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A Distant Melody (2010)

by Sarah Sundin(Favorite Author)

4.15 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0800734211 (ISBN13: 9780800734213)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Fleming H. Revell Company

series

Wings of Glory

review 1: 5 Stars15+ for romance and some mature WWII content.When a friend offered to loan this to me, I was very happy to accept. Her review had left me eager to read this title. And I was not disappointed.Before I delve into what I loved about the actual story, allow me to say that it was the faith and focus on the things of the Lord that made me love it. I was told that faith and Christianity would be a central part of the story, and I was delighted to find that it was so. The author skillfully wove God, serving the Lord, Scripture, and prayer into the story, creating a tale that was meaningful and held great Biblical truths.I loved the actual story. Allie's dilemma with her parents false sense of Christianity, Walt's struggle to deal honestly with others, and their combined str... moreuggled to overcome their faults were very real. I connected so well with both of them.On a historical level, I really appreciated the research that was clearly taken. I felt like I learned a lot about the actual soldiers and the agonizing plethora of emotions a man would have gone through on the battlefront. While most authors focus on action, Sundin focused on emotion in the midst of action in such a way that you connected with the characters. I appreciated the cleanness of the battle descriptions was well. Sundin did not focus on blood/gore, but still managed to create several heart-pounding scenes!With the romance, it was all very clean. I liked how the focus was on the Lord's will and the struggles of two people trying to serve God better. Naturally, some aspects were very predictable, but that was what made it fun! I can't say there was anything I disliked about this book. Because of some mentioning of the crudeness (drinking, women, etc.)indulged in by the men serving around Walt, I think the age appropriateness is 15+. The military and WWII was not a pretty place, nor a Christian environment. I understood the author's intentions to show a young man's struggle to keep a pure mind in the midst of temptation, so it didn't bother me overly much. The things he was tempted with were not a huge focus for those of who might wonder. An excellent read for history buffs, wholesome romance/relationship readers, and WWII fans. Highly recommended.
review 2: Age Appropriate For: 13 and up for romance and violenceBest for Ages: 15 and upI have been a bit flighty when it comes to books lately. I have read a few pages in one book before jumping to the next book. This book grabbed my attention and didn’t let go until I read the last page. I wished I could afford to go out and buy copies of all of Sundin’s books.This book will make my top 10 books of the year list for sure. I thought it was going to be another sweet romance with a little spiritual message. I was blown away by this story. Yes the romance was wonderful, but it was dominated by the characters’ personal struggles, and faith in God took center stage.I was reminded in some aspects of this story of one of my favorite writers of this era, Grace Livingston Hill. Sundin so captured the time and the spirit of the people, I felt I was reading a book by a contemporary of the times. She obviously researched this book, and it made the book sparkle with authenticity.Allie tore at my heart. She and I come from opposite worlds. I have two loving parents who share my faith, she has two parents uncaring parents that sneer at her faith. Yet, I felt as if I was riding the roller-coaster of emotions with her, struggling alongside her as she warred within herself what she should do.How can I even begin to describe my love for Walt. We both come from strong believing families, and we both struggle with some of the same problems. Walt was such an upstanding guy, yet he has flaws. I do not think I have seen a character with so much integrity written with such believable human failings as well as Sudin wrote Walt – not in a very long time.One of the other things I really appreciated about this book was how it reflected the realities of World War II without being too depressing. No one in the story comes through it unscathed. Everyone loses someone they know, or knows someone who receives a life-altering injury. Some people like to whitewash history, and everyone in their stories come back healthy and whole. This book was more realistic, without leaving me depressed.I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes amazing historical fiction, stories that build your faith, and tales that compel you to keep reading. less

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