Sandra Merville Hart

Sundae Bars–A Fun Addition to Summer Celebrations

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by Sandra Merville Hart

I bought ingredients for a sundae bar for a recent family birthday at my daughter’s suggestion. What a great idea this turned out to be!

Two choices of ice cream started the fun. (Most people chose both chocolate and cookies and cream. 😊) Ingredients were placed in ramekins and arranged on the table. My daughter enlisted her first-grader’s help as excitement built for the ice cream bar that took only minutes to prepare. What a joy it was to watch the magic happen.

Below is the list of ingredients I used for our sundae bar. Choose your favorite ice creams and change the toppings for your family’s preferences.  

Ingredients

Whipped cream

Chopped walnuts

½ gallon Chocolate ice cream

½ gallon Cookies and Cream ice cream

Variety of sprinkles

Caramel syrup

Hot fudge syrup

Vanilla blueberry granola

Chocolate chips

Mini M&Ms

Mini marshmallows

Mini Peanut Butter Cups

Bananas

Strawberries

These were arranged in the center of the table and everyone made their own sundae. Honestly, that’s half the fun!

Everyone’s creative side came into play. The more ingredients, of course, the bigger the dessert, and let’s just say that few were able to finish. I didn’t mind at all.

Delicious! As if it could be anything else with all those ingredients. My sundae was heavy on the walnuts, granola, bananas, and strawberries. So refreshing! Yet it wasn’t nearly as much fun as watching everyone choose their own toppings.

What a great summertime celebration for both children and adults! I will do this again.

Enjoy!

Announcing the Release of Love Stitched in Blue and Gray

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by Sandra Merville Hart

Exciting news!

This month, my publisher, Wild Heart Books, surprised me with the news that my book, Avenue of Betrayal, is part of a newly-released a five novel-length Kindle collection called Love Stitched in Blue and Gray!Books by talented authors Tamera Alexander, Misty M. Beller, Susan Pope Sloan, Sherry Shindelar are also in the collection.

The eBook was released on May 27th.

Here’s a bit more about each novel in the collection:

5 Full-Length Civil War Romance Novels Where Love Bridges Every Divide!

From Texas ranches to Washington’s political circles, and from Georgia cotton mills to Comanche territory, experience the transformative power of love during America’s most turbulent era in these five captivating Christian historical romances.

The Rancher Takes a Cook by Misty M. Beller

When their South Carolina home burns to the ground, Anna Stewart’s only choice is to move with her younger brother to the wilds of a Texas ranch. Their prospects are beginning to look better, until the rancher’s son, Jacob O’Brien, shows up with his alarmingly blue eyes to put a kink in Anna’s well-controlled plans.

Colors of Truth by Tamera Alexander

Irish immigrant Catriona O’Toole arrives in Franklin, Tennessee in 1866, searching for her twin brother Ryan, a conscripted Confederate soldier. With only her spitfire little sister and Ryan’s last cash gift in tow, she catches the attention of Wade Cunningham—a former Federal soldier now secretly investigating counterfeit rings for the U.S. Secret Service. When the money in Catriona’s possession proves counterfeit, Wade must choose between his duty and his growing feelings for the woman he’s supposed to prosecute.

Rescuing Rose by Susan Pope Sloan

When the Union Army marches into Roswell, Georgia, and burns down the cotton mill where Rose Carrigan worked, not only is her livelihood destroyed but she’s also taken prisoner and shipped northward with the other workers. Only the unlikely kindness of one of her guards makes the trip bearable.

Union Captain Noah Griffin hates the part of his job that requires him to destroy the lives of innocent civilians, but at least he’s able to protect these women he’s been ordered to transport to Louisville, Kentucky.

But when two fugitives arrive and complicate matters between Rose and Noah, only faith can help them find love in the midst of so much tragedy.

Avenue of Betrayal by Sandra Merville Hart

As the Civil War looms over Washington City, Annie Swanson discovers her beloved brother has joined the Confederate cause, betraying their mother’s abolitionist beliefs. When Sergeant-Major John Finn—who fell for Annie at her brother’s wedding—is tasked with spying on her banker father’s loyalty to the Union, their budding romance becomes entangled in a web of family secrets and divided loyalties that could destroy them both.

