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Books Afloat is the book I’m reading this week and it’s one I think you’ll enjoy! It’s a historical set in WWII. But first, the photo and scripture. I took it Sunday afternoon while I walked with a friend, and it was cold. I’d forgotten my phone, and when I saw the contrails, I knew I had to someway snap a shot. After much persuasion, my friend finally took off his gloves and handed it over. I am deeply indebted to him for almost freezing his fingers off to do that. And I thought the scripture went well with the photo.
Books Afloat is set during WWII and is based on something that actually happened, and I’m giving away a print copy. But first the cover and back cover copy:
Books Afloat
Based upon a historical event—a network of undercover volunteers plot to prevent Japanese saboteurs from invading the Columbia River during World War II.
Oklahoma Dust Bowl survivor Anne Mettles creates a floating library to provide books and materials for Columbia River residents. But wartime budgets slash funding, and Washington’s governor can only find money if Anne will conduct secret military surveillance along the river to monitor and report any enemy activity. Anne wants to operate Books Afloat alone but must accept help to pilot the boat.
Mechanic Ted Vincent insists on being onboard and discovers that unusual boat damages are not accidents, but sabotage. A young man who will do anything to win Anne’s affections. An ambitious reporter writing public interest stories. Both ride along, complicating matters.
Anne and her team hazard their lives to save the nation they love and discover newfound courage, giving her and Ted a chance at love—if they can survive.
My Take:
I loved the characters in Books Afloat, from the heroine and hero, Anne Mettles and Ted Vincent, to Johnny Hofer and Char and her brother-in-law, Smitty. All of them are well-drawn and unique. These are characters you won’t soon forget and I expect to meet them again in coming books.
Set against the background of WWII in 1942, the reader feels as though they’ve been dropped onto the floating library. The reader gets to experience the beautiful Columbia River and the people living along the banks. Anne and Ted went to school together along with Josh Vengence, and it was always understood that Anne and Josh would maybe one day marry. But Josh isn’t on the river with them–he’s been drafted, and Anne finds herself falling in love with Ted. Her mechanic returns her feelings.
Not only that, but both Anne and Ted are anxious to prove themselves. Anne feels responsible for her grandfather’s death, and Ted feels like a failure after being turned down by the draft board for having flat feet. They get their chance when confronted by a Japanese sub in the Columbia River that wants to take over their boat.
I really enjoyed reading Books Afloat and look forward to the next book by Delores Topliff. You can find out more about Delores over at the Suspense Sisters blog today! Leave a comment telling me if you’d ever heard about a sub traveling up the Columbia River during WWII, and I’ll enter you in a drawing for a print copy of Books Afloat.
You don't want to miss my review of Books Afloat by Delores Topliff. If you leave a comment, you might win a copy! #amreading Share on X
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Comments 56
I believe I did hear something about the submarine but I really don’t know anything about it.
Author
Jansen, I knew nothing about it either and was fascinated by the story. I guess there’s a lot we don’t know. :-)Thanks for visiting my blog!
Beautiful picture. Lovely verse. You always put the best pictures with such appropriate verses.
Books Afloat sounds interesting, sounds like something I would like to read.
Author
I think you would enjoy Books Afloat, Pearl. It’s an intriguing story with very interesting characters. Thanks for stopping by.
Pat, that is a gorgeous photo! Thank you and your friend for risking frozen fingers for it. The Scripture verse is a good fit, and one of my favorites.
This seems like a book I’d enjoy reading. It’s a side of the war we don’t often hear about. When I lived in San Diego, and worked as a contractor for the Navy in the 70’s & 80’s, some of their labs were in converted WWII bunkers on Pt. Loma. The bunkers had housed huge guns that were designed to defend against Japanese war ships. Thankfully, they were only tested, and not needed for their purpose.
Author
That is so interesting, Tim! And I’ll pass along your thanks to my friend. 🙂
I couldn’t put all the interesting info. in my book but the Japanese attempted to bomb Santa Barbara oil reserves but with little effect. Yes, hurray for the defenses we didn’t have to use.
Beautiful picture! No, I had not heard about it.
Author
Thank you, Mary. And I hadn’t either.
Thank you for your interview with the author and review of Books Afloat. I love learning a little history when I read!
Author
Debra, if we’d had stories like Delores’ back in school, learning history would have been so much easier! I love history but never could remember the dates they drilled into us. lol
I’ll second that about hating to have to memorize the dates in history class. Most of the time, the exact date is irrelevant to the student except as a way to put events in context, and I think there are other ways of doing that. The younger you are, the less important the dates are. My take is get kids hooked on history by telling the story. The dates can come later.
Author
ABSOLUTELY, Tim! I read Exodus by Leon Uris when I was in the 10th grade, about the same time I took history. I learned more about when Israel became a state from that book than any history lesson!
No, I had never heard of a Japanese submarine in the Columbia River. However, I am very interested in reading Delores’ book. I’ve recently read several books about the Packhorse Librarians in the 1930s in the Appalachian Mountains. This will be another historical novel about supplying books to people but from an entirely different perspective. I love learning through my reading.
Author
I haven’t read any of those books, Suzanne, but I plan to. I think you’ll really enjoy Books Afloat. Thanks for stopping by.
I appreciate your interest and hope you read and enjoy Books Afloat. I’d love to hear your comments after. I’m a big-time history buff.
This is new to me and I’d love to read more! Thanks for sharing your review.
Author
Thanks for stopping by, Connie! I love sharing the books I read with y’all!
