I really enjoyed this book! I always love Sarah Sundin's historical fiction books. Embers in the London Sky is about a woman who gets separated from her son while evacuating into England. She then meets a BBC reporter who helps her look for her son and she helps him along the way as well. They fall for each other. This book had me crying both sad and happy tears by the end.

Sarah Sundin’s new novel, Embers in the London Sky, is a remarkable story of love, intrigue, heartbreak, hope, and forgiveness. The story of a mother determined to find her son and the radio man with a secret, Embers in the London Sky was an unexpected adventure that had me on the edge of my seat.

I loved that this story focused on a refuge mother searching for her missing child and a BBC man. Both are things that I had heard of but didn’t know much about. I loved getting a glimpse into both of these circumstances. Seeing these characters overcome their hardships was beautiful.

The only thing I knew about Embers in the London Sky was that it was a World War II novel. I am always up for a World War II read, and this one did not disappoint. Sarah Sundin did a fabulous job at sharing different aspects of the war and weaving mystery and intrigue to an already terrible and hard time.

Thank you Revell and NetGalley for the advanced copy. These thoughts are my own.

Ahhhhh, Sarah Sundin gets better with every book she writes!

I was sick this past week, and while that part was no fun, I was super grateful for a good read and the time I could dedicate to it, guilt-free. It kept me where I needed to be (on the couch, resting), distracted me from how I was feeling, and proved not only educational but inspiring.

I always learn something new/more about the WWII era with Sundin's books. I'd heard about people who were separated from their children (whether intentionally or otherwise) while trying to escape Germany during that time, and this book captured that in a new and different way. Sundin did amazingly at creating vivid characters and a believable storyline, showing empathy and her prodigious research skills all the while. I had no idea how the story would resolve, and it proved so, so satisfying.

The book is standalone/not part of a series; I didn't recall seeing any crossover characters, as with other books, but will blame any I missed on being sick. ;)

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Sarah Sundin’s latest release is about resilience, of a city and of a mother in her desperate attempts to find her lost child. In the first scene, we meet Aleida Maartens, a Dutch wife determined to escape from her abusive and domineering husband. But he thwarts her plans when he arranges for them to escape the invading Germans. In the confusion Aleida is separated from her son and her husband is killed so she must travel to England alone to find the child she loves so dearly and forge a future for them in a city under threat. In London she meets charming and charismatic Hugh Collingwood, a radio correspondent for the BBC. Although she is wary at first, Aleida and Hugh become friends. He helps her in her quest to find her son and she helps break down the walls he’s built to keep people from getting to near with her direct way of speaking. As the pair keep their calm and carry on through both the German blitz and threat closer to home, their friendship blooms into love. Embers in the London sky is gripping from beginning to end and tears at the heart of any mother who has ever been worried for her child.

Here are three things I loved:
1) The opening
The first chapter of this book is utterly gripping. The reader is dropped right in the middle of the action right next to Aleida as she tries to escape. We feel the full effect of her husband's abusive behaviour and experience the shock and grief of discovering she is separated from her beloved son, all in the first gripping 1500 or so words.
This is the kind of scene that seals the deal in the bookshop because you know with the writer like Sarah Sundin if the first scene is this good the rest of the book will be brilliant.
2) A radio journalist as a hero
I might be biassed here because my husband was a radio journalist when I met and married him! But Hugh is absolutely delightful. I liked the distinctions Sundin made between the deceitful nature of the charm of Aleida’s first husband and that of the charismatic Hugh. I adored the behind the scenes details of the BBC during wartime. The regular gatherings of journalists and correspondents at the Hart and Swan pub were some of my favourite scenes.
3) And unexpected murder mystery
I loved murder mystery storyline that bubbled away in the background and it's gripping conclusion. The mystery and suspense elements were elegantly woven into what is primarily a love story, with plenty of twists and a satisfying climax.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Net Galley - but my review is independent of that.

I stayed up way too late this weekend finishing Embers in The London Sky because I simply couldn't fall asleep without knowing how it ended. This story is masterfully crafted, with beautiful prose and layers of meaning. Aleida and Hugh both had their struggles and this was no “fluffy” romance. The book is full of rich, historical detail. I especially loved learning more about live radio broadcasting during WW2 and examining censorship concerns in a way I’d never considered before. I will be revisiting this story again and again!

Thank you to Sarah Sundin, NetGalley, and the publisher for an advanced copy to review. I was not required to post a positive review and all opinions are my own.

Sarah Sundin has become one of my new favorite authors. I’ve only read two of her books so far, but they were both excellent—and this one knocked it out of the park for me!

I’ve always loved books that have a family element in them, and this book’s central plot about a mother’s search for her son hit all the right notes for me. As soon as I started chapter one, I was able to connect with Aleida, and as she took her journey (literally and figuratively), I quickly became even more invested in her. Then there’s Hugh, and his journey…quite different, in many ways, but still relatable and gripping.

One of the biggest things I loved about this book, besides the characters, was the way history shone through these pages. Seeing the devastation and evacuation of Dunkirk and, later, the Blitz through the eyes of someone working for the BBC was fascinating. It was also fascinating to learn a little about the evacuation of children from London (and what they may have experienced)—having read a little about it in C.S. Lewis’ works, it was fun to get another perspective in another book.

History, a dash of mystery, some sweet romance…I adored this story, and can’t wait to see what Sundin comes out with next! To be fair, I did think part of the ending was slightly unrealistic, but it was sweet, all the same. Overall, it was a fast, heartwarming read. Recommended to anyone who likes a good dose of history along with a gripping story.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.

Yet another fantastic story set in World War II by Sundin!

Aleida Martens has decided to leave the cruelty of her husband and the potential Nazi invasion of her beloved Netherlands. But her husband beats her to it, and they leave with their young son. Along the way, Aleida falls asleep, and her husband passes their son to a couple on the road, with no intention of ever seeing him again. As fate would have it, he does not as he is soon killed by Nazi plane fire. Aleida does manage to escape to London, where she searches in vain for her son while working at the Ministry of Health to place children in homes away from London as the London blitz begins. She prays that she will be able to use this position to track down her lost son.

Hugh Collingwood loves being a reporter to report the truth, but the BBC has begun to bow to the Ministry of Information to censor broadcasts and keep the truth from those living within England. He pushes the limit to its limits, often getting in trouble and reprimanded for his work. Imagine if they knew he had asthma, he’d never get to go back onto location for his work. One day he meets a young woman refugee from the Netherlands who lost her son and vows to help her tell her story. What he never anticipated was falling for this young woman.

Sundin is a master at bringing great stories set in historical World War II events. Each book is different. Either set in a different location, time period of the war, and what the characters are experiencing. I loved this story and how it unfolded throughout the pages. I kept cheering for them to finally realize they were meant to be, but still enjoyed the pace that is required to make them realize it. Sundin never fails to amuse and amaze me with her stories and her knowledge of historical events. I can’t wait to see what she comes out with next!

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

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.”

A world war two story filled with mystery, suspense, and romance. The opening was heartbreaking for both main characters. Aleida arrives in London searching for her son and meets Hugh, a correspondent for the BBC who is intrigued by her story but restricted by his editor on what he can broadcast. I liked both characters as I got to know them, but Hugh was definitely my favorite. My heart broke for Aleida when she made a very difficult decision, but it also made me respect her all the more. A beautiful example of what Christ did for us. I did feel like the story dragged a little at times and there were parts where I struggled to follow what exactly was happening at times or how they got where they were, but by the 50% mark I was fully invested. I needed to know if Aleida would find her son and who was responsible for the other stuff that was happening. There were a couple of things I suspected would happen, but that did not take away my enjoyment of the story. I learned a lot about life in London during this time period. I enjoyed my time with this story.

You just can't go wrong with Sarah Sundin. This book was brilliant, gorgeous, and one of my favorites. I loved how Aleida and Hugh came together. They were so real to me and so amazing together. I've always been interested in the Blitz, and I love how Sarah weaves WWII events into her stories. I learn so much WWII history from her books!

: I was hooked from the first line, “As soon as she escaped to England, Aleida van der Zee Martens would cut her hair and have her son photographed for the first time.”

In this intriguing and dramatic novel that captured my interest and stirred up strong emotions, it showed another side of this authors talent as she takes readers on an incredible journey with Dutch refugee Aleida as she looks for her three-year-old son, Theo. They had never been separated before. But in 1940, there was an air strike, and things happened as people rushed to escape the German invasion.

