Book description:
It’s 1955, when scandalous affairs are never talked about, divorce is rare, a wife is a “homemaker” more often than not, and every Christian home displays its family Bible front and center. Certainly, a well-respected pastor in the conservative city of Muskegon, Michigan, would never be caught in the middle of a heinous secret that could ruin his career and break up his beautiful marriage and family. Or would he?
When Henry Griffin was stationed in occupied Japan in the mid-1940s, he met Rina Hamada, a Japanese woman who fell head over heels for him. Despite having a young wife and baby daughter waiting at home in the States, Henry had too much to drink one night, and one thing led to another… He knew it was wrong. He struggled with guilt and expressed his resistance, but she professed her love and continued to pursue him.
Now, ten years later, a letter from Japan arrives and threatens to upend Henry’s world. What to do and how to tell his wife are just the beginning of his troubles. Tough questions about faith, redemption, and preserving his reputation bring us here, under the shade of The Mercy Tree.
My review:
I have read only a handful of this author's books, and have enjoyed each one that I read. I discovered her Hearts of Honor Series last April - a Civil War Trilogy - and loved it. I was happy for the chance to review this, her newest book.
I liked the characters in this book. A lot. There is Henry, pastoring a church and thinking his one fall into immorality 10 years ago is never going to see the light of day.....until that comes back to bite him in the butt. Then there is Nora, finding out 10 years after the fact about her husband cheating on her, and now she is left dealing not only with that revelation, but the surprise from Japan that is a result of that fall into immorality.
And then of course there is Emiko, the innocent in all of it.
The author handled the subject of adultery, the fallout, and topics of forgiveness, hate, and prejudice very well. I feel she did a great job of portraying what life was like during that time period, and what the reactions and fallout could be like of a preacher confessing to a sin 10 years before.
This was a great and enjoyable read that was full of Biblical truths and grace. Sometimes in a book like this, the adulterer's actions are almost glossed over and the spouse expected to just lie down and take it. That wasn't the case with this story.....and though fictional, it was amazing how Nora came to forgive her husband and love a little boy she never thought she could.
I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.
About the author:
Born and raised in west Michigan, Sharlene attended Spring Arbor University. Upon graduating with an education degree in 1971, she taught second grade for two years then accepted an invitation to travel internationally for a year with a singing ensemble. In 1975, she returned to her teaching job and then married her childhood sweetheart. Together they raised two lovely daughters, both of whom are now happily married and enjoying their own families. Retired in 2003 after 31 years of teaching, “Shar” loves to read, sing, travel, and spend time with her family, in particular, her wonderful, adorable grandchildren!
A Christian since age 16 and a lover of the English language, Shar has always enjoyed dabbling in writing. She remembers well the short stories she wrote in high school and watching them circulate from girl to girl during government and civics classes. With the teacher’s back to the class, some girl would whisper from two rows over: “Pass me the next page.”
In the early 2000s, Shar felt God’s call upon her heart to take her writing pleasures a step further and after writing for six years, finally landed a contract to publish her first faith-based novel titled Through Every Storm. Now, with more than 20+ published novels, she daily gives God all the glory.
Over the years, Shar’s books have reaped awards and nominations in several categories such as the “American Christian Fiction Writers Book-of-the-Year”, “Road to Romance Reviewer’s Choice Award”, “Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award”, and the “Retailers’ Choice Awards” to name a few. In addition, Interviews and Reviews voted one of her recent novels, A Love to Behold, “Book of the Year for 2019”.
In early 2020, Her Rebel Heart, released. It is the first in a three-book series titled Hearts of Honor. This marks her second Civil War series.
Shar does numerous countrywide book-signings and has made several television and radio appearances. She loves to speak for community organizations, libraries, church groups, and women’s conferences. In her church, she enjoys involvement in women’s ministries, and regularly attends Bible studies and other events. She and her husband Cecil live in Spring Lake, Michigan with their beautiful white collie, Cody.
Check out her website at CharleneMacLaren.com
The Mercy Tree is available from Whiter House Publising.
Thanks to the author for the review copy.
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