The Land Beneath Us is the third book in Sarah Sundin's Sunrise at Normandy series. Each book in the series follows a Paxton brother and their lives after a fateful night where life in a warm, loving family changed for good. Angry words, feelings of revenge and unthinkable behavior. Each young man was a time bomb full of anger and, remorse.

Sarah Sundin is a renowned author in the Christian fiction world. Her research on the complex theater of World War II is amazing. Her characters come alive amid battles the reader may have seen distant descriptions of yet in reading Sarah's books find themselves in the midst of the story. I have long been a fan of her work. It makes me appreciate all the more, the brave men and women who served our country in dark times.

Clay and Leah's story is one beautiful love story. Both have baggage that could upset the perennial apple cart. They are both courageous beyond their young ages. I believe that could be said of many young people faced with the challenges of a war that caused so much uncertainty in the world. Their faith yielded a strength of character that kept them going. From Leah's upbringing in an orphanage to Clay's bitter feelings toward his brothers, this book came alive and has a strong message of forgiveness and difficult choices. This is a book that historical fiction readers will enjoy. It is engaging, entertaining and full of compassion. Yes, even a few tears showed up. I am sad to see this series end, but I am confident that Sarah Sundin has more stories to write.

Another great story by Sarah Sundin. Very well written, as always. I love that the author does not minimalize the faith factor in each of her stories. Highly recommended!

The Land beneath us is a Beautiful story, It is the first book from Sara Sundin that I read but not the last.
This is the last book from the serie Sunrise at Normandy. The story takes place during World war 2
Leah Jones is a young woman of eighteen, she grew up in a orphanage after the tragic death of her parents and she was separated from her twin sisters. She found a job at the library at Camp forest and she hoped to find some clues about her past. There she met Private Clay Paxton who train in the army.

Clay Paxton has been betrayed by his brothers and he has a recurrent dream about his death. Life doesn’t really matter for him anymore until he met Leah.
Leah’s is rescued by Clay when a man tried to kill her, she was also violated during the agression, so Clay married Leah to protect her and her child.
After their marriage Clay left to prepare for the invasion of the allies in France. Through their letters the relationship between them deepened and feelings start to grow in their heart…

It’s a story of forgiveness and healing, very inspiring. I Really enjoy reading The land beneath us.

What a satisfying conclusion to a riveting series! Sarah Sundin’s knowledge of World War II history is so meticulous and detailed that I almost felt like I was there watching the Rangers climb those cliffs and take cover from enemy fire. Along with her thorough research, she has crafted another poignant and heartfelt story that could be described by many words, interestingly enough, beginning with the letter F. Themes of forgiveness, faith, friends and family were significant to the book while other letter F descriptors that came to mind were forgotten, fearless, fighting, foes, France, and (Camp) Forrest.
In addition to Leah and Clay’s marriage of convenience story that had an unusual premise, I loved the way the author seamlessly wove scriptural truths into the story with references to the story of Joseph and his brothers as well as the Biblical Leah.
This book made me pause and reflect not only on the heartfelt and engrossing storyline, but on the many sacrifices that were made by soldiers as well as families on the home front during wartime. If you are looking for a light read, this book isn’t it. But if you’re seeking an emotionally gripping tale that will tug at your heart strings and linger in your thoughts, then you’ve found it with The Land Beneath Us.

I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley and Revell Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
#TheLandBeneathUs #SarahSundin #NetGalley #Revell

Clay Paxton is training to be a U.S. Army Ranger in advance of the Allied invasion of France in WWII. Leah Jones is a librarian on the military base where he's training. He has no future, due to a recurring dream of his death during the invasion. She has no past, orphaned at the age of 4 and torn away from her baby sisters, with no familial connections. A marriage as friends gives them both something they need, and shortly thereafter, Clay ships off for further training, expecting never to return. Neither can anticipate what will happen in the months leading up to D-Day.

