Roane

Circe's Recruits #1

by Marie Harte

In the three years since Project Dawn disbanded, Roane Weston and his men continue to fight the good fight. Now civilians, his squad--Circe's Recruits--works for a private organization bent on cleaning up the mess left in the wake of Project Dawn's rebirth. Run by Elliot Pearl, a ruthless millionaire, Pearson Labs continues to create Circs, people who have been genetically changed. When needed, these Circs take on an altered form, one neither man nor animal, but something in between. But unlike Roane and his squad, the Circs coming out of Pearson Labs aren't sane... Except for Caitlyn Chase, a female Roane can't get out of his mind.

As Caitlyn matures into the female Circ she was meant to be, she sets in motion a chain of events that will forever alter her future and those of Circe's Recruits. In the process, she'll fall in lust, in love with Roane, and in danger as she finally finds out who she really is. Only with Roane and her newfound friends can she hope to keep the PPA at bay while they crush an agenda that may spell the end of them all.

Genres: Paranormal, Menage, Erotica, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Shapeshifters, Science Fiction

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 18, 2008

About the author

Important:: Marie Harte is NOT active on GoodReads, so to contact her, please use her website at marieharte.com.

Caffeine addict, boy referee, and romance aficionado, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Marie Harte has over 100 books published with more constantly on the way. She’s a confessed bibliophile and devotee of action movies. Whether hiking in Central Oregon, biking around town, or hanging at the local tea shop, she’s constantly plotting to give everyone a happily ever after. Visit http://marieharte.com and fall in love.

Reviews

[Blacky *Romance Addict* · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okaaay, I did not expect that.
I mean, I enjoy reading a good menage now and then, but this, it's not menage, at least not the first scene which I couldn't even finish.

Here's why the 1 star...
So, the first scene is, "good" guys kidnap the main woman who's been drugged by some bad guys. They're shifters of some kind and the woman is apparently in heat. So all the men get sexed up and can't help themselves and decide to f*ck the drugged and senseless woman, cause even though she doesn't know it, her body needs this *massive eye roll*. First guy pushes her against some fence and f*cks the drugged woman even though she's resisting him. Then she tries to run away but he grabs her and gets her in some house where they decide to take turns on her cause they can't help it. This is the point I stopped reading, at 12% of the book.

Sorry, that's rape, not menage.
So, bye bye Circe series, and probably the author too, cause, why bother with anything else from the source who thought of this brilliance here XD

[Exina]

DNF at 16%

Based on the genres listed here, I expected a paranormal romance with ménage. Well, it starts with an animalistic gangbang.



As it's totally not my interest, and I've never read anything like this, I can't rate it. Maybe it is a good one among the shapeshifter gangbang erotic stories.

[mlady_rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll start with my progress update:

I don't like the way shifters are portrayed. The appeal of shifters is their dual animal/human nature, not just being big, bad, and freakish. Feels more like "The Incredible Hulk" than lycanthropy.

Generally, there seems to be three schools of shifters - magic, natural, and science experiment. I much prefer the natural kinds. Although if the author is good she can pull off the other two types. She's just fighting an uphill battle with me.

This was the mad scientist and the science experiment gone wrong.

(As an aside, can I say, I was a bit freaked out that the mad scientist has the same name as my allergist. *g*)

But overall, I just wanted more by way of plot, more connection to the characters, and less "how freaky can we make the sex?" I like freaky sex, in general. This was just ... lacking in something.

Oh, and it's one of those "can we make it more blatant that we're doing a series?" things.

[Chrissy Loves Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 stars. I wanted more story and less sex.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I almost can't with this book. I just can't. For about 2 seconds things seemed to be pretty normal then BAM, let's just have a free for all gang bang. Crap, I didn't even have time to get to know these people!! When I read a romance even a pnr I want to get to know my characters, enjoy the journey they take getting to know each other so when that "special moment" happens it's like magic. Was there magic? Well if magic is slamming sex on each other constantly then yeah, there is plenty. It's a giant spoogebath. Honestly, it's just an orgy with a little back story here and there so we know why they are going at it all the time. This is like a pornier bastard version of some other books I love that shall not be named. Maybe it's not all the sex, maybe it's the words used to describe the sex that grossed me out. The overuse of cream was pretty nasty. Despite this, I can't say I won't finish the series because I hate leaving things unfinished. Perhaps the next one won't push my "eesh" button so much.

[ᗰ.ᑕ. ❄️ O͎L͎D͎E͎R͎ ͎&͎ ͎W͎I͎S͎E͎R͎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2017 = 2 stars
2023 = 3 stars / review written


𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲
(nothing new or memorable)
𝗕𝗨𝗧 -


𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧:
A secret military project used a secret serum to create super soldiers.
They can turn into stronger, beastly forms (part man/part beast), with enhanced senses all the time. They're called Circs, after the Circe serum.

💉 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿-𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗿-𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘂𝗺 💉(😁)

Project Dawn is disbanded when most of the soldiers turn psychotic.
The five survivors form a brotherhood squad:
Roane, Hale, Derrick, Zack, and Ace.
Evan—"Doc" to his men—is the leader and financial backer.

The Brotherhood's Mission:
🛡️ Hunt the PPA. (Project's Protection Agency)
🛡️ Take down Pearson Labs.
🛡️ Capture rogue Circs.


A mad scientist named Elliot Pearl. The evil mastermind behind Pearson Labs. Elliot continues to make new variations of the serum and rogue Circs.

Elliot started a new Project Dawn with the support of powerful, rich backers. He still had problems to work out. What made some subjects stable while others rejected EP12? Why couldn’t he fix the instability in his Circs once they became psychotic?

The squad rescues Caitlyn from the PPA . She's the first Circ they find who isn't feral. She joins their group, becomes Roane's woman, and bonds with all 5 men. Several somewhat spicy sex scenes follow.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 -

𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹-𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆｡
(Little to no depth, details or descriptions.)

🔥 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘁:🔥
The mating heat is a hormonal signal to reproduce, affecting both male and female Circs monthly or bimonthly. They experience overwhelming lust, only able to satisfy each other's needs. When transformed, their cocks release a natural lubricant. Roane and his team caught off guard by it, had to take care of each other, but it wasn't pretty without a female. It wasn't easy for them to accept the need to have sex with each other.

Caitlyn finds out that she's not fully human, a product of her dad's army days and Pearson Labs. Her dad was unknowingly experimented on and his DNA was changed. Pearson Labs gave her injections over the years, to make sure she would become a Circ. They kicked her out of the program, thinking the experiment was a failure. When they found out it wasn't, they sent the PPA after her.

This is mostly about:
☑ Learning about Project Dawn and the Circs.
☑ Caitlyn learning about herself.
☑ Roane & Caitlyn getting together.

🙁 I was disappointed to learn there's very little action.

The romance was sweet at the end.
🤗 She smacked him in the chest, hard enough to make him catch his breath. “You idiot. How could you not know I loved you? I’ve been sleeping with you for weeks. I moved into your untidy, nasty room — which needs a makeover — without complaint. I fucked four of your best buddies,” she whispered and blushed, “because I’m so connected to you, I have to be connected to them. We damn well mated, you jackass. And you thought I didn’t love you?”

🤗 “Hellcat, you are so much my heart, it won’t beat without you. You’re my world. The air I breathe.” He wiped the tears from her starry eyes. “And if you tell any of the guys what I just said, I’ll paddle your ass for weeks."

That's what upped my rating to 3-stars.

