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Undressing Mercy
In order to get hot new artist Shamus Montgomery, who is known for his erotic sculptures, to show his pieces at her Boston art gallery, Mercy Rothell must pose for him in the nude, a deal that leads to mutual satisfaction. Original.
215 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
20 people are currently reading
230 people want to read
About the author
Deanna Lee
35 books52 followersDeanna Lee is an erotic romance author living in the southern United States with two spoiled rotten dogs and her husband. When she isn’t plotting world domination she splits her time between writing and the day to day operations of Cobblestone Press which she co-founded with her best friend Sable Grey.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 14, 2010
First off, let me show you how I pictured Shamus while I was reading this book:
("Check out these abs," he says. "Aren't they to die for?" Oh yeah! LOL)
Now, on to the review...
Mercy Rothell works as Assistant Director at the Holman Gallery and her professional life couldn't be better. She's only a few months away from being promoted to Director and signing up internationally known artist Shamus Montgomery for a showing at the art gallery will only consolidate her position and thwart the current Director's attempts to dismiss her. Mercy is willing to do anything to secure the contract with Shamus Just-Call-Me-Shame Montgomery and she inadvertently lets him know that before he signs it. Shame, who has no shame (come on, you knew this bad pun was coming!), takes advantage of the situation and tricks her into agreeing to pose for him - in the nude, of course.
Despite her best intentions, Mercy finds herself strongly attracted to Shame - and she doesn't know how to deal with it. She's still not over the traumatic event she went through 2 years ago, so having her sexuality suddenly aroused by Shame scares her. Will she run away and hide, as she's been doing for the last couple of years? Or will she finally muster the courage to get her personal life back on track?
This book was narrated by Mercy, and I knew from the start that I would have some problems with that because I'm not a fan of 1st person POV. When I read a romance book, I need to get inside the hero's mind to know and understand him. That is rarely achieved in 1st person narratives and the only exception I've found so far is Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series. But I digress...
Despite my initial misgivings, Undressing Mercy turned out to be a very good read. I really liked Mercy and understood her fears and emotional insecurity. Even though I don't have the experience to know it for sure, I thought that her "healing" process was believable. Of course, having Shame as an incentive didn't hurt.
Shame!!! What can I say about him that you can't see in the pic I posted above? Well... I'm afraid I don't have anything to add, as I really didn't get to know him as well as I got to know Mercy. He was hot, yummy and sensitive, but that was all. I blame the 1st person POV for turning Shame into an almost cardboard character.
As for the writing, I think Ms. Lee has done a great job showcasing Mercy's personality through her behavior and actions. The premise of the book made me think that this story would be highly focused on Mercy and Shame's sexual explorations, but that wasn't the case. There was a really good plot moving the story along and the sex scenes weren't there just for show. They were an intrinsic part of Mercy's emotional "healing". They were steamy hot too, of course. ;)
This was my 1st book by Ms. Lee, but I don't think it will be my last. Browsing her backlist, I found out that some secondary characters of this book have their own books too and I'm certainly interested in checking them out.
("Check out these abs," he says. "Aren't they to die for?" Oh yeah! LOL)
Now, on to the review...
Mercy Rothell works as Assistant Director at the Holman Gallery and her professional life couldn't be better. She's only a few months away from being promoted to Director and signing up internationally known artist Shamus Montgomery for a showing at the art gallery will only consolidate her position and thwart the current Director's attempts to dismiss her. Mercy is willing to do anything to secure the contract with Shamus Just-Call-Me-Shame Montgomery and she inadvertently lets him know that before he signs it. Shame, who has no shame (come on, you knew this bad pun was coming!), takes advantage of the situation and tricks her into agreeing to pose for him - in the nude, of course.
Despite her best intentions, Mercy finds herself strongly attracted to Shame - and she doesn't know how to deal with it. She's still not over the traumatic event she went through 2 years ago, so having her sexuality suddenly aroused by Shame scares her. Will she run away and hide, as she's been doing for the last couple of years? Or will she finally muster the courage to get her personal life back on track?
This book was narrated by Mercy, and I knew from the start that I would have some problems with that because I'm not a fan of 1st person POV. When I read a romance book, I need to get inside the hero's mind to know and understand him. That is rarely achieved in 1st person narratives and the only exception I've found so far is Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series. But I digress...
Despite my initial misgivings, Undressing Mercy turned out to be a very good read. I really liked Mercy and understood her fears and emotional insecurity. Even though I don't have the experience to know it for sure, I thought that her "healing" process was believable. Of course, having Shame as an incentive didn't hurt.
