I believe you can't go wrong with a Sarah Sundin novel. With every novel, Sundin invites me back in time to a world at war. She convinces readers to climb aboard the airplane or ship and fight for the American dream. With her second installment in the Sunrise at Normandy series, The Sky Above Us, Sundin allowed me to fly above the clouds and take a ride with Alder as he tries to run from his past and his family. The hurt of the main character gripped my heart. The moments of transformation and repentance made me a little misty. The plot around D-Day in the air was a wonderful new take on the horrific day. The only gripe I have with this story, and it doesn't happen a lot for me when it comes to Sundin's books, is the romance. It appeared to be the main focus of the story. The D-Day invasion didn't appear to be such an issue until the day of. Violet and Alder had to work through their issues from the past and the future in order to grow together, but their romance was rushed and then it became too gushy for me. I was a little disappointed. I don't remember there being this much focus on the romance in her previous books. While I still enjoy Sundin's writings, The Sky Above Us just wasn't one of my favorite novels of hers. I still believe the amount of forgiveness and seeing another Paxton brother is worth it to pick up this novel and add to my collection.

I received a complimentary copy of The Sky Above Us by Sarah Sundin from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

FANTASTIC!

THE SKY ABOVE US (Sunrise at Normandy Book # 2) is fantastic! This book may be read as a stand alone but for the maximum reading in experience, it needs to be read in sequential order in the Series. This is the story of American Air Force Lt. Adler Paxton and American Red Cross Worker Violet Lindstrom. Each of them enlist to serve for very different reasons. Paxton is glad to be be serving his country as a flyboy because in the War effort and desperately wants to become an ACE pilot. Also, this way he can be as far away from his family as possible. Red Cross Volunteer Violet Lindstrom has been wanting to be a missionary for most of her life. She has no clue about working with soldiers as she has been an elementary schoolteacher. Both of them are in for many life lessons as they are part of the group preparing for Operation Overloard. Sundin has created characters that are realistic and complex. They are experiencing normal emotions and normal problems as they prepare to face the greatest military challenge in history. Sundin writes in such a way that you are drawn into the situations with the characters. Her descriptions of dogfights among the pilots is exceptional! The love story is beautiful because it doesn’t come easy. It takes a lot of work, a lot of encouragement from friends and mainly a whole lot of prayer. A true story of redemption and love. I was provided an ARC by Revell Publishing and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.

4.5 Stars

Fans of Sarah Sundin will enjoy this latest WWII historical romance novel! This book is the second in the Sunrise at Normandy series. We're given enough background information that this could be stand-alone, but I would strongly recommend reading the first book first as some pieces from that book fill in some blanks for this one. This series follows 3 brothers who are all fighting in Normandy. The first book was about Wyatt, the oldest, who joined the navy. This one is about Adler, the middle brother, who was in the Air Force. I look forward to reading more about the youngest Paxton brother, Clay, next year!

While I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, this one did not quite resonate with me as much. Adler starts out a bit cocky (I didn't care for him in Wyatt's story for this reason as well), and I struggled to like him. As the book went on and his character developed, that perspective definitely changed and it grew on me a bit more. I also felt like Violet lacked some of the depth the other heroines Ms. Sundin has written seem to have. Again, the development of her character brought that out as well. I have enjoyed all of this author's books and this one was no different, it just took a bit longer to get there.

Adler Paxton is a typical fly-boy, come to save the day during WWII. Through a series of events, he gets served a good helping of humble pie by his squad leader. As the story goes, his faith deepens, he seeks forgiveness and becomes a better person. The goals that the had set for himself become more attainable, but no longer matter. Violet Lindstrom has joined the Red Cross in order to find her way into missionary work, which has always been her dream. When she reaches England and finds that she was mis-informed on what options she has, she begrudgingly helps her friend Kitty with an aeroclub. She learns a hard lesson in who the "least of these" can actually include. Food mysteriously goes missing and Violet's job is on the line if she can't catch the thief. Meanwhile, she finds herself drawn to Adler, in spite of several misunderstandings. This book had strong character development, a fun romance and a good mystery thrown in the mix. For readers of this series, it was nice to catch up with Wyatt and Dorothy at the end as well.

