My Review - Heart of Mercy

4 out of 5 stars

HEART OF MERCY is the first in the Tennessee Dreams series by Sharlene MacLaren.  It’s a perfect story of opposites attract, and that love knows no barriers.

Mercy Evans has survived the death of both her mother and father, and now must overcome another heartbreaking loss.  When a fire claims the lives of her best friends, she is determined to raise their two boys on her own.  When a judge decides the boys would be better off with a married couple, there is only one thing she must do.  Get married.  But to who?  When the most unlikely candidate comes forward, Mercy is beyond shocked.  Samuel Connors belongs to the Connors clan, a family the Evans’ have been feuding with for decades.  Knowing there has to be another option, Mercy continues her search for a man that she could tolerate.

Samuel Connors is satisfied with a simple lifestyle.  He just wishes it didn’t involve living under his controlling mother’s roof.  When he finds out Mercy is advertising for a husband, he is more than intrigued.  Of course, being the one who saved the two young boys from the house fire that took their parents, he feels a bond with the boys and wants to remain present in their lives.  But he has his share of obstacles to overcome.  Not only has the Evans and Connors being feuding forever, but Samuel’s father is responsible for the death of Mercy’s father, a tragedy he doesn’t think Mercy is apt to overlook.

A marriage of convenience is not necessarily what Mercy was looking for.  But, it’s obvious the Watson boys have an attachment to Samuel.  Keeping that in mind, she is willing to overlook her own discomfort and do what is best for the boys.  Now, if only she and Samuel can keep the rest of their families from starting an all-out war.  Especially since their feelings for each other grow more personal.

I enjoyed HEART OF MERCY.  Both main characters were people I easily fell in love with.  But at times, I felt the story dragged a little.  I also don’t like romance novels that take the whole book to move the hero and heroine into a loving relationship.  The mystery element did help to move the story along.  Even though I guessed the ominous secret, I still appreciated the way it unfolded.  Overall, HEART OF MERCY was an enjoyable read.  I look forward to the next installment in the Tennessee Dreams series.

Book provided for review purposes.