On Distant Shores

Wings of the Nightingale #2

by Sarah Sundin

Historical romance writer Sundin (With Every Letter, 2012) continues her Wings of the Nightingale series with the story of flight nurse Lieutenant Georgiana “Georgie” Taylor. As she flies alongside soldiers wounded while fighting in WWII, life seems to be going exactly on schedule until her path crosses that of Sergeant John Hutchinson, a pharmacist, and her eyes are opened to who she could become. As Georgie realizes her strength by seeing herself through John’s eyes, John must learn that his bitterness is gradually taking away the things he loves in his life. Sundin leaves no emotion unexamined in this mix of loss and hope. The author’s experience as a hospital pharmacist gives her story line credibility as it is matched by her extensive knowledge of WWII. With her nurse and pharmacist characters, Sundin has crafted an inspirational romance featuring a unique take on WWII that will pique the interests of readers who enjoy historical medical fiction. --Elizabeth Ponder

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Romance, Christian, World War II, Fiction, Historical

433 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2013

About the author

Sarah Sundin enjoys writing about the drama and romance of the World War II era. She is the bestselling author of Mists over the Channel Islands (February 2026) Midnight on the Scottish Shore (2025), and Embers in the London Sky (2024). Her novels have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Booklist. Until Leaves Fall in Paris received the 2022 Christy Award, The Sky Above Us won the 2020 Carol Award, The Sound of Light was a finalist for both the Christy Award and the Carol Award, and When Twilight Breaks and The Land Beneath Us were Christy Award finalists.

A mother of three, Sundin lives in Southern California and teaches Sunday school. She enjoys speaking to community, church, and writers' groups. Sarah serves as co-director of the West Coast Christian Writers Conference.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I officially just love Sarah Sundin. This book left me breathless.

I loved how it didn't pick up where the previous ended, but started further back so we could really get in context and know what had happened to the secondary characters of With Every Letter before the end. It was so easy to loose myself again completely in Sarah Sundin's World War II atmosphere, and seeing all the characters again was so much fun!

I looooved Georgie from book 1 and was SO excited to read her story!! It was definitely sadder and more heart-wrenching than I'd bargained for, but overall it was so good, I couldn't put it down. One of the things I love the most about Sundin's characters is how they have to go through personal struggles to help them grow and correct a certain character flaw about themselves.

I found On Distant Shores to be particularly inspiring in that area. The heroine's inner conflicts were incredibly well drawn out, and the way she tried so hard to overcome her fears and be a better person added a whole new dimension to the story. It wasn't just a love story of two people engaged to another (respectively), it was a also a journey of self-discovery. Christian principles were artfully woven throughout and it created a credible, inspiring story.

I loved, loved seeing the characters from book 1 again and having them just keep going with the story. Some moments were definitely harder to bear though, and although this novel was not just "sad", it was undoubtedly the sadder of the three, and had a few scenes where I nearly cried. But overall it was just beautiful, so entrancing, and I dove into book 3 immediately after finishing. The setting is so exciting, so adventurous, so enriching, and just so pleasant to learn about.

I believe that of the three books in this series, On Distant Shores is equal parts the saddest and sweetest, given the tragedies that occur and the gentle love story that developed between the main characters. Every moment spent reading this novel gave me some kind of strong emotion, and it was impossible to put down (and since I was on the road for hours on end, I thankfully didn't really have to). I strongly, strongly recommend it, whether you loved With Every Letter or are just looking for a great WWII book to read. It was full of interesting information about the role of pharmacists in the war, and the setting is so well depicted, you can actually see the set-up tents full of crates and medicine and prescriptions.

Stand-alone novel, as the author replays the last quarter of book 1 from the perspective of different characters in order to let the reader know what happened off stage. I would still recommend reading With Every Letter first though, as it was an amazing read and establishes an even deeper connection with the characters.

