phyllish
Written on Sep 1, 2019
It seems there aren't as many books about the time surrounding World War I as there are for World War II. And of those, fewer that take place here in the United States.
I enjoyed seeing this coastal town in Oregon at the beginning of our involvement in the Great War. In Surf Smugglers, the town continued to have problems with rum running and it was dealt with a little. Bigger issues were prejudice, lack of adequate medical care when more than just a doctor was needed, and the entry of the US into the war resulting in the implementation of the draft.
Katy's complete lack of prejudice towards Sarah Rose and her obliviousness to the fact that people had prejudices was refreshing. I liked Katy's fierce love for the woman who had helped raise her and how protective she was.
The concept of standing up for what is right and calling attention to it can occasionally have the opposite effect from the one you are expecting was intriguing. Anna's editorial on the evils of rum-running and the one on prejudice had the best of intentions. And received some less-than-favorable results.
The undercurrent of faith throughout the story is more along the lines of what is found in "Inspirational" fiction instead of the more overt way it usually appears in Christian fiction.
The story was good, though it felt like it was lacking depth. Scenes that could have been charged with emotion or filled with action weren't. I did feel for the characters in their various predicaments but found myself checking to see how much further I had until I was finished.
I did realize before I read this that I went from Harbor Secrets, the first in this series, to this one, book 3. While there is an assumption that you know the background, I didn't feel lost having not read the second book. I do recommend, however, that you start with the first before reading this one.
If you enjoy historical fiction and would like to learn more about what life was like on the Oregon Coast during this time, this could be a fun read for you.
Read my full review at Among the Reads
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own."