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Ruby Lionsdrake
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Mercenary Instinct (The Mandrake Company Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Ruby Lionsdrake (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 2,588 ratings
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Skulking around in the ruins on a planet swarming with treasure hunters, slavers, and bounty hunters isn’t good for one’s health. But Ankari Markovich needs a few archaeological samples for her latest business venture, a venture that might prove lucrative enough to move her family off the impoverished planet where she grew up. Unfortunately, she has no sooner collected her samples than she’s captured by a band of brawny mercenaries. The captain might be handsome, but he’s intent on turning her over to some finance lord who has, for reasons unknown, put a bounty on her head, a ridiculously large one at that. If she can’t figure out a way to escape before she’s delivered to the lord’s home world, she could be forced into a life of indentured servitude—or worse.

Captain Viktor Mandrake doesn’t usually take on piddling bounty hunting gigs, but when his intelligence officer informs him of a criminal on a nearby planet, he decides it wouldn’t hurt to take a shuttle down to collect the woman. But Ankari Markovich is trouble from the start, nearly eluding his elite forces, then fighting and tricking his people left and right. He finds himself admiring her spirit, but according to her warrant, she’s a criminal. The safest thing is to keep her in the brig and ignore her until she can be handed off to the man who wants her.

But the situation grows more complicated when other bounty hunters show up, wanting to claim Ankari for themselves. Thanks to this woman, Viktor’s ship is in danger, his crew members are going missing, and he’s fighting enemies he never asked for in a jungle in the middle of a hurricane. He’s either going to strangle Ankari… or fall in love. Either scenario could get him killed.

Mercenary Instinct is a full-length, stand-alone novel of 90,000 words. It is part of the “Mandrake Company” series of science fiction romance stories and is recommended for readers who enjoy space-based adventure (such as Firefly) and steamy love stories (in the style of Linnea Sinclair).
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  1. Book 1 of 7
    The Mandrake Company Series
  2. Print length
    249 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    October 9, 2014
  5. File size
    711 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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The Mandrake Company Series Book 1 - Book 7
Bundle price: Kindle price
$10.97
Bundle price: Kindle price
$18.95
Bundle price: Kindle price
$25.93
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Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Most of the Mandrake Company books can be read as stand-alone adventures, but for those who want to read them in the order they were published, here is the list:
  • Mercenary Instinct
  • Trial and Temptation
  • The Assassin's Salvation
  • The Ruins of Karzelek
  • Mercenary Courage (now available!)

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00ODECZN4
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (October 9, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 9, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 711 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 249 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 2,588 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Ruby Lionsdrake

Ruby Lionsdrake

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Before Ruby was old enough to talk, her parents took her to the drive-in theater to see Star Wars, and she has early memories of watching Buck Rogers and Star Trek reruns with her mom. It was probably a foregone conclusion that she would become a lifelong science fiction fan.

She started the Mandrake Company series in part as an homage to some of her favorite sci-fi television shows and in part because she was having a hard time finding the kind of science fiction novels she likes to read: space-based adventures with humor and heart (maybe some naughty bits too). She went on to also write the Star Guardians series and a few stand-alone fantasy and science fiction romances.

For now, the best place to find Ruby is on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/rubylionsdrake/

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
2,588 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the plot exciting with unexpected twists and turns. They describe the book as an enjoyable, entertaining read with great characters and tense romantic moments between them. Readers praise the writing quality as well-written and easy to read. They enjoy the humor and witty dialogue between the characters. The pacing is described as steady from beginning to end.

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PlotReadabilityCharacter developmentWriting qualityHumorPacingIntelligenceContent
278 customers mention "Plot"252 positive26 negative

Customers enjoy the plot with its exciting twists and turns. They find the story straightforward and engaging, with an evenly paced plot and action. The romance is sweet and warm. Readers describe the world as fantasy yet realistic, with drama, action, adventure, humor, and plenty of action outside bedroom scenes.

"...enjoy delightfully entertaining science fiction loaded with danger, drama, action, adventure, humor, and steamy romance, then Mercenary Instinct is..." Read more

"...The book was evenly paced, the plot and action were great, the romance was sweet and warm, and the characterization was very good...." Read more

"...You know it’s there – look at the cover, for Pete’s sake. It was predictable and happened pretty fast, if I’m honest...." Read more

"...There was some great action parts and some parts I actually laughed out loud at. The balance between the romance and the action was well written...." Read more

231 customers mention "Readability"231 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it entertaining with interesting characters and a blend of sci-fi and romance. The story holds their attention and becomes exciting towards the halfway point. It is a great find and their new favorite series.

