Book Review: Mercy Undeserved by Kristina Hall

Lillian Rossi had it all—a devoted husband, a new baby, and all the riches she’d dreamed of. But one January day changed everything. Now, the consequences of her late husband’s sins extend to her and her son, and Matteo, though only a baby, is the rightful heir to the Rossi empire, making him a target. 

Alberto Moretti promised to protect Lillian and her son, but he well knows the cruelty and desperation of the Rossi family. He served them all too long—until God set him free.

As Lillian and Alberto are thrown together in a race to save her and Matteo’s lives, their own sins and Stefano Rossi’s plans threaten to destroy them. Will they fall prey to the danger so close behind, or will they find mercy they’ve done nothing to deserve?

Series: The Moretti Trilogy, book #2 (could be read as a standalone, but some character confusion would be easier to straighten out if you read book 1 first)

My rating: 

That was a wild ride!

From gunfights to high-stakes car chases, you don't have to look any further for a faith-filled, action-packed suspense novel! (It makes for a great read if you need to kill time on an airplane, too. Not that I know from experience or anything. *cough*)

I really liked Alberto. He was a Christian, but that did not by any means make him a perfect character, and while I really couldn't relate to his struggles exactly, I was here. for. it. His effort to do the right thing and the way he struggled to trust God with his issues was inspiring.

Lillian was honestly a kinda 'meh' character for me. I can't really put my finger on a specific reason...maybe that she just seemed shallow, and her character felt kinda flat? I don't know. I did learn to appreciate her later on in the book, but she still just wasn't my favorite, even after her character arc. (but her love for Matteo? Awwww. So sweet.)

(Also, Alberto's interaction with 'the kid' #iykyk made me smile)

I knew going into this book that the Christian message would be strong (overly strong, honestly), so I'm going to try to not let it influence my review too much. You just have to understand that if you read a Hall book, it's going to be kinda preachy, and that's okay. I did really appreciate the message; the book was full of truth.

I would like to insert here, though, that honestly, I feel like the ending could've been handled differently? I mean, I can't really complain about it since it's completely my personal opinion. But. I feel like the message could've been driven home a bit better if...certain things...had actually happened...and someone would've *whispers* died. (sorry, I know I'm butchering this, I'm just trying to avoid giving spoilers here. If that was a spoiler, I'M SORRY) Like I said, it's totally just personal opinion.

So while I'm sitting here wondering why I chose four stars instead of three...I remember the plot and Scranton. Aaaah, y'all, I loved the plot. Injuries (there were a lot of those in this one *smirks*). Car chases. Guns. Bullets flying. A baby's screams. Cold cement. Handcuffs. Sacrifice. And Scranton.

Let me just take a moment and tell you 'bout my good buddy Scranton. I like him.

That is all.

*I received an e-copy of this book from the author for promotional purposes. All thoughts are my own.

What has your favorite read of 2022 been so far??