Strong Currents by Delores Topliff is this week’s Reader Friday post. Here’s the first sentence: Naval Seaman Apprentice Josh Vengeance drew a ragged breath. And another.
But first the photo and verse. I took the photo one afternoon when I pulled into my drive and saw the tree in my neighbor’s backyard with the cloud backdrop. After snapping the photo with my phone camera, the upraised limbs reminded me of this psalm. I hope you enjoy it!
Now for Strong Currents by Delores Topliff. Delores and I met about this time thirteen years ago at a writer’s conference. I’m proud to feature her latest book on Reader Friday. Here’s the cover and back copy:
Is any price too great to pay for love and freedom?
When Erika Hofer opposes Hitler, church leader Dietrich Bonhoeffer helps her flee Germany. She goes to her uncle John Hofer along the Columbia River in America’s Pacific Northwest. Erika finds acceptance and support but also suspicion, hatred, and an attempt on her life.
American pastor’s son, Josh Vengeance, joins the US Navy to serve his country. He is injured at Midway Island and invalided home. While healing in body and spirit, he joins a network of colorful individuals, who defend their homeland as volunteers.
Can two wounded young people move past betrayal and disillusionment to find love and freedom during a world at war?
My take:
Strong Currents is set against the backdrop of WWII in a beautifully written story about love and courage and defending the home front. It opens with Josh Vengeance (he’s often mentioned in Books Afloat) being washed up on an unnamed island after his ship is sunk at Midway. Then we’re introduced to Erika Hofer, Johnny Hofer’s (also from Books Afloat) niece, Erika is forced to flee Germany after her teacher father is given no choice but to join Hitler’s army. Two weeks later he is killed.
Josh returns home, depressed that he’s failing his country. Erika makes it to America, thinking she’s found a safe haven and meets Josh. He admires her courage, but not everyone embraces the German refugee, and her life is in danger.
This is a great historical story with unexpected twists and turns and will keep the reader flipping pages to find out what happens next. As a side note, the idea for this book came from Delores’s college roommate when Delores learned the roommate’s father had been forced to join Hitler’s army and was killed shortly afterward. Since she regularly comments on the blog, I’m sure she’ll be chiming in. 😉
Strong Currents is available in KU, Kindle, and print. You can check it out here.
Leave a comment with the first line of the book you’re reading…or about Strong Currents, and I’ll enter you in the February drawing!
Strong Currents by Delores Topliff is this week's Reader Friday post. Check out my review and leave a comment and I'll enter you in the February drawing! Share on X
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Comments 30
Beautiful verse and photo, Patricia. I think limbs of winter trees look like lace against the sky. Strong Currents sounds fantastic, good review!
Author
They do, don’t they, Vera!
Isn’t it wonderful how God gives us photo opportunities like the one you shared with us today? That’s one of my favorite Psalms, too.
“Strong Currents” looks like a good read. Dietrich Bonhoeffer is a person I admire for his faith and actions during that troubled time. There is an excellent biography of him by Eric Metaxas. A few movies about him are also available (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2325_APzy6c).
“Fraser couldn’t escape the carnage. No, the dream—he knew it was a dream, for the screams, his own groans, the taste of blood in his teeth played out just as he remembered.” is the first line from “Fraser” by Susan May Warren. Great suspense played out in southwest Switzerland, Italy, and Minnesota.
Author
Tim, Susan May Warren is a fantastic author. I was blessed to go to 4 of her retreats and met Delores on the first one. 🙂
sounds interesting
Author
It is very interesting, BN!
I love the photo with the uplifted limbs…a perfect analogy of the verse. And that sun at the bottom, wow!
Delores’s book, “ Strong Currents,”sounds like another good one. The line in your review, “not everyone embraces the German refugee, and her life is in danger,” definitely intrigues me and pulls me right in.
“I was just ten steps away from the Blue Dog/RINO Coffee Shop where I worked when a hand closed tightly around my forearm,” is the first line in Everywhere to Hide, by Siri Mitchell. I haven’t read this author before, but getting ready to start it this afternoon.
Author
I think you’ll enjoy Siri’s book, Barbara! And the limbs looked like uplifted arms to me, too!
