Thank you to Bethany House Fiction and NetGalley for the gifted book!

Synopsis: “What we know and what we believe can be two separate matters. We know what we know, but we don’t always know what we believe.” Aleida van der Zee Martens has the perfect plan to finally escape her abusive husband with her son, but when the German occupation thwarts her efforts, Aleida finds her son missing with little hope of finding him again. Seeking to find her son and to help with the war effort, Aleida volunteers to work with an agency that places London’s children in the countryside to protect them from the dangers of war. Her job introduces her to a radio correspondent by the name of Hugh Collingwood who becomes interested in not just her story but also Aleida herself. As prejudice threatens those closest to them, the two must work together to uncover the secrets hidden in the rubble of London.

Analysis: Sarah Sundin’s unique WW2 era novel brings to life some of the more unspoken situations that the people of London dealt with during the war. She dives into the refugees’ struggles through the view of a refugee and and reporter, both striving to help people from all walks of life. I loved that this novel touched on ideas of prejudice and censorship that are faced in war time. But there’s also romance, faith, and hope for a better future. These characters and this mystery will draw you in to the unseen troubles that many have forgotten and help you to consider what that still looks like in our world today.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*All thought and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Embers in the London Sky is an engaging WWII historical romance fiction. The author's writing draws you in and her knowledge of this time period is exceptional. The story was beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time.

The main character Aleida and her three year old son are separated fleeing war torn Netherlands and she desperately searches for him. Will she ever find him? On her journey she finds friendship with a BBC reporter, Hugh who helps and supports her in the search for her son. It is a fascinating story, with personal growth, suspense, and a love story all in one. I learned lots about the reporters during wartime in this book.

This was a good story with a balance of love, loss, mystery and faith in it. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy historical fiction.

Thanks to NetGalley and Revell Publishers for an advance copy of this book.

Another amazing WWII story from Sarah Sundin. This is one of my must read authors any time she has a new book.

As usual, the story teller took my heart on an emotional ride and left it full of joy by the end. The characters in this story have to overcome many obstacles to find their happily ever after.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing.me to read and review this title. All opinions are my own.

The main character Aleida has a lot happen in a short time when the German army invades. Her journey takes her to London where she must start over while enduring some of the hardest circumstance of her life.

With the various character and history, I kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next. There is love, war, growth, and loss all happening during the historic time of WW2.

I really enjoyed the history tied in as I had never given much thought to the BBC radio broadcast. This was a new angle for me in this era to consider as it comes to medias the impact on the war, censorship, and patriotism.

Thanks Sarah Sundin for another great read and NetGalley for an ARC to enjoy and recommend.

#EmbersintheLondonSky #NetGalley

Once again, Sarah Sundin delivers an epic WWII tale filled with heartache, romance, and even murder!

I thought Sarah's last book, The Sound of Light, was her best, but I think this might be her best. How does she do it? Her characters are vibrant and real. Her prose reads like a movie playing out in my mind. This is a book to be savoured!

Aleida Marten's courage and strength as she searched for her son had this mother's heart in her throat. I can't imagine losing a child. But losing a child during a war in a country of millions? The odds are not in her favour until she meets BBC correspondent Hugh Collingwood. As he helps her look for her son, romance blossoms, and yet, there is so much more to this story!

Don't read this book if you can't stay up late, because I guarantee you will not be able to put it down. I highly recommend it!

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell through NetGalley for my honest review.

Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin was the first book I’ve ever read from her. I had heard so many good things about her writing and I found out they were all true. Her knowledge of the WWII era is incredible and her writing draws you into that world. I could practically hear the Glen Miller Band and Count Basie playing in the background. My heart was torn at times for Aleida, the heroine of this tale. And if you want to know why, pick up a copy of this grand story and step back in time.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions expressed are completely my own.

As historical fiction, Embers in a London Sky was fascinating. I especially enjoyed a closer look at the BBC and how live radio broadcasting worked during the war.

As a mystery, Embers in a London Sky was cleverly crafted. The clues were there, almost before you realized a mystery was afoot. But the whole of the storyline wasn't focused on solving the crimes, despite journalism being a constant thread.

As a novel, Embers in a London Sky was heartbreaking and beautiful. The love, the loss, the friendship, the romance—all amid the backdrop of London at war with Germany in 1940.

After fleeing the German invasion of the Netherlands,Aleida Martens searches for her missing son—which sets her on a collision course with BBC radio correspondent Hugh Collingwood. During the London Blitz,they will risk their lives to discover the truth—and find a connection closer than they imagined.

The BBC was founded in 1922.The success of broadcasting provoked animosities between the BBC and well-established media, i.e., theatres, concert halls, and the recording industry. Television broadcasting was suspended from 1 September 1939-7 June 1946,and it was left to BBC Radio broadcasters such as Reginald Foort to keep the nation's spirits up.Due to the BBC's advancements in shortwave radio technology,the corporation could broadcast internationally.Broadcasters were often kept apart from the rest of the civilian population,working behind sealed doors in a ‘troglodyte’ world,always half-shrouded in secrecy.Like most Britons,they could enjoy the wartime camaraderie,and sometimes be fun-loving,while also feeling a sense of vulnerability, nervousness, foreboding,and sometimes outright terror.Broadcasting House was bombed 15 October 1940.

As well as making programmes for the public, the wartime BBC was involved in a range of top secret activity, working with closely with the intelligence agencies and military. The BBC’s broadcasts to Europe were, then, gently but insistently propagandist. But in the front line war of words between Britain and the Axis powers, the BBC was especially keen to promote editorial values of ‘truthfulness’ and accuracy. In particular, it felt that the trust of any foreign listeners would only be earned – and the propaganda war won –if it could report British failures as well as British successes. The complicating factor in all this was that in wartime the BBC was duty-bound to operate under Government direction.

When it came to broadcasts directed to Europe, the BBC had to deal with an especially complex array of competing Government ministries and security services – ranging from the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Information through to the Ministry of Economic Warfare and the Political Warfare Executive. Relations between broadcaster and these Governmental bodies were often smoothed-over by an exchange of key personnel – and informal background briefings.

Within minutes of the Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain declaring that Britain was at war with Germany, the BBC broadcast a series of Government announcements that would transform public life at a stroke. With cinemas and theatres shut and many people staying at home, the burden of entertaining the nation now fell squarely on the BBC. The British people also expected military events to move rapidly and tuned-in expecting the news to be bursting with important information.Yet for the past nine months the BBC had known that as soon as an emergency was declared its broadcasts would actually be severely curtailed.

The BBC planned to be broadcasting virtually round-the-clock. There was one area of programming which responded quickly and sensitively to the changed circumstances - simply by offering continuity. On the eve of the war, hundreds of thousands of children had been evacuated from the big cities and towns. They were often separated from class-mates and siblings as well as their parents. The BBC’s regular Children’s Hour saw an opportunity to serve this scattered audience. The Government considered the BBC’s most important function in wartime was to be a conduit for official information and advice.

The censorship process was set out in the strictest terms: every script needed a ‘stamp’ from an official censor before it could be used, and in every studio a ‘switch censor’ would sit-in to turn down a microphone if anyone deviated from what had been agreed. But day-to-day, much censorship was devolved to senior and mid-level BBC staff, some of whom were seconded to the Ministry of Information: in practice, the BBC was often left to censor itself. And those charged with this responsibility were often capable of approaching their task uncomplainingly.

The BBC itself had no objection to being a supporter of the British cause, an exhorter, a morale-builder. But it claimed that ‘propaganda, in the sense of the perversion of the truth’ was not ‘in accordance with BBC policy’. Its Home Service News Editor, R.T. Clark, expressed the Corporation’s underlying thinking:

the only way to strengthen the morale of the people whose morale is worth strengthening is to tell them the truth and nothing but the truth, even if the truth is horrible.

Government ministries and senior military personnel, however, often limited the supply of accurate information reaching the BBC. One example of this was in May 1940, when the BBC was tricked into misleading listeners over Winston Churchill’s inept attempt to secure the ports of neutral Norway before Germany did.

By the summer of 1940, France and the Low Countries had been occupied by the Nazis, and the war was coming to Britain, with increasing numbers of air attacks on airfields across the south. The BBC’s response was increasingly agile. It had recruited more journalists and engineers. It had access to more - and better - recording equipment. It was able to cover the ‘Battle of Britain’ by sending its own reporters to the coast in specially equipped cars. One of the most famous accounts brought back - of an aerial dogfight between RAF planes and the Luftwaffe - was recorded near Dover by Charles Gardener. There were plenty of people - both inside the BBC and out - who thought Gardener’s jaunty style horribly inappropriate. But it had the virtue of being spontaneous and human.

