Book Review and Giveaway - Anchor in the Storm by Sarah Sundin

Book Synopsis
One plucky female pharmacist + one high-society naval officer = romance-and danger

For plucky Lillian Avery, America's entry into World War II means a chance to prove herself as a pharmacist in Boston. The challenges of her new job energize her. But society boy Ensign Archer Vandenberg's attentions only annoy---even if he is her brother's best friend.

During the darkest days of the war, Arch's destroyer hunts German U-boats in vain as the submarines sink dozens of merchant ships along the East Coast. Still shaken by battles at sea, Arch notices his men also struggle with their nerves---and with drowsiness. Could there be a link to the large prescriptions for sedatives Lillian has filled? The two work together to answer that question, but can Arch ever earn Lillian's trust and affection?

Sarah Sundin brings World War II to life, offering readers an intense experience they won't soon forget. 

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1YFAtJ9 

My Review
 I had the pleasure of reviewing the first book in Sarah Sundin's Waves of Freedom series, Through Waters Deep, last year.   I've been eagerly awaiting this book, and it exceeded my expectations.

Anchor in the Storm is a lovely historical novel set during World War II.  It tells the story of Lillian Avery, a pharmacist in a time where women rarely held this job.  She is strong and resilient, and has worked hard to achieve all her life after a childhood accident left her an amputee with a prosthetic leg.

Lillian moves to Boston and finds friendship and sparks of romance with her brother's best friend, Ensign Arch Vandenberg.   When he notices a sedative problem on his ship, she realizes there may be a connection to sedatives (in large quantities) filled by her pharmacy.

The mystery in this novel is well done and kept me guessing until it began to unfold.

I loved the romance between Lillian and Arch as she learned to trust him, and as they both found greater happiness and faith. 

Historical fiction is my favorite genre, and the 1940's is my favorite historical setting.  The historical details in this book were beautifully done.  I found the 1940's pharmacy particularly interesting.

The first book in this series was one of my favorite reads from 2015, and I am sure this book will make my list in 2016.  I absolutely loved it, and am already looking forward to the next book in the series.  Very highly recommended for fans of historical fiction and inspirational reads.  

Author Bio

Sarah Sundin is the author of Through Waters Deep, as well as Wings of the Nightingale and the Wings of Glory series. 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. Sarah lives in California.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest 

Giveaway

Celebrate the release of Sarah's Anchor in the Storm by entering to win her All Hands on Deck Prize Pack!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A signed copy of Anchor in the Storm
• Nautical tote bag lined with anchor fabric
• Anchor necklace made from copper reclaimed from the USS Constitution in Boston during restoration
• 365 Devotions for Hope by Karen Whiting
• Shine: Nautical Inspirational Adult Coloring Book
• "Hope Anchors the Soul" journal
• Set of two nautical tea towels

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry! The giveaway ends on June 8th. The winner will be announced June 9th on Sarah's blog.

I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for an honest review.

Did You Know Tuesday: Fun Facts About the Yo-Yo

When I was a little girl I loved little simple dimestore toys like yo-yos.  During my childhood years, yo-yos were usually manufactured by Duncan.  They often appeared as small birthday gifts from neighborhood friends, or as a party game prize.  My favorite was the glow in the dark yo-yo, like the one pictured here.

June 6 is National Yo-Yo Day.  Who knew?!   I didn't, but that is a fun holiday.

In honor of National Yo-Yo Day falling this week, here are a few fun facts:

In 1928, Pedro Flores, a businessman who immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines, started the Yo-yo Manufacturing Company in Santa Barbara, California.  In 1929 this company was purchased by Donald Duncan.  In 1946 the Duncan Toys Company opened their first yo-yo factory in Luck, Wisconsin.  

In the 1950's Duncan created a light-up yo-yo.