So glad I met you 13 good years ago, Pat. Thanks for featuring Strong Currents and all the other ways you’re a blessing. Yes, the basic concept of Erika Hofer is based on my college roommate, Ingeborg Oberweger and family’s heartbreaking experience. I always knew her story deserved telling. I didn’t dream I’d have that privilege. Inge knew the book was releasing soon. Sadly, she lost her battle w/ cancer at the beginning of Feb.
Author
I’m so glad Inge knew you’d written her story! And I’m so glad God put us together!
Now, I can’t the song Bless the Lord, oh my soul out of my head. . Congratulations on your book, Delores! I am sorry to hear about your friend’s passing.
My first line is from A Novel Proposal by Denise Hunter.
Open your romance novel with a character who is in medias res-in the midst of things.
-Romance Writing 101
Sadie Goodwin’s literary dreams came to a shuddering halt in the middle of her favorite SoHo coffee shop.
Author
Gloria, I love that first line! And Bless the Lord, oh my soul has been running through my head ever since I made the meme. 😉
She tightened her grip on the letter and traverse the uneven rocky path toward Even Tor,. .. Hollythorne House by Sarah E. Ladd
Author
That sounds ominous, Judy!
Love that verse; we sing it often. World War II stories are some of my favorites. I’ll have to check this one out.
“I’m not interested in settling down right now.”
A Mark of Grace by Kimberly Woodhouse
Author
I think you’ll enjoy it, Gail! And A Mark of Grace sounds good!
I like that picture and verse. But what I like even more are the flowers coming up now and the buds appearing on the trees. That “all that is within me” part of the verse reminds me that the buds are already in the trees in your picture, just waiting for God to beckon them forth.
I am reading Critical Threat by Lynette Eason. I think you have already shared the first line, or maybe it was Tim. This book by Delores Topliff sounds interesting. I enjoy stories set in World War II because my parents lived during that time period and my dad served in the US Army in Europe.
Author
I so agree, Edward. If the cold doesn’t mess with our buds, and it gets warm enough again, I’ll try and shoot a picture of buds! Critical Threat is very good! And I think you would enjoy Delores’ book.
“You stay on the ground, Agate!” from Sugar Birds by Cheryl Grey Bostrom. (Agate is a ten-year-old girl who loves to climb trees to check the progress of bird egg hatching, and her mama is NOT having it! 🙂
Gorgeous picture, and love that verse! Of course, I can never simply read it – the tune automatically comes out!
Author
Yes, the tune automatically comes out even for someone like me who can’t carry a tune, Regina! lol Sugar Birds sounds like something I would enjoy.
I love that you said God put you together with Delores Topliff. I am also a lover of any kind of trees. A fellow worker friend of mine who I hadn’t heard from for 10 years went on a month long trip to Italy. Seeing her post on Facebook, I told her how great the pics were but I really appreciated a tree. It opened up a whole new conversation about trees and life. Her family and friends complained there were too many tree pics among the 200 photos. I on the other hand, marveled at each and everyone. Funny how trees brought us back together. I told her it was God and his beautiful sticks.
Author
Since I worked with my husband in timber, I love trees, too, DJ. I used to be able to look at a tree’s bark and tell you what kind of tree it was…not so much now. You know–don’t use it, you lose it. lol
beautiful photo & verse! Book sounds very interesting!
Author
Thank you, Shelia! And it is interesting.
Pretty picture! The book sounds really good. How fun to see a book character with my first name. I’m reading Hearts of Steel by Elizabeth Camden. Maggie Molinaro was five blocks from the safety of her uncle’s garage when she noticed the gang of boys following her. Have a blessed weekend everyone.
Author
Thank you, Erika! I love putting the memes together. Elizabeth Camden’s book sounds so good!
Love the sound of this historical story by Delores. My first line: For a girl name after an iconic Parisian chapel built to offer peace, Serenity Chapelle Lewis was anything but serene. Sweeter Than You by Mary A. Felkins
Author
Sally Jo, that opening line is great! When is your next book releasing?
Beautiful verse and photo. This book sounds interesting. Thank you for sharing.
Author
Thank you, Lucy! And I just took an a-maz-ing photo of the sunset!