Shades of Steele

Mercury Rising #2

by Lynn Hagen

All Stuart wants is Nick, the brooding bounty hunter at the agency Stuart works at. Unfortunately, any time Stuart is around Nick, he becomes sarcastic and sticks his foot in his mouth. He also knows Nick is the last person he needs. Stuart's life is already complicated enough. He was attacked two years ago, leaving his body riddled with scars. He's ashamed of the way he looks, and Stuart refuses to allow anyone to see them. Nick is a jacked-in-the-head monster. A kill warrant waiting to happen. For the past two years he's had his sights set on the little receptionist, but he's always held back. He doesn't want to ruin Stuart's innocence with his jaded past. After all, who could love someone as broken as Nick? When a savage leopard goes after Stuart, hell-bent on killing the male, Nick's dark side comes out, especially when he discovers Stuart is his mate.

[Siren The Lynn Hagen ManLove Alternative Paranormal Romance, M/M, shape-shifter, werewolves, HEA]

Genres: M M Romance, Shapeshifters, M M Paranormal, Paranormal, Vampires

117 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 11, 2018

About the author

Lynn Hagen loves writing about the somewhat flawed, but lovable. She also loves a hero who can see past all the rough edges to find the shining diamond of a beautiful heart.

You can find her on any given day curled up with her laptop and a cup of hot java, letting the next set of characters tell their story.

Reviews

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 1 out of 5]

This author is a guilty pleasure of mine. Her books are generally cheesy, and not particularly well written. But I love the characters, the settings, and how most of them are connected in some way. And what I really like is that they are usually 100% "safe." As in, the shifter meets his mate, and that is it for him. That said, this was probably my least favorite book by this author.





Why she had to go and mess with a good thing is a mystery to me. In this book (and I assume the series) shifters have to have sex with a person to know if they are mates. Great, except that Nick and Stuart are mates. They have worked together for two LONG years. Nick wants Stuart, but instead of manning up he sleeps with everything (man or woman) right in front of Stuart. And I mean...RIGHT in front of him. He brings all his dates back to the workplace to have sex. In fact, we get a scene with him and a woman in bed together. He can't get it up, so he sends her away, and Stuart runs into her <--- lovely. What made it even worse was that Stuart is a virgin!

Of course, Nick gets his head out of his ass eventually. And Stuart just seems A-OK with the fact he had to watch Nick fuck around for two years. But ME, ya, I never got over the nasty that is Nick, and after reading every single book this author has written...I am now going to not bother with the rest of this series. Way to ruin a good thing, Miz Hagen!

[D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Semua anak buah Matt di Mercury Rising punya issues dan masa lalu yang tidak membahagiakan sama sekali salah satunya adalah Nick. Masa lalu yang pahit dan traumatic membuat dia jaded dan merasa tidak pantas bersanding dengan Stuart yang innocent, takut kegelapan akan menaungi kehidupan Stuart setelah ia mengenal Nick lebih jauh makanya selama 2 tahun Stuart bekerja di Mercury Rising sebagai resepsionis, Nick tidak berani berbuat lebih jauh malah Nick lebih mencari "hiburan" dengan pria ataupun wanita lain dan Stuart mengetahui itu meskipun tidak pernah melihat langsung Nick dengan para hiburannya tersebut. Hal tersebut berubah pada saat salah satu wanita yang ditiduri Nick kembali ke Mercury Rising karena ketinggalan tasnya. Meskipun Nick sm wanita itu tidak jadi melakukan apa-apa karena Nick can't get a boner so dia memperintahkan wanita itu pulang lewat pintu belakang agar tidak diketahui oleh Stuart. Satu-satunya hal yang aku tidak suka di buku ini adalah satu detail itu, ugh!

Buku ini sangat kurang terasa keromantisannya meskipun dua-duanya menyimpan rasa yang sama sudah sejak lama.

[Nessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book of the Mercury Rising series, although I had a difficult time reading about poor Stuart's (human) living situation. Although many reviewers like to call these stories, "fluffy", I'm afraid that reading about torture, child molestation (not in the present tense), and abuse, is not, "FLUFFY"! The world building is well done, and I'm still trying to get used to it. I'd really like every species to work together, of course, that's just me. During the plot a character was saying how humans weren't used to men getting pregnant. Well I'd just like to say that, we may think it's odd, but I, however, would definitely welcome it. Nick was a tough nut to crack but eventually he comes to his senses. The background story continues to thicken, and I'm excited for what's yet to come.

[Hc · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure if I like this couple's story or not... more towards not due to Nick. He left his mate TWICE, the second time knowing someone could be after him, but still just walked off. He is not high on my list.

Honestly it was the last bit thrown in at the end that had me move on to the next book. Wanted to see where the Colton thing was gonna go..

[Mimiinwonderland · Rating 5 out of 5]

En ocasiones me enojaba mucho la actitud de Nick, pero de inmediato recordaba todo el sufrimiento que él había vivido a lo largo de su vida. Era de esperarse que tuviera dificultades para expresarse o para demostrar su amor por Stuart. Aún así,e gustó mucho el libro, y el fluff al final me tuvo sonriendo como una tonta todo el tiempo.

[Faye · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was so much better than the first book!! I enjoyed this second couple although Nick was so dumb sometimes he made me want to slam my head into a wall! I will say is the running theme going to be finding a mate and getting pregnant?? I wish there was more of a slow burn.

[Moomba · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars

[Theresa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hated Nick even though he had a horrible childhood. Choppy writing and undeveloped story like the first book. Not continuing with this series.

[Phoenix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again, like with the last book, why wasn't an abortion offered?

[Wende · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nick is beyond cruel and not a nice person let alone mate. I could not warm up with him at all. I don't think I will continue with this series as this book was so bad.

[Yomi Mi Ri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me agradó bastante cómo se desarrolló la trama, además de la relación de los personajes, con ese toque de la autora y me ha gustado bastante.

[Gabrielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Se tardaron mucho en resolver sus asuntos pero me entretuvo.

[Tumyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow - this was amazing. Triggering.
They both wanted each other, but doubted the other would want them.

What's happening with Colson?
Interesting take on mates - not the standard for wolves.

[~RMG · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars - Surprisingly, I really enjoyed Nick and Stuart’s story, and especially enjoyed seeing Nick’s dark side come to the forefront. True bad boys are just awesome. Despite my liking of the main couple, however, the issues going on in the background were just too much noise for me, distracting and unwanted, and lowered my rating. Guess we’ll see how it all continues to unravel.

[Stella Gladden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book

This is another a great book by Lynn Hagen, I really enjoyed it. There is something mysterious going on or about to happen in Mercury County. I can't wait to read the next book to find out what when next.

[Julie scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shades of Steele [Mercury Rising 2]

This was great and I can't wait to read more of this series and I will be watching for it too......

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad read but certainly not the best book by this author. Hopefully the rest of the series is better.