Mists over the Channel Islands by Sarah Sundin Review

 

I've not read many books set on one of the Channel Island before, in fact before this one I've read one other.  Both of which were set during WWII and that makes sense because the Channel Islands during the war have multiple stories that just need to be told.  And I'm glad that Sarah Sundin choose to set her final book in the companion series about three Dutch cousins on the Island of Jersey as well as giving a woman doctor in a time when it was still rare to have one.  Even though Sundin only writes WWII fiction the books never get old because she always finds a new setting that seems to have never been done before to tell a new story and a new bit of real life history from the war. 

 

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin review

Title: Embers in the London Sky

Author: Sarah Sundin

Ch: 49

Pg: 391

Genre: Christian Historical fiction Christian historical romance

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Revell


I love how this author with each WWII novel she writes can find a new bit of history to tell. Even though Sundin writes WWII for each of her storylines it feels like a new story each time. And she never disappoints. Though I d think Hugh Collingwood might be my new favorite hero of hers. And I think it’s because he doesn’t let having Asthma stop him from doing what needs to be done. And Aledia is proof of what a mother’s love can do.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin review

 

Title: The Sound of Light

Author: Sarah Sundin

Ch: 51

Pg: 371

Genre: Christian Historical fiction, Christian Historical romance

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: Revell

With The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin I feel like my reading WWII fiction has come full circle. As the first book I read at 10 set during WWII was also set in Denmark. Even at 10 Number the Stars by Lois Lowry show me how the Danish people stood up to the Nazis in a way kids could understand.

In The Sound of Light Sarah Sundin tells the story of Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt who gives up everything to make a difference for the resistance. And American Dr Else Jensen who at one point wants nothing more than to be a physicist makes the choice to risk it all to help her Jewish friends and Neighbors. Else’s Faith is strong throughout the novel and Henrik’s is still there it’s just taken a bit of a beating.

The Sound of light shows that every day people can make a difference and even though the characters are fictional it does tell what real-life Danes did to defeat the Nazis.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Until the Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin

 Title:  Until Leaves Fall in Paris 

Author:  Sarah Sundin

Ch: 51

Pg:  402

Genre:  Christian Historical Romance, with a hint of suspense

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: Revell

Until Leaves Fall in Paris is another amazing book by Sarah Sundin. This time she takes readers to German occupied France in 1941. Lucie Girard is a ballerina turned bookstore owner. Paul Aubrey is an automobile factory owner trying to keep the Germans from taking over his factory. But both have secrets from their friends and each other. Each in their own way are working to help defeat the Germans.

The book banning Lucie had to content with while running Green leaf book in fictional France in 1941/42 really did happen in real France in 1941/1942. But what makes it scary is that we as people haven’t learned our lesson when it comes to trying to ban book.

Though this book isn’t a sequel to When Twilight Breaks I do recommend reading that one first as you meet Paul Aubrey in that one and there’s other Easter eggs to the previous book in this one.

I had a late night because I was determined to finish the last hundred pages, because I had to know what happened. Sarah Sundin packed a lot of action and feelings in those last hundred pages.

I love Sarah’s heroes she writes romantic heroes that don’t overshadow the heroines. And her heroines are strong while still being feminine. And she does it again with Paul and Lucie. I loved their slow burn romance it’s in my top three of her romances. But Josie was my favorite character in the story loved that kid.

I loved Until Leaves Fall in Paris, and I look forward to Sarah’s next book. I’m glad I still have a few of her back list left.

 

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

 

 

 

First Line Friday

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Chapter One 

Paris, France

Wednesday, May 29, 1940

"As Long as she kept dancing, Lucille Girard could pretend the world wasn't falling apart." 

When Tides Turn by Sarah Sundin review

Title:  When Tides Turn

Author:  Sarah Sundin

Ch: 48 

Pg:  391

Series: Waves of Freedom

 Genre:  Christian historical fiction Christian Historical Romance

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: Revell

 

When Tides Turn is the third book in the Waves of Freedom series by Sarah Sundin. The Avery sibling that this book focuses on is Lt. Dan Avery. And Tess Beaumont. When I meet Tess in the first book I wasn’t fond of her nor was I fond of in book two. And even with this book it took me a while to warm up to her. Dan was easier to like but it was still a journey.

While not my favorite of the series I still enjoyed the mystery and story as well as the conclusion to this family story.

