My Review: Love's Every Whisper

Just so you're forewarned, I've been falling a bit behind on my reviews the past couple weeks, with work and such, so I'll be posting a bit more frequently until I'm caught up.  It also means that I'll be posting on seemingly random days, like today. :)


Description:
Victoria Donnelly is, as always, a failure. With five years of failed courtships behind her and the calendar inching closer to another birthday, Victoria's determined to redeem herself and snag a proposal from a wealthy childhood acquaintance, Gilbert Sinclair. But returning to Eagle Harbor stirs up long forgotten memories. And worse, old affection for her betrothed's enemy.

Elijah Cummings has loved Victoria for fifteen years. But fishermen's sons don't marry shipping barons' daughters. He knows it. She knows it. The entire town knows it. Resolved to keep his distance from Victoria, Elijah focuses on establishing a much needed life-saving station, risking his own life by rescuing sailors stuck aboard shipwrecks.

He knows how to save drowning sailors, but how is he to save a woman from the biggest mistake of her life—without destroying both their hearts in the process?

About the Author:
A mother of three, Naomi Rawlings spends her days picking up, cleaning, playing and, of course, writing. Her husband pastors a small church in Michigan's rugged Upper Peninsula, where her family shares its ten wooded acres with black bears, wolves, coyotes, deer and bald eagles. Naomi and her family live only three miles from Lake Superior, where the scenery is beautiful and they average 200 inches of snow per winter. Naomi writes bold, dramatic stories and is currently enjoying writing the Eagle Harbor Series, which is set near where she lives.

My Review: 4 stars
Love’s Every Whisper is the second story in Naomi Rawlings’, Eagle Harbor series. That being said, it can definitely be read as a stand-alone. I personally didn’t read the first book and though it may have filled in a couple small gaps, I didn’t feel lost or find it confusing. I discovered her books a couple years ago with the release of her first book with the Love Inspired Historical line and very much enjoyed it. I was really excited to read this book and can happily say that I enjoyed it immensely!

Ms. Rawlings does an excellent job with the details and descriptions. I enjoyed getting to visit the little town on the edge of Lake Superior and see it through her characters’ eyes. It’s obvious she did a great deal of research about the US Life Saving Service and sailing in general. I will admit that there were a couple times I struggled with the amount of detail that occasionally kind of clumped together on a page, but fortunately, it didn’t bog down the story or disrupt my reading very much.

Victoria Donnelly is the heroine of this story and I fell in love with her almost immediately. She is very realistic in her flaws, but also in her kind heart. There was a part of me that felt so sorry for her, because in the beginning, she doesn’t see her true worth. I loved the kindness and desire to help others that drives her throughout the story, even when she struggles to know what is right. There is definitely a bold message of worth, value, and strength shown through this character that I wish so many young women would know. Watching Victoria grow and discover how much she is loved was definitely a highlight of this book, for me.

Elijah Cummings is an interesting, if sometimes frustrating, hero. He tries so hard to save everyone who ventures into the nearby waters, when his life seems to be falling apart. He is definitely strong and very stubborn, to the point I kind of wanted someone to whack him upside the head. That being said, I did fall in love with him, too. And sometimes I think we need more characters that are flawed and maybe a little broken to remind us that we don’t always have to pretend perfection. Elijah is far from perfect, but he tries to be a better man, which is all anyone can really ask. While his actions aren’t always noble, his intentions and heart are - speaking of, I also loved his heart for Victoria. He’d loved her for years, but always saw the impossibilities in any future between them. Even when it seemed so out of reach, he was still there, guiding her and trying to show her the worth she so rarely saw in herself.

My only negative comment is that I really didn’t much care for Gilbert. Elijah’s rival in this book, who I believe is also the main character of the next story. He is something of the villain here and is not a very likeable character. I honestly can’t really see reading his story, though he does become a little more tolerable later in the book. I wish that Ms. Rawlings had softened his character a bit, so that I would have liked him at least a little better.

Finally, I would say that I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Christian historical romance!
 I received an advanced copy of this book from the author for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.


