Book Review: The Sea Before Us by Sarah Sundin

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Title: The Sea Before Us

Author: Sarah Sundin

Series: Sunrise at Normandy #1

Genre: Historical

Audience: Adult

ABOUT THE BOOK

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 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.

~ MY REVIEW ~

**5 stars**

Oh my heart! This was breathtaking, fun, and beautiful! I don't know why I worried I might not like this book. For one, almost everything I've read by Sarah Sundin has been phenomenal! From the new series, SUNRISE AT NORMANDY, The Sea Before Us may just be my new favorite from this author. Seriously, people ... this book! It reminded me why I love reading. Why I love Sarah Sundin's work. And why I love this era.

The Sea Before Us is set in the 1940s, in England during World War II. D-Day is approaching and preparations are being made. English native, Dorothy Fairfax and American, Wyatt Paxon both work with the Royal Navy. During this tumultuous time, and each with personal family issues, they form a beautiful friendship. But for various reasons, things began to crumble as their feelings deepen ...

All Sarah Sundin's novels are set during WWII, but she manages to make each unique and fantastic! Perhaps because of the research and authenticity she puts into her work! I'll admit, at the beginning of The Sea Before Us I was having a hard time getting into the story. But that quickly changed and I started flying through the pages as I became fully absorbed and invested in Wyatt and Dolly's lives.

I love them, these characters! Wyatt Paxton. *swoons* Okay, he's not as swoon-y as he is godly, gentle, protective, tender, mature, humorous, and just completely adorable! (That makes him swoon-y to me, hehe!) What a man. He had his struggles, for sure, but he pressed into the Lord through them and grew such strong character because of it. A Texan cowboy with a dark past but a sweet, sincere smile. His prayers. His tender pursuit of Dolly. He passion for God and His love. Eep! (Must stop fangirling now ... *grins unashamedly*)

Dorothy is a different story, but, oh, I grew to adore her as well. Her painful childhood and struggles with insecurity and feeling unloved tugged at my heart. Ah. I just want to spill out the whole book in my excitement and love of it ... but alas, I must not spoil it! Go read it, fellow historical-fiction lovers! *winks*

I simply can't wait to read more from this series. Meet more delightful characters. Find myself immersed in an era gone by. Experience pivotal historical happenings. Go on the sweetest and most soul-touching journeys of faith. Fall in love ... (for real, these two make the most adorable, marvelous couple.)

Ah yes. Sarah Sundin is a favorite author of mine. She writes with authenticity, beauty, humor, and grace. The situations and struggles she writes about are so believable! Her characters are so believable! ^_^ Her latest novels, including this one, have had an exciting bit of mystery. Her faith themes are raw and real and speak so much to me! I love an author who glorifies God and speaks the love of Jesus Christ in her fictional books.

I quite recommend!

I received a copy of The Sea Before Us from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest review.