Happy Saturday! As I did last year, this year I am prioritizing reading books that simply sound enjoyable to me even if they are not as deep or meaningful as some. I don’t want to slog through something tedious, poorly edited, or just plain unpleasant with the hope that the moral nugget at the end will be worth the experience. That’s not to say I’m only reading “fluff” or that I expect everything to be roses without thorns, but it does mean that I hope to get through more books overall because I expect the books that I read will be more personally engaging. And, it means that I hope to be able to rate the books I finish higher more often.
Such is the case with today’s book! I read In Perfect Time in just a few days while I had to quarantine earlier this month, and it turned out to be such a good book. This is a wonderful way to start my reading year, and if you enjoy historical fiction or clean romance, I think you will enjoy it, too.
About the Book
Title: In Perfect Time (Wings of the Nightingale #3)
Author: Sarah Sundin
Genre: Historical Fiction, Clean Romance (Christian)
Synopsis: Bold, sophisticated, and coy, Army Air Force flight nurse Lt. Kay Jobson collects hearts wherever she flies, leaving men pining in airfields all across Europe. So how can ruggedly handsome C-47 pilot Lt. Roger Cooper be all but immune to her considerable charms? In fact, he seems to do everything he can to avoid her.
Still, as they cross the skies between Italy and southern France, evacuating the wounded and delivering paratroopers and supplies, every beat of their hearts draws them closer. Can they overcome the fears and misunderstandings of the past in order to take hold of the future?
My Thoughts
In Perfect Time is the third book in a trilogy that I started years ago. At the time, I loved the author’s writing in general, but I was tired of the repetitive plots and unengaging characters who lead the first two books. They were pleasant enough reads to pass the time, but nothing exciting. This book, however, is different. Kay isn’t a character I can relate to but she is one who I can root for and want to see succeed. I understand her struggles and fears even if I haven’t ever dealt with anything similar. Similarly, Roger’s love of music and the way that he is torn between pursuing what he knows he is good at (drumming) or what he feels called to do even though it will be more difficult (teach) is one that I easily found myself invested in.
The faith element in this book is one of the best I have read in a long time. Kay has an interesting religious background, which gives her an unique starting point for thinking about the Gospel. I would have liked to see more screen time for her actual conversion, and as the theology nerd that I seem to be becoming I also would have liked to actually see her work through some of her questions rather than just being told that she asked questions and had discussions about them off-screen (or page). Still, all the necessary pieces are there and I appreciate how everything is laid out and then applied directly to Kay and Roger’s lives.
The Verdict
You would miss a lot of background without the previous books, and many of the character dynamics wouldn’t make sense, so it is worth it to start from the beginning of this trilogy if you are a fan of Christian historical fiction and/or clean romance. I enjoyed this book very much, so much that I get to start off 2023 with a rare 5-star rating! I highly recommend In Perfect Time. Content is appropriate for middle school and up, but this will be most enjoyed by adults.
What book was, is, or will be your first review of 2023? If you’ve already posted a review this year, feel free to share your link in the comments for others to check out, especially if it is a 5-star read!
Until the next chapter,
Jana
Reviews From the Stacks 