Reviewed by: Diane Ash, retired teacher and current church librarian at the Federated Church of Sandwich

Introduction

Title: The Sea before Us (#1 in the Sunrise at Normandy series)

Author: Sarah Sundin

Publisher: Revell

Publication Date: 2018

Format: Paperback

Length:  373 pages

OVERVIEW

American naval officer Lt. Wyatt Paxton from Texas arrives in London in 1944 to help prepare for the invasion of France.  He works closely with Dorothy Fairfax a WREN in the Women’s Royal Naval Service.  As Paxton works on bombardment plans and Dorothy helps prepare photos and maps of Normandy they spend an increasing amount of time together.  But as their friendship deepens and begins to turn into something more, Dorothy resists because of her love for another man and her devotion to her father.  Wyatt and Dorothy are the central characters, but Wyatt is just one of three brothers serving in the American forces, and Dorothy’s father has his own past to resolve as the novel unfolds.  Will Dorothy continue to carry a torch for the dashing Lieutenant Eaton from her childhood, or will Wyatt with his unshakeable faith, and strong quiet ways win her over?

The tension that existed during the preparation and plans leading up to the D-day invasion are always in the background of this novel.  Good character development, some unexpected plot twists, and attention to historical detail are strong elements in this first novel of a new series called Sunrise at Normandy.

ASSESSMENT

Rating (1 to 5)

4

Suggested Audience

Teens and adults, especially those who enjoy historical WWII fiction

Christian Impact

Repentance and reconciliation are strong themes in this book.

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