Turning Tide by Melody Carson: Giveaway and Review

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Book:  Turning Tide

Author: Melody Carlson

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Release Date: Feb 15, 2020


As the Great War rages on, Sunset Cove continues to feel its impact. Running the small town newspaper, Anna McDowell can’t escape the grim reports from the other side of the world, but home-front challenges abound as well. Dr. Daniel is serving the wounded on the front lines. And Katy, expecting her first child, with her husband in the trenches, tries to support the war effort with her Red Cross club. Even as the war winds down the costs are high—and Sunset Cove is not spared.

Click here for your copy!

World War I Fashions

About the Author

Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books (with sales around 6.5 million) for teens, women, and children. That’s a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a “storyteller.” Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, True Colors, etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She’s won a number of awards (including RT’s Career Achievement Award, the Rita, and the Gold medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog.

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More from Melody

Writing about the WW1 era has definitely been a good history lesson for me. Prohibition laws in Oregon (and rum-runners breaking them) combined with a massive war that changed the world and a global epidemic is worth paying attention to. Especially since history sometimes repeats itself. The early 20th century had a lot going on—much that seems nearly forgotten. I’m glad to see the movie 1917 is doing well—and we plan to see it this week. Although I’m not a fan of gruesome war movies, this era continues to intrigue me. Even as I wrapped up my Sunset Cove series with Turning Tide I was left wondering . . . what’s next? But isn’t that the beauty of story?

My Thoughts

Turning Tide by Melody Carlson is the fourth novel in The Legacy of Sunset Cove series.  Life continues at home while the men are off fighting in the Great War.  Anna McDowell gets the daily reports off the wire for the Sunset Times, the family newspaper.  Anna’s fiancé, Dr. Daniel Hollister, is serving on the front lines helping wounded soldiers.  Anna’s daughter, Katy is pregnant with her first child.  Her husband, Jim is a soldier in the trenches while she keeps busy with her dress shop, the Red Cross Club and assisting Ellen.    Ellen has her baby, but she misses having male attention.  She finds someone to fulfill her desire for attention which causes an estrangement with Katy and endless gossip.  Rationing is felt at home, but they are happy to make the sacrifice for the soldiers.  Every time a telegram delivery boy rides down the street on his bicycle, they wait and pray it will not be for them.  Which of their men will make it home?  Turning Tide is a lovely conclusion to The Legacy of Sunset Cove series.  I believe it is best if the series is read in order.  Each book builds upon the previous one.  I thought Turning Tide was well-written with developed characters.  I like how the author included historical events into the story.  The major battles, ships sunk, the Spanish Flu and, of course, the ending of the Great War.  We get to follow the day to day lives of our main characters:  Anna, Katy, Lucille, Mac, Ellen, Dr. JD Hollister and the others.  I thought the author captured the time period with the fashions, language, automobiles, and news.  I like how the changing fashion styles were included (less fabric being used because rationing and a more military look). Those at home keep the home fires burning, but they worry constantly about their loved one who is involved in the war effort.  They do not know if their husband, brother, or son will make it home.  If they do come home, how will they be affected.  Shell shock (as it was termed at that time) affected many returning soldiers.  I like how the author wrapped up this series.  It was a joy visiting Sunset Cove with its wonderful characters.  I would love the author to return to it in the future (maybe see how the citizens are faring during World War II for example). I liked how Christianity was incorporated into the story.  The power of prayer and trusting God were two important elements.  Turning Tide is a charming story with fluctuating fashions, tragic telegrams, endemic influenza outbreak, war raging, and worried women.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Melody is giving away the grand prize package of a complete set of The Legacy of Sunset Cove series! Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click here to enter.  Good Luck!  Turning Tide is available from Amazon* along with the other three novels in The Legacy of Sunset Cove series.  The other three titles are Harbor Secrets, Riptide Rumors and Surf Smugglers.  Melody Carlson's newest novel is The Happy Camper.  You do not want to miss this feel good story.  My mother started it last night and has not wanted to put it down.  Thank you for visiting today.  Tomorrow I am a stop on the tour for The Sea Glass Cottage by RaeAnne Thayne.  By the way. . . Why don't readers have any extra time?  They're BOOKED!  Do not forget to leave a comment for nine extra entries in the giveaway.  I hope you have a witty day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Blog Stops

