Sarah Sundin delivered a touching historical fiction as a mother searches for her child during WWII, in Embers of London. A mother’s love, romance, diversity and a murder mystery made this an engaging listen. Narrated by Lisa Larsen, you’ll want to add this one to your audio bookshelf.
by Sarah Sundin
Narrator: Lisa Larsen
Length: 12 hours and 41 minutes
Genres: Historical Fiction
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Narration: 5 cups Speed: 1.5x
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.
The tale that unfolds in Embers in the London Sky shares one woman’s faith as she navigates a foreign land in search of her son. While the story offers a clean romance and faith-based character, it fell more mainstream, and fit the character rather than pushing a message.
Aleida van der Zee Marten, her three-year-old son Theo, and her controlling husband are escaping the Netherlands. It’s 1940 and they are traveling by car. When she awakens from a nap, she discovers Theo gone. Her husband claims he sent the boy ahead with another family, but before he can tell her who has taken her son to London, he’s killed by an air raid. Desperate to find Theo, Aleida travels to London and seeks employment working with the agency responsible for evacuating children to the countryside.
Theo was born with a deformed hand, and Aleida works hard searching the children’s home and records for her missing son. She meets a reporter and ends up meeting with a group of journalist at a pub. She is hoping to get her story out. Soon, BBC radio correspondent Hugh Collingwood is helping her.
Along with the search, several murders occur surrounding the agency Aleida works for. I loved the suspenseful murder-mystery and Sandlin tugged at my heartstrings concerning Theo.
The romance was a slow-building, sweet one and blended perfectly with the story. The characters and their actions felt genuine. I admired Aleida.
If you love WWII historical fiction, I think you’ll find this story involving the evacuating children interesting. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook. Lisa Larsen narrates and does a lovely job of bringing Aleida, Theo and Hugh’s story to life.
About Sarah Sundin
Sarah Sundin enjoys writing about the drama and romance of the World War II era. She is the bestselling author of Embers in the London Sky (February 2024). Her novels have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Booklist. Until Leaves Fall in Paris received the 2022 Christy Award, The Sound of Light, When Twilight Breaks, and The Land Beneath Us were Christy Award finalists, and The Sky Above Us won the 2020 Carol Award. A mother of three, Sundin lives in Southern California and teaches Sunday school and women's Bible studies. She enjoys speaking to community, church, and writers' groups. Sarah serves as Co-Director for the West Coast Christian Writers Conference.
About Lisa Larsen
After earning a degree in musical theater and spending several years hustling on the business side of the film industry, Lisa Larsen has found her way back to her first love: performing. Lisa narrates from her home studio in the foothills of Los Angeles. When she's not embodying the characters of strong heroines, feisty teenagers, cranky old men, or alluring vampires, she's devoting time to her daughters, mucking up her kitchen baking healthy treats, riding her bike, or enjoying a DIY project with her husband.
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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Sophie
OK you convinced me! I love WWII fiction and I love listening to them so I’ll add it to my wishlist!
Katherine
This sounds amazing and heartbreaking. This time period and setting is currently one of my favorites and your review really sold me on it. It’s also a slightly different take from other WWII home front books I’ve read recently. I will definitely look for the audio.
Sophia Rose
So much about what you say has me eager to read this one.
Anne - Books of My Heart
Interesting. When I shared to Mastodon it was tagged as Christian Fiction. My first thought was well a controlling husband fits. Is it religious based? Otherwise, it sounded like a fascinating story.
Kimberly
I address it in the review.
Anne - Books of My Heart
ok yes. thank you. I think I would like this one.