Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin | Review

I look forward to Sarah Sundin’s books every year. At the end of her 2023 release, The Sound of Light (read my review here), the publisher added the first chapter for Embers in the London Sky. What a tease! I was gripped and had to wait a whole year to read the rest! Such an incredible story. See the blurb below, followed by my review.

Back Cover

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

Sarah Sundin has once again brought her A-game with Embers in the London Sky. Danger, mystery, suspense, fascinating-well-researched history, a love story you can cheer for, and wounded but confident characters are just some of the things I loved about this novel.

With the backdrop of England in World War II, refugee Aleida searches for her son, Theo, whom she’s been unfairly separated from. The bravery of Aleida’s character makes her extra special, as well as her desperation as a mother in her search.

Let’s talk about Hugh. Such a cool character. From high society expectations, to following his passion working for the BBC radio, to a secret he didn’t want out … Hugh was fun to read about. Witty, charming. I loved reading when he was on the air, especially toward the end of the novel.

Though Embers in the London Sky deals with some heavy topics, there’s laugh out loud moments (for me anyway!) too, and I need those in a novel. Don’t we all?

5 stars for Embers in the London Sky from me. It’s out and available! Go buy it!

Get your copy on amazon.ca and amazon.com. Thank you to Revell Fiction for my copy of this book! All opinions in this review are my own.

About the Author

Sarah Sundin is the bestselling author of When Twilight Breaks, Until Leaves Fall in Paris, The Sound of Light, and the popular WWII series Sunrise at Normandy, among others. She is a Christy Award winner and a Carol Award winner, and her novels have received starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly, and have appeared on Booklist’s “101 Best Romance Novels of the Last 10 Years.” Sarah lives in California. Visit www.SarahSundin.com for more information.