Munich, 1938
Evelyn Brand is an American foreign correspondent determined to prove her worth in a male-dominated profession and to expose the growing tyranny in Nazi Germany. To do so, she must walk a thin line. If she offends the government, she could be expelled from the country--or worse. If she does not report truthfully, she'll betray the oppressed and fail to wake up the folks back home.
Peter Lang is an American graduate student working on his PhD in German. Disillusioned with the chaos in the world due to the Great Depression, he is impressed with the prosperity and order of German society. But when the brutality of the regime hits close, he discovers a far better way to use his contacts within the Nazi party--to feed information to the shrewd reporter he can't get off his mind.
As the world marches relentlessly toward war, Evelyn and Peter are on a collision course with destiny.
About the Author:
Sarah Sundin is the bestselling author of several popular WWII series, including Sunrise at Normandy, Waves of Freedom, Wings of the Nightingale, and Wings of Glory. Her novels have received starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly. The Sky Above Us received the Carol Award, her bestselling The Sea Before Us received the FHL Reader's Choice Award, and both Through Waters Deep and When Tides Turn were named on Booklist's "101 Best Romance Novels of the Last 10 Years." Sarah lives in Northern California. Visit www.sarahsundin.com for more information.
My Thoughts:
I’ve long enjoyed WWII historical fiction and Sarah Sundin has been one of my go-to authors since I first discovered her books at a library and dove in. I was excited to read this new book, though I was also a bit surprised to find that it’s a standalone novel. I enjoyed Evelyn and Peter’s story so much, that I’d happily read another story starring them!
As always, Ms. Sundin’s writing and historical detail is impeccable! Her writing style pulls me right into the story and draws me halfway around the world to Munich, Germany. Much of what I’ve read regarding the history around WWII is always after America has stepped in, so this was a different and very eye-opening perspective. I greatly appreciated how the author sought to have a balanced opinion, showing both sides of the story, which actually did involve some positive changes prior to everything getting out of hand. It’s easy to look back and judge all Germans of that era, expecting that they held the same mindset as the regime, but Ms. Sundin strives to remind the reader that there were people who quietly (and sometimes not so quietly) opposed the oppression and fought back against tyranny.
Historical matters aside, I also just really enjoyed getting to know Evelyn and Peter and watching them slowly grow into love. I can’t say that they “fell in love,” because it seemed to be more gradual than that and beautifully told. I can easily imagine them as someone’s grandparents, telling their grandkids about how they met in Germany, amidst tumultuous times, and found love in a little cafe and in the forest between Germany and France. *happy sigh*
Do you enjoy WWII fiction? If so, who is your favorite author of that time period?
As always, thanks so much for stopping by! I'm including a new link below for The Story Graph. I've seen some of my friends using it, and while I haven't taken much time to become overly acquainted with the site, it seems pretty user friendly. So if that's your thing, I now have a link for it!
Have a ducky day!