In 1962 Duncan Toys started a new ad campaign for yo-yos and the toys became very popular.  Here is one of the ads, which included a Duncan yo-yo bundled with Lifesavers and Fruit Stripe gum:



There is a World Yo-Yo Contest held annually in Orlando, Florida.  Contestants do compulsory tricks and also perform freestyle with a yo-yo.

Duncan yo-yos are still made and come in many different models, like the Imperial, the Butterfly (I remember this from childhood), the BumbleBee, the Dragonfly, and more.

Some of the different yo-yos are better for tricks than others.  Popular yo-yo tricks include Walk the Dog, Around the Corner, and The Sleeper.

In 1968, Abbie Hoffman "walked the dog" with a yo-yo while testifying before a Congressional committee.  He was found in contempt.

Richard Nixon played with a yo-yo at the Grand Ole Opry shortly before leaving office in 1974.  Roy Acuff taught him to play with the yo-yo onstage.

A yo-yo traveled on the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1985.

How about you?  Did you play with yo-yos as a child?  Can you do any yo-yo tricks?   I'd love to hear your memories in the comments, below.

Book Spotlight and Giveaway - Sunshine Beach by Wendy Wax

Book Synopsis

From the USA Today bestselling author of The House on Mermaid Point, a story of three women who join forces to bring a historic seaside hotel back to life.

There’s nothing that a fresh coat of paint and a few glasses of wine can’t fix  .  .  .

After losing their life savings in a Ponzi scheme, Maddie, Avery and Nikki have banded together to make the most of what they have left, using their determination, guts, and a large dose of elbow grease. It’s Maddie’s daughter Kyra who stumbles across a once glorious beachfront hotel that has fallen into disrepair. The opportunity to renovate this seaside jewel is too good to pass up---especially when they come up with the idea of shooting their own independent television show about the restoration.  What could possibly go wrong?

Everything. With the cameras rolling, Maddie’s second-chance romance with her all-too-famous new boyfriend gets complicated, Nikki’s reluctance to commit to the man who lovers her could leave her to face the biggest challenge of her life and the paparazzi continue to haunt their every move. Even the hotel seems to be against them, when their renovation uncovers a decades-old unsolved murder that just might bring their lives tumbling down all over again.

www.authorwendywax.com ● facebook.com/AuthorWendyWax  @Wendy_Wax

Author Bio
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution says bestselling author Wendy Wax “writes with breezy wit and keen insight into family relations.” Her contemporary women’s fiction has been compared to that of Jennifer Weiner and Karen Joy Fowle and her books, including her Ten Beach Road novels, Ten Beach Road, Ocean Beach, and The House on Mermaid Point, A Week at the Lake, While We Were Watching Downton Abbey and others, have been featured in national media such as USA Today, Ladies’ Home Journal, CNN Online and Woman’s World.

When Ten Beach Road was published in 2011, Wendy had no intention of moving her protagonists beyond the beachfront mansion they renovated in St. Pete Beach, Florida, where the author was born and raised.  However, Wax found her own enthusiasm for her disparate characters matched by that of readers and reviewers, so when a new Ten Beach Road story began to take shape, she couldn’t resist putting aside her work-in-progress to spend more time with her intrepid DIYers.

The author of thirteen novels, Wendy currently splits her time between Atlanta, where she has lived for almost twenty years, and New York City. When not writing, she visits with readers at bookstores and book events, reads, enjoys her and her husband’s newly empty nest and catches up with her sons on the serendipitous occasions when everyone ends up in the same place at the same time.

Giveaway
One lucky reader will win a copy of Sunshine Beach.  Open to U.S. and Canada.  Giveaway ends Monday, 6/13/16.  Winner will be notified by email, and will need to respond within 48 hours.  The book will be sent by the author or her publicist.