Aleida is determined to find her son, so she pursues a job that aids in the quest and keeps going in the face of doubts. She then goes to see BBC correspondent Hugh Collingwood in the hopes that he will mention the search for her missing son on his radio show.

Although he would like to help Aleida, Hugh Collingwood finds that far too many individuals are missing. He wants to report the truth. But Hugh soon learns there is a thin line between censorship and the truth. He can’t stop thinking about this and Aleida.

Hugh's quest to find his friend's killer leads to the unraveling of a compelling mystery, which is made all the more interesting by the author's talent, painstaking research, and compelling characters. This novel has it all—a captivating mystery that is expertly weaved into this intriguing tale, along with a dash of romance, history, humor, and faith. Reading this engaging story will keep you up late. I enjoyed the surprise guest in this story, Lennex the cat.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by the publisher and NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have 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 Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

This was an incredible story! What begins as a woman's plan for a new life leads to a completely different life than she could have imagined. Aleida had quite the journey to accept the path that the lord had for her. Hugh as well. I really loved him (and when he acquired Lennox--just all the heart eyes!) and his progression. The history in this story was so fascinating. I did not figure out the twist, which in my opinion added a deeper layer to the story, until right before the characters did. Highly recommend!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin - 5 Stars

This WWII story will leave you with so many emotions - it's a must read! We have war, mystery, a bit of romance and a mother who will stop at nothing to find her son in London. This is the second book I have read by Sarah and I can't wait to dive into more of her backlist!

This book starts off with a emotional punch - our main character Aledia is with her abusive husband and young son during their escape from the Nazis in the Netherlands. While she is asleep, her husband tears their son from her arms and gives him away to a random man and woman because he is embarrassed of his son's hand deformity. When Aledia wakes up, she realizes what has happened and is devastated - determined to find her son. Before she can even discuss what happened with her husband, he is killed from effects of war. Left a widow and alone, she is desperate to find her son in London. She makes her way there and meets a BBC reporter - Hugh Collingwood. Hugh and Aledia work together to find her son, along with unraveling a murder mystery along the way. All of this is occurring in the midst of bombs in London.

As a mother of a young boy the same age as Aledia's son, this book tugged at my heart strings in many ways. I was so invested and connected to our characters and the slow burn romance was beautiful in the end between Hugh and Aledia. They went through so much together.

The faith element in this shows us that God never leaves us, nor forsakes us and He walks with us even in the valley of the shadow of death.

I loved the ending so so much. I was in tears. Your heart will be broken and restored by the end. You are truly transported right there in the middle of all the events taking place.

A perfect Christian historical fiction with everything I love in a good book. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Revell for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sarah Sundin is one of my favorite authors. I have read all of her books and every single one touched my heart in one way or another.

This story will break your heart and put it back together again.

I really loved the characters of Aleida and Hugh. Aleida’s compulsions and attempts to control things when so much in her life was out of control made her so real to me.

Hugh’s seeming nonchalance about things was the perfect complement to Aleida’s character and I enjoyed watching them help each other as the situations around them led to more and more heartbreak.

Sarah Sundin’s books never fail to teach me something about myself and about others. Her characters are real and regardless of the era being WWII, so many things about them are relatable.

Thank you to Revell for the copy of this book. All views are my honest opinion.

Why I chose this book: I am a huge fan of Sarah Sundin's books. She has a way with characters and storyline that I sincerely appreciate. As an editor, it's a pleasure to have books I can go to that don't cause me to work when all I want to do is sit back and read "for fun." Sarah must have an incredible team because her books are effortless to read--which means I'm free to get caught up in the story.

Type of Book: Historical Fiction, WWII, London 1940

Overall: Once again, Sarah Sundin crafts a story that is memorable and soul-deep. She has a layered story where we have an outer struggle and inner struggles that all weave together to tell a touching tale that sheds light on a part of our history.

Favorite Quotes/Characters: Sarah has this incredible ability to craft Characters that are unique and real. Aleida’s habits and Hugh’s “personal issue” deepen the story. Aleida is not a girl who twirls her hair when she’s nervous. No; Sarah knows her characters inside and out and it shows. So, do I have a favorite character? Always.

Bookshelf worthy? Yes.

Teenability: Yes, this is appropriate for teens to read. I wouldn’t hesitate to have a high schooler read one of Sundin’s books as a supplement to WWII history.

