Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Say No More
Sacramento Series #2
By: Karen Rose


REVIEW ☆☆☆☆

Say No More is part of Karen Rose's Sacramento Series and is the follow up to Say You're Sorry. While you could read this book as a standalone, reading the series would give you a much better sense of the overall picture and character development. Also of note, Say No More is dark and potentially disturbing/triggering at times. Read at your discretion.

If Karen Rose was aiming to get my attention, she did from the first page. I tend to lose track of time when I'm reading, and that was the case here. I think this story is more romance than suspense and action. There is the building of a relationship between Mercy and Rafe, and some steamy moments, that take time. I, however, would have liked more suspense and action in relation to Eden instead of romance. Mercy is psychologically damaged, but at least she wants and pursues justice, rather than cowering like some characters do.

It's a sad fact that places like Eden actually exist. Men masquerading as God and taking advantage of culpability and children is nothing but evil. This fictional story shines a light on a very real thing. Karen Rose brings Eden to her readers with a sharp, raw and unflinching style that is very in your face. This is why the story is completely absorbing and consuming-you just can't look away for a moment.

What's next? I hope for an unraveling of the whole thing and solid answers for resolution. And, perhaps some peace for these tormented characters. Stay tuned for the next book!

Say No More by Karen Rose is the second in the Sacramento romantic suspense series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Berkley Publishing, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Note that the delay in my review was the fact that NetGalley did not mention that this was part of a series, so I had to locate and read the first book prior to attempting this one.


Series Information:

Gideon and his sister Mercy grew up in a cult called Eden.  At the age of 13 the boys went into "Special Training".   At the age of 12, the girls were married.  Their mother, Selena (known as Rhoda in the cult), got Gideon out just before they would have killed him.  She eventually got Mercy out too, but Selena  lost her life during the escape, and Mercy was left for dead.  Mercy blamed Gideon for leaving them behind, as she had never been told the truth.  Now Gideon is with the FBI, and Mercy works in a DNA Lab for the New Orleans Police Department.  They are trying to mend their relationship, and they are both still searching for Eden.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

Mercy returns to California to try and make peace with both Gideon and Rafe.  There is so much she must tell her brother.  The lies must stop.  But as she and her friend Farrah arrive at the airport, so does her "husband" from the cult...Ephraim.  The man who abused Mercy for so long is determined to take her back to Eden.  He doesn't care how many people end up dead in the process.

With Ephraim after Mercy, no one is safe, and Rafe's family are all on high alert.  Although Rafe is on disability from the bullet he took when Mercy was being hunted by a serial killer, he has continued to work behind the scenes in efforts to find the present location of the cult.  So have the FBI. They seem to be making some progress.

Jeffrey Bunker is 16 years old, and is already in college, taking journalism courses.  He is writing a paper on victim abuse, and specifically Mercy Callahan,  who had almost died at the hands of  a serial killer a few months ago.  But as he delves deeper, he is finding things that make Mercy look bad, and although he questions them,  his editor insists on publishing.  Things are about to get even more complicated for Mercy.


My Opinions:   

I must admit that I have been enjoying this series (much to my chagrin).  Romantic suspense is not really my cup of tea, but these books have such an interesting plot, that I am determined to finish the series.  I sort of skim the romance part.

I have read a number of cult-related books, but most have been non-fiction.  This book may not be true, but the power and abuse shown in this "Eden", could easily be seen as true.  The author did good research.

There are a lot of characters in the series, and with each book, more seem to be added.  There is an ever-growing family surrounding Gideon and Mercy, and each has depth.  I am wondering if we will learn more about John and that group in the near future.

The book was told from different perspectives (including that of Ephraim), and this method kept things straight.  It worked well.

Anyway, the book was entertaining, (if a little long), and the action was steady.  I would definitely recommend reading these books in order.  I can't believe it, but I can't wait for the next in the series.

Say No More starts off so viscerally violent that your jaw aches from grinding your teeth through the nail-biter that is that opening. I love Karen Rose novels, truly. She’s so good at wrapping the noose around your neck and pulling you down into the depths for every delicious twist of her writing.

