Sarah Sundin is one author who never disappoints. Her latest, Embers in the London Sky, completely captivated me from the start. From a mother fleeing the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands, her young child ripped from her arms, to a reporter for the BBC seeking to open the eyes of the world to the terrors of the bombs laying waste to London, this book had it all. Romance, suspense, complex characters, gut rendering emotions, and an intriguing mystery all guaranteed this was a fast read- much too fast! I did not want the story to end!

Having read all of Sundin’s books, I can honestly say she only gets better and better with each novel. You will not want to miss this one!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publishers. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

#BookRevew : EMBERS IN THE LONDON SKY by Sarah Sundin

Embers in the London Sky is a compelling story of a mother’s love set in the chaos of WWII London. Aleida’s search for her son unfolds as a slow burn narrative, with a backdrop of the air raids and bombings. It was heartbreaking with so many lives lost and properties were crumbled to the ground.

In the thick of it all, journalists like Hugh, risked everything to deliver the truth. I can relate to his health concerns so it kept me on edge every time he went running towards the bombs.
I liked Hugh’s engaging personality and charisma. He drew people in with his warmth including Aleida. I appreciate that their romance was realistic considering the time and circumstances.

I love the cover but it’s more beautiful to me now after reading Aleida’s story. It’s a memory that’s etched in her heart. I admired her determination to seek for her son, her willingness to help others and her newfound strength to seek justice.

I’m thankful to the author for opening my eyes to the resilience of the people in London during WWII. This poignant story will surely capture your heart and remind us that God sees us. His love and acceptance will transcend even the most trying times.


Rating: 5 ⭐
Pub date: 06 Feb 2024

Thank you Revell for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

This gripping story beautifully portrayed the plight of refugees in London in WW2. Accepted by some and shunned by others, it explores themes of love, sacrifice, and truth in media. The historical details are rich, the characters strong and endearing.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

Sarah Sundin has knocked another one out of the park! With all her historical fiction books, she never fails to make the reader feel as though they are THERE, in the middle of the action. “Embers” covered a topic I’m always interested in, the London Blitz, (ever since I watched “Journey For Margaret” years ago).
Keep them coming, please, Sarah!

Embers in the London Sky, is a story of love, loss, and how to stand up for what is right in a world gone horribly wrong.

Netherlands, 1940. For several years, Aleida van der Zee Martens has lived in an abusive marriage, barely able to protect her fragile young son Theo from his father’s anger and violence. Aleida makes a careful, meticulous plan to get away, but although she believes she has prepared for every contingency, just as she is ready to put her arrangements in motion and flee to her aunt in England, the Nazis invade. Her husband takes charge of their flight from the fighting; his insane demands and foolish choices bring about his own death and cause Aleida to be separated from three-year-old Theo. Since they were fleeing with other refugees, she has reason to believe her child was evacuated to England, so she heads there as well.

Once in England, Aleida determines to leave no stone unturned in her search for Theo. Exploring hospitals, orphanages, refugee centers, and charitable organizations throughout London has proved fruitless, so she settles in the city and gets a job with an agency responsible for evacuating children to the countryside. It will give her the opportunity to search outlying villages for her little boy while she is also doing the worthy task of caring for the young children of the metropolitan area.

Hugh Collingwood loves his job as a BBC radio correspondent. It gives him the opportunity to report in the moment, letting his listeners hear the action around him for themselves. It is not a typical career for someone from his upper-crust social bracket, but Hugh doesn’t care that his parents and peers don’t approve. Since his asthma prevents him from being a soldier, this is the only work he can do that he is good at and that makes him feel like he’s doing his bit for king and country.

When Aleida approaches Hugh to ask that he tell her story on the air, he has to decline - his editor won’t invest air time in that kind of human interest piece. But seeking him out has introduced Aleida to his friends, who take an immediate shine to her, and she becomes a regular part of their gatherings at a local pub. Hugh also introduces her to his uncle, Elliot Hastings, who has been fighting for the refugee community via his parliamentary seat. Elliot is able to give Aleida a list of new places to try and she is charmed by his genial manner and gentle kindness.

Elliot’s work is not popular with everyone, however, and some few have gone as far as to send him death threats. Both he and Hugh treat them as a joke, but then Elliot is murdered, shot with his own gun during a house party, with clear evidence of the event being the result of an altercation. Hugh does not do investigative reporting, but he is determined to investigate this crime and see his uncle’s killer brought to justice. He doesn’t know how to go about solving a mystery, but the organized, methodical Aleida has spent the last few months learning to unearth small clues in her quest for her son. She agrees to help Hugh in exchange for him helping her in her pursuit as well.

