He did twenty years in prison for her twin's murder…now he's the only one who can save her Days away from release from Attica after serving twenty years to guard a secret, Lucas Walker discovers that he’s news again. The story once shocked the the son of renowned Shakespearean actor martin Gerard, murdered while defending his twin sister Tansy from assault by Lucas Walker, the juvenile delinquent once taken under the wing of Gerard’s wife Juliette. Gerard’s triumphant return to the stage after a ten-year absence brings the old case to light. When Tansy is kidnapped, Lucas can’t leave New York as he’d planned, no matter how badly he wants to—not until he lives up to a promise to her dying mother to protect her. Lucas goes after her, risking imprisonment once more to face the person responsible for the night that forever altered all their lives. WILL THE TRUTH SAVE HER…OR DESTROY HER? “A compelling family drama of heartache, murder and mystery.” ~New York Times bestselling author JoAnn Ross “Jean Brashear will knock your socks off!” ~New York Times bestselling author Stella Cameron “Jean Brashear’s unique writing style gifts readers with marvelous love stories filled to the brim with high drama, full-bodied characters and heated sensuality.” ~Romantic Times “Jean Brashear writes a fascinating story, a book that is engrossing from beginning to end. She is definitely an author to watch.” ~The Best Reviews “Jean Brashear is a writer of rare talent.” ~Affaire de Coeur “There are many adjectives that describe Ms. Brashear's writing, but in a word, Mercy is brilliant.” ~Goodreads review “This was a powerful and emotional read. I'm not sure I've read anything quite like it before, which is a nice change of pace since typical romances have seemed stale to me lately.” ~Goodreads review

Her dream house is the scene of his darkest hours. With his own hands, artist Micah Smith built every inch of the cottage for the fragile wife he cherished and the child who cost her life. His dreams gone and his heart broken, he left everything familiar behind, including the cottage he'd built with such love. A foster child most of her life, bar owner Jezebel Hart has spent her life longing for family and home. In this abandoned, neglected cottage she sees a chance to create her dream at last. That she cherishes what he can't bear to be near is bad enough, but that sparks fly between them adds insult to injury—yet their attraction will not be ignored. Discovering that her bombshell exterior wraps a generous heart, that her inner strength matches the power of her compassion, endangers the hard exterior that has been his only protection from the grief he cannot let go. For Jezebel, learning that his anger masks a heart in desperate need of healing only strengthens her attraction to him. Her capacity for joy draws Micah from his darkness and makes him want to hope. But a secret could shatter their fragile bond…before it ever has a chance to grow.