"...Oh lawd, yes! Totally and completely! I loved it! Fabulous entertainment and an awesome read." Read more

"...On a serious note, I thoroughly enjoyed this book...." Read more

"...There was never a dull moment in this book, as the hero, his crew and the heroine fought off enemies, including the central villain...." Read more

"...I enjoyed reading this book. I think those who like sci/fi, space opera romance adventure type stuff might like it too...." Read more

159 customers mention "Character development"151 positive8 negative

Customers find the characters engaging and well-developed. They appreciate the tense romantic moments between the main characters that lead to steamy encounters later. The mercenary leader with a strong moral compass is also mentioned as a good guy. The story includes action, romance, and a bit of action with lots of bad guys.

"...There was action and adventure. Tense romantic moments between the main characters that lead to steamy encounters later...." Read more

"...Both the hero and heroine were very likeable, memorable characters...." Read more

"...Viktor was also loyal and he knew Ankari could hold her own and if need be possibly save herself. He respected her and her abilities...." Read more

"...The supporting characters' personalities are also well-defined...." Read more

72 customers mention "Writing quality"63 positive9 negative

Customers enjoy the writing quality of the book. They find it well-written and edited, with a great storyline and character development. The descriptions place them in the world and the science fiction elements are enjoyable. While some readers appreciate detailed foreplay, others feel the actual sex is described too much.

"...The narrative is beautifully written in the third person with clearly defined his and her perspectives from the two protagonists, handsome mercenary..." Read more

"This was a very well written start to a new adventure/science-fiction/romance series...." Read more

"The characters they were all well written and interesting...." Read more

"...Mercenary Instinct is well-written, without a lot of typos and just a few small grammatical errors -- nothing that yanked me out of the story...." Read more

59 customers mention "Humor"59 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor. They find the witty dialogue between characters and interesting plotlines enjoyable. The book is described as funny, action-packed, and well-written.

"...science fiction loaded with danger, drama, action, adventure, humor, and steamy romance, then Mercenary Instinct is most certainly the book for..." Read more

"...It’s written tactfully – will your brow sweat? Maybe, depending on your mood...." Read more

"The characters they were all well written and interesting. Ankari was funny, smart, loyal and she could handle her own and she did save herself and..." Read more

"...She's a strong, spunky heroine with a great sense of humor...." Read more

51 customers mention "Pacing"46 positive5 negative

Customers find the book's pacing well-balanced, with a slow-building romantic storyline and an easy flow. They describe it as a quick read with good humor and fun side characters.

"...Mercenary Instinct is an exciting, imaginative, fast-paced exceptionally well crafted, well written and well-edited science fiction romp filled to..." Read more

"...The book was evenly paced, the plot and action were great, the romance was sweet and warm, and the characterization was very good...." Read more

"...It was predictable and happened pretty fast, if I’m honest. But, in liking the characters enough, you kind of want them to get together...." Read more

"...The pace also ratchets up at around the half-way point, and becomes very exciting. The supporting characters' personalities are also well-defined...." Read more

23 customers mention "Intelligence"23 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's intelligence and world-building. They find it easy to read, with a good flow and smart thinking. The characters are well-developed, even the minor ones. Readers appreciate the author's creativity and that the world-building continues throughout the series.

"...Ankari was funny, smart, loyal and she could handle her own and she did save herself and others in a few situations...." Read more

"...+ Great characters. You really got a good sense of everyone, even the bit characters. + Great writing...." Read more

"...That wasn't all it was about though, as there was great world building and character development...." Read more

"...I appreciate that she always kept her mind working, refusing to give into her situation...." Read more

21 customers mention "Content"21 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's content. They find it engaging, with action, adventure, suspense, and interesting science. The book provides a good introduction to the world, with good research and background information. Readers appreciate the commentary and explanation of a futuristic society.

