Review of MIDNIGHT ON THE SCOTTISH SHORE by Sarah Sundin

On February 5, 2025February 4, 2025 By vickleaIn Book Review2 Comments

About the Book

Product Details

ISBN-13:9780800741860 Publisher: Baker Publishing Group. Publication date:02/04/2025 Pages:384

To escape the Nazis, she must become a spy. To save the Allied cause, must he betray his heart?

The only way Cilla van der Zee can survive the German occupation of the Netherlands is to do the unthinkable–become a spy for the Nazis in Britain. She soothes her conscience with a plan to abandon her mission and instead aid the Allies. Her scheme is thwarted when naval officer Lt. Lachlan Mackenzie finds her along the Scottish shore and turns her in to be executed.

But perhaps she is more useful alive than dead. British intelligence sends her to Scotland to radio misleading messages to Germany, messages about the naval base at Scapa Flow to be crafted by Lachlan. At the station in the lighthouse at Dunnet Head, Lachlan and Cilla must work together if the war is to be won. But how can he trust a woman who arrived on his shores as a tool of the enemy–a woman certain to betray both him and the Allied cause?

My Thoughts

The latest historical fiction novel by Sarah Sundin takes the readers to the Scottish shore during WWII. The story is fascinating, with meticulous details about the part Scotland played in the war as well as about several actual historical figures written into the plot. Cilla Van der Zee is a citizen from the Netherlands who plans to escape the Nazi oppression there by pretending to be a spy for them and by taking a U-boat to the Scottish shore. Unfortunately, she is apprehended by Lachlan, a young naval officer there, and then Cilla is forced to become a double agent instead of going to live with her aunt as was her original plan. The legend of the selkie which is woven into the story was completely engrossing. This novel was addictive and unputdownable, keeping me up late into the night since I was engrossed by the nail-biting suspense and the escalating tension as Cilla faces prison time or worse. The developing romance between Lachlan and Cilla is warm and believable, told with humorous banter between the two who start out as enemies and slowly become friends. The plot is deeply immersive, with historical details that enrich the story with their authenticity and made me want to know more, which the author nicely provided in an afterword that added to my enjoyment of the story. The author infuses the entire story with spiritual truths that include forgiveness, mercy, grace and compassion. I really liked the sibling rivalry between Neil and Lachlan that formed an intriguing sub-plot as well as the cameo appearances of characters from a previous book. This book is a compelling read that was brilliantly written with a strong message of fortitude, clever plot twists and a remarkable attention to realism. I learned a lot about Scotland as I read and grew to appreciate the landscape, the use of lighthouses and the heroism of local people who just wanted to protect their homeland.
Disclaimer
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. (Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”)

Historical Fiction, Christian novel, Rated PG due to war scenes

Sarah Sundin is the bestselling author of Embers in the London Sky, The Sound of Light, Until Leaves Fall in Paris, and When Twilight Breaks, as well as the popular WWII series Sunrise at Normandy, among others. She is a Christy Award winner and a Carol Award winner, and her novels have received starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly. Sarah lives in Southern California. Visit SarahSundin.com for more information.

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Review of EMBERS IN THE LONDON SKY by Sarah Sundin

On February 26, 2024 By vickleaIn Book Review3 Comments

ABOUT THE BOOK

ISBN-13:9780800741853

Publisher:Baker Publishing Group

Publication date:02/06/2024

Pages:400

As the German army invades the Netherlands in 1940, Aleida van der Zee Martens escapes to London to wait out the Occupation. Separated from her three-year-old son, Theo, in the process, the young widow desperately searches for her little boy even as she works for an agency responsible for evacuating children to the countryside.

When German bombs set London ablaze, BBC radio correspondent Hugh Collingwood reports on the Blitz, eager to boost morale while walking the fine line between truth and censorship. But the Germans are not the only ones Londoners have to fear as a series of murders flame up amid the ashes.

The deaths hit close to home for Hugh, and Aleida needs his help to locate her missing son. As they work together, they grow closer and closer, both to each other and the answers they seek. But with bombs falling and continued killings, they may be running out of time.

My Thoughts

This is a powerful and compelling story of a mother’s love, a reporter’s dedication and the hardships faced by those in the middle of the Nazi blitz of London during WWII. Aleida Martens is a sympathetic character who tugged all of my heart strings after she was separated from her beloved preschooler Theo as she fled from the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Knowing only that he was given to strangers to take to London, Aleida determinedly sets out to find him, with no evidence that he even exists. In her quest, she meets Hugh Collingwood, a brave and intrepid reporter for the BBC who is trying to make a name for himself and live through the danger all around him. The two together make a formidable team as they try to right the wrongs being done do the refugee children as well as solve murders that seem to be connected and are piling up. This book was hard to put down and is haunting in its descriptions of the ravages of war and the toll it takes on the most innocent among us. I enjoyed the realistic characterization, the detailed research and the fast-paced plot. The entire book pulled me quickly into the story, captivating me in an era of challenging times but also presenting an unwavering faith in God in spite of circumstances. Mostly historical fiction but also mystery and a commentary on society’s values, this book is one not to be missed and one that will long be remembered as an insightful look at war, dedication and love. No single other author tells a war story as realistically and as skillfully as Sarah Sundin!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Christian Fiction, Rated PG due to intense war scenes and abusive spouse

