Chain of Mercy

Anderson paints a story of loss and redemption that occasionally packs a powerful punch but is ultimately hamstrung by unlikable characters and uneven writing. Manhattan executive Richard Brooks seems to have it all, but his inner demons and past secrets soon rise from the shadows to ruin his high-flying life. Retreating home to Minnesota, he hides behind a blue-collar job, where he meets corporate executive and man-hunter Sheila Peterson. From the start, their relationship blows hot and cold and secrets from both of their pasts bubble up to throw into doubt the outcome of their romance. Heavy issues such as abortion, death, forgiveness, and mercy complicate both of their lives and impact their spiritual journeys in significant ways. Anderson does a fine job exploring the nuances of Christian faith with its common companions guilt and grace. While ultimately about life, hope and faith, the story falters early on and risks not engaging readers’ emotions and attention spans. Those who stick with it will look forward to Richard and Sheila’s story in future installments of this Coming Home series. (BookLife)