**Thank you to Revell and Netgalley for the copy of this book to read and review. The opinions here are my honest ones. Please enjoy.**

Embers in the London Sky had a slow start for me, meeting all the characters and getting to know the people behind the characters – their dreams, ambitions and just what makes them who they are.

Aleida showed how strong of a woman she is, stepping up and working among the refugees and fighting for the children send away for safety, while recovering from an abusive relationship and searching for her son.

Hugh was a charming hero with his own vulnerability, failings, and weaknesses. But he quickly won over this reader and others through his appeal and personality.

I enjoyed the developing relationship between Aleida and Hugh, deepening as trust grew between them. The story line with Aleida’s son was difficult as a mom to read, but I also suspected that it won’t be as easy and finding him and all is well.

The pace picked up about the same time that the Germans dropped more bombs on London, and it was possible that a serial killer was targeting those fighting for refugees.

This was another great WW2 story by Sarah Sundin, featuring a topic I have not read a lot about yet – refugee children sent away by parents for their own safety.

An Outstanding WWII story by Sarah Sundin. I'm going to invest some more time on her writing because she delivered a tough topic in such a unique way. I'm a huge WWII reader due to the strength it took to survive. As a mother searches for her 3 year old son during the war, you are captivated by her strength, courage, faith and resilience. The book opens with a look inside Aleida's home and her abusive husband, Sebastian. When the Germans invaded the Netherlands, they escaped to England. While she is sleeping, her son, Theo, is torn from her arms to be shipped off with strangers by her husband in order to keep him safe, but no regards to her knowledge of his scheme. When Sebastian is killed, she spends time trying to find Theo with the help of a BBC news reporter and radio correspondent, Hugh. She even works with an agency responsible for evacuating children to the countryside, but cannot find him without a picture describing him.
Even while she is working closely with Hugh, a series of murders appear, and she helps with the investigation of it all. This was an interesting take since there was a war going on with several deaths due to it, but I read another interesting WWII book with a murder investigation in a concentration camp and thought that was odd since there were deaths going on all around them.
A different view of the Holocaust and thoughts of the children that were shipped to safety, but some never returned to their families. This was a difficult time for all, but I felt the author did an excellent job portraying the characters as likable individuals and deserving of happiness.
Thank you NetGalley and Revell for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

5 ⭐️ Really great book! Finished it in just a few days as I struggled to put it down! Very heartfelt and I loved the murder mystery intertwined in with Aleida’s desperate search for her son! Really liked Hugh’s character & the war broadcasting aspect in the book. Would definitely recommend!

I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book through NetGalley from Revell. Thank you for this ARC! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

WW2 Christian Historical romance. Expertly written. I became attached right away to Aleida as she's trying to take her son and secretly run away from her husband and also from Netherlands because of the German invasion. Her plans are derailed, and she finds herself in an awful situation as she loses her son to strangers. When she gets to England and her wealthy family she continues to search for her son. Her son has a deformity that her husband hated. Hugh works for the BBC as a broadcaster reporter and is hiding that he has asthma. There are murders of people whom they care for and a mystery to solve as they search for her son. Smoothly written, small bits of information expertly woven into their story so that you can almost figure out who the murderer is. Tense and heartbreaking all the way through as they deal with the war as well as their personal problems. Excellent read.

I received this book free from the author, publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#EmbersInTheLondonSky #NetGalley #SarahSundin #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #Revell #ChristianHistoricalFiction #FiveStarBooks @SarahSundinAuthor @sarahsundin

World War II is such a fascinating era, and I can't get enough of learning about different experiences during the war, so I was hooked by seeing a mother, a refugee herself, looking for her son while helping to encourage parents in London to evacuate their children to the country for their safety alongside a BBC radio correspondent. Those aspects of history were so interesting--and then the characers themselves were wonderful. I loved how Aleida was determined to find her son and used her organizational skills to try to find him. Hugh was really endearing, with his asthma and his feeling of constantly disappointing his parents as he tries to do what he loves making him so realistic. Their romance was sweet, albeit subtle. While some of the plotlines are intense (there are four murders in the book), the writing is never graphic. All in all, an interesting mystery, a sweet romance between lovable characters, and awesome historical details made this a terrific book!

4.5 stars.

I read a DRC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.