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Love's Miracles
Dr. Margo Devaull came to Dominic Zanelli's mountain retreat confident that she could help this Vietnam veteran overcome the torment that kept him apart from the world. But her training as a psychologist had not prepared her for the tragic, explosive contradictions brewing inside him. For here was a sensitive artist who could be gentle - and a man whose eyes flashed with violence and pain when he told her to leave and never come back. Yet Margo did come back, slowly gain his trust, and awaken the sleeping needs of his heart. Only by reliving her own wounded past and helping Zane confront a terrible memory from the war could she set them both free - and save their last chance for love.
348 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1989
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370 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Leesmith
13 books35 followersSandra began writing in the eighties and was multi-published in category romance, contemporary fiction, and teenage self-help books. After a life-changing experience, she returned to finish her teaching career. Retired from teaching, she is pursuing a career in writing.
The writing styles changed over the years so Sandra had to relearn the craft and start from square one. She adores a good romantic tale and strives to tell them as well.
During the hot summers she and her husband travel throughout the United States in their motorhome. Her favorite travel experiences are to see and enjoy God's beautiful creation. She loves the national parks and monuments where nature is preserved for all to see and enjoy.
The writing styles changed over the years so Sandra had to relearn the craft and start from square one. She adores a good romantic tale and strives to tell them as well.
During the hot summers she and her husband travel throughout the United States in their motorhome. Her favorite travel experiences are to see and enjoy God's beautiful creation. She loves the national parks and monuments where nature is preserved for all to see and enjoy.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 29, 2013
*Originally posted on Memorial Day(to explain those reference)
This was a huge leap from my typical read! I don't tend to read "war" related books, because they're generally more "gritty" in nature. I thought it fitting to read Love's Miracles in remembrance of Memorial Day, though. After all, it's not "National Bar-B-Que" Day! Not only does the wars affect these soldiers long after it's over, but it also affects those that love them long after, too.
Sandra did an amazing job of bringing the world of war-related PTSD to the pages of this book! Dominic(Zane) has flashbacks of when he fought in the Vietnam war in Love's Miracles, and they aren't always easy to read! It's actually quite painful to think of what our soldiers go through for us! It put me in a more grateful state of mind today.
Love's Miracles takes place in the 1980s. I found that an interesting aspect to the story. It's not too often that I escape to that time period, other than my childhood memories. ;) The descriptions of the clothing that is worn makes it the most obvious. Otherwise, you wouldn't really know you'd stepped back 25-30 years ago. I couldn't help but smile thinking about how much clothing choices have changed since then.
Just a word of warning, this is NOT a Christian book. It has been edited and reprinted as a "generally clean romance", but it's still pretty passionate(without going too far) at times. There's also a few words of mild profanity. It's kind of like an "edgy" Christian book, so don't let that deter you!
Overall, while it wasn't *always* pleasant to read(because of the pain of the flashbacks), I enjoyed escaping into it's pages, and I'm glad my mind was reminded of what today is all about!
*I was provided a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
This was a huge leap from my typical read! I don't tend to read "war" related books, because they're generally more "gritty" in nature. I thought it fitting to read Love's Miracles in remembrance of Memorial Day, though. After all, it's not "National Bar-B-Que" Day! Not only does the wars affect these soldiers long after it's over, but it also affects those that love them long after, too.
Sandra did an amazing job of bringing the world of war-related PTSD to the pages of this book! Dominic(Zane) has flashbacks of when he fought in the Vietnam war in Love's Miracles, and they aren't always easy to read! It's actually quite painful to think of what our soldiers go through for us! It put me in a more grateful state of mind today.
Love's Miracles takes place in the 1980s. I found that an interesting aspect to the story. It's not too often that I escape to that time period, other than my childhood memories. ;) The descriptions of the clothing that is worn makes it the most obvious. Otherwise, you wouldn't really know you'd stepped back 25-30 years ago. I couldn't help but smile thinking about how much clothing choices have changed since then.
