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Guts & Glory: Mercy (In the Shadows Security Book 1) Kindle Edition

4.5 out of 5 stars 3,808 ratings

You must fall before you can rise...

Former Delta Force Operator. Scarred inside and out.

In the military, Mercy had seen and done things most people could never imagine. Now working for In the Shadows Security, dangerous jobs are his specialty, the more difficult the better... until his boss assigns him to protect a spoiled, rich woman who never shuts the h*ll up. He has two ways to stop her running mouth, but either could get him fired.

However, first impressions can be deceiving, and underestimating this woman is a mistake Mercy never intended to make. One that might not only threaten his job but the carefully built barriers he’s surrounded himself with.

Witness to a horrific crime, Parris must leave Vegas immediately. After her best friend hires a professional to get her out of Nevada and keep her safe, she discovers there’s more to this emotionally crippled “bodyguard” than meets the eye. As a therapist, Mercy’s a challenge Parris can’t ignore, even when his walls seem too high to breach.

In the end, will Mercy not only be able to keep her safe but allow her to save him? Or will he let the woman who’s become his addiction simply walk away?

Note: Mercy is the first book of the Guts & Glory series, a six-book spin-off from my Dirty Angels MC series. While it’s recommended to read both series in order, each book can be read as a stand-alone. As with all my books, this has an HEA and no cliffhanger or cheating.
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From the Publisher

Reading order for interconnected books/series

Jeanne St. James Reading Order

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Have Mercy!!! Jeanne St. James delivers another addictive series!!" - Melissa, Goodreads Reviewer
"You will not be able to put this book down. One of the best books she has ever written." - The Overflowing Bookcase
"Oh my word, Jeanne St. James has done it again!" - Cris, Goodreads Reviewer
"Holy smokes did Jeanne St James hit it so far out of the park with this one!" - Danielle, Goodreads Reviewer
"Mercy is a double scoop of vanilla ice cream, oozing with yummy hot fudge dripping down the sides, enveloping your taste buds as you find yourself consuming it as fast as you can." - Danielle, Goodreads Reviewer
"OH Wow, is this ever going to be one hellacious Series. Just WOW! Kudos to Ms. St. James for a storyline that kept me entranced from the start to the finish." - Barbara, Goodreads Reviewer

From the Author

About this book:

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: Novel
HEA/HFN: Yes, HEA
Series & Book #: In the Shadows Security , book 1
Standalone: Yes

Heat Level: Steamy
Alpha Male: Yes
Multiple Partners: No, M/F

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07PBQR83C
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Double-J Romance, Inc.
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 1, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.5 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 314 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 6 ‏ : ‎ In the Shadows Security
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 3,808 ratings

About the author

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Jeanne St. James
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"Sinful, sexy, MC romances that keep you turning the page until the end. I binged each book and series as fast as I could download. Too many amazing stories to pick a favorite!"

~ Carly Phillips, NY Times bestselling author

JEANNE ST. JAMES is a USA Today bestselling author who loves writing contemporary romance about strong women and alpha males. She writes M/F, M/M, and M/M/F ménages.

Website: http://www.jeannestjames.com

Newsletter: http://www.jeannestjames.com/newslettersignup

Facebook Readers' Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/JeannesReviewCrew/

FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/JeanneStJamesAuthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeannestjames/

Complete Reading Order: https://www.jeannestjames.com/reading-order

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
3,808 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book a great start to a new series, praising its intense storyline and hot, steamy scenes. They appreciate the deep character development, with one review highlighting Mercy's intense personality and another noting Parris's fierce love for Rissa. Customers describe the writing as well-crafted and fun to read, with heart-reaching moments throughout.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

62 customers mention "Readability"62 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, with several noting it was worth the wait, and one mentioning it's part of their favorite Dirty Angels MC series.

"...lessons in this story, bought on by Jewelee are fascinating and well worth reading ........The characters from the start are complex, flawed and..." Read more

"I love the author and like the premise of this book. I found the book to be over the top cheesy but I enjoyed it...." Read more

"JSJ has not disappointed me yet! I have loved every single one of her books! She writes strong women, strong men, and real life...." Read more

"So much here to enjoy. Troubled Ex-military hunk with scars all over his body, but the ones in his soul are the worst...." Read more

46 customers mention "Storyline"38 positive8 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline of the book, finding it intense and fast-paced, with one customer particularly appreciating the relationship between Parris and Rissa.

"I love the author and like the premise of this book. I found the book to be over the top cheesy but I enjoyed it...." Read more

"...I loved how this entire story played out. Little by little Pariss was burying herself in his heart. She was the perfect woman for him...." Read more

"...Characters, storyline, everything will have you turning the pages and not wanting the story to end...." Read more

"...And the Epilogue was kinda sweet too, but it still left me with a big impression of HFN only....." Read more

31 customers mention "Steamy content"28 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the steamy content of the book, describing it as very hot with intense scenes and a smoking-hot couple.