I’ve never heard of that but my father in law served in the Navy in WWII and he had some stories to tell for sure!
Author
Gail, I bet he did! My dad was in the Merchant Marines and they carried supplies and ammunition and were constantly being fired at.
I’ve not heard of a submarine on the Columbia River, though I would not be surprised! I live just a couple of hours away from there and we have a lot of war history. It’s a beautiful area to visit!
I loved growing up in the area. The rest of my relatives still live there. I love getting back to enjoy more and it’s hard to have travel so restricted now. I hope you read and enjoy my book.
Author
I’ve never been to Oregon, although I’ve been to Seattle. It was such a beautiful place! Thanks for stopping by, Trixi!
I don’t remember ever hearing of this.
Author
I didn’t either, Joan. Thanks so much for stopping by.
haven’t heard
Author
I hadn’t either! So glad you stopped by.
I just put this book on my request list for my county Bookmobile! It sounds so fascinating!
Author
I think you’ll enjoy it, MS Barb! Thanks for stopping by.
I had not heard of Japanese submarines on the Columbia River. I know that there were enemy subs in the Gulf of Mexico.
Author
I don’t think I knew that, Gloria! That’s not but six hours from where I live…thanks for joining the conversation!!
I had never heard about a sub traveling up the Columbia River during WWII until I began reading reviews for Books Afloat. I like when I learn something while enjoying a book.
Author
Me, too, Roxanne! I’d never even heard of floating libraries. 😉 Thanks so much for stopping by.
Wow I had never heard about this at all either, so very interesting. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. Have a Great weekend.
Author
You, too, Alicia. I thought it was really interesting. So glad you stopped by–always good to ‘see’ you here.
Wow! Is it Friday again already? This year must be flying by. Speaking of flying, I love the picture of the contrails in the sky and the verse goes so well. I’m reminded of trips home from Richmond, VA on Friday afternoon when I worked there from 2000-2002. Much of that trip westward is through farmland. So many afternoons, somewhere near the halfway point, I would start noticing the contrails crisscrossing the sky. Most of the jets were coming and going from either the Raleigh-Durham or Greensboro, NC, airports to the southwest of me.
I don’t think I ever heard that the Japanese even got close to our western shore, much less entered any of our rivers. I would love to read this book.
Interesting that Ted was turned down by the draft board because of flat feet. My father had flat feet and was too short, but they drafted him anyway to fill their quota.
Author
Edward, I’d heard that the draft board turned down men with flat feet before reading Delores’ book. I think my dad had told me. He was a Merchant Marine and they carried supplies and ammunition.
I love to see contrails, especially since we don’t see that many here in North Mississippi. 😉
It seems you would see them from the planes going in and out of Memphis. Of course, I don’t know exactly where you live in North Mississippi. Our home is about 55 miles north of the Greensboro, NC airport. If we happen to be outside as one passes over, we will see the plane and contrail depending on the various factors that go into making the contrail. Sometime in the early 90s, I was flying home from a meeting somewhere and changed planes in Pittsburgh, PA. The plane flew slightly to the west of our city and was low enough that I took a picture of our home from the plane. I was able to identify various landmarks from Roanoke, VA to Greensboro. Quite exciting.
Author
Oh, wow, Edward! When I’ve flown into Memphis for my almost 100-mile drive home, I’ve tried to locate places I knew, but about all I can identify is the Mississippi River. Everything looks so different from the air. lol I don’t see contrails that often in Corinth. Sometimes a plane out of Nashville going to Memphis will fly over our area, but not that often. Thanks so much for stopping by.
One other thing, Edward. When I was a kid, my dad would take us over to Democrat Road where one of the runways ended and we would sit there and watch planes land and take off.
There was actually a very real Japanese threat to our West Coast during 1942-43. History could have been very different. I think as the war progressed our draft requirements relaxed.
Author
And thanks so much for letting us know in such a delightful book, Delores!
Beautiful picture and Scripture verse! I had never heard of a Japanese sub being in the Columbia River before but it sounds fascinating.
Author
I hadn’t heard that either, Megan until I read Delores’ Books Afloat. I love learning unexpected things. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
I had never heard of this incident, but I love stories about unknown little bits of history. I think it is so important, especially in the current climate in our country, to search out and remember those who did everything they could to protect and defend our great nation.
Author
I so agree, Linda! I’d never heard of floating libraries, either. 😉 Thanks for stopping by.
No I have never heard about the sub. I love the picture and scripture. Thank you for sharing. Blessings
Author
Thanks, Lucy. I hadn’t heard of it prior to reading Delores’ book. Glad you stopped by!
never have heard this!
Author
I know, Shelia. I think maybe there’s a lot the people didn’t hear about back in WWII. Thanks so much for stopping by.
Love the scripture and photo! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on “Books Afloat”.
SHALOM and BLESSINGS!
Author
Thanks, Caryl. I’m working on one for Tuesday now. 😉 Thanks for stopping by!
I have not heard about this. I thought there was a sub somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico. Sounds like a great story.
Author
I had no idea we were that close to being attacked, Paula. Thanks so much for stopping by!
I’ve been wanting to read “the rest of this story” since Delores shared a snippet of what it was about when I first met her at a Deep Thinkers retreat. Just ordered the kindle version!
Author
I remember that, Sally Jo! Wow, that’s been a while. Did you know that at least 10 people from that group are now published?
Thanks so much, Sally Jo. Glad we all met at that conf. I just started tchg. 2 online classes, 58 students BUT have your last book on my Kindle, plan to read and enjoy it soon. Congratulations to you, too!