Lauren, a college student, helps Abigail Boyles, an 80-year-old recluse, transcribe the diary of Abigail's ancestral cousin, Mercy Hayworth--who was hanged for witchcraft. As secrets unfold, the extent to which the lives of these three women are connected comes to light, and both Lauren and Abigail find the very way they view the world irrevocably changed.
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"I was mesmerized by the telling of these three women and their stories, interwoven together with the thread of mercy. Each had regrets and a lesson in mercy. The author blended well the connection between these three, Mercy,a 19 year old accused as a witch in 1692 Salem Witch Trials (as told by her diary); Abigail, the old woman who owned the diary; and, Lauren, the 20 year old college student born to privelege attending a public university and hired to transcribe the diary. It will provide you a new facet in the meaning of mercy." — Suzanne (5 out of 5 stars)
"I was mesmerized by the telling of these three women and their stories, interwoven together with the thread of mercy. Each had regrets and a lesson in mercy. The author blended well the connection between these three, Mercy,a 19 year old accused as a witch in 1692 Salem Witch Trials (as told by her diary); Abigail, the old woman who owned the diary; and, Lauren, the 20 year old college student born to privelege attending a public university and hired to transcribe the diary. It will provide you a new facet in the meaning of mercy."
“Meissner’s newest novel is potentially life-changing…[and] achingly romantic…Mercy’s words not only beguile but help Abigail and Lars together face life’s hardest struggles about where true meaning is found, which dreams are worth chasing and which only lead to emptiness, and why faith and hope are essential on life’s difficult path. Meissner’s prose is exquisite, and she is a stunning storyteller. This is a novel to be shared with friends.”
“Ms. Meissner’s prose sings, and her characters captured my interest from the start.”
“A bit of mystery, fascinating history, and the biggest question of all: What would you do for love?”
“A truly lovely story…In a fantastic blend of old and new, this modern-day novel has the scope and feel of a historical.”
“Tender storytelling that keeps you hooked; living, breathing characters that capture your heart and madden you, too; and a message of redemption that sticks with you. Meissner deftly weaves the stories of three women of vastly different generations, connecting them perfectly and crafting a winsome, interesting, powerful read.”
" Loved when she was reading the diary and that the book was totally clean. Not sure about the side stories though - a little cheesy "
" Quick easy read, but not light chick lit. Great perspective on the Salem witch trials. Really enjoyed it. "
" Not the best writer ever, but a good story all the same. It was entertaining and had all the things I like in a book-history, romance and good characters. This book fit my mood which is usually the trick. "
" I liked the story O.K. but somehow the diary didn't seem real to me. The writing lacks power to really touch the reader. I didn't feel much sympathy for Abagail either. The historical part about the Salem Witch trials was interesting. Some readers might enjoy the sentimental romance. "
" I thought this had some pretty profound insights. The story was intriguing and kept me interested and it was clean. "
" Wonderful! Another option for book club :) A contemporary novel as well as historical fiction about the Salem Witch Trials. Best of all it has two love stories in it. "
" good book surprise ending "
" The only good parts were the diary entries and only because I didn't have to read about the whinny college kid. Bland all the way around. "
" This book was mesmerizing. I think it really lifted the bar for inspirational fiction. There was nothing predictable or trite and the story stayed with me long after I'd finished reading it. "
" I really enjoyed the audio of this book. Very well written with wonderful prose that brings you into the story and the lives of the characters. Recommended for lovers of historical fiction with an inspirational tone. "
" A great book about the Salem witch trials. "
" A story about a girl transcribing a diary of a girl tried in the Salem witch trials. Interesting and intriguing. "
" So good! Romance and mystery, a great combination! Not to mention the history in it! "
" I enjoyed this book. It is about a journal written during the Salem Witch Trials, which I have always been interested in. "
" Absolutely LOVED this book. Was the first book I read by Susan and thought it was fantastic! "
" I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It's a wonderful story of three women and how their lives are intertwined. I especially liked reading the diary and appreciated the historical aspects of it. Overall, this was a very good book. "
" Switches between present day and Salem witch trials. Three women's lives are intertwined. Great pick for book club, Jackie. Can't wait to talk about this one...and also planning to read more about the Salem Witch trials. "
" Very moving story!!! "
" I highly recommend this book. It is a fast read and quite fascinating. How can a diary of the Salem witch trials affect a rich young college student who is still trying to find herself? It is a love story, but much more. "
" really enjoyed this one! Great depth of characters and story. Also loved the historical background. "
" Not as good as others of hers that I've read. I don't think she portrayed Lauren's angst very well, though she did a good job with Abigail. I guess people can get hung up on these things for a lifetime. "
" Very interesting, liked it a lot. Fast read. Switches between modern day and Salem Witch Trials. "
" Good book... a lot of interesting ideas, but not believable in many ways. I think the ideas could have somehow been put together in a way that was believable. "
" One of my favorite books of all-time! "
" This is a really great book. It is easy to read and it has substance- about a girl that transcribes a diary from a girl during the salem witch trials. "
" Another "bravo!" for Susan Meissner..how did I go this long without reading her work? "
" I could not put the book down!! Grabbed my attention and I listened to the audiobook after I read the book. A book I would read again! "
" This was a good read, read quickly and was a good learning experience about the Salem Witch Trials. I very much enjoyed the character of Mercy. "
" Loved this book! It's about a college student who gets a job transcribing a diary that was written by a girl who was accused of being a witch during the Salem Witch Trials. It's interesting how she connects herself to this girl (Mercy) who lived over 300 years ago. It's definitely a good read. "
Susan Meissner is a USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction with more than three-quarters of a million books in print. She is an author, speaker, and writing workshop leader with a background in community journalism.
Tavia Gilbert is an acclaimed narrator of more than four hundred full-cast and multivoice audiobooks for virtually every publisher in the industry. Named the 2018 Voice of Choice by Booklist magazine, she is also winner of the prestigious Audie Award for best narration. She has earned numerous Earphones Awards, a Voice Arts Award, and a Listen-Up Award. Audible.com has named her a Genre-Defining Narrator: Master of Memoir. In addition to voice acting, she is an accomplished producer, singer, and theater actor. She is also a producer, singer, photographer, and a writer, as well as the cofounder of a feminist publishing company, Animal Mineral.
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