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
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!
Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart
Joy to the World…until it falls apart
Corinne Carter’s divorce from her alcoholic husband is final. She’s got a fresh start back in her hometown in Florida, near her matchmaking mama.
Jeremy Payne hasn’t dated since his long-term relationship ended a year before and his mother is determined to change that. Corinne and Jeremy had been best friends in high school. When they meet again at a Christmas party, they decide to fake a dating relationship to protect themselves from their mothers.
I loved this well-written Christmas romance! It’s a short, enjoyable read. The characters are likable and the situations they face are believable.
I enjoy stories set during the Christmas holidays and look forward to finding new ones every year. This one is a gem!
Highly recommended for readers of contemporary romance.
Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart
Her Billionaire Cowboy’s Twin Heirs
Annie York, a single mother, works at her cousin’s diner to support her daughter. Chloe’s eighth birthday party is a couple of days before Christmas.
Caleb Galloway doesn’t plan on staying in his hometown very long—until he meets Annie, whom he barely knew in school. He suddenly finds himself as the guardian of his twin infant niece and nephew and is grateful for Annie’s help.
This is a short read. All the action takes place in one day. Everything happens too quickly in the story and I had a hard time getting into it.
I do enjoy stories set during the Christmas holidays. It’s set in a small Indiana town where everyone knows everyone.
Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart
Freddie and Grace Mysteries – Book 1
I love to read books set during the Christmas holidays. This 1913 book begins in November and ends at Christmas.
Grace Ferguson is more interested in the library at the mansion where her sister Lillias will marry an earl in a week’s time. The arranged marriage will save the earl’s England estate and Lillias is only marrying a man she doesn’t know to please her father.
Frederick Percy is trying to make up for his past by marrying Lillias. When she elopes after meeting him, Grace convinces him to marry her instead.
Attempts have been made on Frederick’s life and soon Grace is also threatened. She dearly loves solving mysteries—and she must solve this one before her new husband is murdered.
I enjoyed the story overall. The growing relationship between the newlyweds is very romantic and perhaps too quick. My interest was snagged by the mysterious attempts to kill Frederick and I tried to solve the mystery along with characters.
Some characters are as full of surprises as the twists and turns. The story left the door open to solve more mysteries in future books!
Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart
Illustrated by The Fan Brothers
I’m always on the lookout for good picture books for my grandchildren. This book is a wonderful read for children aged 3 – 8.
The scarecrow stands alone in the middle of a field. No friends come to play.
Then one day a bird with a broken wing needs help.
I loved this story about how friendship can heal a broken heart!
Highly recommend this children’s picture book for young elementary grades.
Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart
Heroines of WWII series
Fannie O’Brien doesn’t want German prisoners of war helping with the work of her family’s Wisconsin farm. Because of her father’s recent death and her two older brothers off fighting the war in Europe, she accepts her mother’s decision. Fannie and her younger siblings can’t handle the workload. They’ll lose the crop without help.
German POW Captain Wolfgang Klonginger knows that he and seven others soldiers—most of them his former students—could have done far worse. He’s grateful for a chance to put in long days at the farm. As the summer passes, Fannie captures his attention. He admires her work ethic and her compassion.
But one of the soldiers isn’t grateful.
Musch has woven another mesmerizing tale that immersed me into the drama from the beginning. Believable characters tugged at my emotions in this well-written story.
The author dug deeply into the emotions of characters on both sides of the conflict. This page-turner gripped my attention. Well-done!
This isn’t the first novel I’ve read by this author nor will it be the last. I love her ability to transport readers back in time.
I highly recommend this novel to lovers of WWII novels.
Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart
Della Mae Wagner answers a want ad for a teacher and heads to Missouri, hoping to heal from a broken engagement.
Widower Hank Lamson doesn’t want a teacher for his three young sons, and especially not a wife, as his parents advertised to provide. Women only wanted his money. He was having no part in it.
I enjoyed Della’s interaction with the children, especially the youngest boy. For someone with no teaching experience, she showed lots of wisdom.
The characters were likable. Some scenes and situations dragged a bit. Hank’s parents had corresponded with Della before she came. I was as surprised at their warm welcome at the first meeting as I was at Hank’s continuing unfriendliness, though that was explained. My interest picked up a little later in the story.
I’m happy that Love Inspired Historical Inspirational Romances are being published again!
Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart
Can a little girl reunite a family?
Piper Gray is glad to leave behind her marriage to a controlling husband. After the divorce, she wants to return to her hometown and raise her daughter. She lands a seasonal job at the Hudson’s apple farm, a place that has always seemed like home.
Lance Hudson has returned to his family’s business looking for a fresh start after his divorce. Piper’s presence there shocks him, for he had dated her years ago before leaving for college. She’s been away a long time. Only Sidney, his twin sister, has met Maelyn.
Piper has a secret she’s keeping from everyone. She’ll do anything to keep Lance from meeting his daughter.
Readers learn early that Lance is Maelyn’s father. Neither he nor any of his family knows. After meeting him and his wonderful family, I must confess I was frustrated that she kept her sweet daughter from him.
The characters tugged at my heart, especially Lance and Maelyn. This book was a page-turner.
Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart
Caribbean Chronicles Series, Book 5
A time-travel pirate fantasy with an adventure at every turn!
The last thing Ricky Bradshaw remembered was being baptized in the river. The next minute he’s on a pirate ship, rowing with unbathed pirates to beat a storm. He figures his most recent epileptic absence seizure has landed him in real danger. It’s also taken him from his mom, who suffers from cancer.
The storm is an epic one and the pirates are looking for someone to toss overboard. The only paying passenger, Jonah, confesses to running away from God and ends up overboard. Ricky isn’t far behind him.
From there, things go from bad to worse in a series of misfortunes that will keep readers turning pages.
I love that pirates are not romanticized, as they often are in books written for teen boys. Consequences of our own actions and the punishment awaiting those who don’t accept Christ’s forgiveness is vividly portrayed.
I must also add that there were moments of gross punishments I skimmed over. All in all, the author has written a pirate adventure that shares truth few reveal. It’s a powerful story.
Parents, I suggest reading the book before passing it along to your teenager. There is a note to parents/readers on Amazon that I’d like to share:
Down To Davy Jones is a fictional retelling of past pirate escapades based on future events.
Parents can trust the Caribbean Chronicles Series. There is no sexual dialogue or situations, excessive violence, or strong language, only a wee little bit of humor. 🙂 Down to Davy Jones deals with the afterlife and the consequences of taking our own life. Reader discretion is advised.
I was given a copy of the book by the author. A positive review was not required. The opinions expressed are my own.
Sandra Merville Hart 