BETRAYING MERCY is a dark and delicious romance set in late 18th century England. Two unlikely childhood friends, the son of an earl and the daughter of the town drunk, are reunited by a tragic event. William, the Earl of Rochford, is summoned home after many years by a cryptic message: "A legacy of riches. Beware the ghosts and witches." His first night back in the village starts with him killing a man, and ends with a hasty marriage to lowborn Mercy to save her reputation. Then, William departs in a flurry of guilt, not to be seen again for six years.

Mercy was an amazing heroine, using her new status as a countess to save her struggling village from an unscrupulous businessman. She was very smart, brave, and not afraid to get her hands dirty, and no sitting around, pining for her absent husband. When William returns after six years at sea, Mercy is conflicted. There's still a spark between them, but can she trust him not to ruin her secret project or abandon her again?

BETRAYING MERCY was a short read, but there was a lot of excitement packed into its 134 pages. There's mystery, deception, betrayal, attempted murder, and plenty of passion. The story had a captivating Gothic atmosphere, which I loved. There were parts I wish had been more fleshed out, and a couple of loose ends that are niggling at me, so, of course I'm hoping for a sequel.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. ( )