SAVING MERCY is the first instalment in Abbie Roads’s contemporary, adult FATAL TRUTH paranormal, romantic suspense series. This is FBI profiler Cain Killion, and Mercy Ledger’s story line.

NOTE: SAVING MERCY contains scenes of graphic violence, blood shed and murder, and may not be appropriate for all readers.

Told from several third person points of view including Cain and Mercy SAVING MERCY focuses on Cain Killion, the son of a serial killer, and Mercy Ledger-one of Cain’s father’s victims -a woman who survived but finds herself victimized over and over again. Twenty years earlier Mercy’s entire family was brutally slaughtered by Adam Killion and in the ensuing years, Mercy has struggled to find her place in society until the day she found herself locked in a mental institution against her will. Enter Cain Killion, Adam Killion’s son, and the man who will fall in love with one of his father’s victims. What ensues are Cain’s attempts to save Mercy from a potential copy –cat killer; a stalker who uses Mercy for his own perverted pleasure; and the fall out from a killer’s need for power and control.

Cain Killion has the ability to ‘read’ blood-a killer’s thought and ideas whenever he touches the blood of one of the victims. His psychic abilities leave our hero in a world of hurt and pain, and not without some difficult side effects he’d rather not endure but as an FBI profiler Cain’s ‘powers’ can be used as a positive when on the hunt for the criminally responsible, making amends for his father’s past. His connection to Mercy Ledger comes on the twentieth anniversary of her family’s murders, and a string of killings linking directly back to Mercy and Cain find our couple on the run, not knowing whom to trust or where next to turn. The overwhelming darkness and demons continue to ride Cain Killion-a man whose own father destroyed everything he touched. Mercy is not without some psychic abilities of her own, and together they will form a powerful team but not before Mercy is targeted by someone from her past.

SAVING MERCY is an intense, tragic and alarming look at one man’s ability to destroy everything in his path. There are moments of passion and romance, atrocious violence and abhorrent acts, betrayal, redemption and vindication. The premise is suspenseful and disturbing; the characters are broken, destructive and tormented; the romance is fated, profound and heartbreaking. SAVING MERCY is a dark, deadly, fiery and tense story; a well written psychological thriller about a tortured hero, and the woman with whom he will fall in love.

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SAVING MERCY is frightening, thrilling and in it's own way a sweet romance. Whenever two people who are troubled can find solace and love, it's a good read. Cain is the son of a serial killer, who was training him to follow in his footsteps, but he escaped his hold and is now an F.B.I. consultant. He uses the victims blood to get into the head of the killer. Kind of creepy but it works for him and this book. Mercy has had a hard life and with the "help" of a crazed psychologist she has been trapped in a psych ward under his "care." Being rescued by the son of the man who destroyed her life, might seem totally wrong but this turns out to be the best thing that could happen to Mercy.

The atmosphere of the whole book is tense (really serial killer on the loose, what do you expect) but author Abbie Roads does manage to bring some light and warmth to two people who desperately need it. I especially liked the fact that the good doctor got his and that the book did end on a very positive note. You will have to read to find out what happens as I can't say more.

If you love dark, edgy, slightly crazy storylines, with a couple who are survivors and perfectly matched for each other and most off all ... you don't mind sleeping with a nightlight, then SAVING MERCY is perfect for you.

~ Annetta Sweetko, reviewer for Fresh Fiction

The complete review may be found at http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=62523

Saving Mercy delivers in the thriller aspect to the max, the tone perfect, the plot well thought out. Although it is a romance, it is also ironic that the romantic aspect seemed rush and often times feels like it impedes the momentum of the story. By the middle of the story Mercy and Cain's romance feels more tacked on rather than the main point of the book. Nevertheless, Saving Mercy will have readers feeling the heart pounding suspense and dark tones of how it feels to be hunted and scared out of your wits!

