Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 430

Today in World War II History

Recruiting poster featuring B-26 Marauders70 Years Ago—May 14, 1943: Australian hospital ship Centaur sunk by Japanese sub I-177off Brisbane, 268 killed. US Eighth Air Force in England launches first mission with over 200 bombers and first with B-26 Marauder medium bombers.

Trust Chronicles - Day One

The Trust Chronicles is a blog hop and collaborative project between five historical romance authors. Our desire is to bring you lasting hope through these letters, grounded in trust in our Lord that, and written from the fictional viewpoints of each book’s heroine. We’re so glad to have you join the event. Each day this week, a new Trust Chronicles post will go live, complete with a letter and a new giveaway for that blog post.


To read more about the project and enter to win the one-of-a-kind, Trust Chronicles antique keepsake box, containing each heroine's letter, hand-inscribed by the author, and a special keepsake to accompany each letter, please visit the Trust Chronicles website.

Today's entry in the Trust Chronicles comes from author Regina Jennings and her heroine Molly Lovelace from her novel Love in the Balance . To read Molly's letter and enter to win Molly's prize bundle, please visit Regina's blog.


We invite you to join us each weekday this week as we hop through cyberspace and history, gleaning hope from each heroine’s journey. To visit each post on or after its date, click on the author name in blue.
Monday, May 13th: Regina Jennings (Heroine: Molly Lovelace, Love in the Balance)
Tuesday, May 14th: Joanne Bischof (Heroine: Cassie Allan, Though My Heart is Torn)
Wednesday, May 16th: Amanda Dykes (Heroine: Bonnie McDonnell, Among the Pines)
Thursday, May 17th: Karen Barnett (Heroine: Laurie Burke, Mistaken)
Friday, May 18th: Sarah Sundin (Heroine: Georgie Taylor, On Distant Shores)

All drawings will close Sunday May 19, 2013, and the winners will be announced on Monday May 20, 2013 here, on the other participating blogs, and on the Trust Chronicles site.

Today in World War II History

Emblem of 94th Bomb Group70 Years Ago—May 13, 1943: Four new bomb groups begin operations with the US Eighth Air Force, doubling strength (94th, 95th, 96th, and 351stBGs with B-17s). Danish resistance damages railway at Tønder.

Today in World War II History

Aerial View of Axis Prisoners near Mateur, Tunisia70 Years Ago—May 12, 1943: German and Italian forces surrender in Tunisia, ending campaign in North Africa; Allies take 225,000 prisoners.

Giveaway Winner - Wedded to War

To celebrate the release of Jocelyn Green's Widow of Gettysburg (see my feature here), I'm giving away the first novel in her Heroines Behind the Lines series, Wedded to War . Thanks to everyone who commented and entered.

And the winner is...Megan Fitzpatrick! Megan, thanks for leaving your email. I'll contact you for your mailing address.

Today in World War II History

US troops landing at Massacre Bay, Attu70 Years Ago—May 11, 1943: US Army lands on Attu in Aleutians, at Massacre and Holtz Bays and at Alexai Point; heavy opposition.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—May 10, 1943: In Tunisia, British First Army takes Hammamet, cutting off Cap Bon Peninsula.

Widow of Gettysburg - and a Giveaway!

In 2006, my family visited Gettysburg. A sobering, fascinating day. This battle stands as one of the most famous in American history for sheer scope and tragedy, but also because it changed the course of the Civil War and of the nation.

When the battle descended on the small town in Pennsylvania, civilians were trapped. Jocelyn Green's Widow of Gettysburg is the account of a fictional young widow, Liberty Holloway, whose home is captured and used as a Confederate hospital. One of the patients, Silas Ford, intrigues her, but she can't even comprehend romance with a Rebel. Meanwhile, Bella, a free black woman, desperately tries to avoid being caught by the Southerners, and reporter Harrison Caldwell experiences the direct horrors of the battle.

A triumphant tale of identity and forgiveness. Widow of Gettysburg shows us the full sweep of that famous battle, from the men on the battlefield to the civilian women whose lives and homes were overrun by history. Through unforgettable characters, impeccable research, and an intricately woven plot, Jocelyn Green drew me in and didn’t let me go. Do not miss this story!

Although this is the second book in the Heroines Behind the Lines series, Widow of Gettysburg stands alone.
Bonus Giveaway! I have an extra copy of Wedded to War , Jocelyn Green's Christy-Award nominated novel, the first book in the Heroines Behind the Lines series. Read about Wedded to War here. To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment with your email in the following format: sarah [at] sarahsundin [dot] com. US and Canada only please. I'll announce the winner on my blog on Saturday.

Also, Jocelyn's put together a really fun giveaway on her website, including a handmade rag rug and the soundtracks to Gettysburg and Glory. Here’s the link: http://wp.me/p1bLl3-my

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—May 9, 1943: US II Corps breaks through to Tunisian east coast; all Axis troops north of Tunis surrender. Japanese begin 3-day massacre of 30,000 civilians in Changjiao, Hunan Province.

Happy V-E Day Anniversary!

Sixty-eight years ago today, the Allies celebrated Victory in Europe. People went to church and prayed. Bells rang. Parades rejoiced through small towns and cities.

The cost of victory was high. Tens of millions were killed in battle. More tens of millions were murdered and starved in concentration camps. And more millions perished as civilian casualties of bombing. Many of Europe's great cities lay in heaps of rubble. The infrastructure of factories, railways, bridges, and roads lay in tangled ruins.

But the cost of defeat would have been even higher. The fascist dictators had conquered most of Europe and ruled with totalitarian brutality. They trampled the freedoms of the occupied lands, freedoms we take for granted - to speak our mind, to worship as we please, to associate with the people of our choice, to keep the fruits of our labor, and even to listen to the radio. They ruled through fear, and it was legitimate fear. Entire villages were emptied and massacred. Dissenters were tortured and executed. Anyone who didn't fit in the fascist regime due to ethnicity, religion, or mental or physical incapacity, was eliminated with horrid efficiency.

We reap the benefits of that victory today. Despite today's economic woes and terrorist threats, we live in relative prosperity and peace - and we have freedom. We must never forget what a blessing freedom is - or how much it costs. Use it wisely. Use it well.

Thank you to all those veterans who set aside their individual rights to ensure freedom for the future. God bless you.