After the gut-wrenching beauty of Say You’re Sorry, I knew I was going to love reading more about this cast of characters and the hunt for answers as they untangle the web of the cult that Gideon and Mercy were raised in. And wow, it’s a doozy of a cult and the big bad is so thoroughly despicable.

Mercy was a little difficult for me to get behind for the first part of this novel. She reminded me of an extremely damaged ice queen with a deep seated anger towards her brother. Her choices and decision making, while I understood that she had been through quite the ordeal, was difficult for me embrace. It helped that she thawed out midway through, told the truth, found some truths and began to set things right with her brother.

Can we talk about Rafe Sokolov for a minute? I love him, seriously. He’s a perfect fit for Mercy and his family - gah! I love the Sokolov’s so freaking much. The Sacremento series has so much potential because of the genuine awesomeness that is this family.

The other thing that really cements the likability of the characters is dual points of views, you’re never stuck in someones head space for long, and you’re constantly on the move through the characters which I personally think just aids in strengthening the novel’s readability.

Karen Rose is a stellar author, if you enjoy Romantic Suspense, you need to just pick up this series and go for it. So good. I would highly, highly suggest beginning with book one.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC, I loved this book and can’t wait to see what happens in the series next.

SAY NO MORE by Karen Rose is the second book in the Sacramento romantic suspense series. I enjoyed the first book, SAY YOU'RE SORRY, so I was excited to get book #2, and it did not disappoint. It is just as action packed, intense, and suspenseful. Rose tends to write slower paced and longer books that detail the hero and heroine and their personal connections, but there is always an action-filled and suspenseful plot that weaves everything together into a great romantic suspense read. If you're looking for a slow build suspense novel, I highly recommend this series.

This story gave the perspective from multiple characters, and brought you in to their lives. Poor Mercy is struggling through her life when her ugly past is brought in to the present with the reappearance of the monster that nearly destroyed her. Finally deciding to take back her life, she heads to confront her brother that she now realizes she blamed for a lot of her problems. Rafe is working on recovering from an injury when Mercy returns. He realizes that he is falling for her. These two develop feelings for each other as they are running from a mad man bent on taking his revenge. This book is a fast paced roller coaster ride of danger, intrigue and romance. I really enjoyed this book and the characters were great and I hope that there are more stories in this series.

Say No More is the second book in Karen Rose's Sacramento series. It continues the story of Mercy and Gideon and their escape from a religious cult.

I absolutely loved reading the tension-filled read of book 1 Say You're Sorry (read my review). It was difficult to put that book down. I was expecting the same "on the edge of my seat" read with the second book.

I was kind of hazy on the details from the first book, but that's okay as the first few chapters sprinkled details that jogged my memory. I think you would be safe reading this book on its own. All the characters are introduced well in this book, and there are a lot of characters to keep track of. While the first book was focused more on Gideon and Daisy, Mercy and her relationship with Rafe is the focus in the sequel. In Say You're Sorry, I thought Rose did a good job balancing character and plot as the driving factors of the story. However, Say No More is definitely a character-driven story. And I loved all the characters.

I felt the plot line of finding Eden (the religious cult) was more background dressing - there to give the characters something to do. While I usually enjoy stories about characters overcoming great hardships (in Mercy's case the abuse she endured at the cult and being abducted by a serial killer), I was really looking for a heart-pounding tale of suspense.

Say No More was much heavier on the romance and lighter of suspense than the previous book, and it disappointed me. Because it wasn't what I was expecting. It was still a good story that I enjoyed: I wanted something with more tension.

As with the first book, there are some heated romantic scenes - I skimmed over two such scenes.

I liked getting more info about the cult and it set up the next book well. I'm not sure how many books Rose has planned for this series, but the plotline with Eden feels like a 3 book arc - book 1 introduced the cult, book 2 uncovers the cult's secrets, book 3 they take down the cult. I'm also not sure who the focused characters would be in the next book. Several couples were introduced that could take center stage. I know which couple I would like to know more about as I felt that there was more being hinted at about their relationship than was revealed in this book.

