Samantha Devlin is hired to pilot a courier ship, when she discovers her cargo is actually three Arena Dogs condemned to death. Mercury, their leader, and Lo, his emotionally broken arena-brother, challenge all her notions of honor, loyalty, and love as she discovers just how much she will risk to keep them alive.
Born a slave, Mercury is anArena Dog, genetically engineered to fight and die in the Arena for the entertainment of others. Trained as a gladiator from boyhood, he’s gathered and led one of the most successful teams in arena history. In their violent world, where men must form alliances and share what little bounty they have to survive, his only goal has been to keep his men alive. But two of his men are dead and he, Diablo and Carnage are condemned to be hunted down and killed in Arena’s newest inhuman sport. Worse, their demise will leave Carn’s mate, a woman Mercury has sworn to protect, alone and vulnerable. And then there is Samantha—a courageous human he has no right to claim. But sheishis. He feels it deep in his soul and with an ache in his body he can’t deny.
Samantha Devlin is a down-on-her-luck indie-freight pilot, working in the belly of a corporate hauler until she can earn the credits for her own ship. When an old friend hires her as an emergency replacement to pilot a cargo carrier for the Roma Company, she’s shocked to learn her cargo is three, living, breathing, and dangerously sexyArena Dogs.When Samantha learns she’s taking the men to their deaths, she must decide is she if willing to risking everything for a man whose customs require that he share her with one of his men and demands he return to Roma to protect another woman. Her heart tells her Mercury is worth any cost, but her head sees nothing ahead but disaster.
Caution: features two scorching hot heroes and one impossibly impulsive woman. Their story may just make you want to steal anArena Dogor two of your own.
Excerpt
He pressed his lips to her forehead in a gesture both sweet and scorching. “I ache for you.” Lusty agony laced through the quietly spoken words.
She cursed low. “Damn it, I can’t think straight when you say things like that.”
A rough chuckle rumbled in his throat as he lifted her higher then licked a path down to her collar bone. “There’s no need to think right now, Samantha.”
He was seducing her. The man who’d known nothing but violence was seducing her and she had to acknowledge she wanted to give in, to be seduced. His hands skimmed her thighs on their way to her ass. He squeezed, urging her to wrap herself more tightly around him. His hands felt huge on her body as he held her close and headed toward the riverbank.
She stroked her palms over his shoulders and the bunching muscles of his arms as he carried her out of the water. The moment he stopped on the grassy bank, he leaned in to take her mouth. It wasn’t a light, easy, getting-to-know-you kiss. It was a kiss of pure possession. He licked her lips and pressed his tongue past them to stroke deep inside. She met the thrust of his tongue, needing everything he offered. He growled into her mouth and her stomach did a little flip in response.
Maybe he’d been right. Suddenly, thinking didn’t seem so important.
Professional Reviews
6 Feet Under Blog
Samantha is offered a job running special cargo to another port. Little does she know that the special cargo are genetically modified humanoids being sent to their death. When she finds out, she knows that she can't let this happen. There is something about Mercury, the leader of the trio that calls to her. One is very sick from abuse and a broken heart. She needs to help them be free. But can she? Will she risk everything to save Mercury, Diablo, and Carn from uncertain death?
Samantha hatches a plan that will help the trio escape, but when the handlers find out things get out of hand. Will Mercury and Samantha ever see each other again? Will they survive? Taking the risk Samantha proceeds with her plan. Carn needs to get back to Roma, the Arena planet and find his mate, Hera. Risking everyone life, but Hera is his mate, they need to be together. Or Carn will surely die. Thing heat up between Samantha and Mercury, causing the Mercury to rise in more ways then one.
The character building in this book is amazing. You learn about Samantha and her background, how she became the way she is and why. You also learn about the trio of men and how they came to be and why. Ms. Allden creates a very cool world that evolves and surrounds you, almost like you are there. The rich port of Haverlee, the Arena, and the uninhabited planet they land on. All place that sound real.
Celestine on GoodReads
This book was a rollicking escapade, encountering aliens, new worlds, cool tech, and people trying to do the right thing along the way. Samantha Devlin is a freighter pilot who discovers her cargo are the scary but magnificent gladiators known as Arena Dogs. These genetically-manipulated men are scheduled to be terminated in a "hunt," and that doesn't sit well with soft-hearted and righteous Sammie.
While the slavery/ battle arena situation isn't all that new, I was intrigued by the refugee angle in Charlee Allden's Stealing Mercury. This was a story about escape, conditions that make asylum necessary, and finding those sympathetic to help. This thread runs throughout the book and affects more people than just the Arena Dogs. I personally know a refugee who spent most of his childhood in a camp, and some of the details of Haverlee Port reminded me of the experiences he related. Kudos to Ms. Allden for placing hints of the weird permanency of "temporary" shelter refugees experience into her story.
The slavery and refugee situations aside, Allden has crafted a fun and exciting space adventure with a strong love story. Aliens (of the humanoid variety) are everywhere, and a lot of actual-humans are the bad guys. Samantha is courageous, a little foolhardy, and a lot clever. Though Mercury and the other Arena Dogs are clearly warriors, they find themselves relying more and more on Samantha. They save her a few times, too. Nobody is the weak link in this story.
Amazingly, Charlee Allden made me like a menage book. Usually if I see the m-word or see those three little letters, M/F/M, I scroll right past, but somehow, in my anxiousness to get at a new science fiction romance book, I managed to overlook that not-so-tiny (pun intended) detail. Genetics and slave conditions predispose Arena Dogs to share mates. Gradualness, choice and acceptance were hallmarks of the relationship.
Though there is a clear ending to this book (no cliffhanger), I get the feeling Ms. Allden is just getting starting with her world building in the Arena Dog series. Roma and Gollerra are just the beginning. There are still little mysteries to solve, underground rebellions to foment and insurrections to ignite - just wait and see.
Jolanda L on Amazon
I love it!
I cant wait for the second book and I hope that it will continue the story of Mercury, Sam and Lo.
If you are a fan of Laurann Dohner you are definitely gonna love this one too!
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