"...It's a nice length and doesn't feel rushed and crammed full of info like some books do. It's well paced and very enjoyable!" Read more

"...long on the "whys" of the universe, there's commentary and information strewn throughout, but Lionsdrake relies on the reader having an idea..." Read more

"...I enjoyed this book as a good introduction and hoping the other characters develop in subsequent books in the series...." Read more

"...a series of books that allows for richer character development and more depth to the overall story line. By the way . . . these are HOT!!" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Judy C. Lewis
    5.0 out of 5 stars ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTFUL !!!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Title: Mercenary Instinct
    Series: Mandrake Company
    Author: Ruby Lionsdrake
    Designation: Book One of Five Book Series, Full-Length Standalone, No Cliffhanger
    Genre: #sciencefiction #romance #action #adventure
    Reading Platform: Kindle Edition
    My Rating: Five Delightfully Entertaining Stars*****
    I love, love, love romance and adore science fiction, but throw in a generous serving of pulse-pounding action, thrilling adventure along with a sprinkling of snarky humor and I'm in heaven! And Ruby Mandrake just delivered the perfect combination - AGAIN in Mercenary Instinct, the first riveting release in the Mandrake Company series. I sorta goofed by starting the series with Book Two, Trial and Temptation, rather than Book One. But no problem, all of the books are full-length standalones and can be read in any order. When I realized my mistake, I raced back to Amazon and picked up Mercenary Instinct, the first book of the series. As soon as I leave my review for this book, I'll read the remaining three books of the series in chronological order. Mercenary Instinct is an exciting, imaginative, fast-paced exceptionally well crafted, well written and well-edited science fiction romp filled to the brim with action, adventure, danger, drama, humor and romance. The narrative is beautifully written in the third person with clearly defined his and her perspectives from the two protagonists, handsome mercenary and founder of Mandrake Company, Captain Viktor Mandrake, and beautiful 'entrepreneur' and talented pickpocket Ankari Markovich. I was immediately smitten with Viktor and Ankari but they are not your traditional hero or heroine, nor are they your typical lovers...you know...love at first sight...meeting and instantly falling in love. But that's not entirely accurate. Unfortunately, much to both Viktor and Ankari's chagrin, they were immediately attracted to each other. Well, as much as a captor and prisoner can be under the circumstances and those circumstances are most serious indeed. Viktor Mandrake is not just your run-of-the-mill mercenary, and Mandrake Company is not just any fly-by-night outfit. Viktor and his crew may be better known for killing people rather than kidnapping or capturing them but when money is involved, surely they can capture three young women and deliver them alive. After all, they're more competent and professional than all the other mediocre ill-trained bounty hunters in the galaxy, and capturing Ankira Markovich and her two new business partners, microbiologist Lauren Keys and pilot Jamie Flipkens, is their current job. No matter how desirable he finds Ankira, and no matter how much Viktor wants Ankira to be his booty rather than his bounty (*wink wink*), now that he's captured the beautiful little spitfire and destroyed her ship, he has to turn her over for the two hundred thousand bounty on her head. There's no going back; he's already promised his crew their share of the reward. It doesn't really matter that she's completely innocent but is being railroaded by a corrupt wealthy lord of finance who fabricated all the charges and only wants to use Ankira and her two partners for his own selfish personal gain, right? We'll see! No spoilers from me but I will say if you enjoy delightfully entertaining science fiction loaded with danger, drama, action, adventure, humor, and steamy romance, then Mercenary Instinct is most certainly the book for you.

    Did I like this book? No, I LOVED it! I was immediately drawn into the story and once I started, I couldn't stop. I read well into the wee hours of the morning; I simply had to discover, do they or don't they, and I was not disappointed! Would I recommend it? You bet and I am but only for adult readers since there are some steamy love scenes included. Will I read this author again? Absolutely! As a matter of fact, as soon as I finish this review, I intend to devour the other three books currently available in the series. And for the most important question of all, was I entertained? Oh lawd, yes! Totally and completely! I loved it! Fabulous entertainment and an awesome read.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Candace Patrice
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great pacing, with characters that connect
    Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I think I may have found a new author to fall in love with. It's just the first book in this series and the first I've had the pleasure reading from this author. So saying that I'am in love is a bit too soon. Although, Ruby has done an excellent job of hooking and had me looking forward to our next, literary date.

    On a serious note, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I felt like, while the initial plot may not seem unique, the story unfolds in a way that isn't really expected. There was action and adventure. Tense romantic moments between the main characters that lead to steamy encounters later. I also liked that the main characters were able to build a connection before biting each other's clothes off. The suspense and not of mystery didn't feel contrived, that much, and flowed well in the story. We're not working with a bunch of super humans with technology that keeps them from the grizzlest of injuries. They're relatable. The references to strange and other worldly creatures and terrain are vivid enough for you understand but not so laddened with details, it slows the pace of the story. I could easily see this being a series on SyFy.