"...This seriously was a hot read. The chemistry between the two of them was off the charts. Once I got into it I could not put it down." Read more

"...I loved the action, the danger, and the steamy scenes, are all over the house. I loved how they end this." Read more

"Hot, steamy with a plot to keep you interested. Personalities developed of characters with flaws and quirks. Story ended with a solution completed...." Read more

"I love a good romantic suspense laced with action, intrigue and danger which is exactly what you get with the first title of the In the Shadows..." Read more

30 customers mention "Heartwarming story"30 positive0 negative

Customers find the story heartwarming and intense, with deep character development and many emotional moments throughout the book.

"...She’s likeable, resilient, curvy, outspoken, confident, caring and compassionate...." Read more

"...The characters; story; the emotions it brings out while reading. It is powerful & more" Read more

"...From the minute they meet you can feel the deep soul connection between them...." Read more

"...She’s relatable, and likeable, resilient, curvy, outspoken, confident, caring and compassionate...." Read more

27 customers mention "Character development"22 positive5 negative

Customers love the characters in the book, with one customer particularly appreciating Mercy's intense personality and another highlighting the fierce love between her and Rissa.

"...She was the perfect woman for him. But damaged, hardheaded and stubborn Mercy fought it tooth and nail until he couldn't...." Read more

"...Characters, storyline, everything will have you turning the pages and not wanting the story to end...." Read more

"...The characters are complex, flawed and intriguing...." Read more

"...Rissa(Parris) is such a awesome female character to put in this scenario. Don't get me started about how fabulous the supporting cast is...." Read more

25 customers mention "Start"22 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy this book as a great start to a new series, with one customer mentioning they can't wait to read the rest.

"...But the rest, the overall plot etc, was still pretty good and made for a decent read and intro to this Spin off." Read more

"This book was well thought out and worked for me. Protection like Mercy is providing is worth the hard emotional gymnastics...." Read more

"...Fabulous intro to a series." Read more

"Series starts off with a bang...." Read more

19 customers mention "Writing quality"16 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book, finding it well-crafted with good dialogue and humor, and one customer notes the strong female characters.

"...undeniable and the love scenes they share are incredibly hot...... Well written with the exception of Rissa capture to me for mercy to be a hard as..." Read more

"...I have loved every single one of her books! She writes strong women, strong men, and real life...." Read more

"...She’s relatable, and likeable, resilient, curvy, outspoken, confident, caring and compassionate...." Read more

"...Good characters with believable backgrounds and well written. Lots of fun to read!" Read more

15 customers mention "Enjoyment"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book exciting and fun to read, with one customer noting they were captivated from the beginning.

"...The characters from the start are complex, flawed and intriguing...." Read more

"...Loved it!!!!!! Jeanne StJames delivers another addictive series!!..." Read more

"...The characters are complex, flawed and intriguing...." Read more

"...As usual these stories and their characters are complex, flawed and intriguing. Jeanne St. James knows how to draw you in and not let go...." Read more

Along came Parris
5 out of 5 stars
Along came Parris
OMG yes when they made Mercy they broke the mold. Mercy is the king alpha and he doesn't give into anyone. Then comes along Parris and she chages the game on him. Mercy and Parris are perfect for each other Parris will not take any crap from Mercy she has no problem calling him out on his crap. Mercy for the first time has to deal with things he hates and it may just kill him. I loved Mercy and was glad to get more into his head and see him open up and break all his rules.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2020
    Mercy is a tough character to love, he is rude, set in his ways and considers himself to be .. judge, jury and executioner.... His backstory is full of ugliness and his character suffers from PTSD. Rissa aka Parris is the leading lady and she will push Mercy to the extreme.Somehow she has it in her to bring out the softer side to Mercy. I enjoyed this story... while reading this book you grow to have a love/hate for Mercy .... but at the same time you feel that Rissa is one tough female character to become (what's the word ..attached,falling in love, having a heart towards... Mercy) Yet somewhere along the way Once mercy meets up with Rissa he himself cannot deny the chemistry and the pull he feels for her it is like somehow she gets him and she is not repuld=sed by his scars and so she worms her way under his skin so to speak ... but where other can see what is happeneing Mercy and Rissa are fighting the attraction..... but the conversation he listens to and learns some life lessons in this story, bought on by Jewelee are fascinating and well worth reading ........The characters from the start are complex, flawed and intriguing. Mercy being former special forces operative and his time in the service has left him scarred and damaged both inside and out. Although a loner, he’s particularly loyal to his brothers of Shadows Security. He's deadly, stubborn, gruff and brooding, A driven hero who is both vulnerable and insecure he ticks all The boxes.
    Parris is an intelligent, driven and successful woman, yet also quite naïve and slightly clueless at the same time. She’s likeable, resilient, curvy, outspoken, confident, caring and compassionate.
    The chemistry between this pair is undeniable and the love scenes they share are incredibly hot...... Well written with the exception of Rissa capture to me for mercy to be a hard as nails no nonsense kind of man to be caught like he was .. eh! I didn't care to much for that scene but the book was awesome besides that one little part :)
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2022
    I love the author and like the premise of this book. I found the book to be over the top cheesy but I enjoyed it. Mercy was a grump but he had a reason to be. Paris was naive but I liked her. The story wasn't to dramatic but it most me reading
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2023
    So I was a little confused with Mercy. In Crow's book he was pursuing Jazz, yet throughout his read he didn't want to get caught up in the quicksand as he put it. If that's the case why was he willing with Jazz. Think about it.
    He was assigned a package to keep safe and alive with a huge bonus in the end. Little did he know his package was female and just as strong and stubborn as he was. I loved how this entire story played out. Little by little Pariss was burying herself in his heart. She was the perfect woman for him. But damaged, hardheaded and stubborn Mercy fought it tooth and nail until he couldn't. Thank god Jewel lectured some sense into his thick head. Thank god Pariss is a therapist she'll know how to handle him (not change him but help him through his rough spots). This seriously was a hot read. The chemistry between the two of them was off the charts. Once I got into it I could not put it down.
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2020
    For mature readers only (18+ years old) due to subject matter. This new series is a spin off from an MC series, but the males are not actually part of the Dirty Angels, they just work security (and do what is needed in the background) for their Sergeant at Arms, Diesel.