My first thought is "Wow. I didn't see that coming!"
Cain Killion, the Hero of the story is the son of a serial killer. He has a special "gift". He can read the details of traumatic events, usually murder, by immersing himself in the fresh blood left at the scene of the crime. He works as a Special Profiler for the FBI. Our first encounter with Cain is when he is re-visiting a murder of a family. We learn that he is connected to the murderer, a person who apparently has copied his father's methods and style.
The Heroine of the story, Mercy Ledger, is the surviving victim of Cain's father . She was hospitalized in the Center of Balance and Wellness, a mental institution. She is under the "care" of a rather nefarious psychiatrist, Dr. Payne, and escapes when Cain comes to see her.
The plot has many surprises, and twists and turns which capture the interest. There is a relationship between Cain and Mercy, and there is a happy ending for them.
Abby Roads successfully creates an alternate reality where the existence of special gifts are not denied, even if they are not exactly accepted. There is character development, an action driven plot which makes sense, and most side stories are neatly wrapped up.

I was enthralled from the start! Saving Mercy totally had me questioning my sanity…see this book is 320 pages of twisted, graphic, gruesome, crazy, dark, sexy, emotional, edge of your seat romantic suspense with a touch of paranormal thrown in and I LOVED IT! Yes, I said SEXY and that’s one reason why I’m questioning my sanity. The hero, Cain, has a special unconventional ability to help solve murders. This ability was triggered by a horrific childhood experiences that have left him a broken man, a man who feels like he is a monster.

Mercy, oh dear Mercy, she’s got one of the saddest background stories ever. Actually Mercy and Cain’s background stories are equally horrific and interwoven with each other in different ways as a result of something that occurred twenty years ago.

Mercy and Cain are two broken souls who should never work, but they do in the most beautiful, albeit twisted, way. Their chemistry is undeniable; their bond indestructible, their present path is full of pain, heartache, deviousness all orchestrated by an insidious, sinister puppet-master, the identity of who I never saw coming. As I write this review I continue to question my sanity because with as twisted and gruesome as it is I love Cain and Mercy’s story and I cannot wait to see how much more twisted Abbie Roads can get.

Cain could still feel the desperate energy of the dying and almost the echoes of their screams . Cain hated the sight of the blood but here he was standing in another murder house. Mac was also there and he was the senior special agent for the FBI on this case. Mac was Cain’s adopted dad and still acted like even if Cain was thirty and a grown man. Cain hated this but he knew no one else had the history Cain did or could do what Cain could do no one else could give the information Cain could. . Even if he wanted to run he always stayed. Cain’s “ profiles” were more accurate and detailed then a normal profiler could achieve. In most cases his profiles lead the law right to the perpetrator. He was Killer Killian’s Kid- Triple K as the media dubbed him. Cain needed to be around blood and death. He was the spawn of a serial killer and had the predisposition to be a killing machine like his father. One of the ways Cain found to curb the ugly urges was to force himself to be at the murder scenes. The worst part Cain would never say is sometimes he enjoyed himself. The family: parents and daughter had been killed in the house. The blood sent him back to when he was very much his father’s son back to when blood covered his skin - so wrong yet so soothing at times. Blood was a pleasure and pain to Cain; a gift and a curse. Blood opened a doorway into the minds and bodies of those who found bliss in brutally ending life. Cain became the killer and saw what the killer saw, did what the killer did, and felt what the killer felt. A dull thumping started behind Cain’s eyes that always happened after he saw the images the thumping would end up in a migraine. The look on Max’s face when he asked Cain if he was back reminded Cain of when Max found him he had been covered in nose mucus, blood and shame. Cain felt he had never been a kid more a monster than anything as far as Cain was concerned . Cain had several scars on his body and they were all put there on his body by his father . But there was a girl and her name was Mercy Ledger who had been age ten when Killian had killed her family had cut her throat also and yet somehow she had survived. Mercy had made a mark on the wall at her home and now that same mark had been on a painting done in blood before he painted over it but Cain had seen it. Mercy had been cut twenty years ago. But Mercy hadn’t made the mark this time she had been locked up in the Center Of Balance And Wellness for the past few years. Cain had been checking on Mercy for the last twenty years . She had been Killian’s only survivor. The dark days with his father Cain had been forced to work with Killian at the same Center Of Balance And Wellness and had started at the age of five as his father had been the night janitor. While working there Cain had met and got close to a night nurse named Liz and she had been the only person to ever show Cain any kindness at the time. Liz had stayed in Cain’s life and was one of the few people Cain considered a friend and the closest thing he had ever had to a mother. Mercy could now recognize bad intentions every since that night with KIillion. Cain went to the Center to talk to Mercy about the meaning of that symbol and Liz brought mercy out in a wheelchair but Mercy was totally out of it. Liz told Cain he had to take Mercy away from the there before Dr. Payne destroyed her. Cain took mercy to a cabin he rented that no one knew about and he paid extra for no questions asked. No one knew of this place and could relate it to Cain in any way.
I loved this story as much as you can love this type of story. It was so intense I didn't’ want to put it down and i had no problem with my interest lagging. This had me on the end of my chair a lot and I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next. I was hooked at the very beginning and stayed that way until the last page had been read. The plot was absolutely stupendous and the book was consuming and I didn’t want to put it down. For Mercy and Cain’s life to be so entwined and truly messed up by the same man was mind boggling. I am also glad Cain when realized Max truly loved him as a son with unconditional love and then to have Mercy. This is definitely one of my new favorites. I don’t want to give anymore of the story away so I will simply say I highly recommend you read this book I don’t believe you will regret it if you are into murder mysteries with a lot of violence type books this is absolutely excellent.

