Introducing Book Look(s), A New Blog Series and a ★★★★★ ook Review of Anchor in the Storm (Waves of Freedom Book #2) by Sarah Sundin
Hi everyone!
I have something new, and a little different, to share here today. When I started Turquoise Avenue back in July of 2015, my desire was for this space to be a lifestyle blog where I could share the various things I'm passionate about and help others discover their own purpose and joy. If I could name only ONE THING that has cultivated joy in my heart, it would be my love of books. That's probably not surprising coming from someone who makes memory books on a routing basis, and, I'm betting many of you feel the same way. I have so enjoyed the books I've read this year that I thought I might begin sharing little reviews here periodically.
I have always been a booklover at heart. It's the feel of a book in my hands, the smell of ink on the pages and a story so good that you find yourself laughing or crying with the characters. I adore seeing books on a shelf, touching their soft fabric covers and memorizing their illustrated covers and titles. Going back to my childhood, I have fond memories of reading books my great-grandmother gifted me, like Little Women or Alice in Wonderland, each with little notes inscribed inside the covers in her petite, adoring penmanship. I have so many wonderful memories surrounding books including weekly trips to the library with my mom or Grandfather, exchanging and discussing books with my best friend, even a couple of summers spent reading too many books to count or volunteering at the local library. I read just about anything - enjoying biographies and autobiographies, historical fiction, horse books, classics, mysteries, and even thrillers.
As life went on though, my love for books didn't diminish but rather was somewhat stifled by life's responsibilities and work. This year, I set a goal to read 50 books in my GoodReads account (yes, I'm well aware that's minimal compared to some of you) and I'm happily on my way to reaching that goal and possibly exceeding it! For me, reading has been a way of slowing down, enjoying life, and finding fulfillment in the mundane everyday. It allows my heart and mind time to relax, to breath and refresh.
The books I plan to review won't always be new releases, but rather, good finds that I've come across and enjoyed. You'll probably notice many of them will be historical fiction, and most will be of a religious background. At any point in time, you will be able to find all my latest review posts via the Lifestyle > Booklovers tab at the top navigation bar of this site. So without further ado, I share my first book review with you...
BOOK LOOK(s) : Anchor in the Storm (Waves of Freedom Book #2) by Sarah Sundin
* Note: All thoughts below are my own. I was not compensated to write this review. However, this blog post does include affiliate links which means I will receive a commission based on sales generated via these links.
Image courtesy of www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
★★★★★ Book Number 41/50 | World War II stories capture my heart. My grandfather joined the US Navy during peacetime after the war ended and my mom has a handful of images of him in his sailor's suit, traveling the world with his buddies at the tender young age of 18. The Waves of Freedom series has taken me back to that period of time, describing the world as it was then and giving me a glimpse of life in New England then.
Sarah Sundin is one of my favorite authors, bar none. Her books are beautifully written, her characters are so well developed and often face interpersonal struggles and her stories leave you wanting to crack open a history book just to read more. In this book, Anchor in the Storm, I found myself falling in love with characters Lillian and Arch as they worked on overcoming their own personal insecurities and finding a beautiful relationship with each other and growing in their relationship with Christ. Set in Boston in the early 1940's, readers will find themselves captivated by the evils of war that lurked in the offshore waters, a mystery that plagues sailors and a lovely group of characters that show perseverance, faith and bravery can overcome it all.
After reading the first book in this series, Through Waters Deep, I had higher expectations for this book which were met and exceeded. While the first book in the series was a bit too Nancy Drew-ish for me, this story had more heart and depth. It was an easy read, one I found that I didn't want to put down, and one that compelled me to laugh along with the characters or feel the nail biting suspense of war at sea. I give it FIVE STARS.
My favorite quote from the book is so soul touching. As a Christian, this is a beautiful picture of God's unconditional love for us.
“All he wanted was to show her she was worthy of a long journey, worthy of an apology, worthy of love. She didn’t have to accept any of it, but she needed to know.”
here or borrow it from your local library. Then, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the book in the comments below! P.S. I also highly recommend the Wings of Glory series also by Sarah Sundin!