Review

Sudden Return by Andrew Roth

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Mike Harper left his family, his girlfriend, and his small town the night after high school graduation and hasn’t been back. He’d always expected to hit it big somewhere. That hasn’t happened.

Two men run away from an apartment in Mike’s building after shots are fired. Mike rushes in to find Detective Ben Carlyle administering first aid to Hector, a guy known to sell drugs at all hours from his apartment. Mike steals $100,000 while the officer is busy. Mrs. Kline, his only friend in Kansas City, feels that the money is a test from God. She doesn’t know much about the Lord or His ways. Mike doesn’t remember much from attending church during childhood. Mrs. Kline encourages him to head home, heal his broken relationships, and only do good with the money. It mustn’t be used for himself. Mike heeds her warning and leaves that night.  

High school teacher, Erin Miller, loves her job, her daughter Daisy, and Mike’s family, yet struggles to make ends meet. She still loves Mike, who didn’t know about her pregnancy before he left town. No calls. No visits. Nothing for ten years. How will he react to learning he has a daughter now that he’s home?

The police chief isn’t too concerned about the missing money. Detective Carlyle finds Mike’s hasty exit from town suspicious. He decides to pay a visit to Mike’s hometown.

Three characters—including Mike, the main character—are on a faith journey. Several secondary characters have a strong faith that they discuss with those searching for God’s leading as a natural part of the story.

Believable characters face real challenges throughout the story. The author weaves a spiritual journey along with the drama, especially for the hero, who makes some bad decisions. Plenty of surprises kept me flipping pages. Well-written.

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Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Winner of the John Newbery Medal

In 1943, ten-year-old Annamarie Johansen lives with her family in Copenhagen, Denmark. Her country surrendered to the Germans early in World War II, because their army was small. There have been soldiers on nearly every street corner for years. Annamarie has almost grown used to them. Then, during the celebration for the Jewish New Year, her friend Ellen learns that the soldiers are coming to “relocate” them. No one knows where they’ll go.

Annamarie’s family hides Ellen, pretending to be her sister. Peter, who had planned to marry Annamarie’s sister, hides her parents. The soldiers search for Ellen’s family in the middle of the night at Annamarie’s apartment. They are curious, but they leave.

The next day, Annamarie’s mother takes the girls to her brother’s home.

This children’s book snagged my attention from the beginning. Readers discover what the Nazis did in Denmark during the war. The bravery shown by the characters tugged at my heart. The author weaves a believable story that kept me turning pages.

Well-written and poignant, this story illustrates the danger faced by everyone who helped the Jews escape from the Germans.  

Recommended for children aged 10-13.

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Pretending to be the Mountain Man’s Wife by Misty M. Beller

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Brothers of Sapphire Ranch, Book 6

Jess McPharland is desperate to escape from her cruel father before he discovers her secret. She’s not sure what his miners dig to find in the mountain’s cave system that is her home—and that’s a good thing. Jess fears the cruel men employed by Mick McPharland. Her father plans to marry her off to a man just like himself. She has one opportunity to escape.

Gil Coulter has been searching for weeks for his brother, Sampson, and for the load of sapphires stolen from them. Jess will only take him to his brother if he agrees to a pretend marriage. Gil’s protective instincts take over. He changes his surname and pretends to have married Jess two months before. Jess hadn’t exaggerated her father’s dangerous nature. The pretense leads them both into increasing peril.

Gil is falling in love with his pretend wife. Then he learns that Jess is pregnant.

I had read an earlier book in this series. It would have been like visiting with old friends to read this book—aside from the escalating danger that kept me flipping pages.

Lovable characters tugged at my heart while formidable enemies made me wonder if any of them would make it out alive. Mick’s right-hand man has been known to kill miners for asking a question.

The author weaves a story filled with a maze of twists and turns. The ending left some important questions unanswered that lead to the next book in the series.

Recommended for lovers of historical romance fiction.

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When the Road Comes Around by Katie Powner

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

No one believes Tad Bungley will ever amount to much, and his dad tops the list. No, maybe his mother did, because she left when he was eight and never came back. Dan and Anita Wilson believed in him enough to give him a job on their ranch. He didn’t want to mess up.

Anita knows that Dan feels she tends to be overprotective of their twenty-year-old son, Sam. His mind is that of an eight-year-old. Tad accepts him right away, but Anita doesn’t trust that others will treat him as kindly. She prays daily for Sam, Tad, and others.

Then Tad’s former girlfriend drops their infant daughter off at the ranch and leaves. He’s stunned to learn he’s a father. How can he care for sweet Charley, who has a smile that melts his heart?

This cast of believable characters drew me into the story from Chapter One. The sweet baby captures more than one heart. I couldn’t put the book down.

The contemporary story is told from Tad’s and Anita’s point-of-view, along with a few scenes in Sam’s POV. Unexpected events, plot twists, and surprises from secondary characters kept me flipping pages. The author weaves a poignant story that tugged at my heart.

The ending left some important questions unanswered. Otherwise, it’s an excellent contemporary story.

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A Conflicted Betrothal by Denise Weimer

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

In 1765, Temperance Scott is only one of the colonists to protest the Stamp Act behind the scenes in Savannah, Georgia. Her near-sightedness results in meeting Ansel Anderson, a King’s Ranger who is now stationed in the city to protect the Governor.

