A Distant Melody - Book Review

Oh. My. Goodness! I finished Sarah Sundin's 'A Distant Melody' yesterday evening...and I adore it!  

I had pretty high hopes for this one, but I didn't expect it to be anywhere near as good as 'Through Waters Deep', one of my favorite books of 2015 so far.  Boy, was I wrong!  This book, was even BETTER than 'Through Waters Deep'.  And that's saying a lot! 

This book pulled me in from page one.  I could not put it down.  Sarah Sundin has the ability to make the reader feel as if they were really there, being drawn back into the 1940's, meeting the characters and watching them grow; sharing in their up's and down's, laughing with them during the happy moments, crying with them during the sad ones. 

The characters:  I fell in love with every single character in this book (well, excluding Baxter and Allie's parents)!  Allie, Walt, Frank, Cressie, even Cracker.  I do have to say that Jack is my favorite so far.  I absolutely fell in love with him! He's so sweet.  Allie is a good strong female protagonist, and Walt a strong male protagonist.  Sure, they both have their problems, but that makes them more human, and more believable.  If their is one thing I can't stand, it's a perfect fictional character.  

The story: The plot of this book is very strong.  There is a great balance of romance, and action.  The whole way through this book, I was flipping the pages, eager to find out what happens next.  I have to say I was kept on the edge of my seat throughout the entire novel.  There was a very exciting point in this book, when I was reading before bed, that I just kept telling myself 'Just one more chapter, then I will go to sleep.' But, I just couldn't go to bed not knowing what happens to Walt! 

Overall thoughts:  This novel was absolutely beautiful! I didn't plan on finishing it in three days, but it happened.  My expectations of the book were well surpassed, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series, if it would only hurry and arrive in the mail! On a scale of 1-10, I'm so rating this one 100.  Thank you to the author for providing me with an wonderful journey into  my favorite decade, and giving us a beautiful story! 

THROUGH WATERS DEEP by SARAH SUNDIN | REVIEW

Where do I start? Hmm...let's just say this became one of my new favorite books! I was expecting to like it, but not love it! 

If you want to know what the books is about, here's the blurb from the back of it:

War is coming. Can love carry them through the rough waters that lie ahead?
It is 1941 and America teeters on the brink of war. Handsome and outgoing naval officer Ensign Jim Avery escorts British convoys across the North Atlantic in a brand-new destroyer, the USS Atwood. On shore, Jim encounters Mary Stirling, a childhood friend who is now an astute and beautiful Boston Navy Yard secretary. 

When evidence of sabotage on the Atwood is discovered, 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.

This book was incredible.  The characters, the plot, the writing, and the time-period (for those of you who don't know, my favorite thing to read is books set in the 1940's).  Sarah Sundin has weaved together a tale with mystery, action, and romance in this delightful Pre-War novel.  

The characters:  The characters are something that I fell in love with.  I don't always connect or find myself wanting to get to know characters better, but in this book, I couldn't help but love them all, from Mary and Jim, to Avery and Quintessa.  They all have their special moments and their little quirks.  Mary I especially connected with.  She and I are so alike in so many different ways.  And I must admit, I couldn't help falling in love with brave Jim.  He's such a hero in so many different scenes throughout the book and my heart just melted over his valiant actions.  

The plot: The plot was wonderful.  A little mystery, a dash of action, and a lot of romance; this story has it all. I loved the case that Mary worked on throughout this book, with her handy little notebook and Jim (most of the time) by her side.  I must say, I never thought who the real culprit could be.  One minute all fingers were pointing to one man, and the next moment they were pointing to someone else.  It kept me coming back for more, wanting to help Mary solve the mystery.  

The writing: Sarah Sundin really has a way of pulling me into this one.  (Possibly because it's set in the Forties.)  She describes everything so well, and with great accuracy.  I thoroughly enjoyed her writing style.  

My rating: 5 out o 5 stars, definitely! I can't believe I have to wait another year for the second one. When i finished this book and thought of a years waiting, I was quite devastated.  I fell in love with these characters and their stories, and can't wait to find out where God leads them next.  This book has prompted me to buy the rest of Sarah Sundin's books, starting with 'The Wings of the Nightingale' trilogy.  So, I say, well done Mrs. Sundin, you gave me a new favorite book, and one that I'll not soon forget, and you've made a new fan!  

NOTE: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.  I was not asked to write a positive review.