Meet a pharmacist and a society boy in
Sarah Sundin’s
WWII Romance
Anchor in the Storm
Revell
*******
The Story
One Plucky Female Pharmacist + One High-Society Naval Officer = Romance–and Danger
For plucky Lillian Avery, America’s entry into World War II means a chance to prove herself as a pharmacist in Boston. The challenges of her new job energize her. But society boy Ensign Archer Vandenberg’s attentions only annoy–even if he is her brother’s best friend.During the darkest days of the war, Arch’s destroyer hunts German U-boats in vain as the submarines sink dozens of merchant ships along the East Coast. Still shaken by battles at sea, Arch notices his men also struggle with their nerves–and with drowsiness. Could there be a link to the large prescriptions for sedatives Lillian has filled? The two work together to answer that question, but can Arch ever earn Lillian’s trust and affection?
Sarah Sundin brings World War II to life, offering readers an intense experience they won’t soon forget.
Introducing Lillian & Arch
Brief physical description
Lillian Avery: She has dark blonde hair, large hazel eyes, and delicate features. Due to a childhood accident, she lost her left leg below the knee and wears a prosthesis.
Ensign Archer (Arch) Vandenberg: a handsome man with wavy blond hair and bright blue eyes. He comes from old New England money and has a polished, patrician look about him.
Resembles…
Two years ago, I posted a picture of my daughter, Anna, all dolled-up in 1940s dress for a school project. My Facebook friends said she could be a model for one of my books. And I realized…she has the same coloring and look as Lillian does! Not intentional at all. So when I sent in my cover questionnaire to Revell, I sent this picture. And the cover model does look a lot like my Anna!
As for Arch, the cover model captures his look perfectly!
Strengths and weaknesses
Lillian is plucky and independent, cheerful and determined. Her independence comes at a cost though. She has a hard time opening up to people, and she doesn’t trust many people outside her family.
Arch is charming and sociable, but also cautious, dependable, orderly, and a perfectionist. However, his high standards often cause him to be suspicious and judgmental when he’s not careful.
Quirk (if any)
Lillian has a love-hate relationship with her prosthesis. She loves the independence her artificial leg gives her, but she hates how people stare—as Arch finds out the hard way! And she despises the crutches she has to use when she’s sore or her prosthesis is being repaired. She sees them as an emblem of weakness.
Although Arch comes from old New England money, he despises wealth and distrusts those who seek it. He longs to live a simple, Spartan life. However, he’s still drawn to the finer things in life.
Your inspiration for the character
As a pharmacist myself, I’ve longed to tell a story about a pharmacist on the US Home Front, especially a woman. Since less than 5 percent of pharmacists at the time were female, I wondered why a woman would choose the profession. She’d need to be feisty and determined…and what if she felt she needed a profession because no one would ever marry her? I’d also always wanted to write about a heroine with a visible physical disability—and Lillian Avery came to be.
Arch started off as Jim Avery’s best friend in Through Waters Deep. I gave him old-money New England roots to contrast with Jim’s small-town Midwestern upbringing, and made him more serious and grounded to balance Jim’s easy-going, fun-loving personality. Somewhere along the line, I realized Arch didn’t want to be rich—and I wanted to know more! I couldn’t wait to tell Arch’s story.
Background to the story
For Arch’s naval story, I wanted to follow the U-boat war off America’s East Coast in the first six months of 1942, when the Germans sank one hundred merchant ships. The US Navy was scrambling to catch up with limited resources, and I felt it was a particularly dramatic aspect of the war.
Lillian’s mystery was inspired by my husband, who is also a pharmacist. A few years ago, he made a transition from medical research to community pharmacy—and he was shocked at the impact of the current narcotic abuse epidemic. He noticed abuses of the system and several forged prescriptions, and he began cracking down. My overactive novelist’s imagination kicked in. What if my husband enraged the local drug kings? Would they come after him? It didn’t take long for me to modify this concept to my female pharmacist in World War II.
Sarah Sundin is the author of eight historical novels, including Anchor in the Storm. Her novel Through Waters Deep was named to Booklist’s “101 Best Romance Novels of the Last 10 Years,” and her novella “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” in Where Treetops Glisten was a finalist for the 2015 Carol Award. A mother of three, Sarah lives in California, works on-call as a hospital pharmacist, and teaches Sunday school. http://www.sarahsundin.com
Relz Reviewz Extras
Review of On Distant Shores, With Every Letter, Blue Skies Tomorrow & A Distant Melody
Character spotlight on Jim & Mary, Georgie & Hutch, Tom & Mellie, Ray & Helen, Jack & Ruth & Allie & Walt
RBC Book Club interview with Sarah ~ Part 1 & Part 2
Visit Sarah’s website and blog
Buy from Amazon: Anchor in the Storm or Koorong
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Character Spotlight ~ Sarah Sundin’s Ray Novak & Helen Carlisle
Character Spotlight ~ Sarah Sundin’s Georgie & Hutch
Character Spotlight: Sarah Sundin’s Dorothy & Wyatt (with giveaway)
May 12, 2016 at 10:35 pm
navy
May 12, 2016 at 11:13 pm
I simply adore Sarah’s books and am so excited that this one has just released in this series! Can’t wait to get my hands on it. 🙂 I think I would want to join the Air Force. Mainly because I live so close to the Air Force Academy here in Colorado Springs. 🙂
May 14, 2016 at 1:18 am
Thank you, Casey! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the stories!
