He’s empty, inhuman, dishonest, and cruel.
She’s never wanted anyone more.
Sydney has lived in fear for eight years after freelance assassin, Merc, failed to rescue her from a cult-like militia group. Left in the hands of a sadistic man, she did whatever it took to survive. But Merc’s last words gave her hope. Hope he’d be back to finish the job.
After Merc is betrayed by her father, Sydney … betrayed by her father, Sydney becomes his target. He wields sex, drugs, lies, and love like weapons. Merc knows just what to do with a fearful girl like Sydney. He’s in control. He’s always in control.
But Sydney Channing is not what she appears. And Merc’s only redeeming act—the very one that made Sydney’s life a living hell—might just be his worst mistake yet.
WARNING: Meet Me In The Dark is a STANDALONE non-traditional DARK, CAPTIVE, ROMANTIC SUSPENSE. It is not intended for sensitive readers.
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Wow. Okay guys, if you love my books, you definitely should read this one. Full disclosure: I started listening to this several weeks ago and DNF’d because I have a pretty hard limit about “face punching”. Like I can’t ever ever ever forgive a hero who punches the heroine in the face. I had hit my limit on it with this book and I was like… you know… I admire that Julie is ballsy enough to write something like this and I always admire anyone who takes their book where it needs to go, everybody else’s opinions about it be damned, but she just didn’t write this one for me. So I sort of noped out of it.
I was talking to one of my readers in PM about it because she’d read the book. And she ended up spoiling me on some of the stuff in this book because I mean i was OUT so spoilers weren’t going to hurt me. So she explained some things that made it all come together in a way where it was like… okay well that’s a little bit different. I was like… well I’m listening to this other series right now but as soon as I finish I’ll pick this story back up and proceed. Because by that point I was really curious and didn’t want to puss out.
The hilarious part was that the thing I couldn’t tolerate… the face punching… I seriously noped out of the book after the last time it happened. So like if I hadn’t been such a pansy and just stuck it out… I would have finished this great book much sooner.
I’m not actually even sure what to say about the book itself because I don’t want to give any spoilers and given that the first half of the book isn’t as fresh in my mind as the second half (to write a proper review) I’m afraid that’s what I’d do. But I can tell you this… there is an assassin, well several assassins actually, and all this crazy mind control shit and parts of the book are pretty scary. It’s definitely dark and emotional and very well written.
Getting to the end of the book and listening to Julie’s end of book shit on this one I totally “get her” on the fact that she isn’t bothered or disturbed by Merc. I’ve also written an assassin type, an absolute unforgivable psychopath who nobody else is safe with (Brian) except for one woman. So in hindsight, I can see the Merc thing and by the end I did want Merc and Sydney together. They’re both fucked up and broken but they complete each other. I do a lot of that stuff too so that’s why I say, if you like my stuff you should definitely give this book a try because I think you would enjoy it.
And if you have a thing about “face punching” and noping out of that shit as unforgivable (which in every other case I would agree and did agree until I knew more), I encourage you to just white knuckle it through because this story is definitely worth it and once you get past that you’ll start to understand a lot of stuff about what’s going on that isn’t immediately clear. This is definitely going to be a re-listen for me probably after I meet my 50 book goal for the year, because there is a lot I know now that affects certain things I’d like to see again knowing what I know.
Also, the word Sydney says to Merc at the end… is perfect. It made me smile. Pick this one up guys.
This probably, in retrospect, was my first really DARK romance that was contemporary. I still am not convinced that I’m a good fit for dark contemporary romance. I have a thing where I can suspend reality for a historical or a sci-fi and get real onboard with kidnapping and all kinds of stuff–I write it too, so it’s not that I’m squeamish about the morality of it.
I can handle some dirty deeds and some gray morality, but this one was definitely an eye-opener. There’s some torture and some interrogation, twists and turns, and all kinds of stuff happening.
it was my first JA Huss book too, and I preferred the old cover, which was darker and golder, but she’s clear doing some rebranding or updates.
Mostly, this was a tough romance to read, and from the afterward, I can tell it was a trip to write. I think she just went for it, and it’s worth it. It’s a pretty decent read if you don’t mind being confused sometimes. It’s part of a greater series and I did not come into it knowing Sydey, so a lot of stuff was a little confusing.
I’d say if you’re in for a little friendly cover ops style kidnap, drugging, torturing, and ultimately fu**ing, this is your bag.
Eight years ago, Merc left Sydney at the mercy of a maniac. Now he’s back to seek his revenge and Sydney is his target. Merc is cold and cruel and he wants answers. But can Sydney give him the answers he needs before time runs out?
Merc: Meet Me In The Dark (Rook & Ronin #7) by J A Huss is not your usual romance, it’s raw and gritty and oh so dark. It’s a definite must read! Oh, and the narrators are fantastic!
Another dark read from J.A. so if you can’t handle the dark this one’s not for you. She will keep you guessing and reeling until the very end.