Shame!!! What can I say about him that you can't see in the pic I posted above? Well... I'm afraid I don't have anything to add, as I really didn't get to know him as well as I got to know Mercy. He was hot, yummy and sensitive, but that was all. I blame the 1st person POV for turning Shame into an almost cardboard character.
As for the writing, I think Ms. Lee has done a great job showcasing Mercy's personality through her behavior and actions. The premise of the book made me think that this story would be highly focused on Mercy and Shame's sexual explorations, but that wasn't the case. There was a really good plot moving the story along and the sex scenes weren't there just for show. They were an intrinsic part of Mercy's emotional "healing". They were steamy hot too, of course. ;)
This was my 1st book by Ms. Lee, but I don't think it will be my last. Browsing her backlist, I found out that some secondary characters of this book have their own books too and I'm certainly interested in checking them out.
January 17, 2011
Though the cover hints at mad passionate monkey sex, it surprisingly wasn't page after page of it. Instead we had a book that covered a very intresting and pretty tough subject.
The main character Mercy had left New York for Boston after an ex-colleague had raped her and the book opens during the middle of a therapy session with Mercy.
This whole book was really about how a woman who was confident in her sexuality tries to rebuild her life after such a harrowing ordeal. The author handles it rather sensitvily and doesn't use it as shock factor. There is no "forced seduction" nor is there this whole magic rod of wonder from the main male character Shamus to make it all better.
There were some very steamy bits in it and you could imagine that it was you that Shamus was drawing or sculpting and overall I really enjoyed it.
So why not 5 stars?
The last few chapters were a bit of a let down and it seemed that after all this excellent work, it felt rather rushed to get to the HEA.
The main character Mercy had left New York for Boston after an ex-colleague had raped her and the book opens during the middle of a therapy session with Mercy.
This whole book was really about how a woman who was confident in her sexuality tries to rebuild her life after such a harrowing ordeal. The author handles it rather sensitvily and doesn't use it as shock factor. There is no "forced seduction" nor is there this whole magic rod of wonder from the main male character Shamus to make it all better.
There were some very steamy bits in it and you could imagine that it was you that Shamus was drawing or sculpting and overall I really enjoyed it.
So why not 5 stars?
The last few chapters were a bit of a let down and it seemed that after all this excellent work, it felt rather rushed to get to the HEA.
January 8, 2013
I thought this was a very entertaining read.
Mercy was a complex character. Having survived a terrible ordeal in which she was brutally violated, she found herself stuck between living and just existing. And then she met Shamus Montgomery. Tall, dark, sexy, confident, strong, dominant Shamus Montgomery. *sigh*
I loved Mercy and Shamus. Their connection was strong; their interactions raw, passionate, and highly sensual. I loved how he saw through the anger and defensiveness to the real Mercy. And the sex … um hmm – I’ll take what they’re having.
Through him she found the strength to trust in herself as a woman and in him as a man. Her transformation from victim, to survivor, to victor was slow, but rewarding. I respected her for her battle and her decision in the end.
I was intrigued with the shy, but naughty Jane, and with the scarred, yet insightful Lisa. I like the connection she has to James Brooks. I’m looking forward to more from all of them.
Mercy was a complex character. Having survived a terrible ordeal in which she was brutally violated, she found herself stuck between living and just existing. And then she met Shamus Montgomery. Tall, dark, sexy, confident, strong, dominant Shamus Montgomery. *sigh*
I loved Mercy and Shamus. Their connection was strong; their interactions raw, passionate, and highly sensual. I loved how he saw through the anger and defensiveness to the real Mercy. And the sex … um hmm – I’ll take what they’re having.
Through him she found the strength to trust in herself as a woman and in him as a man. Her transformation from victim, to survivor, to victor was slow, but rewarding. I respected her for her battle and her decision in the end.
I was intrigued with the shy, but naughty Jane, and with the scarred, yet insightful Lisa. I like the connection she has to James Brooks. I’m looking forward to more from all of them.
June 21, 2010
Not just sex, is my first thought about this book, not that sex is bad lol. The characters, they felt real, and the main one named Mercy is dynamic with a troubling past that shes trying to get past. So yes I was glad I read this one.
July 25, 2011
interesting heroine (rape survivor) and hero (first interracial romance with a black hero) that I've read in a very long time.
June 17, 2017
Very Good!
March 21, 2021
Fantastic book! Story was so good!! I want a sequel and a Shamus of my own!!
