House
of Mercy, by Erin Healy, is a story of charity, forgiveness,
and redemption. Its main characters are
members of a Rocky Mountain ranching family who are trying to succeed despite
personal conflicts and pending financial ruin.
I was excited to read this book because I had read
Healy's The Promises She Keeps. Healy is a talented writer who examines
Christian themes from a different perspective than your run-of-the-mill fare in
this genre. The plot of this book does
not disappoint - nor does the author's gift for writing an intelligent
story. In House of Mercy, we follow a family undergoing serious financial
issues. They try to heal broken
relationships throughout, and also try to keep their dream of providing a safe
haven for the needy. There is a touch of
the supernatural, and also of horror.
Despite the intricacies of the plot, however, the
characters never really came to life for me.
The storyline concerning the doctor was certainly the most interesting,
in its terrifying way. But this alone
wasn't enough to make the story memorable for me, personally.
I do recommend this book for anyone who is looking
for a well-written Christian book that explores serious themes.
Three out of Five Stars
Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this book by the
publisher in exchange for a fair review.
