Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Cherished Mercy: Review and Giveaway



It's been a while since we talked books - so let's do so today! It seems that during the school year, Christian historical fiction is my favorite and just the relaxing thing I need at the end of a busy day. I typically read a lot more non-fiction in the summer when my brain has more margin and capacity!

I've long admitted that the main way I choose books at the library is by looking at the spine and seeing who the publisher is. It is getting a little bit harder to do that with publishers changing their style a little but still - it is a real thing for me.

My number one favorite publisher for Christian fiction is Bethany House. If that spine has Bethany House on it, the chances are I'm going to enjoy reading it. I don't worry about a book I pick up from Bethany House and have never been disappointed. And I wrote and told them that!

In the process, I stumbled upon how to get on their email list for books available for review each month! It is hard to get a book as I've had several months come and go where I didn't get my request in quickly enough to be able to receive a book but this month I finally got my first one.

I received Cherished Mercy by Tracie Peterson. This is book three in the Heart of the Frontier series. I'd read Treasured Grace in March of this year so it was fun to come back to this series.

The book is set in the Pacific Northwest at a time when Native Americans are being pursued by the US government and either captured or killed in an effort to reclaim the land they are using and relocating many to reservations. It is hard to read about how we as Americans treated the native people who were here before we were.

Mercy is one of three sisters, with Grace and Hope being older. Each book of the series focuses on one of the three sisters. Mercy leaves the family farmland to help a friend in need who is on bedrest during her pregnancy. Her adventures include helping with their home and daughter Faith, teaching school in the mission for the local tribe of Native Americans and living out the meaning of her name with beauty and peace. And, yes, there is a bit of romance involved!

Many Christian historical fiction books may be pronounced "predictable" and perhaps they are but I find that reassuring and comforting in many ways. Enough of life around us is unpredictable and hard and it is great to read a story which includes a lot of hard truths yet some of the predictable qualities that we can count on. At the end of a busy day and as someone who struggles with bad dreams anyway, I can't really handle too much mystery or intensity in a before-bed read!

I like that this book is historical. It is a great way to continue to flesh out or enhance my learning on a certain time period but without being a heavy or heady text book. It is real life and the characters are immersed in living through the time period they are placed in.

I loved that the main characters in this book are ones who are filled with character and virtue.I'm especially partial to books where there is a really godly character that influences another for eternal good. I want to fill my mind and heart with good and true and pure things and seeing these character qualities fleshed out are good reminders to me.

Tracie Peterson has written many books that I've enjoyed before and I also enjoyed In the Shadow of Denali earlier this year.

I've finished the book and want to pass it on to one of you! If you would like to be entered in the drawing, please leave a comment with what you are reading right now! And please include a way to reach you if you win! I can only ship within the Continental US. Entries will be accepted until Friday, September 29, 2017 at noon EST.

A bonus recommendation is A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White. She is also a Bethany House author and I've so enjoyed all of her books but I think this one is my favorite!

**Disclosure: I received this book in exchange for sharing an honest review. The giveaway is not sponsored by Bethany House.
*Amazon affiliate links provided above.

10 comments:

Lisa M. said...

1000 White Women. I've read it before, but my book club from work is reading it.
Clmay5@sbcglobal.net

Mom said...

I'm glad to read this book review and to know that you've had success in reaching out to Bethany House. I am not familiar with the Heart of the Frontier series and will definitely check it out. I am currently reading the new Mitford book "To Be Where You Are." :)

Wendi said...

I'm currently reading Promise to Keep by Elizabeth Byler Younts.

joeandkris513 said...

I love Bethany House too and choose my library books by publisher. (Tyndale Press and Thomas Nelson are the others I look for.) Right now I'm reading The Darling Family novels by Carre Armstrong Gardener. I'm on the second called They Danced On. They have a more modern setting than I usually read, but I'm enjoying them.
kristi.henson@gmail.com

angie said...

Currently re-reading Falling Free, and about to start Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus..
angiechadwell@yahoo.com

angie said...

I saw this book in a post, but thought it was an older title. Yay for new Mitford!!

Anonymous said...

I enjoy reading and always have a book or 10 :+) from the library to read at night. Right now I am reading a book by Dee Henderson.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, I forgot to leave my title and e-mail address. Jackie RMBASS@AOL.com Dee Henderson Threads of Suspicion I am also reading I Saul by Jerry Jenkins. Have a great day and loved the children playing their own version of Chopped Junior.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful post! I am trying to read more. I so enjoy it but don't usually take the time to do so. Since June I have been reading some of Karen Kingsbury's books that have been made in Hallmark movies recently. I also picked up the books from Melanie Shankle (Big Mama blog) and I am in love with them! Choosing a book by publisher is in interesting angle and I plan to search out Bethany House specifically as soon as I finish Nobody's Cuter than You.

Jenny Goldsby
jennibek@hotmail.com

becka said...

I'm working on three books right now : Your Four Year Old Wild and Wonderful by the Gesell Institute, Love That Boy by Ron Fournier, and Picture Miss Seeton by Heron Carvic. I'm always happy to learn about new good books. My email is becloach@gmail.com.