Review: Mercy by Annabel Joseph
“A Dancer’s D/s Dream”
The Download… Straight from the Cover
But how truthful are Matthew and Lucy? How much of Matthew’s strenuous brand of love can Lucy endure? And how long can their rigid Dom/sub relationship stay frozen in time, never growing, never moving forward? |
Lucy Merritt has always defined herself by her body, whether dancing in a small avant-garde company or posing for art. But she has always felt as if something is wrong with her, as if something is missing. She has never been in love. Suddenly, in the darkness of the theater wings, a strangely affecting man enters her life. Matthew Norris, rich, handsome patron of the dance company, has decided that he wants Lucy for his own. He makes her an offer that both frightens and compels her, and they soon begin an affair characterized by only two requirements, beauty and truth.
Zelda’s Two Cents…
Mercy is another great BDSM and ballet novel from Annabel Joseph. For those who follow my reviews, I have what you could call a weakness for ballet and dance mixed in with my BDSM erotica. Really, the two just belong together in my eyes, through and through. And Mercy does not disappoint.
When Lucy first meets Matthew, sparks fly. Before she can even understand what it is that compels her toward him, she knows that it is something special. And Matthew is hard to resist. Confidant. Assertive. Wealthy. Successful. Just what a ballet dancer who is nearing the end of his/her dancing career needs; someone to provide for them when their bodies fail. But Lucy finds she needs something more than just financial support in a partner… she needs to be dominated and taken care of.
I love that Mercy depicts a very realistic relationship that experiences growing pains and imperfections. Neither Lucy nor Matthew are perfect, though they try to make things work for each other, through thick and thin. They discover that “Even if it’s not perfect… if you enjoy it, if it makes you happy, then it’s a good thing.”
I also appreciate the realism in their BDSM play, in the activities they engage in and the emotions they experience — from the desire to please and be controlled on Lucy’s part to the jealousy and ownership that Matthew feels for her. I will say that at times things get almost too realistic and commonplace, as the couple deals with their daily lives, relationship issues and even pregnancy. Though, in true romance novel fashion, Lucy’s and Matthew’s love for each other prevails despite their disagreements and troubles. I must admit that I did find the Happily Ever After in this novel to be a bit of a stretch. In my eyes, without revealing too much of the plot, I find some of the deceit that these two commit on each other (specifically from Matthew’s end) to be insurmountable. I get that it’s a fantasy and you need to suspend disbelief to some degree, but I just can’t imagine rising above what happens and maintaining a healthy relationship without resentment over the long-term.
Despite this, Lucy’s and Matthew’s courtship throughout is sweet and sexy. I yearn for domination with Lucy and feel for Matthew’s struggle over falling in love. I enjoy their dynamic, Matthew’s rules and Lucy’s submissive power over him. I love the struggles they have with their limits and just how much they are willing to give to each other. All in all, it was a very enjoyable read.
Zelda Gillian is a wife, a mother and a lover, likes strong espresso, stiff corsets and never strays far from her Kindle.
