Sarah Sundin: Through Waters Deep

By Kelly Bridgewater

From Amazon

Back Cover Copy:

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.

Sarah Sundin takes readers to the tense months before the US entered WWII. Readers will encounter German U-boats and torpedoes, along with the explosive power of true love, in this hopeful and romantic story.

My Review: 

Being a huge fan of Sarah Sundin’s Wings of Glory and Wings of the Nightingale series, I couldn’t wait to jump right into the first book of her new series, Waves of Freedom. Sundin does not disappoint. I enjoy the historical research and setting with characters that I fell in love with. Through Waters Deep is another hit out of the park for Sundin.

Writing a historical novel is a lot of work. But Sundin does a great job at inviting me into 1941 that I feel like I’m on a Navy ship, manning the guns with the salty air teasing my nostrils even though I have never been on a ship in my entire life. I like how Sundin really gets down and dirty with the tension surrounding the United States before we entered World War II. Even though the story does develop during the tension before the Second World War, it really does not have any questionable content. Personally, I really never learned about all the conflict before. It was nice to learn something while taking this journey with Mary and Jim.

Speaking of Mary and Jim, I really liked getting to know Mary Stirling, the shy Boston Navy Yard Secretary who enjoys being invisible. Mary and Jim Avery, the Naval Officer, grew up together in Vermilion, Ohio, but Jim was fascinated with Quintessa, Mary’s friend instead of her. The tension between Mary and Jim stems from them not communicating with each other about their true feelings. Overall, I really enjoyed how Sundin allow the characters to have a second chance at a relationship and dilemma’s from their pasts, which affected their present situation. Sundin uses the book of Nehemiah to strengthen Jim and the other Navy soldiers. None of the spiritual content was overwhelming; it reinforced the characters’ decisions.

Through Waters Deep was Sundin’s first attempt at including a mystery in her historical romance. As an avid fan of mysteries, I believe Sundin did a good job. I followed the clues just like Mary did with her shorthand notes and tried to figure out who the saboteur was before Mary figured it out. I enjoy the mystery element and hope Sundin does another one.

I love how each of Sundin’s story begins during peace time where the couple gets to know each other and start falling in love. This allows me to get to know and understand each individual character at the same time. After they fully are enraptured with each other, Sundin sends him/her or both off to fight in the war where the battle for their love is mirrored by the fighting surrounding them. Sundin also draws me into the struggles, thoughts, and emotions of each character that by the time the book is finished, I feel like I’m losing contact with a couple of close friends. Makes me want to read the book again, which I will definitely do.

Through Waters Deep is an original and unpredictable story that will please fans of Kate Breslin, Liz Tolsma, Cara Putnam, Cathy Gohlke, and Melanie Dobson. I truly lost track of time as I embraced the romantic issues between Mary and Jim that mirrored the conflict in the Atlantic Ocean months before the bombing at Pearl Harbor.

Always thrilling, Sarah Sundin’s Through Waters Deep is a deeply moving story filled with a heart pounding mystery, memorable characters, and research so real it invited me to experience life in 1941.

I received an ARC copy of Sarah Sundin's Through Waters Deep from Revell Publishing and the opinions stated are all my own. 

From Amazon

Sarah Sundin's Writing Bio:  

Sarah Sundin enjoys writing about the drama and romance of the World War II era. She is the author of the upcoming Waves of Freedom series (Through Waters Deep, August 2015), the Wings of the Nightingale series (With Every Letter, 2012, On Distant Shores, August 2013, and In Perfect Time, 2014), and the Wings of Glory series (A Distant Melody, A Memory Between Us, and Blue Skies Tomorrow). 

A mother of three, Sundin lives in northern California. She works on-call as a hospital pharmacist and teaches Sunday school and women's Bible studies. She belongs to American Christian Fiction Writers, Christian Authors Network, and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. Her novel On Distant Shores was a double finalist for the 2014 Golden Scroll Awards. In 2011 she received the Writer of the Year Award from the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference.