This book is just so beautiful in so many ways. The main characters are both so kind and compassionate, so often willing to put others before themselves, and yet both have flaws to try to overcome. The events throughout the book meld together so well, and yet, not everything turns out perfectly. And the writing itself is clear, with a style that I found I particularly enjoyed.

I am not a history buff at all, so understand I have very little basis to say this, but I felt that the book was very well researched. With real events, real locations, and even some real people from history who were participants in this part of the invasion, it all felt very real for me.

As far as the romance goes, I know everyone has their preferences--what they like and don't like in romance. This one hit all of the right buttons for me. I requested the ARC specifically because of 3 words in the synopsis: "marriage of convenience". I have always loved stories where a romance develops between two people who married because they felt they had to. And it absolutely did not disappoint. There was something in the last quarter of the book that started to bug me a bit (being vague to avoid spoilers), but it paid off in the best scene ever!

I also love the fact that the romance isn't right there in your face the whole time. It's not the main plot, while a few other things happen as a vehicle for it. The rest of the story is full in its own right, and the romance is interweaved into that so wonderfully. I also love how both characters are so incredibly faith-driven and turn to God for help and strength constantly. Both of these characters are paralleled with Biblical characters--Leah with her namesake who was unloved by her husband. And Clay even more strongly with Joseph, who was cast into a pit by his brothers, which is how Clay feels about his own situation.

When I first requested this ARC to read & review, I saw that it was #3 in a series, but it looked to me (with a quick glance) that the novels were stand-alones. While reading, I quickly realized that they aren't really. The three books in this series are about 3 brothers, and the other two appear in this book in some form too. This book ties up a storyline that I'm sure must thread through the first two books in some way. I'm a little sad that I read the last one first, but I loved this one so much, I'm going to have to read the others very soon! And then I'll probably go on to try a different series by this author. This book will be the standard by which I measure all Christian romances in the future, and I don't see it getting much better than this.

In case it's not clear from my review, I absolutely recommend this book to all who enjoy Christian romance, Christian historical novels, and/or books with a strong focus on forgiveness and finding a place to belong.

World War II fiction is one of my two favorite genres, and Sarah Sundin is one of my favorite writers. So I figure I can't loose with any of her books. Again, I was proven correct. If readers had read the first two books in the Sunrise at Normandy series, The Sea Before Us and The Sky Above Us, then they have already met two of the Paxton brothers. In those books, readers are introduced to Clay Paxton, our hero in The Land Beneath Us, but readers finally see his love story. The path of forgiveness for Clay and all three boys is finally laid out in the final story. I really liked it. Sundin handled it really well. The story does have a lot of romance and the buidling of Leah and Clay's relationship as the story progresses. In With Every Letter, another Sundin novel, she uses letters as a way of a couple to fall in love. I adore this element. Not many people write letters anymore. It is such a wonderful element of historical importance. Clay Paxton is a Ranger at Normandy, so I love how Sundin shows the training leading up to the final battle. Lots of research and it shows. I truly enjoyed this novel, and it will be going on my forever shelf with the rest of her novels. I'm curious to see what Sundin crafts next.

I received a complimentary copy of The Land Beneath Us by Sarah Sundin from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

This is the third book in the series. The other two are The Sea Before Us and The Sky Above Us.

This is the conclusion of the series and revolves around Clay, the youngest brother. He’s part of the Rangers, and the dream of his death is becoming more frequent. He’s been unhappy for a long time, so he sees the premonition as a release and a certainty.

Leah is an orphan, and all she wants is a family. Getting together with Clay wasn’t what either of them had planned, but he wants to see that she’s taken care of, and she wants to have a family. As the time approaches for Clay’s dream to come true, they begin to realize what they could mean to each other.

I think it’s important to know that there’s rape and a subsequent pregnancy in the book. The feelings associated with it felt a bit glossed over, but you should be aware it’s in there if the topic bothers you.

