Review

Our Heart Psalms by Joyce K. Ellis

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Many of the topics in this book, such as grief, worry, and suffering—have been experienced by most readers, making this a helpful source of comfort.

The author begins each devotional with a scripture reference. Scattered throughout are psalms written by the author.

Journal prompts are included for the reader to write their own thoughts, prayers, or psalms. Ellis shows us how to write our own psalms of lament, praise, thanksgiving, confession, and creation. She gives her own examples as well as some written by other authors.

Most of the chapters in the book are longer than other devotionals, yet the wisdom imparted by the author’s own experiences are worth the extra time.

Honest and insightful. A great book!

-Sandra Merville Hart

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas

Practically Married by Karin Beery

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Ashley moves to Michigan to marry her best friend though she’s a little miffed Tom has stopped returning her calls. She learns of the accident that claimed his life when she arrives on his farm.

There’s a good reason no one thought to inform her. Tom didn’t tell his family about their upcoming marriage.

Russ, Tom’s cousin and business partner, had lived on the farm with him—Ashley’s only home since she sold her Ohio property. Russ doesn’t know her but it’s just like Tom to keep his relationship a secret. Then he learns that Tom left the farm—Russ’s livelihood—to his fiancé.

Tom’s accident recalls the fatal accident of Ashley’s parents and she struggles to cope with all the tragedy in her life. Though she can’t deny her attraction to Russ, she’s reluctant to rob him of his family home. What can be done?

This contemporary romance snagged my interest immediately. There are twists and turns throughout that kept me turning pages. This romance doesn’t follow the normal pattern, making the story more intriguing. I loved the honesty of the characters. I felt that I knew them by the end of the story.

I’ll look for more books by this author!

-Sandra Merville Hart

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas

Call of the Mountain by Yvonne Lehman

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Book 3 in Finding Love in the Blue Ridge Mountains Series

Beth tries to talk her younger sister, Carol, out of having an abortion. The father doesn’t want the child and does not support her. Carol gives Beth an ultimatum—Beth must raise the baby as her own or she ends the pregnancy. She has two weeks to decide.

Stranded by a snowstorm, Beth meets the Logan family. Josh Logan is certainly a handsome and compassionate bachelor and catches Beth’s eye, but she already has a boyfriend. She worries about Randy’s reaction to her raising her sister’s child and begins to understand the emotions and fears of an unwed mother.

My interest was captured right away by a young single woman’s plight of the cost of potentially raising her sister’s child as her own. The romance also snagged my attention and I was pulling for “the best man” to win her heart.

I’ve read many books by this author and Lehman has never disappointed me. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series!

-Sandra Merville Hart

Amazon

The Story of Gatlinburg by Jeanette S. Greve

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A vintage history first published in 1931

What a treasure this book is to readers interested in the history of Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains!

I purchased this book on one of my family vacations to Gatlinburg. I knew the city’s popularity has exponentially grown in last fifty to sixty years and wondered about its humble beginnings.

This book demonstrates that growth while giving readers many details about how the first settlers lived. If you have roots or family ties to the area, you may discover more about your ancestors.

As a historical author of Civil War romances, I loved the information about the Battle of Gatlinburg. I learned the town was occupied during the war. The author provides officer’s names and specific regiments in the area—wonderful details for researchers.

Folks interested in the history of Gatlinburg as well as those who love learning America’s history will enjoy this book. A treasure!

-Sandra Merville Hart

Amazon

ABCs of Praise and Prayer by Barbara Kois

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How 15 minutes with God can change your day

 I found this devotional book very creative.

First, each devotion begins with praise.

Second, each devotion focuses on a particular letter of the alphabet. For instance, the praise section of the letter ‘M’ uses words like Mighty, Majestic, Maker, and Matchless to describe God.

The devotional thought for each day also follows the letter theme—its title for ‘M’ is Mercy.

Scriptures are sprinkled throughout, along with prayers. Thought-provoking questions end each devotion.

I love that the author begins each section with praise to God. So often we come to God with heavy burdens. Beginning our time by praising Him shifts our focus.

Recommend.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas

Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup

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A gripping true story!

Solomon Northup is a free man living in New York when kidnappers sold him into slavery. They had enticed him away from his home and family with offers to pay him for playing his violin entertaining their guests. As Solomon often earned extra money playing for parties, he was happy to travel with them.

They eventually ended up in Washington D.C., where the two men who had treated him as friend drugged him.

Solomon had a wife and three young children when he was kidnapped. They had no idea what happened to him for some time and, even then, did not know where he was—or that he’d been forced to live under another name.

The author tells his story honestly, providing names, locations, and excellent descriptions. This made it easy for folks to verify his story. The book contains language of the time and many of the names he was called are offensive.

Beautifully written. Poignant. Impossible to read this man’s story and not be touched by it.

-Sandra Merville Hart

 

In the Shadow of Salem by Donna Gawell

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This book is based on the life of Mehitabel Braybrooke Downing. The author’s note reveals that few facts are known about her. A story was crafted using many actual historical figures and what is known of their lives.

Readers first meet Mehitabel as a prisoner in 1692. She’s been accused of witchcraft in her hometown of Ipswich, Massachusetts, during the Salem Witch Trials. Joan, the woman she has always referred to as Mother, is then arrested. Lifelong resentments invade the prison cell with her.

The author then goes back in time to show what soured their relationship from the very beginning.

Told in first person, the story gripped me from the beginning. I couldn’t put it down for long as I had to know what happened to a mistreated young girl who made unwise choices.

Recommend!

-Sandra Merville Hart

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas

 

Never the Same by Steven James

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Stories of those who encountered Jesus

What an amazing book!

Readers will meet a few of the people who interacted Jesus during his thirty-three years on this earth. And, as the author demonstrates so beautifully, you can’t meet Jesus and remain unchanged.

Unexpected folks tell events of Jesus’s life are told by unexpected people who were there, allowing readers a fresh look into stories they may have read in the past.

Each chapter, written in first person, reveals the reactions of those who were there—with plenty of surprising emotions. Readers may find a piece of themselves within the pages.

Insightful.

Thought-provoking.

Inspiring.

A must-read.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Amazon

 

Good Night, Fireflies

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Rachel Pellegrino, founder and publisher of Little Lamb Books, highlights one of their books for us today. Welcome back, Rachel!

by Rachel Pellegrino

Based in Texas, Little Lamb Books is a premiere children’s publishing company striving to shepherd the next generation of faithful readers by encouraging their faith in God, inspiring their love of reading, and delighting their imagination through colorful and creative literary works.

Launched in 2015, Little Lamb Books has two main goals: 1) to create literary content from a biblical worldview for elementary, middle grade and young adult readers and 2) we want to invigorate the lives of young readers by creating a catalog filled with a variety of titles that mix friendship, family, and faith with biblical parallels, everyday lessons, and strong characters and storylines.

We know that every child struggles to face some type of fear, whether it’s the fear of the dark, being alone, thunderstorms, or just being in front of a crowd. We partnered with author Janet L. Christensen to produce Good Night, Fireflies and tell the story of a young boy named Landon and how he conquers his fear. Good Night, Fireflies was just recently named a finalist in the 2020 International Book Awards.

Landon can’t sleep when the shadows turn ordinary things in his room into spookies and creepies! His fears are put to rest one memorable summer evening when his daddy teaches him an important lesson about God’s everlasting, ever-present love: just like the fireflies, God doesn’t disappear when the lights go out.

Through the power of prayer, Landon learns that he can call on God whenever he’s scared and find comfort in the love of his Father.

Beautifully illustrated by Francesca Pesci, Good Night, Fireflies helps answer the question even adults have: How do we know God’s always with us?

We enjoy producing books like Good Night, Fireflies because at Little Lamb Books we believe that reading is important and families should have choices for wholesome, clean, AND entertaining stories to read together. Be sure to request a copy at your local library and order a hard cover or paperback from our online shop, Bookshop, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and wherever children’s books are sold.

Bio: Rachel Pellegrino is the owner and publisher of Little Lamb Books, an award-winning publisher of children’s books. Launched in 2015, Little Lamb Books has produced almost a dozen titles, all of which have won national awards, including two golds in the Benjamin Franklin Awards. Rachel is passionate about collaborating with fellow publishers as well as empowering authors to be successful. Based in Texas, Rachel talks with her hands, offers individual author coaching, prefers Pepsi to coffee, and has a growing plush lamb collection much to her daughter’s delight.

 

Gracie Lou Wants a Zoo

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Rachel Pellegrino, founder and publisher of Little Lamb Books, highlights one of their books for us today. Welcome, Rachel!

By Rachel Pellegrino

Little Lamb Books is a premiere children’s publishing company striving to shepherd the next generation of faithful readers by encouraging their faith in God, inspiring their love of reading, and delighting their imagination through colorful and creative literary works.

Based in Texas, Little Lamb Books has two main goals: 1) to create literary content from a biblical worldview for elementary, middle grade and young adult readers and 2) we want to invigorate the lives of young readers by creating a catalog filled with a variety of titles that mix friendship, family, and faith with biblical parallels, everyday lessons, and strong characters and storylines.

We especially love creating brightly illustrated picture books. One of our most recent additions is Gracie Lou Wants A Zoo by award-winning author Shelly Roark.

Gracie Lou wants nothing more for her pet turtle, George, than for him to have friends. But her Mom and Dad insist that their city apartment is too small to house a monkey or a duck, a giraffe or an elephant. They say she needs to be patient and trust in God’s plan, except Gracie Lou’s not sure she can wait that long.

After a wild night spent with a house full of rowdy zoo animals gives her a lesson in the value of patience and God’s perfect timing, Gracie Lou learns that God has a great plan for her . . . if she can just wait for it!

Gracie Lou Wants A Zoo is colorful and captures the attention of young readers everywhere while sharing a delightful message of God’s love for all of His children, especially those who have ever wondered about His plan for them.

As the publisher of Little Lamb Books, I’m a bit biased, but I believe the young readers in your home will love our books. So, be sure to request a copy at your local library and order a hard cover or paperback from our online shop, Bookshop, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and wherever children’s books are sold.