It is approaching 2020 year-end and Joy is hosting and celebrating this Friday-Sunday, on the Lake Union Authors Group Facebook Page with a special book giveaway contest:
Friday the 18th through Sunday, Dec. 20, at 6 p.m. EST.
Enter for a Chance to WIN
A new hardcover copy of Joy Jordan Lake's
a wrapped hardcover of #1 Amazon bestselling novel
A TANGLED MERCY, a historical mystery.
Look for the Champagne Graphic Post (like the one above) on the
Be sure to join in the fun!
About A Tangled Mercy
Joy Jordan Lake
A haunting and redemptive novel inspired by the heartbreaking true events that occurred at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, A Tangled Mercy examines the horrifying depths of human brutality and our enduring hope for forgiveness.
After the sudden death of her troubled mother, struggling Harvard grad student Kate Drayton walks out on her lecture—and her entire New England life. Haunted by unanswered questions and her own uncertain future, she flees to Charleston, South Carolina, the place where her parents met, convinced it holds the key to understanding her fractured family and saving her career in academia. Kate is determined to unearth groundbreaking information on a failed 1822 slave revolt—the subject of her mother’s own research.
Nearly two centuries earlier, Tom Russell, a gifted blacksmith and slave, grappled with a terrible choice: arm the uprising spearheaded by members of the fiercely independent African Methodist Episcopal Church or keep his own neck out of the noose and protect the woman he loves.
Kate’s attempts to discover what drove her mother’s dangerous obsession with Charleston’s tumultuous history are derailed by a horrific massacre in the very same landmark church. In the unimaginable aftermath, Kate discovers a family she never knew existed as the city unites with a powerful message of hope and forgiveness for the world.
"Editor’s Choice for November " —Historical Novel Society
"Named one of 12 Heartbreaking New Historical Fiction of Fall"
—BookBub
"#1 Bestselling Novel"
—Amazon
"Named one of the 18 Best New Historical Fiction Books to Read With Your Book Club."
—BookBub
"Named one of November’s Hottest Books”
—Goodreads
"Fall/Winter Reading List 2017"
— Deep South Magazine
Praise for A Tangled Mercy
A Goodreads Hot Reads Selection
“Satisfying…[A Tangled Mercy] will appeal to admirers of Sue Monk Kidd’s The Invention of Wings.” —Library Journal
“A novel of secrets, racial tensions, family, and a love that withstands the passage of time, A Tangled Mercy is truly enthralling.” —Historical Novel Society (Editor’s Choice)
“Jordan-Lake brings us the aroma, taste, and view of Charleston as vividly as if we stood in the middle of the scene. The depth of emotion and veracity of the story sets this novel apart, as it brings a lost and critical piece of southern history to light. [It] is about the important things in our life—how art undoes our chaos; how history is part of our present; and how defiant love and forgiveness conquer hatred and bigotry.”
—Patti Callahan, New York Times bestselling author of Becoming Mrs. Lewis
“A must-read novel for today. Weaving the story of a slave uprising in 1822 Charleston with one set during the 2015 massacre at Charleston’s AME Church, A Tangled Mercy reminds us of yesterday’s atrocities and today’s ongoing racial travesties. Throughout the novel, author Joy Jordan-Lake offers readers compelling characters, evocative writing, and an engrossing and appalling look at time past and time present.”
—M.K. Tod, author of Time and Regret
“Joy Jordan-Lake has done a masterful job with her new novel, A Tangled Mercy. She captures the beauty, charm, and challenges of one of America’s great cities, Charleston, South Carolina. In the historical-cultural context of Charleston, her writing is an inspiration. Through rich character development, she gives us an intimate view of its African American life. A Tangled Mercy is a must-read for those who want to experience the South. We meet a variety of people, both living and dead, that represent the iconic, ‘Emmanuel Nine.’”
—African Methodist Episcopal Bishop John Richard Bryant, retired
“Joy Jordan-Lake’s A Tangled Mercy is an incredibly compelling and meticulously researched historical novel that will have you thinking about it long after you turn the last page. The dual narrative interweaves the story of Harvard grad student Kate Drayton’s journey to Charleston, South Carolina, to find answers about her deceased mother’s troubled past, with the little known but fascinating story of the Charleston slave uprising of 1822. It is a powerful and culturally relevant tale that should be on everyone’s must-read list this year.”
—Jane Healey, author of The Saturday Evening Girls Club
Joy's Books
For more about Joy's Books and her latest, UNDER A GILDED MOON (available now), visit her website.
About the Author
"Stories of a past you never knew.
With characters you'll never forget."
Joy Jordan-Lake is a #1 Amazon bestselling author, occasional professor of literature and creative writing, mom of three, dog-lover, hiker, and an increasingly reluctant runner.
To date, she's written eight books, including the #1 bestselling A Tangled Mercy and the award-winning novel Blue Hole Back Home.
Her latest historical fiction, Under a Gilded Moon, was released on Dec. 1, 2020.