“Never underestimate the power of a group of women. Fierce, thoughtful and dramatic—this is a story of true courage.” —Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling author
She would stop at nothing to protect the women under her care.
Inside a century-old row house in Brooklyn, renegade Sister Evelyn and her fellow nuns preside over a safe haven for the abused and abandoned. Gruff and indomitable on … haven for the abused and abandoned. Gruff and indomitable on the surface, warm and wry underneath, little daunts Evelyn, until she receives word that Mercy House will be investigated by Bishop Hawkins, a man with whom she shares a dark history. In order to protect everything they’ve built, the nuns must conceal many of their methods, which are forbidden by the Catholic Church.
Evelyn will go to great lengths to defend all that she loves. She confronts a gang member, defies the church, challenges her own beliefs, and faces her past. She is bolstered by the other nuns and the vibrant, diverse residents of the shelter—Lucia, Mei-Li, Desiree, Esther, and Katrina—whose differences are outweighed by what unites them: they’ve all been broken by men but are determined to rebuild.
Amidst her fight, Evelyn discovers the extraordinary power of mercy and the grace it grants, not just to those who receive it, but to those strong enough to bestow it.
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Evelyn was never wanted. Her father even bargained with God to bring his son home from the war, and he would put Evelyn in a convent. Evelyn’s brother did come home, and she did go to the convent.
Her time in the convent wasn’t pleasant. Evelyn saw and endured unpleasant things.
After a few years, she and a few of her fellow nuns opened a shelter in Brooklyn that housed girls suffering from domestic abuse and abandonment.
The red door with the angel knocker was a welcome refuge for these girls.
This refuge is threatened when one of the bishops from Evelyn’s past who holds a grudge against her arrives to see exactly what they do at the women’s shelter and threatens to shut it down.
We follow Evelyn as she worries about the fate of the house and about the girls inside….what if they say the wrong thing while Father Hawkins is interviewing them? How will she keep them safe and keep Mercy House open if he finds damning evidence whether real or made up?
Evelyn was a very strong, feisty, but sad woman who would do or say anything to protect the girls she was helping. I really liked her.
Sister Maria and Sister Josephine were very likeable.
The girls at the home were rough but likeable.
Bishop Hawkins was despicable.
Be aware that there are some upsetting and coarse situations addressed in MERCY HOUSE, but it was an educational read and one that will be enjoyed by women’s fiction fans. Historical fiction fans will also enjoy this book.
Well written with authentic characters. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
3 stars
I was totally engrossed in the first fifty percent of Mercy House. I thought Sister Evelyn was a strong character. Dillon did a good job showing the changes for nuns in the Catholic Church from the 1960s to the 1990’s. The nuns of Mercy House were truly caring and believed in their mission to help women who were abused. I felt the second half went in too many directions and felt the ending was weak. Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow Paperbacks for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As with all big corporations, it starts out with an idea that needs to be taken to the next level but those that believe in this passion. Unfortunately, somewhere along the way greed, power and ego rear its ugly head and man takes over. In view of the recent troubles within the Catholic Church, I found this book compelling, well researched and extremely sad. Years ago, boys and girls entered the convent before they could figure out who they were or to squelch who they were, or put in the church due to too family obligations.
Mercy House is a safe house for battered and abandoned women, run by 3 nuns, headed by Sister Evelyn, a kick-ass renegade, who understands that the role is not back or white, but many shades of grey. I fell in love with these forward-thinking older women, so unlike the nuns I remember from my parochial school days. This debut novel is not for the faint-of-heart, or for those looking for a light read. It will evoke many emotions…anger, sadness, disgust, redemption. It held my attention from start to finish. Please read with an open mind! Born and raised Catholic, this story ripped my heart out. I am happy to say that I have not know anyone like the hierarchy in this book, but believe wholeheartedly these problems exist and are just now coming to light. I thought the Mother Superior was to point. I am a ambivalent about the ending, but you can decide for yourself.
Thanks to Harper Collins Publishing, William Morrow Paperbacks, Alena Dillon and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.
Mercy House by Alena Dillon is the story of
Sister Evelyn and the nuns who reside at Mercy House and would stop at nothing to save and restore the broken, beaten, battered women who showed up at Mercy House during all hours of the night seeking refuge and help. This was an intense, compelling and captivating story of a group of women who defied all odds against them to protect the battered women of Mercy House. As I read this, I was on the edge of my seat and often found a tear running down my cheek as I read about the horrors each women was forced to endure. When the Bishop arrives to inspect Mercy House, Sister Evelyn is forced to face the man she loathes and the demons she’s buried for so many years. Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader Copy in the mail and for me personally it was a sometimes depressing read with an gripping storyline and the author is to be commended in her writing a story of fierce, strong determined women who defied the odds to protect the broken women who came to Mercy House.
Mercy House by Alena Dillon is an interesting story about Mercy House, a safe house for battered women in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, and the nuns running it.
There had been much success in house’s years of operation – aiding physically, mentally, and sexually abused women, most with little to no education or resources, to break the chains of abuse and become strong, healthy, educated independent women.
Despite this, the house becomes the subject of an inquisition style investigation by the Catholic church. These investigations were common at this time, often unfounded, and many felt designed to take attention from the onslaught of accusations being hurled at pedophile priests.
When the priest assigned to investigate Mercy House arrives, Sister Evelyn is horrified to recognize the him from her past.
As the story progresses we get to know more about Evelyn and her history with this man, the other two nuns running the house, as well as the girls currently there seeking their protection.
Many lines were crossed throughout the years, pushing them into the moral gray areas always up for debate – does cause justify means? This group of nuns have no doubts. The unbelievable cruelty and mistreatment of women they have witnessed in their time in the Bed-Stuy neighborhood, and experienced in their own lives, strengthens their convictions to do right by these women – regardless of mandates and restrictions put on them by the church.
While I found the both the story and the writing compelling, I unfortunately believe the book will be judged more based on the reader’s religious beliefs and political views than on the quality of the story.
I am rating this book with 4 stars although I do have slight issue with the book’s conclusion. The chosen ending was very predictable, pretty much expected it since the first several chapters, and although it was a satisfying resolution to that particular story, there were several other more important (to me) that were just left hanging. Based on the quality of the story to that point, expected better. Just my opinion!
I would recommend this book for anyone interested in a story of women overcoming abuse and learning to stand on their own.
I was gifted an ARC of this book. Published by HarperCollins, it is expected for sale 2/11/20 and is currently available for pre-order.
The novel is beautifully written with well developed characters. There were moments of me laughing and crying, feeling all kinds of emotions for the women coming to Mercy House. I love the character of Evelyn, she’s feisty, empathetic, and a strong female due to events in her early childhood. She welcomes all women making sure they have a safe place. The story picked up quickly once the secrets were revealed.
Ever wonder what Nuns think or do? Are they human or above? A wonderful novel!
Mercy House is a women’s home of safety, love and trust in NYC.
Sister Evelyn runs this home for women and does it with gusto!
She is 69 and has built the wall to forget her own hurt through the years, but advocates for her residents with the heart of a lion. She is well aware of the embarrassment of the girls.
There are many, who have knocked on the door here and have been cared for and assisted on the path to independence.
When the Bishop makes a visit to inspect the records, he elects to close the doors of the dwelling and to excommunicate Sr. Evelyn for going against Catholic jurisdiction. Why?
This is only the beginning! What will happen when the truth comes forth?
I worked in a convent and the stories I have been told from years ago, truly are similar to this plot setting and these nuns.
I loved Sr. Evelyn and I am quite sure you will too! excellent!