Texas Forsaken by Sherry Shindelar

Seven years ago, Maggie Logan (Eyes-Like-Sky) lost everything she knew when a raid on a wagon train tore her from her family. As the memories of her past faded to nothing more than vague shadows, Maggie adapted—marrying a Comanche warrior, having a baby, and rebuilding her life. But in one terrible battle, the U.S. Cavalry destroys that life, and she is taken captive again, this time by those who call themselves her people. Forced into a world she wants nothing to do with, Eyes-Like-Sky’s only hope of protecting her child may be an engagement to the man who killed her husband.

Five compelling stories of faith, courage, and love that prove God’s power to heal even the deepest wounds of war.

I’m thrilled that Avenue of Betrayal, Book 1 in my Spies of the Civil War Series, is part of this eBook collection with four other talented authors.

I hope you enjoy all the stories!

Amazon  

The Symbolism of the Color of Flowers

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by Sandra Merville Hart

I learned as a child that the color of flowers was significant when it came to giving a bouquet. My mother knew what some colors meant—my grandmother knew more. It mattered more to her.

When it comes to gifts, the color of the bouquet was more important a century or two ago in the United States. The significance of the type of flower and its color dates back to ancient Greece and Egypt.

Colors can help create a mood and stimulate or calm our spirits. My parents painted their bedroom red to darken the room when I was a little girl. He worked nights and hoped that the dark room would enable him to sleep during the day. I believe it did help him to sleep. Unfortunately, that room was dark and depressing for the whole family. No one liked it. My mom repainted it to a pale peach, and it brightened not only that room but the entire home.

On the other hand, red is a beautiful choice for flowers. In the nineteenth century, a woman receiving a red bouquet recognized the silent declaration of love. It also could mean passion, strength, respect, and courage. The same young lady might have been disappointed at a gift of yellow flowers because they signified friendship, joy, and health.

A gift of purple flowers signified admiration, success, and tradition while green flowers suggest new life, rebirth, youthfulness, good fortune, and good health.

Blue flowers, representing relaxation, intimacy, and openness, always capture my attention because other colors are more common. A patch of blue morning glories was visible from my grandmother’s window, making them my favorite as a little girl.

A gift of pink flowers would have pleased most recipients because they symbolized happiness, grace, gentleness, and innocence for centuries.

Orange flowers add a splash of color to any room. They stand for warmth, enthusiasm, and joy.

White flowers signify honesty and purity.

In the Victorian era, young ladies would have known the meaning of the different floral colors. As an author of inspirational historical romances, I love discovering tidbits like these for my novels!

Sources:

Boeckmann, Catherine. “What Does Each Flower Symbolize?” Almanac, 2025/04/21 https://www.almanac.com/flower-meanings-language-flowers.

Ellis, Mary Ellen. “Flower Color Symbolism: What do Flower Colors Mean?” Gardening Know How, 2025/04/22 https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/flower-color-symbolism.htm.

“Rose Color Meanings,” Fifty Colors, 2025/04/22 https://fiftyflowers.com/blogs/flowers/rose-color-meanings.

Hawkins, Linda J. The Unspoken Language of Fans & Flowers, Heart to Heart Publishing, 2007.

Death Under the Ice by Deborah Sprinkle

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Trouble in Pleasant Valley, Book 4

Homeland Security Analyst Claire Green comes to her brother Alan’s Pleasant Valley home, but he’s missing. She asks for help from Alan’s neighbors, Police Captain Nate Zuberi and his wife, Madison. They invite her to supper along with Private Investigator Rafe O’Connell, her former boyfriend.

He’s the only man Claire has ever loved, but she must focus on finding her brother. Clues that Alan had been involved in illegal activities frighten her. Can they find him in time to save his life?

This well-written and fast-paced story grabbed my attention and held on. Suspenseful. Action-packed. Real, believable characters. I tried to solve the mystery along with the detectives. I didn’t guess correctly.

A page turner! Highly recommended for those who love action-packed cozy mysteries.

I’ll look for more books by this author!

Amazon

Grave Decisions by Debra DuPree Williams

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

A Charlotte Graves Mystery, Book 2

Charlotte Graves now lives in the beautiful Rose Haven mansion with her grandmother. Her grandmother’s offer to give her the whole estate shocks her. Things are going so well with her renewed relationship with Roan Steele and her job as a genealogist. Before she can even consider it, people from her past challenge the home’s ownership.

Now she’s fighting for her family home. Intruders and murder quickly escalate the danger. And then someone close to Charlotte is accused of murder, further entangling her into the mayhem.

This talented author’s latest cozy mystery is another page-turner! Her strong Southern voice shines in Grave Decisions, the second book in the series. This well-written novel draws readers into the mystery from the beginning, one that includes William Shakespeare.  

Lovable, realistic characters invited me into a small Alabama town in the 1960s. Williams weaves such an authentic feel that the characters seem to step off the page.

Highly recommended for those who enjoy cozy mysteries!   

Amazon

Pimento Cheese Recipe

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by Sandra Merville Hart

A friend got me hooked on pimento cheese spread while attending a writing retreat. I bought a couple of different brands upon returning home, but neither was as delicious as the brands available in the Carolinas.

My mother had bought sliced pimento cheese for sandwiches when I was a child, but I haven’t seen that in delis for years.

I read several recipes for the spread and then tweaked them.

Ingredients

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 4-ounce jar diced pimento, drained

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

¼ teaspoon onion powder

½ cup mayonnaise

2 cups sharp shredded Cheddar cheese

Using a strainer, drain the pimentos into a bowl. This can take about 10 minutes.

Smooth the cream cheese into a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle on the garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and onion powder.

Allow the flavors to set together for a couple of minutes and then mix in the mayonnaise. Stir in the pimentos.

Add the shredded cheese. Mix together.

Keep refrigerated.

This pimento cheese tastes good on a variety of crackers or as a sandwich. It is good for about two months—at least, that’s as long as it has been in my fridge before being devoured. 😊

I make this often. When my sister visits, she usually asks if I have any pimento cheese in the fridge. She loves it too!

The Meaning of the Color of Roses

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by Sandra Merville Hart

When I was a little girl, my mother told me that receiving a bouquet of roses had different meanings, depending on the color. Back then, I preferred yellow roses. Had someone given me a yellow rose at ten, it would have symbolized friendship.

That discussion sparked my interest all those years ago. Here is a list compiled from a couple of sources:

Rose, amethyst—I will love you forever

Rose, blue—Mystery, uniqueness

Rose, coral—Admiration, desire, longevity

Rose, cream—Perfection

Rose, golden—Jealousy

Rose, green—Growth, abundance

Rose, ivory—Grace, charm

Rose, lavender—Love at first sight, rarity, wonder, enchantment

Rose, orange—Energy, desire, enthusiasm, fascination

Rose, peach—Sincerity, modesty, gratitude

Rose, pink—Grace, beauty, youth, innocent love, elegance, sweetness

Rose, red—Love, passion

Rose, rose—Pride, shyness

Rose, white—Innocence, young love, birth, beauty and respect, silence, keep my secret

Rose, yellow—Joy, friendship, I love another, jealousy

Rose, white/pink—Unity, commitment

Additionally, giving a single rose symbolizes simplicity and perpetual love. A rose bud symbolizes hope and innocence.

In the Victorian era, young ladies would have known the meaning of the different rose colors. I’m an author of inspirational historical romances. I love discovering tidbits like these for my novels!

Sources:

Boeckmann, Catherine. “What Does Each Flower Symbolize?” Almanac, 2025/04/21 https://www.almanac.com/flower-meanings-language-flowers.

“Rose Color Meanings,” Fifty Colors, 2025/04/22 https://fiftyflowers.com/blogs/flowers/rose-color-meanings.

Hawkins, Linda J. The Unspoken Language of Fans & Flowers, Heart to Heart Publishing, 2007.

Whispers of Fortune by Mary Connealy

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Golden State Treasure, Book 1

Dr. Brody MacKenzie arrives at the Two Harts Ranch in California, determined to find his younger brothers and, if necessary, rescue them. Instead, he is relieved to find them in school and learning trades. No matter what their teacher, Ellie Hart, says, Brody is in a hurry to take them back East where he has a job waiting. His brothers are more interested in searching for their family’s hidden treasure.