Anchor in the Storm by Sarah Sundin review

Title:  Anchor in the Storm

Author:  Sarah Sundin

Ch: 48

Pg:  396

Series: Waves of Freedom

Genre:  Christian Historical Fiction, Christian Historical Romance

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: Revell

 

Anchor in the Storm is the second book in the Waves of Freedom series by Sarah Sundin and I have to say I enjoyed spunky girl pharmacist Lillian Avery. I think she’s my favorite heroine in this series. Though it took me a bit to warm up to Archer Vandenberg as I was on the fence about him as a secondary character in the previous book. Through I wanted Lillians book since she was mentioned in the first book in the series.

And just like with the first book in the series I loved the mystery aspect of the story just as much as the romance. Lillian and Arch’s journey and growth was my favorite part of the story. They might have been from different worlds at the beginning but by the end I couldn’t imagine them with any else. Arch thought he lost everything he wanted but he ended up gaining so much more. And Lillian discovered who she had been all along. But most importantly they both learn who their Anchor is the Storm really is.

 

Through Waters Deep by Sarah Sundin review

Title:  Through Waters Deep

Author:  Sarah Sundin

Ch: 46

Pg:  376

Series: Waves of Freedom

Genre:  Christian Historical Romance

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: Revell

 

After reading Though Waters Deep  by Sarah Sundin I again wonder why I waited so long to read Sarah's books even though this is now the fifth book that I've read. As someone who loves Navy history I blame it on being the granddaughter of a Navy Sailor and the Daughter of a Marine.  And who also loves mysteries, this book was right up my ally. 

 

Mary Stirling was at the Boston Navy Yard as a secretary and Jim Avery is an Office in the Navy they are old friends from back home when a mystery at the yard has them both working together to solve it. And though the course of it they both begin to see the other in a new light. Sarah has done another thing I didn't think an author would ever be able to get me to do, and that's end up loving a friends to more story. That has always been my least favorite troupe. But apparently if there's any other who can get me to read it and love it, it's Sarah.    Through Waters Deep at least for me was the perfect balance of history, mystery and romance.  What I've grown to love about Sarah's books is that even though they are historical fiction her heroines aren't damsels in distress though they are true the 40s setting they are quite capable in their own right while dressing in the awesome dresses of the period.   

 

Sarah writes hero and heroines that reflect the real life men and women whom we've come to know of as the greatest generation and she does without dismissing those real life heroes.  And even though there are some who would want us to forget women helped us win the war at home and aboard.    And with Through the Waters Deep Sarah again proves why she is my go to author for WWII fiction. I just wonder what I'm going to do when I make it through her back list and have to wait like everyone else for another book.

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin review

Title:  When Twilight Breaks

Author:  Sarah Sundin

Ch: 47

Pg:  384

Genre: Christian Historical fiction with a hint of romance , war-omance

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: Revell

 

Wow. Now that that’s out of the way let’s get to the review. When Twilight Breaks is Sarah Sundin’s newest novel. That is slightly out of her WWII wheel house. But I loved that this one was set in Germany prior to WWII. Evelyn Brand is an American news reporter who just wants to write the truth. Peter Lang is a German PhD student from the US studying in Munich.

I will say that while I loved this one it’s not an easy read as it deals with a horrible time in history. What makes the story come alive is that one of the main characters is three quarters Jewish and they live in fear of the German anti-Semitic laws. Have tissues handy.

Pete Lang is my kind of historical hero who knows that the heroine can handle herself but he just wants to support and help her not take it away from her. And the fact that he’s a little nerdy doesn’t hurt.

Evelyn’s personality and the cover the woman in the blue coat and red hat gives this marvel nerd slight Agent Carter vibes and I loved this.

When I got to 60% of the book i ended up staying up in order to finish because I had to know what happened. It made me a happy reader but not a happy worker at work the next morning but it was worth it.

What When Twilight Breaks gave me was something I didn’t know I need as a book trope a marriage of necessity not convenience . Which I guess is something she also have us in The Land Beneath Us. Even though I’ve only read four of Sarah’s books this is one of my favorites and it’s easy to say she is indeed the queen of war-mance. I can’t wait for Sarah’s next book to release but I also still have her back list to get through to hold me over.

 

I received a complimentary copy When Twilight Breaks  from the publishers. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone. 

First Line Friday

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Berlin Germany 

Tuesday, March 15, 1938

"Evelyn Brand had done a crack bit of journalism, and she hadn't even had to dress like a man to do so." 

The Land Beneath Us review

Title:  The Land Beneath Us

Author: Sarah Sundin

Series: Sunrise at Normandy book 3

Chapters: 50 Plus Epilogue

Pages:371

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction with a hint of romance/ WWWII fiction

Rating: 5 Stars

Publisher: Revell

I’m not going to lie it was the tag of “When an Army Ranger and a librarian are bound together by a marriage of convenience, neither suspects it might lead to love.” I’m a sucker for marriage of convenience stories and heroines that are Librarians and I love a military hero.

