Waves of Mercy

By: Lynn Austin

Narrated by: Rachel Dulude, Margaret Strom

In 1897, Geesje de Jonge is asked to write a memoir about her experience emigrating from the Netherlands to the Michigan wilderness in honor of her town's 50th anniversary. As Geesje recalls the events of the past, a young visitor, Anna Nicholson, mourns a broken engagement. Over the course of one summer, the lives of both women will change forever.

Lynn Austin returns with a multi-generational historical novel.

Geesje de Jonge crossed the ocean at age 17 with her parents and a small group of immigrants from the Netherlands to settle in the Michigan wilderness. Fifty years later, in 1897, she's asked to write a memoir of her early experiences as the town celebrates its anniversary. Reluctant at first, she soon uncovers memories and emotions hidden all these years, including the story of her one true love.

At the nearby Hotel Ottawa Resort on the shore of Lake Michigan, 23-year-old Anna Nicholson is trying to ease the pain of a broken engagement to a wealthy Chicago banker. But her time of introspection is disturbed after a violent storm aboard a steamship stirs up memories of a childhood nightmare. As more memories and dreams surface, Anna begins to question who she is and whether she wants to return to her wealthy life in Chicago. When she befriends a young seminary student who is working at the hotel for the summer, she finds herself asking him all the questions that have been troubling her.

Neither Geesje nor Anna, who are different in every possible way, can foresee the life-altering surprises awaiting them before the summer ends.

©2016 Lynn Austin (P)2016 Recorded Books

Waves of Mercy

What did you love best about Waves of Mercy?

I really enjoyed the story line and how it developed.

What three words best describe Rachel Dulude and Margaret Strom ’s performance?

The main reader was very good, but the person doing the voice for the men was slow and made them sound like they were stupid. I increased the reading speed and that helped quite a bit.

Waves of Mercy

I like historical fiction. It held my interest from the beginning. I am from MI so found history of Holland very interesting. Great story.

Wonderful book!

If you could sum up Waves of Mercy in three words, what would they be?

heartwarming, gripping, loved it!

Have you listened to any of Rachel Dulude and Margaret Strom ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no

Who was the most memorable character of Waves of Mercy and why?

Anna. Although the book was somewhat predictable, I wanted a good outcome for her. I wanted her to stand up to her boyfriend and not be bullied.

Any additional comments?

This book was basically 2 stories in one, which came together in the end. At first, the book was a little confusing by having to get my mind on which story I was following. Once I got the hang of it, I absolutely loved it and didn't want to stop listening to it. This was the best book I have listened to in a long time. I plan to listen to it again soon, just to see what I missed the first time.

Pretty Good

It was a good story, but a bit predictable. Anna's narrator was terrific, but Cashia's had a choppy cadence that was distracting. Overall, I'd recommend this book to others.

Loved it!

Loved it! I have not come across a Lynn Austin book that I didn't enjoy.