My review so doesn't do justice to this amazing book, and I'm really kicking myself for not reviewing it sooner, but regardless, add this book to your shelf now, you surely won't regret it!!

[Shirley Chapel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve had this entire series by Sarah Sundin in my Kindle library for many years. Last year I read book one With Every Letter. This book is the second in the series. I enjoy reading World War Two books and this author shines in this genre. This was a book that was packed with emotions. A war time romance that stood the test of war and grew to love . A pharmacist and a flight nurse. He was an enlisted man and not an officer. She was a Lieutenant and an officer. During World War Two officers and enlisted men were not allowed to fraternize or date so this romance was a secret. I thought the book was very interesting and it drew me into the pages as though I was there in person with the characters. I love when a book does that to me.
I recommend this book to reader of historical fiction, women’s fiction, World War Two fiction and Christian Fiction. There are three books in this series and I will be reading book three.
I purchased my own copy and all thoughts shared here are my own.

[Jesseca Wheaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent book by Sarah Sundin!! Seriously, every time I read another book by her, I fall in love with new characters and want to keep them all! Unfortunately, I have library copies. ;)
Georgie was so sweet, as was Hutch. And oh my goodness, Bergie was so much fun!!! I absolutely loved his character!! he was the perfect friend for Hutch and he was personally my very FAVORITE character! ( I know, I do change favorite characters a lot. . . ;) )
So yes, I loved the book and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of Sarah Sundin's books. :)

[Kellyn Roth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread May 22nd 2018:
This is my least favorite of the series - due to Hutch not being my favorite hero, mostly ... and because Georgiana and I have almost nothing in common. But I still loved it. It was definitely heartbreaking!

Original Read January 25th 2017:

Originally posted in the March 2017 Mini Review Day post

Let’s be honest; this book broke my heart. Of course, every other Sarah Sundin book has broken my heart in a unique way, but this one … so much stuff to kill one internally! Rose (oh, wow … that was so heartbreaking!) … and Hutch’s girlfriend (ooooooh, I would have killed her, so help me!) and Georgie is such a trooper, and she’s so … awesome … and I just love her. Reminds me of my BFF a little, honestly.

Hutch … oh, my word, Hutch. I hate how no one respects him! Like, no one. Not a single person, honestly. And he so deserves everyone’s respect And Georgie. AAAH!!! (no, wait, I already fangirled over Georgie … must fangirl over someone else now … how about the nurses as a whole?)

THE NURSES! This series. They are like this little team of spunky awesome people. I just don’t have works. I feel like saying, “I CAN’T EVEN!” but that’s not really me. I’m more of a “AAAAAAH THIS BOOOOOOOOOOK!” girl.

As a whole, the series was amazing. It let us look through the eyes of the lesser-sung heroes (and heroines, to some extent) of WW2. It is high on emotions with a beautiful Christian message in each book and characters so well-developed you feel as if you know them.

~Kellyn Roth, Reveries Reviews

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Ques happy sigh* Sarah Sundin, thou art exceptional.

This was such a lovely story! There were some pretty heartbreaking/heart-wrenching/super-duper-sad stuff here, and I didn't think I'd recover after reading that spoiler (but I did. thank God). I connected so well with Georgie and I did like her -- even though I wasn't anticipating her story that much -- but I could relate with her so well! I LOVED the bible verse that goes with this story (or, at least, the bible verses used here). And there was such an uplifting message relating to Georgie's struggle with indecision that circled around being unwavering. (James 1:6 is what's used. I'm adding that here for context XD)

I don't think it's going to be a favorite in this series, though. I didn't really like Hutch -- his character wasn't necessarily likable for me. BUT, I learned quite a few things from him, sooooo thanks, Hutch. ;) And the romance...ahhh! It felt pretty fast, but OH! there was that drama and tension that. I. LOVE.

Anyway! I'm loving these older Sarah Sundin books, and she has been reminding me of how much I absolutely love them all!

