Waves of Mercy by Lynn Austin

"Often, it's not one great, dramatic thing that God asks us to do but hundreds of little everyday things."

Christian Historical Fiction. 1897 and 52 years before. Geesje is an immigrant from the Netherlands. Her story is rich with love and heartbreak both there and here in America. Her family settled in Michigan, naming the new town Holland.

Anna has broken up with her fiancé and leaves home for a resort in Holland Michigan to recover. On her way she is nearly shipwrecked, bringing up old nightmares. She was adopted by the man who did actually rescue her from a shipwreck, but they never told her what happened. This is a fabulous journey of discovery for Anna. For most of us our lives don't follow a neat pattern, a straight line. The lives of these people are tattered, shredded and torn, mended and edges smoothed by faith. I highly recommend it! First book in a series. The second book continues this story and is also fabulous.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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Legacy of Mercy by Lynn Austin

Takes place in 1897 Holland, Michigan and Chicago, Illinois. Anna is from a wealthy family, her parents adopted her after he saved her from a shipwreck where she lost her real mother. As told in the previous book, she learns who her biological grandmother is when she stays at a resort in Holland. The previous is a very involved book, recommended but not necessary to read this one. Anna also meets Dirk, quite by accident, yet has also recently reconciled with her wealthy fiancé, believing she must marry for money to save her adopted family. In this book Anna is trying to live in wealthy society and cope with marrying a man who does not share her newfound faith, while dealing with a jealous society girl. She's searching for information on her real mother now that she knows who she is, and trying to learn who her real father is. This information opens up a whole new set of problems.

It's also about Anna's real Grandmother Geesje, a Dutch immigrant, not of society. A young girl and her grandfather come to stay with her and her neighbor after moving from the Netherlands - a whole new story there that unfolds. Not everyone's lives are perfect and following a set line. This is about people who become endeared to you, lives who are battered and shredded, then mended and put right in faith as God can best do. Each person learning and becoming stronger by living through it. A lesson taught in no other way. Such a beautiful cover, don't you think?

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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Between Two Shores by Jocelyn Green

Not a quick read, but hard to put down. So interesting. Lots and lots of depth to this; masterfully written storytelling. Set near Montreal, which is just north of where I grew up and not that far away. It's during the French and Indian war, and Catherine, their ransomed British indentured servant and a French soldier play a big part in ending the war in the fall of Quebec. Catherine is half Mohawk, her father was from an upper crust white family but chose to leave and be a trader. They shipped and traded in an area near Albany, again not far from where I grew up and near where I had lived for a time. Also, my husband's Dutch ancestors were involved during the war and grew food on his land near Albany that supplied the British. The relationships between the diversified characters twist and turn with emotion, and give the reader a glimpse of how different factions of people in this war felt, and how much all are alike. Catherine is a strong girl, growing up on the pages and learning about herself. Being a half breed brings challenges as well as advantages, making her uniquely qualified for her role. The love story is excruciating at times, yet is quite natural in the way it's told. This was a gruesome war. Indians massacred villages and took people, children, to replace people in their families who they lost, raising them, making them slaves and sometimes selling them. They could be ransomed for sums of money. There is deep faith in the story too, bringing home how Jesus ransomed us. Brings history and different peoples to life!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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To Capture Her Heart by Rebecca DeMarino

In this Christian Historical Romance Rebecca DeMarino beautifully recreates life in 1653 on Long Island. There is a settlement from England living peacefully near the American Indian Montauk tribe, yet uncomfortable with the Dutch settlement nearby. You enter their homes and lives with detail of thought as well as surroundings. It's easy to see yourself there and become part of the characters' lives - some of whom are based on the author's actual ancestors. Her writing style reminds me somewhat of Lorraine Snelling in the Red River series. I have been researching my ancestry and some of my family came over during this time. I try to picture what it must have been like for them, and this helps.

This is the second book in the series. Although I wish I had read the previous book, there was enough fact provided to pick right up on the story. An Indian princess is captured at her wedding by another tribe and forced to watch as they murder her new husband, who was also a lifelong friend and companion. She is then taken into the woods in Connecticut and left to die even though her father paid the ransom.  A Dutch Lieutenant tracks and rescues her, and they come to care for one another on the way back to her family, even though the girl is in shock and mourning. She also has friends amongst the English, and two of them intercept their return home to escort her the rest of the way.

The return is difficult for her to come to terms with after the brutal murder of her husband, so she goes to stay with her Aunt who lives near the English settlement. The story is about the girl, Heather Flower, learning about God and regaining her life, being loved by two men whom she deeply cares about. She is at home with the English as well as her own native customs, but there is still a cultural separation between the people. You will feel torn with her as she struggles with her love for both men and learns to live again, finding out where she fits.  This was a page turner for me.  I eagerly waited to see what would happen next and it was filled with real life happenings in the settlement and other characters lives as well. I very much want to read the next story in the series (there's an excerpt included at the end of the book). Isn't that cover just gorgeous?

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Revell/Baker Publishing Group - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Celebrate To Capture Her Heart with a Giveaway on Rebecca's blog!
Grand Prize: $75.00 Gift Card of choice (Amazon, Target, iTunes or Google play), Signed copy of To Capture Her Heart & A Place in His Heart.  
Runner Up Prize: $25.00 Gift card to Barnes & Noble, Signed copies of To Capture Her Heart & A Place in His Heart
Second Runner Up Prize: Signed copies of To Capture Her Heart & A Place in His Heart

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To Capture Her Heart Book Launch

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