Just a word of warning, this is NOT a Christian book. It has been edited and reprinted as a "generally clean romance", but it's still pretty passionate(without going too far) at times. There's also a few words of mild profanity. It's kind of like an "edgy" Christian book, so don't let that deter you!
Overall, while it wasn't *always* pleasant to read(because of the pain of the flashbacks), I enjoyed escaping into it's pages, and I'm glad my mind was reminded of what today is all about!
*I was provided a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 25, 2013
It's not often that I come across books quite like this one. Sure, it's a romance and sure by the end of the story you're left with that warm, fuzzy feeling but what happens in the pages in between is both heart-breaking and thought provoking. While this story is set in the 80s, it also has themes that are very relevant to today, especially with the war in the Middle East.
The hero, Zane, is deeply flawed and his experiences as a chopper pilot during the Vietnam War only add to his complexity as a character. Our heroine, Margo, is a psychologist who's trying to help those veterans suffering from PTSD, has deep-seeded issues of her own going back to her childhood with a father who suffered from and ultimately died because of the same disorder she's now trying to treat. She can't help but see the man behind the pain and comes to care for him much to the chagrin of colleagues and family.
Their story isn't a fluffy, light-hearted romance but as you can imagine one filled with sadness, anger, and intense emotional battles. I really loved that Sandra didn't gloss over the gritty. The pain being felt by the characters fairly oozed off of the page. That said, it is a romance so the sparks and the warm fuzzies are definitely present so if you're a romance fan you won't be disappointed. This is the first book I've read by Sandra and it definitely won't be the last.
I reviewed a complimentary review copy in exchange for posting my honest opinion of the book for the blog tour.
The hero, Zane, is deeply flawed and his experiences as a chopper pilot during the Vietnam War only add to his complexity as a character. Our heroine, Margo, is a psychologist who's trying to help those veterans suffering from PTSD, has deep-seeded issues of her own going back to her childhood with a father who suffered from and ultimately died because of the same disorder she's now trying to treat. She can't help but see the man behind the pain and comes to care for him much to the chagrin of colleagues and family.
Their story isn't a fluffy, light-hearted romance but as you can imagine one filled with sadness, anger, and intense emotional battles. I really loved that Sandra didn't gloss over the gritty. The pain being felt by the characters fairly oozed off of the page. That said, it is a romance so the sparks and the warm fuzzies are definitely present so if you're a romance fan you won't be disappointed. This is the first book I've read by Sandra and it definitely won't be the last.
I reviewed a complimentary review copy in exchange for posting my honest opinion of the book for the blog tour.
February 5, 2017
Wow, this is one emotional read. I loved it from the first page to the last. This book has so much substance. I'm so glad I found this one. The narrator is excellent. I highly recommend this great book. Happy reading!
July 13, 2013
Amazing story! So deep and real, so full of pain and hope, and yet to uplifting. Zane and Margo were excellent protagonists, and I loved them from the beginning. It's set in 1989, but it deals with a serious subject that unfortunately is still relevant today.
I'm still riding high on this one, I'll come back to post more.
I'm still riding high on this one, I'll come back to post more.
August 30, 2013
I want to share this book review of Love's Miracle by Sandra Leesmith with you.
Before I do, I need to first say I think the book was incredibly well written. I will tell you more about that soon. But, secondly, I need to say, in my opinion, this is a book for the ABA (American Book Association) market.
Love's Miracle by Sandra Leesmith tackles a difficult topic, PTSD as it relates to soldiers who come home from action in war. Leesmith's gift of understanding in this issue far exceeds expectation.
My father returned from war. My siblings and I knew there were times when we popped out of a hiding place, and truly surprised him, his arm could fly and hurt. Not intentionally. It was an instinct that could have saved his life during duty. My husband still has those dreams causing him to cry out.
I don't know if Leesmith had the college training required for this topic or if her expert research skills is what rendered this outstanding, very believable, and heart wrenching story to excellence. Either way, the story is very compelling.
