Review

Protected by Paula Peckham

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

San Antonio Series, Book 1

Illness claims the lives of all the adults in a small wagon train headed to Texas. At 18, Abby is the oldest, and the weight of leading the surviving children lands on her shoulders.

There is plenty of danger that accompanies the small band of children. Abby is not even certain of the way. Her parents and brother are gone, leaving her without family. Only one family of children have relatives in Texas. Still, she struggles to lead her crew—until two men kidnap her and fourteen-year-old Sarah.

Manny and his friend Jonathan are heading back to Texas when they find the orphans. They can’t turn their backs on them. Manny tries to hide his face, scarred from a fire, so the little ones won’t fear him.

The setting drew me into the story as did the danger. Abby has to learn nearly everything about cooking and establishing a ranch, giving readers a glimpse of the hard work those early settlers endured.

I enjoyed the story and many sections were page-turners for me. I look forward to reading the whole collection.

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I Love Mom, Our Hero by Bettie Boswell

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

In this children’s picture book, the little girl and her mother have to move because her daddy has been hurt in the war. He lost his foot and he has to heal and learn how to walk with a new foot.

The little girl’s hero is her mother. She wants to grow up to be just like her and help others. Then they have an idea that will bless the whole community—but they’ll need help to accomplish it.

The book is recommended for children 3 – 8, and is a great book for parents to read to their children at bedtime.

I will look for more books by this author.

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

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What I Would Tell You by Liz Tolsma

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

This split-time story is set during World War II and modern day. Mathilda’s story begins in 1941. She’s a Sephardic Jew living in Salonika, Greece, with her husband, Asher, at the beginning of the book. The Germans are coming. Everyone fears that the Germans are doing to Jews in other parts of Europe will happen to them. Mathilda believes her newspaper will stir her community’s courage. She continues to write her articles against the Germans in secret even after they occupy Greece.

Tessa is a college student in contemporary Pittsburg. The results of her genealogy tests shock her because they show her Sephardic Jewish heritage, something her mother had never shared. Even more shocking is that her cousin’s test isn’t even similar. It’s not difficult to leave behind strained family relationships on summer break. She travels to discover her roots in Salonika, Greece, where a handsome curator at a Jewish Museum helps her trace her ancestry. He gives her Mathilda’s diary to give her insights about the horror faced by the Jews in the area.

Tessa is not prepared for what she learns.

This book was a page-turner for me. Characters face impossible choices in the WWII story. It’s heart-wrenching to read. Difficult family relationships and old scars tug will readers’ emotions in the contemporary story. The overall desire to learn what happened to Mathilda and her family kept me glued to the story. A compelling read that makes you think about the story after the last page.

I enjoyed this poignant story that held surprising twists. I knew little about what had happened in Greece during WWII before picking up this book.  

Recommended for readers of inspirational historical and split-time stories.

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The Greenbrier Heritage by William Olcott

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

The Greenbrier Heritage: White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia

This book begins with the early history of The Greenbrier and the surrounding area, showing its humble beginnings.

Many famous visitors stayed at The Greenbrier over its rich history, including United States Presidents Millard Fillmore, Andrew Jackson, James Buchanan, Martin Van Buren, John Tyler, Franklin Pierce, and James K. Polk.

I enjoyed the many pictures and photos of paintings in the book that depicted scenes at The Greenbrier and its many visitors.

I purchased this book to discover the history for The Greenbrier, the beautiful resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. I was researching the background for my book, A Spring at The Greenbrier, Book 7 in Romance at the Gilded Age Resorts Series. Not only does my heroine work there in the new Bath Wing but also her younger sister needs to bathe in the spring waters to possibly help her.

Recommended for readers of American history and those interested in learning about The Greenbrier.

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Historic Springs of the Virginias by Stan Cohen

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Historic Springs of the Virginias: A Pictorial History

I purchased this book to learn more about the springs in West Virginia. I was researching the background for my book, A Spring at The Greenbrier, Book 7 in Romance at the Gilded Age Resorts Series. Not only does my heroine work there in the new Bath Wing but also her younger sister needs to bathe in the spring waters to possibly help her.

This book is well-written. It gives a broad view of the many springs in Virginia and West Virginia. I had no idea there were so many or that several of them were associated with health resorts at some point. The Greenbrier, which began as a health resort in the 1700s, is located in White Sulphur Springs.

The book is filled with interesting history. Photos, maps, sketches, and nostalgic advertisements greatly enhance the book.

Lots of tidbits and historical facts for the springs in West Virginia and Virginia.

Recommended for readers of American history and those interested in learning the sulphur springs.

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The History of The Greenbrier by Robert S. Conte

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

The History of The Greenbrier: America’s Resort

Excellent book!

I purchased this book to discover the history for The Greenbrier, the beautiful resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. I was researching the background for my book, A Spring at The Greenbrier, Book 7 in Romance at the Gilded Age Resorts Series. Not only does my heroine work there in the new Bath Wing but also her younger sister needs to bathe in the spring waters to possibly help her.

This book is well-written and easy to read. It traces the history of the health resort from its humble beginning.

Lots of tidbits, historical facts, and stories about early guests make this a delightful read. Because the resort soon catered to wealthy guests who stayed for weeks at a time, there were many famous visitors, including United States Presidents.

Recommended for readers of American history and those interested in learning the sulphur springs.

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From the Pen of a She-Rebel

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

From the Pen of a She-Rebel: The Civil War Diary of Emilie Riley McKinley

This is the Diary of Emilie Riley McKinley, who lived a few miles outside of Vicksburg. It spans 10 months—from May 1863 to March 1864, covering the Siege of Vicksburg, the surrender, of part of occupation of Vicksburg.

Emilie lived on a plantation. Groups of Union soldiers came to the home and took away livestock, pistols, and rifles. They continued to come, and took the family’s meat and produce away in the family’s wagons without payment, despite the owner’s protests.

Sometimes different groups of soldiers came several times a day. This happened before the Battle of Vicksburg, during the Siege of Vicksburg, and continued after the surrender.

Soldiers and others, armed with weapons, searched homes for valuables and dug up hidden treasures like silver. These were taken.

As I read the book, I was shocked at what one family and their neighbors endured. The account held my attention.

I purchased this book to discover the history for the siege.

Recommended for readers of American Civil War history and American history.

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Philip Henson, The Southern Union Spy

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Philip Henson, The Southern Union Spy: The Hitherto Unwritten Record of a Hero of The War of the Rebellion (1887), by George Sibley Johns

Philip Henson, a Mississippian, worked as a manager in a dry goods store in Rienzi, Mississippi, before the war started. When the Civil War began, the Confederacy wanted all able-bodied men in service. Because Henson supported the Union, he took a job as overseer to avoid mustering into the Confederate army.

Before General Grant left Corinth, Mississippi, he issued an order that everyone should take the oath of allegiance. Many Southern sympathizers took it for protection—Philip took it because he believed it.

Henson became a spy for both sides. He was a double spy.

He served as a Union spy from July 28, 1862 to May 20, 1864, when he was arrested by Confederate soldiers.

I purchased this book to discover the history surrounding the Siege of Vicksburg. I was researching the background for my Spies of the Civil War Series, Streams of Courage, Book 4, and River of Peril, Book 5.

Recommended for readers of American Civil War history and American history.

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Book of Old-Time Trades and Tools

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Review by Sandra Merville Hart

This book is a republication of the book originally published in 1866 by George Routledge and Sons, London. The original title was The Boy’s Book of Trades and the Tools Used in Them.

This nonfiction book is a treasure for historical writers!

The author gives an overview of different trades in some cases and detail in others. The anonymous author shows how there is overlapping of skills between certain professions, which is interesting.

There are sketches of men at work, showing what one might have expected to find at a worksite in 1866. Sketches of tools used in a specific trade show what the skilled worker used but doesn’t always inform the reader how they were used. It’s still helpful to see the tool and its name.

Skilled labors like brickmaking, masonry, plastering, whitewashing, and plumbing are a few of the trades highlighted.

I purchased this book for research purposes. I used it as a reference in my Spies of the Civil War Series. Books 4 – 6 are set in Vicksburg during the Civil War. One of the characters in Streams of Courage, Book 4, is a saddler. Sketches of tools used were especially helpful in understanding what saddlers did all day.

Recommended for historical authors and those interested in history.

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Vicksburg, A People at War by Peter F. Walker

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Review by Sandra Merville Hart

A People at War 1860-1865

This nonfiction book reports on events that took place during the Civil War in the Vicksburg, Mississippi.

The author gives plenty of interesting details about the way of life in Vicksburg before the war. Important townspeople are mentioned by name. Quotes from letters and diaries show attitudes, thoughts, and opinions of those enduring the hardships.

Newspapers are quoted with everything from advertisements for food and home supplies to battle details and news from Richmond, the Confederate capital.

An interesting read that held my attention!

I purchased this book for research purposes. My Spies of the Civil War Series has three books set in Vicksburg during the Civil War—Streams of Courage, Book 4, along with the upcoming River of Peril, Book 5, and Tides of Healing, Book 6. Highlighted passages testify to how it enriched my understanding of what Vicksburg citizens faced during the war.

Fascinating details make this an easy read for those interested in Mississippi’s history and Civil War history.

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