SONS OF THUNDER [Paperback]

Incredibly romantic, tragically beautiful, heart-wrenching, and deeply moving, Sons of Thunder swept me away. This first novel in Susan's new series pulls you into each of the characters' lives in a powerful way. The passion, the heartache, the longing for love and acceptance. It's all in this story as well as the struggle to survive, the yearning for identity, the desire for someone Who will love you and always be there for you. This passionate tale of love and betrayal brilliantly portrays how an abiding faith in God is passed on by example and illustrated through an unwavering spiritual connection to the One Who is faithful and true. It also shows how God knows are greatest need and often allows us to go through the fire to bring us to where He wants us to be. Our trials cause us to grow up and live for others and not just ourselves.

There were so many incredible lessons to be gleaned within the pages of this powerful story that I could go on and on. The bottom line is that this was, in my opinion, Susan May Warren's best novel yet because she captivated me and made me care about every character in this story in a way that rarely happens when I'm reading. I've heard it said that the best stories are ones where the author imagines the worst thing that could happen to their character in every scene, then makes that very thing happen. Susan does a perfect job at building tension and providing a realistic plot that moved me to tears several times. And talk about edgy. Wow! But so tastefully done. These characters were so real to me and I learned a lot from them. Can you tell I loved this book? Sons of Thunder is making my top fiction list for 2010.

Without exaggeration, this is now my all-time favorite historical fiction novel. Susan May Warren beautifully and skillfully captures the time period and the setting. From Greece to Chicago to Minneapolis to the WWII battlefield...the storyworld is vibrant with detail and feeling. The plot never drags and the characters - especially Sophie, Markos and Dino - grab your heart right from the start. And, as several other reviewers have mentioned, the themes of redemption and deliverance are masterfully woven in.

I was truly moved by this story - and I had the evidence to prove it: tears! (I read this novel during a plane ride and I think the passenger in the seat next to me was a bit worried.)

Highly, highly recommended!

To date, I have only read one other book by Susan May Warren ([...]) - `Double Trouble' in her PJ Sugar series. It was funny and heartfelt. The latest release by Susan, `Sons of Thunder' is an exciting and intriguing tome. It could not be any more different than `Double Trouble;' versatility is the mark of a gifted author!

This story has three main characters: Sofia Frangos, and brothers Markos and Dino Stavros, all from Zante Island off the coast of Greece. All three of them left their home to start a new life in the United States after a traumatic incident. The time period is the early 1940s; during their time in the US, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii (which occurred on December 7, 1941).

Both brothers are in love with Sofia. The question is: Which `Son of Thunder' will she choose? The story takes us from the Greek Islands to the jazz club of Chicago to the battlefields of World War II.

Mrs. Warren ([...]) is very adept at keeping the plot moving and keeping the characters interesting. She has paid a lot of attention to the details of that time period. I always enjoy reading about others countries and other eras beside our own. Susan has definitely brought the time and the places to light. She brings actual events into the story - such as the Pearl Harbor attack - as well as weaving real people into the story - such as Al Capone and Bugs Moran.

I also appreciate how Susan weaves God's redemption into the story. In her Author's Note, Susan explains her interpretation of that specific era:

I think, in our world, we want answers immediately. But the heroes from the Greatest Generation understood that sometimes deliverance doesn't happen overnight. Sometimes they had to fight for it, hold on to it, open their eyes to see it. I wanted to paint a picture of deliverance - forgiveness, healing, redemption, and mercy - and give it room to work out in the lives of the characters...
I pray this story encourages you to see God's hand, delivering you through forgiveness, healing you of your diseases, and showing you His great compassion. (p. 8)

Here is an example of both Susan's wonderful writing style and bringing God into the story - in the words of Markos:

"....Maybe we're all supposed to be a little broken, a little afraid, a little overwhelmed by our own sweeping mistakes. Otherwise, we might believe we can save ourselves instead of letting God deliver us. Maybe being on our knees is the only way we can ever be used by God... Because without knowing what grace feels like, how will we ever really know how to give it away?" (p. 225)

I was engaged by these characters - which is a big component in the appeal of a novel - and hope Susan brings them back in some form in the future to continue their journey.

This book was provided to me by Summerside Press for review purposes in affiliation with the LitFuse Publicity Group.

Reviewed by Andrea Schultz - Ponderings by Andrea - [...]

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