About the book:
Margo is a licensed psychologist hired by Vinnie to help his brother, Zane. After returning home from the Vietnam war, Zane retreats from the family business to a cabin in the mountains. He refuses to return to his job and home. Vinnie and other family members cannot understand why Zane has walked away from the family business, and why he doesn't seem to care about them any more. During Zane's time as a helicopter pilot he witnessed tragedies that seared horrific images in his mind. One in particular, spiraled his emotions into a downward PTSD mindset. Margo's job is to help him work his way through the problem.
Margo has her own issues which manifests themselves while working with Zane. This intelligent soldier saw through the masks Margo had built over the years.
Margo and Zane develop an intense romantic relationship early on, which forces Zane to seek help from another psychologist.
Leesmith's realistic portrayal of the war scenes, the PTSD issues, family misconceptions, and the romantic development produced edgy scenes. This is an excellent story to help readers who know someone who has gone to war.
To me, the real issue from keeping this book to the CBA (Christian Book Association) market is the issue of Margo and Zane looking to each other for their hope to heal.
Please feel free to comment especially if you saw this book from a different point of view. The more we share with each other, the more we help each other.
Before I do, I need to first say I think the book was incredibly well written. I will tell you more about that soon. But, secondly, I need to say, in my opinion, this is a book for the ABA (American Book Association) market.
Love's Miracle by Sandra Leesmith tackles a difficult topic, PTSD as it relates to soldiers who come home from action in war. Leesmith's gift of understanding in this issue far exceeds expectation.
My father returned from war. My siblings and I knew there were times when we popped out of a hiding place, and truly surprised him, his arm could fly and hurt. Not intentionally. It was an instinct that could have saved his life during duty. My husband still has those dreams causing him to cry out.
I don't know if Leesmith had the college training required for this topic or if her expert research skills is what rendered this outstanding, very believable, and heart wrenching story to excellence. Either way, the story is very compelling.
About the book:
Margo is a licensed psychologist hired by Vinnie to help his brother, Zane. After returning home from the Vietnam war, Zane retreats from the family business to a cabin in the mountains. He refuses to return to his job and home. Vinnie and other family members cannot understand why Zane has walked away from the family business, and why he doesn't seem to care about them any more. During Zane's time as a helicopter pilot he witnessed tragedies that seared horrific images in his mind. One in particular, spiraled his emotions into a downward PTSD mindset. Margo's job is to help him work his way through the problem.
Margo has her own issues which manifests themselves while working with Zane. This intelligent soldier saw through the masks Margo had built over the years.
Margo and Zane develop an intense romantic relationship early on, which forces Zane to seek help from another psychologist.
Leesmith's realistic portrayal of the war scenes, the PTSD issues, family misconceptions, and the romantic development produced edgy scenes. This is an excellent story to help readers who know someone who has gone to war.
To me, the real issue from keeping this book to the CBA (Christian Book Association) market is the issue of Margo and Zane looking to each other for their hope to heal.
Please feel free to comment especially if you saw this book from a different point of view. The more we share with each other, the more we help each other.
May 29, 2013
Margo Devaull is a psychologist. When Vinnie Zanelli tells her that his brother Dominic (Zane) has agreed to therapy but refuses to leave his home Margo agrees to go to Zane. What she finds is a man that has cut himself off from any emotional connections and has secluded himself from his family. Zane has not agreed to therapy and he is in denial that he needs it. It only takes Margo a short visit for her to realize that Zane could be suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) from his time in Viet Nam. Margo has experience with counseling soldiers with PTSD and knows that she can help Zane if he would just open up to her.
Zane has no intention of opening up to anyone. He has worked for years burying the secret that he has carried from Viet Nam. What he doesn’t realize is how persistent Margo can be and also how much he comes to look forward to her visits. The law dictates that no doctor can become involved personally with a patient until after therapy has been ended for 2 years. Margo knows that Zane needs help, but he refuses to seek it from anyone but her. The problem is that Zane and Margo are drawn to each other, which makes it impossible for Margo to be his doctor. Unable to give up on trying to convince Zane to get help, Margo risks losing her license and practice.
