Review of The Blackout Book Club by Amy Lynn Green

 

About the Book ~

In 1942, an impulsive promise to her brother before he goes off to the European front puts Avis Montgomery in the unlikely position of head librarian in small-town Maine. Though she has never been much of a reader, when wartime needs threaten to close the library, she invents a book club to keep its doors open. The women she convinces to attend the first meeting couldn't be more different--a wealthy spinster determined to aid the war effort, an exhausted mother looking for a fresh start, and a determined young war worker.

At first, the struggles of the home front are all the club members have in common, but over time, the books they choose become more than an escape from the hardships of life and the fear of the U-boat battles that rage just past their shores. As the women face personal challenges and band together in the face of danger, they find they have more in common than they think. But when their growing friendships are tested by secrets of the past and present, they must decide whether depending on each other is worth the cost.

For more information about Amy Lynn Green and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

Looking for a book that could take care of all the book club selections you could want for the next year? The Blackout Book Club by Amy Lynn Green is THE book for book clubs, and one that features an unlikely book club to boot!

I thoroughly enjoyed The Blackout Book Club by Amy Lynn Green! Seriously, a book club would have a BLAST reading all the novels mentioned as they read The Blackout Book Club! The setting was invigorating, the forgotten history was delightful, and the characters were fun and quippy! It gave me vintage meets Gilmore Girls vibes. There was even a twist I didn't see coming. In hindsight, I could see the crafty breadcrumb trail, but it was just subtle enough that the twist still took me by surprise and had me flipping back the pages as I exclaimed, "Wait -- what?!" It was very well done, and I tip my pen to the author. I did feel like the trauma that comes from intimate betrayal wasn't adequately addressed in one character's storyline; however, the fears confronted, and the resulting personal growth still proved to be deeply moving while not wrapping things up in an unrealistic, everything-is-perfect bow. Best of all, the power of a good story was on full display as it united, convicted, soothed, and healed the characters. 'Twas a love letter to every story that's ever been a bookish balm to a reader's soul!

While not overt, each faith journey was different and unique. You saw the way each woman related to God as they navigated their respective struggles. Instead of an overarching spiritual theme, the author gave four different relationships with a God who called each of them by name. I liked this approach, and it worked well with the story. 

Four Stars ~ The Blackout Book Club by Amy Lynn Green was a fun and fresh read that pays homage to one of life's greatest joys -- the power of story! The Blackout Book Club is a standalone story, but the author has other books in her backlist for readers to enjoy!

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an avid blogger. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and take flowery photos for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable little girls. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

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Review of With Love, Wherever You Are by Dandi Daley Mackall

From the Back Cover:

Everyone knows that war romances never last...

Nurse Helen Eberhart approaches everything in life with pure determination. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Helen decides to enlist as an Army nurse. There, her grit is put to the test when she's assigned to care for the broken bodies of some of the most severely wounded soldiers, many no older than her own beloved brothers.

Frank Daley wasn't trying to be a hero. He'd only enlisted to finish medical school, confident that the war would be over before his deferment ran out. Instead Lt. Frank R. Daley, MD, is sent straight from his graduation to boot camp, the last stop before a battlefield hospital in Europe. And none of his training prepares him for the chance encounter with a spirited nurse who steals his heart.

After a whirlwind romance and wedding, Helen and Frank are sent to the front lines of Europe with only letters to connect them for months at a time. Surrounded by danger and desperately wounded patients, they soon find that only the war seems real - and their marriage more and more like a distant dream.

For more information about Dandi Daley Mackall and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts:

If you only read one more book this year, make it With Love, Wherever You Are!!! And I don't say that lightly. Read this book!!! As soon as I read the first paragraph, I was hooked. I simply adore this story!

With Love, Wherever You Are is like reading a Cary Grant movie! Swoon! Some of my favorite movies are I Was a Male War Bride, Operation Petticoat, and Father Goose. This story has such a similar vibe. With Love, Wherever You Are, while fiction, is based on Dandi Daley Mackall's parents and their letters exchanged during World War II. I am honored and blessed to be able to read this story based on their story. I think the author has some mighty proud parents in Heaven.

I really loved the backstory that lead to Frank and Helen's decisions to enlist in the Army. We get to see them meet, fall in love, and get married. And a number of their letters were included in the story! This was a very well done "married" story. It portrays marriage so beautifully. Character development was also amazing. Frank went from just skating by with the least amount of work possible, to a dedicated soldier, while Helen learned that she didn't have to go through life helping herself, but that God was there for her.

Five Stars!!! If I could, I would give it a much higher rating!!! With Love, Wherever You Are is uplifting, crushing, and beautiful. I say it again, read this book!!! You do not want to miss it.

I received a copy of With Love, Wherever You Are by Dandi Daley Mackall published by Tyndale from the Tyndale Blog Network. All opinions expressed are my own.

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

Review of When Tides Turn by Sarah Sundin

From the Back Cover:

In a time of war, sometimes battles take place in the heart.

Tess Beaumont is tired of being thought of as just a pretty face. Eager to do her part for the war effort, she joins the Navy's newly established WAVES program for women. Perhaps there she can convince people that there is more to her than meets the eye.

Lt. Dan Avery has been using his skills in the fight against German U-boats and hoping to make admiral. The last thing he wants to see on his radar is a girl like Tess. Convinced that romance will interfere with his goals, Dan is determined to stay the course, no matter how intriguing a distraction Tess is.

But love, like war, is unpredictable. When Dan is shipped out at the peak of the Battle of the Atlantic, he finds himself torn between his lifelong career goals and his desire to help the beguiling Tess root out a possible spy on shore. Could this fun-loving glamour girl really be the one?

For more about Sarah Sundin and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts:

When the tides of your heart turn, where will they take you?

Lt. Dan Avery desperately wants to further his Naval career. He's determined to stay the course - no matter what. But God has different plans. (Doesn't He always? LOL!) Dan has to learn to allow color, rest, and the distractions God wants for him. Tess Beaumont decides she wants more out of life. She wants purpose and meaning, not beauty. Watching them overcome their struggles and personal lies, seeing them clash, reconciling, and falling in love proved to be rather enjoyable. Plus, there's a little mystery thrown in for good measure!

The author put a ton - and I mean a ton - of historic detail into this book! It left me quite impressed! The story closely follows with what was happening in World War 2. This blast from the past and seeing how life worked during the war was interesting and informative.

Please note that while you can read this book without reading the rest of the series, I think you'll find the story more enjoyable if you read the first two books, Through Waters Deep and Anchor in the Storm respectively.

Three and a Half Stars - an enjoyable story. When Tides Turn is the third and final book in Sarah Sundin's Waves of Freedom Series. If you're a fan of Sarah's novels and/or have read the first two books in the series, then you will really want to read this lovely conclusion to her latest series!

I received a copy of When Tides Turn by Sarah Sundin from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. All opinions expressed are my own.

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer