Review

Devil in the Dust by Cara Luecht

/ sandramervillehart / 2 Comments

The author drew me into the 1930s right away. The story starts slowly and builds.

Many have already moved to California to escape the terrible dust that covers everything. The pastor, Peter, and his wife, Lillian, do their best to support the few families left in their Oklahoma town.

Emma’s husband is missing. Was he hurt? Or had he abandoned Emma and her five hungry children?

At 15, Jessie can’t stand to watch her younger siblings get by on so little food. With her father missing, there is no money to buy more food. There has to be something she can do to make things better.

Then a stranger drives a fancy car into town.

This story is told in multiple viewpoints, giving readers a glimpse into how tragedies suffered color your vision when nature itself seems to turn against farming families.

The author did a wonderful job of creating an authentic feel of the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. The characters’ choices and thoughts ring true to the time. This novel robbed me of a few hours of sleep!

Definitely recommend.

-Sandra Merville Hart

LPC Books   Use coupon code SandraMHart for a 20% discount on Lighthouse Publishing books!

 

Writing with E’s by Rebecca Waters

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This book was written specifically for writers.

Waters has packed this handbook with helpful writing tips for new writers. Experienced authors will also benefit from useful editing tips to prepare those manuscripts for submission.

The author includes several writing exercises that are beneficial to new writers. Sometimes it’s difficult to figure out what to write about when new the craft. Waters provides excellent exercises engineered for practicing and honing writing skills.

Excellent, practical book that will be especially useful for new writers. Recommend!

-Sandra Merville Hart

Amazon

That First Montana Year by Donna L. Scofield

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This historical romance captured my attention on the first page.

B’Anne regrets what happened when the snowstorm isolated her with Will, her old beau, even as he courted a beautiful new girl. He cast B’Anne aside in the morning.

But B’Anne’s morning sickness exposes their secret. Their families arrange a quick marriage and the young couple soon find themselves in a wagon bound for Montana. B’Anne is sad to leave her family in Iowa to stay with Will’s uncle until they claim their own property.

B’Anne has always loved Will and hates that he’s been forced to marry her when he loves another woman. Certain that he will resent her and the baby, she worries about the future. Can he learn to love B’Anne?

Very interesting story that shows the difficulties faced by homesteaders in Montana. The author also shows how they lived, describing the 1880s lifestyle so well that I felt like I had been transported back to another era.

Great book! I will look for other novels written by this author.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas    Use coupon code SandraMHart for a 20% discount on Lighthouse Publishing books!

 

Marketing You and Your Writing by Rebecca Waters

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This book was written specifically to help writers with marketing their book and themselves as an author.

It takes a while for new writers to learn the writing “lingo.” Waters explains such things as headshots and bios early in the book.

On the other hand, even experienced writers benefit from learning how to use social media to build a platform. Waters offers insightful advice about blogs, Facebook, and other social media.

The author also talks about lesser known “media kits” that editors or publishers sometimes require—a very helpful section.

These and many other tools make this marketing book for writers a “must have” on a Kindle. It will be an easy future reference as needs arise.

Practical book written for authors. Recommend!

-Sandra Merville Hart

Amazon

Land of My Dreams by Norma Gail

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The author drew me into this contemporary romance right away.

To escape from painful losses, college professor Bonnie Bryant accepts a position to teach in Scotland. She meets Professor Kieran MacDonnell, a grieving widower and sheep farmer. She soon falls in love with him.

Though Kieran loves Bonnie, he feels guilty for loving her. He still grieves his wife’s passing.

To make matters worse, Bonnie’s former boyfriend keeps trying to contact her. He wants to make amends.

There are plenty of obstacles in Bonnie and Kieran’s way. Just when I thought I knew what would happen next, a twist came. There are many unexpected twists and turns in this novel that kept me guessing until the end.

I also fell in love with a land I’ve never seen—Scotland. The author’s descriptions brought the beautiful land alive in my imagination. I’d love to visit there someday.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas     Use coupon code SandraMHart for a 20% discount on Lighthouse Publishing books!

Designing a Business Plan by Rebecca Waters

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This book was written specifically to help writers develop a business plan.

The author spends a whole chapter addressing identifying strength and weaknesses and another on establishing goals and objectives.

Find out how to set SMART goals. This is helpful for new and experienced writers to learn and put into practice.

A chapter on crafting your mission statement also helps writers hone in on their brand.

Read the chapter on Budgeting Your Time and Money to discover the secret to a productive life. In fact, the book is filled with inspirational gems throughout.

The former college professor gives assignments designed to help writers practice what they’ve just learned. You will know how to create a business plan by the end of the book.

Insightful book written for authors. Recommend!

-Sandra Merville Hart

Amazon

 

Gettysburg Remembers President Lincoln by Linda Giberson Black

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The full title of this book is Gettysburg Remembers President Lincoln: Eyewitness Accounts of November 1863.

This nonfiction book shows what the citizens of Gettysburg did to bring about a national cemetery in the town in the aftermath of the horrific battle. David Wills, a Gettysburg attorney, was instrumental in planning the cemetery.

The ceremony to dedicate the cemetery took place in November of 1863. President Lincoln delivered his famous “Gettysburg Address” but was not the event’s main speaker. This book shows the fascinating details of the whole day and Lincoln’s hours in the town.

Great book for anyone interested in learning the background of the Gettysburg Address and history lovers.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Amazon

Firestorm at Gettysburg by Jim Slade & John Alexander

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The full title of this book is Firestorm at Gettysburg: Civilian Voices June—November 1863. This nonfiction book contains quotes throughout. The story of the Battle of Gettysburg is told in quotes by the townspeople, giving the account a compelling authenticity.

The townspeople who are quoted most often are briefly introduced at the beginning of the book. The town of Gettysburg and how the war affected the borough are also shown. Then the story quickly starts with all that happens in the month preceding the battle. Then we see what the citizens experienced during the battle and in the aftermath.

I enjoyed learning about Gettysburg, the townspeople, and the battle this way. It brought bring history to life.

Great book for anyone interested in the Battle of Gettysburg, Civil War research, and history lovers.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Amazon

The Illustrated Gettysburg Reader by Rod Gragg

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This nonfiction book tells the story of the Battle of Gettysburg in a way that resonated with me. The author tells the history and then shows a diary entry or account or general’s report that digs deeper into what happened.

Gragg begins with details from May of 1863 and goes on from that time.

I especially enjoyed reading the accounts from folks who experienced the events. These really bring history to life.

Great book for anyone interested in the Battle of Gettysburg, Civil War research, and history lovers.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Gettysburg: A Testing of Courage by Noah Andre Trudeau

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This nonfiction book tells the story of the Battle of Gettysburg. Military events are recorded along with what happened in and near Gettysburg in the days leading up to the famous battle.

So much happened during the three-day battle that the author includes each day in a single chapter, taking events in chronological order—sometimes in hourly increments.

The chapter for the second day’s fighting, for example, is well over one hundred pages. Lots of wonderful details! There are many helpful maps showing troop movements throughout the book.

Great book for history lovers and anyone interested in the Battle of Gettysburg and the Civil War.

-Sandra Merville Hart