The Avid Reader, March 16

For the Love of Literature, March 16

Through the Fire Blogs, March 16

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 17

Inklings and notions, March 17

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 18

deb’s Book Review, March 18

All-of-a-kind Mom, March 19

World War I Wedding Photo

By The Book, March 19

Wishful Endings, March 19

Texas Book-aholic, March 20

She Lives To Read, March 20

Betti Mace, March 21

Remembrancy, March 21

janicesbookreviews, March 22

Mary Hake, March 22

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 22

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, March 23

For Him and My Family, March 23

Maureen’s Musings, March 24

My Devotional Thoughts, March 24

World War I Wedding Photo

Jeanette’s Thoughts, March 24

Christian Bookaholic, March 25

Artistic Nobody, March 25 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Older & Smarter?, March 26

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 26

Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 27

Blogging With Carol, March 27

Daysong Reflections, March 27

SPLASHES of Joy, March 28

Vicky Sluiter, March 28

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, March 29

Pause for Tales, March 29

For the Love of Books, March 29

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Surf Smugglers by Melody Carlson: Review and Giveaway!

About the Book

Book: Surf Smugglers

Author: Melody Carlson

Genre: Historical Fiction

Release Date: August 15, 2019

In the summer of 1917, US troops join the allied forces in the Great War. Back in Sunset Cove, Oregon, other battles wage. Anna McDowell continues to fight old fashioned stereotypes as she runs a newspaper committed to truth. Despite opposition, she’s determined to expose ongoing rum-running and prohibition lawlessness.

Adding to Anna’s frustrations, her good friend Dr. Daniel seems to run hot and cold. He loves Oregon, and maybe Anna too, but he’s pulled by his East Coast family responsibilities. Even the lure of a new modern Sunset Cove hospital doesn’t seem enough to keep him in Sunset Cove.

Meanwhile, Anna’s strong-willed daughter Katy continues to develop her dress shop by inviting family friend Sarah Rose to help out. But the woman’s presence tests the small town’s tolerance. And Anna’s concern that her daughter is growing up too fast is confirmed when Katy’s romantic life takes an unexpected turn, which Anna fears is influenced by the pressure of a devastating war that is not only changing the entire world but Sunset Cove as well.

Click here to grab your copy.

About the Author

Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books (with sales around 6.5 million) for teens, women, and children. That’s a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a “storyteller.” Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, True Colors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She’s won a number of awards (including RT’s Career Achievement Award, the Rita, and the Gold medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog.

More from Melody

My favorite way to learn history is through historical fiction—both by reading and by writing it. And I’ve discovered that World War 1 (previously known as the Great War, since WW2 had yet to happen) is quite fascinating. As well as incredibly sad. But I’m amazed at how science and technology evolved so quickly in this era. Whether it was advancement in automotive, communication, medicine . . . the culture was rapidly changing. And the war pushed it along at an even faster pace.

Another factor that makes this era interesting is prohibition. Oregon, my home state and where I set my series, was one of the earliest states to adopt prohibition of alcohol—in 1914. As a result, Oregon became ripe territory for bootlegging and rum-running along the coastline. And because my series involves a small town coastal newspaper that’s run (gasp!) by a woman, it gets even more interesting—and exciting!

Speaking of women, the suffrage movement was approved in Oregon in 1912—also well ahead of the rest of the nation (and the main reason that prohibition passed). My theory on why this happened is that the brave women who’d made the arduous journey West (via perilous wagon train or long hard voyages on clipper ships) were strong and opinionated and tough. And many of them were sick and tired of drunken slacker husbands. Also, thanks to Oregon’s amazing land donation act of 1850, many of these women were equal landowners to their husbands—and land equaled power.

Of course, what these suffragette-prohibition supporters didn’t realize is that banning alcohol would make matters worse because bootlegging and rum-running suddenly became a very lucrative business. The crime rate soared and the booze continued to flow freely. But all this makes for good newspaper stories, keeping our female editor in chief rather busy. In the first two books of the series, Anna McDowell has her hands full with trying to run her ailing father’s newspaper, restoring family relationships, and staying ahead of the growing crime element in Sunset Cove.

