
The Wives Tales 4
Four women auctioned off to genetically bred
strangers in separate venues are uniquely destined to discover love in unusual
places.
The Mercenary's Wife
Tyler Blackthorn's treacherous thirteenth wife drugs his food
on their wedding night and initiates a sexual encounter he
barely remembers. The vital information she possesses about his
past saves her from his ultimate wrath.
When Valentina goes missing, Veronica Moorehouse will stop at
nothing to find her younger sister, even if it means incurring
the lifetime fury of an unforgiving mercenary.
Their quest becomes a flight of survival when an assassin
bent on killing elite Tiberius officials implicates them in the
plot—Tyler
because he's one of a handful skilled enough to have pulled the
trigger and Veronica because a secret witness places her with
the elusive hired gun.
From an abandoned genetics lab in the Colorado Rockies to the
big sky country of Montana, Tyler and Veronica must work
together to prove their individual innocence.
But only one of them is innocent.
Sensuality Rating: SCORCHING
Genre: Futuristic
Length: Plus Novel (81,700 words)
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Larger
Cover Image
Cover
Art by Jinger Heaston
THE MERCENARY'S WIFE
The Wives Tales 4
ISBN: 1-933563-99-0
E-book $5.99

ISBN: 1-60601-009-3
Trade Paperback $13.99


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REVIEWS
for The Mercenary's Wife
[The Wives Tales 4]
5 Flags: "Lara
Santiago has done it again! Fourth in her
Wives series, she packs enough raw sex and
sweat popping heat to set off a heat wave.
This one is a keeper! High marks all
around!"
—Melisa,
Euro-Reviews
4.5 Kisses:
"If you are a fan of Ms. Santiago’s Wives
Tales, this fourth installment will not
disappoint you. Ms. Santiago wrote a
multi-layered thriller that kept me glued
to the edge of my seat until the last
word! I loved the way The Mercenary’s
Wife starts slow, but quickly picks up
speed. Tyler is a wonderfully complex man.
Tyler’s hiding a secret past that impacts
his current lifestyle, even as he runs a
lucrative racket by marrying desperate
women for high prices. When he finally
acknowledges to himself that he wants to
keep his thirteenth bride, Veronica, he
wonders if she’ll stay with him. Tyler is
unaware Veronica’s just as vulnerable as
he is. She’s hiding from past choices she
is not proud of either. These two
characters are perfect for each other. I
enjoyed their journey as each layer of
their past is explored and dealt with. It
isn’t until almost the end that characters
from the previous three books spill into
this storyline. The Mercenary’s Wife
is a brilliant story with many complex
twists and turns. Thank you, Ms. Santiago,
for creating a futuristic world where
nothing is black and white. The depth of
these characters creates a lot of fuel for
thought as we quickly discover that the
Tiberian world consists of multi-faceted
characters displaying a wide spectrum of
actions and reactions. In my opinion,
The Mercenary’s Wife is the best of
all four Wives Tales. If you enjoy
intelligent futuristic adventures that
plumb the depths of human emotion, run and
buy this book today!"
—Victoria,
Two Lips Reviews
4.5 Blue Ribbons:
"Lara Santiago weaves a plot of futuristic
adventure with all of the classic plot
twists. Veronica is the brave heroine and
this woman isn’t afraid to do what it
takes to get what she wants. Tyler is
dangerous, but also has a soft side that
will make you melt. The two make an
explosive couple and together are pure
dynamite. An added element to the tale is
the mystery of Veronica’s missing sister
and of course what plot isn’t complete
without a villain, played by Veronica’s
father. I have read all of the books in
the Wives Tales series and even though you
don’t have to read them to follow this
tale, I would recommend it."
—Angel,
Romance Junkies
4 Angels:
"The Mercenary’s Wife brings The Wives Tales
series full circle. With a couple of cameo appearances from past couples, Lara
Santiago creates another futuristic treat. Tyler is a modified human with as
much wit as he has brawn. More forgiving, it seems where the heroine is
concerned, Tyler and Veronica are actually a couple made in mercenary heaven.
The Mercenary’s Wife was as thrilling as its predecessors, and the
excitement Veronica and Tyler created as well as the daring situations they
continually found themselves in made this story one of the best. I wonder if
this will be the end of Lara Santiago’s coveted series but I hope to see another
about Tyler’s right hand Snake who deserves a little love too."
—Rachelle, Fallen Angel Reviews
The excerpt
or excerpts
below contain
explicit adult language and sexual content.
By
reading any further, you are stating that you are at
least 18 years of age. If you are under the age of
18, it is necessary to exit this site.
___________________________________________
Copyright © 2008
All rights reserved, Siren Publishing, Inc. Cannot be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without expressly permitted to do so in writing from the
publisher.
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EXCERPT
Veronica watched Valentina walk out to the podium from her
hiding place at the back of the room. Thankfully, there was no
stage set up as with the public and corporate auctions. The
carpeted floor shielded her sister’s footsteps when she walked
slowly to the center of the low platform.
Being paraded in front of the assembled crowd was appalling
enough. As soon as Valentina reached the spot for her viewing,
Veronica noticed her mercenary sat up straighter in his chair,
ostensibly to pay attention, but Veronica watched him for
another reason. Now he knew Valentina hadn’t visited him last
night. The veil provided wasn’t sheer enough to shield her
sister’s face.
