Sundin Sarah – Kav's Best Reads

Midnight on the Scottish Shore + Giveaway

The only way Cilla van der Zee can survive the German occupation of the Netherlands is to do the unthinkable–become a spy for the Nazis in Britain. She soothes her conscience with a plan to abandon her mission and instead aid the Allies. Her scheme is thwarted when naval officer Lt. Lachlan Mackenzie finds her along the Scottish shore and turns her in to be executed.

But perhaps she is more useful alive than dead. British intelligence sends her to Scotland to radio misleading messages to Germany, messages about the naval base at Scapa Flow to be crafted by Lachlan. At the station in the lighthouse at Dunnet Head, Lachlan and Cilla must work together if the war is to be won. But how can he trust a woman who arrived on his shores as a tool of the enemy–a woman certain to betray both him and the Allied cause?

Master of World War II fiction Sarah Sundin takes you to the wild Scottish seaside, where danger lurks under the surface of the water–and in the depths of the human heart–for a WWII tale you won’t soon forget.

My Review:

Intense. Dramatic. Emotional. The kind of edge-of-your-seat World War II novel that Sarah Sundin is famous for. She fits this literary niche perfectly and I’m always amazed at the fresh points of view and different angles she finds to approach this subject matter. I always learn some new about this complex time in world history.

This time round I discovered how the war reached northern Scottish shores and the integral workings of the naval base at Scapa Flow. I had no idea! And what an atmospheric setting for espionage and intrigue! It even comes complete with a taciturn Scotsman whose loyalty to the United Kingdom is challenged because of the behaviour of his separatist brother. So, brooding is a skillset Lachlan has perfected. And he’s not about to give any leeway to a German spy, no matter what fantastical tale she spins.

But when Cilla is recruited by British Intelligence and sent back to Scotland to work as a double agent, Lachlan is forced to work with her and that’s when the sparks start to fly. They are so different in temperament, opposites in every way, though, surprisingly they compliment each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

Loved the balance between heart-stopping danger and heart-melting romance! Along with plain old real life struggles that happen even during (maybe especially) wartime. Complex characters with layered backstories enrich the story even more. ‘Midnight on the Scottish Shore’ is the definition of unputdownable read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – ebook or audible — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Midnight on the Scottish Shore, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday December 20 2025

Embers in the London Sky + Giveaway

As the German army invades the Netherlands in 1940, Aleida van der Zee Martens escapes to London to wait out the Occupation. Separated from her three-year-old son, Theo, in the process, the young widow desperately searches for her little boy even as she works for an agency responsible for evacuating children to the countryside.

When German bombs set London ablaze, BBC radio correspondent Hugh Collingwood reports on the Blitz, eager to boost morale while walking the fine line between truth and censorship. But the Germans are not the only ones Londoners have to fear as a series of murders flame up amid the ashes.

The deaths hit close to home for Hugh, and Aleida needs his help to locate her missing son. As they work together, they grow closer and closer, both to each other and the answers they seek. But with bombs falling and continued killings, they may be running out of time.

My Review:

I have read every book Sarah Sundin has written and after each read I think, ‘that was so good, she can’t possibly top this!’ And then she does. Over and over again with each new release. So, for the moment, I’m saying that ‘Embers in the London Sky’ is her best ever and my ultimate favourite…but that is likely to change when I read her next book, or even a previous book I’ve already enjoyed. I’m fickle when it comes to Sarah Sundin’s books, I guess. 🙂

But this one…oh…mercy! I ugly cried at the end. Great heaving sobs, hail-sized tears, I just couldn’t hold all the emotions back! Which was kind of embarrassing since I listened to the audio book and I was walking outside at the time. Thankfully it was raining so there’s hope that passersby assumed those drops rolling down my face were from the cloudy sky, not my eyes!

And, oh, the journey to that emotional climax. Utter perfection! Impeccable pacing — the plot never lagged though sometimes I thought I’d burst if I didn’t get the full story on…well, so many things. But the author pulls backstories and plot threads together at just the right time…keeping me in rapturous bibliophile tenterhooks all the way through! And…eeeeppp…there’s even a murder mystery too!

Again, I’m amazed at the way authors can approach a World War II novel from so many different angles. I was particularly captivated by Hugh’s work as a war correspondent. The significance the war had on changes to news coverage was a surprise to me…and utterly fascinating. And the clashes over censorship ran true to our 21st century media struggles so that was really eye-opening too. Who knew we didn’t create fake news?! 🙂

The romance is deeply emotional and not without pitfalls, but it’s clear that Hugh and Aleida are better together than apart — even if they don’t always see things that way! Oh, the shivery delight of a well fought marathon to a happily ever after! Rich and satisfying and full of hope!

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Lisa Larsen who did an amazing job with the various accents. Her performance brought these characters to life in a memorable way and I highly recommend the audio edition of ‘Embers in the London Sky’ if you’re a ‘listening reader’ like I am.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Embers in the London Sky , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday March 16 2024.

The Sound of Light

When the Germans march into Denmark, Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt exchanges his nobility for anonymity, assuming a new identity so he can secretly row messages for the Danish Resistance across the waters to Sweden.

American physicist Dr. Else Jensen refuses to leave Copenhagen and abandon her research — her life’s dream. While printing resistance newspapers, she hears stories of the movement’s legendary Hammond — the merman — and wonders if the mysterious and silent shipyard worker living in the same boardinghouse has something to hide.

When the Occupation cracks down on the Danes, these two passionate people will discover if there is more power in speech…or in silence. Bestselling author of more than a dozen WWII novels, Sarah Sundin pens another story of ordinary people responding to extraordinary circumstances with faith, fortitude, and hope for a brighter future.

My Review:

Indescribably good. It’s going to be hard to write a review that does justice to this story. I hardly know where to start…

Well, first off, I’ll say that I was a bit hesitant about this latest Sundin offering — not because of the writing, but because I am about as un-sciencey and un-mathy as they come. 🙂 I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to connect with a ‘science nerd’ heroine or be able to understand the physics lingo. So, if that’s your fear too, have no worries. Else is an incredible heroine with a heart as big as her brain! And there’s so much more going on in the institute’s labs than the science-y bits. Though there is some foreshadowing about nuclear energy which made me nervous.

Now, this is where it gets tricky because I don’t want to give away any spoilers and there’s just so many layers in both plot and characterization. Henrik’s personal growth and his spiritual journey is phenomenal and there are so many things I want to say but I can’t because the plot twists start from the very first time we meet him. I will say that Sundin captured a multitude of emotional nuances that built over the course of the story. I choked up many times and was wracked with sobs when I reached the last part of the book. Definitely an ugly cry read for me (which is a good thing, in case you’re wondering.)

Once again, this author finds a new way to spin a WWII tale. The unusual Denmark setting was refreshing and the Danish resistance inspiring. A complicated history that I didn’t know much about before I read this book. And, oh my, the way she ties in that title in so many profound ways. Wowzers. I got goosebumps over some wonderful ‘aha’ moments.

Plus there’s a stunning (and very emotional, for me) romance in the midst of all the intrigue and danger. Again, I can’t say more without posting spoilers because there are so many elements to the love story that I can’t share…but you will absolutely adore when you read them for yourself. Also, be prepared for swoony toe-curls.

The kind of novel that makes me extremely happy to be a reader!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy — winner’s choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Sound of Light, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday March 25, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.