Rainbow Reviews

BOOK BLURB:
When Drake's heart is awakened, he discovers the joy of forbidden love. After losing that love, grief and drink consume him and he takes over as Master of Arms for Logan, Duke of Marden. Can Drake put his ghost to rest and accept the love Logan offers him?

BOOK REVIEW:
Drake is known as the best mercenary in the land. The last thing he needs is a traveling companion but he gets one anyway in the form of a capable, young fighter named Ansel. And so begins The Mercenary's Tale, a story of love, loss and rebirth. How many people are lucky enough to find love not once, but twice in a lifetime?

Ansel and Drake journey to offer their services to the Duke of Foray. Along the way they save a poor village from conscription bands and Drake gets to see Ansel in full warrior mode. Inevitably, they fall in love, though Drake fights it every step of the way. When they finally come together their romantic and sexual interludes are sexy and hot. You can guess how this ends at Foray and Drake mourns his loss for the next 2 years, until he's summoned by his best friend, Jackson, to assume the duties of Master of Arms for the Duke of Marden.

When he arrives and meets Logan, with his long, blond hair, for the first time, he knows he's a goner. It's a delicious scene because he knows he'll fall for Logan as hard as he fell for Ansel. What's different this time around is that he understands himself better now, and knows what pleasures and raptures await him so he doesn't bother to fight it.

It was a joy to read about them falling in love. Logan is a single father and surprisingly sensitive for a man of his station. He sees a potential life partner in Drake and allows him the time and space he needs to properly mourn and cherish his memories of Ansel. The manner in which Drake does this is both beautiful and moving.

The Duke and his mercenary are an incredibly masculine, passionate and powerful couple. They don’t always agree but they communicate well and respect each other. Their lovemaking is quite fierce yet intimate, and I especially liked that while their sexualities were fluid, their love bond was as strong as steel. There's a sweetly revealing scene between Drake and his best friend, and an unusual but welcomed interlude involving Drake's second-in-command that makes for a spicy menage.

Two special characters almost steal the spotlight from Logan and Drake. Tomas, Logan's precocious six-year old, is puffed up with his own sense of self and Joss, the ten year-old page assigned to assist Drake, is the exact opposite, insecure and fearful. It was fun and heartwarming to watch Logan and Drake interact with the boys. Drake discovers that he enjoys having someone to take care of and the revelation he makes near the end of the story will floor you then make your heart soar.

A few other things make this an exceptional tale. Drake tells us his story in first-person narrative, an effective and intimate technique. The cover art is finely done, too, showing Drake's facial scar and Logan's long blond hair, both of which figure prominently in the story.

"The Mercenary's Tale" is one of the finest erotic and romantic love stories I've read this year. Do yourself a favor and get yourself a copy for your keeper shelf.

Note: This is the first book in Lorenz’s "In the Company of Men" series. "Jackson’s Pride" follows.

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