After getting a good long look at Valentina, he swiveled his
head and stared directly at Veronica, still partially hidden in
her corner behind a circular support column. His stern gaze
drilled into her soul. If she were to be truly honest, his stare
went straight to her moistening core as well.
The memory of the wickedly satisfying night before stabbed
through her, and she felt the heat creep up her skin. He’d left
a mark on her neck the night before that she’d had to hide for
today’s festivities.
The mercenary she’d hired scrutinized her from head to toe
before his lips twitched into a smirk. He winked once. Veronica
wanted to die. He knew she wasn’t Valentina, and from his look,
she had no idea what he might do next. She pleaded with him
using her eyes as a messenger.
Her message: Please don’t renege on our deal.
Tyler Blackthorn only had three rules, and she’d broken all of
them. It was a miracle he’d shown up at all. That he didn’t
simply get up and walk out of the auction was another. Veronica
fearfully played that scenario in her head. Would she have the
courage to tackle him around the ankles and beg for his
cooperation? She hoped she wouldn’t have to put that to the
test, because along with submitting, begging was another alien
concept to her general outlook on life.
At the podium, the auctioneer leaned into the microphone. “I’d
like to welcome everyone to the private auction today. Do I have
a first bid from the audience for the lovely Miss Valentina
Moorehouse?”
“I’ll start the bidding at ten thousand dollars,” Brant said. He
turned to his best man Clyde with an expectant look because
everyone in the room knew what would happen next.
Clyde chuckled. “I’ll bid twelve thousand dollars for her, old
friend. She’s a very pretty girl.”
Veronica rolled her eyes at the stupid playacting they did for
private auctions. The high bid would win her sister as an
immediate wife, but they always played this stupid prearranged
bidding game.
Brant put a hand on Clyde’s shoulder as if he would hold him
back from claiming his rightful bride. Oh, the fake drama
of it all.
“I must have her, Clyde. I’m sorry, but I bid fifteen thousand
dollars.” Brant stood up and fixed his gaze on Valentina.
Veronica’s sister swallowed hard. She searched through the room
hoping for another contender. So did Veronica.
“The bid stands at fifteen thousand dollars for Valentina
Moorehouse. Do I have any other bids?” The auctioneer smiled at
Clyde who shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. “I guess
I’ll have to relinquish her to you, Brant.”
Veronica wanted to write better material for the fake ceremony
antics and abounding jocularity during these private auctions.
The cheesy, crappy drivel provided by the foolish rich to amuse
themselves during a life-changing event made her want to throw
up.
Because Clyde was relinquishing Valentina to Brant, she
concluded that fifteen thousand dollars must be the established
amount set between her father and Brant’s family.
Veronica stared at the back of Tyler’s head and sent him mental
waves, begging him not to fail her sister. She bit her tongue to
quell her true feelings of wanting him for herself. But she
wasn’t in danger today. Valentina was.
Tyler remained silent. Veronica closed her eyes. She’d broken
his final rule, and he wasn’t going to bid.
The auctioneer held up his gavel. “If all the bids have been
submitted—”
“I’ll bid thirty thousand dollars,” Tyler Blackthorn interrupted
the auctioneer. Veronica’s head snapped up, and an involuntary
smile crept over her lips. Tyler, using every cent she
possessed, uttered his bid in a calm rational tone.
The room stilled in surprise. An audible sigh escaped from
Valentina.
Brant turned with an incredulous expression plastered on his
over-confident face. “What?”
The auctioneer found his voice after a few seconds. “The bid is
now at the prearranged maximum set by the family. Thirty
thousand dollars to…” He looked down at a syntho-page resting on
the podium listing today’s participants. “Mr. Tyler Blackthorn.”
Tyler rose from his chair in one fluid move and walked slowly
down the central walkway to the front of the auction room to
claim his bride. There was no sound in the room but his quiet
footfalls on the aisle carpet.
“But…you can’t have her,” Brant sputtered.
“I can if you don’t match my bid,” Tyler smugly informed him.
“The maximum is set at thirty thousand. All I can do is match
your exorbitant bid and even then…” Brant trailed off when the
implication became completely clear.
Veronica watched the information wash down Brant’s
silver-spoon-fed features. Brant finished his sentence in a
hushed tone. “We’d have to fight for her.”
The auctioneer cleared his throat. “Do you match Mr.
Blackthorn’s bid, Mr. Wilkes? If so, we’ll move to the
tie-breaking physical match. The two of you will fight for the
lady, and the last man standing is the winner.”
SIREN SEX Rating
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SENSUAL:
Traditional romance, suitable for the general
audience (BookStrand) |
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STEAMY:
Heavy sexual tension; graphic details; may contain
coarse language (BookStrand) |
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SIZZLING:
Erotic, graphic sex; explicit sexual language; may offend delicate
readers (SIREN) |
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SCORCHING:
Erotica romance; contains many sexual encounters; may contain unconventional
sex; will offend delicate readers (SIREN) |
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SEXTREME:
Excessive or non-exclusive sex; many instances of unconventional sex; may be hardcore; not for the faint-hearted
(SIREN) |
SIREN BOOK LENGTH
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NOVELLA:
15,000-25,000
words |
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NOVEL:
25,000-55,000
words |
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FULL
NOVEL: 55,000-80,000
words |
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PLUS
NOVEL:
80,000-100,000
words |
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SUPER
PLUS
NOVEL:
100,000-140,000
words |
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HUMONGOUS
NOVEL:
140,000+
words |
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