Special thanks to Revell and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and all thoughts contained herein are my own.

Running from his past, pilot Adler Paxton heads off to England in 1943. He's frustrated when he's assigned to be a wingman, which will make it that much harder to become an ace. Although he's thousands of miles from home, Adler finally has to face up to his past, sins and all, but as he does so, he finds that maybe forgiveness--and a bright future--really are possible, despite all he has done wrong.

Violet Lindstrom wanted to go to Africa as a missionary, but since they won't accept single women, she joined the American Red Cross, thinking she could work with English children who have been evacuated from London. When she finds out she's assigned to an airbase and is supposed to provide entertainment and activity for the airmen, she isn't thrilled. But as she works with the haunted and hurting Lieutenant Paxton, and gets to know the pilots better, she slowly starts to realize that being a missionary isn't the only way that she can serve God.

I really, really enjoyed this book. I loved Adler's character and seeing his growth throughout the book. I really liked the theme of redemption and facing up to what he'd done wrong--and I also liked that it wasn't just a "one-and-done" situation but that there were ongoing issues because that's true to life. With Violet, I liked seeing her journey and realizations about herself and her future. The setting was really interesting; I love World War II stories, and I really enjoyed seeing details like how the Red Cross Aeroclub was set up for the airmen. Really enjoyable book. I can't wait for the third book!

*Although this is the second book in a series, I think you could read it without having read the first.
4.5 stars.
I read an ARC via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars

I really liked both of the books in this series. The characters are real. They do what we all do - struggle with forgiving themselves, blame themselves for things that may or may not be their fault, block themselves off from love that they feel they don't deserve, think they are better than someone else, do "good things" for the wrong reasons. I could keep going.

The romances too are different than "normal" book romances. Together, the characters are growing and healing. It's a partnership (as much as one can be when you're not actually married).

To the specifics of this book, there's a lot I could say. I liked how both Violet and Adler were willing to have their plans changed by God. They thought they knew where their lives were headed but they ultimately left it up to God. I liked how Violet helped Adler through his guilt, but not just Violet, also Nick and Beck. Oh, and how Adler learned to be a servant. His character development was superb!

This series is cool because each book starts before D-Day, but Adler's book intersected briefly with Wyatt's and then goes a bit further.

I will say that the military names and the names of the plans and equipment can get to be a bit much, but it doesn't detract from the story at all. She really seems to have done her research.

I'm so looking forward to Clay's story and seeing what will happen to the Paxton family.

THE SKY ABOVE by Sara Sundin
Adler was wanting to get oversea’s to do some good.with flying planes. Violet going overseas as part of the Red Cross. A Texan who was their commanding officer, told the guys to respect them as ladies and being in uniform. An unwelcome kiss, he had the guy apologize, any more trouble to let him know, his name was Adler. The mission was for the servicemen, not children as she had been told. She was a teacher and chosen for her administration duties. To finally settle in and to enjoy her job. Alder as he battles the German luftwaffe. The author did her homework and one feels like you are living in those days of WW II. Stationed at the same base this follows the growth with God leading them during this time. Another good story to follow the first in this series.
Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion by Net Galley and Revell.

A wonderful read set in the later part of WWII. As a lover of history, I was impressed with the thorough research the author had done. I felt like I was flying right along-side Adler as he battles the German luftwaffe. The author does a very impressive job of expressing the deep emotions of Adler as he fights the demons from the fatal day that changed the course of an entire family. God shows Adler the freedom of forgiveness but there are still consequences to our actions. Violet, believes herself to be called to the mission field and grudgingly obeys her orders from the Red Cross to serve servicemen. But as time passes, she begins to enjoy her work and wonder if her call to a foreign land is her true calling or if God has something else in mind for her. Walk alongside Adler and Violet as they do their part in a world war and struggle in their individual lives to find peace and their true calling in life after the war is over.
I would recommend reading the first book in this series, The Sea Before Us. While each book is a stand-alone, you will benefit from knowing more of the background history of the Paxton family.