Lieutenant Ansel Anderson learns enough to be suspicious about Temperance’s presence at a tavern where the Sons of Liberty are meeting, but not her name. When he next sees her, she doesn’t remember him—because it’s Tabitha, Temperance’s twin.

Temperance, along with her cousin Frankie, is a Patriot. They are determined to fight against the Stamp Act, as other colonies have done. It’s too bad the handsome Ansel is a King’s man, yet so is her father. Should she continue to stand up for what she believes?

This book is a page turner! The author plops readers into the midst of the turmoil brewing between England and the colonies eleven years before the revolution. There is plenty of American history built into the story. Believable, lovable characters pulled me into the drama from the first page.

I couldn’t put it down!

Recommended for readers of historical romance novels.

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Seeking Simon by Susan Pope Sloan

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Rescued Hearts of the Civil War, Book 4

Daviana Spalding is glad to see the war’s end, yet plenty of soldiers still passed by her rural Georgia home in need of meals, precious food she and her pa could ill afford to share. During the war, some had taken what they wanted at gunpoint. Simon McNeil offered to pay, so Pa agreed. Unfortunately, Simon becomes ill that evening.

At first, Simon regrets that his malaria chose this moment to resurface. The Union soldier isn’t sorry for the opportunity to get to know Daviana. He quickly learns that her pa has reasons for his desire to his daughter married, not the least of which is to protect their Georgia land from seizure by the Freedman’s Bureau. Simon steps up to protect the family by claiming Daviana as his fiancé.

He soon discovers an even greater threat to the beautiful woman whom he’s growing to love…

This book is a page turner! The author weaves a story of unexpected events that propels believable characters we care about into ever-increasing turmoil.

The story takes place in Georgia and Alabama during Reconstruction, giving readers insight into the turmoil of those days in the South. I couldn’t put it down!

Recommended for readers of historical romance novels.

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Emma’s Christmas Surprise by Linore Rose Burkhard

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

An Aspen Creek Christmas, Book 1

Aspen Creek, Pennsylvania

Emma Dawson has been dating Gabe Huskman for the past year. He’s a pastor at their church. He had proposed to his previous girlfriend on Christmas Eve, only to be rejected. Despite their nearly platonic relationship, Emma intends to accept his proposal, which he’s hinted will happen on Christmas Eve.

Gabe’s brother, Ethan, comes for an extended Christmas visit. Emma is instantly drawn to his spirit of fun and his kindness. Ethan is very different from his brother. Emma can’t believe she’s falling in love with Ethan…

I couldn’t put the book down. The author weaves a story of two mismatched people in a dating relationship when the right person comes along. Relatable characters experience guilt as well as hope for something different.

This novella can be read in an afternoon. I look forward to reading the next book in the series!

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The Case of the Innocent Husband by Deborah Sprinkle

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

A Mac & Sam Mystery, Book 1

Mackenzie Love and Samantha Masters have opened their own Private Investigation firm in Washington, Missouri. Sam’s brother Jake works for the city’s police force. Mac fights her growing feelings for Jake, unaware that he’s also interested in her.

Mac and Sam aren’t popular around town after clearing an innocent man of killing his wife, but the murderer has not been caught. They decide they must solve the case, despite warnings to leave it alone.

Once the story began, the action never stopped. Plot twists, unexpected turns, and escalating danger kept me riveted to the story. Of course, I continually tried to solve the case.

The author has woven a story that I couldn’t put down. I’ve read other cozy mysteries and suspense books by Sprinkle—I can’t turn the pages fast enough!

I will definitely read more books by this author!

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Miss Wetherham’s Wedding by Linore Rose Burkard

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Clean and Sweet Regency Romance, Brides of Mayfair, Book 3

1806, Mayfair, London

Lettie Wetherham, widow, had lost her dear Steven three years before when he traveled to Africa to search for a new vein of diamonds in their mine. Lettie struggles to pay her mounting debts by playing matchmaker for London’s society couples.

Confirmed bachelor Nicholas Dellacort’s girl has tired of waiting for him to propose. She’s now engaged to an earl who seems to bore her. Lettie should be able to help Nick get her back.

Nick pays Lettie to snatch the earl’s attention from his beautiful fiancée. What can go wrong?

It’s been quite a while since I read a regency romance novel. This author transported me back to that world with this story.

Endearing characters quickly drew me into their story. Several twists that I didn’t see coming kept me turning pages. This was an enjoyable read.

I look forward to reading another book by this author.

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A Surprise Harvest Bride by Wendy Klopfenstein

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

1901, Wyoming

Hope O’Neal travels west to take her friend’s place as a mail-order bride for Patrick Eastland. Emigrating to the United States from Ireland had led to drudgery. She prays that marrying a stranger will finally be the answer to her dreams of a happy life.

Patrick Eastland’s friend had advertised for a nanny for Patrick’s two nephews, but Hope isn’t to blame for his friend’s mistake. He marries her with the promise to annul the marriage after harvesting all the fruit from his apple orchard. That has to be his focus, or he will lose the house and land he inherited from his grandfather.

This short, satisfying story can be read in about two hours. There are hurdles on the path to paying off the hero’s mortgage. The heroine’s attitude won me over early in the story and had me pulling for her and the hero.

I look forward to reading another book by this author.

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