Angela Arndt’s blog, Joy on the Back Roads, has published a book review today for my Civil War romance novel. Angela’s review of this story set during the historic Battle of Gettysburg touched me.
Click here to read it!
Book Review
That First Montana Year by Donna L. Scofield
This historical romance captured my attention on the first page.
B’Anne regrets what happened when the snowstorm isolated her with Will, her old beau, even as he courted a beautiful new girl. He cast B’Anne aside in the morning.
But B’Anne’s morning sickness exposes their secret. Their families arrange a quick marriage and the young couple soon find themselves in a wagon bound for Montana. B’Anne is sad to leave her family in Iowa to stay with Will’s uncle until they claim their own property.
B’Anne has always loved Will and hates that he’s been forced to marry her when he loves another woman. Certain that he will resent her and the baby, she worries about the future. Can he learn to love B’Anne?
Very interesting story that shows the difficulties faced by homesteaders in Montana. The author also shows how they lived, describing the 1880s lifestyle so well that I felt like I had been transported back to another era.
Great book! I will look for other novels written by this author.
-Sandra Merville Hart
Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas Use coupon code SandraMHart for a 20% discount on Lighthouse Publishing books!
Marketing You and Your Writing by Rebecca Waters
This book was written specifically to help writers with marketing their book and themselves as an author.
It takes a while for new writers to learn the writing “lingo.” Waters explains such things as headshots and bios early in the book.
On the other hand, even experienced writers benefit from learning how to use social media to build a platform. Waters offers insightful advice about blogs, Facebook, and other social media.
The author also talks about lesser known “media kits” that editors or publishers sometimes require—a very helpful section.
These and many other tools make this marketing book for writers a “must have” on a Kindle. It will be an easy future reference as needs arise.
Practical book written for authors. Recommend!
-Sandra Merville Hart
Land of My Dreams by Norma Gail
The author drew me into this contemporary romance right away.
To escape from painful losses, college professor Bonnie Bryant accepts a position to teach in Scotland. She meets Professor Kieran MacDonnell, a grieving widower and sheep farmer. She soon falls in love with him.
Though Kieran loves Bonnie, he feels guilty for loving her. He still grieves his wife’s passing.
To make matters worse, Bonnie’s former boyfriend keeps trying to contact her. He wants to make amends.
There are plenty of obstacles in Bonnie and Kieran’s way. Just when I thought I knew what would happen next, a twist came. There are many unexpected twists and turns in this novel that kept me guessing until the end.
I also fell in love with a land I’ve never seen—Scotland. The author’s descriptions brought the beautiful land alive in my imagination. I’d love to visit there someday.
-Sandra Merville Hart
Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas Use coupon code SandraMHart for a 20% discount on Lighthouse Publishing books!
Designing a Business Plan by Rebecca Waters
This book was written specifically to help writers develop a business plan.
The author spends a whole chapter addressing identifying strength and weaknesses and another on establishing goals and objectives.
Find out how to set SMART goals. This is helpful for new and experienced writers to learn and put into practice.
A chapter on crafting your mission statement also helps writers hone in on their brand.
Read the chapter on Budgeting Your Time and Money to discover the secret to a productive life. In fact, the book is filled with inspirational gems throughout.
The former college professor gives assignments designed to help writers practice what they’ve just learned. You will know how to create a business plan by the end of the book.
Insightful book written for authors. Recommend!
-Sandra Merville Hart
Gettysburg Remembers President Lincoln by Linda Giberson Black
The full title of this book is Gettysburg Remembers President Lincoln: Eyewitness Accounts of November 1863.
This nonfiction book shows what the citizens of Gettysburg did to bring about a national cemetery in the town in the aftermath of the horrific battle. David Wills, a Gettysburg attorney, was instrumental in planning the cemetery.
The ceremony to dedicate the cemetery took place in November of 1863. President Lincoln delivered his famous “Gettysburg Address” but was not the event’s main speaker. This book shows the fascinating details of the whole day and Lincoln’s hours in the town.
Great book for anyone interested in learning the background of the Gettysburg Address and history lovers.
-Sandra Merville Hart
Firestorm at Gettysburg by Jim Slade & John Alexander
The full title of this book is Firestorm at Gettysburg: Civilian Voices June—November 1863. This nonfiction book contains quotes throughout. The story of the Battle of Gettysburg is told in quotes by the townspeople, giving the account a compelling authenticity.
The townspeople who are quoted most often are briefly introduced at the beginning of the book. The town of Gettysburg and how the war affected the borough are also shown. Then the story quickly starts with all that happens in the month preceding the battle. Then we see what the citizens experienced during the battle and in the aftermath.
I enjoyed learning about Gettysburg, the townspeople, and the battle this way. It brought bring history to life.
Great book for anyone interested in the Battle of Gettysburg, Civil War research, and history lovers.
-Sandra Merville Hart
First Book Review for A Rebel in My House!
The first review is up for my novel that released yesterday–5 stars!
Well Worth Reading
ByTwin Willows Farmon July 15, 2017
Format: Kindle Edition
Set during the battle at Gettysburg, “A Rebel in My House” tells the story of a woman swept up in an event that changed the course of a war. If you’ve never thought about the how the war and the battles impacted civilian lives, this story will open your eyes. Full of rich details of the time period, Sandra Merville Hart also explores the differences between North and South in a realistic, not stereotypical way. Amid those details, she weaves a story of love and trust. Well worth reading.
I’m so grateful for this wonderful review. If you have read the novel, please consider posting a review on Amazon and Goodreads.
If you’d like to purchase the novel, here’s the link on Amazon.
The Illustrated Gettysburg Reader by Rod Gragg
This nonfiction book tells the story of the Battle of Gettysburg in a way that resonated with me. The author tells the history and then shows a diary entry or account or general’s report that digs deeper into what happened.
Gragg begins with details from May of 1863 and goes on from that time.
I especially enjoyed reading the accounts from folks who experienced the events. These really bring history to life.
Great book for anyone interested in the Battle of Gettysburg, Civil War research, and history lovers.
-Sandra Merville Hart
Gettysburg: A Testing of Courage by Noah Andre Trudeau
This nonfiction book tells the story of the Battle of Gettysburg. Military events are recorded along with what happened in and near Gettysburg in the days leading up to the famous battle.
So much happened during the three-day battle that the author includes each day in a single chapter, taking events in chronological order—sometimes in hourly increments.
The chapter for the second day’s fighting, for example, is well over one hundred pages. Lots of wonderful details! There are many helpful maps showing troop movements throughout the book.
Great book for history lovers and anyone interested in the Battle of Gettysburg and the Civil War.
-Sandra Merville Hart
Sandra Merville Hart 