Thank you so much for taking the time to read my review!  I hope you enjoyed it! 
If you'd like to look into it further, it's available on Amazon in both paper and the Kindle version.  And the ebook is currently on sale for $3.99!  Which I'm a little excited about. :)

Also, please come back here Saturday, September 26, 2015 (4 days from now),  for a random giveaway (and no, I'm not telling what it is)!

Sisterhood of the World Bloggers

 

My incredibly sweet friend Carole at The Power of Words . . .   has nominated me for this award!!  Thank you SO much Carole!  I am truly honored!  And this is such a fun way for me to spend a dreary day!

 

Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award Rules:

Thank the blogger who nominated you, linking back to their site.
Put the award logo on your blog.
Answer the ten questions sent to you.
Make up ten new questions for your nominees to answer.
Nominate ten blogs.

 

First, to answer Carole's questions:



 
1) What do you enjoy most about fall?
I’m not much of a cooler weather person, but I love the fuzzy sweaters I get to wear when the temp goes down!


2) What book are you currently reading?
Deadlock by DiAnn Mills  (love the cover!)

3) Are you an introvert, extrovert, or somewhere in between?
I’m going to steal Melissa Tagg’s word and say that I am an ambivert.  Which is literally somewhere in between. 

(and I used this picture of Melissa's book instead a photo of her, because 1) it might be a smidge weird of me to use her photo and 2) this book is mentioned below)


4) What’s your favorite genre? Least Favorite genre?
I don’t know that I have a favorite genre, except for Christian fiction.  I tend to jump around within that section.   Historical, mystery, suspense, romance, fantasy (occasionally).  The only sub-genres I can’t claim are Sci-Fi and Dystopian, though I do have K. E. Ganshert’s first book on my Kindle, to be read. 


  5) What is one of your favorite reads so far this year?
I'm going to confess this right now: I despise picking favorites, solely because there are so many! Hmm . . . Let’s see.   I would have to say either Taken by Dee Henderson or From the Start by Melissa Tagg













6) Have you enjoyed a non-fiction book that you would recommend?
Yes!   I highly recommend Let Me Fall by Beth Pensinger!  I actually read it for the first time last year, after she so generously gave away a copy (of which I was the recipient), but I've been rereading it recently and enjoying it just as much!









 7) If you had a bucket list, name one thing that would be on it.
The serious one?  To write a letter to each of my family members, telling them all of the things I might have forgotten to.  The crazy/insane one? I really want to go sky-diving. 

  
8) Do you have a favorite hymn or Christian song?
Again with the favorites, Miss Carole?!   I adore music, so choosing just one song is pretty much impossible, especially since it changes week to week.   Though my current favorite is My Story by Big Daddy Weave, I think. (click the song title to listen to it on YouTube)


 
9) If you were given the opportunity to travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why?
This is a really hard one for me!  There are so many places I would love to go, things I’d love to see . . . . I think top of the list would be . . . . (30 minutes later) okay, I’m going to be generic and say a somewhat private beach.  Preferably one in a warm climate.  The why?  Because I love listening to the waves and watching them roll in, every one of them unique in how it approaches land.   I also love the sunrise and sunsets over the ocean.   If you haven’t seen either one, they are AMAZING! I also feel closer to God there.  Something about it strips away the mundane and the distractions until it’s just me and Him.

   (Somewhere like this maybe - I love the photo, though it isn't mine!)


10) What Bible verse has ministered to you recently?

 “Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.” - Psalm 90:2 NIV
 I love the wording here.  Think about that.  "From everlasting to everlasting . . . "  Another version says “. . . from beginning to end You are God.”  It doesn’t say “in the beginning and in the end” it says “to.”  Even when I’m going through a tough season, even when my world may seem to be falling apart, He is still God.  In the good times, in the bad, no matter what my emotions, or what the enemy may try to tell me, He is still God.  There is such comfort in that realization for me.  He is still God, regardless.  And He is still in control.
 
 
 There are so many excellent bloggers out there, I know, though confession time: I don't follow that many reviewer blogs.  (cue the stage *gasp*)  Carole's is one that I do and I'm nominating 3 others below that also I love.  I do follow several blogs, but most are favorite authors, or are about writing or building your faith.  So I'm not going to include all of those.  Maybe I'll do a post one day about my favorite bloggers.  We shall see.  Anywho, here are my nominees and links to their blogs.  I hope you'll check them out! :)

Savanna at The Engrafted Word
Katie at Beautifully Broken - Because Perfection is Overrated
Beckie at By The Book

Bloggers here are your questions!
1) How did you get started blogging?

