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Receiving His Mercy

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Travis Andrews isn’t getting any younger; he’s ready for a long-term relationship.
And he knows just the sort of woman he wants. A sub who obeys him perfectly. Someone calm and collected who has their life together.
What he doesn’t need or want is a ball of chaos and color.
No matter how gorgeous she is.

Caren has always had a crush of Travis, but men like him don’t choose women like her.
She’s quirky, awkward, and loud. Not elegant or obedient.
And he’d always seemed annoyed by her.

It wasn’t like she needed a bossy, overprotective Dom in her life.
Except for when she really did . . .
Only problem was that it might just be too late.

*Please note the trigger warning for this book. Also this is a spinoff of Doms of Decadence so there is a crossover of characters. A character bible has been included.

388 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 12, 2025

210 people are currently reading
37 people want to read

About the author

Laylah Roberts

137 books1,816 followers
Laylah loves reading, but she particularly loves a good romance with some seriously alpha men. Protective, possessive men with large hearts. Writing has become her passion and she hopes her readers enjoy her stories as much as she does writing them.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
Profile Image for Cécile Smits .
1,484 reviews292 followers
November 11, 2025
Receiving His Mercy is the first story in a series that i already know i’m going to enjoy.
It’s the story of Travis,the oldest of the Andrew brothers,and Lacey’s cousin (she’s from A Taste of Sir)

Lacey had a friend when they were kids called Caren,but Travis didn’t really like her….
She was weird….quiet,awkward and always stuffing her face with cookies she didn’t need to steal.
Because she lived in a big house,with wealthy parents.
Plus,she ended up hurting Lacey when she left without a word.
And now she’s back,at Lacey and Gray’s wedding?? The nerve!
But the more he sees of her,and the more he hears about her,the more questions he has….

Caren was glad to be able to reconnect with Lacey after all those years.
Her Grammy,the only family member that actually cared about her,had died and she felt lost.
Sure,her work took her all over the world,and she was rarely home,but something else happened on top of the loss she’d suffered…..
Something that caused even more trauma than she’d already had from her childhood.
The only problem with reconnecting with Lacey was the fact that she would see the person she’d had a giant crush on,and as it turned out,still had…..Lacey’s cousin Travis.


Once Travis knows the truth of Caren’s life as a child,his view of her does a one/eighty.
Not only that,he knows that the stupid idea he’d had about the kind of woman he wanted to settle down with just went out the window.
Because,even though Caren dressed colourful,even though she was chaotic and different then anyone he’d ever known,she was the one for him.
And he wouldn’t stop until his Goldie agreed to him making sure she was happy,healthy and safe for the rest of her life.
But the past wouldn’t let go…..and it returned with a vengeance.
For one her mother,who suffered from dementia,demanded attention.
But the reason she returned to the States,and was afraid to go abroad,had found her…..

Caren’s story,hearing what really happened to her as a child,it hurt badly.
What’s worse,being neglected most of the time,forced to take care of yourself from a very early age?
Or being abused by the ones that are supposed to care for you when you draw attention because other people notice you’re being neglected?
Really,it’s miracle Caren still turned out to be the wonderful person she was!
And i know it’s because of people like Lacey,and like her Grammy.

Travis may have had misconceptions about the young Caren,he didn’t hesitate to apologize once he found out the truth.
He may have somewhat acted like a neanderthal after,he did it because he cared.
And he wasn’t shy about sharing those feelings,either!
This Dom knew what buttons to push to make his little subbie fly straight into subspace,and he used them all.
And when she was in danger,he rallied the troups,and did everything he could to save her.

Now that Caren and Travis enjoy their happy after,i still have a few questions,though….
What’s Alexa’s story,Raptor Inc’s secretary and secret weapon??
And what is going on between Gray’s little sister Rory,Travis’ brother Jace,and Kane,their club Whip It’s new manager??



Profile Image for Cat H.
1,989 reviews219 followers
November 15, 2025
4.7 stars.
Ugh. I love a possessive man who’s grumpy about his feelings.😂
Profile Image for Louise Car.
211 reviews4 followers
November 12, 2025
I always look forward to any new release by Ms. Roberts, but the announcement of a new series filled me with extra excitement and anticipation. I wasn’t sure what direction Travis and Caren’s relationship would take, but I definitely didn’t expect a story filled with such unique, funny, heartwarming, and heartbreaking moments.

Caren’s quirky ways of soothing herself were both unusual and endearing, but it was Travis’s over-the-top behavior that had me laughing the most. If this first book sets the tone for the series, we’re all in for a real treat!

Travis Andrews is co-owner of Raptor Inc. security firm and the Whip BDSM club. He’s used to living by his own rules and is ready to find a submissive partner who’s calm and obedient. Instead, he meets his match in Caren, quirky, outspoken, funny, and often delightfully disobedient.

Travis and Caren reconnect at Lacey’s wedding. Lacey, Travis’s cousin, was once Caren’s best friend until Caren suddenly disappeared without explanation. The chemistry between Travis and Caren is undeniable, though they dance around it for quite some time. Their transition into a Dom/sub relationship is fluid, natural, and full of emotion.

Travis was such a refreshing character. Saying he’s protective of Caren is an understatement, I half-expected him to go full Tarzan and start beating his chest! He’s stubborn, funny, paranoid, and a little crazy, but completely lovable. No matter how much he tries to deny his feelings for Caren, his heart betrays him every time.

Caren is strong and successful, but she carries the emotional scars of a painful childhood, thanks to the parents from hell, especially “Mummy Dearest.” Her coping mechanisms are quirky but touching, and her vulnerability made her deeply relatable. Watching her face her past and her fears while learning to trust Travis again was both raw and beautiful.

The Andrews brothers were another highlight! I loved their teasing banter and fierce loyalty. Their bond brought warmth and humor to the story, balancing the emotional and sensual moments perfectly. The chemistry between Travis and Caren was scorching, but it was Caren’s emotional growth, supported by Travis’s steady love, that truly made this story shine.

Ms. Roberts delivers a wonderful blend of humor, heat, and heart. If this first book is any indication of what’s to come, this series will be one to treasure. I can’t wait for the next installment!
119 reviews
November 14, 2025
A great read. I would read Gray and Lacey’s story in the Doms of Decadence series for better understanding. Travis thought he knew what type of person he wanted in his life until he runs into Caren, someone who used to live next to them. Although he realizes the grudge he held over her was misplaced due to not knowing her situation while growing up. He finds that he loves her quirky personality.
I really love how the author talks about certain aspects of mental illness that some can go through like her character, Caren. I don’t want to give anything away but her and Travis fall in love and have to overcome some obstacles.
Profile Image for Geeky Girl Review Cafe.
1,234 reviews99 followers
November 12, 2025
As someone who has not read the series this book spins off from, I have to say I had NO issues following along and enjoying the story.

I'm a long time reader of Laylah's books and I continue to be blown away by how well she incorporates hard/tough topics in her stories. This time it was dementia, food insecurity/hoarding, and past trauma...and wow, I feel like I learned so much and am humbled by the challenges people go through.

This book set up side characters for future books and I'm excited to get to their stories.

Loved Caren and Travis's story, they had a lot of hurdles and truths to get through but Travis refused to give up and SWOON who can resist that?!?
20 reviews
November 16, 2025
the book you didn’t know you want to read

Travis and Caren story. So good! Laylah Roberts continues to give the story that makes you want to reread the previous stories to refresh your mind. The only way this story would have been better was if foxy made a cameo. Waiting on the rest Rory and Jace, Tyler, Rusty, Clay, Alexa. Now off to reread the other stories again. Enjoy!
94 reviews
November 22, 2025
Perfect and hot

I can only way that yet again I found myself unable to put this book down. My heart was stolen by this story and I am unsure whether or not I am getting it back. The story is gripping, hot, sexy, heart breaking while also giving you faith . What a not hot hot dom and such a sweet sassy sub. With all Laylah Roberts books you will be so happy that there is another rabbit hole to jump down with both feet into a world you wished you could love in.
Profile Image for Angela.
3,590 reviews16 followers
November 15, 2025
I love the name Caren but with a C. Makes the typical mean girl a nice one... sorry Karen's with a K. And Travis is definitely the bossy and overly possessive type. But he does it in such a protective and charming gruff way you don't mind the orders .
44 reviews
November 17, 2025
fantastic book

