Echoes of Mercy by Kim Vogel Sawyer Book Review

// Echoes of Mercy //

  

By Kim Vogel Sawyer

 

{Review By Bethany}

 

Number of Pages: 352
ISBN: 0307731278
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Released: January 21st, 2014

Source: Blogging for Books
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

// Book Synopsis //

 

Taken from Good Reads

"When a suspicious accident occurs at the Dinsmore Chocolate Factory in Sinclair, Kansas, in 1904, Caroline Lang goes undercover as a factory worker to investigate. Oliver Dinsmore, heir to the Dinsmore candy dynasty, has his own investigation to conduct. Posing as a common worker known as “Ollie Moore,” he aims to find out all he can about the family business before he takes over for his father."

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// Book Information //

// Chapter 1 Excerpt //

// Author Bio //

// Bethany's Book Review //

 

This was yet another classic novel from Kim Vogel Sawyer that is sure to leave fans impressed and inspired by this sweet heart-felt novel.

 

In the past I've enjoyed several Kim Vogel Sawyer novels, including one of my favorites My Heart Remembers and In Every Heartbeat. I've always been a fan of her Janette Oke-like writing style with simple and subtle romances, and strong characters with Christian values and ways of life. This was another novel that didn't disappoint me, and I'd have to say it's one of my more favorites from all the novels I've read by this author.

 

One of my favorite things about this novel were the characters. Kim Vogel Sawyer did such an excellent job shaping the characters throughout the story, and I particularly loved Caroline. She was such a likable character and a true role-model with an interesting story. I loved her heart for children, and how much for genuinely was concerned for the three children that she encounters during her business trip to investigate at a chocolate factory. She had such a compassionate heart, and I truly felt like this character was such a memorable one; and so unlike most book characters in novels today.

 

Another pro I found with this book is how low-romance it was. For those who like me, like a novel that has a strong story line that doesn't rely on heavy romance and professions of love, then such readers would enjoy this novel. I loved how the romance was minimal and clean. There was enough to make a sweet story that pulls the heart-strings, but it didn't overdo it and was never the main theme of the story, but rather a sub-plot. While this aspect of the book can be either a pro or a con, considering personal taste;, I considered it a pro, and think it really complemented the story.

 

The only thing I did find to be a bit on the down side for me was how little mystery there was until the very end of the story. From the book synopsis, it appeared to be a mystery, and while it did have a steady thread with lots of suspense and mystery, not much happened until the end. While it wasn't a huge downer, I personally would have liked to see a bit more mystery. But it no way made the story any less enjoyable for me. I will say that at the end when the mystery did pick up, it was all very fast paced and kept me turning pages, despite a slight difficulty to turn pages previously.

 

In all this was a very warm hearted novel in which Kim Vogel Sawyer has yet again produced a novel with classic Janette Oke-like themes and characters, which is sure to delight. I'd recommend this book to any Kim Vogel Sawyer fans, or fans of Janette Oke-like historical fiction with strong admirable characters and a wonderful story-line.

 

D I S C L A I M E R :: In accordance with the FTC disclosure, I received a free copy of Echoes of Mercy from the publisher and Blogging For Books for the purpose of this review. I was not paid in any way to write this review, and all thoughts expressed in my review are completely honest, my own and unbiased.