2) Who is your favorite author? Why? What about their writing/books is different ? Is it something you can define?

3) Favorite pastime (other than reading)?

4) Current favorite song?

5) What book have you read recently that really pulled you into the story and lives of the characters? Where did it take you?

6) Favorite color?

7) A quirky or odd fact about you.

8) Describe yourself with 3 words.

9) If you could live anywhere in the world for 1 year, where would you most like to call home?

10) What is something God has been teaching you recently (it can be a single word with no details)?




  

 

My review: A Noble Masquerade

 

I just really love this cover!  May I gush for a moment?  Okay, so it's my blog and I'm going to anyway. ;)  I do so love it!  The colors are gorgeous and it's just so pretty!  Definitely eye-catching!  Though to be honest, I can't imagine having to wear that hat.  Anyway!  Feel free to comment your thoughts!

 

 

Description:

Lady Miranda Hawthorne acts every inch the lady, but inside she longs to be bold and carefree. Approaching spinsterhood in the eyes of society, she pours her innermost feelings out not in a diary but in letters to her brother's old school friend, the Duke of Marshington. Since she's never actually met the man she has no intention of ever sending the letters and is mortified when her brother's mysterious new valet, Marlow, mistakenly mails one of the letters to the unsuspecting duke.

Shockingly, this breach of etiquette results in a reply from the duke that soon leads to a lively correspondence. Insecurity about her previous lack of suitors soon becomes confusion as Miranda finds herself equally intrigued by Marlow, a man she has come to depend upon but whose behavior grows more suspicious by the day. As the secret goings-on at her family's estate come to light, one thing is certain: Miranda's heart is far from all that's at risk for the Hawthornes and those they love.




About the Author:
Kristi Ann Hunter graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Computer Science but always knew she wanted to write. Kristi is an RWA Golden Heart contest winner, an ACFW Genesis contest winner, and a Georgia Romance Writers Maggie Award for Excellence winner. She is a founding member and the coordinator of the Regency Reflections blog and lives with her husband and three children in Georgia. Find her online at www.kristiannhunter.com.


My Review: 5 stars

A Noble Masquerade is Kristi Ann Hunter’s debut novel and the first in her new series, Hawthorn House. I adored, Lady of Esteem, the prequel novella that release a couple months ago in anticipation of this book and was thrilled when I got this one! I enjoy most novels set in the Regency era, but I’ve come to expect certain things from them. This one quite broke away from the usual mold and I loved that! It was funny, quirky, and the characters seemed to jump right off the pages! I found myself laughing with them, and mourning the difficult times and seasons with them.

Ms. Hunter does an excellent job of bringing to life Regency England, with all its gorgeous trappings and quirky characters. I loved this fresh outlook on what is a pretty popular time in history. Her descriptions gave it depth, like an artist adding detail to a painting. I could easily picture each scene in my mind and I enjoyed the imagery she often uses in her writing. I also loved the dry sense of humor and irony that had me laughing out loud or smirking along with the characters. I was drawn into the story from the first and didn’t want to put it down! I found myself often losing track of time and sometimes even place while reading, occasionally having to remind myself that I wasn’t in England with them. I love a story that can so thoroughly transport me to another time and place.

For the sake of complete honesty, I will admit to being vaguely disappointed that the letters between Miranda and the Duke didn’t play a larger role. Based on the description, I expected the story to contain more of their correspondence. But, I can also understand that had Ms. Hunter done that it probably would’ve slowed down the story significantly and may have possibly seemed to be filler. So, I appreciate her wisdom in continuing the story as she did. And the effect was so slight that I’m not including it in my rating, because I quickly moved on and immensely enjoyed the rest of the story.

Lady Miranda Hawthorne is such a fun character and I loved her right away! She tries so hard to meet her mother’s standards for being a lady, but under that calm façade is a vibrant, mischievous, emotional, and sometimes awkward, lady trying to break through. All Miranda really wants is to be loved for who she is and the ability to be herself. She finds society and all of its rules stifling and often bucks convention, despite her mother’s best efforts to the contrary. I have to admit that I rather enjoyed her “lady lessons.” Who knew there were so many rules for polite society! Miranda can’t seem to contain herself no matter what is considered proper.

Honestly, this is when I usually talk about the hero, but after reading the book description again, I don’t want to say much. So I’ll just tell you that he is so swoony! I confess to a distinct case of jealousy toward Miranda. He is kind, caring, strong, but also a little arrogant (which oddly enough made him more human). He brought out the best in Miranda and I loved how he encouraged her to be herself. He loved the vibrant person she hid and often riled her so that he could get beyond her façade to the real person waiting to break free.

There are scores of other characters populating this story and rounding it out. Such as the other Hawthorne siblings, Colin McCrae (who I hope eventually gets a story), Lady Raebourne from the novella, and all of the quirky staff members. I adored all of them as well, even Georgina, who I sometimes wanted to shake. She is young and self absorbed, but we do see a softer side towards the end. I’m looking forward to seeing her continue to grow throughout the future novels and hopefully become a lady of strength and character. I don’t know when the next book comes out, but I can already tell you that I am waiting with anticipation to find out which Hawthorne “meets their match” in the coming story!

The spiritual side of the story is also extremely well done. To me, this is what makes or breaks a Christian novel. Some come across as too preachy, while others barely meet the minimum to be considered Christian or religious. Ms. Hunter finds a happy medium with this book. Faith is an integral part of the story, but I never felt it overwhelmed anything else. Rather is flows smoothly throughout, guiding the characters and the reader. I loved Miranda’s faith and watching it grow and change as she struggled with finding her place and learning to be herself. While the hero’s faith was less obvious, he does have a strong sense of right and wrong, truth and lie. I appreciated his morality, even in the face of so much falsehood. Where he could have found lying the easier way out, he always took the high road. Much of the story also focuses on family and I enjoyed the notion so clearly displayed that family is more than just blood relations, but friends and loved ones from every part of life.

I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a story full of humor, fun characters, and love!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

 Thank you so much for taking the time to read my review!  I hope you enjoyed it!  Feel free to leave comments below (I love them!), if you so desire.
Also, I mentioned a novella Lady of Esteem, which is actually a free ebook right now on Amazon's Kindle (it may be available in other formats as well, though I'm not positive and I don't have links for them).  So links for that are below, along with the ones for the novel.  Just thought I'd share that, in case anyone is interested in a quick (and free) introduction to this author.  Be forewarned though, you might become addicted!  :)

Link for Lady of Esteem:
Amazon

A Noble Masquerade:
Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Christian Book







 

My Review: Easy Prey

The colors in this photo are actually darker than the physical cover I have, but it still looks intriguing.  Though I confess to liking mine better.  I'm not sure what happened to this photo, but the shading is off slightly.

Description:
Hunted by the enemy:
When she's attacked by animal traffickers in the zoo she's been brought on to rehabilitate, Elise Tanner begins to doubt the wisdom of returning home after decades away. Especially because her self-appointed protector is US Marshal Jonah Rivers. Jonah isn't just the brother of her dead husband. He's the man who's consumed her dreams for far too long. Jonah needs to come to terms with Elise's long-held secrets—including the fact that he's now uncle to a teenager. But Jonah and Elise have more pressing matters: conquering the dangerous forces around the zoo before they fall victim to them…

About the Author:
A British ex-pat who grew up an hour outside of London, Lisa attended Calvary Chapel Bible College where she met her husband. He's from California, but nobody's perfect. It wasn't until her Bible College graduation that she figured out she was a writer (someone told her).
Since then she's taken the Apprentice and Journeyman writing courses with the Christian Writers Guild, and discovered a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after.
Lisa can be found in Idaho wearing either flip-flops or cowgirl boots, depending on the season. She leads worship with her husband at their local church. Together they have two children--a sparkly Little Princess and a Mini Daddy--and there's only one bunny rabbit now (sad face).

