"When Mercy Rains" by Kim Vogel Sawyer

About the Book

She left, heavily weighted with secrets.
But God reveals all things, in His timing.
And He redeems them.

Suzanne Zimmerman was only seventeen and pregnant when her shamed mother quietly sent her away from their Old Order Mennonite community in Kansas. With her old home, family, and first love firmly behind her, Suzanne moved to Indiana, became a nurse, and raised a daughter, Alexa, on her own.

Now, nearly twenty years later, an unexpected letter arrives from Kansas. Her brother asks her to bring her nursing abilities home and care for their ailing mother. His request requires that Suzanne face a family that may not have forgiven her and a strict faith community. It also means seeing Paul Aldrich, her first love.   

Paul, widowed with an eight-year-old son, is relieved to see Suzanne again, giving him the chance to beg her forgiveness for his past indiscretion. But when he meets Alexa, his guilt flickers in the glare of Suzanne’s prolonged secret—one that changes everything.

Suzanne had let go of any expectation for forgiveness long ago. Does she dare hope in mercy–and how will her uncovered past affect the people she loves the most?

Visit Kim Vogel Sawyer"s website

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This book was released in October 2014

I received this book from "Blogging for Books" in exchange for an honest review

My Review

“When Mercy Rains” by Kim Vogel Sawyer is not a romantic book but it is full of love, healing and so much more. This is a book that I had to make time to read, as I am the type of person who prefers to read books basically in one sitting and life has taken several twist and turns lately, but man oh man after finishing this book, I SHOULD HAVE made the time for this book much sooner. This is a book that I would strongly suggest to everyone to make the time to read this book.

This book has so much more to it then what is stated on the back of the book to be honest. There is so much pain, anger and even more secrets, that fill this book that I am glad that it was read in one sitting for there is no way I would have been able to put it down, and if I had to put it down I wouldn't have been a happy camper. I even kicked my fur babies out of my room so that I could read it without any distractions. And when the reader thinks they have everything worked out and know how it is going to end, well there is a twist that personally I never saw coming.

As the back of the book states there is a reason why Suzanne left her Mennonite community, and though it might make a few people uncomfortable with out of wedlock pregnancies, I loved how it was approached for the consequences were there for more than just Suzanne. I kind of like the fact that Suzanne and Paul made a mistake, but they dealt with it, in their own way, which made sense for each of them with what they had to work with. Things for Suzanne were not easy and that almost seemed to be made a point that things were not made easy for her, but she worked hard to get where she is now. I found that really made her to be a woman who truly worked hard, and someone anyone could/should be proud to call her a heroine.

There are four different point of views in this story and frankly with how Ms. Sawyer made it so easy to tell whose point of view was whose, I might have a hard time going back to what I am use too. The point of views are clear and defined that is for sure which made it so easy to follow along with what was going on. I have to say that I loved seeing all the different point of views for each one of the characters has something so very important to add to the story and the over all message of the story.

There are several messages that I took away from this book. Truth being one of the them for if the truth had been out there from the start then things could have been so different, and not only that if the truth had been there from the start people might not have been hurt like they were. It is never too late to change is another message that I took away from this book, for changes happened though it wasn't easy but determination won out anyway. Love was so huge in this story as well, and I am not speaking of the romantic love, but the love of family being so important and worth keeping at it.

I was a little disappointed that this was not quite what I expected for I expected a little happier of an ending, but then again I love this book and the ending was just perfect, just not quite what I expected. That is part of the twists that took place in this book. Now there is a preview in the back of the book so I wonder if maybe something is going to happen in the next book that I had hoped for with this book, but then again I guess not all hero's and heroine's are meant for each other, so I will be okay with whatever happens.

I strongly encourage people to read this book that is for sure.

"When Hope Blossoms" by Kim Vogel Sawyer

About the Book

Amy Knackstedt hopes a new start in Weaverly, Kansas, will help heal the pain of losing her husband and provide a better future for her three children.  But her new neighbor, Tim Roper, is not pleased to have an Old Order Mennonite family living next to his apple orchard.  Time left the Mennonite faith years ago and doesn't want any reminders of his former life.

Yet when circumstances through Amy and Time together, they form a friendship that surprises them both.  Will past hurts always be a barrier between them, or will this tentative relationship blossom into something more?

Please visit Kim Vogel Sawyer's website

Buy  "When Hope Blossoms" from Amazon

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This book was released in July 2012

This was a well loved library book that was reviewed

My Review

"When Hope Blossoms" by Kim Vogel Sawyer is a book that I first read shortly after it came out, but couldn't for the longest time remember the title or the author of the book for the longest time, even though I remembered the story-line and have been wanting to re-read it.  Then not too long ago, I came across the book at my library and I knew that I found the book and couldn't settle down to read it that very night.  I will never forget the name and author again.

I love the book the second time around as much as I did the first time around. The whole reflecting of ones life, forgiveness, and loving of your neighbor is something that just touched my spirit. Maybe with my desire the last few weeks for this book, I am being told something which I will need to think and pray about.

Even the second time around I found myself laughing, crying and fearful in different scenes, even knowing how it was all going to end. That says a lot I think about how well a book is written, when you can feel those things even after the second reading.

Amy Knackstedt is a woman who is searching for a completely fresh start for her and her three kids after loosing her husband. She is strong in her faith and thankful for everything even after all the trials in her life, and she has enough of those that is for sure. Amy is also a gentle spirit that can't be broken, but she had her weak moments like everyone.

Tim Roper is a man who is on the run from his past, a man who is also hurting in a big way. Tim has been hiding for so long, that now too many things are hitting him all at once, what is going to happen to him and his future.

There is so much that happens in this book without being too crammed full. It kept moving steadily throughout with one question always there in the background but never quite sure exactly what the question is, and not entirely sure it was answered since I couldn't figure it out in the first place, but I didn't feel cheated when the book ended.  Not sure if that makes sense but that is how I felt after reading the book.

Truly the self reflecting that happens in the book is something that maybe we don't all experience to this level but we go through it at some level which made the one or ones doing the self reflecting that much more endearing to me. Oh who am I kidding all of the characters are endearing. They were written in such a way that I could picture how each one looks, their mannerisms and even a little of the way they speak.

The acts of the Mennonite fellowship and Amy along with her family show what is truly means what loving thy neighbor means. Even when hurtful words were spoken towards them or their helping hands slapped, they kept reaching out to their fellow neighbors.

This is a well written emotionally charged romance book, that I would recommend to anyone.