This is an inspirational novel that emphasizes biblical teaching on love and acceptance. A continuous theme throughout the tale is the welcoming of the stranger (foreigner), a teaching of both the Old and New Testament. Hugh sees it as the duty of any civilized nation to uphold this principle, but not all his countrymen agree. Aleida had attended school in England, is fluent in English and has the blonde hair and blue-eyes of many Brits, but her soft Dutch accent immediately marks her as a foreigner once she starts speaking. She and her friend Nilia Sharma receive plenty of prejudice from their boss at the Ministry of Health. François Jouveau, a French reporter and close friend of Hugh’s, and many other ex-pats taking refuge from their war-torn homes talk about how badly some people treat them. On the other hand, many kind folks are welcoming of the refugees and grateful for the work they do in the war effort. I loved how the author works this theme throughout her story, showing the genuine desperation of those who made it to safety on England’s shores, the fear they had for the relatives they left behind, and just how difficult and dangerous it was for them to get there. She also does a lovely job of showcasing the warm, welcoming, accepting nature of Hugh and the quiet, resilient courage of Aleida.

Another strong theme in the novel is the acceptance of those we consider flawed due to physical limitations. Aleida’s husband had despised their son because Theo had no fingers on his right hand. Theo wasn’t allowed out of their home, and Aleida wasn’t allowed to take pictures of him because the man wanted no evidence he had fathered such a child. Hugh’s asthma often limits him, twice nearly costing him his life. He was coddled by his family and lived a quiet, sheltered life, much like Theo in his early years, though in his case, he was smothered with love rather than shame. At one point, he tries to rescue Aleida, and she winds up having to save herself and him because Hugh has an immobilizing asthma attack in the midst of the action. Sundin does such a lovely job of depicting Hugh as heroic - he uses his platform to help the needy, does all he could for the war effort, is a peacemaker in his friend group, crosses social lines, and breaks down barriers between the classes - while showing that not all heroes are of the He-Man variety.

As a couple, Hugh and Aleida are charming. Theirs is a friend-to-lovers romance, which is appropriate since she is a recent widow searching for her son. She is emotionally wrapped up in her quest, and her abusive marriage has made her wary of trusting any man, especially one as charming and amiable as Hugh. Her husband had been similar during their courtship. Part of Aleida’s growth arc in the novel is learning to trust her instincts and judgments once again. Part of Hugh’s growth arc is accepting his limitations and recognizing he can be loved romantically in spite of them.

Embers in the London Sky has a fairly high religious level, with God, faith, and prayer being mentioned throughout. It also contains some difficult subject matter, with the Blitz and its death toll serving as a backdrop for the setting, some characters being the victims of bigotry, and the search for Aleida’s son emphasizing just how easily a child can be lost during wartime. At one point, she has to make some hard decisions regarding this issue, including trusting Theo to God’s grace rather than her own warm embrace. All of this is handled in a thoughtful, compassionate manner and I would encourage those who enjoy inspirational stories and are up for a bit of angst to pick this one up.

Mystery, heartfelt romance, and a mother’s undying love all set against the backdrop of London during WWII. Sarah Sundin is quickly becoming a favorite historical romance author. I’ve loved learning more about how the Netherlands was involved in the war through her stories and the endearing characters she creates. Embers in the London Sky is a heart-wrenching story of a young Dutch mother trying to find her son after her cruel husband ships him off to England with total strangers during their escape from the Nazis in the Netherlands.

Aleida van der Zee Martens had a plan to escape her abusive husband with her young son and flee to London. But, after the German invasion of the Netherlands, she’s forced to leave with her husband. On the road while hundreds are fleeing, Aleida has her young son torn from her while she’s sleeping and given to strangers by her husband. Now a widow after her husband’s killed during their escape, she arrives in London to find her son. But, her mission is like finding a needle in a haystack. She has no information on the couple who took him and not even a photograph of her son. The only distinguishing feature she can mention is his hand deformity. Trying every avenue possible, she meets a handsome BBC reporter. While not looking for romance after her disastrous first marriage, she grows to admire the charming Hugh Collingwood who wants to help her find her son.

This story had so many layers. Not only was I invested in Aleida’s plight to find her 3 year old son, but I loved the slow build romance between her and Hugh. Hugh has his own issues he’s dealing with as his family’s unexpected heir and his bout with severe asthma. As a BBC war broadcaster, he frequently finds himself in the middle of danger with the bombing of London. There’re also several murders that hit close to home that he’s investigating. He and Aleida work together, not only find her son, but root out a murderer. I also loved the darling, feisty cat Lennox who adds a bit of humor.

It’s a beautiful story of sacrifice, loss, second chances and faith. Loved this story and highly recommend to historical fiction & romance fans. I can’t wait to read what the author writes next. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.

Aleida's husband gave away their son Theo as the three fled the Netherlands, then died without telling her who had taken him. When she gets to England, she searches high and low for Theo, with little success. As she searches, she meets a radio correspondent, Hugh, who is intrigued by both her and her story and works to help her. But life in London under Hitler's bombers isn't easy, and strikes sometimes come dangerously close to home. Add in a string of murders and Hugh has plenty to investigate, officially or unofficially. Sometimes you just need to let things go; other times tenacity is essential. But the wrong decisions can destroy a relationship - and much more. Can Aleida and Hugh each learn when to hold on and when to let go, or will their tentative relationship crash and burn like so much else in war?

This was an intriguing and enjoyable read with an inspiring message - hard to put down despite its sometimes somewhat heavy subject matter. The writing is great, the setting unusual but fascinating, the characters people I enjoyed getting to know, and the ending deeply satisfying. Add in a mystery to solve that is woven through the rest of the story so as to add to it rather than distract from it, and this is definitely a book to read - and re-read. I don't read many war books, but this was interesting in showing the plight of civilians in London during the bombing in WW2 - not to mention a bit about the evacuation program for kids. But however interesting the setting, it was the interactions among the characters and the way they grew that really made the story for me. All in all, a great read - recommended.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

Sarah Sundin has written another history-filled story of life during WWII.. Aleida’s story is full of the nightmares mothers only dream about: being separated from her little boy, Theo, during the attacks on their homeland. Hugh desires to be a journalist and radio announcer, but family obligations and physical ailments pull him fr9m those goals. The depth of the characters and their personal growth during this story is so compelling for a reader. Each of the main characters had to give up something, putting their dreams and treasure in God’s hands, during this story. It truly draws the reader into the story and speaks to the heart and emotions. Because of this, the story has some good personal challenge in it for the reader. I enjoyed the historical elements in this story, learning about the Air Raid Patrols and the efforts to help protect and rescue Londoners during the almost nightly German bombings. I highly recommend this book, especially to lovers of a good story, to lovers of WWII stories, and to lovers of historical fiction.

I requested and received a copy of this book for review, but the thoughts here are wholly my own.

The latest novel by Sarah Sundin is a murder mystery that takes place during the Blitz in 1940-41.
Aleida Van der Zee Martens escapes the Netherlands to England to avoid Nazi occupation – but to escape an abusive marriage. Tragically, she is separated from her 3 year old son and searches for him in England.
The story is engaging as Aleida searches for her son and as BBC radio personality Hugh Collingwood reports from the ground, eventually getting caught up in Aleida’s plight. Aleida’s character struggles with OCD and Hugh is asthmatic. They are both characters readers can like and relate to. The cast that supports their journey varies from the humorous to the detestable.
I liked the twist on the WW2 story. It wasn’t about finding a solution to a problem that would change the outcome of the war, but rather the focus was on solving four murders in London. At first glance, these cases don’t have anything to do with the other. And, it’s not obvious who is behind the murders.
There’s a sweet romance, but it doesn’t take precedence which is also refreshing.
And readers will come away with a new appreciation for refugees from war-torn countries.
If you enjoy an Agatha Christie-type story, you’ll enjoy Embers in the London Sky.
I received an ecopy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*

I DNF this book at 42%.

This book follows a Dutch refugee as she searches for her son after they were separating while fleeing. While she lives in London, she meets Hugh. He’s a journalist and kindred spirit and eventually we see a sweet affection blossom. Together they live out their daily lives despite the hardships of WW2. There’s also a small mystery plot line.

I have read Sarah Sundin before and really enjoyed her writing. As a librarian, I also recommend her frequently.

Unfortunately, the book didn’t grab me liked I’d hoped. The characters were likeable but the plot was too leisurely for me. I felt that there was enough in the plot to create a little more oomph but that wasn’t the direction the book was taking.

However, I really enjoyed the discussion of censorship in this book, particularly in reference to big media outlets. Really thought provoking at times.

I think this book would be good for people who want clean, sweet romance, and an overall unobtrusive story. Personally, I like clean, but I also want a little bit more “obtrusive”. In the sense that I want to be thinking about the book even after I close it. Unfortunately, I did not have that experience with this title in particular.

The plot elements are there, it just needs a content and leisurely reader to fully appreciate it.

Embers in the London Sky is the story of Aleida, who is searching London for her young son, and Hugh, a war correspondent during the German Invasion in 1940.

The author's descriptions of London and the well-developed characters made me feel like I was there. There are moments of suspense, and mystery, as well as times of intense tenderness. It's a story of hardships, truth, compassion, and a beautiful love story. Also, a story of a mother's love for her child. Highly recommended. A true wartime masterpiece.

I received a complimentary copy from Revell and a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own

First of all, a thank you to Revell for gifting me this incredible novel. Historical fiction is a new genre for me and Sarah Sundin has me wanting to read more! This is my favorite time period around WWll and it did not disappoint.
This story has everything including mystery, romance, and lots of suspense.
The story starts with tragedy of the escape from air raids and where it all begins for a woman named Aleida. Her son, Theo had been taken away from her and her persistence to find him is inspiring.
Throw in a love story that takes form with a BBC reporter and a few murders to solve and you have a great story that unfolds with a few twists and turns.
This story was well-written and easy to follow! I can't wait to read more by this author.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell through Net Galley for my review.

BOOK REVIEW - Embers in the London Sky - Sarah Sundin - 5/5 Stars

THE STORY
When saw the cover of this book, I immediately added it to my review list, it just looked so dramatic and full of potential story. And I wasn't disappointed, I think this is my new favourite by Sarah Sundin! It was told from such a unique perspective on WWII and had such lovable characters. Also the murders and London setting gave it an air of a murder mystery that made it different from her other books. I just loved Hugh and Aleida! They were so imperfect which made them relatable and you instantly empathized with them and their struggles. Figuring out who the murder was really stumped me, add to that the search for Theo, and I was glued to the book all the way through!

THE ROMANCE
Hugh and Aleida are one of the sweetest couples I've read in a long time. They are complete opposites but not in a clashing way but rather in complimentary made for each other kind of way. And as with any Sarah Sundin novel, there's plenty of angst, longing, sweetness, swoonyness and kisses!

THE TRUTHS
Loneliness is one of the devils greatest tools against us. When we feel alone, whether literally or figuratively, we start to doubt God. Both Hugh and Aleida experience moments when they feel all alone and begin to lose faith. It's in those moments that God reminds them that He sees them and that His promises still stand. No matter how lonely we might feel, we can't trust in those feelings because the reality is that we are never truly alone, God is always with us. He sees every tear, He hears every cry. He promised we are never alone, along with so many other promises that we can hold onto and believe in!

Embers in the London Sky is the fourth standalone historical fiction romance by Sarah Sundin set in WWII Europe. I have read three of them, and although The Sound of Light still holds my number one spot, Embers is a very worthwhile read. From an historical perspective it focuses on 3 areas: the situation of foreigners in the UK and particularly foreign children during the evacuation of children from England’s cities and their relocation to the countryside, the difficulty of reporting war news without compromising military advantage and morale, and some lesser known military operations which took place on islands off the coasts of Scotland and Norway.
Covering not much more than a year from May 1940 to August 1941, we have 2 protagonists at major turning points in their lives. Aleida Martens, a Dutch national, is trying to escape the Netherlands after the German invasion to get to the relative safety of England where she has an aunt and uncle. During her journey, she is separated from her 3 year old handicapped son, but manages to make it to England with the knowledge that he may have been handed off to a British couple also fleeing the continent. At about the same time Britain and France have just suffered an horrendous defeat at the Battle of Dunkirk. Hugh Collingwood, a BBC correspondent, is covering the evacuation of British troops from Dunkirk and has been seriously effected by the defeat involving the loss of his brother and his inability to report events accurately due to morale and security issues.
Their lives intersect in London during the German bombing blitz. Aleida is working for the Ministry of Health on evacuation logistics, while searching for her son, and also volunteering as an air raid warden. Hugh is gaining prominence as a BBC reporter, but struggling both personally and professionally as the home front is becoming more compromised. Both have past traumas and complicated presents.
Hugh’s character is written much more transparently than Aleida’s, making it much easier for the reader to relate. Aleida is in a worse situation, but is written as almost too perfect and emotionally stable. We know this isn’t the case because she is exhibiting OCD symptoms, but not enough insight as to what is going on beneath the surface. She certainly met the expectations of a self effacing woman of that time, but for me it was a flawed view and hampered my ability to relate until far into the book.
The thing I like best about Ms. Sundin’s books is her writing style. It’s articulate, insightful, flows well and maintains a very good balance between the history and the romance elements. My personal preference is the history with the romance generally being of secondary importance, but in her books the romance maintains my interest.
Thank you to the author, the publisher Revell and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters seemed so real. I felt I knew them. I could hear Hugh making his radio reports. I felt for Aleida as she fought to find her son. I enjoyed the evenings at the Hart and Swan with all the correspondents. I despised Sebastian. I would enjoy seeing these characters pop up again in another book.