Fear that German bombing would cause civilian deaths prompted the government to evacuate children, mothers with infants and the infirm from British towns and cities during the Second World War. Evacuation took place in several waves. Evacuation was voluntary, but the fear of bombing, the closure of many urban schools and the organised transportation of school groups helped persuade families to send their children away to live with strangers.Evacuation was a huge logistical exercise which required thousands of volunteer helpers. The first stage of the process began on 1 September 1939 and involved teachers, local authority officials, railway staff, and members of the Women's Voluntary Service (WVS). The WVS provided practical assistance, looking after tired and apprehensive evacuees at railway stations and providing refreshments in reception areas and billeting halls. Volunteers were also needed to host evacuees.

Evacuees and their hosts were often astonished to see how each other lived. Some evacuees flourished in their new surroundings. Others endured a miserable time away from home. Many evacuees from inner-city areas had never seen farm animals before or eaten vegetables. In many instances a child's upbringing in urban poverty was misinterpreted as parental neglect. Equally, some city dwellers were bored by the countryside, or were even used for tiring agricultural work. Some evacuees made their own arrangements outside the official scheme if they could afford lodgings in areas regarded as safe, or had friends or family to stay with.Many families made their own arrangements to evacuate their children to friends and family in the country or overseas. The short-lived Children’s Overseas Reception Board also organised the evacuation of children to Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Many stately homes in the English countryside were given over for use as nursery schools or homes for young children evacuated from cities across the country.

By the end of 1939, when the widely expected bombing raids on cities had failed to materialise, many parents whose children had been evacuated in September decided to bring them home again. By January 1940 almost half of the evacuees returned home. Additional rounds of official evacuation occurred nationwide in the summer and autumn of 1940, following the German invasion of France in May-June and the beginning of the Blitz in September. Evacuation was voluntary and many children remained in the cities. Some stayed to help, care for or support their families. Many of those who stayed, endured bombing raids and were injured or made homeless. All had to deal with the threat of gas attack, air raid precautions (ARP), rationing, changes at school and in their daily life. The German V-weapon attacks on cities in the east and south-east of England, which began in June 1944, prompted another wave of evacuations from these areas.

.Metaphorically,embers are the heart of our emotions.They hold the spark for the heart to keep going through even the toughest of times.Like a dying fire,the will to live is contained within the embers waiting for the spark to ignite the heart and return with the will and engage again.Slowly dying or fading emotions,memories, ideas,or responses are still capable of being revived.

Another wonderful, World War two story by Sarah Sundin! I enjoy all the history that she includes in her stories, since I learn something new with each one. The characters are richly portrayed.

I love that I can always count on Sarah Sundin to provide a thoroughly entertaining story set during WWII with deep and complex characters, a historically accurate timeline, a unique plot, and a crisis of faith all in one. This story follows Dutch refugee Aleida Martens who is searching for the son who was taken from her during her flight from the Netherlands when the Nazis invaded. As she searches London for her missing boy, she meets BBC correspondent Hugh Collingwood, who is struggling to mesh his birthright with his passion. Hugh and Aleida become fast friends and then some as they share their burdens and hope.

As is typical for Sundin's works, there is a lot of history included in the story that not only educates but entertains. I love reading her books because I feel like I've been transported to the time and place and see the lives lived during that war. There is also a lovely romance. Though I typically am not a fan of romance novels, Sundin creates the relationships in her stories in such a way that it doesn't have the saccharine feel that romance novels often have. And she always includes a solid faith thread as the characters learn valuable faith lessons within the story. While her plot lines are always engaging as well, this one added a bit more mystery/suspense than her others have as there was a string of murders occurring in this story set during the London Blitz. So, there was a great deal of intrigue thrown in to this plot line as well that kept me turning pages.

This is the 2nd year in a row that I've intentionally started my year with a Sarah Sundin novel and that feels like a habit worth keeping as I know I will thoroughly enjoy my first read of the year! Special thanks to Revell Publishers and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

Engaging WWII romance between a British radio report and a woman searching for who son who become involved in a mystery.