This is my first Abbie Roads book and I have to say that I was surprised at how much I liked it. While I like to think that I'm a suspense/triller person, I haven't really read that genre in the past couple of years. So when I saw the blog for this, I couldn't resist.

I was absolutely emerged into the story and I honestly had no idea where it would go. Just when I thought it would be one way, we were thrown a different twist.

I really loved both Cain and Mercy. Each of them have a traumatic past that stumps their continued mental growth. Their past is dark, gritty and unfathomable. Yet, they somehow end up together in a place where they make it work.

Overall, I really enjoyed this start to a new series and I can't wait to get my hands on more. If you are looking for a psychological romantic suspense, this is absolutely for you!

Excellent story. Very well written quality read. I couldn't stop turning the pages. The whole series is really consitent

Iam a huge fan of Abbie Roads books so when I heard about Saving Mercy I was thrilled and I cracked open this book as soon as I possible could and OMG was it amazing !!!

In this book we follow Cain and Mercy and these two already have a complicated past because of how they are linked , Cain is the son of a serial killer and Mercy is the only victim of his farther killings that is alive ,I honestly sat there for a few minutes thinking to my self how are these two people going to react to each other now that all this time has passed lol . However on the anniversary of his fathers killings something happens that cases him to have to look back at his fathers crimes due to a symbol and this is really where the story really takes off. Cain has this fascinating and at the same time terrifying talent that is linked to blood and he has this hate/ love relationship with but he needs it to solves these crimes , it was fascinating seeing how he dealt with his powers.Mercy on the other hand at the beginning of this story is being held against her will in an asylum, so its safe to say that we do not meet either of these characters in the best happiest places .Honestly one of my favorite moments in this story is when Cain Kidnaps Mercy from the asylum and I know that sounds weird lol but trust me you will understand when you read this book .The love story in this book was just perfect , if I had to describe it in it three words they would be sexy ,captivating and intense . This story was so so good!!! , it just constantly kept me at the edge of my seat. I could go on and on about how fascinating this book was .

Saving Mercy is sexy , thrilling , addicting , dark Paranormal romance . In my opinion I think Abbie Roads is a master at writing these dark romances and I cannot wait to get hands on her next novel . If you love all these things in your books you should definitely get a copy.

First in a chilling new paranormal romantic suspense series from award-winning author Abbie Roads

He's found her at last
Cain Killion knows himself to be a damaged man, his only saving grace the extrasensory connection to blood that he uses to catch murderers. His latest case takes a macabre turn when he discovers a familiar and haunting symbol linking the crime to his own horrific past-and only one woman could know what it means.

Only to lose her to a nightmare
Mercy Ledger is brave, resilient, beautiful-and in terrible danger. The moment he sees Mercy, Cain knows he's the one who can save her. He also knows he's beyond redemption. But the lines between good and evil blur and the only thing clear to Cain and Mercy is that they belong together. Love is the antidote for blood-but is their bond strong enough to overcome the evil that stalks them?

Review:

A truly unique and inventive story!

