One of the best stories I've read in 2014. The beginning knocked my socks off, the mystery mounted through the whole book, and then shazam! When all was revealed -- well, not quite all -- the story took a few more turns I never saw coming. This was my kind of book, and I can't wait for the sequel. Terrific historical fiction. ( )

Mercy doesn't know her last name. In fact, she doesn't even really know her first name, having chosen "Mercy" from a medallion that was in her possession. She woke up in a doctor's office, learned that she was hurt and dressed as a boy, didn't recognize her own face in the mirror, and slowly began to deal with her amnesia. The reader knows a little about her past from the first chapter and sometimes it is hard to reconcile that Confederate sniper with the young woman we learn to like. Over the course of the book, Mercy falls in love but also rediscovers some skills such as horsemanship and shooting. When a stranger recognizes her and tells her what he knows of her past, she panics and puts a rosy future into further jeopardy. The end of the book leaves the reader eager to find the next book. ( )

The main character of this book is introduced as a young soldier in the Civil War. Only a few pages later, one discovers that the soldier is really the young woman, Mercy. Suffering from amnesia, she has been posing as a soldier. Thus begins a story with many twists and turns as Mercy tries to discover who she is. Each time I thought I had figured out the next event, I was confronted with another twist that took the book in a different direction. Sent this book for review, I must admit I thoroughly enjoyed it and am hooked on the series. I eagerly await the next book in this trilogy.

Traces of Mercy by Michael Landon, Jr. & Cindy Kelley is a great story and I was hooked from the first paragraph. At the beginning of the book a young sniper for the Confederate Army has just killed his one hundred and fourteenth Union soldier. He shoots at an officer in the Union Army but when the smoke clears the officer is riding away with a young soldier lying across his saddle. In an effort to get into position to finish the killing of the Union Officer, he comes upon the officer talking with his dying brother. Then the story jumps to a doctor’s office in St. Louis, where a young girl is being treated by the doctor but she is suffering from amnesia and can tell the doctor absolutely nothing about her past. After she recovers, he takes her to the home of the nuns in the area where she is given a home, and the name of Mercy because of a medallion she is wearing. The story gets even more interesting when two handsome men appear in the story. One is a well to do Union sympathizer and the other is a former Union officer and both have feelings for Mercy.

The authors did an excellent job is writing a story that kept me guessing from the beginning to the end. There is a great deal of suspense and mystery and many twists and turns in the plotline but at the end of the story everything comes together with a satisfactory ending. All the characters were so well developed that they came alive for me and some I loved but others I really did not care for. The fight scene at the beginning of the book was so well done that I could almost smell the smoke from all the guns and cannons. I especially liked the way the authors wove the love of God throughout the story. I was a little disappointed in the way that the story ended. I love series but I also like for each book to be a stand alone story but I guess I can wait for the second book of this series to find out what happens to Mercy.

I highly recommend this book to all who love a good Christian historical romance that takes place in the nineteenth century during the Civil War Era.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from David C. Cook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. ( )

Title: Trace of Mercy (Mercy Medallion Trilogy #1)
Author: Michael Landon, Jr. and Cindy Kelley
Pages: 344
Year: 2013
Publisher: David C. Cook
Mercy has a secret…too bad she doesn’t know what it is! She is the victim of amnesia and has no memory beyond waking up in a doctor’s office. She can’t even remember her name and settles for being named after a medallion she is wearing when she is brought to the doctor from the scene of a horse and wagon accident. She was dressed as a man and had her hair cut short in a man’s style, so the doctor assumes she had been passing herself off as a man. Mercy remembers nothing of this or anything else from her past.
After she has recovered, the doctor takes her to live with some nuns and she meets Rand Prescott, the wealthiest bachelor in St. Louis. In the summer of 1865, she and Rand begin to realize their love for each other. She, at first, avoids making a commitment to him due to her not knowing her past. Rand always gets what he wants and he wants to marry Mercy, so she acquiesces to his wishes. She loves Rand and soon dedicates herself to enjoying being in love.
Then, someone from her past makes himself known to her and tells her about some portions of her past. What should she do now? Rand and his family were staunch supporters of the Union. She has a southern accent. In the past, did she really have sympathy for the Confederate cause? She still can’t remember, but feels as if this stranger is telling her the truth. She makes a decision that will change her life as well as the lives of others. She is caught in her lies and must pay the consequences in full.
The only criticism I have of this book is that it ended! I am anxiously awaiting the continuation of Mercy’s story in the next book. The characters were well-developed and readers can easily identify with their emotions. I read this story in a day because it was so engrossing I couldn’t put it down. I enjoy reading fictional historical stories with the Civil War as the backdrop. This story has a unique plot and I’m ready to read the second book in the trilogy, so bring it on! Kudos to the authors for their wonderful writing and captivating story!
My rating is 5 stars.
Note: I received a complimentary copy for an honest review of this book. The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. Other reviews can be read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/. Also follow me on Twitter @lcjohnson1988, FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/lisa.johnson.75457 ( )