    I didn't like some of the decisions the female lead makes, especially regarding the safety of herself and her team. At the same time, I like that she was willing to do the "grunt" work to ensure that her team at least had some kind of a fighting chance against their demise. She just wasn't very wise. Cleaver, but not very thoughtful under pressure. Especially with such an inexperienced, untrained team.

    I liked this. I'm hopeful I may have found a new love it this genre.
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  • Ann de Vries
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Combination of Science Fiction and Romance
    Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This was a very well written start to a new adventure/science-fiction/romance series. The book skillfully incorporates aspects of all three genres, with equal weight given to each. The book was evenly paced, the plot and action were great, the romance was sweet and warm, and the characterization was very good.

    I loved the stoic damaged hero and the warm, feisty heroine. I can hear the groans of some less-enlightened readers railing against that trope, but there is a reason why many readers love it; it works and it engages the readers' emotions. Both the hero and heroine were very likeable, memorable characters. I liked the sensuous, graphic sex scenes featuring them, but there was nothing that that I would consider to be erotica. The scenes were infrequent, were well integrated into the story line and did not slow down the action. One of my pet peeves is too much sex and too little story, and Lionsdrake hit a good balance, with far more story than sex.

    As far as the adventures go, they equaled those of many classic science fiction writers. Since this book was the beginning of a series, the scene was being set for future books, which will likely expand upon some of the allusions in this book. To begin with, though, there is some form of totalitarian government with the ability to wipe out whole planets. Rebels, mercenaries, criminals and government spaceships operate using interplanetary travel to avoid or confront each other. As well, advanced weaponry utilizing spaceships, lasers, robotics and computers is juxtaposed with prehistoric-type predators. There was never a dull moment in this book, as the hero, his crew and the heroine fought off enemies, including the central villain.

    I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the rest of the series. Die-hard readers of science fiction, who eschew any suggestion of romance in their books, may not like this book. Anyone open to mixing up science fiction and romance genres will probably be very happy with this book, and it should also appeal to readers who like futuristic romances. This book also has broad appeal for age groups from young adults and on up to seniors.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Cécile
    5.0 out of 5 stars Continuous suspense, scifi, humor and romance. Could not drop the book ;-)
    Reviewed in France on October 5, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I am not easily convinced by Amazon free "discovery" offers on books. Most seem to have been written without thinking thoroughly how to keep the reader hooked.
    That's certainly no problem with Ruby Lionsdrake. All ingredients are there, AND they are well knitted together.
    You' ll get a bit of scifi, suspense, big bargains, with powerful characters you come to meet personnaly, a touch of romance but also a lot of non self serious jokes between them.
    After 2 chapters, I could not wait until I would be able to grab the book again and enjoy going back on the Albatross and live the next suspense-drama-romance with them.
    Of course from the beginning you guess how all that will end in bed, but the developments in between are well written and addictive.
    I liked this first opus very much, although I can't help thinking that the best has been done with Mandrake and Ankari.
    So it's quite clever for Ruby to go on with the Mandrake company by mixing other characters with the same kind of ingredients. The recipe works real fine on me, as The Ruins of Karzelek, the next I read and just finished, had the same effect !
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Sci fi Rance adventure
    Reviewed in Australia on July 27, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Really good storytelling, with romance thrown in. The story holds and keeps moving, is not taken over by the romance. Interesting characters that have piqued my curiosity, I'm looking forward to finding out more about them all.
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  • Anon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fun book to read
    Reviewed in Canada on May 5, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This was a fun, entertaining read. I very much enjoyed the characters and their interactions. I love the humor that the author managed to insert throughout the book, and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
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  • Book wyrm
    5.0 out of 5 stars Space mercenaries and adventurers
    Reviewed in Germany on February 3, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This book tells the action packed romance story of an adventurous entrepreneur and a stoic space mercenary captain. A great read with lots of action and excitement, and off course romance. Is you like romance in your scifi you should definitely try this book.
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  • Monica
    4.0 out of 5 stars Prigionia dorata
    Reviewed in Italy on December 24, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Viktor e la sua ciurma cattura Ankara e le sue colleghe, per riscuotere la taglia che è stata posta sopra loro da Lord Felgard. Nel momento in cui però si ritrovano soli, il capitano prova delle forti sensazioni nei confronti della sua prigioniera e decide di informarsi meglio sui motivi di lord Falgard. Nel frattempo altri cacciatori di taglie attaccano la nave Albatross con la speranza di rapire le tre donne e consegnarle a Falgard. Mix tra fantasy, rosa ed avventura rendono la storia avvincente.
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