A review by ohiosarah
Sweet Mercy by Ann Tatlock

5.0

Having never read Ann Tatlock before I wasn't sure what to expect for her writing, especially since it's a coming of age novel. That being said I'm glad that I chose this novel to read because it sucked me from the first page - Eve is tired of living around and seeing crime, even seeing a man shot in front of her so moving to Ohio is a dream come true. I think that too, played a part that this book is set in Ohio somewhere between Dayton, Columbus and Cincinnati - I was hoping that there really was a Marryat Ballroom but like other fiction it doesn't exist.

I could feel the frustration that Eve felt when finding out there was an illegal liquor operation across the way - but things get more tangled as the story goes on. Eve believes that only bad people drink and that there is no way a good person would break the law to have a little beer. She meets others who opens her eyes to a way of seeing things that she hasn't thought about before - but it is liquor that ends up tearing apart her blissful life in Ohio. The story just flowed together and I loved how it began with Eve telling her story to her Grandson when searching for a special box and it was a delightful read.

**I was provided a copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for posting my own opinion,no other compensation was given.