If you enjoy romantic suspense that leans more towards romance, then this is definitely a book for you.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Friday, September 21 - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2020/08/say-no-more-by-karen-rose-review.html

Karen Rose can grab you by the throat of your emotions, give you thrills and chills as you go into some gritty, dangerous places with the investigation teams, and invite you to fall in love with her complex characters with each new installment. I was excited to discover this was Gideon’s story and a little wary about it also being Mercy’s, and rightly so, but well worth it.
Review

Say No More is the twenty-fourth of the overall Romantic Suspense series, but second in the books focused in Sacramento. It probably could be read standalone in a pinch, but definitely works best read after Say You’re Sorry, at least.

Say No More opens with a fragile Mercy returning to Sacramento after fleeing the city six weeks before in the aftermath of a serial killer being caught and that kiss from Rafe. Running with no word to her brother, Gideon, and Rafe, was a cowardly and wrong thing to do and it didn’t even help. Her work in the forensic lab is distracted to the point of making significant errors and she’s put on leave so she determines to make things right with the brother she held hate and blame for all these years and the man who stirred her up with scary emotions particularly since he took a bullet for her. She needs to help Gideon find Eden and end what goes on there and find the strength to face it all including growing feelings for Rafe.

Unfortunately, her name came up in a TV interview that gets seen by the wrong person. Brother Ephraim from the Eden Cult spots Mercy and knows that dragging her back to Eden will kill two birds with one stone. She can help the cops identify him and she is his big chance in the power struggle for leadership of the cult after the Pastor passes on. DJ, the other main contender swore he killed Mercy and Ephraim can catch him in his lie by producing Mercy. While the FBI hunts him, he is hunting her and he doesn’t care how many necks he needs to snap or bullets he needs to fire to get what he wants.

Other narrative threads weave through these and all eventually intersect for a big ending that leaves room for more work from the group of law enforcement people in Sacramento.

Generally, I am not one for darker stories, but there has always been something about Karen Rose’s writing that pulled me in and keeps me there- willing to walk the dingy alleys, shadowy streets, and dark places with those who are real heroes both the ones who survive terrible odds and those who serve and protect because yes, these stories offer both of those viewpoints.

Mercy is both a survivor and a member of the law enforcement community. My heart ached through her story and those of others who were abused in the Eden cult. Her panic attacks and withdrawals inside herself left me feeling helpless and scared for her though I was glad her best friend came along with her for support. Eden was a heinous place run by evil people and it fired me up to see the group led by Gideon and Mercy going after the place. It isn’t just a cult and the leaders aren’t benign religious types as they slowly discover. I was stressing out and getting pretty emotional at times as things came out or happened. I’ll offer a trigger warning to those who struggle to read about abuse or violence associated with it.

As usual, the author did her due diligence with the backdrop of the story whether it was cult practices, abuse victim/survivor behavior, police procedures, and even the local setting. It all makes for a well-layered story.

The action-suspense plot offers several points of view including the villains which adds tension. I had to set the book aside a few times when it got intense (I’m not a tough, hard-core thriller reader, keep in mind), but it was still an amazing read with a few breath-taking aha moments.

I enjoy the level of romance that is in each book that balances with the suspense. I felt this one had a little more focus on Rafe and Mercy’s slowly-progressing relationship than past books. And, it got a little spicier. I thought it made sense because their romance was also an indicator of healing taking place when Mercy could get to a place where they could be in bed together without sending her into a panic. Rafe was so patient and gentle with her and supported her as she worked and struggled with the demons inside. Mercy was good for Rafe, too. He wanted to get back to work at the police department and be a part of things instead of on leave and an invalid. She was smart and loyal, had her own skills that she could bring to the table besides her past experience with the cult. They were a great match.

