The King's Mercy by Lori Benton

Deep.
1747. Alex fought for Prince Charles Edward Stuart in his Jacobite Army. When they were defeated, he was taken prisoner by the English. A tall, handsome Scottish warrior and a born leader with a big heart. This story is SO skillfully told. A fairly long read, thoroughly told from Scotland to England to a Carolina plantation to Virginia. One of those books you fall into and fall in love with. The backstory slowly unfolds while you're fully absorbed with the relationships, especially between Alex and Joanna the daughter of the plantation owner. Alex was released from prison by the Kings Mercy as an indentured servant. The plantation is run with slavery. These topics are as thoroughly felt out as the main plot(s).  Add in some of the Cherokee American Indian way of life. Wonderful story, wonderfully told with biblical situations that could be taken from the Apostle Paul's writings. A fabulous journey as you get lost in this story. Thoroughly enjoyable to the very end.

". . .go in confidence. As you go, pray. Listen. He’ll guide you— deliver you, need be. Shut every door you aren’t meant to pass through. He’s practical, our God. But you’ll never know what good may come if you don’t take the first step of faith.”

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.”

#BetweenTwoShores #JocelynGreen #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

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