The Sea Before Us

 (Sunrise at Normandy #1) 

Paperback, hardcover, ebook 

February 6, 2018

by Sarah Sundin

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Revell 
• ISBN-13: 978-0800727970

Nothing but love could heal the wounds of war

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. Dorothy pieces together reconnaissance photographs with thousands of holiday snapshots of France--including those of her own family's summer home--in order to create accurate maps of Normandy. Maps that Wyatt will turn into naval bombardment plans.

As the two spend concentrated time together in the pressure cooker of war, their deepening friendship threatens to turn to love. Dorothy must resist its pull. Her bereaved father depends on her, and her heart already belongs to another man. Wyatt too has much to lose. The closer he gets to Dorothy, the more he fears his efforts to win the war will destroy everything she has ever loved.

The tense days leading up to the monumental D-Day landing blaze to life under Sarah Sundin's practiced pen with this powerful new series.

My thoughts:  THE SEA BEFORE US is the first book in Ms. Sundin's newest series and it is a winner. Both Wyatt and Dorothy won my hearts, my sympathy, and my complete attention. Wyatt is a good, honorable man, a true hero. Wounded to be sure, but beyond sweet. I absolutely adored him.  Dorothy is struggling to win the love she most needs, settling for crumbs of attention, and willing to risk herself for a tiny drop of attention, bless her heart.  I wanted to give her a good talking to, tell her what she was doing to herself. I wanted her to see the truth.  Her father. Ah, there's another good man. A secondary character, but so much character. He was awesome. 

There are so many other things I could say, characters to comment on. From Wyatt's friends and Dorothy's friends, to a scottish terrier with personality.  And of course, Ms. Sundin did a stellar job with the scenery description, making me feel like I was there.  Oh, and a mention of the Coast Guard!  I love those heroes making an appearance in a book about a Naval officer.   

There was an unexpected plot twist, some war action, blackmail, and of course, romance.  All in all, this was a book to be savored, and one of Sundin's best and I've read every single one of her books to date.  

If you love WWII history, then you will want to read THE SEA BEFORE US. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. A truly good read. 

I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.