Review

Freedom’s Pride by Pegg Thomas

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Path to Freedom, Book 2

When they were both indentured servants, Mark Allen had made a promise to Gwen Morgan to help her find her sister, Faye. Now that he’s free, he begins his search for either sister. He finds the feisty Faye, but she wants no part of reconnecting with Gwen. Yet Mark Allen doesn’t take his promise lightly. He’s in love with Gwen and hopes to marry her…but he must find her first.

Faye actually hadn’t ended up as an indentured servant. Instead, she’d become the ward of a Quaker family. She wants only to find a rich husband so that she’ll not have to work. Gwen’s existence is a secret from her Quaker family and she’s determined to keep it that way.

My attention was captured from the beginning. Likeable, realistic characters are all on their own emotional journey as well as a physical one. The heroine frustrated me at times and had me siding with the hero. The orphan boy who immediately joins Mark Allen stole my heart.  

I enjoyed this poignant story that held many surprising twists. This is the second book in the series and I recommend reading them in order.  

This book was a page-turner for me!

Recommended for readers of inspirational historical romances!

I was given a copy of the book by the author. A positive review was not required. The opinions expressed are my own.

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Elinor by Shannon McNear

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Daughters of the Lost Colony 1587

Elinor Dare sailed from England with her husband and her father to the New World in 1587. She and Ananias are expecting their first child that Elinor is happy will be born in the Colony of Virginia.

Things go wrong from the beginning, as they land in an area her father considers unsafe. His fears are quickly proven when one of their men is killed by natives while out alone.

Both Elinor and her father had previously visited the area. Unfortunately, other groups had also crossed the Atlantic, some of them violent. Some tribes don’t trust the newcomers.

I’ve long been captivated by the early settlers of the Lost Colony of Roanoke. This book is a novel about Elinore Dare. This work of fiction is well-researched and feels authentic.

The characters and situations are realistic to the time. My interest was truly caught about a third of the way into the story, when it became a page-turner for me.

Recommended for readers who enjoy American history, especially the early history of Virginia.

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A Not So Persistent Suitor Turns 1!

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by Sandra Merville Hart

It’s hard to believe that A Not So Persistent Suitor, Book 2 in my Second Chances Series, celebrates its first birthday today—Valentine’s Day! A Not So Peaceful Journey, Book 3, released last June, followed by a busy year of writing!

I had wanted to write a story set in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the 1880s for several years. It seems to me that it was on my heart to write when writing was still but a dream.

Writing this story allowed me to take my readers on a journey back to historic Cincinnati. See the sights of the beautiful city through the characters’ eyes in 1883-84.

Here’s a bit about the book:

He’s fighting for his career…She’s bent on achieving her own goals…Will their love survive a second chance at happily ever after?

Cora Welch dreams of a future teaching kindergarten, which is in its infancy, and marriage to Ben Findlay, her beau and her twin brother’s best friend. But she returns to college from summer break to learn of Ben’s unwise choices in pursuit of his career—choices that destroy her trust in the man she thought she knew and loved.

Ben is working hard toward his dream to become the best reporter in the city. He’s no stranger to fighting for a goal against all odds, ever since he was orphaned at age thirteen. Even though Cora has captured his heart, he makes the mistake of escorting the boss’s daughter to a fancy banquet to further his career—with far-reaching repercussions. Now he’s hurt Cora and botched his career goals.

Winning Cora’s trust again proves harder than Ben expects, especially as they both face struggles of their own. When events spiral out of their control, catapulting them into hardship and even danger, only God can restore their dreams—though the outcome may look far different than either of them planned.

Creative Sleepovers For Kids! by Julie Lavender

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Fun Activities, Themes, and Ideas for Overnight Parties

For boys or girls

What a great book!

The author begins with suggestions for preparations before the party. Choosing a theme topped the list. You’ll use it to select the invitations, decorations, and party activities—which are included in the book!

Lavender has suggestions for over 30 themes, such as All Aboard, Big Top Circus Party, Dinosaurs Delight, I Spy, Land Ho, Snakes and Snails and Alligator Critter Party, and Partying Painters Art Party.

Parents, the author has packed this book full of ideas for your child’s sleepover party.

Grandparents, this book has some ideas for you to choose from when hosting your grandchildren for a night or a weekend.

Recommended for parents and grandparents!