The Land Beneath Us was my favorite book in the Sunrise at Normandy series. Since the first book, I couldn’t wait to read Clay's story and I loved Leah a petit young woman who dreams of being a librarian who was easy to relate to. I have to say that Clay and Leah are a good match and brings out the good in each other. Clay being in the “pit” ended up being a God thing and God used for good.

This series was the first WWII fiction that I’ve read as an adult and I enjoyed the whole series but The Land Beneath Us was my favorite. I loved how this series focused on the brother aspect and the Land air and sea forces who made D-day possible. A 2 great uncle while not a ranger was part of the Land invasion at Normandy and I loved that this book brought to light the scarifies those brave man-made that day.

I plan on picking up the rest of Sarah’s backlist of books as well as any future books she’s now my go-to author for WWII fiction. As the daughter of a Marine and the granddaughter of a sailor whose real-life heroes are our military it’s no wonder that those are my favorite fictional heroes.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine 

The Sea Above Us review

 

Title:  The Sky Above Us

Author: Sarah Sundin

Series: Sunrise at Normandy

Chapters: 50

Pages: 356

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction/ WWII

Rating: 4 Stars

Publisher:  Revell

The Sky Above Us by Sarah Sundin is the second book in the Sunrise at Normandy. This one focuses on the Sky with the army air corps with Lt. Alder Paxton he’s a flyboy. And Violet Lindstrom a Red Cross volunteer.

I have to say Adler messed up big time but God’s Grace is bigger than our mistakes all we have to do is repent and ask forgiveness and turn away. To me he is the most changed by the end of the novel. But Violet has to learn and change to.

Before reading this book I’m ashamed to admit I didn’t know anything about the army air Corp in Involvement in D-Day my high school world history and US history was lacking to say the least. So I’m glad I finally learned a bit about it with this book.

I am looking forward to finishing the series with The Land Beneath Us Clays story. And again I have to stress that these books need to be read in order otherwise you miss things and I love that in order to get the whole story you’ve got to read each brothers story in order.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

The Sea Before Us Review

Title:  The Sea Before Us 

Author: Sarah Sundin 

Series: Sunrise at Normandy book 1

Chapters:48 plus Prologue 

Pages: 377

Genre: Christian Historical fiction with a hint of romance 

Rating: 4 stars 

Publisher:  Revell

I'm not going to lie I basically read this one because I read the synopsis of the third book in the series and couldn't wait to read it. So since I have to read series in order and in the case of this series you need to read them in order because these three books timeline is parallel they pretty much happen at the same time. But I normally don't read WWII fiction because I'm afraid that the author's going to get something wrong or not do their research. That wasn't the case here.

The Sea Before is the first book in the Sunrise at Normandy series by Sarah Sundin. A fictional series about three brothers who all play a part in the D-Day invasion.  Sea, air, and Land the three different forces that made D-Day possible. In the first book, we focus on the sea with Naval Officer Lt. Wyatt Paxton who damaged the relationship he had with his brothers and is trying to make amends. And Second officer Dorothy Fairfax a Wren in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) who also has to deal with a broken family but for different reasons.  They work together to help with the Naval part of D-Day. 

Prior to reading this book, I knew the Navy played a part in D-Day because how else were they going to get men to the beaches without a ship, but I didn't realize how big of a role the Navy played until I read this book, but I should have as someone who comes from a Navy and Marine family. I enjoyed the brother aspect of this series and I can't wait to read the stories of the other two brothers and get the background story from their point of view.  The brother aspect intrigues me as in my own family history we had our own set of brothers who fought in WWII, but in the Army, Navy, and Marines and only the solider show European combat the sailor and Marine were in the South Pacific. I can't wait to read the other two in this series as well as read some of Sarah's previous books. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

First Line Fridays

First Lines Friday hosted by Hoarding Books Blog

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"Most me woke in a cold sweat when they dreamed of their own deaths, but not Private Clay Paxton." 

I love that line and I finally glad I reading this book, I wanted to read even before I read the first two books in the series because of the tagline it had.  I think this one is my favorite of the series. 

First Line Friday

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Off San Francisco Bay, California

Saturday, October 2, 1943 

"Wars weren't won with Caution, and aces weren't made in straight and level flights." 

This one is an older title but it's the book I'm currently reading in preparation for the final book in the series coming out February 4, 2020.

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Kerrville, Texas 

Saturday, June 14, 1914

'Wyatt Paxton never realized that coming home could be as bittersweet as leaving." 

This one is an older title but it's the book I'm currently reading in preparation of the final book in the series coming out February 4, 2020.