There are a lot of WWII-era novels out there. Believe me I have read a bunch. But I have to say that Sarah Sundin keeps writing fresh and unique stories. Her latest novel, Embers in The London Sky captures the very real fear when faced with an unknown future and outcome. The story revolves around a young mother who has lost her son in the escape from the Netherlands during the German invasion. She ends up in England hoping against hope that her child has been brought there as well. I can’t imagine what the people facing this real-life scenario went through. Themes of trusting God’s plans and goodness, the welcome/rejection of refugees by the Brits, and sacrificing desires for another’s good are all examined. This book really made me think. It also really touched me. I cried several times while reading, something that is a rare occurrence for me. The historical details were great — Sundin is a wonderful researcher, and the characters relatable. There’s some romance and a good twisting mystery. This book really has it all!

I can’t say enough about how good Embers in The London Sky is. It truly is highly recommended.

Highly recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) ( )

This book is one of my favorites of all the World War II books I have read. There is not a lot of the actual fighting, except when Hugh goes with the RAF over to Norway. There is romance, a murder mysteries, and of course bombings. Aleida is looking for her son Theodoor, who she calls Theo, but later becomes Teddy. She gets a job following up on the children that were moved out of London for their safety, though some were not treated well. This allows her to ask about her son, who has all the fingers missing on his right hand. Her boss is not sympathetic and despised her for being a foreigner. However, she does meet Hugh with the BBC who is supportive in her search. I won't go on, so as to not spoil it for others. ( )

Aleida cannot stay in Denmark any longer - Hitler & his army have made that very clear. She also cannot stay with her husband Sebastian any longer - his years of abuse & neglect for their child has made that very, very clear. But just as she is about to make an escape with her son, Sebastian packs them all into their car to flee together. As Aleida tries to find a way for she & Theo to escape, Sebastian is looking for his own way to escape. His plan - to rid himself of his deformed child in any way possible.

Hugh Colllingwood loves reporting for the BBC radio and bringing the news to life with his broadcasts. However, his family thinks this is beneath him and tries repeatedly to convince him to give it up. As tensions grow and rations diminish, keeping up England’s morale is becoming increasingly difficult. Then, tragedy strikes when his older brother, his uncle, and his good friend are killed. Can Hugh survive this war much longer? Can England?

Another wonderful book from Ms Sundin! Her novels never disappoint in historical accuracy or interesting plot lines. I cannot wait for the next book in this series! Thank you LibraryThing Early Reviewers for the advanced copy of this book! ( )

I really enjoyed this book. This historical book covered the London Blitz, refugees and the children that left the city to avoid the bombs. Probably the first book I’ve read on this part of history. The author did a great job, and I felt like I was right there with them.

I loved the characters, Aleida and Hugh. Not to give anything away, but the choices that Aledia had to make and all she went through was emotional to say the least. Hugh was a great character, he was witty and humorous and I loved him! There’s a great murder mystery that kept me guessing until the end. Actually, the whole book kept me guessing.

This is Christian fiction with no bad language, no sex, and a wonderful faith thread woven throughout. Not overbearing but just perfect.

Sarah Sundin did it again! Another great book! I highly recommend it. ( )

Embers in the London Sky takes place during World War 2. Aleida Martens escapes the Netherlands as the Nazis are invading, and she makes it safely to London. But during the evacuation, she is separated from her young son, Theodoor. She has reason to believe that he, too, made it to England, but she has no idea where he ended up. She manages to find employment with the Ministry of Health in hopes that her position will allow her the opportunity to search for Theo. Hugh Collingwood is a reporter for the BBC, well-known for his on-the-ground, dynamic reports. When Hugh goes to the Ministry of Health to conduct interviews, he is introduced to Aleida, and she has the chance to tell him her plight. Although he can’t report on it, Hugh does take an interest in helping Aleida search for her son. But along the way, they find themselves also searching for clues in a series of murders. Will Aleida find her son, and will they manage to escape murder themselves?

I was drawn to this book, as I really enjoy historical fiction. This book sheds light on the plight of refugees in London during World War 2 and on England’s mission to protect children by sending them to live in the country, far away from the bombings. Starting off, I was drawn into the story, but a few chapters in, it seemed to slow down, and I struggled for several chapters. But it picked back up and became quite exciting. Hugh and Aleida were both likable characters, each having weaknesses and struggles that make them relatable. The story is a clean romance which is important to me, and it does involve the main characters’ faith and trust in God. Overall, I enjoyed the book, and I’ll be looking to read more by this author.

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