In 1944, American naval officer Lt. Wyatt Paxton arrives in London to prepare for the Allied invasion of France. He works closely with Dorothy Fairfax, a “Wren” in the Women’s Royal Naval Service. Dorothy pieces together reconnaissance photographs with thousands of holiday snapshots of France–including those of her own family’s summer home–in order to create accurate maps of Normandy. Maps that … that Wyatt will turn into naval bombardment plans.
As the two spend concentrated time together in the pressure cooker of war, their deepening friendship threatens to turn to love. Dorothy must resist its pull. Her bereaved father depends on her, and her heart already belongs to another man. Wyatt too has much to lose. The closer he gets to Dorothy, the more he fears his efforts to win the war will destroy everything she has ever loved.
The tense days leading up to the monumental D-Day landing blaze to life under Sarah Sundin’s practiced pen with this powerful new series.
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I adore Sarah Sundin’s writing. She is a master at bringing the world of World War II to life in a realistic fashion with memorable characters. I look forward to reading every single book she writes. With her newest addition to her new series, The Sea Before Us, I fell in love with the story instantly.
Her research doesn’t shine on the page. Instead, the words and research flow together to make a seamless story. I love being caught up in the action and thrown for a loop while watching important events in history unfold. In The Sea Before Us, Sundin takes us for a ride during the battle at Normandy. I really didn’t know much about the battles. I have heard of the fighting but haven’t learned a lot. Sundin created the battles, so I wanted to learn more.
The plot is different. I really enjoy how the story builds up to the battle at Normandy. It doesn’t start there and just keep showing us a history lesson from a point of view of two people who are at war. Instead, she introduces us to Dorothy and Wyatt and allows me to become consumed with their normal life and watch their hurts and flaws fall on the page.
Speaking of Dorothy and Wyatt, this is another couple I loved spending time with. Dorothy is a hurting woman who believes no really loves her. She evens believes the perfect guy for her really wouldn’t love the real her, so she puts on make-up and pretends to be someone she isn’t. Dorothy transforms by the end of the novel and learns she can be loved and deserves it.
Now Wyatt. I don’t honestly gush about the romance in a novel. I can’t remember one except Sundin’s other novel Blue Skies Tomorrow with Raymond and Helen. Wyatt grew on me. I really started to sigh when he spent time with Dorothy. He knew how to control his emotions and not come on to strong when she is declared to love someone else. He loved Dorothy for who she was, not what she pretended to be. There is a kiss near the end of the novel that I swooned. It was perfect, and just what the moment needed. I applaud Sundin for creating a moment I won’t soon forget.
Most historical or contemporary romances usually end with a proposal or a wedding. Not Sundin. She leaves the readers grasping for straws but satisfied the romance is going to work out. I’m grateful she does this. Not every story has to have a happy ever after moment with a pretty bow.
Overall, Sarah Sundin’s The Sea Before Us is definitely a top-notch historical romance novel with enduring characters, a fascinating plot, and a romance I want to re-read and sigh. If you enjoy historical fiction of any era, Sundin is the author to enjoy. I can’t recommend her novels enough. Another book to add to my favorites pile.
I received a complimentary copy of The Sea Before Us by Sarah Sundin from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
I won this book from Sarah Sundin a while ago. I’m the type that likes to read books in a series, one after the other if possible. If not, I would like it to be close to when the next book will come out. The second book is due in Feb. Now I can’t wait to read it! “The Sea Before Us”, has just about everything you would want in a book. There were times I was on the edge of my seat, wondering how things would work out. (There were several parts like this) I was fascinated with the Characters and feel in love with the two main characters. Sarah knows how to take you through all the gametes of emotions. I didn’t want this story to end and will be waiting as patiently as I can for “The Sky Above Us” to come out.
Sarah Sundin’s stories sink the reader into a past era. Though rich in history, they never seem like a history lesson. This one is no different. Though we don’t storm the Normandy beach (Wyatt is a navy man), we feel the booms and reverberations of a destroyer’s big guns.
I liked the contrast in the viewpoints on faith—Dorothy’s tragedies distance her from God, Wyatt’s bring him closer to God—and the way in which the author resolved the situation. There’s also a great twist in this one that appears to come out of the blue, though in hindsight, the hints are there.
Overall, The Sea Before Us is a wonderful start to the author’s new series.
I love the fact that both british and American service men and woman are in this book and how the intertwine and interact.
I have never been disappointed with any book from this author. I am already anxiously awaiting the next book in this series.
A book about World War II, an English WREN, a Navy Lt. How they meet, interact and how the war affects their lives and their faith. This book deals with the months leading up and after D-Day at Normandy.
I truly enjoyed this story as I do all her books.
This newest series by Sarah Sundin is probably the heaviest one she’s written so far, and I mean that in an entirely good way! The Sea Before Us has a prologue that explains the reason for the Paxton brothers’ estrangement. While Sarah’s not afraid to tackle serious subjects, it’s such a serious way to start the story, but it’s important. Because of this, we get to see Wyatt Paxton’s growth over the years as he joins the U.S. Navy and tries to do his part to mend the rift in his family.
When introduced in the story, Dorothy Fairfax has also come a long way in her young life. Having survived the London Blitz but not without tragedy, Dorothy and her father are trying to survive, each in their own ways. As Dorothy and Wyatt come to know one another and grow closer together, it’s both sweet and frustrating to see how they learn to let go, forgive, heal, and accept God’s plan for their lives. Set against the backdrop of England in the days leading up to D-Day, the story is set up beautifully in its themes of forgiveness and timing.
