Book Review

Share Some Kindness by Apryl Stott

/ sandramervillehart

Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light (full title)

This children’s picture book will be easy to read aloud to the preschool and kindergarten-aged children in your life.

Stott’s beautifully illustrated book is about two best friends—a little girl and a bear. Both share an important quality, which is kindness.

The bear is so big that the other animals are afraid of him. They don’t trust in his kind nature, even when he does kind things for them.

The two friends learn together how to show true kindness and shine the light.

A sweet picture book!

-Sandra Merville Hart

Amazon

Brigid of Ireland by Cindy Thomson

/ sandramervillehart

Brigid was born as the daughter of a slave woman in 5th century Ireland. A druid foretold that she would be a blessing or a curse to Ireland. Her father took her from her mother at the age of five and she grew up missing her mother.

Patrick, a Christian, had been in the area spreading the news about the One God and Jesus, His Son, who had died to save the people from their sins. Brigid met Patrick and became a Christian.

But there’s something unique about Brigid. She has a gift that makes her a target and puts her in danger.

My interest was snagged right away and I didn’t want to put the book down. Many of Brigid’s fellow citizens trusted whatever the druids said and the customs of that day were very different from modern times. There were many surprising twists and turns … and danger, too.

It was a treat to read a novel set during the days of St. Patrick. I enjoyed this story. Recommended for readers of historical fiction and Irish history.

I will look for more books by this author.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Amazon

Love You, Truly by Susan Tuttle

/ sandramervillehart

Harlow Tucker isn’t interested in dating Blake Carlton as part of a reality show where he dates several other women. No matter how handsome and famous he is, Harlow has more important things on her mind—like starting her sister’s charity and her nursing career. She already has little time to pursue photography. Yet Mae was the one who suggested she participate in the show … and she’d do anything for her sister.

Blake only agrees to the show to help his mother’s career. He’d do anything in his power to save her from his dad’s fate.

Harlow fights her attraction for him, knowing he is dating a dozen others at the beginning of the show. On the other hand, taking photos in exotic locations fulfills her longing to travel.

The novel gives an inside look at “reality” shows where so much is planned to give the reaction the producer desires. It also demonstrates how hard the competition is on the emotions of the contestants.

Believable characters plunged in the middle of unreal television scenes may be an eye-opener for some readers. Harlow’s strong faith and Blake’s search for authentic love is a strong theme in the story, strengthening the appeal for me.

This contemporary romance kept me interested from beginning to end.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas

The Spy of the Rebellion by Allan Pinkerton

/ sandramervillehart

by Sandra Merville Hart

Being A True History of the Spy System of the United States Army During the Late Rebellion

Allan Pinkerton had established the Pinkerton National Detective Agency before the Civil War. General George McClellan hired Pinkerton, who used his detectives to spy on the Confederates.

This book reads like a fiction novel. The book was published in 1883, and Pinkerton’s formal ties to the United States Secret Service ended in 1862. Pinkerton also admits that most of his records were burned in the Great Chicago Fire and he wrote the book from memory. The passage of 21 years since the events as well as the loss of precious written records led to some inconsistencies.

I read this to research Pinkerton’s agency for a novel I’m writing. Subsequent research from nonfiction sources have referenced Pinkerton’s The Spy of the Rebellion as part fiction. I’ve learned from other sources which provide specific names and dates not to trust all the details in this book.

Either way, I must say that this is a fascinating story that I couldn’t put down. The author tells an enthralling story. It’s true to the language, customs, and beliefs of the period and is well worth the read.

On Cue by Bettie Boswell

/ sandramervillehart

Elementary school teacher Ginny Cline has written a musical set in her city and hopes to raise money for the local historical museum.

Professor Scott Hallmark’s experience in the theater makes him the perfect person to help Ginny with this massive undertaking, but she can’t trust him. James, her college sweetheart, had broken her heart by betraying her and she’d learned she can’t trust men. She won’t give Scott a chance to repeat the past.

In this light-hearted novel, the two of them overcome their differences for the good of the play … and the romance that’s growing.

The characters were likeable. The action sometimes dragged a bit, but I still enjoyed this inspirational story.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Amazon

Widow’s Weeds and Weeping Veils, Revised, by Bernadette Loeffel-Atkins

/ sandramervillehart

An interesting book!

