Book Review: Through Waters Deep by Sarah Sundin

   Since I love anything vintage and am interested in world war 2 biographies, movies, and more I was delighted when I discovered author Sarah Sundin's books a little while ago. Since, I have quickly ''devoured'' every single book she has published and eagerly look forward to reading more of her works!
Through Waters Deep is the first book in a new series by the author! Exciting, isn't it? Plus, this series features the Navy- a new and fascinating venture for the author I'm sure! 
On a side note: I read this book this July 2015 and it was a perfect book for that month and season. :) 

First, I just want to say that Sarah Sundin does an absolutely amazing job in researching her settings. One would think that she knew every detail of what she wrote about it. Of course I am not a world war 2 veteran, yet I have read enough historical accounts to be alert to any mistakes an author of fiction might make. A fascinating touch in Through Waters Deep is that the author delved into a new realm for her...mystery! Throughout the book, the main character Mary along with the reader struggles to discover who the local saboteur could be! I found this an interesting twist. 
As always, Sarah Sundin writes with heart and vigour, making the reader both enjoy and benefit from reading each chapter. 
This book is set right before world war 2 actually! The end of the book features the bombing of pearl harbour which makes for an unusual and not as well-known setting. 

On a critical note....
1. I do not appreciate how descriptive this author is of the romantic attraction the couples have for each other. To be sure there are no sexual scenes in her books and the feelings of attraction are often true enough. But I prefer  when authors only hint at the physical attraction one might have for another. And I wish she would mostly concentrate on the heart of the individuals rather than the looks (this she did accomplish in one of her first novels).  
2. One thing that must go: the kisses. Why do Christian novels concentrate so very much on the passionate kisses experienced between the main couple? I beg the author to consider taking these descriptive kisses out future books! They are not good for young unmarried girls to ponder! We have strong enough imaginations already. And in books there are kisses and extremely descriptive kisses.... 
(the reader doesn't need to know all the passionate feelings and thoughts each kisser experiences!)
3. This is a minor note since the author doesn't claim to be a mystery author. Yet, I will mention that the reader cannot expect a Sherlock Holmes-quality mystery from this book. ;) Although the mystery itself wasn't too telltale, it likewise was too broad in that the reader couldn't do any sleuthing for herself and really was left not caring who was the culprit! Sort of. 
4. I did not like the beautiful blond friend who shows up. I know what kind of fun, loving girl she was supposed to be but somehow they way she threw herself on poor Jim was too much. Oh well. She wasn't far off from many 1940's actresses I suppose.

I was sent a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

About the author:

Sarah Sundin is the author of With Every Letter, On Distant Shores, In Perfect Time, and the Wings of Glory series. In 2014, On Distant Shores was a finalist for the Golden Scroll Awards from both AWSA and the Christian Authors Network. In 2011, Sarah received the Writer of the Year Award at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. 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 in England. Sarah lives in California with her husband and three children.

Find Sarah online: website, Facebook, Twitter