Status
Available
Call number
Series
Publication
Bethany House Publishers (2016), 384 pages
Description
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 fiftieth 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. Austin Returns with a Multi-Generational Historical Novel Geesje de Jonge crossed the ocean at age seventeen 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, twenty-three-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.… (more)
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
384 p.; 8.5 inches
ISBN
0764217615 / 9780764217616
User reviews
LibraryThing member lamb521
Title: Waves of Mercy
Author: Lynn Austin
Pages: 379
Year: 2016
Publisher: Bethany House
My rating is 5 stars.
The story mostly takes place in Holland, Michigan in 1897. The audience will read about Anna Nicholson in 1897 as well as with flashbacks to the past the life of one of the city’s founders. It
Her story begins in the Netherlands in 1845. She tells of her life in the Netherlands and how she fell in love with a soldier billeted in her home during a fight between Separatists and the government church. Due to religious persecution, her parents decide to move to America when she is seventeen. Geesje is heartbroken to leave her soldier behind, but he has eighteen more months to serve in the military before he is discharged. They make plans for him to join her in America. Geesje and her parents and her friend Maarten leave for America. They face tragedy after tragedy on their journey and trying to survive in this new country. Geesje has had to make difficult decisions throughout her life and writing her memoir is painful, but cathartic for her.
Anna Nicholson is a young socialite from Chicago who has just had her engagement broken by her fiancé due to religious differences. She has come to Holland for time away and to regain her footing. She has many questions about her past as she is adopted and many questions about God. She meets a young man, Derk, who is in seminary school, studying to be a minister. They strike up a friendship and talk about God, marriage and faith. Derk suggests she talk with his Aunt Geesje as she has always been a strong woman of faith and maybe could answer her questions better. They meet and both of their lives will be forever changed.
This is one of those books that touched my heart in a way I’ll not soon forget. The grief and sorrow and hardships Geesje endured in her life were astounding. Even though she got angry with God, she made the conscious choice to cling to him more as each tragedy entered her life. Her husband Maarten was a man after God’s own heart. Standing outside of their burned down business and home, after losing everything but the clothes on their backs, he praised God. I am a fan of Lynn Austin’s God-given ability to write such touching stories that show our human frailty, but always point out God’s sovereignty and love for us. No matter what trials we face, believers never face them alone. God is always with us. He will never leave us or forsake us. Nothing can separate us from His love.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Author: Lynn Austin
Pages: 379
Year: 2016
Publisher: Bethany House
My rating is 5 stars.
The story mostly takes place in Holland, Michigan in 1897. The audience will read about Anna Nicholson in 1897 as well as with flashbacks to the past the life of one of the city’s founders. It
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is the city’s 50-year anniversary and the town council has asked all the “old-timers”, the people who originally settled in the area, to write about their memories of that time. Geesje de Jonge is one of the old-timers. She is at first reluctant to write her story as there are so many tragedies in her life, but receives encouragement and decides to write her story.Her story begins in the Netherlands in 1845. She tells of her life in the Netherlands and how she fell in love with a soldier billeted in her home during a fight between Separatists and the government church. Due to religious persecution, her parents decide to move to America when she is seventeen. Geesje is heartbroken to leave her soldier behind, but he has eighteen more months to serve in the military before he is discharged. They make plans for him to join her in America. Geesje and her parents and her friend Maarten leave for America. They face tragedy after tragedy on their journey and trying to survive in this new country. Geesje has had to make difficult decisions throughout her life and writing her memoir is painful, but cathartic for her.
Anna Nicholson is a young socialite from Chicago who has just had her engagement broken by her fiancé due to religious differences. She has come to Holland for time away and to regain her footing. She has many questions about her past as she is adopted and many questions about God. She meets a young man, Derk, who is in seminary school, studying to be a minister. They strike up a friendship and talk about God, marriage and faith. Derk suggests she talk with his Aunt Geesje as she has always been a strong woman of faith and maybe could answer her questions better. They meet and both of their lives will be forever changed.
