This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Shades of Mercy
by
Anita Lustrea & Caryn Rivadeneira
Shades of Mercy
by Anita Lustrea & Caryn Rivadeneira
Christian Fiction / Historical
Available September 2013
River North
272 pages
Buy a copy
Read an excerpt
Find out what others think
About the Book
It's 1954 and the world-even the far Northwoods of Maine-is about to
change. But that change can't happen soon enough for fourteen-year-old
Mercy Millar. Long tired of being the "son" her father never had,
Mercy's ready for the world to embrace her as the young woman she is-as
well as embrace the forbidden love she feels.
When childhood playmates grow up and fall in love, the whole community
celebrates. But in the case of Mercy and Mick, there would be no
celebration. Instead their relationship must stay hidden. Good girls do
not date young men from the Maliseet tribe. At least, not in
Watsonville, Maine. When racial tensions escalate and Mick is thrown in
jail under suspicion of murder, Mercy nearly loses all hope-in love, in
her father, and in God himself.
My Thoughts
Shades of Mercy is a coming-of-age story set in Maine in the 1950s. While racial tensions were coming to a head in the South during this time, the authors tell an eye-opening story of racial tension between the Maliseet Indians and the white citizens of Watsonville, Maine.
I loved the premise of this book and was hopeful to fall in love with the people of this small, 1950s town. However, while the writing style had a beautiful, literary quality, I never really connected with the story or the characters. Additionally, the pace of the story itself was quite slow, and I had to really push myself to keep reading. I felt that there were many times when the authors were telling me things that they could have been showing me.
I did love the many lessons to be learned from this book—of treating
people with respect, showing God's mercy with our actions and not only
our words, the dangers of prejudice. In fact, it reminded me in many ways of the classic books that we read in middle school. While this wasn't the best fit for me, there are probably many who will enjoy it. [2.5 stars]
I received a free copy of this book from River North and CFBA in exchange for my fair and honest review.
About the Authors
Authentic. That’s the word heard over and over when women describe
Anita
Lustrea. She is a popular speaker at women’s conferences and retreats,
and an amazing communicator as co-host of the award winning Midday
Connection radio broadcast. Her deep desire is to communicate freedom to
women and help them nurture and care for their soul.
Anita is the co-author of
Come to Our Table: A Midday Connection
Cookbook and
Daily Seeds from Women Who Walk in Faith, a devotional
for women. Her first solo venture as an author released in November
2010,
What Women Tell Me: Finding Freedom from the Secrets We Keep.
Anita and her pastor husband, Mike Murphy, along with her teenage son
John live in the Chicago suburbs. When she’s not traveling or speaking,
you can find her reading and drinking a venti hot tea at her local
Starbucks.
Anita Lustrea Online
Caryn Rivadeneira is a sought-after writer and speaker. She’s the author of four
books—
Shades of Mercy: A Maine Chronicle,
Known & Loved: 52 Devotions from the Psalms,
Grumble Hallelujah, and
Mama’s Got a
Fake I.D.—and a regular contributor to
Christianity Today’s Her.Meneutics as well as columnist for Re:Frame
Media’s ThinkChristian blog. She has written dozens of magazine article.
Her work has appeared in such publications as Christianity Today,
Relevant, FamilyLife, and Engineering and Mining Journal (you read that
right).
Caryn leads workshops and speaks at conferences and church groups across
the country. She’s also a regular guest on Moody Radio’s Midday
Connection with Anita Lustrea and Melinda Schmidt and has been featured
on such radio shows as The John and Kathy Show, Changing
Worldviews/WOMANTalk with Sharon Hughes, I Thought She Said with Faith
Daly, The Paul Edwards Program with Paul Edwards, and Talk from the
Heart with Rich Buhler, among many others. Caryn also appeared on The
Harvest Show.
Caryn earned a B.A. in English from Calvin College and attended the
University of Chicago’s publishing program. She lives in the western
suburbs of Chicago with her husband, Rafael, her three kids, a rescued
pit bull terrier, two hermit crabs, and several tank fulls of
who-knows-what-kind-of fish. Caryn and her family are members of
Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church in Elmhurst, Illinois, where Caryn
recently joined the worship staff.
Caryn Rivadeneira Online
When soldier Caitlin McKae woke up in Atlanta after being wounded in
battle, the Georgian doctor who treated her believed Caitlin's only
secret was that she had been fighting for the Confederacy disguised as a
man. In order to avoid arrest or worse, Caitlin hides her true identity
and makes a new life for herself in Atlanta.
Trained as a teacher, she accepts a job as a governess to the daughter
of Noah Becker, a German immigrant lawyer, who is about to enlist with
the Rebel army. Then in the spring of 1864, Sherman's troops edge closer
to Atlanta. Caitlin tries to escape north with the girl, but is
arrested on charges of being a spy. Will honor dictate that Caitlin
follow the rules, or love demand that she break them?
