A Distant Medody

Title: A DISTANT MELODY
Author: Sarah Sundin
Publisher: Revell
March 2010
ISBN: 978-0-8007-3421-3
Genre: Inspirational/historical/romance

Allie Miller considers herself plain, and her beautiful mother enforces that point. Now Allie’s parents have picked out the man they want Allie to marry—a man that Allie’s dad wants to inherit his business. But Allie doesn’t love him. She’s willing to marry him though, to gain her parents approval.

At least until she goes up to northern California to go to a friend’s wedding. There she meets the dashing pilot, Walter Novak. Walter considers himself hopeless with women, but he and Allie hit it off immediately, and developed an instant rampart. But Walter is about to be shipped overseas to fight the Nazis.

Walt and Allie begin a correspondence that will change their lives. But as Walt—a chronic liar—begins to discover how to tell the truth; Allie learns to tell a lie. Will these two sinners find the courage to tell the truth—and maybe find love in the meantime? Or will their lies keep them apart?

A DISTANT MELODY is the first book in debut author, Sarah Sundin’s new series Wings of Glory. I enjoyed getting to know Walter and Allie, and their friends. World War II is my favorite historical time to read about, so it was a bonus that the story was set during that time period.

Ms. Sundin is a master story teller, gifted with dialog and with setting. Some of the characters I felt were a bit flat (like Baxter, but that might have been intentional), but otherwise there was excellent characterization too. I am looking forward to reading book two in this series. This book is definitely worth reading. A stellar job. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book. $14.99. 420 pages.

A war and an ocean separates them…
Will their love for music and each other be enough to reunite them?
A Distant Melody is the debut novel in the new World War II-era series from Sarah Sundin, Wings of Glory.

In A Distant Melody, readers meet two young Americans, about to be separated by an ocean during World War II: Never pretty enough to please her gorgeous mother, Allie will do anything to gain her approval--even marry a man she doesn't love. Lt. Walter Novak--fearless in the cockpit but hopeless with women--takes his last furlough at home in California before being shipped overseas. Walt and Allie meet at a wedding and their love of music draws them together, prompting them to begin a correspondence that will change their lives. As letters fly between Walt's muddy bomber base in England and Allie's mansion in an orange grove, their friendship binds them together. But can they untangle the secrets, commitments, and expectations that keep them apart?

A Distant Melody is the first book in the Wings of Glory series, which follows the three Novak brothers, B-17 bomber pilots with the US Eighth Air Force stationed in England during World
War II.

Sarah Sundin is an on-call hospital pharmacist and holds a BS in chemistry from UCLA and a doctorate in pharmacy from UC San Francisco. Her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force in England during WWII. Sarah lives in California with her husband and three children. This is her first novel.

Endorsements
"Sarah Sundin is an extraordinarily gifted storyteller who puts the reader in the cockpit of B-17 bombers as easily as she crafts an achingly emotional World War II romance. This is not only the best World War II love story I've ever read, but it may be the best book I've ever read."
— Cheryl Bolen, Holt Medallion Winner, Best Historical

"I loved A Distant Melody! Sarah Sundin is a master at lyrical writing, and she has that rare talent of being able to combine humor with heart-pounding action. I couldn't stop turning the pages, and I don't think I'll ever forget Sarah's compelling characters or their poignant story about honesty, redemption, and grace."
— Melanie Dobson, author of Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana and Refuge on Crescent Hill