***

“Those are waves, and above them, a nightingale. I know you ladies call yourselves nightingales.”
“Mercy on wing,” she whispered.
“Yeah, and you’re above the waves. Unwavering. Not driven with the wind.”
“James 1:6.”
So she’d looked it up. “Yeah. To remind you God can give you wisdom and strength.”

♡

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an amazing story! I absolutely loved this. Sarah has been my favorite author for years, and as I begin to re-read through some of my favorites I remember why I love her so much. This story in particular I've wanted to re-read for a while and I'm so glad I did! I had forgotten a lot of the plot so it was fun getting to read it with almost-fresh eyes!

Georgie is a true star in this novel. She grew up pampered and protected, which led to some serious growing up once she became a nurse. While she has amazing social confidence, her spiritual confidence is lacking until a tragedy occurs. She realizes that God allows tragedy for a good, if unfathomable reason, and that she shouldn’t aim for safety but for strength to stand in an unsafe world. Current world events have got my mind in a tizzy recently and that quote honestly moved me to tears because I, too, have been aiming for the former instead of the latter.

Hutch... is not my favorite hero she's written. He's got a big ego and a lot of attitude for a majority of the book so it was hard to find redeemable qualities about him, except for when he took care of that sweet little girl. Kudo's to Sundin for writing such real characters because I wanted to wring his neck for 70% of the book. Truthfully if I hadn't loved Georgie's character so much this would've been rated lower just because of him.😅

The characters, history, and drama make for such incredible stories... Sarah Sundin is a master storyteller so if you haven't picked up one of her books yet, do it!

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

On Distant Shores was my fifth Sarah Sundin novel and my favorite thus far.

This WWII novel is about Georgie and Hutch. Georgie is not used to making her own decisions and Hutch is so focused on a career goal he can see little else. It's very rewarding to watch the two of them on their journey toward confidence for Georgie and contentment for Hutch. I especially enjoyed all of the history regarding Army pharmacist and the treatment differences between enlisted and officers.

I highly recommend this novels for readers who enjoy historical fiction.

[Andrea Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

by Andrea Renee Cox

This was an enjoyable book, but there were pieces of it that were a little conflicting for me.

Firstly, I loved the surprises (good and bad!) that popped up out of nowhere. This story dealt well with fears and the niggling affects of them after the initial fears are overcome. This portion of the book reminded me of my own journey with a severe fear of water after two near-drowning incidents in my childhood. The emotions of this story were rich and add so much flavor to the tale.

What I really struggled with was having a Christian character be fascinated with Greek mythology and to be curious about foreign gods. These things are of the devil and are contradictory to the Christian faith. It really irritates me when mythology is shown to be a positive thing, because it is one of the devil's ways of twisting God's truth.

There were six sentence fragments that stood out to me as out of place or had an abrupt rhythm, and I found one typo.

There was one mention of a two-piece swimsuit.

Something I noticed that is pretty common with love-triangle stories was that the boyfriend was condescending to Georgie. I could see, I suppose, why she chose someone like him--her parents treated her the same way--but it made it hard for me to root for her at times because I couldn't relate to dating such a completely inconsiderate, rude, controlling, and condescending man. Sometimes I can buy into a bad-guy thing, but what was his motivation for treating her like he did? Was it for sport? Had his mom mistreated his dad, so he decided he'd never allow that to happen to him? If some of his past and reasoning were in there, perhaps I could have understood him better and had a bit of sympathy for him.

Overall, On Distant Shores was an enjoyable, entertaining story. I loved the insight into the Pharmacy Corps and the struggles the pharmacists faced during WWII. It was great to read a WWII story again; it had been a while for me, and I realized partway through that I had desperately missed it.

I was not compensated for my honest review.

[Sarita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book from Sarah Sundin and the second in the series. I enjoyed this book a lot more than book 1 in the series.

