Book Review: Across the Blue by Carrie Turansky

Review by Carolyn Miller

From the publisher:

Isabella Grayson, the eldest daughter of a wealthy, English newspaper magnate, longs to become a journalist, but her parents don't approve. They want her to marry well and help them gain a higher standing in society. After she writes an anonymous letter to the editor that impresses her father, her parents reluctantly agree she can write a series of articles about aviation and the race to fly across the English Channel, but only if she promises to accept a marriage proposal within the year. 

When James Drake, an aspiring aviator, crashes his flying machine at the Grayson's new estate, Bella is intrigued. James is determined to be the first to fly across the Channel and win the prize Mr. Grayson's newspaper is offering. He hopes it will help him secure a government contract to build airplanes and redeem a terrible family secret. James wants to win Bella's heart, but his background and lack of social standing make it unlikely her parents would approve. If he fails to achieve his dream, how will he win the love and respect he is seeking? Will Bella's faith and support help him find the strength and courage he needs when unexpected events turn their world upside down?

My thoughts:

I recently had the wonderful opportunity to read this soon-to-be-released novel by American author and Edwardian England specialist Carrie Turansky. This novel explores the fascinating world of those involved in the start of the aviation industry, something I'm quite unfamiliar with, so I felt I learned a lot through the rich descriptions of historical details of both the aviation and newspaper worlds of that time. 

I also enjoyed the element of adventure and mystery, as various characters struggle with the idea of identity and learning more about their background, and how this affects their faith, and their relationship.

In keeping with the depictions of social class presented the tone feels polite, which may jar with those who prefer more contemporary renditions of character angst and unfettered emotions. But if you're looking for a Christian historical novel of hope and determination 'Across the Blue' may be one you'll enjoy, with scenes destined to make your pulse soar. Releases February 20, preorder available now.

About Carolyn Miller

Carolyn Miller lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. Together with her husband she has pastored a church for ten years, and worked part-time as a public high school English and Learning and Support teacher.

A longtime lover of romance, especially that of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer’s Regency era, Carolyn holds a BA in English Literature, and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. 

Her Regency novels include The Elusive Miss Ellison, The Captivating Lady Charlotte, and The Dishonorable Miss DeLancey, all available from Amazon, Book Depository, Koorong, etc

Connect with her:        Website | Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter

New Genre Delights

Photo courtesy of super trooper/
FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Contest season is very much upon us and the majority of my fiction reading for the next six months will be consumed by judging entries in various competitions both local and abroad.

One of the reasons I especially love judging is I get “forced” to read stories that I wouldn’t normally read. I typically judge speculative fiction but this is such a catch-all for all sorts of different flavours, two of which: space opera and superhero, Adam Collings covered in Monday’s post. Accordingly, I’m presented with a variety of stories that I wouldn’t typically read.

Read in your genre

This is the old chestnut we’re all familiar with. And for obvious reasons it makes a lot of sense to do so and for many years I found myself only reading in the genres of speculative and thriller/suspense because that’s what I write. However, my flavour of speculative was narrow (supernatural angels and demons) and so I limited myself to such novels.

Certainly there are some flavours of speculative I struggle with, for example, horror and will choose not to read it. But I’ve had the privilege of reading some real beauties. For example, Patrick Carr’s writing is excellent and Billy Coffey has such a unique Southern voice plus a tremendous insight into small town spiritual good and evil.

Sample other delights

Over the past few years both through judging and developing friendships in the industry I’ve spent much of my non-judging half-year reading outside the speculative genre.

History has now become a keen interest. Having not studied a lot of it through my schooling years I’ve always felt a gap in my knowledge with all things historical. Strangely though, like many of us, I grew up devouring 18^th and 19^th century classical literature.

Novels with an historical bent have grabbed my interest. Biblical fiction in particular has become a favourite because of what I learn. Similarly, stories set in WWI and/or WWII have appealed because of what I can learn about the period. I so enjoyed Irma Joubert’s “Girl From the Train” (not to be confused with Paula Hawkins similarly titled recent blockbuster).

