Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Mercy by Deneane Clark




The youngest of six sisters, Mercy Ackerly has known since thirteen what everyone else is about to learn: She’ll marry the elusive Duke of Blackthorne. 

WORTH THE WAIT 

It was love at first sight for thirteen-year-old Mercy Ackerly. The second she encountered the traveling Duke of Blackthorne, she fell in love…with his horses. And since Sebastian Tremaine was also perfect, they would someday be man and wife. 

From the start, Sebastian has felt oddly protective of Mercy. Delightfully straightforward, the girl is everything honest and sweet, which is why he approved when his best friend married into the family—and then so did his other friends. But now Mercy’s all grown up. Now she’s facing the ton’s matchmaking mamas and their deceitful daughters, is joining a world he despises, be it the ballrooms and routs or the opulent crush. He would shield her if he could, would do anything but entangle his heart. 

Sebastian will fight the inevitable for as long as he can. And then he’ll fight for it. Some matches are schemed for, some are arranged, and some have just been coming for a long, long time.

Published & Release Date: Boroughs Publishing group, June 30, 2014

Time and setting: Regency England  

Genre: Historical Romance

Heat Level: 1

Reviewer rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Reviewed by Vikki

This is such a sweet love story. I enjoyed it immensely from the first page to the last. The author weaves a story that gives the reader a chance to see the characters grow into adulthood. One might think this would slow the pacing, but it does not at all. Personally, I found it fascinating. I enjoyed getting to know the hero and heroine as children. It is a different approach and highly intriguing, and certainly helps with character development.

The pair meets in 1813 when Mercy is a thirteen-year-old tomboy and Sabastian, a young man of three and twenty who has just found out he is the new Duke of Blackthorne. It is love at first sight for Mercy, when he almost runs her down with his fine horses, young Mercy makes up her mind that she will become his duchess when she grows up.

Through the next five years, Sabastian watches Mercy evolve from a cute little urchin into a ravishingly beautiful young lady, ready to have her coming out, and he wonders where the time has gone.

Mercy has one goal for her first season, to marry Sabastian, but she has to get him to notice her first. A chance encounter in the park does not go well, and then her childhood nemesis, Amy, shows up and tells everyone of her infatuation for the young duke, making her the laughingstock of the ton. Through her machinations, Amy along with two other young ladies witness Mercy giving Sabastian an innocent kiss and telling him she loves him. They immediately spread the gossip throughout the ball.

To the astonishment of everyone, Mercy turns the tables on the three witches and soon is the darling of the ton. She becomes elusive and beguiling to Sabastian, and he sets out to win her heart, but has he waited too long? Can he convince his sweet Mercy he loves her?

This is a wonderful story of young love overcoming a great many obstacles along the road to their ‘Happily Ever After”. The story held me in its thrall throughout the entire book. I found it highly entertaining and an excellent read. Mercy is an enchanting and endearing character with great depth. Sabastian is my favorite kind of hero, lots of angst and brooding going on with him.

I loved the interaction between the six sisters and how protective they are of Mercy; this is beautifully written. In fact, I enjoyed her sisters so much; I will now read their stories as well. I also enjoyed the relationship between Sabastian and his friends, of which, several of them have fallen in love with Mercy’s entertaining sisters and married them. The plot has a bit of everything, romance, laughter and mystery all rolled into one delightful tale. It even has a villain thrown in.

Now, for the reason why I gave it 4**** stars, it lacked a strong sense of the Regency period. Some of Ms. Clark’s terminology was too modern and jolted me out of the story, but not enough to take away from my reading pleasure. If you’re looking for a light-hearted, yet emotionally charged read this is a story you will not want to miss. Happy reading!
  


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