This is one of those books that touched my heart in a way I’ll not soon forget. The grief and sorrow and hardships Geesje endured in her life were astounding. Even though she got angry with God, she made the conscious choice to cling to him more as each tragedy entered her life. Her husband Maarten was a man after God’s own heart. Standing outside of their burned down business and home, after losing everything but the clothes on their backs, he praised God. I am a fan of Lynn Austin’s God-given ability to write such touching stories that show our human frailty, but always point out God’s sovereignty and love for us. No matter what trials we face, believers never face them alone. God is always with us. He will never leave us or forsake us. Nothing can separate us from His love.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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LibraryThing member debs4jc
I found the courage of the characters inspiring and the story enlightening. Geesje came to America from Holland to escape religious persecution. Anna feels like she must choose between her fiance and her quest for faith and for answers. Each shows great courage and each story has a lot to teach us.
The characters in this book are asking some tough questions, as they face many heart wrenching losses. Be prepared for an emotional roller coaster as you follow them through their ups and downs! Fortunately their are characters who speak words of Biblical wisdom into their lives during these struggles. Still, Geesje in particular worries that the questions she asked while her heart was broken will discourage those who hear her tell it. On the contrary, Gessje, I found your honesty made your story all the more encouraging and helpful. And I appreciated learning about all that these brave pioneers had to go through in to live out their faith the way that they wanted to.
I recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction, especially about the early settlement of America, and to those who enjoy uplifting stories which illustrate how Biblical wisdom can be applied to real life.
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Until I heard Geesje's story about how her family was hounded by their neighbors, I didn't know that those who separated from the state run church in Holland were persecuted, and that some of them came to America so that they could worship freely. I felt for Geesje every step of the way, as she endured the long ocean voyage and as she and her family tried to carve out a new community named Holland out of the Michigan wilderness. But it was the personal challenges that she faced, as separation and hard choices made finding her way to true love difficult. That personal journey is what connects her to Anna, a young woman from a high society family who comes to the resort near Holland to rest and think after he engagement is broken off. She wonders why she feels so drawn to the church she visited, why she has strange dreams and memories, and why her former fiance does not understand her need to ask questions about her past and about God. The characters in this book are asking some tough questions, as they face many heart wrenching losses. Be prepared for an emotional roller coaster as you follow them through their ups and downs! Fortunately their are characters who speak words of Biblical wisdom into their lives during these struggles. Still, Geesje in particular worries that the questions she asked while her heart was broken will discourage those who hear her tell it. On the contrary, Gessje, I found your honesty made your story all the more encouraging and helpful. And I appreciated learning about all that these brave pioneers had to go through in to live out their faith the way that they wanted to.
I recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction, especially about the early settlement of America, and to those who enjoy uplifting stories which illustrate how Biblical wisdom can be applied to real life.
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LibraryThing member Becky_L
Lynn Austin has indeed produced another gem with Waves of Mercy. This emotionally captivating story of young love, choices, and faith freely discussed in a spell-binding saga of two different generations reminds me of the effect of Christy.
I feel like I can better explain some past non-romantic
All this encased in a story that will grab your heart and not let it go!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are solely my own.
I feel like I can better explain some past non-romantic
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choices after reading this book, in the light of a desire to follow God's Word. What an encouragement this book can be for our young generation that needs to trust the Lord and learn to make choices based on obedience to His will.All this encased in a story that will grab your heart and not let it go!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are solely my own.
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LibraryThing member JoyAnne
Waiting for this novel was difficult for me...Lynn Austin writes the best fiction! The stories of Anna and Geesje are fantabulous...how I wish the book was twice as long so I could spend more time with these awesome characters. I still think about Geesje's experiences and the wisdom she had.
A
I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
A
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wonderful story of what's really important in life. Very inspiring book! I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member Beverlylynnt
What a remarkable book this is! I don't usually gush over a book, but this one was exceptional. Lynn Austin is becoming one of my favorite authors for her excellent research and writing style. She knows how to draw in the individual reading the book and involve them in the story. Not only does she
This is a historical fiction piece with a double plot taking place in two time lines. The main plot involves a group of families living in Leiden, the Netherlands in 1847. A group of people drew away from the established state church and became known as Separatists. Persecution was inevitable. People were accosted, homes harmed and businesses were threatened. The De Jong family were in the middle of this. So Geesje tells this story as an older woman, settled in Holland, Michigan 50 years later. Her family owned a printing business. Even though they moved to a different city where there were Separatists in the Netherlands, their business was still threatened. Eventually a group of people decided to emigrate to America where they would have freedom to worship God as they pleased. The group eventually settled the Holland, Michigan area of West Michigan.