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Shadows of Swanford Abbey by Julie Klassen

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Rebecca Lane, a lady’s maid, returns to Swanford after a year’s absence in response to a letter from her brother’s housekeeper. She discovers the situation is dire indeed. John has finished writing a book somehow in between bouts of drinking and he implores Rebecca to deliver it to the very author whole stole his first novel with a request he recommend it to his publisher. She agrees reluctantly.

Sir Frederick is pleased that Rebecca, his childhood friend, is a guest at Swanford Abbey, the same hotel where he and his brother are staying. The widower feels that he’s too old for her, though he wishes it weren’t true.

Rebecca fears the haunted abbey, especially after she spots a ghostly nun, but there is more afoot at the historic abbey turned hotel than meets the eye.

Well-written! Believable characters dealing with difficult circumstances held my attention from the beginning.

This book is a page turner! Not only is there a romance that seems ill-fated from the start, there is also a mystery that readers will try to solve.

Recommended for readers who enjoy historical romances and suspense novels.

Christianbook.com

Jonathan James and the Whatif Monster

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Book written by Michelle Nelson-Schmidt

I love to share about cute picture books with a message when I find them.

This is a rhyming book, which appeals to young children.

The “Whatif” monster keeps the boy in the story too afraid to try anything new.

Like climbing a tree or playing with a new friend or playing baseball or eating a new dish. Then the boy realizes that each of those situations could as easily turn out well.

This story could help children who are afraid to try new things. Parents may first want to read the picture book—and any book their child wants to read for the message it conveys.

I liked the book and recommend it for children from 3 – 7.  

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A Picture of Hope by Liz Tolsma

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Heroines of WWII Series

American Journalist Nellie Wilkerson has been in London during the daily bombings, just waiting for a chance to get to France where the fighting is intense. She seizes the opportunity to disguise her identity to get there with her camera. The Allies are there now so she should be able to convince one of the units to take her along to the front lines. She doesn’t intend to accept no as an answer. She’ll snap photos to back up the story of what’s really happening.

Jean-Paul Breslau is determined to find his comrades but stumbles upon Nellie, alone in the French countryside with a dead soldier. He can’t turn his back on her any more than he can walk away from Claire, the little girl they find in a village, who is the sole survivor of terrible fire set by the Germans. Claire has Down Syndrome and the Germans will kill her.

Their paths cross with others who resist the German soldiers. Danger escalates with each chapter.

This book is a page turner! Readers will find themselves pulling for the children in this story to reach safety. The characters are likeable, strong, and determined—though the heroine’s insistence on having her own way frustrated me as a reader. She placed herself and her companions in more danger through her choices.

Recommended for readers who enjoy World War II stories.

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A Miser. A Manger. A Miracle. by Marianne Jordan

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This story is a retelling of Charles Dickens’s classic The Christmas Carol, done with creative twist.

Set in the time of Jesus, this novel transports the reader from the manger to the cross. In this beautifully written story, Jordan shows surprising parallels between the characters of Jesus’ day and the time of Dickens.

Reading this book prepared my heart for Christmas. A touching and powerful story.

Highly recommended!

-Review by Sandra Merville Hart

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Five & Dime Christmas

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

In the 1880s, the Woolworth’s Five and Dime department store has a home in Scranton, Pennsylvania. This nostalgic place is the setting for four historical novellas in the Five & Dime Christmas collection.

I enjoyed this collection! Of course, I had my favorites yet each story took me back in time. I thank the authors for the historical glimpses into this store. Likeable characters drew me into their heartache and struggles. I love reading Christmas books during the holiday!

There wasn’t a lunch counter in the 1880s, as the authors mentioned in their notes, yet this feature greatly added to the atmosphere of the stories.

In A Merry Little Christmas by Susanne Dietze, Hattie, a store clerk, discovers that her favorite customer inadvertently threatens her struggling brother’s job.

In A Home for Christmas by Patty Smith Hall, Essie, a socialite working as a store clerk, is intrigued by a pastor who has taken six homeless young boys into his home.

Alone this year, Lizzie’s job is her sole support in The Light of Christmas by Christina Lorenzen. Can she save her home on her salary? The new bookkeeper wonders how to help.

Lunch with Maggie by Cynthia Hickey finds Maggie, who works the lunch counter, making a friendship with a widower and his young daughter, regulars at her counter. Maggie, who’d been jilted on her wedding day, refuses to trust another man with her heart.

An enjoyable, nostalgic Christmas collection!

Christianbook.com