BOOK REVIEW: House of Mercy

HOUSE OF  MERCY

By Erin Healy

Published by:  Thomas Nelson, 

Publication date: August 7, 2012

Beth Borzoi is a young, gifted woman with a love for her family and animals, who is also an aspiring veterinarian.  Unfortunately, family dynamics in the Borzoi house are tinged with jealousy.  Jealousy between Beth and her older brother; between Beth and her mother.  Good natured teasing goes on between Beth and her youngest brother, Danny.  Her father is her hero and she feels secure in his steadfastness and love.  She and her family own the Blazing B ranch where they raise cattle, and where they also give a home and jobs to men who have fallen on hard times.  Her father has become a hero to some of these men, for standing in the gap between society and the lives they are trying to make right.

Unfortunately Beth has a problem, and she takes the matter into her own hands by stealing a good friend's unused, forgotten saddle to use as payment for another friend's veterinary bill.  Beth's theft leads to a chain of events that includes the loss of an expensive piece of property and consequently the loss of her personal freedoms.  Death comes, and Beth believes it is because of her misdeeds.  She leaves the ranch in a desperate search for answers, only to find much more than she bargained for.  And has she been given a supernatural gift from God?  Will He forgive her for all the trouble she has caused?  Some things cannot be changed, but can Beth accept mercy and forgiveness, and even offer the same to others?

I hate to be so vague, but this is one story you are just going to have to read for yourself.  Read with an open, non-critical mind.  Don't pass it off as being too mystical.  And even though I do not believe that God works today in the manner that happens in this story, remember that all things are possible with God, and He can choose to reach and use His children in any manner He chooses (remember the talking donkey in the Old Testament?).  This is  a work of fiction, where anything goes to teach a point.  Didn't Jesus employ these same traights Himself when He tried to teach those around Him?

In my opinion, Erin Healy has done an excellent job in using uncommon "characters" and events to heighten the suspense of House of Mercy.  If you would like to learn more about Ms. Healy, check out her website where you can download free samples of this book.  If you like suspense and a little bit of the unknown, with a strong sense of God's guiding and Word, I think you just might like this author.

  

In order to comply with new Federal Trade Commission regulations, please note that this book was provided compliments of  the Booksneeze program.