Sarah Sundin’s Sunrise at Normandy series follows three brothers fighting for their country in three different branches of the armed forces. In the first two books, readers follow naval officer Wyatt and pilot Adler. Now in this final installment in the series we follow ranger Clay.

This trilogy was consistently enjoyable and very well researched. I learned so much about the roles each branch played in the Normandy invasion. Not only did it follow the Paxton brothers, but their romantic interests and their individual roles they took on for the war effort.

While it is clear that I enjoyed all the books in this series, it was this one; The Land Beneath Us, that was my favourite. Like the others, a common theme was forgiveness and acceptance. The plot moves along quickly and I flew through the pages.

I appreciated how the author showed that despite all the tragedies that come with war, there are still other important issues within societies that are still relevant. Sarah Sundin told this through her character Leah and her involvement at a local orphanage.

This is the only book in the series that I listened to in audio format and thought that Sarah Zimmerman’s narration did the characters justice.

Although I would advise caution to those sensitive to triggers, I would highly recommend The Land Beneath Us and the entire Sunrise at Normandy series.

The Land Beneath Us was written by Sarah Sundin. It is book three in the Sunrise at Normandy series. I think you could read this book as a standalone if you wanted, but the other two in the series are definitely worth reading.

Summary: Clay Paxton is serving his country with the U.S. Rangers. He is relieved to finally be leaving home-and leaving behind all of the drama and heartache his brothers have caused him. But has he left it all behind? Can he learn to truly forgive them?

Librarian Leah Jones has been through many tough trials in her life, and through it all she has forgiven those who have hurt her, and looked on the bright side of life.

But when the unthinkable happens, all of her dreams for the future are shattered. Will she be able to withstand more tragedy after all she has been through? Can her friendship with Clay help see her through?

My Thoughts: I really liked this book, and think it is the best out of the three books. I enjoyed the characters, and was rooting for them the whole way. And, the plot was so riveting, I literally stayed up until 2 a.m. to finish the book. I haven’t done that in a long time. It was definitely a fitting end to the series.

If you enjoy war time romance, stories about redemption and forgiveness, or anything about WWII, this would be a good book (and series) to read.

I would like to thank Revell for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you!

The Land Beneath Us by Sarah Sundin is a beautifully written historical romance. This author is my absolute favorite historical fiction writer. She has studied World War II history to such depth and it comes across seamlessly in her writing. I adore her character development and the very real struggles she gives to her characters. I have loved all the books in this series, but this is my favorite by far. I highly recommend it. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

When I was in school history was my LEAST favorite subject, but I absolutely love the historical fiction novels by Sarah Sundin. I think I've read about 90% of her books and have loved them all. Yes, there is almost always a semi-predictable romance, but I love the turns and twists in the plot, and she always keeps me coming back for more!

The Land Beneath Us, the third installment from Sarah Sundin's series, Sunrise at Normandy. It is probably my favorite of the series. I am giving it five plus stars.

This is the third and final installment in the Sunrise at Normandy series and is best read in order.
Leah Jones is an orphan who has not had a true home or family since her parents died when she was four years old. She was adopted separately from her two sisters, and soon after that she was left at another orphanage. Now she is eighteen, and she gets a job working in Tullahoma, Tennessee as a library aide at the Army Rangers facility in 1943, at the height of World War II. When Leah is assaulted and left for dead, Clay Paxton comes to her aid. Clay saves her virtue by marrying her, since his recurring dream seems to be telling him that he will die soon anyway. Clay is still hurting from his brothers' betrayal and is having a hard time forgiving them. Clay and Leah will try to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives, but could they possibly learn to love each other in the process?
I loved this book just as much as the first two. The characters, setting, and situations seemed so realistic. The D-Day invasion was described with such detail that I felt like I could have been watching a good war movie. My heart broke for Leah, and I found myself tearing up a couple of times as I read. Clay was also a likable character, as well as Rita Sue. Sarah Sundin is a master at writing historically accurate novels that touch the reader's heart while being convicting and encouraging at the same time. She also weaves biblical truth unapologetically into her books. As a word of caution, I just want to warn readers that upsetting events occur, including a rape, though it is dealt with in a way that isn't graphic. I recommend this book and the rest of the series to teens and adults who enjoy historical fiction. I will definitely be reading more from this author and am looking forward to her next book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley and I purchased a paperback copy from Amazon. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I found The Land Beneath Us by Sarah Sundin to be a long read.  It was wrapped around the war in the 1940s.  As a historical fiction, this author paints the times before, during, and after the war really well.  It’s disturbing and heart wrenching some things that took place.  In this story, there is a special thread of redemption and hope running through it.  That was my favorite part.  If you like war historical fictions, you’ll want to check this one out.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.


