While downright sweet at times, at other times it was incredibly sexy, but most of all there was this intense respect and sense of joy when these two were together. Have Mercy is an extraordinary debut book by author Shelley Ann Clark and I am expecting great things to come from her in the future! ~ Slick, Guilty Pleasures
Description:
Rock diva Emme Hayes already broke up one band after sleeping with the lead singer, and she swears she won’t let sex screw things up again. The problem is, her new bass player—a lean, muscular, tattooed mystery man who makes her want to demand his absolute attention—has her so worked up she can hardly carry a tune. Emme promises he’s off-limits. She just doesn’t know how she’ll be able to confine the heat to her love songs.
The moment Tom McKinney lays eyes on Emme strutting around the stage of his blues bar—all curves, eye liner, and teased blond hair—he knows she’s one of a kind. So when she offers him a two-month paid gig to tour with her band, Tom can’t say no, despite family troubles and the bar’s precarious finances. Onstage and off, the music they make thrums in his soul, but Tom has too much going on to get involved—even if he burns to let Emme play his body like a fine-tuned instrument.
Review copy provided for an honest review
If there’s one thing I truly love besides reading, it is “discovering” a new author right off the bat and I am so happy to have discovered Shelley Ann Clark. I’ll admit, because I 
have so many great authors I follow, read, and review I’m pretty picky about selecting books by new to me authors. My selection process is pretty involved and this author made the cut and she proved herself more than worthy. Have Mercy was way more than I expected it to be. From reading the description I thought it would be an entertaining look at life on the road and a romance between band members and it was that but their relationship takes on a very interesting turn and the depth of it becomes so much more than I ever expected. I love it when an author surprises me, arouses me, and makes me fall in love with her writing especially in a debut book and this author has done that and more!
When bar owner Tom meets singer/musician Emily (Emme) for the first time he is smitten and when he hears her sing, he knows he’s in trouble because he wants nothing more than to please her in any way possible. When he agrees to join her band for a two month tour it seems like the dream job despite leaving behind his bar, his reckless younger sister, and his life but the opportunity to spend time in Emme’s presence is all the incentive he needs.
I swear I am on such a book high after finishing this book. Tom is just a perfect hero, he’s one of those stand up guys even though he had a pretty crappy childhood, there are parts of his life he’s grateful for and he refuses to let his past dictate his future. Tom is forced to make some really tough decisions but in the end he realizes that he can only be responsible for himself and that he deserves happiness. It was a hard lesson for him to learn and it might sound strange, but I was so proud of him for doing it. I flat out loved his devotion to Emme and how protective he was of her when he felt she was being treated badly by others.
I liked Emme and most of all I liked that she knew she’d made mistakes and owned up to her part in them even though she wasn’t the only one to blame. At times she came off a little immature, but I can’t help but wonder if that wasn’t partly due to her upbringing. I did however admire her dedication to her music, her work ethic, her commitment to her band members, and her planning (OMG she is so a girl after my heart with her planning). But most of all, it was the way she handled her attraction to Tom and the way she recognized that his feelings were strong and his needs matched hers and she did everything in her power to make sure they were met. I especially loved they way she validated their relationship when it would have been easier on her to deny it.
This is one of those perfect romances but with a twist and it was a twist I loved. While downright sweet at times, at other times it was incredibly sexy, but most of all there was this intense respect and sense of joy when these two were together. My one complaint and truly it is a small one, I wanted an epilogue…while the book basically has a HEA I wanted more and I know that’s selfish but I did. That being said, Have Mercy is an extraordinary debut book by author Shelley Ann Clark and I am expecting great things to come from her in the future!
4.5 Stars
Sounds good…Thanks Slick