The Sea Before Us by Sarah Sundin {book review}

Last week, I finished reading Sarah Sundin's The Sea Before Us, which leapfrogged In Perfect Time as my favorite Sundin book. Here's my review, as posted on Goodreads.

Wow…

Just… wow.

The whole story was brilliant. From a love triangle done right to deep faith journeys to familial estrangements and deaths to the fight for healing and reunion… all in the package of a WWII-era story... This novel really had it all.

And that finale! Goodness, I could gush… if I were willing to spoil the story.

But I’m not.

Just trust me: You will not regret reading this book when you experience the final few chapters, and particularly the final few paragraphs.

*happy sigh*

Characters Who Are... Chased!

Since October is often thought of for Halloween and scary movies, our reading challenge for the month will take on as much of a creepy vibe as you like. That can be little (or none) or much. It's truly up to you. The theme is...

The character could be in a car chase...

... or chased by a dog... 

... or chased by a stalker... 

Kind - a WWII Christmas story - by Kellyn Roth

Have I told you yet that I love a good WWII story? It's my favorite genre right now.

Recently, I had the pleasure of reading a delightful short story that highlighted the compassion of the era.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reveries Co. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts.

Here's the review I left on Goodreads:

A charming, quick story, Kind touched my heart with its thoughtfulness and depth. I love a great WWII tale, and this little shorty fit the bill nicely. The characters were realistic and the compassion, tangible. I adored the German setting and felt the Christmas spirit throughout. My emotions were swiftly drawn in with the witty banter and then swept up in the bustle of the Slade family’s trials. While I didn’t cry (this time, at least), I did get the good sort of chills, which is just as good as tears in my book.

Secrets She Kept by Cathy Gohlke

Continuing the WWII reading journey I've been on lately, I'm currently reading Saving Amelie by Cathy Gohlke. I'm halfway through it and really enjoying it, heartbreaking as it is. Since my review for that one isn't ready for you yet (I have to finish the book first!), I want to share my review of another of Ms. Gohlke's WWII novels. She is quickly becoming a new favorite author of mine for gut-wrenching historical fiction stories. I hope you'll give her a try next time you're in the mood for some wonderful WWII fiction.

Compassion in Nazi Germany

"I would rather die for something than live for nothing."
~ Secrets She Kept by Cathy Gohlke

Sacrifice. Selflessness. Compassion.

Do you see these things played out in today's society? They are difficult to find, I'll admit, but they are still there.

But were they around in Hitler's Germany?

The Melody of the Soul by Liz Tolsma + Giveaway!

Lately, I've been on a WWII reading kick. There are so many great books in this particular part of the historical fiction genre. One book I recently had the pleasure of reading was The Melody of the Soul by Liz Tolsma. It was my second of Ms. Tolsma's books, but it definitely won't be the last. She creates beautiful, detailed stories that make me weep and laugh and hope, sometimes all within the same scene.

Be sure to stay tuned through the end of the article, because there's a GIVEAWAY to celebrate the release of this book.

DISCLOSURE: I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, authors, and sites like Netgalley, Litfuse Publicity Group, and Blogging for Books. They do not require me to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Bravery in the Face of Fear

What a powerful, exquisite story. It was gripping, emotional, and heartrending. From the very first line, it was immersive and well expressed. The beautiful setting of Prague, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic and Slovakia), came alive with the inclusion of the Charles Bridge and other sights, sounds, and scents. The heartbreaking setting of Theresienstadt Concentration Camp also came alive with the stench, frailty of the inhabitants, and cruelty of the German guards. My heart squeezed every time one of the characters was in that place.

Remembering You by Tricia Goyer

by Andrea Renee Cox

Recently, I read a pretty amazing story that resonated well in my soul. It's one of the books I read for the TBR Extravaganza reading challenge I'm hosting this month. Today, I am sharing my review of this book with you.

Let me catch my breath! This book took me on quite the ride. From the magnificent landscapes to the stories of the WWII veterans to the roller coaster romance, Remembering You contained something special that will be hard to forget. Despite having a crude joke and one expletive (those inappropriate words really kill the momentum and mood of a story for me), this book is a new favorite for me, one I can see myself rereading many times over the coming years. The emotions were deep and complex, drawing me in completely and keeping me invested. The lead's journey to discover more about her grandfather while trying to save her job really intrigued me. The conflict within her about faith and what she believed about God and prayer really resonated well, though at times it felt a smidge flat, like there wasn't enough spiritual growth in the lead. I think the reason for that might have been in the subtlety of the faith message. Perhaps another reading will help me see more depth to that aspect of the story. The pacing was good, though a couple of "secrets" were given away with too large a hint, at least for me. One "secret" in particular didn't produce a single tear for me, a weeper, because I figured it out right when the first hint was given. That did cast a shadow over the "big reveal" for me, but it was still a great finale.