***Also posted on CBD, B&N

Wow, how easily you come to like and cheer for these characters!
Read the plotline and you'll know it's not an easy read. You know Leah and Clay can only end up together, still, you don't know how, not to mention the purpose of the author regarding the dream... I'll let you pick this book up and discover :)

This has been one of my favorite World War II series ever, and I’m sorry that this is the last book in the Paxton family series. However, this book is the perfect finish to this terrific series, and I loved every chapter.  As always with Sarah Sundin’s books, I felt as if I got a personal look at the war and how it affected the lives of individuals.  

I think the stories of Leah and Clay may be the most compelling of the series.  We all need Leah’s attitude of finding the good in every situation, no matter how bleak it might seem at time. She could have used her background of growing up in an orphanage as an excuse to feel sorry for herself, but she had a strong faith that sustained her in hard times.  Clay is an example of selflessness and was willing to give his life for his country and his fellow soldiers.  His story of learning to forgive was touching and brought the storylines of the three Paxton brothers to a wonderful conclusion.  

You do not have to read the books in this series in order to enjoy each individual story, but I’d recommend reading the series because it’s an outstanding saga of life, love, faith and sacrifice during wartime.  

(Note:  There is scene in the book of a violent attack on a woman.  It’s written with sensitivity and appropriate language.)

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

Sarah Sundin is a great author and I have enjoyed most of her books.  The Land Beneath Us was not a favorite.  It was a difficult read with a difficult scene of the main character getting attacked.  But in spite of my personal preferences, this book is filled with some really great themes of forgiveness, redemption., and restoration.   Leah and Clay had to learn to trust God in tough times and thru tough choices.  

	For me, Leah was a little too “Pollyanna” .  Clay was an interesting character. I read the first book  of this series and really wish I had read book 2 to maybe get a little more background on Clay.  Clay was a man of integrity.  Leah’s sweet nature will I am sure be an attraction to many.  I admit being drawn in to her mission of finding her family.  Sarah Sundin does a great job researching her historical facts.  I received a complementary copy of The Land Beneath US and the opinions expressed are my own.

The great thing about getting approved to read/review book 3 in a series is that I can completely binge-read the entire series all at once, without waiting for the next book to come out before I find out what happens.

Sarah Sundin does an incredible job both with this book and the series as a whole. She took 3 brothers and put them in 3 branches of the US military, all called to Europe around D-Day. It’s crazy, all the little details that came together! I honestly don’t know how she did it, and feel this series really exemplifies her talents as a writer. The amount of history included is remarkable as ever, and character development remains spot on as well.

A few plot developments gave me pause at first; I feared they’d lead an excellent series thus far into “been there, done that” predictability (and couldn’t we keep up with the heretofore originality?). Thankfully, Sundin proved me wrong and my concerns baseless.

I loved how she brought everything together for the characters both in this book and from previous ones. An admirable finish to an incredible series, showcasing the power of forgiveness and an even more powerful God.

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

What I Loved: Everything. Am I allowed to say that? But seriously, there are some authors who always manage to cross off everything I could hope for in a book, and Sundin is one of those. 
The Land Beneath Us is the final of the Sunrise at Normandy series. The series can be read out of order, but I'd recommend you read it in order. Besides, there's no reason why you'd want to miss any of these fantastic novels. But being the last of the series, we're given the final ending for the memorable Paxton brothers. 
I have loved each of their stories. And just like the others, Clay had some deep spiritual lessons to learn. Leah's spiritual lessons were centered around acceptance while Clay's were on forgiveness. I always appreciate the way Sundin weaves a solid message for the soul in an equally solid entertaining story. 