    These are the guys hunting down the outlaw MC that has been targeting the Dirty Angels, so it will contain some of the same, and maybe more, actions. It has adult language throughout, steamy intimate scenes and violence (murder, kidnapping, assault, references to brothels / prostitution, etc.).

    While this could be read as a stand-alone, I highly recommend it be read after the Dirty Angels MC series for maximum reader satisfaction and to prevent spoilers, as their are reoccurring characters and overall storyline arcs.

    Mercy is used to people staring, being scared, etc. when they meet him, heck some women consider it a bucket list item to be with a scared freak like him. Then he is given an assignment to babysit some pampered, spoiled rich woman. Their group has been hired by her boyfriend, or whatever he is called.

    Parris, aka Rissa, is a sex therapist who witnesses something she shouldn’t, so now her friend is bound and determined to make sure she is safe. Michael hired a company from out east and now she is expected to leave and let them guard her. Then she meets Mercy and is intrigued.

    I don’t want to accidentally provide any spoilers so I am going to stop here.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2024
    JSJ has not disappointed me yet! I have loved every single one of her books! She writes strong women, strong men, and real life. Well, maybe not realistic all the time, but that's where the magic is. Definitely worth the money and your time!
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Laura Bowles
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous start to a new series.
    Reviewed in Canada on May 9, 2019
    I loved this book. I like how the author didn’t make it easy for the hero to get his head on straight. This book is about a man protecting a women for a job that he can’t keep his hands off of and yet refuses to believe she’s the one. His ‘come to Jesus’ moment is directed by someone you don’t expect and I loved that.
  • EQ
    5.0 out of 5 stars Guts and Glory: Mercy
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 4, 2022
    I was so looking forward to finding out what made Mercy tick and l wasn’t disappointed. A complicated man who has been through a lot and struggled to open himself up so it was nice to see this happen. Between his team and the DAMC brothers they meet their women and know straight away they are meant to be together (even though they always fight against it at the beginning) and it’s a lovely thing to see (and read). Love these books!
  • Simonela
    5.0 out of 5 stars Just wow!
    Reviewed in Germany on November 11, 2020
    I found this book by accident, wasn't searching for it, just "looked good". But let me tell you, it's absolutely one of the best books I've read so far (which isn't less then 250 in last couple of months). Swift story without necessary "bulls*it", evey well described characters, they just work. Storyline makes sense, just thr right amount of danger, struggle, passion and life. What I really appreciated and find an absolute masterpiece - sex scenes! The interactions between Ryan and Rissa are so well written, it's amazing! Even few lines they made me laugh out loud. Really great book! ( I haven't read the previous series, just started woth Jeanne's books).
    I've also downloaded this piece as an audiobook and I loved, really loved the male narrator Aiden Snow - not my first book with his voice and hopefully not last, he's incredibly sexy and talented. Added just the right spice to the story. The female narrator was also great, Ava Lucas, my first book with her voice and she did a great job!
    All in all, I haven't been expecting much but got an incredible book. Really enjoyed this one! Thanks!!!
  • Me, myself and romance books
    5.0 out of 5 stars addicted
    Reviewed in Australia on November 9, 2024
    I have been reading Jeanne for the last couple of days. She makes it so easy to fall in love with her characters.

    They weren’t perfect, they swear like sailors but their hearts especially with their heroines are beautiful. I loved mercy in jazz book so really wanted to read more about him and I wasn’t disappointed.

    This book was everything I needed. I can’t wait to continue down the rabbit hole of Jeanne st James.
  • Hanbarn
    4.0 out of 5 stars Mercy, mercy me
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 28, 2020
    Mercy is just one of those characters you can’t help but fall for. He’s sullen, quiet, introverted, dangerous yet appealing. Rissa was a great match for him and I enjoyed their story. Wish the ending had been teased out a bit more but loved his story.

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