 My review: 5 stars
I’m going to start by admitting that I’m a huge fan of Ms. Phillips’, so this review may be slightly biased. I’ve adored all of her books to date and am eagerly anticipating anything she might publish next! This book was definitely no different for me and quickly became a favorite. There is no doubt in my mind that Lisa knows how to keep her readers on the edge of their seats! I didn’t want to put it down and was constantly bemoaning the fact that I had to go to work and couldn’t just read it in one sitting. I spent more than a few hours wondering what would happen next and trying to guess where the story might go, since I wasn’t able to actually find out.

I love Lisa’s writing style! It’s very unique and the stories come to brilliant life within the pages. Her books are very realistic in that I can easily imagine myself there, in the situation right beside the characters. I love the details she includes, as well as the ones she leaves to my overactive imagination. She doesn’t overcomplicate something that could be said in just a few words and is rather straight to the point, unless she intentionally wants to keep the reader guessing, then I’m never sure what’s happening or where the story is heading. I enjoy the mystery of that, wondering what might go wrong next.

For me, the characters always jump off the page, and these are no exception. I adored Elise, Jonah, Nathan, and the whole team (which we met in Manhunt). Elise Tanner has had to be strong her whole life, so there is an underlying strength in everything she does and how she reacts to a situation. She’s made her share of mistakes, but is back hoping to right them, while also doing the job she loves. I loved her faith in God that led her to rely on Him through everything that’s going on, even when doubt begins to creep in and fear would be the expected reaction.

Jonah Rivers is a great hero and I enjoyed getting to know him. While there’s a part of me that wants to say he’s somewhat stereotypical, he’s really not, when I stop and think about it. First off, yes, he’s a U.S. Marshall and yes, he was in the military, but that’s where the comparison to other books end. Though he’s strong, he’s had his strength tested and has learned his limits. He’s a little reckless, but it’s been tempered with time and experience. There’s also an underlying vulnerability when it comes to Elise. He’s loved her for years, but walked away because he felt it was for the best.

I loved seeing Jonah and Elisa get to know each other again and learn what real love looks like. Both have grown and changed over their time apart, so it was the little things, the important details, the changes in character, that they had to rediscover. I actually enjoyed the fact that their relationship isn’t the driving force of the story, though it is a romance. It allowed the time frame to be more realistic, and let’s be honest: If someone is trying to kill you, and you’re being shot at often, how focused are you going to be on romantic entanglements? I usually find these books a bit unrealistic in that aspect, but not so much in this one.

Aside from the suspense, I think my favorite part of this book was the spiritual side of the story. It never came across as overbearing or preachy and Lisa touches on several points that I needed to hear right now. I appreciated the honest questions the characters ask and the answers given in return. There are rarely perfect answers and the author doesn’t try to give them, but is rather very authentic in the ones she does share. I love a book that shifts my focus and requires I stop and think, consider something from a different angle and this one does that. I can honestly say that I have no complaints about any part of this book. I loved every page of the ride and am excitedly anticipating whatever is next for this author!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed suspense that keeps you guessing, with than ending that made me sigh.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
  
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my review!  I hope you enjoyed it!  :)
As always, links are below if you're interested in looking into the book further, or perhaps purchasing a copy.  I hope you have a lovely day!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Christian Book 

My Review: Undercover Bride

Description:
Pinkerton detective Maggie Cartwright is tasked with going undercover as a mail order bride. Her "fiancé" is widower Garrett Thomas, aka the suspected Whistle-Stop Bandit. No sooner does Maggie arrive in Arizona Territory when she’s confronted with an early wedding date—the clock is ticking on her detective work or she may end up a criminal’s wife! As the day of the wedding draws near, Maggie begins to panic. The problem is that the more she gets to know Garrett and his two adorable children, the harder it is to keep up the deception. Can a man as kind and gentle as Garrett really be the Whistle-Stop Bandit?



About the Author:
Bestselling author Margaret Brownley has published more than thirty-five books and has written for a daytime TV soap.The third book in her popular Undercover Ladies series, Calico Spy, will be published December 2015. She is currently working on a new series. A past Romance Writers of America RITA finalist she has won many literary awards including Readers Choice. Margaret and her husband have three grown children and live in Southern California. Margaret can be reached through her website; www.margaret-brownley.com




My Review: 3 stars

Undercover Bride is the second book in Margaret Brownley’s, Undercover Ladies series, though they each stand alone quite well. I’ve read a few of Margaret’s books, though I have to be honest and say that while I’ve enjoyed all of them, she isn’t on my must-read list. Her books are generally cute, engaging, and make me laugh. I can say the same of this one.

