Verse of the Day

"Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, `My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.' . . . Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it."  (Isaiah 46:9–11)

Traces of Mercy by Michael Landon Jr. & Cindy Kelley

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Traces of Mercy

David C. Cook (October 1, 2013)

by

Michael Landon Jr. and Cindy Kelley

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Michael Landon Jr., son of television legend Michael Landon, is an award-winning storyteller, first in television and film, and now in books. His print works include One More Sunrise co-written with Tracie Peterson.


****

Cindy Kelley is the co-author of the novel The Silent Gift and Traces of Mercy. Her career as a screenwriter with long-time writing partner, Michael Landon, Jr., began with the adaptation of Margery Williams’ classic story, The Velveteen Rabbit, which had a theatrical release. Several television movies followed, most notably Love Comes Softly (based on Janette Oke’s novel), which won a CAMIE Award and the Epiphany Prize for Movie Guide’s most inspirational television movie of 2003. Cindy and her husband, Jim, make their home in the Southwest, have three adorable grandchildren and four big dogs who rule the house.




ABOUT THE BOOK

From Michael Landon Jr. and Cindy Kelley, authors of The Silent Gift and creators of the hit television film Love Comes Softly, comes an exciting historical romance set post-Civil War and filled with suspense and faith-building values.

At the war’s end, a young woman suffers an accident that leaves her unconscious and alone. Waking with amnesia, she takes the name Mercy and wants more than anything to find out the truth of her past. But then a handsome stranger arrives, who may hold the key to everything she has forgotten. What he knows could devastate her future and even end her life.

Written by two proven storytellers, Traces of Mercy is perfect for anyone who loves historical fiction, prairie-based tales, or just a good romance.



If you'd like to read the first chapter of Traces of Mercy, go
HERE.


Margie's Comments: Review to come later.

Verse of the Day

Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. . . . Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. (Psalm 37:4–57 NLT)

Verse of the Day

"I will be with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. I will someday bring you safely back to this land. I will be with you constantly until I have finished giving you everything I have promised." (Genesis 28:15 NLT)

The song stuck in my head today (words by Fanny Crosby):

1. All the way my Savior leads me,
   What have I to ask beside?
   Can I doubt His tender mercy,
   Who through life has been my Guide?
   Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
   Here by faith in Him to dwell!
   For I know, whate’er befall me,
   Jesus doeth all things well;
   For I know, whate’er befall me,
   Jesus doeth all things well.
2. All the way my Savior leads me,
   Cheers each winding path I tread,
   Gives me grace for every trial,
   Feeds me with the living Bread.
   Though my weary steps may falter
   And my soul athirst may be,
   Gushing from the Rock before me,
   Lo! A spring of joy I see;
   Gushing from the Rock before me,
   Lo! A spring of joy I see.
3. All the way my Savior leads me,
   Oh, the fullness of His love!
   Perfect rest to me is promised
   In my Father’s house above.
   When my spirit, clothed immortal,
   Wings its flight to realms of day
   This my song through endless ages:
   Jesus led me all the way;
   This my song through endless ages:
   Jesus led me all the way.

ACFW New Releases November 2013

More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website.

Contemporary Romance:
A Marriage in Middlebury by Anita Higman — A Marriage in Middlebury is a love story, but it’s also a story about the complex, quirky, and sometimes prickly interworkings of the folks who frequent the local tearoom in Middlebury, Texas. (Contemporary Romance from Abingdon Press)

The Christmas Promise by Kimberly Rose Johnson — Dr. Pete Harding doesn’t date single moms, no matter how lovely Keira Noble’s smile, or how adorable her four-year-old son. He’s been down that road before and knows it can lead to a broken heart. But that doesn’t mean he can’t help the pretty widow find a puppy to put under the Christmas tree for her son…. Pete claims he only wants to help her find the perfect gift for Cody. Yet Keira can’t deny the tender feelings in his eyes whenever he looks at her. Could this handsome Scrooge have a change of heart, and create a new family for Christmas? (Contemporary Romance from Heartsong Presents)

Silver Bells by Deobrah Raney — As Elvis croons from the radio and Christmas descends upon a small Kansas town, two people find the miracle of love. (Contemporary Romance from Summerside Press [Guideposts])

Rodeo Queen by Shannon Taylor Vannatter — When her safe life is shattered by danger, can he protect her long enough to reclaim her heart? (Contemporary Romance from Heartsong Presents)

Plain Peace by Beth Wiseman — Anna’s grandfather seems determined to ruin her Rumspringa . . . and any hopes she has of finding a husband. (Contemporary Romance from Thomas Nelson)

Contemporary:
Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay — Samantha Moore must stop hiding behind literary characters, such as Elizabeth Bennet and Jane Eyre, in order to find her true self and true love. (Contemporary from Thomas Nelson)

Romance:
Aloha Rose by Lisa Carter — Can Laney overcome her fears of rejection and Kai move past the tragedies of the past to find in each other more than they ever dreamed? (Romance from Abingdon Press)

Historical:
By the Waters of Kadesh by Carole Towriss — Moses sends spies to explore the mysterious land of Canaan, but when ten of the twelve return with a bad report, all Israel, including a former Egyptian soldier and a young widow, must deal with the unexpected and terrifying fallout. (Historical from DeWard Publishing)

Middle Grade:
Hear No Evil by Mary L. Hamilton– Summer camp is no fun for Brady McCaul. The girl with the cute dimples thinks he’s immature and childish. The camp bully targets him with cruel taunts and teasing, and flips Brady’s canoe to keep him from winning the race. But worst of all, his mom won’t let him come home. She doesn’t want him living with her anymore. Brady wonders if even God cares about him. Can Brady figure out what he did to earn Mom’s rejection and change her mind by week’s end? Or will he have to live with his workaholic dad, the guy who left when Brady was seven? (Middle-Grade from HopeSprings Books)

Suspense/Thriller:
The Truth Revealed by Deborah Lynne — The Truth Revealed is a suspenseful page turner about two missing kids and Samantha Cain is trying to help find them before their time runs out. (Suspense/Thriller from OakTara)

Young Adult:
Outcasts (The Safe Lands) by Jill Williamson — The remnant from Glenrock is now living as rebels within the Safe Lands, looking for a way to find purpose in their lives. When a young rebel is murdered and his death points to a rebel leader, it’s hard to know who to trust. Levi tries to organize a plan to free the children and fights for respect as elder over those who’d rather go their own way. Omar tries to change his image of a traitor by donning a costume and going out into the night as a vigilante hero. And Mason stumbles onto a shocking secret about the Safe Lands meds, but his investigation just might get them all liberated. (Young Adult from Zondervan)

Verse of the Day

The Lord will give [unyielding and impenetrable] strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace. (Psalm 29:11 AMP)

Unwrapping Wonder by Carol O'Casey Q&A

AUTHOR BIO:
Carol O'Casey has spent years in the field - literally - from cataloging plants high in the mountains of Southern California to mucking through mud monitoring shorebirds on the coast of Washington state. She has taught science to college students and also to sixth graders. She and her husband, a pastor and Christian college professor, live in Oregon. They are the parents of three grown children. Carol's passion is expounding the wonders tucked in the cathedrals of God's wilds. She teaches "Wonder Workshops" and speaks at retreats. Learn more at http://thedivinenatureproject.com/


AUTHOR PHOTO:



Q/A WITH THE AUTHOR:
Good morning, Carol. Thanks for meeting with us. We'd love to get a glimpse into the personal passions that motivated you to write this delightful book, Unwrapping Wonder. Tell us a little about yourself.
I'm a field biologist. I love being outdoors. I feel most alive in God's natural cathedral—the wilds. And I'm a bit of a field guide addict. I collect guide books because I love to read about nature—from birds, bugs and butterflies to trees, leaves, flowers and fish. I want to know what makes these things tick. I want to unwrap the wonder of each and learn how they live. Field guides help me to do that. But many of them lack an element that's important to me.

Let me explain. My aunt is a tour guide to art at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. As a guide, my aunt not only talks about the painting, but she discusses the artist. I consider nature to be God's living museum of sorts, filled with His artworks. I want to discuss both the art and the artist. I wrote Unwrapping Wonder so the reader can explore the natural science of the bird, the butterfly, the leaf, the tree, as well as connect with the Master craftsman and learn a hope-filled lesson for everyday life.

You use this phrase as your tag line: Discover More about God, Nature and Self ~ One Wonder at a time. Can you explain how Unwrapping Wonder will help the reader discover more about God?
Each chapter of the book explores one object from nature. By studying these wonders as we peer inside the layers of a leaf, unwrap the wonder of a seed, or investigate the bee and its abilities we discover that God is able ... He's able to do more than we could ever ask or imagine.

What will a reader discover about nature from Unwrapping Wonder?
For starters:

• How a butterfly wing gets its color.
• Where a dragonfly spends it's "childhood."
• What cell of a plant has no nucleus and why that's important.
• What a leaf scar is and why it is critical to the life of the plant.
• How a sand dollar moves—and why?
• How a barnacle is able to withstand crashing waves.
• What exactly goes on under the bark of a tree.

I could go on, but I'll let you discover the rest. . . .


Finally, what can a reader expect to discover about herself (or himself) from nature?
Nature has taught me many lessons. One is that I don't have to have life all figured out. I only need to follow the One who does. Too often, I try to depend on myself to solve life's problems, instead of looking to the birds and lilies of the field—as Jesus advises in Matthew 6:26–30. When I do, I discover that God takes care of their needs. Because of that, I can trust Him with all of my cares and concerns.
And to my readers I'll say this: I'd love to hear about your own discoveries! After reading Unwrapping Wonder, please visit my website: www.divinenatureproject.com to contact me and share your discoveries.

Thanks again, Carol, for joining us today.
Thank you. Now, go wonder!

Unwrapping Wonder by Carol O'Casey

UNWRAPPING WONDER:

Finding Hope in the Gift of Nature

by Carol O'Casey

BACK COVER:

BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Heeding technology's cry to "get connected" can result in overloaded circuits of the mind. Frenetic connections can cause frazzled lives.
Step outside to cultivate a connection with creation and deepen your relationship with the Creator.
Unwrapping Wonder offers a delightful mix of natural history, human story, and God's glory. Each chapter "unwraps" one object of nature such as the barnacle, the honey bee, the tiniest seed. As readers peer within these gifts, they discover more of nature, God, and themselves.
This book is for individuals, families and groups who enjoy learning about creation and getting to know the Creator better through the wonders he has made, and those looking for hope in a hectic world. It will help restore the reader's soul.
Each chapter includes:

• The Wonder Introduced - through anecdote, natural history, or life story.
• The Wonder Unwrapped - minute hidden details revealed and explained in everyday terms.
• The Wonder Applied - Practical, spiritual lessons for daily living.
• Promise of Hope: Relevant Scripture to inspire hope.
• "Wondercise": A short, hands-on nature activity designed to awaken heart, mind and soul to the wonder of creation and give praise to the Creator.

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AUTHOR BIO:
Carol O'Casey has spent years in the field - literally - from cataloging plants high in the mountains of Southern California to mucking through mud monitoring shorebirds on the coast of Washington state. She has taught science to college students and also to sixth graders. She and her husband, a pastor and Christian college professor, live in Oregon. They are the parents of three grown children. Carol's passion is expounding the wonders tucked in the cathedrals of God's wilds. She teaches "Wonder Workshops" and speaks at retreats. Learn more at http://thedivinenatureproject.com/


BOOK INFO:
Trade Paperback
224 pgs / 6" x 9"
Illustrated: original drawings by Matthew Kondratieff
ISBN: 9780981892986
Category: Nature Studies/ God & Creation/ Spiritual Growth

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REVIEWS:
"A wide-ranging, entertaining and educational romp in the wilds. O'Casey - a woman of deep faith and strong science - blends a delightful mix of lessons on faith, biology, history ... Where else can one find scripture alongside a formula for calculating air temperature based on the rate of a cricket's chirp? I love it! True to her self-stated goal in life, in 'Unwrapping Wonder' O'Casey truly does glorify God with her passion for creation." ~Tom Rowley, US Director of A Rocha

"Carol O'Casey beckons us to consider the wonders of God's creation. To savor, to relish, to partake, to revel in: in this hurried life do we make the time to do such things? Take up the challenge. Each chapter is an event well worth it." ~ Dennis Ellingson, author of God's Healing Herbs and God's Wild Herbs

TO PURCHASE THE BOOK:
Amazon.com
BN.com
Kindle
Nook
from the Publisher



Margie's Comments: A big thank-you to Cladach Publishing for allowing me some extra time to get my review posted. The tour ended last week. 

Much as I love being outdoors, especially in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, I don't usually enjoy the insects so much. Thankfully in Colorado at 9000 ft. there aren't that many! But I do love the flora and fauna and the birds. So I enjoyed Carol O'Casey's book that points out the wonders of God's creation. Such detail and beauty speaks of the amazing creativeness of our God. The application of God's Word and the spiritual lessons we can learn, I especially enjoyed. This would be a great book to use with children when enjoying nature. I'll definitely be sharing this book with other families who are looking for ways to enhance their time in the outdoors. 

In the next post, I'll post a Q&A with the author.

Verse of the Day

"Blessed is the [one] who listens to me, watching [alert and ready (MSG)] daily at my gates, waiting [alert and responsive (MSG)] at my doorposts." (Proverbs 8:34 NASB) Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all. Run to GOD! Run from evil! (Proverbs 3:5–7 MSG)

Verse of the Day

"Don't be fearful. . . . Don't turn your back on GOD. Worship and serve him heart and soul! . . . 

GOD, simply because of who he is, is not going to walk off and leave his people. GOD took delight in making you into his very own people. (1 Samuel 12:20–22 MSG)

God can't break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable. We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It's an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us. (Hebrews 6:18–20 MSG)