Mists Over the Channel Islands by Sarah Sundin | Review

If you’ve been reading my reviews for a while, it’s no secret that Sarah Sundin is one of my favorite Christian historical fiction authors. This one, Mists Over the Channel Islands, is in my top three favorite of her books so far. And how gorgeous is the book cover?!

Read the back cover below, followed by my 5 star review.

Back Cover

Behind enemy lines, adversary and ally become impossible to distinguish.

The German invasion of the British Channel Islands shatters Dr. Ivy Picot’s peaceful world, forcing her to shoulder the weight of her father’s medical practice and hold together a family unraveling under the strain of war. As conditions worsen in Jersey with the arrival of thousands of forced laborers, Ivy’s quiet allegiance to the Allies compels her to risk everything by providing medical aid to escaped workers–even as danger closes in.

Dutch engineer and resistance member Gerrit van der Zee volunteers to build fortifications for the Germans so he can secretly send maps and diagrams to the Allies. On his arrival in the Channel Islands, he crosses paths with Ivy, who shows him contempt for the uniform he wears. As tensions mount and their missions grow increasingly dangerous, Ivy and Gerrit must confront the cost of courage, the meaning of sacrifice, and whether love can survive in the shadow of war. Will their covert efforts turn the tide–or will they pay the ultimate price for defiance?

Renowned WWII fiction author Sarah Sundin crafts a compelling historical romance featuring enemies-to-lovers, wartime resistance, and medical intrigue–a tale of loyalty, resilience, and courage when love and duty collide.

My Review

Not only are Ivy and Gerrit fantastic main characters, the supporting characters in Mists Over the Channel Islands were stars on their own. It’s so hard to write reviews without giving too much away and also rave about a book as good as this one, but I’ll say that although I didn’t like Ivy’s sister at all, that character ought to win an award (is there such a thing for fictional characters?).

The bravery of the Jersey people, like Ivy’s character depicts, sprung off the page. The danger, the suspense, the faith arc, the sweet love story, the family theme … and the family conflicts … all of it had me on the edge of my seat. And of course, Sarah Sundin’s research was enlightening as much as it was heart-wrenching in this World War II novel.

This was a love story I wasn’t expecting. Sarah’s books are always so original and I can’t wait for the next one.

Also, I loved the joke from one of the American characters we briefly met who didn’t know the difference between Jersey in the Channel Islands and New Jersey in the United States (and Ivy’s inner dialogue had me snickering too…haha).

5 stars from me! Get your copy on amazon.ca or amazon.com today! Baker Book House has a fabulous pre-order sale on Mists Over the Channel Islands as I write this, so check that out here! Release day is coming February 3, 2026!

Thank you to Revell and netgalley for my copy. All opinions in this review are my own.

About the Author

Sarah Sundin is the bestselling author of Mists over the Channel Islands, Midnight on the Scottish Shore, Embers in the London Sky, The Sound of Light, and Until Leaves Fall in Paris, as well as the popular World War II 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. Sarah lives in Southern California. Visit SarahSundin.com for more information.