Book review: Sweet Mercy

Sweet Mercy
ISBN#978 0 7642 1046 4

From the Back:

When Eve Marryat’s father is laid off from the Ford Motor Company in 1931, he is forced to support his family by leaving St. Paul, Minnesota, and moving back to his Ohio roots. Eve’s uncle Cyrus has invited the family to live and work at his Marryat Island Ballroom and Lodge.
St. Paul seemed like a haven for gangsters, and Eve had grown fearful of living there. At seventeen, she considers her family to be “good people.” They aren’t lawbreakers and criminals like so many people in her old neighborhood. Thrilled to be moving to a “safe haven,” Eve is blissfully unaware that her uncle’s lodge is a transfer station for illegal liquor smuggled from Canada.
Eve settles in to work and makes new friends, including an enigmatic but affecting young man. But when the reality of her situation finally becomes clear, Eve is faced with a dilemma. How can she ignore what is happening right under their very noses? Yet can she risk everything by condemning the man whose love and generosity is keeping her and her family from ruin?

My Reflections:

This is a sweet coming of age historical fiction. The character Eve is picturesque of a young woman who is grasping at unraveling the mysteries of the real world and putting her childish views of life to bed. 

I found myself captured by Tatlock's ability to breath life into her character's and let them dance upon your minds eye. I carried this book around with me and read whenever I had even a minute to spare to find out what would happen to Eve and her family. 
I also was able to glean information I had not previously known through this book about prohibition, and the era of 1931.

My favourite character by far, however was Jones. What an interesting twist this brought to the story line! I was prompted to do a little research on Albino individuals, and share my reserch with my children. Tatlock has written three other books, this being my first novel by this author I am eager to pick up her other titles: Travelers Rest, Promises to Keep and The Returning.
This book is perfect for your summer reading lists.

 "Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group". Thank you Graf-Martin and Baker Publishing!


About the Author: 
 


I knew I wanted to be a writer from the time I tapped out my first stories on my grandfather's old manual typewriter in the summer of 1973. I studied English and theology in college and later went on to earn my master's degree in journalism from Wheaton College Graduate School. I worked as a writer and editor for Decision magazine from 1987-1992, when I left to pursue fiction writing fulltime. I find great satisfaction in my work, and I especially enjoy hearing from my readers. In addition to writing, I also teach at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, and online through the Christian Writers Guild.