I was originally drawn in by the blurb and interesting cover, but the story was so well written and exciting that it kept me on the edge of my seat until the end. It felt like an episode of Criminal Minds on steroids.

In this story Cain and Mercy have been so affected by Cain's serial killer father, him being groomed to kill and Mercy his victim he let live. I thought having Cain and Mercy actually getting powers of a sort from their experiences with Killion. Mercy and Cain are such tortured characters, but so strong and fighters, I really like that about them. Of course, there are bad guys galore in this story, that keep Mercy and Cain in danger and watching over each other and me guessing who is behind the killings. The romance between the two is sweet and touching.

Great romantic suspense!

4Stars

*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book provided by the publisher.*

I’m going to be extremely blunt – Saving Mercy is going to grab you by the scruff of your neck and hold you firmly in place from first page to last. You’ll squirm, you’ll fight, you’ll be enthralled and then you will be right there on the pages with Cain and Mercy. This story will hit parts of several genres in all the right places, Thriller, Mystery, Paranormal, Suspense, Romance and perhaps even Horror. Yet they will blend so smoothly that you will find yourself in a world that seems perfectly sane and logical amidst the chaos going on. It’s a unique world with intriguing characters and villains.

Cain is the son of a serial killer. He’s been broken, not only by his father but by his actions, the guilt that lives within and the need to redeem himself even if he did nothing wrong. He now works with the FBI using his extremely unique manner of getting into the minds of killers – almost too easily.

Mercy is the only surviving victim of Cain’s father’s killing spree. She’s been contained in a mental institution but not getting any help, instead she is abused, traumatized daily. Cain will be her rescuer and together they will track down a killer – and perhaps heal each other along the way.

There is no way to describe Saving Mercy that will get across to you the depth of emotions, the twists and turns of the plot, the supernatural ability of Cain and his love-hate for it, or even the saving love that will bring both Cain and Mercy back from the edge into the safety of each other. It’s a story that really needs to be experienced, and I’d strongly urge you to read this one. If you enjoy Criminal Minds then this story will blow you away.

Saving Mercy is a story that I’ll read again to pick up those small tidbits that I missed the first time around. These days I don’t have a lot of time for re-reads – but I’ll make the time for this story. That alone should give you an idea of what an amazing tale this one is. Now I’ll be waiting for the next story in this series – and I have no idea where that one will take me, but I’m sure it’s gonna be quite the ride.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This was a really great book, and as mentioned in many previous reviews if you can't stand reading about or hearing about blood, this book is NOT for you. Cain was born in blood and lived his life with blood almost controlling him. Mercy was a strong and resilient woman. They both lived horrifying, disturbed lives and went through tragedies alone and together. Hopefully together, they can heal their tortured souls. This was an intense and very thrilling read. It has a touch of paranormal (psychic touches) but by no means would I classify it as one, I think that will keep people away who don't enjoy paranormal reads. It is in my opinion, a mix of suspense, thriller and of course romance. I really enjoyed the twist at the end. I cannot wait to read more in "Fatal Truth Series" by Abbie Roads. Great Job Abbie and Thanks to NetGalley as I was given an ARC Copy from NetGalley. I was not compensated for either a positive or a negative review. I Reviewed this book with my own honest opinions.

Abbie Roads delivers a twisted psychological thriller. From the beginning we are thrown head first into a gritty and dark world. A world full of mystery, danger, tragedy, and dare I say it, hope.
Cain Killion, son of Killer Killion, is a consultant for the FBI. He's tried to turn his nightmare of a childhood into something that can help others. The torment he faced as a child has forever altered his life, causing him to fear that perhaps, deep down inside, he's more like his father than anyone should ever be.
Mercy Ledger is the girl who lived. The one who survived Killion. After years of trying to live her life, she finds herself thrust back into the dark. Though the physical and emotional scars have never fully healed, they are once again forced to the forefront and Mercy must trust in someone she never expected.
Will light ever be able to grow out of darkness?
I was in awe of these incredibly brave and resilient characters. They've both been through so much devastation and trauma and to see them finding a way to move past it, to use it for the better, was inspiring. While the paranormal aspect made this book a bit far fetched, it also made it unique and all the more intriguing. I loved it! Cain and Mercy's abilities added a different dimension to the story. I really enjoyed both of them and found them quite endearing. I loved the relationship between them too. This unlikely duo found something in one another that they desperately needed and I got completely caught up in it.
Saving Mercy was a rollercoaster ride with its ups and downs. With its heartbreaking loss, romance, nerve-wracking suspense, action, and raw violence, I couldn't put it down.
~erin

