by Ruth Dell
Helsinki
Sunrise, a Passport to Romance, blog tour
follows on from yesterday’s author interview with Marion Ueckermann here at International Christian Fiction Writers. Today
I’ll be reviewing Helsinki Sunrise.
Marion Ueckermann has skilfully combined the ingredients in
her debut novella, Helsinki Sunrise, to create a light-hearted, yet deeply
satisfying, inspirational romance.
Eveliina needs a break from her demanding job and
boss/boyfriend, so she withdraws to her grandparents' secluded island cottage
to enjoy nature and a time of solitude. She is cheesed off when she finds a man
in her sauna. The man in question is Adam, a missionary from Africa, who
is staying at the cottage for several weeks at the request of Eveliina's
brother. He's there to fast and pray before starting a new mission in Finland.
Both are determined to stay on the island, and Adam finds himself in a real
pickle as Eveliina uses her culinary skills and feminine wiles to tempt him to
break his fast and leave the cottage.
Eveliina is a spunky heroine who wants nothing to do with
God, while Adam is a devout man of God. This combination of characters makes for some interesting situations
as the plot thickens. I read quickly and with great enjoyment to see who would be the victor and remain on the island.
Finland, the land of the midnight sun and summer
blueberries, makes an unusual setting. Ms Ueckermann uses her experience of
staying in a Finnish holiday cottage to bring the landscape to life. She certainly whet my appetite to visit Finland if I ever get the opportunity.
I recommend this book highly and look forward to reading Ms
Ueckermann's next book which is set in Oslo, Norway.
Thank you to the author for providing a digital copy of
Helsinki Sunrise. I was not required to write a positive review and the
opinions expressed above are my own.
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He
needed the island to himself. So did she.
Three
weeks alone at a friend’s summer cottage on a Finnish lake to fast and pray.
That was Adam Carter's plan. But sometimes plans go awry.
On
an impromptu trip to her family's secluded summer cottage, the last thing
EveliinaMikkola expected to find was a missionary from the other side of the
world—in her sauna.
Determined
to stay, Eveliina will do whatever it takes—from shortcrust pastry to shorts—to
send the man of God packing. This island’s too small for them both.
Adam
Carter, however, is not about to leave.
Will
he be able to resist her temptations?
Can
she withstand his prayers?
Marion has once
again kindly offered to give away an e-Copy* of Helsinki Sunrise. To
enter the draw for her book, please leave a comment before September 19th telling us which country you would like Marion to use for a
setting in her next novel. Please include your email address to be
eligible for the draw. The winner will be announced on the blog on September
21st.International readers are welcome to enter.
Be sure to
follow this blog tomorrow at Inspirational
Romance with Rita Galieh where Marion
will share some slices of romance.
Numerous eBooks
of Helsinki
Sunrise will be given away on the blog tour, so take a journey to each of the stops and leave a
comment. Don’t forget to include your
email address.
Helsinki
Sunrise is available to purchase from Pelican
Book Group,Christianbook.com,
Amazon,
and Barnes & Noble
Marion blogs for International Christian Fiction Writers and Beauty for Ashes. She belongs to Christian Writers of South Africa and American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives in Pretoria East, South Africa in an empty nest with her husband and their crazy black Scottie, Wally.
* Void where prohibited; the odds
of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is
considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord
with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
Ruth, great review! I'm really looking forward to reading Helsinki Sunrise and learning more about Finland. It sounds like a fun story :)
ReplyDeleteExcited that Helsinki Sunrise is on your Kindle, Narelle. Have fun at the summer cottage :)
DeleteThank you, Narelle. Yes, it is a fun story.
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Marion, and thanks for sharing, Ruth Ann! I'm looking forward to reading Helsinki Sunrise.
ReplyDeleteTrust you'll enjoy your time on the island at Lake Sahajarvi, Valerie.
DeleteThank you for your dropping by, Valerie. You'll enjoy Helsinki Sunrise.
DeleteExcited for you and this new release, Marion!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lisa. It is an exciting time :)
DeleteI'm excited too!
DeleteGood review Ruth, thank you, and yes agreed it's fun to read. A clever premise.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing in my blog tour, Shirl and for being one of my pre-readers. Glad you enjoyed it.
DeleteThank you, Shirl.
DeleteThank you, Ruth, for the fine review. And congratulations to Marion for her accomplishment. Any chance of going to Sweden in the next one? After you've finished Norway, that is, Marion. Or you could take us to Germany, couldn't you?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Judith. Well, next year (early I hope), I'll be taking you over the skies of Norway. Then possibly to Scotland, Ireland, and Australia. Sweden was definitely on my list to do, as is Switzerland and Brazil. So much to do, so little time ...
DeleteThank you, Judith.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi, I would really like to feature this book on my blog. Please have the author contact me. safe[LD]writes[at]flash[dot]net
ReplyDeleteHi Lena, I would love to have Helsinki Sunrise featured on your blog. I've tried to send you emails but the [LD] is throwing me I think. I've tried two ways and the mails are bouncing. Could you contact me on marion,ueckermann[at]gmail[dot]com
DeleteI pick Greece!!!!! Or Spain! And all that crazy blue water..or maybe Italy and all the food!!! I am a little excited about your book! I mean, how often do we read books about the male character being the one who wants nothing to do with God? I think I need to get your novel! Bravo!!!
ReplyDeleteJenn, you'll be happy to know that Greece, Spain and Italy are all on Pelican Book Group's list. They sound like wonderful places to write a story .... as soon as I've finished with Glasgow and Melbourne, I'll have to taken another peek at these options :)
ReplyDelete