Fantastic story. Loved the enemies to lovers theme.
Loved how he really did care for her.
Laylah amazing job on this book
128 reviews4 followers
November 23, 2025
Travis and Caren are so perfect! She has suffered so much trauma but Travis is the ultimate protector. Once he realizes she’s the one for him there is no stopping him! I loved this story and can’t wait to see his brothers find their HEA too!
Profile Image for Pamela Huggins.
600 reviews
November 23, 2025
Good book

I really enjoyed this book. It flows and keeps you reading more. I like the characters wished.I'd have read the other series first, but I will be going back.
39 reviews1 follower
November 23, 2025
Must Read. I fell in love with these characters. I don’t want to put this book down.
Profile Image for Rara Loves to Read.
547 reviews26 followers
November 15, 2025
Great start to a new series

Receiving His Mercy reminded me that you really never know what someone is living through behind closed doors. Travis and Caren grew up together, but Travis carried a lot of assumptions about who she was and where she came from. Those assumptions shaped how he treated her, and not in a kind way. Watching him finally learn the truth, take responsibility, and do the real work to become her safe space was so satisfying.

Caren stole my heart. She’s unique, strong in a way that doesn’t need to be loud, and she handled so much more than Travis ever realized. And Travis being over the top protective? I ate that up.

Laylah Roberts took on some heavy subjects here and handled them with so much care. I even learned a few things I didn’t fully understand before, which I always appreciate. And despite the serious moments, there was still plenty of humor. The banter made me giggle more than once.

Since this is the first book in a new series, we meet a whole cast of secondary characters, and it’s clear they’ll be getting their own stories. Travis’ brothers were a hoot, and I already can’t wait for the next Raptor Inc. book.

If this is the start, the rest of the series is going to be fantastic.
357 reviews
December 28, 2025
This is the first book in this series and it did not disappoint. When Travis Andrew's was 21 he was unaware the 15 year old Caren had a crush on him. Caren had a trouble childhood full of neglect and verbal abuse. When Caren abruptly left without a word it hurt Lacey. Travis is very protective of Lacey and when they meet again Lacey's rehearsal dinner he is very abrasive. When Travis finds out Caren is temporarily staying in New York, he takes her under his protection. Caren is not used to people caring about her. Travis is overly protective and is under the impression that Caren is a wedding photographer. Caren is dealing with the physical and emotional toll of her upbringing manifesting as hoarding food Unbeknownst to Travis. The more time Travis spends with Caren, he starts to see he judged her unfairly. As their relationship grows, he realizes that she needs a protector. When a danger from her past comes looking for Caren, Travis must use every resource at his disposal to save not only her but his baby brother as well. I throughly enjoyed reading this book and cannot wait for the next installment.
Profile Image for Siobhan.
117 reviews46 followers
February 5, 2026
Overall Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Plot: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Characters: ⭐️ ⭐️.5
Romance: ⭐️ ⭐️ .75
Read via: e-book (kindle)

"Don't be fooled by the diamonds and tiaras, there're kinky fuckers everywhere."
"However, it seemed that young girl was still inside her, longing for someone to love and take care of her."

Premise:
Caren has had a crush on Travis ever since their childhood. She has always watched him from afar, admiring him. To Travis, Caren has been the selfish and spoiled little rich girl who abruptly ended the friendship with his cousin Lacey, breaking her heart. In the present day, Lacey's wedding brings them together again, where everything Travis thought he knew about Caren is changed. This is a grumpy/sunshine, possessive romance.

Review:

I LOVE Laylah Roberts! I literally devour everything she comes out with and beg for seconds. However, sadly, I didn't love this one. Although I love that Laylah sometimes uses the same moulds for romances because I get multiple favourite books, this mould didn't work for me. It's her classic scared girl, insta-love, possessive, overprotective guy romance. I just feel like I've read this so much from her that I need something extra!