Where to connect with Sarah Sundin:

Personal Website

Facebook

Where to purchase Through Waters Deep:

Amazon

Barnes and Nobles

Christianbook

Your Local Favorite Bookstore

What is your favorite aspect of Sarah Sundin's writing? Is it the romance? Characters? World War II history? 

Christy Barritt: Dust and Obey *GIVEAWAY*

By Kelly Bridgewater

From Amazon

Back Cover Copy:

When Gabby St. Claire’s ex-fiancé, Riley Thomas, asks for her help in investigating a possible murder at a couples’ retreat, she knows she should say no. She knows she should run far, far away from the danger of both being around Riley and the crime. 

But her nosy instincts and determination take precedent over her logic. At the retreat center she feels like she’s stepped into the pages of a creepy gothic novel: an isolated island that’s often foggy, an old lodge with a dark history, and a small pool of suspects who each have either motive, means, or opportunity for murder. When another life is threatened, the risk intensifies. 

Gabby and Riley must work together to find the killer. In the process, they have to confront demons from their past and deal with their present relationship. If they don’t learn to trust each other, they could both end up as fodder for the supposedly cursed island’s folklore. 

My Thoughts:

If you have read any of the Squeaky Clean series, then you know that you can’t put down them down. Christy Barritt has a way of grabbing you and not letting go. Right from the first page, I was thrown into the action, and the tension escalated from there. I was held captive as I flipped the pages waiting to see what troubles would find Gabby and Riley next. As Dust and Obey progressed, I started to fall more in love with Gabby and Riley, begging for their happily-ever after. Dust and Obey is the tenth book, well actually the eleventh, and I have loved every single one of them. You don’t have to read them in order. They are stand alone books because of the mystery hidden in the pages, but it helps to have some of the background played out in the past books to understand the emotions occurring between the different characters.

As a longtime fan of the Squeaky Clean series, I have seen the dilemmas and struggles that Gabby and Riley’s relationship has undergone. This book also brings more trouble to their relationship, but there is a happy ending for me.

I, personally, enjoy how Barritt captures Gabby’s train of thoughts and allows me to follow her emotional journey with her. This is Barritt’s greatest strength in her writing. I really feel like I am right there with Gabby as she decides between Riley and her forever peace.

As Barritt writes about sixty-four percent into Dust and Obey, “Murky history, dead bodies, and secret passages. What more could you want?” This sums up the conflict pouring off the pages of her latest mystery book. I truly loved Dust and Obey and recommend it to her fans, new and familiar, with all her books.

I received a complimentary copy of Dust and Obey from Christy Barritt and the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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Amanda G. Stevens: Take and Give

By Kelly Bridgewater

From Amazon

Back Cover Copy:

Austin Delvecchio has tried to use his Constabulary resources to track down his missing girlfriend Violet. He finds a stranger instead, held illegally and mistreated. Rescuing the man will make Austin's boss an enemy, but ignoring the situation will mean the man's death.

Lee Vaughn has lost the most important person in her life. She continues his work her way, providing black market medical assistance to Christians and allowing fugitive Violet to live with her. Then she learns what really happened to Marcus, and the danger following him leaves them all with only one option: to flee.

To make it to freedom, all four will have to rely on their traveling companions. But that's not easy when confronting past hurts, fear, and distrust.

My Thoughts:

I have read the first two books in this series by Amanda G. Stevens, and I couldn’t wait to get my hand on the third edition. Since I was familiar with the first two, I expected Stevens to completely engross me in the action on the page. Take and Give picked up where the second one, Found and Lost, left off. I jumped right into the action and allowed my imagination to carry back to this dystopian society where Christians are considered dangerous.

One of my favorite parts of Stevens’ books is the way she approaches the external and internal conflicts of each character. She does a great job at reaching down into the soul of each character and spilling their problems on to the pages. Lee has been a reoccurring character since the first book, Seek and Hide, but Stevens never approached the story from her perspective, but in Take and Give, Lee finally is allowed to have a voice. Boy, do I get a chance to learn and understand more about Lee. I empathize with her struggles about Marcus and God. It was heart-wrenching. The transformation of Lee and Austin is deeply impacting. While Stevens allows the conservation about God to flow from a number of external characters, it is never preachy and condemning to unbelievers. The discussions about God was the voice of reason. It allows even me, who has been a believer for twenty years, to ponder why I believe in God.

Like I already stated, the story picks up right where the second book left off. I returned to the story world without so much as a glitch in my imagination. I loved following Lee, Austin, Violet, and Marcus as they flee to Texas. The story does not drag at all. I anxiously turn the pages, waiting breathlessly for them to be caught by the Constabulary. The dialogue enhances the story with no repetitive jargon. I felt like I was there, hiding in the truck’s bed or in the church, listening to all their conversations.

The conflict is very internal. Each individual has to decide whether to believe the current government who spills lies about Christians and their plans to re-educate the citizens or follow the rebels to Christ, which could cost them their life. In the same vein, the romantic tension lies just below the surface for Austin and Lee. Austin wants to pursue a relationship with Violet while Lee, however, struggles with allowing Marcus fully into her heart.

Take and Give is an original and unpredictable book for fans of any age. There is no questionable content, and it would be a good discussion piece to start a discussion about why Christians should stand strong on their faith in every day circumstances. Take and Give is a great book to join the dystopian genre, but also, I believe fans of the popular Left Behind series would find this series enjoyable. I can’t wait to see if there is a fourth book!

A book for the masses, Amanda G. Stevens’ latest installment, Take and Give, is a thrilling story about what could happen in America if the government takes away the freedom to worship and serve God. I loved Stevens ability to confront the difficult ideas that keep a lot of naysayers away from following God. Her dystopian society is realistic and rememberable.

I received a complimentary copy of Take and Give from David C. Cook Publishing and the opinions stated are all my own. 

My Rating:  5 out of 5 stars

****This book is also on Booktalk where I am a regular reviewer.******

Thomas Locke: Trial Run

By Kelly Bridgewater

From Amazon

Back Cover Copy:

Reese Clawson's work is mind-bending--literally. Her company specializes in global data analysis for an elite group of industry executives, and now a lucrative government contract is moving her into the realm of cutting-edge intelligence gathering. She is determined to crack the limits of consciousness--and in doing so, the boundaries of secrets and lies. But her experiment crashes as test subjects slide into a coma-like state. Reese is left scrambling to maintain control, drawing three disparate people into the search for answers--an adrenaline-amped thrill junkie with altered brain chemistry, an Italian scientist working on remote-viewing technology, and a math prodigy whose algorithms subvert computer encryption.

Will this piecemeal team prevail when a government operative is sent to investigate? As the threads of perception and reality become tangled and even time itself twists in unexpected directions, one warning remains clear: what you don't know can kill you.

My Thoughts:

I really couldn’t wait to jump right in and read Thomas Locke’s new book Trial Run. I enjoy suspense and thriller books that feature a threat to our current way of living. I like learning new things when I read a book. I enjoy being taken on a ride that keeps getting worse and worse for the characters in the novel. Even though my opinion on this book is going against the flow, I still will state my opinion. I really did not like Trial Run.

This book would be good for fans of books with a lot of technical jargon and scientific theory. Trial Run has lots and lots of technical jargon. When I read an entire paragraph and had to scratch my head, wondering what Locke just had the character reveal to me, I get confused. It is hard as a reader to not understand what the characters are doing and talking about.

In the beginning of the book, many different characters came on board, and I really saw no connection between any of them. After a while, I became confused with what was happening in the story. What does Charlie and Gabriella’s story have to do with Dor Jen? What about the two college students, Trent and Shane? It was hard to feel connected to any of the characters.

There really is no action or conflict occurring on the page. I don’t know if this is because I really had no idea what the technical jargon meant, so I was confused, making this story hard to follow. While there appeared to be something sinister happening below the scene with the ascents, I really never felt any internal or external conflict in the characters or surrounding the characters.

