Mercy: A Contemporary Retelling of Ruth

by S.E. Clancy

Everything changed for Mercy Benson after the argument with her husband. Leaving behind the taxi horns and clamor of New York, the young widow follows her mother-in-law to the sleepy mountain town of Fayette. Despite relatives taking her in, Mercy feels utterly out of place among the whispering pines and church-going folks.

When she takes a job at the local restaurant, Mercy finds a piece of home in the owner, Wyatt Peralta. But she can’t claim it—someone broken and tainted would never deserve such joy.

Genres: Christian Fiction

135 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 12, 2019

About the author

I'm just a sarcastic, Jesus-loving author taking the publishing world by storm...one facepalm at a time. Just say no to mayo.

Reviews

[Abigail McKenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5 stars
What a lovely little story! Full review to come soon (hopefully)

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed on: Ashes Books & Bobs.

I was excited for the chance to read S.E. Clancy’s novella, Mercy, because Ruth is one of my favorite books of the Bible. I’ve always admired Ruth’s devotion to her mother-in-law and was anxious to see what a contemporary retelling of this story might look like.

Mercy took me back to my days of waiting tables and washing dishes in high school as Mercy finds herself picking the first available job she could find after moving in with her mother-in-law, following the death of her young husband. Mercy’s life has been turned upside down and has left her painfully broken. Little does she know who her boss would be and what would come of her life in near future.

I was quickly swept away by Mercy and Wyatt’s relationship. Wyatt’s tenderness toward Mercy was incredibly endearing and made the story worth reading. He was the epitome of a good guy!

My only wish was that the ending of the story hadn’t been quite so abrupt. Though this was a novella, I felt there was more story to tell. I was a little shocked when I realized the end had come so quickly and flipped back to make sure I hadn’t missed something. I would have liked to see more of the characters as growing as individuals and together as a couple. Nonetheless, this was a nice, quick read and made me think of the book of Ruth in a modern light. I really appreciated the chance to do that!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet retelling of the biblical story of Ruth. The setting was richly imagined and the characters compelling. Would have liked to see the ending hashed out a bit more as it arrived too quickly for me, but all in all a great read!

[Nathaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mercy was such a fun story. It centred around a very interesting cast of characters who all had their quirks and made the story more interesting. I loved the backstory to Mercy and I think Wyatt is one of my favorite book characters ever. Definitely recommend. Hoping there’s a continuation soon!

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good biblical retelling and this one is superbly done! You could clearly feel the love between Mercy (Ruth) and her mother in law and the sacrifices she made to care for her. I loved the modernity and little snippets of humor woven throughout that made it fresh and relatable while still sticking to the heart of the story. I'm once again blown away by Clancy's ability to pack a novella with so much detailed goodness.

[Tori Rainn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read and great retelling of Ruth. Mercy is a strong girl who’s had to deal with a lot in her life. I liked how the author handled the pain of feeling broken and then depicting that place of healing that’s not so easy to find for everyone. Wyatt was a personal fav. Charming and funny fellow. This book is a great balance of drama, humor, and sprinkled with a not so preachy message that is sure to leave the reader encouraged. Recommended for your next to be read.

[Marie (IfCatsCouldRead) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My perspective of the story comes from a different place than most other reviewers. I don't know the story of Ruth, but I really enjoyed this story. Mercy is a very likable character who doesn't have confidence to be herself and is embarrassed about her past. She has lost her husband and feels guilty about it but is working hard to better her life. I kept rooting for Mercy throughout the story and enjoyed watching her gain confidence and courage.

[Laurie Lucking · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous modern-day retelling of one of my favorite Bible stories! Mercy was well-written, compelling, and romantic with just the right amount of humor. You can find my short video review here:

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[J.M. Hackman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second read-through for me, and I enjoyed Mercy even more than the first time!
I loved the characters, grieving Mercy and persistent Wyatt, the country setting, and the banter between them. My only complaint? It was too short! I wanted more *everything* & was sorry to see this novella end.

[M. Boyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another thought-provoking story by Clancy! I really enjoyed the characters in this contemporary Biblical retelling of Ruth's story. Mercy was very focused on taking care of her and her mother-in-law, and I rooted for her to gain courage to speak the truth and move forward in life. Wyatt was a great Boaz, and the author did a fine job of fleshing out each character. I recommend this short book to women who love Biblical retellings.

[Alessandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this short story just wish it was longer and more in depth.