Have Mercy

By: Christina Lee

Narrated by: Nick J. Russo

Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's Summary

Julian North

My whole world changed with one roadside bomb and an honorable discharge. Not even the city I used to love can ease the restlessness inside me. I don’t expect visiting my cousin Sienna’s farm to do the trick, either, but the change of scenery can’t hurt.

Wyoming isn’t what I expected - from the mischievous pig following me around, to the rescue horse I’ve become strangely fascinated with. And then, there’s Kerry, the handsome, brooding cowboy, who somehow calms the storm inside me - and just happens to be Sienna’s ex-husband.

Kerry Carmichael

I’ve had a rough go of it since I came out - disappointing my family, the divorce, and the blow of my daughter’s illness. Things are settling down now, my kiddo is healthy, and Sienna and I are finally on solid ground. Not everyone accepts me, but I’ve owned my truth, even if I spend my life solo. Only, now that Julian’s here, I’m not so lonesome, anymore. He’s a kindred spirit. First as someone to talk to, then as...more. The first time I hold him through one of his nightmares, I feel a rightness I never expected to find.

We know this’ll end with the summer, but with every stolen kiss against the stable walls, with every heated or tender moment, I fall deeper. The reality is, I can’t risk my family or the business by going public with him. I know this can never last and that Julian doesn’t belong here. So, why does it feel like he already does?

©2020 Christina Lee (P)2020 Christina Lee

Precious

Considering homophobia & PTSD being part of the subject material this was a low angst story. Sure the survey cowboy drug his feet forever, but you needed his reluctance to fuel the story & add depth to his character. This was a squishy feel good HEA story. Definitely worth the credit

A easy 5 ☆☆☆☆☆ Stars !!!

This book was highly enjoyable. It has a great flow to the story and all of the characters are so well developed. Kerry and Jules have instant chemistry and I really appreciated the way Kerry was so respectful and thoughtful of Serrina and his family. I will happily buy more books by Christina Lee.

😍😍 Cowboys!

I love that this audiobook had a ranch and cowboy!! The rural settings are often not found in books. The author did a brilliant job in showing the work involved with ranching, livestock, and horses. The way the storyline progresses was perfect!!

Loved It!

I devoured this beautifully written love story and was left with the best book hangover! From page one I was captivated by Julian and Kerry. Both men have gone through difficult times and are struggling. When you combine a wounded soldier dealing with PTSD and a cowboy who has come out of the closet sparks fly. When you add in that they are ex cousins-in-law things really get complicated.
I love how Christina Lee told this story. There is no unnecessary angst here, just realistic life situations. I love the compassion and grace that these men show each other. Each understanding and supporting the other.
This story is full of wonderful secondary characters (and some not so wonderful ones!). I really liked that Kerry's ex wife wasn't made out to be some horrible woman. These two have worked hard to provide their daughter with the family she needs. Julian has the utmost respect for this and only adds love and positivity.
Nick J. Russo does an outstanding job of bringing this story to life. It was a pleasure to listen to this audiobook.
You will get lost in this emotionally rich, beautifully written love story. Have Mercy will certainly be a book I revisit many times. Fingers crossed a certain someone gets his own spin off! I can't recommend this book enough

Hurt/Comfort Slow Burn

I'm normally not big into the cowboy thing, mostly because they're meant to be a bit of a "not much happens" kind of story, and I typically need something to drive the story, a mystery, action, adventure, or hurt/comfort. What drew me into this story was the hurt/comfort. Julian's PTSD was making starting over after being a soldier really difficult, and Kerry had the love and patience to help him through it. Kerry felt like he had to sacrifice his happiness for the sake of everyone else's comfort which was painful to read about.
The book was a bit of a slow burn, so I had to take a couple of breaks, but in the end it was worth it in the end. The hurt/comfort gave it enough of a "why" to keep the story going. I recommend if you want a hurt/comfort slow burn.

Very Good!