By book three, Surf Smugglers, Anna has her feet under her and doing a good job of standing up to the criminal element in their region. But by now the Great War is really heating up and the United States must get involved. Of course, this means that many young men, as well as Anna’s very good friend Dr. Daniel Hollister, are being shipped overseas to serve. Meanwhile, there is plenty of trouble at home. And the rum-runners, who despise the newspaper’s support of prohibition, target Anna’s good friend Sarah Rose because she’s a woman of color who’s sought refuge from the big city . . . and naturally things get dicey.

I’m currently finishing up the fourth and final book of the Legacy if Sunset Cove series, and I’m sad to think my ‘history lesson’ in this interesting era is drawing to an end. Not only have I learned a lot, I’ve really come to love the McDowell family . . . and I’m getting worried that not all the men from Sunset Cove will survive the brutal war. Of course, this is fiction . . . but the war was very real and the losses were great. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the war to end all wars like they’d hoped, but I appreciate the sentiment . . . and continue to pray for world peace.

My Thoughts

Surf Smugglers by Melody Carlson is the third novel The Legacy of Sunset Cove series.  This series needs to be read in order as each book builds upon the previous one.  It is May of 1917 in Sunset Cove, Oregon where Anna McDowell is the editor-in-chief of Sunset Times.  Her father, Mac is doing recovering nicely from his stroke and Anna’s daughter, Katy is busy with Kathleen’s Dress Shop.  Katy is still dating Jim Stafford, a newspaper reporter and second in command at the Sunset Times.  Katy has invited Sarah Rose Lewis, her childhood caretaker, to come to Sunset Cove when she learns of the difficulty the woman is experiencing in Portland.  Katy has a big heart, but she failed to take into consideration that Sarah Rose will be the only woman of color in their town.  Anna does not want Sarah Rose hurt by small minded people.  Dr. Daniel Hollister is upset over losing a patient and learns that his father is ill.  Anna believes the town needs its own hospital and wonders if she can rally the support needed for the project. I thought Surf Smugglers was well-written and it proceeded at a thoughtful pace.  I have enjoyed this series with its heartwarming characters from multiple generations which provides different perspectives.  I like the dialogue between the characters as well as the interactions.  The author captured the time period with references to events taking place at that time as well as the clothing, conveyances and attitudes.  The Conscription Act has been passed, war is waging in Europe, Woodrow Wilson is president, the change in clothing styles, women’s right to vote, and prohibition are all included in Surf Smugglers.  Local men will be heading off to war and one woman makes an impulsive decision.  I am eager to read the final book in The Legacy of Sunset Cove series to find out what happens next in Sunset Cove.  They have endured so much in their little town, but now their men are off at war and those at home must hope they will return safely.  Hope and forgiveness are two of the themes present in the story.  Surf Smugglers is a lovely historical novel with illegal hooch, express enlistment, hasty nuptials, fluctuating fashions, and worried women.  

To celebrate her tour, Melody is giving away the grand prize of three of her books: Harbor Secrets, Riptide Rumors, and Surf Smugglers.  Be sure to comment on the blog stops (schedule below) for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the here to enter.  Harbor Secrets, Riptide Rumors and Surf Smugglers are available at Amazon (Amazon UK). Christmas at Winter Hill by Melody Carlson comes out on September 3.  I will be reviewing Fatal Promise by Angela Marsons tomorrow.   It is the ninth D.I. Kim Stone Novel. On Sunday's, I feature a book that I was unable to when it was released. May you have an enchanting day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Blog Stops

