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Merciful Law
Lawrence Davenport lives a fortunate life. He has a brilliant career, an enviable home, a devoted wife, and so much more. But Lawrence Davenport also has a brutal secret. After three years, Emmet Navar is still grieving the death of his wife. Month by month he puts more pieces of his outwardly simple world back together, dedicating himself to his boys first and his firm second. The woman they both know is battling demons from her past, demons in the present, and demons she is sure will rear in her future...and the future of those now close to her. Many days she allows herself to be fooled to believe her life is normal...even happy.
Full of suspense, adventure and humor, you'll fall in love with the characters at every twist and turn in Merciful Law. It is the perfect blend of male and female, action and romance. As the story unfolds, you will wonder who will win, who will lose, who will live and who will die.
Merciful Law...they had a marriage to die for...and someone will.
Full of suspense, adventure and humor, you'll fall in love with the characters at every twist and turn in Merciful Law. It is the perfect blend of male and female, action and romance. As the story unfolds, you will wonder who will win, who will lose, who will live and who will die.
Merciful Law...they had a marriage to die for...and someone will.
455 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 17, 2011
11 people want to read
About the author
Darby Rae
2 books14 followersDarby Rae is the author of the Romantic Suspense novel, Merciful Law, and Young Adult novel, Dandelions. She lives in Indiana with her 4 teens and multiple creatures & critters including her dog, cat, ferret, and reptiles. She is a social medial neophyte, word-nerd, data junkie and future beach bum..
Merciful Law has received several 5 star reviews. Read the first chapter http://www.darbyrae.com/library/
Merciful Law has received several 5 star reviews. Read the first chapter http://www.darbyrae.com/library/
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 20, 2011
Amanda @ behindtherows.com
Not very often will a book land on my desk that will grab my attention in the first chapter, but Merciful Law was one of those books!
Lawrence Davenport is a man with power, money, and the means to make things happen. So what happens when his wife suddenly disappears? What if his wife didn't want to be found? What lengths would a man go to in order to bring his loved one back home?
Deborah Davenport has seen the light and needs to make a new life for herself. Leaving Lawrence was not a decision made lightly and becoming Annie Logan will prove to be more difficult than she ever imagined.
Emmet Navar is no stranger to danger in his life. His main priority is keeping his two boys safe and in the life they are accustomed to. Emmet hires Annie as a professional assistant to the Navar house. Neither one of them could have possibly seen where this was the beginning of a long ride of bumps and turns.
Emmet has a problem in keeping his professional exterior up when he is around Annie and soon confesses his attraction to her. Annie is worried that her husband and his many dangerous men are always just behind her shoulder and she will lead them right to the things she is starting to love.
Darby Rae is a brilliant storyteller and Merciful Law has everything to become a bestseller. This book has just enough suspense to keep you interested without knowing what is going to happen until the very last page. The wit and some of the characters were a much needed comic relief that kept the story from being too heavy. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the quick banter and sarcasm that was laced in the lines.
I would also like to bring some focus onto the setting. I've never read a book that was set in my own back yard. This was interesting and exciting and completely realistic.
At 455 pages long, this book has a bit more to it than your average novel. I was never bored and not once did I want to skip a page or two. Rae has a way of building the story up without just putting words on a page. It was intelligent and very well thought out. I would recommend that everyone pick this book up. I was surprised at how I was genuinely surprised and every page was a journey to the next. Merciful Law is a perfect example of how a bestseller should be written.
Not very often will a book land on my desk that will grab my attention in the first chapter, but Merciful Law was one of those books!
Lawrence Davenport is a man with power, money, and the means to make things happen. So what happens when his wife suddenly disappears? What if his wife didn't want to be found? What lengths would a man go to in order to bring his loved one back home?
Deborah Davenport has seen the light and needs to make a new life for herself. Leaving Lawrence was not a decision made lightly and becoming Annie Logan will prove to be more difficult than she ever imagined.
Emmet Navar is no stranger to danger in his life. His main priority is keeping his two boys safe and in the life they are accustomed to. Emmet hires Annie as a professional assistant to the Navar house. Neither one of them could have possibly seen where this was the beginning of a long ride of bumps and turns.
Emmet has a problem in keeping his professional exterior up when he is around Annie and soon confesses his attraction to her. Annie is worried that her husband and his many dangerous men are always just behind her shoulder and she will lead them right to the things she is starting to love.
Darby Rae is a brilliant storyteller and Merciful Law has everything to become a bestseller. This book has just enough suspense to keep you interested without knowing what is going to happen until the very last page. The wit and some of the characters were a much needed comic relief that kept the story from being too heavy. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the quick banter and sarcasm that was laced in the lines.
I would also like to bring some focus onto the setting. I've never read a book that was set in my own back yard. This was interesting and exciting and completely realistic.
