Famed colonial scout, Shadrach Clark, is sought out in the Straits of Mackinac, when he has gone missing. His dear friend, Mercy, whose circuit-rider father is also missing, joins in the search. Set during the time of Pontiac’s War, can love overcome their trials?
The year is 1753, the French are slowly being pushed north by the British. The various native tribes have interacted very well with the French and some of them are very unhappy with the change in trading partners. Shad, a scout, has been searching for his family and while not finding them, he stumbles upon friends in Mercy and her circuit-riding father. With the political climate becoming increasingly unsettled, warnings are given at the various forts. Will the red cloak given as a gift for Mercy be enough to keep her warm and safe during an uprising?
With lots of historical detail, the author takes us from Germantown, PA to Mackinaw Island and eventually to Philadelphia. In our fast-paced society, it’s nice to read about traveling on foot and by canoe, but I can’t help but wonder how well any of us would in such rough conditions. Another great opportunity to learn more of the history of our country.
I received this novella as a gift from the author. A positive review was not expected. The impressions and opinions are my own.
Mrs. Pagels is a great story teller and she did it again with this book. I loved Shad and Mercy and their story. I am sure when Mercy set out with the Cristy’s to look for Shad and her father, she didn’t expect all she would encounter, but she showed how strong a person she was. I liked how Shad learned to depend on God again. There was a lot of history woven in there, which I liked, since I am not as familiar with that part of our nation’s early history. I would recommend this book.
Mercy in a Red Cloak Has everything I love about historical fiction and romance. Once again, gifted award winning writer Carrie Fancett Pagels Crafts wonderful historical detail And characters That capture the heart.
Mercy Clarke is the daughter of a circuit preacher in the 18th Century Pennsylvania frontier. She is a hard-working and honorable young lady who sacrifices her own interests for her father. British scout Shadrach Clark comes to their homestead seeking them for family he believes he has lost, But gains instead life friends, And maybe more…
When Mercy’s father and Shadrach both come up missing, she embarks on a long journey to the Michigan frontier. Hardship, sacrifice, and danger await but can these storm tossed souls find the love and destiny that only a merciful God could orchestrate?
You will not want to miss this sparkling gem, And meet some of the characters’ ancestors that later appear in Pagels’s charming and faith-filled stories of Michigan’s upper peninsula and Mackinac Island.
I listened to the audiobook version and it captured my attention from the start. I had tried audiobooks before but had never been able to finish. This one turned me into a fan. The story was captivating and the characters were very likeable. I only wish the story had been longer!
Carrie Fancett Pagels is an award-winning author with an obvious love of history. With Pontiac’s War as historical background, Mercy in a Red Cloak offers readers a glimpse into the hardships and challenges of the wild frontier with only mild danger described. Any reader who has read Pagels’ works knows that you won’t find gruesome details or gory scenes even though war is like that. The author shows convincing scenes can be written without all that and still draw a reader in with colorful descriptions of adventure and danger. Romance along with strong and faithful characters is what keeps readers coming back for more story! Lovers of clean historical romance will enjoy this novella. I was gifted an electronic copy from the author with no obligation to write a review but I also purchased a copy.
Mercy in a Red Cloak is a lovely, but exciting story of love, commitment and faith set primarily in the unsettled beauty of the Straits of Mackinac, in Michigan, during the final years of the French and Indian War. This complex novella incorporates elements of the life and attitudes of native tribes in that area, which add color and intrigue to the story.
I really enjoyed this exciting and perilous romantic adventure. I love the characters, especially Mercy, who is quite a courageous and determined young woman. I recommend this book to those who enjoy Early American historical romance.
This story is set in the mid 1700’s. We meet Mercy and her father Jonathan, Shad, Colonel Christy and his son William. Shad makes acquaintance with Mercy and her father through a mistaken identity which is the start of a new friendship with the family. The Christy’s embark on a journey north and Mercy begs them to take her. Most of the story is set in the Michigan peninsula area whether in forts or in or near Indian encampments. Notes at the beginning of the book give great insight into the time period we will be reading about. Easy to read story with characters that are likeable along with a pretty setting amongst the stirrings of trouble make this an enjoyable and quick read.
