Must-read erotic romances: 'Mercy,' 'Only,' 'Blackthorne'

I'm recommending three erotic romances, and if you are a fan of the genre and like the hotness meter dialed up to the red zone, these stories will not disappoint.

Mercy by HelenKay Dimon

Former CIA black ops agent Becca Ford is on the run. She's no longer considered an asset to the agency and if she doesn't want to be permanently silenced she must turn to Jarrett Holt, her ex-lover and the man she betrayed in an undercover sting operation. Jarrett owns Holton Woods, an exclusive members-only supper club where Washington's rich and powerful dine and do business. Thanks to Becca's duplicity, Jarrett was humiliated while being arrested and dragged off in handcuffs by her CIA team of operatives. Becca has some groveling and splainin' to do.

"The boss has been watching you skulk around out here and wants to see your pretty face up-close."

She fought off a tremble, but not from Wade's closeness. With the dark scruff over his chin and dark stare, he screamed scary, and terrified men twice his size, but she could handle him. She'd shot, stabbed and outrun men like him for years. The phone would buzz with an assignment and she'd go wherever the order said and do whatever she was told. If caught, she was on her own. If killed, no one would care. That was the job.

But the idea of seeing Wade's boss again rattled her resolve. The memory of his piercing eyes had her stomach bouncing, partly from unwanted excitement but mostly from a churning dread of his power over her. Even though it had been the plan to confront him, just knowing he'd been watching her roam around outside his building trapped the air in her lungs like a giant, choking fist. She coughed to find her breath but nothing came.

The image of the boss's face had barely rumbled in her brain before one of the back doors swung open. An eerie blackness loomed in the opening right before a figure filled the space.

Jarrett Holt, tall, dark and so deadly his competitors literally disappeared.

So, the spirited, fierce and deadly Becca, agrees to the very angry dark and deadly Jarrett's terms in exchange for refuge and protection with some interesting results. There is double trouble as Jarrett is also sheltering Eli, another CIA assassin who is on the agency's hit list. Wade, Jarrett's right-hand man, and Eli are involved. You therefore get to enjoy two romances for the price of one, and trust me, there are plenty of interpersonal fireworks.

HelenKay Dimon introduces an intriguing cast of standout secondary characters, most notably Sebastian Jameson, a virile and shrewd attorney who specializes in high-stakes negotiation for Washington's power brokers. Bast is Jarrett's best friend and against his better judgment takes on the daunting task of dealing with the CIA to try to save Becca's and Eli's hides.

What really impresses me about Mercy is that Dimon sets the entire story inside the Holton Woods club and keeps the story intriguing and fast-paced by using each floor as a stage for the evolving tumultuous relationships which are complicated by espionage, danger and conspiracy. When you hear espionage and danger, you may think action, violence and bloodshed — it's not so in this case. The suspense results from a more cerebral source, in the nature of strategizing to out-fox their opponents. CIA threats are relayed through a cool and calculating handler who uses intimidation in an attempt to carry out the agency's agenda. It's like watching a high-stakes chess match.

Dimon writes an intelligent narrative with complex passionate relationships, and an intricate plot with a number of surprises. Mercy is a gripping read, and you will be left longing to read Bast's story.

Only by HelenKay Dimon

Despite the fact that Wade is her brother and she's known Jarrett forever, graduate student Kyra Royer had to use some convincing wheedling to score a well-paying waitressing job at Holton Woods. She needs the money, but more important, she has a major jones for Sebastian Jameson. Kyra therefore makes it her mission to ensure Bast knows she wants him and that he sees her as more than Wade's little sister.

"I thought you weren't a lawyer," she said.

He did spend a good deal of time saying that, but truth was he was the managing partner of a law firm. Just not the traditional sort. "By training and according to all the nonsense certificates hanging on the wall of my office in frames, I absolutely am. But what I do is negotiate. Solve problems. If a case I'm working on goes to trial, I've failed."

She pressed up tighter against the edge of the table.

"Would you like to negotiate now?"

"What?" His hand flexed against the napkin. Only inches separated her body and his fingers.

"With me."

"I…" Damn it, no way did he hear that right. "What?"

"You asked that already."

"The way the night's going I might ask it a third time."

The tip of her finger traveled along the edge of the table.

"I told you one of the reasons I work here."

An alarm bell rang in his head and the flashing warning light almost blinded him. Still, he kept pushing the boundaries, playing the game. "What's the other?"

"You."

Son of a bitch. "Excuse me?"

"You're here three nights a week, sometimes more. Since you work all the time and we rarely mingle socially, despite having several friends in common, this seemed like the best way to get your attention."

She had to be kidding. "Oh, you have it. Trust me."

