Sandra Merville Hart

Book of Old-Time Trades and Tools

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Review by Sandra Merville Hart

This book is a republication of the book originally published in 1866 by George Routledge and Sons, London. The original title was The Boy’s Book of Trades and the Tools Used in Them.

This nonfiction book is a treasure for historical writers!

The author gives an overview of different trades in some cases and detail in others. The anonymous author shows how there is overlapping of skills between certain professions, which is interesting.

There are sketches of men at work, showing what one might have expected to find at a worksite in 1866. Sketches of tools used in a specific trade show what the skilled worker used but doesn’t always inform the reader how they were used. It’s still helpful to see the tool and its name.

Skilled labors like brickmaking, masonry, plastering, whitewashing, and plumbing are a few of the trades highlighted.

I purchased this book for research purposes. I used it as a reference in my Spies of the Civil War Series. Books 4 – 6 are set in Vicksburg during the Civil War. One of the characters in Streams of Courage, Book 4, is a saddler. Sketches of tools used were especially helpful in understanding what saddlers did all day.

Recommended for historical authors and those interested in history.

Amazon

Vicksburg, A People at War by Peter F. Walker

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Review by Sandra Merville Hart

A People at War 1860-1865

This nonfiction book reports on events that took place during the Civil War in the Vicksburg, Mississippi.

The author gives plenty of interesting details about the way of life in Vicksburg before the war. Important townspeople are mentioned by name. Quotes from letters and diaries show attitudes, thoughts, and opinions of those enduring the hardships.

Newspapers are quoted with everything from advertisements for food and home supplies to battle details and news from Richmond, the Confederate capital.

An interesting read that held my attention!

I purchased this book for research purposes. My Spies of the Civil War Series has three books set in Vicksburg during the Civil War—Streams of Courage, Book 4, along with the upcoming River of Peril, Book 5, and Tides of Healing, Book 6. Highlighted passages testify to how it enriched my understanding of what Vicksburg citizens faced during the war.

Fascinating details make this an easy read for those interested in Mississippi’s history and Civil War history.

Amazon

Announcing the Upcoming Release of A Spring at The Greenbrier!

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by Sandra Merville Hart

I’m thrilled to announce that A Spring at The Greenbrier, Book 7 in Romance at the Gilded Age Resorts Series, will release on April 30, 2024!

It was such fun to research this novella set in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, where the historic, breathtakingly beautiful resort is located. It was such a joy to explore the grounds and history of The Greenbrier. Marilla, our heroine, works in the resort’s new Bath Wing in 1914.

She is immediately drawn to Wes, whose youngest sister needs the healing properties of the sulphur springs as her own sister does.

Here’s a bit about the book:

Marilla will sacrifice anything for her family, so when her sister’s doctor suggests daily sulphur spring baths, an amenity her family could never afford, Marilla takes a job at The Greenbrier resort bathhouse in order to give her sister the care she needs.

When her sister befriends another girl staying at the resort with a similar health condition, Marilla finds herself crossing paths with the girl’s handsome, charming, older brother. And despite their growing attraction to each other, courting Wes must remain a dream. After all, resort staff cannot court guests and Marilla will not risk her sister’s health for her own happiness.


Wealthy resort guest, Wes Bakersfield, has dreams for a future and plans to make his family’s business his own. And while he finds himself drawn to Marilla, despite their differing social classes, he can’t help but wonder if she is really interested in him, or in his wealth.


Can the couple find the trust to help their love succeed, or will their differences pull them apart?

Preorder your copy today on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple, and Books2Read.

Freedom’s Pride by Pegg Thomas

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Path to Freedom, Book 2

When they were both indentured servants, Mark Allen had made a promise to Gwen Morgan to help her find her sister, Faye. Now that he’s free, he begins his search for either sister. He finds the feisty Faye, but she wants no part of reconnecting with Gwen. Yet Mark Allen doesn’t take his promise lightly. He’s in love with Gwen and hopes to marry her…but he must find her first.

Faye actually hadn’t ended up as an indentured servant. Instead, she’d become the ward of a Quaker family. She wants only to find a rich husband so that she’ll not have to work. Gwen’s existence is a secret from her Quaker family and she’s determined to keep it that way.

My attention was captured from the beginning. Likeable, realistic characters are all on their own emotional journey as well as a physical one. The heroine frustrated me at times and had me siding with the hero. The orphan boy who immediately joins Mark Allen stole my heart.  

I enjoyed this poignant story that held many surprising twists. This is the second book in the series and I recommend reading them in order.  

This book was a page-turner for me!

Recommended for readers of inspirational historical romances!

I was given a copy of the book by the author. A positive review was not required. The opinions expressed are my own.

Amazon

Elinor by Shannon McNear

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Daughters of the Lost Colony 1587

Elinor Dare sailed from England with her husband and her father to the New World in 1587. She and Ananias are expecting their first child that Elinor is happy will be born in the Colony of Virginia.

Things go wrong from the beginning, as they land in an area her father considers unsafe. His fears are quickly proven when one of their men is killed by natives while out alone.

Both Elinor and her father had previously visited the area. Unfortunately, other groups had also crossed the Atlantic, some of them violent. Some tribes don’t trust the newcomers.

I’ve long been captivated by the early settlers of the Lost Colony of Roanoke. This book is a novel about Elinore Dare. This work of fiction is well-researched and feels authentic.

The characters and situations are realistic to the time. My interest was truly caught about a third of the way into the story, when it became a page-turner for me.

Recommended for readers who enjoy American history, especially the early history of Virginia.

Amazon

Announcing A Not So Convenient Marriage BookBub Featured Deal!

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by Sandra Merville Hart

Exciting news!  A Not So Convenient Marriage, Book 1 of my Second Chances Series, is a BookBub Featured Deal!

Ebooks will be on sale for 99 cents from 2/19 – 2/25 in the US and UK.

This series begins a dozen years after the end of the Civil War. The first book is set in 1877 in three Ohio locations: Hamilton, Harrison, and the train town of Bradford Junction.

Here’s what reviewers are saying about A Not So Convenient Marriage:

“The depth of emotion is off the charts!”

“It may seem cliche to say that this should be a Hallmark movie, but I do believe that it is worthy of the original Hallmark Hall of Fame presentations!”

“I couldn’t put the book down and read it in one day!”

“This is a story that will tug at your heart. It is well written and easy to read and imagine.”

“WOW, this book is amazing and has really touched my life!”

“I will be thinking of it for months to come!”

“A Not So Convenient Marriage is such a great novel. I loved the characters and their story. They gripped me and wouldn’t let me go.”

“I loved, loved, loved the book and Rose will be one of my all-time favorite heroines forever!”

“Thank you so very much for writing this book. I can’t put into words how much I adored it!”

Back Cover Blurb:

A spinster teacher…a grieving widower…a marriage of convenience and a second chance with the man she’s always loved…

When Samuel Walker proposes a marriage of convenience to Rose Hatfield so soon after the death of his wife, she knows he doesn’t love her. She’s loved him since their school days. Those long-suppressed feelings spring to life as she marries him. She must sell her childhood home, quit her teaching job, and move to a new city.

Marrying Rose is harder than Samuel expected, especially with the shadow of his deceased wife everywhere in his life. And he has two young children to consider. Peter and Emma need a mother’s love, but they also need to hold close the memories of their real mother as they grieve her loss.

Life as Samuel’s wife is nothing like Rose hoped, and even the townspeople, who loved his first wife, make Rose feel like an outsider. The work of the farm draws the two of them closer, giving hope that they might one day become a happy family. Until the dream shatters, and the life Rose craves tumbles down around them. Only God can put these pieces back together, but the outcome may not look anything like she planned.

Pick up your copy today!

A Not So Persistent Suitor Turns 1!

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by Sandra Merville Hart

It’s hard to believe that A Not So Persistent Suitor, Book 2 in my Second Chances Series, celebrates its first birthday today—Valentine’s Day! A Not So Peaceful Journey, Book 3, released last June, followed by a busy year of writing!

I had wanted to write a story set in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the 1880s for several years. It seems to me that it was on my heart to write when writing was still but a dream.

Writing this story allowed me to take my readers on a journey back to historic Cincinnati. See the sights of the beautiful city through the characters’ eyes in 1883-84.

