Regaining Mercy

GIVEAWAY

MILLER, CAROLYN

REGAINING MERCY

A mom ready to do anything for her son. A man determined to win the woman he loves.

Going on Love at First Glance had seemed like such a good idea. She didn't care about finding Mr. Right. No, Mindy Murray chose the reality TV show for more mercenary reasons. A mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do when it comes to feeding her son.

When Mindy returns to Elnora, the girl from the "wrong side of the island" just wants a chance to rebuild her reputation. Too bad the folks at church don't practice what the preacher preaches.

Enter Dermott Reilly. The interim boss at Greener Gardens has always had a soft spot for Mindy and her son, but with his new responsibilities, an importan garden competition, and a few other concerns, he finds it difficult to prove himself to her.

A tropical storm and a missing child prove that sometimes grace appears in the most unusual ways.

MY REVIEW:

Whoa! The opening scene of this contemporary romance pushed all my emotional buttons and was a great springboard for the kind of feel-your-way-through read that I so adore. My heart broke for this underdog heroine, so beaten down by life and unable to get a break. Then, I was seething with outrage over a certain character's treatment of poor Mindy only to find myself swooning when Dermott gallantly intervenes. But then my hope did a nose dive because...well, you have to read Regaining Mercy to find out why, but I loved the way Miller kept me on emotional tenterhooks right to the end. Happy, happy sigh.

Great title tie-in, by the way because this is definitely a story that focuses on redemption and grace and the never ending mercy of a good, good Father. Love the way the inspirational threads are such an integral part of the plot, never preachy but testifying all the same.

So, Dermott is the kind of hero you'd want pursuing you in real life. Solid in his faith enough that he actually lives it out. While so many other islanders are busy judging Mindy, Dermott quietly accepts her past, offering genuine friendship and support while hoping for so much more. When Mindy is ready -- because there's nothing Neanderthal or pushy about this swoonworthy hero! 

As for Mindy, she needs to learn to trust in the few good friendships she has cultivated since her return home. They might be few, but they offer solid support and great examples of what Christian living actually looks like. But Mindy is so used to bearing down under the negative it takes a good long while before she allows genuine love to break through her barriers.

Lots of lovely layers both in character and plot with some real heart-tugging moments along the way. Not to mention the toe curls. :-) 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Regaining Mercy, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT AND DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday September 11 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!