"Good."

Resistance is futile, and despite Bast's best intentions and fear of a painful death at the hands of Kyra's protective brother, they begin a hot no-strings-attached affair. Bast is very jaded thanks to a train wreck of a divorce and he gets a bad case of the hives at the words "commitment" and "relationship." Kyra is made of tough stuff and puts up with a lot knowing Bast is convinced he isn't relationship material. However, his mixed message with regard to their involvement gives her whiplash and makes for an unpredictable and volatile relationship dynamic. There were times when I wanted to smack Bast upside the head, but his sexual appeal is enhanced by his vulnerability, inherent decency and a disparaging sense of humor. Bast is a truly irresistible hero.

The timeline of Only follows quickly on the heels of Mercy, and Bast deals with the fallout of his intervention with the CIA to keep Becca and Eli safe. Staying one step ahead of CIA mechanitions proves challenging and adds underlying danger to a complex storyline. At the conclusion of Mercy, things did not end well between Eli and Wade, and their war of wills continues in Only.

Only is an engrossing and at times emotional read and a fitting, high-quality sequel to Mercy.

I would suggest reading Mercy and Only in order.

Blackthorne by Lexxie Couper

We first met Josh Blackthorne as a teenager in Love's Rhythm, his father and rock 'n' roll superstar Nick Blackthorne's story. Love's Rhythm was well received, and eight books later Josh is all grown up and we are treated to his story in Blackthorne, the Heart of Fame series finale.

Nick has long since stepped out of the limelight, and his exceptionally talented son has followed in his footsteps. Thanks to Josh's small-town origins and strong parental guidance, he has his feet firmly planted on the ground and hasn't let the fame go to his head. In an effort to throw a crazy, obsessed stalker off his scent, Josh listens to advice and leaves New York and rendezvous with his best friend and soccer superstar Rhys in Australia, their home turf.

Catlin Reynolds hasn't built her Sydney club Chaos Room to be the hottest nightspot in the city by being a push-over. She is unimpressed with celebrity and believes them arrogant and self-obsessed. Josh Blackthorn, however, proves to be the polar opposite of the stereotype and difficult to resist.

A smile played with her lips. "I'm just going to get my bag."

"Okey dokey."

She sniggered as she rounded the end of the bar and walked towards the private door on the other side of the dance floor. "What kind of rock star says okey dokey?"

He preened. "This kind."

Her laugh wafted back to him, full of relaxed life and humour.

It was her laugh that made Josh move. Made him propel himself from the bar and follow her across the polished wooden floor, despite the dull ache in his knee and her assurances she didn't want him. Her laugh and the simmering passion for life he heard in it. It was the first time he'd heard such intoxicating emotion from her and it stirred him.

"Well, okey dokey then," she tossed over her shoulder, unaware he was close. "Try not to be too famous and doable while I'm—"

He snared her wrist in a loose grip and tugged her to face him. He couldn't do anything else.

He had to kiss her. Now.

"What the—" she began, a surprised smile curling her lips.

Lips he claimed with his own.

Josh is quite smitten with Caitlin and feels defeated when he discovers she has a fiancé, a doctor who went missing while working overseas with Doctors Without Borders. Matt has been missing for eight months and is presumed dead, and Caitlin is riddled with guilt at the thought of moving on for a variety of reasons. Josh respects Caitlin's wish to not become involved. He does, however, institute a plan to help that completely wins her heart (and mine).

Blackthorne is a moving story about coping with grief after a devastating loss, altruism and new love. I've read many of Lexxie Couper's books over the years and have watched her writing mature. I have to say: She ends the Heart of Fame series on a high note. Blackthorne is one of her best. Josh's warmth and sensitivity shine through, and Couper's signature sarcastic sense of humor provides a laugh a minute even when the characters struggle through some very rough times (have the box of tissues handy). As a bonus, Caitlin's personable three-legged pet lizard named Fluffy is given a special role in the story. Yep, a three-legged lizard! lol

Couper has a knack for writing memorable secondary characters who shout out for their own story. Josh's "best mate" and ladies man Rhys McDowell certainly makes his presence known. ;)

Blackthorne can easily be enjoyed as a stand-alone, as it focuses on Josh and Caitlin. That said, if you like rock-star romances, the Heart of Fame series is well worth a try.

Lea Franczak cannot remember a time when she didn't have a book in her hand. She's read and enjoyed multiple genres but is especially partial to contemporary and erotic romance, dark gritty romantic suspense, paranormal romance and has recently become a New Adult junkie. Lea has been blogging and reviewing since 2008 and is also HEA's Tweeter Extraordinaire. Follow HEA on Twitter (@HEAusatoday).