A Measure of Mercy

A Measure of Mercy by Lauraine Snelling

Beloved author Lauraine Snelling returns again to her popular Red River Valley setting

Eighteen-year-old Astrid Bjorklund has been studying medicine under Dr. Elizabeth Bjorklund's direction and dreams of joining her practice in Blessing. But when a missionary arrives and tells of the need for medical ministry in Africa, he seems to look directly at her. Could God be calling her to go to Africa?

Joshua Landsverk left Blessing two years ago, but he's never forgotten Astrid. Returning to town he seeks to court her, and love begins to bloom. When the opportunity opens for Astrid to go to Chicago for further training, she finds it difficult to leave home•and Joshua. They agree to correspond, but after receiving only one letter from him, she learns he's left town--again. Believing Joshua no longer loves her, Astrid makes an impetuous, heart-wrenching decision. Will she regret the choice she's made?

Lauraine Snelling, an award-winning author of fifty-plus books with sales of over 2 million copies, also writes for a wide range of magazines and teaches at writers' conferences across the country. She and her husband make their home in Tehachapi, California. Visit www.laurainesnelling.com


Information taken from BethanyHouse.com. Bethany House publishers provided me with a review copy of this book.




MY REVIEW

This was a hard book for me to review... I have not read any of Snelling's books set in the Red River Valley before this one. In theory this is book one in a new series but honestly it felt a little like being the new kid surrounded by people who have known each other for decades. There were a TON of characters and back-stories that I didn't know and I think that really affected my ability to engage in the storyline.

I will say that the writing was very enjoyable and main storyline in A Measure of Mercy was good... but it would have been better for me without all the sidelines into stories I wasn't familiar with. It was just way too much information in too short a time!

I think anyone who has read Snelling's previous Red River Valley stories will love this book though.