Customer Reviews

Mercenary: The Savage Seven

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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.

"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

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.

I enjoyed this as it was took place in a country I don't ususlly ready about. Interesting plot - needs to be a longer book.

Savage Seven seems to be an interesting group.

I hated the stilted-writing style and poor development of the characters in this book. I was very disappointed after reading the other reviews as I expected to discover/enjoy a new author ... instead, it was barely readable for me.

In South Africa, affluent socialite Olivia Pontouf and diamond-mine manager Ray Lambert are engaged. However, their wedding plans die when she accidentally uncovers evidence he commits business murder and fraud. When he realizes what his fiancée has learned, Ray plots her death.

The Savage Seven mercenaries are hired to protect Olivia. However, by the time second in command Kirk Mann lands in Johannesburg, Ray has kidnapped Olivia. The ex-marine is all action and few words as he leads the counteroffensive to rescue the wealthy heiress. He succeeds, but has a new more lethal problem that neither his marine nor his Savage Seven training helps solve; he is attracted to his client and worse she reciprocates never feeling safer than when she is with Kirk.

This opening act is more a thriller than a romantic suspense though there is a major romance subplot. That feels out of place and would have been better suited to have had overly spoiled Olivia in a role similar to that of Erika Eleniak in Steven Seagal's movie Under Siege. Still the story line is fast-paced and filled of furious action as Kirk and company kick butt in the terrific South African backdrop. Katherine Gabera provides an overall exciting first magnificent Savage Seven tale.

Harriet Klausner

Maybe I expected too much from this book and an author I had not read before. Needless to say I was disappointed. Did not even finish reading the book and that is so unusual for me. The writing style and plot just did not appeal.

Protection is the name of the game in THE MERCENARY, Katherine Garbera's first installment of a brand new romantic suspense series titled The Savage Seven. Kirk Mann has been given the assignment of protecting pretty girl Olivia Jenner - something that he is definitely not looking forward to doing.

Olivia Jenner has moved to South Africa to live with her fiancé. Pampered, elegant, and the ultimate arm candy, Olivia is slowly becoming aware that things aren't exactly what she expected. Her fiancé is gone more than he is home, and his dealings seem shady at best. When he calls demanding she bring him a folder he needs for work, Olivia doesn't think twice about the request. It isn't until she sees him kill a man and then aim the gun at her that Olivia's senses kick in, and she knows she has to get away. Calling one of her best friends, Olivia is given a way out - she is to meet the agent sent to protect her at the airport and do precisely what he says.

Kirk Mann is an ex-marine and a member of Savage Seven. Given the duty of traveling to South Africa to find and protect Olivia Jenner is definitely not his idea of a good time. He has a feeling that he and the pretty and pampered party girl will clash at every turn. His intuition is correct - on that aspect at least. However, Olivia's strength and fortitude in the face of tremendous danger makes Kirk rethink his opinion of her. Striving to keep Olivia safe without letting his blossoming feelings emerge, Kirk has his work cut out for him.

Katherine Garbera is an automatic read for me no matter which type of book she releases. Whether she is releasing a straight contemporary or a romantic suspense novel like THE MERCENARY, I know that I am going to be engulfed and swept away by each and every word. THE MERCENARY is exactly this type of book.

Olivia, at first glance, is a pampered princess. She doesn't work. She parties and plays and sleeps. But the further you look into her psyche, the more you realize that everything that she does is almost an illusion and defense mechanism. She is comfortable being what people expect - she is not comfortable being herself. Kirk Mann is having none of it. He wants Olivia. He wants Olivia to admit she wants him. The rest is gravy.

Densely packed suspenseful action with a killer plot that engages the reader from the first page, THE MERCENARY is remarkable. I am on pins and needles waiting for the second installment of this exciting and addicting new series by one of my favorite authors!

Natalie S.

I've read and enjoyed quite a few books by author Katherine Garbera. "Mercenary", for me, wasn't quite up to par for what I expect from Garbera. Her writing is always terse and action-filled, but, once again just for me maybe, this story lacked the emotion I needed to pull me fully into the lives of its characters.

Kirk is second in command and the sniper of the Savage Seven. As such, he lives his life behind a cool wall that he uses to separate himself from his actions. The last thing he expected was to fall for a pampered socialite.

Olivia grew up in comfort and security, surrounded by all the ease big money provides. But ever since becoming engaged to the manager of a South African diamond mine and moving to his home, she can't shake the 'wrong' feelings she's been getting. Her final clue is seeing her fiance kill a man and then aim the gun at her. Now she's on the run and the only man she feels safe with is the silent, stoic Kirk.

I didn't like Olivia and Kirk's constant reserve made it difficult for me to believe he and Olivia fell in love in such a short time. The sex is hot, but still not enough to convince me either. The writing has a staccato feeling to it and the lack of emotion portrayed thus just reinforced my distance from the characters.

If short-time-frame romance with light emotional impact doesn't bug you, you'll love this story. It's short enough (218 pages in trade paperback) that it doesn't take long to read and the sex is hot enough for an afternoon snack. But for me, I need just a tad bit more than what Katherine Garbera provided in "The Mercenary".