I enjoyed this book and getting to know the characters. I always like Sundin’s WWII novels and all the little details. For example, I was especially drawn to Clay’s Bible in this book. I actually have my grandfather’s pocket New Testament (his has a gold-plated steel cover), complete with the slipcover it was mailed in. Details like that remind me to remember the past. History shouldn’t be forgotten.

A big thank you to the author for creating a nice post-war wrap-up at the end of the book. Updates on all three brothers wrapped up in a nice little bow. This was a good series that I really liked reading. Good Book!

*I received a copy of this book from Revell through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Jeanette's Thoughts

Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Sarah Sundin- The Land Beneath Us
What a classic love story! I have read every book of this series. I love the Paxton brothers. They each have an individual battle to overcome while serving our Country!

Speaking of personal battles- Leah's was so heart wrenching. It is great to read how her faith in GOD helped her through the most difficult times. She was a disciple of Christ. Her passion and caring nature spilled over to everyone she touched.

Both Clay and Leah had to learn their value before their love could blossom.

Great story. I loved everything about this book.



The Land Beneath Us
Book 1: The Sea Before Us, February 2018
Book 2: The Sky Above Us, February 2019
Book 3 in the Sunrise at Normandy series, coming February 4, 2020
A dream as dangerous . . .
A love as solid . . .
As the land beneath them.
** STARRED REVIEW FROM PUBLISHERS WEEKLY! **
In 1943, Private Clay Paxton trains hard with the US Army Rangers at Camp Forrest, Tennessee, 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—fulfilling the recurring dream of his death.
Leah Jones works as a librarian at Camp Forrest, longing 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, he saves her virtue with a marriage of convenience. When he ships out to train in England for D-day, their letters bind them together over the distance—but can a love strong enough to overcome death grow between them before Clay’s recurring dream comes true?

This book. THIS BOOK was so heartbreaking and beautiful.. I couldn't put it down! I went through a roller coaster of emotions reading this book. I love that Sarah makes falling in love with her characters so effortless for the reader. I was cheering for Leah and Clay. Hoping and praying for Clay as he and the Rangers stormed the beach. I do not have a single complaint about this book. It is a book of hope, healing and finding your own place in the world. I highly recommend this book (and all of her Sarah Sundin's other works too!)

Thank you to Net Galley, Revell Publishing, and Sarah Sundin for the advanced e-copy for my honest review.

This was a great conclusion to the Sunrise at Normandy series. It was fascinating to learn more about Normandy from three different perspectives: air, sea, and land. Sundin’s writing style feels effortless. I never notice the mechanics. I’m just there, completely drawn in.

Clay’s dream made for an interesting twist. He’s so sure he’s meant to die, and in a specific way, that it causes him to take enormous risks and do crazy things. He’s like Joseph in the Bible. God uses the horrible things that have happened to him for good.

This book is rich with undertones of forgiveness, sacrifice, growth, and reconciliation. Leah is amazingly resilient after a brutal attack. She’s a woman I’d like to know.

Thank you to Revell for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Sunrise at Normandy series:

Book 1: The Sea Before Us

Book 2: The Sky Above Us

Book 3: The Land Beneath Us

I really enjoyed the conclusion of this series...I think even more than the first two books. I didn't want to put it down.
Clay had to work through true forgiveness and come to an understanding of his own sin. It gave an interesting perspective on how when you've been wronged how you can get wrapped up in that hurt, betrayal, or surface forgiveness and cause yourself more pain.
You could almost think Leah was a pollyanna except that she seemed real and had to go through terrible hardships and injustices but was able to find comfort in God and blessings through the pain.
The book flowed well with multiple storylines and certainly kept me reading at any free moment.

My Review Of The Land Beneath Us by Sarah Sundin: Five stars.