Here’s a bit about the book:

He’s fighting for his career…She’s bent on achieving her own goals…Will their love survive a second chance at happily ever after?

Cora Welch dreams of a future teaching kindergarten, which is in its infancy, and marriage to Ben Findlay, her beau and her twin brother’s best friend. But she returns to college from summer break to learn of Ben’s unwise choices in pursuit of his career—choices that destroy her trust in the man she thought she knew and loved.

Ben is working hard toward his dream to become the best reporter in the city. He’s no stranger to fighting for a goal against all odds, ever since he was orphaned at age thirteen. Even though Cora has captured his heart, he makes the mistake of escorting the boss’s daughter to a fancy banquet to further his career—with far-reaching repercussions. Now he’s hurt Cora and botched his career goals.

Winning Cora’s trust again proves harder than Ben expects, especially as they both face struggles of their own. When events spiral out of their control, catapulting them into hardship and even danger, only God can restore their dreams—though the outcome may look far different than either of them planned.

Fudge Brownies using Cocoa Powder

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by Sandra Merville Hart

I decided to make brownies last week only to discover I didn’t any unsweetened chocolate in my pantry. There was an abundance of cocoa powder so I set about modifying my sister’s old recipe. It took a couple of batches before I settled on this recipe.

Ingredients

10 tablespoons of butter

¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 ¼ cups sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

¾ cup all-purpose flour

½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Simmer water in a large saucepan.

Place the butter in a metal or glass bowl. When the water is simmering, place the bowl over the top of the pan to melt the butter. Once the butter is melted, add the cocoa powder and sugar a little at a time, stirring with each addition.

Remove from heat. Set the bowl aside to cool for ten minutes.

Beat the eggs in a separate bowl and stir into the cooled mixture. Add the vanilla. Once those are all mixed together, stir in the flour, following with the walnuts, if desired. Mix well.

The chocolatey batter should be thick and creamy.

Prepare 8×8 baking pan with cooking spray. Pour chocolate batter into the prepared pan, spreading the mixture to the sides with a spoon.

Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 22-24 minutes. Allow brownies to cool and then cut into 16 squares.

This takes less than twenty minutes to prepare, not including baking time. It’s very easy to make brownies from scratch.

Using cocoa powder instead of unsweetened chocolate squares gave the brownies a richer, chocolaty flavor. Delicious and easy!

Enjoy!

Creative Sleepovers For Kids! by Julie Lavender

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Fun Activities, Themes, and Ideas for Overnight Parties

For boys or girls

What a great book!

The author begins with suggestions for preparations before the party. Choosing a theme topped the list. You’ll use it to select the invitations, decorations, and party activities—which are included in the book!

Lavender has suggestions for over 30 themes, such as All Aboard, Big Top Circus Party, Dinosaurs Delight, I Spy, Land Ho, Snakes and Snails and Alligator Critter Party, and Partying Painters Art Party.

Parents, the author has packed this book full of ideas for your child’s sleepover party.

Grandparents, this book has some ideas for you to choose from when hosting your grandchildren for a night or a weekend.

Recommended for parents and grandparents!

Amazon

Shadows of Swanford Abbey by Julie Klassen

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Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Rebecca Lane, a lady’s maid, returns to Swanford after a year’s absence in response to a letter from her brother’s housekeeper. She discovers the situation is dire indeed. John has finished writing a book somehow in between bouts of drinking and he implores Rebecca to deliver it to the very author whole stole his first novel with a request he recommend it to his publisher. She agrees reluctantly.

Sir Frederick is pleased that Rebecca, his childhood friend, is a guest at Swanford Abbey, the same hotel where he and his brother are staying. The widower feels that he’s too old for her, though he wishes it weren’t true.

Rebecca fears the haunted abbey, especially after she spots a ghostly nun, but there is more afoot at the historic abbey turned hotel than meets the eye.

Well-written! Believable characters dealing with difficult circumstances held my attention from the beginning.

This book is a page turner! Not only is there a romance that seems ill-fated from the start, there is also a mystery that readers will try to solve.

Recommended for readers who enjoy historical romances and suspense novels.

Christianbook.com