The Quality of Mercy by J.S. Cook

Title: The Quality of Mercy

Author: J. S. Cook

Genre: Historical Romance (1930s)

Length: Short Story (44 Pages)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (January 14th, 2015)

Heat Level: Mild

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Blurb: The year is 1934, and disgraced federal agent Nathan Devereaux is escorting convicted felon John Banks to visit his dying mother. Banks is despondent, miserably ill with a heavy cold, and unenthusiastic about traveling by plane. It isn’t a responsibility Devereaux wants, but something about the prisoner’s plight resonates with him.

Devereaux charters a plane to Wisconsin, hoping to get there before Banks’ mother breathes her last. But a routine journey swiftly turns into a sojourn in hell when a violent winter storm forces the plane miles off course, and Banks’ seemingly bad cold turns out to be diphtheria.

Stranded many miles from the destination, Devereaux must find a way to save Banks’ life without compromising the mission. Like Banks, Devereaux has secrets of his own, and the scope and purpose of his mission don’t quite square with the stories he tells. Making matters worse, he is the only one standing between Banks and certain death, but even a federal agent can do only so much—especially an agent with blood on his hands.

ISBN # 978-1-63216-300-4

Product Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5942

Reviewer: Gigi

Review: Everyone makes mistakes in life, some get caught, some are forgivable, and some need to forgive themselves. Devereaux and Banks have both made mistakes that change the direction of their lives, they both have secrets to hide. One man’s good fortune will give them both second chances.

For such a short story, there was a complicated merging story line. Devereaux’s past catches up with them both while Bank’s while the reader grieves for Bank’s past, the two meet in interesting ways, and I’m still left a little confused about what Devereaux did wrong….though I can’t give more away without giving up the gig.

The sexual attraction between the two is rather sweet and caring than hot, but it’s beautiful in its way. There is nothing explicit in the intimate scenes, but exemplary of the human condition. This is a short and sweet story with a bit of mystery, a little suspense, tossed into a snowstorm.

A great little story, packed with great reading, I highly recommend.