Rachel McMillan’s Sherlock Holmes-inspired "Herringford and Watts Mysteries" series has taken me back to the early 1900s in Toronto, Canada. Rachel has such a sophisticated witty voice creating two marvellous lady dectectives while giving the reader a spin around some of the sights of Toronto.

Naturally, I can’t not read some of the various flavours of romance recommended by many on this blog. From contemporary beauties supplied by the likes of our own Kara Isaac and Andrea Grigg to romantic suspense by Lisa Harris and Ronie Kendig to Melissa Tagg’s rom-com there’s a feast of great reading to be had.

What’s a genre or new flavour (sub-genre?) that you’ve recently enjoyed and an example of an author that you never expected to read?

Happy reading, dear friends.

Ian Acheson is an author and strategy consultant based in Northern Sydney. Ian's first novel of speculative fiction, Angelguard, is available in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. Angelguard was recognised with the 2014 Selah Award for Speculative Fiction.You can find more about Angelguard at Ian's website, on his author Facebook page and Twitter

My Top Ten Reads 2015 - Andrea Grigg

Oh, how I love reading! There are never enough hours in the day for it as far as I’m concerned. Here is my selection for this year, in no particular order. A couple of my choices might surprise you J

1.    Jaded – by Varina Denman

This is Varina’s first novel, and the first in the Mended Hearts series. It held me spellbound from beginning to end. Ruthie was shunned by the church as a child, but things change when she is attracted to the new preacher in town. A beautiful romance, not only between a man and a woman, but also between God and his church. (Read my review here)

2.    Justified – also by Varina Denman

This is the second in the Mended Hearts series and can be read as a stand alone. Unmarried and pregnant, Fawn is riddled with guilt and yearns for grace. The local football coach doesn’t judge her, and also treats her with respect. Is it possible Fawn’s broken dreams can be mended along with her heart? (Read my review here)

3.    Sway – by Amy Matayo

     This contemporary romance gripped me by the throat. (Read my review here) It still leaves me open-mouthed whenever I think of it! Kate and Caleb have an instant connection and it doesn’t take long for their relationship to intensify—only to discover it will never, ever, work. I was hooked from the first page

4.    London Tides – Carla Laureano

   

  This is the second book in the MacDonald Family Trilogy, Five Days in Skye is the first, but London Tides can be read as a stand alone. Photojournalist Grace returns to London hoping to reconnect with former fiancé, Ian. Ten years ago, he gave up everything for her, only to have her run out on him. Can their relationship be restored? (Read my review here)

5.    Love is the New Black – Cameron Semmens.

      A departure from the norm for me. Poetry isn’t usually my thing, but this book most definitely is. I will dip in and out of this one over and over.

      (Read my review here)

6. Inbetween (a Katie Parker Production, Book 1) – Jenny B Jones

     Another departure from the norm for me. Inbetween is a YA novel and I absolutely loved it! Katie Parker’s mother is in prison, her father is AWOL, and she gets sent to a squeaky clean family to live. I fell in love with the troubled Katie. She made me laugh, she made me cry, she made me want to take her home. NB: this book is free on Amazon.

7.    The Flower Arrangement ­– by Ella Griffin

Please note: This is a general market novel, and some language and scenes may offend. The reason I’m including it is that it is written from several characters' viewpoints, and yet the author has managed to write each of them in deep point of view. I loved the stories which all stem (pardon the pun) from  Blossom and Grow, a florist shop in Dublin, and all tie in together. With loads of fresh writing and original figurative language, The Flower Arrangement is a book I will read to improve my craft as well as for the enjoyment of the story.