The story is long because there were so many adverse conditions and situations for the group to overcome. In the meantime, there is another two stories happening in the latest of the historical periods called the 'present.' One is about a young woman in her early twenty's who is struggling to find herself. This story becomes intertwined with the grandmotherly woman Geesje who is telling this story as a project for her town's celebration of their semi-centennial. Derk is a secondary character who lives next to Geesje and calls her Tante (aunt). She's been like a mother to him since his own died many years before. He is encouraging her to write her story while at the same time he has befriended Anna at the hotel where he works for the summer.
West Michigan has always had as fascinating history as the rest of the state. As a teacher, I was already aware that the Dutch had settled that part of the state and knew some of the history. This book made it all come to life for me. The Great Lakes have their own fascinating history and lore, legends of great shipwrecks, and filled with the history of the native americans as well. There is no simple way to tell this story, so this book is filled with intrigue and struggles.
An integral part of the book was the personal faith of the travelers. Encapsulated in this life of faith is the personal struggle of Geesje herself since the beginning of the story. Hers was not a perfect journey. Her faith wavered, was tested, and she often questioned God and His wisdom. The more she experienced the more involved I felt with this woman. This was not a pie-in-the-sky-by-and-by type of story. She was hurt, and circumstances forced her into some horrible situations. I shed a lot of tears of empathy reading this book. My heart was troubled, hurt, frightened and saddened right along with her. To me, that's a sign of a great book. If you love historical fiction, then I highly recommend this book to you.
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develop her characters well, but the action is terse and sometimes breathtaking. I enjoyed every minute of this novel, although when things got tough, enjoy might not be the word to describe what I was reading. But I was definitely involved and feeling with the characters in their struggles. This is a historical fiction piece with a double plot taking place in two time lines. The main plot involves a group of families living in Leiden, the Netherlands in 1847. A group of people drew away from the established state church and became known as Separatists. Persecution was inevitable. People were accosted, homes harmed and businesses were threatened. The De Jong family were in the middle of this. So Geesje tells this story as an older woman, settled in Holland, Michigan 50 years later. Her family owned a printing business. Even though they moved to a different city where there were Separatists in the Netherlands, their business was still threatened. Eventually a group of people decided to emigrate to America where they would have freedom to worship God as they pleased. The group eventually settled the Holland, Michigan area of West Michigan.
The story is long because there were so many adverse conditions and situations for the group to overcome. In the meantime, there is another two stories happening in the latest of the historical periods called the 'present.' One is about a young woman in her early twenty's who is struggling to find herself. This story becomes intertwined with the grandmotherly woman Geesje who is telling this story as a project for her town's celebration of their semi-centennial. Derk is a secondary character who lives next to Geesje and calls her Tante (aunt). She's been like a mother to him since his own died many years before. He is encouraging her to write her story while at the same time he has befriended Anna at the hotel where he works for the summer.
West Michigan has always had as fascinating history as the rest of the state. As a teacher, I was already aware that the Dutch had settled that part of the state and knew some of the history. This book made it all come to life for me. The Great Lakes have their own fascinating history and lore, legends of great shipwrecks, and filled with the history of the native americans as well. There is no simple way to tell this story, so this book is filled with intrigue and struggles.
An integral part of the book was the personal faith of the travelers. Encapsulated in this life of faith is the personal struggle of Geesje herself since the beginning of the story. Hers was not a perfect journey. Her faith wavered, was tested, and she often questioned God and His wisdom. The more she experienced the more involved I felt with this woman. This was not a pie-in-the-sky-by-and-by type of story. She was hurt, and circumstances forced her into some horrible situations. I shed a lot of tears of empathy reading this book. My heart was troubled, hurt, frightened and saddened right along with her. To me, that's a sign of a great book. If you love historical fiction, then I highly recommend this book to you.
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LibraryThing member Eamace
I love historical fiction that teaches me more about the history of that time. The author has taken several different tragedies of the 1800's and woven them into this fabulous story. We learn about persecution for what you believe and how this can lead to descions with very big consequences.
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Recurring nightmares finally lead to answers for young Anna as she searches to know more of her past. Sickness, death, fires and ship wrecks are lessons learned, digested and grown from as our second heroine, Geesje, learns that God has everything in control! Show Less
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