This was a new author for me, in a genre I know and love. Embers in the London Sky begins in Amsterdam during WWiI. Hitler’s Nazis are invading the country and a young mother, Aleida, plans to escape her abusive husband, Sebastian, and head to relatives in Europe with her son. The tables turn and Sebastian tells her they are leaving the country- together. Embarrassed by his son’s deformed hand, and being a terrible person, Sebastian decides to give his son to a couple from London, without the consent of his wife. Aleida is heartbroken when she finds out, especially after her husband refuses to give her any more info on the couple, and soon goes to London setting an impossible goal of reuniting with her precious son. The rest of the book follows her journey to find her son and reveals how her life continues. She befriends a BBC correspondent and begins to fall in love. She also learns of a murder mystery involving several people she knows. It’s an interesting book, giving some insight into the importance of the BBC during WWII, as well as an entertaining one. Although some things were a little predictable, there were also a couple of twists, which I enjoyed. It wrapped up loose ends nicely as well.
While not based on anyone or any true event, there were a couple of key events that happen in the book that were similar to actual situations happening in Europe around that time. I appreciated and thank Netgalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions shared are my own.

Embers in the London Sky is a well written WWII historical romance. I enjoyed the ploy and the character dynamics. If you enjoy historical romance I recommend this book. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin

The Netherlands and London 1940.
After escaping to London, Widow Aleida van der Zee Martens begins working for an agency responsible for evacuating children to safety as she desperately searches for her three-year-old son, Theo. BBC radio correspondent Hugh Collingwood reports on the Blitz, eager to boost morale while walking the fine line between truth and censorship. Aleida and Hugh join forces following clues looking for Theo and grow closer. Will they find Theo, or is he forever lost to Aleida?

There is one person who will do anything in order to carry out their own plans – targeting those sensitive to the refugees - in an already turbulent time. I figured out who that was by the end of the story and was hoping that they would be stopped in time. The author created a story that deals with a sensitive time in history with compassion and sensitivity. War, mystery, danger, asthma attacks at crucial moments, heartrending scenes had me in tears, love, hope and faith.
Sarah Sundin weaves a compelling story with historical events woven within the fictional storyline. The author’s note at the end of the book is filled with historical facts included in the story.

~I received an e-book copy from the author/publisher via NetGalley (no monetary gain was exchanged), this is my honest review~

“Love glows in the midst of the flames, and new life – new life stirs amongst the embers.”
Historical fiction is a favorite of mine, especially WWII. This book puts you in the middle of the action during the Nazi invasion of Europe and the blitz in London. I loved learning more about the children – the refugees lost on the journey as well as the young Londoners sent to the countryside for their own safety. As a mother, I cannot begin to imagine handing my children over to strangers. It speaks to the true desperation of the times. Aleida puts her son’s welfare ahead of her own in away I am not sure I could have. But by giving up she gives God space and time to work and He brings results she could not have contrived on her own. I also loved Hugh, a wonderfully complex character, and it is quickly evident he needs Aleida as much as she needs him.
At times, though, there were too many things going on in this book. There are always sub plots in a good book, but the search for Theo and solving the murders (and all the drama that went with that) seemed to compete as main plots in the story. As a result, sometimes it was a challenge to keep all the characters straight. This was my first Sarah Sundin book, and I was glad to be able to review it after hearing high praise for her novels. While I enjoyed it and read it in only 3 days, it was not quite what I was expecting. Maybe I would like some of her other works better. Even so, well developed main characters and a creative story based on true events make for an engaging read. If you like historical fiction with threads of faith, this one is worth checking out.
*I received a complimentary copy of this e-book from NetGalley and Revell Publishers. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

1940: Aleida van der Zee Martens and her three-year-old son, Theo, are escaping to London as the German army invades the Netherlands. Along the way the young widow is separated from her son and starts a desperate search for him the moment she gets to London. Aleida gets a job at an agency that’s in charge of evacuating children to the country and hopes to find Theo in one of those country homes. When the Germans start dropping bombs on London, BBC correspondent Hugh Collingwood is on the scene ready to report on the blitz. But the Germans aren’t the only thing to fear in London. A string of murders has occurred in London. Some getting close to home for both Hugh and Aleida. As they work together to find a murderer and Aleida’s missing son, they find themselves growing closer to each other as they get closer to the answers they seek.

I loved this book! Sarah Sundin always weaves such beautiful stories. Full of history, emotion, and romance. Always a good balance of the heaviness of war and the sweetness of romance. The history of the BBC and all the different agencies and volunteer work in London during this time was really interesting. And the extra murder mystery element was super intriguing and kept me on my toes. I was surprised at who did it in the end. And then the sweet romance. Loved the cute relationship Hugh and Aleida had. They did go through a rough patch that I wished they would’ve resolved earlier and been more open about their feelings afterwards. But it was still such a cute romance. And Aleida’s search for her son was an emotional rollercoaster with the perfect ending.

Thank you Netgalley and Revell for the opportunity to read this book. I received a complimentary copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

If you enjoy WW2 fiction full of history and with a good balance of war hardships and romance plus a little murder mystery, then pick this book up when it comes out February 6, 2024.

Embers in the London Sky
by Sarah Sundin
Publisher: Revell
Series: None
Rated: 3
Obtain: Borrow
Back of the Book: “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.”

Impressions: The beginning scene of evacuating families has been playing in my head since reading this book. I can’t imagine what loss and fear these families must have felt. That being said the characters of this book did not settle into the harrowing journey of most evacuees. Aleida is a victim but one with resources to keep her going. She suffers in this story great loss but she always has this invisible safety net that seems to allow her to stay on her feet. The story felt too much like a hallmark movie where everyone has a happy ending. There were glimpses of the stress and drama of London during WW2 but there was not enough to feel the weight of emotions that the characters must have been feeling.

Quotes: “…he only needed approval from the Lord, not from any human being, not even his parents.”

“When someone finds you interesting, you find them interesting too. That is true charm.”

“Morale?” Jouveau wrinkled his nose. ‘Is that the sole purpose of our work? To create a happy and deluded populace? Or an educated populace, braced for action?’”

“He could never drink enough. It would satisfy only briefly. Then the thirst for approval would return, drying out his soul. ‘Drink from the Living Water.’”

I received an ARC of this book via the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.

4.5 / 5.0 Stars

Wow! What a great story set in WWII London.

Widowed Aleida van der Zee Martens flees German occupied Netherlands in 1940 and is separated from her three-year old son during that flight. She gets a job with with the British agency responsible for evacuating children to the countryside as the German war machine pummels the cities and industrial centers of England. Aleida is ever hopeful that she'll get a lead on her son's whereabouts while making her rounds of the evacuation centers.

Meanwhile, news correspondent, Hugh Collingwood has struggles of his own, not the least of which is being young and unfit for duty, no matter how hard he tried. So he does the next best thing and reports the war as it rains down on London - well at least as much as he is permitted to report under the censorship rules. Then on top of it all, there's a murderer afoot, who appears to be targeting those sensitive to the refugees' plight.

Eventually, Aleida and Hugh combine forces to aid each other in their respective challenges. A spark is lit and the duo is invincible. But will Aleida find her son and will Hugh get to the bottom of the murderous plot?

The writing is well-crafted. The research which went into the story's telling is herculean and spot on. The setting of scene is cinematic in scope and at times horrific in the telling. The characters are so well developed that their stories tug at the readers' heartstrings. All in all, this was a beautifully written story. I just wish the ending were a little less campy.

I am grateful to Revell Books for having provided an uncorrected digital galley of this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers and Netgalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.


Publisher: Revell (division of Baker Publishing Group)
Publication Date: February 6, 2024
No. of Pages: 400
ISBN No.: 978-0800741853

This read hit close to home. I completely understand wanting to cut your hair, control, trauma, asthma, and putting yourself aside to do what is best for kids.
As always, the characters are well formed, WWII history is the theme, and there is some nail bitting mystery.
Reporting the war news…there is a delicate balance between reporting truth while lifting moral and not giving secrets away to the enemy. But…the issues are so today. What is covering truth, ie, propaganda and what is real journalism. The news in American today is scripted.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

In this novel, Sarah Sundin continues her latest trend in WWII set novels, featuring non-military characters caught up in the war in Great Britain and Europe. In this story, Aleida is a young mother fleeing the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands with her abusive husband and toddler son. Her husband steals their son (who he despises due to a minor deformity of the hand) and hands him off to a British couple "for his safety" and refuses to divulge what happened to him to Aleida before his own death from a Nazi strafing. Aleida then escapes to relatives in England and begins a desperate search for her lost boy. Through her story, we become acquainted with the story of refugees in WWII Britain, and of British children evacuated to the countryside for safety.

We also learn of the role of radio news in WWII both the from the BBC, where the hero, Hugh works as a correspondent and from American correspondents such as Edward R. Murrow who kept Americans aware of the crisis in Europe before we became directly involved.

Hugh and Aleida are drawn together through her search, her war work, and through a puzzling murder investigation they both are caught up in.

It's a fascinating tale on many levels, with personal growth, pathos, suspense and heartfelt emotion. The love story is touching, but not overdone. It's a satisfying story and well worth reading.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.