December 12, 2021
3.5
Was okay! Wasn’t earth shattering romance but a nice quick read
Was okay! Wasn’t earth shattering romance but a nice quick read
October 17, 2012
Undressing mercy is about Mercy who is an assistant art director who two years before was raped by a friend. Since the rape Mercy has done all she could to rebuild her life, to be a strong independent woman in all areas except in her personal life. Till one Day she meets Shamus a sexy artist that she is signing on to show his work in her gallery. While working on and signing the contract Shamus lets her know that he needs one more model for his last sculpture and Mercy agree to get who ever he wants. Right after both contracts are signed Shamus tells Mercy that she is the model he wants. This was a beautiful story about moving on from a tragedy and learning to trust someone enough to fall in love. I loved reading about Mercy and Shamus's interaction and the care they had for each other. The only this that would have made this better was if we could have gotten a more solid hea.
March 6, 2018
Comfort re-read August 2017 A-
This is one of my all-time favourite vanilla contemporary romances. I have re-read this love story five or six times in the past years. The chemistry between Mercy and Shame is super hot, and I just adore their scenes together when Mercy is posing for Shame's next work of art. What makes Shame one of my favourite heroes is his innately sexy, caring and smooth alpha character. He has the right blend of dirty lover and swoon-worthy gentleman. A+
This is one of my all-time favourite vanilla contemporary romances. I have re-read this love story five or six times in the past years. The chemistry between Mercy and Shame is super hot, and I just adore their scenes together when Mercy is posing for Shame's next work of art. What makes Shame one of my favourite heroes is his innately sexy, caring and smooth alpha character. He has the right blend of dirty lover and swoon-worthy gentleman. A+
July 8, 2015
For a genre that I don't really care I must say that I was pleasantly surprised at the beauty of this book. The name fools you into thinking its all about sex. It isn't its about a woman gaining back her power over her sexuality after suffering a brutal rape by a male collegue/friend. Its about surviving and learning to rust and really live again.
I found myself laughing crying and being totally amazed this was my off the beaten path read and I am glad that I did
I found myself laughing crying and being totally amazed this was my off the beaten path read and I am glad that I did
January 29, 2013
No me gusto demasiado. Tampoco me hice muy afín a los personajes.. no podía mentalizarlos.
La protagonista era una idiota, como no vas a denunciar al tipo, la cosa no es escaparte del chabon, la cosa es meterlo preso y dejarlo escrachado para toda la vida y que le pueda hacer lo mismo que le hizo a ella, a nadie mas.
Lo único que le preocupaba era su orgullo y dignidad.
No me gusto.
La protagonista era una idiota, como no vas a denunciar al tipo, la cosa no es escaparte del chabon, la cosa es meterlo preso y dejarlo escrachado para toda la vida y que le pueda hacer lo mismo que le hizo a ella, a nadie mas.
Lo único que le preocupaba era su orgullo y dignidad.
No me gusto.
March 4, 2013
God I love this book. Mercy is a strong independent working women. When she meets Shamus and then blackmails mercy into being his muse and stand in. The relationship between mercy n Shamus is hot dirty and loving. Great HEA. Really funny
June 17, 2013
La historia se me hizo interesante con el tema de Mercy, y debo concederle especialmente que tiene frases muy profundas sobre la supervivencia y que la protagonista, es una luchadora que se levanta y pelea por ella.
RR COMPLETO: http://www.daphnears.com/2013/06/lei-...
RR COMPLETO: http://www.daphnears.com/2013/06/lei-...
September 21, 2013
A big disappointment was that we barely got to know Shamus. He didnt come across as someone permanent. I guess because they never talked about love it always seemed strictly sexual.
June 4, 2015
Mercy is an art lover and a confident woman herself, who has been refusing to live after a traumatic event. This was a book that I read in a snap. Has very particular characters and reminds us women that we must continue our life bravely without fear of those who once hurt us.
June 27, 2008
3.5 stars
March 12, 2013
Trama interesante, aunque algo lenta. Me imaginé a Shemar Moore (Derek Morgan en 'Criminal Minds) siendo Shame y estuvo genial.
Mi calificación 3.8
Mi calificación 3.8
June 18, 2013
Al leer la sinopsis me parecía buena la historia y me daban ganas de leerlo. Ahora que lo he terminado, digo que me he llevado la mayor decepción de mi vida.
September 12, 2015
3.5 stars!!!
December 4, 2015
SMOKIN'. HOT. SEX.
August 3, 2016
Tercera vez que leo este libro y me encanto como las dos veces anteriores. La apasionada historia de Mercy y Shame es hermosa.
August 23, 2010
The characters, they felt real and the story was good.
May 2, 2012
A great sexy contemporary.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews