Shades of Mercy ~ Book Review

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:

“When so much hate fills your heart, you can make a leap to any conclusion.  You don’t need the truth because you are above the truth.”  (p. 95)

Mercy is fifteen and deeply in love with her lifelong friend, Mick.  Mick is a Maliseet Indian, and the romance that buds between these two characters must remain hidden – at least for now.  Mick keeps promising Mercy “someday” things will be different, and then when a young lady from the community elopes with a Maliseet the true colors of the community’s racism is revealed.  The firestorm that descends on the small community in Maine’s Northwoods in 1954 is the beginning of fundamental change, but the price it exacts on the people is both profound and very painful.

About the Authors:

ANITA (LUSTREA) MURPHY is on a mission to communicate freedom towomen. She does it through the avenues of speaking, writing, and art. Anita has worked for Moody Radio for 26 years, the last 11 hosting Midday Connection, aradio talk show for women, where she gets to teach, learn and grow along with the rest of the Midday community from across the country. Anita released her first book in 2010, What Women Tell Me: Finding Freedom From the Secrets We Keep(Zondervan). It is her personal story woven in with the stories of women she's heard from through her years hosting Midday Connection. Anita has been the general editor and writer on 3 other projects, Daily Seeds from Women Who Walk in Faith , Come to Our Table, and Tending the Soul (Moody Publishers). Anita is wife to Mike Murphy, a Pastor at Christ Church of Oak Brook, and Director of Spiritual Transformation at Breakthrough Urban Ministries on the west side of Chicago. Mike makes Anita laugh and is the anchor in her life. Her son John is one of the brightest spots in her world. He's heading to college to study history. Anita is originally from Maine, the most beautiful state in the union according to her! If she can't be in Maine, her second choice is Chicago. Reading, writing, bird watching, and drinking hot tea are some of her favorite pastimes. For more information or to connect with Anita find her atwww.anitalustrea.com, www.middayconnection.org, on facebook, or twitter @anitalustrea.

CARYN DAHLSTRAND RIVADENEIRA is a writer, speaker, and works on the worship staff at Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church. She's the author ofKnown and Loved: 52 Devotions from the Psalms (Revell, 2013), Grumble Hallelujah: Learning to Love Life When It Lets You Down (Tyndale House, 2011) and Mama's Got a Fake I.D.: How to Reveal the Real You Behind All that Mom (Waterbrook, 2009), as well as hundreds of blog posts and magazine articles. Caryn is a regular contributor to Christianity Today's Her.Meneutics and to Re:Frame Media's Think Christian. Her work also regularly appears in Relevant and FullFill, along with several other media outlets.Caryn lives outside of Chicago with her husband, three kids and one pit bull. Visit her at www.carynrivadeneira.com. Find her on Facebook at (facebook.com/carynrivadeneira) and on Twitter @CarynRivadeneir

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book to help facilitate a frank and honest review. A positive review is not guaranteed or required. All opinions are my own

Posted by Autumn