Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 258
June 8, 2017
The Sea Before Us Cover Reveal – Giveaway Winners
Thank you to everyone who joined me for the cover reveal for The Sea Before Us, coming from Revell, February 6, 2018! I appreciate all your visits here to my blog and to my Facebook Live video. There were 246 (!!!) entries in the book giveaway. In honor of D-Day, 6/6, I’m giving away 6 books – the winner’s choice of When Tides Turn (available now) or The Sea Before Us when it releases in February 2018.
And now…announcing the 6 winners! I’ll contact each of you by email for your choice of book and mailing address.
Patty MH
Lois Briggs
Elly from Indiana
Traci Myers
Kassidy Childers
Laura Nagelkirk
Congratulations, ladies! I hope you enjoy the stories!
Today in World War II History—June 8, 1942
US Navy pilot Ensign George Gay, survivor of Battle of Midway, Pearl Harbor Naval Hospital, 7 Jun 1942 (US National Archives)
75 Years Ago—June 8, 1942: US Army, European Theater of Operations (ETOUSA) formed under Maj. Gen. James Chaney, replacing USAFBI (US Army Forces in British Isles).
Due to victory at Midway, US cancels the invasion alert for the US West Coast.
Bing Crosby records “Silent Night.”
June 7, 2017
Book Beat – The Road to Paradise by Karen Barnett
Margie Lane arrives at the new Mount Rainier National Park in June 1927 to work for the summer, spouting poetry and book knowledge of the creatures and plants that surround her.
Chief Ranger Ford Brayden is jaded. He knows too well how dangerous the mountain is, and he needs to focus on the day-to-day operations of the park – not on a pampered senator’s daughter. Slowly, Ford teaches Margie practical skills to complement her fervor. Slowly, Margie opens Ford’s eyes to the beauty that he’s overlooked. But when a developer with a personal vendetta threatens both the park and Ford and Margie’s budding romance, the two must work together to save what they love most.
A story as invigorating, inspiring, and perilous as Mount Rainier itself! The Road to Paradise by Karen Barnett pulled me in with humor and fascinating characters and a delicious romance, then kept me up late as Ford and Margie strive to save the national park that seems determined to kill them. The author’s experiences as a park ranger give this novel both authenticity and passion, and I can’t wait for the next book in the Vintage National Parks Series!
Today in World War II History—June 7, 1942
Carrier USS Yorktown burning after hit by three Japanese bombs, 4 Jun 1942 (US National Archives)
75 Years Ago—June 7, 1942: In the Battle of Midway, carrier USS Yorktown sinks due to damage by Japanese submarine I-168 the previous day, but the US is victorious in the major turning point of the Pacific War; from now on, the Japanese will be on the defensive.
Maj. Gen. Clarence Tinker, commander of US Seventh Air Force, is killed when his plane is lost off Midway, the first Native American to reach rank of major general and the first US general killed in WWII.
Japanese occupy Attu in the Aleutians.
Maj. Gen. Clarence Tinker, 1942 (US War Department photo)
June 6, 2017
Cover Reveal – The Sea Before Us!
On the 73rd anniversary of the D-Day landings, I’m pleased to reveal the cover for my upcoming D-Day novel The Sea Before Us, Book 1 in the Sunrise at Normandy series.
Today on 6/6, I’m giving away 6 books – the winner’s choice of When Tides Turn (available now) or The Sea Before Us when it releases in February 2018.
The Sea Before Us is now available for pre-order at Amazon and Books-A-Million, and will be available on other sites soon. Pre-orders for the e-book will be available at a later date.
Sunrise at Normandy Series
One tragic night drove three brothers apart.
One fateful day thrusts them together…D-Day.
The Sea Before Us
(Book 1, coming February 6, 2018)
Betrayal as deep . . .
Love as mysterious . . .
As the sea before them.
In 1944, American naval officer Lt. Wyatt Paxton arrives in London to prepare for the Allied invasion of France, determined to redeem himself with the brothers he has betrayed. He works closely with Dorothy Fairfax, a “Wren” in the Women’s Royal Naval Service. Dorothy pieces together reconnaissance photographs with thousands of holiday snapshots of France—including those of her family’s summer home—in order to create accurate maps of Normandy. Maps that Wyatt will turn into naval bombardment plans.
As the two spend concentrated time together in the pressure cooker of war, their deepening friendship threatens to turn to love. Dorothy must resist its pull. Her bereaved father depends on her, and her heart already belongs to another man. Wyatt too has much to lose. The closer he gets to Dorothy, the more he fears his efforts to win the war will destroy everything she has ever loved.
The tense days leading up to the monumental D-Day landing blaze to life in this powerful new series.
Giveaway
To enter the giveaway, leave a comment below (US & Canada only please). If you can’t leave a comment, please send me an email to enter. Giveaway ends Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at 10 pm, Pacific Time. I’ll announce the six winners here on Thursday, June 8, 2017.
D-Day Anniversary
US troops approach Omaha Beach in an LCVP landing craft, Normandy, 6 Jun 1944 (US National Archives)
Today we commemorate the 73rd anniversary of the D-Day landings. On June 6, 1944, the Allies landed on the beaches of Normandy to liberate Europe from Nazi power.
As I’ve researched D-Day for my upcoming Sunrise at Normandy series, I’ve been deeply affected by the stories I’ve read – stories of courage, tragedy, nobility, selflessness, and determination. Stories of ordinary men who found themselves involved in one of the most dramatic days in modern history.
On that day, 156,000 American, British Commonwealth, and Free French troops landed in the biggest amphibious operation in history, along with free people from many other occupied nations. Those are the stories we remember – of GIs and Tommies storming the beaches of Normandy – and with good reason. But they didn’t act alone.
“Target of Opportunity” Destroyer USS Emmons comes dangerously close to shore to battle with German gun battery on Omaha Beach on D-Day. Painting, Watercolor on Paper; by Dwight C. Shepler; 1944. (US Naval History and Heritage Command)
Almost 195,000 Allied naval personnel participated – bombarding German positions, sweeping mines, ferrying personnel and supplies, and guarding the fleet from German aircraft, surface vessels, and submarines. The ships of US Destroyer Squadron 18 charged within 800 yards of Omaha Beach to give direct support for the pinned-down troops at a critical moment, at great risk to ships and crew.
In addition, the Allied Expeditionary Air Force flew 14,674 sorties at the cost of 113 aircraft. Troop carrier aircraft dropped paratroopers, bombers targeted German strongpoints, and fighters protected the fleet and ground troops, strafed enemy transportation, and kept the Luftwaffe grounded.
In addition, many personnel remained in England, coordinating the intricate operation, loading follow-up convoys, and preparing to treat the wounded. The scope of the invasion was monumental – and as small as the individual soldier approaching the beach, his breath erratic, his stomach heaving from seasickness, his mind battling between his very human desire for survival and his duty to defend the enslaved nations, his own country, and his buddies beside him.
A B-26 Marauder of the 322nd Bomb Group in flight over ships heading for Normandy on D-Day, 6 June 1944. (Imperial War Museum, Roger Freeman Collection)
On this day, take a moment and remember those who risked their lives…who gave their lives so we can live in freedom.
Today in World War II History—June 6, 1942
SBDs from carrier USS Hornet over Japanese cruiser Mikuma, 6 Jun 1942 (US National Archives)
75 Years Ago—June 6, 1942: In Battle of Midway, SBDs from US carriers Enterprise and Hornet sink Japanese heavy cruiser Mikuma.
Japanese occupy Kiska in the Aleutians.
Movie premiere of Yankee Doodle Dandy, starring James Cagney as songwriter George M. Cohan.
June 5, 2017
Today in World War II History—June 5, 1942
Japanese carrier Hiryu burning, photographed by a plane from Japanese carrier Hosho, 5 Jun 1942 (US Naval History and Heritage Command)
75 Years Ago—June 5, 1942: In the Battle of Midway, Japanese scuttle carriers Akagi and Hiryu, which had been damaged by aircraft from carrier USS Enterprise the day before.
British Eighth Army attacks German forces in “The Cauldron” at Gazala, Libya, but is driven back.
June 4, 2017
Today in World War II History—June 4, 1942
Oil tanks burning on Midway Atoll after Japanese attack, 4 Jun 1942 (US National Archives)
75 Years Ago—June 4, 1942: In the Battle of Midway…
Japanese planes attack Midway Island but are driven off by US aircraft.
The first round of American aircraft attacking the Japanese fleet is decimated.
Aircraft from carrier USS Enterprise sink Japanese carrier Kaga.
Aircraft from carrier USS Yorktown sink Japanese carrier Soryu.
SBD from carrier USS Enterprise on the flight deck of carrier USS Yorktown due to fuel exhaustion, 4 Jun 1942 (US Naval History and Heritage Command)
German SS Gen. Reinhard Heydrich dies in Prague, shot by Czech resistance fighters May 27.
Movie premiere of Mrs. Miniver, starring Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon (Academy Award winner—best picture, best actress).
Lt. (jg) William Leonard’s F4F-4 Wildcat taking off from carrier USS Yorktown during Battle of Midway, 4 Jun 1942 (US National Archives)
June 3, 2017
Today in World War II History—June 3, 1942
B-17E bombers taking off from Midway Atoll, 3-4 Jun 1942 (US Air Force photo)
75 Years Ago—June 3, 1942: US Navy Catalina discovers Japanese fleet bound for Midway.
US Seventh Air Force B-17s from Hawaii ineffectively bomb Japanese carriers headed for the Battle of Midway.
Planes from Japanese carriers Junyo and Ryujo bomb Fort Mears and Dutch Harbor, Unalaska Island, Alaska.
Buildings in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, in flames after Japanese strike, 3 Jun 1942 (public domain via WW2 Database)