The Avid Reader, August 31

Connect in Fiction, August 31

Among the Reads, September 1

She Lives To Read, September 1

Through the Fire Blogs, September 1

For Him and My Family, September 2

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 2

Just the Write Escape, September 3

Patiently Waiting, September 3

Blogging With Carol , September 3

CarpeDiem, September 4

Betti Mace, September 4

Christian Bookaholic , September 4

Reflections From My Bookshelves, September 5

Wishful Endings, September 5

Remembrancy, September 5

Maureen’s Musings, September 6

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess , September 6

Bigreadersite , September 7

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 7

It’s Story Time With Van Daniker, September 7

Connie’s history classroom , September 8

For the Love of Literature, September 8

Hallie Reads, September 8

Moments, September 9

Simple Harvest Reads, September 9

FOR THE LOVE of Books , September 9

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 10

Pause for Tales, September 10

To Everything A Season, September 10

Retrospective Spines, September 11

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 11

Texas Book-aholic, September 11

Older & Smarter?, September 12

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, September 12

janicesbookreviews, September 13

A Reader’s Brain, September 13

Inklings and notions , September 13

Riptide Rumors by Melody Carlson

Good Day!  Melody Carlson has written over 200 books for womens, teens and children.  Ms. Carlson considers herself a storyteller.  Her young adult novels like Diary of a Teenage Girl and True Colors appeal to teenage girls around the world.  Her annual Christmas novellas are more popular each year (The Christmas Joy Ride, Christmas at Harrington's, The Christmas Cat).  Ms. Carlson has won a number of awards and some of her books have been optioned for television/film.  Ms. Carlson lives with her husband and yellow Lab dog in the Pacific Northwest.  She also has two grown sons.  Christmas in Winter Hill (this years Christmas novella) releases on September 3.

Author Links

Readers can follow Melody Carlson on Amazon Author Page, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

My Summary

Riptide Rumors by Melody Carlson returns readers to Sunset Cove in the autumn of 1916.  Life is settling down after the arrests of the rum runners, but then Albert Krauss is broken out of jail.  Albert’s wife, Clara and his daughter, Ellen are once again under police protection and return to Lucille’s house.  Anna McDowell, editor-in-chief of Sunset Times, is busy capturing the latest events for the paper along with her second-in-command, Jim Stafford.  They want to get to the bottom of the corrupt dealings in the town which has Jim becoming a shadow to one of their suspects. Katy McDowell, Anna’s sixteen year old daughter, is dissatisfied with the local high school and is ready to move on with her life.  Katy has come up with a plan with help from her grandmother, Lucille, but Anna is not going to like it.  The mayoral election is coming up in a month and Katy is busy organizing Wally Morris’s campaign.  The last thing the McDowell family wants is for the unscrupulous Mayor Snyder to get re-elected.  Snyder has openly shared his opinion about prohibition and has even opened a social club. As time passes, Anna wonders if they will ever eradicate the corruption that has invaded their once peaceful town. They hatch a plan that will catch the shady players in the act.  Anna just hopes it does not blow up in their faces.  

My Thoughts

Riptide Rumors is the second novel The Legacy of Sunset Cove series.  You do need to read Harbor Secrets before embarking on Riptide Rumors.  I thought the story was well-written with interesting characters and situations.  The author captured the time period and included references to the presidential election, Battle of Somme, and current fashions.  The pacing was a little slower than I would have liked, but it suited the story.  I did feel that some details regarding the corruption scandal were repetitious.  I enjoyed Melody Carlson’s vivid descriptions of the charming beach town, the characters and the lovely fashions.  Anna McDowell is a strong, intelligent and stubborn female protagonist and she has raised her daughter, Katy to be an independent young woman who is equally stubborn.  Katy is growing up and she no longer wants to follow her mother’s plan to attend college.  She is artistic and loves fashion.  While Katy would love to venture to Paris to study with Jeanne Paquin, it is impossible with the ongoing war.  Katy conspires with her grandmother, Lucille, but she does not know how her mother will react.  Mac is recovering from his stroke, and he is enjoying the return of Anna and getting to know Katy.  Lucille is a flamboyant character who has her own opinions. With prohibition the law in Oregon, making and distributing illegal hooch is a popular occupation.  It has invaded the small town of Sunset Cove and many residents are unhappy about it.  They know that Mayor Snyder is involved, but Police Chief Rollins cannot catch him in the act.  Anna and Jim are digging for the truth and uncover the main players.  The mystery was not the focus of Riptide Rumors.  Romance is blossoming for Anna, Katy, Clara and Lucille.  Anna started out with three suitors, and we must wonder which gentleman is the right one for her.  Riptide Rumors is a charming historical novel with a controversial mayoral election, rum runners, family drama, an escaped convict, and budding romances.

Riptide Rumors is available on Amazon along with Harbor Secrets.  The next book in The Legacy of Sunset Cove series is Surf Smugglers which releases August 15.  I will feature Surf Smugglers as part of the Celebrate Lit Tour on August 31 and there will be a giveaway for all three books in the series.  Thank you for joining me today.  I hope that you have a spellbinding day.  Take care, stay cool and hydrated (it is very hot outside) and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader