When Twilight Breaks is another outstanding story by Sarah Sundin. The story is set in pre-World War II Germany of 1938. While the world sits back, Hitler becomes stronger and his attacks on the Jewish population begins in earnest. The main characters are Evelyn Brand, a reporter for the ANS, stationed in Munich and Peter Lang, an American doctoral candidate who specializes in teaching German to American students in such a way that they don’t have an American accent. It is hard to discuss the plot without giving away spoilers but Evelyn’s and Peter’s stories become intertwined, initially with opposing views of Germany’s laws but over time become in agreement as the “law and order” leading to Germany’s prosperity becomes more and more at the expense of the Jews.

Sarah Sundin is a master at weaving a story that creates characters and scenes that are so real you feel you are a part of them. Her story is well researched. The reader is drawn into the story in a way that makes you feel every tragedy, every heartbreak and every triumph. It is a must read for fans of WWII historical fiction. It is one

About a year ago, I discovered Sarah Sundin when I came across The Land Beneath Us and I am so glad I did. The Queen of World War II is back at it again with another adventure-filled novel set at the beginning of the war in none other than the heart of it all - Germany!

1938, World War II

Munich, 1938. Evelyn Brand is an American foreign correspondent as determined to prove her worth in a male-dominated profession as she is to expose the growing tyranny in Nazi Germany. To do so, she must walk a thin line. If she offends the government, she could be expelled from the country--or worse. If she fails to truthfully report on major stories, she'll never be able to give a voice to the oppressed--and wake up the folks back home.

In another part of the city, American graduate student Peter Lang is working on his Ph.D. in German. Disillusioned with the chaos in the world due to the Great Depression, he is impressed with the prosperity and order of German society. But when the brutality of the regime hits close, he discovers a far better way to use his contacts within the Nazi party--to feed information to the shrewd reporter he can't get off his mind.

Lately, I have been fascinated with World War II. My most recent book acquisitions have taken place in various locations and times of the war, but none quite as dangerous as a Semitic-descendent living in Germany as a brave journalist seeking to bring light to the darkness of the Nazi party. There are many reasons to love this latest release from best-selling author, Sarah Sundin.

First of all, I loved all the historical detail Sarah Sundin has woven into the story. Specific names, laws, and events were both fascinating and horrifying! Through education and entertainment, we learn, in portion, the terror, inhumanity, and injustice of the socialist regime of the Nazi Party. Prior to reading, I would have said, I was pretty knowledgeable on the subject. However, I learned so much by reading this book. I knew more about when the United States joined the war, but very little about life in Germany before the war even began. When the future was unknown and the danger and hate seemed only a passing phase. I found myself wanting to journey through the words on the page and tell all those that I could of the horrors of the future. For the Jews to hurriedly seek a way out of the country, that not only were they losing employment, but everything.

Furthermore, while I read this book, I not only felt righteous anger as any reader would, I felt pulled into the story as if it were I who was running for my life. My palms began to sweat and my heart raced. I was so engrossed in the story that any sound I heard in real life, made me jump.

I really enjoyed Peter and Evelyn’s story. They made so many mistakes, but they remained strong and brave. There were times that I would have cowered in fear, but they continued to persevere. I really appreciated Peter’s persistence and patience. His pursuit of Evelyn reminded me of Jesus. Despite being rejected over and over, he continued to pursue her, even when he felt all hope was lost.

Sarah Sundin is such a gifted writer. I love how she seamlessly transitions between events in the story. She doesn’t write how I think she would at times. A chapter will end in one person’s POV and then switch to the next with a large gap of information, but instead of relaying all the details in chronological order, she beautifully writes all the missing details in such a way that feels more like the narrator’s reflections than “catching the reader up”. It continuously kept me on my toes and wonderfully built suspense.

Lastly, I appreciated the added detail of the location and dates at the beginning of each chapter. It would have been difficult keeping track of all those details, but it sure came in handy as a reader. I often found myself scrolling back a few pages to figure out how much time had passed and where they were then. A nice addition.

