Review

The Case of the Stolen Memories by Deborah Sprinkle

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

A Mac & Sam Mystery Series, Book 3

Private Investigator Mackenzie Love witnesses a thief running away from a robbery in a park. A body is found that same day. She and fellow investigator Sam are hired to recover items stolen from a time capsule. They need customers to keep their business afloat so they agree, little knowing the danger.

Detective Jake Sanders is assigned to the case and then learns his feisty girlfriend Mac is a witness. Since she’s investigating the crime for a client, the two work separately and share findings with one another.

Escalating mystery and danger at every turn kept me turning pages. Many twists and turns held my interest. Danger faced by multiple characters that I’d grown to love had me on the edge of my seat.

This suspenseful story will keep readers turning pages. Recommended for those who enjoy mystery and suspense novels!

I received an advanced copy from the author and happily endorsed the book. All opinions are my own.

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A Certain Man by Linda Dindzans

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

A Certain Future Series, Book 1 

One finds it difficult to believe this is a Debut Novel. Dindzans has written a mesmerizing story that immerses readers into the dangerous New Testament days when a father’s whim held more sway over whom a woman would marry than she did herself.

Readers of the Bible will note specific events in the life of Jesus and even His parables are woven into this well-written story.

Mara, the daughter of a drunkard, is only important to her father for the money he will receive from the bridegroom. Mara wants to marry her neighbor Samuel in two years when he has saved the bride-price. She’ll be fifteen then. Yet events take a terrible turn.

Dindzans’s depth of research transports readers back to Biblical days. Jewish traditions and culture enrich the storytelling.

The book is edgier than I normally read. There is violence and rape but it’s not explicitly shown. There are characters readers will love and others they definitely will not.

I could not put the book down.

I highly recommend this novel to lovers of Biblical novels.

I received a copy of the book from the author or publisher and was not required to leave a positive review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Behind Love’s Wall by Carrie Fancett Pagels

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Doors to the Past, Book 5

The author skillfully weaves together the stories of two women living in two time periods in this novel.

In 1895, Lily is singing at The Grand on Mackinac Island. Her piano accompanist is her cousin, who has often protected her from unwanted male attention in the past. However, she’d welcome Dr. Stephen DuBlanc’s courtship if not for a terrible secret in her past, one that prompts her to change her name to hide from the Pinkertons.

In 2020, Willa has made a name for herself as an interior decorator, a reputation that lands her at the Grand Hotel to consult for a redesign. She wants to work with Michael, a gifted landscape artist, but must protect her heart. She has too much baggage from her childhood to pursue a relationship.

Then she finds a journal written by a singer at The Grand in 1895 that opens a slew of questions…and secrets.

Lovable, believable characters drew me into their story. Their heartache tugged at my emotions. Many twists kept me turning pages as the story progressed.

Story complexities increase with each chapter with lots of names in common between time periods. For that reason, I’d suggest reading the novel within a week or so to remember the details.

I enjoyed this well-written dual timeline mystery.  

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The Case of the Stolen Memories by Deborah Sprinkle

/ sandramervillehart

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

A Mac & Sam Mystery Series, Book 3

Private Investigator Mackenzie Love witnesses a thief running away from a robbery in a park. A body is found that same day. She and fellow investigator Sam are hired to recover items stolen from a time capsule. They need customers to keep their business afloat so they agree, little knowing the danger.

Detective Jake Sanders is assigned to the case and then learns his feisty girlfriend Mac is a witness. Since she’s investigating the crime for a client, the two work separately and share findings with one another.

Escalating mystery and danger at every turn kept me turning pages. Many twists and turns held my interest. Danger faced by multiple characters that I’d grown to love had me on the edge of my seat.

I received an advanced copy from the author and happily endorsed the book. All opinions are my own.

This suspenseful story will keep readers turning pages. Recommended for those who enjoy mystery and suspense novels!

A Certain Man by Linda Dindzans

/ sandramervillehart

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

A Certain Future Series, Book 1  

One finds it difficult to believe this is a Debut Novel. Dindzans has written a mesmerizing story that immerses readers into the dangerous New Testament days when a father’s whim held more sway over whom a woman would marry than she did herself.

Readers of the Bible will note specific events in the life of Jesus and even His parables are woven into this well-written story.

Mara, the daughter of a drunkard, is only important to her father for the money he will receive from the bridegroom. Mara wants to marry her neighbor Samuel in two years when he has saved the bride-price. She’ll be fifteen then. Yet events take a terrible turn.

Dindzans’s depth of research transports readers back to Biblical days. Jewish traditions and culture enrich the storytelling.

The book is edgier than I normally read. There is violence and rape but it’s not explicitly shown. There are characters readers will love and others they definitely will not.

I could not put the book down.

I highly recommend this novel to lovers of Biblical fiction.

Julia’s Joy by Susan G. Mathis

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Love at a Lighthouse, Book 2

Terms in her grandmother’s will send Julia Collins to Sister Island on the St. Lawrence River. Julia is accustomed to an active social life. The island only has two residents when she arrives, the lightkeeper and his mother. Before she arrives, she is certain her grief won’t required this much solitude.

William Dodge, the lightkeeper, is recovering from his fiancé ending their engagement, who broke up with him over his occasional bouts with pleurisy. Julia’s lack of faith troubles him and he gives her room to make that journey.

Surprising twists kept me turning pages. Loveable, believable characters drew me into their story. Their heartache tugged at my emotions.  

This gentle, well-written love story is highly recommended for those who love to immerse themselves in another time with a great book!   

I was given a copy of the book by the author. A positive review was not required.

Amazon

Finding the Dog Groomer’s Soulmate by Cindy Ervin Huff

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Dog Groomer’s Love Stories, Book 2  

Former Air Force Captain Cassie Quinn lost her arm in a roadside IED. To escape her nightmares and panic attacks, she applies for a job at a Dog Groomer’s. She’s surprised when the family-run business hires her. She sees it as a step toward healing.

Aaron Willis is part owner of a thriving Dog Grooming business. The animal loving bachelor has a hard time saying no to anyone who needs him. Before long, Cassie has captured his attention. They begin dating but his need to help her overwhelms Cassie.

She’s getting more comfortable with her prosthetic arm physically but inside she feels emotionally broken. Who will want to marry her?

Believable, loveable characters had me rooting for them. The tension increased as the story went on, drawing me into the story. Some surprising twists caused me to wonder how the hero and heroine could resolve their conflict.

This novel will appeal to animal lovers and dog lovers. Cassie needs an emotional support dog and it was inspiring to see how her pet helped her deal with her nightmares and her panic attacks.

I recommend this contemporary romance novel, and dog lovers will especially enjoy it.

Amazon

Point of Danger by Irene Hannon

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Triple Threat Series, Book 1

Eve Reilly discovers a package on her porch—and it’s ticking. She’s received threats before due to her honesty on hard-hitting topics as a radio show host but this scares her.

The police detective assigned to the case is Brent Lange. The sheer volume of threats from callers into Eve’s radio program have him on edge. As danger escalates, so does the danger to his heart. His past will keep him from pursuing a relationship but he has enough on his plate trying to protect her.

Characters are likeable, relatable, and realistic. Escalating danger at every turn kept me on the edge of my seat.

A page turner! Plan on staying up late to finish this one.

Highly recommend for readers of suspense!

Amazon

A Deep Divide by Kimberley Woodhouse

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Secrets of the Canyon, Book 1

Heiress Emma Grace McMurray hopes her job as a Harvey Girl will disguise her from those seeking her hand in marriage—and her life. She never feels safe, even in the remote Grand Canyon location.

Ray Watkins arrives in the Grand Canyon with several of his father’s employees. He will inherit his father’s business, yet he yearns for another career. The great wealth his father has amassed only leaves him hungry for more riches, an attitude that worries Ray. He’d love to court his waitress, Emma Grace, but her reserved manner discourages him.

Emma Grace doesn’t trust men—with good reason. Ray doesn’t seem like her father and his employees. Five years is a long time to run. She must trust someone. Can she trust Ray?

I was immediately drawn into the story by a gripping Prologue. Emma Grace’s plight grew worse with each twist and turn. The characters are likeable and believable. Attitudes fit the time period.

There are many surprises in the action-packed drama. I couldn’t put it down.

A definite page-turner!

Recommend! I will look for more by this author.

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Crinoline Cowboys

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

4 Southern Women Head West to Crinoline Creek, Texas

In A Cowboy of Her Own by Patty Smith Hall, Madalyn Turner wants nothing more than to run her own ranch in Crinoline Creek, but she doesn’t realize that the male ranchers in town would be so set against a female rancher. Luckily, Carter Wilbanks needs help with his sister in exchange for lessons in ranching.

In Josephine’s Dream by Cynthia Hickey, Josie Montgomery accepts a job as housekeeper and nanny for Parker Owen’s four children with no prior experience. The widower desperately needs her help but is reluctant to trust her. He sure didn’t expect to fall in love with her.

Marilyn Turk’s Love’s Lookin’ at the Cowboy Café finds Sarah Beth Taylor in town to claim her restaurant that her uncle gave to her—only he neglected to mention the establishment used to be a saloon. Emery Wright, the president of the bank, doesn’t want to get involved in the sweet Southern belle’s problems, but Sarah Beth doesn’t take ‘no’ for an answer.

Kathleen Y’Barbo’s Bea Mine finds Bea Wilson coming to Crinoline Creek to claim her aunt and uncle’s land only to find they have no claim to it. In fact, shady dealings connected to the claim get her arrested and temporary Sheriff Gil Hollis must guard her. But the two have a history neither one suspects…  

I enjoyed these stories. All four heroines are determined to make a new life for themselves despite being ill-equipped for the challenges demanded by their new positions. They were all from the South and had all suffered great losses during the recent Civil War, an aspect of the stories that snagged my interest.

Love’s Lookin’ at the Cowboy Café may have been my favorite because the heroine had no clue how to cook for herself, much less cook for customers.

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