Book Review: Anchor in the Storm by Sarah Sundin

by Sandra Ardoin

The second book of the Waves of Freedom series, Anchor in the Storm, by Sarah Sundin carries on the Avery family’s participation in World War II.

Warning: If you haven’t read Through Waters Deep, the following paragraph contains a minor spoiler.

Shortly after December 7, 1941, Arch Vandenberg arrives at Jim Avery’s home in Ohio. As survivors of the sinking of the destroyer Atwood, the men have earned a little R & R. Arch is in special need of getting his “head back on straight.” Growing up as the son of a wealthy insurance company owner, he’s a man with more demons than a near-crippling case of combat fatigue. He’s plagued by a childhood mistake that directs his future, and a fear of being loved only for his money.

Dear Lord, a U-boat. Arch knew what to do, where to go, but he froze, braced, immobile, while men scurried up to their stations.

‘Lord, help me.’ He broke free, stumbled forward. ‘I’m not below decks. Not trapped.’

For Arch, meeting Lillian Avery is love at first sight. For Lillian and what she perceives as her cold heart…not so much.

Only a stupid man would want her, and she didn’t want a stupid man. Or a twisted man. A shudder rippled through her. Never again.

Lillian Avery’s disability won’t stop her from being a pharmacist. But what could stop her—permanently—is curiosity over the high orders of phenobarbital at her store, the same drug making the sailors on Arch’s boat sleepy.

Through the coming months of battles, both onshore and off, each is tested and must either cling to their faith—their anchor in the storm–or risk sinking into cold-hearted despair and/or bitterness. These are deep, real, and flawed characters who don’t make falling in love during wartime easy on each other.

I recently toured the destroyer, USS Laffey, in Charleston, South Carolina, so those tiny details of description Ms. Sundin adds in all her stories stood out to me. Yet those details never bog the book down. They simply add the right amount of color to help the reader feel as though they’re operating right alongside the characters.

Each book has different heroes and heroines. However, I would highly recommend reading this series in order. Next up: Quintessa!

Romance. Mystery. History. Suspense. If any of those are on your list of must-read genres, then you must read Anchor in the Storm.

Do you have a favorite war era to read about? A favorite novel set during a war?

Historical Flavor: Originally, destroyers were named for heroic naval enlisted men. Later, the names included those of officers. The USS Laffey was named in honor of Seaman Bartlett Laffey, a Civil War veteran and hero in a March 1864 battle against the Confederacy.