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

**Sarah Sundin** enjoys writing about the drama and romance of the World War II era. She is the bestselling and Christy Award-winning author of Embers in the London Sky (February 2024), The Sound of Light (2023), Until Leaves Fall in Paris (2022), When Twilight Breaks (2021), and several World War II series.
Sarah’s novels have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Booklist. Until Leaves Fall in Paris received the 2022 Christy Award and was a semi-finalist for the 2023 Carol Award, The Sound of Light, When Twilight Breaks, and The Land Beneath Us were finalists for the Christy Award, and The Sky Above Us won the 2020 Carol Award.
A mother of three, Sundin lives in Southern California and enjoys speaking to community, church, and writers’ groups. Sarah serves as Co-Director for the West Coast Christian Writers Conference. You can find more information about Sarah and her books at her website https://www.sarahsundin.com/

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Review of UNTIL LEAVES FALL IN PARIS by Sarah Sundin

On February 4, 2022 By vickleaIn Book ReviewLeave a comment

I absolutely devoured this book, with its vivid descriptions of war-torn Paris under the Nazi regime. The prose was written so well that I felt as though I became a part of the story, walking the streets of Paris and listening with bated breath for the arrival of Nazi soldiers. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Lucie and Paul, both Americans who joined the resistance in France in order to try to make a difference in the war effort. Putting their lives in danger repeatedly, they are dedicated to the cause and slowly learn to trust each other. Their love story is one for the ages, one that is unforgettable and poignantly bittersweet. I loved the story, the characters and the atmosphere that was so realistically portrayed. The author is a master at research and at pulling the reader into the story in such a way that I embraced the story and was sad to see it come to the end. I wanted to continue to follow the delightful and precocious Josie who wrote about Rock Monsters and a heroine named Feenee. Thus, the author sneaked in a story within a story, one from the viewpoint of a child that was insightful. Anyone who enjoyed historical fiction will want to get this book and add it to your collection of memorable stories to cherish and share.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Revell Reads Blogger Program via Netgalley. I also purchased my own copy of the book by pre-order since I love this author’s style and the lessons that I learn from her books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

The action is intense in Nazi-occupied Paris, but the story is clean and well worth reading for anyone who enjoys historical fiction. Rated G.

*Photo and information are from the author’s website at* http://www.sarahsundin.com

This is a new release and can be purchased at any of the retailers listed below or at your favorite bookseller.

Buy this amazing book today and get lost in the story of Paul and Lucie and their love story for the ages!

Review of WHEN TWILIGHT BREAKS by Sarah Sundin

On February 16, 2021 By vickleaIn Book Review1 Comment

*The cover drew me in, the story kept me there.*

The author informs us readers at the end that the character Lisa is named after a Sunday school student who categorized her books are “war-romances.” What an accurate description and kudos to that young lady for being able to come up with that word! This is the story of when Hitler was first taking over Germany and all of the changes in the society, including the beginnings of the purges of Jews from businesses and from German society in general. Evelyn is a newspaper reporter who is like a dog with a bone; she just won’t let go of the story until she finds the truth. Her friend Peter is pursuing his Ph.D. In German while he teaches at a local university in Munich. The meeting of these two main characters was magical and so well-written. The entire story was like a film running in my mind, with such excellent descriptions of scenes and background. I felt as though I could feel the evil of the Gestapo and the traitors against Evelyn and Peter. My heart was in my throat during the most emotional moment that they shared together. This is one of the absolutely best historical fiction books that I have read about the pre-WWII era! I cannot recommend it highly enough. Even if you don’t like historical fiction, try this one. I’m not usually a fan of this genre, but I love Sundin’s books and have devoured all of them since I first discovered her. The research is impeccable, the writing is magnetic and the characterization is dramatic. Loved this book!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Revell Reads Blogger Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

*A totally clean read, rated PG* because of content. Historically accurate, so some of the scenes with the Gestapo and their treatment of the Jewish people was more than a little disturbing. Nevertheless, the story needs to be told and Sarah Sundin did a masterful job!

*Photo from the author’s website at* http://www.sarahsundin.com Additional information about Sarah’s inspiration, her writing journey and her list of amazing books can be found at this website.

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Get your copy of this wonderful book today! Read, Enjoy, Share!

Review of THE LAND BENEATH US by Sarah Sundin

On May 23, 2020 By vickleaIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Although this is the first book that I have read by Sarah Sundin, I am thoroughly convinced that it will not be my last. This book was a fascinating look at D-Day from the viewpoint of the woman left behind and the warrior in action. Clay Paxton is from Texas and is stationed at a small training base when he meets Leah. Leah is on her own and working in the library when Clay comes into her life at one of her worst possible moments. The life that Leah faced when Clay left for battle was one of being alone, anxious and not always feeling accepted, struck a lot of chords with me since I’m a the wife of a retired military member. So, I really enjoyed the walks down memory lane that this book provided for me. I also was totally absorbed with the historical details that the author wove seamlessly into the story. The tale of D-Day was so well-written and historically accurate that I learned a lot from this book while also being drawn into the fictional lives of Leah and Clay. There are so many lessons to be learned from this book, including forgiveness and giving second chances and acceptance and bullying and family relationships. I loved this book and will definitely look for and read the others in this series as well as other books by this author. She paints a realistic canvas of a terrible era in the history of the world and does so with empathy and a patriotic fervor that jumps from the pages. Fans of historical fiction will not want to miss this book!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author as part of an online contest. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”