Rafe’s large, supportive Russian family and the larger circle of friends including Tom from Chicago (hopefully he gets his book next) were so wonderful. I loved them from the moment they appeared in Gideon and Daisy’s book.

All in all, it was another absorbing, gut-wrenching, and abso-fabulous romantic suspense that I can breeze through the hefty amount of pages without noticing for the most part. If you like your romantic suspense girtty and action-packed while still getting sensational character and romance development give these a go.

This book was so good! Karen Rose has such a way with words. I loved Mercy and Gideon and this story had me on the edge of my seat. I read this in under 24 hours because I could not put it down. I can't wait to read more from Karen Rose.

Mercy and her brother Gideon were raised in a commune their mother was duped into joining when she had no where else to go. Their childhood was isolated and filled with lies about the outside world. Even worse they were abused and barely escaped with their lives. Mercy’s tormentor, Ephraim Burton, her “husband” forced upon her at the age of twelve, thought she died in an escape attempt, but now Ephraim knows she’s alive and he’s hell bent on getting her back to the commune. Both to prove that one of the members lied about Mercy’s death and to punish her for the audacity to leave!

Fortunately, Mercy has Rafe Solokov, a Sacramento Homicide Detective, in her corner. Mercy can’t stop thinking about Rafe, but the investigation into Eden and the thought of dredging up the past sent her running back home to New Orleans (in the previous book). Rafe for his part thinks he scared Mercy off with a kiss, but his hopes for more are ignited again when he hears she’s returning to Sacramento.

I wanted to castrate Ephraim with a rusty butter knife! Yes, yes, I do realize he’s a fictional character, but seriously, this guy was evil! Most of the book is spent trying to stay one step ahead of this monster, evade his attempts to abduct or murder Mercy and her friends as he wreaks havoc on the city of Sacramento. Determined and ruthless, I have to say this guy scared me!

I was sad that Mercy and Gideon suffered at the hands of these charlatans, masking as tools of god, when they were nothing of the sort! More like tools of the devil preying on vulnerable people. It’s sad that there are actual cults like this in the world, which makes Say No More an even more chilling tale. I’m so happy Mercy wasn’t one of those TSTL heroines, reckless, and frustrating! Mercy wanted to nail Ephraim and the players at Eden, but she made sure she had help and protection while doing so.

Say No More was an action-packed thriller with a side of spicy romance. I was captivated and on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next! The whole Solokov family provided a great cast of secondary characters. Fierce, loyal, and there for support! I loved that both Mercy and Rafe had a solid base of friends and family to battle for them or cheer them on when they could do no more.

Mercy’s story began in the last book with her brother Gideon’s story, and while I don’t think you necessarily need to read the previous book, it does provide background for Mercy and Rafe’s story that you’d miss otherwise.

With Say No More, the follow-up to 2019's Say You're Sorry, Karen Rose returns to a group of dedicated law enforcement officials determined to bring down the leaders of a powerful cult known as Eden. Joined by a couple of cult survivors, the FBI's task force is doing everything they can to track down the cult's mysterious leader, finding love and danger along the way.

Since this is the second book in the Sacramento series, you should make sure to read Say You're Sorry before diving into this installment. You'll have a much better understanding of the cult, its survivors, and the FBI agents working to disband it that way. This review will contain some spoilers for the previous book, so read on with that in mind.

Mercy will never forget the night she left Eden for good. She, her mother, and older brother arrived in Eden when Mercy was just a year old, and now, at nearly thirteen, life inside Eden's walls has gotten pretty horrendous for her. So she feels relief mixed with terror when her mother manages to smuggle her out in the back of a delivery truck. As one might imagine, the escape doesn't go off as planned, and Mercy's mother is fatally shot just off a busy highway. Mercy herself is left for dead, but she is rescued and eventually adopted into a loving home where she does everything she can to put her life as a resident of Eden behind her for good.