The historical details are well done and I had fun peeking into the life of a Pinkerton operative. Unfortunately, it took me almost half of the book to become really interested in the story. The pacing was so slow, that I kept checking to see how much I had left, hoping it would pick up soon. It did about half-way through and I didn’t want to put it down as I was quickly coming to the climax. I confess, I wondered for a while if this was a novella and I had become confused. Her writing style reminded me of one I had read. Days are passed over with little comment and the writing is very surface, if that makes sense. Just when it seemed something important was about to happen in Maggie and Garrett’s relationship, the scene would end. This frustrated me more than anything. I wanted to “see” something happen between them, rather than just having them think about it. I’m more of a show, than tell kind reader.

Characters are definitely her strong suit. I adore the quirky secondary characters she creates, as well as the main characters that are so realistic. This book is no different. I loved Maggie and was cheering for her the entire story. She is kind and sweet with the children, while also being strong and stubborn. Garrett was also a compelling character, though the story doesn’t come from his point of view that often. Which I actually found rather frustrating. I’m assuming she wrote it like that because he is suspect, but as everyone knows how it’s going to end, I really found leaving him out unnecessary.

The mystery was interesting and probably one of the main things that kept me reading. I enjoyed following Maggie and her fellow operative as they attempted to piece together the evidence and find the real criminal. It definitely upped my appreciation for modern technology and the pioneers in the field of law enforcement. I hadn’t considered how much more difficult it would have been, until reading this book.

Another part of the story I enjoyed was the spiritual aspect. This is a Christian novel and reflects those beliefs. I appreciated the emphasis on how important church is and Maggie’s desire to teach the children about God. I also appreciated that Maggie and Garrett’s individual struggles with faith were not glossed over. On the contrary, there is no swift conversion, but rather at the end, we’re still left with Maggie working toward forgiveness. That realism is sometimes rare to find, as most of us love all of the loose ends neatly tied up (I do).

I will end by saying that I did enjoy this book, though I doubt I will ever read it again and it will not receive a place on my keeper shelf. Sorry. I would recommend it to anyone who loves historical romance and is looking for a nice, easy read for a few hours.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own. 
 
 Thank you so much for taking the time to read my review!  I hope you enjoyed it!  Links are below, as always. :)

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Christian Book




 

My Review: Through Waters Deep

 

I just love this cover!  It's so lovely!  Her red dress is a nice contrast to the darker background and I appreciate them including details from the story.  This is definitely my favorite of her covers and I'm excited to see what the artists come up with for the next book. :)

 

 

Description:

It is 1941 and America teeters on the brink of war. Outgoing naval officer Ensign Jim Avery escorts British convoys across the North Atlantic in a brand-new destroyer, the USS Atwood. Back on shore, Boston Navy Yard secretary Mary Stirling does her work quietly and efficiently, happy to be out of the limelight. Yet, despite her reserved nature, she never could back down from a challenge. When evidence of sabotage on the Atwood is found, Jim and Mary must work together to uncover the culprit. A bewildering maze of suspects emerges, and Mary is dismayed to find that even someone close to her is under suspicion. With the increasing pressure, Jim and Mary find that many new challenges--and dangers--await them.

 

 

About the Author:
Sarah Sundin is the author of With Every Letter, On Distant Shores, In Perfect Time, and the Wings of Glory series. In 2014, On Distant Shores was a finalist for the Golden Scroll Awards from both AWSA and the Christian Authors Network. In 2011, Sarah received the Writer of the Year Award at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. A graduate of UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, she works on call as a hospital pharmacist. During WWII, her grandfather served as a pharmacist's mate (medic) in the Navy and her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force in England. Sarah lives in California with her husband and three children. Visit www.sarahsundin.com for more information.


My Review: 4 stars

Through Waters Deep is the first book in Sarah Sundin’s, Waves of Freedom series. I love WWII fiction and Ms. Sundin’s books are a particular favorite of mine. I’ve very much enjoyed all of them and obviously had high expectations for this one. I can happily say that it met them.

