Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Review/Giveaway: Touching Wonder


A WINNING READINGS GIVEAWAY!


Title: Touching Wonder: Recapturing the Awe of Christmas
Author: John Blase
Genre: Christian nonfiction
How to enter: Leave a comment on THIS post right here! If you're a subscriber or a follower, leave a second comment for a second entry.
Entry deadline: December 10, 2009
Restrictions: Open internationally
That's right, enter right here for this giveaway. Please note: we are giving away our review copy, so it has been gently read.
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One of the spectacular things of having a kid is experiencing the magic of Christmas all over again. As we walked through Michaels, two-year-old Esmé stood in awe at the blinking lights of the decorated trees, getting louder and louder in her exclamations until she caught sight of the PINK glistening tree at the end of the row. Can you imagine anything more exciting than a flashing pink tree?!

And the manger. How fascinated she is with the manger. At church, she stood in silence at the manger scene, and I wondered what was going through her mind. Back at home, she filled a basket with paper trimmings from a project I had been cutting it out - calling it straw - and curled up in the "manger," reliving the event. She looks in the night sky and sees angels doing "glory to God." And I can't argue with her - I'm sure they are really there.

I recently came across a book that took me back to the original Christmas scene: the human-ness of it; the awesomeness of it. I felt like I was there, going through all the emotions, and feeling the wonder amidst the sweat and pain.

Touching Wonder: Recapturing the Awe of Christmas by John Blase was the book. A quick or meditative read, depending on your schedule, it repeats the familiar Christmas Bible passages, and then expounds on what was happening through all the characters' points of view.

Here's what the press release says about the book: "In Touching Wonder, readers will meet a cast of unruly unlikelies - a frightened teenage girl, a worried carpenter, a collection of senior citizens, a disillusioned young shepherd, even an angel or two - moving toward the realization that the little one just born is the One. This imaginative retelling of the grand miracle will leave readers wide-eyed, slack-jawed, and heartful. The Lord is come!"

John Blase, the author, is a former pastor who edits by day and writes by night. He and his wife, Meredith, have three children and live in Colorado

You can find this book for purchase at David C. Cook for $12.99, where you'll also find a book trailer.

Thanks to The B&B Media Group, Inc for the review copy of this book.

50 comments:

Anonymous said...

I, too, have a little one that is experiencing the freshness and wonder of Christmas. How I long for that in my spirit, too! My prayer this Christmas is be search for the wonder around me, to be still and receive it.

Melissa at
millermelissa22@gmail.com

Milka said...

Please count me in to the giveaway! :)

milkavainamo@lyseo.edu.ouka.fi

Cherie J said...

I thank God for my 3 year old and 6 year old who help me to keep Christmas fresh and exciting. Sounds like a wonderful book. Please enter me. Thank you!

cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com

Annette W. said...

We haven't experienced much yet with Meghan...but she loves Christmas lights and our tiny manger.

I'd like this book!

Annette W. said...

And I follow!

wmmahaney said...

I love Christmas books
wmmahaney(at)att(dot)net

wmmahaney said...

I subscribe in Google REader
wmmahaney(at)att(dot)net

george ferris said...

This would be nice to add to my collection.
George Ferris
littlegeorgie56@yahoo.com

Wendy Ellis said...

Please enter me! Also might want to check this out: www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/hiscalling-mypurpose.html. You can also Facebook or email me anytime. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

please count me in...thanks.

karenk
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)Com

Anonymous said...

I'm a subscriber :0

karenk
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I'm a subscriber :0

karenk
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I would love to be entered in your draw. Thanks.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I am a follower of your blog.
I also subscribe via Google Reader.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Andrea Schultz said...

This sounds really sweet!

Thanks - Andrea

andrealschultz at gmail dot com

Andrea Schultz said...

I am a new follower of your very nice blog!

Andrea

andrealschultz at gmail dot com

ann said...

my favorite books are the ones that make Bible stories come alive. what could be better than the Christmas story?

ann said...

my favorite books are the ones that make Bible stories come alive. what could be better than the Christmas story?

ann said...

i want to come and see the angels in the sky too!

Missybeez said...

I love Christmas Books!


honeybeez80@yahoo.com

Annie1 said...

This book sounds wonderful!


ty

nancyrobster@gmail.com

Annie1 said...

Email subscriber!


ty

nancyrobster@gmail.com

Jill said...

Sounds like such a wonderful book for this season.

tutucuteforme(at)hotmail(dot)com

Jennifer said...

Even your book reviews are fun to read! Thanks for another great giveaway.

Jennifer said...

I subscribe via RSS.

409cope said...

I would love to read this one! cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com

409cope said...

I follow through google friend. cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com

cozymysterygirl said...

thanks for all the wonderful reviews you do they are so helpfukl in choosing a book.please
enter me into the giveaway thanks
God bless
Kellie

Nickolay said...

I love Christmas Books. This one looks awesome

jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

Melissa said...

I would love this!

melissamcnicol at yahoo dot com

Renee G said...

I love everything Christmas.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(dot)com

mariska said...

i love to read this ! seems very good !

uniquas at ymail dot com

gsm57 said...

enter me please

Jan said...

This book is on my wish list, what an awesome giveaway. Please count me in.

alongtheway(at)telus(dot)net

Rhonda said...

Sounds like a lovely book.

Please enter me.

rhondastruthers at yahoo dot ca

Rhonda said...

I follow

rhondastruthers at yahoo dot ca

Anonymous said...

I love Holiday books.
shawnac68@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

Happy December!

theyyyguy@yahoo.com

Hotsnotty2 said...

I'd love to read this, thanks for the chance!

Hotsnotty2@hotmail.com

Ahsun said...

I'd love to read this!! thanks

Syed Ahsun Zafar
essogasstation@hotmail.com

Ahsun said...

and I follow


Syed Ahsun Zafar
essogasstation@hotmail.com

Terri Dell said...

I love reading and books about the Christmas season are my favorites. I have to try not to read them year round and save them for this this time of year.

Terri Dell said...

Google follower

Maja said...

i would like to win it

mindy said...

this looks great thanks minsthins at optonline dot net

Jinxy and Me said...

Looks awesome! Thanks for the giveaway!

SeahorseLady said...

This would be a great book to read with the family during the Christmas holidays.

SeahorseLady said...

I follow & subscribe.

cman said...

Please enter me :)

Linda Kish said...

Please include me

lkish77123 at gmail dot com