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.
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MY THOUGHTS.....
"But what I want to know is how do you always get yourself in the middle of these messses? You're supposed to report the news, not make it."
Yes, Anna McDowell is once again in the midst of trouble and the police chief is called in to help her one more time. And, as another character remarks, Sunset Cove is still 'full of ruffians, kidnappers, rum runners, and fisherman.'
In her new book Melody Carlson continues to showcase strong-minded and independent women during a time when women were finally getting a chance to speak their minds! It is 1917 and America has entered the WWI conflict so some of the women of Sunset Cove, Oregon are faced with sending their men off to war. Anna is still the editor of the Oregonian newspaper and she continues to voice her strong opinions; her daughter, Katy, is now the owner of a dress shop and she is eager for the black woman who helped raise her to leave her Portland home and come to Sunset Cove. What Katy doesn't consider is that her neighbors may not be as welcoming to Sarah Rose as she thought.
Readers are given a lot to think about in this third book of The Legacy of Sunset Cove series. Prohibition and its effect on the illegal activities of rum runners is still an issue and racial tensions become apparent after Sarah Rose's arrival. There is drama and uncertainty but there are also some happy occurences to wrap up what appears to be the final book of this series. However, there are some questions that I would love to see answered so I am hoping for one more story from Sunset Cove.
Carlson has once again proven her ability to use accurate facts and details to create the perfect setting for her novels and she continues to share uplifting and spiritual messages. A character who has been hurt the most reminds Anna that forgiveness should be freely given; we're supposed to forgive our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. I recommend Surf Smugglers for all who enjoy historical fiction.
I received a digital copy of this book from Celebrate Lit Tours and I am voluntarily sharing this review. These are my honest thoughts.
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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
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.
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
Giveaway
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 for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
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