With Every Letter: A Novel (Wings of the Nightingale) [Paperback]

Sarah Sundin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2012 | Series: Wings of the Nightingale (Book 1)

Lt. Mellie Blake is a nurse serving in the 802nd Medical Squadron, Air Evacuation, Transport. As part of a morale building program, she reluctantly enters into an anonymous correspondence with Lt. Tom MacGilliver, an officer in the 908th Engineer Aviation Battalion in North Africa. As their letters crisscross the Atlantic, Tom and Mellie develop a unique friendship despite not knowing the other's true identity. When both are transferred to Algeria, the two are poised to meet face to face for the first time. Will they overcome their fears and reveal who they are, or will their future be held hostage to their past? And can they learn to trust God and embrace the gift of love he offers them?

Combining excellent research and attention to detail with a flair for romance, Sarah Sundin brings to life the perilous challenges of WWII aviation, nursing, and true love.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Mellie Blake, a pioneering WWII flight nurse, does not fit in. Try as she might, her childhood spent in the jungle with her father has made it impossible for her to make friends, much less draw the affection of a good man. So when a chance to correspond anonymously with an army engineer comes along, Mellie proceeds, but with trepidation. Lieutenant Tom MacGilliver also values this anonymous correspondence because he feels unable to shake the stigma of his father’s criminal sins and, like Mellie, assumes that for him, love, marriage, and family are not possible. When these two misfits find each other amid the ravages of war, a true love story begins to unfold, requiring both of them to let down their guard and learn to trust in ways that neither has been able to before. By telling this redemptive wartime tale of love primarily from the perspective of a young flight nurse, talented historical-fiction and romance author Sundin (Blue Skies Tomorrow, 2011) offers a unique perspective on the lives of military women during this time period. --Elizabeth Ponder

From the Back Cover

They know everything about each other--except their real names.

Lt. Mellie Blake is looking forward to beginning her training as a flight nurse. She is not looking forward to writing a letter to a man she's never met--even if it is anonymous and part of a morale-building program. Lt. Tom MacGilliver, an officer stationed in North Africa, welcomes the idea of an anonymous correspondence--he's been trying to escape his infamous name for years.

As their letters crisscross the Atlantic, Tom and Mellie develop a unique friendship despite not knowing the other's true identity. When both are transferred to Algeria, the two are poised to meet face-to-face for the first time. Will they overcome their fears and reveal who they are, or will their future be held hostage by their pasts?

Combining a flair for romance with excellent research and attention to detail, Sarah Sundin vividly brings to life the perilous challenges of WWII aviation, nursing--and true love.


"I love the nostalgia and drama of the WWII era. No one takes me back there better than Sarah Sundin. With Every Letter is a beautiful love story and has everything you want in a novel: romance, suspense, and characters you care about from the very first page. A marvelous beginning for her new series. I can't wait to read the next book."--Dan Walsh, award-winning and bestselling author of The Discovery


Sarah Sundin is the author of A Distant Melody, A Memory Between Us, and Blue Skies Tomorrow. 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.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Revell (September 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800720814
• ISBN-13: 978-0800720810
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.1 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (136 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #214,431 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sarah Sundin followed an unusual career path for a novelist, receiving a bachelor's in chemistry from UCLA and a doctorate in pharmacy from UC San Francisco. She now lives in northern California with her husband, three children, an antisocial cat, and a yellow lab determined to eat her manuscripts. When not driving kids to soccer and tennis, she works on-call as a hospital pharmacist and teaches women's Bible studies and fourth- and fifth-grade Sunday school. She has been writing since 2000 and belongs to American Christian Fiction Writers and Christian Authors Network. She is the author of the Wings of Glory series - A Distant Melody (Revell 2010), A Memory Between Us (2010), and Blue Skies Tomorrow (August 2011). In 2011 she received the Writer of the Year Award from the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. A Memory Between Us was featured on Booklist's Top Ten Inspirational Fiction List for 2010. Please visit Sarah's website at http://www.sarahsundin.com

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!! August 20, 2012

By We Could Be in Ireland!

Format:Paperback

Wow! What a great book! I honored to receive an advance copy and literally couldn't put it down. I was immediately drawn into the story line, as well as the lives, thoughts and hopes of the characters. Sarah's research is impeccable, and in addition to loving the great story, I learned a great deal about flight nurses and engineers in WWII. (And yes, the soldiers did wear shoes at the start of the war, rather than the combat boots we think of today.)

I found myself grabbing every spare minute to read this book. Husband brushing teeth = five more minutes of reading time. Waiting for appointment = 15 more minutes of reading time. I was really, really tempted to resort to my childhood trick of reading under the covers with a flashlight, but I think husband would've noticed & complained! :>)

Thisbook spoke to my very soul. Its themes of forgiveness and restoration brought great lessons without hitting the reader over the head with them. With Every Letter is an excellent example of how two people struggle to overcome their respective upbringings, come through victorious and find love in the process.

Bottom Line:

Note to Sarah: Write faster!
Note to Revell: Publish her faster!

Can't wait to read the second one in the series! And since this was my first time reading Sarah's work, I immediately got her first three books for my Kindle!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Live To Read September 29, 2012

By Chels

Format:Paperback

If a reader is looking for a love story filled with action and intrigue, then this is the perfect book. The author sets the scene with a war-torn country. World War II has sunk its teeth into America and Americans are beginning to feel the ravages. Lt. Mellie Blake has joined a program aimed at boosting morale. Her character will be instantly likable; her generosity and easy donation of time and effort will help form a bond between her and the reader. One wouldn't think a romance could develop in such a difficult time, but Mellie's letters to Lt. Tom slowly build up a relationship that might just end in romance.

The letters provided the reader with both a way to get to know the characters better and a suspenseful build-up towards the eventual romance. The history is rich in this book, the author clearly did her research. The scenes are easy to picture and the reader will feel as if he/she is experiencing what the characters are going through. The romance is sweet and almost simple, but the simplicity adds more than any convoluted Romeo/Juliet scene could. Tom's character is gallant and brave, he is the picture of a perfect hero. Combined with Mellie's kindness, the two make quite the pair. Between the rich history and cute romance, this book is recommended to adult readers.

*Complimentary copy received for review, this in no way affects my opinion*

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Characters and a Great Story! September 26, 2012

By Melanie

Format:Paperback

I haven't read any of Sarah Sundin's previous novels, but I've heard great things about them, and I was looking forward to reading her new release, With Every Letter.

The concept to the story was intriguing to me (two people writing anonymous letters to each other) and, I have to say, I loved the "letters" in With Every Letter.

The characters were wonderful! My favorites being Tom, Mellie, and Clint. Mellie's character was very shy and I could relate to that because I am typically shy and (like her) I hope to overcome that. :) I felt kind of bad for Tom and all he had to deal with from a child on (not going into specifics). And Clint, well, I just loved how he acted when he met Rose....he made me laugh.

I loved the story and would have given With Every Letter 5 stars, but, at times, I found it hard to follow because of some of the words used (regarding the military aspect)...this may have only been a problem with me, though.

I also loved how mercy was a big part of With Every Letter. Mellie was a great example of not only showing mercy to your friends, but also to your enemies.

Overall, I loved With Every Letter and recommend it if you enjoy historical romances set around WWII. It was great and I look forward to reading book two in the Wings of Nightingale series.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*