This book just leaves me shaking my head. I read it repeatedly and ask myself why do I love Merc. It’s a dark read but written in such a way that you can’t help but want the HEA.
Merc has one last job before he can move on with his life. He promised Sydney that he would come back when he left her. Sydney isn’t the love that he left behind. She is the job that he didn’t finish.
5 Mind Blowing Stars!!
This author can do no wrong in my eyes, and this book made me fall even more in love with her words. This book hits the ground running. I found my heart was beating super fast in some parts and my jaw hitting the floor in others. Her writing is so detailed that I felt like I was sitting right there watching it all unfold before my eyes. The ending for me was just perfect. *sniff* It’s always hard for me to put down her books, I could read them forever. That’s why I love reading and truly appricate great writing.
I could go on and on about Merc and Sydney, (both whom I loved and learned so much about) but you need to expierence this ride and see how amazing it is for yourself. They both have moments that are unbeliveable and heartbreaking.
J. A. Huss is great with suspence, it’s one of the many things that drew me to her books. You think it’s going to go one way, then boom…it doesn’t. Fair warning, this book is on the darker side, so if you’re expecting rainbows and unicorns, they aren’t there!
My favorite Merc part.
“I am not other peopIe. I am Merc and there are three things you should know about me.
Number one. You might be bigger, but I will last longer.
Number two. If you fuck me, I fuck everything you ever loved.
And number three. I never lose. My victory is only delayed.”
Favorite Sydney part.
“I want him to want me the way I want him. I want him to love me. I want to be loved so badly.”
Oh Sydney, c’mere girl. Group hug!!
“…I despise myself for wanting him.”
This twisted masterpiece of a tale is not for the faint of heart!!! This is a story that takes place so far into the dark, even our beleaguered heroine does not wish to come into the light for any reason. By the dark, I mean it takes place under cover of darkness on a national, geopolitical, familial, interpersonal level and within one’s own person.
The motivation for all of this darkness is appropriate to each level. Why darkness nationally and geopolitically…power in pursuit of greed. Power that is above law let alone human decency or morality. Why darkness is familial dealings…what else but twisted values preying on the weak to carry out an agenda for power that supports an individual’s need for prestige and greed.
Now, darkness in interpersonal relations takes on a whole new dynamic. The dynamic of torture for control over one’s mind. The subject of this torture and mind control eventually fractures and parts of this person slip into blessed darkness.
What Ms. Huss creates for us here is dueling operators in the dark who have been tearing Sydney apart mentally. We are not quite sure ever of the extent of gamesmanship among these three characters. Garrett who has had Sydney since she was sixteen until he seemingly disappeared from her life and Merrick Case (Merc)or(Case) who has watched Sydney since he failed to rescue or kill? her eight years ago.
On the eve of her wedding to a seemingly normal guy, Brett, Sydney runs away because she is afraid that Case will come for her and kill her normal fiancee, Brett. Because he always has watched her, Case knew exactly when and where she left. He brutally kidnaps her and begins his own brand of torturous debriefing. My dear readers…this is some tough reading!!! The torture that Sydney is exposed to is meticulously detailed for us by the author. We are suddenly in the dark with these characters as we wish for something more between these two. Why would we wish this?
We wish for Case to be the man for whom Sydney hoped that would rescue her from the unrelenting torturous conditioning of Garrett. We feel as bereft as we identify with Sydney while he is visiting further torture and punishment on this brave and hopeful girl/woman.
“I’ve dreamed of him and now here he is. And I despise myself for wanting him. I loathe myself for saying yes, even though I can’t say no.”
The author proceeds to take the reader on a deep dive into mind control in the detailed telling of the interactions between Case and Sydney. In this dark, dark place a fierce battle for the goodness inside Case and the real Sydney is being waged. The enemies are lies and half truths, suppositions and tiresome plans for killing. Yet…if you can, dear reader, hold on and I mean hold on tight, we begin to see the first glimpses of a dawn approaching. The light is where next they meet.
But before this happens, there needs be so many obstacles to overcome. Truths need to be illuminated and Sydney needs to free herself from the taint of her past and begin again. How she gets there will blow your reader’s mind away along with a character’s head or two. Case needs to admit that he made a mistake and the Sydney he really knows is a far cry from the one he presumed to know. He needs to discover where she belongs and if he can, “‘…Go do something genuine.’”
For those of us who like it twisted and dark with a crazy AF HEA, Ms. Huss does not disappoint. This one is gritty, grimy, shut your eyes but can’t help peeking hot read. Even if we know better than to like it and are mad at ourselves for thinking this is so mesmerizingly hot.
This ranks up there with one of the greatest books I have read thus far. Terrorizing to the senses, suspenceful, tear jerking, totally reeks havoc on ur emotions, I love it.
*definiately needs a trigger warning for physical abuse, emotional abuse and sexual abuse as well as violence.
Even with the trigger warning it contains love, romance, compassion, and kindness. I’d drfiniately recommend recommend it, just be ready for an emotional roller coaster.