I liked Georgie in book 1, but simply loved her in her own story. I loved seeing her grow, from someone allowing others to dictate for her, allowing her fears to consume her, to a strong women who trust God even in horrible situations and following His path for her. I loved also how she was the one to reach out to Hutch when he was too stubborn to. Sometimes, the women is the one to reconcile bridges.

Hutch, I went through ups and downs from liking him, loving him, and being totally frustrated with him. His story was such a great example of what will happen when you lose your focus from God, and allow your dreams to become your obsession and motivation for life, and what bitterness and self-pity can do to you and your relationships. He had to learn where his true identity lies.

Sarah Sundin took me through ups and downs in this book. From smiling at cute scenes, wanting to hit some characters, feeling such anger at the German's heartlessness, and then smiling again by the end of the book. She even redeemed some characters I totally disliked (Kaz and Chadwick) at the end of the story.

My favourite scenes were some of Hutch and Lucia. I just loved the man he was when he spend time with her.

I enjoyed reading about the medical side of the war. Recommended to all fans of historical fiction.

This is book 2 in the series, which can be a standalone, but you will appreciate some characters and scenes more when reading book 1 first.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

{3.5 stars}

Very sweet. I enjoyed this more than the first one...I actually liked both Hutch and Georgie equally which doesn't happen very often in most books I read. There was a bit 3/4 way through that I felt quite annoyed with them both, but I'm glad they both "saw the light".

It seemed like the romance was moving at a nice pace, and then wham it ran away between the lead characters. I would have preferred a slightly slower paced getting to know each other! There were two scenes that had several semi-detailed kisses. Also, a couple scenes when Hutch isn't wearing a shirt and those were just downright awkward.

The spiritual aspect was great! So many lessons and true life experiences. I loved how Hugh realized how bitter and prideful he was being. I didn't quite sympathize with George's struggles as much (particularly with her wanting to make her own decisions), but I still enjoyed her scenes, especially the intense few toward the end.

Lots of emotions in this book, but plenty of happy scenes to uplift the sad ones :)

[Jayna Baas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of my favorites, but still well written. It’s not the author’s fault that I’m not fond of romances where both characters are already engaged to someone else at the start of the book, and I knew that going into it. The spiritual arcs were well done, though—I always love how Sundin creates such human characters and demonstrates such everyday growth in their faith. I appreciated that Georgie’s need to “stand on her own two feet” was based on her walk with God and not simply rebellion, and I could relate to her fears and struggles in dealing with them. A little too descriptive in the physical attraction department for me, but I enjoyed how Hutch and Georgie balanced and stretched each other. This was a three-star read for me, but fans of this romance trope will enjoy it more. As always, the historical detail and context was spot-on.

[Daniela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. It just got better and better.
Georgie and Hutch were beautiful as friends and as a couple but I really got moved by how Georgie grew up emotionally during the course of the novel, from an overly protected Southern Belle to an effective strong nurse and woman. A majority of the triggers that made her evolve were sad events and that moment in the middle is still very sad for me, I was not expecting it at all. I also wish we could have seen more of the others characters grief, it was somewhat glossed over.
Even so, Georgie really spoke to me personally. I'm a privileged girl who has lived a privileged life, I have a wonderful family and friends, and I was raised in a very peaceful environment so dealing with attitudes from people who purposely want to hurt others - what sadly happens more than I ever thought possible - and my own insecurities of never thinking I am good enough, always comparing myself to others really stroke a cord with me.
I was so happy to see Georgie go down the path I went, with the help of the Lord, as I go every single day. I need Him every single day telling me I'm going to make it as I read the bible. It was a very beautiful reading experience for me. Psalms 23:4 "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

[Shantelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Sundin does it once again! :) Creates a endearing, fascinating tale of flight nurses, enlisted men, foreign countries, and sweet romances. And of course, plenty of tangled situations! I liked watching Georgie grow into the woman God meant her to be, reguardless of her family members' unbelief in her. And it was good to see Hutch finally realize what was truly important as well.

A great World War II story, with suspenseful action and romantic drama, and lots of sweet moments.
I truly think Sarah Sundin is the best writer of World War II romances ever. I haven't read one that could top hers, :)

Can't wait for the last book in this series. It's about Kay, so its sure to be interesting, ;)

[Tricia Mingerink · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whole series looks at a segment of WWII I didn't know much about: flight nursing and some of the other parts of the army such as engineers or pharmacists, all set in a theater of the war that isn't talked about much in school (North Africa and Italy).

This book continues the story from book 1, but with different main characters. I loved that the characters from the first book are still in here and mentioned so you can see how their lives continue to unfold. Even more than the first book, this one is heart-wrenching and brings the consequences of war even harder home.

Highly recommend Sarah Sundin's books!

[Kaitlyn Krispense · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have given this story 5 stars... but, like I knew when I went into this book, it is a romance. Since it is a romance, I wouldn't have read it except for a friend's high regard for all Sarah Sundin books. However, I did not enjoy this book nearly as much as I had hoped I would.
I loved the book when the lovers were apart. But when they got together... well, let's just say there was wayyyyy to much kissing and the like for my taste.
If you like romance, this is for you. If you don't like romance (like me), don't read it. ;P

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lieutenant Georgiana “Georgie” Taylor is a flight nurse who helps wounded soldiers during the second World War. She decided to become a nurse because she needed and wanted to follow her best friend, Rose. Nobody believes she can make it. Everybody thinks she is too weak and pampered to be good at her job, but one man, a pharmacist she meets while working, will make her understand that believing in one’s abilities is the first step to be content.

Sometimes all we need to be happy is a little help from people who care about us. That is what happens when Georgie meets Sergeant John Hutchinson (whom everybody calls Hutch). He believes in her and her abilities from the beginning. After just a few minutes of conversation with her, he already knew she could make her dreams come true. Because, despite her family’s opinion, Hutch knew that Georgie was resolute and brave. She just needed someone to show her how much strong she was.

I like to think that Hutch was like a sort of guardian angel, sent from God to help Georgie grow. But I also think that Georgie was there to let Hutch see what he was losing by being obsessed by his dreams. It was a friendship that was useful and important for both of them. Maybe if they had not been at war they never would have been so close to each other. But everything happens for a reason. They were destined to meet and be together. Besides, many shocking things happens in this book so it was good for them to have a special person to go to when tragedy struck.

I preferred Georgie over Hutch because, though she was known for being weak and unable to face complicated situations, she did anything she could to be stronger and helpful. While Hutch, most of the time, complained about his life, job and uncertain future. I would have loved to see him more determined and capable of accepting God’s plan for him way before the ending of the novel. It was sometimes annoying to read about how his dreams kept being destroyed (in his opinion).

Sundin’s stories are always very engaging and I love reading them even though they are mostly set during a terrible time period -WWII- but the way she tells us about her characters’ lives and feelings makes readers appreciate what it really counts in life. I love the determination and courage of those characters, how they fight to help people and save lives. I am sure that nurses like Georgie, Mellie and Kay really existed during the war, and I like to think that even during that dreadful experience, romances blossomed and friendship grew between soldiers and nurses, and that their lives had the chance to be a little happier even though for a short time.

Books like “On Distant Shores” help us see that love and real friendship are rare. And when we find them, we do not have to let them go. I recommend this novel to Historical and Christian Fiction readers.

Note: This is the second instalment in the “Wings of the Nightingale” series, but I think it reads pretty well as a standalone. Although, if you want to have a brief introduction to some characters and know better their stories (that are mentioned in this novel), you may want to read book number one first, With Every Letter.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with this story. From the sweeping Italian countryside, to the romance blooming in the hearts of the main characters, to the brilliance of a World War II backdrop, “On Distant Shores” is one of those sagas that reads like a movie: bright and vibrant in the mind’s eye.

While a tumultuous time of war and horror, I have always enjoyed a well-written WWII novel. There is something about the era, the romance and the driving force behind the character’s action, while romanticized, is also incredibly compelling. Descriptions take you smack-dab into the middle of a WWII pharmacists’ world. I understood the thrills and frustrations and fears of being a nurse aboard an aircraft in the middle of enemy air. When done right, it is so spectacular; and this book was definitely done right!

I loved how I was truly taken into the heart of these characters. You know their fears, joys and struggles and visibly watch them change upon the page. Everything that is a part of who they are affects their daily lives in a symbiotic dance that is so much fun for a reader.

I loved every bit of reading this book and it didn’t last nearly long enough. A perfect summer historical that took me across the ocean and through the air into the beautiful Italian countryside and even more compelling main characters.

This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers through Litfuse publicity for my copy to review.

[Loraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUMMARY:
Lt. Georgiana Taylor has everything she could want. A boyfriend back home, a loving family, and a challenging job as a flight nurse. But in July 1943, Georgie's cozy life gets more complicated when she meets pharmacist Sgt. John Hutchinson.

Hutch resents the lack of respect he gets as a noncommissioned serviceman and hates how the war keeps him from his fiancée. While Georgie and Hutch share a love of the starry night skies over Sicily, their lives back home are falling apart. Can they weather the hurt and betrayal? Or will the pressures of war destroy the fragile connection they've made?

With her signature attention to detail and her talent for bringing characters together, Sarah Sundin weaves an exciting tale of emotion, action, and romance that will leave you wanting more.

REVIEW: Sarah Sundin is a master of writing and historical detail surrounding World War II. This second book in the Wings of the Nightingale series was even stronger than the first (if that's possible). Sundin draws you into the hearts and minds of each of her characters as they deal with their own individual problems as well as the problems of being part of the armed forces in World War II. Once again the author shows the reader a lesser known side of the war, this time focusing on the pharmacy branch of the medical team and the problems they encountered trying to develop it into a better unit for assisting in the treatment of injured while trying to develop respect for the pharmacists' contributions to the war effort. I loved the fact that the same cast of characters moved from the first book to this; but with the main focus on a different flight evacuation nurse.

With ups and downs and lots of surprises, the storyline captured not only the agony of the war and the feeling of those involved; but also the desire of every serviceman and woman to want a bit of normalcy and happiness in the midst of it all. Yet within this storyline, Sundin maintained a focus on the growing relationship and developing faith of both Georgie and Hutch. World War II buffs will love this story as both a historical read and well as a superb romance novel. The thread of the stars weaving throughout the story was also an interesting link.

Kudos to Sundin for an excellent series. I look forward to reading the third and final book in the series.

FAVORITE QUOTES: "It's about control. God doesn't tell us everything we want to know. On purpose. So we learn to lean on him and trust him."

"You see the North Star? It's only one degree from true north. It barely moves. But God never moves. He's always the same."

"Even God wouldn't necessarily keep her safe. He allowed tragedy. For a reason. For a good, if unfathomable reason, but He allowed it."

"He'd lost sight of the importance of doing his best without complaining. Not for the sake of man. Not for respect. For the Lord."

"God's love didn't depend on rank, hor how hard a man worked, or whether a man succeeded. God loved him for the sole reason that Hutch was his child."

[Chantel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much! Sarah Sundin has done an amazing job weaving together history and drama in her second book in the Wings Of The Nightingale series "On The Distant Shores". There are so many things I loved, I don't know where to start, lol!

In this book Georgie has spent some time being a Air Evacuation Nurse and had originally joined because of her friend Rose. But as the war goes on Georgie has a hard time deciding whether or not she wants to stay in the challenging field of flight nurse program or go back home to the comforts of her loving family and fiance. Where she is used to being sheltered and other people making decisions for her. But things get complicated when she meets Pharmacist Sgt. John Hutchinson (Hutch).

