His only goal was survival until he met her…With nothing to lose, former cop Damon Winter agrees to an undercover op, infiltrating a cult in the dangerous post-Scorpius world. After one look at his new partner, he knows she belongs far away from not only the cult, but from him. She’s sweet and kind and has no business being in peril, but she’s determined to help. Suddenly, the part he’s playing … he’s playing as her man explodes into a passion neither of them had expected.
She hadn’t purposefully faced risk until she met him…
April Snyder has survived loss, pain, and uncertainty. Now she’s ready to live again. There’s nothing left but to make a difference for others, so why not go undercover in the cult? Now all she has to do is keep it professional and ignore her handsome, deadly, overbearing partner, who’s too sexy for her peace of mind. Intrigue, risk, and danger make for an irresistible temptation–until enemies close in, threatening everyone they’ve sworn to protect.
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Some big changes happening in this latest post apocalyptic chapter of Rebecca Zanetti’s Scorpius Syndrome.
The Mercenaries have now merged with Vanguard. Some growing pains with that merger but not surprising when you mix two groups of alphas together. Damon Winter is as alpha as they come but he also has a strong sense of loyalty and even though he kills when he has he is still not comfortable with it. He came from a loving family with brothers he was close to who are all now gone. He is ex LAPD/SWAT and found a “brother” in Greyson Storm. His tactical expertise are what he brings to the Vanguard table. He is a little out of his element when he’s asked to go undercover with a Vanguard woman to see what is happening within a group that has separated themselves from Vanguard.
April Snyder was a sweet mother we met in the first book. She was innocence personified and she almost broke when her daughter contracted the virus and died. She eventually took over being one of the caregivers to the orphan children but she’s always presented as meek and fragile. That all changed when she volunteers to go undercover to see if the women, children and the new influx of pregnant women are there of their own free will at the Pure Church. She was not at all prepared for the awakening feelings that Damon ignited in her and at times almost let it overwhelm her but in the same right she also found strength from it and end the end could hold her own against the Merc.
Psychopath President Bret Atheton wrecks quite a bit of havoc (more than his usual) within the Vanguard territory. I cannot wait till the final showdown happens that is going to finally take him down and was surprised at who the author hinted that may be with.
I have to say sometimes by the 5th book in a series like this things get repetitive and I start to lose interest. That has not been the case in this series. Book six looks to be cray cray as it’s going to be Marcus book who was tortured by the scientist and made him into angry killing machine. Can’t wait to see how that book is going to go. (
When you go undercover in post-apocalyptical time. April and Damon are one of few who weren’t affected by scorpius syndrome so they are perfect for the job. What they didn’t count is to developed feelings toward each other. Another great post-apocalyptic romance with another great likable characters. The story of suspense, action, twists, and love.
Each time a new Scorpious Syndrome book releases I know I’m in for action-packed, suspenseful, and sizzling post-apocalyptic romance. It’s the end of the world and things are nuts, but there are people holding the line and doing what’s right. I just can’t get enough of this series.
The Scorpius Syndrome series is not one that works well taking the books out of order or treating them like standalones so book five, Winter Igniting, isn’t a good place to jump in.
Since early days in this series, the Vanguard group has been dealing with the ‘Pure’ movement inside their ranks. Though they have no proof, something feels hinky about this group. Where are they getting their supplies? And the weapons? And why won’t they let their people be interviewed. The new Pastor seems too good to be true. The two tapped to infiltrate Pure are sweet, sad April who lost all her family and works with the children and Merc ex-cop Damon.
Right away, I was all about getting this book to keep seeing where things go with the hunt for more answers about the cure, about infertility, about getting supplies, and for the band of survivors against a gang and a sociopath president and his men. It’s exciting, gritty and dangerous. Love the fight scenes and the suspenseful twists and reveals are the best part outside the romances.
Speaking of romance, this is were I start to have trouble. Not with the people or the elements or development. I do like this. What I have come to be impatient with is seeing the same general scenario play out over many books and many series including every book in this one. I can literally go- ope, now she’s going to sass him, now he’s going to spank her, now she’s going to run off and do something dangerous just to rile him up, now he’s going to carry her back and spank her…. and so on. It really is just that predictable. I’m not bringing all that out because I hate it, but surprise me is all I’m asking.