Ellie immediately hires Brody as the ranch’s doctor, hoping to keep the man who has snagged her attention in California. Instead, she finds herself caught up in helping the brothers to follow a treasure map.

Unfortunately, they are not the only ones interested in the treasure.

Connealy has woven a multi-layered historical romance that kept me turning pages. Long-time readers of this author will recognize characters from another series within these pages.

My interest was snagged early, and I read the book quickly. I’ve read other books by this author, and they’ve always ended with a significant cliff-hanger. This one did the same. Readers are left with questions about upcoming events.

I liked the book, and can’t wait to read the next one.

Christianbook.com

The Secret Language of Fans

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by Sandra Merville Hart

Hand fans have been used for about 4,000 years, beginning with the Egyptians. They were used in ancient Greece to shoo flies and to fan the flames while cooking by the 4th century BC. In ancient China, fans were made of silk, bamboo, wood, paper, or feathers.

Folding fans were heavily imported from China to European countries beginning in the 1600s. Some fifteenth-century fans that still survive contain cut-out designs in a lacy pattern. After a while, the fans were painted with leaves, flowers, and scenes commemorating special occasions. The sticks were made of bone, ivory, horn, mother of pearl, tortoise shell, or wood.

It seems that a language was associated with the fans, though it’s unclear how much it was used. When it began, the communication was done with individual letters. This evolved into making gestures in a secret flirtatious language first published by Fanella, a Spanish man. Then Fran Bartholomew wrote them in German.

In 1827, Jean-Pierre Duvelleroy opened a fan-making house in Paris. His fans sparked a wider use of fans at balls. Jean-Pierre gave his London Duvelleroy house to Jules Duvelleroy, his son. Jules published an English version of “The Language of the Fan”.

Here are a few of the codes:

Carrying the fan in the right hand in front of the face: Follow me

Draw the fan across the face: I love you

Place the fan on the left ear: I wish to get rid of you

Touch the fan’s tip with finger: I wish to speak to you

Let the fan rest on right cheek: Yes

Let the fan rest on left cheek: No

Fan slowly: I am married

Fan quickly: I am engaged

Open wide: Wait for me

With little finger extended: Goodbye

Of course, the young man must understand the meaning or the young woman’s efforts are in vain.

Some sources question how much this coded language was used. The best source would be novels written during that time.

Sources:

“Duvelleroy,” Wikipedia, 2025/04/21 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duvelleroy.

“Hand Fan,” Wikipedia, 2025/04/19 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_fan.

Hawkins, Linda J. The Unspoken Language of Fans & Flowers, Heart to Heart Publishing, 2007.

Luckel, Madeleine. “Why It’s Time to Revisit the Handheld Fan—And Its Secret Language,” Vogue, 2025/04/19 https://www.vogue.com/article/secret-language-of-the-fan-eighteenth-century-fans-de-young-museum.

Sayers, Rachel. “Let the Fan Do the Talking: Flirting in the Victorian Era,” The National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA, 2025/04/19 https://ntsusa.org/fan-victorian-flirting/.

Starp, Alexandra. “The Secret Language of Fans,” Sotheby’s, 2025/04/10 https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/the-secret-language-of-fans.

Windswept Way by Irene Hannon

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

A Hope Harbor Novel

Ashley Scott yearns for a substantial change after her job and a promising relationship come to an end. She becomes part-owner of a beautiful Oregon home in Hope Harbor where she and the reclusive other owner intend to turn it into a wedding venue. The owner of a local landscaping business, Jonathan Gray, intrigues her.

Jonathan’s significant battle scars are only partially visible. His girlfriend at the time of the battle left the former male model. Wearing a mask, he keeps to himself and his dog. But Ashley makes him long for more.

The setting, the amazing historic home, and the characters drew me into the story. Hope Harbor is a place where I, as a reader, wanted to vacation with a book on the beach. Authentic characters with real struggles kept me turning pages.

The story is told from multiple viewpoints. Readers will find several interesting characters in Hope Harbor, possibly from other novels in the series.

A heartwarming series in a beautiful setting. I look forward to reading more of Hannon’s books.

Christianbook.com