The Sound of Distant Thunder

JustRead Publicity Tours

About the Book The Sound of Distant Thunder:

Katie Stuckey and Jonas Weaver are both romantics. Seventeen-year-old Katie is starry-eyed, in love with the idea of being in love, and does not want to wait to marry Jonas until she is eighteen, despite her parents’ insistence.

So much can happen in a year.

Twenty-year-old Jonas is taken in by the romance of soldiering, especially in defense of anti-slavery, even though he knows war is at odds with the teachings of the church.

When his married brother’s name comes up in the draft list, he volunteers to take his brother’s place. But can the commitment Katie and Jonas have made to each other survive the separation?

I received this book through JustRead Publicity Tours as part of their blind tour program.  Basically they take a peek of what type of books I’ve reviewed and what I seem to like and then they match me with a book that they send out.  I’m hooked!  I loved getting a surprise book in the mail and they definitely did a good job matching me with a book that I would like that I had not read before!

My Thoughts on The Sound of Distant Thunder:

I love Amish romance novels. For some reason, it’s a genre that just is a great read for me. They read fast and sweet and just help me relax and have a nice quiet moment to myself.

This Amish fiction work is a bit different from most though as it involves the Civil War. Amish are pacifists and don’t participate in wars so that might just sound like a contradiction in itself. But just because the Amish don’t fight in the war doesn’t mean that it doesn’t affect their lives.

The Civil War is a time period I have studied a lot and I really enjoy reading books that take place in this time frame.  So when I read that The Sound of Distant Thunder was going to combine both a time period I love and a genre I really enjoy reading I couldn’t wait!

Of course, when I opened my blind tour package and saw this book I was intrigued. What could a young Amish couple in love and the Civil War have in common? How would they mold together? Would Jonas leave the faith? What about Katie? She has something she’s running from.

I really enjoyed this book! The author is amazing and knows how to create characters that will appeal to your heart. You become invested in the book and have to find out how it ends.

Though this is not a suspense book there are elements that keep you hanging and you just have to keep reading. It was very hard to put this book down, but alas my kids did need to be fed and clothed and unforunately I can’t just sit and read all the time as much as I’d love to!

This book has some bad characters and some good characters. Not that they’re not all well written, but that there are some that you really just don’t like. And then there are the ones who you’re not too sure about.

Levi was one of those characters for me. You learn early on he struggles with pride and that he has his eye on Katie even though everyone thinks he’s going to court a different girl. Even though he knows Katie and Jonas have an understanding. This immediately makes me raise an eyebrow at him. He’s on my list!

You have to read this book. I don’t want to give anything away but you have got to read and see what happens to Katie and Jonas. Their families are forever intertwined and I really loved getting to know them.

Now I’m off to find the next book in this series. It’s a must-read for me!

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from JustRead Publicity Tours. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.