There are some interesting plot twists that kept me on my toes, and I’m anxious to see how the Paxton family grows throughout the Sunrise at Normandy series!
***I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
“Adultery. Betrayal. Theft. Fraud. Lies.” (P260) love. War. Family. England. What a story! This was my first book by Sarah Sundin and it definitely won’t be my last. She is an excellent storyteller. The pages flow together into a seamless work. I looked down and I had read 50 pages. She is a superb researcher. So many details go into the work and it is amazing. I’ve read a lot of World War II stories and it sometimes feel like stories all blend together. They’re so similar. But this story is different. I had never read a story about Normandy and the Navy side of it. It was intriguing and stimulating in a way I didn’t expect. The ways her characters deal with their issues in a realistic way was exceptional. There were plot twists and turns that were totally unexpected. It is definitely not a predictable book! The love story pulls it all together and really makes it one of the best books on WWII I’ve read in a long time. Can’t wait for book 2!
I received a copy of this book from Revell publishing in exchange for my honest review. I was in no way required to write a positive review.
2 hurting people find love in the midst of war…
I think it’s been a couple of years since I’ve read a Sarah Sundin book but when I heard that she had a new series coming out with ‘Normandy’ in the name I was intrigued. I’ll freely admit that, while I’ve heard how important D-Day was and even knew the names of at least two of the beaches, I actually really wasn’t that aware of the facts behind it. I can’t say that anymore. In The Sea Before Us author Sarah Sundin weaves a story of loss, love, and longing, within the facts of one of the most pivotal events in WWII history. The sheer magnitude of the planning behind D-Day is staggering! But make no mistake, The Sea Before Us is by no means dry and boring with endless dusty dates. It did take me a bit to get into the story, I had to take some time to warm up to Dorothy, though I loved Wyatt right off. But then, wham!, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down! I read a good half the book in about 3 hours or so! Moving and inspirational with a dash of mystery The Sea Before Us is a MUST read for fans of Sarah Sundin and WWII historical fiction!
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
Excellent author. Well researched books. Everyone of Sarah’s books are GREAT! I’ve read every book she’s written.
This is an absolutely incredible historical romance!
The main characters are fantastic! They are so well developed that I felt like I was their friend and just sitting down with them for a cup of tea. The heartaches that both Wyatt and Dorothy were carrying around were deep and very easy to understand.
I have one favorite quote that grabbed my attention and held me fast on one page for a good 5 minutes. “At least God had forgiven him. Thank you, Lord. Your forgiveness is all I need, but you know it isn’t all I want.” There have been many times and situations in my life that I have felt that way. I was just never able to put it into words so clearly.
The way that Wyatt and Dorothy slowly built a solid friendship was wonderful. They supported and encouraged each other so much.
I loved seeing what was involved in the planning of D-Day! It was also a lot of fun to get a look at how the U.S. Navy and the British Navy worked together and some of the differences in their terms and procedures. I had heard about the Blitz in London. This book really helped me to understand more fully how terrifying that had to have been.
I received a free copy of this book from the author. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinion.
I’ve come to expect a lot from this author of historical romances — exciting action, pleasantly rich historical scenes, wonderfully flawed characters, and most of all love that stands the test of time. I was not disappointed. I truly enjoy learning history this way.
Tragedy has fallen on both Dorothy and Wyatt long before we meet them and I was immediately drawn into the complexity of their individual struggles to move past what they felt they needed to be versus what God saw them as. Full review at my website (4 1/2 stars).
I received this book complimentary as a participant of the Revell Blog Tour. I was not required to give a positive review. All of the opinions I have expressed here are my own.
THE SEA BEFORE US by Sarah Sundin. “Sunrise at Normandy” book1
Sarah has tackled a part of history, unknown to most, bringing us the detailed account of what was happening in Europe, and D day. Mixed with the loyalty of family, not being able to communicate like we have today’s technology. Wyatt ran from home, living with the sin of what he did, and no communication. He was now in London to help with the use of photographs to create maps of Normandy. Wren, Dorothy. worked with him, attraction was there. She still felt insecure and waiting for ten years for Lawrence to notice her. Wyatt, shows her how she should be treated by a man, which was lovely portrayed. Sarah has given us a heart felt plot and a good beginning to this new series. History, loyalty, family, love, with an unusual ending. Given ARC by Net Galley and Baker Publisher for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.
I just finish another of Sarah Sundin’s books and like her others it does not disappoint, a mix of history and a bit of romance, and the anticipation of a battle. With this book, there is an all-out combined effort to take down Germany, and we are heading toward D-Day.
The author has given us two strong characters in Wyatt and Dorothy, and we get up close and personal with them, learning about their family and their lives growing up, and the hurts that have made them what they are today. We are also given a mystery of possible embezzlement, and end up with a bomb shell, I never saw it coming!
With these characters, we walk the streets of London, and visit Scotland, and then we are bombing the beach at Normandy, and we can almost feel the vibrations of those guns. Through it all we hope for survival and God’s Graces as broken lives are put back together.
Now I see another brother has a book coming with a teasing few pages at the end of this wonderful read, and I will be waiting for that one!
I received this book through LibraryThing as a gift and was not required to give a positive review.