cover image At His Mercy: Forbidden Lovers, Book 1

At His Mercy: Forbidden Lovers, Book 1

Shelly Bell. Forever, $14.99 trade paper (352p) ISBN 978-1-4555-9597-6

Bell opens the Forbidden Lovers series with a sexy thriller that will leave readers breathless. Isabella Lawson barely survived being attacked by her ex-boyfriend. She’s ready to take control of her life again by embarking on four years of study and dedication at Edison University. But then she crosses paths with sexy dominant Tristan Kelley, and a one-time foray into kinky play turns her life upside down. After an exceptionally arousing negotiation to plan Isabella’s first scene, they throw away the rules and enjoy a searingly hot one-night stand. To their mutually awkward dismay, they soon discover that the temporary teaching job Tristan took to bolster his business puts him puts him in daily contact with Isabella—as her entirely unavailable professor and work-study supervisor. Isabella and Tristan navigate their unstoppable chemistry, the dangers of a forbidden affair, and the possibility that Isabella’s ex might still pose a threat. This novel is sultry and hot in all the right places, with just enough plot to keep the pages turning. Agent: Jessica Alvarez, Bookends. (June)