Mercy House: A Novel by Alena Dillon

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

“Never underestimate the power of a group of women. Fierce, thoughtful and dramatic—this is a story of true courage.” —Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling author

She would stop at nothing to protect the women under her care.

Inside a century-old row house in Brooklyn, renegade Sister Evelyn and her fellow nuns preside over a safe haven for the abused and abandoned. Gruff and indomitable on the surface, warm and wry underneath, little daunts Evelyn, until she receives word that Mercy House will be investigated by Bishop Hawkins, a man with whom she shares a dark history. In order to protect everything they’ve built, the nuns must conceal many of their methods, which are forbidden by the Catholic Church.

Evelyn will go to great lengths to defend all that she loves. She confronts a gang member, defies the church, challenges her own beliefs, and faces her past. She is bolstered by the other nuns and the vibrant, diverse residents of the shelter—Lucia, Mei-Li, Desiree, Esther, and Katrina—whose differences are outweighed by what unites them: they’ve all been broken by men but are determined to rebuild.

Amidst her fight, Evelyn discovers the extraordinary power of mercy and the grace it grants, not just to those who receive it, but to those strong enough to bestow it.

my thoughts:

Mercy House is an incredibly powerful story that I could help but fall in love with. The writing is superb - emotional, engrossing, and unputdownable.  The characters are so well developed, you can't help but befriend them.  And the story itself is just amazing and hopeful - you can't help but get caught up in it.  I truly found this book to be such a treat to read.

The story is about Sister Evelyn, a nun who runs a safe haven called Mercy House.  Working alongside a few other nuns, the small group, manages to help the women who come through their doors.  In fact, they go above and beyond, even breaking the Catholic Church's rules when it comes to what they can and can't do. The only thing is that now they have  potential problem.  Bishop Hawkins is coming to audit Mercy House.  Yep, seems that their unorthodox methods are now under investigation.  Oh, and did I mention that Hawkins is not a good man by any means and is responsible for hurting Evelyn when she was younger. Suffice it to say, Evelyn is not going to stand down to anyone, let alone Hawkins.  She is ready to fight for the women she helps, Mercy House, and herself.  And, that is all I will write about this terrific story. You MUST read it and experience its greatness for your self.

I would most definitely recommend Mercy House to anyone and everyone looking for their next great read - you will LOVE this book!

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule: Mercy House

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!