Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 410

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Oct. 25, 1943: Burma-Siam “Death Railway” completed by Allied POWs and natives (93,000 killed in its construction). Japanese withdraw from Finschhafen area of New Guinea.

Book Beat - The Girl's Guide to Your Dream Room by Sherry Kyle

It's a minor dilemma faced by preteen girls and their moms. The cute little-girl décor is outgrown. Big decorating dreams take hold - and can become an obsession. Moms want to keep costs down - and to teach daughters proper values while encouraging creativity.

The Girl's Guide to Your Dream Room by Sherry Kyle is a welcome gift for both girls and moms. Full of fun stories, cute pictures, decorating tips, quizzes, and crafts, this book will engage girls. (It engaged the little girl inside me!) The stories and activities guide tween girls through budgeting and planning their room makeover - in an economical, practical, and creative way. Girls are taught basic home decorating, even how to use graph paper to design.

Moms will love how the stories and tips enforce biblical principles of frugality, compassion, encouragement, and obedience - without ever sounding preachy.

If the tween girl in your life is itching for a bedroom makeover, you'll both love The Girl's Guide to Your Dream Room!

Sadly, my own daughter is too old for this book. Sigh. So I'm giving away a copy of The Girl's Guide to Your Dream Room. Please leave a comment about your own girlish bedroom dreams, and make sure to include your email address so I can contact the winner. Leave the email address in the following format: sarah [at] sarahsundin [dot] com. You must be over 18 to enter, US only please. I'll post the winner on Tuesday, October 29.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Oct. 24, 1943: Soviets take Dniepropetrovsk, Ukraine.

Today in World War II History

Gandhi and Subhas Chandra Bose, 193870 Years Ago—Oct. 23, 1943: In Singapore, provisional government of India (affiliated with Japanese) under Subhas Chandra Bose declares war on US and UK.

Book Beat - The Letters by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Rose Shrock is in over her head. Her husband died under mysterious circumstances, leaving her with a financial scandal, a huge debt, a grumpy mother-in-law, and a houseful of children. Determined to make the best of things, Rose turns the family home into the Inn at Eagle Hill.

Meanwhile in Philadelphia, Delia Stoltz gets a double dose of bad news - she has breast cancer, and her neurosurgeon husband is leaving her for another woman. In need of escape, Delia ends up in Amish country at the Inn at Eagle Hill.

The lives of Rose and Delia, the Shrock family, and their friends in Stony Ridge intertwine and enrich each other in a delightful way.

Suzanne Woods Fisher has done it again with a touching story filled with fascinating and deep and funny characters (I adore young Mim!) The setting has the right amount of pastoral peace you'd expect in an Amish novel, but the real-life problems and sometimes-difficult personalities keep the sweet from ever getting saccharine. The Letters is a fabulous start to Suzanne's new series!

Today in World War II History

  Gen. Robert Laycock, 1943 (Imperial War Museum)70 Years Ago—Oct. 22, 1943: Maj.-Gen. Robert Laycock becomes British Chief of Combined Operations. In Italy, British Eighth Army crosses River Trigno north of Termoli at night.

"Taste of Italy" Winner

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt this weekend! I had a blast visiting all 25 author blogs - and getting to know so many new people here on my blog.

Although the Scavenger Hunt is over, you can still follow the posts, meet some new authors, and read about some wonderful new books. Start at Stop #1.

A final wrap-up for the main Scavenger Hunt giveaway will be coming soon. Meanwhile, 98 people entered the individual giveaway on my blog for the "Taste of Italy" CD, featuring Italian music and recipes from Gourmet magazine.

And the winner is...Karla Akin! Karla, thank you for leaving your email address - and for subscribing to my email newsletter. I've sent you an email.

Today in World War II History

Adm. Sir Alfred "Dudley" Pound70 Years Ago—Oct. 21, 1943: Former British First Sea Lord Adm. Sir Alfred “Dudley” Pound dies, age 66; Adm. Andrew Cunningham appointed First Sea Lord. Luftwaffe bombs Naples for first time; air raid also hits US hospitals at Mostra Fairgrounds, killing 11 patients and medical personnel.

Today in World War II History

  70 Years Ago—Oct. 20, 1943: United Nations War Crimes Commission is established.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Oct. 19, 1943: Third Moscow Conference begins: Allies agree to strip Germany of territory acquired since 1938; Stalin agrees to demand Axis unconditional surrender.