'Saving Mercy' by Abbie Roads is book One in the "Fatal Truth" series. This is the story of Cain and Mercy. This is a bloody, exciting, drama filled book...so its a little more than just a romance story.
Mercy was one of Cain's father victims that actually survived..but barley. After some time she did end up in a mental hospital that one Dr pretty much torture her. Until Nurse Liz gets her out and into Cain's safe handling. Cain was subjected to the murders of his father and now has issue with closeness even those who are trying to show they care like Mac the FBI agent who took him in when he was young. Even Liz has tried to be a mother to him but he can't get close to anyone until Mercy. Cain has been keeping tabs on Mercy but at first didn't want to take her in doe to his issue with emotion. In addition, he has a love/hate with blood and crime scene. But they slowly start to help each other get through their past. But they also have to get through the danger that they are now in.
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Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Saving Mercy by Abbie Roads that I read and reviewed.
This book was the first in a new series and it was pretty good. I was surprised by who the killer was and did not see it coming at all. Some aspects of the book were a bit out there like how Cain covered himself in blood from crime scenes to be able to see what happened. For me that was kind of strange but oh well.
I however, did like the romance between Cain and Mercy even though that was a strange pairing as well. The son of the the serial killer who looks just like his dad that killed her entire family, but hey if they can make it anyone can.
I am not going to get into the book much more due to spoilers but the series does show promise and I am giving the first book Saving Mercy four out of five stars.

This book has given me a major dilemma because now I just can't figure out which Abbie Roads book is my favorite! Saving Mercy absolutely blew my mind with it's twisted story of murder, obsession, and tortured characters. It's a story that will mess with your mind more than you can even prepare for, and you'll love the whole entire experience.

Cain Killion, son of serial killer Adam Killion, now works with the FBI using his ability to relive crime scenes to help solve cases. When a case hits way too close to home near the 20th anniversary of his fathers killings, he's sucked back into the Killer Killion world. And he needs Mercy Ledger's, the only surviving victim of his fathers and current resident of a psychiatric hospital, help to solve the most recent murders.

"A girl could get used to having a big, strong man carrying her around."
"A guy could get used to having a beautiful lady to carry around."

The telling of this story is something I would compare to reading Stephen King or watching Criminal Minds. It was that intense and thrilling to read, and I didn't put it down once I started. When you think you know everything, and have it all figured out, Ms. Roads is right there to prove you wrong and blow your mind yet again. Honestly, this book should come with a warning for those with heart issues because I felt like I was going to have a heart attack from all of the suspense being thrown at me.

Cain was a character that I wish was real just so I could find him and comfort him. Life had thrown so much shit his way and he was barely holding on to his sanity. Then Mercy was brought to his life and with her an evident change to his character. The development between these two character was something you don't read about everyday and it had me tearing up for them both. I fell for them both and they now have a special place in my heart.

The bottom line is if you don't read this book I'm not sure I can be your friend anymore. Saving Mercy now has the spot of my 2017 favorite read and I really don't think anything else is going to be able to take that titled away from it.

Saving Mercy Playlist:
The Kill - Thirty Seconds to Mars
The Sound of Silence - Disturbed
Bury Me Alive - We Are The Fallen
Wrong Side of Heaven - Five Finger Death Punch
Psycho - Muse
Sorrow - Flyleaf
Rot - Lacey Sturm

No one does psychopathic, twisted tales like Roads. I was a huge fan of her Fatal Dreams duet so I was thrilled to grab Saving Mercy.

Mercy is the sole survivor of a serial killer who took out her whole family when she was a child. Killion, said serial killer, had a son. Now, both Cain Killion and Mercy are adults and still dealing with the fall out of their traumatic childhoods. Cain can get into the mind of a killer by touching blood. Mercy has a 6th sense for when people mean her harm. Cain works for the FBI and a case comes up that has a parallel to Mercy's case from her childhood. Until now, these two, whose lives are bound together, have never met.

