Of three things I was certain… The first?Mercy was exquisite in the most devastatingly broken way. The second?I didn’t know how to love, but for the first time in my life, I wanted to try.
The third?
The secrets between us could tear us apart forever.
I wouldn’t let that happen.
The lead characters are opposites in many aspects, but they both have baggage about their past which they are unwilling to let go. How they learn to accept and love each other with all their faults and their love story forms the story.
Lovely characters and interesting narration. Liked it.
Yall, this book. I cried. Not an ugly cry but it did make me cry. This book is about redemption, the forgiveness of one’s self and learning how to love again. Plus, learning how to love yourself again, regardless of how life has treated you in the past. These two had a lot of baggage to overcome to even think about having a real relationship with each other and in the end, their HEA is hard-fought and heartfelt. These two had me at the beginning and never let me go.
Hayes is a very flawed but humble character. He knows his flaws and why the way he is and doesn’t really know how to get out of it. That is until he meets Mercy. He wants to be better, trys to do better but in the end, he’s human and makes mistakes. Near the end of the book when he is laying it out for her, my heart grows so full from the emotion that he poured out of his heart. I never thought he was wrong in the way he treated Mercy in the end but he needed to realize that he could love someone and indeed fell in love with Mercy.
Mercy is a heroine that I just wanted to give a big hug to and say, it is NOT your fault. It’s not your fault. Feeling like she is unworthy of love from anyone, she had to realize that Hayes wasn’t just there for a good time. Ms. Mettner took her time with Mercy throughout the book revealing her backstory, bit by bit when it needed to explain why Mercy would shrink back from Hayes at times. I never pitied her either. In fact, I never realize that she was an amputee until it was brought up by Hayes.
This book deals with some very heavy issues: domestic abuse and murder. Ms. Mettner never goes too dark with the subject matter but instead treats it like its a fact of life for Hayes and Mercy. They that Hayes and Mercy deal with it are completely different but the need to get past it is a long hard road. The emotions that are wrung from their conversations are wrenching but also cleansing. I never pitied either one of them for their actions and completely understood them in the end.
Ms. Mettner is a new to me author that I can’t wait to read again. The secondary characters are few but Caleb, Ange, and Mr. Bolling are great. They not only enhance the main characters but add to some of the crucial plot points in the end. Beast is hilarious, too. While this is a billionaire type book, Hayes is not a douche. He’s a real person with real feelings, finally, and doesn’t know how to act. Loyal and faithful to his family and in the end Mercy.
Do yourself a favor and pick this gem up. I dare you not to cry in parts. The dialogue between Hayes and Mercy is HILARIOUS!! (see above excerpt and that’s just a snippet) The love scenes are emotional and spicy but nothing too hawt. Ms. Mettner has written a book that I will definitely read again. And yes, a Caleb book would be good. He can’t be all that happy all the time. LOL!
I just love a great Katie Mettner book and this one did not disappoint. If you love the enemy to lovers trope (with billionaires to boot!), you’ll love this book. Hayes and Mercy begin on a very rocky start but sparks fly almost immediately.
They both learn to do a little less judging and a little more listening, but that’s after many unfriendly altercations. I loved the character development and the way Katie used that to bring them together. Hayes starts out as a stuffed suit with an attitude, ready to fight everyone in his life—even the people helping to keep his secrets kept.
Hayes has a past he can’t seem to outrun and it’s affecting everything in his life—this is what brings him to Cashmere Camp.
Out of his element, he comes face to face with a woman who’s essentially his exact opposite, but not so opposite that it keeps her from doing the same thing he did, prejudging him based on the way he looks.
Mercy has her own secrets, but she doesn’t run, she hides, and Cashmere Camp is the perfect hiding spot—at least until Hayes shows up.
I flat tire, Beastly husky, and a trimmed Christmas tree later and this story turns HOTTER than any other Katie Mettner book I’ve read.
After spending some valuable time heating the sheets, they part ways, but neither can stop thinking about the other. Hayes stays away in hopes that his secrets don’t affect Mercy. Mercy sticks to her hiding spot hoping he’ll eventually come back. She’s got some unexpected news she needs to share with him, but when he does appear after two months of radio silence, he doesn’t seem ready to receive her news.
Yep, right when you think these two are ready to reunite and stop running, hiding, and holding back, all hell breaks loose again and… well… Katie doesn’t disappoint on the happily ever after either.
This is a well-plotted 5-star love story you don’t want to miss! I loved every minute of it and I might just turn back to page one and start from the beginning again!