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 is one of my favorite historical novelists, and The Land Beneath Us is a perfect example of why. She strikes the perfect balance between precisely accurate historical settings and timelines, and characters and plot that move the reader through it with ease. I learn something from every novel, yet they never feel bogged down with textbook-like passages. Instead, the history unfolds naturally, populated by characters we care about. The spiritual arcs are believable, insightful, and add depths of meaning to the novel. I found The Land Beneath Us to be a satisfying conclusion to the entire series. If you love drama, danger, intrigue, reconciliation and redemption along with your history, this is the book for you.
The Land Beneath Us by Sarah Sundin is the final installment in Sunrise at Normandy series. It can be read on its own, but, if you want to get the full experience of the brothers’ saga, I recommend reading them in order. I thought The Land Beneath Us was well-written with developed characters. I enjoy Sarah Sundin’s word imagery which brings the scenes alive. The author creates such strong characters. Leah Jones has had a rough life. Her parents died when she was a small child. At the orphanage, Leah was separated from her baby sisters. She then endured horrible adoptive parents who felt Leah’s Greek heritage was disdainful. They took away her heritage and her real name. Just when things are turning around for Leah, she is violently assaulted. It takes a strong woman to overcome so much tragedy. Leah has such a tender and caring heart. I love how she enjoyed books. Leah is an avid reader like me. I admit that I wanted to shake Clay at times. His dream confounded me, but Clay is a man of strong convictions. I enjoyed reading this engaging story as well as the whole series. The author did her research for this trilogy. She captured the U.S. Army Ranger training as well as D-Day. Sarah Sundin portrayed the time period beautifully. My favorite line from The Land Beneath Us is, “Since the Lord knows everything, I reckon that makes Him the ultimate library.” The epilogue was a delight and wrapped up the series perfectly. The Land Beneath Us is a captivating historical tale with a death dream, a terrible tragedy, battling brothers, a library lover, and a raging war.
When Clay and Leah first meet at Camp Forrest, Tennessee, they are both lost and confused in their lives. Clay is estranged from his brothers and wants to go to war to fulfill his dream and Leah is a librarian who has had a tough life. She was adopted as a young girl when her parents were killed in an accident. After a few years, her new parents got tired of her and dropped her off at another orphanage. When she has free time, she does research to try to find out more about her earlier life and to try to find her younger sisters who were also adopted but she had no idea where they were. When Clay saves Leah from a brutal attack their friendship grows and they decide on a marriage of convenience so that Leah has money to live on from his allotment. As they write letters, their feelings for each other begin to change but will they ever see each other again or will Clay become a causality of the war?
This is a story about love and friendship, family and forgiveness. Both characters are looking for their path in life and they can only find it by looking forward instead of back to their pasts. This is more than just a romance – it’s the story of two people who have to accept who they are to be able to move forward and find love.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
I loved everything about this story! There were moments that I gasped out-loud in surprise, yelled out warnings to characters that could not hear me, and gripped the book tightly holding my breath to see what would happen next. I both cried with Leah and cheered for her successes. More than once I wished I could reach in and hug these characters. I didn’t just simply read the story, I felt like I was right there in the story with them.
The struggles these characters faced felt real. I enjoyed watching their growth throughout the story. I felt like the author invited us to walk the trials with them as they struggle with self-image and forgiveness. Things that I think we all struggle with at one time or another. We watched them struggle to let go of past hurts and give their future to God.
This marriage of convenience story is one that you won’t want to miss. I loved how the relationship built over time and how they came to love each other. The dialogue and banter are superb. Sarah Sundin’s ability to bring the details and nuances of history to life is exceptional.
This is the third, and final book in the Sunrise at Normandy series. While you could read The Land Beneath Us as a stand-alone, my recommendation would be to read the stories in order. There are details mentioned in the course of this story that would spoil a few surprises for you in the earlier books. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy to enjoy. I highly recommend this entire series!
(I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)
Private Clay Paxton has a dream … of how he’s going to die. Oddly enough, that gives him confidence to push through his training as a US Army Ranger, because he knows none of these dangerous activities are going to kill him. And if death is what God has called him to, then death is a sacrifice he will willingly make—even if that means denying his other dream, of being a doctor.
Leah Jones was raised in an orphanage, and works in the library at the Camp Forrest Army Base where Clay is training. The two become friends, bonding over a shared love of God and books (in that order). But when Leah is brutally attacked in the library, Clay saves her life and they enter into a marriage of convenience.
The Land Beneath Us impressed me. Clay and Leah are both downtrodden characters—Clay because of his race, and Leah because she was an orphan, and “nice” children didn’t end up in orphanages. Both are estranged from their families—Leah knows she has twin sisters, but has no idea where they might live. Clay has two older brothers, one of whom stole his girlfriend, while the other stole his life savings and dream of medical school.
But both have a strong faith in God even in the dark times, and neither are bitter. Clay’s story is based on the story of the Prodigal Son, except Clay is the youngest and stayed home, where his older brothers both left. Despite the circumstances, Clay has forgiven both his brothers, but has no way to reconcile with them because he has no idea where they are. As such, it’s the Prodigal Son(s) with a twist, because Clay isn’t resentful.
The Land Beneath Us is the third book in Sarah Sundin’s Sunrise at Normandy series. I haven’t read any of the others, and I don’t think I missed anything (although those who have read The Sea Before Us or The Sky Above Us will definitely want to read The Land Beneath Us to conclude the story of the three brothers).
Recommended for fans of historical Christian romance.
Thanks to Revell and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
I loved this book! Author Sarah Sundin has once again brought her story to life with incredible characters and descriptions of events and places. Well researched, the facts only add to the “meatiness” of the story.
Clay and Leah are both well developed characters who enter into a marriage of convenience. It’s not as easy as it sounds as both are struggling with personal issues. To “watch” them grow as the story goes along is very satisfying. Knowing it is only through God that this happens is very heartwarming.
If you enjoy historical fiction that includes danger, drama, romance, and personal growth then I can highly recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review. All thoughts are my own.
Can love and faith get them through dark times?
Wow, this was quite a story. I’ve only read a few of Sarah Sundin’s books but I’ve come to expect a lot from her. The Land Before Us topped them all. I do have to admit that I have not read book two in the Sunrise At Normandy series as of yet. But that did not diminish the impressiveness of this book. In The Land Before Us readers finally get to find out Clay’s perspective of the events that tore his close-knit family apart, driving all three Paxton sons into various branches of the military during World War II. There’s a lot of emotion in this story. Both Clay and Leah have painful pasts in addition to turmoil of present circumstances.
Sarah Sundin captured my attention right from the start. I became immersed in the setting and invested in Leah and Clay’s story very quickly. They are just the kind of people you love to have as friends in real life. And, I’ll tell you, that made some parts of the story a little difficult.
I really did enjoy The Land Beneath Us and was reminded just how much I like Sarah Sundin’s books. The story is by turns, fun, poignant, romantic, and even has an unexpected mystery angle. Clay’s recurring dream was a surprising twist that I positively liked. All in all, this is a great wartime historical romance from a good author, a story you won’t want to miss.
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
“The Land Beneath Us” by Sarah Sundin is the third book in a trilogy. However, it is the first one I’ve read, and I thought it stood alone nicely. Of course, now I’m interested enough to go back and read the others, but there was nothing in this one to indicate it was Book 3 (except the statement on the cover).
Told in two parallel points of view (main characters Leah and Clay), this historical novel is set around D-Day, both overseas as part of the invasion, and stateside, near a military training center. The author skillfully weaves in a lot of information about historical events, daily life, and the mindset of various parts of society. I enjoyed the new things I learned, and the book never felt like a history text. All of the information shared was a natural and easy-to-read part of the story.
The romance between Leah and Clay was handled beautifully. They got to know each other primarily through a series of exchanged letters, which gave the reader plenty of opportunity to truly understand how the two were beginning to care about each other. Normally, when two characters love each other, but each believes the feelings aren’t reciprocated and pulls away, I just want to shake both of them. In this situation, because of character background I won’t share to avoid spoilers, that trope works well. I honestly believed what each person was feeling, and could understand their logic. The author wrote a potentially awkward arrangement with empathy and beauty, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Both characters are Christians at the beginning, and it was nice to observe how their faith guided their thoughts and actions. Clay was able to grow a good bit spiritually through the events of the story, and Leah’s beautiful, almost child-like faith was an inspiration.