Hutch is an non-commissioned serviceman in the army as a pharmacist. Hutch hates how the war keeps him from his fiancee and he resents the lack of respect he and his profession gets, while enlisted. Georgie and Hutch share a mutual love of the starry night skies of Sicily, meanwhile their lives back at home are falling apart.

After reading the first book "With Every Letter" , I was just drawn in to the people and the stories of the Air Evacuation Nurses of WWII, something I didn't even know about until reading this series! From the last book Lt. Georgie Taylor was one of my favorites, because she was so kind and full of life. I love the friendship between Georgie, Rose, and Mellie. I felt like Georgie had more depth in this book, it was nice seeing her character grow. I thought Hutch and Georgie compliment each other strengths and weaknesses well. I also liked the pharmacy aspect seeing how things were run around that time and how they had to fight to be taken seriously. This series is amazing!! I highly recommend it.

[Aerykah · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books certainly are fast reads! If I can get the third book from my library soon, I think I'll be able to finish it this week too. :)

I enjoyed this book about as much as the first one, perhaps a bit more. I really liked the character of Hutch and the transformation he underwent. I think he was pretty realistically portrayed, which made his aggravating moments bearable. The same goes for Georgie. I know some people mentioned that she could have a rather nasty attitude & be vengeful, but I couldn't hate her for it. Sure, you're not supposed to like that about her -- at least, I don't imagine that was the author's intention -- but she wasn't absolutely horrible or anything. If she had been the type to intentionally damage a reputation or physically harm someone or something like that, though, I don't think I could still like her.

The story line was quite interesting and I really enjoyed it. There was one scene that was so sad I had to put the book away for a few minutes. ..... I actually contemplated not finishing it because of what happened to Rose & Clint. They were my favorite couple and I was terribly disappointed. Why do authors do this to us?! :( ..... But I managed to get past that and finish the book within a few hours. The ending left me wanting a little more, but I figure that will come in book three. Speaking of which, I plan to see if my library has book three available -- if they do, I'll likely start it tonight. Kay is such an intriguing character and I can't wait to learn more about her! :)

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite five stars because I was feeling like slapping the hero upside the head Gibbs-style during multiple scenes of the book, and I also could have done without several scenes where he took his shirt off and his chest was described...His attitude was a big issue for me. It speaks to Sundin's writing ability that I felt his character so strongly, but...there you have it.

I loved Georgie, though! She has to learn how to stand up for herself and find the path God has for her in life. Not her mother's idea of it, or her fiance's preference. Just Georgie and God...and she's got to face losing everything she has ever known by stepping out to do what she is called and talented to do. Many authors could try a story arc like that and end up just writing a tale of a rebellious young woman. But Georgie's not rebellious. She is tender-hearted and I was easily rooting for her to find the strength to stand up and walk away from the people who want to be her conscience.

[Amanda Tero · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great Book Two of the series. I love the character core in this series, even though some realistic deaths occur.

There was good angst in this story, great character growth, a solid spiritual message, and realistic wartime heartaches.

There are not really any uncomfortable “almost too far” scenes but ultra conservative readers/teens may not appreciate all the kisses and physical attraction.

I greatly anticipate the conclusion to this series, because Kay has been a character of curiosity the whole time.

[Katelyn S · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very-well written sequal to With Every Letter. Includes great life lessons about making decisions and following Christ like the North Star. Lt. Georgie Taylor will take you on her path through grief, indecisivness and love.

[Malia Saldaña · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was really cute. I love Lucia! She is such a sweet little girl. I think Georgie and Hutch are cute together.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

On Distant Shores is the second book in the Wings of the Nightingale series and it is a magnificently crafted novel. In typical Sundin style, the story's beginning overlaps with the previous book, so the first 70+ pages are a retelling of the last pages of first book, With Every Letter, but from a different perspective. I have to say that I love this a lot!

