Book Review

Healing Hearts by Cindy Ervin Huff

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From the Smitten Historical Romance Collection: The Cowboys

 Taming the West … one heart at a time.

 After all he’s lost, Lonnie Holt is determined to save his brother’s life and get Jed back to their newly-inherited home. The snowstorm wasn’t helping matters. The welcome sight of his uncle’s ranch quickly turned to dread. No one should be there. So why did smoke billow from the chimney?

 Having been hired through correspondence, Genny Collins took a job as Clyde Holt’s housekeeper months ago and had been waiting for her new boss to arrive. Meeting the Holt brothers brought more surprises than the death of her employer. She has no place to go and every reason to hide.

Lonnie, with his scarred face and scarred soul, knows that Genny will prefer his brother over him. But that doesn’t prevent him from loving the feisty, resourceful woman.

Both characters carry scars from the past. These wounded, believable characters drew me right into the story. Well-written.

This isn’t the first book I’ve read and enjoyed by this author. I will look for more stories by her.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Amazon

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The Epistles of James, Peter, and Jude by Trina Bresser Matous

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Christian Living Bible Study Series

This study takes readers through James, 1st Peter, 2nd Peter, and Jude.

Like  Paul’s Letters to the Early Church, another wonderful Bible Study by Matous, historical and Biblical background begins each new book. Each chapter contains background, overview, insights, and 2-3 discussion questions. I can see Bible Study groups easily doing one or two chapters a week, depending on discussions.

I love the author’s insights from the passages. For instance, the book of James is packed with helpful advice for Christians. Mateous describes it as “one of the most practical books in the New Testament.” She also states that “Wisdom is not the same as information.” She gives the insight that “Finding joy in the midst of trial does not negate the pain.”

Readers will find many gems throughout the book.

This study is appropriate for men’s groups and women’s groups.

This book is also a wonderful supplement for personal study.

-Sandra Merville Hart

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

 

Dictionary of Similar but Separate Words by William R. Luellen

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This book is filled with words commonly used in incorrect ways. For example, do you know the difference between complement vs. compliment? How about eminent vs. imminent? Famous vs. infamous?

If any of these made you wonder about true meanings, this book may be for you.

There is also a section in the back for words that share the same spelling but not the same meaning, such as bass or present.

The author of the book is an editor, writer, and professional speaker. He wrote this book, in part, to answer questions from his clients who spoke English as a second or third language.

A nice reference book for writers, educators, and public speakers.

-Sandra Merville Hart

A Perfect Weakness by Jennifer A. Davids

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No one is beyond redemption.

This 1868 novel set in Hampshire, England, Penelope Howard busies herself helping neighbors of Ashford Hall. Her brother, Thomas, had not inherited the estate as they expected. No, an American doctor was the new baron.

But she has a secret not even her brother knows.

Dr. John Turner no longer feels he deserves that title, but does his new one fit any better? Penelope soon captures his heart. That hardly matters. He doesn’t deserve her, not after what he’s done.

Both hide secrets from the world and from each other. Can God’s grace really be sufficient to cover a terrible sin?

Wounded, scarred characters tugged at my heart and made this a page turner. I couldn’t put it down for long as I had to discover how the ending.

A romance that will tug at your emotions. Recommend.

-Sandra Merville Hart

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

A Magnolia Blooms in Winter by Ane Mulligan

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A Southern Season: Four Stories from a Front Porch Swing

A call from her mother sends Morgan James back home to her small Georgia town. She’s needed to direct the Christmas play that she wrote. She can wait there to hear from her agent about a part in an Off-Broadway play.

Andy Wayfield, the man she left behind to pursue an acting career, is now worship pastor at Morgan’s old church. He adopted his niece after her parents’ deaths and seems to still have feelings for Morgan.

Yet Morgan left dreams of marrying Andy behind her years ago. Or did she?

Lovable characters invited me into the story and had me pulling for them the whole way. I enjoyed this novella.

I love this author’s sense of humor that often ends up as part of her stories. I’ll look for more by this author.

I’ve loved this whole collection. Recommend!

-Sandra Merville Hart

Amazon

 

Skull Creek Stakeout by Eddie Jones

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Book 2 of The Caden Chronicles Series

Solving a murder while on a family vacation gave teenager Nick Caden some publicity. His new job as reporter for The Cool Ghoul Gazette has him traveling to investigate a murder in Transylvania, North Carolina. A dead body with fangs and a wooden stake driven through the heart seems like something from a horror movie.

Were vampires real?

This story is filled with twists and turns—and danger at every one. I know the novel is written especially with tween and teen boys in mind, but I was on the edge of my seat the whole adventure.

A page turner!

This novel also comes with a writing opportunity:

The Cool Ghoul Gazette coolghoulgazette.com has several openings for teen reporters. No experience required. We will teach you how to write a lead, build upon the “who, what, when, where, how” reporting style, and help you improve your writing skills. Think of this like your high school newspaper, only way more fun.

The man who helps me write the Caden Chronicle series (Mr. Jones) graduated with a journalism degree back when reporters published the facts, not their opinions, and sought to present both sides of a story fairly.

In the case of The Cool Ghoul Gazette we need reporters who can write scary stories that may or may not have happened. For more information contact me, Nick Caden, at: editor@coolghoulgazette.com 

-Sandra Merville Hart

Amazon

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Through an Autumn Window by Claire Fullerton

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A Southern Season: Four Stories from a Front Porch Swing

Cate Barton receives the terrible news about her mother from her brother, Lincoln. Not directly, mind you. No, he told her husband Eric in an early morning phone call that cancer had claimed their mother’s life.

They fly to Memphis where not her brother but an old friend picks them up at the airport.

This story, lovingly-told, probes the grief and heartache and Southern traditions that surround a funeral—with some surprises along the way.

Great images take readers on a journey, allowing them to see and experience events along with the characters.

I loved how the author took me to a Southern funeral with Southern expressions of grief. The emotional adventure transported me back to times when I was overwhelmed by my own grief.

Well-written! I will look for more stories by this author.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Amazon

 

The Contessa’s Necklace by Linda Siebold

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The action with this book begins in the Prologue and doesn’t let up!

A migraine keeps Marguerite Collins from a celebration dinner for her best friend and her fiancé. It also saves her from tragedy that goes terribly wrong.

Selena Simmons can’t believe that anyone would intentionally kill her sweet grandmother. While she reels from the news of her grandmother’s death, she learns that she’s the killer’s next target.

Where can she hide?

Private Detective Sam Russell’s latest case leads him directly to Selena, who is running for her life. Why does the killer want her dead?

This book is a page turner. It kept my interest throughout the story. I had to know what happened next.

If you like romantic suspense, this book is a good short read.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Amazon

A Vast and Gracious Tide by Lisa Carter

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Sergeant First Class Caden Wallis loses more than his foot in Afghanistan—he loses his leader and friend, Joe, and Friday, his bomb-sniffing dog. While he struggles to recover, his girlfriend dumps him. There’s only one thing left to do—return a quilt that brought him such comfort during his recovery to its rightful owner and then end it all.

McKenna Dockery can’t get over the loss of her fiancé three years ago. If not for his death, they’d be married by now. She gave up her dream of dancing when he died to help out in her family’s restaurant in the Outer Banks. She’s been a Banker all her life and never wants to leave.

When McKenna meets Caden on the beach, she recognizes his despair and quickly grasps his suicidal intentions. She offers him a chance to do something positive again.

Then a dead body washes ashore and suspicion falls on Caden, the stranger in town. And that’s only the beginning.

This multi-layered story captured my interest—and my heart—from the Prologue and never let go. Suspenseful. Lovable, broken characters that tugged at my emotions. Add a skillfully-woven romance to the mix and you’ve got a great story.

I highly recommend this book to readers of contemporary romance and romantic suspense.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Christianbook.com

Paul’s Letters to the Early Church

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Christian Living Bible Study Series

This study takes readers through Galatians, 1st Corinthians, 2nd Corinthians, 1st Thessalonians, 2nd Thessalonians, Romans, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1st Timothy, 2nd Timothy, Titus, Philemon, and Hebrews.

Historical and Biblical background begins each new book. Each chapter contains background, overview, insights, and 2-3 discussion questions. I can see Bible Study groups easily doing one or two chapters a week, depending on discussions.

I love the author’s insights from the passages. For instance, one of my favorite New Testament chapters is Hebrews 11, which I always think of as the Faith Chapter. The author shows how each person acted out their faith. Matous also offered the insight that placing our faith in God doesn’t always bring a peaceful life.

This book is also a wonderful supplement for personal study.

If you are looking for a great book for your Bible Study group, this book will take you through several sessions—a great value!

-Sandra Merville Hart

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