Eighteen-year-old Astrid Bjorklund has always dreamed of becoming a doctor. She had intended to study medicine in Chicago or Grand Forks, but when a disaster wiped out a major portion of her family's income, Astrid stayed home instead, receiving hands-on training from Dr. Elizabeth.
Joshua Landsverk left Blessing two years ago, but he's never forgotten Astrid. Returning to town, he seeks to court her. Astrid is attracted to him, and when the opportunity unexpectedly opens for her to go to Chicago for medical training, she finds it difficult to leave. Love blossoms through their letters, but upon arriving back home, she makes a heartbreaking discovery. Will she have to give up love to pursue her dream?
Average Rating: 4 out of 5 stars(4 out of 5 stars)
8 of 18 Reviews Showing:(View All Reviews)
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Carolyn Gambrell (Florence, SC), November 18, 2009
Excellent book. I could not put it down!! I'm waiting breathlessly for book #2 in this series.
2.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Beulah Moore (Buffalo, MO), November 16, 2009
Lauraine's series on Thor was one story in three books, which is what Astrid's is. It's a bit disappointing, as each book, even in a series should be a complete story. As a fan, I'll get the other two books, but hope they're stand-alone stories.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Laura (Louisiana), November 14, 2009
A Measure of Mercy is set in the early 1900's in a small North Dakota town. Astrid Bjorklund wants to be a doctor but her dream is put on hold when her family loses most of their income. Astrid decides to remain home in Blessing to study under her sister-in-law, Dr. Elizabeth. Joshua Landsverk returns to Blessing to court Astrid. Astrid is attracted to him, and she doesn’t want to leave when she gets the chance to study medicine in Chicago. The book shows us why God allows things to happen even when we don't understand His reasoning at the time.
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Jane Squires (Wasola, Mo.), November 10, 2009
Astrid's struggles about becoming a doctor I could relate to as my husband was an EMT and then a Paramedic. I remember his struggles. Also when Astrid lost a patient and a baby she struggled with the loss. Faith was questioned and that is something I understand too. It was such a blessing reading about Benny and little Emmy. Benny is a street child who has no parents and it was encouraging the family that took him in. Emmy, an Indian child, was left in barn of Astrid's parents.
Joshua Lansverk's struggle with forgiveness toward his Dad is something we should all be able to relate to. We all struggle with wanting to forgive someone who has hurt us.
Astrid's struggle with her faith and her indecision about her future and what path to follow, I also understood. But he end of the book kind of was a let down. I felt we should have known more about Joshua but life does not give us the next chapter of our life. So the more I studied on it and remembered this is not a romance book, I knew that is how life is. One adventure will end and a new one will start. We don't have all the answers to what will happen.
3 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Pauline Hayes (Riverside, CA), November 05, 2009
Lauraine is a wonderful story-teller and I'm a fan. But she missed the mark in this first book, by just setting the stage for the series. I look forward to the next two books, but hope each is a complete story.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Karen Ruwet (Union Bridge, MD), November 01, 2009
Another great story in the lives and families of Blessing. Lauraine Snelling is fantastic at keeping us wondering from book to book what will happen next.
1.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Mona Langly (Spirals, NY), October 23, 2009
Lauraine is a lovely writer with wonderful characters and potential for a great story. However, she missed the story part and spent an entire book writing the preface for book 2 and 3 in her series.
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Penny Hardaway (Alpine, TX), October 22, 2009
I have eagerly awaited the book about Astrid. And I look forward to book 2 in this series. Especially since book 1 was such a cliffhanger.
However I must admit I grew a little weary of Astrid's struggles over what she should do. The Astrid of the other books never seemed to be this indecisive. I just felt like it was completely uncalled for to devote the entire book to her inability to discover where God was leading her. Then at the very last she suddenly made a snap decision, partially based on Joshua's leaving Blessing. Something that was not explained to anyone but the reader.
And bless Mrs. Valders. Will she never quit meddling and gossipping? I don't even know where she got the idea that Astrid was "seeing" an Indian.
I felt that both Astrid & Joshua were far too ready to jump to conclusions about each other and not give the other one a chance. One of them should have been more willing to step out and take a chance if they really cared as much about the other one as the story implies.
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