I really enjoyed this book. It was a slow and sweet story! Nick did a great job as always!

emotional but beautiful

Have mercy was such a beautiful intense and emotional at times

nick Russo brought julian and kerry to life brilliantly and beautifully nicks performance made me feel absolutely everything julian and kerry was going through

Julian and Kerry stole my heart from the moment i met them

My heart broke at times but also got put together again

Have mercy was powerful meaningful had me crying at times

I wanted to hug these two strong and incredible men

By the time i finished julian and Kerry's journey my heart was full and warm

Christina Lee's words and nick russo's performance was just perfect and aww my heart my heart

Wonderful Story & Narration🎧Gripping & Heartfelt!

I enjoyed this book immensely, it is a beautifully written slow burn romance that contains a whole lot of heart. The story grabbed my attention right from the start and held it straight to the end. The characters are realistic, easy to relate to and connect with. I adored the two leads, Julian North and Kerry Carmichael, secondary characters were great too, especially Ainsley who was a little darling. Julian North is struggling to return to civilian life after a medical and honorable discharge from the Army. Living in NYC is not helping him, too much noise ad hustle and bustle so he decides to go stay at his cousin Sienna’s farm in Wyoming and help convert a Silo into a country story. Sienna lives on Firefly Farm with her daughter Ainsley and her ex-husband Kerry. The two are there for their daughter who recently battled Leukemia, she suffers anxiety and they have a professional working with her, in equine therapy. Sienna’s family was not happy when Kerry broke her heart by coming out, but the two are at a good place now, he wants her to move on but he is afraid to himself, afraid to be himself in front of his family. But when Julian arrives the two just clicked, Kerry saw Julian for who he was and saw he was battling his inner demons with his PTSD. Julian is bi and is attracted to Kerry but both fight the feeling. I loved how everything plays out in this book, the story is nicely plotted and there is never a dull moment. There is plenty of drama, heartfelt and emotional moments and a wonderful slow burn romance. I was rooting for these two, I thought they were great together and for each other. I loved who Ainsley took to Julian, I think they saw each other and their broken parts, loved what the horses did for them too. Christina Lee, thank you for the wonderful story and the emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧And for the wonderful narration, Nick J. Russo is a talented narrator and voice artist. He covers the roles for all the characters, gives each their own distinct voice which makes it easy to follow along and tell who is who. His portrayal of the characters is spot on, sounding just as I picture them to sound. He sets the perfect tone for the story, captures all of the characters emotions and projects them in to his performance. He is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another awesome listen.

Romance at it's best

Lovely story of love blooming between a cowboy and a war veteran who after a traumatic experience thanks to a careing cowboy they find love. A lovely story beautifully written and well narrated. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Love It

When I read Have Mercy, I thought that Julian and Kerry's story is touchingly sweet. It's a slow burn, pretty low angst joining of two men living with ongoing hurt: Julian is still experiencing PTSD having been injured in service and Kerry, although he is out, still cannot live his authentic life because of his feelings of guilt and drive to put his family's needs first. It isn't a particularly plot-heavy book, but that's kind of the point for me... it's all about the emotional connections, particularly Julian's growing attachment to Mercy, the ranch and Wyoming, as well as his developing bond with Kerry.

Listening to it now, I have a new appreciation for those things that bind Julian and Kerry thanks to their characterisation being brought to life so well by Nick J Russo's excellent narration. This is the first of his audiobooks I've listened to, but it won't be the last. Great job!

The perfect life-affirming love story!

Christina Lee always writes with a big heart but she has outdone herself here. Suffering from PTSD, Julian is a war veteran looking for peace and quiet on his cousin’s farm in Wyoming over the summer. He not only develops a healing relationship with Have Mercy, an abused rescue horse, but also with Kerry, his cousin’s ex-husband, and their daughter. This was such a rich story! As well as Julian and Have Mercy’s growing mutual trust, the book follows the developing fondness and respect between the two men and explores the family tensions over Kerry’s coming out. The emotions and progress feel real and hard won, yet the tone is never gloomy or negative, but rather optimistic and hopeful. Audiobook narrator, Nick J Russo, breathes decency and vulnerability into the two main characters as they stop just surviving and learn to live again.