I was not prepared for this book. I knew I needed to read it, I knew I would enjoy it, yet I did not know how much The Land Beneath Us would touch my heart. After reading the first two books in the series, The Sea Before Us and The Sky Above Us, -- both of which I loved and even plan to reread in order -- I was waiting in suspense for my copy of The Land Beneath Us.

What had me unprepared for this book was not the first books, rather the depth of The Land Beneath Us, the realness of the characters, reading about all that had happened to Clay at his brothers’ hands in the first books was sad, much like Joseph's brothers treated him, made me think that Clay would have a simple and perhaps boring story of forgiveness where I would see forgiveness in the last pages but no true fruits, I could not have been more wrong. I am still unsure of what to say after a few days waiting to write my review and I just want to sigh in pleasure with the feelings I'm still reeling from caused by this book.

Sarah Sundin's skill in weaving this breathtaking conclusion to the Sunrise At Normandy series shows that her works only get better and that readers should be on the lookout for her next book, read this one, and check to see if they have read her previous books.

I fell in love with Clay and Leah's romance that was not the normal trope you would find in War World Two fiction rather westerns, Regencys, or such that quite commonly have marriages of convenience, the slow love, first of friends, until it softly grows into something much more.

Both of the lead characters are wonderful to read about and it's sad to leave them especially after seeing them through such tragedy and into a Biblical growth of character.

The ending brings to mind Genesis 50:20 which I love, seeing as Joseph is something of a favorite in the Old Testament, and I love finding stories that have the same lessons and are their own story without being too close to the true story of Joseph, his brothers, and God's goodness.

This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group/Revell, through Interviews & Reviews.

If you enjoy reading historical fiction, especially books about WWII, you might enjoy this story. The third book in the Sunrise at Normandy series, this one is again well researched.

I have loved every one of Ms. Sundin's books, but I found this one not among my favorites. With a slow moving start, the story had a little too much violence for me personally. The story behind the Paxton brothers and the anger it generated, gave Clay having a recurring dream concerning his own death. He struggles with forgiveness, yet in the end there is redemption and hope. It was sad to see so many thoughts of worthlessness and guilt in both Clay and Leah.

However Susan Sundin is an exceptional author, who has a keen eye on history and accuracy.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This is my honest review

What a beautiful story! I laughed, I cried, and I could NOT put this book down! Sundin once again delivers a breathtaking conclusion to a riveting historical trilogy.

Sarah Sundin has done it again. And she's saved the best for last in this trilogy! I love that our heroine was a librarian. The love of books is real, and very relatable for me. That she was an orphan and learned how to persevere through difficult circumstances (including a violent attack by a man bent on having his own way) was inspiring. That she questioned her self worth was both believable, genuine and real.

What she had to offer Clay Paxton, the third brother tying this series together is way more than he, or she, could have guessed.

Clay has had his world shattered, and is fixated on his new mission. To serve, and save his comrades. He's very gallant and kind, but he too (understandably) suffers from doubts about his self-worth.

As a reader, you can easily look in the mirror while reading this book. The struggles with self-worth and forgiveness are something we all face at some point, and questions we need to answer with God. This book doesn't preach, but by example, there's much to be learned!

I would recommend this book to history lovers, WWII buffs, Romantics, and anyone battling with forgiving painful betrayals.

I received a copy of this book from @netgalley and chose to review it here. All thoughts are my own.

In The Land Beneath Us, author Sarah Sundin has created the perfect ending to a thrilling series you will want to read again and again.

If you have read the first two books in the Sunrise at Normandy series, you already know Wyatt and Adler Paxton. This third and final book in the series introduces Clay Paxton. The story Sundin has weaved about the animosity between the three brothers and what started it comes to completion with Clay's perspective of the rift between them.

With the backdrop of WWII and Sundin's dedication to research and detail, the reader gets not only an exciting history lesson of our past (in fictional prose) but an added story of betrayal, forgiveness, loss and love in its purest form.

