Mercy
Author: Sara Cate
- Book Boyfriend 2/5
- Spice Rating 4/5
- Tension Rating 3/5
- Dark Romance Rating 2/5
Drink: Blue Banana
Drink Recipe:
- 2 ounces of vodka
- 1 ounce crème de banane
- 1 ounce white creme de cacao
- ½ teaspoon of blue curaçao
- Add crushed ice, if you like
Book Recipe:
- 2 parts of brat kink
- 1 part new dominatrix
- 1 part secret romance
- ½ edging
- Add a strap on, if you like
Mercy stars Maggie, the only female owner of the Salacious Players’ Club, who discovers she’s not as vanilla as she thought when a kink quiz reveals she has dominant tendencies – not much of a surprise if you read the first three books. Uncertain of how to embrace her new role as a “Domme”, she gets matched with Beau, her friend and business partner’s son – a bratty, younger man who loves to push her buttons. Also, if you read Praise, the first book in this series, then you know that Beau is Emerson Grant’s son and Charlotte’s ex-boyfriend. Their dynamic quickly heats up as Maggie learns to wield her power, while Beau, stubborn and selfless, becomes her perfect submissive—if he can earn her mercy.
An Unexpected Dom/Sub Dynamic
In Mercy, Sara Cate flips the typical dom/sub dynamic by giving us a male submissive, Beau, and a female domme, Maggie. Beau is hot, and takes the same quiz to find out he’s a submissive brat. Talk about a throwback to Praise.
Emerson Grant called her a “good girl” and Venus was born
While Beau might not be our idea of a dream long-term book boyfriend, he’s definitely the right match for someone looking for a bratty sub, who happens to be Maggie, or maybe that happens to be you. 😉 Maggie’s strength, both in the boardroom and the bedroom, brings an intriguing power dynamic to their relationship, making for an interesting ride. Maggie and Beau do bring the spice. Their chemistry is present even in the non-spicy scenes between these characters, which is filled with love, self-care, and personal growth.
Beau’s character takes some getting used to especially if you prefer a more traditional, alpha male book boyfriend. He’s got “trauma” that explains his behavior, and while the bratty sub dynamic may not be for everyone, it’s refreshing to see this kind of role reversal in romance. It’s worth noting though that while Beau follows Maggie’s lead, he still knows exactly how to please her. When he’s rewarded for his “good” behavior, the steamy scenes are well worth the wait. It’s sexy, for sure, but we couldn’t quite see Beau as the long-term book boyfriend we’d fall for.
Character Growth: From Brat to Mature Partner
Despite our reservations, we have to give credit where it’s due: Beau does show growth by the end of the book. The fast-forward shows that he’s matured, and it’s clear that he and Maggie are perfectly suited for each other. Beau is hot and clearly devoted to Maggie, but he’s not for everyone. If you’re into the idea of a bratty sub who’s willing to follow your lead, Beau might be for you. For us, he was a fun ride for the 300 pages, but not someone we’d think about beyond the book. If you’re into dominatrix dynamics, Mercy is worth checking out, especially if you want to explore a different side of BDSM romance. But be warned, Sara Cate doesn’t hold back… she goes all the way. See cock rings, cages, and strap ons!
In case you’re not intrigued by this story line, but still want to read what all the hype is about, don’t fret, we have your spicy chapters for you: 10, 13, 17, 20-24, 27, 28, 30, 32, 33, 39 & Epilogue.
Available on Kindle Unlimited