Now, thirteen years later, Mercy has just survived a run-in with a dangerous serial killer, and much to her dismay, the notoriety of her rescue has put her on the radar of Eden's leaders once again. Now that they know she didn't really die all those years ago, they'll do whatever they have to in order to get her back under their control. Desperate to remain safe, Mercy heads to Sacramento, where her brother Gideon, the hero of Say You're Sorry, is now living. There, she hopes to help bring the cult down, thus ensuring her own safety as well as that of the other survivors who have managed to escape Eden's clutches.

Detective Rafe Sokolov, Gideon's closest friend, has been attracted to Mercy since he first laid eyes on her after her rescue from the serial killer, so he's more than a little pleased when she comes back to town. More than anything, he wants to keep Mercy safe, and so the two come up with a daring plan to track down one of the cult's most dangerous members, a man who considers Mercy his for the taking.

I loved getting to know Mercy as more than Gideon's little sister. She's smart and resourceful, but also quite scarred by the time she spent in Eden. She does her best to deal with her trauma, and the author does a fabulous job bringing her her journey to life on the page. She's not one of those superheroic characters who never messes up and who always manages to come out on top. In fact, some of the choices Mercy makes, especially those relating to her relationship with Rafe, are pretty awful. However, they always feel authentic given the emotional wounds she struggles to heal.

Rafe's family is one of the very best things about this book. They're so warm and accepting, but not in a way that feels forced or fake. They're genuinely kind, compassionate, caring people who will do anything for those they love. These strong interpersonal relationships are one of the hallmarks of Ms. Rose's books, something that really sets them apart from the countless other romantic suspense titles on the market today.

As always, the romance and the suspense are perfectly balanced. Most of the focus is on discovering Eden's secrets, but the growing attraction Rafe and Mercy feel for one another is woven seamlessly into the story. The beauty of these burgeoning feelings is a wonderful counterpoint to the sense of danger that permeates most of the novel, and I never felt distracted by the scenes devoted to the strengthening of their bond

Some readers might be intimidated by the length of this book - it's close to 650 pages long, but they really do fly by. In fact, I was actually a little disappointed to reach the end. That's how invested I was in what was going on with the characters, and in fact, if the third book in this series had been available, I would have probably gone straight into it without taking my customary break between series installments. The Sacramento series in general - and this book in particular - really is that good

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Content warning this book deals with some very difficult themes including: murder, cults, child abuse, abuse by a religious figure, and sexual assault. Rose is excellent at handling these topics with an amazing amount of honesty and compassion, but readers should be warned this book is darker in nature.

Say No More is the second installment in Karen Rose’s latest romantic suspense series. The story is about Mercy, a woman who escaped the horrible cult of her childhood seventeen years ago. Though the horror is in her past she still lives with the aftershocks of the trauma in the present day. Mercy gets word from her brother, Gideon, that there’s new evidence in finding the cult and the cult’s current victims. So she goes to Sacramento to help.

Once she lands in California she’s confronted by a man from her past, Ephraim, and she’s paralyzed with fear. Lucky for her, she’s saved before he can take her back into the fold. Once they get Mercy to safety Gideon’s friend, Detective Rafe Sokolov, offers to let her help track the cult. This work may be healing, but it’s also going to be dangerous for Mercy. Thankfully, Rafe will do anything to keep her safe and make sure that justice is served.

The budding romance between Rafe and Mercy was a sweet and poignant counterbalance to the tension of the mystery. These two meet in the previous book and Rafe thought he’d lost his chance with her, so he’s anticipating another chance. I loved how caring and tender Rafe was with Mercy, especially considering her background. Rose always writes such compassionate men, it’s one of the reasons I love her books. Even though I am not a fan of slower paced romances the feelings between these two felt exactly right.

Rose’s books are always filled with twists and turns that keep the readers guessing and this book is no different.

Several plot threads are weaved together in a masterful way. This may be confusing for some readers since the book does also have a long word count, but I didn’t find this a problem for me. The tension is interspersed with Mercy and Gideon working through old hurts, or Mercy and Rafe falling in love. This may make the pace seem slow to some readers, but I like that Rose gives us breaks from all the action to see these real slices of life.

