Before the Scorpius Syndrome tore through North America and nearly wiped out the population, Vivienne Kennedy was the FBI’s best profiler. The bacteria got her anyway. But she survived. She recovered. And when she woke up from a drug-nightmare of captivity, her skills as a hunter of men had gone from merely brilliant to full-on uncanny. Her mysterious rescuer wants her to put them to the test. But no matter how tempting he is, with his angel’s eyes and devil’s tongue, Vinnie knows she shouldn’t trust him.

If the FBI were still around they would rate Raze Shadow as one of the bad guys. His military training can’t wipe out his association with the Mercenaries, the most feared gang in a thousand miles. His loyalties are compromised. He won’t even tell Vinnie his real name. But there’s no FBI in the new America of fear and firepower, only instinct and risk. 

Raze Shadow is new to Vanguard, but he was on the team that just rescued Vinnie Wellington from the crazed, power-hungry President. She is a former FBI profiler who has survived Scorpius, but her imprisonment left her with longer lasting effects. She is smart, tenacious, and sweet. The after effects of the drugs have left her unfiltered, a bit off, and having hallucinations. But she still has serious skills as a profiler that everyone needs.

But Raze has a hidden agenda. The Vanguard leader, Jax Mercury, is not sure he can be trusted and Vinnie is developing an attachment to him. Raze is distant, bossy, and mysterious, but he has his reasons. He is an Ex-SEAL and has great potential as an ally, but he is also secretive and potentially dangerous. But now that he has spent time with Vinnie, Jax, and the others will he continue on his mission?

Along with keeping their ragtag Vanguard group together, they will need to fight off potential attacks from various sources, keep themselves safe, deal with more succumbing to the bacteria, and try to do research to help control it. 

Ninety-nine percent of the United Skills has already been killed by Scorpius. This focuses on an unlikely romance in a post-pandemic world that is full of danger, death, destruction, and hopelessness. They have limited supplies and resources, multiple threats and enemies, and several are facing after effects of Scorpius.  It is raw, gritty, and violent. The dynamics are ever changing and volatile. Trust is transient. People's motives are questionable. It is a dangerous, suspenseful, action-packed story with a surprising love connection at the center of it.

I enjoy the alpha males in this series: Jax, Raze, and Tace and how they are definitely dangerous and lethal, but also have softer sides and strong protectiveness for those they care about. The women including Vinnie, Lynne, Maureen, and Sami are intelligent, brave, and tough. Even though this world is in chaos, this group has found their own home, family, and sense of belonging and purpose. They are a team with camaraderie and truly need to trust each other. But if trust is broken, the consequences can be swift. They are all each other's best hope for survival.

This is not my typical type of read, but I trusted Rebecca Zanetti to pull me in and she got me hooked with the first book Mercury Striking. This is told in multiple points of view so we get into the heads of most of the main characters and get to see all of the dynamics. I really came to like Raze after getting deeper into his layers and enjoyed that he had a sense of humor too. And Vinnie was likable and sweet. They had good chemistry and were entertaining to watch.

I am looking forward to Tace's book Justice Ascending next. We have seen him go through so much already. And I like the woman who is supposed to be his heroine. There were a couple of other new characters introduced that have potential for a future installment as well. The overall story arc surrounding their fight for survival, the threats against them, and the cure is also still ongoing. 

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review. 

With a deadly disease spreading like wildfire across the country, microbiologist Nora Medina needs to focus all her energy on stopping the pandemic. Playing with dynamite—in the form of her way-too-hot ex—is the last thing she should be doing. ​But forced to work with Deacan McDougall against unexpected enemies with the seconds ticking by, she knows the explosion is coming... 

Rebecca Zanetti Website/Facebook/Twitter

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Rebecca Zanetti has worked as an art curator, Senate aide, lawyer, college professor, and a hearing examiner - only to culminate it all in stories about Alpha males and the women who claim them. She writes dark paranormals, romantic suspense, and sexy contemporary romances.

Growing up amid the glorious backdrops and winter wonderlands of the Pacific Northwest has given Rebecca fantastic scenery and adventures to weave into her stories. She resides in the wild north with her husband, children, and extended family who inspire her every day--or at the very least give her plenty of characters to write about.