Waves of Mercy

By: Lynn Austin

Narrated by: Rachel Dulude, Margaret Strom

Length: 14 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's Summary

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

Lynn Austin is amazing! Narration stinks

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

Captivating, Heartbreaking, Triumphant

What other book might you compare Waves of Mercy to and why?

I'm not sure I can compare it to another story. The 'rags to riches' for an abandoned orphan has been done, but not in this fashion. The 'tragedy to triumph' has also been done before, but this book pulled me in like very few have.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

This is where it gets disappointing. Lynn Austin's previous narrators have set the bar quite high and I'm sad to say that these ladies did not meet expectations. The female voices were just okay, but the male voices were plodding and uninspired. They made me want to quit the book on more than one occasion. It was PAINFUL to listen to the men speak. I would definitely hesitate if I saw any one of these ladies on another recording.

Any additional comments?

I've listened to nearly every one of Lynn Austin's books and I was not disappointed by this book. Well, at least not by the writing. The narration leaves much to be desired. Also, the book did not have the ending I was expecting. I'm hoping there will be a sequel!

8 of 8 people found this review helpful

Disappointing for Lynn Austin, Poor Performance

Lynn Austin is my favorite author. I love all of her books with this one exception. It was a engaging story but very tragic. So many trials and unfortunate circumstances. However, I could have gotten past the depressing nature of the book if it was not for the narration. There were two narrators and one was terrible. I have never thought that narration alone could ruin a book for me, but I was wrong. Surely, someone else may find the narration unremarkable, and the underlying story and message were good.

10 of 11 people found this review helpful

Not as boring as the narrator

The first time I tried to listen to this, I was too bored to continue. When I started again, I realized that the story wasn't boring -- it was the narration. Anna's narrator is very good. The other narrator made me grind my teeth. The story is probably a 7 out of 10. A little predictable, but Anna is a sympathetic character.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Not my favorite

Good readers can make an average story good. But these readers created characters who spoke in slow enunciated jerks, almost like simple 5 years olds and became irritatingly stupid. This was also not up to Lynn Austins standards as the story of two women randomly jumped from 50 year old flashbacks to lovesick recent diary entries. It just became confusing and well, not very entertaining.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Rich In History

While I found the story quite interesting, I thought the narrators were not good. I almost didn't finish it because of that. I like the vast historical details and the characters. The ending portrayed wisdom, but was not stirring, and therefore left me a bit disappointed. Worth the listen, but not my favorite of Lynn's.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Compelling Generations Story

A fascinating story within a story. I wasn't a fan of one narrator, but loved the story enough that I put up with it! I loved that the story largely took place on the shores of Lake Michigan in the 1800s. it was so intriguing hearing a fictional relettling of the first settlers of Holland, MI, and the sacrifices they made to get there.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Lynn Austin historical novel is fascinating.<br />

Loved it!!! It was so exciting could not put it down. As always she did it again.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Love Lynn Austin, but this was not her best.

What was most disappointing about Lynn Austin’s story?

I am a Christian, but this was super preachy.

How could the performance have been better?

The narrator was awful. Hard to listen to.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

I can't even get past the first chapter

The reading is so choppy and hard to follow. It's like she's reading to a 2nd grade classroom!! I'll never hear this book because I can't stand her diction.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

First disappointment

I'm glad this wasn't my first experience with audio books or I'd have never listened to another. I have listened to all of Lynn Austin's fiction books but this one's narrators were so distracting it was hard to enjoy the story. I think it would have been a good book if I'd have read it myself but it was like a high school play where the cast hadn't read their lines beforehand. And you couldn't keep track of who was saying what because the voices wouldn't change or would change but incorrectly for the character. Such a shame to ruin what could have been a good story. I definitely wouldn't recommend the audio version to anyone. Read the book yourself don't listen to this one! Her others have been much more enjoyable.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Excellent book

Very relevant and thought provoking book on matters of faith, temptation, selfishness, obedience and disobedience, loss, true love, truth and sacrifice. It displays Gods abiding love for and covering over those whom He has chosen and how He uses events in our lives to draw us closer to Himself. This book teaches on the importance of waiting patiently on God and the power of prayer. I was wholly enveloped in the story and reminded countless times how God works all things according to His wisdom and Knowledge. Excellent narration throughout

Wonderful book

As all Lynn Austin books are. Gripping story. Couldn't stop listening. Can't wait for her next book.

Inspirational story of faith alongside suffering

Loved it. The characters were so real and their humanity and faith shone through.