Awakening Mercy

Genesis House #1

by Angela Benson

2001 Christy Award finalist! "Awakening Mercy" is the first book in an exciting series by award-winning author Angela Benson. This is a contemporary story about a successful career woman and a man who runs a social services agency in inner-city Atlanta. The reader will learn the consequences of unforgiveness and the willingness of God to restore broken relationships.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Romance, Ebooks

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Though Angela Benson began writing fiction in Miss Milizo's fifth grade English class, her first book was not published until 1994, more than thirty years later! Since then, Angela has published twelve novels, two novellas, and a nonfiction writing book. Her books have appeared on national, regional and local bestseller lists, and she has won several writing awards, including Best Multicultural Romance from Romantic Times magazine, and Best Contemporary Ethnic Romance from Affaire de Coeur magazine. She was a finalist for the 2000 Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award in Multicultural Romance.

After publishing seven contemporary romance novels and one novella with Kensington and Harlequin, Angela made a faith move to Christian fiction in 2000 with the publication of Awakening Mercy, the first book in her Genesis House series from Tyndale House Publishers. Awakening Mercy was a finalist for both the RITA Award given by Romance Writers of America (RWA) and the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction. The second book in the Genesis House series, Abiding Hope, was published in September 2001. Abiding Hope was awarded the Emma Award for Best Inspirational Romance presented by the Romance Slam Jam. The third book and final book of the series, Enduring Love, is not yet scheduled.

BET Books, now Harlequin's Kimani Press purchased the mass market rights to Awakening Mercy and Abiding Hope in 2000 and released mass market editions of the titles in June 2002 and June 2003, respectively.

Angela's first hardcover title, The Amen Sisters, was released in September 2005 by Walk Worthy Press. The Essence bestselling title won the Emma Award for Best Inspirational Romance. The trade paperback edition was released in November 2007.

Up Pops the Devil, published by HarperCollins (Avon A) in August 2008, was Angela's eleventh novel. It was selected the November 2008 African-American Book Club Pick at Books-A-Million and was featured in the September-October 2008 issue of UPSCALE Magazine.

Angela's twelfth novel, Sins of the Father (Avon A), hits bookstores in September 2009. Her second novella, Showers of Blessings, in the A Million Blessings (Dafina) anthology, was published in March 2010.

Angela has a diverse education and work history. She majored in mathematics at Spelman College and Industrial Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), and worked for fifteen years as an engineer in the telecommunications industry. She holds Masters degrees in operations research and human resources development. Her most recent degree is a doctorate in instructional technology from the University of Georgia. Dr. Benson is now an associate professor of educational technology at The University of Alabama.

Reviews

[Shawneda Shawneda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vertical Reach = 5
Cece and Nate are written with a window into their personal and corporate relationships with God. They are honest and grow in their area of internal conflict as they reach more and stretch more in their relationship with God.

Ministry Message = 5
Forgivenss and mercy are important to give to others and oneself in order to move on and live the best life possible. It is also reinforced in the lives of the Marvin and Shay.

Craft = 4
Benson is a seasoned author and it shows in the novel. She has well rounded characters, interesting plot activity and easy to follow dialogue. Setting and description are placed and tension paced well into the book.

Aesthetics = 3
I didn't like the cover. It just didn't grab me. If it weren't a Benson book I wouldn't have given it a second look.

Dollar$ & $ense = 4.25
African American Christian fiction readers will love this book. Any reader who loves Christian fiction will love this story.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. I got it as a "free read" from Amazon for Kindle so I don't generally expect a lot out of those books. This book was well-written, had fully-formed characters and plot, and was just an overall enjoyable "good read." No sex, instead, courting- the way it should be, with Biblical truths blended in throughout. I would recommend this book to others with leanings toward this genre.

[Debra Odom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good "make-you-feel-good" book. I like the characters in it CeCe and Nate and his friends. It is a breath of fresh air from the crime/mystery and urban fiction that I have been reading. If you are looking for a good inspirational book, this one fits the bill. This is a long book with 500+ pages but Angela Benson keeps you interested. I can't wait to read the sequel when Shay and Marvin get back together.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical Kindle Freebie, there seem to be 2 kinds, Christian Romance and the other end of the spectrum. This one is a Christian Romance. It's a fast read, a good way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful love story about two people who loved each other but more importantly they loved the Lord!

[Addie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A clean, cute love story.

[Rose Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forgiveness

Wow, this book was totally different from what I read. I don't really go for Christian books but this was very nice to read. It had it's funny parts, a few surprises but most of all it had forgiveness.
I would recommend this book to anyone whom loves a good love story with faith in the mix.
It's good from start to finish.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first read by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in tears reading this book. The ending wasn't what I was expecting...But I still loved this book.

[IB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story. Engaging all the way through. It did seem like the author belabored some things, choosing to go over and over them (mostly small actions and thoughts). But, I loved it anyway.

[Lindsay Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished this book. It was excellent! I am glad I stuck with it because it was pretty slow moving in the beginning, and a little more drawn out than I typically like, but it was a wonderful lesson of forgiveness, humility, acceptance, and love. I loved the ending when the main character, Cece, used the thing that had held her back for so long to help others walking in her shoes.

[Kathleen Payne · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Awakening Mercy" is a well written Christian Romance novel about loving and forgiving your mistakes of the past, something we all can probably learn to do. I enjoyed the read, but I find I can't read too many books like this in a row, but rather I need to change around and read other types of books.

[Judy Hardwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a complex but sweet love story...

Love that the author digs into real personalities and problems with the two main characters... bc we rarely have fairytale relationships, right? Great ending... but I do wonder how Martin and Shay story ended... and Stuart needs a good woman...

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! The storyline reminds me so much of my own life. It's a good read for those who enjoy Christian fiction. It's a story of love, life's hard knocks, forgiveness, family and friends. You won't be disappointed!

[Sandra Read That · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just started reading Christian fiction and this was maybe my 2nd book and I enjoyed it a lot. The Author seemed to have been rushing to write book so there were some details that she could have elaborated on but didn't.

[Judy Bullard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good christian reading. People learning how to stop hating and learning to forgive. I enjoyed it.

[Justine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent contemporary romance about real, broken people and the many struggles that they face as individuals and as a couple. Many lessons on faith but they are not thrown in your face.

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a great storyline as well as strong, Christian characters.

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book~ Can't wait to read more, and I loved Up Pops the Devil. God bless and I will post an acutal review when I get on again.

[Dorothy Ottinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Romance; boy meets girl, boy gets girl...no mystery there at least it was a clean, well written story. I just do not like romance

[Patriciaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read of first ever Christian romance I read featuring African American characters. Loved it then (2002) and love it as much now. Story holds up as does the writing.

[Wanda (The Watered Soul) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story of love, pain, and forgiveness

[Aretha Montgomery · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was just okay to me. It was a struggle to finish. Probably could have been shorter. All issues weren't resolved at the end.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's great as far as showing characters who are working to follow the Lord. I don't really like romances, so it wasn't my favorite.

[Angie Riddick · Rating 4 out of 5]

little slow starting but a good book to read

[LaSonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was a very good read.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A refreshing, wholesome good read!