I was lucky enough to read this book as part of a group read-and-discuss program, and enjoyed it even more due to having others with whom to compare ideas and impressions. If you read it on your own, the author has thoughtfully included some quality questions at the end for you.
In conclusion, there was nothing I didn’t enjoy about this book.
Five out of five perfect, soft wedges of Brie!
The Land Beneath Us by Sarah Sundin is the third book of the series Sunrise at Normandy.
Ms. Sundin has given us another gripping glimpse into a pivotal time in WWII history.
A horrific personal incident and war have torn three brothers from their home in Kerville, Texas. Can forgiveness and God’s love bring them back together? This story is primarily about Clay, the youngest of three Paxton brothers and his journey to D-Day in Normandy but also about reconciliation from an event that ripped their family apart. Clay has been brought up in a wonderful Christian family so he likens his situation to that of the patriarch Joseph in the pit before his brothers sold him.
My favorite character is Leah Jones who works in the library at Camp Forrest, Tennessee where Clay is stationed. She is an orphan with a very tender heart for the downtrodden because of her background. She loves books because they were her only friends growing up. “Words make delightful playthings. They cost nothing, they never wear out, and no one can take them away from you.” Her goal is to find information about her younger twin sisters who were adopted separately from her and discover her true identity which was hidden from her.
Clay meets Leah at the library at Camp Forrest where he is in Ranger school preparing to join the war in Europe. After an attack, he saves Leah’s life and offers a marriage of convenience. Though separated, they get to know each other through letters.
Can war possibly bring healing to the brothers? Has Clay truly forgiven his brothers?
Ms. Sundin has a firm grasp on how to convey faith and human nature and pours this knowledge into her characters, making them come alive. Her extensive research shines in the scenes about training and the invasion of Normandy, as well as the everyday hardships of the folks left behind at home. Faith in God is portrayed as the backbone of the Paxton family and forgiveness is seen as a struggle but so worth the outcome.
The underlying theme of the series is The Prodigal Son. An excellent wrap up to a remarkable series. It is no wonder that it is one of my very favorites.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell through Interviews and Reviews. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
I’ve been enjoying Sarah Sundin’s WWII novels since I read Wings of Glory in 2010. Ms. Sundin’s knowledge and story telling of our American forces during the WWII era is unmatched.
Although I am sad to see this series end, The Land Beneath Us was a perfect conclusion to the Sunrise at Normandy series.
Ms. Sundin uses the biblical story of Rachel and Leah to bring the faith element to life. Making the story more than just a transport back to the Normandy of WWII.
Clay and Leah have to be one of my favorite bookish couples. I loved how Ms. Sundin wove in Leah’s own adoption story, and her own dilemma of whether or not to choose adoption. It was touching and brought memories of what my own birth mother might have gone through.
While I have loved every book in the Sunrise at Normandy series I believe this one is my favorite!
I highly recommend this book!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via the publisher. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Sarah Sundin wrote a Marriage of Convenience story!! Repeat – Sarah Sundin wrote a Marriage of Convenience story!!!! And folks, it’s amazing! I can’t gush enough over her brilliant storytelling!
I’ve been not-so-patiently waiting for this last installment to the Sunrise At Normandy series, and so when I finally got my hot little hands on The Land Beneath Us, I devoured the book! I confess to staying up past one o’clock because that ending was just…wow!
This author has proven again and again that she knows her stuff concerning the World War II era, and this time she takes us into the trenches with the Rangers of the U.S. Army. There are portions that are intense, filled with combat, and then there are places when the romance steps forward and you find yourself sighing. There’s such an artful balance to it all!
The heroine, Leah Jones, has faced a series of heartbreaks since her childhood. I found myself rooting for her to see herself as God sees her—valued, cherished, and loved. Then there’s the youngest Paxton brother, Clay, who had born the brunt of injustice and yet maintains that honorable spirit. His tenderness with Leah undid me several times throughout the story.
This book is the perfect finale to a phenomenal series. I am going to miss those Paxton brothers, but a visit is only a bookshelf away.
**I received a copy from the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.
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.
“There are even more blessings I can’t yet see. But I will. I only have to watch.”