The Red Review: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
***5 Hearts: Compelling Characters, Well-Written, Interesting Storyline, Unable to Stop, Desire to Re-read

When Twilight Breaks takes place in 1938. It was interesting to read from the perspective of right before the war, knowing what would later take place. The two main characters are Americans in Germany right before the start of WW2. They both find themselves in a position to show what is going on in the countries to those outside of Germany. I really enjoy getting to see history for this perspective.

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

A captivating Pre-WWII novel, that wrapped me up in its spell as Sarah Sundin brings to life the conflicts, ideologies, and injustices going on in Germany just a year before the world's deadliest war.

Evelyn Brand is a foreign reporter with the American News Service, stationed in Munich. She is a woman working in a man's world, fighting hard to make her words heard. Her words must be measured carefully, as speaking against the government not only puts her job at risk, but her very life.

Peter Lang is working to put together his dissertation for his PhD in German language, he admires the orderliness of German culture, praising its accomplishments until his eyes are opened to the injustice lurking beneath the surface.

Ms. Sundin skillfully brings to life the dangers of living in Germany in the tumultuous year before the official start of WWII, with characters who represent a variety of positions and ideas. I admired Evelyn for her courage and compassion for others, though she is independent and sees leaning on others as a weakness. Peter is a brilliant man, dedicated to his realm of study, Evelyn opens his eyes to what is going on in the broader world around him, and I loved how he lives out his faith and we see his understanding of the issues change over the course of the book.

Overall, a gripping read, with a powerful storyline, and courageous characters willing to sacrifice for the freedom of others. This book is a bit different from other books by this author, as the previous books tended to focus on different branches of the US military in the thick of the war, while this one shows a different perspective I that enjoyed just as much if not more for its compelling, high stakes storytelling. This book will not disappoint! Highly recommend!

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

I just loved When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin. A thoroughly engaging, historical fiction story that takes place in 1938 in Munich, Germany. What a page-turner! I stayed up far too late finishing this book! This book has it all, suspense, good vs evil, romance, and witty banter.

Evelyn Brand is an independent, hardworking reporter working in a male-dominated field in 1938.

Peter Lang, a graduate student working on his Ph.D. in Munich Germany. His methods of teaching the German language were fascinating. (See the author's note at the end!) Peter knows just how to handle the ever-independent Evelyn. "Yes, you can handle it by yourself. But you don't have to handle it alone."

Sadly there seem to be many similarities between Germany in 1938 and today: loss of religious freedom, loss of freedom of speech, and dissenting ideas censored or not allowed.

They learn this from their Jewish friends. "What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." ... Micah 6:8

I highly recommend When Twilight Breaks!

This work of historical fiction tells the story of Evelyn Brand, an American foreign correspondent stationed in Germany at the beginning of WWII, and Peter Lang, a Harvard PhD candidate teaching in Germany.

It's a fairly average WWII novel but I enjoyed the characters, especially Evelyn, a "firebrand" reporter in a male dominated profession. She is held to higher standards and her writing is more heavily edited than her fellow correspondents. When she finds out she is three quarters Jewish, things begin taking an ominous turn.

This is a Christian historical romance, but I wasn't overly impressed with the Christian part. It felt like references to God and prayer were thrown in here and there just to make the book fit into that category. It didn't add anything of real value to the story.

Even so, this book held me in suspense and the descriptions of historical events such as Kristallnacht were well written.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

The book centers on the time period when Hitler’s reign of power caused death, chaos and despair. The author lets us be witnesses to the terror that people faced and the destruction of life. It was a hard book to read at tines because the pain the people faced was unbearable. Can you imagine having to watch what you say in order to not be taken away?

Evelyn was a woman who was determined to share the truth about what is really going on . Her life is in danger as she defies the government and writes about the truth of how power can overtake doing what is right.

I liked Peter and thought he had a good heart. His faith is strong but he continually struggles at times when he starts to lose hope. With Evelyn working with him, I found them to be a force that would break down doors and let the world know the truth. The author delivers a powerful story that shows danger, faith and a lesson on never giving up.

I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads Blogger Program. The review is my own opinion.

This is such a relevant read especially with everything going on today. The year is 1938 and this story takes place within that year and a frightening new world view is gaining power- Hitler's Germany.