A gift of this book was provided by the author. A positive review was not required and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is a sweet, enjoyable novella, set in a time of turmoil. Mercy is a woman who has taken care of her father and their home for the last decade, “robbing her of the opportunity of beginning her life of her own.”
Shad has been widowed for more than a year. He is drawn to Mercy more and more. Could she possibly have feelings for him? What kind of life could he offer her?
The adventure begins when Mercy sets out with Colonel Christy and his son William to find her father who has been gone for more than two months and Shad who has not been heard from for a month. Filled with adventure and romance this feels like a full-length novel.
I enjoyed being an early reader of this story and was so excited to see it published, I had to buy it right away. I love how Mercy in a Red Cloak turned out!
Has she lost all? Or will she find it in the Straits of Mackinac?
I’m almost embarrassed at how long it’s been since I last listened to an audiobook, we’ll just leave it at it’s been too long. But, what a perfect story to start back into listening to audiobooks! Mercy In A Red Cloak is a charming historical novel set in the 1760s. It’s a sweet romance punctuated with moments of danger, there’s even a touch of mystery. The characters are the kind that you can’t help but like, though they are far from perfect. And learning about some of the history surrounding Michilimackinac and Pontiac’s Rebellion just after the French and Indian War, while still being entertained, was interesting. I always enjoy author Carrie Fancett Pagels’s easy to read, and relatively short, stories and this one was no exception.
The audio part of the book was excellent. It’s not often Christian fiction audiobooks have a male narrator but this one did, something that I liked. The choice in narrators was perfect, he has just the right voice for reading aloud, easy to listen to. Audible books are always great to listen to while doing a variety of things and Mercy In A Red Cloak by Carrie Fancett Pagels is definitely one of them. Got some boring tasks to do? Why not pick up this book and keep your imagination busy while your hands take care of the mundane…
(I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions are entirely my own.)
Mercy In A Red Cloak by Carrie Fancett Pagels.
This book is full of historical facts from 1753. It deals with Mercy, a circuit rider’s daughter and Shad a colonial scout. Their romance develops through time and turmoil.
A well written shorter book dealing with troubles of the era: French, British and native tribes.
Mercy, mercy how I enjoyed this novella!
Mercy in a Red Cloak is a historical yet fiction account of Mercy and Shadrach, how they met and how he disappeared as well as her circuit-rider father, for whom she cared for a long time since she lost her mother. This takes place in the mid-1700’s and times were very hard with the many wars occurring and not knowing who to trust.
Shad lost his family and spent years trying to find them which led him to be a scout. He had lost so many loved ones, he was afraid to commit to his friend Mercy.
The search for Shad and Mercy’s father led to a dangerous adventure. Pontiac’s war and the Straits of Mackinac came to life in this clean sweet story.
Mercy is a very strong woman that is full of courage, kindness and love.
I received a complimentary copy from the author. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
Inspirational Historical Romance! A very interesting story that’s short but packed full of history and romance. I took my time reading this book and tried to remember and enjoy each detail. The characters were multifaceted and captured me from the beginning. Mercy was such a strong person that took care of her and her father’s home while he was making his rounds preaching even though it was a land of unrest at that time. Shadrach being a scout gave us good insight to the frontier life. I love the era of the 1700s and learning how they made a living. There are adventures and dangers but I will let you read about them since this is a novella. I want you to enjoy that as I did not knowing what to expect next. If you like historical romance you will enjoy this book.
I received a print copy of this book with no obligation to write a positive review.
