Story of God's grace and mercy

Anna Nicholson's heart is shattered after a broken engagement so she and her mother plan a time of healing and are aboard a steamship headed to Holland, MI when she is forced to relive her lifetime nightmare.  Anna has recently been drawn to Mr. Moody's church in Chicago which feels comfortable and like home for her. The desire to dig deeper into faith certainly isn't the way she was raised nor what her fiancé wants for their lives.

In Holland resides Geesje de Jonge, an emigrant from the Netherlands, who is asked to write her history and memories of her emigration for the fiftieth anniversary of Holland.  Anna become acquainted with Gessje's neighbor, who is struggling some with his own heartbreak, and he sees the pain in both women, finding similarities and desires for them to become acquainted and seeks out Gessje's wisdom as he attempts to help Anna through her difficult and questioning time.

The story is written from both women's perspectives, going back and forth between the two.  It would first appear that the majority of the story would be about Anna but that isn't the case.  Lynn Austin does an excellent job of taking the reader back fifty years as Geesje's family makes their way to America, the heartbreaks and  loss endured, and the many times Geesje questioned God and his faithfulness.  If you have ever had your heart broken only to later see God's goodness and mercy shine through in circumstances that are more than you could have imagined, you will fall in love with Gressje.

Waves of Mercy isn't the love story you may expect and you will definitely be surprised by some of the turns Austin takes in the storyline.  It is a book not easily put down until you read the final page and it will leave you wanting more, just like may of her stories.  Thank you Lynn Austin for another well researched historical fiction novel with characters every reader will fall in love with.  I must admit I have never read an Austin novel I didn't love.  This one just happened to catch my attention since friends have vacationed in Holland and made it sound like such an appealing place.  Austin makes me feel as if I have been there, at least the late 18th c version!

I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  I was in no way obligated to write a positive one.