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Music Monday - "You Can't Stop the Beat" from Hairspray

I love musicals, whether musical theater or movie muscials.  One of my favorites from recent years is Hairspray.  This musical, first produced on stage in 2002 and adapted as a movie in 2007, is set in Baltimore in 1962. Hairspray was inspired by the 1988 John Waters movie.  The musical version went on to win eight Tony awards.   It tells the story of Tracy Turnblad, who wants to dance on The Corny Collins Show (a dance and music show that resembles American Bandstand).  She is rejected because she is a plus sized girl.  The show tries to hold onto an old fashioned, 1950's image, and also refuses to racially integrate.

The final number of the show features Tracy finally dancing on The Corny Collins Show ... and the show featuring black teens for the first time.  The New York Times called this a "contagiously elating finale."

It is such a fun song with great energy and wonderful dancing.

I'm including a clip from So You Think You Can Dance (season 3) because I love the choreography of this number.


Here is a clip from the 2007 movie musical, which features Nikki Blonsky and John Travolta as her mother.



Have you seen Hairspray?  What is your favorite song from the show?   I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.

Dear Abby - Meet Stevie (A Rescued Pet Spotlight)

Dear Friends,

I hope you've had a good week!  It has been a nice quiet one here after fireworks in the neighborhood last weekend.  I like a quiet week.  They are my favorite kind.  Not much news to report, but that is okay with me.

I have a great friend visiting the blog today, and I know you will enjoy meeting her too.  Stevie is a beautiful and sweet doxie.  Her mother and my momma have known each other for a long time through an online dachshund community.  Stevie has a GREAT home!

Abby:  What is your background and how did you end up in rescue?

Stevie:  My name is Stevie May Allen, and I am a piebald miniature dachshund. I love my forever mother and dachshund sisters, Tookie and Trixie.

I took a long and difficult journey to reach my current wonderful life. I was rescued in Joplin, MO, along with my two puppies more than five years ago. Someone had tried to hurt me, and I lost my left eye. The nice people at Almost Home Dachshund Rescue brought my puppies and me across country to my foster mother, Sue Romano, in Kentucky. She is friends with my human mother, Jennifer Allen, and Sue knew Jennifer would love me for what I am and not be upset for what I'm not. I also was heartworm positive when I arrived at Sue's home, so the great people with Almost Home took care of my health challenges before I moved permanently to my new home. 

Abby:  How were your first days at your new home? 

Stevie:  My first days in my new home were difficult because I wanted to run around and explore everything, but I had to stay quiet in a crate for several weeks because I had just finished my heartworm treatment. I was really, really curious and even escaped out the front door on several occasions -- not to run away, but to explore all the wonderful, new smells and sights. It was really funny watching my mother scream and run up and down the sidewalk as she chased me.

I immediately became inseparable with Talley, who passed away less than a year later, but I was able to help her and be with her during her final months. A few months later, another rescue dachshund, Trixie, came to live with us, and she and I love to go out on the deck together and bark at everything that moves. Tookie, on the other hand, is the Greta Garbo of the dachshund world and just prefers to stay quietly under a pile of blankets on the couch most of the time. She thinks Trixie and I are so silly for our antics out on the deck. 

Abby:  What are a few of your favorite things? 

Stevie:  My favorite things are snuggling with my mother in bed at night or on the couch as well as enjoying some time every day (when it's warm and dry) out on our little deck. Every day when my mother leaves for work, she tells me that I'm in charge. I take my job very seriously. 

Abby:  Do you have any tips for people who want to adopt a rescue pet? 

Stevie:  I think everyone should reach out and adopt a rescue. It is wonderful to have a new home and family, and I promise that every rescue just wants to give love and to be loved.

That's pretty much my story. I am happy, healthy and full of life and love. I think rescuers are the best people in the world.

Thank you so much, Stevie, for visiting today.  I loved learning more about your story.  It's wonderful that you are in charge when your mother goes out ... I know you do a great job with that duty!

Friends, if you would like to leave a comment for Stevie, you can do so in the comments below.  Please also let me know if you have a "Dear Abby" question or a rescued pet who would like to be featured.

Have a great weekend!

Love,

Abby xoxoxo