In Perfect Time by Sarah Sundin, Book review and Giveaway Info

• Series: Wings of the Nightingale (Book 3)
• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Revell (August 5, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-0800720834
  Also available in KINDLE format

Synopsis:


Bold, sophisticated, and flirtatious, Army Air Force flight nurse Lt. Kay Jobson collects hearts wherever she flies, leaving men pining in airfields all across Europe. So how can ruggedly handsome C-47 pilot Lt. Roger Cooper be all but immune to her considerable charms? In fact, he seems to do everything he can to avoid her.

Still, as they cross the skies between Italy and southern France, evacuating the wounded and delivering paratroopers and supplies, every beat of their hearts draws them closer to where they don't want to go. Can they confront the fears and misunderstandings in their pasts?

Sarah Sundin seamlessly weaves together emotion, action, and sweet romance into a tale that transcends time and calls us to believe in the power of love.

(Photo source HERE)

My thoughts:

IN PERFECT TIME, Book 3 of the Wings of the Nightingale series written by Sarah Sundin was once again, everything I hoped for. There is no denying this talented Christian author knows her craft: she regularly offers her readers a beautiful story set in the tumultuous years of 
WW 2, highlighted with excellent research and heart warming characters. 

And once more, her male character will reach out to hearts all over the world with his solid charm, his insecurity and his deep yearning for making something of himself. Army Air Force Flight nurse Kay Jobson is part of those dreams, and a joy he will not allow himself to accept in his life until God shows him otherwise. 
In no time you realize C-47 pilot Lt. Roger Cooper needs His Heavenly Father now more than ever if he is to win this particular lady!

I found it delightful that Sarah manages to insert past characters in her stories leaving us to feel her story develops as in real life with all its ups and downs, so much more vivid since her novels are crafted against the WW 2 background, a time of much heightened emotions.

I never tire to read the latest offering of this talented storyteller who brings clean entertainment you will find yourself heartily recommending to friends and family without worries! 

5 Stars and thank you Sarah! You're the best!

Note: Her Waves Of Freedom series is coming up in Summer 2015. Watch for it!!



Meet the Author:

Sarah Sundin enjoys writing about the drama and romance of the World War II era. The Wings of the Nightingale series (With Every Letter, 2012, On Distant Shores, August 2013, and In Perfect Time, August 2014) follows three World War II flight nurses as they find love, friendship, and peril in the skies and on the shores of the Mediterranean. The Wings of Glory series (A Distant Melody, A Memory Between Us, and Blue Skies Tomorrow) follows three brothers who are B-17 bomber pilots during World War II.

Sarah also has one husband, three children, an antisocial cat, and a yellow lab bent on destroying her writing career. When she isn't driving kids to tennis and karate, she works on-call as a hospital pharmacist and teaches Sunday school and women's Bible studies. 

She belongs to American Christian Fiction Writers, Christian Authors Network, and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. In 2011 she received the Writer of the Year Award from the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. A Memory Between Us was a finalist in the Inspirational Readers Choice Awards and was featured on Booklist's Top Ten Inspirational Fiction List for 2010. 

Please visit Sarah's website at http://www.sarahsundin.com for additional information!

(Photo source HERE)

Transporting a mule on a C-47? Just read Sarah's novel to see what happened!

Landing page:

http://litfusegroup.com/author/ssundin

GIVEAWAY INFO:

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle HDX
• The Wings of the Nightingale Series (With Every Letter, On Distant Shores, and In Perfect Time)

Note: Giveaway ends on the 24th!

DON’T MISS A MOMENT OF THE FUN; ENTER TODAY AND BE SURE TO VISIT SARAH’S BLOG ON THE 25TH TO SEE IF YOU WON! (OR BETTER YET, SUBSCRIBE TO HER BLOG AND HAVE THE WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX!)

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from LITFUSE as part of it's promotion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own. 

The Butterfly And The Violin by Kristy Cambron, Book review (And Giveaway Info)

• Series: A Hidden Masterpiece Novel (Book 1)
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (July 8, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-1401690595
• Also available in KINDLE format

SYNOPSIS:

A mysterious painting breathes hope and beauty into the darkest corners of Auschwitz—and the loneliest hearts of Manhattan.

Manhattan art dealer Sera James watched her world crumble at the altar two years ago, and her heart is still fragile. Her desire for distraction reignites a passion for a mysterious portrait she first saw as a young girl—a painting of a young violinist with piercing blue eyes.

In her search for the painting, Sera crosses paths with William Hanover, the grandson of a wealthy California real estate mogul, who may be the key to uncovering the hidden masterpiece. Together, Sera and William slowly unravel the story behind the painting's subject: Austrian violinist Adele Von Bron.

A darling of the Austrian aristocracy, talented violinist, and daughter to a high-ranking member of the Third Reich, Adele risks everything when she begins smuggling Jews out of Vienna. In a heartbeat, her life of prosperity and privilege dissolves into a world of starvation and barbed wire.

As Sera untangles the secrets behind the painting, she finds beauty in the most unlikely of places: in the grim camps of Auschwitz and in the inner recesses of her own troubled heart.

(Photo source HERE)

Note to Readers: Additional information on the orchestras of the Holocaust (HERE)

My thoughts:

On one end, THE BUTTERFLY AND THE VIOLIN is an emotional tale of one young woman faced suddenly with the horrors of a concentration camp. 
Adele is Austrian by birth and a young prodigy in Vienna's society but when the war reveals its cruel side, she pledges to help those who are hunted despite the many risks. 

