About the Book
Book: Seashells Tell No Tales
Author: Amanda Tru
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 27, 2024
A tropical island tale of danger, secrets, love, and seashells that won’t reveal any of it.
Faith Marlowe made a promise to her dying brother. Unfortunately that promise involves helping an injured and embittered Army Ranger vet, Gideon Sundquist (Sunny).
Sunny doesn’t want help. He lost both his legs in a black ops mission he can’t breathe a word about. Now he’s exiled on an island in the middle of the South Pacific, hiding from the world.
Both Faith and Sunny have secrets to keep. If Sunny finds out who Faith is, Faith will lose her only chance to keep her promise. If Faith finds out the truth of Sunny’s mission, it will put both of their lives at risk.
On a beautiful, remote island in the Pacific, Faith will try to teach Sunny to live again. But if the tales of their secrets are told, neither will see the sun rise in the Suamalie Islands again.
Beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore. Click here to get your copy!
My Thoughts
I truly enjoyed this exciting adventure romance with a hint of suspense. The opposites attract trope is always so fun – I love broken heroes and Sunny was indeed very broken both physically and mentally. I thought the PTSD was fairly well portrayed though there were other scenarios that could’ve been added to make it even more so – but the romance was wonderfully done and Faith was such a caring, loving, and likable character. I really enjoyed their journey of growing closer together, and growing as individuals.
Love the setting and the town, love the continued addition of Dundee’s Adventures, which was featured in the last story. I did not see the last section of the book coming, which was fun. The foreshadowing of the true antagonist was woven in well, and when things escalated fast, I couldn’t put the book down.
This story really wove together Amanda Tru’s previous styles of romance and suspense. There wasn’t suspense all the way through, but the style of action at the end was reminiscent of Tru’s previous Baggage Claim series, which was fun to read.
The only thing i would have liked to see was the addition of therapy for PTSD. A bit of a spoiler, but as a covert military officer who endured some major trauma, I’d have thought they would have assigned him a therapist to help him out through the obvious depression and PTSD, instead of just trying to throw an in-home nurse at his door over and over again. Even the addition of a paragraph stating that he refused therapy would’ve been sufficient because that would’ve been believable. But him not being offered therapy in my opinion, is not believable.
Don’t forget to enter the giveaway below, and keep reading to find out more behind the story of Seashells Tell No Tales.
About the Author
Amanda Tru is a best-selling author of over thirty Christian fiction books. She writes page-turning fiction to inspire real-life stories. In her own real story, she sheds her super-hero writing cape to be mommy to four kids in a small Idaho town.
More from Amanda
I believe that the best fiction contains a seed of truth. After all, sometimes life breathes emotions that can never be faked and tells stories no imagination can paint. Seashells Tell No Tales is a fantastic story of romance, heartache, family, and friendship with a splash of humor and suspense. In some ways, it is a fresh take on the classic Beauty and the Beast motif. But what may be most surprising is that the original idea for the plot is based on a true story.
My father-in-law was in the army when he was a young man. He never served in war combat, but his memories still reveal that it was a life-changing experience for him. One day, he told us a story about another soldier he befriended in basic training. Though his military story didn’t carry the thill and danger of some military tales, its impact on him was profound, so much so that over fifty years later, his voice shook with tears as he told it.
It was a tale of a paradigm shift when he realized that someone who was different did not intend to be different, but very much wished to not be weighed down with the lot life had assigned him. The other young man did not want to be as he was. My father-in-law’s response to his fellow soldier spoke of understanding, friendship, and a life-altering perspective that still resonates in his actions today.
And it’s a message that should inspire us all.
As often happens, when I hear a story that touches me, I mentally file it away. It bubbles up in my memory ever so often and eventually, an idea may form around it. The foundation Seashells Tell No Tales is the true-life encounter my father-in-law had in basic training. Sunny’s flashback scene at the beginning of the book is as identical as I could make it to what my father-in-law described. I used my imagination to fill in the details of the circumstances surrounding the event, but the conversation, the emotions, and the actions are all real.
In turn, that event forms the basis of a friendship that defines the rest of the book. Also real to life, friendships are not fairy-tales; they are messy. In some ways, Sunny’s life may have been better had he never taken the time to offer friendship to an outcast, but in every way that matters, Sunny—like all of us—is a better human for experiencing the trials of life we’d never choose for ourselves.
Yes, Seashells Tell No Tales is very much a fiction story. But I believe the truth in it adds a profound dimension. As you read it, feel free to laugh at the humor, white-knuckle your way through the suspense, feel your heart flutter with the romance, be touched by the themes of family and friendship—but I also want you to shut the last page of the book inspired.
May we all offer friendship to those on the sidelines of life. And may we recognize our own faces in theirs. Through our love for others, may we realize that we truly are exactly who we are meant to be.
Blog Stops
She Lives To Read, March 16
Devoted To Hope, March 17
Locks, Hooks and Books, March 18
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, March 19
Texas Book-aholic, March 20
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 21
Sylvan Reads, March 22
Karen Baney Reviews, March 23
Inspired by fiction, March 23
Life, Love, Writing, March 24
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 25
Blogging With Carol, March 26
For Him and My Family, March 27
Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, March 28 (Author Interview)
The Lofty Pages, March 28
Holly’s Book Corner, March 29
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Amanda is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/2a7ac/seashells-tell-no-tales-celebration-tour-giveaway
If you love this author, check out other books I have reviewed by her here.