The content of the mystery was hard to read and there are some gory bits, but I trust Rose to always write these scenes well. Also, this story has ties to the first book, Into the Dark, so some readers may want to check that out first. I personally think this story can stand on its own and was wrapped up well enough for most romance readers to get their HEA. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone that loves romantic suspense and mystery.

~ Lindsey

-- Read this review, and others, on my blog at www.hookedbythatbook.com --

I love this series, and I love Karen Rose. She writes excellent and complex characters, and interesting and captivating plots. And Say No More is no different.

Mercy returns to Sacramento to finally make up with her brother, Gideon, and to help with the search for Eden and its inhabitants. She also reconnects with Rafe, and his family, and it is clear that there are still very strong feelings between the two of them.

This story is very long, with a lot of things happening. It never gets confusing, though, and I always knew what was going on. But it was hard for me to get through. Mercy and Gideon, and so many others, have suffered greatly, and they still carry the scars with them. I felt pity for Mercy at the start, but also admiration. The author certainly knows how to evoke certain emotions around certain characters. There is also a lot of violence, which isn’t anything knew in this series, but it did feel a bit too much after a while. I just want the search for Eden to end, so that all this heartache can end as well. I think I most enjoyed the scenes with Amos and his daughter, Abigail.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The queen of gripping suspense is at it again with book two in her Sacramento series! Karen Rose always brings the diabolical villains that we just can't get enough of as we follow her main characters towards a happily ever after. If you read the first book in the series, you will recognize Mercy and Rafe and will be happy to reconnect with Gideon and Daisy a lot in this follow up story. This was a long book, but it didn't lose my attention for a second and I'm so looking forward to more in the series!

Mercy Callahan is an attention grabbing character. We have the back story of her escaping the cult and trying to pick up the pieces of how to move forward, but we also have the budding romantic tension between her and Rafe that she ran away from in the first book.

Rafe Sokolov is awesome! He's been Gideon's best friend for years and took him into the center of his loving and overly intrusive family to belong to them. He can't hide his happiness that Mercy has come back to town.

Headlines from the serial killer case weeks ago has Mercy front and center in the news and brings her haunting past back to life when the man her nightmares are made of finds her.

I highly recommend this book and this entire series to anyone who loves a thriller filled with tension and terror but also enjoys a couple surviving the odds and walking off into the sunset together. Looking forward to another reign of terror!

Karen Rose is the author of thick, intensely layered, & sexy romantic suspense books, so when Berkley invited me to join a Blog Blitz for her latest release, Say No More, I internally did 🤸🏻‍♀️ 🤸🏻‍♀️.

After being forced to take a short leave from her job with the Louisiana PD Mercy Callahan is returning to California to tell her biological brother Gideon something he should know about their family.

Raised in a cult named Eden where people live off the land, some of the people there are mauled by “wolves” if they go off-land, & girls like Mercy are forced to “marry” at 12, Mercy and Gideon have had trouble re-connecting & dealing with their past trauma (shared & separate) in the outside world 13 years after Mercy’s escape.

But while in the airport Mercy is almost kidnapped by Ephraim, the man she was “married” to at 12. He has his own reasons for wanting to return her to Eden & he’s willing to murder almost anyone to do it.

While I enjoyed SNM & found a lot to appreciate about it, I do want to be clear that this is not a light read. The opening itself—which focuses on Mercy’s escape from Eden as a teen—is very disturbing & violent. There are references made to rape (child & adult, the latter of which happens on the page in the Prologue), lots of murders, & a plot line that revolves around a video of college age Mercy being sexually assaulted after she was drugged.

Plus there are so many other things Ephraim does in this book to try to capture Mercy, and honestly, I started to feel like it was too much for the heroine to have to go through.

And while it’s engaging to see a mystery unfold from multiple perspectives, there are times the disjointed narration momentarily took me out of the story, or when certain characters started to feel like they were taking on too much prominence. (I’m talking about you, Jeffy.)

