Mercury's War (Feline Breeds)

Mercury Warrant is the most animalistic of the feline breeds. As the only male who lost his mate, Mercury is watched closely by doctors to make sure his feral nature does not resurface. Since his 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 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. As their relationship solidifies, Ria's heart breaks more as each day passes. With no signs of a true breed relationship, Ria is left feeling without hope for a future between her and her leonine lover. 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 while introducing even more. 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 readers will 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 released 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 the amazing Lora Leigh. ***Natalie S.***

My, my, my, what a book!! I just cannot get enough of Lora and her very sexy, very strong, amazing breeds. It has become an addiction. I finished reading this book when I was waiting for my plane to Chicago and had to find another book to fulfill my breed withdraws. The book store in the airport did not have any Lora Leigh books (I was extremely disappointed) so I decided to give another author a try. I am not one to compare writers since each person has their own writing style but nothing, and do mean nothing, compares to the same body numbing heat and passion that Lora Leigh delivers. I have been left with this void that has yet to be satisfied until my package arrives with a new breed book. I haven't been reading them in order but no worries as each book is it's own story. There is a couple of more to go and I can't decide which one is the best but, OH MY GOD, Mercury is delicious and the epitome of what a man should be (well in my opinion). I love that he is powerful, without being arrogant, and the fact that he doesn't apologize for it but also allows his mate Ria to be strong as well. Just to give you a bit of background: Mercury is one of the strongest breeds and the personification of what a breed should be. Along with his strength comes a feral rage that overcomes him when his so-called mate is killed. For years the feral rage is under control until Ria steps into his life and boy, does it get interesting. Between the spies leaking info on the mating heat, Doctor Ely losing her mind, Ria's big secret, and Mercury's alleged mate coming back into his life it's a wonder she had room for the building love Mercury and Ria discovers. And the passion, my goodness. At one point I had to put the book down, it was just to steamy. And ladies, if you find a man like Mercury and some chick tries to steal him, just follow in the footsteps of Ria and claim your man. You'll know what I'm talking about once you get to the end.

Mecury's War- the 16th book in Lora Leigh's popular Breed Series, was a total hit for me. I actually got choked up while reading it, and it's been a long time since a romance novel (albeit PARANORMAL!) has moved me that much. In Mercury's War we get Mercury's story- a lion breed closest to the lion side than many of his breed brothers & sisters. In Leigh's Breed world, the genetically enhanced hybrids mate for life- if a partner dies then the one left behind suffers- they become "feral"- and never will find another perfect match. When the feline breed who Mercury believed to be his mate dies years ago while they were still in captivity, he went berserk, tearing humans limb from limb. After that, the scientists who created and enslaved the breeds developed a drug to tame the beast inside him and since then he's lived a half existence- with limited enhanced abilities, so unlike his brethren. Mercury has given up on ever finding a partner in life. But then he meets Ria, that paper pusher of one Dane Vanderale- a son of the great Leo- the first breed. Unbeknownst to both Mercury and Ria, Ria has touched the caged beast inside of Merc and when the beast begins to awaken, people start running scared. Especially Ely, the trusted doctor who knows all the feline's secrets. When Ely discovers Merc's feral side awakening, she demands he be imprisoned- for the safety of the pride. But things are not what they seem, and Ria finds herself defending the strange breed who both attracts and frightens her. She knows that he will never be truly hers and that if she lets him- he will break her world apart- but another game's afoot at Sanctuary, the feline breed compound, and it will take Ria to suss it out and save not only Merc, but the entire clan. Like I said earlier, I LOVED this one. Mercury is an awesome alpha hero, both possessive and tender, and Ria is heart-wrenching in her vulnerability. But she is no shrinking wallflower and when what she truly is comes to the front everything else- including Mercury- takes a backseat to her innate strength! Many of leigh's other series I can't get into, but the breed series just gets better and better, imo. In MW not only do we get a touching love story, we also get to see the other characters we know and love (JONAS!) and a kickbutt suspense plot. I'm giving this one a 5 out of 5! How could I not?

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

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.