The daughter of a high ranking officer of the Reich, Adele has lived a sheltered life until she is caught and sentenced to Auschwitz for her crime. There she is just another prisoner, her exceptional musical talent put to the test as she is chosen to be a part of the camp's orchestra playing as new prisoners disembark from the daily convoys made of Jews, Gypsies, Romanies and political dissidents. Life suddenly depends entirely on her ability to play whilst others are 'selected'. 

Kristy Cambron does an excellent job in describing the tremendous emotional shock the young Adele suffers as she is thrown in the depth of despair, abandoned by her family in the aftermath of her betrayal, her life at the mercy of her brutal captors.

We now go forth to the second part of the story...An art dealer haunted by a portrait of blue eyed Adele she once saw when she was only 8 years old. 

Sera James' story interwoven in Adele's felt somewhat stale in comparison. I imagine the author aimed for a mystery based on the elusive portrait of Adele but the overall effect pales as the protagonists of the first outshines by far the second.
Perhaps the author's emotions were more involved in the WW 2 tale as shown in the bittersweet ending for "The Butterfly". It bespoke of hope in a world shadowed by the ashes of millions of souls.

Either way, it is only a matter of opinion and readers should take a moment to check this debut novel. 

Note: Divided as I was, I would give 5 stars for Adele's story but only 3 stars for Sera's thus I must settle for 4 stars!

Landing page:

http://litfusegroup.com/author/kcambron

Meet the Author:

Kristy Cambron has been fascinated with the WWII era since hearing her grandfather's stories of the war. She holds an art history degree from Indiana University and received the Outstanding Art History Student Award. Kristy writes WWII and Regency era fiction and has placed first in the 2013 NTRWA Great Expectations and 2012 FCRW Beacon contests, and is a 2013 Laurie finalist. 

Visit her website (HERE)

Kristy Cambron is running a GIVEAWAY on her website so here is the link for readers to get the opportunity to enter!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from LITFUSE as part of it's promotion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own. 

The Hatmaker's Heart by Carla Stewart, Book review

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: FaithWords (June 3, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-1455549948
• Also available in KINDLE format

SYNOPSIS:

For Nell Marchwold, bliss is seeing the transformation when someone gets a glimpse in the mirror while wearing one of her creations and feels beautiful. Nell has always strived to create hats that bring out a woman's best qualities. She knows she's fortunate to have landed a job as an apprentice designer at the prominent Oscar Fields Millinery in New York City. Yet when Nell's fresh designs begin to catch on, her boss holds her back from the limelight, claiming the stutter she's had since childhood reflects poorly on her and his salon.

But it seems Nell's gift won't be hidden by Oscar's efforts. Soon an up-and-coming fashion designer is seeking her out as a partner of his 1922 collection. The publicity leads to an opportunity for Nell to make hats in London for a royal wedding. 

There, she sees her childhood friend, Quentin, and an unexpected spark kindles between them. But thanks to her success, Oscar is determined to keep her. As her heart tugs in two directions, Nell must decide what she is willing to sacrifice for her dream, and what her dream truly is.

My thoughts:

Carla Stewart sets her latest novel in the fashionable world of the swinging 1920's of New York and London with the charming tale of an English millinery designer hoping to make a name for herself. 
Nell Marchworld is nothing but loveliness and knows how to bring the best in any woman with her creations. And what creations! Carla tempts us with descriptions of the lovely cloches women of all ages wore as they found their freedom!

Note to Readers: The mention of the royal wedding and hats in Carla' story reminded me of the lovely young woman we all remember as the Queen Mum (see photos above including her wedding day)!

When a wealthy patron notices her talent, Nell is well on her way to be a success but first she must convince her stingy boss to give her the opportunity she work so hard for and Oscar Fields is not soon to let his star designer have her own label. Could it be he has nefarious designs? 
Nell' stuttering in the meantime continues to be a challenge until she finds an elocutionist willing to find help her find the source of her speech problems. 

As always Carla brings us in her own sweet style steadfast heroes, a sweet romance, a mystery and a great cast of supporting characters. To follow her dreams Nell must first come to terms with who is villain and who is true... 

With its delightful front cover, this is a light hearted story of finding your heart amid deceptions and even temptations in the roaring twenties!
The Hatmaker's Heart is a little gem for you to discover!

4 Stars!

Landing page:

http://litfusegroup.com/author/cstewart

Meet the Author:

Carla Stewart's writing reflects her passion for times gone by. Carla launched her writing career in 2002 when she received the coveted invitation to attend the Guidepost's Writers Workshop in Rye, New York. Since then, her articles have appeared in Guideposts, Angels on Earth, Saddle Baron, and Blood and Thunder: Musings on the Art of Medicine.

Her debut novel, Chasing Lilacs, received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, was an Oklahoma Book Award Finalist, the trophy winner for the 2011 Best Fiction Book for Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. and received 2nd place honors in RWA's Inspirational Readers Choice Award for 2011. 

Carla loves to hear from readers and invites you to contact her and learn more about her writing at www.carlastewart.com.

Carla Stewart is hosting a Jazzy Hatmaker's Heart giveaway on her blog!

Stop by, say hello and be sure to enter!

Disclaimer:  I received a copy of this book from LITFUSE as part of the it's promotion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.