Trial Run was really hard for me to keep reading. I did give up around page 200 and flip to the ending. Even the ending wasn’t satisfactory to me. As someone who adores suspense and thriller books, this one definitely did nothing for me. I wouldn’t recommend it anyone. I kept coming up with different books to read while avoiding going back to this book. I picked it up four different times and read about fifty pages, then sat it down before picking it up another book that captured my attention.

While the plot did nothing for me, the writing was good. Locke does have a good handle of how a book should be written with an even amount of dialogue and prose. Each dialogue from each character was different. I had no trouble distinguishing between each individual character.

I received a complimentary copy from Revell Publishing and the opinions stated are all my own. 

Judith Miller: The Potter’s Lady *GIVEAWAY*

By Kelly Bridgewater

From Amazon

Back Cover Copy:

When Rose McKay convinces her brother, Ewan, to invest in a pottery business, she's determined to assist him in making the venture a success. Having just graduated from the Philadelphia School of Design for Women, she believes she can design pieces that will sell well. In her efforts to help the pottery flourish, Rose reconnects with Joshua Harkness, who oversees his own family's pottery works in a nearby town.

Rylan Campbell has never liked change, but the new owners of the pottery seem to be the decent sort. He just wishes Rose wouldn't insist on cleaning and moving everything. But when McKay Pottery starts losing business to the Harkness company, Rylan realizes Joshua might be taking advantage of Rose.

Then Franklin Hotels announces a design contest. Winning the Franklin contract would be exactly the boost McKay Pottery needs, so Rose and Rylan work closely together to create something magnificent. With Joshua's company as their main competition, can Rylan convince Rose her trust in Joshua may be misplaced?

My Thoughts:

I have enjoyed Judith Miller’s Postcards from Pullman’s series, so I thought I would give Judith Miller another chance. I am glad I did. Miller’s latest release, The Potter’s Lady, is a different and unique historical romance.

I really enjoy how in the four books that I have read of Millers all of the heroine are strong characters. Even during the historical time period when women weren’t shined or allowed to blossomed, Miller allows her women characters to be educated and have a voice in a changing world. This makes her heroines come to life for me. I enjoy reading about strong women who want to change the world around them for the better. This time around was no exception. Rose is a woman who has a strong eye for art and design but believes in the education of all and a cleaner working environment.

Miller does a great job at bringing the historical period of 1872 to life. I really felt like I was roaming the pottery and missing the train as it crossed the railroad tracks through town. Miller captures the emotions and  hurts of the society and brings it to life in my imagination. Miller is a master at using her research to tell a story, not bore her readers with annoying facts. Instead she allows me to take a journey through history with her characters.

I don’t blame Miller for this, but the only problem I had was with the nanny. I don’t know if it is because I just finished a book with the same issue for the servant. I think it is. Recently, I just finished another book where the servant was being bribed by someone with power through money, prestige, and a chance at a better lifestyle for gossip about the family she worked for. It felt like I was reading the same thing again. I think it has become a trend among historical fiction writers.

I believe fans of historical fiction would enjoy this book and love learning more about the horrible working conditions in factories in 1872.

I received a complimentary copy of The Potter’s Lady from Bethany House Publishers and the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Kate Breslin: Not by Sight

By Kelly Bridgewater

From Amazon

Back Cover Copy:

With Britain caught up in WWI, Jack Benningham, heir to the Earl of Stonebrooke, has declared himself a conscientious objector. Instead, he secretly works for the Crown by tracking down German spies on British soil, his wild reputation and society status serving as a foolproof cover.

Blinded by patriotism and concern for her brother on the front lines, wealthy suffragette Grace Mabry will do whatever it takes to assist her country's cause. When she sneaks into a posh London masquerade ball to hand out white feathers of cowardice, she never imagines the chain of events she'll set off when she hands a feather to Jack. 

And neither of them could anticipate the extent of the danger and betrayal that follows them--or the faith they'll need to maintain hope.

My Thoughts:

Kate Breslin and I met last September at the 2014 ACFW conference. After spending time with Jewess aka Stella and Aric in For Such a Time, I couldn’t wait to read more of Breslin’s writing. When I found out she was writing another book, I jumped at the chance and contacted her, asking to read an ARC copy of Not by Sight. She agreed.  Not by Sight is an impressive historical romance by one of my favorite writers. I think it is because I connect instantly with the characters.

