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Review

3.5 stars

This is the first book in KA Tucker’s Empire Nightclub series (previously published under Tucker’s pen-name, Nina West). It’s dark and steamy, and had me completely captivated, and I really enjoyed this one.

Mercy is left reeling after her beloved father is sent to prison for 22 years after accidentally killing a man who attacked her. When she visits him to find that he’s been brutally beaten, she’s desperate to find a way to help him. Gabriel Easton lays eyes on Mercy when he is visiting his own father, an infamous crime boss, in prison. Rich, privileged and powerful, Gabriel is smitten from the moment he sees her, and when he learns what’s going on with her father, he offers his protection. The exact conditions take a bit of negotiating, but Gabriel is obsessed, and Mercy eventually agrees to move in with him for a defined time to ensure her father is protected.

It’s an entertaining set up, made all the more intriguing because of who Gabriel and Mercy are. He is an unapologetic womaniser, used to having woman throw themselves at him, and he has frequently indulged. He’s never had to work to get what he wants, and then Mercy comes along refusing his advances and challenging him at every turn.

Mercy is such a great heroine. She is sweet and vulnerable, but she is in no way weak or innocent. She’s been through a lot and she’s a strong woman, and she stands up to Gabriel in a way he’s never experienced before. Their dynamic is great, and the chemistry between them is electric, and though she wants nothing to do with Gabriel, she can’t deny that she’s attracted to him.

There is a real enemies-to-lovers feel to this story (well, from Mercy’s side at least), and I loved their sexy battle of wills. You can feel the tension between them, and it is intense! But there’s more to them than just their mad lust for each other. With the two the of them all up in each other’s space, they truly get to know each other and they realise that there is so much more to the other than they initially assumed. I loved watching them get to know each other, understand each other, and see moments of sweetness and genuine affection between them. It makes the inevitable sexy time even more explosive, and holy damn, this book is so hot!

But this is just the beginning of the story. The romance is only really hinted at in this book, and the potential is there for an epic love story. And with Mercy and Gabriel growing closer, and Gabriel looking to get out from under his father’s control, I cannot wait to see what happens from here.

The audio is narrated by Alex Kydd and Ada Sinclair, and they do a great job bringing depth and emotion to the characters. It may not be the most realistic of storylines, but it’s a great one to lose yourself in, and I enjoyed this book.

3.5 stars.

 

Empire Nightclub