Now, aside from the romance, I loved how the author brought along this pair. April was not in a healthy place, but through the book she comes back to life and starts to heal. It’s painful and she resists. She tries to make attraction and feelings stay in a neat box and insists that Damon treat their connection as temporary and just for the mission. Good for Damon that he doesn’t play games and won’t let her play games with him. He is as straight up as they come. He tells her flat out he is attracted, she’s beautiful, and he wants her. He has feelings for her and wants to give it a try. April wasn’t expecting that. Through the skirmishes over their mission, I decided early on that April is not submissive in the least though she really believes it and others believe it. She’s passive aggressive and likes to be in control. Damon nails it when he points to her clipboard as the symbol of this. She is intimidated by the war and fighting so she’s developed her own ways of getting things done. I though the author wrote a great complex character.
And, Damon, he is a true blue protector. He became a police officer for all the right reasons and he never stopped being that guy. He is a good tactician and knows what he’s doing. He’s a valuable member of the Mercs as Grey’s second. He doesn’t go the soldier or spec ops ruthless approach and struggles with some necessary brutality. He respects April and he is all in though he tells her up front that he doesn’t want to leave someone behind scared and worried for him. He brought out all the signs and swoons for me.
Things inch just that much closer to the end showdown. I loved that surprise ambush in this one and I am intrigued to see that Marcus and Penny seem to be the ones up next for their story, especially since those mad scientists and even the president want to get their hands back on their super soldier experiment, Marcus Knight.
This series just continues to stay strong and captivating. Those who enjoy spicy dystopian or post-apocalyptic action-packed romance should give this series a go.
Winter Igniting by Rebecca Zanetti
Book 5 of the Scorpius Syndrome series. Post apocalypse romantic suspense. A virus has killed 95% of the world population. Written several years before current 2020 conditions.
No electric, no internet, minimual medicines, and little hope. A cult is not what the Merc amd Vanguard leaders want growing in their territory. Everyone should be protected.
April has nothing else to lose in the world. She’s already lost everything. She is able to infiltrate the Pure Church to find out if the members are there willingly and if they pose a danger to the children or society. Damon Winter is the perfect partner to accompany April. He’s an ex-cop, big, tough and dangerous. And when he winks at April, she’s flustered and uncertain how to react. The two pose as a couple to get access to the church.
April is sweet and the perfect foil to Damon. Their romance grows hot while they pose as a couple to protect the women and children.
Not quite as intense as the previous books. Good progression of the series.
A win for the rebellion. But the cure is still pending.
You can’t read just one.
This was another great entry in the Scorpius Syndrome series. Damon Winter and April Snyder are practically opposites – he is a warrior and she is a nurturer. They accept an undercover mission to investigate the Pure Compound as a romantic couple. The main story continues to unfold as President Atherton tries to destroy the Vanguard Merc community with the help of the Twenty Gang. Characters from the previous novels pop up to move the story line and there is plenty of action. I cannot wait for the next installment.
Now that’s EXPLOSIVE!!!
Wow I so love this series more and more with each book I read. Rebecca Zanetti has out done herself once again. How she keeps it all straight in her head and comes up with new ways to blow her readers minds is amazing.
Winter Igniting is the 5th book in her post-apocalyptic series and it’s still going strong. The book is filled with explosive turns left and right, romance, drama, action, I so didn’t see that coming moments and a highly addictive love story that you can’t help but fall in love with.
This book is about two groups the Vanguard’s and the Merc’s emerging into one group to built a stronger force against the evil of today’s world. Things don’t always go as well as planed especially when the teams have learned to fight against each other in the past. But Jax the leader of Vanguard and Greyson the leader of the Merc’s aren’t letting that get in their way. Everybody will live together as one unit or get the hell out.
Damon Winter, second in command of the Merc’s and April Snyder a Vanguard survivor of the Scorpius virus, who doesn’t believe she has anything worth living for, have more important things to worry about. They are going undercover to find out what’s happening inside the vanguard compound, where a group who call themselves the Pure have taken over part of the Vanguard territory. The Pure is made up of mostly pregnant woman and children who haven’t become victims of the Scorpius plaque. Since neither Damon or April have been contaminated making them ‘pure’ they are the perfect couple for the job. Jax wants them to go in find out what’s happening behind the walls and get out. He wants to demolish the Pure, anyway he has to, once and for all and move on. He doesn’t believe everything inside the walls are as ‘pure’ as the good pastor says they are but more of a cult then anything else and that the people inside are being forced to remain there. What he finds inside the walls was more then even he expected.