The author has included fascinating traditions about mourning the death of loved ones during the nineteenth century.

For instance, locks of hair from the deceased family member were often woven into pictures and paintings or used in needlework samplers. Birds, angels, flowers, and weeping willows were some of the symbolic images portrayed.

The book also shows that the traditional period of time to wear mourning clothes or “widow’s weeds” depended on one’s relationship to the deceased.

I also was fascinated to learn that images depicted on gravestones hold symbolic meaning. An image of dog meant courage, vigilance, and loyalty. Calla lilies were symbolic of marriage.

Definitely recommend for lovers of history and authors of historical novels!

-Sandra Merville Hart

Amazon

Marriage Conversations by Cathy Krafve

/ sandramervillehart / 2 Comments

From Co-existing to Cherished

What a wonderful book about communicating in marriage relationships!

Krafve compassionately tackles tough topics in her book such as divorce, abortion, pornography, self-worth, and the definition of marriage. She writes specifically to women yet men will also benefit from reading the book.

Krafve ends each chapter with thought-provoking sections geared to shift readers’ focus to their own situation: Understanding your needs, Identifying your worth, and Envisioning your future. I was touched by the prayers she has written for her readers at the end of every chapter.

I love the honesty in which the author shares examples from her own family to illustrate her points. Gems of wisdom are sprinkled throughout the book. Insightful advice on how to make small changes to improve communication makes it a great learning book.

I highly recommend this book to married and engaged couples seeking to improve their communication skills.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Amazon

Bash and the Chocolate Milk Cows by Burton W. Cole

/ sandramervillehart

Beamer stays at his aunt’s farm for a week and Bash, his adventurous cousin, is full of schemes. This just happens to be the week of April Fool’s Day. Bash doesn’t just plan tricks for the actual day and Beamer joins in on some of the planning.

One crazy prank follows the next as the boys and some neighborhood friends edge closer to their biggest trick of all—getting chocolate milk from cows on the farm!

I have to confess that snagged my attention, even as an adult. How were they going to pull off that trick?

This is a fun novel for elementary children.

One of the grils is thinking about getting baptized as the story talks about in the Farmin’ and Fishin’ Book (other folks call it a Bible) and it starts Beamer to thinking about it too.

The book is geared to children 8 – 12. As a chapter book, it also is a great book for parents to read to their children at bedtime.

I will look for more books by this author.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Christianbook.com

 

Three Little Things by Patti Stockdale

/ sandramervillehart

Hatti Waltz comes to town to cheer for and say goodbye to local soldiers. It’s 1917, and Arno Kreger is one of the brave men heading for boot camp. She wishes she could forget him as easily as it seems he forgot her.

Arno wants to carry Hatti’s promise to write him. He wants to court her but her father doesn’t like him. He’s been warned away.

The war in Europe is against the Germans. Arno, an American with a German heritage, doesn’t have an easy time with fellow soldiers. His fists have landed him in trouble in the past, but that’s not the way to win Hatti’s heart.

This story highlights the conflict German-American soldiers faced on the home front and the power of letters to connect two hearts that long for one another.

The characters are believable with plenty of surprising twists that are true to the time. What intrigued me most was learning that the story is loosely set on the author’s grandparents.

A good book for lovers of American history and World War I.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas

Southern Gentleman by Yvonne Lehman

/ sandramervillehart

Book 2 of Finding Love in the Low Country series

Norah Brown just lost her sister in a tragic accident that also claimed the life of her sister’s boyfriend. Grief for both of them pales in comparison for their infant daughter, who must now grow up without them. Norah vows to take care of sweet Camille as she has done since the baby was born three months ago.

Thornton Winter lost his brother in the accident and he’s not about to shirk his duty to the niece he learned of as his brother lay dying. The beautiful Norah isn’t the type of woman his brother typically dated. No matter. He takes both of them into his home until custody is awarded.

Sparks fly as neither wants to give up Camille. Thornton believes Norah is the baby’s mother … why not allow him to keep believing it?

This story is tragic because of the real needs for the care of a little baby who will grow up not knowing her biological parents. It’s also thought-provoking, as both families want to raise her.

The characters are believable and likeable. There are twists and turns that kept me turning pages.

I’ve read other books by this author and she’s become one of my favorites.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Amazon