Sandy M’s review of Mercy by HelenKay Dimon
Contemporary Romance published by Berkley 6 May 14
If you’ve not read HelenKay Dimon yet, you really need to. Whether the book you pick up is a Harlequin Intrigue, a self-published story, or any of her Berkley releases, you’re in for one heck of a great time. She’s become a favorite of mine over the last year or so, and I know every book will keep me glued to the pages as I become involved with her charming characters as they make their way through a life that is fun-filled, full of heartache, love and romance, thus giving me a few hours of escape just when I need it most.
The way this book begins is absolutely terrific. Becca is back at Jarrett’s house, needing his protection to stay alive. She left his home eight months before after she’d spent time in his life and in his bed, then betrayed him, turning him in to her superiors after discovering the drugs they were looking for. But now most of her team is dead and the attack on her so far has been unsuccessful. The only place she’ll be safe is with Jarrett. Or at least she hopes so. The man could decide in the blink of an eye to do away with her too, but she has to try garnering his help to find out what the hell is going on.
A man who uses information in every aspect in life to get what he wants, Jarrett now very rarely leaves his home, conducting all business there after his ordeal in the wake of Becca’s betrayal. So when she intentionally shows up on his doorstep again, he’s out for his pound of flesh – or rather her flesh. In every way he can have it. It took unique and quick maneuvering by his best friend and attorney to get Jarrett out of the fix Becca left him in, but he’s free and left with enough information to keep him that way for the time being. At least until he can figure out the game Becca is playing now.
It doesn’t take long for the reader to see these two still have feelings for one another, though it takes them both a bit longer to acknowledge it. But it’s one molten-hot time until that happens. Jarrett and Becca sizzle and burn with every look and every touch, let alone when they make love. Slowly over the course of the story, both sides of the story come together to give the reader exactly what happened and who manipulated whom and how. Very nicely done, and I love the way Jarrett gives it to the politicians and the CIA, FBI and any other acronym that he can.
The secondary characters are all wonderfully written as well, even the agent from hell who won’t leave Jarrett alone. I really enjoyed the relationship between Elijah, a teammate of Becca’s, and Wade, who is Jarrett’s right-hand man. Most male/male storylines don’t work for me, but once and again, depending on the author, I find one that does work, and in this case it works in spades. There’s emotion aplenty to be had between these two men just as it is between Jarrett and Becca, and that makes all the difference in the world for me. I’m hoping there’s more books in the series, especially when it comes to Jarrett’s best friend and Wade’s sister, but there’s no information to that effect on the author’s web site.
Intensity is the only word to describe nearly every aspect of this book. It will keep you turning the pages well past the time you should have put it down, like 2:00 a.m. or when you’re already late for work. Just as Becca is at Jarrett’s mercy early in the story, you’re at Ms. Dimon’s mercy until the very last word is read. And I guarantee you’ll love every minute of it.
Grade: A
Summary:
After she infiltrated his business and betrayed his trust, a disavowed CIA agent must seek sanctuary in the bedroom of a man who will either help her, kill her, or bring her to her knees…
Becca Ford is on her own. Eight months after she headed up a sting operation to take down millionaire club owner Jarrett Holt, the other agents in her special ops team have been eliminated under odd circumstances, and she needs a place to hide.
Jarrett is a man who prefers darkness to light. He deals in the only truly valuable currency—information—and his supper club caters to an exclusive clientele. It was an uncharacteristic moment of weakness when he let a woman into his life. But it’s not luck that the criminal charges disappeared . . . as did the evidence.
When Becca returns to the club seeking his help, Jarrett doesn’t want to hear her story. But he does want her body, and demands that she give it to him. He’ll keep her safe—for now—but it’ll be in his bed and on his terms, until he says they’re done.
Read an excerpt.
