Thank you to Revell and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book. Sarah Sundin is one of the best Christian Historical Fiction authors, and I really like to read her stories. This one is so well-written, and I really liked the subject. I highly recommend this book to all Historical Fiction lovers!

This book is the second in the Sunrise at Normandy series and is best read after book one. 
Adler Paxton is running from a heartbreaking accident in his past, and he finds a new job in the Air Force during World War II. While in England flying on missions, he meets Violet Lindstrom, a young woman in the Red Cross who runs the local Aeroclub that cares for the servicemen. As they draw closer, both Adler and Violet must overcome difficult obstacles and work out their own spiritual struggles. Between Adler's secrets and the Normandy invasion, Violet will have many decisions to make.
I enjoyed this book just as much as the first one. The characters and the historical details leapt off the page, and during the battle scenes I was reminded of old war movies like The Longest Day. I was so glad that I went back and read The Sea Before Us first because everything made so much more sense than it did when I first started reading this book. It was easy for me to sympathize with the characters, and I have seldom seen an author do so well with immersing the reader in history to the point where they feel like they are there in the story. The biblical focus was so encouraging to me, and I highly recommend this book. I am looking forward to reading the last book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley and I purchased a copy from Amazon. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

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.

(See all of my Book Reviews) - “The Sky Above” eBook was published in 2019 and was written by Sarah Sundin (https://www.sarahsundin.com). Ms. Sundin has published a dozen Drama/Romance novels with the stories taking place during WWII. This is the second of her “Sunrise at Normandy” series. 

I categorize this novel as ‘G’. The story is set primarily in England in 1944. The primary characters are Red Cross volunteer Violet Lindstrom and US Army fighter pilot Lt. Adler Paxton. 

Paxton has fled from home because of a dispute with his family. Eventually he enlists in the Army. Lindstrom wants to be a Missionary and serve in Africa like her aunt. She goes to England with the Red Cross expecting to help children, but is posted to a US Air base. Neither wants to find a relationship, but they are drawn together. 
Paxton flies many dangerous missions, engaging German aircraft and loosing close friends. Lindstrom is in charge of the Red Cross Aeroclub at the airfield where the 357th, Paxton's unit, is based. She faces not only the ongoing relationship with Paxton, but the responsibility of running the Aeroclub. 
I enjoyed the 7.5+ hours I spent reading this 383-page christian romance. This book is pretty far outside my normal reading scope. I added it to my reading list because I follow Ms. Sundin on Twitter. She  Tweets nearly daily about WWII and I wanted to give her novel a chance. It was well written with bits about WWII history injected here and there in the novel. I doubt I will read any further of her novels as Romance is not my genre, but if you do like romance, then I would certainly recommend her writing. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a 4 out of 5.

Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/. 

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Sarah Sundin didn't disappoint me in this story. I love her WW2 books.
WW2 is special to me because my grandfather fought in Germany. He brought some pretty neat stuff back with him. Of course I didn't know all of this until after Grandma passed away and we started going through their things. My grandparents were living history. They even lived through the Dust Bowl years.
I always like to mention the cover of the books. This particular one especially. It makes you wonder what she is thinking about or looking at.
I like how Sarah brings her characters to life and takes us on roller coaster rides with them. I really enjoyed this book.
I look forward to each and every book she will be putting out in the future!
My thanks to Netgalley. NO compensations were received. All opinions are my own.

Sarah Sundin has done it again. She’s written an heroic story and casted it with characters that stick. I feel bad that I didn’t write my review as soon as I finished reading the book, yet in not doing that, I’ve found that the characters are unforgettable. She also did something else that makes her one of my favorite authors. Yes, she is attentive to historical detail. Yes, she brings to life the era with finesse. But what always astounds me is that Ms. Sundin tends to write about themes that appear simple at first, then she slowly unfolds them in deeper layers as the story progresses and makes me think long about them after the story ends. I’m looking forward to the third book in this series.

These Paxton brothers are stealing their way into my heart! Admittedly, I have a soft spot for Texans and great respect for our servicemen and women so it only took a little nudge. Adler’s reckless abandon and deep regrets are evidence of his good character and tender heart. Violet’s perceptions and motivations challenged me to examine my own heart. 

This series has a wonderful balance of love and war, faith and strife, and Americans and Brits. The stories of Sunrise at Normandy would be a perfect date night movie for my husband and me! I definitely recommend this series and I’m eagerly anticipating the final installment.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions expressed are my own.

As the wife of a fighter pilot who has amazed extensive knowledge about WW2, I can honestly say this was a great book. It's very clear to me that Sarah Sundin not only knows how to touch hearts and weave plots, but also has significant research skills.

I'd highly recommend this novel. Engaging and touching.

With this book, Sarah Sundin has given us another excellent story in this series set in World War II.  This book follows Adler Paxton, the second of the three estranged Paxton brothers.  Adler and Violet’s story is compelling, but their road to romance has many obstacles to overcome.  Adler needs to find peace with God and reconcile with his brothers; Violet needs to determine exactly whether or not God wants her to serve on a mission field or is calling her to another, unexpected area of service.  There’s a lot of spiritual growth in the characters of Violet and Paxton as the story progresses and it makes for interesting reading.

The thing that I enjoyed the most, however, was the research that the author incorporated into this story.  The battle scenes are intense and realistic.  I always learn something new from her books, and in this one I learned more the role of the brave women of the Red Cross as they served overseas in the airmen’s camps.  You don’t have to have read the first book in this series to enjoy this one, but you’ll love both the books in this series.  I’m looking forward to reading Clay’s story in the third book of the series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

I have waited for this book to come out, and was not disappointed! I love the WWII history and how Sarah brings unique bits of history into her stories.

"The  Sky  Above  Us "  Sarah Sundin  takes place during the second World War.     It is the second book in the Sunrise  at Normandy  series  .   The  reader   gets an amazing picture of what the war  was like in this book.  Lt.  Adler Paxton    ships to  England in 1943 with the US  357  fighter group.  He  wants to make an ace and   be a significant part of the wars  efforts. He  entered some   very difficult  battles during  World War  11. His plane  even   ended up burning during the Dday  invasion.  Violet  Lindstrom   was  a part of the Red  Cross there helping the  357  flight group. She   set up entertainment for the  357 flight group and  the children . Violet  and  Adler were attracted to each other.  What  will be come of  Violet and  Adler?  What  will happen to the  flighter group during  the war?   The   scenes are so well described  and  the  reader   feels like they can  get a real taste of  what the war was like.  The  author  has   done  an  amazing job  at  researching the history and   helping the reader  relive the war.  The reader can easily feel the emotion of all the loss of lives during the  war.  There are Christian  messages and  verses  weaved into the  story.  Thank you so much to  Revell and the author for  allowing me to read and review this book.   I  am not obligated by  the publisher  ,  the author, netgalley to give a positive  review.

Really loved this second installment of the series. It was great to get another brother's perspective, and I'm very much looking forward to Clay's book after the way this one ended!
This author is supremely gifted at including accurate historical detail that puts the reader right in the middle of the action. I was fascinated at all of the scenes involving flying and the various battles. 
Violet verged on being annoying to me, but just as she started to grate on my last nerve with self-righteousness, she was always reminded about how no one is righteous in God's eyes. The spiritual message has some great insights for every reader, not just those thinking too highly of themselves. I appreciated the author's gentle handling with Adler's failings and what he learned about forgiveness and Violet's learning about how God would work through her even if she wasn't where she thought she would be or hoped she would be.
Highly recommend this series.

The Sky Above Us is the second installment in Sarah Sundin’s series that follows the Paxton family. Tragedy sends them all their separate ways, however the impending Normandy invasion finds the three brothers fighting for their country in different branches of the American armed forces. This installment follows middle brother Adler and an American Red Cross worker named Violet. 

Once again I was impressed by the authors knowledge of the invasion as well as the armed forces and Red Cross. I found the American relations with their British hosts to be especially interesting to me. 

Adler was a more complex character than Violet. He had a tragic past that he was trying to avoid. I found his attitude in the early pages of this book to be terrible. Violet was more dull in comparison and I often found myself annoyed by her contradicting emotions. I didn’t enjoy their romance as much as I did with the couple in the first book. However they both showed good character growth. 

Although I enjoyed The Sea Before Us, more than The Sky Above Us, I still loved the setting as well as learning about the Normandy Invasion from an Air Force perspective. I look forward to reading the third installment in the Sunrise at Normandy series, which is due to be released next year.


The Sky Above Us by Sarah Sundin is the second book in a new series by this fantastic author.  Somehow I missed the first book in this series, but this book worked fine as a stand-alone.Lt. Adler Paxton is a troubled Army pilot in the process of being stationed for D-day.  Along the way, he meets Red Cross nurse/missionary wannabe Violet Lindstrom, and they learn what it means to put others first and serve well.  (That sounds so cheesy LOL but I promise it’s a fantastic book!)
I love Sundin’s books because they seem so well-researched and detailed, and I feel like I’m learning history, being entertained, and learning spiritual lessons all at once.  The characters were relatable, although I was internally screaming at them at a couple of points ;), and there were just some great lessons about forgiveness, redemption, and love taught throughout the story.  Since it’s set in WWII and there are some adult themes, I would recommend this to older teenagers on up.  I will definitely be looking up the first book in this series as well as looking forward to the next one!
Thank you to Revell publishers and Net Galley for providing me with an electronic copy of this book to read and review.
I received a copy of this book for free. I was not required to post a positive review and the views and opinions expressed are my own.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion – which I’ve done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.*

I haven't read a book recently that I enjoyed as much as The Sky Above Us, by Sarah Sundin. This story takes place in England just before D-day. I am interested in that time in history and the author did an excellent job of telling the characters stories while also filling in the historical occurrences at that time. I didn't feel like I was reading a textbook, but rather watching history unfold through the eyes of the characters. Excellent book! It was one of those "I don't want it to end" type of books.