A Question of Honor by Jesseca Wheaton

by Andrea Renee Cox

DISCLOSURE: I received compensation for my honest review. Writing a positive review was NOT a requirement.

The heart of A Question of Honor was engaging, well expressed, and heartrending. While there were typos, inconsistencies, and factual and historical errors, this was a powerful, emotional story that easily gripped my soul. There is room for this author to grow in her craft, but she is already carving out space for her beautiful stories in the world of literature. I am eager to read more from her.

The way two different story lines came together was interesting. It was fun getting to know both sets of characters and their quirks, hopes, and challenges. Even more enjoyable was when their individual stories crashed together. It wasn’t always pretty – war’s an ugly thing, after all – but a thread of hope was the binding agent spreading to every page.

Be My Guest: Sarah Sundin

by Andrea Renee Cox

During last Christmas season, I read a book called Where Treetops Glisten (see my review of it here). I was thrilled about the book, since I had already read and loved books by Tricia Goyer and Cara Putman. But Sarah Sundin was a new author for me, and I had no idea what to expect. What I got in her piece of that book was quick wit, lovable characters, and a sweet story that hooked me for good. Over this year (2015), I have collected all of her books that are in print to this date (Half Price Books is amazing), and I look forward to reading them in succession soon. If you haven't read her WWII fiction, what are you waiting for?

I'm pleased to announce that Sarah Sundin is today's guest blogger. I hope you enjoy her article and make her feel welcome!

Work and Play

by Sarah Sundin

Pets amuse us, comfort us, exasperate us, and sometimes even inspire us.

The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristy Cambron and *GIVEAWAY*

by Andrea Renee Cox

Has a book ever swept you down a river of emotion and elegance? Was there beautiful despair tossed in?

The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristy Cambron not only took me down that river but sent me into an ocean of awe. The poignancy of the tale captured my interest from the first chapter and built layer upon layer of various emotions until I couldn't help but weep as I read.

Be My Guest: Cara Putman

by Andrea Renee Cox

Please welcome my friend Cara Putman to Writing to Inspire. You might remember that I greatly enjoyed her novel Shadowed by Grace (read my review here) last year. The writing tips she's sharing today have encouraged me, and I hope they encourage and inspire you as well.

Inspiration: 4 Steps for Finding It

by Cara Putman

Inspiration is that elusive muse that writers chase.

I currently have a legal romantic suspense proposal circulating with publishing houses that is a great example of how inspiration isn’t always something that finds you. Sometimes you have to seek it. I spent months thinking and praying about what issue might interest me enough to write and live with it for a couple years. Then I spent more months beating my head against a wall fleshing out the characters and plot. During all of this life was continuing. Writing, teaching, homeschooling, lawyering, and all the other details of life.

With 20 books written, one in process, and a few more dreamed up, here are four steps I’ve learned that help when inspiration is a bit hard to find.

Shadowed by Grace

By Andrea Renee Cox

A while back I won a copy of Cara Putman’s book Shadowed by Grace, and I had no idea  whether or not I’d like it. I’d never read anything by Cara before. The story sounded interesting, though, and I like discovering new-to-me authors, so I dove into it with an open mind. Boy, am I glad I did! What a treasure this book turned out to be.

Set in WWII, it tells the story of a photojournalist who travels to Italy to capture images of the war to help the folks back home really understand what it’s all about. Of course that isn’t the only reason she took on the job, but I can’t give away all her secrets. When she starts her journey, Rachel Justice wonders if she’ll ever be able to find peace in a time of war.

Throughout the chapters, I found myself completely immersed in the time period and setting. I’ve never been to Italy, but I sure felt like I was right there with Rachel. That’s when I realized I’d discovered a new favorite author. When history and the characters and the place really leap off the pages and come alive, that’s when I realize I’m falling in love with reading all over again.

One thing that really resonated with me was Rachel’s longing to “do something that matters.” I don’t know about you, but that’s what whispers through my heart too. I want to do something that matters. Something that not only will make a difference in the world, but something that really makes a difference in the spiritual sense. Furthering God’s kingdom. Advancing the Gospel. I’m not sure exactly what this something is yet, but I know God will reveal it to me in the right time. In the meantime, I’ll keep focusing on the tasks before me, which I’m sure are preparing me for whatever may come next.

Readers, what are you doing today that might make the difference for someone’s tomorrow? When has a book inspired you to make a positive change in your life?

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