8.    J J Smith’s 10 Day Green Smoothie Cleanse – by J.J.Smith

Told you there’d be a few different ones in here! My hairdresser recommended this to me and I have to say it’s changed my life! I lost a chunk of weight over the ten days (which I never do) and a month on I’ve kept it off. I’m also sleeping better and my energy levels have increased. The smoothies are delicious and varied and totally doable. I’ll be doing another detox in the New Year. As you do J

9.    This Quiet Sky (an historical novella) – Joanne Bischoff

     Oh my goodness. Talk about an emotional journey! This story is about 16-year-old Sarah Miller and Tucker O’Shay (a boy with a fatal illness) who becomes her algebra tutor. If this novella doesn’t choke you up I’ll be very, very surprised. This Quiet Sky is one of the most beautiful love stories I’ve ever read.

10. Just One Summer – box set

      Four award-winning authors: Nicole Deese, Tammy L Gray, Amy Matayo and Jenny B Jones. Four clean romances. It’s a win-win! Thoroughly enjoyable.

      

So there you go. Hope you enjoy one or two of these as much as I did. See you next year!

    

      About Andrea Grigg

      I am an author of two Christian contemporary romances: A Simple Mistake and Too Pretty, and I'm working on my third. My website is under reconstruction at the moment but you can contact me on Facebook or Twitter. I would love to hear from you!

     

Book Review ~ For Such A Time, Kate Breslin

By Dorothy Adamek

For Such A Time ~ In 1944, blonde and blue-eyed Jewess Hadassah Benjamin feels abandoned by God when she is saved from a firing squad only to be handed over to a new enemy. Pressed into service by SS-Kommandant Colonel Aric von Schmidt at the transit camp of Theresienstadt in Czechoslovakia, she is able to hide behind the false identity of Stella Muller. However, in order to survive and maintain her cover as Aric's secretary, she is forced to stand by as her own people are sent to Auschwitz.

Suspecting her employer is a man of hidden depths and sympathies, Stella cautiously appeals to him on behalf of those in the camp. Aric's compassion gives her hope, and she finds herself battling a growing attraction for this man she knows she should despise as an enemy.

Stella pours herself into her efforts to keep even some of the camp's prisoners safe, but she risks the revelation of her true identity with every attempt. When her bravery brings her to the point of the ultimate sacrifice, she has only her faith to lean upon. Perhaps God has placed her there for such a time as this, but how can she save her people when she is unable to save herself?

*****

Reading a book inspired by a story I already know and love, (the biblical account of Esther) meant I had a fair idea how For Such A Time would unfold. But Kate Breslin’s debut novel kept me reading to the last chapter with more than a couple of unexpected twists and turns to render this a most unique re-telling of the well known Esther story.

Any story set in WWII concentration camps requires the reader to take on what we've come to expect from quality historical fiction ~ harrowing accounts of life in desperate times...and then some. Thankfully for my reading preferences, For Such A Time included a generous dose of romance with the right amount of heartbreaking suspense one would expect from a war-time drama.

I particularly enjoyed secondary characters Uncle Morty and young houseboy, Joseph, and predictably cheered when the bad guys were outsmarted by the good guys.

But what kept me reading was the relationship between our protagonists, Stella, and the man who saved her from the firing squad, Aric von Schmidt. Kate Breslin wrote Aric’s struggle between what he knew to be right and true, versus Nazi Party ideology extremely well and I enjoyed how she unpacked the internal conflict of this very German character.

I found some of the scenes at the end fast paced and close to unbelievable, but then the best war stories usually are tales of remarkable survival and incomprehensible bravery and sacrifice.  

If you’re a fan of WWII settings, and/or stories based on Biblical events, you will enjoy For Such A Time. Each chapter begins with a scripture verse from the book of Esther which made the connection between Breslin’s fictional account and what we know from the Bible, easy to match.

I highly recommended For Such A Time by Kate Breslin.

*****

Dorothy Adamek lives in Melbourne with her Beloved and their three gorgeous kids. 

She's the winner of the 2013 FHL ~ Touched By Love Competition, and the 2104 Inspirational Category Winner of the TARA Writing Contest. 

Enamoured by all things 19th century, she writes The Heartbeat of Yesteryear, Historical Romance - Aussie style. Come say G'day at her blog, Ink Dots.