Blog tour stop for A Distant Melody by Sarah Sundin with bonus review!

A Distant Melody

by Sarah Sundin

ISBN: 978-0-8007-3421-3

$14.99; March 2010

About the Author:

Sarah Sundin is an on-call hospital pharmacist and holds a BS in chemistry from UCLA and a doctorate in pharmacy from UC San Francisco. Her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force in England during WWII. Sarah lives in California with her husband and three children. This is her first novel.

Endorsements
"Sarah Sundin is an extraordinarily gifted storyteller who puts the reader in the cockpit of B-17 bombers as easily as she crafts an achingly emotional World War II romance. This is not only the best World War II love story I've ever read, but it may be the best book I've ever read."

— Cheryl Bolen, Holt Medallion Winner, Best Historical

"I loved A Distant Melody! Sarah Sundin is a master at lyrical writing, and she has that rare talent of being able to combine humor with heart-pounding action. I couldn't stop turning the pages, and I don't think I'll ever forget Sarah's compelling characters or their poignant story about honesty, redemption, and grace."
— Melanie Dobson, author of Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana and Refuge on Crescent Hill

For more information, visit www.RevellBooks.com.

About the Book:

Never pretty enough to please her gorgeous mother, Allie will do anything to gain her approval--even marry a man she doesn't love. Lt. Walter Novak--fearless in the cockpit but hopeless with women--takes his last furlough at home in California before being shipped overseas. Walt and Allie meet at a wedding and their love of music draws them together, prompting them to begin a correspondence that will change their lives. As letters fly between Walt's muddy bomber base in England and Allie's mansion in an orange grove, their friendship binds them together. But can they untangle the secrets, commitments, and expectations that keep them apart? A Distant Melody is the first 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.

My review:

Wow, wow, wow! As the characters in this book would say, "What a swell read!" I am a big fan of WWII fiction and could actually hear the characters talking as I read this book. It made me think of the old movies set in that era. I felt like I was living within the pages because the setting was so well done. While this was a thick novel, don't let it deceive you. I zipped right through it in a few days. I can't stand it when books drag on forever and this one didn't slow or lag at all. It was the perfect length and just the right amount of tension and action to keep the plot interesting and moving along.

The love story in this book was also highly addictive. While not edgy at all, I was desperately wanting them to kiss and be together so they could experience true love with each other. I think I was pining for them even more than they were! I loved that the author knew how to put her characters through the wringer enough where you could really empathize with them and their conflicts. And if there was ever a story that illustrated the consequences of lying--no matter how small those lies seem--this was the best example I've found with that message in years. Their love for the Lord was key to the storyline, too, and I loved how the author pulled those truths together through the plot to show how important it is to marry someone who believes in Christ when you are a Christian.

Did I mention how much I love reading WWII fiction? I had a blast flying with these flyboys and participating in their dangerous missions. I really had a keen sense of being on a bomber and all that was involved in flying during WWII. I loved how the authors showed the tragedy of combat, but also that even the enemy is human, like in the scene where the enemy read the Scripture on their damaged plane and spared them due to a mutual appreciation for Christian faith. The lesson about obedience and sacrifice was priceless, too.

This was a wonderful, wonderful story with many nuggets of truth that the reader can glean from the storyline. I can't say enough good things about this book!

Thank you Revell for sending me a copy of this book to review for the tour!