May 13, 2016 at 2:32 am
This book sounds so fascinating! I have heard so much about it, and it’s on my TBR list. I would love to win a copy.
I think I would choose the Air Force.
May 13, 2016 at 2:35 am
I forgot to mention that the lady cover model bears a striking resemblance to my granddaughter. It’s uncanny. That’s part of the reason I love the cover so much–it’s a beautiful one!
May 14, 2016 at 1:18 am
Thank you, Winnie! Your granddaughter and my daughter might be doppelgangers then 🙂
May 15, 2016 at 1:32 pm
Sarah, I just noticed that the lady in your Anchor in the Storm book is named Lillian. My granddaughter that I told you looks like the cover model is named Lily! Weird coincidence! Now if your daughter is named Lily. . .
May 13, 2016 at 7:24 am
Air Force
May 13, 2016 at 9:52 am
I’d probably choose the Air Force.
May 13, 2016 at 1:08 pm
I’d join the Navy like my sister-in-law and my grandfather.
May 13, 2016 at 9:18 pm
It would be Army or Air Force for me. Thanks for the chance to win!
May 13, 2016 at 11:45 pm
I think flying planes would be incredibly fun (although I’m terribly afraid of heights) so Air Force it is!
May 14, 2016 at 12:08 am
That’s a hard one. Air Force or Navy…Can you see I have trouble making decisions? Can’t wait to read this!
May 14, 2016 at 1:19 am
Thank you, Patricia!
May 14, 2016 at 1:21 am
Since I get air sick and sea sick army would be my only chose.
May 14, 2016 at 2:02 am
That’s tough to answer. My husband was in both the Navvy and the Air Force so I have heard lots about them. Since I write children’s books about military aircraft and many of them are used by the Air Force, I guess I will go with Air Force. Sarah is one of my favorite historical authors. Thanks for the interview and the giveaway!
May 14, 2016 at 2:42 am
Can’t wait to read Anchor in the Storm. I am the child of a US Navy WWII Veteran and my son served 6 years in the US Navy. Love these books!
May 14, 2016 at 2:52 am
I am afraid of flying and I can’t swim well, so I think the army seems a better fit for me.
May 14, 2016 at 11:04 am
My brother was in the Air Force and a brother-in-law currently is in the AF, so I would pick the AF!
May 14, 2016 at 11:26 am
Air Force!
May 14, 2016 at 12:16 pm
Any branch that would let me learn how to fly.
May 14, 2016 at 1:15 pm
When I was 16, I wanted to go into the Air Force after graduation so I could fly the jets. I talked to a recruiter but he told me I have to have 20/20 vision (I wear glasses), I was so disappointed! Years later, I thought about I could have been one to work on the jets…oh well…God had other plans for me & they were even better 🙂
May 14, 2016 at 2:27 pm
My maternal grandfather served in the Navy as a pilot during WWII;
my paternal grandfather was in the Army Air Force, but served as a radio operator aboard a ship during WWII.
So cheering for the Navy is easy to do for me.
I would love to add this book to my reading pile!
May 15, 2016 at 4:43 am
If I had to choose, I would definitely choose the Navy. As a child of a CPO I grew up with fascination for all things Navy.
May 16, 2016 at 1:38 am
Navy
May 16, 2016 at 12:53 pm
I would choose Air Force because that is where my dad served.
May 17, 2016 at 12:05 pm
I guess the Army as I’m not fond of flying and hate being on ships/boats. My dad was a Navy man. My husband recently in the USMC. I’m partial to the military and love your books about them!
May 17, 2016 at 12:44 pm
I am going to go with Air Force since the Marines are not an option. My dream is to flight an f-16
May 18, 2016 at 8:26 am
Hmmmm…I guess I would choose the Navy 😊
May 19, 2016 at 6:11 am
If I had to choose, I would join the Air Force. I’ve heard it’s easier for women to get in, plus my female cousin joined and she loved it. I actually considered it a couple years ago, but didn’t think it was my passion.
May 19, 2016 at 1:17 pm
Air Force…Definitely. I think it would be so cool to be in combat while flying an airplane!