The Miracle of Mercy Land

At one time or another in our lives, we've all looked back with regret at some road we should have taken, a meandering path where we got off track. We all live in one great big pond. And every time we make a move, the water ripples. We may never know how those ripples affect our family and friends ... and even total strangers.

What if we could know? How would it change our actions? Our words? Our decisions? What if we could go back and change some or all of those things we regret?

Mercy Land is an independent young woman during a time period when those three words were rarely strung together with kind intent. She moved to Bay City from the backwoods of Bittersweet Creek and blossomed into a bright, junior editor at the town newspaper. Doc Philips, her mentor and dear friend – also her boss – kept an covert, watchful eye over Mercy while raising her up to be the next publisher and editor of the paper.

Then a mysterious and dangerous book falls into Doc's possession. It contains knowledge that should not be known to humans. Intimate knowledge of everyone he knows ...and everyone that he doesn't know. Knowledge that, if in the wrong hands, could change everything. Doc instinctively knows that Mercy must take possession of the book.

After an irritating, yet handsome young stranger - who somehow knows about the book - moves to town, Mercy is sucked into a swirling vortex of frightening knowledge and other-worldly events that threaten her very existence. Doc is riddled with guilt that Mercy's safety and sanity are at risk. But she is the only one that can be trusted to keep the book. Will the book destroy her? Can she keep the book safe from those who would use its power for evil?

From the very first sentence, I was captivated by Mercy's soft southern drawl and transported back to a simpler life and time of the 1930's in a southern town filled with wonderful and strange characters, wizened fatherly figures and crusty, doting aunts and old maids dispensing sage advice.

River Jordan takes us back to post-depression, small town Americana where life was simple, yet rich. While accompanying her on the walking tour of Bay City, I felt the breeze blowing through the moss-laden oak, smelled the salty Gulf air, and snatches of childhood memories from the lunch counter at Woolworth danced just out of reach.

Jordan has a warm, intimate way with words. I thoroughly enjoyed her delightful phraseology. She can spin a whirlwind tale that – as unbelievable as it may be – is both compelling and redeeming.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.