Roads is great at the tortured hero. Seriously, her male characters are so broken! They are also very dynamic, deep characters. Their torture isn't the standard "my parents didn't love me" or "my dad beat me" or "I grew up on the streets" kind of tortured hero. Her heroes have legitimate DAMAGE! Cain struggles with not wanting to be his father, yet knowing that a part of him is exactly like his father. He tries to fight the good fight and turn towards helping instead of hurting, but he lives in shame knowing that he is drawn to blood and death in a very unnatural way.

I can't even imagine Mercy's life. Witnessing your family being killed, having your own throat slashed, and then later in life having the cops show up and commit you to a mental institution where the head doctor is like Dr. Arkham at the Arkham Asylum. Or Dr. Crane. Or pretty much any of the doctors who ran that place (In case you aren't getting my reference, its from Batman). So, when Cain ferries her away from the place, she is (eventually) happy. But, going through the medication withdrawals, then finding your savior has the exact same face as your attempted killer has a way of messing with a girl.

I wouldn't say I "liked" either Cain or Mercy. I don't know that the reader is meant to like them; I understand them in an odd way, and I wanted them to find peace in their very messed up world. But, with two characters as damaged as them, 'like' isn't really a possibility. And yet, that doesn't impact my enjoyment of the story at all! You get swept up into finding out who this new killer is and will Cain and Mercy ever be free from all this horrible stuff that plagues their life. The plot is very layered and its impossible to feel 'bored' when reading a Roads book. Seriously, you are constantly trying to read between the lines and find the clues.

If you like books that take a different turn, include some darker, psychopathic material, and give you characters who are truly and rightly broken, Abbie Roads is an author you need to check out. Saving Mercy is another example of why her books will always fascinate me!
(link live on 4/5/17)

This is my second book by this sharp new voice in the romance world and though I'm already familiar with her writing, Saving Mercy surpassed my expectations. However, it would be selling this author short to simply classify this as a romance. It's a cohesive blend of romance, paranormal, thriller, and suspense. One thing it is NOT is boring. Abbie Roads throws you head first right into the deep end, so you'd better be prepared to swim with the sharks. These pages are saturated with menace, and dripping with evil.

Cain straddles the line of his conscience, until you're not quite sure if he will fall prey to his guiltiest cravings. On one side, he protests with every fiber of his being what his father molded him to be. On the other side, his horrifying blood visions taunt him with the knowledge that he finds a secret enjoyment and rush in experiencing what he does. His dark predisposition has been ruthlessly nurtured by his morally bankrupt father, and he doesn't know if he has any hope of redemption.

Cain was a truly damaged and tortured character. Forced to endure and witness unimaginable things as a child, it's a wonder that he clings to any of his humanity. He keeps himself detached from other people, even the Mac, FBI agent who adopted him and showed him real love for the first time. And Liz, who became like a mother figure. But you see the genuine will inside of him to overcome his past and be a man that Mac could be proud of. It was chilling to look through his eyes when he was envisioning and becoming the mysterious murderer. It really felt like you were there witnessing the horror right along with him.

Mercy, the young woman who survived his father's reign of terror, escaped with her life but not much else. The grisly murder of her family eventually led her to the doors of a mental health facility where a psychotic man imprisons her. For years, her one focus is survival in the fresh hell she landed in. Sick mind games are her only company, but she somehow finds a way to hold herself together. It's an amazing testament to her strength.

I think her one saving grace in that hell hole was her special sensory ability to recognize sinister intentions before they are followed through. She's able to stay one step ahead of a mad man, but eventually her luck runs out. And that's when the man tied to her past enters her life again and things really get twisted.

Cain and Mercy didn't have an insta-love type of development with their emotions. Their feelings for each other were already rooted from a shared history. This connected them in a realistic and fitting way. They were both denied love for most of their lives and lived inside their own heads, which wasn't a pretty place to be. They would doubt themselves, and their worth to everyone around them so they weren't making the smartest of choices at times. But as wrecked as they both were mentally, they finally started to find a shred of hope with each other. The emotions between them were raw and desperate. These two were enough to gut you.

This story is dark and gritty. It's intense, passionate, and filled with bombshells to blow your mind. This is not my typical read, but I was thoroughly hooked and invested in the outcome from Chapter one. And the ending had me practically gasping, I was so on edge. I can honestly say that I wasn't completely sure of how this thing would turn out for this troubled couple. Stomach in knots, and reading frantically, I raced to discover the reveal of the murderer and if they would elude him.

If you're looking for something that will get your blood pumping, this is going to be the book for you. I am now officially stalking the next in the series.

✬✬✬ 5 MERCIFUL STARS ✬✬✬



*** The air smelled of pine and tasted of remembered pain. ***


I'm trying to keep this as spoiler-free as possible. One warning though - if you are sensible to blood or violence this book is not for you.

I love when an author introduces you to a new story and you don't feel disoriented but at home from the get-go. The premise of this book sounds fascinating: The son of a serial killer helps the FBI finding murderers by re-living scenes from the crime as a consultant. The blood on scene is his tool - when he paints himself with it he can clearly see what transpired.

The former victim of the consultant's father is being held in an asylum. Against her will. What makes it worse is that she endures abuse on a daily basis with no chance to escape.

Our hero, Cain, has been keeping tabs on Mercy but he doesn't know about the atrocities happening at the psychiatric hospital until an old friend, who works there, makes him take her with him to save her. From here on the mindf*ck starts and let me tell you, it's an awesome one.

*** He was Killer Killion’s Kid— Triple K, the media called him. The spawn of a killer with the genetic predisposition to be a murdering machine. ***


Cain has a love-hate relationship with blood. He craves the feeling of it on his skin, it is the gateway to the minds of those who kill mercilessly.

*** He became the killer. He saw what the killer saw. Did what the killer did. Felt what the killer felt. ***


He doesn't want to become like his dad. Often times he thinks there is to much of his sperm donor in him so there is a lot of self loathing inside him going on when he meets Mercy. She shows Cain from the first moment on that he is nothing like his father, to convince him and make it stick is the real problem. There is so much self-disgust inside of him that she often struggles to make him believe in himself.

As a character Cain is sweet and so painfully broken, I wanted to hug him all the time. His father broke him when he was a boy and that child surfaces often. I bawled when I felt how starved for love Cain was. Mercy is the band aid and salve to all his emotional ailments.


*** He squeezed her hand holding his, and his free arm snaked around her slowly, as if he was waiting for her to change her mind. But only love lived here between them. Slowly he settled his head against her shoulder and neck. ***

Sometimes he lashes out at people. Like a hurt animal he bites first before he gets bitten.

Mercy is a tremendously strong heroine yet has a kindness about her that is miraculous. The things she has gone through should have broken her beyond repair, yet she is endearing, sweet, caring. Both of them feel immensely protective of one another and it is that trait that causes a lot of hurt between them.
Their behavior is sometimes erratic and I had to keep reminding myself that these people don't act like you and me. They are too complicated, too damaged but in a roundabout way they make sense and are utterly perfect for one another. And that's why their moods and actions, while erratic, make sense to me too.

Mercy's and Cain's connection is instantaneous - they bond over the fact that they both have been broken by the same person and the connection deepens very fast. You could call it insta-love but it is absolutely believable which I appreciate.


*** His hands cupped her face as if he held something fragile in his palms, and then his tongue was in her mouth and she was lost. She didn’t know where she was. Didn’t have a past or future. All that existed was this moment where every muscle and bone, every breath and heartbeat, every working brain cell tuned in to Cain and his tongue in her mouth filling her with the warm, sweet taste of him and the feeling that for the first time in her life, she’d found perfect harmony. ***


Abbie Roads has a very vivid writing style. The words on the pages transform easily into images in your mind. I really loved that, and generally the story flows smoothly.
I wouldn't call this book paranormal romance. It is a mix of thriller, paranormal and romance and all these elements are in balance. The suspense is so good and full of tension that I was on the edge of my seat most of the time. I didn't see the solution coming until I the last plot twist - and there are a couple that left my mouth hanging open. The end was completely satisfying in every aspect. If you love any of these components give this a shot (if you can handle a lot of blood). I am convinced you won't regret it. She has totally won me over and I can't wait to get the next in the series in my hands.