I really enjoyed getting to know Jack Benningham, a wealthy man who first comes onto the scene as a playboy and a gambler. But three months later, I met a totally different guy. He was humbled with less hubris leading his choices. Now Jack was blind with scars on his face. Throughout the book, I watched Jack change and transform, not only physically, but also spiritually.

As for Grace Mabry, when we first encounter her, she was a woman who wants to shame the men who weren’t fighting. Three months later, she was a very strong heroine who I related to instantly and liked. She fought for women who worked with the Women’s Forage Corps (WFC) and wanted more with their lives.

Breslin’s use of imagery and descriptive language welcomed me into Jack and Grace’s world. I smelt the roses in Jack’s garden. I imagined the hay, laying down waiting to be picked. I imagined the dirt and sweat rolling across Grace’s body after she spent a day unsuccessfully digging a trench. Jack’s estate came alive in my imagination. I felt like I have left the twentieth-century and moved into the conflict of the early nineteenth century.

The historical detail is top-notch and really brought the historical period to life in my imagination. I learned a lot about the treason that went on behind the line during the 1917’s and the fight for women’s equal rights. I enjoyed how Breslin included a mystery surrounding Grace’s father who was accused of being a traitor. This captured my attention, and I couldn’t wait to see the resolution.

The romance was sizzling. Beauty and the Beast is my all-time favorite Disney movie because of Belle’s ability to look past Beast’s outer appearance and discover his true personality. Breslin fashioned a classic romance with Grace and Jack, tugging at my heart along the way. Every time Grace would drive Jack around town, Grace would find another reason to fall a little more in love with this scarred and damaged man beside her. Likewise, Jack learned that someone could love him, no matter what his scars looked like. Their romance was sigh-worthy, and I prayed for their happily-ever-after together.

At times, I had a hard time believing that Grace could be so perfect and polite to everyone, even Clare who treated her badly at their first encounter. But her personality did not stop me from loving Breslin’s heroine.

In literary fashion, Kate Breslin’s Not by Sight gave me a glimpse into the world of World War I with treason and women suffrage, while creating a romance that reminded me a lot of classic literature’s Beauty and the Beast and Phantom of the Opera. I will definitely recommending Not by Sight to fans of classic romance novels and good literature.

My Rating:  5 out of 5 stars

Forever Yours: A Review

By Kelly Bridgewater



Back Cover Copy: 

Enjoy the rollercoaster ride five modern couples take on the road that leads them back into a love that was meant to be. The ex-wife reads his work of fiction for an eye-opening revelation. The missing fiancée is returned to her home. A desperate wife gets one last Christmas with her husband before they divorce. The busy housewife wakes up to the drift occurring in her marriage. The low-key mom suddenly encounters her son’s high-profile dad.

My Thoughts: 
Forever Yours is a nine hundred page book, so I couldn't wait to get lost in some of the stories and spend a lot of time there. This book's cover was beautiful with the husband and wife on the cover looking toward the title in their wedding attire as the day ends. 

Each individual story does allow each couple to show the struggles that normal married couples go through. While most stories like to make marriage look like a piece of cake with no true dilemma. These stories did a good job at allowing the fairy tale endings to appear more realistic. I truly enjoy that part of the stories. Also, I enjoy the idea of second chances for individuals. It is such a strong cord in who I am, so I loved that idea for the stories. 

The writing of each author is top notch and made me feel like I was really there, experiencing the dilemma that each character has been facing. I understood the individual thoughts, struggles, and emotions. The setting and point of view were top notch. Like I would expect from these individual authors. 

I wish some of the stories were longer, so I could spend more time with the characters. I felt like I got dropped in the middle of their struggles and didn't really get to spend a lot of time knowing each individual character. It would have been nice to see them more developed. 

I received a complimentary copy of Forever Yours from Barbour Publishing through Netgalley and the opinions stated are all my own. 

Why do you enjoy reading a collection of novellas?