The WWII era has never been my favorite period of history to read about. Maybe it’s because my favorite subject is ancient civilizations, and WWII is so far on the opposite spectrum. There’s also the issue of having Japanese heritage and, well, the Japanese weren’t really friends with the Americans during WWII. So when I pick up a book with a WWII setting, there’s always a bit of baggage that comes along with my attention. I expected to feel that way again with this book that I received from Litfuse. That all dissipated when I read On Distant Shores by Sarah Sundin. I enjoyed the historical references that were included in this book. Some of the missions described real=life situations and certainly the issues faced by these honorable men and women were accurately depicted. Additionally, the author incorporated much research and real heroes’ names as some of the characters as a tribute to those who fought in the war. I enjoyed reading about the locations the characters visited. The descriptions of the characters’ surroundings were so realistic that I could really visualize the story. Those details made this book rather special.

As for the main storyline, there were enough unexpected events in the book that it really kept me guessing. I can’t say much without giving away the twists; just be prepared to be surprised. Sundin really captured the emotions of women and culture from the 1940’s. When women took the initiative to be directly involved in the war effort, I’m sure that they put up with a lot of condescension from the men in their lives. Georgie, the female main character, definitely struggles with that issue. Even though I’m from a military family, I was unfamiliar with many of the military terms used in the book. Having a glossary would have been helpful. Overall, this was a good read that opened my eyes to the trials and tribulations of World War II. I’m grateful that I had a chance to participate in this book tour.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book to review. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.