We have two Americans who are living and working in Munich at the start of this story. Evelyn is a woman reporter who has enough struggles working her way up in a man's world. She also wants to write the truth about how the Nazi regime is dangerous, suffocating, and without many freedoms.

Peter is a graduate student who has a slightly different view than Evelyn. He sees the devastation the world has been through due to the Great Depression and workplace violence as men and women struggle to care and feed for their families. He likes the order that is in Germany.

Now this novel raises many questions and it chillingly reflects some of the atmosphere we are living in today. The way a group of people were painted as evil and how quickly others could turn on them. I felt author Sundin did a great job on showing through the year, before the World War 2 started, the attitudes of the people. And the frightening way they changed and turned on their neighbors.

I thought the title was excellent. Is the twilight before dusk or dawn? The light or the dark? Twilight is the time of in between and that is exactly where these two characters find themselves.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

Evelyn Brand serves as an American foreign correspondent in Munich, 1938. She must fight for every assignment in her pro-male job and be careful about how she addresses the growing tyranny in Nazi Germany. Meanwhile, her life is threatened because of her heritage, yet she continues to meet contact secretly and tell the truth in her stories.
Peter Lang is an American PhD student. Impressed with the prosperity and order of German society, his perspective changes when he sees the brutality of the regime up close. He copes by sharing information about the Nazi party with Evelyn Brand. From their first meeting, his affection grows for her until he faces the ultimate decision.
"When Twilight Breaks" offers a different look at life in Germany before WW2. "Freedom without limits was as dangerous as order without limits." The author included information about violence toward Jews and others.
I did like the action, but this book is primarily a romance novel. Unfortunately, the end is a bit too neat and tidy for the time period. Not that I want the main characters to face even more drama or trauma, but the ending is too much of a fantasy for my preferences.
The faith element grew as the book progressed. I also liked the focus on friendship and our need for each other. "God didn't create us to be completely independent, but interdependent. That's why He gave us friends."
I wouldn't call this book "cozy." But it is an interesting read and a historical romance - a "war-mance."

#BookReview: WHEN TWILIGHT BREAKS by Sarah Sundin

This is my first ever Sarah Sundin masterpiece and it won’t be my last! What’s your favorite book by her? I want to look up all her back list. I was drawn to all the historical details and how real they are to me as I read. I could feel the tension, the sadness, the pain and anger. It’s well-written and well-researched.

It’s set in 1938 Germany during the Nazi’s rule and just before WWII began. Jewish people were not treated justly. As a foreign correspondent, Evelyn Brand gets inside scoops and writes them. I love her character. She loves her freedom, her compassion to others and her fearless decisions to tell the truth. I wasn’t sure about Peter Lang at first. He seems to shift sides and attracts the Germans. But he proved and continues to prove himself a worthy person.

I am glad that the faith aspect of this book has picked up halfway and mostly in the last few chapters of the book. It seems like when faced with danger and problems, we can go two ways. To seek God or to abandon Him. But Evelyn and Peter have placed their trust in God and thus strengthened their relationship with Him.

Their love story is friends to lovers. I like that it’s there but it’s not the main focus. They were friends and helped each other out for the greater good. Well it’s more like Peter rescued Evelyn many times that I can count. They have endured an exhilarating adventure together. I like to be independent like Evelyn, but we both realized that the future looks brighter when you have someone to lean on. 5 stars

Thank you #netgalley and @Revellbooks for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

I must admit that as a kid history class was my least favorite of all. I did not enjoy learning about the wars and battles and timelines and dates, but as an adult I can't get enough historical fiction novels, especially written by Sarah Sundin. She brings the characters and places to life. It truly makes me feel like I'm in the book, invested in the characters (of course, without all the danger of actually being there). She is a very gifted writer, and I jump at the chance to read any new book she comes out with!

When are rules good and when is it good to embrace freedom? Can you have too much of either? If so, what happens when we do? If we don't examine our lives and the world around us, it is possible to get swept up into a mass movement driven by chaos and fear. This is why books can be so healthy for us--to help us see outside of our current circumstance and gain perspectives.

When Twilight Breaks is classic Sundin; I run to her books when I need a story with well crafted characters and solid historical setting. I love when Evelyn quotes President Roosevelt to give credence to a point she is making. Sarah effortlessly weaves perspective into her story and makes it feel like you're having a conversation with a friend. The story leaves you with incredible thoughts to mull over. Five stars for an all around must read. I look forward to my children reading these books to gain a picture of what has happened in history and how we can play a part in our own history-making lives.

Thank you to Revell & the Baker Family publishing house for carrying Sarah Sundin's finely crafted stories; they are treasures.

Sarah Sundin is one of my favorite historical fiction writers, and I was SO excited when I saw she had another book coming out!

This book is set in WW2, as are her other books, but this one is set in WW2 *in Germany*, BEFORE the war has officially begun and before the Americans are even concerning themselves about it at all. And it's told from a unique and distinctive perspective: through the eyes of two American citizens who in Germany for two very different reasons.

I don't want to give anything away in this book, but the perspectives and the thoughts were heavy and made sense. Peter Lang, the college student-professor studying for his PhD in German, was in awe of the Nazi system. I mean, think about it: German was flourishing while the rest of the world was in the hold of the Great Depression. I can see his point of view, and sympathize int it, even. And then Evelyn Brand, the fiery reporter, absolutely hated what she saw, and tried to be diplomatic in sharing her experience with American newspapers. Another view I can relate to.

Through various twists and turns, Peter and Evelyn begin to help each other to see how to act and what to do to stand against the regime that is attempting to take over the whole world. They work together in the best of ways, and face so many difficulties, and they just work great together.

I appreciated how the underlying motive of this story was that we can't be dependent on ourselves alone -- we must look to God first, and others second. It's okay to lean on someone else and help each other.

I loved how the various views of 1938 came to life for me, in a way that it really hasn't before. The ideologies of the Third Reich, and everything that was going on with the various anti-semantic laws was so breathtakingly evil, and I can't begin to imagine living under a regime where you can be killed for daring to speak your own opinion, although I can see America may be headed there, based on what's happened politically and socially for the last few years, and especially this last year.

The characters were great, and I enjoyed seeing each of them grow. I did find some of the scenes in the beginning a bit slow, and I was a bit annoyed at Evelyn's continual whining about how women reporters were treated . . . I mean, you chose that job, right? But all-in-all, I did enjoy the tory and the book, and the pace picked up and I finished the last half of the book in less than a day, compared to the six previous days it took me to finish the first half of the book :D

I am SO grateful for Revell Publishing and Sarah Sundin providing me a copy of this book through NetGalley to read and review! This was a great book that I would recommend to any lovers of WW2 history. Due to some suspenseful scenes, I would recommend this book for older readers.

I really wasn’t too sure if I wanted to read this book at first since it is based around WWll and I was getting burned out by this era, but I am so glad I read it. I did not want to put the book down till I knew what was going to happen to Evelyn and Peter. These were fantastic characters. This was a very tough time to live in especially during and right before the war started. Evelyn was brave to be a reporter in Germany. This book was so well written. I received a copy of this book from Revell for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I have read a lot of books set in WWII; yet this one, which takes place in the days leading up to WWII, felt fresh and relevant. It came from a different perspective than what I've read before. Peter and Evelyn are Americans working in Germany. They both find that sometimes there are negative consequences if your beliefs differ from the popular opinion and if you're willing to say that out loud. Again, this feels increasingly relevant in our culture today.

Evelyn is a strong woman who doesn't want to be chained down by a man. I loved her banter with Peter and how he pursued her despite her disinterest. For Evelyn, "the first date eliminated men who didn't like intelligent women. The second date weeded out those who assumed a modern career woman had loose morals. On the third date, if the man hadn't realized Evelyn was too much to handle, she helped him figure it out" (location 429).

The action and suspense were intense. I could sense the Gestapo heading toward my door. It was so easy to put myself into the story. It felt so real and the threat imminent. I would highly recommend this book. Thank you to Revell for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Following her passion for writing the important news and following her leads has not been easy for Evelyn Brand, but it has gotten her assigned to Munich, Germany as an ANS reporter in 1938. It is a time of prosperity for the average person, with the end of communism and a season of economic recovery, but Evelyn sees that there are good, honest people whose livelihoods and whose lives are at risk simply because of their race. It doesn't sit well with Evelyn and she has the opportunity to bring this information to the American people, if only she can get it out of Germany. Determined not to be held back by the fact that she's a woman in a profession that is predominantly male, or by getting too emotionally attached to her sources, she chooses to stay in Munich and report truth even though her situation there is becoming increasingly precarious.

