Sarah Sundin's On Distant Shores ~ Reviewed

ON DISTANT SHORES
Sarah Sundin
Series: Waves of Freedom (Book 1)
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Revell (August 4, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800723422

Description:

War is coming. Can love carry them through the rough waters that lie ahead?
It is 1941 and America teeters on the brink of war. Handsome and outgoing naval officer Ensign Jim Avery escorts British convoys across the North Atlantic in a brand-new destroyer, the USS Atwood. On shore, Jim encounters Mary Stirling, a childhood friend who is now an astute and beautiful Boston Navy Yard secretary. 

When evidence of sabotage on the Atwood is discovered, 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.

Review: 

On Distant Shores is about Georgiana Taylor, a young flight nurse in World War II. She left a comfortable home and a loving fiance to serve her country, against the wishes of both her family and her fiance. John Hutchinson is a 2^ndgeneration pharmacist who has enlisted to help his country, but finds that he is the low man on the totem pole, and neither him nor his profession receives the respect he feels he deserves. John and Georgiana meet, and while there is an instant chemistry, they both have someone waiting for them back home, and they are determined to be faithful. Throughout the war, they endure some very trying difficulties, not only due to the circumstances of the war, but due to ways in which the lives they left back home in the states are changing.

I really had a hard time putting this book down. It was so interesting to me. I love history, and haven't read a lot of books during this time period, but I thought it was very well done, not only the characters, but the historical aspect of it. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Jocelyn Green's Yankee in Atlanta ~ Reviewed

YANKEE IN ATLANTA 
Jocelyn Green
Pages 320 
Binding Softcover 
Release Date Jul 1, 2014
Publisher Moody Publishing
Series Heroines Behind The Lines
Series Number 3
ISBN 0802405789




Description

When soldier Caitlin McKae woke up in Atlanta after being wounded in battle, the Georgian doctor who treated her believed Caitlin's only secret was that she had been fighting for the Confederacy disguised as a man. In order to avoid arrest or worse, Caitlin hides her true identity and makes a new life for herself in Atlanta.

Trained as a teacher, she accepts a job as a governess to the daughter of Noah Becker, a German immigrant lawyer, who is about to enlist with the Rebel army. Then in the spring of 1864, Sherman's troops edge closer to Atlanta. Caitlin tries to escape north with the girl, but is arrested on charges of being a spy. Will honor dictate that Caitlin follow the rules, or love demand that she break them?

Review:

Yankee In Atlanta is Book 3 in the “Heroines Behind the Lines, Civil War” series.  This book follows Caitlin McKae.  She disguises herself as a man and enlist in the Union Army, only to end up fighting with the Confederate Army as a spy.  After being wounded, she wakes up in an Atlanta hospital, and her secret is out.  Unable to go back home to the North due to the war, she becomes a teacher in Atlanta.  When the school closes due to the war, she finds herself a job as a governess for a fellow teacher, Noah Becker, when he decides to enlist to fight for his home.  Caitlin quickly falls in love with his little girl, Ana, and, surprisingly enough, begins to care for Noah, even though he’s away….and the feelings are mutual.  In the meantime, we also learn more about Ruby O’Flannery, whom we were introduced to in book 2.  She has a job as a domestic, but begins to care for a young clergyman, Edward.  The feelings are mutual, however, Ruby is haunted by her past, even though she now knows Jesus and knows her sins have been washed away.      

                

I was so excited to get this book.  I loved the other two in this series and was not disappointed.  I loved how it tied in the characters from book 2, and even brought in a bit about the characters in book 1.  I had a hard time putting it down.  I really admired Caitlin’s character.  She went through so much, yet stayed strong.  And watching Ruby and Edward’s relationship grow was bittersweet as well.  This was a WONDERFUL book.  You won’t be disappointed.

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers