The King's Mercy by Lori Benton Book Review

When captured rebel Scotsman Alex MacKinnon is granted the king's mercy--exile to the Colony of North Carolina--he's indentured to Englishman Edmund Carey as a blacksmith. Against his will Alex is drawn into the struggles of Carey's slaves--and those of his stepdaughter, Joanna Carey. A mistress with a servant's heart, Joanna is expected to wed her father's overseer, Phineas Reeves, but finds herself drawn instead to the new blacksmith. As their unlikely relationship deepens, successive tragedies strike the Careys. When blame falls unfairly upon Alex he flees to the distant mountains where he encounters Reverend Pauling, itinerate preacher and friend of the Careys, now a prisoner of the Cherokees. Haunted by his abandoning of Joanna, Alex tries to settle into life with the Cherokees, until circumstances thwart yet another attempt to forge his freedom and he's faced with the choice that's long hounded him: continue down his rebellious path or embrace the faith of a man like Pauling, whose freedom in Christ no man can steal. But the price of such mercy is total surrender, and perhaps Alex's very life.

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I was beyond blessed to receive an advanced copy of this book. I am trying to think of what to say about this book, but nothing comes to mind that would fit how amazing and beautiful this book is! 

I love the way Lori brings history and characters to life. I felt transported to a different century and I fell in love with every word! If you are wanting a story about love, mercy, redemption, and grace, this is your book. Seeing the transformation that happened in the characters lives was moving and breathtaking. This book brought laughs, tears, and moments where I needed to hold it close and sit in awe of its beauty. I'll never get enough of this book and the characters I came to know and love.  

Just when I thought a character couldn't get better or more redeeming than Jesse Bird (The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn), there came along Jeremiah Ring (Many Sparrows), and now Alex MacKinnon (The King's Mercy). How Lori can write such moving and redeeming characters I'll never know. 

I cannot wait to see who I'll be surprised by next.