MERCY

Undercover CIA operative Becca Ford routinely uses her body to fulfill missions, but she’d never lost her heart until meeting Jarrett Holt; unfortunately, discovering his darkest secrets has put them both in danger.

Becca spent months living with Jarrett, owner of the most exclusive gentlemen's club in D.C. and famous for collecting secrets of the powerful and influential. She hadn't found anything illegal until she advised her superiors to call the investigation off. Then suddenly—and suspiciously—she found incriminating evidence that would have sent Jarrett to jail if not for some powerful friends and potent information to negotiate with. After the case wraps up, though, most of Becca’s team is quietly killed, and she barely escapes with her life. Alone and unsure of whom to trust, she puts her life on the line and asks for Jarrett's help, buying time and safety in his intensely secure building. Jarrett knows he was framed by someone; he just doesn't know whom. Becca believes he's guilty, which oddly convinces him it's not her. He’s bitter at her betrayal, but he definitely doesn’t want her dead, so he agrees to let her stay in exchange for vengeance sex. The two circle each other with distrust and unwelcome sexual awareness as they piece together what happened and who’s behind it before they lose their lives, their freedom or each other. Dimon writes an engaging story that combines Black Ops elements with a vaguely intriguing mystery, and enough tension and hot sex (including a secondary M/M storyline that’s not as graphically described as the primary one) to keep readers who like it that way happily turning pages. The mystery isn’t terribly enigmatic, and none of the characters are as hard or diabolical as they're set up to be. This is a love story, though, so readers will be beguiled by the romance that softens their dark sides, rather than disappointed by their lack of ruthlessness.

Hot and bold in a hard-shell–over-a–soft-center kind of way that romance fans will find sexy, fun and satisfying.