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The Sea Before Us (Sunrise at Normandy #1) by Sarah Sundin
Publication Date: February 6, 2018
Publisher: Revell
Genre: Historical Fiction
Synopsis:
In 1944, American naval officer Lt. Wyatt Paxton arrives in London to prepare for the Allied invasion of France. He works closely with Dorothy Fairfax, a "Wren" in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), who pieces together reconnaissance photographs with holiday snapshots of France—including those of her own family's summer home—in order to create accurate maps of Normandy. Maps that Wyatt turns into naval bombardment plans for D-day.
As the two spend time together in the pressure cooker of war, their deepening friendship threatens to turn into something more. But both of them have too much to lose to give in to love.
Thoughts:
Hello to a new favourite author! After reading this book, I definitely have to get more from Sundin. This was so close to flawless that I may have to bring my rating up to a whole 5-stars.
The research and thought that went into this book is just impeccable. Her characters are extremely layered and I am invested in the Paxton boys’ stories. I don’t know what all to say that isn’t just me gushing about how great this book is. You get a great deal of insight into the WRNS as well as Wyatt’s part in the Navy and how their inner workings played at Normandy.
I loved Dorothy’s character and her gumption and I loved Wyatt’s inner turmoil but utter kindness. There were so many elements to this story that I feel could have gone poorly or seemed disjointed if written by someone else but Sundin did masterful work bringing it all together.
I think the only parts that I felt I breezed by was some of the technical aspects during Wyatt’s role. I know how much research would have gone into it and adding it is a great way to show that knowledge but I found it difficult to follow and orient myself with. I find that is a personal thing of mine that happens most times technical jargon and whatnot is brought into a story, but I appreciate it all the same.
It is great to know that Sundin has a solid backlist of titles that I can delve into as well as 2 other books in this particular series so I do not fear being out of content any time soon.