[Carolyn F. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Caitlyn's out on the beach trying to get some sun when two guys who smell like "garbage" (author's word) come up and tell her this undercover organization was bringing her in. She tries to change their mind and ends up running away into Roane and his group of saviors. She also finds out her father was given a "vaccination" that changed her and when she went to a clinic for testing their vitamin shots weren't vitamin shots. Now she's some type of shifter and this is where it gets all weird. She growls like a dog, hisses like a cat, has some kind of hard skin protection that comes out, what the frick is she? A turcatwolf? Same with the guys, they're really not one animal with all the noises they make, Roane even purrs once. I like shifter stories and I don't mind the one's that are scientific like Lora Leigh's Breed books, but I was so confused with these guys.

There is a lot of male on male loving going on too which is okay, but they're all acting like, "Yes I just had sex with my buddy here, but it's because I had to. Oh look, my two guy friends are kissing and it's getting me hard, but that doesn't mean anything." It means you like guys too and are bisexual!!! Just say it like it is and don't be a chicken shit.

I'm going to read the next book in this series later to see if I like it better.

[Unapologetic_Bookaholic · Rating 3 out of 5]

This starts with Caitlyn trying to relax on a beach when two men approach her and tell her, she's coming with them.

Caitlyn's aware of a certain ability she has over men and tries to use it to get away. During her struggle another group of people "rescue" her. The only explanation of what a Circ is sort of resembles a Breed from Lora Leigh's Breeds series. Highly sexual, genetically engineered shifter.

I wanted a quick M/M + menage read. This hit the spot. There wasn't much romance but the usual mate/mine emotion does help to give the frenzied sex a more connected feel.

Marie Harte has made a fan out of me, easy. Looking for to the next book in the series: Zack and Ace. Which should be a real treat. Their scene was quick [hair grabbing, bruising kisses:] and getting to read their their story makes me happy. Real happy.

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Admittedly, I love elite fighting forces where supernatural powers are in play. Roane hit most of my buttons. This book reminded me of the ghostwalker series by Ms. Feehan. Although, the sex here is rougher and the storyline is not as well developed. Still, it flowed quite well and I'm looking forward to the next book, in this series.

[Catrionafitz · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could not cope at all with the very dubious consent between the characters. I did not end up finishing this book.
The good thing is it has really made me realise that I do have big problems with dubious consent and don't like the "They smell like my real mate/instant mate" trope.

[Absynthe · Rating 1 out of 5]

"See how my slit fills with cream?"... Who talks like that?!?!? When Roane says that I just kinda fell into a WTF stupor. I cringed through most of this story.

[L-D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Circe's Recruits are genetically enhanced super-soldiers. Marines to be precise. After the formula caused the majority of the Circs to go "rogue", the remaining sane Circs team up to bring them down. However, in the beginning of this book, only 5 sane Circs remain of the original 70+ soldiers. Teamed up with the Doctor who masterminded the serum, Circe's Recruits battle to fight the rogue population. This is more difficult than it seems when another brilliant scientist is out there creating more super soldiers, without caring if the formula is going to make them crazy, or even mutate them.

Caitlyn is the only female Circ known to this crew of male Circs. Unlike the soldiers who were created into Circs with injections, Caitlyn - whose father was part of the original navy soldiers treated, was born a Circ.

This was an interesting book and the world the author built was exciting. The book was a little short, and I didn't really like Caitlyn's character for whatever reason, but the male Circs were awesome. A good first book in a series.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay. I'm totally a sucker for shapeshifters who end up in relationships that are outside the norm. Which is only one reason that I'm wallowing in multiple genre books. In this case, a group of five soldiers (now civilians) who were experimented on, gained bad-ass skills and abilities, and ended up being a slave to their sex drives when hit with the mating heat, which demand that they have frequent sex with others of their kind. Until Caitlyn Chase comes onto the scene, the five men have only had one another. Now Roane is determined to claim her for himself, but how can he deny his men the only female of their kind they've come across that isn't psychotically insane? I really liked the group dynamics here. Before the experimentation that changed their DNA, the men weren't into other men (for the most part) but they're forced to make some fundamental changes to their thinking with the situation they're given. I loved the book and I've already read the rest of the series.

