Lately it seems every time I have a book review due, the week before gets extremely busy and this time was no exception. It’s not like I intentionally plan to have a ton of work due at the same time as my book review or that I procrastinate, I love reading. I tend to wait because I write a better review the fresher it is in my mind. I have tried reading as soon as I get a book, writing a notes or a rough draft but going back to re-write it is never the same as having just experienced a good book and the wide range of emotions it takes me through and writing the review at the same time. Regardless of my full schedule this week, With Every Letter was so worth my time, With Every Letter, written by Sarah Sundin. To be frank, I’ve enjoyed all the books I have read by Sarah.
This book is a historical romance, but there are so many things I could relate to in it. You know how when you listen to a song and it can take you to a place you haven’t thought of in years? This book had that affect on me.
Set during World War II, this story is about flight nurses and their service to injured service men. For me there was so much depth to this story. The resistance the nurses faced by being women on the field, having to get along with those in your division, the orders you had to obey, the fight for position and rank – I don’t understand why anyone would want to go into the service, but admire those who do and am very grateful for those who have literally gave their lives for the freedoms we enjoy. My grandfather was a pilot during World War II. I am grateful he made it back alive and I had the privilege of knowing him. I just wish I had been interested in that part of his life to ask him about it.
Back to the book…
The main character Lieutenant Mellie (short for Philomela) is a flight nurse. She considers herself different and finds it hard to make friends with the other nurses she’s around every day. I just think she found it hard to trust people after what her mother did to her and her father. There have been things in my life that have caused me to be very UNtrusting.
Friendships are a huge part of life and many of the characters in With Every Letter Written learn that intimate relationships open the heart to hurt, but the key to maintaining those close relationships is mercy, love, forgiveness and restoration. If you are like me some of those steps are harder than others, even when you know the right thing to do.
Mellie is given the opportunity to pen-pal with a service man stationed overseas whose name is Lt. Tom MacGillver. After initially baulking at the idea, she begins her correspondence which turns out to be just what she and the service man needed. Did you know that is essentially how my husband and I got to know each other – via letters? We met at college but I was only there for a semester (a God ordained meeting, if you ask me 
)and we met over half way through so we were just starting to get to know each other when I had to leave. Reading Mellie and Tom’s story brought a wide range of emotions and memories back. It’s hard to get to know someone via letters, UNLESS both people are completely open and honest. I loved their story and didn’t feel it was a stretch of the imagination for the time setting of the storyline or for today because I believe long distance relationships can and do work, if both people believe in the relationship and commit to it. Definitely not for the needy or fainthearted as it does take a lot of time and work. Just as if you were together in person.
I loved the ending. While I had predicted what the ultimate outcome would be I loved the clever way it happened.
Two thumbs up for a heartwarming, emotionally evoking book that made me fall in love with Mellie, Tom and their friends. I loved their characters, grit and courage in the face of many different obstacles, including a war. It’s so hard when a good book ends….sniff, sniff.
“Available September 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”
Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.
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Posted by html404 on September 24, 2011
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Since finishing at Mrs. A’s farm I have had to catch up on some reading….pretty quickly I might add!
Sarah Sundin has a way of making her “historical romance” novels more than just an ordinary romance. Blue Skies Tomorrow was a story of intrigue – I love the fighter pilot adventures! This book was not only about adventure and intrigue, it contained a message of hope, deliverance and healing as well.
Anyone in a”dating” relationship should read this story as it deals with the all important reminder of getting to know the person you are interested in really well before you head to the alter. Amid the reminder is the poignant struggle of how we can grow to show grace beyond our humanness…with God’s help, of course.
Blue Skies Tomorrow was an enjoyable break from the every day happenings of life, like watching a movie is for some people. Now, I need to get back to real life and all the other work waiting for me!
Thanks Sarah for sharing a novel that show not only the battle between nations but those of the human spirit as well.
Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.
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Posted by html404 on October 2, 2010
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Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.
A Memory Between Us is the second book in the Wings of Glory series, which follows the three Novak brothers, B-17 bomber pilots with the US Eighth Air Force stationed in England during World War II.
As with the first book in the Wings of Glory series, Sarah Sundin, does a wonderful job of intertwining a love story with the historical job of B-17 pilots during the second World War. Only this time she tells the story of a war nurse as well.
Ruth Doherty is a female character with whom many women might just relate to more than they’d care to admit. Ever swear off men at some point in your life? Whether silently or outwardly? Yeah, me too, back in my college days. Well, Ruth is a woman that had plenty of reason to do so and had to learn to trust again.
Like any relationship, trust only comes when a person feels safe and loved for who they are. Ruth had to first deal with her past before she could open up and fully trust again.
I love Ruth for her desire to support her siblings and for her bravery, but I think she hid behind her responsibility.
Jack was the male lead in this book and he was gentleman, but somehow let his pride trip him up. Our pride is an ugly thing especially when it leads us to think we are better than others. In Jack’s case, his pride got in the way of his work and relationships.
You will laugh and cry in this historical romance as it reveals a journey of two people as they allow God to change their old ways to make room for the blossoming new ones.
“Available September 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”
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Posted by html404 on April 9, 2010
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Giveaways
THE PRIZE:
The Winner of the ‘NETFLIX® & Nostalgia’ giveaway will receive a vintage prize package, including:
*A 6 month NETFLIX® subscription
*$25 Starbucks® gift card
*A box of See’s Famous Old Time Chocolates®
*A jar of homemade strawberry jam
*A Big Band music CD
*A Mini B-17 Model airplane
*Vintage stationery and pen
*British specialty tea
*WWII style playing cards
For more information just click on the icon above! Contest will run April 5th and run through April 25th!
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Posted by html404 on March 14, 2010
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I received the following book free in exchange for writing a review. While I consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, my review is my honest opinion and thoughts of the book.
A Distant Melody was written by Sarah Sundin, a new and upcoming authoress. After I finished the book, I couldn’t help but compare her to one of my all-time favorite Christian fiction authors, Lori Wick. A Distant Melody engaged me; I didn’t want to put the book down and even declined free pancakes at IHOP on National Pancake Day to stay home to finish it. It is over 400 pages long and I finished it in record time – I didn’t even pull an all-nighter to keep reading.
A Distant Melody is a a heartwarming-heartwrenching story set in the time of World War II. Mrs. Sundin’s detail and research of B-14s had me asking my husband questions about them so I could see if I was picturing correctly how the crew operated.
You know a story is good when the characters come alive to you. After all, that is a huge part of what makes a book a great book. I am already looking forward to the second book.
One thing I will say is that it was pretty predictable in some parts, but other parts had me on my seat – obviously, since I couldn’t put it down. And that’s not to say that there weren’t little things that I didn’t agree with or that could have been left out; there were and I know that most would argue that these “little” things were in keeping with the time of World War II. To that I say, “To each his own.”
“Available March 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”
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is available for purchase wherever fine books are sold. From the English countryside to the perilous skies over France, A Memory Between Us takes you on a journey through love, forgiveness, and sacrifice.