But as always Rose writes mystery adeptly, moving all these pieces around the board & managing a behemoth of a book like a wizard. The story of the siblings is so emotional & Rose boldly explores their feelings, portraying Mercy’s complicated view of the brother she was told abandoned her & their mother.

For this romance reader, Mercy’s relationship with Detective Rafe Sokolov is satisfying & adds more lightness to a story that gets pretty dark. Their dynamic is sensual but I also didn’t doubt their emotional intimacy.

In the end, this was a 3.5⭐️ for me. It was an enjoyable read that got even better for me the deeper I got into the story & I’m glad to see Mercy get the Happy Ending she deserves.
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Say No More is available now. Thanks to Berkley & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

Say No More is the second book in the Sacramento series, and it does feel like the story continues from that first book. Nevertheless, the author does give enough information that I didn't feel lost as I was reading even though I haven't read that first book. Now, I don't know if the first book is as long as this one, but the length surprised me. In a time when most are looking for instant gratification, this is one very long book. A very long book that is surprisingly light on any lags in the story, which says a lot about the author's talent for storytelling. There is a lot going on as well as quite a few characters to keep track of, but the further into the book I got, the easier it was to keep up with who was doing what. The story does have some violence and it touches on some touch subject matter, but any time a cult is involved in the plot, I kind of expect things to be dark. What it all boils down to is that this one held my interest from start to finish, and while it may be my first read by Karen Rose, it will not be my last.

Say No More will blow your mind! Mercy escaped a cult as a child, but even now, years later, she is danger. The cult aspect of the story makes everything even creepier in my opinion because it was just so horrid. The prologue starts with Mercy's escape and the whole thing left me shook. (see trigger warnings if you have any)

Mercy has a chance to confront her past thanks to her brother and his best friend, Rafe. Together Mercy and Rafe attempt to locate Ephraim, the man who "married" twelve year old Mercy and from whom she escaped. I loved that Mercy wanted to face her past. I can't say that if I was in her shoes I would do the same. That takes a supreme amount of courage and strength. Rafe was a great hero for her as well. Both characters were endearing and I enjoyed their romance.

Now, her is my only real issue with the story. Sweet baby Jesus its long. SO LONG. I love Rose's writing and its very detailed and the plot is intricate, but be prepared to invest a lot of time into the book.

Fans of shows like Criminal Minds or pretty much anything on Investigation Discovery will love Say No More! Karen Rose is a master of romantic suspense and you can't go wrong with any of her books! Also, I listened to the audio for about half of my read and its fantastic! If you are an audio fan, Say No More has a wonderful narrator and I highly recommend it.

This is a second book in a series that I wish I had read the first book in before jumping into the middle even though the author does a good job of providing her readers relevant background details from a continuity perspective.  Starting off from an intense glimpse into the past we fast forward immediately into a present that is intense and suspenseful with dark pulse pounding action and a body count so high that it might make you shudder.
Mercy would be the first to admit that she has problems, deep rooted problems from her life in a cult that she escaped from at the expense of her mother's life. Never the less she lives a functioning life thanks to her college room mate Ro and Ro's large family that has adopted Mercy as one of their own. Her brother Gideon had escaped the cult a few years before she did and she has never been able to forgive him for leaving her behind but when their paths cross in the first book in this series she can no longer stick her head in the sand. 
She arrives in Sacramento with her best friend and a goal to build bridges with Gideon and also to explore her feelings for his best friend Rafe who was injured while trying to save her life. She's barely landed in Sacramento and hasn't even grabbed her luggage before she's injured and left catatonic in an attempt to kidnap her by her abuser and cult elder Ephraim.
After a brief stop at Rafe's parent's house the story is non stop action as Ephraim with single minded doggedness cuts through a swathe of people leaving bodies in his wake as he attempts to capture Mercy at all costs. The FBI, the Sacramento PD and the New Orleans PD are all on the job but Brother Ephraim manages to stay one step ahead of all of them.  The author weaves in the story of the Amos who had followed the elders into the cult because he believed in the mission and goals of the group but is now becoming disillusioned especially since he has a little seven year old daughter to protect.  Like all cults the elders are scam artists who are scamming money, and abusing the members of the flock and I for one can't wait to see them all taken down. I am disappointed that there is at least one other book and we'll have to wait for the final show down despite the blood and gore and relentless pursuit of the men and women in blue and black. The bright spot in this story is the growing closeness and love story between Rafe and Mercy and the bridge that is being built between brother and sister.
I was so swept into the story that I felt pulse pounding terror when Ephraim was stalking Mercy and yet I so enjoyed the moments of family and food that solves all ills that is such a huge part of most cultural communities. I will need to go back and read the first book in the series since even though I was able to enjoy this story I want to color in the details that I missed. I absolutely can't wait for the next book in the series and can't imagine who will be the romantic couple in that one.  This may be my first book by the author but it will by no means be my last.