If you are looking for a quick read full of history and warm romance then look no farther. Ms Pagels is an accomplished author who draws you into the story and leaves you wishing it was longer. I can picture Mercy in that beautiful red cloak with the rain or snow hitting her face from the descriptions. Mercy is a strong woman with lots of responsibilities and she handles everything with dignity and her faith. I throughly enjoyed how she came into Shadrach’s life and the adventures they ensued. Recommended read for these busy summer days.
I received a complimentary copy from the author. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
A wonderful Historical plus love story set at the end of the French-Indian wars. Strong women and fierce men people this super story. This author’s books are always a real treat, especially since you don’t have to worry about any bad language or inappropriate scenes. Acknowledgement of God being in control is always evident. Highly recommend. I received an advance reader copy from the author. Opinions are my own.
Mercy in a Red Cloak by Carrie Fancett Pagels
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Mercy Clarke is the daughter of a circuit-rider preacher in 1700’s Pennsylvania frontier. She is a woman of faith, hard-working, strong courageous woman and honorable. She often sacrifices much of her own interests for her father, Jonathan, and is often left alone as he performs his circuit-rider duties. I admire her strength and courage as she is often alone on the frontier; I don’t know if I would have handled it as well.
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Shadrach Clark is a handsome, highly skilled colonial scout and a little confused and disappointed when he first meets Mercy and her father. Part of the confusion is that they each have the same last name but spelled a bit differently. The disappointment comes when Shadrach learns that they are not his family he has spent years searching for. I admire his courage and strength as a scout at such a young age and his dedication to finding his family.
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I enjoyed watching as their friendship slowly turns to courtship and possibly more. But their sweet courtship is filled with danger and often times of separation. When Mercy’s father and Shadrach both are missing this courageous woman embarks on a long journey to Mackinaw Island on the Michigan frontier. On her long arduous journey she faces many challenges, hardships, sacrifices, some unexpected surprises and dangerous situations, but nothing will stop her from searching for her loved ones. Will she find them in time before the increasingly unsettled climate escalates and she finds herself in a far more dangerous situation than she previously experienced?
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Mercy in a Red Cloak is an action-packed story filled with dangerous times of a harsh frontier life, sorrows and joys, love, historical facts woven within the story-line and faith. I appreciate the spiritual elements woven throughout the story-line and the characters lives. The reader is taken on a journey from Germantown, Pennsylvania to Mackinaw Island, Michigan and to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania of 1700’s frontier. The author portrays these historical locations and events with vivid detail that captures the elements of the time and this reader. A wonderful, heartwarming story.
A Wonderful Story
Ms. Pagels never disappoints. Mercy in a Red Cloak is a fast-paced read that flows from chapter to chapter. I was so enthralled with it, I finished it in little over an hour. Mercy is such a great character, as is Shad. Their story has a lot of heart and takes you on an adventure that you will not soon forget. Even though this is a novella, once you’ve finished reading it, it feels like you’ve absorbed a novel’s length of storyline. I highly recommend this book.
Mercy in a Red Cloak by Award-winning historical romance author Carrie Fancett Pagels is a delightful novella set in Michigan during the mid-1700s. It is a turbulent time in Michigan’s history with the French and the English vying for the territory that is inhabited by Native Americans. Pagels does a great job bringing to life the history of this time. The book is a sweet romantic read with lots of interesting characters—Mercy, a young woman who has been caring for her father’s home since her mother died and is often alone as her father is an itinerate pastor. And now he has gone missing. Shad, a newly widowed English scout who has secondarily been looking for his birth family. Will these two recognize the love that is growing between them or will circumstances keep them apart. With twists and turns to the plot and characters who are brave and strong and yet tender and caring, the author quickly draws readers into the story and keeps the interest high through to the end. A little action, a little intrigue and, of course, romance and Mercy and Shad’s captivating story is not to be missed.
I read a complimentary copy of the book and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.
An interesting story of friendship, family and the struggles of Colonial times. I do enjoy the history she weaves through out this story.
A mesmerizing story filled with interesting characters and great descriptions. From the first page, I was right there and experiencing everything from the sights and smells to the conversation. Great story.