Anchor in the Storm: (Christian Historical Romance Book about the World War 2 Navy) (Waves of Freedom)

The second novel in the Waves of Freedom series. The story takes place in Boston during World War II. A smart girl Lillian lost her leg during an accident when she was a child, moving to the big city to pursue her dream of being a pharmacist. Yet, not many people (including her new boss) believe that looks and brains come together. Nevertheless, Lillian is not a girl who would give up. She is trying to prove the world that she can be more than just a wife to a wealthy man.

Life during the wartime is full of surprises, as she finds herself trying to solve a mystery of drug-dealers net in the Navy. With help of a charming Naval Officer Archer Vandenberg, she finds a way not only prove herself as a serious pharmacist, save Arch’s men but also open her heart to love, as she learns to deal with her past relationship and find her strength to trust again.

It was such a heart-warming story. Sarah Sundin creates very endearing characters, and they just stay in your heart forever. I enjoy her writing very much and the elements of religion add a little something to her stories.

So I knew I enjoyed Sundin as an author when I picked this book up from the library - but wow. As soon as I started it, I was drawn in. The main gal is one I identify strongly with. While I don't share her handicap, our personalities aligned very closely and she made sense to me. I read through this book SO quickly - could not put it down. And the night I finished it, I was on Amazon purchasing my own copy. Excellent book, packed with fascinating historical events and context - perfectly interwoven with a fictional story that engages the reader with ease.

In addition to the authentic WWII-era details readers have come to expect from a Sarah Sundin novel, Anchor in the Storm is rich with realistic relational drama. It is both a treat and a (fascinating) trial to watch independent and ambitious Lillian interact with gentlemanly and persistent Arch. Their budding romance and their hardships in their jobs bring out their thorny insecurities...but also tease out a tender trust. Can such delicate love last?

This story has a nice balance of sweet and suspenseful, from the super cute ice-skating scene to the tense scenes with Arch at sea, along with the little mystery-solving moments leading up to the well-described climax. I'd say the pace and plot feel rather similar to the first book in the series (Through Waters Deep) in that the heroine and hero are often apart and each have their own pieces of the puzzle to solve while at work. But I really enjoyed this cast of characters and seeing intriguing connections come to light.

I think a reader's pleasure in a story can often derive from where they are in life and how they can or can't relate to the characters. In this case, I felt drawn in by Lillian and Arch's story, discovering alongside them what love entails and the importance of identifying your true anchor in life. Sundin fans won't be disappointed, but this story can also stand well on its own for historical fiction readers wanting to give this great author a try for the first time.

*With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion, to be shared during the Litfuse Publicity blog tour.*

I'm going to fan gush here for a minute because Sarah Sundin is one of my favorite writers. All of her eight books and one novella have struck gold with me. I missed the opportunity to meet her at the ACFW Conference in Texas last year, but I hope to one day actually meet her and talk over a cup of coffee. It would definitely make my day. With Anchors in the Storm, Sundin doesn't surprise me with another hit out of the park.

Sundin writes with such clarity that I always feel like I have transported back to the 1940's and am walking through the dilemma of World War II. Sundin does so much research before she writes her stories, and it shows in the final product. I wish I could write as well as her. I really couldn't wait to jump right in and read Anchor in the Storm.

In Anchor in the Storm, I really enjoyed watching Arch and Lillian tell their love stories. Lillian is a brave woman pharmasist who suspects there is a perscription drug ring affecting the naval soldiers, so she goes undercover and hunts for the supplier. With danger, Lillian invites Arch to help her hunt down the top commanders in the drug ring. As an avid reader of suspense and mysteries, I really think Sundin handled the situation quite well. I couldn't wait to find out who was behind the trouble. It kept my attention glued to the story.

As for the romance between Arch and Lillian, it was paced quite nicely. Lillian has her reservations about men and for good reason. She has a hard time allowing men or anyone for that matter to come close to her heart. I admired her courage and really enjoyed her as the heroine. As for Arch, I really enjoyed him too. He came from money, but he saw what power money allowed people to hold over others by making them do things they normally wouldn't do. He wanted none of that. He saw the good in Lillian and loved her for her personality. I really enjoyed watching their romance blossom.

With the correct amount of research, Sarah Sundin crafted another hit in the World War II romance genre with enough tension and lovable characters to grab any ones attention. I anxiously wait for book three where I can learn more about Quintessa and Dan Avery, Lillian and Jim's brother.

I highly recommend Anchors in the Storm to fans of Cara Putnam, Liz Tolsma, and Kristy Cambron. A great addition to the popular genre.

