Sunday, June 23, 2013

Sweet Mercy - Fiction, 1930s



Sweet Mercy
By Ann Tatlock

Eve is thrilled that her family is leaving St. Paul, Minnesota for her father’s new job at the Marryat Island Ballroom and Lodge in Ohio.  Glad to be leaving behind the mob and the liquor smugglers, Eve is looking forward to a summer free of law-breakers.  She soon finds herself smitten with the first boy who has ever been interested in her.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t take Eve long to find out that those who would break Prohibition are everywhere, including the boy she loves.  Eve’s investigating only stirs up trouble for her family.  Can she balance her disdain for those who flaunt the Prohibition laws with her need to see the hurting people behind it?  And is there more going on at the Marryat than meets the eye?

 I really enjoyed reading this book.  The book starts with the main character, Eve, recounting her time at the Marryat to her grandson.   The author does a great job of explaining what life might have been like in this period of history – a nation in the beginning of the Great Depression, and rebellion against the newest Constitutional amendment: Prohibition.  Eve’s struggle against self-righteousness rings true for all of us who would seek to keep God’s laws, while loving those who continually flaunt it.  I’m glad the author did not make light of Eve’s intense fight within herself to hate sin and love the sinner.  There is a great lesson woven into this wonderful book.  Overall I give this an A+: put this on your list fiction lovers!

I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House publishers in exchange for my honest review.

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