At 455 pages long, this book has a bit more to it than your average novel. I was never bored and not once did I want to skip a page or two. Rae has a way of building the story up without just putting words on a page. It was intelligent and very well thought out. I would recommend that everyone pick this book up. I was surprised at how I was genuinely surprised and every page was a journey to the next. Merciful Law is a perfect example of how a bestseller should be written.
November 17, 2011
I loved loved loved this novel. I was hooked from the very first page to the very last page. After reading the first chapter, I knew I had to immediately read this book and preferably in one sitting if possible. And that's exactly what I did.
Darby Rae is a masterful storyteller. She wove a beautiful, compelling novel that combined romance, suspense, faith, grief, and enough wit to keep anybody's attention.
I loved the characters. I love it when characters are witty and have scarcasm, this novel had all of that and more. I found myself laughing out loud in the most inconvienent places and at the most inconvienent times.
Deborah Davenport, alias Annie Logan, was the narrator for most of the novel. She was a character that I could relate to and fell in love with from the very beginning. From the very first page Lawrence intrigued me. And from the moment I saw Emmet interact with his best friends Chase and Mitch I was captivated. They are the type of friends that everybody should have. Darby Rae assembled an all-star cast in this masterfully composed novel.
I loved this book and definitely recommend buying and reading it. I will admit that I love romantic suspense and this novel is one of the best romantic suspense novels I've read in awhile.
It was funny, cute, adorable, romantic, suspesneful, and touched upon some of the harsher aspects of life in a way that blended into a beautifully written novel. Darby Rae is an author that I will definitely be keeping my eye on.
For my extended review, please check out the following
link
Darby Rae is a masterful storyteller. She wove a beautiful, compelling novel that combined romance, suspense, faith, grief, and enough wit to keep anybody's attention.
I loved the characters. I love it when characters are witty and have scarcasm, this novel had all of that and more. I found myself laughing out loud in the most inconvienent places and at the most inconvienent times.
Deborah Davenport, alias Annie Logan, was the narrator for most of the novel. She was a character that I could relate to and fell in love with from the very beginning. From the very first page Lawrence intrigued me. And from the moment I saw Emmet interact with his best friends Chase and Mitch I was captivated. They are the type of friends that everybody should have. Darby Rae assembled an all-star cast in this masterfully composed novel.
I loved this book and definitely recommend buying and reading it. I will admit that I love romantic suspense and this novel is one of the best romantic suspense novels I've read in awhile.
It was funny, cute, adorable, romantic, suspesneful, and touched upon some of the harsher aspects of life in a way that blended into a beautifully written novel. Darby Rae is an author that I will definitely be keeping my eye on.
For my extended review, please check out the following
link
August 30, 2011
Not the legal thriller I thought I was going to read (though there are several characters that are lawyers) but rather a fast paced, romantic thriller. Loved the characters, the witty banter, and the unpredictable ending. I look forward to reading more from Darby Rae!
May 23, 2012
This book was very different than what I was expecting. The cover photo and the title had me thinking this was going to be a legal thriller but instead it turned out to be a mix: thriller and love story.
It follows Annie Logan after she has left her husband, Lawrence, and started a new life with a new identity. She is a bit fearful for her life, scared that her husband will find her and kill her. He was possessive, manipulative and abusive (verbally, I think) and before leaving she had discovered that he was also a killer. She finds a job as a personal assistant to Emmet Navar who is similar to her husband in that he is a successful lawyer, possessive and a strong willed. He is different, though. He has a son and loyal friends. He is also a bit damaged and that always makes the girls swoon, right?
A romance begins between Annie and Emmet despite the fact the he loses his temper easily- yelling at her and calling her names when he jumps to the wrong conclusions more than once and she forgives him every time! She even blames herself for this abuse! It was hard for me to understand her relationship with him when she was so determined to get away from her own abusive husband. I was also amazed that this relationship would be considered a good alternative by the author when this is supposed to be Christian fiction.
I actually wasn't aware of this before reading, but it came clear rather quickly when the main character is always at mass, her values are shared throughout and the relationship between Annie and Emmet doesn't progress much beyond some very innocent canoodling. She is, of course, still married. I don't have a problem with this, Rae just kept hinting that more was coming and every time they would go to their separate rooms. Quite the tease.
This book was hard to put down. I continued reading and reading even through the slow parts. I don't know why, really, because in the end I have come to the conclusion that I didn't much like the main character or the choices she makes throughout the book. There were some other interesting and fun characters, though. Emmet's friends and their banter was rather entertaining. The "guardian angel" Michael who looks after Annie was…a little weird, but oddly enchanting.
Anyway, I finished it. I liked parts and disliked others. It was okay, but I think I would have been happier if Annie had just left both men and gone off on her own.
