Nancy Drew meets WWII -- Through Waters Deep

I have enjoyed each of Sarah Sundin's WWII novels that I have had the chance to read -- but Through Waters Deep is definitely my favorite.

As always, Sarah provides credible WWII descriptions and details in a way that provides a history lesson in the wrappings of an intriguing story.  In this story, she masterfully weaves together elements that are romantic, suspenseful, dangerous, serious, and fun.  Her characters are sometimes transparent and simple and oftentimes complex.  Many twists and turns along the way help maintain an exciting pace.

If you enjoy a good "who-dun-it" with a taste of Nancy Drew, if you are a sucker for a great love story whose outcome you can't be sure of until the very end, or if you appreciate well-written authentic WWII history, Through Waters Deep is a great choice for you.

Thanks to Litfuse Publicity Group for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

See what other readers think about Through Waters Deep here.

About the Book:

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.

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.

Find Sarah online: website, Facebook, Twitter

Hope and perseverance -- Hope Harbor

Hope Harbor -- the very title of Irene Hannon's latest novel offers the promise of something great.  And that promise is beautifully fulfilled in this awesome story by one of Christian fiction's most talented writers.  Hope Harbor is an awesome story on so many different levels.  It is a story of unexpected -- maybe even uninvited -- romance.  It is a story of determination and perseverance in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.  And it is a story of great loss and great potential for restoration and reconciliation.

Irene fills her narrative with interesting characters -- some of whom are just a little quirky -- who definitely drive the story.  Tracy and Michael each have their own complex stories which provide the main plot of the book.  Anna is tremendously interesting to get to know, and Charley (and his taco truck business) provides his own unique perspective.  Also, Irene's picturesque description of Hope Harbor easily transports you to this enchanting locale.

I highly recommend Hope Harbor to fans of great contemporary Christian fiction.  Thanks to Revell Books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book:

Come home to Hope Harbor--where hearts heal . . . and love blooms.

 Tracy Campbell never wanted to leave Hope Harbor, Oregon, or the idyllic three-generation cranberry farm where she grew up. But life--and love--altered her plans. Now she's home again--with a floundering farm to run . . . a tragic secret . . . and a wounded heart. Romance is not on her agenda. Nor is it on Michael Hunter's. The visitor from Chicago has daunting secrets and devastating regrets of his own. But when Tracy recruits him to help with a project that is close to her heart, winds of change begin to sweep through Hope Harbor, bringing healing, hope, and love to countless lives--including their own.

About the Author:

Irene Hannon is the bestselling author of more than forty-five novels, including That Certain Summer, One Perfect Spring, and the Heroes of Quantico, Guardians of Justice, and Private Justice series. Her books have been honored with two coveted RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, a Carol Award, three HOLT Medallions, a Daphne du Maurier Award, two Reviewers' Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews magazine, a Retailers' Choice Award, a Booksellers' Best Award, and a National Readers' Choice Award. In addition, she is a two-time Christy Award finalist, and Booklist included one of her novels in its "Top 10 Inspirational Fiction" list for 2011. She lives in Missouri. Learn more at www.irenehannon.com.