Traces of Mercy by Michael Landon, Jr & Cindy Kelley

Review & 3-Book GIVEAWAY!


5.0 out of 5 stars Haunting!

Description

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 in 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.

This book can be purchased at the following locations:

http://www.deepershopping.com  $9.74
http://www.amazon.com  $11.48
http://www.barnesandnoble.com  $11.48
http://www.christianbook.com  $10.99

Michael Landon Jr.  Producer/Writer/Director

Michael Landon Jr., son of the late television legend, Michael Landon, has been in the film business for over 25 years.  Educated at USC and a Directing Fellow graduate of the American Film Institute, he has worked in just about every capacity of the movie making process including film loader, 1st and 2nd assistant cameraman, Steadicam operator, Director of Photography, apprentice film editor, production assistant, and actor. He has developed and/or produced, directed and written screenplays for Fox, CBS, NBC, Disney, Sony, Lifetime,  and Hallmark.

His film, Love Comes Softly, has won numerous awards including the Camie (Character and Morality in Entertainment) Award, the Movie Guide Award, and the Gabriel Award. It also became the highest-rated movie in the history of the Hallmark Channel by 40 percent. When he followed up with the sequel, Love’s Enduring Promise, the ratings surpassed even the original giving Landon the top two highest-rated movies in the history of the Channel. Since then, he has written, directed and/or produced eight more installments of the Love Comes Softly series of films. The DVD release of Love Comes Softly has been the top-selling DVD in the Christian Booksellers Association market for three straight years since its release in 2004, and four of Landon’s films in the series rank in the top-ten.

In 2005, Landon formed Believe Pictures, with partner Brian Bird.  The production company’s first film was the theatrically released The Last Sin Eater, based upon the best-selling novel by Francine Rivers.  Their second film,Saving Sarah Cain, inspired by New York Times best-selling author Beverly Lewis, aired on Lifetime with record numbers.  Landon had his first foray into animation with his film The Velveteen Rabbit, based upon the Margery Williams children’s classic. It was a combination of live action and animation and was released in February 2009 by Starz/Anchor Bay.  “Jamaa,” a film inspired by a true story, was shot in Uganda last year. Landon and his partner made the film for the relief organization, World Vision, which is now being presented in churches across the country.  So far over two thousand children have already found sponsorship through this film. Landon’s latest film to be released, “The Shunning,” which is also based upon a Beverly Lewis novel, airs April 16th on the Hallmark Channel starring Danielle Panabaker and Sherry Stringfield. 

Landon is currently working on several films.  Gown of Spanish Lace, a story inspired by a Janette Oke novel which is in development at MPower,  Deep in the Heart, based on a true story of unimaginable forgiveness, and Rise, which he is developing with author, Kelly Monroe Kullberg (Finding God at Harvard).  

Landon also co-authored his first novel with best-selling author, Tracie Peterson, for Bethany House Publishing.  The novel, titled One More Sunrise, went into bookstores in January of 2008. His second novel, The Silent Gift, was co-authored with long time writing partner, Cindy Kelley, also with Bethany House Publishing.  Landon is working on his third novel with veteran novelist, Joe Hilley.

Cindy Kelley is an author and screenwriter who worked with Landon on the Love Comes Softly television film and co-wrote the novel The Silent Gift with Landon.

She blogged about the book here:

"I stood in the middle of sixty acres this past weekend, in a meadow surrounded by pine trees and beautiful mountains. I wasn't there to hike, picnic or camp. I was there to see my only son marry the love of his life under a simple arch made from birch trees.  His bride, on her father's arm, had a long walk down their makeshift aisle of wildflowers and we all had time to glance from his beaming face to hers – which was radiantly happy.  In mere seconds, I had thirty years of memories of my son rush through my head. The day he was born, learned to walk, ride a bike – first day of school. Moments at Christmas and Easter Egg hunts, skinned knees, failures and triumphs and the day he called to say he'd found ‘the one'.  While my husband and I watched them exchange vows, I filed away another memory to call up at will – taking it for granted that I can replay those special events time and time again whenever the spirit moves me.

It was in that moment that I had a rush of sympathy for Mercy, the protagonist in the new novel, TRACES OF MERCY, 

I co-authored with Michael Landon, Jr.  Mercy doesn't have the luxury of calling up special memories – because due to a head injury, she has no memory of her past at all.  In fact, everything and anything that is personal to our main character has been erased – including her own name. Her history is a blank slate; the day she wakes from a coma is the first day she can remember. In essence, she has lost an entire lifetime and can't do anything about it."

My Review ~

The setting for this story is the tumultuous weeks just as the Civil War has ended. Still fueled by hatred, the north and south refuse acceptance of the ideals of one other. Found unconscious with a severe head injury and a bullet wound to the calf, a young man was examined by a doctor and discovered to be a young woman dressed as a man with her hair worn short. After days of unconsciousness she awakens to find she has no memory of who she is or if she has family and where they might be. With no other name to go by, and found wearing a medal with the word "Mercy" hanging around her neck, the doctor calls her Mercy. To complete her recovery the doctor arranges for her to stay at a local convent. Memories fail to return, and as Mercy is courted by the area's most eligible bachelor she is eventually moved to Rand's family cottage. Rather than linger over memories that refuse to surface Mercy looks to her future and happiness with Rand at her side. 

Traces of Mercy is written with remarkable originality and an ever-changing plot. Michael Landon Jr and Cindy Kelley have created a strong cast of characters who are well portrayed and representative of their place in history. Realistic events, both descriptive and believable, reveal accurate and sometimes troubling actions as a result of Civil War issues. I highly recommend Traces of Mercy. This book was very difficult to put down, and I found myself reading until the wee hours of the morning to find out which direction the plot was headed. Don't miss this well-written book about the ravages of war, relationships, romance and intrigue!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Wynn-Wynn Media and a second copy from Book Fun in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

CONTEST GIVEAWAY GUIDELINES:

Please comment about my review, leaving me feedback regarding your thoughts. Leave your email address using [at] and [dot] to protect your email address, and please share my blog review with your friends in order to qualify for this contest. Thank you so much for visiting my blog! I appreciate all of your comments!