It was interesting learning more about the refugee situation in England in 1940 as well as the plight of families with young children. I also didn't know that the news reports were so censored. I understand not wanting to give away vital information but it seems it wasn't always presenting the truth of the situation.

This book also had a good mystery, danger, urgency and more. I'd highly recommend it. Thank you to Revell for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars. There were many aspects of the book that I enjoyed- Alesia and Hugh were great main characters. I was impressed by the way they conquered their unique challenges. I also enjoyed the side characters as well, like Gil, Lou and the stray cat Lennox. I’d say my only real critique is that it was too long and about halfway though I was a little disappointed I still had that much longer to go; I wanted a resolution sooner. Overall though, I enjoyed the book and would read something else from this author.

This was a riveting story! This author does such a good job of weaving historical facts and events into an intriguing plot line. As a mother myself, I was deeply invested in Aleida's search to find her son and to help the refugee children. I learned a lot about broadcasting during the war and censorship of information that sounds a lot like our current state of affairs. Overall, this was a fantastic piece of historical fiction.

I ALWAYS know that I am going to get some very flawed, baggage-toting characters when I pick up a Sarah Sundin novel. I might not even like characters very much. And that is why i LOVE reading Sarah Sundin's books! Embers in the London Sky features exactly these type of characters in Hugh and Aleida.

What makes them unusual? Hugh is a severe asthmatic and Aleida is extremely OCD (she's got her finger taps and counting obsessions) plus an abused wife. Not your every day characters for a WW2 book!

--->For anyone who COMES from abuse, the first chapter has MAJOR triggers as you are thrust straight into Aleida's abusive marriage but I promise it's only going to last for that first two chapters.

As the synopsis says, the course of the book is Aleida desperately trying to find her son Theo. But through the course of the book we also see more about the dangers that came with evacuating the children during the London Blitz. We see the very negative viewpoint towards many of the war refugees in England. The excitement of the LIVE BBC broadcasts which was a fairly new part of broadcasting. And woven in the story is a murder plot which you get pieces of clues along the way to help you try to figure out the answers!

As to the character I had to grow to like--well that would be Aleida herself. So many of of her responses were trauma triggered and I was just like "Take a chill pill!" But then I remembered one of my friends who has a daughter with OCD who has anxiety that goes from 0-60 with every scenario in just seconds. And I realized, that it was actually a very good portrayal of what life is like with mental health challenges. I also enjoyed seeing how Aleida found a way to incorporate her faith in assisting her deal with situations.

One of the challenges is hitting about 70% of the way in with giant revelations--and realizing there is still 30% of the book left where things are obviously gonna go wrong. LOL.

Message of faith was obvious throughout this book...so reassuring since it is supposed to be Christian fiction!

4 stars for this one!

*I was given a complimentary ARC from NetGalley and the publishers. I was not required to write a positive review and these opinions are 100% my own.

Very well done. Well researched and interesting. I would always recommend this Sarah Sundin to others.

Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin is a harrowing, heart crushing and achingly lovely Christian Historical Fiction novel based on WWII. Not only do we see physical and mental destruction caused by war but also family (dis)loyalty, grief, media censorship, love, unwavering faith and hope. Most importantly, we are reminded of God's unconditional love.

In 1940, Aleida has plans to better her and her three-year-old son's lives. But her plans are thwarted and though she flees Nazi-occupied Netherlands, the escape isn't what she had hoped for. She is cruelly separated from her beloved Theo. Her anguish and desperation drive her to work at evacuating children from London. At the same time she is able to search for her son with the help of Hugh Collingwood, BBC radio correspondent. His gentle faith and strength of character tugged at my heart as much as Aleida's dignity and perseverance under dreadful circumstances.

Sundin's characters are intelligent and realistically flawed, perfectly ready to be used by God. Each word has its place and my heart and mind were thoroughly engrossed the entire time reading. Talk about an inspiring and hopeful book! This author is an auto-read for me, no need to even read the synopsis.

My sincere thank you to NetGalley and Revell for providing me with a digital copy of this phenomenal novel.