reviews5 followers
October 10, 2021
Good

This book had many stories that filled in the blank spots where the main story line left open. I enjoyed getting some closure to the holes.
980 reviews
March 11, 2023
Interesting to read about the theory of the Breeds. Way too much descriptive sex, not in the mood for that.
Profile Image for Oleta Blaylock.
775 reviews7 followers
June 20, 2024
CHRISTMAS HEAT

As the title implies this is a Christmas story. It takes up shortly after the ending of Mercury's War. Haley McQuire over hears the traitors mentioned in Mercury's War in the library of the Mansion that Callan and Merinus live in. Haley is a librarian and she becomes entangled in a plot of assassinate her just before Christmas.

This is a very intense and intriguing story. Both Noble and Haley have been dancing around each other for several months and when the library that Haley works in is blown up Noble must make his move to claim his mate. I enjoyed this story every much. I wish that it had been longer.

A CHRISTMAS KISS

This was a very nice story. Just a breed and his mate finally finding the love and joy in the Christmas season. The story is set in the Wolf compound in Colorado and takes place after Coyote's Mate. It was nice to see the Breeds enjoying the holiday season and the attitude of forgiveness and inclusion.
Profile Image for Bambi.
47 reviews1 follower
January 26, 2016
3 decently written novellas from various timelines along the Breed series

As has already been stated by others these novellas have already been published before so you should read the syopisis or other reviews to verify if you have not already read them. In my case only one was new to me but it provided some important information i had not known along the ongoing series saga regarding Brandenmore. That being said while each is a standalone story the last one really would not be clear to someone not already familiar with the forementioned ongoing saga.

I love the Breeds books as they provide a good mix of potentiality, romance, worldbuilding and sex. Ms.Leigh does a great job providing easily read, grammar friendly prose that appeals to a wide audience. Her novels while graphic sexually may only press the bondaries of the readers sexuality while allowing them some flexibility to push the envelope (example the barb, knotting, sex in nature, etc.)

In general these three stories are just enough to add in some graphic stories but not enough to add to the ongoing storyline with the one exception. They are good mindless entertainment if you are looking for some quick reads.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews

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