Rating and Recommendation: I'm giving The Land Beneath Us 5 stars and recommending it to those who enjoy WWII fiction or Christian historical fiction. 

~ I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All thoughts are my own. I was not compensated for this review or required to give a favorable one.

The Land Beneath Us by Sarah Sundin is the final installment in Sunrise at Normandy series.  It can be read on its own, but, if you want to get the full experience of the brothers’ saga, I recommend reading them in order.  I thought The Land Beneath Us was well-written with developed characters.  I enjoy Sarah Sundin’s word imagery which brings the scenes alive.  The author creates such strong characters.  Leah Jones has had a rough life.  Her parents died when she was a small child.  At the orphanage, Leah was separated from her baby sisters.  She then endured horrible adoptive parents who felt Leah’s Greek heritage was disdainful.  They took away her heritage and her real name.  Just when things are turning around for Leah, she is violently assaulted.  It takes a strong woman to overcome so much tragedy.  Leah has such a tender and caring heart.  I love how she enjoyed books.  Leah is an avid reader like me.  I admit that I wanted to shake Clay at times.  His dream confounded me, but Clay is a man of strong convictions.  I enjoyed reading this engaging story as well as the whole series.  The author did her research for this trilogy.  She captured the U.S. Army Ranger training as well as D-Day.  Sarah Sundin portrayed the time period beautifully.  My favorite line from The Land Beneath Us is, “Since the Lord knows everything, I reckon that makes Him the ultimate library.”  The epilogue was a delight and wrapped up the series perfectly.  The Land Beneath Us is a captivating historical tale with a death dream, a terrible tragedy, battling brothers, a library lover, and a raging war.

The Land Beneath Us by Sarah Sundin – Loved this book and Didn’t Want It to End.  

Sarah Sundin has quickly become one of the writers whose work I love to read.  Her newest book, The Land Beneath Us was wonderful.  This is the third book in Sundin’s Sunrise at Normandy series and this book focuses on the youngest of the Paxton brothers, Clay.  Readers of the first two books, The Sea Before Us and The Sky Above Us, will already be familiar with the Paxton’s story.  But it doesn’t take away from this book because you’ll get to see things through Clay’s eyes.  

I loved the characters in this book, especially Clay, Leah, and the Paxton family as well as their close friends.  The characters are decent, honest, and caring people whom I’d like to know.  They are kind, but not perfect and have areas they need to grow in.  Forgiveness is a big theme in this book.  It’s was thought-provoking to see Clay and Leah wrestle with forgiveness and see them come to the realization that though they have been wronged they too have sins they need to deal with.  

I loved learning about the training and preparation the Rangers and Army went through as they prepared for D-Day.  While this is a small picture of what the men endured in WWII, it gave me a renewed appreciation for what they did as we come up to the 75th Anniversary V-E Day, May 8, 1945.  D-Day was a critical part of winning that battle. 

I appreciated that the Christian faith was included in the storyline and that the book was clean and not filled with sexual immorality and vulgarity.  I found it interesting to learn what it may have been like to be an orphan growing up in the 1930s and 40s and the prejudice orphans may have faced.  I loved the courage that Clay demonstrated in battle, in relationships, and looking in the mirror at his own flaws.  Leah also demonstrated and lived out courage and chose to look at the good instead of focusing on the bad.  

Though The Land Beneath Us is the 3rd book in the Sunrise at Normandy series, it would make a good stand-alone book.  The author does a good job of filling in the background of what happened with the characters in the first two books.  

The Land Beneath Us by Sarah Sundin was wonderful and I was sorry to see it end.  This is a book and series I would want to read again.  I loved this book and highly recommend it.  If you haven’t read the first two books, you may want to read them as well, but it’s not necessary to enjoy this book.  

