Mercury's War-Lora Leigh

Mercury's War
Lora Leigh
Berkley, Oct 2008, $7.99
ISBN: 9789425224182

Dr. Elyianna Morrey tells Sanctuary chief Jonas Wyatt that she is worried about lion breed enforcer Mercury Warrant, who has been off the anti feral drug for seven years. Her concerns focus on his attraction to Rio Rodriguez even though the couple has not even met. The scientist has seen the film of a berserker Mercury killing those he blamed for the death of his soulmate and fears a repercussion.

Two weeks later Rio arrives at Sanctuary to look over the expenses as the Leo, the father of her boss Dane, donates a lot of money here. Mercury is her bodyguard. She insists she is a human clerk, but he senses much more underneath her dowdy wardrobe. He is right as she a brilliant code breaker looking to see who is betraying Sanctuary and why.

They desire one another, but Rio refuses to act on her wants. Mercury jerks off every night as he thinks of making love to Rio who he senses wants him too. She knows if she lets her guard down he will destroy her heart as she realizes who he is to her, but he has met his soulmate and she is not her. Rio will never settle for being second best; besides there is something dangerously wrong in Sanctuary that must be uncovered.

The lead couple is an interesting pairing as his soulmate is dead and so he should not feel the way he does, but cannot stop his desire for her. The support cast is strong (a trademark of Lora Leigh) and Sanctuary described just enough for the audience to appreciate it as backdrop. With two great twists, fans of the Breed saga (see TANNER’S SCHEME, HARMONY’S WAY, and MEGAN’S MARK) will relish this strong entry although the climax is weak.

Harriet Klausner