Mercy Harris, a wealthy matriarch in failing health, guards a lifetime of confidences. Even as she welcomes friends and family into her home for Christmas 1923, she holds a new secret. As proprietor of The Black Hen, a guesthouse catering to adults with unconventional sexual appetites, she delivers the luxury and discretion essential to her clients’ enjoyment. Regular visitors think they know Mercy. They don’t. This year, as her company decorates the house for the holiday, they whisper about the small changes in her. Enticed by their erotic comforts, they shed their worry about the formidable woman who seems destined to live forever. When her guests are relaxed and mellow on Christmas Day, Mercy surprises them with a gift that will rock their world for years to come. Disclaimer: Unbowed is a stand-alone prequel in the Without Mercy series. It contains sexual and erotic scenes, including power exchanges. If that content is likely to offend you, please don't read this book.