I loved the Prodigal Son aspect of this story. I had never seen that side of the prodigal story before. Thank you, Sarah, for insight into a tale I've read countless times in the Bible, but never seen from that vantage point before. What an eye-opener! Yes, you will have to buy the book to find out. I'm not spoiling it!

The love story between Clay and Leah was sweet and moving, despite the horror of how it began. The idea of both characters dealing with the same insecurities and needs from different perspectives tied their particular story together nicely.

I will miss the characters in this series, but the lessons both Clay and Leah learned will be with me for some time. Kudos to the author! This series and this book, in particular, will be one I read again and again.

The level of research that Sundin put into this book is truly what makes this a five star book. I felt like I was training for Rangers, climbing cliffs, and running between trenches in this book. It all felt so real.

I also adored this book because it is a marriage of convenience. Clay may not be perfect, but he used a perfect opportunity to do something honorable and it made for a beautiful story.

I loved Leah too. Growing up an orphan was extremely hard, but she learned so much from her childhood. I love her heart for others. But what I really loved was how her childhood memories played a role in the story.

The bond of family throughout this book was so special.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

I have been anxiously awaiting the release of this book! It's the third book of a series, each story is told from the point of view of three different brothers. Excellent stories! This one could probably be read as a stand alone book, but many of the references in it will not make sense if you haven't read the other two. I have GREATLY enjoyed this series! This third and final story completes the series. Clay is the youngest Paxton son, and he has valid reasons for being angry with both brothers. He is trying his best to be forgiving, especially since he has been having a recurring dream concerning his own death. He meets Leah, and she gets attacked. Clay rescues her and saves her life, but he soon believes he should marry her. Through letters back and forth, the two fall in love, even though he believes he will die in battle. Excellent story telling that I recommend highly! Especially if you have read "The Sea Before Us" and "The Sky Above Us"

The last book in this series does not disappoint! While the story is a stand alone, having read the previous two books in the series made me anxious to finally find out how Clay Paxton’s recurring dream of his own death on the battle field plays out. As an avid reader, it was an unexpected experience to be pleasantly surprised as the plot unfolded.
Meet sweet, lonely, orphaned Leah, the new library helper on base. Her attitude to rise above the many disappointments in her life and cling to God where convicting.
Read on to discover how Clay and his two older brothers find forgiveness and healing from past tragedies each one deeply regrets.
And in it all, the events of WWII will carry you back in time to the battlefield where victory for the Allies on D-Day is so desperately needed.

Oh my - what a satsifying conclusion to this series! I loved both of the other books, but I believe this one was my favorite. This is book 3 in the Sunrise at Normandy series, and while the story-line itself could stand alone, I'd definitely recommend reading the other books first so you can get the overall family dynamics of the Paxtons, as well as get the full effect of the epilogue. Fans of the series will be glad to see the youngest brother, Clay, finally get his story. I know I've been anxiously awaiting this final installment.

Clay Paxton is the youngest of the 3 Paxton brothers and was greatly wronged by both of his older brothers before they left home. After working for the family business for a couple of years, he was drafted into the Army and joined the Rangers, thus bringing in the "land" of the land, air and sea raid at Normandy. While in training, he meets Leah Jones, a young girl working at the base library. Leah grew up as an orphan and didn't even remember her birth name, but she has found the good in all of her circumstance, and the 2 of them help each other to heal from past wounds.

While being rich in historical details of D-Day, this story was a beautiful tale of love and forgiveness. This book had wonderful characters and was so well written. The action had me on the edge of my seat, and the romance was so sweet - Clay and Leah are a couple worth rooting for. The faith thread was strong as they both learned to give up their dreams into the arms of their Savior and seek out healing and forgiveness. There were even some good mystery elements as Clay tried to find out who the "villain" of the story was and Leah sought the details of her past. This book had a little bit of something for everyone and I absolutely adored it! I would strongly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction.

Speical thanks to NetGalley for an advanced e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.