In Perfect Time by Sarah Sundin

This good historical novel is part of a World War II series, Wings of the Nightingale, but can easily be read alone.

This novel centers on Army Air Force flight nurse Lt. Kay Jacobson. She's a flirt, leaving men pining in airfields all across Europe. But her life changes when she meets the handsome C-47 pilot Lt. Roger Cooper. He is immune to her charms. In fact, he does everything he can to avoid her. As they cross paths while evacuating the wounded and delivering paratroopers and supplies between Italy and southern France, they find their hearts drawn to each other. Can they overcome deep fears and misunderstandings from the past to look to the future?

I am always amazed at the amount of research Sundin must do to create her novels. I feel like I am right there, part of the action. This novel covers the work of the 802^nd Medical Air Evacuation Transport Squadron, a real unit and the first to fly a true air evacuation mission. Sundin has given us a good account of the challenges the soldiers faced. The crash landing and ultimate rescue told in the novel is based on an actual event that happened in Nazi-occupied Albania in 1943. The 64^th Troop Carrier Group was real, as was the downing of Japanese Zero fighters by unarmed C-47 troop carriers. You can read about the historical background of this novel at the author's website, www.sarahsundin.com. Sundin also has a board on Pinterest with photos of events and locations as well as articles on the novel's characters. You can find it here.

Besides the interesting historical aspect of this novel, readers will be reminded of how deep childhood experiences and parental comments are buried in our hearts. Kay is the child of a shyster traveling preacher. Her concept of her self-worth was deeply affected by her parents' hurtful 

comments. Her flagrant flirting behavior is a result. Roger had similar childhood experiences, being told he'd never accomplish anything, he was lazy, etc. We find that it is only the work of the Lord in their lives that can heal these deep hurts in both of them. Even so, it is a very rocky road of romance for Kay and Roger.

This is a very good historical novel. It is great to be reminded of the heroic men and women who fought during World War II. In reading this novel you'll get a vivid lesson in history as well as a rewarding story of romance.

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Please visit your local Christian bookstore to purchase this book.

Sarah Sundin is the author of “With Every Letter” and the Wings of Glory series. In 2011, A “Memory Between Us” was a finalist in the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Awards, and Sarah received the Writer of the Year Award at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. A graduate of UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, she works on call as a hospital pharmacist. During WWII, her grandfather served as a pharmacist’s mate (medic) in the Navy and her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force in England. Sarah lives in California with her husband and three children. Visit www.sarahsundin.com for more information.

Revell (a division of Baker Publishing Group), 411 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.