Caren was sweet, I liked her. But Travis just isn't one of Laylah's best men. The storyline was entertaining, but I was slightly bored in parts. I'm honestly wondering if the spark I was missing was her DD/lg elements. Regardless, I do want to carry this series on.
Profile Image for Trish.
1,235 reviews34 followers
November 11, 2025
🖤Best Friend’s “Brother”
🖤Second Chance
🖤BDSM
🖤Romantic Suspense

Another amazing story from Laylah Roberts and a fantastic start to a new series!

Caren hasn’t had an easy life, but she’s worked hard to make something of herself. After something terrible happens during an assignment, she turns to her childhood best friend for help and unexpectedly runs into her childhood crush.

Travis owns a security firm and a BDSM club. He’s broody, protective, and dominant, but underneath it all, he’s ready to settle down. He wants someone who’s the perfect submissive…someone who seems to be the complete opposite of Caren.

I absolutely loved these two! Their banter had me giggling, and the spice was definitely hot. I also really enjoyed the cameos from characters in Doms of Decadence and can’t wait to read about Travis’s brothers!
Profile Image for Trish.
1,115 reviews5 followers
November 15, 2025
Such a great story!

I loved this book. Travis was exactly what Cared needed. After the horror of her childhood, being neglected both emotionally, and physically, being without food so much of the time. Constantly being berated by her Mother, and her Father was never in the picture at all once the unplanned pregnancy was accepted as a problem to deal with. Once Travis understood why, when she was a child hanging with Lacy, and grabbing and eating like she was starving, even though she came from money he was all about protecting her. Suddenly he knew that being with her, and caring for her was just what he needed. A
person he could love and care for, and having someone to love him. I really love her style of writing and Book one of Raptor Inc. Was a great start, for this series. Great HEA ending. Trish. A.
1,958 reviews
November 12, 2025
A great story that made me laugh out loud at times, made me hold my breath when things went sideways, made me sigh with happiness (and a little envy) during those intimate scenes, but above all it exposes the horror of child abuse. Caren was viewed as a weird girl by Travis when they were growing up, little did he know the horrors she was subjected to and he was upset with her for disappearing without an explanation. When they reconnect he falls hook line and sinker and is so protective when he finds out her real story. The way he dealt with Caren’s mother was perfect and the epilogue leaves the reader with a sense of completion. I am looking forward to the rest of the stories in this series as I am sure they will be as good as this one.
3,200 reviews
November 12, 2025
Great start to new series, wonderful characters and a plot that will hold readers riveted
I loved this new boo by author Laylah Roberts, as the start of a new series it left me riveted between its pages and I basically had to read the book in just one sitting so that I could discover the outcome, I was left intrigued and waiting for the book in this series.
The characters were so wonderfully written and the plot has been carefully thought through and the role of the main characters Caren and Travis are wonderfully detailed and I am sure that readers will be captivated by this simply wonderful book.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading any future publications; keep up all the wonderful writing.
138 reviews
November 16, 2025
OMG Good

Travis and Caren what a great couple!! From the first sentence to the last it captured my interest and never faltered. Caren had the worst kind of childhood full of neglect plus mental and physical abuse.Lacey was her only friend and Travis was Lacey’s cousin.Caren was in love with Travis from the age of 15 but he was always kind of mean to her he didn’t understand the kind of life she had and one day she just disappeared from all of their lives cementing his opinion of her .They meet again at Lacey and Gray’s rehearsal dinner and it’s a beautiful but slightly confusing ride on the way to a permanent relationship.When it all falls into place it leaves you feeling so happy.❤️🥰 Definitely a great read 🥰
1,823 reviews38 followers
November 29, 2025
Loved this first story in this new series! The storyline was intriguing and the characters were a mixture of tough, determined, loving and mostly protective. Caren had a crush on Travis when they were kids, but he was never interested. So when years later she comes back into his life, his feelings have most definitely changed. While he fights his attraction, he just can’t help but want to love and protect her. Caren has had a really rough time growing up, with no one really knowing what she went through. But can Travis help her? I loved the witty banter between them and their chemistry is off the charts. Another thing I enjoyed was all the side characters who I hope get their own story in this series. A great start and I look forward to reading more!
1,973 reviews19 followers
November 12, 2025
This is a great start to a new series. The story is well written and it captured my attention at the beginning and kept it until the end. To say this story is full of action would be a gross understatement and along with the action, danger is getting closer. The roles of the two main characters, Caren and Travis are well thought out and presented in such a manner that I fell in love with both of them. This is a story that is definitely worth reading especially if you like a lot of romance mixed with suspense. You will not be disappointed.
I received a free copy of this book via Bookfunnel and are voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Marybeth.
2,303 reviews22 followers
November 13, 2025
An excellent start to a new series by the great Laylah Roberts. This is a spinoff of Doms of Decadence, but you don't need to read those books to enjoy this one. Also, please take the trigger warning seriously. It deals with the topics of dementia, food insecurity/hoarding, and past trauma.

