Sarah Sundin

This is the second book of Sundin’s “Sunrise at Normandy” trilogy which focuses on the Paxton brothers, whose family was torn apart by a foolish accident with tragic consequences. Now three years later, each of the estranged brothers must make peace with the past and with God before facing D-day and the Normandy invasion.

Adler and Violet are compelling characters. Adler’s flaws are obvious and he bears a tremendous load of guilt for the sins of his past, with consequences that he knows about and some he doesn’t. He has great difficulty accepting forgiveness that he feels is unmerited. Violet’s issues are more subtle. An American Red Cross worker in England, she is basically a good person, but she still lives in a world of black-and-white, good-and-bad, right-and-wrong and finds herself deeply challenged by the real world and its shades of gray. All this against a backdrop of WWII Britain on the edge of D-Day.

This is a compelling and thoughtful story, every bit as excellent as the first book, [The Sea Before Us], which is brother Wyatt’s story. I look forward to the publication of Clay’s story soon.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.… (lisätietoja)

This Christian historical fiction novel is set in WW2 Denmark. Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt is living under an assumed identity - uneducated laborer, Hemming Anderson. Under cover of darkness, he is also the “Havmand” (male mermaid) who, so the stories say, swims across the waters to Sweden (he actually rows a scull across, having been an Olympic rower) carrying messages for the resistance after Germany invades Denmark. He lives in a boarding house with a group of people including Dr. Else Jensen, an American physicist working at a lab in Denmark. She, too, works for the resistance by secretly making copies at the lab for an illegal, underground newspaper. Secrecy is of the utmost importance, so neither Henrik/Hemming nor Else can tell anyone the truth about what they are each doing - or in Henrik/Hemming’s case, who he really is. There is a spark between the two, but the story of the resistance takes center stage for the most part. About halfway through the novel that sort of shifts a little - and then a little more by the end - toward the romance aspect, which is not my typical read; however, this is a well-written, interesting story about some real events, including what happened when the Germans enacted a Jewish roundup in Denmark. If you are a fan of historical Christian romance, you will probably like this one!… (lisätietoja)

I really enjoyed this book. This historical book covered the London Blitz, refugees and the children that left the city to avoid the bombs. Probably the first book I’ve read on this part of history. The author did a great job, and I felt like I was right there with them.

I loved the characters, Aleida and Hugh. Not to give anything away, but the choices that Aledia had to make and all she went through was emotional to say the least. Hugh was a great character, he was witty and humorous and I loved him! There’s a great murder mystery that kept me guessing until the end. Actually, the whole book kept me guessing.

This is Christian fiction with no bad language, no sex, and a wonderful faith thread woven throughout. Not overbearing but just perfect.

Sarah Sundin did it again! Another great book! I highly recommend it.… (lisätietoja)

Embers in the London Sky takes place during World War 2. Aleida Martens escapes the Netherlands as the Nazis are invading, and she makes it safely to London. But during the evacuation, she is separated from her young son, Theodoor. She has reason to believe that he, too, made it to England, but she has no idea where he ended up. She manages to find employment with the Ministry of Health in hopes that her position will allow her the opportunity to search for Theo. Hugh Collingwood is a reporter for the BBC, well-known for his on-the-ground, dynamic reports. When Hugh goes to the Ministry of Health to conduct interviews, he is introduced to Aleida, and she has the chance to tell him her plight. Although he can’t report on it, Hugh does take an interest in helping Aleida search for her son. But along the way, they find themselves also searching for clues in a series of murders. Will Aleida find her son, and will they manage to escape murder themselves?

I was drawn to this book, as I really enjoy historical fiction. This book sheds light on the plight of refugees in London during World War 2 and on England’s mission to protect children by sending them to live in the country, far away from the bombings. Starting off, I was drawn into the story, but a few chapters in, it seemed to slow down, and I struggled for several chapters. But it picked back up and became quite exciting. Hugh and Aleida were both likable characters, each having weaknesses and struggles that make them relatable. The story is a clean romance which is important to me, and it does involve the main characters’ faith and trust in God. Overall, I enjoyed the book, and I’ll be looking to read more by this author.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.… (lisätietoja)