[ErOtic_SCiFi_CHick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was delicious! I was needing a lil Scifi action in my life when i picked this up and boy did I get that and more. I loved the alpha man of the book Roane. He is the leader of the Circs and it shows. I was expecting a romance and sex between just the characters and got so much more. The Circs enter into there sexual period and they're no female circs to handle they're animalistic side....so who do they end up turning to?...themselves and the domination begins Caitlyn is a lovable herione she grows into a strong Circ.
There is m/m and domination in this book so if that's not your thing you should still give the book a try it has a good story that doesn't end with this book!

[Michele ~ la Smoocherina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun book. It's the start of the series. It reminds me a little of Tales of Shareem. It's a quick read. It has a group of military men who can transform into a beastly version of themselves. There is m/m, m/m/f/m/m menage, come play, D/s all rolled into a neat package. Even though the men don't shift into full animals, there is a pecking order. Roane is the Alpha. When the team discovers Caitlyn, he's determined to make her his. It's very polyamorous. I enjoyed it!

[JustJen "Miss Conduct" · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this first book of the series. The sci-fi aspect took a bit to get used to but seems more normal as the story progresses. I found myself wishing the book was longer with more interactions with the recruits. A bit more of the circe mystery was alluded to which seems mainly centered around the females. I am looking forward to learning more about it and am eager to read more of Zach and Ace.

[Trina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ummm...this book is one hot read. It was in my digital library for some time and I just randomly decided to read it last night. I read it straight through. Now I am curious about the rest of the Circe team. *word of warning this book containts group orgies, lots of swearing and a one seriously insatiable couple.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked it. The plot was a little weak, but who cares, when you have enhanced super soldiers and lots of sex :) Reminds me of Christine Feehan’s Ghostwalkers, with a hint of Lora Leigh’s Breeds. Two of my favorite series. I will definitely be reading the next book.

[Charlene · Rating 2 out of 5]

Um.....no

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (7/3/2021)! 🎁

[Glittergirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first of a series about genetically manipulated super soldiers, shifters. The series is also super hot because they are shifters and go into heat. I found this well written and I am eager to dig into the rest of these stories to discover more about these men and the world they live in.

These individuals were in the military, usually elite forces and were experimented on by the government. Some were volunteers and some didn't know they were lab rats. Unfortunately most of these people couldn't handle the changes in their minds and bodies and went psychotic, having to be put down. This caused the government to shut down the project. But Elliot Pearl was unwilling to stop his experiments and Pearson Labs continued privately. One of his fellows, Doctor Evan created Circe's Recruits of five of the men who did survive the process. These men police Pearson Labs and take down their experiments in the world that are unstable.

Roane Weston is the leader of the Recruits. They meet Caitryn Chase when she's being hauled back to Pearson Labs and rescue her. She is a born Circ, her father being one of the men who received the serum years ago. As far as anyone knows she the only born Circ and only female. When she's rescued she goes through her first change and immediately into heat. This causes chaos for the all of them as the only way they can be satisfied is with another Circ. Thus ensues a milu of fever and frenzy between all six of them. I warn you this story is really hot. I really enjoyed it! Cait's life changes with her new body and they find she and Roane are mates. There are pack aspects to them as well in regard to alphas and beta hierarchy that complicate the story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Fedora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roane is the first in Marie Harte's series Circe's Recruits, about a small group of super soldiers, created by genetic manipulation, gifted with incredible strength and often extrasensory talents, and determined to serve and protect. The changes to their bodies and minds make them formidable warriors but also require them to find frequent release for their almost violent passions. As they sate the demands of their inner beasts, those encounters strengthen the emotional and psychic bonds between them.

Roane Weston is one of these Circ warriors, and when he and his teammates rescue Caitlyn Chase from being kidnapped by a rogue scientist, they realize that Caitlyn's no ordinary human either. As they navigate integrating her into the team, Marie Harte takes us for one wild, passionate ride.

Roane is an exciting start to the series, and I'm looking forward to the other stories to come!