I love Sarah Sundin's writing and it has taken me a few days to decide how I wanted to write this review.  The Sky Above Us is the second novel in her Normandy series, and her factual information that is woven into the book is flawlessly researched as always.  (Sarah, I am sorry about this next part, but you can tell there is a big BUT coming up here.)

Adler Paxton is a pilot in the Army Air Corps, and Violet Lindstrom is a Red Cross lady.  It is obvious from the first time they meet in the novel, they will end up together, but their relationship has to go through the "romance novel formula" to get there. I know Sarah has written many novels without this trite formula, but I found it off-putting in this particular novel.  I am just going to count this as a one-off type happening and I will keep on reading her novels.  I just can only give this book 3 stars.

My thanks to Revell and NetGalley.com for providing the galley I read.

Violet Lindstrom has settled on serving in the Red Cross after a broken engagement and being turned down for a position as a missionary overseas. She longs to serve children, not grown oafish men, with their crude jokes and coarse ways.



Lt. Adler Paxton is determined to prove his mettle as an ace with the 357th Air Force Fight Group, he understands the planes and has a knack for flying. But he is also running from his past, he can't let himself forget the night that he tried to kill both his brothers, driving one way, and betraying the other. Despite his best efforts he is drawn to the statuesque blonde, with her love for the local English children and dream of missionary work.



A powerful tale of WWII valor and the battle fought in the air, as well of faith, family, friendship, and forgiveness.



A powerful story of faith and forgiveness on the front lines. I don't know how she does it but every book by Sarah Sundin is better than the one before--every single one of which I have given five stars! This book checked all the boxes for me, I am really fascinated by aviation during WWI and WWII and was thrilled that Adler takes to the air in this amazing installment in the Sunrise at Normandy Series. There is a strong message of faith, and bother Adler and Violet as surrounded by a fantastic circle of friends, and meet each challenge before them with determination, despite setbacks. 



Violet makes the best of a situation that to her mind is less than ideal. She is clever, determined, and compassionate, she has her moments of temporary defeat, but that only made me like her more. I love how she grows in her faith, and comes to see how God brought her to the Red Cross to make a difference. She has a love for children and gift for encouragement. 



Adler is haunted by his past, and the falling out with his brothers. He holds himself responsible for everything that happened. He is a man of character, he struggles with pride, and in many ways is a man of contradictions. I loved his journey in this book, and how his heart is slowly changed, yet he is honest about his callings, and a natural leader. 



Engaging and extremely well-researched, fast-paced and compelling, I can't wait to read Clay's story. I loved the camaraderie between the men, especially Adler's friendship with Nick. Violet is an admirable heroine, I loved how she grew from being aloof and defensive to more honest with herself and compassionate, learning discernment, trusting God with everything. There is so much to love about this book, but what stood out the most to me was the strong faith and character of Adler and Violet. I enjoyed seeing Dorothy and Wyatt again, and the next book can't come soon enough for me. Highly recommend this action packed and compelling read! 





Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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."

This is my first novel by Sarah Sundin.  The Sky Above is a second in a trilogy from what I can gather.This book definitely stands alone but I am definitely going back to read the first book. I enjoyed reading this story about Adler Paxton and Violet Lindstrom. The historical details were accurate and interesting.. The characters are endearing, vibrant and multifaceted. The plot was well written and Sundin even tossed in a surprise that I didn't see coming! There seems to be only one downside and that is I have to wait a year before I can get my hands on the next book.

Love the mix of history, romance and second chances in  Susan’s books. Can’t wait to read the next book to see how this wonderful family comes together with the help of some beautiful ladies.  Thank you NetGalley and the publishers.

I really enjoyed this second book in the Sunrise at Normandy series. I absolutely loved the characters. I also loved seeing scenes from the first book from the other person's perspective. I have rarely seen that in a series. I really loved that. I found that the characters were well written and the plot was everything I have come to expect from Sarah Sundin. I love the theme of forgiveness in this series. I can only imagine what the conclusion will bring! 

I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate my review. I was not required to leave a review. All opinions are my own.