On Distant Shores

Not quite five stars because I was feeling like slapping the hero upside the head Gibbs-style during multiple scenes of the book, and I also could have done without several scenes where he took his shirt off and his chest was described...His attitude was a big issue for me. It speaks to Sundin's writing ability that I felt his character so strongly, but...there you have it.

I loved Georgie, though! She has to learn how to stand up for herself and find the path God has for her in life. Not her mother's idea of it, or her fiance's preference. Just Georgie and God...and she's got to face losing everything she has ever known by stepping out to do what she is called and talented to do. Many authors could try a story arc like that and end up just writing a tale of a rebellious young woman. But Georgie's not rebellious. She is tender-hearted and I was easily rooting for her to find the strength to stand up and walk away from the people who want to be her conscience.

There is something about the way that [a:Sarah Sundin 2992396 Sarah Sundin https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1575438110p2/2992396.jpg] writes that really makes it difficult for me to put the book down even when life needs me to get up and do things and leave the world of 1943 on the Italian coast. It is extremely rare that I give EVERY book read by an author five stars, yet that keeps happening here. I still hold that [b:A Distant Melody 6633798 A Distant Melody (Wings of Glory, #1) Sarah Sundin https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1439522311l/6633798.SY75.jpg 6828190], #1 of the Wings of Glory series might be my favorite all-time read. This second series, Wings of the Nightingale is deeper in a way. Rather each character has a challenge to overcome and a place in themselves to find what God's will really is and to grow into it. The first book in this series, [b:With Every Letter 13459177 With Every Letter (Wings of the Nightingale, #1) Sarah Sundin https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1329949257l/13459177.SY75.jpg 18989249] did not grip me from the first page but grew on me and thrilled me to the end. However, [b:On Distant Shores 16117006 On Distant Shores (Wings of the Nightingale, #2) Sarah Sundin https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1351528362l/16117006.SY75.jpg 21934889] was entertaining and interesting through out. Georgie and Hutch are interesting characters and I found that their lives were intertwined in a great manner yet appropriate and respectful as events unfolded. It's hard to talk about it, without giving things away, but they have a great friendship... Seeing Mellie and Kay and the other characters come and go was interesting as I had gotten to know them in a different voice that translated well to the background of this novel from the first in the series. It was also interesting (and I'm quite fond) that this book was not a pick up from the last one, but started during the last one. So in a way there were bits of a flash back that were excellent to read from a different perspective and definitely to bring forth a reminder smile of Mellie's story of independence in finding who God wants her to be and romance. Absolutely for the keeper shelves, and I'm defintely looking forward to reading [b:In Perfect Time 18637152 In Perfect Time (Wings of the Nightingale, #3) Sarah Sundin https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1382736269l/18637152.SY75.jpg 25191392], the story about Lt. Kay Jobson. I feel like I got to know her best in With Every Letter, but the snippets of her in On Distant Shores makes me know she has an interesting story to tell both in the past, present, and might as well add the future to that as well. I received this product free for the purpose of reviewing it. I received no other compensation for this review. The opinions expressed in this review are my personal, honest opinions. Your experience may vary. Please read my full disclosure policy for more details.Find out more about Sarah and her visits to my blog: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/t...— Will be posted to CreativeMadnessMama.com and ChristianHistoricalFiction.com! — http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2014/08/30/on-distant-shores/info post: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2013/07/07/on-distant-shores-wings-of-the-nightingale-by-sarah-sundin/Coming Soon from the Pen Interview: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2013/08/08/sarah-sundin-2/