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 … 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?
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Sarah Sundin has succeeded once again in telling a story that captivates the imagination during the WWII era. The series has two previous novels in it that might help readers fully appreciate the concluding story in The Land Beneath Us; they are The Sea Before Us & The Sky Above Us.
The series begins by introducing us to three brothers who enjoy a close relationship with each other and a tightly knit family. Those threads are about to come loose when tragedy strikes in the first book, sending the brothers in three different directions. Wyatt, Adler and Clay are unceremoniously caught up in WWII, serving in different branches of the armed services as well as a war within the family.
In the final installment, we enjoy Clay’s story. Sarah Sundin crafts a heart-gripping tale that helps reveal more of who Clay is, what he likes, his dreams and his attempt at outrunning God. While in Ranger school at base in the states, he meets a woman of small stature who has a big heart and faith. When Clay least expects it, he is drawn to Leah. In a twist of plot, he ends up saving her life, then she may just be saving his too!
The plot thickens when the brothers might just end up running into each other on D-Day. The bigger plot is can they overcome mistakes made, find forgiveness with God and then forgive each other? Leah is a woman many have looked down on as she became an orphan and had many experiences where people thought less of her because of her past. However, those very experiences cause Leah to become a woman who sees the best in people, lifts others up and dares to hope for a better future.
The ending to this story as well as the series is a work of a master storyteller. I can tell Sarah Sundin did more than just read about the war; she really did her homework! The details of scenes are impacting. I hope you read all three books and enjoy the tales that are filled with hope and faith.