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Table of Contents
About The Book
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Richard Paul Evans comes an emotionally rich work of historical fiction inspired by the true story of Etta Wheeler, a woman whose courage and compassion helped spark a movement that forever changed a country.
In 1874, Etta Wheeler leaves her quiet upstate New York farm town behind to follow her husband into the bustling and sometimes brutal world of Gilded Age New York City. Surrounded by wealth, power, and ambition, Etta struggles to find where she belongs until a chance encounter in the tenements of Hell’s Kitchen changes everything.
There she meets a young girl trapped in conditions no child should endure. What began as one woman’s determination to help a single child soon draws Etta into a battle against the city’s most powerful institutions, forcing her to discover a courage she never knew she possessed.
Set against the stark contrasts of Gilded Age Manhattan, this uplifting historical novel of compassion and moral courage tells the extraordinary story of how a singular act of courage ignited lasting change that still impacts the world today.
In 1874, Etta Wheeler leaves her quiet upstate New York farm town behind to follow her husband into the bustling and sometimes brutal world of Gilded Age New York City. Surrounded by wealth, power, and ambition, Etta struggles to find where she belongs until a chance encounter in the tenements of Hell’s Kitchen changes everything.
There she meets a young girl trapped in conditions no child should endure. What began as one woman’s determination to help a single child soon draws Etta into a battle against the city’s most powerful institutions, forcing her to discover a courage she never knew she possessed.
Set against the stark contrasts of Gilded Age Manhattan, this uplifting historical novel of compassion and moral courage tells the extraordinary story of how a singular act of courage ignited lasting change that still impacts the world today.
Product Details
- Publisher: Gallery Books (October 20, 2026)
- Length: 336 pages
- ISBN13: 9781668264218
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Raves and Reviews
Praise for the #1 New York Times bestselling author Richard Paul Evans
"King of Christmas fiction."
—The New York Times
“The most popular holiday tale since Tiny Tim.”
—Newsweek
“The master of the holiday tearjerker . . . Fans of Evans’ work will be both moved by and invested in this semiautobiographical tale.”
—Booklist
“Chock-full of holiday spirit . . . this enjoyable Yuletide tale deserves a place under many a Christmas tree.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Masterful storytelling . . . in true Evans form”
—Deseret News
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Book Cover Image (jpg): Mercy's Child
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Author Photo (jpg): Richard Paul Evans Photo by Emily Drew.(0.1 MB)
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