Mercenary: The Savage Seven [Paperback]

Katherine Garbera (Author)

Book Description

Series: Savage Seven | Publication Date: August 1, 2009

Once upon a time, Kirk Mann led a normal life. Now, as second-in-command at Savage Seven, he takes on assignments no one else would dare to handle. Like protecting Olivia Pountuf, a sexy, pampered socialite who was engaged to the manager of a diamond mine - until she discovered her fiance's murderous business tactics. Kirk arrives in Johannesburg too late to stop Olivia being kidnapped, but rescuing her stirs up a firestorm of longing as hot as it is dangerous. And that's just the kind he likes...Olivia grew up believing that money would protect her. But the man she was to marry wants her dead, and the one person who makes her feel safe is a rough-around-the-edges ex-Marine who couldn't care less about wealth or privilege. Now, the only way to survive is to uncover an illicit scheme that others will kill again and again to protect, and trust in a desire that's veering straight out of control...

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Brava (August 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758232101
• ISBN-13: 978-0758232106
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,232,333 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The Mercenary reviewed by The Book Vixen, January 22, 2011

By 

The Book Vixen (California, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mercenary: The Savage Seven (Paperback)

Why I Read this Book: When I first saw the title, I was like bring it! Who doesn't love a bad-ass mercenary? I certainly do. I like reading romantic suspense, especially when the heroine falls for the bad-ass guy saving her ass. The Mercenary had an interesting premise, it just didn't play out well for me.

What I Liked: The first half of the book was good and it held my attention. I was in the zone and wanted to know how everything was going to turn out with Olivia and her situation. There's also something going on with Kirk, something from his past, but I didn't get far enough to find out what that something was.

What I Didn't Like: Olivia and Kirk were too quick to bed and their tumble in the sheets lacked emotion and chemistry. It went against Kirk's better judgment but he did it anyways. And even though Kirk held his guard up from letting Olivia in personally, she was determined to get Kirk's attention which annoyed me to no end.

One of the most exciting parts of reading a romance is the first love scene. It's the anticipation of getting to the point. Maybe there's a bit of tension but mostly there's passion. The first love scene is The Mercenary was anything but exciting. There was no passion. I wasn't feeling any emotion between Olivia and Kirk.


From the book:
She straddled him and he entered in her in one smooth motion. She rode him hard, her breasts bouncing with each movement, and they both climbed quickly toward their climax, shuddering together and crying each other's names.
Kirk had never had sex like this before. Olivia simply rocked his world and his soul and made him feel like he couldn't survive without her.


Rocked his world? That's not the impression or effect I got from reading the first love scene. He entered her, her breasts bounced and they both climaxed quickly. Not the kind of love scene that has any kind of effect on me other than that was it?

Overall Impression: I was so disappointed in the lack of connection, emotion and chemistry between the hero and heroine that I couldn't finish the book. I got 72% into The Mercenary and at that point I just couldn't go any further. Let me explain why I even went that far. The first love scene didn't happen until 65% into the book. (The story begins on August 1st and the first love scene takes place August 4th, giving our H/H 3 days before shacking up.) And up until that point the book was okay. But that first love scene, and the few that followed quickly after, turned me away. If you like reading romantic suspense mainly for the suspense and don't really care about lackluster love scenes, then you might enjoy The Mercenary. However, I need emotion and chemistry tying the main love interests together in order for it to feel real for me.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4 1/2 Hearts from TRS!, October 27, 2009

By 

Tina Pavlik "Tina" (East Coast, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Mercenary: The Savage Seven (Paperback)

"Ms. Garbera once again demonstrates her ability to create chilling, intriguing, and hard-to-put-down suspenseful romances laced a high level of sensuality. The Mercenary is a fast paced adventure wrapped in an exciting plot and all built around a dynamic hero and heroine along with a group of secondary characters that are quite interesting. Ms. Garbera paints a realistically vivid picture that allows readers to understand the danger of the diamond mines, the unrest in Africa, and the danger that stalks the heroine. Every single scene, along with the characters' conflicts and reactions, are perfect and believable. Kirk and Olivia are characters who come from different worlds united by the deeply emotional bond that exists between them. Olivia is a strong, enchanting, and courageous heroine placed in a part of the world where she is challenged at every turn. Kirk is a delicious hero who is honorable, intelligent, and a whole lot dangerous! Together these two characters create magic and a deep sense of completeness for the reader to enjoy. Throughout the story the mounting sexual tension along with the clever y twisty turns add dimension to the story keeping the reader sitting on the edge of their seat."

"Readers should be delightfully warned; once you start reading The Mercenary you won't be able to put it down until the last word is read! Truly captivating!" - Shannon

2.0 out of 5 stars Plot and Africa were the only redeeming qualities, September 26, 2011

By 

Hot Lips - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mercenary: The Savage Seven (Paperback)

Some of the Africa background was interesting and there were plot twists here and there. But it just wasn't very good, and it certainly was not a good romance.

Olivia is a sniveling whimp the whole time. OK, I get that the first few times she was threatened, or witnessed violence, that her character was realistically portrayed but by the 3rd and 4th attempts on her life a real person would either have a breakdown or grow a backbone; she was just so unlikable and selfish.

For a few days Kirk is keeping her safe and there's hardly a moment of down time, she attaches herself to him, terrified all the time. They know nothing about each other, have been together only in exceptional and stressful circumstances but she's in love with him. Oh please. It was like the author was riding the edge between realism and sensationalism never tipping either way and it just ruined the story.