Lisa Carter

A Safe Place for Christmas by Lisa Carter

/ sandramervillehart / 2 Comments

by Sandra Merville Hart

This contemporary romance novel is set during the holidays. At this time of year, I love reading Christmas novels. This one snagged my attention right away.

Shayla Coggins races for the safety of the Tennessee border on the back roads of North Carolina with her baby. His father, just released from prison, is after them. She can’t risky her son falling into his cruel hands.

Luke Morgan rescues Shayla her baby after her car breaks down. Bad weather has closed the roads so they will stay with his family through the Thanksgiving holidays, even though it’s the busiest time of year on his tree farm. Though immediately attracted to Shayla, the bachelor is shy with women. Besides he has other concerns…like losing his farm.

Shayla and baby Jeremiah blossom under the kindness of Luke’s mother and sisters, and she falls in love with hard-working man. But dreams aren’t for her. Hasn’t her rough childhood taught her that?

The characters in this contemporary romance tugged at my heart. There are many layers and many characters in this novel. The romance made this a page turner for me.

Recommend!

https://www.christianbook.com/a-safe-place-for-christmas/lisa-carter/9781335758835/pd/758835

Carolina Reckoning by Lisa Carter

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A page-turner!

Alison Monaghan finally has the proof she never wanted—a photograph that proves her husband has been unfaithful to her. She’s ready to confront him when he returns from his latest trip.

She never sees him alive again.

Instead he is found dead on a lonely road near a historic park where he serves on the board.

Mike Barefoot, the homicide detective assigned to the case, immediately suspects Alison even as his heart goes out to her teenaged son and daughter. It isn’t long before Mike trusts in Alison’s innocence, yet protecting her becomes a challenge.

Driven by a need to discover the truth, Alison takes a job at the historic park near the location of her husband’s death—against Mike’s advice.

Her growing feelings for Mike can’t prevent her from seeking the truth. Danger lurks as Alison digs deeper. Is any place safe?

I found myself pulling for the whole family because the author shows their struggles with cruel acquaintances they’d once considered friends. The budding romance between Mike and Alison also shows how they both struggle with past relationships and circumstances. Can they overcome mounting obstacles before someone else dies?

Recommend! I will look for more novels by this author.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Christianbook.com

 

 

 

Beyond the Cherokee Trail by Lisa Carter

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Linden Birchfield stays at her grandmother’s home in Snowbird while organizing the Trail of Tears 180th commemoration. Not everyone in the community supports the celebration, including Walker Crowe, a descendent of the North Carolina Cherokee who hid out in the mountains to avoid deportation.

Linden is drawn to Walker despite the former army sniper’s prickly personality. Yet she has a good reason to avoid marriage so she shields her heart from loving him.

Then she finds a diary in her grandmother’s attic and begins reading about the horror of the tragic Trail of Tears.

This novel slips between the historic and contemporary stories of two women and the men they loved, escalating the tension as they intertwine with the telling.

Realistic characters. Courageous heroes to fall in love with. Heroines who experience tragedy. Add a gripping story and you have a page-turning novel, masterfully written.

Recommend!

-Sandra Merville Hart

Christianbook. com

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

Valentine’s Day Special List – Top Romance Novels I Read Last Year

/ sandramervillehart / 4 Comments

As an author, I read a variety of research books and novels. Valentine’s Day seemed a good day to highlight my favorite romances that I’ve read (or reread) the past year:

 

  1. Mattie’s Pledge by Jan Drexler

 

  1. Last Stop, Cordelia by Lisa Carter

 

  1. A Groom for Mama by Catherine Castle

 

  1. Gift from the Heart by Irene Hannon

 

  1. Blind Dates Can Be Murder by Mindy Starns Clark

 

  1. Swept Away by Mary Connealy

 

  1. The Caretaker’s Son by Yvonne Lehman

 

  1. Dance Over Me by Candee Fick

 

  1. Colorado by Rosey Dow

 

  1. A Royal Christmas Wedding by Rachel Hauck

Click on the link to read my reviews. Yes, I write reviews for books I enjoy–it’s such a gift to authors! Consider writing and posting a short review on Amazon, Goodreads, etc., for books you read.

What’s on your list? Happy Reading!

-Sandra Merville Hart

Last Stop, Cordelia by Lisa Carter

/ sandramervillehart

The Rails to Love Romance Collection

 The action begins with the first paragraph!

Neil MacBride risks his life to save Cordelia Cochrane, but is she grateful? No, the feisty reporter actually has the nerve to tell Neil that he should have let her remain in danger—she’d get a better newspaper story.

Being out in the middle of the Wyoming Territory with a group of former Civil War soldiers turned rail workers, Cordelia grudgingly decides to accept Neil’s help. She only cares about furthering her career.

Neil is ambitious, too. The Union Pacific worker is determined to lead his team, who are laying tracks daily. He’s been without family for a long time yet there is something about Cordelia that captivates him.

I loved this novella. I fell in love with Neil before Cordelia did!

The dialogue in the story is especially good. The couple have meaningful conversations from the beginning. The secondary characters, hardened by war experiences, are also lovable and believable.

Definitely recommend this author.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Christianbook.com

The Christmas Baby by Lisa Carter

/ sandramervillehart / 1 Comment

This contemporary romance novel is the first book I’ve read by this author.

I love reading books set during the Christmas holidays as soon as the weather gets cold in the fall. These novels get me in the mood for Christmas.

Anna Reyes, a widow, returns to her home town to begin a new life and have her baby near family and friends.

Ryan Savage has been Anna’s best friend since childhood. Old feelings, long-buried, stir to life when Anna moves into a trailer near the school where they both work.

Anna’s timing couldn’t be worse. Ryan plans to move away in the new year. He’s been offered a dream job.

The old friends are drawn together by students in need. Ryan has to decide if he should accept the new job.

Under Carter’s skillful hands, this novel filled me with Christmas spirit.

Recommend! Will look for more by this author.

-Sandra Merville Hart

Christianbook.com