Hi there! Today I’m sharing a release day review for a new contemporary police romance from Riley Edwards. FINDING MERCY is the third book in her Next Generation series, and features two longtime colleagues finding love at the right time.

About the book:
DEA agent Jason Walker became a widower at twenty-eight. Two years later he’s still torturing himself with guilt. They’d married young, and she’d been his first love, but her illness changed everything. They’d fought a losing battle and he’d held her to the very end. Now he just wants to be left alone with his misery and memories.

Mercy James is no stranger to grief and loneliness. Her brother’s death of a drug overdose, and her police officer father’s death in the line of duty were the driving forces behind her pursuit of a career in the DEA. In spite of—or maybe because of—her past, Mercy doesn’t believe in feeling sorry for others, or for herself.

When a case brings Jason and Mercy together, and their attraction heats up, can her tough, straightforwardness help Jason learn to live in the light again? He’d lost his first love, but is he ready for a forever love?

My Review:
Mercy James and Jason Walker are DEA agents who’ve known each other for several years. Mercy was aware that Jason’s wife died of cancer a couple of years ago. She’s seen how he’s closed himself off, but they get along okay, and that works when they are assigned to the same case: strange, toxic drugs working their way through the local high schools.

Jason’s felt guilty about his failed marriage long before his wife–his childhood sweetheart who grew apart–died. Jason had married straight out of college, and his young bride got cancer within the first few years of marriage. Though they were great friends, the romance died following her cancer’s remission, and that drove a deeper wedge between them. They’d been planning to separate when her cancer returned. Jason grieves his best friend, and feels like he can’t move on or he’ll taint her memory.

That’s why he’s confused about his unexpected attraction to Mercy. They’ve had a great working relationship…but now everything feels charged. Mercy, who has no living relations, had to deal with heaps of grief throughout her life, and lives her life with no regrets now. She notices how Jason looks at her, and she pushes him to get back to living his life.

The case is heating up as well, with some inside tips from Jason’s younger sister–a teacher at a nearby high school. Kids are taking the tainted drugs and turning up dead, so she’s eager to help out.

This is a well-paced police-romance with good balance between the case work and the romance. At first, Mercy and Jason agree to a no-strings arrangement, and it’s incendiary. Neither of them have had a regular partner in years, and they both agree it’s not just the novelty. For Jason, this is the first truly adult sexual relationship he’s had–he and his wife were platonic since he turned 23, and he’s now thirty. Meanwhile, the more they interact, the more they fit. They have movie nights, and text chats and Jason’s family wants to meet the girl who has him captivated.

While Jason comes to terms with his guilt he hurts Mercy pretty bad, but it also drives a wedge back between himself and his family. THat leasd to the big climax where Mercy has to save the day. There’s some catastrophic issues and injuries that propel us int the next book in this series. I loved how that was a good side plot, and the main plot was totally focused on Mercy and Jason. I could feel Jason’s grief and empathize. Mercy is a rock, and a realistic character. Both of these characters have real issues, and experience real emotions. I liked this book, and it’s drawn me in to the series. I’ll be looking for the next book for sure.

Interested? You can find FINDING MERCY on Goodreads and Amazon.

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About the Author:
Riley Edwards is a bestselling multi-genre author, wife, and military mom. Riley was born and raised in Los Angeles but now resides on the east coast with her fantastic husband and children.

Riley writes heart-stopping romance with sexy alpha heroes and even stronger heroines. Riley’s favorite genres to write are romantic suspense and military romance.

Catch up with Riley on Facebook, twitter, BookBub, Amazon and Goodreads.