On Distant Shores by Sarah Sundin (Review & Giveaway)

About On Distant Shores: Caught between the war raging around them and the battles within, two souls long for peace---and a love that remains true.

Lt. Georgiana Taylor has everything she could want. A boyfriend back home, a loving family, and a challenging job as a flight nurse. But in July 1943, Georgie's cozy life gets more complicated when she meets pharmacist Sgt. John Hutchinson.

Hutch resents the lack of respect he gets as a noncommissioned serviceman and hates how the war keeps him from his fiancée. While Georgie and Hutch share a love of the starry night skies over Sicily, their lives back home are falling apart. Can they weather the hurt and betrayal? Or will the pressures of war destroy the fragile connection they've made?

With her signature attention to detail and her talent for bringing characters together, Sarah Sundin weaves an exciting tale of emotion, action, and romance that will leave you wanting more

My thoughts: I found the historical period interesting to read since I was a young child during the time of WWII and my parents, uncles, and grandparents experienced it first hand. Sarah Sundin captured the spirit of the times in that women were feeling they should and could do "their part" in this fight and there was a sheltering aspect to the men to protect women and keep them at home and in their place and not participating in the war effort.

I found of great interest the status of pharmacists, college educated and decreed, who were so under ranked and carried no respect in the military. It was interesting to read the struggle of the pharmacists in the army and the battle at home in congress to recognize them in the military and grant officer status.

The romance that was threaded through the story spoke of the uncertain times. However, it was refreshing to see that the author positively portrayed virtue and steadfastness in relationships.

GIVEAWAY:  The kind folks at Litfuse Publicity Group are graciously providing one of Chat With Vera's readers an opportunity to win a copy of On Distant Shores. Simply use the Rafflecopter entry form to enter. Begins August 21 & ENDS September 9 @ 12:01 a.m. ET. Open to US addresses only.
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About the author: Sarah Sundin is the author of "With Every Letter" and the Wings of Glory series. In 2011, A "Memory Between Us" was a finalist in the Inspirational Reader's Choice Awards, and Sarah received the Writer of the Year Award at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. A graduate of UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, she works on call as a hospital pharmacist. During WWII, her grandfather served as a pharmacist's mate (medic) in the Navy and her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force in England. http://sarahsundin.com

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of On Distant Shores from Litfuse Publicity Group on behalf of the author and publisher in exchange for my honest review. No compensation was received for this review.