Man With A Mission (Morgans Mercenaries: Maverick Hearts) (Special Edition) [Paperback]

Lindsay McKenna (Author)

Book Description

Series: Special Edition | Publication Date: February 1, 2001

Jake Travers had the drive and muscles to rescue his kidnapped sister, all he needed was a guide through the jungle. What he got was Ana Lucia Cortina - a strong female soldier who outraged Jake's military machismo. When gunfire and the tropical sun detonated desire, Jake thirsted for completion in Ana's arms. Could he save his sister, survive this mission - and make this woman warrior his wife?

Silhouette Romance - Special Edition

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Silhouette (February 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373243766
• ISBN-13: 978-0373243761
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #484,148 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

That Gemini energy got the best of me in this life time! The best place to introduce the multi-facets of my varied life is through my blog: www.talesfromechocanyon.blogspot.com. There, you will me me, the author as I pen writing journal info for aspiring writers, the gardener who loves roses, Iris, Day lilies and anything else that blooms, the medical astrologer, the person who came from Eastern Cherokee metis background via my father, the horse lover, the Earth lover and the mystic.

I was raised in a metaphysical household. The strange was normal. My father, being the metaphysician he was, would often talk of ghosts coming through the house, who they were, what they said, and so on. I know this probably sounds pretty out of this world--but that was my world growing up. My father's Cherokee blood runs strong in me in many ways. He used to tell us stories all the time and I'm sure this rubbed off on me and fueled my desire to write, which started at age 13. My mother used to read us stories when he didn't tell us a story. I believe that reading being prominent in our household all conspired to help me be a storyteller when I grew up!

I went into the US Navy when I was eighteen years old. I became a meteorologist because I loved Father Sky and the cloud beings. Before I went into the military, I got my student pilot's license. I soloed at age sixteen in twelve hours time. I earned my money picking night crawlers every night in our orchard and selling them by the hundreds of dozens to local sporting goods stores in the area. By the time I went into the Navy at eighteen, I had forty hours of flight time logged. And because of my military background, I created the sub-genre of Military Romance in the romance publishing Industry in 1983 with Captive of Fate (Silhouette Special Edition). I write what I know and I honor and respect all men and women who either served or are serving our country. They are all heroes and heroines in my eyes.

I was a fencer (I met my husband, David, in fencing--we crossed swords and it was love at first parry...) for many years. Being part of the East Coast fencing salles, I was one of the few women to take on epee and saber--and fight the guys on the copper strip--and win. The women who refused to just use a foil to fence with, opened up a whole new era for women after us to fence all three weapons. Men said the epee and saber were 'too heavy' for us girls--but we showed them differently! Now, in the Olympics, women are allowed to fence in more than just foil. That makes me proud of our burgeoning efforts so long ago. Women can do anything!

I was one of the first women firefighters in Ohio back in 1983. I routinely rolled on 400 of the 600 fire calls a year we had, and knew how to drive the pumper, the tanker and do any job a volunteer firefighter has to do. I also took training in hazardous materials down at the Reynoldsburg Fire Academy in Columbus, Ohio.

My life has been one of breaking through stereotypes, breaking down doors closed to women and showing that women are smart, strong, and capable. As a Native American raised woman, I came from a matriarchal background--not a patriarchal one as most women come from. And because of that, my books show strong, smart women who are equal to any man. I like showing the world that women are equals. We don't need to say one gender is better than the other. Rather, we need to realize, honor and use everyone's best skills and talents to make this world a better place to live. I feel like I've lived about five lives packed into one and all of this adventure and experience is reflected in the books I write.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book Reviewer for Myshelf.Com, March 3, 2001

By 

Suzie Housley (Oak Ridge, Tn United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Man With A Mission (Morgans Mercenaries: Maverick Hearts) (Special Edition) (Paperback)

Lindsey McKenna's A MAN WITH A MISSION is one fast and exciting novel. It provides the reader with a rich description of the mysterious land of Peru.

Captain Jake Travers has learned his sister has been captured by notorious drug dealers who are holding her hostage in the dark jungles of Peru. He seeks the aid of a special operations force and is shocked to discover he will be required to work with a female Apache helicopter pilot, Lieutenant Ana Cortina. He is unprepared in his first meeting with Ana, not only is she highly trained, she is also beautiful.

Lieutenant Ana Cortina, born and raised in Peru, joined the army to help rid her country of the drug activities which plagued her country. She is determined to help return it to the once safe environment she remembers as a child. Accepting a special operations mission to work with Captain Jake Travers, she finds herself forced to prove her skills. Unexpectedly she also finds herself wanting to give her heart to Jake. She realizes that pursuing this love is fruitless because once Jake finds his sister he will return to North America, or will he?

Ana and Jake are both portrayed as strong characters. Being on an equal level it is hard for either of them to admit their true feelings. Both share a common tragic experience of losing the loves of their life. Their loss and common careers enhance the building foundation of their relationship. This is the first Heart of Mercenaries series I have read. I was very impressed and look forward to reviewing the other stories in the series.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another hit by McKenna, March 3, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Man With A Mission (Morgans Mercenaries: Maverick Hearts) (Special Edition) (Paperback)

Another great read in the Morgan's Mercenaries series. It's set in the exotic location of Peru where the indomitable Maya Stevenson runs an all women covert ops squad against the local drug traffickers. Hunky Jake Travers goes there to rescue his kidnapped kid sister - and guess what? Falls in love with one of Maya's valkyrie chopper pilots. I loved the location and the smattering of local customs and color from around the Macchu Picchu area. Jake is torn between his feelings of chivalry for his guide and commanding officer Lieutenant Ana Lucia Cortina and his need to rescue his sister from dangerous drug runners. A lot of the interest in this book revolves around the tension between the sex role stereotypes that Jake is burdened with and the realities that he has to face in the field. McKenna shows how women can retain their femininity and still be top combat soldiers. At the same time, Jake struggles with his own feelings and how to express them. It would be nice to think that there were really North American men out there as sensitive to other cultures and feminist issues as this tough ranger. I'm looking forward to the forthcoming novel about Maya.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very highly recommended!, February 15, 2001

By 

C. Penn "WordWeaving" (Greenville, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Man With A Mission (Morgans Mercenaries: Maverick Hearts) (Special Edition) (Paperback)

Part of the Maverick Hearts miniseries by Linday McKenna, MAN WITH A MISSION is a heart pounding, heart-stopping novel of danger and love.

They have a mission, a life to find and save. Captain Jake Travers' sister is missing. She traveled to the jungles of Peru to a small village to help them sink wells. Sixty percent of their children were dying before the age of ten from drinking bad water. Talia Travers dreams of saving the children, little realizing the risk to herself. Kidnapped by a drug lord, Tal becomes the pawn of dangerous game that Jake intends to end.

Against his better judgement, Jake accepts the aid of Lieutenant Ana Cortina, a woman that is part of the Black Jaguar squadron that fights the influx of Columbia drugs. His traditional beliefs don't allow for a woman to lead this kind of deadly mission, and he has serious misgivings. But Jake needs a guide that knows the path, the people, and the languages that will lead to saving his sister.

Jake makes Ana feel safe in a world gone mad. She makes Jake long for things he doesn't dare dream of. As they walk the path through the Rainbow Valley, Jake finds himself filled with both terror and joy. Terror for the safety of his beloved sister. Joy to be with this extraordinary woman. Despite their cultural differences, they have much in common, placing family, parents, land and heritage ahead all other things.

Although she calls herself a warrior, Jake comes to understand she's also a sensual woman, with powerful religious beliefs and a profound connection to the land. As his heart becomes further involved, he also hopes she might become a wife and mother. Somehow he must learn to reconcile the warrior with the woman. And somehow, when the mission ends, they must find a way to be together. But the farmlands of Iowa are a long way from the Peruvian jungle.

With a powerful narrative voice and a marvelous imaginative flair, McKenna presents the clash of culture and ideals in this memorable tale. Very highly recommended.