Mercury's War [Mass Market Paperback]

Mercury Warrant was created to be one of the greatest Breeds ever to exist. Both lion and man, Mercury epitomized the Breed ideal, until the day he heard his mate - the one woman born to be his and his alone - died and the lion inside him was caged, beaten down by drugs that scientists injected into him. Though now free of the labs he was created in and one of the Breeds' most trusted enforcers, Mercury still lives with the knowledge that he will never know what it means to have a true mate. Until Ria Rodriquez shows up at the doors of Sanctuary, the Feline Breed compound, and awakens the lion within. Mercury knows the sexy little clerk isn't what she claims to be, and he's determined to uncover all her secrets.

If Ria knows one thing, it's how to blend in. Sent to discover who has been leaking Sanctuary's top secret information to an outside pharmaceutical company, Ria covers her fiery, passionate nature with drab clothes and a placid but firm demeanor. The only problem being the gorgeous Breed enforcer determined to undermine her calm façade. Ria has seen Mercury's file, knows that he has had and lost a mate, and thinks he can never truly be hers. Even so, Ria can't resist the temptation Mercury offers.

As danger mounts and threats attack the very heart of Sanctuary, both Mercury and Ria find themselves battling both for the safety of the Breeds and for the growing bond between them. But in a world where peril lurks around every corner and not everything is as it seems, can love survive?

Make sure you're sitting down, because Mercury's War is one meltingly erotic, knee-weakening thrill of a tale. Lora Leigh has delivered a luscious, sexy love story wrapped in intrigue, adventure, and romance that is guaranteed to leave you begging for more.

Mercury is not only the epitome of what a Breed is considered to be, he's the embodiment of what a hero should be. He's a deliciously strong, alpha male, with - and I really must include this - incredibly gorgeous eyes. Even more importantly, his faith in his love for Ria, no matter what his files or tests tell him, is endearing. Additionally, his acknowledgment, trust, and appreciation of Ria's own strength and intelligence are what completely won me over.

Ria, in turn, is one of my favorite of Ms. Leigh's heroines. She's tough, capable, and incredibly intelligent. She's also vulnerable and masks what she truly needs in order to protect her heart. Ria's easy to love and identify with, and it made Mercury's War all the more compelling a read because I was eager for her to find happiness with Mercury.

In addition to a great romance, Mercury's War delves further into the Breed universe. I'll forgo saying much on the subject, as it is too fun and fascinating experience the development of the world, with all the twists and turns Ms. Leigh provides. I will say that fans of the series will delight in learning more about the Vanderale family. Additionally, Jonas Wyatt fans of the world will rejoice that the Director of the Bureau of Breed Affairs not only plays a large part of the book, but that Ms. Leigh opens up the story to include sides of Jonas we have only glimpsed before now. Being on his territory, in his own mind, and dealing with his men, we get to see behind the machinations to the man beneath. As an avowed Jonas admirer, I will say that his scenes were some of my favorite in the book and I dare any detractors not to love him after reading Mercury's War.

The only thing I would wish for in this book is a little more attention to detail. There were a significant number of small discrepancies from other books in the series, and each one drew me out of the story. While it doesn't considerably detract from my overall opinion of the book, I did find them distracting enough to note.

In the end, old and new fans alike will delight in the newest addition to Ms. Leigh's wickedly sirenic series. As passionate and untamed as the lion inside him, Mercury will capture your attention and not let go; his book can do no less.

Shayna
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Mercury Warrant is the most animalistic of the feline breeds. Thought to be the only male whose mate is deceased, Mercury is watched closely by doctors to make sure his feral nature does not surface. Since his supposed mate died in the labs Mercury is resigned to live his life alone without the comfort of the one woman nature intended for him. It is because of this that Mercury is asked to be the bodyguard of Ria Rodriquez, the woman sent to the breed compound by the Leo to track a spy selling confidential information to a pharmaceutical company. The more time Mercury spends with the lovely Ms. Rodriquez the more reluctant he is to let her go - even without the presence of the one thing all mated couples possess.

Ria Rodriquez is on a mission for the Leo. Arriving at Sanctuary, she is surprised but secretly pleased to find the feline breed Mercury Warrant waiting for her. Ria is thoroughly intrigued by this lion and while she knows she can't be his mate, she is willing to be his lover. Her heart breaks more each day that passes without showing signs of their true relationship.

There are other factors to consider. Mercury's feral disposition is being watched closely by friend and foe alike and it isn't until the animal inside of Mercury breaks free of his invisible bonds that the relationship between Mercury and Ria is solidified.

I have been in love with Mercury Warrant since he and his leonine features were first introduced in Tempting the Beast, the first feline breed installment. Every single time his dead mate was mentioned my heart cried a little inside. I wanted Mercury to have a mate but I was picky. I wanted his mate to be worthy of him. I wanted her to be strong but not bullying. I wanted her beautiful but realistic. And I wanted her to love Mercury like he deserved. Ria could not have been better written. She was strong without being hateful. She was striking in her own way and I easily related to her. Last but not least, she adored Mercury with every beat of her heart and for that alone I was satisfied.

MERCURY'S WAR answers gobs of questions and then leaves some unanswered. In the erotic and suspenseful way in which Ms. Leigh is quickly becoming famous, she left me begging for more. I need more breeds, I need more mating heat, and I need Jonas Wyatt badly. Silliness aside, Lora Leigh has really delivered with MERCURY'S WAR. Readers will laugh, readers will blush, and some may cry. But when the last word is read they will be stunned and seriously sad the book ended. I know I was.

MERCURY'S WAR releases from Berkley in October 2008. While it is readable as a standalone, I think reading the series in the correct order is a must to fully enjoy this amazing world created by an amazing author.

The Breeds are people created in laboratories by mixing human and animal DNA to create perfect soldiers. Mistreated as test objects, murdered and abused, they finally managed to free themselves and have now established sanctuaries in the USA. But their lives are a constant battle against their former owners and the many fanatics who see them as less than humans. Mercury, a lion breed, has lost his mate many years ago. Since Breeds mate for life, his attraction to Ria, a human who has come to his Sanctuary to find spies selling Breed secrets, doesn't seem to have a future. Although she doesn't really want just an affair, she can't resist Mercury. But things soon get even more difficult when his mate comes back and the spies start killing people...
'Mercury's War' is part of Lora Leigh's Breeds-series which she started with the independent publisher Ellora's Cave (specialised in erotic romance) and which continues with mainstream publisher Berkley. Berkley still want the series to be erotic, but limited to types of sex that are widely acceptable in the USA and as politically correct as possible within such a series. The result is that - in contrast to the beginning of the series - we get lots of sex scenes of the same type now, which can get very boring very quickly. Instead of using less sex and maybe put more time and energy into the plot, this particular novel takes about 200 pages until the actual suspense plot really gets going. Before, the two protagonists basically circle around each other and not much else is happening. When the plot finally starts, it's full of contradictions, often illogical (the beloved ex-mate is suddenly an unattractive, vindictive bitch; the weak human is suddenly so powerful she can beat up a Breed, ...), the villains get no depth at all, the ending of the suspense plot is hurried, ... I was really disappointed. I'd have given this novel less points if it weren't for the passages when the plot gets going for a change. I'd say that Mrs. Leigh and the publisher can't have it both ways: She should either write good stories with some sex or continue writing erotic novels that are more daring than this. This mix of some plot with the same sex scene in slight variations over and over again really isn't that great.

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