My Thoughts:
I enjoyed LOVE’S MIRACLES. It was well-written and kept the interest of me as the reader. I enjoyed the romance between Margo and Zane, even though it was forbidden it was understandable. There was a bit of passion that at times threatened to go beyond the bedroom door, but even though both characters expressed a desire for a more physical relationship the author managed to keep the story PG. I’m looking forward to trying another one of Sandra Leesmith’s books soon.
Zane has no intention of opening up to anyone. He has worked for years burying the secret that he has carried from Viet Nam. What he doesn’t realize is how persistent Margo can be and also how much he comes to look forward to her visits. The law dictates that no doctor can become involved personally with a patient until after therapy has been ended for 2 years. Margo knows that Zane needs help, but he refuses to seek it from anyone but her. The problem is that Zane and Margo are drawn to each other, which makes it impossible for Margo to be his doctor. Unable to give up on trying to convince Zane to get help, Margo risks losing her license and practice.
My Thoughts:
I enjoyed LOVE’S MIRACLES. It was well-written and kept the interest of me as the reader. I enjoyed the romance between Margo and Zane, even though it was forbidden it was understandable. There was a bit of passion that at times threatened to go beyond the bedroom door, but even though both characters expressed a desire for a more physical relationship the author managed to keep the story PG. I’m looking forward to trying another one of Sandra Leesmith’s books soon.
September 4, 2016
I received an audio version of this book in exchange for a honest review.
Margo and Dominic are both strong characters. Margo is trying to help Dominic with what she thinks is ptsd from the war but it goes deeper and more personal then that.
It was a pretty easy book to figure out what comes next but that didn't make it any less great. This book takes place in 1989 and it is a timeless book. It could of just as easily taken place in the present day.
Margo and Dominic are both strong characters. Margo is trying to help Dominic with what she thinks is ptsd from the war but it goes deeper and more personal then that.
It was a pretty easy book to figure out what comes next but that didn't make it any less great. This book takes place in 1989 and it is a timeless book. It could of just as easily taken place in the present day.
February 27, 2014
Love's Miracles was a beautiful love story, full of emotion and well-developed characters. Zane's flashbacks were a great way of telling the reader his story. There are many layers to Dr. Margo Devaull. While she helped Zane face his demons, she needed to face her own. I highly recommend this book.
October 5, 2013
OMG what a book. Margo and Zane's story and what a story. I had tears in my eyes it was so moving. The traumas of war are embedded in Zane's mind. That's all I'm going to say about it.
February 27, 2022
An amazing ending. I enjoyed this one although the pace was a little slow. Worth sticking with it.
February 17, 2017
I like how the author presented the psychological issues (fears, PTSD) in the context of the story. I don't really know why, but I never felt drawn to the characters emotionally, and I thought the story was very predictable. There wasn't anything I particularly disliked about the characters or the story. The writing and the narration were both okay. Maybe that's it - they were just okay. I didn't feel there was anything extraordinary about this story. I liked it well enough. I just think it could have been done better.
May 4, 2014
I was very impressed with this book and the development of the plot. It didn't hurry the healing but took it in stages developing each character who played a part in the story. PTSD takes many years to come to terms with. It involves so many emotions and denial by the victim. Not only was Zane a sufferer but also his psychologist who had her own issues from her father's experience in the Korean war. These issues and their traumas were so well explained. Also the underlying love that these victims often feel they are no longer capable or deserving of. It also explored the role of family members and them trying to understand why Zane just hid in the redwood forest and had no contact with anyone but his brother, Vinnie. The story is believable, poignant and tells of forgiveness and the ability of the heart to heal.
I will be exploring more of this author's work. I was so very pleased and impressed by her style of writing and the way she explored the topic of PTSD as well as the humanization of horrors of war.
I will be exploring more of this author's work. I was so very pleased and impressed by her style of writing and the way she explored the topic of PTSD as well as the humanization of horrors of war.
October 7, 2013
A truly touching story about a Vietnam War vet and the psychologist who falls in love with him while encouraging him to get the help he so desperately needs.
February 9, 2014
Review to come ...
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews