Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 409

Today in World War II History

USS Montpelier firing her guns during the
 Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, night of 1-2 Nov 1943
(US Navy)70 Years Ago—Nov. 2, 1943: Battle of Empress Augusta Bay: US Navy TF 39 sinks Japanese destroyer Hatsukaze and cruiser Sendaioff Bougainville. US Fifteenth Air Force flies first strategic mission: 112 B-24s and B-17s bomb Wiener-Neustadt, Austria.

Today in World War II History

LCVP landing craft circling off Cape Torokina, Bougainville,
 Solomon Islands before landing, 1 Nov 1943
(US Marine Corps)70 Years Ago—Nov. 1, 1943: US Marines land on Bougainville in the Solomons at Empress Augusta Bay. US Twelfth Air Force in the Mediterranean divides into Twelfth AF (tactical, under Lt. Gen. Carl Spaatz) and the newly activated Fifteenth AF (strategic, under Maj. Gen. James Doolittle).

Today in World War II History

F4U-1 Corsair, 194270 Years Ago—Oct. 31, 1943: Navy VMF(N)-531 Corsair accomplishes first successful night air radar interception in Pacific. US Fifth Air Force renders all Japanese airfields in southern Bougainville inoperable (in the Solomons).

Book Beat - Peril by Jordyn Redwood

At this time of year, what better to feature than a novel that will keep you up at night? Peril by Jordyn Redwood is the latest in her Bloodline trilogy. Although I loved Proof and Poison (see my glowing reviews at the links), I think Peril is her best yet.

Pediatric nurse Morgan Adams is barely holding on. Her infant daughter recently died, her marriage is in trouble, she's learned a family secret...and then she faces a hostage situation in the pediatric ICU. While children's lives hang in the balance, Morgan in the ICU, her husband Tyler on the outside, and the police try to sort the scrambled pieces.

As a critical care nurse, Jordyn Redwood brings the details to life with accuracy and a sure hand.  Peril gripped me and wouldn’t let me go, with fast-paced action, deft humor, psychological twists, and characters who find strength despite deep wounds. Don’t miss this novel—or this author.

Today in World War II History

  70 Years Ago—Oct. 30, 1943: Soviets cut off German forces on Crimean peninsula. US coasts reduced to Category of Defense “A”—probably free from attack.

Giveaway Winner - The Girl's Guide to Your Dream Room

Thank you to everyone who commented on my review of Sherry Kyle's The Girl's Guide to Your Dream Room . I randomly selected a winner of the giveaway copy, and the winner is Anonymous with a kzavala email address. I'll contact you for your mailing address.

Today in World War II History

  Maj. Glenn Miller and his Army Air Force band
 in an open-air concert (USAF Photo)70 Years Ago—Oct. 29, 1943: Maj. Glenn Miller’s Army Air Force band records “St. Louis Blues March.”

Book Beat - In Golden Splendor by Michael K. Reynolds

Seamus Hanley has nothing going for him. Wanted as an Army deserter, he lives in exile in the Rockies - but he doesn't have the wilderness skills needed to survive. After he witnesses a stagecoach crash, he finds a letter and photo from Ashlyn Whittington.

In San Francisco, Ashlyn is running a home for unwanted children, but she's in dire need of help. Seamus decides to find this woman and sets off across America to do so. He finds more than he's looking for.

Set at the height of Gold Rush Fever, In Golden Splendor by Michael K. Reynolds follows the Hanley family (introduced in the excellent Flight of the Earls) through more adventures. Seamus Hanley is an appealing hero, a man trying to come to grips with his shady past, while planning for a sparkling future. The side characters are also a kick (especially hapless snake-oil salesman Winn). I particularly enjoyed the historical backdrop of 1949 San Francisco, complete with the grittiness of the era.

I'm very much looking forward to the last book in the series, Song of the Shenandoah, which follows the Hanleys into the Civil War. Note: While In Golden Splendor does stand alone, you'll want to read Flight of the Earls first - one of my favorite novels of last year.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Oct. 28, 1943: Los Angeles County forms Smoke & Fume Commission to deal with smog. In US, 500,000 coal miners go on strike.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Oct. 27, 1943: US lands on Shortlands and Choiseul in Solomons; New Zealanders take Stirling and Mono in Treasury Islands; all to divert from upcoming landings on Bougainville. Movie premiere of Guadalcanal Diary. Musicians allowed to record V-discs for the military, bypassing recording strike.