I received a complimentary copy of Anchors in the Storm from Revell Publishing and the opinions stated are all my own

Mystery, love and fascinating characters were the backbone of an interesting historical story. The pharmaceutical aspect mixed with the treatment of naval personnel with traumatic struggles was riveting.

Note: I received this book complimentary through a giveaway. I was not required to give a review. All of the opinions I have expressed here are honest and my own.

If you like to read & feel like you are right there in time, then her books will more than satisfy you!

Anchor in the Storm #2 Waves of Freedom by Sarah Sundin

It’s now January 1942, Boston, Massachusetts and Lillian Avery is finally going to have a chance to prove herself as a pharmacist...if only it didn’t take a war to help that along. The challenges of the new position energize her; however, she had not foreseen the mystery she is about to be caught up in or with whom. I admire Lillian—she was seriously injured in the past (both physically and emotionally) and has had to adjust her life accordingly—however, she has not let it stand in her way of her dreams.

Ensign Archer “Arch” Vandenberg and his men hunt German U-boats and many suffer battle-fatigue as a result of the war. There seems to be a major problem related to that battle-fatigue and Arch is determined to find out the source and stop it. As he investigates this problem it leads him to a possible source and he ultimately enlists Lillian to assist him as he investigates further.

Anchor in the Storm is an intriguing, highly suspenseful thriller filled with sabotage and mystery, twists and turns in the story-line that kept me guessing as to who is involved and how they are connected...if there is a connection...to those on land and on Arch’s ship. The story expertly takes the reader to multiple locations in Arch and Lillian’s investigation. There is sweet romance in the midst of this turmoil and the historical detail is evident in the descriptions in such a way that brings that history to life right off the pages.

I especially appreciate the spiritual theme woven throughout the story-line and how it is revealed that both Lillian and Arch had to come, on their own, to realize that Jesus is the only secure Anchor in any storm….so true in their fictional situation as it is for me/us today.

~I won a copy of this book from the publisher via the JustCommonlyBlogspot (no monetary gain were exchanged), this is my honest review~

This was everything I didn't know I wanted in a World War II story, including main characters who have been hurt in the past and fear that they will never find someone to love them for who they are.

Lillian Avery also fears that she is hard-hearted, but knows that she is strong and will continue to overcome obstacles, including her employer's reticence to hire a "girl pharmacist" even before he was aware that she is crippled. Archer (Arch) Vandenberg harbors regrets and longs for someone to see the man and not the family money. As an ensign in the Navy, he is also fighting to hide the affects of surviving the sinking of his ship.

Halfway through, I suddenly thought "this story just makes me happy." Not only was the romantic story arc pleasing, combining a charming man and a wholesome girl from a large Ohio family, but following Arch onto his ship and Lillian into the drugstore and joining them on their attempts to uncover a drug ring that linked their workplaces was both interesting and entertaining.

Strong themes of faith, perseverance, and acceptance shone through this story as Arch and Lillian each separately long for a stronger faith, but fear that they are not capable.

Secondary characters were well drawn and all added to the story by their presence, particularly the character of a seaman, Warren Polansky, who (along with Arch's society girl ex, the shallow and scheming Bitsy) could have been pulled straight from a 1940's movie, where he would have provided comic relief and contributed to the dramatic storyline. And it is the secondary characters that now have me wanting to read the other books in the author's Waves of Freedom trilogy, as they each feature one of Lillian's brothers and one of her roommates in the lead roles.

A recommended read. I loved this combination of history, conflicts, faith, romance, and overcoming obstacles. I also loved how this struck just the right note in evoking both the period as it was and as it has been popularly portrayed.

This review refers to a print copy borrowed from my local library. I also voluntarily received an e-galley for review purposes through NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own. This review was previously published, with quotes, on bookworlder.wordpress.com

Book 2 in the Waves of Freedom series by Sarah Sundin. Once I opened to the first page, I couldn’t put this book down. Such a treasure of humor amid heartache, heroism, and when love comes from a heart that is focused on God. Sarah’s finest novel yet — well, they’re all wonderful — but this one left me with tears in my eyes.

Arch and Lillian fight inner battles with God and letting go of their own failures, until devastating events cause them to realize how important opening up to God really is. I love the depth of characters that adds to the depth of story. Over and over, I found myself nodding my head, saying, “Oh, that’s so true!” Sarah paints a realistic picture of what the heart really feels — and how much God can heal it.

I laughed, I cried, I gripped the edge of my seat with every page.

great book and great author