About
the Book:
Facing
the past may be the most fearsome battle of his life.
Numbed by grief and harboring shameful secrets, Lt. Adler Paxton ships to England with the US 357th Fighter Group in 1943. Determined to become an ace pilot, Adler battles the German Luftwaffe in treacherous dogfights in the skies over France as the Allies struggle for control of the air before the D-day invasion.
Violet Lindstrom wants to be a missionary, but for now she serves in the American Red Cross, arranging entertainment for the men of the 357th and setting up programs for local children. Drawn to the mysterious Adler, she enlists his help with her work and urges him to reconnect with his family after a long estrangement.
Despite himself, Adler finds his defenses crumbling when it comes to Violet. But D-day draws near . . . and secrets can't stay buried forever.
My
Thoughts:
Though
I normally avoid war novels, I enjoyed The Sky
Above Us by Sarah
Sundin. Initially, I was put off by Adler's drive to become an ace
pilot (which involves shooting down five enemy aircraft). However, as
Adler's mindset shifted and the author noted that Adler attempted to
take down enemy aircraft without ending a life, I more fully embraced
the story.
Adler
has huge family drama that drives the plot line and his character
development to a certain extent. Throughout the novel, Adler grows
and changes – moving from an ashamed coward to a redeemed man who
has made mistakes. I always like lots of character development in a
story and his personal growth was one of my favorite aspects of the
novel. The author used Adler and his situation to address the need
for repentance, the art of an authentic apology, and
emotional/relational healing.
Sarah
Sundin is a seasoned novelist and her writing expertise shines in The
Sky Above Us. The story
is interesting, well-paced, and has a side note of mystery. The novel
is not a romantic comedy, but contains some humor that juxtaposes the
seriousness of war and death. Both Adler and Violet undergo
substantial character development and come out better in the end.
Faith-related themes are laced into this well-written story. I
recommend The Sky Above Us to
fans of historical fiction.
One
final note: The Sky Above Us
by Sarah Sundin is the second novel in the Sunrise at Normandy
series. I have not read the first novel and this one was fine as a
stand-alone. I'm looking forward to reading both the first and third
installments in this series!
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I
was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have
expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the
Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides
Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