It’s always incredibly obvious the amount of research Ms. Sundin puts into her stories and I continually enjoy the historical details she includes. I love the descriptions, including the particular words in dialogue, that brings history to life. The story is set in 1941, which was definitely an immensely difficult time in history, with WWII looming on the horizon for the US, fear and tensions running rampant among everyone. I enjoyed how she brought this to life, filling the pages and my mind with the very real fear they faced along with the difficult decisions being made every day. Even though the trials they faced were many, I actually found this story a bit more light-hearted than her previous books. Perhaps because the characters aren’t constantly in the middle of the war, but are rather simply preparing to face the inevitable.

The story started out a bit slowly for me and it took me a few pages to get into it. Though once I did, I didn’t want to put it down. There is a mystery that continues throughout the story and I loved following Mary as she played the amateur sleuth, though with a bit more common sense than is often shown. I was left guessing until very close to the end who the culprit was and I loved the suspense of trying to keep up and figuring out who was guilty. It is actually pretty rare that I’m left wondering that long, so I definitely enjoyed that and must applaud Ms. Sundin for writing an excellent mystery.

Mary Stirling is the heroine of this book, and though I really liked her character, I didn’t connect with her quite as well as I would have hoped. She is quiet - though I wouldn’t call her timid - smart, lovely, and loyal. She is concerned with being prideful, to the point she avoids attention almost to the extreme. I loved watching her come out of her shell and realize that there is a difference between being prideful and conceited, and doing your best to shine for the Lord. And that is really what it came down to for her. She was so afraid of being prideful and making another horrible mistake, that she wasn’t using the talents she had been given. Honestly, I think the only thing I didn’t particularly care for about her, is that her reasoning for avoiding the spotlight seemed a bit childish. Once she got past that “excuse,” (for lack of a better word) I quickly fell in love with her. Seeing her finally step up and embrace her gifts was certainly a highlight of the story for me. Jim Avery is also an excellent character. He quickly came to life for me and I found myself cheering him on. As a lot of this book is set around a naval yard and boats in general, I loved the analogy used for both him and Mary. They both had to learn to move past fear and be bold, to turn their sails to the win and follow God’s directions. Jim is seen as strong and kind, with an easygoing demeanor. As he often says, he “floats” through life. While that’s okay, on one hand, on the other, he had to learn to take control of his future, to be brave and stand up. I enjoyed watching him learn what it takes to be a leader and that it’s okay to “make waves” in life, sometimes it’s even necessary.

Since both are fairly easygoing and try to do what they see is best, there are several misunderstandings that come between them, as a couple. Though I understood it, nearing the end, I just wanted them to sit down and discuss it, instead of assuming. In spite of this, I did enjoy their romance. I found it toned back a bit from some of her other books, though the current of it is definitely there. They are simply friends through most of the book, which made the progression of their relationship completely believable. The ending made me smile, though it was also sad, with the harbinger of things that would come.

I always appreciate the spiritual side of all of Sarah’s books. It is a very important part of the story and I really enjoyed how she incorporated it. She never came across as “preachy,” nor did it overwhelm the story. It simply flows throughout, with reminders here and there, sometimes a discussion, sometimes a verse. I liked the illustrations she used with the water and sailing. Much of the focus is on following God’s leading and not letting fear keep you from chasing what He has placed before you. I loved that reminder and watching the characters learn to apply it to their lives.

Overall, I loved this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys WWII fiction and mysteries!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my review!  I apologize for being so scarce around here lately.  I started a new job last month and have been occupied with it and everything that comes with learning a new position.  So, anyway.  I'll hopefully be back here more often, but I'm so scatterbrained right now, that I'm not sure when "soon" is going to be.
If you'd like to learn more about the book, or perhaps purchase a copy, links are below, as always. :)

Blessings,
Sarah


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My Review: Irish Meadows

Description:
Brianna and Colleen O'Leary know their Irish immigrant father expects them to marry well. Recently he's put even more pressure on them, insinuating that the very future of their Long Island horse farm, Irish Meadows, rests in their ability to land prosperous husbands. Both girls, however, have different visions for their futures.