I’ve loved every book by Sarah Sundin that I’ve read so far. I’ve also been a huge fan of the Paxton brothers from this Sunrise at Normandy series and have been anxiously waiting for the youngest brother’s story to unfold. And, boy, the book was totally worth the wait. Though it’s the third and last book of the series, it can definitely be read as a stand-alone. I really enjoyed the details of the Army Ranger training Clay goes through as well as the close-up and emotional look at D-Day from the ground. The series focuses on true forgiveness, mercy, grace, reconciliation, and recognizing and embracing their place in the world but each book and set of hero/heroine are so different and unforgettable. If you enjoy historical fiction, especially set during WWII, you will love this book and the series.
I have to confess that Clay is indeed my favorite Paxton brother. As the youngest and the one to whom most wrong has been done, he feels that he has the right to be angry, disillusioned, and hopeless yet God tugs at his heart to be kind and sacrificial and he obeys. His tender spirit that wants to heal and encourage totally swept me off my feet. And Leah…. man, her story is heart-breaking and she’s had as much wrong done to her as Clay but her hopeful heart and soul cling to God and a brighter tomorrow. How she loves books and children made us instant friends. We also get to meet the Paxton parents in this book, which was so delightful. What a beautiful conclusion to a fantastic series!
I received a copy of the book from Baker Publishing Group via Interviews and Reviews and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
OH. MY. GOODNESS.
I cried multiple times. Like that ugly cry that makes me glad I’m all by myself in my room. I also squealed, pressed the book to my chest, cried more, finished it at midnight, and laid awake for over an hour just thinking about how good this book is. (And the series.)
Whatever you do, if you have the chance, read all three books in order. They are all intertwined, beautifully, heart-achingly, and just …. I can’t even find the words to describe it.
Sarah Sundin crafted three amazing books, each different with their love stories, character arcs, and faith journeys. Leah and Clay’s were so unique and sweet. Both are struggling with horrible pasts and darkness and insecurities, though they’ve dealt with them in different ways.
FORGIVENESSSSSSS. LETTING GO. How does one do that when there is so much pain? Sarah dives in DEEP to this question, and it’s so realistic it hurt a few times. Some of their choices had me going, “What? Why?” until I realized that I would do the same thing, because I’m human, and Sarah made these characters human. It’s a breath of fresh air.
I will not spoil the moments with the Paxton brothers, but let me tell you this: I was practically singing “Joseph” songs in my head the whole book, and Sarah pulled it together in a way that shows that grace and forgiveness is a powerful gift, because of who we are in Jesus Christ.
I could write more. And more. But I just want to say, go read the book, understand that you’ll probably stay up really late and then suffer in the morning, but consider it all worth it.
Side note: I would happily marry any of the Paxton brothers. They’re all amazing. And the women are so caring but strong and tender and sweet and faith-filled. It’s lovely!
This is the first WWII novel I’ve read in some time. I enjoyed this historically sound, true-to-life story. I fell in love with Clay and Leah. I adored their hearts and their resilient spirits. Such a heartwarming story amid hardship and the need to forgive.
I so enjoy Sarah Sundin’s books. This one, set in 1943, follows Private Clay Paxton to the Allied invasion of France. He can’t run far enough, however, to leave behind his guilt for betraying his brother. Thankfully, he meets Leah Jones, an orphan who works as a librarian at Camp Forrest. They develop a complex, difficult relationship of misunderstandings. Until love rescues both. As is her style, the author brings WWII to life through her research and real-to-life battle scenes.
I listened to the audio version of The Land Beneath Us and enjoyed the story very much. The narrator did a good job bringing the story to life. It was wonderful to see the way Sarah Sundin wove the three brothers’ stories together and brought the series to such a meaningful ending. I liked learning more about D-Day and what the Army Rangers experienced and how it impacted them and the families at home. Leah was a wonderful heroine, and I was so happy to see her have her happy ending with Clay.
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 that he sees as a premonition 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.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Revell for providing me a copy of this book to review!
This book contains characters that will remain in your memory long after you finish the last page. Sundin has outdone herself with this story. An orphaned girl and a third wheel half-brother meet in the midst of D-Day and the invasion of Normandy. Leah and Clay find each other despite terrible circumstances and tragic consequences. This book will leave you wishing for more pages. Great read!
This is the final book in this series, “Sunrise at Normandy”. I loved each book and the reoccurring theme of forgiveness. This final book, “The Land Beneath Us”, brings all the three stories, as well as the three brothers back together. A beautiful message and great series.