Suzanne Zimmerman was sent away from her Old Order Mennonite home at the age of seventeen by her mother to have her baby, give it up for adoption, and then return home. But things didn't exactly turn out that way. She instead stayed away from home, became a nurse, and raised a daughter, Alexa, on her own. Now 20 years later her brother sends a letter requesting that Suzanne come home. Her mother has been injured and is in need of her nursing abilities to help care for her. Returning home means that Suzannne will not only have to face Paul Aldrich, her first love, but also her family and faith that may not forgive her for her mistakes in the past. Suzanne makes the decision that she and Alexa will return to Kansas. Alexa is excited at the prospect of meeting the big family she never had an opportunity to get to know.
Paul Aldrich is doing some work around the Zimmerman home to make it more handicap accessible. He is excited that Suzanne is returning home. Now widowed with an eight year old son, he never had the chance to ask her forgiveness for his past indiscretion. After meeting Alexa though he begins to wonder if there was more to the story of Suzanne's leaving and staying away so long.
How will Suzanne's uncovered secrets from the past affect her family and friends? Will she be forgiven and can she herself forgive?
Kim Vogel Sawyer has become one of my favorite authors. I have loved each of her books that I have had an opportunity to review. I was very excited when I found out that she was coming out with a trilogy a little different from her usual historical fiction. This trilogy was to feature an Old Order Mennonite family and take place in the present time. When Mercy Rains is the first book in the trilogy.
Download chapter one here.
Visit Kim's website at www.kimvogelsawyer.com
I LOVED it! I actually sat down on a Friday evening to read while the children were watching a movie. I could not put it down. I kept reading all the way until it was bedtime and I had to stop with only two chapters to go! After getting the children into bed, I finally got to go back and finish. Kim Vogel Sawyer does an outstanding job of pulling her readers right into the story. I loved the story and the characters. There was a character that I had made my mind in the beginning that I wasn't going to like, but it turned out I was wrong. There is a wonderful message in this story about our lives and the effects the decisions that we make have on other people. But, more importantly there is a message of compassion, forgiveness and mercy. The importance of extending compassion, forgiveness, and mercy to to others and accepting it for yourself as well.
"Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness" sake, O Lord." Psalm 25:7
Now the only problem is I have to wait until spring until the second book, When Grace Sings, comes out. I will be looking forward to that book's release as well.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review. I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC regulations.
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