Caren and Travis have a complicated history. Travis needs to let go of his preconceived notions and listen to what Caren has to say, whether verbal or not. He steps up, and the connection between the two was excellent to read. I'm glad they ended up with their HEA, and I am really looking forward to the next brother's story.
Profile Image for Carol Dawn.
Author 43 books353 followers
November 13, 2025
wasn’t bad, but not my favorite

I have to be honest, this one didn’t hit as hard as Roberts other books do. I don’t know if it’s because of my obsession with the Daddy Dom books that she writes and I may very well be comparing this one to my favorite ones, but it was really hard for me to get fully immersed in this book like I normally do with her stuff. I’m not saying it’s bad. This author has amazing skills. I’m just saying that this one wasn’t for me.
Profile Image for Maureen.
1,457 reviews28 followers
November 14, 2025
Kindle
Totally loved this, as is a lot of Layla’s books it had laugh out loud moments..
Travis and Caren have known each other, but now that Travis has ideas of settling down he sees Caren and suddenly she is in all his thoughts. However Caren hasn’t had a great upbringing and has also been in some dicey situations, so now she has to wonder can she trust in Travis to keep her heart safe and also to keep her safe from one that might be hunting her?

A really great story
265 reviews1 follower
November 14, 2025
Different

I have read many books by this author. At times I questioned if this was written by the same person. While I enjoyed the story overall I did find some of the character relationships difficult to follow. I'm also left with questions: what happened to Rory? What is up with Jace? What about the club manager? There are several loose ends that I can only assume will be answered in future books in this series.
Profile Image for Jamie West.
1,468 reviews5 followers
December 15, 2025
Great Story!!

Caren is super cool! Love the way she just acts like herself no matter what. She marches to her own drummer and it’s inspiring. The turmoil in her life takes a turn for both bad and good. Danger is following her but she has the sexy Travis to protect her. I’m so happy that she gets the closure she deserves with a terribly abusive mother and a crazy, psychotic ex boyfriend.
Profile Image for Rhonda.
3,783 reviews63 followers
December 4, 2025
Another emotionally packed story from Ms. Roberts. This is a new series and I'm here for it! Travis and Caren are the idea couple but he doesn't think so at first. It's just such a wonderful story and I highly recommend it. Just make sure you have time to just sit and read because once you start, you won't want to stop!
Profile Image for Cherie Clark.
4,349 reviews18 followers
January 10, 2026
THIS BOOK WAS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE AMAZING I COULD GO ONE BUT WOW!!!!
LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. SHE WENT THROUGH SO MUCH AS A CHILD AND TRYING SO HARD AS AN ADULT AND THEN COMES HER FIRST AND ONLY TRUE LOVE!!!!!!!
AMAZING.
SHE HIT THIS ONE OUT OF THE PARK WITH THIS BOOK!!!!!
GREAT WRITTING!!!!!
SO MUCH HEAT AND STEAMY SCENES!!!!
THIS ONE IS GOING ON MY TBR LATER AGAIN!!!!!!
📚🔥✨💞🔥✨💞🔥✨💞✨✨🔥💞📚
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