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WWII 75th Anniversary Blog Tour – In Perfect Time

75th SarahWelcome to the WWII 75th Anniversary Blog Tour! To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the start of World War II, eight authors of Christian WWII fiction have gathered. We’ll be sharing what our characters might have been experiencing that day, scenes from our novels, or our thoughts on this event.

Please visit all eight blogs:

Cara Putman, giving away Where Treetops Glisten

Sigmund Brouwer, author of Thief of Glory

Kristy Cambron, author of The Butterfly and the Violin

Melanie Dobson, author of Chateau of Secrets

Cathy Gohlke, giving away Saving Amelie

Tricia Goyer, author of From Dust and Ashes

Sarah Sundin, giving away In Perfect Time

Liz Tolsma, giving away Daisies Are Forever

In Perfect Time

World War II flight nurse Lt. Kay Jobson collects hearts wherever she flies, but C-47 pilot Lt. Roger Cooper seems immune to her charms. Still, as they cross the skies between Italy and southern France, evacuating the wounded and delivering paratroopers and supplies, every beat of their hearts draws them closer. Can they confront the fears and misunderstandings of the past in order to take hold of the future?

For this post, I imagined what Kay (and Roger…watch for him) might have been doing on September 1, 1939, the day World War II started . . .

Chicago

September 1, 1939

Was it wrong to go out dancing the day a war started?

Kay Jobson glanced around the nightclub—the crowd small, the music subdued. Since Kay had arrived with her fellow stewardesses, Vera Viviani and Alice Olson, the band had only played slow songs like “Deep Purple” and “Rose Room” and “Begin the Beguine.”

Vera huffed. “I don’t suppose we can expect more lively music tonight.”

Kay tipped up one corner of her mouth. “It was rather rude of Hitler to invade Poland on a Friday, don’t you think? The very day we have a layover in Chicago?”

Alice covered her giggle with one hand. “Oh dear. Is it right to laugh? To joke?”

Far from this too-quiet nightclub, the world had been turned upside down by a man with a bad mustache. What would this mean? How could Poland stand up to Germany’s mighty army? And would Hitler be satisfied if he conquered Poland? He hadn’t been satisfied by annexing Austria and Czechoslovakia.

Would Britain and France be sucked in to the fight? And would the United States be able to stay out of the fray? If so, for how long?

Kay swept her hair and her concerns off her shoulders, and she scanned the dance floor. Mostly couples. Not many unattached men. She liked the looks of the drummer, a solidly built man with auburn hair, but he hadn’t looked her way once and the boys in the band wouldn’t be dancing anyway.

“So what will this war mean to us?” Vera’s dark brown eyes narrowed in analysis. “Fewer flights, especially overseas, and especially if America enters the war.”

“Don’t talk like that.” Alice twirled a strand of blond hair, then tugged her finger free. “It’s not our fight.”

“That’s what we said the last time a war started in Europe,” Kay said.

Alice let out a soft moan.

If Kay didn’t do something, Alice would end up in tears, poor thing. “We have to find the bright side. War is hideous, but it brings change and innovation. We can be a part of it.”

“We’re stewardesses. Who can fly for pleasure in a war?” Vera drew in her full red lips.

“We’re also nurses. And maybe . . .” The article Kay had read in a nursing journal flashed in her memory. “Maybe the Army will start using our passenger planes for medical air evacuation. And maybe they’ll let nurses care for the patients.”

Something sparked in Vera’s eyes. “I saw that article. I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but now . . .”

“But now.” Kay gave a firm nod. “We’re licensed nurses and trained stewardesses. We’re used to handling problems in flight. I see an opportunity.”

“So do I.” A middle-aged man stood by the table, gray-haired but trim. He gave all three ladies a polite smile, then bowed his head to Kay. “I see an opportunity to dance. May I have the honor?”

The band played “Until the Real Thing Comes Along,” and Kay stood and took the gentleman’s arm and let him twirl her around the dance floor.

The world would be changed forever, she knew it. And Kay’s life would be changed forever too. If she stayed in control, she’d make sure her life changed in the right direction.

Was it wrong to dance on the day a war started?

For Kay Jobson, it was perfectly right.

81 responses to “WWII 75th Anniversary Blog Tour – In Perfect Time”

  1. Tammy Kindig says:

    Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

  2. Becca says:

    I’ll be Seeing You; the Notebook made this more popular!
    My favorite contemporary love song is “God Gave Me You” by Dave Barnes.

  3. Kelly says:

    My favorite song from the WWII era is I’ll Be Home for Christmas. So beautiful!

  4. Vicki Hancock says:

    I would think Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

  5. Elyse says:

    This is my favorite era of music, so it’s hard to pin down one favorite, but I’ve always loved “Green Eyes” 🙂

  6. KayM says:

    Two favorite songs for me are “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” by Bing Crosby and “The White Cliffs of Dover” by Vera Lynn.

  7. Amy says:

    Hm… probably As Time Goes By. 🙂

  8. Kim Campbell says:

    Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree. I love that song!!!!

  9. Ellen Gray says:

    I’ll be Home for Christmas

  10. […] WWII 75th Anniversary Blog Tour – In Perfect Time – […] visit each blog, collect the answers to the questions, and enter the Rafflecopter giveaway on the BLOG TOUR PAGE . The … […]

  11. Linda says:

    A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square

  12. Rose says:

    I would like to win a copy of ur book please

  13. Linda says:

    WWII was before my time, but I am entering this to win books for my 94 yr old mother-in-law. I think her favorite song would be, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.”

  14. Amanda T says:

    WWII Big Band/Swing era is some of my favorite music. I love Glenn Miller–The Little brown Jug. Also like As Time Goes By.

  15. Kelly Youngblood says:

    I was not certain I was familiar with any WWII era songs, though looking through the comments already posted, I do like some of those. I don’t really have a favorite love song, either, as my music changes. I currently like “I’ll Be” by Edwin McCain. I’m enjoying the blog tour! Thank you for the chance to win and sharing your book!
    Blessings!

  16. Linda Campos says:

    Great post! My favorite are the Big Band/Glenn Miller songs as they remind me of my Grammy. Those are the songs she would listen to as she danced around the kitchen.

  17. Morgan says:

    “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” 🙂

  18. Deborah Peoples says:

    Until the Real thing comes along,

  19. Deborah Peoples says:

    Sounds lik a good book

  20. Sharon Hula says:

    Don’t sit under the apple tree with anyone else but me.

  21. Debora Wilder says:

    I always have trouble placing songs in their era. I love both Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and I’ll Be Home for Christmas though.

    My favorite love song is Let it Be Me. That’s what my husband and I had sung at our wedding.

  22. Jan Hall says:

    My favorite love song is You are the wind beneath my wings.

  23. Nancy M. says:

    Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and Chattanooga Choo Choo both are fun songs!

  24. Brenda Smith says:

    God gave me you

  25. Amy Bateman says:

    Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

  26. Deanna S says:

    Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, it’s such an upbeat song for what was going on at that time.. Thanks for the blog tour & a chance to win you book 😉

  27. Gail Hollingsworth says:

    Longer, by Dan Fogelburg

  28. Jan says:

    Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree.

  29. Kerry Darnell says:

    Anything by The Andrews Sisters! I’m only 34, but growing up, my Granny & I watched many movies featuring them & their songs. My fav of their movies are Abbott & Costello’s “In The Navy” & Abbott & Costello’s “Hold That Ghost”. If you haven’t seen them, you really need to. 0:-) lol

  30. Kerry Darnell says:

    Anything by The Andrews Sisters! I’m only 34, but growing up, my Granny & I watched many movies featuring them & their songs. My fav of their movies are Abbott & Costello’s “In The Navy” & Abbott & Costello’s “Hold That Ghost”. If you haven’t seen them, you really need to. 0:-) lol

  31. Carol Nemeth says:

    Chattanooga Choo Choo especially when sung by the Andrew Sisters!

  32. Geni says:

    I don’t think I have a favorite one, per se. I love the big band songs and you can’t go wrong with Glenn Miller. I love all the ballads that they had in the 40s. I have a ton of CDs that are songs from the war. I absolutely love Jo Stafford’s version of “Long Ago and Far Away.”

    As far as love songs ago, you can’t go wrong with Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin. For a different genre of music, my favorite is classic country. Conway Twitty is my favorite. I couldn’t pick just one of his songs. I love “Rest Your Love On Me” and “Goodbye Time.”

  33. Emma says:

    my favorite song would be, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.”

  34. I can’t say that I have a favorite song from the World War II era, but my 7th grade teacher used to play a lot of Glen Miller for us and teach us dances. The one that I loved was Pennsylvania 6-5000. It was always fun to dance to. I’ll share my favorite love song “At Last” by Etta James. Classic. 🙂

  35. Lori P says:

    That’s a difficult question because there are so many good songs from that era. If I had to pick a favorite love song I would have to say Always and Forever.

  36. Susan Johnson says:

    My favorite song from that era would be White Christmas.

  37. Meloney McClintock says:

    One of my favorite is, Don’t sit under the apple tree with anyone else but me. Actually I like anything by the Andrews Sister.

  38. michelle delp says:

    My favorite love song is the Veggie Tales theme song LOL

    • Sarah Sundin says:

      I’m guessing you have preschoolers… 🙂 There was a time when all the Sundins sang “Barbara Manatee” and “Oh, WHERE is my hairbrush?” Actually the hairbrush song still pops up when our teen daughter misplaces hers 🙂

      • Amy Kittel says:

        Last night, my husband and I broke out in song, singing Barbara Manatee, serenading our preschoolers:) VeggieTales aren’t just for kids 😉

  39. Amanda says:

    Probably one by the Andrews sisters.

  40. Danielle Hull says:

    I made the mistake of looking up songs from WWII! I know a lot more of them than I thought. It makes the Christmas songs bittersweet. I am probably most familiar with The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.

  41. Megan H says:

    American Patrol

  42. Lisa Stifler says:

    I always liked the more upbeat songs like Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.

  43. My favorite love song would be “It had to be you.”

  44. George Simon says:

    The White Ciffs of Dover

  45. Sharon Miller says:

    Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree With Anyone Else But Me!

  46. Vickie Jones says:

    PS I Love you and In the Mood

  47. Ingerlise Pietromartire says:

    Moonlight Serenade, String of Pearls, and In The Mood. I can’t pick just one!

  48. Pam K. says:

    Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

  49. Brandy Tyler says:

    I’ll Be Home For Christmas!

  50. Sharon A says:

    Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

  51. Beth Gillihan says:

    I don’t have a favorite song from World War II. Sounds like a great book.

  52. Samantha T says:

    I’ll be home for christmas

  53. Chris says:

    My Mom’s was “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree” and I always loved “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy! Loved to dance Big Band Style with my dad, a Marine Gunny Sgt in Japan. He and mom were great dancers! Can’t wait to read this book! Such a fan! Thanks for the giveaway!

  54. Amy Kittel says:

    I have to go with I’ll be Home for Christmas, you can plan on me. I’ll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams.

    I can’t just start a song and not finish it 🙂
    I can’t wait to read your book!

  55. […] Sarah Sundin – In Perfect Time: A Novel (Wings of the Nightingale) […]

  56. Tami says:

    I like all of the Andrew sisters…. and some of Bing too. 🙂

  57. Caryl Kane says:

    WWII was b4 my time. I didn’t grow up to my parents listening to music.

  58. Kendra Whittle says:

    I love “In The Mood”! It always make me want to dance.

  59. Denise Glisson says:

    I’ve loved your books Sarah and hope to win your book! I also didn’t grow up in the era so would say, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”…

    My favorite Love song: hmmm “Jesus Loves Me” I love music but having a hard time thinking of Love songs right now…

  60. Becky Griggs says:

    I’ll be Seeing You

  61. Irene Wesley says:

    My two favorite WWII songs are “The Last Time I Saw Paris” and ”Let Me Call You Sweetheart”. I get transported to that time period every time I listen to them!

  62. Alanna says:

    I really like A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square.

  63. Abbie says:

    “I’ll be Home for Christmas”

  64. Marissa says:

    Don’t Fence Me In by the Andrews sister and Bing Crosby

  65. Nicole S says:

    I’ll be Home for Christmas

  66. Meagan says:

    As Time Goes By

  67. Andrea Williams says:

    I like the song “I Will Be Here” by Steven Curtis Chapman.

  68. Jannette Hall says:

    Let Me Call You Sweetheart.

  69. Jannette Hall says:

    My favorite is LET ME CALL YOU SWEETHEART.

  70. Jannette Hall says:

    I would like to win your book.

  71. Merry Z says:

    I like the Big Band songs like In the Mood.

  72. Sue says:

    “I’ll Be Seeing You”, and anything by Glenn Miller!

  73. Lauren says:

    Love Bing! I’ll be home for Christmas.

  74. Polly Schneider says:

    I like “I “ll be home for Christmas “but I didn’t know it was a WW11 song until I read others comments. 🙂

  75. My favorite artist is Benny Goodman and his song Sing Sing Sing is so nice! I can not dance at all but for this song I had to know some steps because on WW2 events I hate it when I can’t dance when I hear this song!
    But not only his music is good, every song made in the 40s is amazing…

  76. Sunnie says:

    Definitely Boogie woogie Bugle Boy. It’s so lively and fun!

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