Price: $2.99
(as of Oct 07, 2024 00:38:44 UTC – Details)
“Seamlessly blending fascinating historical detail with a legal drama and a contemporary romance, Hugo exquisitely captures not only the wind-swept landscape of the outer Cape, but also the complicated landscape of the heart.” — Karen Dukess, author of The Last Book Party
Award-winning novelist Lynne Hugo returns readers to the beloved shores and shallows of outer Cape Cod Bay in a riveting drama teeming with life and human truth.
Caroline Marcum thought she’d put the great mistake of her life behind her when she left Wellfleet, but is forced to face it when she returns to her childhood home on the bay to care for her dying mother. Ridley Neal thought he’d put his past–and his prison term–behind him when he returned home to take over his father’s oyster and clam farm in the harbor. Casual acquaintances long ago, they connect again during a fierce nor’easter.
But their suspicions are soon raised when a lawsuit threatens Rid’s livelihood, and a chance encounter with the woman Caroline most wronged results in threats and vandalism. Each burdened with separate guilts and struggling with mistrust of the other, can Caroline and Rid set aside their fears and take a chance on the possibility of forgiveness and love?
Inspired by a 1996 lawsuit, this 10th anniversary edition includes an Afterword with an update on the 2024 status of that lawsuit. A Matter Of Mercy takes readers deep into a life struggle for survival for oyster and clam farmers on theseashell-strewn shallows shallows of Cape Cod bay as Caroline and Rid battle over whether we ever find our real homes in the places and with the people we meant to leave behind.
<br><br> ASIN : B0D523HYLB <br> Publisher : Amphorae Publishing Group, LLC (August 6, 2024) <br> Publication date : August 6, 2024 <br> Language : English <br> File size : 3910 KB <br> Text-to-Speech : Enabled <br> Screen Reader : Supported <br> Enhanced typesetting : Enabled <br> X-Ray : Not Enabled <br> Word Wise : Enabled <br> Print length : 360 pages <br>
Customers say
Customers find the book intriguing, captivating, and enjoyable. They appreciate the well-researched background and factual material. Readers also describe the characters as real, colorful, and dramatic. They praise the writing quality as superb and wonderful.
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Amazon Customer –
I didn’t like the story at first
I didn’t like the story at first, feeling like the characters were in the midst of many crises, with no way out! But it got better and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Almost didn’t finish it but glad I did. The characters were real and experienced real life issues and emotions.
teachlz –
A Memorable and Thought-Provoking Story
Lynne Hugo, The Author of âA Matter of Mercyâ has written an intriguing and captivating novel. This is the tenth anniversary edition of this book, and with a current afterword, the author explains the 1996 lawsuit of the oyster farmers and land owners. The basis of the suit was explore who legally owned or could claim the waterfront and land where so many fisherman made their livelihoods. The Genres for this book are: Historical Fiction, Womenâs Romance, Women and Children, and Fiction. The author vividly describes the Cape Cod feel of âWellfleetâ, where the story takes place, and the colorful and dramatic characters.Caroline Marcum has come home to Wellfleet to take care of her dying mother. Years ago, Caroline was in a tragic car accident that caused a young child to die, and as a result lost her teaching license. Ridley Neal hope he can escape his past life from prison, and find home in the oyster and clam farm his father left for him.Caroline helps Rid with his oysters during a NorâEaster, and the two spend the night together. I love that the author writes about Ridâs loving dog. Rid and some of his friends and Oyster farmers are facing a lawsuit by one of the landowners for the waterfront that is used for them to make a living. At the same time, someone holds a grudge against Caroline, and is terrorizing her.I appreciate how Lynne Hugo discusses the importance of communication, forgiveness, second chances, the chance for redemption, trust, hope and mercy. What does a home consist of? The author also mentions the importance of emotional support, family, friends, neighbors, love and hope. I highly recommend this memorable story.
Elizabeth Meredith –
For those who know Cape Cod and love oysters!
A thoroghly enjoyable read based on a true incident in Wellfleet, Cape Cod. Slow start, but overall well written. For oyster fans!
CBrock –
Good Story
I liked the story but I must say it dragged in places and was redundant – like a term paper with fluff to make it long enough. It drags then speeds up and ends with gaps of time. The story could have been written better I guess is what I am saying.
John, Charleston, SC –
Twists and Turns…
I was recently introduced to Lynne Hugo’s writing, and this is now the fourth of her books I have read; I will certainly continue reading her work. I typically keep several books going at once on my Kindle, with an attempt to move through them at about the same pace, but that does not work with Lynne Hugo’s novels, as they received more than their share of time simply because they are hard to put down.As noted in many reviews, the author is well-versed in Cape Cod life and aquaculture (her bio notes her NE roots…), and the reader becomes well-inserted into that culture. The characters are flawed, as we all are, and that makes them more real and believable. Both protagonists have spent time in prison, and the fatal accident that sent the female protagonist to prison becomes an underlying theme of the book.The novel has many twists and turns, and the Afterword demonstrates that many of the twists and turns are based on fact, not fiction. I suspect that readers in the Cape Cod region who are aware of the lawsuits between Washashores and Oyster Farmers will get a glimpse into the backstory behind the conflict, but the book certainly will be entertaining to readers anywhere. Since reading my first Lynne Hugo book several months ago I have become a big fan, and regardless of the setting (NE aquaculture, primate zoos, midwestern farm country) they are entertaining and the background is very well researched. I would highly recommend this book, and urge readers to explore the author’s entire collection.
Connecticut bookworm –
Lynne Hugo’s best novel so far
Lynne Hugo has crafted a gripping tale of aquaculture on Cape Cod, wrapped around a very believable love story. Both Rid and CiCi want to put their pasts behind them, both have spent time in prison (I can’t remember why in Rid’s case, but CiCi killed a child in an auto accident), and both need to learn about forgiveness. CiCi also has to deal with her mother’s illness and eventual death, as well as her own late-in-life pregnancy. There’s a lot on everyone’s plate!It is clear that the author spent a great deal of time researching not only the lawsuit that threatens the livelihood of the oystermen in Wellfleet, but also the day-to-day problems that they face. She does a wonderful job of evoking nature on the Cape in all seasons, especially winter when the tourists–or washashores–have left.Better proofreading would have improved an already very good novel.