Because of Mercy

I can heartily recommend this Christian Novel written by a local author, but the story is based in the heartland of Te Awamutu at the time of WW1. I was gripped by the story as it unfolded, encompassing heartache, love, intrigue, deception, family life, death, and the atrocities of war. Once I started the book I couldn’t put it down, I was keen to see how it progressed. But what I liked most about this book was the way the Christian faith was woven into the stories of the various characters – how their witness brought others into a saving and life-changing faith. You won’t want to put it down either. You will find it inspirational and heart-warming. I can’t wait until the second book in this Coin Trilogy is available.

A farmer’s daughter in New Zealand, navigating her future amidst fears of becoming a spinster. At 18, Rose has received no marriage proposals, despite her wish to fall in love and start a family. She’s as fiery as her red hair—with a penchant for reading dime store westerns—and spends her time riding horses across her father’s land. When she suffers a riding accident breaking in a new gelding, Rose’s future changes instantly—leaving her harbouring a dark secret that could ruin her chances of marriage. Dawn’s novel is the epitome of feel-good romance, with troubled knight-in-shining-armour Henry, who falls for Rose when he rescues her from the accident, proposing marriage after the two become steadfast friends. But when the first World War strikes, Henry heeds the call of battle and enlists to prove his mettle. That understandable conflict starts a downward spiral for both Henry and Rose, with their relationship suffering as the world burns. When Henry’s wounded and meets a pretty Scottish nurse on the front, he puts Rose—and his life as he knew it before the war—out of his mind. Readers will empathize with Henry, surrounded by death in the trenches, and also with Rose, who, when Henry asks to be released from their engagement, is once again staring spinsterhood in the face, but this time with a broken heart. Added to the mix is Henry’s sister, Molly, who holds a grudge against Rose and is determined to do whatever it takes to keep them apart. Despondent about her future, Rose finds solace in her Christian beliefs, as Henry fights his own demons, eventually turning to God for answers as well. The ending is a sweet surprise and sets up the series for more satisfying romance in the future. Fans of satisfying love stories will be rewarded. Takeaway: A soon-to-be spinster finds and maybe loses romance in this feel-good World War I story. Great for fans of: Hallee Bridgeman’s Honor Bound, Elsie Davis’s The Heart of a Cowboy. Production grades Cover: A Design and typography: A- Illustrations: N/A Editing: A Marketing copy: A-