Two Steps Forward by Suzanne Woods Fisher

FTC Disclosure: Revell Reads gave me complimentary copies of this book. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts.

When I received the book I had not realized that it was the final book in a series. (The Deacon’s Family) That did not keep the enjoyment away. Suzanne is a good author and is able to weave her tales in a way to draw you in. Well written.

Jimmy has just returned home to Lancaster County and Sylvie is a young widow with a son. These two are brought together by necessity and you can’t help but rout for them.

I loved getting a glimpse into D-day from the perspective of land, air, and sea. This trilogy of books does an excellent job showing us “the Greatest Generation” and what they went through to win on D-Day. All three books were fantastic.

4-stars: I really liked this book. (5-star reviews are reserved for books I love AND will read over and over.) I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

This was a beautiful and poignant tale. I haven't read the first two books in the series so I don't know much about Wyatt and Adler but I love how the author brought their stories together with Clay taking the mantle of the brother who stayed back and decided to help the family.
This is a tale of grace, of immeasurable forgiveness of redemption and of love. Both Clay and Leah despite being so young had a maturity about them that helped them when it came to making tough decisions.
I love how they went from friendship to more and how Clay was willing to step up and protect Leah even when he didn't know her so well. Leah's love for books was also exciting to read about, her strength and resilience in the face of her circumstances were definitely admirable.
I love the research that went into the story. I definitely learned a lot and felt like I was taken back in time.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are solely mine.

Great way to end a series. Love all of Sarah’s books. Just enough romance mixed in with some wonderful history.

COMPELLING!

THE LAND BENEATH US (Sunrise at Normandy Book #3) by Sarah Sundin is Compelling! I highly recommend this book and the entire series. This
book needs to be read in sequential order to fully appreciate and understand all of family dynamics that are mentioned and dealt with in this book.

This is Private Clay Paxton’s account of training with the US Army Rangers at Camp Forest, TN and follows his journey for more training in England and then on to France and his date with destiny at D-Day. Clay has a deep sense that God has a specific plan of sacrifice for him while he’s serving in the War. He is at complete peace as he heads off into battle. While in TN, he meets Leah Jones, who is working in the library at Camp Forest. Leah has not had an easy life but against all odds is taking advantage of all available opportunities to better herself. She is like a sponge, absorbing something from everyone and quickly to differentiate between good and bad. One thing she’s known about all her life is bullying. These two young people are brought together when Clay saves Leah’s life by rescuing her during a brutal sexual attack. There lives will be forever changed from that moment on.

Sundin is a consummate researcher as is evidenced in each of her books. Her detailed descriptions of people, places and things are exquisite! Sundin has the ability to make readers feel as though they are active participants in the story. We see the action, feel the pain, taste the salt from the tears running down our face, feel the emotional stress, feel the heartache, feel the fear as well as feel the love and feel the bliss. Sundin covers it all! Themes covered in THE LAND BENEATH US are: good v. evil, dysfunctional families, abandoned children, orphanages, war training, war, home front during the war, deep personal friendships that last a lifetime, faith that grows immeasurably and the discovery that LOVE NEVER FAILS.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Revell and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.

A powerful story of hope, family, and forgiveness.



Clay Paxton's dream of becoming a physician were ripped away one terrible night, the night that he also lost his brothers. He is frequently visited by a daunting dream of pain and peace, that he is determined to fulfil as an Army Ranger.



Leah Jones has never belonged anywhere, as an orphaned who was adopted and then abandoned, separated from her baby sisters, she longs for a family and a place to belong. But one terrible night changes everything and a marriage of convenience to an Army Ranger named Clay Paxton.



The long awaited conclusion to Sunrise at Normandy series, I couldn't wait to read this book. And it did not disappoint, Clay is my favorite of the brothers, noble, and willing to do his duty whatever the cost. I loved how he grew in his faith, as God worked in his life and through him, convicting him and strengthening him.



I loved Leah instantly, and cheered for her the whole way through as she grew into a confident woman, willing to fight for and uplift others. Leah never had much to call her own, yet she always looks for the bright side and how she can be useful, I admired her faith, as well as how she always wants the best for others.



Overall a fantastic conclusion to what is now my favorite series from Sarah Sundin, well researched, with characters that gripped my heart. Powerful story of faith and forgiveness, set against the D-Day victory. Highly recommend, I didn't want to put it down!




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

I really enjoy historical fiction as I can learn from the story and occasionally research more from what is mentioned. I loved the story of Clay and Leah as they got to know each other after an unexpected marriage to each other. It made me think of all the letters that must have gone back and forth during all the wars. I also enjoyed Leah's story of trying to find the rest of the her family and how it wasn't very easy to do.

I received a copy of the book to read, the review is mine.

I’m always slow to give a book 5 stars, but I seem to be on a roll lately. The books I’ve been picking up are incredible.

This is my first book by Sarah Sundin, but I believe I will now be backing up and starting at the first of this series: Sunrise at Normandy.

I was quickly drawn to Clay and Leah (Thalia). Each had an interesting back story and I immediately began turning pages to see how their relationship would develop.

Private Clay Paxton, who is at Camp Forrest, Tenn., is training with the Army Rangers just before D-Day. He is allowing his life to be somewhat directed by a recurring dream of dying on the battlefield.

Leah, an orphan was separated from her twin baby sisters when she was four. She desperately wanted to know more about her heritage and siblings. She was also faced with contempt because of her Greek background. But her incredible love for books brings to the reader perhaps a new knowledge regarding the importance that books played in WWII.

Clay and Leah’s relationship is one that you can only appreciate through growing with them as you turn the pages and their journey unfolds.

But the story covers much more. It informs about the preparations for the D-Day invasion. It tells of the ways Rangers trained. Historical facts are scattered throughout.

Through my reading, I’ve discovered that more and more I’m falling in love with historical fiction. I could go on and on about this book, but I won’t. I’m just going to highly recommend this series. And that recommendation is based on this book alone, which is enough to convince me that the series is well worth reading. I would suggest you should start with The Sea Before Us. I know I’m going to add it to my TBR list!

My thanks to NetGalley and Revell for this ARC. The review copy did not influence my opinion or this review.

What Concerned Me
Nothing

What I Liked Most
I loved the characters and the fact that they felt so believable. And for a person who wasn’t all that fond of history in school, I absolutely love the way historical facts are intermingled into this story. Thumbs-up!

This is a beautifully written story about love, loss and faith. The strength of the characters faith stands out. I have not read the previous 2 books in this series. I want to read them as well. This book worked well as a standalone. I felt that enough of the story in the previous 2 books was explained so I could enjoy and understand this book.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

This is an amazing historical romance!

I absolutely loved both Clay Paxton and Leah Jones. They are very strong characters who are extremely well developed. They each have deep doubts about their self worth but they are striving to live upstanding lives. Their interaction with each other throughout the book is marvelous. They are striving to help the other.

I was completely caught up in all of the wonderful historical details that are included in this story. That includes things from the home front as well as the training and battle on D-day.

I have truly come to trust the accuracy of the historical content in any book written by Sarah Sundin. I have read information on all of the research she does before writing one of her novels.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

The Land Beneath Us is the third book in the Sunrise at Normandy series by Sarah Sundin. It makes a great stand alone book as I did not read the other two books in the series before this one, but trust me, if you love this book as much as I did you are going to want to read the other two as soon as you finish so you might as well start from the beginning!

It is a historical Christian Romance set in England during 1943/44. The historical aspect shows the training of the U.S. Army Rangers up to D-day and their invasion.

Clay Paxton has been betrayed by his brothers in the worst way and he struggles with forgiveness. Due to a recurring dream he has about his death, he now has purpose. He must fulfill God's will for his life, by seeing the dream come to pass.

Leah Jones works as a Librarian at Camp Forest. During her spare time she searches for clues to her family. When she was four years old her and her twin sisters became orphans when their parents suddenly died in a horrible accident. She longs to be reunited with her sisters, but her life is turned upside down when she is brutally attacked. Clay saves her life and marries her to save her virtue. When he is shipped out to train for D-day him and Leah keep in touch through letters. As time passes their relationship strengthens and love blossoms, but neither of them can ignore Clay's dream. They know what his future holds due to his recurring dream. Will their love be strong enough to save Clay from impending death?

I could not put this book down. When I wasn't reading it I was thinking about it. It was one of the best books I have read in a long time. Leah's outlook on life is so uplifting despite the tragedies that always seem to follow her. She is definitely an overcomer and her faith in God is inspiring. Clay is so kind-hearted and driven by his love for God and pursing God's will. As you read the book you can see both Clay and Leah grow in their relationship with each other and God. The self sacrificing love portrayed in this book is one of my favorite things about it.

I can't recommend this book enough. You're sure to love it!

***Thanks to Revell for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

All three of the books in this series were wonderful, but this one was my absolute favorite for so many reasons. The depth of the story as it brought World War 2 to the pivotal battle that turned the tide in the Allies favor, the incredible characterization of Clay the youngest of the Paxton brothers, the sweetness and fortitude of Leah, the rich historical detail of this war period as the US prepared it's soldiers, particularly the Rangers, for the Battle of Normandy, and the focus on trust and forgiveness all combined to make this an unforgettable conclusion to a series.

Sundin's research into the preparation of the Rangers and the details of the Battle for Pointe du Hoc was incredible. Her plot pulled me deeper and deeper into the story of Clay and the estrangement between he and his brothers as well as the backstory of Leah's life as an orphan and her hunt for her twin sisters. Kudo's to Sarah Sundin for ending this series with a story that is the best of the best.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

A marriage of honor and convenience—it’s not what either Private Clay Paxton or Leah Jones had in mind for themselves. But it just might be the thing that saves them both. Loosely drawn from the biblical stories of Leah and Joseph, The Land Beneath Us offers readers a lesson in the beauty and power of forgiveness.

Sundin’s characters are realistic and richly drawn, while her details of life in the World War II era are both fascinating and informative. Set against the backdrop of the Normandy invasion, Sundin weaves a story of courage, forgiveness, and a love that reaches across an ocean of miles to offer hope and a reason to come home.

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

this is the 3rd book in the serie Normandy Book, set in year 1943 in Tennessee.
the serie tells about Paxton sons: The land beneath us about Clay, The Sea before us about Wyatt, The Sky above us about Adler.
another main character of this book is Leah Jones, a young orfan woman with 2 dreams: become a librarian and find her 2 twin sisters.
the Victory Book Campaign in WWII had a motto: 'Books are weapons in the war of ideas', wow!
I agree, books are accessible from all the people, they can help people learn new things, be indipendent and don't feel lonely.
I enjoyed very much reading this book, wonderful characters, interesting detailed story.
I'm curios to read the 1st and 2nd of the serie!

I patiently waited until the third book in the series, “Sunrise at Normandy” was written by one of my favorite authors, Sarah Sundin. I was not disappointed in reading “The Land Beneath Us”. I thoroughly enjoyed each of the three novels written about the Paxton brothers. In the first book, the three had a falling-out so severe that none wanted to see the other again. In each novel, Ms. Sundin highlights one of the brothers and their service during World War II. In each novel, a lovely girl helps each brother along the path to forgiveness.

I especially enjoy Ms. Sundin’s keeping to the history of the events she portrays. Each character is given special traits that make them the person that they are. I felt a deep affinity for each main character and even some subordinate characters. The author makes this time in history come alive for me. I eagerly await her next novel, which I assume she is working on.

I downloaded a Kindle copy of this book from NetGalley.com in return for my personal review.

THE LAND BENEATH US is the third and final book in this series and one I was looking forward to with great anticipation. I loved this book and rather hate to see this series end!
Leah was a rather bookish soul, dreaming of someday getting a degree in librarian science. Circumstances out of her control changed her course forcing her to make some hard choices. But through it all, she held fast to God' grace and goodness, enabling her to see the silver-lining behind every cloud.
With Clay dreaming of his death and his future stolen, Clay has nothing to lose and nothing to fear. He needs to become an Army Ranger so he can die the way he dreams. D-Day spells The End of Clay's life, but not in the way he imagined.
As I said earlier, I loved this book and this series. Ms. Sundin is one of the very few historical writers that I absolutely must read. I love her books.
I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.

Sarah Sundin is a new to me author. I will definitely read the first two books in this series as well as anything else written by this author. I love her writing style and attention to historical details. The characters have such depth and dimension, flawed but not unredeemable.
Since I love historical fiction, this time period, World War II era, was a delight to read. Set during WWII, Clay is at a Ranger training camp in Tennessee. He meets and befriends Leah, who works in the camp library.
The story is told from two alternating view points, Leah's and Clay's. We get get to see what is happening in Leah's life back home and through her letters to Clay. We get a glimpse into the training Clay received, his experiences on D Day and as a husband away from wife and family.
I loved this book. If you like historical fiction I hope you'll check the one out.
I'm getting the first two book in the series. I'll let you know if they are as good as this one.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

A book that may keep you up most of the night! The Land Beneath Us takes place during WWII and the Normandy Invasion. Leah is a wonderful protagonist who feels abandoned by everyone but is determined to become a better person. She was placed in an orphanage when her parents were killed in an accident when she was small. Then her adoptive parents decided they could not care for her and left her in an orphanage. She remembers having twin sisters and knows a few Greek words so feels she must have Greek heritage. I felt sorry for Leah when she arrived at her job in a military base library poorly dressed and groomed wearing her only dress which was ill-fitting. Private Clay Paxton is an excellent male protagonist who becomes acquainted with Leah at the library and saves her life when she is attacked and raped! Clay believes he will be killed in action and persuades Leah to marry him so she will be protected by his name and receive his check and life insurance. Leah is a determined, independent woman for 1941. You will face action with Clay as he trains and is part of the Normandy Invasion! The Land Beneath Us is part of the Sunrise at Normandy series but can be enjoyed as a stand alone book. I received a complimentary e-book through NetGalley and the publisher. This is my honest opinion.

I knew I’d enjoy this story because I’ve never been disappointed by anything Sarah Sundin has written. This is her best yet!

If you enjoy WWII stories, stories of faith, family, and forgiveness, then this is the author for you. Ms. Sundin is a gifted, poignant writer who creates memorable characters and delivers wonderful historical tales of love.

Leah’s past is heartbreaking, Clay’s is tragic in a different way, and their friendship might be what heals them both. I loved their relationship and how they were brought together under less than perfect circumstances. I connected with them, sympathized with them, cheered for them, and was touched by their transformations.

It is evident Ms. Sundin has done extensive research to make her characters feel genuine and stories believable. I love her writing style, and most of all her biblical ties, themes, and principles.

#TheLandBeneathUs #SunriseatNormandy #RevellReads
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

I've been looking forward to reading The Land Beneath Us, but now that I've finished, I'm a little sad this wonderful series has concluded. So now that I know how things worked out – I'm so glad!! It was the perfect conclusion. I even got teary at the end.

I could easily fill this review about all the things I loved about Clay. His innate need to heal. His compassion. His protectiveness. His kindness. The way he didn't question whether to do the right thing. The way he wanted to play by the rules - even in a time of war. His insecurity caused by being a "half-breed". His brokenness. His need to forgive from his heart, which he longed to do - he just didn't know how.

Clay's struggle to forgive his brothers had him realizing his role in the prodigal story of his family. And he didn't like it one bit! He struggled with pride, hurt and unforgiveness, as many of us do. Thankfully, he had a much stronger desire to have a right relationship with God. It was humbling and convicting to watch his spiritual journey.

The recurring dream Clay had of how he would die allowed him to display a bravery he might not have had otherwise. "This isn't how I'm going to die". It allowed him to not second-guess his choice to marry Leah when she discovered the rape had resulted in a pregnancy. After all, she would be able to get his pay and his benefits and he wouldn't be losing a thing. Poor Clay hadn't realized that this marriage would make him want to live and question his resolve.

Instead, I could fill the review about Leah and why she tore at my heart. An orphan who had been separated from her twin baby sisters when she was only four. Who had been treated with contempt because of her Greek heritage. Who had grown up knowing little but want. Who still understood love and forgiveness in a way many never will. Who was full of kindness and grace. Who exemplified such strength after being treated abominably.

Leah's longtime desire was to be a librarian. She had an incredible love for books and words and sharing them with the world. Though her I learned so much about wartime efforts to bring books to the soldiers through book drives.

She also had a heart for orphans, understanding personally what it was like to be cast aside. I was so surprised to see the attitudes of people towards orphans – as if the very fact of them not having parents was a reflection on them. She had been questing her entire life to discover who she was, where her sisters were, and to finally belong.

But if I only told you of the way I loved Clay and Leah, I would be negligent in telling you many other wonderful things about this story!

I loved the way Clay and Leah's relationship was mostly established through their letters. And how they struggled to navigate their marriage of convenience with an expiration date.

I don't remember loving Clay's mom in the other books in this series as much as I loved her here. Her mother's heart and the way she so quickly embraced Leah and cared for her in such a beautiful way touched my heart.

As with the other books in the Sunrise at Normandy series, I learned so much about the preparations for the D-Day invasion and the events that ensued. I was fascinated to learn the ways the Rangers trained and their role on the ground. Keeping the focus on the action and away from gore, Sarah Sundin made history come to life.

While I could gush on, I'll spare you and simply recommend you read The Land Beneath Us and read it. After you've read the first two books of the Sunrise at Normandy series, of course. You could easily read this as a stand-alone; however, the author does not reiterate the details she has already covered in the first two books here so you will miss out on so much if you skip the others.