Streams of Mercy - Lauraine Snelling

The small town of Blessing, North Dakota is one filled with many different people. Mostly generational families, all hard working and devoted to God. All keen to make their town a welcoming place.

One of it's residents, Anji Baard Moen has returned home from Norway with her four children. Settling back into familiar surroundings, she relishes in her role as teacher as well as writing articles for the local paper.

When an opportunity arises to move in to a big home, Anji is unsure but her worries are put to rest and she moves in. Cherishing being back in a loving and caring community, Anji finds her feelings for a minister, Thomas Devlin, changing. When faced with a tough decision, she seeks the advice of Ingebord Bjorklund, mother of Dr. Astrid Bjorkland.

Thomas himself is finding himself more and more attracted to the lovely Anji. When invited for dinner at their new home, he finds he's thinking what it would be like to sit at this table as her husband, But he soon banishes all thoughts of this as he needs to know what are God's intention for him. He knows he has a calling - but when will he hear it?

Amidst the growing love story, a circus train pulls in to town bringing it with a perilous disease. Can the doctors, including Astrid,  handle a growing hazard? With death around the corner, the fight is seemingly endless. Then tragedy strikes. Will the town of Blessing and it's people survive?

Snelling's historical novel is heartwarming, inviting and an absorbing read. The details given are many and creates a vibrant setting - both people and location.

Having not read the first two book in this series, I was a little lost with all the people met, but just for the first couple of chapters. Once my confusion lessoned as to who was related to whom, the supposed main story (the growing affection between Anji and Thomas) got lost in the drama of the circus train and the disease that it brought.

Overall, a great story. I would suggest reading the first two books so as to wholly appreciate the different characters and their backgrounds. Recommended read for fans of historical fiction.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House publishers to review. The opinions expressed are my own and I am not required to give a positive critique.