Blue Skies Tommorrow - Giveaway and Review

Poor Ray Novak! He'll never feel like he'll measure up to the men his two brothers, Jack and Walt are, especially when his father and grandfather drops subtle hints, unaware how those are perceived by Ray.

Jack and Walt have been serving in the war effort in England in the U.S. Eighth Air Force, as fighter pilots. Now that Walt was injured his knowledge of planes is serving the Allied forces well as an engineer. Jack remains in charge of the US troops and their deployment missions as pilots in England.

However, Ray is afraid. He isn't prepared to deal with combat missions when he has been spending his time training men as pilots. Now that they want to use the training positions as rewards for pilots returning from combat missions, Ray's been assigned to supplies. Not a very glorified position considering his younger brothers military careers. Even though he feels his calling is to God's pulpit, he can't help fight the feelings battling within.

Helen Carlisle has spent the last year as a grieving widow for her husband who was a casualty of the war in the Pacific. Left with her son, Jay-Jay, Helen is trying to find a way to deal with her inner demons that are keeping her prisoner. Living in a house that she rents from the Carlisle's, she will do whatever she can to prevent the memory of her husband, Jim from being tarnished as a war hero in town.

When Helen has a bike accident while running errands as a Red Cross Volunteer, Ray Novak is there to rescue her as her knight in shining armor. Confused by her feelings she has had for Ray as a child, writing stories about Sir Raymond, rescuing the Princess Helen, she finds a real friendship in him now that they have grown up.

During the time they spend together, they find they care for one another more than just friends would, and despite her strong feelings for Ray, Helen is being asked by the Carlisle's to pursue a relationship with Vic Llewellyn instead. Yet despite her attempts to tell Vic she isn't interested, he maintains a constant vigil in asking Helen for a date. The last thing Helen imagines is marrying Vic Llewellyn. Imagine, Helen Llewellyn???

I received Blue Skies Tomorrow by Susan Sundin, compliments of Litfuse Publicity for my honest review, and being a huge WWII fan, I couldn't wait to see how this one would play out. It will not disappoint. Helen hide a huge secret that if exposed will change how the town will see it's hero changed and she wants to provide her son, Jay-Jay with a great father figure. It's only when this secret rises to involve more than Helen, that it must be brought into the light of God's truth for all to see.

What will the town think of Helen? Will she be able to protect her son, Jay-Jay from the most prominent family in town the Carlisle's? Will she be able to find the love of a man, who can love her despite all the pain she holds inside? Well, you'll just need to pick up the latest in the Wings of Glory series, Blue Skies Tomorrow, which is book three. Hands down, I LOVED every moment of it. Like a full-length movie that is so good your sad when the final credits roll, so you'll be when you turn the final page. Sarah Sundin does a great job engaging the reader from being a pilot of a B-17 bomber in England flying dangerous combat missions, to living at home, fundraising and running blood drives amid the shortages cause by the war efforts and living off ration books. I award this book a full 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait to go back and read the beginning books in this series!!

For more information about this book, the author and where to get a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

Blue Skies Tomorrow by Sarah Sundin

To celebrate the release of Blue Skies Tomorrow, the final installment of the Wings of Glory series, Sarah is giving one lucky winner A Vintage Kindle Prize Package!

Read what the reviewers are saying here.

One winner will receive:

* Kindle with Wi-Fi

* Handmade vintage apron for you and a friend (see a photo here)

* Blue Skies Tomorrow (for Kindle)

To enter just click one of the icons below. But, hurry, giveaway ends on 9/10. Winner will be announced on 9/12 at Sarah Sundin's blog. Details and official rules can be found when entering the contest.

Run To Overcome

"I am often at my best when things looks the worst." - Meb Keflezighi

Meb Keflezighi is all about hope and second chances - starting with his very survival. The child of a small African country ravaged by a brutal war, Meb arrived in America with nothing but the clothes on his back, speaking no English and never having raced a mile. So how did he end up an A student, one of the most celebrated and respected athletes of his generation, and winner of the 2009 New York City Marathon?

His story sounds like the living embodiment of the American dream...but Meb's path to victory hasn't been smooth. Not long after he stood on the Olympic platform as a U.S. silver medalist, it all came crashing down. And he was about to find out whether his faith in God, the values his parents had taught him, and his belief that he was born to run were enough to see him through.

Run to Overcome by Meb Keflezighi and Dick Patrick, tells the inspirational story of a man who discovered the real meaning of victory, and shares the secrets to overcoming the odds in your own life.

My Review: This is such a moving tribute to show just how far we can overcome any adversity we may be faced with, as long as we have faith in God, and the belief of our parents and family. Nothing is impossible. Meb Keflezighi's journey from his life in a humble and poverish beginning in Africa shows us through his novel how his parents instilled within their family that hard work and dedication will enable you to rise up and become better people because of it. We learn how important education and a willingness to do our best at all costs will cause others around you to sit up and take notice.

I loved at the end of each chapter that there are Runner's Tips as well as Overcomer's Tips to help you along your own personal journey of discovery. One such tip for runners is keeping a journal of your workouts, times and even how you felt during practice. These can provide your own motivational boasts just before a big race in your own words.

I received this book compliments of Tyndale House Publishers for my honest review and loved every chapter. Not only that, I am passing it along to my high school daughter's track team to participate in a group read of the book. This one really does rate an all star 5 out of 5 stars. For more on the book, the author and even where to purchase a copy of this book, click on the title below:

Run To Overcome

From November 1, 2010 until March 31, 2011, on the Run To Overcome website is hosting a signed book a day giveaway. There will be monthly grand prize winners that will receive a signed copy of the book, other free Tyndale titles, as well as Sony and PowerBar products. Simply click on the website link below:

http://www.runtoovercome.com

Don't forget to watch Meb run in this year's New York CIty Marathon on November 7th!!!

Meb Keflezighi

Mebrahtom "Meb" Keflezighi and his family came to the United States after fleeing their native country of Eritrea to escape a violent war with Ethiopia. His unexpected athletic and academic successes earned him a full scholarship to UCLA, where he won four NCAA titles in one year and earned his B.A. in communication studies with a specialization in business. Meb is an Olympic silver medalist (Athens 2004) and a three-time national champion in cross country running (2001, 2002, and 2009). He came back from an injury to win the 2009 New York City Marathon, setting a personal best time of 2:09:15. Meb became a U.S. citizen in 1998. He lives in Mammoth Lakes, California, with his wife, Yordanos, and their three daughters, Sara, Fiyori and Yohana.