Echoes of Mercy takes place in the early 1900’s in Sinclair, Kansas and deals with some pressing issues for its time. Child labor, the discrepancy in pay for women and children compared to men, workplace safety, and the differences that existed between the classes in society.
This was a really enjoyable book. The characters are very well-written and interesting to read about. Ollie and Carrie are attracted to each other, but both are working undercover in the Dinsmore Chocolate Factory and don’t feel that they can fully reveal their true selves to each other. This alone brings a lot of tension to their relationship. Speaking of their relationship, it is a sweet one that develops softly throughout the story, but is fully satisfying in its growth.
I enjoyed the side characters and felt that they were well-written also. I felt intense dislike for the foreman, frustration with Letta and her brothers for some of their actions, and really enjoyed Noble and Annamarie. All of these characters really made for a well rounded story.
The author did a great job making me feel that I was really back in this time, working in the factory. I felt that I could truly “see” it and all of the busyness of the workers shuffling about in their activity. There was a good mystery throughout the book that the heroine was trying to discover the answer to, growth of certain characters as they learned to trust in God, and a satisfying conclusion. A lovely piece of historical fiction. (4 stars)
I received a complimentary copy of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah in exchange for an honest review, which I have given. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kim Vogel Sawyer is a best-selling, award-winning author with more than one million copies of her books currently in print. Awards include the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Sawyer lives in central Kansas, where she and her retired military husband, Don, run a bed-and-breakfast inn with the help of their feline companions. She savors time with her daughters and grandchildren.
You can connect with Kim at her website as well as on Facebook and Twitter.
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