Title: Cherish Mercy (Heart of the Frontier #3)
Author: Tracie Peterson
Pages: 312
Year: 2017
Publisher: Bethany House
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Cherish Mercy is the final book in a riveting series based on a historical incident in the Oregon Territory in the 1800s. Mercy is the youngest of three sisters who traveled west after the death of their parents with a wagon train whose journey was interrupted by an outbreak of measles. In the first two books of the series, Treasured Grace and Beloved Hope, audiences can read the gripping story of the events that occurred when Mercy was but a young child.
Now, Mercy is grown. She has learned how to use herbs for healing, birthing babies and much more from her sister Grace. Mercy has been asked to come and help care for a friend of Grace’s who is with child but having trouble. Since the frontier is still unsettled, Mercy is the only hope Isaac and Eletta have for a healthy birth. But Grace and Hope are very concerned for the safety of their sister while living in a village that seems to be surrounded by conflict and death.
Mercy, however, senses that God is leading her to take this adventure, a first without her sisters. When Mercy arrives, she takes the task of caring for Eletta and the unborn child in hand as well as caring for their daughter Faith. When incidents between men escalate, increasing the risk of life in the territory, Adam is the only one who might be able to get Mercy and the family to safety. Mercy has been intrigued by Adam since she met him, even when he seems at times very aloof and uncaring.
The final story in the series is very moving, and the further in the pages I went, the deeper the story moved me. I loved how the three sisters’ faith in God was ultimately what they had to rely on and how they cared for each other. Tracie Peterson wrote a very compelling series where she handled difficult trials with honesty and compassion. Forgiveness is one tenet of the books but also how there can be life after death, healing after being hurt.
I hope others will enjoy the Heart of the Frontier series as much as I did! Unlike other novels that can be read as stand-alone and in any order, it is helpful to read the books in order. If you’re looking for a suspense-filled and intriguing story line, here is what you want to read.
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. ( )

I have read the 1st book in this series and now this one (the 3rd). They can be read as a standalones. I am waiting on book number 2 now. While a very young girl Mercy Flanagan had lived through the Whitman Massacre. I was in awe that after being part of such a horrific experience and losing her parents, that she would want to return to the area. Their dear family friend Eletta Browning was expecting and needed care and help with their young daughter. Her willingness to go was three fold: bored with her life in Oregon City, she wants to spread her wings, her desire to help the Browning family, and deep love of and desire to minister the Tututni Indians. She wanted to share God with them but also promote peace between them and the white man. Her sisters are concerned if she will be safe but are assured no harm will come to her. They concede with trepidation as this is their baby sister.
She travels to the Rogue Valley Mission. There she also meets Adam, a strong influence and Christian leader at the mission. Both have no desire to marry. Mercy’s has no interest in finding a spouse and Adam has hurts from the past that have built walls toward any romantic involvement. Both are caught off guard when find themselves strongly attracted to each other. They deny it to themselves and try to explain it away but their hearts won’t listen.
Problems do arise and to the point and their lives are in danger. Mercy’s strength and courage amazed me. It was an eye opener to see all she had to do to perform even simple tasks. I guess living with so many conveniences now I expected her to be complaining about all the work! Hardship was a way of life. The Brownings, Adam and Mercy’s reliance on God was deep. He was the first One they turned to whether the need be large or small. If something was lacking they had to find a way to supply it; if there was danger there was 911 to call. It made me think how much we rely on all we have available rather than crying out to God first. The story is suspenseful, exciting, and filled with so many examples of godly character. I truly enjoyed this book as I do all of Ms. Peterson’s.
I received this book from Bethany Publishers in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have stated are my own. ( )

The third Flanagan sister, Mercy, is all grown-up in this third book of the"Heart of the Frontier" series "Cherished Mercy." Mercy was twelve in the first book and survived the Whitman Massacre. Now a decade or so later, Mercy is being asked by the Eletta Browning, a family friend, to come help her with her difficult pregnancy at the Indian mission where she lives with her husband and adopted daughter, Faith. Even with skirmishes between the Indians and the whites, Mercy agrees to go and help Eletta. Mercy enjoys teaching the Indian children and becoming friends with the Indian women and adores little Faith. However, Adam Browning, Eletta's brother-in-law, is not so friendly. Mercy's faith in God is tested to the limit when tensions increase along the Rogue River leaving Eletta's husband dead. She also learns there is a different side to Adam. A gripping, historical novel by Tracie Peterson. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. ( )

Mercy is doing what she can to survive in Oregon Territory, but soon feels that she must move on. I felt that she was very brave to take on what she did as she goes to help a friend. She has to take on the unknown, but feels that it is better than what she is leaving behind. She must rely on friends and her faith to survive it all.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, the review is my own. ( )