Drake is a mercenary. He lost the last of his family years ago, not by death but by choice. Drake doesn’t get close to people and his occupation makes it hard to keep friends. Watching those he has trained die in combat has left Drake with a dull ache. So when he first meets Ansel and looks into his beautiful blue eyes, Drake knows something is different. The young man makes him break his rules, despite his better judgment. The two become fast friends and even faster lovers while on their way to the battle at Foray. Drake and Ansel’s journey to Foray will teach them about their suppressed sexual desires, love and loss.

Two years later, a fellow mercenary sends Drake a message that he is to be the new Master of Arms at Marden Castle. Drake is capable of fulfilling Jacksons request, but unprepared for his immediate interest in Logan, the Duke of Marden. Logan’s long blond hair and smile warm a place in Drake’s heart he thought died two years prior. His green assessing eyes never give away what he is really thinking. Drake is scared to open his heart again, his wounds are not yet completely healed and the ghost of lost love still haunts him.

The Mercenary’s Tale is a wonderful story. I fell in love with so many of the characters that it was hard to put the book down. Drake and Logan are both strong men in their own way. Both are respected by the people they command and protect. Each is a hero to the little boys in their keep. Jackson, a character I would love to see come back in a later novel, was clever and humorous. Joss and Tomas are two little boys who snuck in under Drake’s defenses. I found myself smiling with tears in my eyes while I read some of Drake’s scenes with Joss. The story isn’t just about sex and war, but about love, family and honor. Watching these characters interact outside of the bedroom was just as wonderful as their love making inside the bedroom. From the scenes, the dialect and the plot, Lynn Lorenz has written an outstanding book, and I’m hoping there will be a sequel in the near future.

Reviewed by: NeNe