"Iron Kissed" by Patricia Briggs

Title: Iron Kissed
Author: Patricia Briggs
Series: Mercy Thompson Bk#3
Published: 2008
Genre: UF
Pages: 287

Synopsis: "When her former boss and mentor is arrested for murder and left to rot behind bars by his own kind, it's up to shapeshifting car mechanic Mercy Thompson to clear his name, whether he wants her to or not. And she'll have to choose between the two werewolves in her life-whether she wants to or not."

This book started off very slow for me, but ended up being my very favorite of the series so far! Mercy is a good friend, loyal and steadfast. She is never selfish. As soon as a friend needs her she is there to do whatever she can for them.

This book was centered on friendship in my opinion. Several friendships actually. The first being her close friendship to Zee the man who got her started in her mechanics business. Zee asks for Mercy's help in solving a murder case, then finds himself jailed for several murders. Mercy is determined to prove Zee is innocent of the charges against him. But proving him innocent gets her in trouble and could cost her her own life if she's not careful.

Other friendships that grow stronger in this novel are between Mercy and Jesse, the alpha werewolf's daughter. Mercy and Ben, a werewolf Mercy wasn't very fond of in the first two books...more of Ben is revealed and Mercy begins to trust him and even depend on him. The strong and steady friendship of Mercy and Warren continues to grow (I love Warren).

And Mercy has to make a decision about werewolves Adam and Samuel - are they friends or will she decide she wants more from one of them? She needs to make her choice because the two dominant males are not going to tolerate each other for much longer and Mercy knows it.

Mercy is hurt in this book, in more ways than one. It was an emotional read that had me tear up for her. I really felt her pain and suffering. The writing was done very well here. I liked how Ben played a part in healing Mercy and getting Adam to see things clearly. In the end, Mercy made the right choice for exactly the right reasons with Adam and Samuel. Oh and what a cliff-hanger at the end!! I think I literally howled out loud at being left hanging like that!

I can't say that there was anything I didn't like about this story other than it seemed to start slow for me and I really REALLY don't like the book cover. Mercy has ONE tattoo near her bellybutton of a coyote paw print - that's it. The book cover has her covered in them and has her dressed very differently than the story portrays it. Other than that, this is my favorite book of the series and I can't wait to get hold of the next one! (It better start off exactly - and do mean exactly- where this one left off!)


5/5 stars