“April” he said drowsily, “I swear to God, if you dump me again tomorrow after you’ve come to your senses, I really will tan your hide'”
“An alpha male is not for me. Probably. Well, maybe. No, definitely. But he’s just so sexy.” – April
Oh April, you have no idea what kind of ride you are about to take!
Since losing her husband and then her daughter to Scorpius, April has become pretty numb and a bit jaded. She has lost everyone she loves, so while she doesn’t have a death wish she isn’t particularly worried about dying either. When Jax approaches her with a request to work with Damon, one of the new Merc residents in Vanguard territory, to infiltrate the group calling themselves the Pure, she agrees with the thought that she has nothing to lose.
Since neither Damon nor April has been infected with Scorpius yet, they are prime recruits for the secretive group who may just be a cult or holding people against their will within Vanguard territory. Damon is former SWAT so Jax is betting that the Pure will go through April to try to get to Damon if they appear to be dating. She is far from sure her acting skills are up to the task but she agrees anyway. When Damon starts playing the part a little too convincingly in her eyes, she is adorably confused.
Damon starts off having fun flirting with the sexy, sweet and smart Vanguard woman who doesn’t see herself very clearly, but what was supposed to be just casual never really meets that definition for either of them. Damon is the calm, steady, and collected one but she can make him lose his cool with her determination to push his buttons. He may be even tempered most of the time but that man is still alpha! When it becomes obvious Damon is not interested in pretending to be into her and that she is not as immune to his charms as she wants to be, April has to make a decision. She is nowhere near as experienced as he seems to be so she can’t quite fathom his interest in her, but she can’t honestly say she is sure she cares either. Is taking a chance on living again worth risking her heart in a time when tomorrow is never guaranteed?
Damon may just be my new favorite hero of this series! He is a wonderful combination of calm strength and alpha traits that just worked for me in a big way. He is the quiet second in command to Greyson, a steady and loyal friend to all who earn his trust, and eventually he is the catalyst and ultimate voice of reason who smoothes the transition and integration of the Mercs into Vanguard.
Of course chaos still surrounds both Damon and April. As they get a closer look inside the Pure, people are saying all the right things but something just feels off. Jax and his lieutenants are still looking for more Bunkers as they unravel the secrets of the one they were able to locate and seize, but they are in a race against the clock and the President himself who continues to fund the Twenty gang to attack Vanguard at every opportunity to weaken their defenses. They also need to find a way to focus on finding resources and possibly finding a new location to the north that will support the survivors under Jax’s protection. Oh and it soon becomes apparent there is a traitor in their midst too…because they need one more challenge!
Every time I think this author cannot possibly top the last story I read, she proves me wrong with her next book! I highly recommend Winter Igniting and the Scorpius Syndrome series as a whole for anyone who loves alpha males and strong female characters and who enjoy a post-apocalyptic setting. I just finished this story and I am already looking forward to Marcus’s story in Knight Awakening. Both he and little Lena intrigue me, and I have a feeling both their secrets will have a big impact on the story arc of the,series when the time is right. I will be eagerly waiting to find out if that is true!
This series just keeps getting better. I fall for each hero thinking the next one won’t make me fall, but I fall anyways.
Damon Winters is a special brand of hero. He’s alpha to the core and will always put himself in danger to protect others. He’s SWAT. He’s Merc. He’s Vanguard Mercenary. He’s hot! Hes also got this sensitive side that pretty much had me melting…like a puddle, I say!
He’s wanted April since he first set eyes on her. She’s fragile and has seen so much loss, it’s taken all the fight out of her. She’s existing and Damon Winters threatens everything. He makes her aware. He makes her feel. And he makes her passion flare. In this post-apocalyptic life, she’s been ruled by fear and loss. He is changing all of that.
The President is still out of his mind, as are many of the Elite. He’s using the Twenty. He wants Lynne Harmony and he’s after revenge. He wants Vanguard gone. The danger rises and these men are all over it.
Lena and Marcus Knight piqued my interest and I’m intrigued by Lena even more. As for Marcus and Penny, I have a feeling their story will blow me away.
Winter Igniting was freaking amazing!