I discovered Sarah Sundin quite back accident a couple years ago, when I was looking for a good WW2 book...then I went back and read everything she'd written up to that point. She tends to write in trilogies, which works out nicely for my attention span. This book is the second in the Sunrise Over Normandy series, and I enjoyed it a lot! She has definitely done some research here, and there are small bits tucked into the book that prompted me to do my own research about the era. The airplane battle descriptions are excellent; they're so detailed that you'll feel you're in the cockpit! The love story is sweet and clean, and there is a lot of soul-searching on behalf of several characters, particularly Adler and Violet. If I could make one suggestion to Mrs. Sundin, it would be this -- when the trilogy ends, I want to know what happens to the characters down the road! We've become so invested in their lives, and the end of the trilogy normally wraps things up nicely for all three characters at that point, but I want to know what comes next.......speaking of which, my best guess for book three's title is "The Earth Beneath Us." We shall see......

Sarah Sundin's books never disappoint. I love her historical christian novels. This story follows Adler and Violet as they are both assigned to the same air force base during WWII. Adler as a fighter pilot and Vilot as a Red Cross Worker. The story takes us through the growth that each of them experience as they hear God's voice guiding them through. This is the 2nd book in the series and I can't wait to read the 3rd one. Sundin makes you feel as though you really know the characters and its such a letdown when you get to the end of the book and realize that you have to wait to find out what happens to them. She always draws her characters back in to finish the full circle.

At this point, I must not care about my health at all, for I stayed up until 3+ AM to finish this book. And I am only mildly ashamed.

I did love this book! It probably gets 4.5/5 from me. Still a favorite, but not as favorite-ish as the author's other novels.

Reasoning for this?

I felt like the pacing was a little weird, and the characters didn't have the same oomph I'm used to.

(I'm putting this in spoilers even though it isn't spoilery just because I know a lot of people like to know *nothing* about the book until they read it! And I know there's a low chance more than a scattering of people have read this hence far.)

[It seemed like the plotline spiraled about a bit. It was still pretty tight, but there were several partial resolutions between the main characters which ended in another disturbance which ended in them having another partial resolution ... it isn't as annoying as it sounds, I promise - this was a pretty small thing, and it was done well.

I found myself getting a bit lost in the stage of character development for that reason. It felt like a lot of things were resolved early on and then the rest of the story was fine-tuning - which might be realistic, but it didn't work as well as I felt it could have.

As for characters, now, Adler I felt was perfect, but for some reason, it felt like Violet wasn't milked for all she was worth! For one, I literally didn't notice "her fault" until she did. I didn't even think she had that fault. I mean, I guess it showed up a little, but ... yeah. I don't know.

Maybe it just didn't speak to me as well as Adler's character arc did. It probably was just personal preference. I did like her all right, and as someone who *coughs* could never ever be a missionary and honestly doesn't understand while everyone wants to be a missionary (I have like -100000 passion for it)]

That said, I did adore this book, and I cannot wait to read book 3! (even though I already feel like I'm not going to like Clay as much ...) (but then I said that about Tessa, so who knows)

Sarah Sundin has worked her stellar literary talent yet again in this second novel in her Sunrise at Normandy series. Having already read the first book in her new series, The Sea Before Us, featuring Wyatt at sea, I already knew the events that tore the Paxton brothers apart, but Adler's story explores it even further. I was very excited to read the second book and therefore, I am very grateful to Net Galley for letting me read it in exchange for an honest review and I have always been a huge fan of Sarah Sundin's novels since her Wings of Glory series. Adler's mistakes in the past and his grief added to his character and made him an authentic person who is flawed and human, but he is still a good man with integrity in knowing that his past actions were wrong and taking full responsibility in repenting his sins. At first Violet Lindstrom seems like a person who could do no wrong. She is sweet, kind, organised and is the quintessential good Christian girl who has quite a rigid and black and white moral code. All her life she has wanted to be missionary but had that dream broken by a former fiance of hers and with the onset of World War Two. Therefore, she enlists in the Red Cross and wants to work with orphans and war refugees, but instead, she gets assigned to work at an American Red Cross Aeroclub where she arranges entertainment and refreshments for the airmen at their airbase. She is not happy with her situation but she tries her very best to do her job properly to provide donuts and coffee to the servicemen as well as do some investigation about a possible theft. However, she struggles to serve the men because she doesn't like the way they act with their alcoholism, crude language and womanising. Adler, on the other hand, is determined to become an ace pilot and is grieving the death of his late fiancee Oralee, as well as being ashamed of the sins he committed that drove him and his brothers apart. Violet is attracted to Adler immediately because he is kind, brave and chivalrous. She sets up programs for the local British children and enlists Adler's help in the process. Although he pushes her away at first, eventually Adler and Violet begin a wonderful friendship that blossoms into love, but Adler's past secrets can't stay buried forever and when it does, it threatens to tear them apart, especially with D-Day fast approaching. I liked the fact that Violet realises later on in the book that self righteousness and being a hypocrite are quiet sins and just because someone is outwardly righteous in appearance, doesn't mean they are pure inside. Being judgmental and condemning someone is mean behaviour, especially when you know they deserve compassion and mercy and with you coming down as a sinner as well. Even if someone is not religious, they also know that no one is perfect either. The air fighting scenes are realistic and accurately portrayed. I actually felt trepidation as I imagined myself in the air fighting against the enemy. I am glad the air force fighter pilots stopped the German Luftwaffe from attacking in full force otherwise the outcome of World War Two could have turned out completely different, I shudder even thinking about it. Adler taught me a few lessons about not numbing your pain because you need to fully feel it, and to take full responsibility in your actions and repent your mistakes and never commit them again. Also, both Adler and Violet learned to not put on a facade and to be real and face the truth head on. They learned to stop lying to themselves and others. They stopped pretending. They also learned that being real doesn’t mean wearing your emotions on your sleeve all the time. But, wear your emotions on your sleeve long enough so you can deal with your problems. It doesn’t mean talking about your baggage all the time or presenting it to the world. Fact is, everyone has some sort of baggage. If you don’t believe that, then you are lying to yourself and lying to others. Deal with them, seek advice, be honest, and deal with life’s dysfunctions. Once you deal with them, don’t forget the lessons you have learned, but also let it go. Just because another person has some sort of dysfunction in their life doesn’t mean they are not friend-worthy or that you should stop being their friend. Fact is we all have some sort of dysfunction, some more than others. So, stop lying to yourself and thinking you are better than others who are honest about their dysfunctions. Help them, be there for them, and be a friend. Stop being selfish! But also, set your boundaries. If you have a problem with their dysfunctions, talk to them and communicate. Be honest! If they seem to be life-suckers, communicate with them and see if they will work on things. Most importantly, they taught me to have compassion. Furthermore, they also taught me about the power of faith, and how it leads you to forgiveness for yourself and for others, peace, hope, love, reconciliation and ultimately, redemption. And Adler also taught me that running from your problems doesn't solve anything. Most importantly, if a particular dream or if your initial path in life didn't turn out the way you thought it should, even though it is heartbreaking to think of what might have been, it is because there is a better path for you down the road and you can always start again, this time on a new clean slate. Additionally, this story taught me that being first is not everything. Although it is fine to be ambitious and want top position, sometimes it is better to be second or even last and help others achieve their dreams and goals, and work as a team for the greater good. "The last shall be first, and the first last"-Matthew 20:16. Being extremely selfish does not help the situation. How strange: although we strive for a specific kind of success, it may never come. Instead, unexpected opportunities appear in our lives. Call these chances for unimagined greatness. Windows for living well. “The point of life is not to just get by,” wrote St. Paul of Tarsus. “We want to live well, but our foremost efforts should be to help others live well.” Overall, this was a wonderful book. The ending was lovely as well. Whether or not all the Paxton brothers will forgive each other and be happy again once more depends on the youngest brother Clay. I can't wait for the third book in the Sunrise at Normandy series that will talk about the events leading up to D-day, D-day itself and the aftermath from the ground from Army Ranger soldier Clay Paxton's point of view and also meet librarian Leah Jones: The Land Beneath Us will release in 2020. Once again, thank you very much Net Galley for allowing me to read and review this book.