I would like to thank Revell Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Land Beneath Us.  I was supplied with a complimentary e-book and was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. These are my honest thoughts.

My heart was shredded and stomped on and then stitched back together in a way that made it beat better than before.

This book—the whole trilogy, really—was spectacular. I keep discovering new favorites by this author, and I want more. It would be really fun to have a bonus book on Leah’s sisters at some point… but I’m not sure what the author’s plans are.

Tough topics were tackled in this book, but they were managed beautifully. The evil was not dwelt upon, yet the rawness of the events was tangible. It was very clear that an evil deed had been done and that it was wrong and sinful. This set the stage for a beautiful tale of God’s love conquering all and making something exquisite from the evil intentions. It also showcased the human spirit rising above obstacles and hard times to discover better, brighter days and a life worth living and dreams worth striving for. The lessons to learn from this book are bountiful, and I think many future readings will be needed to glean everything I can from it. I love a great tale of courage that pushes through all sorts of heartache and crushed dreams in order to find one’s place and make one’s mark. This story definitely fit the bill.

This series is best enjoyed in order, as the problems and story builds with each addition. I especially loved that it was a series featuring brothers. That is so rare in this era of such blatant feminism. The one thing that disappointed me about the series was that the brothers weren’t featured on the covers! (Don’t get me wrong; I adore the covers. They just would have been made better if the brothers had been the featured models, considering this series revolved so much around them.)

I want more brother stories, writers. Please help a gal out! And take note: This series of Sarah Sundin’s is a great example of what “brother stories” means. Wyatt’s, Adler’s, and Clay’s stories overlapped in places, their problems all started on the same night (which meant we eventually got to see this night from all three brothers’ perspectives, which was fun), and there were heart-deep issues they each had to deal with in order to find healing and (hopefully) reconciliation. I was so amazed at the intricate ways in which these stories stumbled over each other and tumbled into each other. It was clearly by design, and what a gorgeous design it was! And well pulled off! I’m not sure I’ve ever before seen such a complex, interconnected, and greatly pulled off trilogy.

I mean no offense to the other wonderful trilogies out there. I’ve read some really fantastic ones that I consider favorites and keepers. There are many, many authors who pen fantastic trilogies.

This one just happened to completely take my breath away multiple times throughout the reading of it.

Trust me: I’m taking notes for any future brother stories (and trilogies) I might end up writing down the road.

The sea, air, and ground battles at Normandy on D-Day during WWII were described so vividly that they burst into my mind in full color and with stunning sound effects. It was easy to feel like I was there—and wish I were back at home! (Thankfully, I was already safe at home, but it did take some reminding and looking around the room to make sure.) This is clearly a testament to the author’s attention to detail and thorough research. She’s a talented storyteller, and it is such fun getting lost in one of her stories.

Little Helen was adorable, and there was a certain moment that involved an ear that made me laugh out loud. Enjoy that when you get to it!

Libraries were featured in such a sweet way. Several sweet ways, actually. I particularly enjoyed the scene in the library near the end of the story. I let loose a large happy sigh when I read that one. So romantic! It was made even more romantic because of how important libraries were throughout the entire novel.

I love that the leads were both of unique heritage. One was Mexican American, while the other was Greek. The details surrounding their heritage which the author trickled in throughout the book added such richness and depth to the tale that it kept me completely invested in the characters and made it super easy to imagine them in three-dimensional detail.

I’ll be getting paperback copies of this entire series, and I’ll be binge reading it again sooner rather than later. Such a wonderful series is meant to be enjoyed multiple times.

Trigger: Rape

Content: rape, tobacco, drunkenness, Greek mythology

Fabulous! This one may just be my favorite (and I've love every single book Ms. Sundin has written). You are going to fall in love with these characters and lose yourself in the storyline. The Land Beneath Us is truly a masterpiece.

The Land Beneath Us
by Sarah Sundin


Revell
Christian
Pub Date 04 Feb 2020


I am reviewing a copy of The Land Beneath Us through Revell and Netgalley:



Sarah Sundin has a way of transporting you back in time, making you feel as if you can have a conversation with her Characters, she writes in such a vivid and beautiful way.