[Amyiw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh for the most part. It is erotica with very little story, or a little story in the background that will be continued. It starts by her being "saved" from the first set of men chasing her, to the second set. The second set are the "good" guys so I guess that was lucky. Then she starts changing and going into heat that set off the 5 guys. She ends up with 3 of them but is so out of it that she doesn't remember. Then one become possessive and she is taken back to their headquarters/lab where a doctor is investigating the changes in the experiment, which is now also the offspring of experiments. There is the opposite where a "crazy" doctor is doing the same. She is the first of the female offspring not to be crazy. She bonds with the guys and mates with Roane. Lots of sex, not much story.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first story in the Circe Recruit's series features Roane as the main character. Team mates Zack, Derrick, Ace and Hale round out the enhanced/genetically engineered soldiers. Survivors of the experiment, their focus is to hunt down and eliminate those who's exposure did not go well. One of the side effects is an increased sex drive and desire for intimacy. On a routine mission, the discovery of a female Circ plays havoc with the dynamics of the group, and creates more questions than answers about the future. Roane's leadership is tested by the inclusion of Caitlyn. Her own abilities are shrouded in the mystery of what the team believes. Will the bond the men have become destroyed by her arrival, or is there more at play than first glance appears?

[Quinn Fforde · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was definitely not like typical shifter books. There were several differences, especially the mating heat part. The action starts right at the beginning and heats up very quickly. (Some reviewers have said that Caitlyn didn't consent to the sex. Her beast is in control and is fully into the events, even demanding sex when the guys are too slow. Later, when Caitlyn's human side remembers, she is a little embarassed, but she isn't actually upset. It would be dubious if this were real life, but we are in a very different world here.) It slows down a little bit when Caitlyn gets some explanations about what is going on, but this is mostly one big thrill ride. I was completely sucked into this world and wanted to get to know everyone on the team.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marie Harte is a new author to me, and I found that her work was a little different which made me want to see what it was all about. Let’s just say I was pleasantly surprised.
What I have found is that anything goes in her world. There is MM MFM and anything in between. It is original, it is fun, it is sexy, it is sizzling, it is strangely erotic in this paranormal world, and you will need more than a long drink to cool down.
There is plenty of action and sexfests and you want to do away with the evil who place horrors against the characters. You want to be there to do harm when they infiltrate the enemy.
If you like something oh so sexy, spicy and erotic, steaming and exciting with multiple partners then this is a book you should grab and dive right in.

[Book-Lovin-Momma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roane is a Circ - a genetically altered human who can shapeshift. He's part of a team who are hunting down rogue Circs created by a ruthless man. When Caitlyn joins the team, their attraction is instant and so hot. I loved the dynamics of this group, and the way they help each other tame their lust is different and crosses lines I wasn't expecting. The action is not high octane, but it fits in well with the plot. I enjoyed this sci-fi/PNR book and would love to read about more of the other team members!

[April Mollenkopf · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book the the Circe’s Recruits. The book starts off with Caitlyn about to be kidnapped but is saved by Roane and his teammates although Caitlyn doesn’t know she is being saved. This has a good story line and so much could have been done but I don’t think it reached its full potential. The book was mostly about sex. I’ve read other books from this author so I am going to read the next book to see if the story takes off.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of this book.

[ChristiLovesBooks_smut · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roane was awesome!

Roane, book 1 of the Circe's Recruits series, by Marie Harte @authormarieharte. This is a re-read of the series for me. I had been thinking about this series for months & finally decided no time like the present! 🤩

This was just as great as I remember! If you want some light MM, multiple sex partners to have the alpha female be centered in the group & MF instinctual mates, this is the book for you!

[KDLediting · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paranormal meets secret government agency experiments. This first in this series from Marie Harte combines a shifter type group with heat cycles that are also veteran soldiers protecting civilians from their own kind gone rogue. Add in a romance and you've got the beginnings of an awesome series! Can't wait to read them all!