Mercy
by Debra Anastasia
He taught me to kill. Murder is in my blood now. It runs through my veins and though I hide the monster I see in the mirror with ink, it doesn’t keep him from coming out.
My street name is Mercy, but I never show any. Except for her. I watch Becca, though she doesn’t know. She saved me a long time ago; the day my father killed my mother. Her bravery turned her into a target.
My father holds a grudge and knife with the same proficiency, and Becca is the focus of his hatred. And I’m the only monster who can save her.
Spice Level: 4.5/6 | Story Score: 9/10 | Rating: 5/5 |
I’m pretty sure I saw this cover on my Kindle suggestions and the blurb sealed the deal. Then, it was only $2 to add the audible which is ALWAYS something I’m down for.
The blurb does a ⅓ of the story kind of job. Lol. This is a story about an abused kid who vows to protect a girl that tried to protect him from his dad. The dad does get fixated on her and he has to protect her as adults. That’s what the blurb covers. What it doesn’t cover is the fact that he’s sent to a home as a kid - after a domestic incident - and there he meets his ride-or-die best friend. They both somehow end up becoming mercenaries. I’m not sure of that story (it could be in here but I was listening to this at work and sometimes got distracted). He is ridiculously smart and he makes it a point to keep tabs on that little girl that stood up for him. To the point that he is an obsessed stalker (but somehow not in a terrifying way). He’s in love with this girl from the moment she defends him and as they grow, he is still in love with her. He has tattoos covering his body that are off-putting (in an effort to make himself look less like his dad) and because of that, he doesn’t go around people a whole lot. But she works at a bar that has an event that works with the tattoos and he gets to FINALLY connect with her. Uh, this vicious psycho killer is MUSH around this girl. Gah. He’s the definition of a cinnamon roll. Anyway, so his dad comes back, and haunts her a bit. A mob boss is trying to control Mercy. They’re trying to navigate their relationship as she realizes that he’s been watching her for fifteen years. He’s connecting with his little sister and a little girl that he rescued. So much going on. Then after the big confrontation, her mom (who sucks the whole book) chases him off and the mob boss finally gets a hold of him and controls him for a while.
Uh, all-in-all, I loved this book. I did. I liked both characters. Mercy was a bit batty for me, but hello, trauma. And I’m sad that I didn’t get to witness more of his killer side, but still, his soft side MELTED ME. Becca was a bit too spineless with a couple things, but her reasons were fair and she was FEARLESS at times that it counted. She had a beautiful feel about her. And the best friend relationships in here were fantastic. The characters had genuine moments of being hilarious. Seriously, I laughed my ass off a few times. I want more time with all of them. I want more history and more details and more everything.
Be careful with triggers on this one. There’s some violence on screen, but it’s not too bad, but the memories of his mom being killed in front of him are tough. Not too bad unless that is a trigger for you, but still.
I wish the sexy scenes were a bit more something, but I can’t tell you what because I was a walking-funny-mess a few times. The tension was good. Some of the scenes were more unique than others. Nothing about his relationship with HER is dark, which is the way I prefer my dark books.
Honestly, try this book out.
-SPOILERS-
I’m mad about the tattoos on the guy on the cover. Lol. Mercy had a skeleton tattoo covering his entire body (minus his dick). That’s not what’s on the cover. I honestly can’t say how I’d feel about that in real life. I assume you’d acclimate and it would indeed become your safe place. I don’t like that Becca eventually tattooed half her face though. It didn’t resonate with me the way I thought it was supposed to.
The mirror scene, with him fingering her over his shoulder and watching himself…that was different and in a great way, lol. I loved the car details. Of him counting them and recalling their look when he was little and then him growing up and getting those vehicles which still brought him the same comfort.
The scene with the dandelions may be the most romantic scene I’ve ever read. Ever.
His relationship with Olivia(?), the little girl, stole my heart. Chapter 3 was a soul-stealer. That man probably couldn’t have lost me after that point. I am a sucker for a man that’s good with little girls. Lol. The claw game was both odd and endearing.
Book #1 in the Mercy series | 418 Pages | Trope Challenge: Stalking |
I reached toward her with my open hand. If she wanted it, she could have it. My hand. My heart. My life. She took my hand, and that was enough.
- Mercy, Mercy by Debra Anastasia
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