The year is 1943 Private Clay Paxton is training
hard with the US Army Rangers at Camp Forrest, Tennessee.  He is determined to do his best  in the upcoming Allied invasion of France. With his future stolen by his brothers betrayal.  Clay has only one thing to live for that is to fulfill  the recurring dream of his death.



Leah Jones is working as a librarian at Camp Forrest she is determined to rise above her Orphanage upbringing and belong to the community, even as she uses her spare time to search for her real family--the baby sisters she was separated from so long ago.



After Clay saves Leah's life from a brutal attack, Clay saves her reputation with a marriage of convince.  After he ships out to train in England for D-day, they become  bound together by over the distance. But can a love strong enough to overcome death grow between them before Clay's recurring dream comes true?


If you are looking for a World War Two era book, that draws you in and doesn't let you go, I highly recommend The Land Beneath Us.


I give The Land Beneath Us five out of five stars.



Happy Reading!

This is the third and final in a series about three brothers who fought in World War II, one in the air, one on the sea, and one on the ground. This book was about Clay Paxton, an Army Ranger, and in my opinion, this was the best of the three.   There was just a lot more depth to this book.

Clay has lost a lot, thanks to his brothers. It has turned him bitter, even though he believes he has forgiven them. Leah has lost everything and is trying to make a go of it as an 18-year-old orphan, alone in the world. Their worlds collide and I can't really say what happens because that's a spoiler. You know what happens, but not in the way you would expect and I think that is what makes the book so good. 

Leah has so many amazing qualities, but her courage and determination to see the good in every situation shine the brightest. Clay is also extremely courageous and caring and determined to do be the best Ranger he can be. 

Sarah weaves together a story of hope and forgiveness, of reconciliation and love. She ties up the loose ends from the other books nicely in this one. I want to say "aww", in a truly awed way because you can see how God worked in hearts in this book. I just really enjoyed it. 

One quote I want to share because I think it can be applied to more of life than just family: "Oh, Lord. I've been searching for the family I lost, and I didn't see the family you gave me."  So often I can get caught up looking for the next best thing that I miss the beauty and the joy right in front of me. 

I received this book from Revell via NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

This book and series are excellent! I love that it ends with a marriage of convenience and that the heroine is a librarian. This is another excellent book by Sarah Sundin!

The Land Beneath Us is the concluding novel in Sarah Sundin’s Sunrise at Normandy series. The books feature the three Paxton brothers — men impacted by the actions of a single night back at their home in Texas. Lots of mistakes, poor decisions, and, yes, sins took place on that tragic day, and all three men have to deal with the repercussions. In The Land Beneath Us, youngest brother Clay takes center stage. He trains to be a Ranger to fulfill what he believes to be his destiny. On his way he meets a remarkable young woman whose own life has been marked by tragedy and violence. Her example of forgiveness impacts Clay, changing how he sees his life, his brothers, and God. An excellent finale to this series, this book gets a highly recommended rating from me.

There are so many things to love about The Land Beneath Us. I love how Sundin brings the day-to-day activities of WWII-era America to life. Small details such as fashion, baby care, scrap drives show just how life has changed in the modern world. Yet there is much to be learned — unity of purpose and watching out for our neighbors. There were definitely some dark aspects  — prejudices of many kinds — that shine a light on the shortcomings of modern day America as well. Sundin’s research is remarkable. I really felt I was in those Ranger training sessions and on the streets of small town Tennessee. And Clay’s experiences on D Day spotlight the courage and determination of our Greatest Generation. Spiritual themes abound and are naturally woven into the narrative. Forgiveness, feelings of unworthiness, and clinging to what others have done to us are just a few. The two main characters’ developing relationship was special as well. Through letters they go from a marriage of convenience to a deep love. The book includes an epilogue wrapping up all of the books — I loved that too!

For fans of historical fiction set during WWII, this series cannot be beat! If you haven’t read any of the books in this series, you need to. Start at book 1 and get ready for a great reading experience.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: adults.