Book Review: Ann Tatlock's Sweet Mercy

Many books are set in the decade of the 1930's, not as many cover the Prohibition era in the way that this one does. Probably because the perspective that Eve takes isn't as popular, and to be honest just gets a bit too much at times. What seems to matter is the change that takes place for everyone. The setting that provides a backdrop to the novel is also astounding as well. Tatlock knows how to capture the time they are living in without over doing it, and writes without any cheesiness.

Summary: Eve and her family are leaving St. Paul to escape the violence that Prohibition has brought in between the gangs and the rivalry of bootlegging alcohol in certain areas. They hope things will be more peaceful in Mercy. What St.Paul does in public though, Mercy is a lot more quiet about. Eve hopes to help her family at the hotel by helping with her Uncle Cy in running his business there, along with her cousin, Jones. Being a teenager there are also potential love interest, like Marcus, who is aspiring to go to college, or the mysterious Link who seems the opposite of who she would have imagined falling for.