Reviewed by Sadonna and Valerie
TITLE: Have Mercy 
AUTHOR: Christina Lee
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: Novel
RELEASE DATE: August 28. 2020
BLURB:
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?
SADONNA’S REVIEW:
Julian has returned to his home in New York City after being discharged from the Army following two tours and a career ending injury in Afghanistan. His knee bothers him, but it’s the restlessness and the noise of the city that’s really getting to him. He’s making progress, but his mother and cousin Sienna encourage him to spend the summer in Wyoming helping her get her business up and running on the farm that she runs with her ex-husband. Maybe the quiet and scenery and working on a meaningful project will help.
Kerry has been struggling but trying to make the best of things for his family’s sake and he’d never want to leave his daughter. After coming out to his wife and his family, his daughter Ainsley was diagnosed with leukemia and he and Sienna vowed to keep things together to get her through her treatment. Sienna was hurt and his family has been distant with a father and brother particularly so, but most of them try to keep things civil. Kerry and Sienna were friends before they married and after their divorce, they’ve gone back to that foundation and lean on each other in many ways.
When Julian arrives, he fairly soon fits into the routine. He’s made friends with the animals, particularly the pet pigs, Phoebe and Hamlet, and the dairy cows. He’s a bit nervous around the horses. He also quickly connects with Ainsley, which is amazing as she’s been a bit skittish dealing with anxiety after her health ordeal. She’s involved with an equine therapist and as Julian watches, along with her parents, she makes great strides over the summer overcoming her trust issues with her rescue horse. When a new rescue horse named Mercy arrives, Julian finds himself fascinated – particularly after hearing his story. They develop a bit of a relationship and Julian begins to trust more as well 🙂
Of course Kerry and Julian both feel the undercurrent of attraction. However, Kerry basically is punishing himself for how he has hurt everyone. He doesn’t really believe that he deserves happiness. He still has a lot of self-loathing to overcome. But Julian only sees the kind, gentle man who is there for him and tries to make him feel safe. Whether it’s learning the ropes at the farm, dealing with his nightmare, or getting him out seeing new things, Kerry is there for Julian. And Julian tries to do the same for Kerry, since he’s not really had anyone in his corner since his coming out. Their relationship is the first time that Kerry can see himself happy – but he knows it’s only temporary for the summer. Kerry and Julian really give each other a safe place to land for the first time. When Julian has to leave to go back to New York for his sister’s wedding, Kerry and Ainsley and Sienna are sad to see him go. Both men deeply feel the loss. But maybe there is a way forward 🙂
This is just my second Christina Lee book and I really enjoyed it. I like her easy writing style and with the story told from alternating POVs of the main characters, I felt like I really understood what they were going through and how they were both struggling with themselves and with the things and people around them. They both have pasts that have affected them deeply and both would like to get to a better place. The author weaves into this tale of a former soldier dealing with physical injury as well as PTSD and a child dealing with anxiety after experiencing a life threatening illness the very real work being done with Equine therapy. I have a friend who volunteers at a farm that does this kind of work with kids and I think it’s just amazing what a connection with an animal can do to heal a broken spirit, lessen anxiety and build empathy and trust. I absolutely loved this aspect of the story with both Julian and Ainsley working to overcome their fears and be able to build trust with the horses. The animals and the farm are adorable. The relationship building between Kerry and Julian is beautifully written. I came to feel like I understood both Kerry and Julian and while I empathized with both of them I respected them without pity. I appreciated the way the author wrote both of these characters with such love. This is just a thoroughly enjoyable and beautifully written love story between two men who love, respect and need each other and have the courage to go for it in spite of the obstacles in their way. Definitely recommended especially for those who enjoy a strong hurt/comfort second chances love story.
SADONNA’S RATING: 
VALERIE’S REVIEW:
Have Mercy is a story about healing for a combat veteran, a cowboy, and a rescue horse. When Julian accepts his cousin, Sienna’s, invitation to visit and help out on her family farm for the summer, he has no idea how much the farm, its animals, and its people will help him cope with his PTSD. Nor can he fathom how much his presence will restore peace of mind and self-forgiveness to Kerry, Sienna’s ex-husband and the man Julian falls in love with. And in no way can he imagine how he and a rescue horse named Have Mercy would bond and heal each other.
In a land of small towns, ranches and rugged cowboys, being gay isn’t readily accepted. The only thing worse is being gay and married to a woman. That’s the predicament Kerry finds himself in when he comes out of the closet and is subsequently divorced by his wife, Sienna. The divorce is eventually amicable, though, and they remain together as business partners in their farm and as co-parents. Clear across the county in New York City lives Julian, who is at loose ends and living with his mom after returning from his second tour of duty in Afghanistan. He was honorably discharged after nearly dying in a roadside bombing that killed two of his military brethren.
Julian decides the change of pace and environment on the farm might help his anxiety and restlessness. Long story short, Julian and Kerry slowly fall in love and live happily ever after. Their love story is much like Wyoming in summer – slow, quiet, and warm. In fact, the book feels like it creeps by as Julian arrives and acclimates to the farm, and it took me a while to fully engage. There’s little drama or angst, but it’s also low on passion. There are few strong feels until the last few chapters.
I love the dual meaning in the book title. The first reference to the title, of course, is the rescue horse named Have Mercy that Julian befriends. The pace of the book picks up with the arrival of Mercy at the farm. Julian, who has previously been fearsome of horses, begins to slowly build a tender relationship with Mercy, a former racehorse who suffered severe injuries during a race accident. Both Julian and Mercy have recovered from most of the physical damage but have hidden mental and emotional scars that still need healing. Julian begins equine therapy with Mercy to help Julian heal from his PTSD and it turns out they help each other find their way.
That was the thing I learned about mercy – the word, not the horse. Though they definitely went hand in hand. It took patience and compassion to get over the toughest hurdles in your life and finally let someone in. So in a way he was my salvation, and maybe I was a little of his too.
The second reference to Have Mercy is Kerry’s situation among some family and townsfolk who view the divorced gay father as an oddity or abhorrence. Kerry has paid his penance by standing by his ex-wife and being a good father, and deserves to have mercy bestowed upon him. Mostly, he needs to have mercy on himself and stop sacrificing his happiness because of past mistakes and just living his truth.
Kerry is the other calming and healing influence on Julian. Kerry provides respite on the farm and hard, physical work to keep Julian’s mind occupied. For his part, Julian provides Kerry with perspective on his situation, namely that he can’t punish himself forever. Kerry also provides a touch of dominance in their sexual encounters, which it seems Julian needs.
I enjoyed the well-constructed plot and the solid cast of side characters: Sienna and daughter Ainsley; Marta and George, the farm help; the equine therapist; Kerry and Julian’s families; two show stealers – the mischievous pigs Hamlet and Phoebe; and darling Mercy. I was pleased by the storyline of one of Kerry’s brothers and was charmed by Julian’s sister, Caitlin.
A shout-out to the Dunkin Donuts commercial, “Time to Make the Doughnuts.” Thank you, Ms. Lee, for the hearty laugh. To this day, my husband and I mumble this line if we have to get up at o-dark-thirty.
An epilogue set six months later wraps up the storyline nicely with no loose ends and a very satisfying HEA. Have Mercy is a sweet book, but too low key for my taste. I would’ve preferred a faster pace and greater emotions – higher highs and lower lows. However, if you’re searching for a well-written, low drama love story, this may fit the bill for you.
VALERIE’S RATING: 
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