Brianna, a quiet girl with a quick mind, dreams of attending college. Vivacious Colleen, meanwhile, is happy to marry--as long as her father's choice meets her exacting standards of the ideal groom. When former stable hand Gilbert Whelan returns from business school and distant relative Rylan Montgomery visits Long Island during his seminary training, the two men quickly complicate everyone's plans.

As the farm slips ever closer to ruin, James O'Leary grows more desperate. It will take every ounce of courage for both sisters to avoid being pawns in their father's machinations and instead follow their hearts. And even if they do, will they inevitably find their dreams too distant to reach?

 

About the Author:
Susan Anne Mason's debut historical novel, Irish Meadows, won the Fiction from the Heartland contest from the Mid-American Romance Authors Chapter of RWA. A member of ACFW, as well, she lives outside of Toronto, Ontario, with her husband and two children. She can be found online at www.susanannemason.com.






My Review: 3 stars
Irish Meadows is the first book in Susan Anne Mason’s, The Courage to Dream series. This is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Mason, so I had no idea what to expect. What I found satisfied, but didn’t go beyond that, as I always hope a book will. I didn’t “hate” this book, but it won’t be finding a place on my keeper shelf.

Ms. Mason does an excellent job with the descriptions and historical details, but I actually found them overwhelming after a while. In her desire to bring the story to life and color it with words, it ended up leaving me with a sense of bombardment. While I really appreciated her descriptive wording and the imagery it provided, I found myself skimming over the seemingly unnecessary words toward the end. The historical detail is wonderfully done and I appreciated the research time Ms. Mason put into making the story historically accurate, even going so far as to include a letter at the end, noting her discrepancies and the literary license she’d taken.

I have mixed emotions regarding the characters. This was an odd book for me, because I started out preferring one sister and then about half way through the story, I noticed that my affections had changed and I liked the other one better. That being said, I never really disliked either one. Both are interesting and well-rounded characters, though I rarely felt I connected with them. The story does come from Brianna’s perspective a little more often, but I actually found more depth in Colleen’s and felt I knew her better. I really liked both of the heroes. While very different characters, they both have all of the marks of great heroes. I honestly did have a preference, though I won’t share which, lest I affect your opinion before you read the book.

I’m sorry to say that I found the spiritual side of the story rather lacking. Though prayer is touted often and God appears a key component, I didn’t see much change in Brianna or Gilbert. Colleen is definitely the redemptive story here and I loved watching her grow and change. That being said, we didn’t actually witness much of the transformation. It was almost like flipping a switch, the way her behavior changed. And though prayer is the often recommended method of working through problems, there was a lack of follow through. They may pray about an issue, but then they handle it themselves, without considering the consequences or God’s will until much later. Which, truth be told, is probably what we all do. I just wanted to see some instances of faith in action, rather than simply talking about it.

The romance was interesting and wasn’t overwhelming, what with so many other things going on, but toward the end it simply felt drawn out. One couple had everything worked out (for the most part), but the other was still being pulled apart by slight misunderstandings. I found the lack of communication annoying and it definitely altered my opinion of that particular heroine. She seemed more and more self-centered and I found her very irritating. It was realistic for a while, but after about the fifth disagreement, it just became frustrating. I wanted someone to sit them down and tell them to work it out. I really wanted to skip the last twenty or so pages, but I had come so far, I didn’t want to give up then.

If I’m being completely honest, I have to admit that my biggest point of discord with this story is the fact that it reminded me of a series by one of my favorite authors and that comparison undoubtedly ruined me for loving the book. So, anything I comment on, please, take with a grain of salt. This story is actually very little like the others, but there were just enough similarities for it to catch my attention and bother me for most of the book. The authors have very different writing styles and even with the major differences, my mind kept going back and forth, making it very difficult for me to really get into the story. I’m not sure there’s anything Ms. Mason could’ve done differently so that I wouldn’t have had that problem, short of changing the entire book.

My parting opinion is this: I don’t regret the time I spent reading this book, though I am sorry I didn’t enjoy it more. I honestly doubt I will read the rest of this series, solely because of my comparison issue. I would recommend this book to those who love historical fiction and are looking for a unique read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

As always, thank you so much for taking the time to read my review!  I'm sorry it wasn't a positive one, as much as I hoped it would be.  If you'd like to look into it further, perhaps read some other reviews (I know it has many 5 star reviews), here are a few links.

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