Review

Breathing on Her Own by Rebecca Waters

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When Molly’s adult daughter, Laney, is involved in a terrible car accident, the tragedy affects the whole family. Though Laney survives, a passenger in the car that she was driving doesn’t make it.

The loss of Laney’s friend isn’t the only thing on the family’s plate. They soon discover that Laney is paralyzed. Her husband and two young children have to learn how to adjust.

Great story about trusting and not trusting God in the midst of difficulties. Readers will find lovable, believable characters that they want to spend time with.

-Sandra Merville Hart

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

Racin’ Flat Out for Christ by Lee Warren

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racin-flat-out-for-christ_-a-nascar-sports-devotional

This devotional book is packed with examples from the world of NASCAR racing of drivers who follow Christ.

Readers will be inspired by a variety of stories including one of anonymous private donations to a young driver winning his first race and giving the glory to God.

Great book for NASCAR fans!

-Sandra Merville Hart

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

Writing Blocks: Shock the Clock by Jeanette Levellie

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Are you one of the Fun Ones, Fearless Ones, Friendly Ones, or Feeling Ones? Whether your personality type is predominantly Sanguine, Choleric, Phlegmatic, or Melancholy, the strengths and challenges inherent in each type affects us. It affects the way we write.

“Those who write down their goals are ninety percent more likely to meet them!”

This short book focuses more on the challenges of setting and sticking to your goals. Great time management tools!

-Sandra Merville Hart

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

Swept Away by Mary Connealy

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51k-v1gpgtl-_sx322_bo1204203200_Ruthie MacNeil dreads reaching California, for her adopted parents have decided that’s when she will have to marry their son. She is literally swept down the river when the water level suddenly rises several feet.

Luke Stone rescues her many miles from where she entered the water. Friends await him at his childhood town in Broken Arrow and he can’t just leave Ruthie beside the river. He can’t delay either, because he plans to take back his father’s stolen land.

Ruthie refuses to sit idly while the man she loves faces danger. The spunky woman has a mind of her own.

Connealy has woven a multi-layered historical romance that kept me turning pages—a great read!

-Sandra Merville Hart

Amazon

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

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51czpwoashl“It’s not a happy book.”

That’s what a family member told me even as he urged me to read this novel.

This book is not my normal genre. The disjointed way in which it is written required some patience. I would have given up on the story early on except for a loved one’s comment that this book was “one of my top five books I’ve read.”

The author’s constant interruptions to explain backstory and foretell future events prevented me from becoming emotionally involved for half the book. Then I became engaged and lost several hours of sleep trying to finish it.

The book thief, a girl living in Germany at the time of Hitler, endures countless difficulties and suffers many losses. The power of the story strengthens and escalates toward a climax that made my heart hurt.

Recommend.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Amazon

The Cheesehead Devotional by Judy DuCharme

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This insightful and inspirational devotional book was written by Judy DuCharme for Green Bay Packers fans.

Even though I’m not a huge footfall fan, I enjoyed the clever aspects of each devotion. Readers find scripture references in “From the Playbook” and prayers in the “Extra Point.”

The devotions contain examples from players’ lives and games that touched me. An enjoyable devotional book!

-Sandra Merville Hart

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

 

Roughing It by Mark Twain

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51fmclac8qlMark Twain, pen name for Samuel Clemens, sets out with his brother in 1861 for the Nevada Territory. The adventures begin right away on a stagecoach trip.

Twain catches “silver fever” that is sweeping through the territory and becomes a miner. His descriptions of characters he encounters and the general attitude of residents in that tough setting makes readers feel as if they joined him in the “Old West.”

His travels take him to San Francisco and Hawaii, a fascinating look at historic locations for modern readers.

Twain uses the fine art of exaggeration in many of the tales found here.

One of my favorite authors!

-Sandra Merville Hart

Amazon

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo – a Review

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41qkfwb2sqlThis gripping story about Colton, a three-year-old whose heart stopped during an emergency appendectomy, held my attention from start to finish.

After he recovers, Colton begins to talk about meeting Jesus when he died. He tells his dad about seeing him yell at God in the chapel while Colton was still laying on the operating table.

As always, the book provides many details the movie did not include. As much as I loved the movie, I loved reading the story more. This is a wonderful book.

-Review by Sandra Merville Hart

Amazon

The Christmas Child by Max Lucado

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51cqcdm7vhl-_sx497_bo1204203200_I read this book in an hour yet the story touched me.

A photo received by a Chicago man’s father with no explanation and no return address prompts a visit to a small Texas church.

One man on the brink of divorce at Christmas hears the story of another man whose mistakes brought tragedy to the ones he loved most.

Touching book about healing and forgiveness at Christmas.

I’ve loved everything I’ve read by this author. The hardback book makes a nice gift or stocking stuffer.

-Review by Sandra Merville Hart

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Love Finds You Under the Mistletoe – a Review

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I had previously read and enjoyed both these Christmas novels. I recently reread them. It had been long enough that I didn’t remember many of the details. The second time through was just as heartwarming.

51cytrwnjyl-_sx318_bo1204203200_An Appalachian Christmas by Irene Brand

Julia Mayfield just wants to fulfill her sister’s dying wish and introduce her nephew to his grandparents. They refuse to meet him, leaving her with a dilemma: she can stay in the tiny town of Mistletoe and work on a book assignment as an intriguing farmer, David Armstrong, suggests while waiting for their attitude to soften or return home.

Somehow, her decision seems very important.

When reading this, I was confused about the time period. At first I thought it was set after World War I. Then I realized the setting was after World War II. Otherwise, this was an enjoyable Christmas read.

 

Once Upon a Christmas Eve by Anita Higman

Holly Goodnight has always been best friends with Owen “Quig” Quigly since their toddler years in their small town of Noel. She hopes that someday her mother, who left her on a shop doorstep as a baby, will return but after almost thirty years that doesn’t seem likely.

An author, Van Keaton, arrives in town with a shocking proposal to write her story. Quig, who believes it will help Holly to deal with her past, urges her to agree then watches as the woman he has always loved begins to fall for the handsome author.

I enjoyed both these Christmas romances.

-Review by Sandra Merville Hart

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