A Distant Melody, Sarah Sundin

A Distant Melody, Sarah Sundin
A story of struggle between the flesh and the spirit: of love, obedience, honor, faith, forgiveness, heartache and ultimately the grace, love, and unfailing faithfulness of God to protect and guide through all things. Readers are invited into the lives of two people who struggle with coming to terms with their own identities in Christ and the purpose and plan Christ has for their lives. They both struggle with the standards and expectations set before them by the world and their families of duty, honor and obedience, and success.
Allie Miller, spoiled heiress of Miller Ball Bearings; and Walter Novak, pilot and youngest son of a Preacher strike an unlikely friendship in the middle of WWII. Allie a new Christian, thanks to a mutual friend of Walt, is struggling with honoring her family through marriage to a man she does not love; While Walt struggles to meet the standards of his over-achieving brothers and the expectations of his family. The story involves many other characters and sub-stories that are woven in the main one. Throughout the story the reader sees the hand of God at work and the struggle against the flesh and spirit in the lives of the main characters. Allie must ultimately decide if she will forsake all else for the cause of Christ: leaving behind a sizable inheritance and the approval of her parents or go after whole-heartedly the will of God. Walt must decide that even small lies are of no good in the end - - and discover that truth does set the captives free. Both must embrace grace, and love and experience the power of true forgiveness.
Well-written and powerful. Readers will find themselves drawn into another world, experiencing the pain and turmoil of the war and hoping for the overcoming power of love. I enjoyed this book and hope to read more from this author.
A special thanks to Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing for this complimentary copy for review.