It follows Annie Logan after she has left her husband, Lawrence, and started a new life with a new identity. She is a bit fearful for her life, scared that her husband will find her and kill her. He was possessive, manipulative and abusive (verbally, I think) and before leaving she had discovered that he was also a killer. She finds a job as a personal assistant to Emmet Navar who is similar to her husband in that he is a successful lawyer, possessive and a strong willed. He is different, though. He has a son and loyal friends. He is also a bit damaged and that always makes the girls swoon, right?
A romance begins between Annie and Emmet despite the fact the he loses his temper easily- yelling at her and calling her names when he jumps to the wrong conclusions more than once and she forgives him every time! She even blames herself for this abuse! It was hard for me to understand her relationship with him when she was so determined to get away from her own abusive husband. I was also amazed that this relationship would be considered a good alternative by the author when this is supposed to be Christian fiction.
I actually wasn't aware of this before reading, but it came clear rather quickly when the main character is always at mass, her values are shared throughout and the relationship between Annie and Emmet doesn't progress much beyond some very innocent canoodling. She is, of course, still married. I don't have a problem with this, Rae just kept hinting that more was coming and every time they would go to their separate rooms. Quite the tease.
This book was hard to put down. I continued reading and reading even through the slow parts. I don't know why, really, because in the end I have come to the conclusion that I didn't much like the main character or the choices she makes throughout the book. There were some other interesting and fun characters, though. Emmet's friends and their banter was rather entertaining. The "guardian angel" Michael who looks after Annie was…a little weird, but oddly enchanting.
Anyway, I finished it. I liked parts and disliked others. It was okay, but I think I would have been happier if Annie had just left both men and gone off on her own.
December 20, 2011
This book was a surprisingly well written debut novel. I'm not quite sure what I expected going in...but this novel certainly delivered. It was a romantic suspense at it's best including a crazy potentially deadly ex, a handsome new love interest, charming children, and amazing friendships.
I was captured from the first chapter and invested to see how all of this would play out...and play out it did. There were several twists which kept me wondering and I loved how the Point of View would occasionally change to that of the ex so we could see what he was thinking. That only made things more perplexing in a great way.
I adored all of the secondary characters in this book: from the reliable and caring Susan, to the charming children Josh & Eli, to the amazing friends Mitch & Chase. I need friends like that!
I did have a little bit of trouble connecting to the two main characters...they both seemed a bit bipolar to me...but in retrospect they were both emotionally damaged and dealing with a very stressful situation. I'd probably have been acting a bit crazy myself. I also felt that there were a few sections that dragged on a bit...but it picked right back up toward the end of the book and hurtled us to a wonderfully satisfying ending...one that I admit ..I did not see coming.
I was captured from the first chapter and invested to see how all of this would play out...and play out it did. There were several twists which kept me wondering and I loved how the Point of View would occasionally change to that of the ex so we could see what he was thinking. That only made things more perplexing in a great way.
I adored all of the secondary characters in this book: from the reliable and caring Susan, to the charming children Josh & Eli, to the amazing friends Mitch & Chase. I need friends like that!
I did have a little bit of trouble connecting to the two main characters...they both seemed a bit bipolar to me...but in retrospect they were both emotionally damaged and dealing with a very stressful situation. I'd probably have been acting a bit crazy myself. I also felt that there were a few sections that dragged on a bit...but it picked right back up toward the end of the book and hurtled us to a wonderfully satisfying ending...one that I admit ..I did not see coming.
November 25, 2011
In this debut novel by Darby Rae, you are taken on the journey of Deborah's life. She is a successful attorney who has just had enough of marriage to her attorney husband, Lawrence. For reasons unbeknownst to the reader (until the very end), Deborah feels that she has to leave Lawrence and change her identity. She moves to Indiana and finds a job working for Emmet. As Annie, Deborah feels pretty safe but enrolls herself in self-defense classes and continues to fear her husband will find her.
This is a very fast paced novel full of adventure, romance, and mystery. It keeps you on your toes wondering who might die (the over tells you someone will!) and how they might possibly breathe their last breath. I predicted who it might be but not the manner in which it would happen. I fell in love with several characters in this book. My only complaint is that there are several typos and grammatical errors throughout.
I recommend this book to those who like a good mystery!
You might want to know that there is strong language, mention of Mass (not real heavy on the religious issues), and intimate scenes.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
This is a very fast paced novel full of adventure, romance, and mystery. It keeps you on your toes wondering who might die (the over tells you someone will!) and how they might possibly breathe their last breath. I predicted who it might be but not the manner in which it would happen. I fell in love with several characters in this book. My only complaint is that there are several typos and grammatical errors throughout.
I recommend this book to those who like a good mystery!
You might want to know that there is strong language, mention of Mass (not real heavy on the religious issues), and intimate scenes.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
January 16, 2012
I loved all of the characters. Great character development. And the plot kept my interest until the very last page. Can't wait for Darby's next book!
July 24, 2012
I loved this book! Didn't get boring and the end was great!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews