Mercury Striking

Rebecca Zanetti

Feb 2016 · The Scorpius Syndrome Book 1 · Zebra Books

About this ebook

After a killer outbreak, a doctor searches for the one man who can help her find a cure in the New York Times bestselling author’s romantic adventure.

The deadly Scorpius Syndrome has decimated North America. Now the few remaining survivors struggle to avoid infection and rebuild society. Dr. Lynne Harmony believes she can find a cure—but she knows she can’t do it alone. With nothing but rumors to lead her, Dr. Lynne Harmony has trekked across a nightmare landscape to find one man—a mysterious, damaged legend who protects the weak and leads the strong.
 
Former military man Jax Mercury is more than muscle and firepower—and in post-plague L.A., he’s Lynne’s only hope. But with powerful forces searching for Lynne, and some in Jax’s camp desperate enough to betray him, they’ll have to keep close if they want to survive.

Ratings and reviews

Lynn Harmony is the one woman who could cure the disease but she is the most volatile – and vulnerable and her only hope is the mysterious damaged legend, Jax Mercury in this thrilling post-apocalyptic romance. Jax Mercury protects the weak and leads the strong but there is a lot riding on Harmony’s continued existence and the reader can’t help but get drawn into the story as they come face to face. The chemistry between Harmony and Jax is electrifying with some hot and steamy sex scenes but neither can afford to let the other in, so this relationship will just have to be one based on momentary pleasure, no matter how delicious the danger turns out to be. The characters are a compelling mix of strong and vulnerable that reaches out and grabs readers by the heart strings, especially when faced with the devastation that the plague left behind and such an uncertain future in this steady to fast paced plot full of suspense, excitement and romance. Spine tingling tension builds as the readers begin to understand just what the characters face in this post-apocalyptic world and with all the dangers that the group in post-plague L.A. are facing, some aren’t real happy about having Harmony around as others become aware of where she is, the danger continuously increases, especially as danger comes from a few unexpected sources adding lots of excitement as well as intrigue to the story. The well written scenes full of vivid details make it easy for the intriguing events to hold readers hostage while keeping them on the edge of their seat. I was completely caught up in Harmony and Jax’s story from the very beginning, in some places during the story I found I was literally holding my breath with anticipation of what was coming and in others well let’s just say the emotions that flowed from the pages were heart felt by me as well as the characters and I can’t wait to find out what happens next in this fascinating new world.

Zanetti has created a tale so plausible that it gave me chills. The possibilities behind the dystopian world that she has created are endless. The world itself was vivid and well crafted. I appreciated how it was developed in the present with an intricate history. The action intensive plot was also exciting. Zanetti kept me hooked so that I couldn’t put it down. The hidden depths to the characters were fantastic. Each time that a new layer was revealed I felt closer to them. Jax’s caring despite the odds, fighting for those around him was a poignant counterpoint to him being the ultimate warrior. He is constantly an alpha in all ways. Lynne’s strength and intellect made her stand out in this novel while also making her a very intriguing individual. Not only were these two fantastic on their own, but the well-developed supporting cast of characters that Zanetti has created made a very interesting world to get lost in. There were so many individuals that I thoroughly enjoyed and can’t wait to meet again in the next novel. This is a dystopian tale like no other. It is definitely a series that I will be following to the very end. Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. Wow! After reading the description for this novel, I could not pass Mercury Striking up. I thought it was too much to ask that the story would actually be as great as the description made it out to be, but I was far from disappointed. Thankfully it’s a series because I was blown away by how amazing this novel was. On that note, reading the novella that precedes this may be a good idea. While I felt that I was able to comprehend the story and keep up with it, the novella gives the reader better comprehension of the world/story overall. I love romance/erotica and I also love post-apocalyptic stories. Going in, I was convinced there was no way someone could write a combination of the two adequately. They are tough genres to combine without one suffering. Zanetti clearly knows what she’s doing. Not only can she write an intriguing dystopian world, she created a love story that grabs at you and won’t let go until you know how it plays out. Her characters are powerful and dynamic, tangible in a world that I had to remember doesn’t actually exist. They captured me heart and soul from the very beginning. Zanetti’s writing is a triple threat. She knows how to write great characters with engaging dialogue without skimping on plot or romance. If you think this sounds like a story you would like, let me make the decision for: get it. I can’t wait for the nest in the series to come out.

About the author

Rebecca Zanetti is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over sixty romantic suspense, dark paranormal, and contemporary romances, many of which have also appeared on the Publishers Weekly, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Apple bestseller lists and sold millions of copies worldwide. She is a Daphne du Maurier Award-winner, a five-time Daphne du Maurier Award-finalist, a PRISM Award-winner, and a two-time PRISM Award-finalist. Nearly a dozen of her novels have been selected as Amazon Best Romances of the Month, including Lethal Lies, Mercury Striking and Fallen, which were also Amazon Best Books of the Year. Previously an an art curator, Senate aide, lawyer, college professor, and a hearing examiner, Rebecca has ridden in a locked Chevy trunk, asked the unfortunate delivery guy to release her from a set of handcuffs, and discovered the best silver mine shafts in which to bury a body – all in the name of research and only to culminate it all in stories about alpha males and the women who claim them. Please visit her online at RebeccaZanetti.com