By the end of book 1 of the Sacramento series, I wanted to know about Mercy and see how her relationship with Rafe would unfold. So suspenseful and action-packed, honestly parts had me tearing up. A great sequel and it stands on its own. More mysteries are to be solved and I cannot wait for the next instalment from this series!

Say No More follows Say You're Sorry, the first book in the Sacramento series. In the first book readers met Gideon, who escaped a dangerous cult when he was a teen. It is now years later, and in this book we meet Mercy Callahan, Gideon's sister. They both escaped the cult back then. Well, there is a dangerous cult member who will stop at nothing when he discovers that Mercy is alive and well. In keeping Mercy safe, she is brought back into contact with Gideon, but also with Gideon's very good friend, Rafe Sokolov.

This history is clearly explained for readers who haven't read the first in the series. However, I do think readers would benefit by reading the first book before taking this one one. This book focuses on Mercy, but also on Ephraim Burton, leader of the cult. Ephraim hurt many people over the years, including Mercy. Now Ephraim is intent on finding her again, leaving a trail of bodies at every turn.

Mercy doesn't back down when given the opportunity to stop Ephraim once and for all, no matter the danger. She never stopped rooting around for ways to end the cult, and this makes Ephraim none too happy. Rafe agrees to help Mercy in her search, and vows to keep her safe. Meanwhile the pair have an undeniable chemistry.

I was touched by Mercy and Gideon's reunion. It was very sad to see why they were pulled apart, but gratifying to see them together again. Another impressive thing to me in this story was Rafe's attraction and attention to Daisy. He knew she was fractured, and while their feelings grew for each other, Rafe's caring and patience was remarkable.

While readers are getting to know more about Daisy and Rafe, as well as his large family, they also get to see the very dark side of Ephraim and how relentless and brutal he is. I love how this book was written, and found it to be a much stronger read than the first in the series. I think it was because of the cult connection, which while being painful to read about, was equally rewarding to see that so many people escaped.

I hope this series continues, because both Mercy and Rafe have a lot of people that love them, and those very ones were often mentioned in this book. So, as a greedy reader, I am asking for more. Kudos to Karen Rose for writing such an intense and addictive story.

Many thanks to Berkley Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Rating: 5
Would I recommend it? Yes
Would I read more of this series? Yes, because its one of my all time favorite series to read.
Would I read more of this author? Yes
First off I want to thank the publisher Berkley Publishing Group as well as a NetGalley for letting me read and review it. As soon as I saw they had it I was like yes please because I read and reviewed the first book Say You're Sorry and loved it, just as much as I did this one, loved seen my favorite characters together again. Just like the You're Sorry this story had me hooked right from the start and wouldn't let go. There was times I would say just one more page then I'm done for the day but that never seemed to happen because I would then say no I can't stop right here I have to know what happen next.As for the story itself I do have to say that when you go in reading it beware of the strong content warnings for sexual assault, child abuse, and abusive religious figures.But that makes the story more real because there are groups like that in real life.And I can't wait to read more of this series ,in fact I think I just might re read these two books.