I wasn't sure how much I was going to like the book with both of the main characters being engaged, or nearly engaged, to other people, but I loved the way it was done.

Georgie and Hutch are both such likable characters and both of them have struggles and issues they need to overcome. I loved watching each of them grow and at the same time learning even more about this time in history.

One of the things I love the most about Sundin's books is how real her characters are. The situations they go through really tug on the emotions and this book had me teary-eyed many times.

Another thing I love is how she mentions song from the era in her books. A blogging friend of mine made a playlist of them to listen to as she read the book, which I thought was such a neat idea! When you do that it makes you feel even more as though you are transported back in time to that era!

I LOVED On Distant Shores and think it is a must read for any fan of WWII fiction, it is an absolutely amazing read! I have loved everyone of Sarah Sundin's books and can hardly wait for the third book in this series, In Perfect Time, to be released so I can read it.

***I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***

[B.M. Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ooo, this one was fascinating. My interest was captured by the pharmacy aspect of the story with Hutch, and, of course, I enjoyed the nightingale Georgie

The character development was sooo good, although at times I wanted to interchangeably slap and shake Hutch and Georgie. Haha!

But, overall, I wore a smile for most of the reading. I enjoyed the camaraderie with the men and women the MCs serve with. I loved the addition of little Lucia and the relationship shared between her and Hutch. And, as is the case with all of Sundin's books, I so appreciate how clean she writes and how much it glorifies God and that she's not afraid to talk about Jesus and make her faith known in her writing. Her love for the Lord shines through, and that is a huge reason why I've fallen so in love with her books! They have been a breath of fresh air.

Looking forward to book 3!!

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this one! On Distant Shores is another well-crafted novel from Sarah Sundin, bringing to life the flight nurse program and the treatment of pharmacists in WWII (regarding the latter, when I first read this book I was shocked at how little some thought of this profession!). The romance, drama and action, set in WWII Italy, made a wonderful novel brimming with believable characters.

All of Sundin's books are my favourites, but this is one of my top favourites! It was so good that I had to keep reading way into the night and only put it down because my eyes wouldn't cooperate and stay open. Highly recommend!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I so enjoyed the first book in the Wings of the Nightingale series called With Every Letter. I did not think that the second one could top it. I love it though when I am wrong. It is rare I find that books when in sequels and more books in a series are as good or better than the first book.

Author Sarah Sundin is one talented and gifted writer. I can't say enough about this author's way of writing, her subjects, the morals and value elements in all her stories. I love how they were always conflict but the author shows how to resolve those conflicts with love, mercy and God.

I am a proud Catholic and I love how Sundin uses God in her stories and does quotes from scripture in her stories. Not too many people want to knowledge God and it's a shame.

The storyline is warm, heartbreaking and totally enthralling for me as the reader. I love WWII history and I love learning what it was like back than for the women in the service. Most of the book I needed tissues, sadly, it's really want happened back than. Men and women were dying and children were being separated and put into orphanages like poor Lucia (read the book to find out who Lucia is), places where under attack, the men and women who were doctors and nurses did not have enough supplies to help with pain. It was a rough time in history.

Though it is a rough, sad, and depressing at times of a book, it does have a happy ending.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOOOOOOOOKKKK. *flails* *swoons* *shrieks* *hugs charries*

Translation: I loved this book. I'll try to write a decent review sometime...but now is not that time. XD

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was soo good! I’m finding it so interesting to read about flight nurses during WW2 in this series. I was particularly interested in Georgie’s character in book one but I ended up really liking her in this one. I really admired her for her courage and her desire to overcome her fears and grow. Her character growth throughout this book, as well as Hutch’s, was wonderful!

The romance was so sweet! I loved how they became good friends first. It was slow burn which is my favorite kind of romance!

In conclusion, I really enjoyed this one! There were moments I was close to tears. I’m really looking forward to book 3.☺️