Book Review

Down to Davy Jones by Eddie Jones

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Caribbean Chronicles Series, Book 5

A time-travel pirate fantasy with an adventure at every turn!

The last thing Ricky Bradshaw remembered was being baptized in the river. The next minute he’s on a pirate ship, rowing with unbathed pirates to beat a storm. He figures his most recent epileptic absence seizure has landed him in real danger. It’s also taken him from his mom, who suffers from cancer.

The storm is an epic one and the pirates are looking for someone to toss overboard. The only paying passenger, Jonah, confesses to running away from God and ends up overboard. Ricky isn’t far behind him.

From there, things go from bad to worse in a series of misfortunes that will keep readers turning pages.

I love that pirates are not romanticized, as they often are in books written for teen boys. Consequences of our own actions and the punishment awaiting those who don’t accept Christ’s forgiveness is vividly portrayed.

I must also add that there were moments of gross punishments I skimmed over. All in all, the author has written a pirate adventure that shares truth few reveal. It’s a powerful story.  

Parents, I suggest reading the book before passing it along to your teenager. There is a note to parents/readers on Amazon that I’d like to share:

Down To Davy Jones is a fictional retelling of past pirate escapades based on future events.

Parents can trust the Caribbean Chronicles Series. There is no sexual dialogue or situations, excessive violence, or strong language, only a wee little bit of humor. 🙂 Down to Davy Jones deals with the afterlife and the consequences of taking our own life. Reader discretion is advised.

I was given a copy of the book by the author. A positive review was not required. The opinions expressed are my own.

Amazon

Yesterday’s Gone by Cindy Woodsmall & Erin Woodsmall

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Marriage between a Bontrager and a Ebersol is cursed, or so nearly all of Eliza Bontrager’s Amish community believes. Yet she loves Jesse Ebersol and accepts his marriage proposal anyway.

On their wedding day, one of her aunts gives her an old quilt with magical powers. It can be used to change one event. She’s advised to use it wisely. Distracted by wedding events, Eliza dismisses the somewhat creepy conversation from her mind. She’ll remember it after a heart-wrenching loss.

This is a strange story involving time travel. Eliza wished to erase her grief by changing a key event. Its ripple effect creates a gripping story that held me spellbound.

It didn’t take long for the story to rivet my attention. Because the quilt was prayed over by many of Eliza’s ancestors as they stitched, it was said to hold power. There was no going back once it was done.

What a riveting story! The pain of so many characters tugged at my heart. Surprising twists throughout the story kept me flipping pages.

This book was a page-turner for me!

Highly recommended for readers of Amish romances!

I was given a copy of the book by the publisher. A positive review was not required. The opinions expressed are my own.

Christianbook.com

The Nurse’s Homecoming by Allie Pleiter

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

True North Springs Series, Book 3

Bridget Nicholson is only working as a nurse at Camp True North Springs for a month. She reminds herself that it’s all temporary, especially when she learns her ex-boyfriend, Carson Todd, works there. Her father, who had warned her away from Carson years before, doesn’t like the camp for families who grieve lost loved ones nor does he want Bridget there. She can’t understand his attitude.

Carson had been heartbroken when they broke up the first time. Those old feelings stir to life when they meet again. Bridget, recovering from a recent breakup, only wants to be friends. Can he accept that?

A mission to search for potential bone marrow donors for a little boy at camp keeps Bridget busy as she also struggles to mend her relationship with her father.

But not everything is as it seems.

I was drawn into the story by likeable characters. My sympathy was aroused early for grieving families, yet the story moved slowly for me at first.

Surprising twists catapulted me into the story. Characters acted in believable ways. I read the book in one afternoon.

It’s Book 3 of the series yet the story also works as a standalone.

Recommended for readers of inspirational contemporary romances.

Amazon

Sacred Rest by Saundra Dalton-Smith, MD

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Recover your life, renew your energy, restore your sanity

I purchased this book after hearing Dr. Dalton-Smith speak about rest. I realized after listening to her that most of us are living a burned-out life. Everyone needs rest but there are many types of exhaustion.

Discussed in the book are physical rest, mental rest, emotional rest, spiritual rest, social rest, sensory rest, and creative rest. What you must do to achieve each type of rest differs.

It amazed me how much there is to learn about each type. For example, physical rest can’t restore mental rest. The author offers suggestions for readers to begin the process for each one.

What an amazing, helpful book! I just finished it and have already promised to lend it out to two others.

I also suggested it to my Sunday School class as an optional study.

Recommended for exhausted, weary readers searching for rest.

Amazon

The Third Path by Eva Marie Everson

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Finding Intimacy with God on the Path of Questioning

What a wonderful, thought-provoking book!

The author has dug deeply into her faith and the Bible to write this book that naturally draws readers closer to God.

Each chapter digs into a story from the Bible, flawed people who make mistakes just as we all do. There is a Path of Silence, Path of Memory, Path of Questioning, and a Path of Prayer in each chapter that invites readers to pray.

Interesting. Probing. Inspiring. Well done!

I will reread this book when I can take time to absorb it more fully.

Highly recommend!

Amazon

Loving the Dog Groomer by Cindy Ervin Huff

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Dog Groomer Bria Willis doesn’t trust men. The former model has plenty of reasons to maintain her distance from Marc Graham but it’s her job to train new owners to care for their dogs. Aaron, her brother and co-owner of their dog grooming business, will be near if Marc crosses a line.

After the death of his estranged wife, Marc’s priority is helping his son Tyler recover from her death. He’d been in the same car accident that killed his mother and his counselor suggested getting a dog to help Tyler. Having Brownie around has helped his son, but the pet didn’t obey Marc. He needed Bria’s help.

Believable characters recovering from lingering wounds from past relationships put up obstacles and even threaten their friendship.

I enjoyed this contemporary romance intertwined with plenty of doggie challenges to make pet lovers swoon! Tyler tugged at my heart as much as Bria and Marc. The story moves quickly.

Plenty of cute doggie moments and challenges to thrill pet lovers!

I was given a copy of the book by the author. A review was not required. The thoughts expressed are my own.

How to (Almost) Ruin Your Summer by Taryn Souders

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Camp can make you crazy

Chloe McCorkle doesn’t want to go to summer camp but has no choice. Her parents are going on a cruise and Chloe needs someplace to go. Chloe just wants to make enough money during the summer to buy a new bike to ride to school in the fall. She dreams up a scheme contingent on taking the baking course at camp.

She immediately meets a new friend, Pogo, and is happy to see a couple of school friends at camp. One of them is her secret crush.

Victoria, one of the girls in Chloe’s cabin, is constantly getting her in trouble.

Add to the that a very troublesome goat and you’ve got the makings for a fun novel geared to children 9 – 13.

Definitely recommend this chapter book for children!

Amazon

In Feast or Famine by Mesu Andrews

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

The Egyptian Chronicles, Book 2

This is the story of Joseph just before his release from prison—for a crime he didn’t commit—and up through the famine.

It’s a beautifully written story told in multiple viewpoints. The author’s attention to historical detail and tradition amazed me. I’ve read the Biblical account that is the background for this story many times and the historical and cultural insights brought me a whole new perspective.

Those familiar sections of Joseph’s Biblical story were the parts that gripped me most in this novel. Characters are well-developed and believably true to the times. The setting is a turbulent period in history that moves quickly. Well done!

Recommended for readers of Biblical fiction!

Amazon

Freedom’s Price by Pegg Thomas

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Path to Freedom, Book 1

By 1798, Gwen Morgan has been an indentured servant for two years, with five more years until she earns her freedom. She’s a maid to a businessman’s spoiled daughter, who becomes pregnant with a ship captain’s child while courting a rich aristocrat.

Gwen had been sold to a different family than her sister when the orphans arrived in America. Gwen’s greatest desire is to find her sister.

Thomas and Betsy Baldwin can’t abide in New Bern any longer. Laws now prevent the Quakers from buying slaves to grant their freedom. They make preparations to go western territory around the Ohio River where slavery is prohibited.

When Gwen is given a chance for freedom in exchange for an oath, she jumps at the chance. Maybe she can finally find her sister. She doesn’t plan on falling in love with Micah.

But the oath comes with high price when an enemy from the past threatens her new life.

My attention was riveted from the first chapter. Likeable characters deal with believable problems from the beginning. The mother and her baby tugged at my heart. The grandparents who quickly accept them both into their home made me love them.

I enjoyed this poignant story that held many surprising twists. Not everything was completely resolved in this first book in the series, leaving me to wonder what happens in the next book. The ending is both exciting and satisfying.

Faith is a strong component in this story. The author blends that easily a part of the plot. This book was a page-turner for me!

Recommended for readers of inspirational historical romances!

I was given a copy of the book by the author. A positive review was not required. The opinions expressed are my own.

Amazon

Knock-Knock Jokes for Kids by Rob Elliott

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

My young grandchildren love for us to tell them knock-knock jokes. We remembered a few but then drew a blank.

So when I found this delightful joke book geared to children 6 – 9, I snatched it up. The children have enjoyed it as much as I’d hoped. In fact, the seven-year-old reads them to us!

I recommend this fun book for children 5 – 9.

Amazon