Fully believing that any enemy of my enemy is a friend of mine, Peter Lang's doctorate research on campus of the university in Munich, fine German name and handsome Aryan features make him a popular addition to the campus Nazi organization. His research makes him desirable to them, and although not without some misgivings, the experiences of his past make some of their doctrines seem desirable to him. Getting to know Evelyn is the first step toward removing the scales from his eyes and realizing that sometimes your enemy's enemy is still your enemy.

When Twilight Breaks is the latest release from author Sarah Sundin, whose amazing research and passion for the WW2 era and incredible story building talents never cease to amaze me. She handles the complexities so very delicately, bringing about character development that runs deep into the storyline and challenges the reader to look past face value and really see the people around them. What happens when Evelyn and Peter have to challenge the popular social system and stand up for their beliefs is an intense adventure with a delicate touch of romance that will have you turning pages as fast as you can. In my opinion, it's well worth staying up all night to finish When Twilight Breaks... once you get into it, you won't be able to sleep until the end, anyway!

Thank you to the author and the publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.

This cover fascinates me, all in black and white with one very little exception. But the book really, really fascinated me! Especially since my parents lived in Germany during the War and this book definitely was close to the stories of my personal family history. It contained romance, drama, action, suspense, just about everything that I love when reading a book. It rang true to the times and the history was spot-on. I loved it.
The characters were great. Evelyn was a strong female lead character. I totally felt the fear she felt at certain times in the book. So engaging and so beautifully written. I totally felt as though I was there experiencing the events that took place. Peter was a wonderful strong male lead character that I was rooting for throughout the book!

I loved this book and this author has an amazing way of capturing a reader's attention. Do I recommend this book to others? That's a clear YES! It was wonderful.

I received an ebook copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. I requested it because of the subject matter but was not familiar with the author. Also, I did not realize it had a Christian emphasis, but as a Christian, I especially liked this aspect of the book as it had a pronounced effect on the character's lives. I am going to recommend this book for our church book club. She is a fantastic writer and I will now read more of her books. She writes such amazing detail, and her characters evolve throughout the book. This was different from most WWII books, but anyone who loves reading about this time in history should read this book.

Munich, 1938. Evelyn Brand is an American foreign correspondent as determined to prove her worth in a male-dominated profession as she is to expose the growing tyranny in Nazi Germany. To do so, she must walk a thin line. If she offends the government, she could be expelled from the country--or worse. In another part of the city, American graduate student Peter Lang is working on his PhD in German. Disillusioned with the chaos in the world due to the Great Depression, he is impressed with the prosperity and order of German society. But when the brutality of the regime hits close, he discovers a far better way to use his contacts within the Nazi party--to feed information to the shrewd reporter he can't get off his mind.

When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin

Set in pre-WWll Munich, this is the story of an American journalist and an American graduate student with differing opinions on the political and economic climate in Nazi Germany. As their friendship and dependence on each other develops, so does their romance and awareness of the growing danger. The book is well researched and well paced. This is the first book that I’ve read by this author, and it won’t be the last!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I eagerly waited 2 years for this book!
I was super excited to hear that this author was going to be doing a series with characters "behind enemy lines ", she has been my favorite go to author when it comes to WW2 romance.

I live the amount of history that this author puts into her stories.
This one however didn't sit well with me.
I am really getting tired of every single historical romance having the "if I were a man this wouldn't happen."
Ugh, I'm just tired of that being such a huge point in a genre I normally love.
This book just had so much of that that it wrecked the experience.
I have loved how the author usually weaves in the personal growth of her characters, but in this book the changes felt so abrupt.
It felt full of the modern buzzwords.
I just never connected with the characters, and that is a big deal for me.
It was one of the most action packed of her books, and I did like that.
If you want to read a historical fiction about much of the political drama of the time this may be a good one for you. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
I recieved a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgally, all opinions are my own and honest.